The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama: abridged edition [abridged edition] 9780231535540

Table of contents :
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1.The Main Event in Life (1919), translated by Edward M. Gunn
2. The Night the Tiger Was Caught (1922–1923), translated by Jonathan S. Noble
3. After Returning Home (1922), translated by Jonathan S. Noble
4. A Wasp (1923), translated by John B. Weinstein and Carsey Yee
5. Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda (1928), translated by Paul B. Foster
6. Thunderstorm (1934), translated by Wang Tso-liang and A. C. Barnes, revised translation by Charles Qianzhi Wu, with a translation of prologue and epilogue
7. Under Shanghai Eaves (1937), translated by George Hayden
8. Teahouse (1958), translated by Ying Ruocheng, revised by Claire Conceison
9. Guan Hanqing (1958), retranslated by Amy Dooling
10. The Young Generation (1965), translated by Constantine Tung and Kevin A. O’Connor
11. The Red Lantern (1970), translated by Brenda Austin and John B. Weinstein
12. The Bus Stop (1983), translated by Shiao-Ling Yu
13. Jiang Qing and Her Husbands (1990), translated by Kirk A. Denton
Glossary
Contributors

Citation preview

The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama ABRIDGED EDITION

We a th e r h e a d Books on A si a

Weatherhead Books on Asia Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University A complete list of books in this series appears on page 642.

The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama A BR IDGED EDI T ION

Edited, with a critical introduction, by Xiaomei Chen

C o lu m b i a U n i ve rsi ty P re ss N e w York

This publication has been supported by the Richard W. Weatherhead Publication Fund of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University.

Columbia University Press Publishers Since 1893 New York Chichester, West Sussex cup.columbia.edu

Copyright © 2014 Columbia University Press All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Columbia anthology of modern Chinese drama / edited, with a critical introduction, by Xiaomei Chen. — Abridged edition. p. cm. ISBN 978-0-231-16502-0 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-231-16503-7 (pbk.) — ISBN 978-0-231-53554-0 (electronic) 1. Chinese drama—20th century—Translations into English. I. Chen, Xiaomei, 1954- editor of compilation. PL2658.E5C65 2013 895.1'2508—dc23 2012044657

Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper. This book is printed on paper with recycled content. Printed in the United States of America c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Jacket image: 1992 performance of Lao She’s 1958 play Teahouse to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Beijing People’s Art Theatre (photograph courtesy of Beijing People’s Art Theatre). Jacket design: Kathleen Lynch/Black Kat Design References to websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author nor Columbia University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared.

To the generations of Chinese playwrights and theater artists, and the translators, whose talents and spirit have given birth to this anthology

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

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1. Hu Shi, The Main Event in Life (1919), translated by Edward M. Gunn 31

2. Tian Han, The Night the Tiger Was Caught (1922–1923), translated by Jonathan S. Noble 40

3. Ouyang Yuqian, After Returning Home (1922), translated by Jonathan S. Noble 58

4. Ding Xilin, A Wasp (1923), translated by John B. Weinstein and Carsey Yee 80

5. Bai Wei, Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda (1928), translated by Paul B. Foster 95

6. Cao Yu, Thunderstorm (1934), translated by Wang Tso-liang and A. C. Barnes, revised translation by Charles Qianzhi Wu, with a translation of prologue and epilogue 157

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7. Xia Yan, Under Shanghai Eaves (1937), translated by George Hayden 283

8. Lao She, Teahouse (1958), translated by Ying Ruocheng, revised by Claire Conceison 334

9. Tian Han, Guan Hanqing (1958), retranslated by Amy Dooling 385

10. Chen Yun, The Young Generation (1965), translated by Constantine Tung and Kevin A. O’Connor 461

11. Weng Ouhong and A Jia, revised by the China Peking Opera Troupe, The Red Lantern (1970), translated by Brenda Austin and John B. Weinstein 519

12. Gao Xingjian, The Bus Stop (1983), translated by Shiao-Ling Yu 556

13. Sha Yexin, Jiang Qing and Her Husbands (1990), translated by Kirk A. Denton 592

Glossary 635 Contributors 639

Ac k n ow l ed g m e n t s

I am deeply indebted to the brilliant playwrights and their generous children and relatives for granting the English translation rights for this anthology and to the talented translators, who put aside their own important work to contribute to the making of this anthology. I thank Edward M. Gunn for his early support of the project and for his permission to include two plays from his pioneering anthology Twentieth-Century Chinese Drama (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1983), The Main Event in Life and Under Shanghai Eaves. I am grateful to Indiana University Press for permission to reprint them. I am indebted also to Shiao-Ling Yu and the Edwin Mellen Press for granting permission to include The Bus Stop, originally published in 1996 in Chinese Drama After the Cultural Revolution, 1979 –1989. I thank the University of Hawai‘i Press for its permission to include Jiang Qing and Her Husbands, first published in 2003 in Reading the Right Text. I express my gratitude to Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, for permission to revise the translation by Wang Tsuo-liang and A. C. Barnes of Cao Yu’s Thunderstorm (1958, 1978) and the translation by Foreign Languages Press of Tian Han’s Guan Hanqing (1961). I thank Jennifer Crewe, Columbia University Press editorial director, for her unstinting support of this project and for her professionalism, efficiency, and perseverance in guiding me through a long process; I am especially grateful for Jennifer’s advocacy for this abridged edition to further introduce modern Chinese plays to university classrooms and the general reader. I am grateful to the six anonymous external reviewers who advised me in connection with making the difficult decision of which plays to

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include in this abridged edition. I thank the copy editor, Mike Ashby, for his patience, skill, tireless efforts, and editorial decision to convert the format of each play in accordance with standard publishing practices for plays in English, and Leslie R. Kriesel, assistant managing editor, for her understanding, timely communication, and professional skills. I am indebted also to the College of Humanities, Ohio State University, for the Seed Grant to start this project, to the University of California, Davis, for a publication subvention grant for the original edition, and to Victor Mair, for his early support of the project. I am grateful to my teacher, Marvin Carlson, and to my friends and colleagues Kirk A. Denton, Patricia Sieber, Marvin Carlson, Judy Andrews, Kuiyi Shen, Timothy Wong, Michelle Yeh, David Der-wei Wang, Chengzhi Chu, Ban Wang, Xiaobing Tang, Barbara Mittler, Wendy Larson, Lindsey Jones, Chia-ning Chang, Smriti Srinivas, Susan Mann, Beverly Bossler, Clair Conceison, Thomas E. Postlewait, and to many other people for their support and encouragement. I thank my students of the past twenty years, who shared my interest in modern Chinese theater and culture; they, too, have contributed to this anthology. Last but not least, I am indebted to Mark Halperin for his love and his faith in me, and to Miriam Halperin for her pictures and Mother’s Day greetings executed on the backs of manuscript pages piled up around the house for years.

In t r o d u c t i o n Xia omei C he n

Having taught modern Chinese spoken drama (huaju) in the American classroom for the past twenty years, I have found it possible to put together an anthology with what I believe to be the best, most popular dramatic texts, texts well received by students of diverse cultural and language backgrounds. In compiling this volume for general readers and students of Chinese culture alike, I followed three interlocking criteria. My strategy was to situate this anthology first in the context of modern Chinese literary and cultural history under local and global circumstances, and second in the context of comparative drama and theater. Third, I bore in mind various formalist traditions of both East and West across time so that Chinese theater could be introduced more substantially to readers and students of world drama and theater in terms of dramaturgy.1 These thirteen plays illustrate the historical, cultural, and aesthetic traditions of Chinese drama in the twentieth century and the formation of Chinese national and gender identities and their relationships to the West through the looking glass of theater and performance. Modern Chinese drama came on the Chinese stage at the turn of the twentieth century in imitation of the plays of the Western Ibsenesque tradition. Hua simply means “spoken language” and ju, “drama.” In contrast to Chinese operatic theater, which combines singing, speaking, acting, and acrobatics, Chinese spoken drama, like its Western counterpart, consists mostly of speaking and acting, although dramatists in the later periods experimented with music, singing, and dancing in an attempt to combine the traditions of both the East and the West. The development of modern Chinese drama could not have affected cultural and political history so profoundly without having benefited directly from the late Qing

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dynasty’s operatic reform as advocated by Liang Qichao. Along with his theories of a “novelistic revolution” and a “poetic revolution,” Liang initiated reform (xiqu gailiang) to free traditional operatic theater from its ancient rules so that opera might also play a significant role in constructing a new nation. Between 1901 and 1912, as many as 150 new scripts of southern plays (chuanqi), northern plays (zaju), and other local operas came out in different magazines and newspapers. Some of these works dramatized the deeds of national heroes from ancient times and were meant to advance the goals of the contemporary anti-Qing (anti-Manchu) movement. Other plays depicted significant contemporary events, such as a biographical play entitled The Injustice of Xuanting (Xuanting yuan) about Qiu Jin, a female revolutionary martyr executed in 1907 for her anti-Qing activities. The tragedy shocked the nation and inspired many writers of fiction and drama. Other new Peking operas protested foreign imperialist aggression against China, such as Russia’s invasion of Heilongjiang province in An Un-Russian Dream (Fei xiong meng), the foreign military expedition in China in 1900 in Wuling Spring (Wuling chun), and the protest against America’s Chinese immigration exclusion acts in The Spring of Overseas Chinese (Haiqiao chun). Liang Qichao’s operatic reform resulted in two distinctive features that affected the development and status of modern Chinese drama. First, Liang transformed the traditional view of wen yi zai dao (literature transmits the Way) into a modern concept of enlightenment, thereby combining a traditional art with a modern political ideal of democracy. Liang’s concept of new citizens (xinmin) was aimed at turning the Chinese people into modern individuals with regard to ethics, personality, and moral standards, and, given theater’s access to an audience, Liang believed he had a most effective way of constructing a new Chinese nation. Second, Liang’s operatic revolution brought together elite literati (wenren) with theater artists (yiren), who had been regarded as vulgar artisans without grace and culture.2 Liang’s reinterpretation of the social and ideological functions of theater elevated the status of traditional theater and its practitioners. In addition, Liang intellectualized operatic theater by introducing new thematic concerns and modern stories in lieu of centuries-old operatic stories featuring mostly emperors, kings, generals, and statesmen (di wang jiang xiang), and talented scholars and classic beauties (caizi jiaren). The newly reformed operas (gailiang xinju) became an innovative means of transmitting an ideology directed at bringing about revolutionary changes while benefiting from an existing broad audience at the grassroots level drawn to the traditional form of operatic art. The operas also benefited from new performance spaces, such as the New Stage (Xin Wutai), which opened in Shanghai in 1908 and replaced the old teahouse kind of space with a modern theater and proscenium stage. The impact of the New Stage as a public space for advocating a republican revolution led to President Sun Yatsen’s approving, in 1912, the establishment of the Shanghai Association of Theater Artists (Shanghai Lingjie Xiehui). Sun attended reformed opera performances and supported the artists’ agenda of promoting revolutionary movements.3 It is thus not surprising that early practitioners of reformed Peking operas such as Wang Xiaonong and Ouyang Yuqian later pioneered an early form of modern spoken

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drama, then known as “civilized drama” (wenmingxi), or more generally referred to as “new drama” (xinju), as opposed to “old drama” (jiuju) of the operatic tradition. Influenced by the “new theater” of Japan (shinpa), which imitated Western modern drama in reaction against its own traditions, playwrights and performers of civilized drama envisioned a new theater in service to the revolutionary cause of overthrowing the last Qing dynasty, thereby placing new drama squarely in the construction of a new Chinese national identity. In February 1907, a group of overseas students in Japan organized the Spring Willow Society (Chunliu She) and successfully performed the third act of Dumas fils’s Camille (Chahua nü) in Tokyo as part of a fund-raiser to support refugees from flood disasters in China. This was the first performance of modern spoken drama staged by the Chinese in the Chinese language.4 In June of that year, the Spring Willow society staged, again in Tokyo, The Black Slave Cries Out to Heaven (Heinu yu tian lu), a full-fledged dramatic adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This five-act drama was the first complete adaptation written by Chinese dramatists, although impromptu elements were introduced, such as when “Indians, Japanese, Koreans, and other nationals showed up on stage in their own national costumes to take whatever role they liked” in a scene of celebration.5 This early piece embodied the paradoxical story of the development of modern Chinese drama. While influenced by the fundamental American concept that everyone is created equal, and using it as an argument against Confucian tradition, the first generation of Chinese dramatists was nevertheless attracted to Uncle Tom’s Cabin for its powerful judgment against slavery. Thus, the issues of racial conflict, national identity, and resistance to oppression took center stage in modern Chinese drama from its origin. Of equal importance, the Spring Willow Society experimented with new creative possibilities unavailable in the old theater. As a consequence of theater’s political orientation, new drama developed rapidly in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Hong Kong. For example, in Nanjing in 1911 the Evolution Troupe produced Blood-Stained Straw Cape (Xuesuo yi), set in Meiji Restoration Japan. The play depicts the struggle of Japanese parliamentarians against imperial monarchists, a clear reference to Chinese revolutionaries’ efforts to end imperial rule in China. Similarly, in the same season the troupe produced The Storms of East Asia (Dongya fengyun), dramatizing the story of An Chung-geun, a Korean national hero, who, in 1909, assassinated Itō Hirobumi, the Japanese resident general of Korea. The years 1911 to 1914 represented the most prosperous period for civilized drama, but sinking morale after Yuan Shikai’s attempted monarchical restoration in 1914–1915 gradually resulted in its decline.6 Instead of its former revolutionary appeal, it became increasingly subject to commercialization and to satisfying the popular taste for family drama. Nevertheless, the ten years of the civilized drama period, from 1907 to 1917, broadly defined, paved the way for the subsequent development of huaju, or spoken drama, and the landmark publication, in 1919, of Hu Shi’s The Main Event in Life (Zhong shen da shi), included in this anthology.

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N AT IO N A L ID E NT IT Y, GENDER P OLI TI CS, A N D T H E WA R E XPE RIENCE: BUI LDI NG UP T H E CA N O N IN T HE REP UBLI CAN P ERI OD (1911–1949) Although a somewhat crude imitation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, and not really the first full-fledged Chinese original script, as some drama historians have claimed,7 Hu’s The Main Event in Life has assumed great significance in the history of modern Chinese drama for several reasons. As a prominent leader of the “new literary movement” (xin wenxue yundong), designed to promote iconoclastic agendas against traditional Confucian culture, Hu wrote this one-act play to address the age-old practice of arranged marriage; the play exerted tremendous influence among young people, who were still having to struggle to overcome this tradition in spite of the rapid changes of the time. Published in New Youth in 1919, a progressive journal influential among liberal intellectuals and students, Hu’s play reached a reading public that welcomed being introduced in this way to Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. It also appreciated his essay “Ibsenism,” which, along with the play, served to promote individualism and the pursuit of love and freedom. Although primitive in terms of dramaturgy, Hu’s play depicts the valiant action of Tian Yamei, who elopes with her Japanese-educated lover against her parents’ will. Hu created a vivid father figure, a superficially “modern” man insofar as his stance against the superstitious mother is concerned but stubbornly traditional in his objection to Yamei’s marriage simply because he worries more about the clan members’ opinion of him than about his daughter’s happiness. With this play, Hu was not only censuring patriarchal fathers steeped in various guises of Confucian ideologies, but he was also pioneering what was to be a century-long tradition in Chinese spoken drama: numerous Nora-like characters would leave their patriarchal homes—whether the home of their parents or of their husband—in order to find out, as Nora asks in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, who is right, society or me? Soon after the publication of Hu’s play, the May Fourth Movement broke out, signaled by Peking University students’ demonstrations in Tiananmen Square on May 4, 1919. The students were protesting the intention of Chinese officials to sign the Treaty of Versailles, by which German possessions in Shandong province would go to Japan. Although humiliated by the Western imperialist powers’ subjugation of Chinese territory, Chinese intellectuals like Hu, who had spent six years at Cornell University studying Western philosophy, were at the same time attracted to the modernization program of the West and its democratic system, seeing them as promising models for a progressive, prosperous China; some of Hu’s cohorts went so far as to argue that modern drama in the Western style—more than democracy and science (the two key avenues then being advanced for reforming Chinese society), and more than other literary forms— would indeed become the most effective tool for transforming traditional Chinese society. In sharp contrast to Liang Qichao, who had argued for new content with which to reform the old opera, but without proposing new forms, Hu advocated eliminating the

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old forms to better express new contents. In a series of critical debates published in New Youth on the future orientation of Chinese theater, some critics called for the closing down of the obsolete operatic theater in order to promote “real drama” (zhenxi), which, by Hu’s definition, could be found only in Western realist plays. All these activities resulted in rapid translation of Western plays; according to one estimate, between 1917 and 1924 there were at least twenty-six literary journals and newspapers and four publishing houses that had printed 170 plays by more than seventy playwrights from about sixteen foreign countries, with Ibsen, Chekhov, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and Maurice Maeterlinck among the most favored.8 Putting theory into practice, Hu, with this single play, launched a realist trend in Chinese drama, using vernacular language and a dialogue-only script to create a “social problem play” (wenti ju), a term he used to describe Ibsen’s works. Drama historians in modern China have often commented on the pioneering efforts of the three founders of spoken drama, Hong Shen, Tian Han, and Ouyang Yuqian.9 Hong has been recognized for his script writing, as seen in his expressionist play Yama Zhao (Zhao yanwang),10 an imitation of Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones, and for his directing, as demonstrated in his successful 1924 adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan. In the latter play Hong ingeniously transposed the English comedy into the setting of upper-class Shanghai, with its intricate social milieu, all supported by magnificent, realistic staging. Using for the first time a new system of professional directing (replacing the improvisational acting of before), Hong was immediately recognized as a new authority on the scripting, directing, and theater management of Western-style modern dramas, skills he had studied and practiced in America for several years. This achievement enhanced a reputation he had already made for being first to write a complete film script for a burgeoning movie industry. Tian Han is celebrated more broadly for his numerous scripts (superior to Hong’s in both quality and quantity), his brilliant organizational talents, as demonstrated by his directorship of artistic institutions, his training of theater and film personnel, and his leadership role in staging dramatic performances by the Southern Drama Society (Nanguo She).11 The last accomplishment spread spoken drama to much of China, including Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, and other cities. Furthermore, Tian was unique in writing spoken drama, traditional operas, and film scripts, combining the best aspects of opera heritage with the modern appeal of spoken drama and film. In this regard, Tian was alone among the rare literary giants in not pitting opera, as the traditional / conservative art, against spoken drama, as the modern / progressive art, an opposition held by other May Fourth intellectuals. With sixty-four modern spoken dramas by Tian to choose from, I selected his early 1920s play The Night the Tiger Was Caught (Huohu zi ye) for this anthology. A work that combines the romantic and realist aspects of modern drama, it best displays the influence on Chinese dramatists in the first two decades of the twentieth century of Western writers such as Goethe, Shelley, Schiller, Strindberg, Heine, Hoffmann, Ibsen, Chekhov, Dostoyevsky, Synge, Poe, Verlaine, Tolstoy, Hugo, Baudelaire, Yeats, Turgenev, Gogol, Marx, Lenin, and Stanislavsky, all of whom had influenced Tian in his early writings.

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Whereas Hu’s satirical comedy The Main Event in Life ends with a wittily treated elopement, Tian’s one-act tragedy poses the impossibility of escaping an arranged marriage for an ignorant peasant family. Isolated in a mountain village in southern China where Confucian doctrines demand total obedience, Lotus is told that if a tiger is captured on a certain night, it will be used as her dowry when she is married off to a well-to-do family. The seriously wounded “tiger” they capture in the trap turns out, however, to be Crazy Huang, her heartbroken lover, who kills himself in protest against Lotus’s father after the latter has forbidden his daughter to minister to her lover’s wound the night before her wedding day. An Ibsenesque reading of the play along the lines of the realist tradition has to be complemented with an acknowledgment of Tian’s affinity for neoromanticism (associated later with one of the various schools of modernism), which he wholeheartedly embraced in the early 1920s. Following the aesthetic of Wilde’s art for art’s sake and that of other Western and Japanese writers, Tian created a sentimental, poetic character in Crazy Huang, whose loneliness and sadness are evoked in Huang’s watching from afar the dim light coming from Lotus’s room. Solitude in the dark is perceived as more dreadful than sickness and cold for an orphan drifting in the desolate world without parental love. Upon hearing that Lotus was going to be married the next morning, Huang wanted a last glimpse of her lighted window, and it was at this moment that he was mistakenly trapped as the tiger. This focus on a poetic lover’s languorous sentiments prompted critics to attack Tian’s play for falling short of the realist school’s goal of exposing social problems. Tian countered that such critics did not realize that, in addition to social significance, literature and art had artistic values. Tian believed that Ibsen himself wanted to include poems in his social problem plays, even though his critics praised him for such achievements as inspiring, with A Doll’s House, women’s liberation.12 Typical of modern Chinese playwrights, Tian projected his own longings and sentiments of an intellectual in the depiction of a poor peasant. However, upon “turning left” in 1930 to participate in the communist-led left-wing literary movement, Tian crusaded against his own play, now judging his once-beloved characters against the idealist image of the proletariat. Tian argued that Huang’s suicide and Lotus’s failure to rebel against the patriarchal society reflected his own failure as a playwright to illustrate a hopeful future for the oppressed masses. This revisionist interpretation helped justify the play’s production and reception in the period of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), established in 1949, when it was touted as one of the best works of the May Fourth literary tradition. Critics in the post-Mao period (1976 to the present), moreover, have repeatedly cited it as one of the most brilliant plays in the twentieth-century dramatic repertory because of its closely knit plot and poetic language. In my view, it is form and content, as well as romantic sentiments and sympathy for the poor, that won this play an enduring place in drama history. Like Tian Han, Ouyang Yuqian, the third founder of Chinese modern spoken drama, was well versed in both Western dramaturgy and Peking opera, the latter being his stronger suit and setting him apart from his two peers. In fact, his claim to mastery

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of the art was almost equal to that of Mei Lanfang; whereas he was the master performer of Peking opera in the south, Mei Lanfang dominated the opera stage of the north, as attested to by the then popular phrase nan Ou bei Mei (Ouyang of the south, Mei of the north).13 In contrast to Hong Shen, who went to America to study, both Tian Han and Ouyang Yuqian studied in Japan, where they benefited from Japanese theater’s introduction of modern Western plays as a part of a comprehensive effort to reform traditional Japanese plays. Ouyang wrote fewer spoken dramas than Tian. However, his 1922 play After Returning Home (Huijia yihou), included here, is one of the earliest plays from the Chinese diaspora. It depicts a Chinese overseas student torn between his loving, understanding homebound wife, acquired through an arranged marriage, and his Chinese American lover, a nagging, jealous woman from the West. Faulting the then popular May Fourth imperative that China must learn from the West how to build a strong nation through science and democracy, After Returning Home points to the negative American and European influences on Chinese intellectuals and, by extension, on Chinese society. The sad, hopeless character of the prisonlike house in rural China of Tian’s The Night the Tiger Was Caught is transformed, in Ouyang’s play, into an idyllic landscape where the Western-bound traveler finds love, tranquillity, understanding, and forgiveness in an arranged marriage, a traditional practice attacked by the May Fourth generation. The part of the plot in which Lu Zhiping falls in love with his arranged-marriage wife only after he has returned from the West reflects the playwright’s desire to transcend the oppositions between East and West, traditional and modern, rural and urban, and home and away in search of a universal harmony and happiness. Zifang’s desire to be close to nature, to love and take care of Lu’s family even after Lu has expressed his wish to leave, and her wisdom in letting Lu make his own choices represent a female ideal, a woman who is educated and modern but who has not cast aside the positive values of traditional society, such as her assumed responsibility for her in-laws. It is therefore understandable that Hong Shen, in his introduction to the first anthology of modern Chinese drama, published in 1935, pointed out that, if produced carelessly, the play could easily have been interpreted as a “shallow” piece expressing a reaction against “overseas students”14 and, by extension, Hong implied, against the progressive, iconoclastic agendas of the May Fourth Movement. Ouyang’s other plays substantiated his liberal, feminist stance, as can be seen in his other wellreceived play, Pan Jinlian, included in Edward M. Gunn’s pioneering anthology.15 In this typical May Fourth play, the heroine, portrayed as an adulteress and murderess typified in the classic Ming novel The Water Margin, becomes a brave modern woman who revolts against the patriarchal society and its system of arranged marriages by openly declaring her passion for Wu Song, the brother of her murdered husband. Interestingly, whether conforming to or opposing the iconoclastic May Fourth agenda, both Hu Shi and Ouyang Yuqian explored the simple form of a one-act play to effectively portray their characters. They also incorporated comedy, with Hu describing The Main Event in Life as “a comedy of games” (youxi de xiju) and the critics of After Returning Home dubbing it one of the earliest examples of “satirical comedy.”16 Hu

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played with the ironic setting of a half-Chinese, half-Western family room as a potential compromise between the two conflicting generations, thereby eulogizing the enlightened young while good-naturedly satirizing the superstitious older people. Ouyang, on the other hand, communicated an idealist view of a modern woman through satirizing the hypocrisy and shallowness of her Western-educated Chinese husband.17 In contrast, Ding Xilin’s A Wasp (Yizhi mafeng), included here, represents one of the best works by a playwright who had helped develop the genre of comedy in modern China. Returning to China in 1920, Ding had been a student in England, where he received a degree in physics and explored the works of such Western playwrights as George Bernard Shaw, J. M. Barrie, and George Meredith, whose notion of “thoughtful laughter”18 found its way into this play. Published in 1923, A Wasp established his reputation as a first-rate writer of comedy, wittily portraying complex, lively characters whose entertaining personalities and opposing desires make up much of the play’s humor, tricks, and reconciliations amid the distinctive social milieu of the 1920s middle class. The gentle humor and wordplay in Ding’s comedies caused some critics to claim that he broke new ground in a direction opposite to that of Ibsenesque plays and their serious social issues, hence producing more artistically mature plays than those of his predecessors. With the next play in this anthology, the 1928 tragedy Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda (Da chu youlingta), by Bai Wei, one of the most important female playwrights of twentieth-century China, we move beyond the “trapped tiger” image of a traditional China as showcased in The Night the Tiger Was Caught. To be sure, as a “student” of Tian Han’s, who had introduced her to Ibsenesque plays in Japan, and no doubt influenced by Tian’s romantic and realist sentiments, Bai depicts in her play the large family domain of a rich landlord as a prisonlike establishment. From this prison, Zheng Shaomei, a brave, Nora-like concubine, finally breaks free as she searches for her own liberation. Her story is only a subplot, however, to foreground a more sorrowful story, that of Xiao Sen, a loving mother, and Xiao Yuelin, a long-lost daughter, who dies defending her mother against the bullet directed at her by her “father.” The death of the daughter in her mother’s arms at the conclusion of Bai’s play symbolizes the sheer difficulty, if not the impossibility, of breaking out of the patriarchal home. Xiao Sen’s return home poses a serious question, however: what happens to Nora after she leaves home, as so raised by Lu Xun? Xiao Sen’s disastrous fate of losing her daughter despite her public role as a revolutionary leader of the Women’s Federation foreshadows the grim future of Zheng Shaomei, who has left Hu Rongsheng’s home without the economic means and social support that would enable her success as an independent woman. Is Zheng going to survive the dark world that presents especially forbidding hurdles for women, or is she going to embrace a revolutionary career, only to lose to the cause of the revolution her identities as a woman and as a mother, as did Xiao Sen? Most significant, this play provided Bai an opportunity to reflect on, as a feminist, the nature of the Republican Revolution. As the first, rare play directly depicting the peasant revolution sweeping the rural areas of Hunan province (Bai’s home region), Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda dramatizes the struggle of the poor peasants and their

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leader, the hero Ling Xia, against the rich and oppressive landlord, Hu Rongsheng. The class conflicts are complicated, however, by three overlapping sets of relationships and by incest, rape, and family secrets. The first triangle implicates Ling Xia, who competes with Hu Rongsheng and Hu’s son, Qiaoming, for the love of Yuelin. The second concerns Hu’s relationship with his concubine, Zheng Shaomei, and Xiao Sen, whom Hu had raped twenty years before. Compounding this second triangle is Hu’s lust for Yuelin, who, unbeknownst to the two of them, is the daughter of Xiao Sen and Hu Rongsheng. The third triangle involves Hu, Xiao Sen, and her secret lover, Gui Yi, Hu’s accountant, who had saved Yuelin when she was an infant from Hu’s attempt to drown her in the river. Raised by Gui Yi, Yuelin grew into a beautiful woman and was later adopted by the lustful Hu as his daughter. By means of these relationships, which transcend class background, generational gaps, and normal family relationships, the very nature of revolution (which has been conventionally interpreted by critics as the play’s passionate theme) is put on trial. This is particularly evident when Ling expresses more despair with regard to his love pursuit than to his troubled revolutionary activities. These complicated developments lead to a darker view of the future of the revolution. Ling cries out, in act 3, that he became a rebel against the class oppressor and jumped “into the revolution” because he “couldn’t bear to see the darkness and oppression in society.” But then he laments, “And now, once again, I can’t bear to see the darkness, oppression, and filth in the revolution.” Where can he escape to, he questions, when the entire world is “utterly dark and absolutely filthy?” “The revolution can only be accomplished by the young children now at their mothers’ breasts!” One could explain away this criticism of revolution by arguing along the PRC line of literary criticism, to the effect that the 1927 revolution was doomed to fail since it was led by the Nationalists. Yet a feminist critique would emphasize Bai’s voice expressing doubts about all kinds of revolutions mobilized by the patriarchs, whether in the form of the Nationalist Party, the Communist Party, or lustful father of the ghost pagoda. Bai’s doubt speaks to her role of feminist against nationalist and ideological agendas of all political camps, regardless of the PRC’s promotion of her as a leftist playwright committed to socialist China. As David Der-wei Wang has correctly pointed out, “Bai Wei’s play lends itself to a parallel reading with” Cao Yu’s Thunderstorm, “which was an immediate success when premiered in 1935.” She “may not be the playwright that Cao Yu was, but the eclipse of her play, despite its striking resemblance to Thunderstorm, serves as one more example of a woman writer’s vulnerability when searching for literary power in a male-dominated world.”19 Bai’s focus on the situation of women and their entangled family and love relationships paved the way for Cao Yu’s Thunderstorm (Leiyu), one of the best, by most critics’ accounts, Chinese spoken dramas of the twentieth century. After its publication in the journal Literary Quarterly (Wenxue jikan) in 1934, Cao, who was only twenty-four, enjoyed almost immediate recognition, unlike his predecessors. Performance of the play in Tokyo in 1935 reportedly prompted a Japanese critic to say that Chinese theater had progressed so markedly from Mei Lanfang to Cao that it would be better if Japanese

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theater artists translated and produced works such as Cao’s from neighboring Asian countries instead of adapting European plays.20 The comment suggests the altered status of Chinese drama and the extent to which the previous trend in the relationship between China and Japan with regard to drama had reversed: whereas a few decades earlier Chinese students in Japan had been influenced by the Japanese in borrowing from Western drama, now Chinese drama was deemed worthy of a place on the Japanese stage and in world theater. Indeed, Thunderstorm heralded the arrival of Chinese drama’s golden period, one in which the best of Western drama was melded with equally compelling Chinese situations and characters. Both in theme and characters, the play evokes the masterpieces of the May Fourth period, such as Ba Jin’s fiction Family (Jia), which dissects the cannibalistic, patriarchal family based in Confucian ethics that had suffocated the younger generation. Zhou Fanyi and Mrs. Lu, among others, became memorable characters, similar to Ding Ling’s Miss Sophia and Lu Xun’s Sister Xianglin. From 1935, the forceful performances of Thunderstorm by the China Travel Theater (Zhongguo Lüxing Jutuan), the first professional theater able to support itself while promoting dramatic art, in Tianjin, Shanghai, and Nanjing, spread the play’s fame far. Some audiences could not get enough of the play and repeatedly returned to listen to the authoritative delivery of the dialogues as if they were listening to a Peking opera, their eyes closed and tapping their fingers to the beat of the poetic rhythm. Cao admitted that the China Travel Theater’s popular performances inspired him and other playwrights to continue creating other high-quality dramas, since they were now so much in demand.21 However, in spite of Thunderstorm’s rich layers of meaning and enduring aesthetic appeal, overseas Chinese students involved in the 1935 Tokyo performance of Thunderstorm fashioned an ideological reading of Thunderstorm that shaped the history of its subsequent reception for the rest of the twentieth century. They interpreted the love triangles and incest as the exposure of an evil, bourgeois family shaken by a thunderstorm forecasting its eventual downfall. Thus, they had Lu Dahai, the leader of the workers’ strike, burst forth at the end of the play as if he were a “new type of character,” to replace an otherwise “chaotic and sentimental ending” of the declining bourgeois.22 They also deleted the prologue and epilogue, now presented for the first time in English in this anthology. Similarly, the initial Chinese production of Thunderstorm, affected by the same political reading, interpreted the play not simply as a family drama but rather as a critique of the society’s unhealthy marital23 and ethical systems and as incorporating a clear indication of the arrival of a great new era.24 Even Lu Xun, who had a complicated relationship with the left-wing literary movement, told Edgar Snow that the new star dramatist Cao Yu was a “left-wing writer,”25 although Cao was not part of the leftist drama movement at the time. Among the leftist critics, Tian Han believed that the play did not provide any hint of a hopeful future, since the weak worker character Lu Dahai is fired once his labor movement has reached an agreement with its capitalist boss. Thus he represents “a tragedy of fate” rather than a “revolutionary worker” against the capitalists, and the play failed to satisfy the practical needs of Chinese audiences in

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turbulent times.26 In terms of dramatic art, Tian regarded Thunderstorm as a well-made play combining plot elements from Oedipus the King, Ibsen’s Ghosts, and John Galsworthy’s 1909 play, Strife, in which a lonely strike leader is sacked after the capitalist and labor movements have reached a compromise, corresponding closely to the story in Thunderstorm.27 Confronted with these leftist readings, Cao defended himself by claiming that Thunderstorm was not influenced by Ibsen, who had himself repeatedly asserted that he had intended to write poems, not social problem plays, regardless of what his Norwegian critics said. Driven by some events that had touched and disturbed him, Cao had originally wanted to express certain surging, primitive, and irresistible emotions that could not be rationally explained. Risking again the potential charge that he was imitating Ibsen, Cao pointed out that he had intended Thunderstorm as primarily a “narrative poem” that would offer its readers “continuous new sensations”; it was not meant to address social issues but was offered rather as a mythical drama that children would listen to at the fireside “on a snowy winter day,” as if they believed the events had happened to their ancestors “once upon a time.” He thus used the prologue and epilogue to distance the audience from the immediacy of a summer night’s suffocating thunderstorm, the central symbol of the play.28 These opening and closing parts of the play transported readers to ten years later, by which time a sad, lonely Zhou Puyuan has turned the Zhou mansion into a Catholic mental hospital, where Mrs. Lu and Zhou Fanyi are now patients and to whom Zhou Puyuan pays frequent visits to redeem himself. In spite of Cao’s complaint, subsequent performances of the play also lacked the prologue and epilogue. His amazing play nonetheless enjoyed a long history of frequent performances in modern and contemporary China, accompanied by habitual justifications of its political reading. Consequently, Cao himself fully embraced the leftist, antifeudalist theme, which, he claimed, had only later become clear to him, after critics had pointed it out. He regretted having hewed to his “fatalist approach” in explaining entangled family relationships and failing to portray Zhou Puyuan as an evil member of the declining bourgeois class.29 In the third revision of the play, published in 1951,30 Cao deleted the prologue and epilogue himself because of their sympathetic view of Zhou Puyuan, and, following the new blueprint for the socialist stage, turned Lu Dahai and Mrs. Lu into more probable working-class characters, even though Zhou Enlai advised him to leave the original play alone.31 During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), along with countless other plays, Thunderstorm was criticized as a “reactionary attack” on the working class because of its weak characterization of Lu Dahai.32 Its frequent performances after 1949 were cited among the wrongdoings of Liu Shaoqi, president of the PRC from 1959 to 1968, who had called the play “most profound,” and were taken as evidence of Liu’s carrying out “a reactionary line in literature and art.”33 After the radicals were ousted in 1976, Thunderstorm was staged again to celebrate the end of the ten-year disaster of the Cultural Revolution. With Cao’s endorsement, one recent production of the 1990s went so far as to experiment with deleting Lu Dahai entirely from the play to signify the total rejection of any potential political readings.

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In my particular experience, Thunderstorm is a perennially popular play among American university students of Chinese drama. Besides situating it in the Chinese historical and cultural contexts, they are encouraged to devise their own interpretations of the play and compare it especially with other masterpieces like Ibsen’s Ghosts and Chekhov’s The Three Sisters (despite Cao’s resistance to the Ibsen link). They have enjoyed producing feminist readings along the line of the Nora-like characters so prominently featured in plays that came after Hu Shih’s The Main Event in Life. In one instance, for example, the play was seen to have three Nora-like women who could never leave home. First, there is Mrs. Lu, who was kicked out of the Zhou family over twenty years before while pregnant with Lu Dahai. She may have vowed never to return to the Zhous, yet she finds herself pleading with her daughter, Lu Sifeng, not to elope with Zhou Ping, who turns out to be Zhou Puyuan’s son by Mrs. Lu. Mrs. Lu thus represents a reluctant Nora never able to leave the patriarchal home, no matter how hard she tries. Second, there is Zhou Fanyi, who may represent a frustrated Nora, ensnared in the Zhou mansion after having been “humiliated,” in her words, “at the hands of two generations,” referring to Zhou Puyuan, who treated her as if she were a lunatic, and her stepson, Zhou Ping, who discarded her in pursuit of the younger maid. Third, there is Lu Sifeng, an uneducated lower-class woman fortunately led down Nora’s path of leaving home by her equally naive lover, Zhou Ping, but sacrificed before that departure could be effected. Zhou Ping, the elder young master, might, by all indications of the play, replicate his father’s story. Just as Zhou Puyuan drove Mrs. Lu out many years before and sought a favorable match with Zhou Fanyi, Zhou Ping could, in the course of time, easily toss away Lu Sifeng for a more suitable wife. By the same token, Zhou Chong, the second young master, has all the earmarks of the younger Zhou Puyuan, who cherished the same youthful, romantic dream of educating the poor and studying science in Germany, although his ideas were much more developed than Zhou Chong’s “half-baked notions.” One might choose to view the encounter between Zhou Chong and Zhou Puyuan as a critique of the unfulfilled May Fourth intellectuals’ vision of modernizing China, though such an interpretation runs counter to some critics’ claim that Zhou Chong, as the play’s most positive character, represents love, equality, and optimism and hope for the future of the younger generation. Students have also enjoyed figuring out how eight characters get involved in three overlapping love triangles: (1) Zhou Puyuan / Mrs. Lu / Zhou Fanyi, (2) Zhou Fanyi / Zhou Ping / Zhou Puyuan, and (3) Zhou Ping / Zhou Chong / Lu Sifeng / Zhou Fanyi. Students have marveled at how these seemingly artificial plot elements do not appear farfetched in the process of reading the play and at how even a minor character like Lu Gui, the Zhous’ servant, could be portrayed with such depth and vitality. In graduate student seminars, where more time could be devoted to Cao, students have expressed admiration when learning that, within eight years of publishing Thunderstorm, Cao wrote four more classics: Sunrise (Richu, published in 1936 and premiered in Shanghai in 1937); The Wilderness (Yuanye, published and premiered in Shanghai in 1937); Beijing Man (Beijing ren, published and first performed in Chongqing in 1941); and Family (Jia,

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an adaptation of Ba Jin’s work, published in 1942 and first presented in Chongqing in 1943).34 Enthroned as China’s Shakespeare, Cao thus more than merits his paramount place in the history of modern Chinese drama ascribed to him; not only did his plays reflect the maturing of Chinese theater but also his creative imagination and experimental works opened up infinite possibilities for the development of Chinese drama, in which multiple approaches, styles, and ideas could benefit his contemporaries and future generations.35 Cao was not the sole contributor to the golden period of Chinese spoken drama. Xia Yan’s Under Shanghai Eaves (Shanghai wuyan xia), a superb wartime drama, depicts the everyday life of Shanghai’s ordinary families in the contemporary time of 1937, when China was facing Japanese invasion. Having studied electrical engineering in Japan for the purpose of “exploring science as a way to save China” and having been entrusted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with leadership of the League of LeftWing Writers since its formation in 1930, Xia wrote his earlier fictional pieces, films, and spoken dramas with a strong political bent meant to advance the interests of the proletariat. He was instrumental in developing, in 1935–1936, “defense drama” (guofang xiju), which connected dramatic performance even more closely than before to the defense of the Chinese nation. In the shadow of the impending Japanese invasion, the Friendly Association of the Shanghai Dramatic Circle was organized in 1936 to unite dramatists of diverse political and ideological backgrounds and encourage them to form theater companies of national resistance. Among the most popular pieces of this type were Xia’s Sai Jinhua and Under Shanghai Eaves, representing, respectively, two distinct subgenres, the history play and the contemporary realist play. Sai Jinhua retells the story of the title character, a famous late Qing dynasty courtesan who won over important Western military personnel and statesmen and persuaded them to lessen their demands on China during the Boxer Rebellion. According to PRC drama historians, the play’s obvious allusion to the Kuomintang’s (KMT) nonresistance policy toward the Japanese (reminiscent of the corrupt, cowardly Chinese officials’ “kowtowing to Western powers” in the late Qing dynasty) made the play a popular hit, with a record twentytwo full-house performances in its first season. Its immediate banning by the KMT and the subsequent public uproar (known as the Sai Jinhua incident) seemed only to have confirmed the genius of the playwright, whose allegorical use of a patriotic courtesan to save her nation at a time of crisis when some statesmen hesitated to fight the Japanese aggressors was not lost on either political camp. Whatever the success of Sai Jinhua, Xia nevertheless viewed his fourth play, Under Shanghai Eaves, as the “real beginning” of his playwriting career, for that is when he began to write realist drama instead of political propaganda. The catalyst for this momentous change was Cao Yu’s Thunderstorm, as Xia himself stated.36 We thus have the intriguing development of the most leftist playwright of the 1930s, heretofore under the influence of the global movements of proletarian literature, altering the mode of his creative works because of a nonleftist artist like Cao, known for his commitment to perfecting his dramatic art. This paradox has often gone unmentioned in the PRC dramatic histories, which overemphasize the impact of the leftist movement before and

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during World War II, viewing it as the pivotal force in the development of modern Chinese drama. Focusing on dramatic characters and their psychology in depicting “typical personalities in typical circumstances” (dianxing huanjing zhong de dianxing xingge) rather than staging grand political events as in his earlier plays,37 in Under Shanghai Eaves Xia presents a cross-section of a house in Shanghai occupied by five impoverished families. The characters are a happy-go-lucky schoolteacher, Mr. Zhao, going about his daily routines with his noisy, eavesdropping, complaining wife; a former bank clerk, Mr. Huang, who is trying to hide his unemployment from his father, visiting from a poor rural area; a prostitute, Mrs. Shi, abused by her pimp but unable to find a way out of her difficult situation, since she has to support her father in the hardscrabble countryside; the lonely old newspaper peddler, Mr. Li, who sings Peking opera in the attic while daydreaming that his son is coming home triumphantly as a general from a war in which the son is already known to have been lost; and a clerk, Lin Zhicheng, who feels a great sense of release after having been fired, so that he need no longer ignore his conscience and go back to work in a factory plagued by labor unrest. While members of the five families move about in the separate spaces of this house, the play hones in on a single event, the homecoming of Kuang Fu, who, upon his release from prison after eight years, finds Yang Caiyu, his wife, living with (and emotionally attached to) his friend Lin Zhicheng. This compact, innovative structure prompted Li Jianwu, one of the most insightful critics of the time, to applaud Xia for granting “little men and women”  real sympathy and understanding and depicting their ignorance, dreams, sadness, complaints, disappointment, and endurance “without benefit of grand legend and bright spots.” The play was indeed realistic, given its accurate portrayal of the common people; it was not a tragedy, since it did not deal in death and superheroes; neither was it a comedy, since it lacked the “typical characters called up by a comic situation.” Under Shanghai Eaves, as Xia himself noted, was truly a “big script for little urban dwellers” (xiao shimin de da juben).38 Only two characters transcend their sad, dark world: Huang’s father, who, although perplexed by the modern world of Shanghai, nevertheless understands his son’s unfulfilled hope for success; his endurance is complemented by the strength of Baozhen (Yang Caiyu and Kuang Fu’s daughter), a “little teacher” who teaches not only other children but also her father, Kuang Fu, who draws strength from the song she leads them in singing about successfully defending the nation.39 Subsequent readings of Under Shanghai Eaves have remained basically unchanged since 1949, along the lines of Li Jianwu’s earlier interpretation, and the play therefore enjoyed the good fortune of being performed on the PRC stage, where it was hailed as one of the best works since the beginning of the May Fourth Movement. In the preface to the first edition of the play, published in 1937, Xia emphasized the historical events surrounding the play’s planned performance: the scheduled premiere of Under Shanghai Eaves in Shanghai, on August 15, 1937, was canceled because two days earlier the war with Japan had broken out. Xia later wrote that, instead of feeling disappointed, he was excited about the dramatic turn of events. The war effort and anticipated victory would, he felt, bring an end to such doleful stories as those in his play.

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In fact, he hoped the play would never have to be performed again so that children would not be reminded of their parents’ past suffering.40 In teaching this play in the American classroom, I saw that, while appreciating the play’s war background, the students easily connected the story of Yang Caiyu to that of other Nora-like characters they had encountered in other plays. As opposed to Lotus in The Night the Tiger Was Caught and Zhou Fanyi in Thunderstorm, both of whom were captives of a patriarchal home, for instance, Yang had courageously walked out of her parental home to follow Kuang Fu and his revolutionary vision, although after his arrest, she found herself trapped again in another home without the liberty to pursue her aspirations. In a society without professional opportunities for women, Yang could not obtain the economic freedom necessary to survive on her own; at the low ebb of the revolution, she did not possess enough will, despite her best efforts, to realize her goals as had her Russian women role models.

TH E P O L IT ICS O F T H E AT ER I N THE M AO P ERI OD: T H E “ RE D CL A SS ICS” AND THE CULTURAL RE VO L UT IO NA RY M ODEL THEATER More than two decades elapsed between Xia Yan’s Under Shanghai Eaves and Lao She’s Teahouse (Chaguan, premiered in 1957), the next play in the anthology. Global history had plowed through to the end of Word War II, in which China’s war of resistance against Japan on a national scale (1937–1945) figured in a major way. Chinese theater received an unsurpassed impetus when Japan’s aggression against China rallied a large number of Chinese dramatists to participate in wartime drama performances on the battlefields and in the unoccupied areas of the interior to raise the morale of the Chinese armies and to mobilize the masses. Mature spoken drama, as seen in the plays of Cao Yu and Xia Yan, and popularized by professional troupes such as the China Travel Theater and other amateur theater groups, acquired further momentum by the national call to arms, reaching its first golden age, a level that would prove difficult to eclipse in the later period.41 The founding of the PRC in 1949 changed the dynamics of the Cold War when one of the world’s largest populations joined the Eastern socialist bloc. On the domestic front, 1949 was seen as a fresh beginning of an era characterized by optimism, collectivism, and hope from writers and dramatists who had either been leaders of the left-wing movement (such as Xia Yan), had turned left before the war (such as Hong Shen and Tian Han), or had veered left during and after the war (such as Li Jianwu) in reaction to the corruption of the KMT government. In October 1949, Lao She returned from America, where, as a renowned fiction writer, he had been since 1946, invited (together with Cao Yu) by the U.S. State Department to take part in a lecture tour. Premier Zhou Enlai had personally invited Lao She to come back, and it was he who guided him toward the left-wing movement and even encouraged him to assume a leadership role in the All China Resistance Association of Writers and Artists (Zhonghua Quanguo Wenyijie Kangdi Xiehui).42 In the new socialist

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China, Lao soon gave up fiction in favor of plays, because they were shorter and took less time to write, vital in this new society, where writers were eager to become “society’s assets” (shehui caifu). Writers engaged in the political and social events around them rather than confining themselves to their writing desks at home in hopes of “avoiding disaster,” as had been the case in the old society, before 1949.43 Lao was not satisfied with the early plays he wrote after 1949, in which he attempted to depict the new life of socialist China, a life foreign to him. He was in his element in Teahouse, however, submerging himself entirely in the past to dramatize episodes in the lives of the “small characters” he knew best: Manchu residents in Beijing, teahouse owners and waiters, bird fanciers, fortune-tellers, pimps, gangsters, eunuchs, folk-art performers, policemen, beggars, deserters, and other ordinary men and women scrambling to make a living. Within the limited production time of two and a half hours, Lao presents more than seventy characters covering fifty years of three periods in modern Chinese history. Act 1 begins in 1898, right after the execution of the reformists, who had advocated political change at the end of the Qing dynasty. Act 2 is set nearly twenty years later, after the death of Yuan Shikai, who had declared himself emperor following the dissolution of the Qing dynasty. Act 3 takes place in 1948, after the defeat of the Japanese, “the period in which U.S. soldiers and KMT secret service agents were running loose in Beijing.” As Li Jianwu noted, all three acts occur not during, but after, major historical events, thus allowing the dramatist to reveal their rippling effects through the comings and goings of customers in a teahouse, the center of contemporary social life.44 Unlike Cao Yu’s Thunderstorm, which employs a relatively closed structure principle of unified time, place, and plot, Lao’s Teahouse explores the Shakespearean open structure, characterized by numerous characters, multiple subplots, and a large, historical time frame. This open structure was utilized also by Xia Yan in Under Shanghai Eaves. By dramatizing how people’s lives worsened with the decline of each era, Lao attempts to trace the historical necessity for the establishment of socialist China; indicating the previous regimes, he points to “the dark politics, the weak nation and its citizens, the increasingly strong foreign influences” and the bankrupt countryside, where poor peasants were forced to sell their children.45 Despite Lao’s enthusiasm for the new society, the publication of Teahouse in 1957 and its premiere in 1958, by the Beijing People’s Art Theatre (Beijing Renmin Yishu Juyuan), was given a lukewarm reception. Some critics found fault with Lao’s nostalgic “mourning for the characters of the past” without his “zealously” supporting those characters who, “although living in the old times, persisted in passionately fighting against them.” 46 The cynical, gloomy tone of Teahouse also ran afoul of the optimistic spirit of 1958, when the CCP launched the Great Leap Forward, Mao’s fantasy of speeding up China’s industrial and agricultural output so that it would exceed Britain’s in ten years and America’s in fifteen. The second season of Teahouse performances, in 1963, encountered another obstacle: that year radical cultural leaders advocated writing about the great deeds of the “grand thirteen years” (da xie shisan nian), from 1949 to 1962, with an emphasis on the “new people and new events” (xin ren xin shi). Disregarding the unfair labeling of the play as “nostalgic,” “pessimistic,” “sentimental,” and “naturalistic” (i.e., Western and hence bour-

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geois), the Beijing People’s Art Theatre courageously restaged the play.47 During the Cultural Revolution, the majority of literature and art produced after 1949 was condemned as “poisonous weeds of feudalist, bourgeois, and revisionist cultural residue.” Teahouse was attacked, without exception, as a play “crooning a eulogy to the old society.” In 1966, public humiliation and beatings by the Red Guard drove Lao to commit suicide, a tragic event subsequently depicted in the spoken drama Taiping Lake (Taipinghu). In the post-Mao period after the end of the Cultural Revolution, the Beijing People’s Art Theatre revived Teahouse once more, in 1979, to unprecedented enthusiasm. The original cast was used, as well as the original stage plan of Jiao Juyin, the director who had guided the play’s earlier productions in 1958 and 1963, and who, like Lao, did not survive the traumatic years of the Cultural Revolution. Jiao’s version ended the play with three old men staging their own funerals: Master Qin, the failed industrialist; Master Chang, the Manchu who could not support himself by selling vegetables; and Wang Lifa, the teahouse owner who could not sustain his business in spite of continuing efforts to “reform.” Teahouse’s European tour in France, Switzerland, and Germany in 1980 marked the first time a Chinese spoken drama had been exported to a foreign stage; its subsequent productions in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, and other countries signified a global recognition of the stunning achievements of modern Chinese drama. Most significant in this regard is Teahouse’s place as the most artistic piece in the subgenre known as “Beijing-flavored plays,” which Lao himself had pioneered in the 1950s with earlier works such as Dragon Beard Ditch (Longxugou). The subgenre precipitated another surge in Chinese spoken drama in post-Mao China, as seen in the plays performed by the Beijing People’s Art Theatre. Lao’s dramatization of the past in Teahouse met the necessary standards for fashioning a classic text as a Maoist drama. Almost at the same time, Tian Han delved further into the imperial past after having failed to write any artistically satisfactory play after 1949. Like Lao, he also chose a subject he was most familiar with—his own playwriting profession—and produced another masterpiece, Guan Hanqing, the next play in this anthology. Dramatizing the artistic career of a thirteenth-century playwright, Guan Hanqing, the play is a unique autobiographical account underscoring the idealism, passion, and lifelong tenacity of Tian himself, who, like Guan, never gave up playwriting. This self-portrait is ingeniously presented as a play within a play. The inner play consists of the central plots of Guan’s most famous opera (zaju), The Injustice of Dou’e (Dou’e yuan), in which Dou’e, a poor woman without influential supporters, is caught up in an instance of social injustice and wrongly accused of murder. The outer play dramatizes the persecution of Guan, who, to protest corrupt officials, writes and stages, with the help of Zhu Lianxiu, a famous actress, The Injustice of Dou’e. Moving freely between Guan’s own life and the wrenching stories that inspired his play, Tian projects onto his ancient peer his own writing career, in the course of which he had also dramatized the lives of several theater artists, writers, and other intellectuals. In Tian’s plays, the most interesting characters are often the female protagonists; Zhu Lianxiu, for example, encourages Guan to persevere despite his difficult situation.

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“If you’ll dare to write the play, I’ll dare to stage it” (scene 2), Zhu declares, sounding almost like the woman leader of the CCP, who, many centuries later, promoted progressive dramas in defiance of KMT censorship. Tian was at his best in dramatizing the love story between Guan and Zhu, who shared similar aspirations and artistic talents. Their eventual despairing yet romantic separation scene before Guan’s banishment into exile—with their singing to each other the love song written by Guan and performed by Zhu—has been judged one of the best combinations of realism and romanticism, a style promoted in the Mao era and common in the portrayals of the revolution’s martyrs. For these reasons, Tian’s Guan Hanqing was warmly received in 1958 when it was performed by the Beijing People’s Art Theatre to commemorate the seven hundredth anniversary of Guan’s creative activities. That same year the Bureau of the World Peace Council named, in New Delhi, Guan Hanqing a “famous writer of the world.” Political figures such as Deputy Premier Chen Yi attended the commemorative event, praising Guan as a “realist artist,” a “great liberal, humanistic thinker,” and an inspiring model for dramatists “to learn from and to try to surpass.” In his speech at the event, Tian designated Guan the “Chinese Shakespeare” and declared that Chinese artists are obligated to develop a field of Guan Hanqing studies in the manner of Shakespearean studies in the West. Tian even called on Chinese artists to follow in the footprints of Guan Hanqing and create “theaters of the people” in the spirit of socialist ideology.48 In spite of its revolutionary spirit and its initial popular reception, Guan Hanqing was nonetheless condemned during the Cultural Revolution as a disguised attack on socialist China, which was corrupted by injustices and persecution against artists. Tian’s tragic death while in custody in 1968 at the peak of the Cultural Revolution ironically evoked the prison scene in Guan Hanqing, which had earlier reminded some critics of Tian’s own imprisonment, in 1935, by the KMT.49 The period following the Cultural Revolution witnessed revived interest in Tian’s legendary life and his invaluable contributions to the development of modern Chinese spoken drama, so much so that a biographical play about Tian, Torrent (Kuangbiao), opened in 2000 in Beijing.50 In Torrent, An Er, Tian’s passionate lover and the woman slated to become his fourth wife, encourages Tian to finally commit himself to the communist cause, a decisive moment for Tian’s turning left in 1930. Another scene presents Tian’s mother welcoming him home after he has been imprisoned by the KMT for his “crime” of producing leftist dramas, followed by the prison scene in Tian’s Guan Hanqing. With the character Tian playing the role of Guan and the character An Er that of Zhu Lianxiu, the two lovers reenact the magnificent scene of prison reunion, singing the song just mentioned expressing their shared destiny and love. This well-known scene, along with the play itself, celebrates not only Tian’s extraordinary career but also the devotion of his women, who sustained him and underwent many sacrifices for his art. The play ends with the Chinese national anthem, with Tian’s lyrics, thereby illustrating the central position Tian has occupied in the history of modern China while simultaneously advancing the tradition of the “drama of the theater,” which Tian had pioneered in the 1920s and perfected with Guan Hanqing.

