The Red Pavilion

XVII

Ma Joong had treated himself to a good dinner in a noodle rest­aurant, finishing two large jugs of strong wine. Now he was walking down the street of the dormitories, humming a gay tune. He was in a festive mood.

The elderly woman who opened the door marked 'Second rank, No. 4' gave him a sour look. She asked:

'What do you want now?'

'To see the courtesan Silver Fairy.'

Taking him to the staircase, the woman asked worriedly:

'She hasn't got us into any trouble, I hope? The office notified me this afternoon that she has been bought out. But when I told her the good news, she seemed frightened. She wasn't glad at all!'

'Wait till you see her when we are leaving! Don't bother to go up. I'll find her room.'

He climbed the narrow staircase, and knocked on the door marked with Silver Fairy's name.

'I am ill, can't see anyone!' he heard her call out.

'Not even me?' Ma Joong shouted through the door.

It flew open and Silver Fairy pulled him inside.

'I am so glad you came!' she said eagerly, smiling through her tears. 'Something terrible has happened! You must help us, Ma Joong!'

'Us?' he asked, astonished. Then he saw Kia Yu-po sitting cross-legged on the bed. He was looking as dejected as usual. Dumbfounded, Ma Joong took the stool the girl pushed over to him. Seating herself on the bed close to the young poet, she began excitedly:

'Kia Yu-po wanted to marry me but he had lost all his money, and then that awful Miss Feng got her hooks into him! He always has such terrible bad luck, the poor boy!'

She gave the youngster an affectionate look. 'And tonight came the worst blow of all! Imagine, some wretched man has bought me! We had been hoping all along that we would be able to find some way out, but this is the end! You are an officer of the tribunal, aren't you? Can't you talk to the magistrate, and make him do something about this? '

Ma Joong pushed his cap back and slowly scratched his head. Giving the poet a dubious look, he asked him:

'What's all this talk about marrying? Weren't you going to the capital first, to pass the examinations to become an offi­cial of sorts?'

'Heaven forbid! That plan goes back to a weak moment of mistaken ambition. No, my ideal is to have a small house some­where in the country, a woman that suits me, and to write poetry. You don't think I would ever make a good official, do you?'

'No!' Ma Joong said with conviction.

'Exactly what your boss gave me to understand! Well, there you are. If only I had the money, I would have bought this fine girl out and settled down with her in some small place. We'd be satisfied if we had enough for our daily bowl of rice, and a small jug of wine now and then. And the money for that I can always earn by becoming a schoolmaster.'

'A schoolmaster!' Ma Joong exclaimed with a shudder.

'He is wonderful as a teacher!' Silver Fairy said proudly. 'He explained a very difficult poem to me. He is so patient!'

Ma Joong gave the pair a thoughtful look.

'Well,' he said slowly, 'suppose now that I could arrange something for you two. Will you, Mr Poet, promise to take this girl back to her native village and marry her properly there?'

'Of course! But what are you talking about, my friend? Only this afternoon you advised me to marry Miss Feng, then to . . .'

'Ha!' Ma Joong shouted hastily. 'I was only testing you then, young man! We officers of the tribunal, we are deep fellows, I tell you! We always know more than you'd think! Of course I knew all along about you and this wench — tested her too, in a manner of speaking. Now then, I was very lucky at the tables here. Since she is from my own village and since she likes you, I decided this afternoon to buy her out for you.' He pulled the receipts from his sleeve and gave them to Silver Fairy. Then he took the red package with the silver and threw that to the youngster. 'And here are travelling funds and some­thing to get yourself started as a schoolmaster. Don't say no, you fool, there's plenty more where that came from! Good luck!'

He got up and quickly left.

When he was down in the hall, Silver Fairy came running after him.

'Ma Joong!' she panted. 'You are wonderful! May I call you elder brother?'

'Always!' he said jovially. Then he frowned and added: 'By the way, my boss the judge is interested in your young man. I don't think it's anything serious, but don't leave the island until noon tomorrow. If you haven't heard from me before then, you can start travelling!'

As he opened the door she quickly stepped up close to him, and said:

'I am so glad that you knew all the time about Kia and me! When you came in just now I was just a little bit worried, elder brother. For when you . . . tested me over at the Widow Wang's, I really thought for a moment that you might have fallen in love with me, you know! '

Ma Joong guffawed.

'Don't give yourself ideas, little sister! Fact is that when I do a thing, I like to do it proper, putting in all the trimmings, so to speak!'

'You naughty rascal!' she said, pouting.

He slapped her behind and walked off.

Sauntering down the street he found to his astonishment that he really didn't know whether he was glad or sad. He shook his sleeves and found them very light; he discovered that he had only a few coppers left. Not enough for any of the varied pleasures offered by Paradise Island. He thought about taking a good walk in the park, but his head felt heavy. Better go to bed early. He entered the first doss-house he saw, and invested his coppers in one night's lodging.

He stepped out of his boots, loosened his sash and stretched himself out on his back on the common plank-bed, between two snoring loafers. His head on his folded hands, he stared up at the cracked ceiling, covered with cobwebs.

It struck him that he had a queer way of spending his nights on the gay Paradise Island. First on the floor of an attic, then on a plank-bed at five coppers. 'Must have been that confounded Soul-changing Bridge I crossed coming here!' he muttered. Then he resolutely closed his eyes and told himself sternly:

'Go to sleep . . . elder brother!'