The Sing-song Girls of Shanghai by Bangqing Han

Author:Bangqing Han
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LIT008000, Literary Criticism/Asian/General, FIC019000, Fiction/Literary
Publisher: Spry Publishing LLC
Published: 2007-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 33 :: Little Rouge is unhappy with the jade jewelry, and Lotuson Wang goes on a drunken rampage

After drinking for a while with Lotuson Wang, Benevolence Hong went to relieve himself. On his way back, Constance beckoned to him in the parlor, so he walked over.

She whispered, “Mr. Hong, when you go and buy the jewelry, would you please just do as she says and get the whole set? Mr. Wang’s fear of this Little Rouge really knows no limits. You haven’t seen his shoulders and arms; they’re badly cut all over because Little Rouge pinched him with her sharp fingernails. If you don’t get her the full jewelry set, I don’t know how she’ll torture him, so please just get it for her. It doesn’t matter if Mr. Wang has to spend a bit more.”

He smiled without replying and returned to the table quietly. Lotuson Wang had caught the conversation faintly but pretended he had not heard. The two of them finished the pot of wine and asked for rice. Constance, who had now finished her toilet, sat down at the table’s humble side to eat with them.

The meal over, Benevolence set out for the jewelry stores in the Old City, while Lotuson told Constance to toast more opium for him. After smoking a dozen pellets, his appetite was finally satisfied. Benevolence returned as the clock struck five. He had only bought two items, the bracelets and the comb, which cost over four hundred dollars. He could not find the right quality for the rest and so had left them until another day. Overjoyed, Lotuson thanked him for his trouble.

Benevolence had business to attend to at the Flourishing Ginseng Store, so he took his leave. Lotuson Wang also bade Constance good-bye and went by sedan chair to West Floral Alley to deliver the jewelry to Little Rouge.

“Where’s Mr. Hong?” Little Rouge asked as soon as she saw him.

“He’s gone home.”

“Well, did he go and get it?”

“He bought a couple of things.” He lifted the lid off the cardboard box, took out the comb and bracelets, and put them on the table. “Take a look. The bracelets are all right, but the comb is not quite as good. If you don’t like it, we’ll send it back and get another one.”

She didn’t even take a proper look at the jewelry. “That’s not a whole set. Just put it there,” she said indifferently.

He hastened to return everything to the box, which he then put in a drawer of the dressing table. “He couldn’t find the right quality for the rest of the set. I’ll go and make the choice myself in a couple of days.”

“Well, since all I get are the leftovers, what quality is there to speak of?” she said.

“Whose leftovers are you talking about?”

“Why were these things taken to the other place first?”

In his agitation, Lotuson produced the sales slip to show her. “Look, it’s all on the sales slip.”

She pushed it aside. “I’m not interested.”

He backed away dejectedly.

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