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In contrast to Guan Hanqing, celebrated for its artistic rendering of the historical past, the next play in this anthology, The Young Generation (Nianqing de yidai), by Chen Yun, focuses on the contemporary times of 1960s socialist China. This play became one of the most anthologized dramas in the PRC, as a representative “red classic” (hongse jingdian) play from the seventeen-year period (1949–1966). As a closely knit work of dramatic suspense and vivid characters, in line with the socialist realist tradition, The Young Generation illuminates the historical context, cultural expectations, and dreams and conflicts of individuals in a utopian socialist state at its most ambitious, imaginative point. As Xiaobing Tang has pointed out, the play provides a typical example of “staging the nation in the form of theatrical spectacle,” as well as “a purposeful enterprise and a phenomenal success,” reflecting “an age of great passion and expectation” “in which the boldest dreams about human happiness were collectively dreamed, and the most ordinary moments in life gloriously poeticized.”51 The play centers on three geologists who share the goal of using their scientific training to build a strong, industrialized China, but they vary in the degree of their commitment, especially when personal interests are at stake. Xiao Jiye represents the ideological ideal, for he believes that personal happiness is intimately related to hard work and struggle, without which happiness cannot exist. Upon graduating from college, he volunteers to work as a geologist exploring for ore deposits in a remote, barren area of Qinghai province. At the beginning of the play, he has returned to Shanghai seeking medical treatment for his injured legs, after which he will go right back to the frontier. Xiao contrasts sharply with Lin Yusheng, who prefers to live in Shanghai. Lin hopes that he and his fiancée, Xia Qianru, will find research positions in Shanghai, which boasts the most up-to-date research facilities and illustrious, much-sought-after experts to mentor those in the field of geological research.52 In his heady vision of the life he and his future wife might enjoy, Lin imagines working by day and appreciating music, fiction, poetry, movies, and friends in the evenings and on the weekends. However, the influence of classmates who have already volunteered to work in Tibet and other remote areas leads Xia to wonder whether she is too attached to Lin—and to Shanghai—to come to a valid decision on her own. She feels guilty about forsaking her courageous classmates to their difficult yet thrilling adventures; she feels this doubt especially strongly when they gather joyfully together and sing “The Song of the Geologists.” Here one witnesses a Nora-like character in the Maoist era, which provided women with professional, even scientific, training and a means of living and working independently, the fruit of women’s liberation in Maoist China. However, again women had to let the political and ideological agenda of nation building in socialist China subsume their subjectivities as women. This reality is symbolized by Xia’s final decision to reject her comfortable home in the city and join the collective family of the geologists at the frontier, where, at the expense of personal comfort, she is expected to work as hard as her male counterparts. Worse still, Xia’s dilemma can be articulated only by her more aggressive fiancé as he owns up to his bewilderment. Why on earth is it, he asks, that, more than ten years

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after liberation, members of the younger generation should have to return to the harsh conditions of their parents’ generation? Didn’t everybody work hard for a better life? Lin’s question, which perhaps seems valid to us today, reflects the contradictory nature of Maoist ideology, whose promise of a better life in the new society did not prevent it, when the time came, from continuing to demand sacrifices from the haves for the sake of the have-nots. Maoist ideology, as reflected in Xiao’s loyal choice, gestures toward both modernization in the Chinese socialist context and a paradoxical rejection of it under the pretext that it is tainted by Western decadence. By the end of the play, Lin has decided to pursue his career as a geologist at the frontier; this occurs after he has learned that his biological parents had been executed by the KMT twenty-four years before, leaving behind a will in which they ask their son to “never forget the world that still harbors our class enemies! You must struggle for the sacred ideals of communism.” Thus, The Young Generation called for continuing the revolution, to guarantee that the country would not “change color.” The play paved the way for the ideological landscape of the Cultural Revolution, whose main goal was to prevent China’s slipping from peaceful transformation into a revisionist, capitalist country, as the official media were warning might happen. In the same spirit, The Red Lantern (Hongdeng ji), next in this anthology, focuses on what an older generation of revolutionaries did give up in their personal lives for the sake of the ideal of building a socialist China, where the poor gain equality and power and become masters of their own fate. Whereas the parents in The Young Generation are executed by the KMT, Grandmother Li and Li Yuhe—Li Tiemei’s adoptive grandmother and father, respectively—were killed by the Japanese invaders. This creates a dual hatred against the class and ideological enemy, the KMT, and against the Japanese attacker. In fact, while The Young Generation downplays the revolutionary family history in the form of a family will read decades later, The Red Lantern spotlights the revolutionary past to highlight the urgent need to never forget the past. This echoes the national call from Mao and the party leadership in the 1960s to forge ahead with the class struggle lingering in socialist China long after the military battles had been won. To this end, both plays use the device of “telling revolutionary family stories” to effect a dramatic reversal of plot and character development, and to ensure the survival and passing on of revolutionary memories from the old people to the younger generations. Growing up in adoptive families, both The Red Lantern’s Li Tiemei and The Young Generation’s Lin Yusheng remain ignorant of their real identities until this knowledge became essential to guaranteeing they would take up and carry on the revolutionary lifework of their respective families, whether biological or adoptive. When Li appears on stage, she is already a member of the working-class poor (and the knowledge she gains later of her family background merely reinforces her proletarian identity). By contrast, Lin evolves from a carefree youth with “bourgeois tastes” absorbed in gratifying his personal interests into a deserving inheritor of his biological parents’ revolutionary heritage, which he commits himself to perpetuating in the new society. As Xiaobing Tang has written, “This communal family also embodies an unmistakable utopian effort to create a personal revolutionary society.”53 In this respect, The Young Generation

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was the precursor of The Red Lantern’s much-celebrated theme of fostering proletarian successors by means of collective memory. The Red Lantern originally premiered as a film and then as a spoken-drama performance, but the Peking opera version included here has a significant place in the ten long years of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. During this period, only a dozen or so theatrical pieces were promoted as “revolutionary model works” in the three artistic genres of Peking opera, ballet, and symphonic music.54 These model works were established as exemplary “others” with which to condemn the nearly entire repertoire created before 1966 as “unhealthy” or even “antiparty” for their feudalist, bourgeois, and revisionist contents. One of the most popular “revolutionary modern operas,” The Red Lantern features at least two key characteristics of most of the model theater pieces promoted during the heyday of the Cultural Revolution. First, it evokes the memory of the Maoist revolution and, with its re-creation on stage, underlines the need to continue the revolution into post-1949 China. Promoted between the spring and summer of 1967, most of the revolutionary model works are set in the war period, so as to directly represent the revolutionary war experience. The Peking opera Shajiabang, for instance, is about an armed struggle during the War of Resistance Against Japan in which Guo Jianguang (a political instructor of the New Fourth Army) and seventeen wounded soldiers defeat the KMT troops who collaborated with the Japanese invaders. The revolutionary modern ballet The Red Detachment of Women (Hongse niangzi jun) tells the story of Wu Qinghua, a peasant girl who flees enslavement by a local tyrant on Hainan Island to join a women’s detachment fighting KMT soldiers. The Red Lantern’s particular focus is on the working class’s sacrifices for the war effort on the home front, its bond with the revolutionary cause through three generations of hardship and struggle, its tenacity in the underground work of espionage, and its eventual martyrdom on the execution ground. Second, The Red Lantern, together with other model operas, fully mined the aesthetic riches of Peking opera (one of the oldest genres and, hence, the most “feudalistic” one) to convey contemporary experience and the urgent concerns of the 1960s. As noted earlier, the reform of Peking opera into “modern” and “revolutionary” theater did not begin with the Cultural Revolution. It can be traced back to at least the late Qing period, when reformists were exploring Peking opera as a popular means for advocating the Republican Revolution. Later, dramatists such as Tian Han and Ouyang Yuqian, two aforementioned founders of modern spoken drama, promoted using opera for wartime mobilization efforts; they believed both spoken drama and traditional opera were valuable for depicting contemporary themes and stories. It is therefore no surprise that The Red Lantern was a national sensation during the National Peking Opera Festival in June 1964. Mao reportedly attended a performance a few months later and shed tears over the touching story. Despite its reputation during the Cultural Revolution as a radical piece, The Red Lantern rarely went out of favor. Even in post-Mao China, repeated performances have taught the younger generation the wonders of Peking opera and lured the older generation back to the theater, especially when the original cast reappeared, with their familiar faces, singing, and passion.

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Thus The Red Lantern is a canonical piece linking the previous periods of Republican China, the early years of the PRC, the Cultural Revolutionary period, and the postMao period, both in terms of artistic experimentation and ideological and sociological concerns.

PO S T-MA O D RA M A: REFLECTI NG ON “ S CA RS,” CULT U RAL ROOTS, AND MA O IST D E BT S AND LEGACY With the next play, The Bus Stop (Chezhan), by Gao Xingjian, we move into the post– Cultural Revolution, or post-Mao, period, which begins with Mao’s death in 1976. This was the year the Cultural Revolution ended, after the Gang of Four were arrested, to be tried in 1980. As a severe judgment on the policies of the Cultural Revolution, anti–Gang of Four plays appeared on stage throughout China, expressing the public outrage over the political oppression of people from all walks of life. This was another golden period for modern Chinese spoken drama, drawing large audiences to the theater, where they could publicly vent their frustration and opposition to the previous political regime. Realist dramas mushroomed in 1978, when numerous plays took up the theme of heroic struggle against the Gang of Four by leaders, intellectuals, scientists, writers, artists, workers, and others.55 Gao Xingjian’s experimental piece is one of the most astonishing achievements of early post-Mao theater. Premiered in 1983 by the Beijing People’s Art Theatre to critical acclaim and heated debates, The Bus Stop represents one of Gao’s early, most successful efforts at introducing Western modernist theater and thereby breaking away from the rather monolithic mode of realist theater that had dominated the Chinese stage since Ibsenism was imported at the turn of the twentieth century. Trained as a French specialist and intimately familiar with the works of Samuel Beckett and other modernist playwrights, Gao adapted for his own play Beckett’s theme of a futile waiting for a divine figure. In his play, eight characters wait ten years for a bus, only to realize the bus sign at the stop had been invalidated. The premiere of The Bus Stop, a shockingly innovative play at the time, caused a furor similar to that seen with Beckett’s Waiting for Godot in the early 1950s, when it was deemed “so brilliant and so different from anything audiences were accustomed to that it became a great talking point in cultural circles.”56 But, whereas Beckett’s characters are defined by a “static sense of waiting, remembering, struggling with the characteristically modern sense of futility,”57 Gao’s characters are associated with an anguish and frustration that paradoxically inherited and even developed the realist tradition of tackling urgent social problems—of the early 1980s in the case of The Bus Stop. The play satirizes the crowded public transportation system and lack of social order in the wake of the Cultural Revolution; the decline of moral values in a post-Mao society, where everyone is concerned with his or her own needs; the urgency with which young people want to learn English so they can pass

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their college entrance examinations, after colleges have been closed for ten years during the Cultural Revolution; the difficulties of couples, who can be together only during the weekends; and the corruption and nepotism of privileged party officials, as typified by the character of Director Ma. All these previously unmentionable social problems could now be aired under the guise of an anti–Gang of Four theme, and their exposure could be used to celebrate the new political regime as a servant of the people, eager to help people overcome everyday difficulties caused by the Gang of Four. However, while highlighting political and social issues to promote a humanitarian agenda, The Bus Stop also poses problematic questions about women’s status in postMao theater. In contrast to the Nora theme of women’s liberation that had characterized numerous plays since the May Fourth Movement, and whose presence had peaked during the Cultural Revolution with The Red Lantern, the obsession of the twentyeight-year-old unmarried young woman in The Bus Stop has to do with an impending blind date, fixed for her by a friend; the woman frets that if she misses the bus to the city, her search to find a suitable man will be doomed. The mother in the play behaves like the women depicted in, for example, Xia Yan’s Under Shanghai Eaves, specifically the character of Mrs. Zhao. The mother worries, for example, about not being able to wash her bookish husband’s clothes and take care of her daughter’s daily needs. In a time that questioned and rejected Maoist values and ideologies, these post-Mao women characters longed to experience the domestic “bliss” of Zifang, in Ouyang Yuqian’s After Returning Home, and to fulfill their roles as “gracious wife and loving mother” (xianqi liangmu), the traditional Confucian patriarchal ideal for women. Despite this regressive move in feminist terms, Gao’s work is noteworthy for its formalist and aesthetic innovations, which dramatically changed the landscape of modern spoken drama. In tune with his modernism was his declaration, made in 1996 while he was in exile in France, that “no-isms” stood for “the most basic condition of freedom for the contemporary individual.”58 His anti-CCP political stance and unflagging pursuit of aesthetic autonomy separate from political engagement finally won him, in 2000, the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first Chinese writer to receive such recognition. By including The Bus Stop in this anthology, I hope to show Gao’s significant role in promoting avant-garde theater. Readers interested in other experimental works reflecting the historical changes of rural China in post-Mao society may well enjoy Sangshuping Chronicles (Sangshuping jishi), Uncle Doggie’s Nirvana (Gou’er Ye niepan), and Wilderness and Man (Huangyuan yu ren).59 If Gao’s play was one of the peak achievements of the 1980s, when dramatic performances echoed the national trend of reflecting on the woes and wrongs of the Cultural Revolution, Sha Yexin’s Jiang Qing and Her Husbands (Jiang Qing he tade zhangfumen) expresses a dramatist’s questioning of the entire Maoist legacy. Different from other “revolutionary history plays” on Mao and his coleaders of the CCP, promoted by the state to glorify its past in order to validate its legitimacy, Sha’s play was written in 1990 at the request of a Hong Kong actress interested in playing Jiang Qing, and Sha seized the opportunity of writing a play that would not be subjected to Chinese censorship.60 He

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did his utmost, however, to follow closely the official CCP accounts and biographies of Mao while exercising his playwright’s prerogative of selecting the episodes that would best suit his construction of Jiang Qing. Jiang Qing and Her Husbands can, in the first place, be read as a “trial drama” reenacting the 1980 public trial of the Gang of the Four, in which Jiang Qing was sentenced to death but received a two-year stay of execution. As Mao’s third wife, Jiang has always been closely connected with the radical policies of the Cultural Revolution, especially her significant role in using her expertise in theater to convince Mao of the hidden existence in the party of a bourgeois counterrevolutionary element in literature and art. Her achievements in creating revolutionary model plays such as the Peking opera The Red Lantern, included in this anthology, were said to have established her credentials as banner holder of the Cultural Revolution in its combat against feudal, bourgeois, and revisionist cultures (feng-zi-xiu). The trial of the Gang of Four was, however, a mere show, with the prosecution enumerating forty-seven indictments against Jiang and the accused either refusing to cooperate or admitting total guilt without submitting a defense. The public denunciation of Jiang as having been responsible for persecuting countless state leaders, artists, and other innocent people can also be seen as one of the few options available since Mao was still too powerful to be associated with the national tragedy of the Cultural Revolution in early post-Mao China. The play offers the possibility of diverse interpretations that cut across the problematic relationship between gender (embodied in Jiang Qing as a strong-willed, independent woman) and nation-state (embodied in an even stronger male counterpart who was patriarch of both family and state). Originally intended as a movie script, the play adopts a fluidity of time and space in which Jiang Qing travels between the past and the present and between her inner world and outer reality. The play begins in 1980, when Jiang was already in prison, lamenting the loss of her career but still bathing in her past glamour on stage, as seen in her humming happily while acting out the opening scene of A Doll’s House, in which Nora and Torvald discuss the coming Christmas festivities. Following the socialist realist theater tradition, the play depicts Jiang’s early success in acting the role of Nora in 1935 and how she was influenced and formed by Nora, an imagined, liberated other in the guise of a Western woman. Throughout her life, Jiang lived the existence, both in private and in public, of an unhappy doll “imprisoned” by men. Exploring a Brechtian alienation effect at the same time, however, the dramatic character Jiang challenges her imagined audience to question her unfair verdict in contemporary political life. In the same beginning scene, she suddenly recalls that she is locked up awaiting her trial; she refuses to accept all the blame for persecuting Liu Shaoqi: how could she alone have stricken down the president of the state without the party’s resolution to do so at the Ninth Chinese Communist Party Congress in 1969, she fiercely protests, a faithful record of her act in the real-life public trial. She believes that it was unfair and unequal treatment wrongly imposed on her by the party collective. As the play unfolds, she rejects Tang Na, a film critic and her ex-husband in 1930s Shanghai, and Mao, both of whom have come forward as witnesses in her defense. She

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wants to tell her own story in order to uncover who is correct—the world or Jiang. By having the same actor play both Tang and Mao, the play allows Tang to examine the entire scope of Jiang’s subsequent life in her pursuit of independence and freedom, even if it meant rejecting Mao, the most powerful man in China. Although Jiang remained Mao’s wife to the end, they had lived separately for many years, and the play captures the empty nature of their relationship, devoid of spiritual and emotional ties. Tang seems to particularly enjoy the last scene of A Doll’s House, in which Nora gives her ring back to Torvald / Mao, bidding them both farewell. As the door is slammed when Nora leaves behind a distressed Torvald / Mao on the empty stage, Tang is the first to jump from his seat to enthusiastically applaud the superb performance, true to his role as a film and drama critic. On a symbolic level, however, the play turns a bourgeois intellectual in 1930s Shanghai into a witty “historian” who challenges the hypocrisy of her marriage to Mao. As the play progresses, we learn that Jiang, in 1938 in Yan’an, had no choice but to consent to the CCP political bureau’s demand that, because of her questionable career and life in Shanghai as a film and theater star, she be denied any political role in the party for the next twenty years as a condition to marry Mao. Her predicament as Mao’s woman is stressed again in the scene set in 1976, with Jiang, crying alone before Mao’s dead body, sorrowfully wishes that he would say again what he had said tenderly in Yan’an, that he really “liked her,” which was his own peasant way of saying he loved her. Suddenly, Mao, though on his deathbed, sits up and praises her achievements during the Cultural Revolution, one of the two most important accomplishments of his political career, together with the defeat of the Nationalists in 1949. By admitting that he is “at the least . . . a male chauvinist” who never treated her as an equal partner, Mao becomes an invaluable witness for the Jiang Qing put on trial after his death. Mao claims full responsibility for the political turmoil of the past ten years, asserting Jiang was not to blame. Most important, however, by admitting that he was a tyrant at home, the dramatic character Mao encourages others to imagine Jiang as a heroic woman, and hence a good wife. For those intent on hewing exclusively to whatever Mao was known to have said, the Mao in Sha’s play shows them that it is possible to candidly admit that the evils ascribed to Jiang testified to Mao’s failures. The play can thus be seen as deconstructing the familiar cultural and ideological image of Jiang as the vicious public woman painted by the patriarchal state. The formation of a political discourse on Jiang Qing draws from traditional culture’s misogynist view of the seductive woman, which scapegoats Yang Guifei, the beautiful concubine in the Tang dynasty, for presumably bringing down an emperor. The resentment against Jiang also obscures the issue of Chinese official feminism, which was manipulated and abused by Jiang as she promoted her image as a public woman with an acting career while claiming to be the banner woman for all oppressed classes. The public portrayals of Jiang are remarkable for the supposed female traits on which they conveniently drew, such as manipulativeness and malice. On the other hand, it is equally remarkable to see Jiang’s own manipulation of Chinese feminism, resulting in her distorted and exaggerated version of official state feminism, which subsumed women’s subjectivities to the ultimate interests of the socialist state.

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In the historical and global contexts in which this anthology situates itself, a Westernized Jiang Qing can be construed as symbolic of the unceasing power struggle between Chinese artists and intellectuals and the laboring people they claim to represent and to please, only to be rejected by the latter for not really being one of them. The dichotomies between the city and country, man and woman, society and the individual, tradition and modernity, and East and West constantly shift position and ultimately propel the development of the dramatic conflict in the play. The characterization of Mao as a peasantlike patriarch cut from the same cloth as his Chinese and Western forefathers also presents a dynamic interplay between revolutionary history, interventional drama, and rebellious women. This play therefore functions as political theater that rewrites official PRC history. It is in this sense that we can better appreciate a centurylong history of modern China, filtered through a theater account that begins with Tian Yamei’s escape from her patriarchal home in The Main Event in Life and continues with Zhou Fanyi’s failed effort to win freedom in Thunderstorm and Xia Qianru’s painful decision to leave her comfortable Shanghai life and scientific career in socialist China in The Young Generation, and ends with Jiang Qing’s last performance in a public trial as she tells the story of her life as a woman leader, a former actress, and a discontented wife. I hope including this last play—never published nor staged in the PRC— will not only introduce to the English-speaking world a fascinating play but also fill a gap in the published history of drama in China and encourage its inclusion in future anthologies.

Not es 1.

2.

3. 4. 5.

For further reading on modern Chinese drama, see Colin Mackerras, The Chinese Theatre in Modern Times: From 1840 to the Present Day (Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1975); Constantine Tung and Colin Mackerras, eds., Drama in the People’s Republic of China (Albany: SUNY Press, 1987); Rudolf G. Wagner, The Contemporary Chinese Historical Drama (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990); Xiaomei Chen, Acting the Right Part: Political Theater and Popular Drama in Contemporary China (Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2002); Claire Conceison, Significant Other: Staging the American in China (Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2004); and Alexander Huang, Chinese Shakespeares: A Century of Cultural Exchange (New York: Columbia University Press, 2009). Fu Jin, “Yingxiang dangdai xiju de lilun” (Drama Concepts That Have Influenced Contemporary Chinese Theater), in 2004 wenxue pinglun (Literary Criticism of 2004) (Beijing: Renmin wenxue, 2005), 342–58; 343. Ye Changhai and Zhang Fuhai, Chatu Zhongguo xiju shi (An Illustrated History of Chinese Drama) (Shanghai: Shanghai guji, 2004), 438. Guo Fumin, Chatu Zhongguo huaju shi (An Illustrated History of Chinese Spoken Drama) (Jinan: Jinan, 2003), 24. Ouyang Yuqian, “Huiyi Chunliu” (Remembering the Spring Willow Society), in Ouyang Yuqian quan ji (Complete Works of Ouyang Yuqian) (Shanghai: Shanghai wenyi, 1990), 6:146–79; 152.

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6. Although the 1911 revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty and ended the imperial system, soon after Sun Yat-sen was forced to concede his presidency to Yuan Shikai, who restored the imperial system and crowned himself emperor in 1914–1915. He was forced to abdicate in 1916 and died shortly after. 7. Among earlier, lesser-known plays, most notable are Hong Shen’s 1915 The Pear Seller (Mai li ren), in which the protagonist rebels in vain against a rich man, and A Tragedy of the Poor (Pinmin canju), which premiered in Beijing in 1916. 8. Chen Baichen and Dong Jian, Zhongguo xiandai xiju shigao (A Draft History of Modern Chinese Drama) (Beijing: Zhongguo xiju, 1985), 97. 9. Xia Yan named Ouyang Yuqian, Hong Shen, and Tian Han as the three “founders” of modern spoken drama. He pointed out that, from the time the three dramatists first met in Shanghai in 1922, they collaborated closely in developing modern spoken drama, with Tian Han rushing out plays to suit social and political agendas, Ouyang Yuqian perfecting his play writing and stage productions, and Hong Shen excelling in improving both the quantity and quality of his plays. Most important, all three were well versed in traditional opera, from which they borrowed to advance modern spoken drama. Their different styles pointed to the tension and compromises in the development of modern drama (Xia Yan, “Xu” [Preface], in Ouyang Yuqian quan ji, 1:2–4). 10. Hong Shen, Yama Zhao (Zhao yanwang), in Zhongguo xin wenxue daxi: Xiju ji (Compendium of New Chinese Literature: Drama Volume), ed. Hong Shen, 137–63 (Shanghai: Liangyou, 1935). The English translation was first published as Hong Shen, Yama Chao, trans. Carolyn T. Brown, in Twentieth-Century Chinese Drama, ed. Edward M. Gunn, 10–40 (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1983), and later collected in the unabridged version of this anthology, The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama (New York: Columbia University Press, 2010), 66–96. Both Hong Shen and Eugene O’Neill were students in Professor George Pierce Baker’s English class at Harvard University, in different years. 11. For a study in English of Tian Han and Nanguo She, see Xiaomei Chen, “Tian Han and the Southern Society Phenomenon: Networking the Personal, Communal, and Cultural,” in Literary Societies of Republican China, ed. Kirk A. Denton and Michel Hockx, 241–78 (Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2008). 12. Dong Jian, Tian Han zhuan (A Biography of Tian Han) (Beijing: Shiyue wenyi, 1996), 205–10. 13. For recent scholarly studies in English on Mei Lanfang, see Joshua Goldstein, Drama Kings: Players and Publics in the Re-creation of Peking Opera, 1870 –1937 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007), and Haun Saussy, “Mei Lanfang in Moscow, 1935: Familiar, Unfamiliar, Disfamiliar,” Modern Chinese Literature and Culture 18, no. 11 (spring 2006): 8–25. 14. Hong Shen, “Daoyan” (Introduction), in Zhongguo xin wenxue daxi, 1–100; 70. 15. For an English translation of Pan Jinlian, see Catherine Swatek, trans., P’an Chin-lien, in Gunn, Twentieth-Century Chinese Drama, 52–75. See also Yomi Braester, “Rewriting Tradition, Misreading History: Twentieth-Century (Sub)versions of Pan Jinlian’s Story,” in Witness Against History, 56–72 (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 2003). 16. Zhang Jian, Zhongguo xiandai xiju shi lun (A Critical History of Modern Chinese Comedy) (Beijing: Beijing daxue, 2006), 85, 153. Hong Shen classified Ouyang’s After Re-

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17. 18.

19. 20. 21.

22. 23. 24. 25. 26.

27. 28. 29.

30.

31. 32.

33. 34. 35.

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turning Home as a comedy earlier for the probability that, by the play’s end, the audience would ally itself with Zifang, seeing her as the winner of her husband’s love with her wit and humor (Hong Shen, “Daoyan,” 70). Zhang Jian, Zhongguo xiandai xiju shi lun, 85–171. Zhang Jian has traced Ding Xilin’s focus on “reason” through “thoughtful laughter” to the influence of Meredith’s theories of comedy (George Meredith, “An Essay on Comedy,” in Comedy, ed. Wylie Sypher [Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1980]; cited in Zhang Jian, Zhongguo xiandai xiju shi lun, 226–28). David Der-wei Wang, The Monster That Is History (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004), 59. Zhang Yaojie identified Kageyama Saburō as having made this claim (Xiju dashi Cao Yu [A Giant Playwright, Cao Yu] [Taiyuan: Shanxi jiaoyu, 2003], 46). Ge Sen, “Cong xiao ximi dao xiao yanyuan” (From a Child Theater Fan to a Child Theater Actor), in Tang Huaiqiu yu Zhongguo Lüxing Jutuan (Tang Huaiqiu and the China Travel Theater), ed. Chen Yueshan, 76–83 (Beijing: Zhongguo xiju, 2000). Zhang Yaojie, Xiju dashi Cao Yu, 47. Feng Jiao, “Leiyu de yuyan” (Preview of Thunderstorm), Dagong bao, August 17–18, 1934; cited in Zhang Yaojie, Xiju dashi Cao Yu, 50–51. Bai Mei, “Leiyu de pipan” (Critique of Thunderstorm), Dagong bao, August 20–23, 1934; cited in Zhang Yaojie, Xiju dashi Cao Yu, 51. Tian Benxiang, Cao Yu zhuan (A Biography of Cao Yu) (Beijing: Shiyue wenyi, 1988). Tian Han, “Baofeng yu zhong de Nanjing yitan yi pie” (A Glance at the Nanjing Dramatic Scene in a Stormy Season), Xinmin bao, June 9, 10, 12, 14, 29, 1936, in Tian Han quan ji (The Complete Works of Tian Han), ed. Tian Han Quan Ji Bianwei Hui (Shijiazhuang: Huashan wenyi chubanshe, 2000), 15:282–96; 287–88. Ibid., 286–87. Cao Yu, “Leiyu de xiezuo” (The Writing of Thunderstorm), in Cao Yu lun chuangzuo (Cao Yu on Dramatic Writing) (Shanghai: Shanghai wenxi, 1986), 3–5; 3–4. Cao Yu, “Wo dui jinhou chuangzuo de chubu renshi” (Preliminary Thoughts on How to Proceed with My Writing in the Future), in Cao Yu quan ji (Complete Works of Cao Yu), ed. Tian Benxiang and Liu Yijun (Shijiazhuang: Huashan wenji chubanshe, 1996), 5:44–45. Liao Li, “Tan Cao Yu dui Leiyu de xiugai” (On Cao Yu’s Revisions of Thunderstorm), in Cao Yu yanjiu ziliao (Collection of Research Materials on Cao Yu), ed. Tian Benxiang et al. (Beijing: Zhongguo xiju, 1991), 1:634, 638. Ibid., 638. Tian Benxiang, Cao Yu zhuan, 424. Tian Benxiang has preserved a complete text of a Red Guard essay published by the Revolutionary Committee of Beijing Normal University in 1968 in its aim to “take down reactionary writer Cao Yu,” a “gift” Wu Zuguang sent to Cao Yu in 1986 as a valuable historical archive to “hand down to later generations” (422–23). Tian Benxiang, ed., Cao Yu nianpu (Chronology of Cao Yu), in Cao Yu yanjiu ziliao, 1:65. The years of publication and premieres are from Tian Benxiang, Cao Yu nianpu, 1:29, 31, 32, 38, 40, 41, 43, 45. Qian Liqun, Zhongguo xiandai wenxue sanshi nian (Thirty Years of Modern Chinese Literature) (Beijing: Beijing daxue, 1998), 321.

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36. Xia Yan, “Tan Shanghai wuyan xia de chuangzuo” (On Writing Under Shanghai Eaves), Juben 4 (1957), cited from Xia Yan yanjiu ziliao (shang) (Research Materials on Xia Yan [Volume 1]) (Beijing: Zhongguo xiju, 1983), 1:181. 37. Ibid. 38. Liu Xiwei [pen name of Li Jianwu], “Shanghai wuyan xia” (Under Shanghai Eaves), in Xia Yan yanjiu ziliao (xia) (Research Materials on Xia Yan [Volume 2]) (Beijing: Zhongguo xiju, 1983), 2:155–56. 39. Ibid., 518. 40. Xia Yan, “Shanghai wuyan xia zixu” (Preface to Under Shanghai Eaves), cited from Xia Yan yanjiu ziliao, 1:175–77; 176. 41. For discussions on wartime drama, see Edward M. Gunn, “Literature and Art of the War Period,” in China’s Bitter Victory, ed. James C. Hsiung and Steven I. Levine, 235–73 (Armonk, N.Y.: M. E. Sharpe, 1992). For a detailed study of Chinese literature during the period of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai and Beijing from 1937 to 1945, see Edward M. Gunn, Unwelcome Muse (New York: Columbia University Press, 1980). 42. Shu Ji, “Lao She zhuan lue” (A Brief Biography of Lao She), in Lao She de huaju yishu (The Dramatic Art of Lao She), ed. Ke Ying and Li Ying (Beijing: Wenhua yishu, 1982), 618–19. 43. Lao She, “Shinian bimo” (Ten Years of Pen and Ink), in Ke Ying and Li Ying, Lao She de huaju yishu, 80. 44. Li Jianwu, “Du Chaguan” (On Reading Teahouse), in Ke Ying and Li Ying, Lao She de huaju yishu, 384. 45. Lao She, “Tan Chaguan” (On Teahouse), in Ke Ying and Li Ying, Lao She de huaju yishu, 156–57. 46. Zhang Geng, “Chaguan mantan” (My Thoughts on Teahouse), in Ke Ying and Li Ying, Lao She de huaju yishu, 391. 47. Hu Jieqing, “Guangyu Lao She de Chaguan” (About Lao She’s Teahouse), in Ke Ying and Li Ying, Lao She de huaju yishu, 408–12; 410. 48. Liu Ping, Xiju hun (The Soul of Drama) (Beijing: Zhongyang wenxian), 628–29. 49. Meng Chao, “Mantan jianguo shinian lai de Tian Han chuangzuo” (On Tian Han’s Dramatic Writings in the Past Ten Years After the Founding of the PRC), Xiju yanjiu 4 (1959): 160–72. 50. My discussion of Torrent is based on the unpublished manuscript, Tian Qinxin, “Kuangbiao: Daoyan gongzuo taiben” (Torrent: Stage Director’s Script); I thank Tian Qinxin for providing the text. Kuangbiao appeared in Xin juben 3 (2001): 4–25. 51. Xiaobing Tang, Chinese Modern: The Heroic and the Quotidian (Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2000), 165–66. 52. Chen Yun, Nianqing de yidai (The Young Generation), in Zhongguo huaju wushi nian juzuo xuan: 1949.10 –1999.10 (Selections from Modern Chinese Drama in the Last Fifty Years), ed. Li Moran et al. (Beijing: Zhongguo xiju, 2000), 3:384. The play was premiered in 1963 by the Teacher’s Art Theater, Shanghai Drama College, and the script was first published in Juben 8 (1963): 2–30. The play was revised and published as a separate book in 1964 by Zhongguo xiju chubanshe with Chen Yun, Zhang Lihui, and Xu Jingxian listed as the play’s authors. 53. Xiaobing Tang, Chinese Modern, 190. It is natural to wonder how this 1963 story, with its happy ending, stood up to real life and to theatrical representation. What happened

30

54.

55. 56. 57. 58.

59.

60.

introduction

to the three geologists in The Young Generation who settled in a remote area of China? What became of their aspirations, both professional and personal? Was Xiao able to persevere despite his physical condition? Did Lin begin to regret his second departure from Shanghai? How did Xia end up feeling—as a scientist and as a woman—about working in a faraway, isolated region of the country? Did she miss Shanghai? Interestingly, no play from the late 1970s or the entire decade of the 1980s depicts the life of geologists. Not until 1997, when Yang Limin’s Geologists was premiered by the Daqing City Theater (Daqingshi Huaju Tuan) to critical acclaim, were theatergoers reminded of this profession’s much overlooked contribution to the realization of the socialist vision. Geologists can thus be read—and taught—as a possible sequel to the seemingly unfinished story of The Young Generation, in which the “afterlife” of this revolutionary legacy, and its impact on the lives of young scientists in the next three decades, is examined. An English translation by Timothy C. Wong is included in the unabridged edition of this anthology, 879–926. For an extended discussion of the significance of the Cultural Revolutionary model theater and its historical background, see Xiaomei Chen, Acting the Right Part, 26–42, 73–158, and Trevor Hay, China’s Proletarian Myth: The Revolutionary Narrative and Model Theatre of the Cultural Revolution (Cologne: Lambert, 2008). For a recent comprehensive study of the dynamic culture of the Cultural Revolution, see Barbara Mittler, A Continuous Revolution (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Asia Center, 2013). For anti–Gang of Four plays in early post-Mao China, see Xiaomei Chen, Acting the Right Part, 159–204. David Bradby, “Samuel Beckett,” in The Cambridge Guide to World Theatre, ed. Martin Banham (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988), 80. Ibid., 81. Julia Lovell, The Politics of Cultural Capital: China’s Quest for a Nobel Prize in Literature (Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2006), 164. On Gao Xingjian and the post– Nobel Prize debates and twentieth-century China’s Nobel complex, see pp. 163–83. Chen Zidu, Yang Jian, and Zhu Xiaoping, Sangshuping Chronicles, trans. Cai Rong, in Theater and Society, ed. Haiping Yan, 189–261 (Armonk, N.Y.: M. E. Sharpe, 1998); and Jin Yun, Uncle Doggie’s Nirvana, trans. Yin Ruocheng, in An Oxford Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Drama, ed. Martha P. Y. Cheung and Jane C. C. Lai, 89–147 (Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1997). Li Longyun, Wilderness and Man (Huangyuan yu ren), trans. Bai Di and Nick Kaldis, in the unabridged edition of this anthology, 805–78. I am grateful to Sha Yexin for permission to include his play. The English translation is based on the Chinese text Jiang Qing he tade zhangfumen (Hong Kong: Fanrong chubanshe, 1991) and was first published in Xiaomei Chen, ed., Reading the Right Text (Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2003), 282–335. Eighteen years after its creation, Jiaoyuan Experimental Theater (Jiaoyuan Shiyan Jutuan) finally staged this play to great success in 2010 in Hong Kong. Sha Yexin was relieved to see “his child” finally come into the world after eighteen years of a “difficult birth.” See http://www.tzblog .com/photo/i/MjU0NTI5.aspx (accessed 2/2/2013).

The Main Event in Life (1919) Hu Shi Tra nsla ted by Edwar d M. Gu nn

C ha r a c t e rs m rs. t ian 㝥㜡㜡 f ortune- t eller 㚛ツ㥸㔶 l i m a ⹼⿲ miss tian yamei 㝥Цみ m r. t ian 㝥㥸㔶

Setting (The parlor of the Tian home. There is a door on the left leading to the front door, and a door on the right leading to the dining room. Upstage is a sofa, flanked by two armchairs. At center stage there is a small round table with a flower vase on it, flanked by two chairs. There is a small writing desk against the left wall. The walls are hung with scrolls of Chinese paintings and calligraphy, along with two Dutch-style landscape paintings. This East-meets-West arrangement on the walls strongly indicates an atmosphere of a family in transition from tradition to the modern age. It is 1919. The curtain rises slowly so that the audience can hear from onstage the final notes played by the fortune-teller on his stringed instrument. mrs. tian is seated in one of the armchairs, while the fortune-teller , who is blind, sits on a chair next to the table.)

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mrs. tian : I don’t understand very well what it is you’re saying. Don’t you think this match will work out? fortune-teller : Mrs. Tian, I tell it exactly according to the book of horoscopes. All of us fortune-tellers tell it exactly according to the book of horoscopes. You understand that— mrs. tian : And according to the book how is it going to be? fortune-teller : This match can’t work. If the young lady in your family marries this man, then no good will come of it in the future, that is certain. mrs. tian : Why? fortune-teller : You understand, I’m merely telling it just as it is. Now the calculations for the year and day of the man’s birth and the year and hour of the young lady’s birth work out to coincide exactly with the entry in the book that reads: If snake and tiger marry and mate, The male will the female then dominate. If pig and monkey you try to blend, There’s certain to be an untimely end. These are birth calculations which constitute the strongest taboo against marriage. The signs of snake and tiger by themselves spell mutual destruction—and when you add the day and hour signs on top of that, with the pig and the monkey jinxing each other, then these are two most unpleasant fortunes. If these two people become man and wife, they are certain not to survive together into old age. To be specific, the man will emerge as the stronger, the fate of the husband overtaking that of his wife. Probably the woman will die an early death. Mrs. Tian, you mustn’t be offended. I’m telling the fortune just as it is. mrs. tian : I’m not offended, not at all. I like it when people are straightforward. And what you said is definitely correct. It’s what the goddess Guanyin said yesterday, too. fortune-teller : Oh! The bodhisattva Guanyin also said so? mrs. tian : Yes. Over at the temple I got a slip of paper from her with a verse that read— oh, let me get it out and read it to you. (She walks to the writing desk, opens a drawer, takes out a slip of paper, and reads) This is fortune tally number seventy-eight. Most inauspicious. Spouses are chosen before we are born. The course that this takes we must not seek to bend. Those who scorn heaven will find life most forlorn. Their marriage will suffer an untimely end. fortune-teller : “Their marriage will suffer an untimely end.” Why, that’s exactly what I just said. mrs. tian : Of course, what the goddess Guanyin says can’t be wrong, but this is the greatest event in our daughter’s life, and it’s up to us as her parents to take the utmost

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care in our arrangements. So yesterday when I drew this fortune tally I was a little bit uneasy about it, and so I invited you over today to see if there was anything in their birth date calculations that indicated a match. fortune-teller : No, nothing at all. mrs. tian : Since there are only a few phrases on the goddess’s fortune tally it’s not easy to interpret the message. Now that your calculations today coincide with the verse on the tally, then of course that settles it. (Producing money to pay the fortuneteller ) I’m much obliged to you, and here is your payment for calculating their birth dates. fortune-teller (taking the money): That’s not at all necessary, not at all. Thank you. Thank you so much. I never imagined that what I said would match the verse on the tally! (He rises.) mrs. tian (calling out): Li Ma! (li ma enters from the door to the left.) Show him out. (li ma exits, leading the fortune-teller off through the door to the right.) (mrs. tian gathers up the slips of red paper with the birth dates of her daughter and the young man on them, folds them, and puts them in a drawer of the writing desk. She then puts the yellow tally with the verse on it in with them.) (Speaking to herself ) What a shame! Such a shame that these two can’t be married! (miss tian yamei enters from the outside through the door to the right. She is twentythree or twenty-four, dressed for outdoors in an overcoat. Her face has the look of a woman with something on her mind. Upon entering, she takes off her coat as she speaks.) tian yamei : Mother, what’s got you telling fortunes again? I bumped into one of those fortune-tellers at the door as he was going out. Have you forgotten that Father doesn’t allow them in the house? mrs. tian : Just this once, my child. I won’t do it again. tian yamei : But you promised Father you wouldn’t have anything to do with fortune-telling. mrs. tian : I know, I know, but this time I had to ask a fortune-teller. I had him come over to check horoscopes for you and Mr. Chen. tian yamei : Oh! oh! mrs. tian : You must understand: this is the biggest event in your life. And you are my  only child. I can’t just blindly let you marry a man with whom you’re not compatible. tian yamei : Who says we’re not compatible? We’ve been friends for years. We certainly are compatible. mrs. tian : You certainly are not. The fortune-teller said you’re not. tian yamei : What does he know? mrs. tian : It’s not just the fortune-teller who says so. The goddess Guanyin too. tian yamei : What? You went to ask Guanyin? Father’s really going to have something to say about that.

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mrs. tian : I know your father opposes me in this, just as he opposes me no matter what I do. But think of how we older people presume to decide upon your marriage. No matter how careful we are we can’t insure against error. But the bodhisattva Guanyin never deceives people. And then, too, when it gets to the point that both Guanyin and the fortune-teller are saying the same thing, that’s even more reason to believe it. (She stands and walks to the desk, opening a drawer) Read the verse from Guanyin for yourself. tian yamei : I don’t want to. mrs. tian (left with no choice but to close the drawer): Don’t be so obstinate, child. I like that Mr. Chen very much. He looks to me like a very dependable person. You’ve known him all these years since you met in Japan, and you say you know very well what kind of man he is. Still, you’re young and inexperienced yet, and your judgment could very well be mistaken. Even those of us who are in their fifties and sixties don’t presume to put complete faith in their own judgment. It was because I didn’t dare put such faith in myself that I went to consult bodhisattva Guanyin and the fortuneteller. Guanyin said it wouldn’t work out. And then the fortune-teller said that it wouldn’t work out. They can’t both be mistaken! The fortune-teller said that the calculations for your birth dates were precisely those under the strongest taboo in the book of horoscopes. It goes something like, “If pig and monkey try to blend / There’s sure to be an untimely end.” Since your year and hour of birth and his— tian yamei : That’s enough, Mother, I don’t want to hear it. (Both hands over her face, she sobs) I can’t stand listening to you talk that way! I know Father won’t agree with you. I’m sure he won’t. mrs. tian : I don’t care what he thinks. My own daughter is not going to get married to someone if I don’t agree to it. (Walking up to her daughter, mrs. tian dabs at her tears for her with a handkerchief ) Don’t cry. I’ll leave you to think it over carefully. We’re only thinking of you, and want what’s best for you. I’ll go see if lunch is ready. Your father will be back soon. Don’t cry, that’s a good girl. (mrs. tian exits through the door to the dining room.) tian yamei (wiping her tears and looking up, she sees li ma enter, beckons to her to come closer, speaks quietly): Li Ma, I need your help. My mother won’t approve of my marrying Mr. Chen— li ma : What a pity! What a pity! Mr. Chen is such a polite gentleman. Why, I ran into him on the street this morning and he nodded and spoke to me, oh my. tian yamei : Yes, he saw you bringing the fortune-teller to this house, and he was afraid our plans might take a turn for the worse. So he telephoned me at school right away to let me know. When I came back he followed behind me in his car. He should still be at the corner waiting to hear from me. Go and tell him. Say my mother won’t let us marry, but Father is coming home, and he’s bound to help us out. Have him move the car to the back street and wait for my message. So go ahead. (li ma turns to go.) Oh, come back! (li ma turns and comes back.)

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Tell him—tell him—tell him not to worry! (li ma smiles and exits.) (tian yamei walks over to the writing desk and opens the drawer for a surreptitious peek at the contents, then looks at her watch) Father ought to be back soon. It’s almost twelve o’clock. (mr. tian , by appearance a man of fifty, enters.) (tian yamei quickly closes the drawer and stands to greet her father) Father, you’re back! Mother is saying—Mother has something important to discuss with you— something very important. mr. tian : What’s so important? Tell me first. tian yamei : Mother will tell you. (She walks toward the dining room and calls out) Mother. Mother. Father’s back! mr. tian : Who knows what you two are up to now? (He sits on a chair by the table as mrs. tian enters from the direction of the dining room.) Yamei says you have something important to tell me—something urgent you want to talk over with me. mrs. tian : Yes, it’s very important. (She sits on the left-hand chair.) I’m talking about this marriage with the Chen family. mr. tian : Fine. I’ve been giving this matter some thought for several days now. mrs. tian : Good. We all ought to give it some thought. For Yamei, this is the greatest event in life. And once I think of how important this matter is, I get so upset that I can’t sleep or eat, either. Now as for this Mr. Chen, we’ve gotten together a lot, but even so I’m still a little uneasy about him. The way things used to be, you got one look at your proposed son-in-law for the sake of principle and that was it. The way it is now, the more we see him the harder our responsibility is to bear. His family may be wealthy, but then children from wealthy families often turn out bad more than good, a lot more often. He’s gone overseas to study, too, but then a lot of overseas students no sooner get back than they get rid of the wives they were matched with in the first place. mr. tian : That’s quite a speech. So after all what is on your mind? mrs. tian : My point is this: that in arranging this important matter for our daughter, we can’t just stick to our own judgment alone. I wouldn’t presume to trust my judgment alone, so yesterday I went to ask advice at the Temple of Guanyin. mr. tian : You what? Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t go burning incense and praying to Buddha anymore? mrs. tian : I did it for the sake of our daughter. mr. tian : Humph! humph! All right, enough of this. Go on. mrs. tian : I went to the temple and drew one tally. The verse on the tally said that this marriage wouldn’t work. I’ll show you the verse. (She starts to open the drawer.) mr. tian : Phooey! I don’t want to see it. I don’t believe in these things! You said yourself that this is the most important event in our daughter’s life, and that you didn’t

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presume to trust yourself. You don’t mean to tell me that you trust some wood and plaster bodhisattva, do you? tian yamei (joyfully): I said that Father doesn’t believe in that stuff. (Walking over to her father) Thank you. We ought to trust our own judgment, isn’t that so? mrs. tian : It wasn’t only Guanyin who said so. mr. tian : Oh! Who else? mrs. tian : I still wasn’t satisfied after I saw the verse. I still had some doubts. So I had someone go and invite in the most renowned fortune-teller in the city, Blind Chang, to come and make birth date calculations. mr. tian : Humph! humph! There you go again forgetting what you promised me. mrs. tian : I know, but for our daughter’s sake I’ve been so unsettled, so uncertain of how to handle things, that I had to go find him to settle on a decision. mr. tian : Who told you to go to Guanyin and stir up doubts about it in the first place? You shouldn’t have asked Guanyin to begin with—you should have come to me first. mrs. tian : Blasphemy, blasphemy, oh Amida Buddha—that fortune-teller said the same thing as Guanyin. Now isn’t that most unusual? mr. tian : Enough! Enough! No more of this nonsense. You have eyes, but you won’t use them. Instead you take the word of a blind man with no eyes. If that isn’t a joke. tian yamei : Father, you are perfectly right. I knew you’d help us. mrs. tian (turning her wrath on her daughter): Why, of all the cheeky things, to say “help us”! “Us” is supposed to be who? You’re so crass! (Covering her face with her handkerchief, she weeps) You’re all in it together against me! My own daughter’s biggest event in life—can’t I as a mother have anything to do with it? mr. tian : It’s precisely because it is the greatest event in our daughter’s life that we as parents must be particularly thoughtful and sober. This business of plaster bodhisattvas and fortune-telling is all just a swindle. You can’t believe it. Yamei, is that so or isn’t it? tian yamei : You bet that’s so. I knew you couldn’t believe in that stuff. mr. tian : From now on, I’m not going to allow any more of this superstitious talk. We’re finished with plaster bodhisattvas and blind fortune-tellers once and for all. And we’re going to discuss this marriage properly. (To mrs. tian ) Now don’t cry. (To tian yamei ) You sit down, too. (tian yamei sits on the sofa.) Yamei, I don’t want you to marry Mr. Chen. tian yamei (startled and upset): Father, are you joking or is this for real? mr. tian : For real. This marriage definitely can’t work. It hurts me to say so, but I have to say it. tian yamei : Is it that you’ve discovered something bad about him? mr. tian : No. I like him very much. He’s as fine a son-in-law as one could choose. And that bothers me all the more. tian yamei (bewildered): Do you now believe in bodhisattvas and fortune-tellers? mr. tian : No. Absolutely not. mrs. tian and tian yamei (simultaneously): Then what is it?

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mr. tian : You were overseas for so long that you have forgotten all our customs and rules. You’ve even failed to keep in mind the laws laid down by our own clan ancestors. tian yamei : Just what law am I breaking by marrying Mr. Chen? mr. tian : I’ll go get it and show you. (He stands and exits toward the dining room.) mrs. tian : I have no idea what it is. Amida Buddha, it’s just as well this way, just so long as he doesn’t permit the marriage. tian yamei (her head bowed in thought, she suddenly looks up showing an air of determination): I know how to handle this. mr. tian (enters carrying a large set of clan records in both hands): Look, here are the records of your clan. (He opens the books, stacking them in an untidy pile on the table) Look, two thousand five hundred years of our ancestors in the Tian clan, and is there one single marriage of a Tian to a Chen? tian yamei : Why can’t someone named Tian marry someone named Chen? mr. tian : Because Chinese custom forbids persons of the same family to marry. tian yamei : But we don’t have the same family name. His family is named Chen and ours is named Tian. mr. tian : We do have the same family name. Long ago the ancients pronounced the word “Chen” and the word “Tian” in the same way. So sometimes our family name was written “Tian” and sometimes it was written “Chen.”1 Actually, they’re the same. Didn’t you read the Confucian Analects when you were a little girl? tian yamei : Yes, I did, but I can’t remember much about it. mr. tian : In the Analects there appears a fellow named Chen Chengzi. But in the commentaries his name is written as Tian Chengzi, and the reason for that is what I just told you: two thousand five hundred years ago the Chens and the Tians were all one family. It was only in later ages that the people who used the character “Tian” concluded that their surname was Tian and the people who used the character “Chen” concluded that their surname was Chen. To look at them, you’d think that they are two different family names. Actually, they are one family. So descendants with these two names are not permitted to marry. tian yamei : You don’t mean to tell me that a man and a woman whose family names were the same two thousand years ago can’t get married? mr. tian : They can’t. tian yamei : Father, you’re someone who understands reason. You certainly don’t accept a law as unreasonable as this. mr. tian : It makes little difference that I don’t accept it. Society accepts it. Those clan elders accept it. What would you have me do? This doesn’t only apply to people named Tian and Chen, you know. There’s a Mr. Gao working at the local magistrate’s yamen who told me that his ancestors with the name Gao were originally grandsons of Chen Yuliang at the end of the Yuan dynasty. Later they changed their family name to Gao.2 So because six hundred years ago these people named Gao had the name Chen, they won’t marry someone named Chen. On top of that, since two

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thousand five hundred years ago people named Chen were also named Tian, these Gaos won’t marry anyone named Tian, either. tian yamei : That’s even more unreasonable! mr. tian : Reasonable or not, it makes no difference. This is a law of the clan ancestral shrine. If we break the clan shrine law, we lose our place in it. A few decades ago there was a merchant family in the south named Tian, and they married a daughter to someone named Chen. Later, the girl died, but the head of the Chen clan would not allow her spirit a place in the Chen clan ancestral shrine. Before she was allowed a place, her own family had to donate a substantial sum of money to the Chen clan shrine as a fine for their mistake, and change her name from Tian to Shen by lengthening the middle vertical stroke.3 tian yamei : That’s easy enough. I’m willing to extend the vertical stroke and change my name to Shen. mr. tian : It’s easy enough to say. You may be willing. I am not willing! I will not for the sake of your marriage suffer the ridicule and scorn of our clan elders. tian yamei (upset to the point of tears): But we do not have the same name! mr. tian : The clan records say the names are the same, and the clan elders also say the names are the same. I’ve asked a number of the elders and they all say this. You must understand that as parents arranging a daughter’s wedding, while we shouldn’t listen to plaster bodhisattvas and blind fortune-tellers, we have to listen to those elders. tian yamei (beseechingly): Father! mr. tian : Let me finish. There’s one more difficulty. If your friend Chen were not wealthy, that would be fine. Unfortunately, he is a very wealthy man, and if I give you to him in marriage, the clan elders are certainly going to say that out of greed for his money, I would ignore even our ancestors and sell my daughter off to him. tian yamei (in despair): Your whole life you’ve wanted to break free of superstitious practices, and now finally you can’t break with a superstitious clan law. I never dreamed this could happen. mr. tian : Are you angry with me? I can’t blame you. It’s only natural for you to be upset. I don’t blame you at all for being so angry with me—I don’t blame you at all. li ma (entering through the door to the left): Lunch is ready. mr. tian : Come. Come on. We’ll have something to eat and then talk it over. I’m starved. (He goes into the dining room.) mrs. tian (walking over to her daughter): Don’t cry. You must understand for yourself. We only want what’s best for you. Pull yourself together and have lunch with us. tian yamei : I don’t want to eat. mrs. tian : Don’t be so stubborn. Go and calm yourself first, then come. We’ll wait for you. (mrs. tian also goes into the dining room. After closing the door, li ma stands motionless.) tian yamei (looking up and seeing li ma ): Is Mr. Chen still waiting in his car?

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li ma : Yes. Here’s a note he wrote for you. (She produces a sheet of paper and passes it to tian yamei .) tian yamei (reading): “This matter concerns the two of us and no one else. You should make your own decision.” (Repeating the final sentence) “You should make your own decision!” Yes, I should make my own decision. (Speaking to li ma ) Go in and tell my father and mother to go ahead and eat. There’s no point waiting for me. I’ll eat after a while. (li ma nods and goes into the dining room. tian yamei stands, puts on her overcoat, hastily jots down a note at the writing desk, and places it underneath the flower vase on the table. With one look back, she hurries out the door to the right. There is a pause.) mrs. tian (offstage): Yamei, come on and have lunch now. Your food will get cold. (Entering) Where did you go? Yamei? mr. tian (offstage): Leave her alone. She’s angry. Let her calm down and she’ll be all right. (Entering) Did she go out? mrs. tian : Her overcoat’s not here. Maybe she’s gone back to the school. mr. tian (seeing the note under the flower vase): What’s this? (Reading the note) “This is the greatest event in your daughter’s life. Your daughter ought to make a decision for herself. She has left in Mr. Chen’s car. Goodbye for now.” (Hearing this, mrs. tian staggers backward and sits in an armchair. mr. tian dashes to the right-hand door, but as he reaches it he looks back with a wide-eyed, helpless look of hesitation and uncertainty.)

Not es

1. 2.

3.

The editor of this anthology wishes to thank Edward M. Gunn for permission to include here his previously published translation of the play. This play was originally published in Xin qingnian 6, no. 3 (March 1919). The translation is based on the text in Zhao Jiabi, ed., Zhongguo xin wenxue daxi (Compendium of New Chinese Literature), vol. 9, Xiju ji (Drama Volume) (Shanghai: Liangyou, 1935). The character for Tian is 㝥; that for Chen is ⒪. Chen Yuliang (1320–1363) was a powerful military leader in rebellion against the Mongol Yuan dynasty. His chief rival in rebellion was Zhu Yuanzhang, who succeeded in killing Chen, destroying his army, and becoming the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. Chen Yuliang’s surviving relatives changed their names to avoid being associated with their ill-fated kin. The character for Shen is 㔦.

The Night the Tiger Was Caught (1922–1923) Tian Han Tra nsla ted by Jonat han S . Nob l e

C ha r a c t e rs mr. wei 㢬⡁㔶, a wealthy hunter mrs. wei 㢬⪞㗉, his wife lotus ⻷⤟, their only daughter grandmother 㢬⨔㗉, Lotus’s paternal grandmother sheriff li ⹼⛍㬠, their neighbor, a local sheriff farmer he ⧨㢞⥏, Li’s relative crazy huang ⪞▙㓱, lotus ’s male, older cousin, a poor beggar butcher 㟴▙, third zhou 㺾㑻, second li ⹼✠, hired hands employed by the Wei family Time: A winter evening, not long after the Republican Revolution of 1911 Place: A village in the Xian Gu mountains, east of the city of Changsha (A “fireplace room” within the Weis’ home. The fireplace room is where people who live in the country relax after a meal, entertain guests, and huddle around the stove’s fire to stay warm in the winter. The curtain rises. mr. wei sits next to the stove smoking a water pipe. grandmother sits in an armchair smoking tobacco. The years have taken a toll on her. mrs. wei is steeping tea. lotus , about nineteen, is attractive despite wearing the unfashionable clothing typical of people who live in the mountains. She carries a tray over and offers tea to

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her grandmother and then to her father. She then leaves the fireplace room to offer tea to her family’s workers. mr. wei whispers to his wife as he watches lotus leave the room.) mr. wei : I’m sure Lotus will be chosen to marry if not the first then the second of the most eligible sons in the Chen family. I’ve seen all of their daughters-in-law, and not a single one can compare to our daughter. mrs. wei (spoken with a mother’s pride): That’s precisely what Mr. Luo Da said a few days ago. But you don’t know how much trouble it has been to find enough money for her dowry. If the amount’s too small, then the servant girls will all scoff at her. mr. wei : We should thank the immortal goddess Xian Gu for our great fortune. We’ve been so prosperous these last few years. If we hadn’t caught two more tigers, things wouldn’t have changed for the better. mrs. wei (recollecting): Is the blunderbuss in position? mr. wei : Yes. We’ll set the trip wire up a bit later. We’re not going to end up emptyhanded tonight. mrs. wei : If we get another one, then Lotus can add more to her dowry. I still want to go into town to buy a brocade quilt and an embroidered silk canopy for her. She’ll leave for the groom’s home in just a few days. There’s not much time left. mr. wei : If we get a larger one, we won’t have to go to town to cash it in. We’ll just skin it to make a quilt for Lotus. Then people will know what hunting families like ours are really like. That was my plan for the first tiger. Lotus? (Turning around but not seeing her) Lotus, where did you go? mrs. wei (smiling): She probably heard us talking about her, and, embarrassed, she scampered off to her room. mr. wei : She’s better than before. She used to never do as told. It would make me so angry. mrs. wei : She made me angry too. But when I heard her crying at night, though I couldn’t stand her antics, I felt sorry for her. After all, she is my own flesh and blood. (Thinking for a moment) Is that crazy boy still living in the temple? mr. wei : Yes, he’s living beneath the temple’s stage. I wanted to make him leave. But when I saw how young he was, and an orphan as well, I just couldn’t go through with it. After all, though he is not quite right in the head, he’s not committing any crime. mrs. we i : But now he’s stopped coming by. mr. wei : He’s probably afraid to come back after the beating I gave him the last time. Scolding him alone won’t get through to a crazy boy like him. grandmother : But I really feel sorry for this child. Couldn’t you have warned him not to come back? Why’d you have to go so far as to beat him? mr. wei : You’re too old to understand. The child may seem crazy, but he doesn’t act crazy around Lotus. At first I thought he was crazy, so I didn’t mind that he and Lotus were playing with each other. After he grew up, he kept on coming to see Lotus every day, and Lotus was never happy unless they were together. Then I knew that things had become serious. After his mother passed away, I suggested that he go herd cows in the valley. He refused to go to such a remote place. He also said that,

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although he was homeless, he wasn’t willing to leave the Xian Gu mountains. Since then, he’s been living under the temple’s stage. Although he deserves our pity, when I recall the way Lotus kept refusing to get married because of him, I can’t help but detest him. mrs. wei : You don’t need to hate him anymore. We’ll just have to find a good match for Lotus. mr. wei (suddenly remembering something): Where was Lotus coming back from the other day? mrs. wei : She went with the neighbor girl Second Zhang to visit the weaver’s family. I had her give them several pounds of tiger meat and ask when they will finish weaving the fabric. mr. wei : Next time, have the butcher send the meat over. Young ladies shouldn’t be running around outside the home. It looked like she was coming back from the other side of the mountains. mrs. wei : Why are you bringing this up? mr. wei : Lotus hasn’t been out for a long time. I’m afraid she may end up running off to the temple again. grandmother : What’s wrong with her going to the temple to pray to Buddha? mr. wei : Of course there’s nothing wrong with praying to Buddha, but I’m just afraid she will go to see that lunatic. mrs. wei : She won’t if Second Zhang is along. Besides, after arranging the marriage for her, she’s already forgotten about him. mr. wei : I wish it were so. (A conversation is heard outside. sheriff li has brought farmer he to see mr. wei . The butcher greets them.) butcher (offstage): Hello, Sheriff Li! Come in! sheriff li (offstage): Hello, is Mr. Wei at home? butcher (offstage): Come into the fireplace room. Come in. (Entering) The guests are here. (The butcher exits. sheriff li and farmer he enter. mr. wei and the others greet them.) sheriff li: Hello, Mr. Wei! mr. wei: Hi, Sheriff Li. Sit down, please. Who is this? sheriff li: A relative from the valley. mr. wei: Hello, when did you arrive here in the mountains? farmer he: Just this afternoon. sheriff li: He just got here this afternoon. His family has lived in the valley for generations, and he rarely has the chance to come up into the mountains. He’s a distant relative. Last time I went into the valley, I spent the night at his home. We talked about many things, like how mountain life is so interesting, how much one can earn in the mountains, how fertile the soil is, and how the roaring of tigers and leopards is heard at night. He became fascinated by the mountains. I mentioned how you had just captured two tigers and had brought one into the city for a reward and the other one

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was displayed in a cage. No one in his family had ever seen a tiger before and everyone wanted to come and take a look. This cousin was so curious he had to come. His father made him work a few days before leaving, so he just got here. I brought him along with me. farmer he (suddenly hearing the sound of some animal, he grabs sheriff li ’s arm): Is that the tiger roaring? mr. wei (laughing along with the others): That’s not a tiger. It’s a pig grunting in the pen out back. farmer he : Why does it sound different from the pigs in the valley? sheriff li : Pigs grunt the same way in the valley as in the mountains. Your ears must be playing a trick on you . . . Will you take the other tiger into the city too? mr. wei: Yes, they left about five days ago. sheriff li : What? You didn’t go? mr. wei : No, I had Second Lao take it so he could bring some supplies back. I’ve been busy with things here. sheriff li : Poor timing, Farmer He. You came all the way into the mountains to see a tiger, but it has already been hauled off. mrs. wei (pouring tea for the guests): If you had come five or six days ago, then you would have been able to see it. I’m not sure how many people came to look at it before we had it hauled away. After it was taken away, people still came for a few days, but left when they saw the empty cage. Interestingly enough, Mr. Zhou’s new third wife came in from the city to see the tiger. She got up right next to the cage. When the tiger roared, she jumped away, but the tiger’s two paws crushed her jade bracelet. farmer he : Wow! So ferocious! sheriff li (laughing): News about the tiger sure traveled far! The news made it to Chunhua and a newlywed even traveled all the way here to see it. Too bad you already sent it off to the city. mr. wei : Don’t worry. If I’m lucky tonight, I’ll be able to get another one. But I’m afraid it may not be alive. sheriff li : What? Did you set another trap? mr. wei : Not a trap cage but a trap gun. I’m just waiting for people to quiet down and then I’ll get the trip wire in place. sheriff li : Where’d you put it? mr. wei : In the back of the mountains. sheriff li : People don’t wander out that way? mr. wei : Who’d want to run around out there so late at night? Everyone knows a tiger was heard roaring in the mountains last night. sheriff li : Then I wish you luck in getting a large tiger tonight. Don’t forget to treat me to a drink to celebrate the good news. mr. wei : Of course, I will certainly treat you to celebrate Lotus’s wedding in a few days. If I also capture a tiger tonight, then it will be an even more joyous occasion, and we’ll have even more to drink.

