Chapter 76 Decision
"My third daughter, Chu Wang, has been influenced by Western clichés and is already engaged, yet she still fails to reflect on her character and behavior. This is my fault for neglecting her education. I feel ashamed of my own poor parenting, and I truly feel guilty towards Mr. Si. I will first cancel her engagement. If she persists in her own way, I will investigate the family ancestral hall rules and have her name removed. This is my notice."
Because the whitewashed walls were always shedding dust, Mrs. Ge liked to install all kinds of wallpaper: glossy, floral, and gorgeous in the light. However, Hong Kong's humid weather meant that newly installed wallpaper would bubble up after a short time. Therefore, the wallpaper style was always renewed within a season.
Chu Wang leaned against the wallpaper and read the newspaper. He couldn't help but laugh: "If I don't marry, I won't be removed from the list? In that case, marrying Mr. Xu doesn't seem so bad."
Mrs. Ge, who was listening nearby, chuckled in her ear, "You're taking advantage of this issue and making a big deal out of it." She then asked, "I don't care about anyone else. I just want to ask you: What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Chu Wang knew that Mrs. Ge wanted to seek justice for her, so she came to ask her if she really wanted to be engaged to the Si family, so as to know the extent to which she should go to. She smiled and said, "It's not my decision. I can't make the final decision, right?"
After hearing this, Mrs. Ge couldn't help but glance at her. She hadn't even taken off her pale gray-green crepe cheongsam. Behind her was a wallpaper with a green and gold rose pattern. At a close distance, only the threads could be seen, not the flowers themselves. A copper telephone hung from her ear where she leaned against the wall. As dusk approached, the shimmering orange afterglow from outside the corridor filtered through the trees and flowers, casting a three-foot-wide patch of light on the wall. She leaned against the wall, smiling.
Mrs. Ge somehow recalled the dim, old house of many years ago. Inside the vast courtyard, the man's husband spent time with his mistress, rarely returning home a few times a year. When he did, he rarely came to see her. He always went to see the old woman first, then, under the pretext of visiting their son, would sit in her room for only a few minutes. Not long after the old woman passed away, he even saw his son less often because he didn't want to see her. Later, he brought his pregnant mistress to kneel before her, hoping to adopt the baby she was carrying.
She always wanted to ask her, "Why did you marry this man?" She'd said, "I had no say in the matter." That man, when he smiled, looked more delicate and innocent than anyone else. The next day, he even let the wife of the Nanjing Senate's deputy secretary-general know about it. He invited a group of Jiangnan celebrities to his home to testify, and then he had ripped out Lin Yu's beloved daughter. Even after the deed was done, he still smiled gracefully and beautifully on his couch—she had her own shrewdness and formidableness, and presumably, it was precisely because of this that Lin Yu hated her so deeply.
Lin Yu, a descendant of the previous dynasty, passed the imperial examination the same year he was awarded the first government scholarship to study in Japan since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. The year after his return coincided with a new era; if it weren't for this, he would have been accused of betrayal. Thanks to the girl before him, he and Si Ying worked together for twelve years, and after 1941-1942, he was invited to Europe. He had dodged what Si Ying hadn't been able to avoid.
It is true that gentlemen have little fortune, while villains live long.
He had been living a more comfortable life these years. In the past, for the sake of the girl in front of him, she had kept the great name of his old Lin family and could not bear to sully it.
Now it's time for him to fall.
Mrs. Ge frowned again.
There had been some rumors about Mr. Xu, and she had asked around: Mrs. Xu's health might not last many years, but Mr. Xu was quite talented. In recent years, men aged 27 and older who had been widowed had a certain maturity and grace, and were even more popular than those who were unmarried. Therefore, like everyone else, Mrs. Ge had assumed that the girl was truly in love with him, and she had turned a blind eye to it. She had never expected her to be so strong-willed, which was a relief.
What about that Young Master Si? If he really wanted to marry, it wouldn't matter if he didn't have this engagement. Similarly, if this girl really wanted to marry, she might not be unwilling to fight for herself.
