A DMEM,OF I-D MNSIG That evening, just as they were going to bed, there came a loud knocking on the gate and a clamour of voices. Messengers from the yamea ordered Feng Su to appear for questioning by the prefect. His jaw dropped and he gaped in consternation Did this mean fresh calamity? To fad out, read the next chapter
CHAPTER 2 Lady Chia Dies in the city of angchow Leng Tzu-hsing Describes the Jung Mansion A verse靠ay who an gue the outcome of s game of chea? To interpret the signs of prosperity or decliae oul Incense burned out, tea drunk-it's utill in Ao impartial onlooker must be sought out Hearing the hubbub at his gate, Feng Su hurried out to s what the messengers wanted Ask Mr. Chen to come out, they bawled. "Be quick bout it My name is Feng, not Chen," he answered with an in gratiating smile. "My son-in-law s name is Chen, but he left home a year or two ago to become a priest. Is he the man u want? How would we know? We're here on the prefect's orders If you're his father-in-law, you must come and clear chis uf wt th His Honour to save us another trip ." Giving Feng Su no chance to protest they dragged him off while bis whole housebold trembled, not knowing what th pr Towards the end of the second watch he returned in the highest of spirits. Asked what had happened, he told them ew pretect, Ch H d old friend of my son-iD-law. When he passcd our gate and saw our Chiao-hsin buying thread, he supposed that Shib-yin had moved his household here. He seemed very upset when I explained all that had happened. He asked after my grand daughter too and i told him she was lost on the feast of Lanterns. Never mind, said His Honour Tll have a search 1
20 A REAM OF RED MNS。Ns made and I'm certain we shall find her. At the end of our conversation, as I was leaving, he gave me two taels of silver Chens wife was very moved by this. and so the night passed Early the next morning a messenger arrived from Chia Xu- tsun with two packets of silver and four lengths of brocade for Mrs. Chen as a token of gratitude. There was also a con- fidential letter for Feng Su asking him to persuade Mrs. Chen to let the prefect have Chiao-hsin as his secondary wife. Feng Su could hardly contain himself for joy. Eager to please the fect. h same night put Chiao-hsin in a small sedan-chair and escorted her to the yamen We need not dwelt on y atisfaction. He gave feng Su a hundred pieces of silver and sent Mrs. Chen many gifts, urging her to take good care of ber health while he ascertained her daughter' s whereabouts. Feng Su went home, and there we can leave him. Now Chiao-hsin was the maid who had looked back Yu-tsun that year in Kusu, little dreaming that one cas glance could have sucb an extraordinary outcome. And s0 doubly kind was fate that within a year of marriage she bore a son; while after another half year Yu-tsun's wife contracted diease and died, and then he made Chiao-hrin his wife, fnrther improving her pasition A single chance hiatus Raised her status a-tsun, after receiving Shih-yin,s gift of silver that year, had left on the sixteenth for the capital he did so well in the examinations that he becarse. a palace Graduate and was given a provincial appointment. He had now bocr to thts pretectship But although a capable administrator Yu-tsun was grasping and ruthless, while his arrogance and insolence to his superiors made them view him with disfavour. In less than two years they found a chance to impeach him. He was accused of "ingrained
duplicity, tampering with the rites and, under a show of probi t, conspiring with his ferocious underling to foment trouble in his district and make life intolerable for the local people. The Emperor, much icensed, sanctioned his dismissaL. The arrival of this edict rejoiced the hearts of all Prefecture. But Yu-tsun, although mortified and enraged betrayed no indignation and weat about looking as cheerful as before. After handing over his affairs he gathered together be capital accumulated during his years in office and moved his household back to his native place. Having settled them there he set off. "the wind on his back Icon his see the famous sights of the empire. travels as him to Yangchow, where he lated that the Salt Commissioner that year was Lin Hai is courter name was Lin Ju- who had come third prcvious Imperial examination and recently been promoted A native of Kusu, be had now been selected by the Emperor as a Commissioner of the Salt Inspectorate He had been little more than a month in this present post. One of Lin Ju-hai's ancestors five generations earlier had Men ennobled as a marquis, The rank had been conferred for three generations; then, as the benevolence of the present gracious Emperor far exceeded that of his noble predecessors be had as a apecial Favour extended it for one more generatio, Mo that Lin Ju-bei's father had inherited the title as welL. He himself howeer. had made his career gh the examina- tioas, for his Family was altered as well as noble, Unfortu nately it was not prolific, although several branches existed, andt Lin Jur-hai had cousin but no brothers or cisters. Now he was in his forties and his only son bad died at the age of three the previous year. He had several concubines but fate had not granted him another son, and he could not remedy this. By Lis wife nde Chia, he had a daughter Tai-yu just fve yea! oM. Both parcat loved her dearly. And because she was as intelligent as she was pretty, they decided to give her a good education to make up for their lack of a son and help them their 1
AD2EAM。 F RED MANSKNS It so happened that Yu-tsun had caught a chill which laid hi in his ion for a month and more. Exhausted by his illness, and short of funds, he was searching for somewhere to recuperate. Fortunately he had two old friends here who knew that the Salt Commissioner was looking for a tutor. Upon their recommendation Yu-tsun was given the post, which provided the security he needed. He was lucky, too, to have as pupil only one small girl accompanied by two maids. Since the child was Bo delicate, her lessons were irregular and this meant that his duties were light. twinkling another year went by and then his pupil's mother unexpectedly fell ill and died. The little girl attended her during her illness and then went into strict mourning. Yu- tsun considered resigning, but Lin Ju-hai kept him on 5o as not to interrupt his daughter's education during the period of mourning. Recently, grief had brought about a relapse in the delicate child' s health, and for days at a time she had to abar don her studies. Then Yu-tsun, finding time haag heavy oa his hands, used to take a walk after his meals when the weather w One day be strolled to the outskirts of ountryside, He came to luxuriant woods and bamboo groves set among hills and interlaced by streams, with a temple half hidden among the foliage. The entrance was in ruins, the walls were crumbling. A placard above the gate bore the inscription: Temple of Perspicacity. And flanking the gat were two mouldering boards with the couplet: Though plenty was Ieft after deatb, he forgot to hold his band beck Only at the end of the road does one think of turning on to the right track. " Trite as the language is, this couplet has deep significance, thought Yu-tsuo. "I've never come across anything like it in ll the famous temples Ive visited. There may be a story behind it of someone who has tasted the bitterness of lifc some repentant sinner. Il go in and ask