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sheriff li : Great. I heard Lotus would be getting married soon. I should have brought a gift along. mrs. wei : Don’t worry about it. The other day old lady Cheng Da sent over some cloth and two quilts. We already feel ashamed as it is. sheriff li : Don’t. It’s my pleasure. When is the wedding with the Chen family? mrs. wei : The first day of the New Year. sheriff li : Your families are perfectly matched. Families like the Chen family are few and far apart in this county. (The butcher enters.) butcher : Boss, shall I set the trip wire? (The lights are on and a fire is burning in the stove. mr. wei looks out the window.) mr. wei : Go on, but be careful. butcher : Yes, sir. sheriff li : Your butcher is a fine chap. mr. wei : Yes, he is very dependable. mrs. wei : The butcher is a man of his word. He has worked here for six years, but never once has he argued with a member of the family. I just remembered—won’t your second daughter be wedded soon as well? sheriff li : I’ve arranged for her to be married into Duke Jin Yapo’s family next March. mrs. wei : A duke! Now that’s a good family. They feed more than thirty and have seven or eight hired hands. What great fortune your daughter will have marrying into such a family. sheriff li : With so many in the family, her fortune is small, but at least she won’t have to worry about starving. Everyone knows how difficult it is to be a daughter-in-law in that family. One has to wake up early and go to bed late with so many chores: knitting and mending, cooking and serving tea, doing the laundry, and even picking sweet potatoes in the hills and rice in the paddies. She’ll have to labor like a coolie year-round. If she has a baby, she’ll have even more work to do. mrs. wei : But only this type of person is a truly good person. The more a family works and saves, the more it will prosper. sheriff li : True. It was precisely for that reason that I was willing to marry my daughter into that family. My wife dotes on my daughter and at first didn’t even reply to their wedding proposal. grandmother : Mr. Wei, tell Second Hu to go to the woodshed and fetch some wood. We still have a while to wait before the tiger is caught. mr. wei (getting up to leave): I’ll go. sheriff li : Grandma, you look good for your age. grandmother : I’ll have you know that I’m up there in years and no longer as strong as before. farmer he : How old are you, Grandma? sheriff li : Guess. farmer he : Let me see, around the same age as my own grandma. mrs. wei : How old is your grandma?

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farmer he : Seventy-five this year. mrs. wei : Then she’s one year younger than our grandma. sheriff li : His grandma is also in great shape. A few days ago I was in her home and saw his grandma embroidering a vest for her grandson. mrs. wei : Grandma’s eyes are not as sharp as before, but she can still get around. She even climbs up the steep path to Xian Gu Temple. sheriff li : Our generation can’t compare to Grandma’s. mrs. wei : That’s for sure. grandmother : That’s nothing compared to Grandpa. Before he passed away, everyone said how he was in great shape. When he was eighty, he even carried a heavy load of grain up the path. farmer he : Wow, I couldn’t even do that now. grandmother : Eighteen-year-old men like yourself are “young tigers” and can do anything you put your mind to. (mr. wei enters carrying a bunch of firewood in his arms. He puts the wood in the stove.) mr. wei : What have you been talking about? sheriff li : We were just saying that youngsters today can’t compare in strength to that of the older generation. mr. wei : You are right on that. Today’s hunters aren’t as skilled and as strong as the hunters of the past. But today the hunting tools and methods are more precise, so less strength is needed. farmer he : Mr. Wei, how did you manage to capture those two tigers? mr. wei : Actually, it is quite interesting. In previous years, we also captured a few, but they were harder to catch than the two we caught this year. The first one was especially easy to catch. We had just built a trap, but we hadn’t yet set it up in the mountains. We left it open, out behind the pigpen. We thought we might catch some small, wild animal. But in the middle of the night we heard the pigs start to squeal. We got up and grabbed our hunting guns, tiger prod, and a lantern, making our way to the pigpen. A ferocious tiger the size of a calf was in the cage. The tiger had been prowling around the side of our home. When it heard the pigs, it wanted to have a bite to eat, and the only way to get at the pigs was through the cage. As it clawed at the pen, the trap door was set in motion. It found itself locked in the cage with no way to get out. Later we designed a better wooden cage. We set it up in the woods in the mountains. We put twigs around it, leaving a small path leading up to it. Behind the trap, we tied up the legs of some pigs and chickens, causing them to squeal. The squealing of these animals naturally attracted the hungry tigers that live in the mountains during the winter. On the third night, we caught our second tiger. That was the one we sent to town and made a bundle on five days ago. farmer he : Catching a tiger is so easy? mr. wei : Not always! I’ve just had good luck. Haven’t you seen the bare slope on the left side of the Xian Gu mountains? Originally it wasn’t bare but was covered with a forest. People knew about the tiger lair in the forest, so they wouldn’t go there to chop

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wood. Since no one chopped the trees down, the forest kept growing thicker, until it was so thick that no sunlight could come through. So the tigers increased in number, and they often came out to catch pigs and other animals for food. They roared all through the night, and the people nearby couldn’t get a good night’s sleep. One day, Deaf Yi’s son ended up getting eaten by the tiger. Deaf Yi was a well-known hunter in our village. He and his wife had only one son, and they cherished him more than their own lives. They couldn’t bear the pain and swore to kill the tiger. Deaf Yi had a hunting friend named Rifleman Yuan who was willing to help take care of the area’s menace. Deaf Yi carried a hunting gun and knife each day as he searched for the tiger on the mountainside. One day he found a path that led to the tiger’s lair. The tiger wasn’t there, but four cubs were frolicking in the lair. At first, Deaf Yi was amused by what he saw. Then he noticed the heads and legs of some babies near the lair. He became enraged, pulled out his knife, and killed all of the cubs. He knew that when their mother returned, she would seek revenge. On the next day, he brought Rifleman Yuan and a bunch of other hunters to surround the mountainside. After the mother tiger returned to her lair, she roared all throughout the night. The next day, when the hunters returned, she was waiting for them. (Hunting dogs are barking. The butcher and third zhou have returned from the mountains. The butcher and third zhou enter.) Did you get it set up? butcher : Yes, it’s all ready. mr. wei : Was anyone walking around up on the mountain? butcher : Who would be walking around at this hour on such a precipice? mrs. wei : Please warm up around the fire. It’s cold out there. third zho u : It’s not too cold. (mrs. wei breaks apart a few dry twigs with leaves. They feed the fire’s flames. The butcher and third zhou gather around to warm up.) sheriff li (to the butcher ): Your sleeve is torn. mrs. wei : Yesterday I asked Lotus to mend it, but he wouldn’t let her. butche r : I’d never wish to trouble Lotus with mending my shirt. Anyone who works in the mountains would never think of wearing a nice piece of clothing. After a few trips into the mountains, even clothes made out of metal would get torn apart. sheriff li : I’ve urged the butcher for a long time to find a good wife. If he had listened to me, then he’d never have to ask someone else to mend his clothes. butcher : Sheriff, you should know how hard we have it. How can I take care of a wife when I can barely take care of myself? sheriff li : That may be so, but still one should find a wife. I’ve never met a rich bachelor, nor have I met a married man who is starving. Let me be your go-between. third zhou : I’ll be your go-between too. butcher (laughing at third zhou ): You, a go-between? What girl do you want me to marry? third zhou : You’ve seen her before, the eldest daughter of Mrs. Pig, who lives out back.

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butcher : I don’t know of a Mrs. Pig who lives in back. (mr. wei and mrs. wei are already laughing.) (Hitting third zhou ) You jerk! mr. wei : Go on and get our things ready. We’ll be heading out soon. butcher : Okay. Third Zhou, please hurry and sharpen the knives. (The butcher and third zhou exit.) sheriff li : You’re going to make a fortune again tonight. mr. wei : That all depends on my luck. This should work, but we can’t say for sure. farmer he : Mr. Wei, what happened the next day? mr. wei (caught off guard): The next day? What about the next day? farmer he : The next day on the mountaintop. Did they capture the tiger? mr. wei : Oh, you mean the story about Deaf Yi and the tiger? I might as well tell you what happened. The next day Deaf Yi asked Rifleman Yuan and several other wellknown hunters to encircle the hilltop. Deaf Yi and Rifleman Yuan courageously took the lead. The other hunters followed behind at a distance. Deaf Yi had Rifleman Yuan keep guard from behind. He followed the path they had found the previous day and slowly approached the tiger’s lair. When he got close, he peered at the tiger busy sharpening its teeth and claws. Before the tiger made a move, Deaf Yi aimed the rifle at the tiger’s head and took a shot. When the tiger heard the gunshot ring out, it pounced in the direction of the gun’s smoke. Deaf Yi had intended to stab the tiger in the stomach with his knife, but when the tiger pounced, he dropped the hunting knife. Deaf Yi grasped on to the tiger’s back, butted his head against the tiger’s throat, and pushed his feet up against the tiger’s thighs. He held on with all his might and the tiger failed to shake him loose. Deaf Yi’s good friend Rifleman Yuan and the other hunters saw what had happened. They wanted to save him, but what could they do? Rifleman Yuan climbed up a nearby tree, aimed his gun at the tiger, and took two shots. The tiger frantically rolled on the ground, and the bullet ended up hitting Deaf Yi on the leg. Although he wasn’t hit in a critical place, he curled up in pain, relaxing his head. The tiger took this chance to let out a great roar. It then bit off half of Deaf Yi’s head and ran away. The hunters were too frightened to block the tiger’s path. As Rifleman Yuan gathered up the remains of his friend, he swore to avenge him by killing the tiger. After this, Rifleman Yuan often went alone with his gun to hunt the tiger down. Although he killed a number of tigers, none was the one that had killed his friend. Rifleman Yuan had a son, You He, who was about fifteen years old. He was afraid he would fail to avenge his friend before he passed away, so he often told his son what the tiger looked like. He raised his son to be a hunter so he could track down the tiger and kill it. As a filial son, You He was obligated to kill the tiger as a sacrifice to his friend’s spirit. Therefore the tiger was always on You He’s mind. farmer he : Did his son eventually get the tiger? mr. wei : Just listen to this. In February of the following year, You He and a few of the neighbor’s kids went to the maple tree patch to scavenge for wild mushrooms. The trees hadn’t been cut down, so the forest was very thick there. Many leaves had fallen

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down on the ground, so this was a great place to pick mushrooms. The kids picked so many and became so happy that they forgot about the dangers of the deep forest. They were joyfully picking mushrooms when one kid suddenly became frightened to death and bolted away. When they asked him what had happened, he yelled back: “There’s a tiger!” When they heard this, the kids started running away, and the mushrooms that they had collected spilled all over the ground. But after running for a while, they realized that they weren’t being chased. They peered carefully back into the forest but didn’t hear a sound. They were all very surprised. The bravest among them, including You He, ran back into the forest to take a closer look. He saw a small space cleared away within the forest. The fierce tiger that had just frightened them was lying down there. There was something in the tiger’s mouth. The tiger’s eyes peered out, as large as teacups, making one’s legs numb from fear. The tiger didn’t move an inch, nor did it make even a sound. If one listened carefully, one couldn’t even hear it breathing. You He, being the bravest, picked up a stone and threw it gently at the tiger’s tail. It still didn’t move. He knew no tiger anywhere that could be so gentle. Seeing several scars on the tiger’s head, he knew deep down inside that this was the tiger his father used to tell him about. He told the other kids, but no one dared move any closer. You He ran up to the tiger and gave it a push. It toppled over. Apparently, after the tiger had eaten Deaf Yi, it had escaped seriously wounded and hid away there until its last breath. Now only its hide and bones remained as its flesh had all rotted away. Half of Deaf Yi’s skull is still hanging out of the tiger’s mouth. farmer he : Then why was it still sitting there? mr. wei : You haven’t heard? That’s called “A tiger’s prowess never dies.” Later he had his father go take a look, and indeed, he confirmed that was the tiger. Rifleman Yuan gave the remaining half of Deaf Yi’s skull to his family so it could be buried together with the rest of him. The tiger’s hide and bones were offered in sacrifice to Deaf Yi’s spirit. This brought closure to the matter. (Just at this moment the sound of a gunshot is heard.) Hey! butcher (offstage): A gunshot, sir! Let’s get over there. sheriff li : Mr. Wei, your lucky streak continues. It seems you got another tiger. grandmother : If it’s a tiger, then Lotus’s dowry will get another boost. mr. wei : I hope it’s a tiger again and not some small wild animal that’s not worth a cent. (The butcher enters with a hunting rifle and tiger prod.) butcher : It’s definitely a large tiger. Small animals don’t go along that path. mr. wei : I agree. farmer he : Let’s go together and take a look. mr. wei : Sure, please come along. sheriff li : I’ll go too. mr. wei (to mrs. wei ): Hurry and boil a pot of water. I’ll be right back. mrs. wei : I made sure things were ready a while ago.

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third zhou (offstage): Let’s go. mr. wei and the butcher (together): Let’s go. (They exit carrying various tools and other items.) mrs. wei : Mother, you had better get to bed. grandmother : I’ll stay up just a while longer. I’ll go to bed after they bring the tiger back. I might as well stay up and look after the fire. mrs. wei : Oh no, there’s no water in this pot! Lotus! lotus (offstage): Coming! (lotus enters.) Mom, what is it? mrs. wei : Hurry and boil a pot of water. They’ll be back soon. Tea should be waiting for them. lotus : Okay. (She leaves with the teapot and returns with it full of water. She places the teapot on a hook above the fire.) Mom, did they get another tiger? mrs. wei : The butcher says it must be a tiger. Other animals don’t take that path, and wasn’t a tiger heard roaring in the mountains last night? grandmother : If they got another tiger, you don’t know how happy your father will be. He said that he wouldn’t sell this one but make a blanket for you from its hide and save its meat to celebrate your wedding. mrs. wei : The day won’t be long now. Have you finished your shoes? lotus : I’m not making them. mrs. wei : Silly child, why not? lotus : I don’t want to wear shoes. mrs. wei : Why don’t you? lotus : I no longer wish to live. (She begins to cry.) mrs. wei : Why not? lotus : If you really want me to get married . . . mrs. wei : You don’t like the Chen family? lotus : That’s not it. mrs. wei : You don’t like the third eldest son in the Chen family? (lotus shakes her head.) Then why don’t you want to go? lotus : I just don’t! mrs. wei : My child, I thought you had agreed to the marriage. Why have you changed your mind? Do you think the single most important event in your life is merely child’s play? They have already made plans, and now you’re no longer willing to go through with it? Even if I consented, how would you ever get your father to agree? If your father consented, what would we do about the Chen family? You really have to grow up. You’re no longer a three-year-old child. If you give up this chance to marry into the Chen family, then who would marry you instead?

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grandmother : That’s right. There aren’t many other families in our village that can compare to the Chens. That the Chens want you is really your good fortune. If you don’t marry into their family, then can you think of a better family for you? Even if such a person existed, that person wouldn’t want you. lotus : I don’t want to marry anyone. I just want to look after Mom and Grandma. mrs. wei : That’s even sillier. What girl stays by her mother’s side her whole life? You need to stop having these doubts. Get back to making those shoes. I’ll take care of preparing the rest of your dowry. Let’s wait and see if your father gets the tiger, then he’ll make a quilt out of the tiger’s hide. And your uncle will go into town to buy an embroidered silk canopy and brocade quilt for you, so that we can pay our proper respect to the Chen family. I know that you are intentionally being naughty, but what can your mother do? You are about to get married. Just wait, if you are this naughty with your father, and he hears what you just said, you know your father’s temper. grandmother : That’s right. If your father hears you are not willing to get married, you’ll see how angry he can get. lotus : I don’t care if Dad gets angry. I just won’t do it. mrs. wei : Okay, let’s see if you can tell your father that to his face. I won’t waste my time saying any more about this with you. I’m going into the kitchen. lotus (walking up to grandmother ): Grandma, I . . . grandmother (holding on to her): Silly girl. Why are you crying? Isn’t your life better than your grandma’s? lotus : No. Grandma, my life is terrible. (The sounds of voices and dogs barking can be heard faintly.) grandmother : Listen. Your father and the butcher are coming back with the tiger. Your dowry will be even larger now, and you can bring good fortune even earlier to the Chen family. Hurry and meet them at the entrance. lotus : No, I don’t want to go. I’m afraid of this tiger. grandmother : Haven’t you seen a tiger before? What are you afraid it will do? You were not afraid of the tiger when it was caught alive, why should you be afraid of a tiger that’s already been shot dead? lotus : Why shouldn’t I be afraid? It’s threatening my life. grandmother : Look at you. You are just as crazy as Crazy Huang. lotus : Grandma, you’re right. I’m just as crazy. I often worry I’ll also become an idiot. grandmother : The more you say, the sillier you become. How can a good girl like you become an idiot? (The sounds of voices and dogs barking are getting closer.) Okay. (She stands up. The sheriff says, “Bring it in.”) Listen. The tiger has already been carried to the doorstep. Go take a look. lotus : No, I don’t want to see it. I’ll leave if they bring the tiger in. (The sounds of voices, footsteps, and dogs barking are mixed together.) butcher (offstage): Push the door open. mr. wei (offstage): Get a door plank in place in the center room.

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grandmother : Lotus, the tiger is being carried in. Go take a look. lotus : No, I don’t want to see it. (The sounds of voices and footsteps are even closer.) mr. wei (offstage): Take it into the center room. sheriff li (offstage): No, take it into the fireplace room. grandmother : Hurry and open the door. They’re bringing the tiger into the fireplace room. mr. wei (offstage): Why the fireplace room? sheriff li (offstage): The weather is cold, so the fireplace room is better. Hurry and set it down. (The door to the fireplace room opens and second li clears off the rattan bed by the wall on the left and places a brocade quilt on the bed and clumps together some clothing to make a pillow. sheriff li comes in and moves a bench out of the way. Much to lotus and grandmother’s great surprise, mr. wei and the butcher carry in a young man in ragged clothing rather than a tiger. His leg is covered with blood. Just at this moment, he passes out. They lift his body, like a corpse, onto the rattan bed.) grandmother : What? You shot a man? mr. wei : Yeah, what can we say? sheriff li : Fan the flames on the fire. The room is very cold. Mr. Wei, go and get a doctor. mr. wei : Where can I find a doctor at this hour? Sixth Liang from the Locust Tree Villa has left for the city again. sheriff li : No, we must get a doctor to come now. His injury is serious. If he were to die, it would be no laughing matter. mr. wei : Butcher, go see Ninth Wen in the Wen mountain village, and do what you have to to get him to come over tonight. Second Li, go with him to help carry the sedan chair. (The butcher and second li quickly exit. mrs. wei quickly enters.) mrs. wei : You shot a man! Who’d you shoot? mr. wei : Who do you think! What bad luck! (mrs. wei and lotus turn to look at the face of this young man in ragged clothing.) He’s unconscious. Hurry and splash some hot water on him. (Suddenly turning his attention to lotus ) Lotus, you can’t stay here. Go on out. (lotus stares at the ashen face of the young man as if she hasn’t heard what her father just said. She can’t believe her eyes and wipes them to take a closer look.) lotus : Isn’t this Huang, Cousin Huang! (She begins to cry.) mrs. wei : It really is that kid. How’d he get so thin? (She leaves to boil some water.) mr. wei : Lousy idiot. How can you call him “cousin”? You’re still here? Get going. grandmother (taking a closer look): Is it really that kid? mr. wei : Who else other than this crazy kid would be running around on the mountaintop looking to die? I can’t believe my bad luck running into such a wretched person.

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grandmother : Where was he hit? mr. wei : On his leg. If he had been hit just a bit higher, he’d already be dead. sheriff li : He’s still in critical condition. He’s lost a large amount of blood. When we first came up to him, we thought he was a tiger. Only after we got a closer look did we know this kid had been messing around. mr. wei : Even with such a serious injury he still congratulated me. What a bastard! grandmother : Hurry and stop his bleeding. Wake him up. He’s already crazy, and we can’t let him become a cripple too. mr. wei (applying pressure on the leg to stop the bleeding): It’s difficult to stop the bleeding. I’ll go get Barber Li from downstairs. Sheriff, please help stop the bleeding while I go get him. sheriff li : Okay, go on. I’ll take care of it. mr. wei : Thank you, Sheriff Li. (He exits.) lotus (getting next to the injured man to examine the wounds): It is very bad! (Her hand gets covered with blood.) He’s lost so much blood! What can we do! (Crying at first, but then realizing that crying won’t do any good, she exits, and the sound of cloth being ripped is heard.) sheriff li (to farmer he ): You came tonight to see a tiger, but you never thought it would be this kind of tiger. You can go back ahead of me. I’ll stay a while. (Walking to the door with him) Go straight and turn at the large camphor tree. Walk up the slope and you’ll see my house. Is it too dark to see? Take a torch with you. farmer he : No need, I can see fine. Thank you. third zhou : I’ll take Farmer He back. I want to go to the Lis’ new house and see if there is any medicine to bring back. sheriff li : That’s better. Tell my wife I’ll be back soon. (farmer he and third zhou exit. Rushing onstage holding a white cloth and a bunch of cotton, lotus sits next to crazy huang . She wipes away the blood from the wound and bandages it up. The injured man turns a bit and mutters something.) lotus (calling out): Huang! Cousin Huang! crazy huang (muttering a pained response): Uh! sheriff li : The water has boiled. Hurry and pour some hot water on him. (mrs. wei fills a bowl up with hot water and carries it over to crazy huang . grandmother uses chopsticks to pry his mouth open and then pours water in.) Good, his stomach is moving a little. grandmother : This is a kind of good fortune. lotus (softly calling his name): Huang, Cousin Huang. crazy huang (a bit louder): Yeah. grandmother : Poor child. He’s passed out from the pain. crazy huang (groaning as if he were talking in his sleep): Lotus, it hurts. mrs. wei : Even though he’s in pain, he still hasn’t forgotten about Lotus. lotus (holding on to him): Cousin Huang.

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crazy huang (opening his eyes and looking all around): Why am I here? Why am I sleeping here? sheriff li : You were just shot in the mountains. We carried you here. Are you starting to remember? crazy huang : Yes, a bit more. Sheriff Li, Aunt Wei, Grandma, Lotus. Lotus, why did I just see you up in the mountains? I thought I was still up there. (Wiping his eyes) Lotus, are we dreaming? lotus : Cousin Huang, it’s not a dream. It’s real. You’re lying on the rattan bed in my home’s fireplace room. crazy huang : It’s not a dream. But I never thought I’d see you this evening. You’re going to get married. I heard you’re going to get married. I heard you will be married in the next few days. I wanted to congratulate you, but I hadn’t the courage to come to your home. I thought that on your wedding day the Chen family would get some beggars to carry banners. If I could carry a banner then I’d be able to wish you happiness. Which day is it? Has it been set already? lotus : Huang . . . (She can’t stop herself from crying. mr. wei rushes onstage.) mr. wei : Barber Li is not at home. He’s out. Has the bleeding stopped? sheriff li : It’s better. Lotus bandaged it. mr. wei (looking at lotus ): Lotus, you’re still here? Get out of here. (lotus hesitates.) Go on. What a disgrace! lotus : Daddy, tonight I want to look after him. This is all I’ve ever asked of you my whole life. mr. wei : What’s he to you? Why must you look after him? He’s been injured, so of course I want to make sure he gets better. He’s none of your concern. Go to your room! sheriff li : What’s wrong with letting her look after him for a bit? Women are always better at taking care of patients. mr. wei : Sheriff, you don’t know the details. I will not allow my daughter to nurse him. First of all I have no idea why he had to go into the mountains at this hour. Was he playing with death? sheriff li : It’s normal for people whose minds are not quite right. mr. wei : You really think he’s an idiot? Sometimes what he says isn’t crazy at all. I don’t know why he’s always trying to make a fuss with my family. crazy huang : Uncle, I won’t make you worry in the future. I’ll never come back to your home. This is the last time. I never thought I would end up in your home tonight. I never thought I’d be injured and end up like a wild beast collapsed in this place. I just hope in the future I’ll be able to faintly see the lights of this house from a distance in the mountains. mr. wei : Why do you want to see my family’s lights? crazy huang : Not just tonight. Not just the last few nights, I have come just about every night. Since I started living under the stage in the temple, most nights are spent in the same way. Not even high winds and downpours have stopped me. Whenever I

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look at the lights of this house, I feel as if I were peering upon a close relative, and I forget all of my troubles. grandmother : We should take pity on this orphan! mr. wei : Why didn’t you come to talk to me about the way you feel about my family? crazy huang : I wanted to come. But I thought you’d prefer that I didn’t. You scolded me in the past, so I couldn’t find the courage to come back. mr. wei : I only scolded and beat you so that you would study harder. Who taught you to disobey orders? I wanted you to learn to become a carpenter, but you refused. And then you refused to become a tailor. Later, I wanted you to go into the fields and herd cattle, but you still wouldn’t obey. You’d rather hang around and beg for food? Of course I was upset with you. crazy huang : That’s right, I’d rather hang around and beg for food. I’d rather sleep by myself under the stage than leave my hometown. Even if you got the police to send this homeless child away, I would still never leave. mr. wei : I’d send you out of here for being involved in some indecent business. If you’d studied like I told you, then there’d be no need for this. crazy huang : People always want to get rid of poor children. But I think you were worried that I may harm Lotus, not that I was involved with some indecent business. mr. wei : See, I told you so. All along he was just pretending to be dumb. crazy huang : I really am an idiot. I know I’m not deserving of Lotus. As I can’t have her, how can I not become an idiot? Since we were children, Lotus and I have always been together. In those days, my family was doing fine. You even joked around saying that Lotus and I made a good pair. Even if you hadn’t said this, that’s the way we felt, even if as children we didn’t really understand. Later my father passed away and my family lost everything. Your family distanced itself from us. Then my mother also passed away, our home burned in a fire, and we sold all of our land, but it still wasn’t enough to pay off all our debts. I could no longer go to school. Others decided that I should become an artisan. I was told to become a tailor, but I didn’t want to. I ran away, and after being beaten, I was dragged off to become a carpenter. I knew even then that Lotus could never be mine. The morning that I was to leave to apprentice as a carpenter I wanted to say goodbye to Lotus, but you wouldn’t let me see her. I could only blame everything on my bad fate. I tried everything, but there was no changing my fate. The neighbor Eighth Chen pitied me, so he let me go to the city with him to learn how to do business. I thought this would help me to forget about Lotus. But when I was less than a mile from the city, I turned around and came back by myself. I couldn’t forget about Lotus. I couldn’t leave the place where she lived. Fortunately the Taoist priest in Xian Gu Temple pitied me, so he let me live beneath the temple’s stage. I would help him around the temple. When he saw that I hadn’t gotten any food from begging, he would give me leftovers to make sure I wouldn’t starve to death. I’ve lived like this for over a year. (lotus cries.) A child without anyone else—no father, no mother, no siblings, no relatives, and no friends. I can get through the day, but it is so cold and depressing at night, sleeping

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in the temple under the stage all alone. I really feel frightened! When I light a fire, I am the only one to glow in its light. When I sing or cry, I am the only one to hear my sad voice. Only now do I know that being alone is much more terrifying than ferocious beasts like tigers and hyenas, and even ghosts and goblins! (lotus ’s sobbing intensifies.) I was so lonely that I didn’t know what to do. Every day when the sun set, when the birds on the mountain flew back to their nests, I would start walking up the mountain so that I could look at the lights of this house. When peering at these lights, I felt as if I were a happy kid once again sitting on the laps of my parents six years ago, calling to Lotus to come and play and gathering wildflowers for Lotus to wear. You have no idea how this filled me with joy, made me feel so content! When it drizzled, the window in the distance looked even fainter. This reminded me of the autumn when we chased after fireflies. Lotus would put them in eggshells. It was wonderful! I stared into the distance imagining these things. I wouldn’t even notice getting wet, and I would only go back to sleep under the cold and depressing stage after all the lights had been turned off and Lotus was asleep. (lotus continues weeping.) grandmother : My poor child, didn’t you catch a cold? crazy huang : Who cares whether or not an orphan catches a cold? Loneliness is more frightening than illness. If I could only decrease the feeling of loneliness in my heart then I wouldn’t have other concerns. My health is already ruined, since I’ve been out in the cold and starving for more than a year. I was feeling sick these last few days, so I didn’t go up the mountain to gaze upon the window’s light. I’m afraid it won’t be long before I join my parents in the grave. I also heard that Lotus would be married into the Chen family in the next few days, so this evening I made a special effort to climb up the mountain so as to gaze at the lights in the window that I hadn’t seen the last two days, and perhaps would never again see. I never thought as soon as I got into the mountains I’d stumble on a trip wire and then get shot. I hope I’ll end up dying from this gunshot, then I won’t have to keep on suffering. But since I can see Lotus again, I’m glad I was shot. If I end up dying, it will have been worth it. Lotus, my wound is severe, and I am also ill. Can you look after me? If you could only touch me, my illness would go away, and my sorrow could be forgotten. Lotus, please look after me, that’s all I ask you. lotus : Okay, Cousin Huang, I will look after you. sheriff li : If Lotus takes care of him, his wound will heal faster. grandmother : Poor boy, I didn’t know he loved Lotus so much. mrs. wei : It seems he got shot all for Lotus. It’s too bad that he was ill when he got shot. If his mother were still alive, her heart would be broken. lotus (rubbing the young man’s hand): Cousin Huang, get some rest. I’ll take care of you tonight. crazy huang (looking consoled): Thank you. mr. wei (angrily shouting): No way! Lotus, get inside. I’ll take care of him. Don’t worry about him. You already belong to the Chen family. How can you look after him? How could we ever explain this?

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lotus : Why do I belong to the Chen family? mr. wei : I’ve let the Chen family have you, so you belong to the Chen family. lotus : Then I give myself to Cousin Huang. I belong to the Huang family. mr. wei : What are you saying! Are you really such a stupid girl? How dare you talk back to your father! (Looks at lotus , who is rubbing crazy huang’s hand) You still dare to touch him? Get out of here! This is none of your business! lotus : You’ll have to kill me before I let go of his hand. mr. wei (changing his tone to that of a caring father): Lotus, think carefully. Did I give you to the Chen family because I love you so much? Your dad’s had a hard life, and he only has you, his only daughter. So I don’t want to give you to just anyone. It is hard to find the right person, and only after searching far and wide did I select a good family like the Chen family. I was afraid the Chen family wouldn’t accept us, since we are a hunting family. They must have thought you would make a good wife, so they agreed to the marriage. I just wish you would be happy to marry into the Chen family and have a life filled with joy. You would give birth to grandchildren, and since I don’t have a son, having a grandson would bring us great happiness. I never thought you’d be such a stupid girl and keep procrastinating. Only after your mother and I pleaded with you did you change your mind and finally agree, right? mrs. wei : That’s right. Lotus, you did end up agreeing. lotus : Because my father kept pleading with me, there’s nothing I could do other than finally agree. I had wanted to find a chance to talk to Cousin Huang about running away together before the wedding. mr. wei : I knew you were trying to run away! lotus : I wanted to run away. I’ve wanted to for a long time, I just couldn’t find the right chance. The first time a tiger was caught and many people were coming over to look, I made it halfway up the mountain, until I ran into the butcher. I had to turn around. The closer my wedding day got, the less you would let me leave the house. A few days ago I was able to go with Second Zhang to deliver the tiger meat, and we went to the temple. Because I was with Second Zhang, I was afraid to ask about Cousin Huang, so I never saw him. mr. wei : And if you had found him? lotus : If I had found him, we would have chosen a day to run away. mrs. wei : Where would you have gone? lotus : Into the city. mrs. wei : And then what? lotus : Mrs. Zhang introduced me to a textile factory. mr. wei : Oh, yeah! lotus : I never thought he would end up here before I found him, carried into my home like a seriously wounded tiger. He’s become so skinny, and his leg has a huge wound. He’s lost so much blood. Poor Cousin Huang, I’ll never leave your side. In life or death, I’ll never leave you. mr. wei : I will make you leave him. I won’t let you do this. You disrespectful girl!

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(mr. wei tries to force their hands apart, but they grasp on to each other as tightly as possible.) lotus : Daddy! (grandmother , sheriff li , and mrs. wei speak simultaneously.) grandmother : Wei! sheriff li : Wei! mrs. wei : Please, Lotus, let go. lotus : No, no way. No one in this world could tear our hands apart. mr. wei : I can! (With a force like lightning, he fiercely tears their hands apart and drags lotus out of the room.) You ingrate! You despicable ingrate! How can I not beat you for this! (He drags her into a room and sounds of his beating and her trying to get away are heard.) How dare you talk back! Are you still crazy? Going to call out to Crazy Huang again? Are you going to make me even angrier? (He beats her with each exclamation.) all (together): Wei, Wei! Don’t hit her! (They all run out of the room. crazy huang is left alone. He looks like a corpse as he lies on the bamboo bed and listens to the sounds of lotus being beaten. He is suddenly struck by the pain of his wound and illness.) crazy huang : I can’t take it! (Although in great pain, he manages to get up and pick up the hunting knife that is next to the bed.) Lotus, I’m one step ahead of you. (He stabs himself in the chest and dies. mr. wei ’s voice is heard from offstage.) mr. wei : You still won’t listen to me? You still dare to call out Crazy Huang’s name? You will marry into the Chen family! (The sound of a bamboo whip beating lotus is heard. Her weeping and crying out of crazy huang’s name gets louder and louder. The sound of her pleas and her wailing are heard as well.)

Note This one-act play was written by Tian Han between 1922 and 1923. It was published in 1924 in the bimonthly Nanguo banyuekan and in a collection of his plays called One Night in a Café. The play was revised in 1954 and published in 1955 in Tian Han juzuoxuan (Selected Plays of Tian Han) and again in 1959 in Tian Han xuanji (Selected Works of Tian Han). In 1983 the play was published in Tian Han wenji (The Literary Works of Tian Han). This English translation is based on the play’s publication in the twenty-volume Tian Han quanji (Complete Works of Tian Han) (Shijiazhuang: Huashan wenyi chubanshe, 2001).

After Returning Home (1922) Ouyang Yuqian Tra nsla ted by Jonat han S . Nob l e

C ha r a c t e rs lu zhiping ⿇㺰㊿, a college student in New York wu zifang 㣔㽴➜, lu zhiping ’s wife lu qichang ⿇㋜␧, lu zhiping ’s father grandmother (mrs. gu ⤧㗉), lu zhiping ’s grandmother wu youshu 㣔㱸㗰, wu zifang ’s father mary liu ⽁⿴⺉, lu zhiping ’s second wife lao chen ⹝⒪, a hired hand zhang ma 㷩⿲, a female servant third wang 㠩㑻, a village farmer villagers, children Time: Autumn Place: Hunan province (This modest, one-story home belongs to a well-to-do family in rural China. A large entrance is located at the home’s center. There are trees behind the house. The main road into town runs along the right side of the nearby hills. To the left of the house are trellises for growing beans and squash. Outside, racks for drying clothes are set up in the place used for threshing wheat. Several pieces of foreign attire are drying in the sun on the bamboo racks. There are two benches. zhang ma enters the stage through the door.)

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zhang ma : Miss, the sun has set behind the mountain. wu zifang (as if to herself ): What? zhang ma : Time to bring the clothes inside. wu zifang (entering the stage): I’ll take care of it. Please look after Grandma. She’s rather hard of hearing and might blame you for ignoring her. (mrs. gu, who is inside, keeps calling out to zhang ma .) zhang ma : Coming! wu zifang : See, isn’t she calling you? (zhang ma exits, smiling. wu zifang mutters to herself as she folds the clothing.) This pocket has come loose. I guess I’ll need to mend his clothes. (While examining how to sew the pocket back on, much to her surprise, she finds two dried lotus petals in a pocket.) Wow, funny how flower petals are stitched into clothing bought overseas. There are even words written on them. (Reading out loud) “We shall love each other for the rest of our lives.” (She reads the other petal) “Our endless love will inspire our great career.” (She pauses for a moment and then reads the words again, as if speaking to herself ) People have been saying that Lu Zhiping married another woman. I thought it was just a rumor, but who would have thought I’d find evidence. Their sworn love for each other is right here on these petals. (She looks down at the petals as if trying to memorize the lines. lao chen enters.) lao chen : All dishes are ready to go and I am waiting for you to slice the pork. wu zifang : Leave them there for right now. (She puts away the petals, low in spirit.) lao chen : Your husband and your father-in-law aren’t home yet. It’s still early. I’ll go take a look at the waterwheel. I don’t know if it’s been fixed yet. (He walks off to the right while speaking.) wu zifang : Go on. (lu zhiping has returned home.) lu zhiping : Zifang, what are you doing here? wu zifang : Drying your precious clothes. lu zhiping : Thank you. I’m flattered. wu zifang : You’re too polite. Americans are more polite to women than Chinese. lu zhiping : Women have always been equal to men, so naturally one should be polite to women. wu zifang : Politeness and equality are the same? lu zhiping : Not always, but etiquette is necessary. Don’t Chinese also say “Cherish mutual respect”? wu zifang : No wonder you are like a guest in your own home. lu zhiping : We are all just guests in life. (He takes out a cigarette.) wu zifang : Wow! Clothing made in America is taken to rural China and set out to dry. lu zhiping : I can’t stay in America forever. While there, I always wanted to return home. After coming home, each tree and every blade feels so natural. If we didn’t

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have to worry about Westerners oppressing us, then our village would truly be heaven on earth and we’d know only great joy. The decadence of those modern cities would have no place here. There’d be little difference between the rich and poor. A simple life with natural products could naturally evolve along with the guidance of the enlightened. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? wu zifang : What do you know about the way of life in the countryside? lu zhiping : Why wouldn’t I know? I just walked by Guandi Temple, the place where I went to school as a child, and then I continued on to my maternal grandmother’s home. The words that I carved into the bamboo on the hill behind her home are still there. The images of my childhood are still fresh, and I can’t help but feel overcome by love for this village. wu zifang : But it’s such a pity that there is no one to console you here in the countryside. lu zhiping : Aren’t you my companion? wu zifang : Before you became an accomplished student, I may have been a suitable companion. Now that you have a degree from a university in the United States, I’m no longer in your league. lu zhiping : If you’re not then who is? wu zifang : Naturally there’s a person. lu zhiping : I thought there was only one. wu zifang : Who? lu zhiping (in a very tender voice): Wu Zifang. wu zifang (with a bit of sarcasm): But I’ve never been abroad, and I don’t know much about music and dancing. lu zhiping : Why is that so important? wu zifang : I’m also not good at socializing. lu zhiping : Why does that matter? wu zifang : And I don’t have any knowledge that I can show off. lu zhiping : Is that the point of having knowledge? wu zifang (more assertively): And I don’t know how to write a love letter on a flower petal. lu zhiping (blushing): What are you saying? wu zifang: Why get so nervous? I’m just joking with you. lu zhiping : You probably heard someone’s idle chatter. wu zifang : Don’t blame someone else. You were the one careless enough to leave evidence in clear sight. (Speaking to the clothing) Thank you for providing me with such intriguing information. I just learned today that “we shall love each other for the rest of our lives.” lu zhiping : Zifang, what do you mean by all this? wu zifang : There’s no need to pretend you don’t know what I’m saying. After you left two years ago, I had heard that you had gotten married to someone else. I even asked you the day before yesterday, but didn’t you say no? lu zhiping : Listen . . .

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wu zifang : At that time, I thought it was just a rumor. Many people love gossip, but since you had proclaimed yourself as the founder of the Association for Individual Ethics, people just ran away with the rumor until it became a joke everyone knew. I really thought you were a young man with strong integrity who would understand the hope your grandmother had for you. So no matter what proof people had on you, I always tried to defend you, and even put my conscience on the line to guarantee that people were making this all up. Who would have imagined that today in the pocket of your clothing I’d stumble upon your love letters written on flower petals. Now I know the truth. You did indeed get married to another woman. (third wang enters carrying telegrams and newspapers.) third wang : Master and Mistress, this package of letters was specially delivered from Mr. Li in town. Shall I put them here? lu zhiping : That’s fine. Thank you. third wang : You’re welcome. I’ll be going now. wu zifang : Have a cup of tea. third wang : I’ll be going. Thank you, my lady. (He leaves.) wu zifang : I know you’ve got a letter in there from you know who. lu zhiping : If I don’t, you shouldn’t mind her. wu zifang : Not mind her? lu zhiping : I can’t tell you how sorry I am. wu zifang : You tell me not to mind her. Isn’t she a person too? And even a person you love! It doesn’t matter whether or not you feel sorry for me. I just hope you’ll think carefully about the future. lu zhiping : I have my own suffering. wu zifang : Because how could you not love such a pretty girl? lu zhiping : There you go again. That’s not it. After I got to America, I was so lonely, and you were so far away. Suddenly there was a person to console me. I couldn’t possibly take her kindness for granted, so I . . . wu zifang : So death do you part? lu zhiping : So we became friends. wu zifang : So you got married to repay her friendship? You think marriage is the only way to repay friendship? lu zhiping : Say what you want. wu zifang : What’s her name? lu zhiping : Liu. wu zifang : Right on. That’s what she said. I even know her first name: Mary. (Taking out the petal) Her name’s written right here! You can have it back. I wouldn’t want your heart to ache. lu zhiping : You don’t want to keep it as evidence? wu zifang : The proof is in the heart! Do you truly love her? lu zhiping : I love her as a friend. Nowadays it’s common for men and women to interact in public.

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wu zifang : You mean swearing one’s love for each other by writing on flower petals is only the love of friends? Have you told her about me? lu zhiping : I’ve told her about you many times. She hopes to be friends. wu zifang : Why don’t schools in China have courses on rhetoric? Schools in America emphasize rhetoric. lu zhiping : I’m not lying to you. wu zifang : The reality has nothing to do with me. lu zhiping : Do you hate me? wu zifang : First tell me if you love her? lu zhiping : Not again! wu zifang : I think you may not really love her, and I don’t want to hate you. If you loved her, then you wouldn’t have lied to her. If I hate you, then I never loved you before. lu zhiping : You don’t love me? But the more you say, the more lovable you become. wu zifang : Don’t say that. I’m really afraid of death. lu zhiping : I truly love you. wu zifang : Then my life is over. lu zhiping : I don’t understand what you are saying. wu zifang : How can I possibly understand what you did? lu zhiping : I guess one could say that while away I was accidentally involved in something not so proper, even if it was for a short while. It has nothing to do with my conscience. Rather, such an experience makes one’s love grow. Even if you don’t understand this now, you will one day. wu zifang : According to your logic, tomfoolery is necessary in order to increase the degree of love for each other. The more times one is married, the stronger one’s integrity becomes. Now I understand that those people behaving absurdly over there are doing so just for the experience. lu zhiping : Zifang, you’re too . . . it seems you are too . . . wu zifang : You mean to say I’m too extreme? We country folk don’t know what love is. It is just a dirty word that’s uttered in the hustle and bustle. It’s unfortunate, but I can read enough words to know from reading books and newspapers that many women die as a result of this dirty word. You can just end it. Talking about it is just wasting time. The flowers could be watered. The vegetables chopped and the wine poured. (Getting his clothes) I’ll put your clothes back in your suitcase. (She picks up the clothing as she speaks with a hint of sarcasm) I won’t hold up what’s important to you. (lu zhiping watches wu zifang as she leaves the room.) lu zhiping : Go on, say what you want. What can I do about it? (Watching wu zifang leave, he pauses silently for a while and takes a deep breath. He then sits down and picks up a letter, muttering to himself.) This letter is from her. Wow! I really shouldn’t have come home. But . . . (He reads the letter. lao chen enters.) lao chen : Master, you won’t be going away again? Your father is really worried. Rumors say that you have a foreign wife and won’t come back. The missus is too generous— (lu zhiping quickly interrupts.)

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lu zhiping : Lao Chen, where’d you just come from? lao chen : I just came back from fixing the waterwheel. The manual waterwheels are tough on the country folk. If only they were mechanical. All foreigners like you know how to make machines. Master, I’ve heard that the human body is like a machine; it can be taken apart and repaired. I’ve also heard that foreigners can dissect a person’s stomach and intestines, wash them, and put them back in again. Is that really so? lu zhiping : Yes, it is. lao chen : That’s so strange! It would be even more wonderful if hearts could also be fixed. So many Chinese people have heart problems. Many have cruel hearts. It would be really great to invite a foreign mechanic to come to China to do some repair work. lu zhiping : If people were turned into robots, that would be really bad! lao chen : But I’m afraid the foreigners wouldn’t repair our hearts but would make them worse. I’ve heard that foreigners don’t smoke opium but rather force Chinese to smoke. I think that’s the same as messing up our hearts. We should fix our own hearts rather than relying on others. lu zhipin g : What you have said makes some sense. lao chen : I’ve heard that after you go abroad to study, a Western woman will put you under a spell, and then you will forget all about your homeland. Is that true? lu zhiping : Who could come up with such silliness? It’s crazy. Get going. I’ve got some things to do. (He turns away.) lao chen : You’re speaking like you were still over there. We’re not three-year-old children. No wonder people say there’s a plot against us over there. Maybe it’s no joke! (Turning toward lu zhiping and laughing as he walks away) When you were ten, you were so naughty, climbing over the wall and running away. (Walking into the other room as he speaks) Now you’ve come back from seeing the world. lu zhiping : What if she came? What would happen? (He hears a boy and girl singing a mountain folk song together.) two children (singing): The man plows the field, his wife stays at home, cooking the meal and steeping the tea. Friends and couples are the same. He helps me and I help her. Couples in the country know true love; couples in the cities want nice clothing. Old clothes are thrown out for the new; love grows greater over time. (The two kids look at lu zhiping and whisper to each other as they point at him, laughing. lu zhiping glares at them and they run off laughing. lu zhiping looks lost in thought as zhang ma enters. She is carrying a tray with a bowl on it for lu zhiping . lu zhiping’s grandmother calls to zhang ma from inside an interior room offstage. grandmother enters the stage as she continues calling for zhang ma .)

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grandmother : Zhang Ma! Zhang Ma! Wait! zhang ma (signaling with her hand): Don’t you want me to give this to the young master to eat? grandmother: Wait! Zifang! Zifang! (wu zifang enters.) wu zifang : What is it, Grandmother? (grandmother motions with her hand, pointing at lu zhiping , and signals at the lotus root soup on the tray. What she means to indicate is for wu zifang to give it to lu zhiping. wu zifang understands, but, although she is smiling to indicate her acquiescence, she can’t help but display a bit of reluctance. zhang ma is smiling. wu zifang then brings the tray over to lu zhiping .) (To lu zhiping ) What’s on your mind? Is something wrong? Your grandmother made this lotus root soup from scratch for you. lu zhiping : Thank you! (He uneasily puts a few letters into his coat pocket. When wu zifang notices this, she looks on with disdain and ridicule.) wu zifang : Be brave. (Helping grandmother to stand) Hurry and thank your grandmother. (lu zhiping turns around and looks at grandmother , who is laughing. zhang ma brings over a chair and grandmother sits down.) lu zhiping : Why did you take the trouble to make lotus root soup from scratch for me? I haven’t been a particularly filial grandson. (grandmother seems as if she didn’t hear him, but only cares about what she has to say.) grandmother : Is it sweet enough? lu zhiping (nodding his head): Yes. grandmother : I heard you had come back. I’ve been waiting, since the lotuses sprouted, for you to come and watch the lotuses with me. wu zifang (interjecting): Lotus leaves are good for writing. (lu zhiping is startled.) grandmother : What? (wu zifang shakes her head as she begins to leave the room, smiling.) wu zifang : Nothing! (She exits.) grandmother : Who would have known that even the lotuses would get so old and that it’d take so long for you to come home. While abroad you could eat so many delicious things, why would you want to eat this country food? But this is the least I could do for you. lu zhiping : Actually, there’s nothing this tasty overseas. zhang ma : You’ll have to speak up, otherwise Grandmother won’t be able to hear you. (lu zhiping thinks before speaking again.) grandmother (to lao chen , who is offstage): Lao Chen, are all the hens and ducks in their cages?

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lao chen (offstage): Yes, not one is missing. zhang ma : Yes, they’re caged in. grandmother : I’m afraid that weasel that came before might come back. My grandson loves to eat eggs, so I don’t want it getting our hens. zhang ma : Zhiping knows how to speak a foreign language, so the weasel won’t dare come back. lu zhiping : What nonsense! zhang ma : It’s afraid Zhiping will shoot it with a foreign rifle. grandmother : Do you really think this is tasty? lu zhiping (loudly): Things in the country are so fresh, so they taste good. You can’t find fresh lotus root like this in the city. grandmother : You should taste our turnips. They’re fresh here in the countryside. (lu zhiping laughs.) lu zhiping : No, I mean in the city, many things are not as fresh as in the countryside. grandmother : That’s right, everything you eat in the city comes from the countryside. After sitting out a while, it loses its flavor. But this is trivial compared to the opportunity to be in the city. I have always wanted to go to Shanghai, but I’m afraid the city people will think this country grandma is some monster. In the end I wouldn’t have seen much of the city, but lots of people would have gotten a good look at me! (Everyone laughs. lu zhip ing is finished eating.) Had enough? lu zhiping : I’m finished. It was delicious. grandmother : Too bad it was a bit old. It is tastier when it is tender. Tender lotus heart is sweeter. By the time you came back, the lotus was already old. Then the lotus heart is bitter. (Smiling) When you left, I already knew about that place. With man’s aspiration to travel the world, how can he always stay with his family? I was always waiting to receive your letter, so I’d know you were safe and sound and could rest assured. Then I heard that you would be coming back, and I had to worry again about your journey home. One evening I had a dream in which I saw you on an ocean ship. You were wearing shiny clothing and were surrounded by lots of foreign women. Suddenly the ship started to sink, and many people fell into the ocean screaming to be rescued. It was as if I were on a mountain peak looking down on everything as anxious as can be. I suddenly leaped down, and I felt as if I had suddenly grown wings, and I picked you up from the waves and placed you on the beach. You had stopped breathing. All I could do was cry to the heavens, and you regained consciousness. I had just become filled with joy when a foreign girl came along and placed her hand on your arm, grabbing your hand and tugging you away. I was furious and was ready to chase after you when someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, “This is not your world, and he is not your grandson.” It struck me like a hit on the head and I woke up and saw that I was still in bed. (Lowering her voice) Because at that time there were rumors about you, so I had this crazy dream, and I never told it to Zifang.

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(As grandmother babbles on, lu zhiping has a hard time paying attention and responds as if he were in a stupor.) lu zhiping : We think during the day and dream at night. We fall asleep after eating our fill, and we all dream. (lu zhiping’s father, lu qichang , and father-in-law, wu youshu, come in together, allowing for a change in subject.) lu qichang : Please, welcome. (Everyone greets one another.) Mother, you’re here. wu youshu : Grandmother. grandmother : How’s my son-in-law? wu youshu : You’ve left your room to enjoy the nice weather. You must feel in particularly good spirits today. (grandmother doesn’t completely understand, and lu qichang repeats it for her. lu zhiping greets lu qichang . zhang ma moves in a few more chairs.) grandmother : My grandson is now a man, and now that we are all together, why shouldn’t I be happy? I feel so good. My discomfort has gone, and my appetite has improved. Please sit down. Zhang Ma, please go get some tea. (zhang ma exits.) wu youshu : Please sit down. grandmother : Please, you first. (zhang ma brings the tea and wu zifang helps to pour it, first serving wu youshu and then grandmother , and then lu qichang . grandmother invites everyone to start drinking the tea.) wu youshu : Please, you first. grandmother : Zhang Ma, why doesn’t Zhiping have any tea? zhang ma : I poured one cup too few. I’ll go pour another one. (She exits, smiling.) lu zhiping : I don’t want any tea. (wu zifang moves a small table and places it in the center.) grandmother : Youshu, before rumor had it that he wouldn’t be coming back, but now Zhiping has come home. If he didn’t come home, then where would he go? I can’t stand the people who make up such rumors. They even said he had found a foreign wife. (Everyone laughs. wu zifang glares at lu zhiping . He laughs along with everyone else.) lu qichang : Nowadays so many youngsters are rotten to the core. wu youshu: The morals of society these days can hardly surprise you. Only the strong can keep from giving in to these degenerate times. Zhiping can certainly be a model. (zhang ma enters.) zhang ma : Lao Chen has asked for Zifang to help with the meal. grandmother : Zifang, you go. Zhiping hasn’t had a chance to eat Chen’s food, and he likes to eat fresh eggs. Make some eggs for him to try.

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(wu zifang smiles as she leaves and grandmother quickly continues speaking.) He likes Western-style, half-cooked, half-raw, not too well done. Ha, ha! wu youshu : Grandmother really dotes on her grandson. grandmother : It’s a pity his grandfather passed away when he was so young. It was tough raising our son. We all had to rely upon my needlework and doing laundry to raise the family. Things didn’t change until Qichang graduated from the school of political science. lu qichang : At that time the school was very small. After we graduated from the school, everything seemed so new and quickly there were things to do. (wu youshu nods.) grandmother : After Qichang got married, Zhiping was born. Unfortunately, my daughter-in-law passed away not long after, so she never saw the way Zhiping turned out. (Everyone sighs.) When I was fifty, Qichang’s friends wanted to build a decorated archway for me. wu youshu : Then I had asked you for your approval. grandmother : I didn’t think much of the archway then but just wanted everyone to help Zhiping stay in school. In the end everyone helped just as I had hoped. One hopes to make a name for oneself and live without getting a guilty conscience. It’s a pity I never had any talent or skills to depend on. Now that I am old, I’m of even less use. And I don’t want to use up my children’s and grandchildren’s fortune, just as long as they can make themselves useful in this world, then I’ll be able to rest in peace. wu youshu : Isn’t the fortune of the older generation that one’s children and grandchildren are useful? grandmother : Zhiping is really the apple of my eye. I was much stricter in raising his father. I had to be stricter because single sons are very susceptible to being doted upon. lu qichang : It was much easier for Zhiping to have the chance to go to school than it was for us. It’s true that, before, we couldn’t find books even if we had wanted to read them, and it was hard to even borrow them. wu youshu : Now it’s not so easy, either. Tuition is so high. lu zhiping : Books are expensive too. Most books cost twenty dollars. wu youshu : In the future I’m just afraid young scholars won’t have the chance to receive higher education. lu qichang : A while ago I read in the newspaper about a student who asked his father for money. His father said he spent too much. Other than tuition, what other expenses did he have? The student said that he also had to spend money on women. He said that, without a girlfriend, he wouldn’t be able to keep up his studies. (lu zhiping laughs along with wu youshu.) wu youshu : Then he should just find a bride earlier rather than later. lu qichang : He did. wu youshu : Then he really should be taught a lesson.

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(They laugh and sigh deeply. wu zifang comes onstage.) wu zifang : The meal is ready. Shall we go inside or eat here? lu qichang : Here is fine. wu youshu : Why not right here? Grandma? lu qichang : Mom, shall we eat? grandmother : I’ll go inside. Please stay here. wu youshu : Don’t worry about me. There’s a wind out here. grandmother : Stay here. My nerves can’t take the wind. (She points to wu zifang and calls out to zhang ma to help move the table and chairs over.) lu qichang : Sit with us. grandmother : Zhiping, toast your father-in-law. Enjoy the meal. (To wu youshu ) Your daughter made it, so you should enjoy it. wu youshu : You taught her well. grandmother : Me? After we finish eating, we can ask Zhiping to tell us news from overseas. I think next year the house will get a special cleaning, and then we’ll have a toast between our families. (Everyone laughs. grandmother leaves and lu qichang , wu youshu, and lu zhiping sit down. lu zhiping pours the wine and wu zifang serves the food. Everyone toasts. wu zifang exits.) wu youshu : She’s in good health. lu qichang : We all owe her so much. Without her, we wouldn’t have this family. When my father passed away, my grandmother told her to come back home, but she said, “This isn’t the right time. After my son has grown up and the Lu family is doing well, then we can go home.” wu youshu : These days one wouldn’t hear such things. She really didn’t have it easy. But with Zhiping, the Lu family has created a talent to benefit the nation and her heart should feel content. lu qichang : It’s too early to say that about Zhiping, but he was brought up in this family, and he is more dependable than other young men his age. wu youshu : Of course. Nice breeze. What smells so nice? lu zhiping : I think it’s the sweet osmanthus flower. lu qichang : It was planted by your daughter. wu youshu : Zifang is addicted to planting flowers and reading books. (wu zifang reenters.) wu zifang : Shall I get more to drink? wu youshu : Haven’t we had enough? lu qichang : Go get another pot. (wu zifang pours out the remaining wine and exits.) wu youshu : Today we can relax, so we can drink as we please. lu zhiping : Local wine is very flavorful. I grew up in the countryside, so I will always like the country life. After returning to China, I naturally wanted to come home. After coming home, it’s as if I’d confirmed the dream and returned to the life of be-

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ing a child. When I hear Grandmother and Father speaking together with many traditional sayings, the more I think Chinese society has a spirit that developed all through the ages. wu youshu : Well said. lu zhiping : Waking up in the morning, I smell the flowers and listen to the birds chirping. It feels much more natural than the hubbub of the city. The simple and honest life of the people in the country is less aggravating than the city’s fierce competition. Although we are being oppressed by the world’s trends, we must know how to make a living in this great whirlpool. (wu zifang brings in the wine.) wu youshu : That sounds like bitter resignation. lu qichang : I’m just afraid that when one returns from a prosperous place, one will think this quiet, simple life lacks interest. wu youshu : That’s not the case. People always cherish their hometowns. The place where we grow up will always remain our heartland. When we were young, we were taught for our hearts to remain with our hometown. Now people are torn. They can’t bear to leave their hometowns, but at the same time, they desire to go to new places. Therefore, they get frustrated, lack initiative, and are just generally confused. But no matter to which illusory place their hearts wander, they will inevitably want to return to their hometowns. lu zhiping : The education that one receives in middle school always determines a person’s ideas for the rest of his life. Sometimes these ideas will be oppressed by other ideas, and then doubt will emerge and perhaps even cause one to struggle with these ideas. This situation will inevitably influence a person’s behavior. wu youshu : Oppression of ideas is not so bad. I just fear it’s some sort of external seduction. lu qichang : External seduction is not so bad. I just fear it’s some sort of internal contradiction. wu youshu : That’s right. The person you just mentioned who couldn’t study without a girlfriend is really suffering from internal contradiction. Isn’t that right, Zhiping? (lu zhiping , unable to conceal his discomfort, laughs.) This has been a good conversation, and we’ve had plenty to drink. Let’s have rice. lu qichang : Let’s have a few more glasses, and we’ll eat the rice when the vegetables are ready. wu youshu : So much food. Zhiping, this time while you’re at home, you won’t leave for a while, right? lu zhiping : I originally had planned to stay here for a while, but I just received a letter from a foreign friend sent from Hankou. We want to set up a trading company together. He is anxious to leave and can’t stay in Hankou for very long. He’s waiting for me to negotiate the details, and then he will take a boat back home from Shanghai. I’m afraid I will have to get going this evening. (lu qichang and wu youshu both look surprised.) lu qichang : Tonight? Why haven’t you told us until now?