But Mrs. Ge could see the current situation clearly and was even more clearly pessimistic.
After a moment's thought, he called Mr. Henry and said in a few words in English, "Send a telegram to Mr. Shen, the lawyer in Shanghai, and tell him I have a will case and would like him to discuss it with me."
Mrs. Ge went to give orders. The phone kept ringing, like a ghost calling out to her. When she picked up the phone, there was a clamor on the other end. Zhenzhen's voice was heavily nasal, and she asked impatiently, "What's going on?"
Chu Wang knew that she was being followed by Mrs. Qiao at the Qiao Mansion and was not free, so he borrowed a phone from a grocery store outside to call. She smiled and said, "I'm going to Shanghai."
"Ah? Your father made such a scene in the newspaper. Maybe in a few months, all the overseas students in Europe and the United States will know about it. Even if you escape to Java, it will be useless." He lowered his voice again, "Mrs. Ge didn't do anything?"
Chu Wang couldn't help laughing and said, "I'm afraid he won't make a big enough fuss. Mrs. Ge... probably thinks the same."
A tram rumbled past on the opposite side, and I couldn't hear it clearly. "What?"
"Nothing. I really have something to do and I have to go to Shanghai."
"When are you going?"
"Just these few days."
"Of course Shanghai is great. Hong Kong is a small place, with no big scenes or new things to do." He paused, "I have an exam tomorrow. When I finish my exams in two weeks, I will definitely come back to play with you immediately."
"Take your exam well, I'll wait for you."
Zhenzhen had a cold and was sniffling like she was about to have a runny nose. Ye Wenyu let out a muffled laugh from the other end of the line. Then there were two thuds, as if Zhenzhen had punched him hard, and he cried out in pain. Zhenzhen punched him and said, "Alright, we're going out for Cantonese food. We don't have much money left, so I won't say any more. See you in Shanghai."
After hanging up the phone, Chu Wang thought of the lovely two people and was still happy for a while. She was laughing so hard that she didn't notice that Mrs. Ge had finished giving instructions and returned. She stared at her from the dark and asked, "Are you planning to go to Shanghai?"
"Yes. I was just about to tell you that, but you just ran away."
"You're blaming me?" Mrs. Ge glared at her. Aunt and niece leaned against the wall, each with their own unique posture and demeanor. They had been influenced by what they had seen and heard, and had become somewhat alike.
But neither of them noticed this.
After thinking for a long time, Mrs. Ge finally compromised, "Yeah. Shanghai is a big place, it's good to get to know more people."
The next day, the boat ticket and the letter of appointment arrived. Logically, their project was still short of funds, so there was no way they could make an exception for her. But when the boat ticket arrived, it was still a first-class one.
Mrs. Ge didn't say much and took the initiative to help Chu Wang pack his things.
Miya and Zhenzhen had an exam together and wanted to come over, but Mr. Jiang stopped her at home and asked him to visit the Ge Mansion on her behalf. Before they could say a few words, another call came from Chu Wang.
It’s Xu Wenjun.
"I called to say goodbye. He plans to send me to a friend's house in England to attend secondary school...so he told Aunt to give up the idea of adopting me," he continued, lowering his voice. "A few days ago, my uncle came back furious and was ready to send me away these past couple of days. Aunt went on a hunger strike at home, but he just ignored it. He even told Aunt, 'If you want to die, why not die peacefully? In the underworld, you'll be a wandering ghost with no worries. Wouldn't that be more satisfying?' It scared us all."
She hadn't read Sun Tzu, but she had still heard this sentence:
"You must live, but you can be taken captive."
She said with a smile.
——
Chu Wang was answering the phone on this side, while Mrs. Ge was chatting with Mr. Jiang waiting for her on the other end.
Suixi and Miqiu directed the maids to pack her luggage, and they bustled around in the corridor. They had packed four or five boxes and placed them on the second floor. Mr. Jiang, standing at the door, saw them and asked, "Is Mrs. Ge not going with you?"
