2
We waited. I knew Lee Chang had been holding back, but I also knew from time spent with my father in Chang's company, that Lee Chang tried to smooth over matters whenever there was a possibility of any misunderstanding; that was probably why he had been sent, to walk the tightrope between the two cultures. Chinese customs often clashed with western laws. Sheriff Coffee often looked the other way when it came to "minor offenses" such as the illegal Fan Tan games in Chinatown, but if a complaint was filed by one of the legal gambling parlors in Virginia City, he had to look into it despite being stonewalled whenever he visited Chinatown to investigate. It was a constant source of frustration to him.
"Chinese business not white man's business," Hop Sing had once said when my father asked him about an ongoing murder investigation. Roy had come by the house, assuming that if Hop Sing knew anything, he would most certainly reveal it in the privacy of the Ponderosa. He was wrong.
A Chinese man had been slaughtered, his head barely attached to his body, the cut being so deep as to sever the spinal column, and dumped into a sewage ditch running behind some seedy brothels at the edge of town. When Roy tried to find out about the man, his name and who may have possibly killed him, no one in Chinatown would talk. "Chinese decide own justice. Murderers judged by Tong. Punishment carried out," Hop Sing had said. Then he had turned and left the room.
I told both Roy and my father that the partially decapitated man may not have been a "murder" victim but a victim of justice; beheading was a common punishment in China but here, there was no professional executioner; this may be a botched beheading. Roy had shaken his head and made s sound of disapproval talking about barbarian customs.
"Yeah, and we all know how civilized hanging is," I said. My father's brows furrowed in disapproval, and Roy just shot me a look.
So, my father and I waited to hear what Lee Chang had to say and I wondered ahead of time how much he would reveal.
"Fang Zhen was wealthy man in China – very wealthy," Lee Chang began. "He owned much land and many people paid to farm a small section. Fang Zhen was rich but also benevolent. The goddess, Kwan Yin blesses those who are merciful and generous. Many of our people here all come from same part of China and owe Fang Zhen for his assistance; he paid travel to America for many of our people. Finally, he came Nevada himself and bring favorite wife."
"Favorite wife?" I wanted clarification although I knew what the term implied – that there were other wives.
"Adam," my father said shifting in his chair. "Perhaps we should just let Lee Chang talk without interruption."
"No, my friend," Lee Chang said with a sad smile. "I am asking a favor of your son and he deserves to understand the enormity of the task and the trust I … we have in him. I will answer any question most willingly." Then he turned to me.
"In China, a wealthy man may have many wives or many…" He looked puzzled, as if he again was searching for a word.
"Concubines?" I suggested. Lee Chang looked puzzled still, his head cocked at an angle like a bird's. "Paramours? Kept women? Mistresses?"
"Yes. Any of those terms would fit. In China, even in his younger age, before his great wealth, Fang Zhen enjoy the company of women. Many families present their daughters to him for marriage or as a consort. A great variety of women – some as lovely and delicate as a plum blossom, some broad-nosed, wide-hipped and as strong as jade. Fang Zhen have many children with these women. Over time, he was presented with more and more women – as gifts for favors. He could mount a different woman every night.
"But despite the variety of his … consorts, there was a child, a beautiful child of a neighboring village of which much was heard. She was spoken of far and wide and many men traveled to see her." Lee Chang paused and he took on a far-way look.
My father couldn't resist asking, as he was caught up in the story, "Did you see her, Lee Chang?"
"Yes, I did. I was looking for a possible wife for my eldest son, Huan who, may he rest with our ancestors, died before I left for America. As you know, Jimmy was born here in American to my…" He paused and dipped his head. "I also took a wife here. A man becomes lonely.
But to continue, I traveled to see the infant girl at one year, and she was truly blessed by the gods. Beauty is a gift of heaven, much valued since it cannot be bought but can only be granted. And she was pure and smiled at all who looked at her and offered her small, childish gifts. She was like her name, a lotus blossom of perfection and I myself fell under her spell, foolish as I am, wishing I were a younger man or she, an older child ready to be taken. When I returned home with the child's image still in my eyes, I am ashamed to say that I was repelled by my own wife and her garlic smell and rough hands. I longed to own beauty.