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wu youshu : Wait a day or two. It can’t be that urgent. Can’t you still make it in time? lu zhiping : I’m afraid then I would delay his departure. lu qichang : You didn’t plan this with him earlier? lu zhiping : Well, yes . . . wu youshu : A trading company is not a small thing. You suddenly mention it and it is so urgent. lu zhiping : I’m afraid of losing out on this opportunity. (wu zifang brings in some dishes.) wu zifang : Daddy, this is pickled vegetables from our home. See how it tastes. lu qichang : Zhiping says he needs to depart for Hankou tonight. (wu zifang quickly hides her surprise.) wu youshu : He says a friend from overseas wants to start a trading company with him. He’s afraid he won’t get there in time unless he leaves tonight. You too didn’t know about this? wu zifang : I . . . didn’t know. But I know he has already started a company. Perhaps he has some new business and needs to go— (lu zhiping interrupts.) lu zhiping : That’s not true. wu youshu and lu qichang : New business? lu zhiping : Zifang is confused because I had mentioned someone else’s company before. wu zifang : The more companies the better, though it is more to worry about. Daddy, have more to drink. The rice isn’t ready yet. Lao Chen just started cooking the rice. (She quickly exits.) lu qichang : If this is indeed an important matter, then of course you should attend to it. Tonight you’ll need to take the sedan to catch the train. I’ll let your grandmother know. Come right back after you’ve finished your business. lu zhiping : Just as long as my responsibilities are minimal, I’ll come right back. (wu youshu takes lu zhiping aside.) wu youshu : Zhiping, let me tell you something. Men have many ambitions, so we can’t expect you to stay at home forever. But your mother passed away when you were very young, and your grandmother raised you and loves you greatly. You must not forget, if you can come back earlier, you can stay and live with us longer, and you can make your grandmother happy before she leaves us. Living here a few months shouldn’t interrupt your work too much. Grandma isn’t willing to say this to you directly. She’s afraid the family would interfere with your future. You should know that your future is limitless, but your grandmother has already reached an old age, and the sun will soon descend behind the mountains. The remaining light, which is reluctant to leave this world, can still shine on your life. Your grandmother is a generous and hardworking woman who raised the Lu family, and she certainly isn’t looking to be repaid by her grandson. Yet, as her grandson, one shouldn’t neglect obligation. lu zhiping : That’s natural. I should repay my grandmother with the career of my future.

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wu youshu (returning to his seat): Having a distinguished career for your family is important, but you mustn’t forget about carrying on joy and happiness for the family. (wu zifang enters.) wu zifang : Daddy, these are beets. wu youshu (sitting down): I’ve urged Zhiping to go this time, but he needs to come back as soon as he can. lu qichang : Who’s that coming? Isn’t that Third Wang? (third wang runs onstage.) third wang : I’ve got news. There’s a Western woman looking for you. lu zhiping : What? third wang : She’s in a sedan chair, and an escort from the county has come with her. They were asking for directions. Now they’re having tea at the teahouse. I thought I’d come and let you know. It seems as if the Western lady is speaking Chinese. I was afraid I wouldn’t understand her, so I didn’t speak to her. But then she spoke very well, which is very good, because otherwise it would be like a slap on the ear. lu qichang (to lu zhiping ): Who’s coming to see you? lu zhiping : I think it must be a friend traveling through. third wang : She’s here. Miss, over here. (mary liu enters, followed by the sedan chair bearer, servants, and a group of people from the countryside. lu qichang and wu youshu stand up. wu zifang immediately knows that this person is lu zhiping’s new wife, and she closely watches lu zhiping’s reaction. lu zhiping doesn’t know what to do, and mary liu doesn’t speak at first.) lu zhiping : My love, why’d you come? mary liu : Why wouldn’t I? Did you not want me to come? lu qichang (to lu zhiping ): Who is this lady? lu zhiping : This is Ms. Liu. wu zifang : Aren’t you Mary? This is my father-in-law, this is my father, and this is my husband, Zhiping. mary liu : Zhiping, you already have a wife? lu qichang : He was married over seven years ago. What kind of talk is that? mary liu (pointing at lu zhiping ): You loser! How dare you! You said you were single. You intentionally deceived me. (lao chen comes out to look at the spectacle.) lu zhiping : No, I didn’t intentionally trick you. mary liu : Stop. In America, we met only a few times and you made your move on me. Then we got married. When I asked you about your family, you said you had already broken all ties with your corrupt family. Only after you had returned to Shanghai did I hear from a former classmate that I had been tricked. She said that you had married me to be your concubine, not your wife. You had already left, and so there was no way I could question you. You had told me that you were just going to Hankou to manage a coal company. You said having me along would be so inconvenient, so you didn’t want me to come. Only later did I find out that you were actually afraid that

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your father would come to Shanghai and find you out. I sent many telegrams, almost one each day, to find out whether or not you were in Hankou, but I didn’t get a response after the first one, nor after the second, third, or fourth. Then I decided to come and find you. I’m glad my brother knew these county bureaucrats—he wrote a letter asking for their help. Did you think you could hide from me for the rest of your life? Did you think I was so weak and incapable, a woman who can just be taken advantage of however you like? (Irate, she pulls a chair over and sits down, glaring at lu zhiping . lu qichang is also furious.) wu youshu (looking at lu zhiping ): The trading company in Hankou was just about this all along? (wu youshu turns around, lets out a sigh, and leaves.) lu qichang : Zhiping, did you really do this? Could you have really done such a thing? I never thought you could ruin our family’s name to this extent. You were educated at home and in school, but how could you lack such self-respect? (wu zifang lowers her head slightly, and mary liu is angry and upset. Everyone sighs without uttering a word. zhang ma comes out to take a look. wu zifang quickly speaks to her.) wu zifan g : Why have you run out? Go back in. Don’t let Grandmother know about this. (zhang ma listens to wu zifang as she stares at the new guest. wu zifang whispers in her ear and shoves her away. lao chen appears to have figured out the situation.) lao chen : How could the rumors come true? Zhiping, you will need to make a decision. You can’t let your father get overly concerned about this. (He has the sedan chair bearer go out back to drink tea and also shoos away the people who have come to enjoy the spectacle. They follow lao chen out back, and, as soon as the people have been escorted out, they try to push their way back over. wu youshu is about to say something, but lu zhiping speaks first.) lu zhiping : Father, please forgive me. It’s not that I lack self-respect. I won’t keep anything hidden from you. Please allow me to express my remorse. Since having married Zifang, I’ve been confused about many things about her, so I never felt a very deep love for her. After going abroad, I experienced how vivacious yet gentle Western women were, and I couldn’t help but feel envious, and then I started getting together with Ms. Liu. I’m afraid then that Ms. Liu, saturated in Western ways, is the only one who could keep my attention. This time at home I had planned to discuss this matter with Father and Father-in-Law. I want to get a divorce from Zifang. (wu youshu is shocked, and wu zifang can’t hide the surprise from her face, either. lu qichang makes a fist and lets out a long sigh. Only mary liu lifts up her head to look at lu zhiping . She seems to have an endless amount of sadness and tenderness, and she lets out a sigh in a high-pitched voice.) lu qichang : Damn it! God damn it! lu zhiping : Who would have known that after I returned home . . . (mary liu looks nervous.) mary liu : What happened after you returned home? What happened?

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lu zhiping : After I returned home, I discovered that Zifang had many good qualities, qualities that the new-style woman lacks. mary li u : Say no more! Not a word more! lu zhiping (more angry than forceful): Mary, you don’t want me to confess? I examine myself and the situation, but feelings can change at any given time. mary liu : With feelings that can change so easily, can you still be a good person? lu zhiping : If feelings don’t change, then wouldn’t one become numb to goodness? lu qichang : Zhiping, how dare you say such undignified and base words in front of me. You are not making any sense. I had no idea my son was so corruptible! mary liu : Sir, how large is Zhiping’s inheritance? lu qichang : What are you saying? Why would he get an inheritance from me? I only gave him knowledge and propriety, and he’s bankrupted them both. mary liu : After a son is over twenty-one, he no longer belongs to his parents. In this day and age, only if the parents have a significant inheritance can they still control their children. It appears as if it’s too late to instruct Zhiping, but all that can be done is to solve this problem. Empty talk won’t do any good. wu youshu : I can’t take this! How can such a thing ever happen? In the end, it takes two people to have a relationship, so we can’t only blame Zhiping for seducing Ms. Liu, and we can’t simply blame Ms. Liu for seducing Zhiping. In the end, the morals of the times have allowed the relationship between men and women to degenerate to this degree. mary liu : Who are you calling a degenerate? wu youshu : Let me finish. How can Ms. Liu interrogate an elder the way she just did? She is but a friend of Zhiping’s. Qichang is clearly in the role of father. Apparently Ms. Liu chose her words incorrectly and behaved improperly. Zhiping’s remarks were irreverent and illogical and should not have been spoken to his father. As for Zifang, she is my daughter and Zhiping’s wife, she should— (mary liu interrupts.) mary liu : Sir, what are you trying to say? What do you mean by saying things like “seducing” and “improper behavior.” Are you trying to humiliate me? Don’t you know that public humiliation is an offense? lu qichang : We don’t need to debate this, but when you decided to marry Zhiping, why didn’t you look into his marital status? wu youshu : How could you be so rash about such an important matter? You think you could be so impetuous with marriage? Zhiping made a mistake, and we blame him for it. We also cannot condone what you have done. No matter what, Zhiping was a married man, and therefore your status should be clear. mary liu : I’m not interested in having this absurd conversation with such provincial people. Don’t forget, Zhiping’s reputation, future aspirations, and even his life are entirely in my hands. I won’t let him go. Zhiping, are you still putting on an act? lu zhiping : What would you like me to do? mary liu : You tell me. (wu youshu pulls lu qichang aside. They converse in private.)

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lu zhiping : The system of monogamy is good, but in the United States there is a religion in which a man marries more than one wife. France is currently encouraging a man to marry more than one wife in order to increase the birth rate. I feel very bad for what I’ve done to you, and all I can do is repent for my sin. It wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t love you, and my heart has still not changed, so maybe you can forgive me. And you can gradually think about whether I am truly a fickle person. I certainly don’t condone bigamy, but today I have a special request. (To mary liu ) Zifang is a woman with her own ideas, and I ask that you put all this aside for a while and first become friends with her. Fortunately, I can’t fly off to anywhere else, so you can first exchange your views about the world and learn from each other. When you’ve finished, you can decide how to deal with me, okay? (Although wu youshu and lu qichang are off to the side, they are watching and listening to lu zhiping .) mary liu (ignoring him): Zhiping, think about this. I don’t have time to mess around. lu zhiping (to wu zifang ): Zifang, you’ve already been introduced. Although this was unanticipated, I guess there’s no harm in your meeting each other. (Turning to lu qichang and wu youshu ) Father and Father-in-Law have worried enough about their children. wu youshu : I’ve never been so worried about my daughter before. lu zhiping (speaking with gravitas): I haven’t been filial. Not even if I were to repent my entire life would I be able to make up for this. I just didn’t want our personal situation to cause so much vexation for our parents. Can’t we find a solution to this problem? wu zifang (with a smile that reveals a feeling of insult but indifference): This has not the least bit to do with me. mary liu : Zhiping? wu youshu : Zifang, go on inside. wu zifang : Father, don’t worry. Wouldn’t it be disrespectful to the guest if it seemed I wanted to ignore her? mary liu : Zhiping, there’s no need to drag this out. I have just two conditions for you: First, you must quickly get divorced from this provincial woman. Second, in the future, you must allow me to supervise everything you do. If you had it in you, then you would kill me. Since you don’t, you must do whatever I say. If you want to keep up with your antics, then I will cause you to suffer so much that suicide would seem pleasant. Hurry! Hurry! You have only five minutes. You hateful scoundrel! You just wanted me to fall into your trap! lu qichang : What is this? wu youshu : The Republic of China doesn’t have anything like this, does it? (A bunch of rural folks are laughing. They make strange faces. lao chen chases them away.) lao chen : What are you looking at? What’s so funny? It’s not what you think. People are all about the same. Get out of here! (They scatter off.)

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Zhiping, why don’t you have a plan yet? You’re not thinking straight today. You should build an eastern chamber and a western chamber and let the young ladies draw straws. Whoever’s the lucky one will live in the eastern chamber. lu zhiping : Get lost! lu qichang : Zhiping, what do you say? wu youshu : Go on! (wu zifang makes up her mind and boldly walks up to mary liu.) wu zifang : Miss Mary, even though this is the first time we’ve met, we’re both women. We should be able to talk to each other about our feelings. wu youshu (indicating with his eyes for her to stop speaking): Zifang! wu zifang : I ask that Father allow me to finish speaking. mary liu : Zhiping, have you decided? You only have three minutes. wu zifan g : I beseech Miss Mary to treat me entirely as an outsider and listen to my most earnest remarks. (lu zhiping is afraid that she will say something wrong, and he wants to interrupt her, but he stops himself.) Since getting married to Zhiping, he has rarely been at home, so he doesn’t really know me very well. I also haven’t had the opportunity to really get to know him. My father and Zhiping’s father are old friends. Getting married to Zhiping was just like being sent to live in the home of my father’s good friend. lu qichang : Zifang, what are you trying to say? wu zifang : That’s just the way I see it. wu youshu : My god! wu zifang : I often think that marriage and divorce are merely formalities. I have never sought happiness in such formalities. With the world as large as it is, could there not be another place that can take us in? When Zhiping married her, he never had me in his heart, so he told her that he had never been married before. I’m afraid that his lying to her is precisely because he loved her so much. Since he loved her, Zhiping was brave enough to marry her, and since she loved him, she was willing to marry him without asking so many questions. I’m absolutely not willing to make a scene over this, nor am I willing to insist upon being his wife and give up my sense of pride. Ms. Liu, don’t worry, you and Zhiping are husband and wife. lu qichang : My daughter-in-law, what are you saying? How can you? wu youshu : Zifang, what do you mean? wu zifang : Father cares about his daughter, and his daughter cares not only about herself but also about her entire family. I think Ms. Liu could never stay long in the countryside, and Zhiping can’t do anything in such a rush. I ask Father-in-Law to let Zhiping take Ms. Liu to Shanghai. (To lu zhiping ) Zhiping, during the long journey shared with each other, you can review your past studies. You won’t have much luggage. I’ll go get it packed for you. (She prepares to exit.) lu qichang : Zifang, hold on. I will never permit Zhiping to leave this home on account of this matter.

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wu yoush u : My family, I think what Zifang said has great value. Our time is already past. I think the person who started the trouble should end it. Go ahead and let Zhiping go. lu qichang : My god! mary liu : I don’t care whether or not this is some scheme or if you are in earnest, just as long as Zhiping can carry out my demands. (zhang ma enters.) zhang ma : Miss, please come. Grandmother says many people outside are wondering who is here. She says she doesn’t understand what she is hearing, but sometimes it seems she can understand everything. (Pointing at mary liu ) Why is she still here? wu zifang : Don’t mind us. Go on. (Leaving) I’m going too. lu zhiping : Mary, I understand all of your demands. I need to speak to you. (Trying to pull mary liu off to the side) Come here. mary liu : We don’t have any secrets. You can say it in front of anyone. lu zhiping : Particular to you.1 mary liu : I don’t understand your foreign words. wu youshu : There’s no need for Zhiping to delay his decision. He should just go ahead and do whatever he wants. Don’t make things even worse for yourself. mary liu : I’ve never met such an immoral and undependable man. I can’t stand this smoke-filled scene. If I keep standing here, I’m sure I’ll be eaten alive by a wild man. I can’t believe that an educated woman like myself could be so humiliated. Driver! (To lu zhiping ) I don’t care if you run off to the moon. If you want to redeem yourself, it’s entirely up to you. Driver! (She couldn’t be angrier. lao chen enters.) lao chen : Foreign missus, I’ll call the driver for you. Please lower your voice. We don’t want Zhiping’s grandmother to hear. (mary liu quickly shouts out again, even louder.) mary liu : Zhiping, you must understand. Don’t think of changing your mind. Don’t think I’ll forgive you. Don’t think there is a way out of this. Don’t forget, you lied to me and humiliated me. You forced me to resort to my last option. (Louder) My last option! You don’t want to regret it! (The driver enters.) Let’s go! lu zhiping : Mary. mary liu : I’m leaving. Leaving forever! I staked my whole life on you! Don’t regret it! (She exits. The driver and lao chen follow her.) wu youshu : Isn’t she like a wild person? (He watches mary liu leave, looking on in anger. lu qichang’s whole body is trembling and he can’t get out any words.) lu qichang : My family is finished! The family that I worked so hard day and night to support is finished! Finished! lu zhiping : Father, don’t worry. That will never happen. lu qichang : That’s what you say!

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lu zhiping : Although Mary Liu is terrible, she wouldn’t dare ruin my entire life. lu qichang : You’ve already destroyed your entire life. There’s no need for someone else to destroy it for you. It doesn’t matter what we say about Ms. Liu, but what about your wife? How can you make it up to her? How can you make it up to your father-inlaw? How can I ever look at anyone in the eye again? What if your grandmother learns of this? There’s nothing for you to say. Even if Ms. Liu didn’t say anything, society may not tolerate what you have done. How will you live with your own conscience? Just because of these antics you have caused so many people such great suffering. How can you bear what you have done? I can’t bear to say much more. Just how are you going to return to your prior self? (He’s become deeply grieved. wu zifang enters carrying a leather suitcase, which she puts next to the door.) lu zhiping : Father, I haven’t forgotten my former self. The past and present are linked. Perhaps it is mostly foolishness, or perhaps it is not entirely foolishness. In the end, I can be considered to be a cowardly fool. lu qichang : I’m afraid you are not just a cowardly fool. wu zifang : Has Ms. Liu left? wu youshu : Yes, Grandmother hasn’t asked what’s going on? wu zifang : Grandmother could hear when Ms. Liu was speaking loudly. When she asked what was going on, I made an excuse. Grandmother originally wanted to come and sit with you. But there was a bit of a breeze, and she didn’t feel so well, so I helped her to fall asleep. She was still talking about plans she had for Zhiping. She loves Zhiping so much. It has no limits. (To lu zhiping ) Your suitcase is packed. lu qichang : Miss, you are too kind. Zhiping has wronged you. You still keep him in mind. You want him to repent, and he knows this. But I won’t allow him to wrong you. wu youshu : Marrying a second wife is against the law, but we can’t use this to blame Zhiping. We just need to see how Zhiping handles this situation. lu zhiping : I will never wrong Zifang again. wu zifang : That is not the issue. Rather, you need to examine what you have done. You don’t want others to say you came home to bring everyone discomfort. As for me, my parents loved me very much. After coming here, Grandmother and Father-inLaw treated me as their own daughter. I’ve always liked the countryside and have never longed for cosmopolitan life. I love gardening and harvesting silkworms. I love reading and have many worlds right here in my heart. How can I have any expectations of others, needless to say of you? Of course I greatly admire Grandmother as a person. She’s had a hard life, and it’s been tough for her to raise her son and grandson. Even if I were not her granddaughter-in-law, I would still be her neighbor, and I’d want to take care of her. She thinks about her grandson the most, and this current situation would certainly deeply concern her. I can’t bear it, but I think we need to find a way to make sure her final years are as happy as possible. I hope you will not mention my business, as of course I have my own ideas. It’s time to make a decision. Go on. (lu qichang and wu youshu both let out a long sigh.)

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lu zhiping : She’s already broken off things with me. What else is there to say? wu zifang : You must not say that. She is a woman in need of sympathy. wu youshu : Zifang, aren’t you in need of sympathy? wu zifang : In this world the most pathetic and unfortunate individuals are those who are disillusioned and those who are begging for sympathy. I’ve never asked for another’s sympathy, and I don’t accept another’s sympathy. If one doesn’t seek such, then one doesn’t face the suffering of disappointment. Who cares if Zhiping had never come home? Who cares if Zhiping comes home? Living in a melon shed isn’t fit for individuals with a life of dissipation, just like a country girl doesn’t fit with beautiful brocade and flourishing environs. It’s been so long. The food must be cold. I should go heat it up. lu qichang and wu youshu : You don’t need to heat it up. wu zifang (carrying the food away): It’s easy. lu zhiping : Zifang, Zifang. (wu zifang turns around.) wu zifang : Don’t say it. I know what you want to say. (She exits.) lu zhiping : I never would have guessed that Zifang’s intellect would have made such progress these last few years. lu qichang : I never would have guessed that your moral integrity would have degenerated so quickly these last few years. wu youshu (laughing, sarcastically): There are so many unimaginable things in this world. lu zhiping : Thinking about it won’t do any good. I just have to take care of things and come back home quickly. lu qichang : I’m afraid you’ll bring more misfortune back home with you. lu zhiping : I can’t eliminate what has already happened, and it’s hard to limit what will happen in the future. Relationships between men and women are like exploring the South Pole. There is great room for discussion. What just happened provides a great turning point for me. From today on, I know the path that I should work toward. The heavens want us to be happy. Father, I’ll be right back. (lu qichang hangs his head down and doesn’t respond.) I beseech you to take good care of Zifang. wu youshu : Zifang knows self-respect. You needn’t worry yourself about that. Just as long as you’re able to use this opportunity to clearly realize things. (lu zhiping bows down to wu youshu and lu qichang , turns around, and picks up the suitcase before putting it down again. He then calls out to lao chen. lao chen enters.) lao chen : What is it? lu zhiping : Please carry this suitcase over to town and get a sedan to take us to the train station. lao chen (looking at lu qichang ): Has your father agreed? lu zhiping : He’s already agreed.

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lao chen (carrying the suitcase and exiting): You just got back and you’re off again. How is Grandmother going to take it? It appears as if she really bewitched you. (lu zhiping looks at his watch and is about to go in to see wu zifang . wu zifang is carrying out the food from inside. lu zhiping calls out to her and she slows down. She wants to ignore him but he moves up next to her to speak to her.) lu zhiping : Has Grandmother gotten up? wu zifang : Not yet. lu zhiping : I don’t want to wake her up. Later, when she gets up, please tell her that I’ve gone into town to take care of some business. I’ll be back in two or three days. wu zifang : Don’t worry about things here at home. (lu zhiping bows to lu qichang and wu youshu and motions to wu zifang . wu zifang slowly puts the food on the table. lu zhiping leaves without hesitation. lu qichang watches as he leaves, both angry and sad.) wu youshu (holding on to wu zifang’s hand): Zifang! (wu zifang faintly acknowledges her father. At the same time, she hears a few children singing mountain songs. She lowers her head but remains silent.)

Not es

1.

This English translation is based on the Chinese script originally published in Xiju ji (Drama Volume), ed. Hong Shen, 197–216, vol. 9, Zhongguo xin wenxue daxi (Compendium of New Chinese Literature), ed. Zhao Jiabi (Shanghai: Liangyou, 1935). Xiju ji was reprinted in 2003 by Shanghai wenyi. This line is in English in the Chinese script.

A Wasp (1923) Ding Xilin T ra nsla ted by John B. We i ns t e i n and C ar s e y Y e e

C ha r a c t e rs madame ji ⭀⹝㜡㜡, a woman in her fifties with a slight figure and a strong constitution. Her clothing is plain and modest but extremely clean. mr. ji ⭀㥸㔶, Madame Ji’s son, a young man, aged twenty-six or twenty-seven. He has a strong physique and a lively disposition. He is dressed in a very ordinary, casual style. miss yu 㲈㨏ⰷ, a young woman, aged twenty-five or twenty-six. She has a pretty appearance and a highly expressive face. She is dressed exquisitely. servant ㋏㑉

Setting (A small, rectangular room. In the middle of the rear wall is a set of wide double doors. To the left there is a coatrack and a small table against the wall with fresh flowers on it. To the right stands a bookcase filled with Chinese and Western books. Along the right wall there is a single door and, next to that, a large window. Near the window there is a writing desk laid out with brushes and paper. Along the left wall there is another door at the back, and, along the front half, there is a bookshelf arrayed with ornaments. The walls are hung with Chinese calligraphy scrolls. In the center of the room, toward the front and right, there is a small round table with a tea service on it. To the right of the table is a large easy

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chair and to the left a divan that seats two. A smaller chair sits between the easy chair and the divan. All the seats have back cushions. The curtain rises to reveal madame ji sleeping in the easy chair with her feet raised on an ottoman. The newspaper that was in her hand has fallen to the floor. mr. ji slowly pushes open the door on the left and enters to see his mother asleep in the easy chair. He walks lightly over to the coatrack and grabs a light coat. He then goes over to the easy chair and gently lays the coat down over his mother. madame ji awakens.) mr. ji (smiling): Did you fall asleep? madame ji : I only wanted to close my eyes and rest for a moment, but I inadvertently fell fast asleep. (She sits up.) mr. ji : The elderly have eyes just like children’s—the moment you let them close, you lose all control over them. (He picks up the newspaper and sits down on the small chair.) madame ji : What time is it? mr. ji (takes out a watch from his breast pocket and gives it a glance): It’s a quarter after three. madame ji : And where have you been until now? mr. ji : I was in the study—I wrote two letters. madame ji : Oh, good. Can you write a letter for me? mr. ji : Sure, I’ll do it right now. (He sits down at the writing desk, takes some letter-writing paper and an envelope from the drawer, pours water onto the inkstone, rubs the ink slab to produce ink, and chooses a writing brush.) (Preparing to write) What do you want me to write? madame ji : Write whatever—just a few sentences informing them of my travel dates. Tell them to hire a boat and meet me at the harbor. mr. ji : I’ll write while you dictate. Are you sure you will go next Tuesday? madame ji : The days are slipping by so fast. I won’t delay my departure any longer. mr. ji (reading and thinking out loud as he writes): “. . . Mother will begin her journey back to the South on the nineteenth.” (Puts down the writing brush and counts out the days on his fingers) Nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first. (Continues writing) “She’ll arrive at the harbor on the twenty-first. Tell Zhang Hong and Auntie Jiang to hire a boat and meet her there.” (Asking his mother) Is that right? madame ji : Yes, and tell them to hire Li Laosi’s boat if they can. It’s clean. If the Li family boat is already hired out, then Deng Xiangfa’s boat will do, too. mr. ji (writing): “Hire Li Laosi’s boat if you can.” (Writing and reading in a low voice) “. . . Deng Xiangfa’s boat will do, too.” (Asking his mother) Anything else? madame ji (lost in her own thoughts): The sun’s been scorching hot these past few days. We’d better have them take the furs from the north-facing room and air them out in the sun. mr. ji : Okay, is there anything else?

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madame ji : No, nothing else. (Talking to herself ) Auntie Wang went home. She said she’d be back after the holidays. I wonder if she’s come back to work yet? (mr. ji continues writing silently.) And Miss Yu—we really ought to send her a thank-you gift of some sort. mr. ji (finishes writing the letter, then responds to his mother’s question as he addresses the envelope): Didn’t you say you were going to give her some dress material? (Finishes addressing the envelope) All right, the letter’s finished. madame ji (her deep thoughts interrupted by mr. ji ): Oh, are you finished? mr. ji (walks over and presents the letter to madame ji ): Do you want to read it over? madame ji : You read it back to me. mr. ji (reading the letter): “Dear younger sister: ‘The days are slipping by so fast. I won’t delay my departure any longer.’ Mother says . . .” madame ji : What kind of writing is that? mr. ji : It’s letter-writing style. (Continues to read the letter out loud sentence by sentence) “Mother has decided to depart on the nineteenth. She’ll arrive at the harbor on the twenty-first. Tell Zhang Hong and Auntie Jiang to hire a boat and meet her there. Tell them to hire Li Laosi’s boat if they can. It’s clean. If the Li family boat is already hired out, then Deng Xiangfa’s boat will do, too. The sun’s been scorching hot these past few days. We’d better have them take the furs from the north-facing room and air them out in the sun. Auntie Wang went home saying she’d be back after the holidays. Has she come back to work yet?” No mistakes, right? madame ji (laughing): Is that how young people write letters these days? mr. ji : It’s what’s fashionable—the vernacular writing style, plain and direct. We write the way we speak. Are you sure you don’t have anything else to add? madame ji : No. mr. ji : The rest of the letter is my own business. (Continues reading out loud) “Everything about Mother’s visit to Beijing has been fine. Only two things have left her somewhat dissatisfied . . .” madame ji : What has left me dissatisfied? mr. ji (does not answer her and continues reading from the letter): “First of all, one of the main goals of this trip was to persuade her son, yours truly, to hurry up and find his mother a daughter-in-law, so that she might all the sooner hold in her arms a grandson with a fat little head, big ears, and fair skin. But, alas! Mother’s two-month campaign in the capital has been entirely fruitless—not even the shadow of a daughterin-law is in sight, and no news of any grandson, either. Second of all, mother’s heart was set on making relatives of relations by marrying you, my dear little sister, off to her own nephew and would-be son-in-law. She did not, however, anticipate that her unworthy daughter would prove so obstinately opposed and refuse to abide by her mother’s wishes. As a result of the above-mentioned, Mother has said very little these past few days and seems quite moody. As for Mother’s nephew, he has been asking friends and family far and wide to employ every available channel and search high and low for his ideal match. As the saying goes, ‘Sincerity can move the gods, and

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diligence can move mountains.’ How hard can it be to find a wife to one’s liking in a capital city teeming with beautiful ladies and talented young men! Thus we expect that, within a few months, our cousin will indeed secure a marriage match. Perhaps that future glass of our cousin’s wedding wine will provide some small consolation to his almost-but-not-quite mother-in-law. May those in love and those out of love all live together in the world as one big happy family.” Did I say something wrong? Come now, don’t be mad at me. madame ji (looking slightly peeved ): Do you think I have the spare time and energy to get mad at you? I told you both a long time ago that you can make your own decisions about your personal affairs. I won’t get involved at all. You two can say whatever you like. (mr. ji seals the letter in the envelope and affixes a stamp. Then he walks over to the easy chair, rests one hand on the back of the chair, and fixes his mother’s hair with the other hand.) mr. ji : Mom, you are a very special woman, extraordinary in everything that you’ve done—an exceptionally virtuous wife and an extremely loving mother. Still, you have never managed to escape the universal law of mothers’ worrying about their unmarried children. madame ji : Hang this coat back up. (mr. ji hangs the coat back in its original place.) (Recalling her past life) “Virtuous wife and loving mother”—I’m hardly worthy of such a label. (mr. ji sits back down in his original seat.) You were only eight years old when your father died. Your little sister, Yun’er, was only five. I had no confidence in the teaching methods of your private tutor at the time; I couldn’t bear to subject you to such cruel constraints. So I made the decision to educate you myself, and I did that until you were sixteen years old. Back then all we had to live off was our share of the family estate—just fifty mu1 of marginal land. Today, neither of you has to worry about food or clothing. I’m not exaggerating when I say that, if it hadn’t been for the thousands per year spent on your tuition fees and living expenses, our family fortune would be at least ten times greater. mr. ji : That’s why I say you’re a very special woman. madame ji : What’s so remarkable about striving to be a “virtuous wife and loving mother”? Young women today do no differently, only they disparage the label all day long. mr. ji : You must forgive them. For thousands of years they’ve been silenced by society, and now that they can express themselves freely, all they want to do is speak, speak, speak! They aren’t even sure themselves what they are trying to say. madame ji : Today’s young women are just not up to scratch. They don’t understand how to behave in society or how to manage a household. I just don’t see what good qualities they could possibly have. mr. ji : They are like the new vernacular poetry—substandard in style and lacking in charm. Others find them totally baffling, and that’s their best quality.

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madame ji : You disapprove of some women for this reason and others for that reason. You say old-fashioned women are like stilted classical essays, yet you compare modern women to substandard vernacular poetry . . . mr. ji : Yes, I find them equally pointless and uninteresting. madame ji : Tell me then, what kind of woman would you be willing to marry? mr. ji (shrugs his shoulders): The problem is, I don’t even know myself what I’m looking for. If finding a wife were as simple as solving for x in an algebraic equation, then things would be easy to resolve. madame ji : How is it possible that you and your cousin could have ended up so different? He is so anxious to get married that he’s asking everyone he knows to help him find a wife; he can hardly wait another day. But you don’t take marriage seriously at all! mr. ji : Not take it seriously? It’s precisely because I take it so seriously that I haven’t yet gotten married. If I treated the matter as lightly as choosing a new pair of eyeglasses, then your grandson would already be in middle school by now. madame ji (feeling frustrated by mr. ji ): Pour me a cup of tea. (mr. ji pours a cup of tea for madame ji and then pours one for himself as well. They drink slowly.) (L ost in thought for a long while) Did you know that your cousin asked me several times to be his matchmaker? mr. ji : Yes, of course I know. madame ji : Do you know whom he wants me to approach? mr. ji : Miss Yu, right? Have you mentioned it to her yet? madame ji (answering slowly): Not yet. mr. ji : Why haven’t you asked her? madame ji : Why haven’t I asked her? (Pauses briefly) I thought I would ask her today. (Watching mr. ji as she speaks) Do you think that would be appropriate? mr. ji : Quite appropriate. Miss Yu is a nurse and Cousin is a doctor; they’d make an ideal couple, exhibiting “the principle of mutual aid and the spirit of cooperation.” There’d be no shortage of good material for the toasts at the wedding banquet. (madame ji lets out a faint sigh. The servant pushes open the left door and enters.) servant : Madam, Miss Yu has arrived. madame ji : Ask her to please come in. (The servant exits. mr. ji puts down his cup of tea and scurries over to the writing desk. He straightens the writing brush and inkstone and folds up the newspaper. The servant pushes open the left door and allows miss yu to enter. The servant then proceeds to take away the tea service. miss yu is wearing a hat and gloves and carrying a purse in one hand. After entering the room, she greets her hosts while taking off her gloves, putting her purse down on the small table near the door, and removing her hat.) miss yu : Hello, Madame Ji, Mr. Ji. madame ji and mr. ji : Hello, Miss Yu. (mr. ji takes her hat and hangs it on the coatrack.)

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miss yu : Madame Ji, I’m so sorry for keeping you both waiting. madame ji : Not at all. Please have a seat. (She offers her easy chair to miss yu.) miss yu : Oh no, Madame Ji, you stay there. No need to stand on ceremony. This seat right here is fine. (miss yu gets madame ji to sit back down in the easy chair. She herself takes the small chair, while mr. ji sits down on the divan.) I wanted to leave the hospital and come over at two thirty, but a patient suddenly arrived and I had to clear out a room for him. That kept me busy for a while. I decided to call and say that I wouldn’t be able to make it; but then I thought to myself, Madame Ji is leaving for the South soon, so no matter how busy I am, I really must come spend some time with her. madame ji : Thank you so much. We know how busy you are over at the hospital, so that’s why we haven’t invited you to visit with us more often. Now, since I’ll be going back to the South soon, we wanted to invite you over and thank you in person for all your hard work. First you took personal care of my son during his two-week hospitalization, and then you took care of me during my subsequent stay. We really owe you a great debt of gratitude. miss yu : You’re far too kind, Madame Ji. I was just doing my job. Have you been drinking and eating better these past few days, ma’am? madame ji : My appetite is weak but it’s always been that way. When I arrived in Beijing, I was somewhat fatigued from the trip, so I felt a little under the weather. I wasn’t really sick. It was my son who insisted that I go to the hospital. He went on and on about how comfortable and clean it was there. Still, I didn’t want to go. Later on he said that I looked listless and must not have been sleeping well. He absolutely insisted that I go to a quiet place for a few days of rest and recuperation. He finally convinced me to check into the hospital. Even when I checked out, he kept saying I should extend my stay for a few more days. mr. ji : My mother doesn’t trust hospitals or nurses. madame ji : I have never said that I don’t trust nurses. It’s just that I’ve often heard that the quality of care at hospitals leaves something to be desired. mr. ji : Well, never mind that. These days, not only do you trust nurses, but you seem to be quite fond of them. miss yu : We realize that a lot of people on the outside say bad things about us. Now I don’t mean to make excuses, but sometimes it’s actually the troublesome patients— especially certain lady folk—and not negligent nurses who are truly to blame. I often joke with the other nurses that these ladies are so inept, they don’t even know how to get sick properly. mr. ji : To get sick well has never been an easy matter. miss yu : First of all, they refuse to follow their doctor’s orders. They want this, they want that. They press the call button dozens of times a day. If we tell them to fast, they sneak out and buy some fruit, or they have a family member sneak in some chicken soup. They try to treat the hospital staff like common house servants. Do you think we

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have time for that? On average, we each have ten patients to care for. But it’s useless to point that out, because these ladies refuse to be reasonable. mr. ji : Nursing is, of course, such a strenuous profession, because, after drunkards, the most unreasonable people in the world are the sick. miss yu : Yes, they can be quite ridiculous. I’ve come across some strange ones, for example the patient who, at the point of full recovery, still wanted me to stick around and make conversation. (She casts a glance at mr. ji .) mr. ji : That truly seems like the most annoying situation imaginable. Now if the patient were a man, then it might be okay, but if she were a woman, then I’m afraid there would simply be no way to cope. madame ji : Still, I just don’t believe that the other staff at the hospital can all be exactly like you. Even if they are as capable, they certainly couldn’t be as kind or as considerate. (The servant enters from the left door carrying a platter with a teapot, teacups, a plate of candies, and so on. madame ji gets up to pour tea.) miss yu : Please sit down, Madame Ji. Allow me. (She pours a cup of tea for madame ji .) madame ji : Why thank you, Miss Yu. (mr. ji pours a cup of tea for miss yu.) miss yu (receiving the cup of tea from mr. ji ): Thank you. (She tries to pour a cup of tea for mr. ji .) mr. ji : No thank you, Miss Yu. I don’t drink tea. miss yu (as she drinks her tea): Why don’t you stay in Beijing for a few more days, Madame Ji? You have your daughter to take care of things at home, so what have you got to worry about? madame ji : Yes, my daughter can handle anything, but I’ve already been away from home for so long this time. It was because of my son’s illness that I came here to see him in the first place. miss yu : I imagine Miss Ji must be quite capable. madame ji : I don’t know what you mean by “capable.” Nonetheless, I’ve always made sure that my daughter understands everything that a girl needs to know in life. miss yu : But it can’t be easy for her to be as capable as you, Madame Ji. mr. ji : Being the child of “capable” parents is a matter of bitter hardship. In the heat of summer, when we came home for vacation, we were allowed only two weeks off. After that, I was out in the fields planting the crops and my sister was off in the kitchen cooking the meals. madame ji (smiling): Yes, I’m stubbornly old-fashioned, but now that I’m older, I’m not afraid of being laughed at. The way I see it, a person can never know too much; there’s no harm in acquiring additional skills. Just because a woman knows how to cook a good meal, it doesn’t mean that she shouldn’t be able to write a good essay.

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mr. ji : I agree. The difficulty these days, however, is not that women who know how to cook cannot write good essays, but that those who can write good essays don’t know how to cook. miss yu : Will your daughter be coming to Beijing? I’d really like to meet her. I imagine that she’s just as kind and amiable as you are, Madame Ji. madame ji : Aside from that, she doesn’t have many good qualities, though she is very forthright. Then again, I’m not fond of these newfangled habits of hers. miss yu (cheerfully): I think she and I would make great friends. When she comes to Beijing, be sure to have her write to me. madame ji (to mr. ji ): Do you have a picture of your sister to show Miss Yu? mr. ji : I do have one, but I don’t know where it is. miss yu (remembering something): Oh yes, Mr. Ji mentioned in his letter that you wanted my photograph, ma’am, so I brought one for you today. (She walks to the small table.) madame ji (not understanding): I never said I wanted your photograph. (To mr. ji ) When did I say that . . . ? mr. ji : What do you mean you didn’t? You really are getting older. It’s been only a few days and you’ve completely forgotten what you said. miss yu (pretending not to hear him, she takes a small photograph of herself from her purse): This photo isn’t very good. It doesn’t really look like me at all. I’ll give you another when I have a good one taken. (She gives the photograph to madame ji .) madame ji (examining the photograph): You’re already good-looking in person, but this photograph makes you look even better. mr. ji (snatching the photograph from madame ji and teasing her): Normally, you’re so fastidious about saying the right thing. How is it that you’ve spoken so tactlessly today? You should have said, “Although this photograph is very attractive, it does not match the beauty of its subject.” (He casts a glance at miss yu.) madame ji : I was just being honest. mr. ji : Why don’t you two sit for a while before going out? (To madame ji ) I’ll give you a pretty picture frame for this. (Taking the photo, he exits through the left door. madame ji and miss yu sit in silence for a moment. madame ji watches miss yu carefully. Not knowing what to say, miss yu takes a piece of candy and begins eating it.) madame ji : Miss Yu, I have something that I’ve been meaning to discuss with you for quite some time now. (She moves her chair closer. miss yu quickly swallows the candy, adjusts her skirt, sits up straight, and listens attentively.) I suppose you must think that I’m someone who loves comforts, but I’ll have you know that in my youth I experienced a lot of hardships. My son lost his father at a very young age, so I had to manage the entire household on my own. I even took

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charge of the children’s education and taught them myself. I’ve struggled for twentyodd years to raise my children to this point. Now nothing about them worries me except for one thing: I do not have peace of mind because neither of them is married. (miss yu shudders slightly.) I’ve mentioned my concerns to Mr. Ji several times during this visit, but he doesn’t take them seriously. I have no idea what he’s really thinking. Nowadays, parents are not supposed to get involved in the marriages of their children, so there’s nothing I can do but let them make their own arrangements. (Sighs and pauses briefly) I do have a nephew, though . . . (miss yu shifts her body position and resumes breathing naturally.) You probably remember meeting him when he came to visit me at the hospital. Even though he’s only seen you a few times, he has often heard me speak highly of you, so he respects you very much. He’s asked me several times if I would act as a matchmaker, but I haven’t raised the matter with you until now. Since I’ve stayed out of my own son’s marriage arrangements, why would I get involved with someone else’s? But my nephew says that he couldn’t approach you directly, because he has no idea if you’re at all interested in him. Furthermore, even if he wanted to ask you directly, when would he ever have the chance to do that? He’s a very decent fellow, my nephew. He’s studying Chinese medicine and preparing to open up his own clinic. He has a good disposition and no vices at all. Oh, I know that I’m being a terrible old busybody to bring this up. These days, young people despise matchmaking. If that’s how you feel, please don’t be angry with me. miss yu (as if waking from a dream): I’m very grateful to you for thinking of me, ma’am. How could I be offended by your good intentions? madame ji : My nephew has asked me to get a written reply from you before I go back home to the South. But I think this is something that you shouldn’t decide on the spur of the moment, so if you want to think it over carefully, please take your time. You can write to me later and tell me what you’ve decided. I’m sure that will be fine. (Pauses briefly) So what do you think about this? You can speak openly with me. I want you to know that I think of you as practically my own daughter. miss yu (thinks for a moment and makes up her mind): I think that we young people who haven’t had any experience in life should depend on older, more experienced people to guide us in the right direction. What’s your opinion, Madame Ji? madame ji : Well, since this is a personal matter of yours, you really should decide for yourself. miss yu : If you think this is a good idea, ma’am, then naturally, it couldn’t be wrong. madame ji: Then I’ll tell him that you’re interested? miss yu : On the other hand, I should write home and ask for my parents’ opinion first. madame ji : You’re right. Of course you should do that. You write to your parents first. We can discuss this again when you’ve heard back from them. miss yu : Actually, it might not be sufficiently proper for only me to write to my parents about this.

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madame ji : What would be improper about that? miss yu : May I suggest that you ask Mr. Ji to write a detailed letter on your behalf telling my parents about this proposal? I’ll write a separate letter to them, and then we can mail both letters together. madame ji : You’re right. That’s exactly what we should do. When Mr. Ji gets back, I’ll speak to him about this and have him write a proposal letter from me. When it’s ready, I’ll have someone deliver it to you. Will that be okay? miss yu : That’s a fine idea, ma’am. madame ji : Shall we sit here for a while longer, or would you like to go to the park? miss yu : What would you like to do, Madame Ji? madame ji : Why don’t we go out? I’ll have the servant fetch Mr. Ji. (She walks over and presses the call bell.) miss yu : May I use your telephone? I need to make a call. madame ji : Go ahead. It’s over there in the courtyard. You know where it is. (miss yu leaves through the right door. The servant enters from the left door.) Please call Mr. Ji and tell him that we are about to go to the park. (The servant exits through the left door. madame ji returns to her original chair, lost in thought. mr. ji enters through the left door, holding the photograph of miss yu, now properly framed. After entering, he places the photograph on the bookshelf, looks at it for a moment, and adjusts its position.) mr. ji : Where did Miss Yu go? madame ji (lost in deep thought): She’s making a telephone call. mr. ji (sits down on the small chair, picks up a milk candy, slowly unwraps it, and asks casually): So how’s your matchmaking going? Have you asked her yet? madame ji : Yes, I did. mr. ji : And how did she respond? (He is about to put the candy into his mouth.) madame ji : She’s very interested. mr. ji (pulls the candy back out from his mouth): She’s what? She said she’s interested? What exactly did she say? madame ji : She didn’t say anything exactly. mr. ji : If she didn’t say anything exactly, then how do you know that she’s interested? madame ji : There are some things that don’t need to be said explicitly. mr. ji : Oh sure, this sort of thing doesn’t need to be expressed explicitly, right? It’s just like the weather—you can tell what’s going on just by looking! (madame ji glares at him sternly.) So it’s all settled? madame ji : She still has to write a letter home to ask her parents, so we’ll have to wait for . . . mr. ji : To ask her parents? (Suddenly realizing) Oh! (He pops the candy into his mouth.) madame ji : What are you smiling about? You’re laughing at her for respecting her parents so much, is that it? I was quite pleased by that.

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mr. ji : Oh, not at all. I am also quite pleased by that. (Pops another candy into his mouth) Did she say when she’d be writing home? madame ji : She wants you to write a proposal letter for her. mr. ji : She wants me to write her a proposal letter? That’s so bizarre. I’m not her brother or her uncle, so why would she ask me to write such a letter for her? This is totally bizarre! It’s beyond bizarre! madame ji : You find this strange? I don’t find it strange at all. mr. ji : Why not? madame ji : Because . . . because you haven’t figured her out yet. She’s a young lady from a prominent family. She knows what should or shouldn’t be said. She’s shy. mr. ji : Oh, oh! Young lady! Shy! (He pops yet another candy into his mouth.) madame ji : You never liked candies before, but today you’ve been devouring them. What’s going on? mr. ji : Today’s candy tastes especially sweet! (Happily jumps up from his seat) Are you two going to the park now? madame ji : Right after Miss Yu finishes her phone call. mr. ji (thinking): Shouldn’t you change into another outfit? madame ji : We’re only going to the park to sit for a while. Why should I change my outfit? mr. ji : It’s quite cool out today. Even if you don’t change outfits, you should at least put on another layer. I’ll go get you something else to wear, okay? madame ji : I’ll get it myself. You won’t know where to look. (mr. ji opens the door on the right to let madame ji out and then closes the door behind her. He walks over to the bookshelf, picks up the photograph, and examines it closely. He puts it back on the shelf and then walks around the room twice. miss yu enters from the right door.) mr. ji : Did your call go through? miss yu : Yes, it was fine. (Noticing madame ji ’s absence from the room, the two exchange looks.) mr. ji (pushing the divan slightly forward): My mother has gone to change her outfit. She asked you to wait for her here. Please have a seat. (Relying on a woman’s intuition, miss yu recognizes that interesting negotiations will ensue. She prepares her defenses by stroking her hair, adjusting her skirt, and choosing to sit at the far end of the divan. mr. ji sits down on the small chair.) miss yu : Your mother is truly someone worthy of admiration. She may be older, but she still has a better sense of fashion than most young women. mr. ji : A person can be careless with just about anything except fashion. miss yu : Why is that? mr. ji : Because people are social animals. When people are born into this world, it is society that provides them with material pleasures and spiritual happiness. Therefore people should do their best to repay that debt to society. miss yu : But what does that have to do with how a person dresses?

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mr. ji : It has everything to do with it! There are many different ways to repay one’s debt to society. Those with professional training do it by practicing their professions. Those with technical skills do it by applying themselves in their occupations. Doctors repay society by curing people, lawyers by suing people, and soldiers by killing people. But then there’s another type of person—people like us who don’t have any professional training or technical skills. The least we can do is dress attractively, so that we don’t end up depressing people when we go out in public. miss yu (laughing): Oh, I get it now. The more useless someone is, the more important it is for that person to dress attractively. Is that right? mr. ji : Correct. But useful people shouldn’t dress badly either. Throughout society, there’s not a single occupation that allows its members the patent right to neglect their attire. From cradle to grave, there’s not a single period of time when we allow anybody the privilege of not having to groom himself. Can you imagine any woman ignoring the style of her hair because she’s already married, or paying no attention to the length of her sleeves because she’s already given birth to a son? Or what about a man who neglects to wash his face because he can dash off a few poems, or one who doesn’t bother to shave his chin or pull up his socks, just because he can slap together a few paintings? These would all be crimes against society! miss yu : According to your analysis, I’m afraid we’d all be considered criminals. mr. ji : You? Oh! (He wants to say something but falters.) miss yu : What about me? mr. ji : You! Two months ago, when you falsely diagnosed me with a fever, didn’t I tell you already? miss yu : I falsely diagnosed you with a fever? mr. ji : Of course you did. A temperature of thirty-nine degrees2 and a pulse over a hundred beats a minute—you made it all up. Yes, it was a total fabrication. But I’m very grateful to you. If it weren’t for your fibs, how would I have stayed in the hospital for a full two weeks? Oh, what a fortnight! Those were the happiest two weeks of my entire life! (Sighs) There’s no way we could ever re-create that experience again. miss yu (recalling those circumstances): Yes, and our constant conversations! I’ve never had a patient who liked to talk as much as you did. mr. ji : Yes, and everything I said then was completely sincere, ordinary, and proper. Why can’t we talk like that under normal circumstances? Why is it only possible when a man shows up at the hospital pretending to be sick? In that case, you would certainly diagnose me with a fever to continue our conversation. But if I told you right now how alluring your eyes are and how adorable your lips look, you would pretend not to have heard me. You’d feel my forehead, fluff up my pillow, and declare, “Get some rest now. You talk too much!” Society is so unnatural! What’s so unspeakable about the things I just said? Why can’t I say them here and now? miss yu : Because—because you don’t have a fever! mr. ji : How do you know I don’t have a fever? I have a year-round fever. I never miss a day. If you don’t believe me, examine me right now.

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(mr. ji extends his hand and lays it down on the edge of the divan. miss yu moves across the divan toward him, first adjusting her skirt and then taking his pulse with her right hand while watching the wristwatch on her left hand. For several seconds no one speaks.) I said a lot of things when I was sick, didn’t I? (miss yu nods.) What kinds of things did I say? miss yu (retracting her hand): You said that China is a pitiable country and that Chinese men should be especially pitied. The only place they can meet women is at the gambling house, and the only way to gain a woman’s sympathy is to be sick. That’s why they go gambling once a week and fake an illness once a month. mr. ji : That’s right! Doesn’t that sound like something a sick person would say? . . . Well, do I have a fever or not? miss yu (hesitating): Your pulse is seventy-seven. mr. ji : It’s obvious that you’re lying. miss yu : Why do you say that? mr. ji : Because you weren’t even counting! miss yu : Oh, so you think that anyone can just tell lies at will? mr. ji : Perhaps not naturally. But we live in such an unnatural society. People always ask questions that ought not to be asked. Yet we can’t seem to say the things that are most worth saying. So the only way to cover up scandals is to tell lies. miss yu : We know from early childhood on that lying is immoral. mr. ji : There is no absolute standard for morality. It changes with the times and varies with the individual. What is ordinarily called “morality” is either the superstitious beliefs of the majority about a minority, or the prejudices of one group of people against another. miss yu : Then, according to you, there is no standard of good and evil in the world? mr. ji : In this world, only filthy habits are bad and ugly acts are evil. miss yu : So what you’re saying is that all lies are permissible, as long as they are pleasing to the ear? Stealing and gambling are fine, as long as you do it beautifully? mr. ji : That’s entirely correct. However, few people in the world have a well-developed sense of aesthetics. Most people are not all that refined when stealing or gambling. As for lying, there are plenty of good liars, but the one that I admire most is you. miss yu : I have never told lies. What proof do you have that I’m a liar? mr. ji : That’s right! I can’t find any proof of your fabrications, and that’s exactly why I admire you so much. But a person who lies too much will eventually end up cornered and exposed. miss yu : I have never liked telling lies. mr. ji : Okay, fine. All this empty talk is pointless. Let me ask you one thing. miss yu : What is it? mr. ji : Is my mother trying to set you up with someone? miss yu (nervously): You shouldn’t ask me about that. mr. ji : Why shouldn’t I?

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miss yu : Because it’s inappropriate. Not even my own father or brothers would ask me about that, much less a friend! mr. ji : Oh, the “New Culture”! Don’t you get it? In the past, a person’s parents dictated one’s marriage. Nowadays, since there’s no need for parents to arrange a child’s marriage, there’s also no need for them to ask about it. (In mr. ji ’s view, if one does not want any help in finding a marriage match, that’s just fine. If one does want help, then one’s parents ought to play the most important role. The reasons young people today might not want their parents involved are: first, that the parents will be dictatorial, and second, that they might not be able to help. This level of his thinking is not readily apparent to others, so it is mentioned here in passing.) Today’s marriages, however, are dictated by one’s friends. If you want to get married, you’re entirely dependent on the help of your friends. So when you argue that your friends shouldn’t take an interest in your marriage prospects, you’re totally wrong. miss yu : I’m going to see how your mother is doing. (She stands up to leave.) mr. ji (stands up and blocks her way): Don’t go. Stay here. There’s something else, something important that I have to discuss with you. Please sit down. (Both sit down simultaneously.) When I was out of the room, my mother said a lot of things to you, didn’t she? miss yu : Yes. mr. ji : Did she tell you that I wasn’t interested in getting married? miss yu : She said quite a bit about that. mr. ji : You know, I really don’t want to get married. miss yu : Why don’t you want to get married? mr. ji : Because the most precious thing in life is one’s sense of aesthetics. When a person gets married, his sense of aesthetics becomes blunted. miss yu : In that case, it’s better not to get married. mr. ji : Yes! Would you do that with me? miss yu : Do what with you? mr. ji : Not get married with me. (Walks in front of miss yu and extends both hands) Join me in rejecting marriage! miss yu (moved by the sincerity and love in his eyes): Yes. (She takes his hands in hers.) mr. ji: Give me some proof of our commitment. miss yu : What kind of proof do you want? mr. ji : Let me embrace you! (He lets go of her hands and tries to embrace her.) miss yu (moving away): Wait until the next time you get sick. mr. ji : But my mother tells me that you’ve already agreed to become the wife of her nephew. What are we going to do about that? miss yu (pleased with herself ): That won’t be a problem. My parents don’t want me to marry a doctor!

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mr. ji : Oh, I understand. We’re quite the pair—a pair of natural-born liars! (He catches her off guard and embraces her with both arms.) miss yu (yelling loudly): Ow! (madame ji enters from the right and the servant from the left, both alarmed by the noise. mr. ji has already let go of miss yu.) madame ji : What is it? What’s the matter? (miss yu is covering her face with one hand. She is blushing and doesn’t know how to respond.) mr. ji (walks in front of miss yu, moves her hand away, and examines her face): Where is it? Did it sting you? madame ji : What is it? What’s happened? miss yu (taking a deep breath): Oh, it was just a wasp. (She thanks mr. ji with her eyes.) (Curtain.)

Not es

1. 2.

Ding Xilin’s Yizhi mafeng was first published in Taiping yang 4, no. 3 (October 1923). This translation is based on the text in Ding Xilin ju zuo quan ji (Complete Collection of Ding Xilin’s Plays) (Beijing: Zhongguo xiju, 1985), 1:1–21. This translation is informed by our productions of A Wasp at Harvard University in 1998 and Bard College at Simon’s Rock in 2002. Special thanks to the many participants involved in those productions. Fifty mu is 3.335 hectares, or 8.24 acres. Thirty-nine degrees Celsius is one hundred three degrees Fahrenheit.

Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda (1928) Bai Wei Tra nsla ted by Pau l B . F os t e r

M a i n C ha r acters hu rongsheng ⨔㑗㔶, a despotic landlord hu qiaoming ⨔㎉チ, his son zheng shaomei 㺅㔕み, his pampered concubine xiao yuelin 㦤㴨⼢, his adopted daughter xiao sen 㦤㓩, a Women’s Federation committee member ling xia ⼴㥰, a Peasants’ Association committee member

S e c o n d a r y C hara cters gui yi ⥏㮥, an old accountant hongtao ⨆㝈, a servant girl lingxiang ⼵㦓, a servant girl chunhua ╠⪀, a servant girl policeman ⳁ␖ jailor 㲤⭶ dark shadow 1 ( xiao sen ) dark shadow 2 peasants ㇭ス (five people) committee members 㢡㴗 (four people)

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male servants ㅖ㋏ (five people) female servants ㇲ⤀ (seven people)

Lo c a t i o n Act 1: A Western-style parlor outside the city Act 2: hu rongsheng ’s study and zheng shaomei ’s dressing room Act 3: gui yi ’s bedroom (a dark room)

A CT 1 (A Western-style parlor outside the city. May sunshine fills the room. In the center of the spacious room is a rectangular table surrounded by chairs. There is a fireplace in the back wall with a large window on each side. Under each window is a flower table containing a pot of flowers. In front of the left wall is a sofa, to the right of which is a small round table with two chairs. There are doors downstage on the left and right. The left door leads to an inner room; the door on the right leads outside. Numerous pictures hang on the walls. A fat, fifty-odd-year-old gentleman wearing a gray Western-style shirt walks back and forth in the room, his belly puffed out in anger. The sound of a piano emanates from the inner room.) hu rongsheng (toward the left door, in a huff ): Hey, Ah Liang! Ah Liang! (A male servant, thirty-odd years old, cautiously emerges from the left door.) male servant : Can I do something for you, Master? hu rongsheng : Go and tell Young Master not to play the piano! The noise is really grating! male servant : Okay. (He nods respectfully and goes out. After a short pause, zheng shaomei walks coquettishly onstage wearing a fashionable, long, light-red jacket. She exudes sex appeal and the kind of haughty demeanor particular to aristocratic ladies, which is entirely unbefitting her status as a concubine. She is about twenty-seven years old.) zheng shaomei : He plays quite well. Why are you telling him to stop? (Smiles and points at him) I think he must be trying to dispel your anger with his playing. (The piano stops.) hu rongsheng : You’re the only one who wants to listen! (Vehemently) So, you can go tell him to play all day and night for you, but it’s not allowed in my home! zheng shaomei (surprised): Huh?! (Looks at him haughtily, with slight revulsion) Be careful what you say! hu rongsheng : What if I’m careful? And what if I’m not? . . . Anyway, I’m getting old and the whole world is yours. zheng shaomei : That’s right. It’s natural that young people have young people’s ideas. They can’t be compared to an old geezer like you. (Walking slowly and softly about

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the room, says in a tone of ridicule) Furthermore, I, Zheng Shaomei, am a respectable girl. You, with that filthy mind of yours, aren’t qualified to put restrictions on me. hu rongsheng : You can put restrictions on me, but I can’t even joke with you? (Smiling, he gropes her.) zheng shaomei (jumping): Ahh! That’s not the same thing . . . (Eyes open wide, aggressively in his face) You molest Yuelin all day long or think of ways to molest her. It’s your daily task . . . So where does that leave me? Is it a crime to love music, too? Or maybe you think you can use this to cast me as a criminal in order to offset your own crimes? hu rongsheng (anger subsiding and the devil coming out, he servilely pats her in fun): Let me tell you, I really don’t want to see you standing there by him, listening to him play the piano. You’re the one I love the most. (He rubs her neck.) zheng shaomei (pushing him away, sternly with contempt): Humph! Are you jealous? hu rongsheng (playing up to her, smiles charmingly and embraces her): What’s this? I’ve never been suspicious of you. I’m just a bit fed up with that kid, Qiaoming. (zheng shaomei gives no response.) Qiaoming sits at home all day long, as if he’s gone crazy thinking about Yuelin. What do you think about their situation? zheng shaomei : You probably know everything I know. (She unconcernedly pulls out a chair at the table and sits down.) hu rongsheng : That’s not so, not so. (Hugs her passionately) That child Yuelin has even forgotten about her dad these days. She tricked me into letting her go to that Party school for all this time. You knew about it, but I didn’t. I heard that recently she’s fallen in love with some committee member in the Peasants’ Association. And she loves Qiaoming so much they’re practically inseparable, too . . . What the heck is she up to? zheng shaomei : You’re better off not asking! Anyway, that’s the world of the young. hu rongsheng : Come on, tell me! . . . Tell me everything you know! (He sits at her side and embraces her. zheng shaomei pushes him away, shakes her head, and smiles silently.) Why won’t you tell me? Are you all in this together, rebelling against me? (Head bowed in indignation, he paces in silence.) (Excitedly) Oh, I know what to do! I won’t let Yuelin go to school tomorrow. Right. Starting tomorrow I won’t let her go to the Party school anymore. (Thinking) Women revolting, too. Are they going to revolt all the way to heaven? So, women are paying attention to revolution, too. Just watch her revolt against her father! . . . (Stopping) Right, right. I know what to do! As of tomorrow, Qiaoming will be independent. He’s already old enough. I fathered him and raised him for twenty-five years, so there shouldn’t be anything wrong with making him strike out on his own. (He looks at zheng shaomei for agreement, boorishly takes a drag from his cigarette, and continues his monologue.) That child, Qiaoming, just won’t listen to anything! (Resentfully) I advised him to go and study business, but he just plays some music and makes some revolution! Not to mention what he said to me the night before last. He outright insulted his old man!