"She goes to see new things, but as an elder, I can't have fun following her."
"Can you be assured?"
Mrs. Ge thought about it, frowned and said nothing.
"Have you arranged everything for her in Shanghai?" Mr. Jiang smiled and said, "After Xiaowu finishes her exams, I'll go back to Macau with her and then go to Shanghai in a few months. If Mrs. Ge is willing, I can also ask someone to help look after the third young lady. Or does Mrs. Ge have other arrangements?"
Mr. Jiang's mention of this made her even more worried that she had been pampered for years and wasn't used to the food, clothing, and daily expenses. She almost wanted to have the entire kitchen and maid service staff at the Ge Mansion fitted for her in Shanghai. She also called a few police friends in the French Concession and had them keep an eye on her everywhere, but she still felt uneasy. She summoned Mi Qiu several times—she had raised this girl in her care, so polite and well-mannered that she almost asked her to go with her to Shanghai.
Mr. Jiang's words rekindled her thoughts. She called Mi Qiu over again, and both Mr. Jiang and Mi Qiu laughed.
"Mrs. Ge has really worked hard."
Mi Qiu said, "Mrs. Ge, just send me to accompany the young lady. The young lady has always been used to being free. If she doesn't want us idle people hanging around, I will naturally do more and talk less."
Mrs. Ge lowered her head and thought for a moment, but suddenly something occurred to her. She turned her head and glanced at Mr. Jiang accusingly.
Mr. Jiang had thought of this long ago, but since he was not involved, he didn't want to say it out loud. Mrs. Ge was overly worried and her thoughts were in a mess, so he only gave some subtle guidance.
Mrs. Ge looked over and saw Mr. Jiang's smile, and she immediately understood what was going on.
Mi Qiu turned around and was about to give instructions when Mrs. Ge hurriedly called her back:
"Wait...Mi Qiu, you don't have to go to Shanghai."
Mi Qiu hesitated slightly, but still agreed, "Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Ge continued, "Tell Mr. Henry to send a telegram to the Public Security Bureau of the International Settlement Municipal Council and ask for Mr. Xie."
Mi Qiu hummed and waited quietly.
"The telegram says: 'Miss San will arrive in Shanghai next Friday. Tell him to take good care of her. If a hair goes missing, I'll hold him responsible."
Mr. Jiang sat nearby, listening, and flatteringly said, "Mr. Xie specializes in eating, drinking, and having fun, and he's also an inspector. No demon or devil in Shanghai, Chinese or foreign, would dare to take Miss San again. Going to Shanghai to find him as a companion is a great opportunity. Mrs. Ge is truly wise."
——
On a freezing February day in Shanghai, a phone call summoned Xie Zeyi back from his lecture hall to the warmth of the Municipal Council. He'd been exposed to the chilly wind all day, and now, just as he'd warmed up, he was shivering. He bowed and nodded as he received the telegram from the Commissioner of Police. Before he could even read it, the entire station's detectives, detectives, and inspectors were staring at him.
He laughed first: "What important telegram?"
He then looked down at the telegram, which read: "The ship will arrive in Shanghai on Friday, March 3rd. Please take good care of it. If there is any mistake, watch out for your skin."
Xie Zeyi finished checking the telegram paper, and everyone in the room was still staring at him. Telegrams from the bureau were both public and private, and many of them knew Chinese, so this telegram had always been passed around.
He coughed twice and said, "I've got an errand from home."
"What's the job?" The inspector laughed so hard that his beard trembled, and patted him on the shoulder. "It shouldn't be a tough job, right?"
"Uh..." Xie Zeyi pondered for a moment. Perhaps the cold wind outside had frozen his head, and he couldn't think of any words to define this job.
I shook my head and walked out. Someone had blatantly posted a soap advertisement at the door. There was a picture of a birdcage on it with an oriental lady trapped inside.
Xie Zeyi finally couldn't help laughing, thinking: ...Is the canary out of the cage?
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