"You see, it is believed a woman's beauty reflects virtue and talent…" Lee Chang cleared his throat. "Many talents, and if the child is trained and taught well in the arts including the art of physical love, she can be the consort of the emperor himself. Fang Zhen desired that once the female child reach 10 years, she would be his wife. He gave much money to her family to secure the promise. The child was to be sent here once she reached her 10th birthday, but in China, there was a revolution, the Taiping Rebellion, but, and may the Gods of our people preserve the emperor, it was not successful. But much discord still remains. The revolution prevented Wu Lien's travel.
"In the intervening years, the parents of Wu Lien who grew more beautiful by the day, have declined many other offers of marriage and the accompanying gifts and money. In gratitude, Fang Zhen has sent them much money to assure his claim and to preserve Wu Lien's virtue. But it is believed among those with much experience, that good behavior is a virtue for a man – bad behavior is the virtue of a woman. That is also another reason why a man of our culture is not to be sent to accompany the new consort.
"So, now, at last, Wu Lien is arriving to join Fang Zhen's other wives and to assume a most honored position in his household. The ship, the Majestic, will be in harbor soon and Wu Lien and her maid will debark in a strange land. Fang Zhen is unable to go. He cannot leave his many businesses in the hands of his three sons as he does not have faith in their business sense. The eldest son lies and smokes opium all day – that is his only love - and the other two gamble both day and night. So, tonight, Fang Zhen presented the issue to the Tong. It is feared that a Chinese man, if sent to fetch Wu Lien, even one of the Zhen sons, he will fall under her spell of beauty and steal her away, never wanting to leave her side. That is why we are asking you, Adam Cartwright, if you would escort her and her maid. A man such as yourself would not succumb to her charms; she looks nothing like a woman of your kind."
Lee Chang waited. My father cleared his throat. I truly think he feared I would challenge Lee Chang on his perception of inherent bias on my part. But I didn't. Instead I decided I would challenge the idea of a young bride for an old man such as Fang Zhen.
"So, Fang Zhen believes that a young, lovely woman would be happy with an old husband?"
Lee Chang shrugged. "It is believed wisdom walks hand in hand with age but there is a saying – a young woman with an old man is really someone else's woman. Often, unfortunately, an old man is foolish when it comes to beauty; all men want to possess it and although he be old, Fang Zhen is still a man as any other man."
The three of us sat in silence. I crouched over, not wanting to look either my father or Lee Chang in the eye; my instinct was to say 'Hell, no. I want nothing to do with bringing a lamb to the slaughter'. I felt that's what I would be doing. To present Fang Zhen with another "niece' for him to exultantly deflower was more than my sensibilities would allow. And yet I hesitated. Just because I didn't understand why a man would be allowed to enjoy himself with a bevy of women didn't necessarily make it wrong. I tried very hard not to be judgmental and to remain open-minded about the changes occurring in the world. But this wasn't a change. This was an outdated way of life and while it may be perfectly acceptable in China, we weren't in China.
"I don't know, Lee Chang. I think it's better that one of Fang Zhen's friends, perhaps a Tong member go on this … mission."
Lee Chang sighed. "I wish you would reconsider, Adam. You are well-respected among our people, second only to the esteem in which your father is held. And it is an arduous journey for an older man to take. Fang Zhen took only little convincing to accept you as the escort, your reputation is so renowned."
"Are you attempting to flatter me?"
"Oh, no!' Lee Chang looked truly embarrassed. "I only speak the truth. I know that flattery looks like friendship just as a wolf looks like a dog, but what I say is sincere."
"Let me think about it. Perhaps," I said, "my father can spare Hoss and me for a few weeks and we can do Fang Zhen this favor."
"No," Lee Chang said. "It is asked only that you go. It is hoped that a man driving a small wagon will not attract attention. Two men, well, a highwayman might think your cargo carries much value." Lee Chang dropped his head. "Please, Adam. I humbly ask that you do this favor. It would help…sway a general opinion among the Tong … I had hoped to couch this in kinder language, but there is a change among the members. The Tong is starting to look on the whites as our enemies who conspire ways to keep us from wealth. You must understand that if I return and say that even the Cartwrights will not help…well, it may confirm some false beliefs." He rose from the chair, his face stiff.