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(He angrily stamps his foot and loudly slaps the table.) zheng shaomei (nonchalantly stands up, sneers sarcastically): What’s wrong with what he said? Does it merit such a tantrum? hu rongsheng : What he said? . . . Didn’t he say the other night . . . He told me to back off for a while, to let him go to the countryside and sell the grain. On top of that, he wants me to let him make an agreement with those absurd farmhands there. Didn’t he say that? . . . Look, that’s tantamount to forcing me to abdicate my position as the father! zheng shaomei : It’s the trend of the times. There’s nothing at all wrong with that. hu rongsheng : Hey! (Getting angrier) So I should just give him the property I worked so hard to obtain, just so he can make nice with them? You still say he’s not wrong? zheng shaomei : No, you’re just a capitalist. You got your property by squeezing the blood out of the poor people. The current revolution was caused by this bloodsucking class and it’s going to settle accounts with the bloodsuckers. hu rongsheng (arms waving wildly): Aha! No wonder you all want to move to the provincial capital and learn the fashions! You’ve started chanting Communist Party slogans, too! zheng shaomei : The ideology and battles of the twentieth century are struggles between workers and capitalists . . . You’ve got to take a clear look at the tides of the modern age. Don’t be a straggler in this day and age! hu rongsheng : Enough, enough! You may have learned to say what’s in vogue, but don’t go putting on any stinking airs in front of me! (He appears about to expel zheng shaome i. hu qiaoming bumps onto the stage through the left door. He is a seriously gloomy young man wearing a handsome, black, Western-style suit. He walks from the left toward the right with his head bowed. hu rongsheng excitedly watches him, not disturbing him for the moment. He holds back his anger and lets him pass.) (Suddenly shouting) Qiaoming! (hu qiaoming walks up to the right-hand door, stops suddenly, and turns his head.) Where are you going now? (hu qiaoming leans on the door, not speaking or moving.) I asked where you’re going. Do you have ears? zheng shaomei (gently, to hu rongsheng ): He’s going to school to pick up his lover. (She smiles at hu qiaoming .) hu rongsheng : What? Do you go to the school every day to get Yuelin? (hu qiaoming tacitly confirms this in silence.) (Imperiously) You have to break off with her right away. hu qiaoming (emphatically): Can that be done?! hu rongsheng : A brother and sister doing such disreputable things. (Raises his hand at hu qiaoming ) You watch out for my fist! hu qiaoming (sneers): Yeah, your fist is useless! hu rongsheng (exclaims angrily): Ha . . . You’ve got some nerve, defying your old man! hu qiaoming : We plan to get married soon.

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hu rongsheng : Mutiny! Mutiny! (Livid, he slaps the table loudly.) zheng shaomei : You’re such an autocratic devil! Marriage is free. Yuelin isn’t your daughter by birth, and those two love each other so much. Why not let them choose freely for themselves if they’re willing? hu rongsheng : Yuelin used to be a slave girl. Will my son be betrothed to a slave girl? hu qiaoming : Please don’t use such old, worn-out language. Nobody wants to hear it. I love her. hu rongsheng (points fiercely at hu qiaoming ): Blasphemy! hu qiaoming (with a very earnest expression): I want to marry her. hu rongsheng (looks coercively at hu qiaoming ): Are you ready to revolt against your father? hu qiaoming : Aren’t sons born to revolt against their fathers? (He swiftly steps back.) hu rongsheng (returns to zheng shaomei dejectedly, full of anger): What family legacy can we build with such a useless son? I’m better off selling the land and just being happy the rest of my life. zheng shaomei : Honestly, you’re not building a family business and getting rich for the sake of your children and grandchildren. You just want to satisfy your own desire for wealth and happiness. hu rongsheng : Why do you always attack me these days when we talk? Do I treat you so badly? (He cuddles her.) zheng shaomei : What? Am I wrong? Naturally, you couldn’t treat me any better. For instance, you sent your wife and those concubines to the countryside. And you always take me along right at your side wherever you go. How can I say you treat me badly? . . . But I’ve also been with you for eleven years now, and I know you love the new and hate the old. It’s inevitable. hu rongsheng : Who am I supposed to be in love with now? Have I taken another wife since I landed you? zheng shaomei : You appear to be crazy about Yuelin . . . hu rongsheng (eyes bulging out, looking very fierce): Don’t make trouble with me! If you’re out to ruin our family harmony, you’d better find another road to take. (A male servant enters from the left.) male servant : Master! A large group of peasants is here. They’re asking to meet with you, sir. hu rongsheng (flustered): Oh, oh . . . Go and tell them that I’m not at home. (The male servant bows his head and exits. ling xia leads five peasants onto the stage from the right. They all respectfully greet hu rongsheng .) peasant a (takes two steps toward hu rongsheng ): Your family beat up my older brother the day before yesterday. I’ve already reported it to the Peasants’ Association. hu rongsheng : And now you’ve brought all these people here. What do you intend to do to me?

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ling xia : You’ll find out after it’s been discussed at a meeting of the Peasants’ Association. I’ve just come to investigate the facts of the situation today. What law did his older brother break that caused you to beat him so severely? hu rongsheng : He’s a thug. He incited some farmers to make trouble for me. And he beat my servants, too, so my servants beat him in return. That’s an eye for an eye. How can you blame me? peasant c (jumps vehemently toward hu rongsheng ): Nonsense! It’s all your fault! peasant d (also jumping toward hu rongsheng ): Bastard! You’re the one who told them to beat him up! peasant a : You were bullying us. My older brother went to talk to you as our representative, but you didn’t even let him open his mouth. Instead, you called out a bunch of your slaves to come and beat us. Some of the more vicious ones beat my older brother half to death. It was like wolves carrying away a lamb. You’re so ruthless! hu rongsheng : How could anything have happened if you weren’t causing trouble at the time? peasant d : Bullshit! You choked off our wages and wouldn’t pay us in grain. hu rongsheng : You didn’t want what I offered. You’re just deliberately trying to make trouble for me . . . peasant a (jumps in front of hu rongsheng ): Don’t deny it! Listen to my appeal to the Peasants’ Association. When your fields were flooded, you hired a bunch of us farmhands to rebuild them. You agreed to wages of thirty cents per day at the time. Some of us were going to take cash, but the majority of us were going to be paid in grain. But you were sly and, seeing that grain prices were low, you wouldn’t pay us in grain at the time. You waited until grain prices skyrocketed and then tried to pay us in grain based on the overinflated price. We’re all just poor commoners. Who’s willing to spend their money on your expensive grain? So we asked you to pay us in grain according to the price at the time you owed us the wages. You refused and cursed us, too. You said we were causing trouble for nothing and drove us out. We had no other choice but to request that you pay our wages in cash. So then you blamed us for repeatedly making unreasonable requests. You blew up at us and beat up my older brother. Excuse me for asking, but who’s the unreasonable one? ling xia (forthrightly, to hu rongsheng ): Did he say anything untrue? peasant c (quickly and sharply): Every word is the absolute truth. The only thing missing is a reenactment of his brutality. (Brooding, hu rongsheng thinks of escape. zheng shaomei pushes him from behind, giving him a hint.) ling xia : I’m clear about the facts now. (To hu rongsheng ) Please come to the Peasants’ Association, sir! hu rongsheng (courage failing): What do you intend to do? (To peasant a ) I’ll give you some money so your older brother can see a doctor! peasants (together): Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha . . .

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peasant b : I still have a few things to say. I represent a village and two towns. There are a lot of people outside who’ve come with me to your (points at hu rongsheng ) residence to buy grain. Sir, we beg you to open your warehouse right away and save the commoners in the vicinity of your hometown by selling them your grain! Our area was struck by the recent floods and military disasters. Nearly all the grain was burned and thousands of victims have become refugees, too, freezing and starving . . . The Disaster Relief Association begs you, sir, to contribute fifty catties of grain now. hu rongsheng : I understand what you’re saying, as well as the plight of the commoners. But my grain has already been sold. What’s left is only enough to feed my own family. (He smiles artificially.) peasant e : I know that you haven’t even sold one tenth of your grain yet. There’s been a famine since last winter throughout the countryside and in every city. Other families’ grain sold at two pecks per dollar, or one peck and eight pints per dollar. Your grain was one peck, five pints per dollar. Nobody wanted yours at the time. After the floods this March, grain sold everywhere at two pecks, three pints per dollar. When your son was in the countryside, people from everywhere rushed to ask him to open the warehouse. Your son sold for just half a day before you stopped him, sir. The other day when you were in the countryside selling grain, a dollar could only buy one peck, four pints. Only those people truly afraid of starving to death wanted yours. So where did all your grain go? peasant c : If that’s the case, why bother reasoning with him? The first thing to ask is whether or not he’ll contribute fifty catties. Second, we must demand he sell the grain cheaper, as our Peasants’ Association decided. hu rongsheng (puffs out his chest imperiously): It belongs to me. I’ll do with it as I see fit. ling xia : The property belongs to the state. Soon you’ll have no right to speak like this. We ask you in earnest to meet our demands. hu rongsheng : Thugs! Communists! (He jumps up furiously and presses a call button.) ling xia : What do you mean by yelling like this? We’re talking quite civilly with you. (Earnestly) If you won’t contribute or sell the grain you have now, it’ll all be confiscated for public use in the future. hu rongsheng : Bastard! Don’t you meddle with my property . . . peasant b : We can’t clear this up here. Maybe we better take him to the Peasants’ Association. peasants (together): Yes! Yes! (ling xia thinks silently. zheng shaomei astutely exits from the right side of the stage. A group of male and female servants emerges ferociously from the left. The peasants sneer indignantly at the servants . Both groups glare at each other.) hu rongsheng (suddenly changing from perplexed to cheerful, commands the servants ): Throw them out of here!

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(peasant a whistles and receives a resounding response from outside the right-hand door. The servants grab peasants to drive them out. The room clamors in chaos.) ling xia : Hold him! (Grabs hu rongsheng ) Please come with us! (Drags him out the right-hand door. Those onstage exit to the right in agitation. The stage is temporarily empty. xiao yuelin comes onstage wearing a long, chic jacket. Her short, velvety black hair hangs thickly over her bright eyes. Her innocent, attractive, delicate face emanates a mysterious pleasure. She has elegant, long eyebrows, a beautiful crimson mouth, which, in juxtaposition with her snow-white skin, enhances her maidenly beauty. Her demeanor resembles the wisteria’s refinement, and her figure is as graceful as young bamboo. She is superior in deportment, seeming to possess unlimited feelings. Her silent expression exhibits an amount of desolation. She appears about eighteen or nineteen years old. She enters from the left door and seems to be searching for something. A female servant comes onstage following xiao yuelin .) female servant : It’s empty in here. Invite her to sit in here. xiao yuelin : She’s here to meet with Seventh Concubine. Why don’t you take her to Seventh Concubine’s apartment? female servant : Seventh Concubine isn’t at home. Her parlor is locked and her room door is locked, too. xiao yuelin : In that case, invite her to come in! female servant : Okay. (She leaves from the right. xiao yuelin straightens up things. The female servant enters through the right-hand door leading xiao sen .) Miss! The guest is here. (She leaves.) xiao yuelin (crosses to the right-hand door to meet the guest): Oh, please come in! (xiao sen comes onstage. She is wearing a pale blue suit, short hair, a matching hat, tan shoes and socks, and is carrying a leather portfolio. Lean and gracefully poised, her face is pale white with handsome, beautiful eyes and a beautiful, long nose. Her comportment is dignified and her attitude warmhearted. Her beautiful agatelike teeth form an intoxicatingly attractive smile. She appears about thirty-odd years old. She stares in amazement upon seeing xiao yuelin .) xiao sen : I take it Mrs. Hu isn’t at home? (A crisp, melodious voice; her elegant gaze dominates xiao yuelin .) xiao yuelin : That’s right. (She gazes at xiao sen with mixed bashfulness and wonderment.) xiao sen : I take it she’ll be right back? xiao yuelin : I don’t know. I just returned home myself. xiao sen (stands at the doorway deciding whether or not to enter): I have a three thirty appointment with her. (Looks at her watch) It’s just now three thirty. xiao yuelin : Please have a seat! She’ll probably be right back. (She leads her to the sofa, where they both sit. Both are silent.) xiao sen : Mrs. Hu is rather refreshing.

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(She takes off her hat, puts it on her knees, and fiddles with it.) (Glances artfully at xiao yuelin ) I suppose she’s your mother? xiao yuelin : She is my seventh aunt. xiao sen : I . . . She said there was a very clever and cute young lady in her home. Isn’t that you? xiao yuelin : My father doesn’t have any other daughters, just me, his adopted daughter. xiao sen (observes xiao yuelin ’s expression carefully): Your father certainly must love you. xiao yuelin (sentimentally, sighing deeply): It’s hard to say. (A female servant brings them tea.) female servant (sets a small table in front of them): Please have some tea. (She looks at xiao sen and exits.) xiao sen (focuses even more attention on xiao yuelin , holds up a cup of tea as if to drink, but doesn’ t): I suppose that being somebody else’s adopted daughter is never as good as being with your own parents. xiao yuelin : I wouldn’t know what it’s like to have parents of my own. I’ve no idea. (Taken with xiao sen ’s appearance, she drinks her tea silently.) xiao sen : What? . . . Don’t you go to see your parents? xiao yuelin (shrugs her shoulders bashfully): I don’t have any idea who my parents are. xiao sen (extremely sad and silent for a moment): Oh! xiao yuelin : One could write a novel about the travails of an orphan girl’s life. (Sad and bitter, she stands and walks around.) xiao sen (looks at her warmheartedly): How’s that? xiao yuelin : I’ve been an orphan since birth. (On the verge of tears, she walks around again.) I went through a lot before I was adopted. xiao sen (forces herself to control her emotions, maintaining dignity): Still, isn’t it really lucky for an orphan to become an adopted daughter and young lady of an important family? xiao yuelin : Some important family! This is a ghost pagoda. Who knows when I’ll finally be able to break out of this ghost pagoda! xiao sen : If your home is really a ghost pagoda, shouldn’t it be quite easy to break out if you really have the will? (Walks toward xiao yuelin ) Your Mrs. Hu has already filed for divorce with the Women’s Federation. That’ll make it a lot easier for you, her daughter, to broach the issue of leaving the family. I think it’ll be easy to settle. xiao yuelin : You can’t compare me to Seventh Aunt. My position in this family is ten times worse than hers. xiao sen : How’s that? . . . (xiao yuelin collapses miserably into a chair at the center table.) (Gently stroking xiao yuelin ) Look at you, so young, and your face etched with lines of hardship. It goes without saying that your life has been tough, but people in this modern age shouldn’t be distressed by the old environment. We must remold the environment. We must remold our lives, too.

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xiao yuelin : You’re right. (Seeming greatly enlightened, smiles at xiao sen ) It’s comforting just to hear you say that. xiao sen (smiles and gently shakes her head): No, you have to remold your environment  and take the road of reform at the same time. Only then can you talk of consolation. xiao yuelin (with admiration): I don’t know if I should be grateful or happy. I’ve been dependent on someone else for nearly twenty dark years. Meeting you today, madam, makes me feel like there’s finally a bit of light in my future. xiao sen : It’s really strange, but I’m happy, too. Meeting you, it’s like I’m dreaming . . . It seems like we’ve met somewhere once before. (She is inexplicably happy and momentarily silent.) xiao yuelin (searches her memory joyfully): I’ve never seen you before. xiao sen (gloomily leaves the table, says quietly): How do you know? xiao yuelin : You would’ve definitely made a great impression on me if I’d seen you before. How is it that I don’t have any recollection at all? xiao sen : I don’t know when I’ve seen you before, either. I don’t know if it was you, or your mother. (Gazes intently at her face) But I remember a young woman just like you, very clever and very chic, who always emanated a sense of desolation from somewhere deep in her soul. xiao yuelin : Maybe you saw my mother. I think my mother must have had the same kind of fate as me. xiao sen : Do you still miss your mother? If you’ve never seen her, there’s no use missing her. xiao yuelin (tears flowing): When a motherless child sees other people with their mothers, that’s true sadness! xiao sen : Don’t be sad! I’m really lonely, too. If you’d like to, you’re quite welcome to come to chat and have some fun with me. Seeing that mole next to your lips gives me the impression I’ve seen you somewhere before. (She wants to touch it, then appears puzzled, and backs off.) xiao yuelin (touches the mole herself ): I hate this mole! When I was little, all the other kids at the orphanage teased me, saying that I had a “glutton mole.” xiao sen : It’s so pretty. When Westerners paint beautiful women, they often intentionally add a black mole here (points at her mole) to embellish a snow-white face, to make it even more beautiful. xiao yuelin : Easterners and Westerners have different aesthetics. I remember when Madam Yan Fuheng, at the orphanage, called somebody to come and cut this mole off. I ran away crying after one cut, so in the end it wasn’t cut off. xiao sen : Ah, you were at Madam Yan Fuheng’s orphanage? (Surprised, she convulsively walks toward the left, staring at xiao yuelin .) xiao yuelin : Yes, I was there for six or seven years. (zheng shaomei returns onstage from the right, appearing unsettled.) zheng shaomei (to xiao sen , joyfully): Madam Xiao! I’m really sorry! Have you been here long?

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xiao sen : I just got here. (Walks toward the right-hand door) You’ve been busy, Mrs. Hu. zheng shaomei : I’m not really busy with anything. A few people from the Peasants’ Association just came and took her father away. I ran outside to walk for a while, too, and ended up making you wait all this time. I’m really sorry. (Pulls out the chair on the right) Please have a seat! Please have a seat! (She herself stands.) xiao sen : What’s going on with Mr. Hu? . . . Oh, you sit down, too, please! zheng shaomei : It’s nothing important. He’s so old-fashioned. A Peasants’ Association committee member took him away. They’ll let him return after he clarifies things. Yuelin! Go make some tea! (She sits across from xiao sen. xiao yuelin exits from the left with the tea tray.) xiao sen (gets her port folio from the sofa, comes back, and sits down at the table by the right wall and pulls out a document): So, you want to divorce your husband? (She flips through the document, reading.) zheng shaomei : Yes, that’s what I’m thinking. xiao sen : And your reason for divorce? (She takes out her pen and takes notes.) zheng shaomei : I can’t go on being with him, neither spiritually nor physically. xiao sen : In the past, these words from you would have been sufficient. But now we  have to go through petition procedures. Please tell me about your marital experiences. zheng shaomei : We can’t really even be called husband and wife. I am his seventh concubine. xiao sen : In that case, tell me a little about your experiences since you’ve been his concubine. zheng shaomei : I’m originally a peasant girl from the countryside. I was seventeen that year when I was picking mulberries in the fields and Hu Rongsheng all of a sudden saw me. He walked over and told me how fine I was, and so on, and then he followed somebody from my family home and asked for my hand in marriage. My father was still alive at the time and totally unwilling to marry me off as his concubine. In addition, I was an upper elementary school graduate and was therefore a rather conceited student. I’d rather have died than become his concubine. Not long after that my father died and my uncle, who was muddled from smoking opium, was after the Hu family’s money, so he forced me to marry him. (Sorrowfully reminiscing, she pulls a tissue from her bag and wipes her tears. xiao sen suddenly stops writing and looks sadly at zheng shaomei .) I was really doted on after we got married. But Hu Rongsheng has seven wives and I’ve always felt this life is a living hell. xiao sen : Why didn’t you separate from him sooner? zheng shaomei : First, Hu Rongsheng is thirty years older than me. I fell into his hands when I was so young and there’s no way he’d willingly let me go. Second, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to survive if I left since I’d already been married. On top of that, there was no good place a woman could bring a suit at the time.

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xiao sen (jokingly): Maybe you liked him right after you got married, but now you don’t because he’s gotten old. zheng shaomei : No, no. I can’t say I disliked him after we were married, but he doesn’t like me anymore now that he’s in love with somebody else. Everyday he’s dallying with (lamenting angrily, stops herself )— xiao sen (takes notes, smiling): If he’s dallying with another woman, you should keep a better eye on him. Do you really want to divorce him for something so minor? zheng shaomei : Madam! Don’t think that I’m so shallow! (Standing up in protest) I’ve awoken out of this dark hell. In the first place, I’m not willing to continue being a concubine. I want to use what’s left of my body to become a nurse for the Revolutionary Army’s Red Cross Association. In the second place, the way he’s dallying with his adopted daughter day and night, I’m better off divorcing him as soon as possible rather than being dumped by him later. xiao sen (starts in surprise, incredulously): What? He’s dallying with his adopted daughter?! (Her shocked eyes rolling) You mean the one who was just talking to me? zheng shaomei : Right. That girl was originally a slave. She was sold a number of times before she finally arrived here. The lady of the house liked her because she was smart and adopted her. She also sent her to study for quite a while. Nobody figured that, once Madam had died, he’d be such a beast to his own adopted daughter. xiao sen : Oh. (Very unsettled, she closes her eyes and thinks silently.) Is there anything else you want to say? zheng shaomei : That’s enough. I hope you can wrap this up for me as soon as possible. xiao sen : It is my duty to handle this quickly. It can be solved in about a week. (She puts away the documents and sits up. xiao yuelin and a female servant bring in tea and fruit.) zheng shaomei : How come it took you so long to make tea and snacks? (She lays out the tea and fruit.) xiao yuelin : We had to go out to get the snacks. (She stands near xiao sen , reluctant to part.) zheng shaomei (checks the tea, then urges xiao sen to drink first): Please help yourself! (She offers her snacks.) xiao sen : And you, Miss Yuelin? (She makes xiao yuelin sit.) zheng shaomei : Lingxiang, go get Miss Yuelin a teacup. (The female servant exits from the left door.) xiao sen : How old are you, Miss Yuelin? (She cheerfully drinks the tea.) xiao yuelin : Nineteen. xiao sen : Have you been to school?

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xiao yuelin : I graduated from middle school the year before last. I’m at the Party school now. zheng shaome i: She’d really like to do some Party work. xiao sen : I was just thinking of that for her. I’ll have to introduce you sometime. (She smiles at xiao yuelin .) xiao yuelin : That would be great! (The female servant brings in a teacup. zheng shaomei pours tea for xiao yuelin , and they all drink together.) xiao sen : Come and look me up when you get a chance. I am at the Women’s Federation. It’s right behind the provincial parliament. (She gives xiao yuelin a name card.) (Giving her a piece of paper) And your name is? (xiao yuelin writes on the paper.) Oh! Xiao . . . Xiao Yuelin! (She appears to choke, is momentarily silent, and then suddenly stands up, leaving her seat.) We’ll meet again! zheng shaomei : Please sit a while longer! xiao sen : I’ll be back after your matter is reviewed. (Exiting the stage to the right and still looking at xiao yuelin , she is reluctant to leave. zheng shaomei and xiao yuelin see her out, disappearing with her through the right-hand door. A female servant comes in from the left to clean up the tea and snacks. She puts a snack into her mouth and chews it. xiao yuelin enters from the right to help out, sees the female servant chewing, and smiles naively.) xiao yuelin : Swallow! (Pounds on the female servant ’s back) If Auntie sees you, you’ll be flayed. Swallow! female servant : Ah! . . . (Choking, unable to get it down, she rolls her eyes and chews hard, then exits to the left. hu qiaoming jumps out from the left door and speaks sweetly to xiao yuelin .) hu qiaoming : How come you came home by yourself today instead of waiting from me to pick you up? xiao yuelin : I wanted to avoid that old goblin’s eyes. You don’t know it, but he’s always snooping around trying to find out what we’re up to. He’s burning with jealousy. hu qiaoming : I don’t care what he does! (He embraces her from behind.) xiao yuelin : There’ll be big trouble if we don’t avoid his wrath. hu qiaoming : I’m thinking just the opposite. I want us to ride in the same carriage together to see a play tonight. (He cheerily ushers her over to sit on the sofa, then sits down right next to her.) xiao yuelin : That’ll make him even madder. Why do you always have to struggle with him? hu qiaoming (slowly drags on a cigarette): Won’t we die in this ghost pagoda if we don’t keep struggling?

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xiao yuelin : If you resist too much your own life will be in danger. Furthermore . . . hu qiaoming : Would he kill me? . . . If he tries I’ll fight to the finish. Even if he beats me to death, I’ll die happily dripping of blood . . . Anyway, I’ve hated my life for too long. I’ve been in this filthy, degenerate family for twenty-five years now. I’ve simply been a tormented ghost in this ghost pagoda for a quarter century! I’m so sick and tired of it. (He is excited, mournful, and briefly silent.) If I didn’t have you, if I didn’t have the fresh ideas you always give me, ideas that add rain and dew to my withering life, I’d have killed myself long ago . . . It’s only because I have you (places his hand on xiao yuelin ’s knee, his sorrow vanishing, and gradually becomes joyful) that I still love life, that I have a grasp on life, that I praise life, and that I’m going to start to live life with burning, red-hot intensity. xiao yuelin : Yes! You have to turn your life around. Sorrow is the young person’s grave. (Grasps him lovingly) Let’s live happily. hu qiaoming (embraces xiao yuelin , strokes her lovingly): I’d like to marry you soon. xiao yuelin : Huh? . . . (Her charming and intelligent eyes look at him for a moment, then she suddenly convulses, as if she’d received an electrical shock, and becomes bashfully silent.) hu qiaoming (stands up and paces): What do you think? . . . I think if we don’t do it, I’ll never be able to express my profound feelings of love for you. Hey (lightly pats her shoulder, extremely affectionately), you don’t have to always put on such delicate airs. Love forces itself on people like this. Hey (lightly shakes her), so what do you actually think? Do you think you’ll ever be able to come to a conclusion if you’re so bashful? . . . Are you still stuck on that mysterious illusion, always thinking that this kind of beautiful love of ours doesn’t need to end in marriage? (xiao yuelin turns red, pushes hu qiaoming away with a vague bashfulness, leans on the arm of the sofa, and holds her head.) I used to think it was mysterious, too, just like you. But lately I’m more of the mind that we have to smash the mystery. Love that doesn’t result in marriage will never be able to realize its full intensity. (He looks at her from the left and the right, then ardently embraces and kisses her.) xiao yuelin (appearing astute, presses both hands against his chest): How is it that your thinking has changed so quickly? hu qiaoming (smiles cheerfully): It’s that my thinking has progressed. xiao yuelin : You say your thinking has progressed! . . . (Pushes him gently away) But you’ve become vulgar. hu qiaoming : Not at all. You’re still just thinking like a child. I used to be a fan of respecting that illusion, too. I detested everything about the real world. I thought of all kinds of ways to escape every reality. But now, my first priority is the real, and everything is totally in my control. The better grasp I’ve got, the more I feel alive. xiao yuelin : Oh! (Appearing to find this strange, sighs heavily) I just really love you. I truly think about loving you every second of the day. (Smiles lovingly and movingly) But I don’t think . . .

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hu qiaoming : Life only lasts a few decades. One’s youth flies by quickly. Why don’t we start living boldly? xiao yuelin (proudly shakes her head): No, I don’t want to. (Head bowed, hu qiaoming smokes and thinks.) hu qiaoming : You don’t want to. I can’t do anything about that, either. Simply put, we must escape this ghost pagoda in the next few days, or else that old fiend will gobble one of us up. xiao yuelin : You’re absolutely right! I’ve got that feeling, too. hu qiaoming : What do you think we should do? xiao yuelin : What if we both go out and do Party work? Or you can go to classes at the university, as usual. hu qiaoming : Who wants to go to that lousy school! xiao yuelin (resolutely): Since you love music so much, maybe you should go to Germany to study. hu qiaoming (momentarily gloomy): How could I possibly leave the one person I so terribly love? xiao yuelin (solemn and proper): We’ll have to separate temporarily for the sake of your studies. It’s the only way your father will be willing to finance them. hu qiaoming (ardently, and somewhat tragically): Yuelin! I can think of nothing but you now. You’re the only one who can comfort me. (He excitedly makes as if to embrace her, then is abruptly silent.) xiao yuelin : If you do that I assure you you’re bound to fail. hu qiaoming : I know. (Anguished) My heart is breaking! But we have to escape this place together, no matter what. Even if we don’t actually get married for the moment, we can still leave here on the pretext of getting married. xiao yuelin : That won’t work. I’m not thick-skinned enough to tolerate the loss of face. hu qiaoming : What a waste! . . . If we don’t do it, my father, that ghost, will hound us and destroy our love. xiao yuelin : Well, we have to be completely clear about this with Ling Xia. hu qiaoming (smiles bitterly, forcing self-control): Oh yeah, I forgot you’re still in love with him. xiao yuelin : Although I don’t have any particular love for him anymore, I still feel sorry for him. (She silently leans on the edge of the table.) hu qiaoming : I know you’re trying to prolong the drama of our love triangle for a few more acts . . . You and I certainly won’t be the ones to experience the happiness of marriage. (Depressed, he puts his head down on the table, holding it with both hands.) xiao yuelin (jumps up): That kind of talk is just plain abusive! I met him before I met you. He was my best friend when I was a young girl. His mother was treating me so severely, if he hadn’t saved me I would have died long ago . . . He is so sincere to me. His heart has never wavered. I don’t have the courage to sacrifice him.

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(hu qiaoming disconsolately rushes to the left. xiao yuelin agitatedly pursues and catches him, then throws herself ardently into his embrace. ling xia strides in from the right, sees the situation, and stands in shock.) ling xia (walks toward them): Ah! (The two of them hurriedly separate.) (One hand grasping the other hand, he smiles drolly) I really envy you two. I envy your urbane leisure, that of a young gentleman and young lady. (Faintly sad) Someone like me, so busy working, simply doesn’t have the time to participate in our comedy of romance.1 hu qiaoming (a bit ashamed, shakes hands sincerely with ling xia ): You mustn’t be sad! As I see it, I’ll always play the part of the tragic hero in our love triangle. The happy roles most certainly belong to you two. (Impassively) But as long as I still have a day to live, I won’t just slide on by. ling xia : What kind of sentimental rubbish is this! Don’t always act the anguished poet! We all need to drum up the courage to keep on acting, brother! (Grasps his shoulder) Let’s love one another instead of harming one another. It’s just because I’m so busy at work that I rarely come to spend time with you. That is what I’m sad about. (He turns around and grasps xiao yuelin .) hu qiaoming : You know the kind of ambitions my father, that ghost, has for Yuelin. He’s made this family into a ghost pagoda. I’m the first prisoner in his ghost pagoda . . . ling xia : Why are you afraid of him now? (Pats him enthusiastically) Take advantage of this opportunity to leave! hu qiaoming : I’d like to wait another three or four days. I want to go to the countryside to sell off that grain at a cheap price. ling xia : I came specifically to tell you two to leave. You’ve got to get out of this house right away! hu qiaoming : That is not, in fact, possible. I have to go to the countryside to sell grain because of the famine in our hometown. They’re counting on our grain to save their lives. I’m counting on that money, too, since I don’t have a penny of my own. ling xia : You’re dreaming! Your father has been taken away by the Peasants’ Association and you’re still mumbling about not leaving? hu qiaoming (as if in a dream): Huh! What? ling xia : It’s because of what happened over the last few days. These events are not important, so perhaps they’ll release him quickly. But according to the investigation, your father has actually been trafficking in opium. They’re sending people right away to search for it. I’m afraid this will lead to violence. You two should get out of the way for a while! (Pulling on xiao yuelin , he pushes hu qiaoming toward the door.) hu qiaoming (quietly, both impassive and angry): I’m not leaving. ling xia (anxiously): Are you going to wait for somebody to come and arrest you? Get going! hu qiaoming (stands impassively): I’m not leaving. That’s not the right way to deal with the problem.

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xiao yuelin (presses him to leave): What do you plan to do about it? Let’s discuss it after we get out of here. hu qiaoming : It’s better if you go with Brother Xia. I am going to wait here for the people from the Peasants’ Association. ling xia : What’s the use of being here by yourself? Do you actually think that you can take on that many people? Let’s go! (Forcing him) Go! (He pulls him two steps.) hu qiaoming : You’d better go. Take good care of Yuelin. (Stubbornly) I’m not leaving, no matter what. xiao yuelin : Please don’t be foolish! Let’s leave together. (She gently tugs at him. hu qiaoming , oddly silent, walks into the inner room on the left.) (Pursues him) Brother Qiao! ling xia (gently pulling xiao yuelin ): Better leave him alone. (He embraces her swiftly as the wind.) Let’s get going quickly. (Attempts to push her out) Go quickly! xiao yuelin (stands firmly): If he’s not leaving, I’m not leaving, either. ling xia (with vehemence): If he goes to his death, will you also go to yours? xiao yuelin : Maybe. (Expressing intense dissatisfaction, she walks straight to the left.) ling xia (rushes toward the left door, pulls her to a stop): Yuelin! xiao yuelin (severely): What you just said is so disgusting! . . . Are you really going to stand by and watch him die? The thought of that does damage to your own dignity. A frank and straightforward person like you shouldn’t say such a thing. ling xia : Please forgive me! (Lowers his head into her hands, then ushers her a few steps toward the center of the room) You are my soul. You are my entire world. Seven years ago I gave you all my heart . . . xiao yuelin : But your mother sold me off. Since I was sold to the Hu family, it’s been like being in prison. If not for Brother Ming’s love, I would have been ravaged by that beastly father of his. ling xia : But why won’t you leave with me? (Gently embraces her) I love you so much. xiao yuelin (separating from him gently): Why do you think I didn’t agree with Brother Ming when he urged me to run off and marry him even though we’re crazy in love with each other? (She shows her charming, beautiful eyes.) ling xia (in a flying leap, embraces her and points to his own heart): Do you still love me? xiao yuelin : You were the first person to touch my heart. But Brother Ming and I are incomparably euphoric and incomparably well suited to each other. I’ll love both of you all my life. (hu qiaoming’s anguished cry emanates from the inner room.) voice : Yaa! . . . xiao yuelin : Oh no!

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(She rushes toward the left in fright and exits.) ling xia : Ah! (He disappears in hot pursuit of xiao yuelin .) (Curtain.)

A CT 2 (Five days later. Twilight is rapidly falling. hu rongsheng stirs his fat body, settling contently into a rocking chair on the veranda of the spacious room. The spacious room is both a study and a dressing room. Under the window on the left wall is a large Westernstyle dressing table with a washstand next to it. Against the right wall is a set of bookcases. There is a desk situated in front under the right window; farther downstage is a passageway into a bedroom. The back wall opens onto the veranda, which is a few feet higher than the room. Upstage on the left is a passageway downstairs. At center stage is a round table and chairs. zheng shaomei is wearing dressing clothes and washing her face; lingxiang is serving at her side. The room is decorated quite extravagantly.) hu rongsheng (extremely unsettled): Can’t you hurry it up? You’re going to be late. zheng shaomei : The play doesn’t start until eight o’clock. There’s no need to be in such a hurry! hu rongsheng : You won’t be able to get good seats if you’re late. And you’re just babbling on about this and that. zheng shaomei : Relax! (She turns on a light, seats herself in front of the dressing table, and puts on makeup.) hu rongsheng (turns his head to look at her): Hey! Hey! (zheng shaomei , busy doing her makeup, doesn’t pay attention to him.) Hey, you! . . . What time are you going to be back tonight? zheng shaomei : I’ll be back right after the play is over, but it’s possible that I’ll go to Mrs. Zhang’s to play cards. hu rongsheng (anxiously): So what time are you going to be back? zheng shaomei : Why are you so worried about it? I’ll hail a carriage from their place. hu rongsheng : Argh, back and forth and still can’t tell me clearly! Tell me what time you’re returning and I’ll be able to send someone to pick you up. zheng shaomei (smiling at him): Ah, you’re so nice all of a sudden! hu rongsheng : I always treat you like this. But you still keep bringing up divorce . . . On the whole, I’ve done my best to love you with all my heart for more than ten years now. But right out of the blue you cast me aside and insist on divorcing me! A woman’s heart is truly unfathomable! zheng shaomei : So why did you station a bunch of people outside the wall to shout like the devil and scare me when I returned from seeing a play? Is it right for you to

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try and scare me to death in the middle of the night, but wrong for me to want to divorce you so that I can pursue a life? hu rongsheng : Are you really going to divorce me over that trifling matter? zheng shaomei (indignantly): It’s proof that you clearly don’t care about my life! . . . You stopped loving me long ago. On top of that, you hoped I’d die. You can’t say it yourself, so you concocted a few ghosts to scare me to death. No wonder your son says you’re a “ghost” and that your home is a “ghost pagoda.” It’s the truth. Do you really think I want to die at the hand of a ghost and spend eternity buried under this ghost pagoda? hu rongsheng : You always came back so late after going to the theater. You know all the rumors I heard. zheng shaomei : What rumors could justify your playing a ghost and terrorizing me in the middle of the night? hu rongsheng : You know. zheng shaomei : I only know what’s in my own heart. How can I know what’s in a ghost’s heart? hu rongsheng : I didn’t want to ruin this family’s reputation. I didn’t want it to be obvious that I was a cuckold. Why would I stop your carriage on the road and catch you at it right in broad daylight? So . . . zheng shaomei : Nonsense! You’re imagining things! (Incensed, she heads toward the veranda.) hu rongsheng : You think you can fool me? Those times you and Qiaoming went out every night to see foreign dances and foreign operas—weren’t you two always returning in the same carriage like a young married couple? Weren’t you two getting romantic? I had no choice but to take action, so I hid myself in the dark and screamed like a ghost, trying to scare you out of the carriage so I could see for myself. (Wearing a long gown of blue silk and puffing out his chest, he comes in.) zheng shaomei (suddenly calming down, joylessly): And the result? Did you catch anyone? . . . Only once—that night it was pouring rain—when my carriage had gone about halfway there, I saw somebody ahead walking slowly in the rain. When I saw that it was Qiaoming, I made him get in and ride with me. We barely even spoke. (She quietly goes into the interior room. chunhua and lingxiang enter.) hu rongsheng (narrows his eyes, appearing demonic): Humph! (hu qiaoming comes onstage.) hu qiaoming : Dad! . . . Dad! hu rongsheng (venomously): What do you want? hu qiaoming : Please hide right away! There are going to be a bunch of people from the Peasants’ Association coming tonight. hu rongsheng : How do you plan to deal with me? hu qiaoming : Please hide yourself, sir. I’m afraid they’ll be tough on you. hu rongsheng (looking tyrannical): How are you going to have them deal with me? hu qiaoming : There’s no reason for me to have them deal with you, Father. However, according to their investigation you’ve actually been trafficking in opium, sir.

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hu rongsheng (anxiously seizes on hu qiaoming’s words, outraged): You’re up to some monkey business, too! Do you think that I don’t know what’s on your mind? . . . You’re going to play the opportunist and ally with the Peasants’ Association to disburse the seven-thousand-odd catties of rental grain that I’ve spent two years accumulating. They’ll naturally deal with me in whatever way you want. hu qiaoming : You’re deluding yourself into hoping for an era when one pint of grain sells for one pint of gold. I’ll simply sell off that grain at a low price to save the commoners of the area and save you, all in one stroke. If I hadn’t come around to this, they would’ve dealt with you as a despotic landlord. Why do you think they released you after only three days? hu rongsheng : Humph! . . . Even if you wanted to sell our whole family to make revolution, you should at least say something to me about it. What’s this bit about your surrendering at the back door when you heard those Party thugs taking me away at the front door? hu qiaoming : Ling Xia came and talked to me not long after you were seized. We were in the drawing room and hadn’t been talking long when a large group of peasants suddenly came to the back door. They wanted to seal off our residence immediately. I argued with them briefly, and they beat me for no reason, and then tied me up. Fortunately, Ling Xia came running out of the drawing room and told them to back off. In the end they demanded that I sell all the grain at a bargain within two days, and that I donate five hundred catties to aid the starving people. I thought their demands were reasonable, so I complied .  .  . Now that these problems have been solved, there are no issues there. What’s urgent is whether or not you’re trafficking in opium. Has there ever been any opium in our house? . . . If it’s true, we both have to escape right away! hu rongsheng (feigning as if to force him): If you’re so sure of their accusations, go search for yourself! hu qiaoming : Originally I had my doubts, but I’ve been away for a long time, and every time I come home, I get the feeling everything in this place has a ghostly eeriness about it, totally unlike a this-worldly family. hu rongsheng : If this doesn’t seem like a family to you, you should get the hell out of here. And why are you always lurking around the house? hu qiaoming : It’s because I pity a few good people here. I’m afraid those women will be buried alive in this ghost pagoda of yours. I’m always thinking of rescuing them . . . Otherwise, I’d have run away a long time ago . . . (Depressed) The first is Yuelin . . . hu rongsheng (violently, with an angry and terrible look in his eyes): Ha, ha! Don’t bother saying it. Now you’re getting to the point! The reason you’re rebelling against me, the reason that you want revenge against me, is to get Yuelin for yourself to share with that guy Ling Xia. No matter how new your learning is, or how new your ideology is, Yuelin is still my daughter. You may have the courage of the Thunder God, but you can’t take her. hu qiaoming : That’s right, Yuelin is your daughter! . . . But a daughter has a daughter’s dignity. A daughter has the rights of a daughter. Just because a father has a daughter

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doesn’t mean she’s his property. A father who can’t nurture his daughter’s dignity and rights has lost the qualifications to be a father. A father who regards his daughter as property is plainly a criminal father. hu rongsheng (with dangerous eyes venomously protruding at hu qiaoming , poses as if about to pounce and kill him): Ah! . . . Such blazing rebellion! (He pounces at hu qiaomin g; hu qiaoming retreats well away.) (Pointing at hu qiaoming ) Get the hell out! (Threateningly) You get the hell out of here tonight! hu qiaoming : You won’t be able to handle the people from the Peasants’ Association if I leave. You have to avoid them tonight at all costs. hu rongsheng : I’m not afraid of them. Get the hell out of here! If you’re still here tomorrow, I’ll make sure you die a terrible death. (He chases him.) hu qiaoming (momentarily gloomy, then resolutely): I’m leaving! (He exits the stage. hu rongsheng stands immobile in the middle of the room in a terrific huff.) zheng shaomei (now obviously made up, wearing a green silk shirt, walks out of the bedroom): You really chased him out? . . . (Walks toward him) Don’t you think you’re being too extreme? hu rongsheng : He’s gone. You feel the whole house is empty now, don’t you? zheng shaomei (indignantly): What are you talking about? hu rongsheng (snickers): That’s what you’re thinking! zheng shaomei : Bah! (She quietly walks away.) hu rongsheng : Ha, ha. Look at you pouting! (Points at her, smiling) Every time you see him you smile so touchingly. As soon as you hear he’s leaving, you start crying to yourself. Am I falsely accusing you? (Thinking to himself ) But no matter how much you love him, I’ll still be as obstinate as always. I’m not going to follow the fashion. There’s no way I’ll ever share my wife with anybody else! zheng shaomei : You make me want to puke! (Livid, she looks at him in horror and rushes toward the bedroom. chunhua , coming out of the bedroom, runs into zheng shaomei .) chunhua : Madam! I can’t find the red jade bracelet anywhere. The agate broach and jeweled ring have disappeared, too. zheng shaomei (stops a moment, looks back at hu rongsheng ): Did you take them again? hu rongsheng (not replying for a long while): So, you can’t show off your beauty without my jewels after all! zheng shaomei (briefly silent, furious): A month ago you took the diamond broach you’d given me for my twentieth birthday. Two weeks ago you took the engagement gift . . . Okay, I’ll give everything back to you. (She goes into the bedroom. Jumping with joy, hu rongsheng sits in front of the dressing table.)

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(Takes out a silver box and comes over to hu rongsheng ) I better return them directly to you. Every single piece of jewelry you’ve ever given me is in here. (She opens the box to show him, takes out necklaces and other jewelry for him to see. hu rongsheng looks at them greedily.) (Briskly walks toward the bedroom) Lingxiang, go and tell the groom to prepare the carriage! (She disappears into the bedroom. After examining each piece of jewelry one by one, hu rongsheng smiles, stashes the box up his sleeve, and paces back and forth in the room by himself. He walks to the bedroom door and looks in.) hu rongsheng (ecstatically): Ah, you’re finally going! It’s really insufferable, always waiting for her to get out the door! (hongtao , holding a note, lively but looking somewhat worried, walks in from the left passageway.) hu rongsheng : Why are you here, Hongtao? hongtao : Young Master asked me to clear out his books for him. (She goes directly to the front of the bookcases.) hu rongsheng (asks enthusiastically): Is he leaving tonight? hongtao (carefully): He’s just about to go. hu rongsheng : Has Madam left? hongtao : She just now left. hu rongsheng : And Miss Yuelin? hongtao : Miss Yuelin? (Innocently, she herself wanting to cry) She’s in the flower garden crying. hu rongsheng : Call her in for me! Quick! hongtao (unwillingly): She’s crying so pitifully. How can I get her to come? hu rongsheng : Say that I have some orders for her and drag her here. Go! hongtao (refuses): No, I have to clear out the books for Young Master. hu rongsheng (grabs hongtao ): Oh yeah? (Jokingly) Whose orders are more important, Young Master’s or Old Master’s? (Pats her hand) My good Hongtao, go and tell Miss Yuelin to come right away! hongtao (coquettishly exiting through the original door): Okay, I’ll call her and see. chunhua (entering from the bedroom): Master! You have a guest! hu rongsheng : What guest? chunhua : It’s a female guest. She says she wants to see Madam. hu rongsheng : Is there a name card? chunhua : Yes. (She hands him the name card.) hu rongsheng (looks at the card and exclaims in surprise): Ah! What does she look like? chunhua : She’s extraordinarily beautiful and looks as if she could be Yuelin’s older sister. hu rongsheng : Hm. (He holds his head with his hands as if thinking; his crafty eyes dart back and forth.) Go and tell her to come up!

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chunhua : Okay. (She exits from the left door. hu rongsheng hastily looks in the dressing table mirror, combs his hair, sprays on some cologne, and rushes into the bedroom to change clothes. xiao sen takes the stage. She is dressed from head to foot in an immaculate, white Western suit and is wearing a white straw hat. Her comportment is even more elegant than in the previous act and she also appears a few years younger. She walks in tranquilly from the left door, goes to the middle of the room, and is silent.) (Comes in through the left door and says to her hastily) Please have a seat! (She indicates for her to sit at the small round table in the center. xiao sen stands gracefully erect and still in front of the table; she puts her portfolio down.) Master! The guest is here. hu rongsheng (radiant in a long ivory-yellow gown, feigning stateliness): Ah! Please have a seat, please have a seat! (Extremely respectfully, smiling) My wife just went out. Chunhua, go and make some tea right away! . . . Hey, close the door properly! (chunhua exits through the left door, closing it. xiao sen observes hu rongsheng sit down, then jumps in surprise.) (Tenderly approaches her) I’m afraid you don’t recognize me. I am Hu Can. (xiao sen convulses, holds her anger, and retreats a little.) We’ve been apart for almost twenty years now, but you still look the same . . . (Looks her over thoroughly) Still as sexy and chic (pleased with himself ), you still look like you did when you were eighteen . . . (xiao sen , resentful, ignores him.) I heard after that . . . afterward, you went to France. When did you return? (xiao sen , depressed, walks even farther away.) You really have ambition! Your paintings must be very famous now. Didn’t you become a great artist? (xiao sen looks gloomy and unsettled.) It’s really ridiculous for somebody who’s become a great artist to also wear the badge of a Party official on her chest! . . . What do you do at the Party headquarters? Can somebody as graceful and aloof as you be an official? xiao sen : Cut the nonsense! . . . That little child of mine, how is she now? hu rongsheng (shocked and chilled, appears flustered): Chi . . . Child? . . . It’s been almost twenty years . . . I . . . I don’t know. (He turns his face away.) xiao sen (worried and indignant): You . . . You haven’t been taking care of her at all? (He is silent.) (Angrily) You haven’t been taking care of her at all? hu rongsheng : Taking care of her, taking care of her . . . I’m a man. How was I supposed to take care of her? xiao sen (intensely): I knew you had no sense of responsibility, but how could you have abandoned her! hu rongsheng : You abandoned her first, and I abandoned her second. So let’s not blame each other!

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xiao sen : You and my mother made a contract to raise that baby when she was born . . . hu rongsheng : Your mother forced me into that contract but let you go to France . . . I’m a man. I can’t help but look after my status and reputation. How could I keep going to the orphanage to look after that illegitimate child? xiao sen : You should have paid the expenses of child rearing since you signed that contract. hu rongsheng : But you yourself didn’t sign the contract so you could avoid responsibility! (Gets angry, hand on his chest, clumsily walks around the room) You were just afraid of losing face and ruining your reputation, so once the first full month was up, you ran off to hide in France. Do you think I should’ve advertised that I’m the father of an illegitimate child? Ha, ha! (Insultingly) The long and short of it is that the illegitimate child is the one who’s most unfortunate. I wasn’t willing to recognize her, but you were even less willing because you wanted to maintain the facade of being a virgin in order to marry some other gentleman. xiao sen (standing next to the table, vehemently): Ah! Who committed the crime? hu rongsheng (ambiguously): If it wasn’t both of us, how could we have had a baby? xiao sen : You have no conscience! I haven’t been able to talk about the pain ever since you raped me. Crying tears like a torrential rainstorm, I lost my youth. The anguish I felt was like being caned daily . . . (Whimpering) I wanted to kill myself . . . I failed to kill myself. I wanted a new life, but . . . my whole body . . . was marked . . . with . . . wretched .  .  . scars. (Extreme grief and indignation, in a monologue) I pleaded to heaven, but heaven didn’t give me back my innocence. I pleaded to people, but nobody . . . gave me back my . . . my vir . . . gin . . . ity! (Anguished, she pauses briefly, then returns to her earlier intensity) You ruined my virgin beauty. You ruined my whole life. And you still dare to say such unconscionable things to me?! hu rongsheng : Oh, oh, don’t you lose your temper! (Hastily making amends, clownishly) That look of yours makes my heart skip. (He flinches and grasps xiao sen ’s hand; xiao sen immediately casts his hand away.) (Sits on the chair in front of her) I remember when you were nine years old and often came to the coal mine with your father. I remember just how you looked, right up until you were seventeen. (Looks blankly at her) Oh, oh, don’t be sad! (Sighs) Every time I think of you my body gets hot. At the time, the more you refused me, the more heartbroken I felt . . . Especially that time—the time we rushed back together from the coal mine to see your sick father. The thick black clouds, the thunderstorm pounding, and then we took shelter in a hut by the side of the road . . . That was the happiest time in my life. It was also the most unforgettable time! . . . Even though you kicked me, hit me, cried and yelled like crazy . . . For me, ah! . . . (He bows his head and sighs.) In all my many years of amorous experience, it only happened that one time. Is that truly criminal? . . . So, ever since then you’ve been constantly on my mind. It’s not just thinking of you. I’ve often shed tears for you, too. (With utmost sincerity) Not only have I shed tears, I’ve also hoped to run into you so that I could make amends for my crime.

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xiao sen : Don’t give me that nonsense! No matter how a female is insulted in this male-centered society, she simply won’t be forgiven. Don’t you think you’ve harmed me enough? I just want to find that child and raise her myself. hu rongsheng : I don’t know what happened to that child at the orphanage. She’s long gone. (There is a tragic moment of silence.) xiao sen (looks askance at him): Long gone?! hu rongsheng : Right. xiao sen : I don’t believe it. You’d better go find her right away! hu rongsheng : It’s best that you go. xiao sen : If I find her, will you turn her entirely over to me? hu rongsheng : Naturally. But the child has already died, so why bother asking me? (He smiles and pats her on the shoulder.) xiao sen (her desolate eyes brighten): Oh, I’ll search for her, and when I find her, will you be able to make the sacrifice and give her up to me? hu rongsheng : It goes without saying that you can take her away with you. (chunhua comes in with the tea.) chunhua : Master! A representative from the Peasants’ Association is here. (She sets out the tea.) hu rongsheng : You’d better tell Young Master to meet with him. chunhua : Young Master has closed his door and turned out the lights. He’s in the room, depressed and crying to himself. What makes you think he’ll be willing to come out? (xiao yuelin sings a melancholy song from inside, and the piano begins playing at once.) hu rongsheng : He’s in there playing the piano. Go call him! chunhua (mischievously): It’s only that man Ling. He wants you to come out to meet him. hu rongsheng : Don’t be naughty! You go! (chunhua exits the stage. ling xia comes onstage. He’s wearing a yellow military uniform. His boots and hat are trim and handsome; his smiling face is spirited and youthful. He energetically walks directly into the room, sees xiao sen , and secretly signals her with his eyes, then briefly greets hu rongsheng .) ling xia : At first my orders from Party headquarters were to search your home for opium and seal it up tonight. But because a few days ago your family acknowledged the Peasants’ Association’s request to sell your grain inexpensively, and also contributed five hundred catties to aid the poor, we advocated a peaceful settlement. Tonight we’ll just make a cursory check of suspicious places. Please show us around! hu rongsheng (smirking, nobly): Ah, so many innocent people have been wronged in the world! (Arrogantly) If you really must inspect, I’ll take you wherever you want to look. (Angrily accompanying ling xia , to xiao sen ) I beg your pardon! I’ll call my daughter to keep you company. (He goes. The singing stops; the piano also stops. xiao sen , silently thinking, sits down, opens her portfolio, and takes out documents to read. xiao yuelin comes

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onstage. She is wearing a soft white sleeping gown. Her hair is loose, and she has a crystal-clear expression. Her eyes still show traces of tears. She enters from the veranda, sees xiao sen , and joyfully grasps her.) xiao yuelin : Have you been here long? xiao sen : A quarter of an hour. xiao yuelin : Did you meet my auntie? xiao sen : No. xiao yuelin (sits down in front of her): How about her case? xiao sen : Everything is properly arranged for her. I came specifically to tell her. xiao yuelin : It’s a pity she’s not at home. xiao sen : Just tell her to come to the Women’s Federation tomorrow. This is her deposition. Now the Women’s Federation can settle it. There is no need to go through further legal procedures. We don’t need this thing. (Hands over the document) Please give it to her. xiao yuelin (takes it): Okay. xiao sen : As for the case you reported the day before yesterday, we’re giving it special attention and are quite sympathetic to you. We’d be happy to help you out. Everyone unanimously says your father is quite evil and this must be handled carefully. So we can’t proceed at the moment. xiao yuelin (depressed): But I hoped to get it done as quickly as possible. I can’t wait much longer. In this abominable home, my foster father (sobs of grief constrict her throat), that . . . that . . . demon . . . xiao sen (carefully observes her expression): How is your foster father treating you? xiao yuelin : He . . . he is a . . . hideous monster! . . . As soon as it’s nighttime, he secretly turns into a beast! (Ashamed and angry, she hangs her head.) xiao sen (an extremely pained expression, her ice-clear eyes wide open): Ah! . . . He’s your biological father. I’m afraid he doesn’t know it yet. xiao yuelin (extremely surprised, quite woefully): Huh! . . . He’s my biological father?! (Suspiciously) What’s going on here? (She grabs xiao sen ’s hand.) xiao sen (gloomily): He committed a crime, and as a result, you were born. xiao yuelin : Oh? (Surprised, gloomily silent for a moment) And my mother? Where is my mother? xiao sen : She died long ago. Your mother was a very pure young lady from an important family. After being ruined by your father, she was inconsolably heartbroken and died shortly thereafter. (xiao yuelin is tragically silent.) xiao yuelin : How do you know? xiao sen : She was my older sister. I am quite familiar with every detail. xiao yuelin (collapses into her bosom): Why didn’t you tell me earlier, Auntie? xiao sen (hugging her tightly, utterly anguished, she slumps and strokes her): There are so many twists and turns in this affair. We didn’t know where you ended up any ear-

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lier than this. It was only a few days ago, when I ran into you and found out your name was Xiao Yuelin, that I noticed you looked quite like my older sister when she was seventeen or eighteen. As soon as I saw you, I was suspicious, so I went to inquire at Madam Yan Fuheng’s. She told me all the details. She presented the evidence quite clearly so that I was finally convinced. The most important sign was that you have this black mole. (She touches xiao yuelin ’s mole.) xiao yuelin : Oh, no wonder the family servants all said I look a little like you . . . This news, it’s truly the first time in my life I’ve ever been happy! (The sound of a cough is heard. hu rongsheng immediately enters from the left door.) hu rongsheng (talking to himself ): What a bunch of imbeciles! Trying to stir up trouble for this old man. Ah, but they can’t do anything to me. (Swaggering and full of himself, he smiles at xiao sen ) Sorry! (Gesturing clumsily) Those bastards were so infernally noisy! I kept you waiting for so long. xiao sen : Madam still hasn’t returned. I must go. (She picks up the portfolio.) hu rongsheng (stops her): Please sit for a while longer. xiao sen : It’s late, goodbye! hu rongsheng : At any rate, please sit a while longer. I already told the kitchen to prepare some snacks. (Physically obstructs her) Please have a seat! xiao sen (gives him a look of unspeakable loathing, resolutely rushes out): I have to go now. (She exits. xiao yuelin , reluctant to let her leave, follows her out the left door. hu rongsheng , partly let down, partly entranced, follows to see her out. The stage is temporarily empty.) hu qiaoming (looks in from the veranda, runs directly toward the bedroom door, pushes the door, and, just as he puts one foot in): Ah! Auntie! How come you’re back so soon? (He backs out.) zheng shaomei (walks out of the bedroom, looking haggard ): I got halfway there and still felt miserable, so I came right back . . . Did you come in here to see your father? hu qiaoming (extremely depressed): No, I just saw father going out and thought I’d come in and steal a little money. zheng shaomei : You sound so pitiful! . . . Don’t you have any money? hu qiaoming : How could I? He made me turn over every penny after selling the grain. zheng shaomei : There’s no money in here, either. I don’t know where he hid it. This time it appears that he’s hidden his money extremely well. hu qiaoming (anxiously): What? How can I leave tonight if I don’t have any money? zheng shaomei : I have a little money, but I can’t get at it tonight. And I gave all the jewelry back to your father. There’s nothing I can do about it now. (Thinks in gloomy silence for a moment, then says happily) Oh, I’ve got it! Wait while I go borrow some from Mrs. Zhang.

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hu qiaoming (suddenly looks happy): Thank you! Thirty or fifty dollars would do. zheng shaomei : I’ll have Hongtao give it to you in a while, but you must not tell anyone! (Disappearing into the bedroom with a very vivid, coquettish expression, then suddenly coming out again, she leans on the doorway and says very seriously) Qiaoming! (Already on his way out, hu qiaoming reenters upon hearing her call.) hu qiaoming (standing in the middle of the room): What can I do for you? (zheng shaomei quite leisurely walks toward him, silently.) (Gazing at her with a fanciful look) So, what can I do for you? zheng shaomei (fantastically entrancing eyes, infatuated): Are you willing? hu qiaoming : You’ve never spoken with me about matters of the heart . . . If you want to say something, please do! I greatly sympathize with you. (Looking at her solicitously, very tensely, he then suddenly turns his head away and takes a drag on a cigarette. zheng shaomei reaches with both hands from behind him toward his dark black hair. At first unaware, hu qiaoming turns around. zheng shaomei hurriedly retracts her hands.) What were you going to do? . . . Huh? zheng shaomei (sighs from a place deep in her belly, then with a beaming smile): I wanted to touch your hair . . . hu qiaoming (innocently and sympathetically): So why didn’t you touch it? . . . It’s okay with me. zheng shaomei : Now . . . I think it’s unnecessary. (With a meaningful smile, she dashes into the bedroom and closes the door. hu qiaoming sighs deeply, his eyes kindled brightly, and looks at her door, then exits the stage from the veranda. hongtao hurries in through the left door carrying cups, chopsticks, and a white tablecloth.) hongtao (hesitates): Ah, no guests here! (hu rongsheng and xiao yuelin come onstage.) hu rongsheng : And the liquor? hongtao : Didn’t the guest already leave? hu rongsheng : Might as well bring it out anyway! Go and tell the kitchen staff we don’t want snacks. Bring food and liquor instead. hongtao (places the cups on the round table): What kind of liquor do you want? hu rongsheng : Whiskey and brandy. (To xiao yuelin ) Why don’t you ever come when I invite you? . . . (hongtao exits. Two male servants enter with liquor and numerous food dishes; they put them in place and exit.) xiao yuelin : Take your time eating, Dad! I’m going now. hu rongsheng : What! Won’t you have a drink with me? (He pours two glasses of liquor.) Did you know I’ve been waiting a long time for you? xiao yuelin : I don’t want to drink. hu rongsheng : I’ll tell you some good news. Have a seat!

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(He guides xiao yuelin to sit with him at the round table and begins to drink. xiao yuelin , unhappy, fidgets.) Your aunt wants to divorce me. I am going to allow it. (He raises the glass and drinks, observing her.) xiao yuelin (takes a little drink): That’s good. hu rongsheng : I’m glad! You think so, too? (He smiles energetically, takes a big drink.) xiao yuelin : If you free her right away, she may still be able to get something out of life. hu rongsheng : She is so shrewd and so bad. It just isn’t good to keep her in the house. xiao yuelin : I think she’s very nice. You’ve disliked her for more than ten years. But didn’t you get rid of seven wives for her? (Quite upset and unsettled, she stands up and appears to be about to leave.) hu rongsheng : But now I don’t want to see her anymore. She’s not even one-tenthousandth as good as you. (He smiles at her obsequiously, gradually petting her, takes another big drink, and puts his hands on her.) xiao yuelin : Dad! (She looks at him intensely and venomously and moves away.) hu rongsheng (forcefully pulls her to a stop): Yuelin! You just gave me quite a nasty look. Don’t you really know what’s on my mind? . . . (Indignant, he downs two glasses of liquor.) I’ve doted on you for nine years now. Nine years ago you were petite and dainty; now you are fair as a flower and the moon. The girl you were nine years ago was barefoot on the street and dressed in rags, yelling, “Flowers for sale! Flowers for sale!” Now, nine years later, you’re wearing satin, living in a young lady’s bedroom, and riding in a luxurious carriage pulled by well-fed horses. For you, the circumstances have gotten better and better over these nine years. For me, the days and months during these nine years begin and end with the sentiment “I love you.” (He pauses, pours himself a drink, and slowly drinks it.) Nine years ago I saw you in the rain yelling, “Flowers for sale! Flowers for sale.” You were so pathetic and so lovable. So I paid a hundred and seventy dollars to buy you . . . (xiao yuelin , shoulders sagging and head drooping, courage completely exhausted, is lost in sad thoughts.) Ah! . . . You were only eleven years old at the time . . . (Sighs) No matter what I said, your stepmother wouldn’t let me take you. It was her idea, after all, to make you a servant girl. I don’t know what ghost possessed her later, but you became our adopted daughter. Ah! . . . When I start thinking of this, I really begin to loathe your stepmother! It wasn’t until she died this year that my hopes for you gradually began to revive. (He pours her glass full for her, then drinks again himself.)

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Yuelin! All you have to do is agree and all my property is at your disposal. I’ll give you all the jewelry to wear. (Takes the jewelry box that zheng shaomei returned to him and shows it to her) Enjoy your fortune in whatever way you want. I’ll treat you like a queen. (He puts his arm around her soft shoulders and gropes her opportunistically.) xiao yuelin : Don’t bother me! (She twists and escapes.) hu rongsheng (chasing her): How can I let you go? I bought you because I wanted you. How can I let you go without achieving my objective? (He pulls her into his embrace and drinks, fills her cup again.) xiao yuelin (holding the cup of liquor, severely): Dad! My life was quite bad, but since you and Mother took me as your adopted daughter, I’ve enjoyed your beneficence. Consider the reputation of the entire family, consider our own mutual dignity. Please don’t continue this debauchery! hu rongsheng : What’s this adopted or not adopted daughter! . . . That was just your mother’s cruel way of dealing with me! xiao yuelin : Would you still insult me this way if I was your biological daughter? hu rongsheng : Humph! Did I buy you so that you could lecture me?! (Angry, he releases her, drinks and eats by himself.) xiao yuelin (silent a moment, then in a low voice): Dad! It appears that I am your biological daughter . . . hu rongsheng : Bullshit! (He slaps the table and gulps down his drink.) xiao yuelin : Dad! (Mournfully, then suddenly grabbing his chest, intensely) Dad! . . . (hu rongsheng pretends not to notice her, drinks happily, and smiles with wicked ecstasy, then grabs both her arms and forcefully gropes her again, from top to bottom, part by part. xiao yuelin reacts in shock, jumping away.) hu rongsheng : Ah, ah! When I touch your soft and tender arms, slender waist, and round buttocks, I’m so happy I could die! (With an animal sexual impulse, he ferociously embraces and gropes her) Ah! I’ve wanted you for so many years and today I’ve finally got you! (He caresses and kisses her in a mad rush. hongtao comes onstage holding a plate of food and liquor.) hongtao : Master! (Startled upon encountering this scene, she jumps abruptly and all the things shatter; she flees.) xiao yuelin : Hongtao! Help . . . Help . . . (Resisting for all she’s worth) Get off! . . . Beast! hu rongsheng (forcing liquor into her and soaring to even more terrible heights): Oh, time and again I’ve asked you to drink with me but you weren’t willing. So tonight you’re going to your death drunk! (He holds her down and forces liquor into her. She battles him with all her might for a long time. He fiercely picks her up and goes toward the bedroom. xiao yuelin bites his arm, inflicting a wound, and gets away. hu rongsheng pursues her hotly, circling the

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room. She dashes toward the left door hoping to rush out. He ferociously pulls her to a stop and locks the door. xiao yuelin desperately dashes toward the veranda in hopes of jumping. He captures her like a hungry tiger and rushes into the bedroom.) (Arrogantly) Humph, now! xiao yuelin (clinging to the room door so as not to be taken in, she screams loudly): Help! Help! (hu rongsheng simultaneously covers her mouth and tries to carry her in.) hu qiaoming (jumps in from the veranda, hastily runs toward hu rongsheng ): What are you doing, Dad? hu rongsheng (fiendishly): Get the hell out of here! hu qiaoming (looks sharply at him): Put her down now! hu rongsheng : Son of a bitch! Who asked you to meddle?! hu qiaoming (pressing him): Are you going to put her down or not? hu rongsheng : What’s it to you? Get lost! hu qiaoming : Give her to me! (He flies at him fiercely, fights over xiao yuelin .) hu rongsheng (spitting): You think you’re going to force your old man to give you what belongs to him? (He kicks hu qiaoming .) hu qiaoming : She’s mine . . . (He leaps, fighting ferociously.) hu rongsheng : Bastard! You don’t have a big . . . I bought her! hu qiaoming : She’s my wife! (He forces xiao yuelin from hu rongsheng’s arms.) hu rongsheng : Huh! (The violence suddenly ceases.) Nonsense! (He sullenly retreats to the front of the desk at the right-hand wall.) Bastard! (Searching for something in the drawer) When did you do it? hu qiaoming : Nobody’s going to interfere with our affairs. (Caresses xiao yuelin in his embrace) We’re going, Yuelin. (Holding xiao yuelin , he scoots off to the left. xiao yuelin , embarrassed, goes with hu qiaoming .) hu rongsheng (looking depressed, walks toward the two of them): Yuelin! Aren’t you even going to say goodbye? (He gives a pathetic look. xiao yuelin stops.) Okay, you two go far away! Just don’t look back at me. (A blade flashes, forcing hu qiaoming to separate from her.) hu qiaoming : Ahh! (Bleeding profusely, he twists and collapses in the middle of the room.) xiao yuelin : Ah! (Beside herself with panic, stupefied, she immediately collapses on top of hu qiaoming’s body.)

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Brother Ming! . . . Brother Ming! . . . (With a tragic look in her eyes, she goes into a trancelike state. hu rongsheng , in a ferocious posture, raises the bloody knife in his hand and goes over and shakes the prone hu qiaoming .) (Head hanging low, she suddenly cries out twice in lament) Brother Ming! . . . (Softly) Brother Ming! (She faints. hu rongsheng pulls xiao yuelin up and sees that she has fainted dead away. In shocked sadness, he desperately hatches a plan. He throws down the knife, opens the left door, and flees through it. hu qiaoming’s corpse lies twitching. xiao yuelin lies at its side, unmoving. The stage is gloomy and quiet; there is a pause. ling xia enters abruptly through the left door; immensely shocked, he hastens to shake hu qiaoming .) ling xia (tears of sadness welling up, he caresses xiao yuelin ): Yuelin! Yuelin! (Lifts her to her feet, xiao yuelin ’s body slumping) Yuelin! (xiao yuelin is unconscious and utterly silent.) (Panicked) What happened? . . . What happened? (xiao yuelin , barely conscious now, gazes blankly all around the room.) Say something, Yuelin! (He shakes her; xiao yuelin is unresponsive.) Did you do this! (He caresses hu qiaoming , grieves for a moment, picks up the bloody knife and examines it, then looks at xiao yuelin again. A policeman appears on the veranda and peers in.) (Cocks his ear and listens, extremely shocked, pulls xiao yuelin along) Get going . . . go! (m ale and female servants file onstage with hongtao in the lead, all greatly astonished.) policeman : Humph! (Jumps in and swiftly handcuffs ling xia ) Let’s see where you can go now. ling xia (yells gruffly): Take these handcuffs off me! policeman : Ha, ha! . . . Save it for the judge. ling xia (resists): Don’t be stupid! I didn’t kill anyone. policeman : Does the murderer want to play hero? (He fiercely drags ling xia away.) xiao yuelin (anxious and dazed, looking for ling xia , her lips moving but unable to speak, she hits the policeman , crazed): No . . . it wasn’t . . . him . . . policeman : Was it you? . . . You look like you could have killed someone. (He forcefully pushes xiao yuelin off, then he drags ling xia off the stage through the left door. Some servants look at the corpse in astonishment, some talk among themselves, and some follow the policeman off the stage.) xiao yuelin (after watching ling xia go, she dances insanely): Ha, ha, everyone is gone! . . . Ha, ha, everyone is gone! . . . Ha, ha, ha!

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(Twirling, she falls to the floor. A female servant helps her up. At the same time, hongtao picks up the bloody knife and examines it thoroughly. m ale and female servants , except for hongtao , converse in succession.) male servant a : That guy Ling is really vicious! lingxiang : He really ought to be killed! chunhua : He was in Young Master’s room talking with him just before this . . . Why would he kill Young Master? hongtao (holding the bloody knife, rushes in pursuit): Mr. Policeman! (She exits.) xiao yuelin (crawls wildly to her feet and crazily commands the servants ): Strike! . . . Break out! . . . Break out! (She swaggers around, dancing spasmodically.) zheng shaomei (emerges from the bedroom in alarm, holding a money bag in her hands): What are you all doing? chunhua (sobbing): Madam! . . . male servant a : Young Master is dead. zheng shaomei : Ahh!! (Shocked and grief-stricken, she drops the money bag to the floor; she is transfixed and unable to move.) (Curtain.)

A CT 3 Scene 1 (A small building built on the grounds of an ancient pagoda. The walls are gray-blue. There is a small window about a foot long and not quite a foot wide in the center of the back wall. The shutters are closed, allowing only a beam of dim light to enter through the crack, making the room especially dark and dismal. Under the window are a table and three benches, to the left of which is a wooden bed draped with an old-style blue sheet. Along the left wall are a bookcase and a small table, both piled high with books, account ledgers, and the like. Along the right wall are a tall wardrobe and a few tattered boxes. Farther back down the right wall is a door that leads, via a railing, to the main house. The old accountant, gui yi , sits under the window in the wretched silence. He suddenly lights up a cigarette, which burns red and emits white smoke. It is a month after the events of the previous act. hongtao comes onstage.) hongtao : Uncle Gui! . . . Ah, it’s dark in here! gui yi : It is dark, Hongtao. You can’t see? I’ll light a candle for you. (He lights a candle so she can see to come in.)

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hongtao : Uncle Gui, Madam is here. gui yi (happily surprised): Ah! Madam is here?! (zheng shaomei comes onstage. She is wearing an ensemble of pure black that resembles mourning attire. Aggrieved and haggard, she has a kind of divine beauty that is serene and stately. She walks in with a heaviness that is vastly different from her previous lively coquettishness. lingxiang follows her in.) Ah, Madam! (He stands up quickly, respectfully greets her, then leads her over to the table to sit with him.) zheng shaomei : I trust you’re well, Mr. Gui? gui yi : Many thanks to you! lingxiang : Look, Uncle Gui! Madam’s appearance has changed completely. She looks like she’s aged ten years in the last few days. You definitely suffer more living outside the house than at home, that’s for sure. gui yi : Are you used to living outside yet, Madam? zheng shaomei : Almost. (Calmly looks at gui yi ) Please don’t call me “Madam” anymore, sir . . . Lingxiang believes that being Madam is the height of luxury, so she thinks I’m suffering in the outside world. But on the contrary, I hope I’ll never experience the glamorous luxury of being “Madam” again in this life. (She gives a slightly tragic smile.) gui yi : Oh, don’t speak like that. You’re just being defiant because of a few setbacks! Lingxiang, let’s not talk about this stuff! Let’s talk about something else . . . What brings you here today? Everyone here hated to see you leave. We all hope you’ll come back. (He lights another lamp.) zheng shaomei : I didn’t come to say goodbye to you the day I left. So I’ve come today especially to see you, sir. gui yi : I don’t deserve the honor! zheng shaomei : You certainly do. You are my teacher and my benefactor. I should’ve come to see you. I’ll pick up some things while I’m here . . . lingxiang (watching her attentively, quickly seizes on her line of reasoning): You didn’t take anything when you left. I knew you’d have to come and get a few things. (She smiles self-satisfiedly.) zheng shaomei (smiles ironically): Yes, you are clever! (Unhappily) But I only came to get one thing. lingxiang : Ah! (Thinking, brow furrowed) You must have come to get Young Master’s blanket. Madam would never go into the bedroom to sleep after Young Master died. She just lay in Young Master’s sleeping chair every night and covered herself with his blanket. I figured you’d eventually come to get it. zheng shaomei : Yes. (Quite unhappily) I said you were clever and you’ve guessed it! But you didn’t know that I was the one who bought it for him. I really like it. Now that I’m going on a trip, I’d like to take it with me to use on the road. lingxiang : Ah, so you really have been falsely accused! Everybody says that you’re lovesick, so you treat that blanket like a person, hugging it . . . Ha, ha! . . .

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zheng shaomei (outraged): Huh? . . . lingxiang : Madam! Why are you angry?! . . . Let them talk if they want. It’s probably because they’ve seen you putting fresh flowers on Young Master’s grave so often. They don’t know that one of the ways to show respect for the dead these days is with fresh flowers and by burning incense paper. gui yi : Has Madam seen Master? zheng shaomei : I’ve seen—you called me Madam again! gui yi : Ah, I forgot! . . . (Smiles) How did Master treat you? zheng shaomei : He couldn’t care less. Anyway, the day I left I went to say goodbye, and he still pretended that he didn’t know what was going on. He entirely avoided me. lingxiang (quickly): That’s natural! In Master’s heart there’s a more elegant, more beautiful, even younger . . . zheng shaomei (ridiculing her): Stupid girl! . . . You’re babbling again! Do you think that all the more elegant, more beautiful, and younger girls in the world want to be that clownish old jerk’s concubine? (Deprecatingly) If so, then all the inelegant and foolish women pining for Master will just pine away to their deaths. lingxiang (smiles stupidly): So, only those young and beautiful girls can enjoy happiness. (She makes a poignant expression.) gui yi (looks at her unhappily): Lingxiang! What do you mean? lingxiang : I don’t know if I mean anything. Only that Xiao girl knows what I mean. None of you realize how good that Xiao girl’s got it these days. She has Master wound around her finger and is enjoying happiness to the utmost. hongtao (impatiently, with the innocent expression of a young girl): Tsk! You’re being facetious! . . . You don’t know what a scoundrel Master is, treating her like a whore! lingxiang : I don’t think Master’s that bad . . . hongtao (stares at lingxiang with intelligent eyes): Naturally . . . Whatever Master does, it’s fine to you. But if Master treated you even the least bit shabbily, you’d be jealous of everyone else. lingxiang : Nonsense! (Somewhat embarrassed, ashamed and hateful, to zheng shaomei ) Madam, please stay awhile! I’m going. (She exits the stage.) gui yi (waving his finger, smiles at hongtao ): Ha, ha . . . the big guns! (He closes the door.) hongtao : If I hadn’t done that, how would we ever have gotten rid of her? The only way to get rid of her is to fire the big cannons. zheng shaomei : And Yuelin? Is she still locked up on the third floor? hongtao : Yes, she’s locked up so pitifully. gui yi : Master just now told me that he wants Miss Yuelin to come to my place here today. hongtao : Don’t believe that scoundrel! gui yi : Why not? hongtao : This place is a bit remote, so he can better molest her, better force her . . . Master also thinks that it’s somewhat dangerous in the house as of late. He’s afraid

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somebody will come and take Sister Yuelin away. So he has one pistol by the window and another mounted above the door. zheng shaomei : Ah! . . . gui yi : I still think it would be better to have Miss Yuelin come here. The iron door upstairs is very heavy, like a sea full of sin. There is no way we can get in there. My place here is quite close to the back gate. Walking out of here would be quite easy. hongtao : What? . . . (Enthusiastically leans toward gui yi ) Are you going to rescue her? gui yi : What about you? . . . Isn’t that what you’re thinking? (They smile at each other.) hongtao (sighs deeply and dejectedly): I’ve had the idea for a while, but no way to do it! zheng shaomei : Can you get her to come here? . . . We have to wait until I ask her opinion on the matter. hongtao (impatiently): But she’s there drinking with Master. zheng shaomei : She’s still there drinking? Aren’t committee members from the Peasants’ Association and the Women’s Federation all there to meet with Master? hongtao : Master simply placates them and then goes back in to drink some more. He drinks a glass and goes out, then goes back in and drinks another. zheng shaomei : Today I’m going to meet with Yuelin, no matter what. But I’ll have to do it secretly. Sneak her out for me. (She smiles and pushes hongtao to go.) hongtao : I’m afraid I can’t. zheng shaomei : But I have to see her. Go on! hongtao : What’s so important that you can’t tell me? zheng shaomei : I’m acting under orders, as an envoy. gui yi : Aha! . . . Did Madam Xiao Sen send you? zheng shaomei : Yes. gui yi : Did you bring anything for me? zheng shaomei : Three whistles and a letter. (She hands them over.) gui yi (very happily): The letter is to me! zheng shaomei : Inside is a letter for Yuelin. gui yi : Good, good! Hongtao, hurry and go get Miss Yuelin! Just say that Master said to bring her . . . We’ve got to use this opportunity to get her out! (He solemnly places the letter inside his gown.) zheng shaomei : Wait a minute! If she can’t come down, please give her this whistle. (She hands over a short, silver-colored whistle.) Tell her that no matter what difficulty she encounters, all she needs to do is start blowing this whistle. hongtao (curiously examines the whistle with care): What kind of treasure is this? gui yi : It’s an emergency whistle. When the situation becomes critical, she should blow it urgently; if the situation is a little less critical, she should blow it a little less urgently. If there’s nothing wrong, she shouldn’t blow it at all.

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zheng shaomei : Oh, you get the idea! gui yi : Yes, I’ve been waiting for her to send them. (Gives one to hongtao ) This is for you. If you’re guarding Miss Yuelin and run into danger, use the same signals. But you must do it secretly! If Miss Yuelin is not clearheaded, don’t give it to her. hongtao : Oh, I understand. gui yi : Then get going! (hongtao stashes the whistle in her pocket and happily exits the stage.) zheng shaomei : I really am grateful to Madam Xiao this time. I’ll be able to go to the front tomorrow or the day after. gui yi : Huh?! You’re going to the front tomorrow? zheng shaomei : Yes. Madam Xiao recommended me for a position again. Tomorrow or the day after, I’m going to the front to see the nurses. And you, when are you going? gui yi : Oh? . . . Where can I go? The battlefield is no place for an old relic like me. I’m just the slave who guards this dark building. I’ll die in this dark place. Ha, ha . . . zheng shaomei : Please don’t joke. You can’t live in this house much longer. Someone will come and close it up. You have to get out of here right away! (Searches and pulls out a handful of bills) Here’s fifty dollars. Please take it for travel expenses. gui yi (in an adamant tone of refusal): You’re giving me money? zheng shaomei : Of course, I don’t have any money, either, but I won this playing cards. That day Qiaoming asked me for money I ran out and got it. Who would’ve thought that when I returned with it he’d be dead! . . . So, I can’t bear to use it. This is a gift to use in his memory . . . You’ve taught me for many years and I’ve never paid you back. It’s embarrassing to give you so little. gui yi : Don’t be so formal! Neither of us is rich, and our responsibility from now on is to pay particular attention to overthrowing the oppression and tyranny of the rich. zheng shaomei : That won’t be difficult. The tide of revolution is so high now . . . (gui yi shakes his head.) There’s talk of freedom, equality, and overthrowing all oppression everywhere . . . gui yi : No, none of the revolutionaries themselves are liberated yet . . . Their battle cry, each and every one of them, is “I’ll overthrow you and take your place.” I don’t know how many generations we’ll have to wait until people’s minds are finally liberated. zheng shaomei : The Peasants’ Association will definitely achieve its objective of overthrowing Hu Rongsheng. In the next two to three days this place will certainly be toppled. You’d better leave right away! gui yi : I won’t leave as long as Yuelin is still here. zheng shaomei : Her problem can probably be solved very quickly as long as you’re helping out! gui yi : Of course, I’ll naturally lend a hand. But Master is taking Yuelin on a trip tonight. zheng shaomei : Huh! . . . They’re going on a trip tonight? . . . A honeymoon! That’s really dangerous! . . . gui yi : There’s only four or five hours until they leave, so you’d better hurry and go ask Madam Xiao what we should do.

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zheng shaomei : Yes, yes . . . (xiao yuelin comes onstage. She is wearing a suit with a pattern of large red persimmon flowers on white silk. Her white shoes and socks are also adorned with large red flowers. On the toe of each shoe is a large, bright red pom-pom. A bright, sparkling headband of pearls binds her short hair. Red flowers are tucked at each temple. Pearl and gold necklaces hang around her neck. The gold necklace has a brooch of red jade. She is majestically attired, like a girl in a foreign circus. She enters in a drunken haze, staggering crazily, with hongtao holding her up.) (Shocked upon seeing her) Ah, Yuelin! (She goes sadly to lead her over to the edge of the bed to sit.) How come you’re so drunk? . . . Can’t you control yourself? hongtao : You think she has a choice? . . . She’s even worse off than you. zheng shaomei : Yuelin! (She shakes her, sits with her at the edge of the bed; gui yi brings the lamp over.) I’ve come especially to ask you something. You wanted to leave your family a while ago, so you sent a report to the Women’s Federation. Now the Women’s Federation wants to solve the problem for you. Why aren’t you responding to them? xiao yuelin (smiles dismally): I don’t know . . . zheng shaomei : There’s nothing to know, you just need to be willing to do it . . . Even if you were out of your mind the last time, you ought to be a bit better this time . . . Why don’t you be a little more resolute? Just be totally resolute and do it! xiao yuelin : I don’t know . . . (She laughs insanely.) zheng shaomei : You know you can ask someone else to handle this for you. For example, Uncle Gui is very sympathetic. You know Madam Xiao Sen, too. She can handle this for you. xiao yuelin : Handle . . . handle . . . handle . . . handle what? (She sneers unconcernedly.) zheng shaomei : Huh? . . . You have to leave . . . xiao yuelin (nervously, her eyes rolling back and forth): Leave? . . . Absolutely not! zheng shaomei : Absolutely not?! . . . (In a sympathetic, sad tone) Aren’t you afraid your father will ruin you? xiao yuelin : Yes! . . . hongtao : Sister Yuelin! You’ve just got to leave! zheng shaomei : Yuelin! Let me tell you what happened to me. When I was young and beautiful, I was ruined by that pig of an old man. It was much worse than going to hell . . . My misfortune was like being trapped in nine levels of hell. (She is woeful, silent.) gui yi : That’s right! I’m the only one who knows how much you suffered. When I saw your sorrow, your hopelessness, your listlessness and thoughts of death every time you studied here, it broke my heart! . . . Miss Yuelin, you have to break out of this cage now, while it’s still easy to do. All you have to do is go to the Women’s Federation and ask them to intervene again. You can get your freedom immediately.

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hongtao : Miss Yuelin! Are you afraid you won’t be able to walk out of here? I’ll help you. I can help you with everything. Go on! xiao yuelin (in the same tone of voice): Absolutely not! zheng shaomei : Yuelin! Is there something that you can’t tell us? You’re no unenlightened fool. How can you willingly hand over your youth and beauty to that fat old pig? . . . Yuelin, ah! . . . (Sorrowful and solemn, her body trembling, she pauses.) Just saying it makes the blood rush to my head! . . . (Sighs deeply) A young girl, ruined by becoming a concubine to that beastly, fat old pig! Someone who hasn’t experienced the suffering caused by such humiliation to their body and grief to their soul can never imagine it! (Anguished) Like me, my body was ruined by that fat old pig. My soul was humiliated by that evil beast. It’s just like being stuck with a red-hot needle and injected with a boundless poison. The poison is now flowing throughout my body, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Not only was I cast into the bitter sea in the prime of my youth, but my whole body was polluted, too; this abomination can never be cleansed! (Laments woefully, tears flowing) You are young and intelligent. You have to show your spiritual fortitude in the face of this looming catastrophe! You must show your spiritual fortitude! (She passionately grasps xiao yuelin , with an expression intended to excite her.) xiao yuelin : How can I show my spiritual fortitude? Ha, ha, ha! zheng shaomei : The Women’s Federation can help you solve this problem. All you have to do is put it forward again. Do it right away! Or else you can leave. Let’s get you out tonight, okay? xiao yuelin : Absolutely not! No way! (She jumps off the bed with a crazy laugh and walks madly all around the room.) There’s no way I’d be able to escape from here! I’m going to die, going to die! Going to die . . . Going to die! gui yi (looks on hopelessly, sorrowfully): There’s nothing we can do right now! Wait until she comes to her senses. Hongtao, take her in right away and absolutely do not let Master know! hongtao : Okay. (As she leads xiao yuelin offstage, chunhua coincidentally comes in, and hongtao hands xiao yuelin off to chunhua , whispering.) zheng shaomei (unenthusiastically): Do you understand what’s going on in her head? gui yi : She’s both crazy and drunk, so of course she’s like this. What a pity! hongtao (skids in, in a panic): Uncle Gui, Mr. Ling is here. (zheng shaomei hurries offstage. ling xia comes onstage. He is wearing a yellow military uniform, long boots, and a leather belt. He scurries in, left hand manacled, a chain dangling from it.) ling xia (anxiously): Ah, where am I? Hide me! Hide me! hongtao : Mr. Ling! (Goes to give him a hand) Mr. Ling! What are you doing? I’m Hongtao.

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ling xia : Ah! (Collapses in front of the table) Hongtao! I came in through the back gate. The gatekeeper hit me a few times. hongtao : Where are you hurt? Where are you hurt? (With gui yi , she helps him to a seat.) ling xia (vaguely points to his injuries, eyes ardently beseeching): I have to see Yuelin . . . hongtao : She just went inside. If you’d have come a couple minutes earlier you would’ve seen her. ling xia : Just went in?! I came especially to see her. Tomorrow is the last day of my trial. I still want to ask her to give evidence for me. hongtao : You wait here! I’ll go call her. (She exits.) gui yi : Hongtao! I’m afraid Mr. Ling can’t stay here for long. Master is about to come. (hongtao has already gone offstage.) ling xia : It’s okay. I’m out by permission of Party headquarters and the court. I came with those four committee members. (Voices are heard outside the door.) gui yi (anxiously): Uh-oh! It looks like Master’s here. Hide yourself! If you run into Master here, I’ll be blamed for sure. (In a panic, he pulls the bed out a little, waves at ling xia to hide behind it, then carries the lamp away. hu rongsheng comes onstage leading two committee members .) hu rongsheng : Please take a look. Check all these rooms thoroughly! (gui yi quietly leaves the stage.) committee member b (looks casually around, with the oily appearance of an old bureaucrat): Forget it, there’s nothing to see. hu rongsheng : Committee Member Zhang! I sent someone this morning with a letter for you. Did you receive it? committee member a (quite indifferently): I got it, but the lawyer won’t go along. hu rongsheng : I said if Committee Member Zhang thinks this case can be concluded that way, I’ll give Lawyer Zhong five hundred dollars foreign cash, and give you two committee members one thousand. committee member a (coldly shakes his head, completely in the style of a stinking bureaucrat): It won’t do. hu rongsheng (smiles insincerely, anger submerged): I’d like to trouble you two committee members to take care of me and wrap up this case right away. Here is a thousand dollars as an expression of my gratitude. (He respectfully hands over a bunch of bills and smiles insincerely.) “Although the gift is trifling, it’s the thought that counts.” (The two committee members shrug their shoulders and look at the bills without comment.) committee member b : Lawyer Zhong is really quite foolish! He refused the money you sent him and put it right into my hands. hu rongsheng : Ah . . . (Terrified and deeply angry) So he wants to reverse the verdict again! . . . Right! Instead of taking advantage of the girl’s madness, he’d rather settle

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the case by relying on a couple of crazy things said by a crazy person . . . With this kind of clever lawyer in the world it’s no wonder that right and wrong and rationality are all confused! committee member a : Perhaps Lawyer Zhong is relying only on Committee Member Ling’s statement . . . hu rongsheng (vehemently): That’s for sure! All in all, the great lawyer Zhong can’t even understand the simple reasoning that Ling Xia wants revenge against me! committee member a : The lawyer hasn’t got much authority in this case. (With a sly expression, smiling obsequiously) All the authority still lies with our Peasants’ Association. For example, the day before yesterday Committee Member Ling raised an objection, asking that he be released to secretly search your residence one time before his last day in court . . . Some people in our Peasants’ Association agreed completely. Party headquarters approved it, so he was released today. hu rongsheng (nods his head, plotting): Humph! Humph! . . . Well then, Committee Member Zhang, Committee Member Cai! Thank you for your extreme indulgence, for your special help and great efforts in quickly resolving this matter! . . . I’ve heard that there are many people outside who hate Ling Xia. He is a villain and a thug. I think Party headquarters should put him directly to death. (Pulls out a handful of bills) Here is another thousand dollars. Please accept it! . . . I will reward the two of you again after this matter is settled. (The two committee members express satisfaction, their eyes fixed on the bills. They look at each other, smiling, and each accepts a stack and stuffs it into his coat pocket. Both nod to hu rongsheng .) committee members (together): Thank you! Thank you! jailor (offstage): Committee Member Ling? . . . Committee Member Ling! hu rongsheng : Let’s go! (In a panic, he leads the committee members toward the railing on the right.) jailor (offstage): Committee Member Ling! . . . Where are you? Committee Member Ling! (The shadows of hu rongsheng and the committee members disappear completely. ling xia gloomily walks out from behind the bed and sits dejectedly in front of the table; he appears to be in high dudgeon, unspeakably indignant.) gui yi (walks quickly in, hurries over and pats ling xia , bends over and whispers softly in his ear): Go! ling xia : Didn’t I say I want to see Yuelin? Go and ask her to come! gui yi : Miss Yuelin is upstairs, locked in. She can’t come. Go now and come back later. (The jailor , twenty-something years old, wearing a jailor’s uniform, comes onstage.) jailor : Ah, Committee Member Ling! Why did you disappear right after you charged in? The gate guards almost split my head open. (He points at an injury on his head.) ling xia : I told you to wait a while and come in with the peasants. You didn’t believe me because you were afraid I was going to run for it. Am I some lowly coward who’d flee? (Lifts his head and laughs crazily) Ha, ha, ha! In the past, I couldn’t bear to see

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the darkness and oppression in society, so I rebelled. I escaped and jumped—I escaped to the rebels and I jumped into the revolution. And now, once again, I can’t bear to see the darkness, oppression, and filth in the revolution. I’m rebelling and want to escape and jump again. But the human world is utterly dark and absolutely filthy. Where can I jump? (With a vehemently tragic laugh) Ha, ha, ha! Go to my death? Right, go to my death! . . . The minds of humanity have all been eaten away by a filthy fungus. Everybody over the age of twenty is going to their deaths! Everyone over the age of ten is going to their deaths! Die! Die! (Raises his fist in indignation and strikes the table) Everybody die, everybody die, everybody die! . . . The revolution is the mission of the young children who are now at their mothers’ breasts! The revolution can only be accomplished by the young children now at their mothers’ breasts! jailor : What are you grousing about now?! (Grabs him) Hurry, go and find those four committee members! Talk it over with them quickly and call the peasants in to search right away! . . . It’s already five o’clock. You have to return to jail at six thirty. ling xia (oppressively): What the hell are you going to do?! (The jailor , holding the chain, pushes him, but ling xia doesn’t move.) jailor : You won’t go get them? If you can’t find it today your life will be in danger. (He attempts to force him to go, but ling xia holds his ground and doesn’t move.) gui yi : Mr. Ling, please go quickly! If Master sees you, I’ll be punished severely and you won’t be able to see Yuelin again. jailor : Hey, get going! (He drags him toward the right railing and disappears. gui yi straightens up the bed, sits down on it, and puffs on a cigarette. hu rongsheng enters holding a silver jewelry box in his left hand and a bunch of keys in his right hand.) hu rongsheng : Gui Yi! Ah, ah! . . . (He puts everything onto the table in a flurry.) These keys are really heavy. This is a jewelry box. (He solemnly hands him the box.) There are jewels and pearls and gold jewelry in here. I’ll leave them here with you for now. It’s safe here. Even if the peasants search again today, they won’t search here. But be alert and be on guard! On the surface, they give this and that excuse, but their unabashed banditry is really just a plot to steal my property. (In a sweet tone of voice gently patting gui yi ) So you have to be especially alert. Don’t let them fool such a smart guy as you! (Smiling, he pats him heartily.) gui yi (with an extremely loyal look on his face, nods sincerely and cautiously): Yes, yes. hu rongsheng : You’ve been looking out for me all your life, giving me support right up to now, and I am really grateful to you! Today you have to be especially alert and on guard! Don’t let my good reputation be tarnished! gui yi : I understand, Master! hu rongsheng : Good. You hold the fort here. After this is over I’ll reward you with money. (Smiles genially) You’re smart; you have ideas, looking out for me all my life . . . Really, after this is over I’m going to reward you. (He again pats him, smiling.)

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gui yi : Master, enough. (Smiles tepidly) Don’t worry! hu rongsheng (very amiably): Okay, you stay here; don’t leave. If things get nasty, I can still bring my luggage to your house here. Yuelin and I will depart from here. gui yi : Master! . . . Are you definitely going on a trip? hu rongsheng : Yes. Maybe it’ll be a honeymoon. gui yi : I understand. You wholly intend to go and marry Miss Yuelin. Ha, ha! hu rongsheng : Ha, ha! You really are pretty clever! (He exits. The stage is quiet. gui yi bows his head in silence, deep in thought. Peasants’ committee members and peasants come onstage. There are four Peasants’ committee members and five peasants . male servant a and male servant b accompany them onto the stage via the railing on the right. gui yi feigns a depressed look and walks back and forth.) committee member a : I’ve already seen this building. Needless to say, we won’t find anything here this time, either. (The jailor jumps swiftly onto the stage, pushing ling xia along.) ling xia : Let’s search! (Bravely directing) Search! This row of buildings is quite suspicious. Everybody search! (They all search vigorously by the light of three flashlights.) peasant a (grabs gui yi ): Old man! Where did your master put the opium? Talk! gui yi : You’re the ones searching. Let me ask you, if you don’t find anything here, are you going to think that I’ve swallowed it? committee member d : This old man looks like he’s got a secret. Let’s take him in for questioning. (He approaches gui yi , intending to grab him.) ling xia : Nonsense! (Valiantly searching with the group) Let’s keep searching! committee member b : Even if there were opium hidden here, it would get all moldy in such a dark room. I don’t see anything here. Let’s go . . . (All at once there is the sound of many people beating the ground with sticks.) peasant c (finds the jewelry box and large pile of keys in the wardrobe): Ah, ah, take a look at this! (He raises them high to show everyone.) voice : What is it? Did you find it? Oh, what’s that? peasant c : Jewelry, pearls, and a big ring of keys. voice : Aha! Just about there! . . . Keys! (peasant d holds out his hand to peasant c .) committee member d (pats gui yi ): Old man, this is the key to your secret. You’re still not going to tell us? (Lifts up the keys and gives them to gui yi ) Get going, lead our search! gui yi : Humph! (Angrily throws down the keys, goes forward, and grabs the jewelry box, intentionally appearing panicked) All the secrets I know are in here! (Dashes into the crowd and yells) Jewelry box! voice : We want to see, let us look! Bring it over here so we can see! . . . (Everybody swarms like flies, curiously and greedily looking at the jewels.)

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ling xia : Out, get out of here! (Drives them away) Get away! We are not bandits. We came to search for opium. These things have nothing to do with us. (The group scatters like birds.) gui yi : Did you get them all? Ah! These . . . these . . . (He feigns anxiousness, draws everyone’s attention to himself, and carefully puts everything back in the jewelry box.) committee member d : Hey, let’s go search a different building. Come on, everyone! Come on! committee member C: What a fiasco! We didn’t find anything this time, either. (Looks worriedly at ling xia ) You’re in trouble for sure. peasant d : If we can find the opium today, Committee Member Ling can be cleared of the crime. (Looking at ling xia , kindheartedly and sadly) If we can’t find it, that means you’ll stand falsely accused. committee member a : We actually believe Committee Member Ling’s investigation is accurate. You say there are more than four thousand pounds of opium hidden in his house. But for some reason we still can’t find it, no matter how hard we search. ling xia : The devil swallowed it! The devil wants my life so he can get rich by my death. committee member d : Everybody out! There are only two rooms left. We have to search carefully! (He hurries the people out.) ling xia (to committee member d ): Please be my representative and search conscientiously! I’m going to try and see Miss Yuelin. Maybe she will be my witness. committee member d : Okay. Agreed! Let’s go. voice : We’ll meet you outside. (The group exits the stage. ling xia , the jailor , and gui yi remain.) ling xia (softly, to gui yi ): Can you ask Miss Yuelin to come? gui yi : Let me go and see. (He gathers up the jewelry box and keys and exits the stage.) jailor : When you see her, just keep it short. It’s about time to return to jail. ling xia (angrily): All you think about is the time! . . . My life, my whole life . . . Is it merely limited to the time up to my execution?! jailor (smiling insincerely): You were given a death sentence. ling xia : I was sentenced to death and I’m willing to die. But can’t you let me live one minute or one second longer just to make sure that the truth comes out? jailor : I can’t blame you for that. No matter what charges Hu Rongsheng brings against you, the police will act according to the evidence. The government will deal with you based on the evidence. The prison merely implements the government’s orders. As for me, I’m just the servant who implements the prison’s orders. I can’t do anything for you. ling xia : Listen! (Enthusiastically turns an ear to listen) It sounds like they’re here. (xiao yuelin ’s chic figure strides crazily in. She flies toward ling xia as if she has grown wings. Her crazy demeanor suddenly disappears and she sinks into silent agony, unbearably woeful. hongtao follows her in and closes the door behind her.)

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(Crazy with joy) Yuelin! Ah, how are you, Yuelin? (He gazes warmly at her.) xiao yuelin (very seriously, a mournful look in her eye): Do you have something to say to me? ling xia : Yes, I’ve really wanted to see you. I’ve wanted to speak with you. xiao yuelin : Then hurry up and say what you’ve got to say! I have to go and keep him company drinking. ling xia : Drink? . . . Go and drink? hongtao : She’s been drinking with Master every day, as of late . . . ling xia (lets go of xiao yuelin ): Ah! I haven’t seen you for a while. How could you have come to this?! (He sighs worriedly, then inspects her overall appearance.) xiao yuelin : Are you blaming me? . . . Can you blame me? . . . I’ve been waiting and waiting for you, but you never came to see me! . . . Now . . . (Laughs insanely, her body swaying) Ha, ha, ha! (ling xia stands shocked, sadly bewildered.) Come on and say it! (In high dudgeon, she stares at him with eyes wide, appears about to leave) I’m afraid Master is waiting for me. ling xia : Humph! Vanity has killed you! Superficial female . . . (Gnashing his teeth, he pushes her away.) hongtao (defiantly): Mr. Ling! (She hurries to hold xiao yuelin up.) ling xia (outraged, his hands on his hips, snorts angrily): Humph! Qiaoming just died and you’re acting so bewitched, so full of yourself! . . . (Extremely chagrined, he abruptly bows his head.) hongtao (forcing ling xia’s attention, with severe dissatisfaction): Hey, Mr. Ling! What’s that got to do with her? . . . If you’ve got something to say to her, then get on with it! ling xia : Ah, I don’t know . . . (Sighs, is silent, then suddenly excitedly) But . . . I . . . I want her to run away with me . . . xiao yuelin (crazily, turning rapidly toward him): What are you prepared to do? (ling xia is stumped.) (Plays with the manacle on ling xia’s arm, a naive, romantic smile spreads across her face) Have you committed a crime? Why are you wearing this manacle? (She laughs stupidly. ling xia gives a sudden start. The jailor also expresses surprise. They both fix their eyes on her.) ling xia : Are you dreaming? I was charged with murder the night Qiaoming died. How come you still don’t know? xiao yuelin (aroused to indignation): You’re the murderer?! . . . ling xia : I’ve been falsely accused. You’re the only one who can prove who did it. Testify for me. Who really killed Qiaoming? (hongtao is on the verge of very bravely saying something to ling xia , but she suddenly stops.)

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xiao yuelin : Oh, oh! (Perplexed) I never thought you were scary. How could you have ended up killing somebody? ling xia : Ah, ah! .  .  . (Suddenly comprehending, he sighs deeply) You’ve gone mad! (Tears well up in his eyes) You’ve gone mad! (Gently strokes her, affectionately and despondently) How is it that you’re mad? xiao yuelin (laughs tragically): Ha, ha! I’ve been at Master’s side day and night recently . . . Don’t you know I’ve been imprisoned? ling xia : I know. Now I know. I’ve been imprisoned, too, but I haven’t gone insane yet. You’re the one who’s really been imprisoned. You’ve ended up insane! (Anguished, hugs her) Ah! What should we do about it? (Disconsolately) I can’t save you . . . But . . . (Resolutely) Let’s flee! (Pulling her hand to leave) You and I will escape together! xiao yuelin : Escape? . . . Absolutely not! (Her body sways, head turns, and she backs away.) ling xia : You have to leave. How will you endure this family’s oppression if you stay? (He urges her to go.) jailor (blocking their way): Don’t you know your punishment will be worse if you run away with her? ling xia : What is punishment?! . . . (Forcibly dragging xiao yuelin ) Let’s go! If we leave we can be human. We can’t just meekly submit to this violence. I won’t go to my death under this cloud of injustice! xiao yuelin (looks joyfully at ling xia with a flash in her eyes and declares resonantly): Good! Tomorrow, I’ll testify before the masses that you’ve been falsely accused. ling xia (unexpectedly surprised): Ah! Really, Yuelin? hongtao (giggles cleverly): I can also testify on your behalf. ling xia : Ah! (To the jailor , overjoyed) How about it? (Euphoric, looking at the jailor with elation) The injustice I’ve suffered will be exposed and I’ll be cleared. Let’s take the two of them out with us. (He takes the manacle from his arm and throws it on the floor.) (Commands the jailor ) Go! I don’t need you anymore. (Shooing the jailor away, he takes xiao yuelin and hongtao by the arm) Yuelin, Hongtao, let’s get out of here now! (He pulls the two of them forward as if he’s gone crazy. hu rongsheng pushes the door open and enters. Furrowing his brow, he looks viciously at xiao yuelin .) hu rongsheng : Yuelin! . . . Where are you going? ling xia : They’re getting out of here with me. hu rongsheng : Huh? . . . You want them to go to jail with you? jailor : No, he wants them to go to court tomorrow to testify. The young lady is willing to give evidence. hu rongsheng : Humph! . . . She is the heiress of a rich family. Do you want her to lose face by running off to court with you? Come over here, Yuelin! (He fiercely goes to snatch xiao yuelin , as if to challenge ling xi a, xiao yuelin leans on ling xia , her eyes flashing with panic.)

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(In a towering rage of jealousy, glares at the two of them, his eyes appearing to spout blood) Think about it, Committee Member Ling! You’ve already been sentenced to death. What kind of happiness do you think you can give her if you take her with you? (Smiles artificially) Even if you love her? ling xia : Let’s go, Yuelin! hu rongsheng : “If a gentleman loves a person, he will try to realize his virtue.” She’s already gone crazy, so whatever she says is unreliable. Why make her suffer more since she’s already so pathetic? ling xia : Yuelin, let’s get going! (He tries to force her to walk, but xiao yuelin doesn’t move; she stands there for a long time, her mind gradually becoming clearer.) hu rongsheng : You have no authority to make her go. (Angrily pulling ling xia to a stop with one hand and putting his other arm around xiao yuelin ) If she must go, then it should be done by lawful means. ling xia : The law! The law is the guard dog for you rich people, your magic charm! The reason society is so dark is all because of the vicious laws used to punish the masses. (Boldly going to snatch xiao yuelin from hu rongsheng’s arms) Yuelin, let’s go! Let’s resist! Resistance is our gospel. Resistance is our road to being human! Let’s go, Yuelin! (He extends his hand to pull her; xiao yuelin lightly shifts toward ling xia .) hu rongsheng (outraged, points fiendishly at xiao yuelin ): If you must go with him . . . I guarantee that you’ll be a widow in less than three days. (He violently pulls xiao yuelin to a stop, pinning her under his arm.) ling xi a: Humph! (He gnashes his teeth and hatefully strikes hu rongsheng a blow.) Your humiliating tricks are truly despicable! . . . Yuelin, let’s go! (xiao yuelin gently shakes her head at ling xia , then meekly goes along with hu rongsheng .) hu rongsheng (heads toward the door and sticks his head out): Hey, Ah Liang! Ah Bao! (The response “Yes” comes from offstage.) Come quickly! Hurry . . . come quickly! (Trading blows, he fights hard with ling xia .) jailor : Hey, hey, hey! (Obstructs them) Don’t make trouble! Don’t make trouble! xiao yuelin : Ahh! (She retreats in a panic, her big black eyes shining brightly. hongtao helps her over to the front of the bed. Four male servants and one female servant swarm in, all surprised.) male servant a : Master, what should we do? hu rongsheng : Lead Committee Member Ling out right away! (At his command, the servants start descending upon him like animals of prey.) ling xia (extremely anguished, extending his hands toward her): Yuelin!

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(But xiao yuelin settles into hu rongsheng ’s bosom, not even daring to move. His heart tortured, ling xia loses hope and stands immobile, like a stone statue. The servants menacingly shove ling xia along to exit the stage. Dumbstruck and dispirited, ling xia acquiesces to being pushed along by the evil servants . His eyes remain fixed on xiao yuelin for a long time. hu rongsheng smiles and keeps the jailor behind, having a furtive conversation with him. The jailor then rushes contentedly offstage.) hu rongsheng : Hongtao, I’m going to kill you! (He brutally strikes hongtao.) I told you to watch Miss Yuelin upstairs. So why did you have to bring her here? (He viciously kicks her. hongtao begins wailing pitifully. The stage goes dark and silent.)

Scene 2 (Same setting as before. The stage is dark for five minutes—representing the passing of four hours—and then suddenly bright. The intense light of numerous table lamps and three hanging lanterns shatters the previous gloominess of the room. There are five male servants and seven female servants in the room, among whom are female servants b, c , d, and e , who have been hired temporarily and who are relatively less meek and relatively wittier. male servants b and c are youngsters with strongly rebellious natures. The whole group chats and jokes. Some are seated, some are lying down, some are standing, and some are walking around freely. The curtain opens and loud laughter resounds.) male servant c : He’s going to change into a camel, Ah Liang! You’d better change into an elephant. You should change into a hundred elephants so you can carry Master and all his wives’ and concubines’ property on your backs. Just like a mighty, ancient tribal chief on the march, taking Master to hide on a desert island! male servant b : Excellent, Ah Liang! You’ve been loyal now for thirty years. And once again you’re taking Master to seek refuge. If Master becomes the king of the island, he’s sure to make you a high official. male servant a : Little Ghost, don’t cause trouble! The Peasants’ Association is such a bunch of nonsense! Why are they fighting like this! Arguing for two whole months, and then, just when things settle down for a moment, they go right back at it again! You should’ve heard the ruckus before four o’clock! male servant c : You think it was noisy before four o’clock? The worst is yet to come. It was just quiet for a moment in memory of Young Master . . . Young Master died for us peasants. He was leading the peasants’ vanguard. He was his father’s stalwart enemy. We can’t surrender to the enemy because our vanguard is dead. We have to use the most direct means to eliminate the enemy now.

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male servant a : You sound just like a communist! Why are all you folks in the Peasants’ Association so mean? Do you think Master will tolerate your type of servant if he doesn’t go into hiding? female servant a (speaks quickly): Hey! Hey! Who says Master should go into hiding? Wouldn’t it be a shame to give up such a nice house? male servant d : It’s either because Cheng Lao’er2 died, or because of Ling Xia’s case. Even if Ling Xia dies, this matter won’t be settled. The investigation will continue. Ling Xia wants to wait until Miss Yuelin comes to court to testify. But isn’t Master going to take Miss Yuelin into hiding? Like this afternoon, when the Peasants’ Association came, and Master hid Miss Yuelin from them? female servant d : I heard that Cheng Lao’er died because you thugs kicked the shit out of him. Why did you all have to beat him so ruthlessly when the peasants were agitating for their pay? You people just have no conscience! . . . The only thing you’re good for is being running dogs! male servant c : Humph. We wouldn’t be able to get into Master’s good graces if we weren’t like this! male servant b : Just to be a slave these days you have to be able to kiss ass. (male servant a is angry and agitated.) female servant e : Ha, ha, Ah Liang . . . You say Young Master died because he said that Miss Yuelin was his wife. So, they did get married. (male servant a doesn’ t reply.) male servant d : Them? Get married? That was part of Young Master’s plan. If he hadn’t said that, Master would have taken Miss Yuelin as his concubine for sure. And then that loving couple would have been miserable their whole lives! female servant a : Oh, but isn’t one still alive and the other already under the ground? Isn’t that even worse? male servant c : How was Young Master to know that Master would kill him? Master has always believed that men are thieves and women are whores! Anyone with any connection to him will come off the worse for it. Look at how he dealt with Committee Member Ling . . . First, he accused him of killing Young Master. Second, he accused him of insulting Master by claiming he was trafficking in opium. Third, he accused him of suspicion of being a communist and having a communal wife. Not one of these is true. female servant b : Tsk! If I were the judge you’d have something to see! Isn’t he both a communist and wife sharer? But he joined the communists and never came out. Weren’t these little buildings built on the land Master grabbed from a widow? . . . He was afraid the widow would sue him, but he still raped her, which was the same as murdering her. female servant a : The land on which this building stands was originally that of an ancient pagoda. When Master built these buildings he dug up some people’s bones, so their ghosts frequent this building. female servant b : I’m afraid that means the widow wasn’t willing . . . Naturally she wasn’t willing, so she howled like a ghost.

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female servant f : Naturally the widow wasn’t willing, so she’d often howl like a ghost. These days she even makes ghost fire. male servant a : There aren’t any ghosts! It was just Master playing tricks on people. female servant e : As soon as the night gets late, you often can see ghost fire within these walls. Haven’t you seen it? male servant a : I don’t believe in ghosts, so how could I have seen any? But I know that Master often pretends to be a ghost and howls about these rooms just to scare his concubines. So the wives all call this ghost tower. Young Master said that this is a ghost pagoda. The name “ghost pagoda” scared them all and none would dare enter. male servant d : What?! . . . You think “ghost pagoda” refers just to this small building? Tsk! . . . Young Master referred to Master himself as “ghost pagoda.” Although Master doesn’t look like a ghost, he does oppress the youth of this family. Isn’t that just like Leifeng Pagoda oppressing the White Snake Spirit? male servant c: Ha, ha! Always borrowing the word “pagoda” for names. Leifeng Pagoda collapsed, and the ghost pagoda will collapse, too. Are we still going to be his slaves, especially tonight? male servant b : It won’t collapse if nobody finds the opium. male servant a : Master has been unlucky all year! The government wants to seize all the opium so it can sell it for itself. It strictly prohibits private sales, too. Master is really unlucky. female servant b: Master deserves it, too. He wants to sell opium to make money. He also uses his power as a member of the gentry to force people to smoke opium. Hasn’t he done enough harm to this area yet? female servant c : I’m afraid my aunt has been harmed the most. Master hired my older cousin as the opium manager. My cousin ended up smoking opium after a few years, too. Then Master chased him away because he was smoking opium. He returned home and squandered everything in the house. Then he became a bandit and stole his mother’s things to sell. Sacrifice fields, inherited land, and funeral clothes, he nearly cleaned her out before she realized it. My aunt eventually found out and was furious. She told two of her slimmer sons to beat him and throw him in the river to soak. Now my aunt is in jail, and who knows what sentence my two young cousins are going to get? The whole family is rotting in jail. female servant d : You hear about the disaster wrought by opium everywhere these days. Why doesn’t the government prohibit it? male servant b : The government merely confiscates it and sells it. And the government is even more outrageous than that! They force the commoners to transport the opium in their boats but give the boatmen virtually nothing. And if the boatmen don’t transport it, their boats are wrecked. Sometimes they sink a dozen or so boats in a small creek. Think about it, those commoners rely on their boats for their livelihood. A whole family depends on that one boat. How miserable are they going to be if you destroy the boat? female servant d : Why does the government want to sell opium?

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male servant b : The government needs the money to pay the military. female servant d : Oh my god! It’s ghosts fighting ghosts with no end in sight. And they hurt the commoners, too. They take their money to pay the military! . . . No wonder men always mess up China. All you male jerks should retire! servants (together): Ha, ha, ha . . . (hu rongsheng comes onstage.) hu rongsheng : What’s so funny! (Looks at the group of servants ) Is everyone here? . . . Ah, come on everybody! (The male and female servants all stand up and gather around him.) I asked all of you to come tonight and everyone gets three dollars’ pay. But you absolutely cannot tell anyone else what you’ve been doing! You must remember that! (The family servants and hired servants are all silent.) Come! Everyone move the bookshelves aside! Break the bed apart! (The servants follow his orders and set to work energetically.) Carry all this outside! . . . The wardrobe, these boxes . . . (The servants carry the things out of the building. female servant s b and f light lanterns to show them the way. The bed is moved away; behind the headboard is a secret door. hu rongsheng squats down and digs in the wall with his fingers. gui yi comes onstage.) gui yi (enters holding a nail puller and small drill; smiles at hu rongsheng ): Oh, Master! Let me get that. (He pulls out a nail in the corner of the wall, loosens a section of plaster-covered false wall, gradually drags it farther and farther out, stopping when the opening is six feet high. Inside is a stack of square, wooden crates, each measuring one foot six inches, piled from the floor to the ceiling.) hu rongsheng (smiling, pats him): Thank you very much, Gui Yi! I’ve really beaten them using this method of yours! Those little devils may be clever, but you’re smarter. (gui yi smiles slightly, loyally, and takes three crates from the very top of the stack and puts them in front of the group of servants . The surprised and curious servants huddle around to look; they are impressed, smiling and silent.) male servant d : Pretty neat trick. Looked just like a real wall. Can’t tell any difference. (All the servants take turns examining the false wall.) hu rongsheng : I wouldn’t move this stuff out if I wasn’t afraid the Peasants’ Association would burn the place. female servant f : Master! How much will all this opium fetch? hu rongsheng (points at the right wall): There’s still more in that wall, hidden the same way. Ah, you all come and carry it! Put out the lights, blow them all out! (After a few of the lanterns are blown out, hu rongsheng hurriedly opens a secret door on the left. When all the lights have been extinguished, the dim light from the moon can be seen through the door.)

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Everybody load up! Carry it to the dirt mound out back! Gui Yi, you go keep an eye on them. Make sure they put all of it down there! Light a lamp on your way! (Directs his attention to the female workers) Hey, two of you go light lanterns and show him the way! Go light all the hanging lanterns! (He busily directs the group of servants to start carrying crates.) Don’t bother lighting lamps inside the building. I have flashlights. (The room is dark.) female servant a : No need to light the lanterns outside, either. There’s a little bit of moonlight, so we can see the way. hu rongsheng : Ah, that’s right! We don’t need any lamps. Blow them all out! . . . Get a move on, faster! . . . Good, don’t anybody say anything, quietly! (The only thing visible in the pitch-black room is the flickering of flashlights and the coming and going of shadows. The only sound is that of crates being moved. What’s being done is not visible, and when the left side is done, the action changes to the right side. This continues for a while and then faint voices start up.) voices : Done yet? . . . Done! . . . Go, go and apply the plaster! . . . Finished! (The voices die out, shadows disappear, and the room is empty. The shadows of  two people carrying small fl ashlights enter through the front door and walk softly into the center of the room. They shine the lights and examine the walls all around.) voice a : Aha! So that’s how he hid the opium! voice b : Is he going to get away with it this time? (He shines the light to look.) voice a : You had a good idea. If we hadn’t been hiding here, we couldn’t have caught him. voice b : Hurry, let’s go! We’d better not be caught by him this time. voice a : How do we get out of here? voice b : Through that back door. The wall outside that door has a place that’s collapsed a bit. We can get out over there. voice a : Do you want to go see where they’re burying it? voice b : I know the place. I saw that mound a while ago. Hurry! (The two people exit through the back door. After a brief pause, hu rongsheng and the servants all come onstage. Some servants light the lamps and they all gather around.) hu rongsheng : You all have to keep the secret. Don’t let a word of it out! Good. Gui Yi, take them all inside! Go to Ah Liang’s room and give them their pay! (gui yi nods his head.) Okay, hurry and straighten up this place. Arrange those things like they were originally! (The servants follow orders, straightening up and putting everything back into place; only the bed is not moved inside. lingxiang comes onstage.) lingxiang (all smiles at hu rongsheng ): The luggage is all ready to go, Master.