"I am sorry to have taken so much of your evening." Lee Chang bowed his head. "Thank you for listening to a foolish man. I also thank you for your friendship. I wish you a good night."
Lee Chang moved toward the door, my father accompanying him. I don't know why I felt so guilty all of a sudden. Perhaps it was because parts of Chinatown had been set ablaze many times over the past year by hooded Virginia City citizens who wanted to run out the Chinese and clean up what they called "Yellow Town." Many a Chinese had been assaulted simply for walking down the street and daring to look into the face of a white woman. I suppose my conscience – my conscience for being a bok gwai – a 'white ghost', and one of the privileged, overcame my reluctance.
"Lee Chang, who am I to refuse a friend? If it will engender good will between the people of Virginia City and the people of Chinatown, I'll escort the women."
He turned, his face beaming as he broke into a smile. He reached for my hand, his concession to another culture. I took his hand and shook it.
"Many thanks, Adam. Many thanks. And may you sleep well tonight as I will. Your generosity and kindness will be conveyed to those who matter." Then he reached into a pocket of his tunic and pulled out a paper. He unfolded it and handed it to me. There was another paper folded along with it. The larger paper was written in English with fine, elegant brush strokes.
I glanced over it. It held instructions for claiming the horses and wagon from a livery stable and the receipt for pre-payment. There was also the date the ship was to dock.
"Well, this ought to do it," I said, refolding the papers.
"One more paper," Lee Chang said. He handed me an elegant envelope made of crisp white paper. On the reverse side of the paper, I could see Chinese lettering and a name was written on the outside in flowing Chinese lettering. The letter itself was the envelope and it was sealed with wax and stamped with a Chinese chop.
"That is a letter for Wu Lien. It is from her benefactor, Fang Zhen. It welcomes her to this country and lets her know of his anticipation of her arrival into his home. If you will be so kind as to deliver it into her hands?"
"Of course," I said smiling. But my smile was forced and I already regretted my decision.
Le Chang pulled out the money pouch. "Are you certain that you won't take this? There may be supplies the women will need for food or clothing. You are doing this out of friendship but friendship does not require you to empty your pockets of silver. Please, Adam, take this pouch. Buy what is necessary and give the remaining coin to Wu Lien – as a small gift from Fang Zhen. Please."
I sighed, looking at my father who raised his brows as if encouraging me.
"All right," I agreed. "I'll take the money and give Lotus the rest." My casual use of the woman's name seemed to disconcert Lee Chang so I quickly corrected myself. "I mean Miss Wu."
"I thank you, Adam, not just for myself but for all elders of the Tong." He bowed again and I found myself foolishly responding in kind; my bowing always felt awkward.
When my father came back in after seeing off Lee Chang, I knew by his scowl he was upset. I handed him a glass of whiskey I had poured along with one for myself.
"I know, Pa, I know. I never should have agreed to go alone. Or to go at all."
He took the small glass from me and downed half of it. Then he shook his head. "I don't know, Adam. It's this whole thing about more than one wife and … I just. But lately there's been so much trouble that I suppose it might have been misinterpreted if you refused. I just don't know, Adam."
I downed the rest of my whiskey and placed my glass on the table. "I don't either, Pa. I think maybe I'm being a goddamn fool to do this."
"Well," my father said, straightening up and raising his glass to me, "it is said that he who knows he is a fool, is not a big fool."
"But still a fool," I said. "Well," I looked at the paper again, "at least I don't have to leave here until Monday and won't miss Easter dinner."
"Then I suggest you go to bed," my father said. "Go on up, Adam, I'll sit up a while more, finish my whiskey, enjoy another smoke. In case Joe comes home, I don't want him to wake up the whole house banging on the front door."
So, I left my father downstairs but I was bothered once I tried to sleep. The whole matter troubled me, women treated as possessions, sold to the highest bidder. And I was playing my part in this farce that passed for love. Fang Zhen just lusted after young flesh and the girl was the pawn used by her parents for riches and the accompanying prestige. But the, beauty has always used as barter, used by women to get what they want and for all I knew, this Wu Lien was a willing participant. Who the hell was I to judge? No one, a bok gwai. A white ghost.