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hu rongsheng : Okay, all of you go inside to Ah Liang’s room, everybody in. gui yi (closes the back door, lights a lamp, and smiles at the servants ): Please, come on everyone! (He exits. The servants all exit the stage. Only one lamp remains in the middle of the room, situated on the table.) lingxiang : Master, it’s time to get moving! hu rongsheng : Yes, but don’t say anything in front of them . . . And Yuelin? Is she dressed and made-up? lingxiang : She won’t change clothes, not to mention put on makeup. She just keeps staring at those pistols you’ve hung above the window. Then she was totally absorbed in writing a letter. hu rongsheng : Writing a letter? . . . Where did she get pen and paper? She’s so crazy, who knows what she’s writing?! lingxiang : She sent Hongtao out to get them. She had Hongtao mail the letter, too. hu rongsheng (bursts out indignantly, about to run out in a flurry): Ah, she’s rebelling! lingxiang (pulls him to a stop from his side, smiles obsequiously): Don’t make such a big deal out of it! . . . Do you think Miss Yuelin is really crazy? . . . She’s just living in her own world. hu rongsheng (excitedly): She and I are going on a trip. Isn’t it enough that she has this world of mine? lingxiang (flatteringly, smiling charmingly): Ha, ha, Master! Do you think the two of you can be happy, given the things she’s been through? (Coquettishly, she devilishly pinches hu rongsheng’s cheek, then embraces him and kisses him.) hu rongsheng (not paying much attention to lingxiang , daydreaming): I gave her all the happiness . . . lingxiang (very unhappily): Ah! You can’t create happiness by yourself. After all, you can’t dig up Young Master’s body and bring him back to life for her. You can’t exonerate Ling Xia of his crime and marry Miss Yuelin off to him. She’ll never feel at ease because of this, never be cheerful. Could you be happy with a wooden beauty who is never cheerful? (She sits on his lap.) hu rongsheng (thinks a moment, then joyously embraces lingxiang ): You come with me, too. How about all three of us going together? lingxiang : You’ll take me too? . . . Okay, let’s go! I’ll go anywhere. (Overjoyed, she tightly embraces hu rongsheng .) hu rongsheng (embraces her tightly, kisses her, and gropes her whole body): Ah, your body really feels nice! . . . You know the undershirt you left on my bed last time you were in my room? I still have it stashed there. lingxiang (bashfully): Ah! . . . Why didn’t you return it to me? hu rongsheng (smiles wickedly): I regard it as a treasure.

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lingxiang (smiles alluringly): Master! If you really regard my clothing as a treasure, what other treasures do you have for me? hu rongsheng (goes to the wardrobe and takes out a silver box, takes out a jeweled ring, and gives it to her with a grin): How about this? (He then takes out a pearl necklace and puts it around her neck.) lingxiang (dancing with delight, grips hu rongsheng with both hands): Ah, Master! (chunhua comes onstage.) chunhua (very flustered): Master! Miss Yuelin has disappeared! hu rongsheng (jumps up, bursts out angrily): You slut! You let her escape. I told you over and over to keep an eye on her. How dare you deceive me! You let her go! (He pounces toward chunhua to hit her.) chunhua (nimbly retreats and shouts loudly): Master! You can’t blame me for this. A dark shadow appeared over and over outside your window. When I went to look at it, I saw that it was a trace of ghost fire. It was gone in a flash and scared us to death. I ran outside, scared out of my wits. When I came back in again, I couldn’t find Miss Yuelin. hu rongsheng : Stinking girl! You think you can fool me with your talk of ghosts? (He is about to rush out violently, but he remembers to take care of the jewelry box.) chunhua : Master, it’s the honest truth. When I first saw the shadow, I thought it was a robber, so I was going to take that pistol you fixed above the window and shoot him. But the person’s shadow disappeared in a flash, leaving only a spot of firelight in the distance. hu rongsheng (closes up the jewelry box and turns around): Don’t deny it! If I can’t find her, I’ll beat you to death! (He slaps chunhua once, then fiercely drags her out. lingxiang walks out the door with them, then turns around and reenters. She closes the door and searches through the wardrobe for the jewelry box, pulls it out, and looks at it greedily for a moment. She then boldly removes piece after piece, stuffing them inside her blouse. Then she anxiously stashes the box in the wardrobe. A knock sounds on the window from outside and a faint light flashes by. lingxiang runs for her life off the stage. The room is temporarily quiet. A door at the left rear opens and a dark shadow slowly extends its torso inside and looks around. Then it withdraws suddenly and the door closes. The incessant sound of a whistle is heard offstage. xiao yuelin comes onstage, rushing in through the front door. She appears shocked, like a small rabbit scared by a cat. She is wearing the same clothes as in the last scene, but she is also wearing a modest bamboo-green overcoat, the lapels of which are wide open. Her hands are stuck in the pockets of the coat. Her hair is mussed up and her crown of flowers is about to drop off. Face pale and startled eyes protruding, she looks unwell and gasps for air, as if on the verge of vomiting. She peers into the dark corners of the room, then suddenly squats at the base of the wardrobe and reaches both her hands underneath it. Then she stands up and paces manically around the room.) xiao yuelin : Yes, I have to do it . . . It’s the only way! . . . Vengeance can’t be timid. No matter what . . . I have to get rid of that evil man . . . Even if I have to sacrifice my

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own life, I must get rid of that evil man! . . . Yes, it’s the only way! I’m not leaving, absolutely not! . . . Absolutely not . . . I’m absolutely not leaving! hu rongsh eng (rushes onto the stage in pursuit, closes the door, and smiles at her, selfsatisfied and happy): Humph, once again you couldn’t escape! (Grabs her) I knew you couldn’t escape from me. (xiao yuelin , shaking, is dragged into the center of the room; a look of loathing burns in her eyes.) I told you, you’re going on a trip, so why are you running all around? xiao yuelin (feigns tenderness, smiles softly): I’m not going. hu rongsh eng (happy, kisses her smiling cheek): You’re going! Go somewhere new for a change. It’ll improve your mood. You’re too sad being here at home. It’s true that everything around here makes you sad. Going on a trip somewhere will help dispel those sad memories. The fresh new scenery will be good for your mood, too. Your spirits will naturally recover in no time at all. You can relax and live it up. Come on! xiao yuelin (smiles crazily): Huh? . . . hu rongsheng : If the Peasants’ Association weren’t coming and causing trouble—if they weren’t coming to burn my house down—there’d be no happier place for the two of us. (Evilly strokes xiao yuelin ’s arm) But unfortunately, it’s dangerous here right now. I’m worried about you. Let’s go quickly! xiao yuelin (in a rebellious voice): I said I’m not going. hu rongsheng (forcefully taking hold of her): I think you’d better shape up a bit, be a little more obedient. If you get full of yourself all of a sudden, you’ll just ruin your own future . . . As for me, I’ve never been so nice before, and it’s certainly no coincidence. I’ve been planning this for a long time . . . (Takes xiao yuelin ’s arm and presses it to his face) Ah, others would give anything for the feelings I have for you. What more can you ask for? (Although the hate in her heart is already at its peak, xiao yuelin endures it silently. Flames of an imminent explosion can be seen in the flashes of alarm in her eyes.) Don’t always be so haughty and arrogant, or you’ll spoil your good fortune! (He goes to kiss her arm again. xiao yuelin draws her head back, leans her body away, then runs to the window.) (Fixes on her) Yuelin, you have to think clearly! If you miss this opportunity you’ll regret it. (He bears down on her. Flames of hate growing stronger, her alarmed eyes rove all around, xiao yuelin sticks out her chest at him, but restrains herself again.) Happiness is the only thing in this world worth living for. I’ve told you time and again—(pulls out the key to the silver jewelry box and waves it in front of her face) if you want precious pearls, they’re yours. If you want money, all my property is yours. Not counting my real estate, I have eight million taels deposited in foreign banks right now. (Smiles obsequiously) If you want to dress extravagantly, live richly, and travel, it’s all up to you. xiao yuelin : Okay, hand it all over! . . . (Laughs insanely) Ha, ha!

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hu rongsheng (places the jewelry box and keys in front of her): Look, it’s all yours now. I’m a real man of the world, but I’m sincerely surrendering my heart to you like this. And your heart is still as hard as iron! . . . (He gazes intently at xiao yuelin , but she doesn’t pay attention to him.) (Shaking her angrily) Hey, why don’t you even look at me? (Violently) You think that because I’m spoiling you so much you can bully me? You’re going to eventually want to . . . Otherwise . . . I will use force. (He looks dangerously at xiao yuelin , then seizes her abruptly.) xiao yuelin (springs up and bravely jumps away): What are you going to do to me? hu rongsheng : Why did I just say all that? What was the purpose? . . . Well, are you going to surrender or not? Do you think that I won’t be able to have you if you don’t surrender? (He fiercely grabs xiao yuelin , tries to embrace her.) xiao yuelin : Ah! . . . (She screams, whistles furiously and ceaselessly, resisting with all her might. Throwing him off, she flies nimbly to the wardrobe, now even more full of fight. Her eyes dart back and forth. hu rongsheng fiercely goes to snatch the whistle, moving in on her. The two of them fight in a circle around the room. gui yi rushes onstage.) gui yi : Master, the car is ready for your trip. Do you want to go now? (Takes the jewelry box) Aren’t you taking this box with you? hu rongsheng (hurries over to gui yi , takes the box, opens and inspects it): Gui Yi! You . . . Now you’ve done it! What happened to the things inside? (xiao yuelin takes the opportunity to pull a pistol out from under the wardrobe, points it at hu rongsheng .) (Simultaneously chasing her and protecting the jewelry box as if his life depended on it) Aha, you wicked bitch! xiao yuelin : You fiend! You’ve slaughtered so many people just to carry out your evil plans. You’ve trampled on so many people. You had your servants beat Cheng Lao’er to death and then bribed your way out of it. You yourself killed your own son and plan to have somebody else die for the crime. You murdered my mother and now you want to ravage me? . . . (Courageously jumps toward him) I’m your illegitimate daughter. Must I now be your concubine? (Raises the gun, about to fire) The world is not big enough for the two of us! hu rongsheng (viciously pounces toward her): Bullshit! (Hurriedly wrests the gun from her) You’re talking crazy again! gui yi : Master, is anything she said untrue? hu rongsheng : Go to hell! I’ll have a go at her, just you see. (He spitefully balls up his fists and gnashes his teeth at xiao yuelin .) gui yi (calmly shows him his fist): I’ll have a go at you first, just you see. hu rongsheng : Slave! (Points the gun at him) Perhaps you no longer want to live? gui yi : I’ll hang on to this old life of mine so I can settle accounts with you. You’ve harmed me in so many ways. You broke up and killed my family. But we’ll wait until

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you get to hell to settle that account. Didn’t you know? Yuelin is both your daughter and mine. (xiao yuelin is surprised and bewildered. hu rongsheng is peeved.) When you abandoned your daughter, you discarded your responsibility as a father. I’ve fulfilled my responsibility as a stepfather by nurturing this daughter and I am going to protect her. (In the midst of indignation he smiles happily, then goes to caress xiao yuelin .) hu rongsheng (showing denial of this assertion to xiao yuelin , looks disdainfully at gui y i): Why are you making trouble for me? Get lost! gui yi (with extreme indignation): You tricked the daughter of mining technician Xiao Jiepeng, had a child with her, and then abandoned the child at an orphanage on the west side of the city. Did you forget that? hu rongsheng (suddenly appears about to pounce on and kill gui yi ): You’re crazy. Barking mad! gui yi (looks imposingly and antagonistically at him): And you hated Yuelin’s maternal grandmother, who urged you to take care of Yuelin. So you secretly went to the orphanage to fetch Yuelin and threw her in the river. I don’t suppose you’ve forgotten this. Yuelin was only two years old at the time. (xiao yuelin is deeply shocked; hu rongsheng gets angrier.) You thought all along that the child had drowned so you were in the clear. But you didn’t know that I was following behind you in the twilight. I was able to save that poor child and began to raise her . . . I am Yuelin’s rebirth father. Yuelin’s mother was my only love. You ravaged my lover and Yuelin was born .  .  . (Utters a throaty cry, extremely grievous, his tears fl ow) I feel such sorrow for Yuelin! hu rongsheng : Gui Yi! (Fiercely grabs him) You’ve gone insane! gui yi : Get off, you vulture! (Courage multiplying, he pushes him away) Yuelin, let’s go! (Puts his arm around xiao yuelin ’s shoulder and walks) Why have I been a slave here for these years? For you! (Walking intimately together) To you, I look sixty years old, but I’m actually only forty-two. hu rongsheng : Yuelin! (He violently pulls her away and fires a shot at gui yi . gui yi urgently blows the whistle, fights valiantly and ferociously, clobbers hu rongsheng . The mass of servants jostle in through the front door, greatly surprised.) voice : Why? How? gui yi (still beating hu rongsheng ): Everybody, rebel! . . . Attack! He’s a bloodsucking devil, the enemy of humanity! . . . He’s drunk our blood, eaten our brains, and stripped us of our lives . . . He’s our enemy; hit him, beat him to death! (He twists hu rongsheng around.) hu rongsheng : Hey, all of you, pick him up and throw him into the old well outside! Quick, hurry, carry him away quickly! (Directing with all his might, the servants not daring to do it, hu rongsheng livid) You won’t do it? Take him away!

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gui yi : Listen everybody. I didn’t do anything wrong, but he ruined my entire life. I was his good friend, a young man ten times better than him, and you can see the extent to which he ruined me. But he doesn’t even recognize me anymore . . . (Although unwilling, the servants have no alternative, so lift him up. gui yi dies. The servants are shocked. During the chaos, xiao yuelin has taken another pistol from under the wardrobe. Now she raises the gun and points it at hu rongsheng .) xiao yuelin : Fiend! hu rongsheng : Humph! (He also raises a gun and points it at her. Just at this critical moment, a dark shadow, whose head is covered by a black veil and body clothed in black, sticks its head through the back door. The dark shadow strikes the door violently once, pushes it, and enters rapidly, coming onstage. It bravely faces hu rongsheng , solemn as the angel of death. It makes an ancient sound that is neither male nor female. At the same time, two more dark shadows walk in and stand silently at the doorway.) dark shadow 1 : Hold it! . . . You’ve already played enough murderous games in this world. Let me play one for you to see. (It pulls xiao yuelin over by its side.) dark shadow 2 : Should everyone come in? dark shadow 1 (turns its head toward dark shadow 2 ): Not quite yet. (A few powerful flashlights shine in through the door and the crack between the window shutters.) hu rongsheng : Who the hell are you? (He sinisterly raises the gun and points it at dark shadow 1 .) xiao sen (pulls off the veil and says in the strong voice of a beautiful woman): Who am I? . . . Hu Can! (Two people fire at each other: xiao yuelin has hurried over to stand in front of xiao sen , guarding her, and has deftly fired at hu rongsheng , hitting him. At the same time, hu rongsheng’s bullet hits xiao yuelin in her left side. xiao yuelin staggers and topples. hu rongsheng is shot twice in succession and falls, then he pulls himself up. But he is dizzy and unable to support himself. Men and women dressed in black, as well as a large group of peasants , enter through the back door. lingxiang leads the crowd of servants in through the front of the residence. All are stunned.) all dark shadows : Hurray! Hurray! (Among them, zheng shaomei removes her black veil and tragically approaches xiao yuelin .) peasant b (ridiculing hu rongsheng ): Oh, are you going to jail still? Maybe you’d better be burned along with your opium. We’ve already found it. xiao yuelin : Ha, ha! It’s done! We’ve eliminated a monster! (She removes the crown of flowers from her head and the clothes from her body and piles them piece after piece in front of hu rongsheng along with the jewelry box and keys. She remains wearing only a white silk undergarment.) (With an insane laugh) Take all these to hell with you! Take them to hell!

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(Seeing this, lingxiang’s eyes pop out, but she doesn’t dare to take a step toward hu rongsheng . She is shocked.) xiao sen : Yuelin, you’ve been injured. (Distressed, she goes to help her up.) xiao yuelin : It’s nothing. The spirit of life is surging through my whole body. My heart and soul are singing. (Stepping crazily) Ah, I’m happy! I’m happy! (She dances insanely in a circle, staring at xiao se n, hu rongsheng dies.) Oh, who’ll drag him out? Don’t let the corpse block my way! (The servants carry hu rongsheng’s corpse off. zheng shaomei covers her eyes and moves out of the way.) xiao sen : Yuelin, you’re hurt, you’ve been injured. Calm down! (She slowly goes to hold her.) xiao yuelin (getting more excited, dances offbeat, laughs tragically): Ha, ha, ha! . . . (Sings) Looks like the Thunder God is going to burst from my throat, Me, I’m the bastard child who killed the bastard. (The crowd is shocked.) Look, I’m a bastard child with no father or mother! Who knows, who knows who I am? My blood-red song rushes forth from the bottom of my heart! xiao sen : Yuelin! . . . (Reaches toward her, deeply concerned, in a grieved tone, stands towering, erect like a bronze statue) Come! xiao yuelin (dancing and singing): One dark night when I was seven, A cripple came from somewhere, Hobbling onto a small road from my stepfather’s home, Forcing me, forcing me . . . forcing me to die. He sold me into an evil woman’s home, That was my first time being a slave girl! I was sold a number of times in succession, sold back and forth, The beast who sired me tricked me into becoming his young wife. Enduring humiliation, enduring humiliation . . . I couldn’t stand it, Revenge, revenge . . . I swore to the wide seas. Ah, what a world it was then! (Points toward the crowd) Red, yellow, green . . . a menagerie of colors! (Ever more insane, flaunting herself, dances insanely) Ha, ha, ha! . . .

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Rebel! . . . Rebel against everything! The world has been turned upside down! . . . New and wonderful! Ha, ha, ha! . . . Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha . . . Everything is upside down—this is the gift of “death”! The world is new and wonderful—this is the gift of “death”! Upside down, everything is new now! I’m rocking in the cradle of “birth,” rocking, rocking . . . I am born, I am born! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! . . . Determination informed me of my road ahead, I am “going to death,” “going to death,” “going to death” . . . Returned to my “birth!” Returned to my “birth!” “Death” gives me new life! “Death” gives me new life! (Her air of insanity gradually subsiding, she suddenly cringes in pain and crumples. xiao sen has been supporting xiao yuelin up until her collapse.) xiao sen : Yuelin, are you conscious? (Half in loving joy, half deeply sorrowful, she holds xiao yuelin and examines her injuries.) The fiend is dead. It’s our world now . . . (Suddenly shocked) Yuelin! Yuelin! . . . Ah, Yuelin! . . . (Shakes her, stupefied) Ah, you’re seriously injured! (In utter sorrow) But you can come out of it! Wake up and look at me . . . (Cuddles her, shakes her hard, panic-stricken) Yuelin! . . . Yuelin! . . . Yuelin, ahh! . . . (xiao yuelin is startled as if from a dream; her watery eyes are clear as stars, and she looks penetratingly at xiao sen.) xiao yuelin (with a pure and innocent expression): Auntie! xiao sen : I am your mother, Yuelin! (Everyone in the room is stunned.) xiao yuelin (startled): Huh?! . . . xiao sen (tenderly caresses her): I am your mother, the one who gave birth to you. xiao yuelin : Ah, Mother! I have a mother like you! (Overjoyed, she embraces xiao sen ’s neck in shock, her tears flowing.) xiao sen : Ah, child, that’s right. (She holds her tightly, lovingly, crystal-clear eyes roving, bleak and desolate, she continues to console her insofar as possible, cuddling her with motherly love.) xiao yuelin : Mother! Mother! Why do I deserve such happiness? xiao sen : It’s because you resisted that evil man to the end. xiao yuelin : Ah, I’ve broken out of the ghost pagoda! I have my own mother! I’ve broken out of the ghost pagoda and I have my . . . own . . . mother! Ha, ha, ha! . . . ha . . . ha . . .

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(The observers smile eerily. Mother and daughter smile peacefully in mutual embrace. xiao yuelin throws herself into xiao sen ’s bosom and collapses, not moving.) xiao sen: Yuelin! Yuelin! . . . (Her shocked eyes protruding, bereaved and unable to speak, she puts xiao yuelin down at her feet and stands towering, erect like a stone statue.) (Curtain.)

E x p l a n a t o ry N ote The original title of this thing was Go, Go Die! It was written at full speed in one week last summer in Wuchang at the request of Mr. Zhang Ziping while I was working in the International Compilation Committee at the General Political Department. The day came that Mr. Xiang Peiliang arrived, coincidently just after I had finished writing it, and borrowed it, saying that he wanted to stage it in Hankou at some theater in Xuehua World. He had it for a month and neither put it on stage nor returned it. I wrote him a letter asking for it back because I wanted to turn it in as my achievement to the General Political Department. I personally went to ask for it some ten or twelve times altogether. No matter how scorching hot the day, no matter how dark and stormy the night, like a small boat on the mighty Yangtze River I traversed between the two shores all by myself, nervous and flustered. I finally went to look for him three or four times a day. In the end, not only did he not hand over the play, but he even hid himself upstairs and had friends stop me at the door of the hotel, saying he was not at home. The script disappeared without a trace into Xiang Peiliang’s scheming world! Xiang Peiliang ran away. Can the law resolve such behavior as his toward me? Or is there anyone who sympathizes with me? Or perhaps, should I congratulate Mr. Xiang Peiliang with the kind of courageous diatribe of those who criticized my Lin Yu, or, better yet, like those who cursed me one hundred times more intensely, saying that I was cowardly as a pig? After the script was annihilated by him, I had heatstroke in my anger. Actually it was an attack of dysentery, and an attack of intestinal tract disease, which laid me up during the Wuhan depression. I put it off until just recently and then wrote this skeleton of the original. It is scattered about like an irreparably shattered roof tile. I hope readers will forgive me! Bai Wei Early autumn, 1928

Not es Bai Wei’s Da chu youlingta: San mu shehui beiju (Breaking Out of Ghost Pagoda: A Social Tragedy in Three Acts) was originally published in vols. 1, 2, and 4 of Torrent (June, July,

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September 1926). This first English translation is based on the text in Zhongguo xin wenxue daxi (Compendium of New Chinese Literature), vol. 15, Drama Part 1, 3–77 (Shanghai: Shanghai wenyi, 1985). Romance appears in English in the script. Cheng Lao’er was the peasant who was beaten to death by Hu Rongsheng’s men, which caused the peasants to confront Hu Rongsheng in act 1.

Thunderstorm (1934) Cao Yu T ra nsla ted by Wa ng Tso-l i ang and A.   C . B ar ne s Revised tra nsla tion by C har l e s Qi anzhi Wu

Scenes Prologue: In an unusual lounge of a church-affiliated hospital, on a winter afternoon Act 1: Ten years ago, on a sultry summer morning; in the drawing room of the Zhou residence, identical with the hospital lounge in the prologue, with more or less the same setting Act 2: The same place as in act 1, the afternoon of the same day Act 3: In the small inner room at the Lus’, around ten o’clock that evening Act 4: In the Zhous’ drawing room, the same as in act 1; around two that night Epilogue: Back to ten years later, on that winter afternoon, the same place as in the prologue (The time span from act 1 to act 4 is just one day.)

C ha r a c t e rs sister a ⤟ㅒㅒ⭭, a Catholic nun sister b ⤟ㅒㅒ㮼, a Catholic nun little sister ⰷⰷ, fifteen little brother ♀♀, twelve

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zhou puyuan 㺾㋕㴖, fifty-five, chairman of the board of directors of a coalmining company zhou fanyi 㺾➑䤺, thirty-five, his wife zhou ping 㺾㊾, twenty-eight, his son by a former marriage zhou c hong 㺾Ⓧ, seventeen, his younger son by his present wife lu gui ⾽⥏, forty-eight, his servant lu shiping ⾽㗆㊾ (or mrs. l u ⾽⿲), forty-seven, lu gui ’s wife, employed as a servant in a school lu dahai ⾽▙⦽, twenty-seven, her son by a former marriage, a miner lu sifeng ⾽㙼⟇, eighteen, her daughter by her present husband, a maid at the Zhous’ Various other servants in the house ㋏㑉⭭, ㋏㑉㮼, . . . ⹝㋏

PRO L OGUE (The spacious lounge of a church hospital. Three o’clock on a winter afternoon. In the middle of the room upstage is a two-paneled door leading to the outside. The panels are heavy looking, painted brown, with antiquated, semi-European carvings. In front of the door hangs a thick curtain dotted with stains. Its dark-purple color has faded, its designs are threadbare, and in its middle there is a hole. On the right [facing the audience] is a door leading to what is now a ward. The paint on the door has peeled off, and the bronze knob has lost its luster. The door has a tall and wide frame with yellow patterns painted over a gray base, and an uneven surface with European-style decorative figures in relief. All this suggests that the former owner of the house must have studied abroad sometime ago and seen his heyday after his return to China. This door also has a half-worn, dark-purple curtain. It is half drawn back, with its lower end in tatters and touching the floor. On the left is another door, also double paneled, leading to the dining room, from which one may either go upstairs in one direction, or go outside the house in the other. This door is even more ornate and aged in color than the one in the middle. It turns heavily on its hinges, making a mellowed sound from long years of friction, like a weathered, quiet, and gentle old man. It has no curtain, and the decorative patterns where the paint has peeled off are clearly visible. To the right of the center door, the wall curves into an alcove. The upper part of the alcove is a set of prismatic, French windows with elongated, exquisite glass panes. The lower part is a slightly raised semicircular platform, which may be used as a table or a seat. In front of the alcove are thick velvet drapes in folds. When drawn, they shut out both the windows and the sunlight, so that the room is gloomy and stuffy. Indeed these drapes are drawn when the curtain rises. The walls are dark brown, faded and in disrepair. All the furnishings are ornate but have lost their former splendor. Downstage on the right is a fireplace framed in marble inlaid with star-shaped stones, but the mantelpiece is totally empty, except for a cross with the crucified Jesus hanging over it. A coal fire is burning in the fireplace, the glow lighting up an old armchair in front of it. This slight bit of warmth lends the ancient house a thin

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breath of life. A coal scuttle and some firewood are placed near the fireplace. To the left of the right-hand door hangs a scroll painting. Further left, standing against the wall close to the upstage corner, is an old-fashioned sandalwood bureau. The corners of its doors are all wrapped in copper. On top of the bureau stands a thermos bottle, and two white bowls placed on a copper plate. In front of the bureau is a rectangular rug, on which is placed a low sandalwood table, standing parallel to the bureau. It may have been used to display porcelain and other knickknacks in the past, but now we see stacks of white tablecloths, bedsheets, and other fabrics, just cleaned, piled up on it, waiting to be stored in the bureau. Further downstage, between the bureau and the alcove, stands a round stool. To the left of the alcove and right of the center door is a rectangular mahogany pantry table, on which are placed two old candlesticks. On the wall over the table hangs a huge but musty classical oil painting. To the left of the center door stands an exquisite glass-front sandalwood cabinet, which had seen better days when used to display antiques but is now empty. In front of the cabinet is a long and narrow bench. Not far from the left corner and at right angles to it is a large, dark-colored sofa, with a long table in back and a short, low table in front, with nothing on either. On the left of the sofa stands a yellow floor lamp. A small bay in the left wall slightly downstage contains a side table, over which hangs a small oil painting. Next to this table, further downstage, is the left door leading to the dining room. In the center of the room is a rug, along which are placed, face-to-face but slightly askew, two large sofas, between which is a round table with a white cloth draped over it. As the curtain rises, bells are heard tolling in the distance. The choir in the cathedral is singing, to the accompaniment of the organ, preferably Bach’s Mass in B Minor, “Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.” The room is quiet, without a single soul. A few minutes pass. The heavy door at center stage is pushed open slowly. sister a , of the convent, enters. Dressed like nuns of any cathedral, she wears a snow-white cloth headgear that makes her look like a Dutch country girl, and a dark-blue robe of coarse material, the skirt of which almost touches the ground. She wears a cross on her necklace, and a bunch of keys at her waist, which clink-clank as she walks. Entering quietly and with peaceful demeanor, she turns around to face the outside.) sister a (kindly): Come in, please. (A pale-faced old man comes in, wearing a well-cut but old fur coat. He takes off his hat as he enters, revealing a head of gray hair. His eyes are deep-sunken and melancholic, his chin studded with white beard, his face wrinkled. He takes off his goldrimmed glasses as he walks in and places them in a case with his shaky hands. He rubs his hands and coughs feebly a couple of times. The music from outside stops.) (Smiling) It’s cold outside! old man (nodding): Uh-huh—(concerned) is she doing fine? sister a (with sympathy): She’s fine. old man (after a moment’s silence, pointing at his head): How’s it up here? sister a (with pity): That—still the same. (She sighs softly.) old man (quietly): I know there’s no easy cure.

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sister a (with compassion): Take a seat and warm yourself first before you go see her. old man (shaking his head): No. (He walks toward the ward on the right.) sister a (stepping forward): Excuse me, this is the wrong way. This is Granny Lu’s ward. Your wife is upstairs. old man (stops, looking lost): I—I know. (Pointing at the room on the right) But may I see her now? sister a (courteously): I don’t know. Granny Lu’s ward is another sister’s charge. I suggest you go upstairs first, and then come back to see the old lady. How’s that? old man (dazed): Um, okay. sister a: Follow me, then. (She leads him into the dining room on the left. The room is quiet once more. Footsteps are heard from outside. sister b comes in with two young kids. sister b looks exactly the same as sister a , except that she is a little younger and livelier. The children are sister and brother. Both are in their winter wear, plump and round, their faces chubby like apples. The sister is around fifteen, her pigtails swaying behind her. The brother is wearing a red woolen hat. They both look happy as they come in. The sister, who walks in front, seems a little quieter.) sister b (cheerfully): Come on in, young man. (The boy looks at the girl after he enters, both of them trying to warm their hands by breathing on them.) Cold outside, isn’t it? Little Sister, why don’t you sit here with your brother? little sister (smiling): Yes, Sister. little brother (holding his sister’s hands and whispering): Sis, where’s Mom? sister b : Your mom will be here shortly after she’s seen the doctor. Just sit here and get warm, okay? (little brother looks up at his sister.) little sister (speaking like a grown-up): Brother, I’ve been here before. Let’s just sit here and I’ll tell you a joke. (little brother looks around curiously.) sister b (watching them with interest): Right. Ask your sister to tell you a joke. (Pointing to the fireplace) Sit closer to the fire, both of you. little brother : No, I want that stool! (He points to the little stool in front of the chest of drawers on the left.) sister b (kindly): That’s fine. Now you just sit here, but (softly), sweetie, be good and don’t make a noise! There’s a patient upstairs—(pointing to the ward on the right) there’s another patient in there. little brother and little sister (nodding obediently): Oh. little brother (suddenly, to sister b ): Is my mom coming back soon? sister b : Oh, yes, she’ll be back shortly. Sit down, you two. (little brother and little sister sit down on the same stool, looking at sister b .) Sit still. (Looking at them) I’ll be right back.

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(little brother and little sister nod. sister b goes into the ward on the right. little brother stands up abruptly.) little brother (to little sister ): Who’s she? Why’s she dressed like that? little sister (exhibiting savvy): She’s a nun, and a nurse at the hospital. Sit down, Brother. little brother (ignoring her command): Sis, look, look! (Proudly) See the new gloves Mom bought me? little sister (superciliously): Yes I did. Just sit down! (She pulls him down to his seat. They are seated again like two good kids. sister a comes back from the dining room on the left and walks toward the bureau on the right, not noticing anyone in the room.) little brother (standing up again, whispering to his sister): Here comes another, Sis. little sister (in a low voice): Shh! Don’t talk. (She pulls her brother back to his seat. sister a opens the bureau on the right, and starts putting the clean linen piled on the table into it. sister b enters from the ward on the right. She sees sister a . They nod to each other in silence. sister b helps sister a put away the clean linen.) sister b (to sister a , laconically): Done? sister a (puzzled): Which one? sister b (briskly, pointing upstairs): The one upstairs. sister a (with empathy): Done. She’s asleep again. sister b (curiously): Didn’t hit anybody? sister a : No. Just laughed a lot and broke some glass. sister b (sighing in relief ): Well, not too bad. sister a : What about her? sister b : You mean the one downstairs? (Pointing to the ward on the right) As usual, weeping most of the time, not talking much. Haven’t heard her say a single sentence the whole year I’ve been here. little brother (in a low voice, urgently): Sis, tell me your joke. little sister (in a low voice): No, Brother. Listen to what they are saying. sister a (pitifully): How sad. She’s been here nine years now, only one year less than the one upstairs. But neither of them has improved. (Cheering up) Oh, yes, Mr. Zhou just came and he’s upstairs. sister b (puzzled): How come? sister a : It’s Chinese New Year’s Eve today. sister b (surprised): Oh, yeah? New Year’s Eve . . . That means the one downstairs will come out here, to this room. sister a : What do you mean, come out here? sister b : Right. (Talkatively) Every Chinese New Year’s Eve she comes out here, into this room, and stands in front of that window. sister a : What for? sister b : Maybe to watch for her son to arrive. Her son left her one evening ten years ago and never came back. What a tragedy—her husband is no longer with her, either.

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(Softly) They say he used to work in Mr. Zhou’s house and died from drinking too much one night. sister a (realizing): So that’s why Mr. Zhou asks about the one downstairs every time he comes to visit his wife—I guess he’ll soon be coming down to see her. sister b (devoutly): May Mother Mary bless him. (She goes back to putting away the linen.) little brother (in a low voice, imploringly): Sis, tell me your joke, even if just half of it. Will you? little sister (has been listening with rapt interest and so quickly shakes her head. In a subdued voice): Brother! sister b (wondering): Strange! It’s such a beautiful house. Why did Mr. Zhou sell it to the hospital? sister a (calmly): Don’t know. They say three people died in this house on the same night. sister b (shocked): Really? sister a : Yes. sister b (logically): Then why did Mr. Zhou leave his sick wife upstairs and not move her out? sister a : Exactly. But she went crazy right there, upstairs, and refused to be moved out. sister b : I see. (little brother suddenly stands up.) little brother (protesting loudly): Sis, I don’t want to hear all this! little sister (trying to calm him, softly): But my dear brother! little brother (imperatively, raising his voice even higher): No, Sis, I want you to tell me your joke! (sister a and sister b turn around and see them.) sister a (surprised): Whose children are these? How come I didn’t see them when I came in? sister b : Their mother’s seeing a doctor. I just brought them here to sit and wait. sister a (cautioning): Better not let them stay here—what if they get scared? sister b : There’s no other place. It’s too cold outside, and the hospital is packed full. sister a : I think you’d better bring their mother over. What if the one upstairs runs down? That would scare the wits out of them. sister b (submitting): Okay. (To the two children, who have been watching them wideeyed) Little Sister, you two wait here quietly; I’ll go get your mom. little sister (respectfully): Thank you, Sister. (sister b exits by the center door.) little brother (hopefully): Is Mom coming soon, Sis? little sister (still unhappy with her brother): Hm. little brother (cheerfully): Mom’s coming! We can then go home. (Clapping his hands) We’ll go home and have our New Year’s Eve dinner! little sister : Keep quiet and sit down!

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(She pushes him down to his seat.) sister a (closes the bureau; to the children): Young man, sit here quietly with your sister. I’m going upstairs. (sister a goes into the dining room on the left.) little brother (all of a sudden showing interest and standing up): What’s she going to do, Sis? little sister (as if it was a stupid question): Of course to see the one upstairs. little brother (eagerly): But who’s the one upstairs? little sister (softly): A lunatic. little brother (presuming by intuition): A man? little sister (with certainty): No, it’s a woman—a wealthy lady. little brother (abruptly): And the one downstairs? little sister (with equal certainty): Also a lunatic. (Knowing the boy is getting too inquisitive) No more questions. little brother (curiously): Sis, they just said three people died in this house. little sister (feeling uneasy): Um—Brother, let me tell you a joke. Once upon a time, there was a king. little brother (curiosity aroused): No, just tell me: how did these three people die? And who were they? little sister (timidly): I don’t know. little brother (not believing, cleverly): Hm—I know you know. You just don’t want to tell me. little sister (reluctantly): Don’t ask about this in this house. It’s a haunted house. (All of a sudden there is the noise of someone throwing things on the fl oor upstairs, the clanking of chains, footsteps, and a woman laughing and shrieking.) little brother (somewhat scared): Listen! little sister (holding little brother’s hand tightly): Brother! (The noise stops.) little brother (calms down, realizing): Sis, that must be the one upstairs. little sister (scared): Let’s go. little brother (stubbornly): No. I’m not going anywhere unless you tell me how the three people died in this house. little sister : Don’t you be naughty. Mom will spank you when she knows! little brother (not caring): Hm! (The door on the right opens. A gray-haired woman wobbles in and stops in the middle of the room, as if blind. She drags herself to the window, looks out from between the curtains, steps onto the raised floor in front of the bay window, as if listening for something. The two children watch her nervously.) (In his normal voice) Who’s that? little sister (in a low voice): Shh! Don’t talk! She’s a lunatic. little brother (in a low voice, secretively): That must be the one downstairs. little sister (her voice trembling): I . . . I don’t know.

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(Weak and fragile, the old woman starts to collapse.) Brother, look, she’s falling! little brother (boldly): Let’s go and help her up. little sister : No, no, don’t! (The old woman suddenly falls on her knees, center stage. Lights dim. The chorus is heard again from the distance.) little brother (pulls his sister forward to look at the old woman): Sis, tell me all about this house. What are these lunatics doing here? little sister (terrified): No, you ask her. (Pointing to the old woman) She knows. little brother (urging her): No, Sis, you tell me. How come three people died in this house? Who were they? little sister (flustered): I told you to ask her. She surely knows it all. (The old woman slowly rolls onto the floor. Complete blackout. The chorus of the mass and the organ music rise again from the distance.) little brother (clearly): Sis, you go ask her. little sister (softly): No, no, you ask her. (The curtain falls.) You ask her! (The high mass is heard again.)

A CT 1 (The curtain rises on a stage in complete darkness. Ten seconds later, the lights come on. The scene is more or less the same as that of the prologue, but the entire ambience is more luxurious. It is a summer morning ten years ago in the drawing room of the Zhou residence. The alcove is still hidden behind the drapery, but a pot of gorgeous flowers placed there will later be revealed. The door in the middle stands open, and through the wire-gauze screen in front of it one can see the shady green of the trees in the garden and hear the shrilling cicadas. The bureau on the right, now covered with a yellow runner, has on it a number of objets d’art. What seems most conspicuously out of place among these objects on display is an old photograph. On the long coffee table is an extravagant smoking set with some knickknacks scattered around it. Over the fireplace are a clock and a vase of fresh flowers on the mantelpiece, and on the wall above hangs an oil painting. In front of the fireplace are two armchairs, with their backs to the wall. The glass cabinet at center left is filled with curios. The footstool in front of it has a green cushion on it. The long sofa in the left-hand corner is not old yet; on it are several plump cushions cased in satin. On the low table in front of the sofa is another luxurious smoking set surrounded by odds and ends. The two smaller armchairs and the round table between them all register opulence, and on this table are a Philippine cigar box and a fan. The curtains are brand-new, the furniture is spotless, and all the metal fittings are gleaming: everything in this house shines with prosperity.

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The room is hot and stuffy, the air very close and oppressive. Outside is a gray, overcast sky. A thunderstorm seems imminent. When the curtain rises, lu sifeng is standing at the long table against the center upstage wall with her back to the audience, filtering some herbal medicine 1 and wiping her perspiring face every now and then. Her father, lu gui , is polishing the silver knickknacks on the low table in front of the sofa. With sweat on his forehead, he seems overwrought. lu sifeng is a healthy, rosy-cheeked girl of eighteen with a well-developed figure and large, white hands. When she walks, the undulation of her overly endowed breasts is plainly visible under her blouse. Her shantung slacks and cloth slippers are old and slightly worn, yet she is neatly dressed and brisk in her movements. Her two years’ service with the Zhous has taught her poise and ease of manner, but this does not mean that she does not know her place. Her big, limpid eyes with their long lashes will dance with animation but are also capable, with knitted eyebrows, of watching with solemn attentiveness. Her mouth is large, with full lips that are naturally and deliciously red. When she smiles, we see that her teeth are good, and a dimple appears at each corner of her mouth, yet her face as a whole retains its expression of dignity and sincerity. Her complexion is not particularly fair. The heat has brought a faint perspiration to her nose, and she dabs it from time to time with a handkerchief. She is aware of her good looks and usually enhances them with a smile—though at the moment she is frowning. lu gui is a mean-looking man in his forties whose most conspicuous features are his thick, bushy eyebrows and his swollen eyelids. His loose, pendulous lips and the dark hollows under his eyes tell a tale of unbridled sensual indulgence. He is rather fat, and his flabby face remains expressionless most of the time, though he will put on a cringing, obsequious smile when occasion demands. Like most servants in big houses, he is shrewd and has faultless manners. He has a slight stoop, which gives him the appearance of being forever on the point of saying, “Very good, sir,” but the look of greed and slyness never leaves his sharp, wolfish eyes. He is astute and calculating. His clothes are showy but untidy. At the moment he is rubbing the silver over with a piece of cloth. On the floor at his feet is a pair of brown shoes that he has just polished. Every now and then he wipes his perspiring face with the front of his shirt.) lu gui (breathing hard): Sifeng! (She pretends not to hear and goes on filtering the medicine.) Sifeng! lu sifeng (casting a glance at her father): Whew, isn’t it hot! (She walks over to the bureau, picks up a palm-leaf fan, and begins to fan herself with it.) lu gui (stopping what he is doing and looking across at her): Did you hear me, Sifeng? lu sifeng (tired of him, looking at him with unconcern): Why, what is it now, Dad? lu gui: I mean did you hear what I was telling you a moment ago? lu sifeng : Yes, every word of it.

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lu gui (who is used to being treated like this by his daughter and so can do nothing more than make a feeble protest): Oh, darn! What a daughter! lu sifeng (turns around to face the audience): You talk too much! (Fanning herself vigorously) Whew! It’s so stuffy, I bet it’s going to rain. (Suddenly) Did you clean the master’s shoes that he’ll be wearing to go out? (She goes across, picks up one of the shoes, and scoffs at it) You call this cleaned? Just a couple of wipes with a duster! You know the master’s tantrums. lu gui (snatching the shoe from her): I’ll thank you to mind your own business! (Dropping the shoe on the floor) Now listen, Sifeng, while I tell you again: when you see your mother, don’t forget to get all your new clothes out and show them to her. lu sifeng (impatiently): I heard you the first time. lu gui : Let her see who knows what’s best for you, she or your dad! lu sifeng (scoffing): Why, you, of course! lu gui : And don’t forget to tell her how well you’re treated here—good food, light work, just waiting on the mistress and the young gentlemen in the daytime and going straight home to bed in the evening just as she told you to do. lu sifeng : There’s no need for me to tell her that; she’s sure to ask anyway. lu gui (complacently): And then, there’s money! (Chuckling avariciously) You must have quite a bit put by! lu sifeng : Money? lu gui : Yes, two years’ pay, and tips, and—(meaningfully) and the odd little sums every now and then, which they— lu sifeng (cutting him short): Yes, and you’ve relieved me of every penny of it, a dollar or two at a time! And it’s all gone to drinking and gambling! lu gui (chuckling self-consciously): There you go again! Getting worked up over nothing! Don’t—don’t you worry; I’m not after your money. No, what—what I mean is— (lowering his voice) he—er—hasn’t he been giving you money? lu sifeng (taken aback): He? Who? lu gui (bluntly): Master Ping. lu sifeng (crimsoning, raising her voice and walking up to lu gui ): Where did you get that idea? Master Ping giving me money indeed! You must be off your head, Dad, to talk such crap! lu gui (smirking): All right, all right, so he didn’t, then. But you must have saved quite a bit these last two years—don’t worry, I’m not after your money. All I meant was you can show it to your mother when she comes. That’ll be an eye-opener for her! lu sifeng : Humph! Mother isn’t like you—show you a handful of coppers and you’ll break your neck for it! (She goes back to the table to attend to the medicine.) lu gui (sitting down on the sofa): Money or no money, where do you think you’d be without your old dad? If you’d taken your mother’s advice over the last couple of years and not been to work in a big house like this, you think you’d be able to live as comfortably off as you are now? And still wearing that nice, cool silk in the heat of summer?

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lu sifeng (turning around): Yes, but mother has her principles. She’s educated, and she can’t bear to see her own daughter at someone else’s beck and call. She’s got her pride, you know. lu gui : To hell with pride! If that isn’t just like her! What do you think you are, missy of the house? It’s all bullshit! A servant’s daughter, and making a fuss about losing her pride working as a servant! lu sifeng (watching her father with shock and bursting out in disgust): Look at your face, Dad. You might at least wipe it! And you’d better have another go at those shoes, too. lu gui : Pride indeed! You want to learn that poor man’s pride from your mother? Just look at her! She travels three hundred miles to be a lousy cleaner in this girls’ school of hers, and all for the sake of eight dollars a month and the privilege of coming home once every two years! That’s where her “principles” have gotten her! So much for her “education”! A lot of good that’s done her! lu sifeng (restraining herself ): You’d better keep that till we get home. Remember you’re at the Zhous’ now, not in your own house. lu gui : Why should that stop my discussing my family affairs with my own daughter? Now, listen here: your mother— lu sifeng (suddenly): Just a minute! I’ve got something to tell you first. It isn’t every day that mother can get home, and when she does it’s only to see Dahai and me. If you say anything to upset her, I’ll tell Brother Dahai what you’ve been up to these last two years. lu gui : Me? And what have I done? (Feeling that his paternal dignity is at stake) Yes, I drink a little, gamble a little, and have a bit of fun with the girls. Well, so what? After all, I’m nearly fifty. What’s it to him, anyway? lu sifeng : Oh, he couldn’t care less about that sort of thing! But what’s happened to the money he sends home from the mine every month for mother? You’ve spent every penny of it on the sly, and if he found out about that he wouldn’t let you get away with it! lu gui : What could he do about it? (Raising his voice) His mother’s married to me, so I’m his father! lu sifeng (embarrassed): Shh! No need to shout. Mistress is resting upstairs. lu gui : Humph! (With sudden eloquence) Now just you listen to me. I’ve never stopped blaming myself for marrying your mother. To think that a smart guy like me should go and do a thing like that! Now, is there a single person in all this big house who doesn’t think I’m one of the best? I hadn’t been here two months when I got my own daughter a nice job in the house, and even your brother—he’d never have gotten that job in Zhou’s mine if I hadn’t put in a word for him. Could your mother ever have done as much for the two of you? And what thanks do I get for all that? Your mother and your brother are still ganged up against me as much as ever! If she still pulls a long face this time she’s back, I’ll disown her, and in front of your brother, too! I may even divorce her. I don’t care if she’s given me a daughter—and brought along that rotten brother of yours into the bargain!

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lu sifeng (fed up): Dad! How can— lu gui : Humph! (Quite worked up) God knows what bastard fathered him! lu sifeng : How can you say such things about Brother Dahai? What’s he ever done to upset you? lu gui : What’s he ever done to make me feel proud of him? He’s dabbled at being a soldier, a rickshaw boy, a mechanic, a student—but which trade is he really good at? After all the trouble I had getting him this job in the mine, he has to go and pick a quarrel with his foreman and beat him up! lu sifeng (cautiously): But from what I heard, he didn’t get the miners to fight back until the master told the mine security to open fire on them first. lu gui : Whatever happened, the boy’s a stupid ass. If he’s working for someone for his paychecks, he’s got to take orders from that person. But no: he has to go on strike, and depend on his poor old dad again to smooth things out with the master for him. lu sifeng : You’ve got it all wrong. He’s not asking you to do anything of the sort. He said he’s coming to see the master himself. lu gui (smugly): Well, after all, I am his father, and how can I just stand by and let him work it out for himself? lu sifeng (eyeing him contemptuously and heaving a sigh): Well, why don’t you take a break? I have to take this medicine up to the mistress. (She picks up the bowl of medicine and goes toward the dining room on the left.) lu gui : Just a minute. I’ve got something else to tell you. lu sifeng (in an effort to change the subject): It’s nearly lunchtime. Have you made the Pu’er tea for the master yet? lu gui : That’s not my job. The errand boys should’ve taken care of it. lu sifeng (trying to get away): Well, that’s fine. I’d better be off then. lu gui (standing in her way): What’s the hurry, Sifeng? There’s something I want to talk over with you. lu sifeng : What? lu gu i : You know yesterday was the master’s birthday? Well, Master Ping gave me a tip, too—four dollars. lu sifeng : That’s great! (Letting her tongue run away with her) But if I were him, I wouldn’t have given you a penny! lu gui (smirking): You’re right on the mark! What can you do with four dollars anyway? I paid off a debt or two and now I’m broke again. lu sifeng (smiling, adroitly): You’d better talk to Brother Dahai, then, when he comes. lu gui : Don’t be like that, Sifeng. When did I ever borrow money and not pay it back? Now, what about a little loan of seven or eight dollars, now that you’ve got the dough? lu sifeng : I haven’t got any money. (She pauses and puts down the bowl of medicine.) Did you really use that money to pay off your debts? lu gui (swearing): I’ll be damned if I tell lies to my own daughter! lu sifeng : Don’t you dare! Now tell me the truth. Maybe I can think up something for you.

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lu gui : Really? It isn’t really my fault. The little tip I got yesterday wasn’t enough to pay off the big debts, but there was some leftover after I’d paid off the small ones, so I played a couple of games with what was left—you see, I hoped I’d win enough to get out of debt once and for all. How was I to know I was going to have a run of bad luck? Anyway, what with the losses and a few drinks, I’m now in debt to the tune of around ten dollars. lu sifeng : Is that the truth? lu gui (from his heart): Every word of it. lu sifeng (tauntingly): Then let me tell you something that’s just as true: I haven’t got any money, either! (She goes to pick up the bowl of medicine again.) lu gui (becoming agitated): Now, Sifeng. What’s the matter? You’re my own daughter, aren’t you? lu sifeng (ridiculing him): Yes, but you can’t expect your own daughter to sell herself to pay your gambling debts! lu gui (solemnly): Now my dear girl, be reasonable. Your mother only talks about loving you, but I take a real interest in everything that matters to you. lu sifeng (knowing he’s up to something but not sure exactly what): What else do you want to say? lu gui (after a swift glance all around, moving closer to her, sheepishly): Listen. Master Ping often talks to me about you. Yes, Master Ping, he says— lu sifeng (unable to contain herself ): Master Ping! Master Ping! Are you crazy! Well, I got to go. The mistress will be asking for me in a minute. lu gui : No, don’t go yet. Just let me ask you one thing. The other day I saw Master Ping buying material for a dress— lu sifeng (darkly): What about that? (She eyes lu gui , expressionless.) lu gui (looking her up and down): Hm—(slowly picking up her hand) this ring of yours—(chuckling) didn’t he give you this, too? lu sifeng (with disgust): You make me sick, the way you talk! lu gui (a bit angry, straightforwardly): You don’t have to put on an act with me. You are my daughter. (Suddenly leering avariciously) No big deal, nothing wrong with a servant’s daughter accepting gifts or money from people. Nothing wrong at all. I quite understand. lu sifeng : Don’t beat around the bush. Exactly how much do you want? lu gui : Not much. Thirty dollars would do. lu sifeng : I see. (Maliciously) Then why don’t you ask your Master Ping? lu gui (mortified and angered): Now listen, my girl, you don’t really think I’m such a fool that I don’t know what’s going on between you and that young scoundrel? lu sifeng (agitated): Call yourself a father? That’s a fine way to talk to your own daughter! lu gui (nastily): Just because I’m your father, I have to keep an eye on you. Now tell me, the night before last—

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lu sifeng : The night before last? lu gui : Yes, the night when I wasn’t at home. You didn’t show up till midnight. What were you doing all that time? lu sifeng (inventing an excuse): I was looking for something for the mistress. lu gui : And what kept you out so late? lu sifeng (contemptuously): A father like you has no right to ask such questions. lu gui : Ho, getting superior, aren’t we! You still can’t tell me where you were. lu sifeng : Who says I can’t? lu gui : Come on, then, let’s hear it. lu sifeng : Well, as a matter of fact, the mistress heard that the master had just gotten back, and she wanted me to get his clothes ready for him. lu gui : I see. (In a menacing undertone) And who was the gentleman that brought you home that night—sat in his car, had had a drop too much, and kept chattering to you? (He smiles triumphantly.) lu sifeng (terrified): Oh that!—er . . . lu gui (guffaws): No, you don’t have to tell me; it was our rich son-in-law, of course! To think that our rickety little hovel should be honored by a visit from a gentleman in a car, running around after a servant’s daughter! (Suddenly sternly) Now, tell me, who was it? lu sifeng : He, he is— (Enter lu daha i, lu sifeng’s half brother and lu gui ’s stepson. He is tall and powerfully built, with bushy black eyebrows and slightly hollow cheeks. His stubborn character shows in his square jaw and his piercing eyes. His lips are thin, in striking contrast to his sister’s, which are the full, red lips of a passionate southerner. He speaks with a slight stutter, but when he gets excited his tongue can have a sharp edge to it. He has just arrived from the coal mine two hundred miles away, where he has helped to organize a strike. The strain of the past few months has told on him. Weary and unshaven, he looks old enough to be lu gui ’s brother, and only the closest observation reveals that his eyes and his voice are just as youthful and ardent as his sister’s. Like her, he is inwardly consumed by the white-hot passions of youth and has the latent energy of a simmering volcano. He wears a miner’s short jacket of coarse blue cotton and in his hand is a greasy straw hat. One of his shoes has lost its lace. As he comes in, he seems rather ill at ease. He unbuttons his shirt and then puts a couple of the buttons back in again. His speech is terse, which makes him appear cold and aloof.) lu dahai : Sifeng! lu sifeng : Dahai! lu gui (to lu sifeng ): Now, come on! Don’t pretend you’re dumb. lu sifeng (appealing to her brother): Brother! lu gui (ignoring this): It makes no difference with your brother here. I still want to know. lu dahai : What’s the matter? lu gui (takes a look at lu dahai and turns back): None of your business. lu sifeng : It’s nothing important, Brother. (To her father) It’s all right, Dad, we can talk it over later.

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lu gui (knowingly): Later? (Giving her a significant glance) All right, then, we’ll leave it at that. (To lu dahai , haughtily) Now then, what do you mean by just barging in like this! lu dahai (simply): I got fed up with waiting in the porter’s lodge. lu gui : That’s just like you, Dahai, a boorish miner with no idea how to behave in a big house. lu sifeng : He’s not a servant here, you know. lu gui (rationally): But his paychecks still come from Zhou’s pocket. lu dahai (coldly): Where is he? lu gui (pretending not to understand): “He”? Who’s “he”? lu dahai : The company chairman. lu gui (lecturing): A master’s a master. I don’t care if he’s a chairman or what, he’s “the master” to you while you’re in this house. lu dahai : Tell him a miners’ representative is here to see him. lu gui : I think you’d better go home first. (Confidently) Leave it to your old dad to straighten out things at the mine for you. Have a couple of days at home with your mother and your sister, and when your mother’s gone you can go back to the mine, and you’ll find your job still waiting for you. lu dahai : You mean after all this strike I should come to ask you to put in a good word for me so I can go back to work? lu gui : That wouldn’t make you look bad. lu dahai (finding it useless to argue): Okay, just tell him I have something else to talk to him about. lu sifeng (anxious that her father should go and leave them alone together): Dad, why don’t you go and see if the guests have gone? If they have, you could take Dahai in to see the master. lu gui (shaking his head): Hm, I’m afraid he’s not going to see you. lu dahai (with the confidence of a man convinced of the righteousness of his cause): He’s got to see me. I’m one of the miners’ representatives who saw him in the office only the day before yesterday. lu gui (hesitantly): Well, in that case let me go and find out first. lu sifeng : Yes, go on, Dad. lu gui (turning around as he reaches the door of the study): If he does agree to see you, you’d better watch your mouth, okay? (He disappears into the study with the confident tread of a senior servant with years of lucrative service behind him.) lu dahai (watching lu gui out of sight and shaking his head): Ugh! He forgets he’s a man! lu sifeng : Brother! Don’t talk like that. (Pauses and heaves a sigh) After all, he’s our father. lu dahai (looking at her): He’s yours. I don’t know him. lu sifeng (looks at him timidly, suddenly remembers, rushes to the door of the study, and takes a peek inside): Better not speak so loud. The master’s right there in the next room!

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lu dahai (looking at her with disdain): All right. Mother will be back soon. I think you’d best quit this job here and go back home. lu sifeng (surprised): But why? lu dahai (curtly): This is no place for you. lu sifeng : Why not? lu dahai : I—hate them. lu sifeng : Oh. lu dahai (bitterly): Most of the Zhous are up to no good. I’ve seen enough of their doings at the mine these last years . . . (Deliberately) I hate them. lu sifeng : And what are these things you’ve seen? lu dahai : Take this house, Sifeng. A magnificent house, you might say. But it was all built with the blood of miners crushed at the coal face! lu sifeng : Don’t you start this. They all say the house is haunted. lu dahai (suddenly): You know what? Just now I saw a young man in the garden. He was lying there with his eyes closed and his face so pale I thought he was not going to last much longer. And they tell me this is our chairman’s oldest son. Ah, that’s called retribution—gets what he deserves! lu sifeng (indignantly): How can you—(checking herself ) he treats people very decently, d’you know? lu dahai : Of course he can afford to play the philanthropist. His father has struck it rich with all his evildoings! lu sifeng (looking at him): It’s two years now since I saw you last. You’ve changed. lu dahai : I just worked on the mine for the last two years. I didn’t change. I think it’s you who changed. lu sifeng : I don’t quite get it. You sound—like the younger master. lu dahai : Are you trying to cuss me? “Young master”! There’s no such expression in this world! (lu gui reappears from the study.) lu gui (to lu dahai ): Well, the guest’s left at last, but just as I was going to tell him you were here, another one came in. Looks like we’d better go out the back and wait. lu dahai : In that case I’ll go in and see him myself. lu gui (blocking the way): What are you doing? lu sifeng : Oh no! Don’t! lu dahai : All right. We don’t want him to think that we miners have got no manners. lu gui : Now, now, don’t you give yourself any more airs! If the old man says he won’t see you, then he won’t. Now, why not go down and wait a bit longer in the servants’ quarters? Come on, I’ll take you along, otherwise in a big house like this you’ll be losing your way and stumbling into places where you shouldn’t be. (As he goes toward the center door he calls over his shoulder to his daughter) You stay here, Sifeng. I won’t be a minute. You hear me? lu sifeng : All right, you just go ahead. (Exit lu gui and lu dahai .)

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(Wearily rubbing her forehead) Oh my gosh! (A young man’s cheerful voice is heard outside in the garden calling her name. Quick footsteps mixed with jumps come closer and closer to the center door.) (Slightly alarmed) Oh dear, it’s Master Chong! voice : Sifeng! Sifeng! Where are you? (lu sifeng hurriedly hides behind the sofa.) Sifeng, are you in there? (zhou chong comes in. Small of build but large of heart, he is something of an idealist, like all kids of his age. He is young, only seventeen. He has dreamed countless dreams of the impossible. In fact he lives in his beautiful dreams. Right now his eyes are dancing with joy, his cheeks flushed; he is perspiring and laughing. He carries a tennis racket under his left arm and, with his right hand, he is mopping his perspiring face with a towel. He is dressed in a white tennis outfit. Softly he is calling lu sifeng .) zhou chong : Sifeng! Sifeng! (lu sifeng takes a quick peek.) Gee, where is she? (He tiptoes across to the door of the dining room, opens it, and speaks in a low voice) Come on out, Sifeng. I’ve got something to tell you. (He now goes quietly across to the door of the study and speaks in an even lower voice) Sifeng. voice (from inside the study, sternly): Is that you, Chong? zhou chong (timidly): Yes, Father. voice : What are you doing there? zhou chong : I’m looking for Sifeng. voice (commanding): Go away! She’s not in here. zhou chong (turns away from the door and makes a face): Well, that’s odd. (Disappointed, he walks across the room and disappears into the dining room, calling lu sifeng softly as he goes.) lu sifeng (now that he has gone, she comes out of her hiding place and heaves a sigh of relief ): So he’s gone. (She looks anxiously through the center door into the garden. lu gui comes in through the center door.) lu gui (to lu sifeng ): Who was calling you just now? lu sifeng : Master Chong. lu gui : What did he want you for? lu sifeng : Who knows? lu gui (reproachfully): Why did you dodge him like that? lu sifeng : Oh, oh—(wiping off tears) you told me to stay here, didn’t you? lu gui (comfortingly): Come, come. Have you been crying? lu sifeng : No, I didn’t cry. lu gui : Don’t cry, child. There’s nothing to be upset about. (As if playacting) It’s all because we are poor. Poor people can’t afford to be picky. There’s nothing we can do except put up with things. Everyone knows my child is good. lu sifeng : There you go again. Let’s hear what you’ve got to say.

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lu gui : You see, it’s like this. When I went down to the servants’ quarters just now, all those scoundrels I owe money to were there waiting for me. They stopped me in front of everybody and demanded their money back on the spot. It looks like I’ve got to raise at least twenty dollars before I can get rid of them. lu sifeng (producing some money): That’s every penny I’ve got. I’d been keeping it to buy Mom a new dress, but now you’d better take it. lu gui (hypocritically): But won’t that leave you broke? lu sifeng : Forget it. Quit acting like the polite gentleman. lu gui (taking the money with a smile and counting it): Only twelve dollars? lu sifeng (candidly): It’s all I’ve got. lu gui : How am I going to get rid of these people, then? lu sifeng (controlling herself with difficulty): Tell them to come around to our place tonight. I’ll see what I can do after Mom arrives. You’d better keep this money for your own use. lu gui (delighted): For me, eh? Then I’ll accept it as a gift of love from my daughter. I always knew you loved your old dad. lu sifeng (helplessly): Perhaps now you’ll let me go upstairs? lu gui : Why, who’s stopping you? Go on, and tell the mistress that Lu Gui’s been thinking of her. lu sifeng : Okay, I won’t forget. (She picks up the bowl of medicine.) lu gui (rather pleased with himself ): Oh yes, Sifeng, there’s something else I want to tell you. lu sifeng : Couldn’t you save it for later on? I’ve got to take the medicine to the mistress. lu gui (mysteriously): Ah, but this is something that concerns you. (He smirks.) lu sifeng (seriously): What’s it got to do with me? (Putting down the bowl) All right. Let’s get everything straightened out before we leave this room. lu gui : There you go again. Quite the young lady, with your airs and your tantrums! lu sifeng : I’m ready, out with it. lu gui : Now don’t be like that, my dear. (Seriously) I just want you to watch out. lu sifeng (sarcastically): Watch out for what, now that I don’t have a penny left? lu gui : Tell you what, the mistress hasn’t been in a very good mood these last few days. lu sifeng : What’s the mistress’s mood got to do with me? lu gui : I’m afraid she’s not happy to see you around. lu sifeng : Why? lu gui : Why! Let me remind you of a thing or two. The master is years older than the mistress, and they don’t get on very well with each other. Master Ping is only her stepson, and there’s not much difference in age between them. lu sifeng: I know all that.

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lu gui : But the mistress cares for Master Ping more than she would her own son, a lot more. lu sifeng : That’s all a stepmother could do. lu gui : But do you know why no one ever comes into this room after dark, and why it’s not used even in the daytime all the time the master’s away at the mine? lu sifeng : Well, isn’t it because the room’s haunted at night? lu gui : Haunted? Do you know what the ghosts are like? lu sifeng : I only heard there used to be sounds of sighing, weeping, and laughing in this room. They say someone died of injustice here, that’s the ghost. lu gui : Oh yes, it certainly is. And I’ve seen the ghosts, too. lu sifeng : You have? What did you see? lu gui (complacently): Yes, and lucky for me that I did. lu sifeng : How’s that? lu gui : It was before you came. The master was away at the mine and the mistress and the two young masters were left alone in this huge, dark mansion. This room was already haunted then, and Master Chong—he was still only a child—he was afraid and wanted me to sleep at his door. I remember it was in the autumn. Well, one night, about midnight, he suddenly woke me up and said he’d heard ghosts in the drawing room. He insisted that I should go and have a look. His face was blue with fear, and I was getting the creeps, too. But I was new here then, and I didn’t dare disobey the young master. lu sifeng : So you went, then? lu gui : I had a shot of hard liquor to steady my nerves. Then I went around past the lotus pond and sneaked up to the veranda outside this room. As soon as I got near the door, I heard a faint noise. It sounded like a woman ghost sobbing her heart out. I was scared out of my wits, but the more scared I was, the more I wanted to have a good look. So I braced myself and peeped in through this window here. lu sifeng (breathing hard): What did you see? lu gui : There was a candle on this table here. It had burned right down and it was just flickering as if it was going out. There was just enough light to make out two ghosts dressed in black sitting side by side with their backs toward me. They looked like a man and a woman. The woman seemed to be leaning on the man’s shoulder and crying, and the man sat with his head bent, sighing to himself. lu sifeng : So it’s true this room is haunted. lu gui : You bet! Well, with the drink inside me, I managed to pluck up enough courage to put my face close to the window and give a little cough. The two ghosts sprang apart with a jerk and looked around toward me. Just for a moment I got a clear view of both their faces—and then I really did think I was seeing things! lu sifeng : What? (lu gui pauses and looks quickly all around.) Who were the ghosts? lu gui : Well, the woman turned out to be—(glancing over his shoulder, then dropping his voice to a whisper) the mistress herself!

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sifeng : The mistress? And the man? gui : And the man—don’t be shocked—was Master Ping. sifeng : No! gui : Yes, it was him all right. He and his stepmother were the ghosts who’d been haunting the place nights. lu sifeng : I don’t believe it. You must have made a mistake. lu gui : Not me. Don’t you kid yourself. You see now, Sifeng, why I say you should come down to earth and stop being so silly. That’s the Zhous for you! lu sifeng (shaking her head): No, it’s impossible. lu gui : You’re forgetting that Master Ping is only six or seven years younger than the mistress. lu sifeng : I don’t believe it. No, no, it can’t be. lu gui : All right. Believe it or not as you please, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. The reason the mistress hasn’t been in a very good mood about you lately is because you—because you and— lu sifeng (hurriedly changing the subject): If the mistress knew it was you, she’d never forgive you. lu gui : You’re telling me! Instantly I was in a cold sweat, and before they came out to get me, I was gone. lu sifeng : But I can’t imagine the mistress letting it go like that. lu gui : Oh boy, she was tough. She tried to sound me out more than a dozen times, but I didn’t breathe a word. Still, that was two years ago, and I expect by now they’ve decided it must have been a ghost they heard coughing that night. lu sifeng (to herself ): No, no, I can’t believe it. Even if this were true, he would have told me. lu gui : You said Master Ping would have told you. But don’t you know who you are, and who he is? Your father’s a good-for-nothing, just a servant. You think he’d really be serious about you? Don’t you be dreaming your young lady’s dreams again! You— lu sifeng (in an outburst): Stop it! (Rising to her feet) I suppose you think I’m too happy because Mom’s coming home today. Is that why you’re talking all this stupid trash? It’s all trash! Get out of here! lu gui : There you go again! I was telling you the truth and wanted you to be smart, but you go and get upset again. What can I say? (Taking a brief, supercilious glance at lu sifeng , he feels quite satisfied with the effect of his remarks and is convinced he is smarter than anyone else. He walks across to the low table, picks up a cigarette from the cigarette case, and is about to light it when he realizes that he is now in the Zhou residence. Changing his mind, he puts down the cigarette and, with a practiced hand, conveys some of the cigarettes in the case along with a few cigars to his own battered old cigarette case.) lu sifeng (looking on with disgust as lu gui completes his thievery, contemptuously): If that’s all, I’ll be going. (She picks up the bowl of medicine and starts to go.)

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gui : Wait a minute. I haven’t finished yet. sifeng : Not finished? gui : I’m just about to come to the point. sifeng : Sorry, I don’t want to hear any more. (She turns to go again.) lu gui (grabs her by the arm): You got to hear this. lu sifeng : Take your hands off me! (Desperately) I’m going to yell! lu gui : I’m going to tell you one thing. Don’t you make a scene. (In her ear) Your mother will be coming here to see you. (He lets go of her.) lu sifeng (turning pale): What? lu gui : She’s coming here straight from the station. lu sifeng : What did you have to tell her to come here for? You know she never wanted me to be a servant. I can always see her in the evening when I get home, so what’s the point of bringing her here? lu gui : It’s none of my doing, Sifeng. The mistress wanted me to fetch her here. lu sifeng : The mistress, did you say? lu gui : That’s right. (Mysteriously) Strange, isn’t it? She’s no relation of your mother’s, or friend either, and yet she goes out of her way to invite her here for a little chat. lu sifeng : Oh, my gosh, can’t you be a little more forthcoming? lu gui : Do you know why the mistress is hiding herself upstairs writing poetry and doing calligraphy and faking sickness? lu sifeng : Well, she always does that whenever the master comes home. lu gui : Wouldn’t you say it was different this time? lu sifeng : Then tell me why. lu gui : Don’t you feel there’s something wrong? Hasn’t Master Ping mentioned anything? lu sifeng : All I know is for the last six months or so he and the mistress don’t have much to say to each other. lu gui : Is that so? Then how’s she been treating you? lu sifeng : Better than ever these last few days. lu gui : Just as I thought! Now listen. She knows I don’t want you to leave this job, so this time she’s going to speak to your mother and get her to take you away, bag and baggage! lu sifeng (in a low voice): So she wants to get rid of me—but—but why? lu gui : You know very well without my telling you. One more thing— lu sifeng (still in a low voice): But what can she want Mom here for? lu gui : Right, she has something important to tell her. lu sifeng (the truth suddenly dawning on her): Oh, Dad! Whatever happens, Mom mustn’t find out what I’ve been up to here. (Overcome by remorse and apprehension, she bursts into tears.) Just think, Dad. When Mom went away two years ago, she told you to look after me and not bring me to this place to work. You didn’t listen and brought me here any-

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way. Mom still doesn’t know about anything. She loves me. I love her. I’m her good girl. I just couldn’t bear her finding out what’s been going on here. (Flinging herself down on the table) Oh, Mom! Mom! lu gui : There, there! (Knowing how to play his part as the drama unfolds, stroking her tenderly) Now, your dad’s on your side, see? Your dad loves you, and you’ve got nothing to worry about. There’s nothing she can do. She’s not going to fire you. lu sifeng : Why not? She hates me, she hates me. lu gui : She hates you, that’s true, but she should know there’s one person in this house she’d better be afraid of. lu sifeng : Who’s that? lu gui : She’s afraid of me. Remember the two ghosts I told you about. When I asked her to give you a day off last night, she said I could bring your mother here when she comes. Well, I knew what sort of a mood she’d been in these last few days, so I pretty much guessed what she was up to. Then, casual-like, I dropped a word or two about what happened that night. She’s no dummy, you know, and she must have figured out what I was getting at—humph! If she tries to play games with me, we could cause her some serious trouble, especially with the master at home now! I know she can be a nasty piece of work, but anybody who tries to push my daughter around will have to step over my body first! lu sifeng : Dad! (Looking up) Don’t go do anything stupid! lu gui : I don’t think much of anybody in this house, except the old man. Don’t worry, your dad will look after you. Besides, I may be wrong about her. Perhaps she isn’t thinking of doing anything of the sort. At least on the surface she did say she only wanted to meet your mother because she’d heard your mother could read and write. lu sifeng (suddenly straining her ears to listen): Shh! I think I heard someone coughing (pointing left) in the dining room. lu gui (listens for a second): It’s not the mistress, is it? (He goes across to the door leading to the dining room, peeps through the keyhole, and hurries back to her.) It’s she. Funny, she’s coming downstairs! lu sifeng (wiping her tears): Dad, do I look all right? lu gui : Now, don’t panic and don’t breathe a word to her about anything. I’d better go. lu sifeng : All right, but be sure to let me know when Mom arrives. lu gui : Yes, and when you see her, pretend you haven’t heard a thing. Are you with me? (He goes across to the center door, then speaks over his shoulder) And don’t forget to tell the mistress that Lu Gui thinks about her. (He hurries out through the center door. lu sifeng picks up the bowl of medicine once again and goes toward the dining room, but just as she reaches the door, it opens and zhou fanyi appears. She is obviously a woman of ruthless determination. The faint red of her lips is the only touch of color in her otherwise pallid face. Her large, dark eyes and straight nose are quite fearsome. The eyes beneath her long, still lashes betray her unhappiness. Sometimes, when the smoldering fires of misery in her heart blaze into

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life, these eyes will fill with all the anguish and resentment of a frustrated young woman. The corners of her mouth are slightly drawn back, revealing her to be a repressed woman controlling herself with difficulty. Whenever she coughs in her quiet way, her slender, delicate white hands press against her flat, emaciated chest, and when the coughing is over, leaving her panting for breath, they will go up to feel her face, now flushed from coughing. With her delicate health, her secret sorrows, her intelligence, and her love of poetry and literature, she is an old-fashioned Chinese woman; yet there is a primitive wildness in her that shows in her courage, in her almost fanatical reasoning, and in her sudden, unaccountable strength in moments of crisis. The overall impression she gives people is one of crystalline transparency, as if she is the sort of woman who can offer a man no companionship but the platonic kind, and her broad, unclouded forehead is expressive of a subtle intelligence. But when, lost in sentimental reverie, she breaks into a sudden smile of happiness, or when, at the sight of someone dear to her, a flush of pleasure suffuses her face and dimples appear on her cheeks, she makes one feel for the first time that it would be possible to love her and that she does indeed deserve to be loved. In fact, one realizes that she is a woman after all, a woman no different from all the others. When she loves, she loves like a hungry dog chewing on a bone after three days’ starvation, and when she hates, she hates as fiercely as a vicious cur that chews you up without making a noise. Yet on the surface she appears serene and wistful: when she stops beside one, it is like a leaf falling by one’s side on a late autumn afternoon. She seems to feel that the summer of her life is now over, and that the shades of evening are falling around her. She is dressed all in black, and her dress is trimmed with silver-gray piping. A round fan hangs from her fingers. Her eye sockets are slightly sunken. As she comes in she looks casually at lu sifeng .) lu sifeng : Why, ma’am! I didn’t know you’d come downstairs! I was just coming up with the medicine. zhou fanyi : Is the master in the study? lu sifeng : Yes, he has a visitor. zhou fanyi : Who is it? lu sifeng : Well, it was the engineer who built the new house, but I don’t know who it is now. Did you want to see him? zhou fanyi : No. Nanny told me this house has been sold to the church to become a hospital. Is that true? lu sifeng : That’s right. Master wants all the small belongings packed up, and all the big furniture has been moved to the new house. zhou fanyi : Who says we’re moving? lu sifeng : Master wanted the moving to get started as soon as he came back. zhou fanyi (pauses, then suddenly): How come no one told me? lu sifeng : Master said you were not feeling well. He didn’t want to disturb you. zhou fanyi (pauses again and looks all around): After two weeks upstairs, this room looks quite different.

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lu sifeng : I know. Master didn’t like the way it was arranged before, so he had some of your new furniture moved out. He’s got the room arranged just the way he wants it. zhou fanyi (noticing the bureau on the right): That’s his favorite old bureau. It’s back again where it used to be. (Sighing) Everything has to be done his way. He just won’t give an inch. (She coughs and sits down.) lu sifeng : Your face looks feverish, ma’am. Wouldn’t it be better if you went back upstairs and lay down? zhou fanyi : No, it’s too hot up there. (She coughs again.) lu sifeng : Master says you’re very sick and asks you to rest in bed quietly upstairs. zhou fanyi : I don’t want to stay in bed—oh, I forgot to ask you. When did the master get back from the mine? lu sifeng : Two days ago, late at night. When he saw you in a high fever, he told us not to disturb you. He’s been sleeping downstairs all by himself. zhou fanyi : But I don’t seem to have seen him in the daytime, either. lu sifeng : Well, he’s been busy every day meeting with the directors of the mine. So he goes up to see you only in the evenings, but then your door’s always locked. zhou fanyi (nonchalantly): I see—why, it’s just as stifling downstairs. lu sifeng : Yes, it’s very stuffy. It’s been very cloudy and dark since first thing this morning. I expect we’re in for a storm. zhou fanyi : Give me a larger fan. I’m practically suffocating. (lu sifeng hands her a large palm-leaf fan. She looks at lu sifeng for a moment, then deliberately turns her face away.) How come I haven’t seen Master Ping lately? lu sifeng : He’s probably very busy. zhou fanyi : I hear he’s going to work on the mine, too. Is that true? lu sifeng : I don’t know. zhou fanyi : Haven’t you heard about it, then? lu sifeng : No. But I do know his maid’s been busy packing his things. zhou fanyi : What’s your father doing? lu sifeng : Maybe he’s gone to get some incense for Master—oh, he said he was anxious to know how you’re getting on. zhou fanyi : Glad he was thinking of me. (After a pause, suddenly) Isn’t he up yet? lu sifeng : Who? zhou fanyi (rather taken aback by the unexpected question, but hastily recovering herself ): Why—of course I mean Master Ping. lu sifeng : I don’t know. zhou fanyi (casting a swift glance at her): You don’t? lu sifeng : I haven’t seen him the whole morning. zhou fanyi : What time did he get home last night? lu sifeng (blushing): You know I go home to sleep every night. How would I know?

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zhou fanyi (blurting it out, sarcastically): So you sleep at home every night, do you? (Realizing that she has made a faux pas) But why should you go home every night now that the master’s at home with no one to wait on him? lu sifeng : But, ma’am, didn’t you tell me to yourself? zhou fanyi : Yes, but that was when the master wasn’t at home. lu sifeng : I thought Master was a Buddhist and wouldn’t want the likes of us to stay on and wait on him. I was told Master hates to be in the company of womenfolk. zhou fanyi : I see. (Watching lu sifeng , she thinks of her own experience) Yep. (In a low voice) But it’s hard to say. (Suddenly looking up) So he’s leaving in a couple of days, where can he be going? lu sifeng (timidly): Master Ping, you mean? zhou fanyi (eyeing her sideways): Hm. lu sifeng : I haven’t heard a thing. (Hesitantly) He—he never gets in till two or three in the morning. This morning my father was muttering something about having to open the gate for him in the early hours of the morning. zhou fanyi : Was he drunk again? lu sifeng : I’m not sure. (Changing the subject) Ma’am, what about having your medicine now? zhou fanyi : Medicine? Who says I need medication? lu sifeng : Master wanted it ready for you. zhou fanyi : But how can there be any medicine when I haven’t even seen a doctor? lu sifeng : Master said it must be your liver again, and this morning he happened to remember about the prescription you had last time, so he sent it out to be refilled and had it boiled for you. zhou fany i : Is it ready? lu sifeng : Yes. It’s been here getting cool for some time now. (Handing her the bowl) Here you are, ma’am. zhou fanyi (taking a sip): Very bitter. Who boiled it? lu sifeng : I did. zhou fanyi : Tastes awful. Dump it. lu sifeng : Dump it? zhou fanyi : Hm—okay (remembering her husband’s stern face) perhaps you should leave it on the table for the time being—no (with loathing), you’d better dump it. lu sifeng (hesitantly): Yes, ma’am. zhou fanyi : I’ve been taking this disgusting stuff for years now. I think I’ve had more than enough of it. lu sifeng (holding the bowl): Take it one more time, ma’am. As they say, the worse it tastes, the more good it’ll do you. zhou fanyi (suddenly taking it out on her): Who asked you for advice? Dump it, I say! (Realizing that this outburst is rather undignified) My maid tells me the master looks much thinner this time. lu sifeng : Yes, he is thinner, and darker in the face, too. I hear the miners are out on strike, and Master’s very worried.

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zhou fanyi : Is he very cross? lu sifeng : He’s the same as usual. Except for seeing visitors, chanting sutras, and meditating, he doesn’t say a word to anybody in the house. zhou fanyi : Not even to Master Ping and Master Chong? lu sifeng : He just nodded when he saw Master Ping. Didn’t even say a word to him. But he did ask Master Chong about school—oh yes, that reminds me: Master Chong was asking after you only this morning. zhou fanyi : I’m not in the mood to talk. You can just tell him I’m quite well—and tell them in the office to give him forty dollars. Say it’s for him to buy books with. lu sifeng : Master Chong was hoping to have a word with you. zhou fanyi : Tell him to come and see me upstairs then. (She stands up and walks a few steps.) What a horribly stuffy room this is! The furniture all smells so musty, and the people are all so creepy. lu sifeng (after a moment ’s hesitation): Ma’am, may I have the afternoon off, please? zhou fanyi : Because your mother’s coming back from Jinan,2 do you mean? Your father was saying something about it. zhou chong’s voice (from the garden): Sifeng! Sifeng! zhou fanyi : That’s Master Chong calling you. Go and see what he wants. zhou chong’s voice : Sifeng! lu sifeng : Here I am. (zhou chong comes in through the center door, in a white jacket .) zhou chong (seeing only lu sifeng ): Ah, here you are, Sifeng. I’ve been looking for you all morning. (Noticing zhou fanyi ) Mom! What are you doing downstairs? zhou fanyi : Why, Chong, what have you been doing? Your face is flushed. zhou chong : Oh, I’ve just been playing tennis with a schoolmate. (Affectionately) I’ve been wanting to see you. I’ve got so many things to tell you about. Are you feeling any better now? (He sits down beside her.) I’ve been up to see you several times in the past few days, but your door’s always locked. zhou fanyi : I wanted to be left alone. How do you think I look?—Sifeng, why don’t you get Master Chong a bottle of soda? Look, your face is red all over! (lu sifeng goes into the dining room.) zhou chong (delighted): Let me have a look at you. Well, from what I can see, you’re perfectly all right—nothing wrong with you at all. Why should they always say you’re sick? You’ve shut yourself away in your room and Father’s been home three days now. You haven’t even seen him yet. zhou fanyi (looking at him sadly): I don’t feel myself, somehow. zhou chong : Oh, no, Mom, don’t say that. Father hasn’t been good to you, but he’s old. I’m your future. I’ll marry someone really, really nice, and you, Mom, will live with us together. We’ll make sure to make you happy.

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zhou fanyi (a faint smile flickers across her face): Happy? (Suddenly) Chong, you’re seventeen, aren’t you? zhou chong (liking his mother’s occasional abruptness): Now, Mom, if you forget my age again, I’ll be really angry with you. zhou fanyi : Mom hasn’t been a good mother to you. Sometimes I even forget where I am. (Lost in thought) Yes, it’s now eighteen years since I came to live in this house— but tell me: don’t you think I’m getting old? zhou chong : No. Why, what’s worrying you? zhou fanyi : Nothing. zhou chong : Mom, do you know we’re moving? A new house! Father told me yesterday we’ll move over the day after tomorrow. zhou fanyi : You know why your father wants to move? zhou chong : No. When has Father told us anything in advance? But I think he’s getting old. He says he’s not going to work on the mine anymore. Besides, this old house seems quite ominous—oh yes, Mom, don’t you know this house is haunted? Two years ago, on an autumn night, I thought I heard something. zhou fanyi : Let’s not talk about that. zhou chong : Mom, do you also believe in such things? zhou fanyi : No I don’t. But there’s something strange about this old house that makes me like it. I always feel there’s something spiritual about this house that keeps pulling me and won’t let me go. zhou chong (suddenly cheerful): Mom— (lu sifeng comes in with the soda.) lu sifeng : Here you are, Master Chong. zhou chong (standing up): Thank you. (Blushing, lu sifeng pours out the soda for him.) Do you mind getting another glass for the mistress? (lu sifeng goes out.) zhou fanyi (who has been watching them closely all this time): Chong, why are you two being so polite to each other? zhou chong (drinking): Mom, that’s just what I was going to tell you about. It’s because— (lu sifeng comes in again.) —I’ll tell you about it some other time. Mom, didn’t you say you wanted to do a fan painting for me? zhou fanyi : Don’t forget I’m sick. zhou chong : Oh, yes. Sorry about that. I, I—why is it so stuffy in this room? zhou fanyi : Maybe because the windows are closed. zhou chong : I’ll open them then. lu sifeng : Master said he wouldn’t let anyone open them. He says it’s hotter outside than inside. zhou fanyi : No, Sifeng, open them. He’s usually away two years at a time and doesn’t know how stale and airless this room can be. (lu sifeng draws aside the curtains in front of the bay window.)

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zhou chong (seeing that lu sifeng is having some difficulty moving the flowerpot on the windowsill): Don’t bother, Sifeng. I’ll get it. (He goes across to the window.) lu sifeng : I can manage, Master Chong. zhou chong (struggling with her): Let me do it. (Both pick up the pot at the same time. When they put it down, it lands on lu sifeng ’s hand. lu sifeng lets out an “Ouch!”) Are you okay, Sifeng? lu sifeng (pulling back her hand): I’m fine, Master Chong. zhou chong : Don’t worry, I’ll get a bandage for you. zhou fanyi : Chong, that won’t be necessary. (Turning to lu sifeng ) Go down to the kitchen, will you, and see if the vegetarian dishes for the master are all ready. (lu sifeng goes out through the center door. zhou chong watches her go.) Chong! (zhou chong comes back across the room to her.) Now, sit down and tell me all about it. zhou chong (looking at her with eyes bright with hope and happiness): Mom, I’ve been very happy these last few days. zhou fanyi : If you can be happy in this house, so much the better. zhou chong : I’ve never kept any secrets from you, Mom. You’re not just an ordinary mother. You’re the most courageous, the most imaginative, the most sympathetic of mothers—sympathetic to my ideas. zhou fanyi : I’m glad to hear that. zhou chong : I want to tell you something—no, I mean I want to consult you about something. zhou fanyi : Well, let’s hear what it is. zhou chong : Mom—(mysteriously) you won’t be cross with me? zhou fanyi : No, I won’t. Go on, child. zhou chong (elated): Oh, Mom—no, no, no, I don’t think I will tell you. zhou fanyi (breaking into a smile): Why not? zhou chong : Well, I—I’m afraid you’ll be angry. Will you still love me just the same after I’ve told you? zhou fanyi : Of course I will, you silly boy. Always. zhou chong (smiling): Dearest Mom! You mean that? You’ll still love me? And not be angry? zhou fanyi : Of course. Now tell me all about it. zhou chong : But you mustn’t laugh at me when you hear what it is. zhou fanyi : I won’t. zhou chong : Promise? zhou fanyi : Yes, I promise. zhou chong : Well, Mom, I’m in love. zhou fanyi (her suspicions and fear confirmed): Oh! zhou chong (meeting her gaze): Now, Mom! You look as if you don’t like it.

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zhou fanyi (shaking her head): No, no, what you said reminds me—makes me think of my own . . . oh, no, no, no, just go on. Who’s the girl? zhou chong : Oh, she’s the most—(casting a glance at zhou fanyi ) you see, you’re going to laugh at me again, Mom. Well, anyway, I think she’s the most wonderful girl in the world. She has a heart of gold; she knows how to enjoy life; she’s understanding and kind; and she realizes the importance of hard work. What’s most important, she isn’t one of those aristocratic young ladies who’ve been pampered and spoiled all their lives. zhou fanyi : But I thought you’d prefer an educated person. Has she been to school? zhou chong : Of course not. That’s her only—I might say that’s her only weakness, but you can’t very well hold that against her. zhou fanyi : I see. (The sparkle has now faded from her eyes, but she cannot very well abandon her questioning now.) Chong, I suppose you wouldn’t be referring to—er—Sifeng? zhou chong : Oh, yes, Mom—Mom, I know other people will laugh at me, but I’m sure you’ll understand. zhou fanyi (stunned, to herself ): How come my own son . . . zhou chong (becoming anxious): Why, don’t you approve? You think I’ve done wrong? zhou fanyi : No, no, it’s not that. It’s just that I’m afraid a girl like her wouldn’t be able to bring you happiness. zhou chong : But she will! She’s intelligent and warmhearted—and she understands me. zhou fanyi : You won’t care if your father disapproves? zhou chong : This is my own affair. zhou fanyi : And if people talk when they hear about it? zhou chong : That would worry me even less. zhou fanyi : Like mother, like son. But I’m afraid you’re going the wrong way. In the first place, when all’s said and done, she’s still an uneducated girl from the lower classes. For a girl in her position it must be a marvelous stroke of luck to have a young man like you in love with her. zhou chong : Now, Mom! Don’t you think she has a mind of her own? zhou fanyi : You’re always setting people up on pedestals, Chong. zhou chong : I think you’re doing her a great injustice, Mom. She’s the purest, most independent, nicest girl alive. When I proposed to her yesterday— zhou fanyi (with growing astonishment): What! Proposed to her? (The very idea seems ludicrous) You mean to say you proposed to her? zhou chong (seriously, annoyed by his mother’s attitude): No, Mom, there’s no need to laugh about it! She turned me down. But I’m glad, in a way, because it strengthens my conviction that she’s a girl with a noble mind. She said she didn’t want to marry me. zhou fanyi : So! Turned you down—(that also sounds ludicrous) she turning you down? Humph! I know why.

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zhou chong : Now, don’t imagine she’s just putting on an act by refusing, because it just isn’t true. She said her heart belonged to another. zhou fanyi : Did she say who? zhou chong : I didn’t ask. Most probably some neighbor of hers, someone she sees every day. Still, the course of true love never runs smooth. I love her, and gradually she’ll come to understand me and love me in return. zhou fanyi : No son of mine shall ever marry a girl like her! zhou chong : Mom, why do you dislike her like that? Sifeng’s a decent girl. She always speaks of you with great admiration and respect. zhou fanyi : What are you going to do now? zhou chong : I intend to tell Father all about it. zhou fanyi : You forget what sort of man your father is. zhou chong : I must tell him. Of course, it’s not absolutely certain that I’ll ever marry her, but even if she doesn’t want me for a husband, I’ll still have great respect for her and try to help her. In the meantime, I want to make sure she gets an education. I’m hoping that Father will let me give her half the money set aside for my education, so that she can go to school. zhou fanyi : You’re just a kid. zhou chong (offended): No, I’m not a kid, I’m not a kid! zhou fanyi : One word from your father, and all your dreams will be shattered. zhou chong : I don’t think so. (A shade despondently) All right, don’t let’s talk about it anymore. Oh, I saw Ping yesterday. He said he really is going to the mine to work this time and that he’s leaving tomorrow. He said, would I tell you he’s terribly busy and probably won’t have time to go upstairs and say goodbye to you himself. You won’t mind, I hope? zhou fanyi : Why should I? zhou chong : Somehow I can’t help feeling you don’t get on with him as well as you used to. You know, Mom, when you consider that he lost his own mother when he was still a child, it’s not really surprising that he should appear as somewhat weird. His mother must have been a very emotional sort of woman, judging from what he’s like. zhou fanyi : Now that your father’s at home, it would be better if you didn’t mention Ping’s mother; otherwise your father will be going around looking as black as thunder again and making everybody feel miserable. zhou chong : But it’s true, Mom. Ping has been acting rather peculiar lately. He’s been drinking heavily and flying off the handle all the time. Sometimes he goes to a church. I don’t know what he does there. zhou fanyi : What else? zhou chong : The other day, when he got very drunk, he took me by the hand and told me he hated himself, and then reeled off a whole long rigmarole that I couldn’t make head or tail of. zhou fanyi : Oh!

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zhou chong : In the end he suddenly told me that he’d once loved a woman that he never should have loved! zhou fanyi (to herself ): Once? zhou chong : After that he burst into tears, and the next moment he made me leave his room. zhou fanyi : Did he say anything more after that? zhou chong : No, nothing. He looked so miserable that I felt really sorry for him. Why isn’t he married yet? zhou fanyi (murmuring): Who knows? Who knows? zhou chong (looking around at the sound of footsteps outside the door): Why, if it isn’t Ping himself! (The center door is pushed open and zhou ping comes in. He is about twenty-eight, very pale, and slightly taller than his half brother. His features are well formed—one might even say handsome, though he is not exactly the sort of young man who makes women swoon at a glance. His bushy black eyebrows, his thick-lobed ears, and his large, powerful hands may give you the impression, at first sight, of simple honesty; but if you remain in his company a little longer you will realize that his appearance of rough, likable simplicity is deceptive. His is a crafted personality, of which the dregs have been refined and prettified in the smoldering furnace of education. But because of this suffocating tempering, the uncouth, pristine “savagery” that permeated his human vitality has evaporated, and what remains is doubt, timidity, and the nondescript. It takes only a couple of minutes of conversation with this man to discover that you are talking to a beautiful but empty shell. It’s like a stalk of wheat plucked from the fields and transplanted into a greenhouse. It may still flower and even bear fruit, but being empty and fragile, it cannot withstand the wind and frost of the real world. In his dull, troubled eyes you will see uncertainty, hesitation, timidity, and conflict. As his eyes dim to a mere faint glitter in the pupils, you know he is engaged in an introspection of his erroneous decisions while fearing being perceived by others as so inept that he can survive only by hiding in his small inner world. However, you must not think he is incapable of doing something shocking, or lacking in masculine daring. Oh no, when the tide of his passion surges, when you see the thrilling and ever-flickering light curving from the corners of his eyes, when you see his extremely impetuous and sensitive, thick red lips, you know that is the moment when he may recklessly commit an act for which he will curse himself for the rest of his life. And his life never follows a plan. The corners of his mouth droop slackly, and at the slightest fatigue his eyes will become set in a lifeless stare, so that you feel he is unable to exert any control over himself or settle down permanently to any regular occupation. He is conscious of his weakness and tries to remedy it—no, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he suffers perpetual remorse for something wrong that he once did. Nevertheless, when some fresh impulse seizes him, all his passion and desire come flooding back in an overwhelming torrent, and what little is left of his reason becomes nothing more than a dead twig caught up in a whirlpool. Almost in a delirious state, he does what he knows he shouldn’t do.

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Under these circumstances it is quite natural that one act of folly should be succeeded by an even greater one. So, being a man with a moral outlook and a sensitive nature, yet at the same time with a strong yearning for life and an awareness of his carnal desires, he suffers, he hates himself. He envies all those who, untroubled by scruples, dare abandon themselves to any wickedness. That is why he can empathize with lu gui . At the same time, he also envies those who can firmly embrace a career and forge steadily ahead with it, keep to the beaten track of what is generally accepted as morality, and finally emerge as model citizens and model family men. It is this that lies behind his admiration for his father, who, so far as he can judge from his own limited experience, is a man of flawless character—except for a certain amount of obstinacy and coldness— and he admires him even for this, for these are traits that he is conscious of lacking in himself. He feels he has done wrong in deceiving his father, not so much because he loves his father all that much [although he cannot but say he does] as because he finds this demeaning, just like a mouse taking a bite of a sleeping lion. Yet, like all introspective but impetuous people, the minute his intuition leaves him and cold reason returns, he hates himself with redoubled bitterness and feels more deeply than ever that it is inhuman to take upon himself all the agonies of sin. He wants to rid himself of this feeling, but for this he needs new strength—anything so long as it will help him extricate himself from the morass of tormenting indecision that is dragging him down. His search has brought him to lu sifeng , and he has discovered in her the things he most desperately needs, for she has youth, beauty, and passion in overflowing abundance. It is true that he finds her rather unrefined, but he has now realized that this lack of refinement is just what he needs. He has now come to loathe overly melancholic women, for melancholy has already eroded his heart. He also hates women refined by education [because they would remind him of his own weakness] as much as he finds all the subtler emotions “sickening.” Nevertheless, his mind is still troubled by a hidden, fitful undercurrent of emotion. He allows himself to drift along with this current and refuses to dissect himself with cold reasoning. He is afraid, yes, afraid sometimes to see inner flaws. Now he has to love lu sifeng , love her with heart and soul, and thereby forget himself. Of course he is fully aware that this time he is not just courting love as a spiritual remedy. There is another realm of desire that he has to quench. But in this he no longer feels the qualms that he did in his past experience. He tells himself that as long as he treats her well everything should be fine. Having tasted the warm fragrance of the virgin’s flesh, he feels his mind is clear, and his heart is lit up by sunshine. “Maybe she is my savior!” So thinking, he surrenders all his life to this girl. But remembrance of the past still clutches his heart like a huge iron hand. Every now and then, especially in the presence of zhou fanyi , he has felt the pangs that pierce his heart. That is why he wants to leave this place, this nightmare of an old house, and go anywhere. However, before he can escape from the narrow confines of this cage, whenever he becomes obsessed by the idea that lu sifeng is incapable of understanding and comforting him, he plunges headlong into heavy drinking, into all the riotous pleasures and external stimuli. This leaves him more depressed than ever, a prey to perpetual restlessness.

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At the moment he is wearing a dark-blue silk gown, European-style trousers, and patent leather shoes. He is unshaven and generally untidy. He is yawning.) Hello, Brother! zhou ping : So here you are. zhou fanyi (feeling slighted): Ping! zhou ping : Oh. (Lowers his eyes, then looks up again) You—er—I didn’t know you were here, too. zhou fanyi : I just came downstairs. zhou ping (turning to zhou chong ): I suppose Father’s still here? zhou chong : Yes, he is. Did you want to see him? zhou ping : I was thinking of having a chat with him before I go. (He walks straight toward the door of the study.) zhou chong : Not now. zhou ping : Why? What’s Father doing there? zhou chong : Probably having a business discussion with a visitor. When I saw him a moment ago, he said he’d be out soon and told us to wait for him here. zhou ping : I’d better get back to my room first; I got a letter to write. (He turns to go.) zhou chong : Don’t go, Ping. Mom says she hasn’t seen you for a long time. Why not sit down with us and have a chat? zhou fanyi : Don’t stop him, Chong. Let him go and have a rest if he wants to. I expect he wants to be left alone. zhou ping (somewhat nettled): Not necessarily. It’s just that I thought you’d be very busy now that Father’s at home, and so— zhou chong : But don’t you know Mom’s been sick? zhou fanyi : Why should he keep my being sick in his mind? zhou chong : Mom! zhou ping : Are you better now? zhou fanyi : Yes, thank you. I just came downstairs a moment ago. zhou ping : Oh, by the way, I’m leaving for the mine tomorrow. zhou fanyi : Oh. (After a pause) That’s good. When do you expect to be back? zhou ping : Hard to say, really. I may be gone two years, perhaps three. Whew, it’s suffocating in here! zhou chong : Well, we’ve opened all the windows—seems to me we’re in for a heavy storm. zhou fanyi (after a pause): What will you be doing at the mine? zhou chong : Don’t forget, Mom, Ping specialized in mining when he was in college. zhou fanyi : Is that the reason why you’re going, Ping? zhou ping (picking up a newspaper by way of shielding himself ): I don’t quite know how to put it. I feel I’ve been at home too long and I’m getting fed up. zhou fanyi (with a smile): Maybe it’s because you’re afraid. zhou ping : How do you mean? zhou fanyi : You’ve forgotten that this room was haunted once.

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zhou ping : No, I haven’t forgotten. I’ve lived here long enough, that’s all. zhou fanyi (smiling): If I were in your place, I’d be absolutely sick and tired of everybody here, and I’d get out of this hellish place, too. zhou chong : You mustn’t say such things, Mom. zhou ping (gloomily): No, I can’t hate myself enough; who am I to be sick and tired of other people? (Heaving a sigh) Well, Chong, I’m off back to my room. (He stands up. The door of the study opens.) zhou chong : Don’t go. I think Father’s coming out now. (The door of the study opens halfway, revealing zhou puyuan , speaking on his way in.) voice from inside : Well, I think that’s the way we’ll do it. No problem. Right, well, goodbye . . . You know your way out? (The door opens wide and zhou puyuan enters. He could be anywhere between fifty and sixty. His hair is already graying at the temples. He wears oval, gold-rimmed spectacles, and his deep-set eyes flash with a hawklike intensity. Like all founders of family fortunes, his forbidding presence overawes his children. He is dressed in the fashion of twenty years ago—a patterned satin gown with a white silk shirt underneath and the collar unbuttoned to reveal a fleshy neck. His clothes, neat and spotlessly clean, look slack and comfortable. He is a little overweight and has a slight stoop and a loose, flabby jowl. His eyes are slightly sunken, yet they glitter harsh and keen. Every now and then he closes his eyes in fatigue. The lines on his face tell a tale of long years of toiling and scheming, and his cold, insolent stare and the sardonic smile that occasionally twists the corners of his mouth proclaim his tyrannical temper, self-righteousness, and obstinacy. All signs of the wild abandon of his youth are now buried deep beneath his wrinkles, except that his hair, though graying, retains its youthful luster. It is neatly parted and combed back from the forehead, sleek and glossy. In the sunlight his face will take on that silvery sheen that is popularly supposed to be the hallmark of a man of wealth and position. This is the secret of his success as a mine owner, no doubt. His beard is also graying, and he often combs it with a small ivory comb. He wears a huge ring on his thumb. Right now he seems in high spirits. He enters with preponderant airs.) zhou ping and zhou chong : Hello, Father. zhou chong : Your visitor’s gone? zhou puyuan (nodding, then turning to zhou fanyi ): I’m surprised to see you here downstairs. Quite well again? zhou fanyi : Oh, I wasn’t all that sick in the first place. How are you this time? zhou puyuan : Well enough. I think you ought to go back upstairs and rest. Now, Chong, how do you think your mother’s looking today? zhou chong : There’s never been anything wrong with her at all. zhou puyuan (doesn’ t like being talked back to by his sons like this; opening his eyes wide, domineeringly): Where did you get that idea from? I hope you made it your business to inquire after your mother’s health all the time I was away. (He sits down on a sofa.)

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zhou fanyi (sensing that one of his usual lectures is imminent): Puyuan, you seem to have gotten thinner since last time—what about the strike at the mine? zhou puyuan : Oh, they’ve been back at work since yesterday morning. It’s all over now. zhou chong : Then why is Lu Dahai still here waiting to see you, Father? zhou puyuan : Who’s Lu Dahai? zhou chong : Lu Gui’s son. He got hired the year before last and became a miners’ representative this time. zhou puyuan : Oh, him! I guess he has some dubious background. Anyway, he’s already been fired. zhou chong : Fired! But Father, this man knows what he’s talking about. I was just chatting with him a while ago. You can’t just fire a man simply because he’s a strikers’ representative. zhou puyuan : Hm! It seems quite the fashion nowadays for young people to schmooze with the workers and go around mouthing meaningless words of sympathy! zhou chong : I think we ought to sympathize with them, because they’re doing their best to help their own people. Besides, it’s not right that people who are as well off as we are should grudge them a meager livelihood. And it’s not a matter of fashion, either. zhou puyuan (turning up his eyes): What do you know about society? How many books on sociology and economics have you read? I remember how I used to have the same sort of ideas when I was a student in Germany—except that my ideas were much more thorough than your half-baked notions! zhou chong (thoroughly browbeaten, yet firing a parting shot): Father, I hear the miners who were injured this time didn’t get a penny in the way of compensation. zhou puyuan (looking swiftly up): I think you’ve said more than enough for the time being. (Turning to zhou fanyi ) He’s been getting just like you these last couple of years. (Looking at the clock) I’ve got another appointment in ten minutes. Now, have any of you got anything to see me about? zhou ping : Yes, I wanted to see you, Father. zhou puyuan : Oh, yes? What about? zhou ping : I want to leave for the mine tomorrow. zhou puyuan : Have you finished handing over at the head office? zhou ping : Just about. I hope you’ll give me some real work to do this time. I don’t want to just stand by and watch. zhou puyuan (pausing a moment, then looking him full in the face): You think you’re up to a really tough job? There’d be no backing out once you’d taken it on, you know. I won’t have a son of mine make a fool of himself. zhou ping : I’ve been having much too easy a time here these last couple of years, and I’m really keen on getting away from the city and having a spell in the interior. zhou puyuan : Now let me think . . . Yes, you may as well leave tomorrow if you want to. I’ll send you a wire when you get there and let you know exactly what your job will be. (lu sifeng comes in from the dining room with a bowl of Pu’er tea.)

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zhou chong (hesitantly): Father. zhou puyuan (sensing fresh trouble from this quarter): What is it now? zhou chong : There’s something really important I want to discuss with you. zhou puyuan : Well? zhou chong (hanging his head): I’d like to share my tuition allowance with someone. zhou puyuan : Eh? zhou chong (screwing up his courage): I want to give a portion of my school allowance to— (lu sifeng places the tea in front of zhou puyuan .) zhou puyuan : Sifeng—(to zhou chong ) just a minute—(to lu sifeng again) what about the medicine I told you to get ready for the mistress? lu sifeng : It’s done, sir. zhou puyuan : Then why isn’t it here? (lu sifeng looks at zhou fanyi but says nothing.) zhou fanyi (sensing something ominous in the air): She got it for me just a short while ago, but I didn’t take it. zhou puyuan : Why not? (Pauses, then turns to lu sifeng ) Where is it now? zhou fanyi (quickly): Down the sink. I told her to pour it away. zhou puyuan (slowly): Pour it away? I—see! (Even more slowly) Poured away! (To lu sifeng ) Is there any of it left? lu sifeng : There’s still a little left in the jar. zhou puyuan (slowly and in a low voice): Go and get it. zhou fanyi (protesting): I won’t touch it—it’s too bitter. zhou puyuan (to lu sifeng , raising his voice): Go on. (lu sifeng walks across to the left and pours the medicine into a small bowl.) zhou chong : But, Father! If Mom doesn’t want it, there’s no need to force her to take it. zhou puyuan : Neither you nor your mother knows what’s wrong with either of you. (To his wife, in a low voice) Come now, it’ll make you quite well again if you’ll only take it. (Seeing that lu sifeng seems still undecided, he points to the medicine bowl ) Hand it to the mistress. zhou fanyi (forcing herself to yield): All right. Put it down here for the moment. zhou puyuan (with annoyance): Nope. You’d better take it at once. zhou fanyi (bursting out): Sifeng, take it away! zhou puyuan (with sudden harshness): Take it, I say! Don’t be so headstrong. And in front of these grown-up children, too! zhou fanyi (her voice trembling): But I don’t want it. zhou puyuan : Chong, hand your mother the medicine. zhou chong (protesting): Now, Father! zhou puyuan (glaring): Go on! (zhou chong reluctantly takes the medicine across to zhou fanyi .) Now say, “Take it, Mother.” zhou chong (holding the medicine bowl with trembling hands, then turning around, loudly): Father, you’re taking it too far!

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zhou puyuan (yelling): Say it! zhou ping (going across with bent head to zhou chong and speaking in an undertone): You’d better do as Father says. You know what he’s like. zhou chong (helplessly, to his mother, with tears in his eyes): Please take it, Mom, if only for my sake. Father won’t let up until you do. zhou fanyi (pleading): Can’t I take it in the evening? zhou puyuan (with icy severity): Fanyi, as a mother, you’ve got to be always thinking of the children. Even if you don’t care about your own health, you should at least set the children an example of obedience. zhou fanyi (looking from zhou puyuan to zhou ping , then picking up the bowl, in tears, and putting it down again): No! I can’t! zhou puyuan : Ping, ask your mother to take it. zhou ping : But Father, I— zhou puyuan : Go on! Down on your knees and beg her! zhou ping (going across to zhou fanyi , then looking appealingly toward zhou puyuan ): Father! zhou puyuan (shouting): Down on your knees! (zhou ping looks dumbly at zhou fanyi , who is in tears, while zhou chong is trembling all over.) Down on your knees, I say! (zhou ping is about to kneel down, when—) zhou fanyi (hurriedly, her eyes on zhou ping ): All right! I’ll take it now. (She takes a couple of sips, but immediately the tears stream down her cheeks again. Then, with a glance at her harsh-eyed husband and the distressed zhou ping , she swallows her resentment and finishes the medicine at a single gulp.) Oh—oh—oh— (She runs out weeping through the dining-room door. There is a long silence.) zhou puyuan (looking at his watch): There’s still three minutes to go. (To zhou chong ) You were saying? zhou chong (looking up, slowly): Eh? zhou puyuan : You were saying something about wanting to share your allowance with someone. Well, what’s it all about? zhou chong (in a low voice): I’ve changed my mind about it now. zhou puyuan : You’re quite sure there’s nothing worrying you? zhou chong (with a sob in his voice): No, nothing, nothing—Mom was right. (He hurries toward the dining room.) zhou puyuan : Chong! Where are you going? zhou chong : Upstairs to see Mom. zhou puyuan : Just like that? zhou chong (controlling himself and turning back): Sorry, Father. May I be excused? zhou puyua n : All right. You may go now. (zhou chong turns and makes for the dining room again.) Come back!

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zhou chong : Yes, Father? zhou puyuan : Tell your mother I’ve asked Dr. Kramer to come and have a look at her. zhou chong : But she’s already taken the medicine you got for her. zhou puyuan : I think your mother’s becoming mentally unbalanced. It looks serious to me. (Over his shoulder to zhou ping ) And the same’s true with you, too. zhou ping : Well, Father, I think I’ll go back to my room for a rest. zhou puyuan : No, don’t go yet. I want to have a talk with you. (To zhou chong ) Tell her Dr. Kramer is a famous neurologist. I got to know him when I was in Germany. When he comes, make sure she sees him. You understand? zhou chong : Yes, I hear you. (Turning back after a few steps) Anything else, Father? zhou puyuan : No. Off you go (zhou chong goes out into the dining room.) (Turning and finding lu sifeng still there) Sifeng, I think I’ve told you that the servants are not supposed to hang around in this room when they’re not wanted. lu sifeng : Yes, sir. (She also goes out through the dining-room door. lu gui enters from the study.) lu gui (begins to stutter at the sight of his master): Ss—Sss—Sir, a—a gentleman to see you. zhou puyuan : Oh, show him into the big drawing room. lu gui : Yes, sir. (He leaves.) zhou puyuan : Oh, no! Who’s been opening these windows? zhou ping : Chong and I opened them. zhou puyuan : Shut them. (Taking off his spectacles and wiping them) I don’t want the servants running in and out of this room all the time. I’ll be resting in here shortly and I don’t want to be disturbed. zhou ping : Sure. zhou puyuan (still wiping his spectacles, and looking all around at the furniture): Most of the things in this room were your own mother’s favorites. That’s why, when we moved up here from the south, and all the times we’ve moved house since then, I’ve never been able to abandon any of it. (He puts on his spectacles and clears his throat.) I want the furniture in this room kept just the way it was arranged thirty years ago. It makes me feel good just looking at it. (He strolls across to the bureau and looks at the photograph on it.) Your own mother always liked the windows closed in summer. zhou ping (with a forced smile): But, even if you do want to keep up Mother’s memory, I don’t see why you have to— zhou puyuan (suddenly looking up): I hear you’ve done something quite dishonorable. zhou ping (alarmed): Wh—What! zhou puyuan (walking up to him, in a low voice): Do you realize that what you’ve done is a disgrace to your father? And also—to your mother?

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zhou ping (beginning to panic): Father! zhou puyuan (kindly, holding zhou ping’s hand): You’re my oldest son, and I don’t think this needs to go any farther than the two of us. (He pauses a moment, then his voice becomes stern) I hear your private life’s been highly irregular while I’ve been away these last two years. zhou ping (the color draining from his cheeks): Father! zhou puyuan : If a man goes out on a limb, he must be prepared to take the consequences. zhou ping (pale with panic): Father! zhou puyuan : They told me at the head office that you spend all your time hanging around the dance halls, and that the last two or three months you’ve gotten worse, out all night drinking and gambling. zhou ping : Oh, that. (With obvious relief ) You mean— zhou puyuan : Is all this true? (After a long pause) Come on, I want the truth! zhou ping : It’s all true, Father. (He blushes.) zhou puyuan : A man approaching thirty should have learned a certain amount of selfrespect! Do you remember why you were named Ping? zhou ping : Yes. zhou puyuan : Tell me why, then. zhou ping : It’s because Mother’s name was Shiping. She gave me the name Ping herself, on her deathbed. zhou puyuan : Then may I ask you to mend your ways out of respect for your own mother? zhou ping : I will, Father. It was only a momentary lapse. (lu gui enters from the study.) lu gui : Ex—cuse me, sir, but the vis—visitor’s—he’s been here some time now. zhou puyuan : All right. (lu gui withdraws.) I pride myself on having one of the most perfect and most orderly families possible, and I think my sons are by and large good, healthy kids. I’ve brought the two of you up, and I won’t have you giving anybody any excuse for gossip. zhou ping : No, Father. zhou puyuan : Come here, somebody!! (To himself ) How come all of a sudden I’m feeling tired? (zhou ping takes his father’s arm and steers him to a sofa, where he sits down. lu gui comes in.) lu gui : Yes, sir? zhou puyuan : Show the visitor in here. lu gui : Very good, sir. zhou ping : No, Father. Won’t you have a rest first? zhou puyuan : No. Don’t worry about me. (To lu gui ) Show him in, then. lu gui : Yes, sir.

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(He exits. zhou puyuan produces a cigar. zhou ping gives him a light. He sits sedately, puffing slowly at the cigar.) (Curtain.)

A CT 2 (After lunch. Beneath a dark, overcast sky, the afternoon is even more sultry and oppressive than the morning has been. The close, damp air is of the kind that makes one lose one’s temper on the slightest provocation. zhou ping appears from the dining room. He is alone. He peers out at the garden: it is silent and deserted. He tiptoes across to the door of the study: the study is empty. He suddenly remembers that his father is seeing visitors in another part of the house. Reassured by this thought, he goes over to the window again, opens it, and looks out at the green, tree-canopied garden. He gives a peculiar whistle and calls “Sifeng!” several times in a low voice. After a short while, there seems to be a distant whistle in response coming closer little by little. He then lets out a prolonged “Feng!” A woman’s voice is heard at the door: “Ping, is that you?” At this point zhou ping closes the window. lu sifeng slips into the room.) zhou ping (turning to watch lu sifeng enter through the center door, speaking softly and with warmth): Sifeng! (He takes her hands in his.) lu sifeng : No, no. (Pushing him away) Don’t. (Listening tensely and glancing all around) There may be someone around. zhou ping : Not a soul, Feng. Come and sit down. (He steers her to a sofa.) lu sifeng (uneasily): Where’s the master, then? zhou ping : Oh, he’s seeing visitors in the large drawing room. lu sifeng (sitting down, then looking up into his face with a long sigh): It’s always like this, always so secretive. zhou ping : Mm. lu sifeng : You don’t even dare call out my name. zhou ping : That’s why I want to leave this place. lu sifeng (after thinking for a moment): I’m really sorry for the mistress. Why should the master have gotten into such a temper the first time he saw her after he came back? zhou ping : That’s Father all over. His word is law, and he’ll never take anything back once he’s said it. lu sifeng (nervously): I—I’m terribly afraid. zhou ping : What of? lu sifeng : What if the master should find out about us? I’m terrified. You said once you’d tell him about us. zhou ping (shaking his head, darkly): There are worse things than that to worry about.

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lu sifeng : Such as? zhou ping (suddenly): You haven’t heard anything? lu sifeng : What? (After a pause) Why, no. zhou ping : Nothing about me? lu sifeng : No. zhou ping : Have you never heard anything at all? lu sifeng (not wishing to go into it): No, never. What do you mean, anyway? zhou ping : Well, er—oh, nothing. Nothing at all. lu sifeng (earnestly): I trust you. I trust you to be true to me, always. That’s all I want—a little while ago you were saying you’d be leaving for the mine tomorrow. zhou ping : I told you all about it last night. lu sifeng (coming straight to the point): Why won’t you take me with you? zhou ping : Because—(smiles) because I don’t choose to. lu sifeng : But you know I’ll have to leave this job sooner or later. The mistress may even fire me today. zhou ping (to whom such a possibility has never occurred): Fire you! But why would she want to do that? lu sifeng : Never you mind why. zhou ping : But I want to know. lu sifeng : Well, for doing something wrong, of course. But I don’t think she will—just wild guesses. (After a pause) You will take me with you, won’t you, Ping? zhou ping : No. lu sifeng (tenderly): I’ll do anything I can to make you comfortable, Ping. You need someone like me to look after you. I’ll cook for you and sew on your buttons for you— I’m very good at all these things—if only you’ll let me go with you! zhou ping : You mean after all these years I still need a woman to follow me around, wait on me, and make me comfortable? Haven’t I had enough of this kind of life at home? lu sifeng : I know for sure that once you get away from home you’ll be lost without someone to look after you. zhou ping : But don’t you see, Feng? How can I take you with me at this point? Aren’t you being rather childish about it? lu sifeng : Do take me with you, Ping! I promise I won’t be any trouble to you. If people started gossiping about you because of me, I’d go away right away. There’s nothing you need to be afraid of. zhou ping (irritably): Now, Feng! You don’t imagine I’m that selfish, do you? You mustn’t think I’m like that. Humph. What have I got to be afraid of? (Unable to restrain himself ) After all the things I—after all these years my heart has long been dead, and I’ve hated myself with all the hatred I could muster. Do you imagine that now, now that I’ve begun to revive and summoned up the courage to fall in love with a woman—do you imagine I’m going to start worrying about what people say? Hah! Let them talk! Let them say what they like about “young Mr. Zhou falling for one of the servants”—what do I care? I love her.

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lu sifeng (soothingly): There, Ping. Don’t let it upset you. Whatever you’ve done, I won’t hold it against you. (She becomes lost in thought.) zhou ping (calmer now): Now what are you thinking? lu sifeng : I’m thinking what’s to become of me after you’re gone. zhou ping : You just wait for me. lu sifeng (smiling helplessly): But you forgot someone. zhou ping : Who? lu sifeng : He just won’t let go of me. zhou ping : Oh, him—what about him? lu sifeng : He’s repeated what he said a month ago. zhou ping : You mean that he loves you? lu sifeng : No, he asked if I would marry him . . . zhou ping : And what did you say? lu sifeng : At first I said nothing. Then he pressed me hard and I told him the truth. zhou ping : Truth? lu sifeng : Oh I didn’t say anything other than that I was already engaged to somebody else. zhou ping : Didn’t he want to know more? lu sifeng : No. Though he did say he’d like to pay for me to go to school. zhou ping : Go to school? (He laughs) How naive! Still, who knows? You may like it if you do as he says. lu sifeng : You know I won’t like it. I’d rather be with you all the time. zhou ping : But I’m almost thirty, and you’re only eighteen. And my prospects are no better than his, either. Besides, I’ve done a lot of—of unspeakable things. lu sifeng : No, let’s be serious, Ping. I just feel miserable right now. You must help me find a way out. You know he’s still only a boy, and I hate to keep him guessing all the time. Besides, you don’t let me tell him the truth. zhou ping : I never said you couldn’t tell him. lu sifeng : But every time you see me with him, you look so—so— zhou ping : Well, naturally I will look unhappy. When I see the girl I love best hanging around with someone else, even if he is my own brother, well, of course I don’t like it. lu sifeng : There you go again. Let’s get back to the subject. Tell me honestly how you really feel about me. zhou ping : How I feel about you? (He smiles. He doesn’t like to answer the question. He thinks all women have a touch of stupidity about them and remembers another woman who once asked him the same question. And that hurts.) You want me to tell you honestly? (He laughs) Well, what do you want me to say? lu sifeng (feeling wretched): Please don’t treat me like this, Ping. You know very well that I’m yours now, all yours, and still you—you still keep on making me miserable like this.

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zhou ping (annoyed at this, and feeling at the same time that she still doesn’t quite understand him): Eh? (Heaving a sigh) Oh, God! lu sifeng : You know how it is, Ping: my father’s only interested in cadging money off me, my brother looks down on me because he says I haven’t got any character; and my mother, if she should find out about us, she certainly wouldn’t have anything more to do with me. You’re all I have, Ping. My father, my brother, my mother—they may throw me over one day, but you can’t, you can’t. (She breaks down sobbing.) zhou ping : No, no, Feng. Don’t be like that. Just give me time to think things out. lu sifeng : My mother really does love me. She was always against my going into service, and I’m afraid she might find out I’ve been lying to her, she might find out what I’ve been up to, and about us and—and what if you are not serious about me? If that happens it—it would break her heart. (Sobbing) And besides— zhou ping : Don’t be so suspicious of me, Feng. Tell you what: I’ll come around to your place tonight. lu sifeng : You can’t. Mother’s coming home today. zhou ping : What about meeting somewhere outside, then? lu sifeng : Won’t do. Mother’s sure to want to talk with me this evening. zhou ping : But I’m leaving on the first train tomorrow morning. lu sifeng : So you’ve made up your mind not to take me with you, then? zhou ping : But my dear girl! How can I take you? lu sifeng : In that case, you—let me think about it. zhou ping : Now, I’ll leave home first, and then find some way of talking Father around and getting him to let you come out and join me. lu sifeng (looking him in the eye): Oh, all right, then, I suppose you’ll have to come around to my house tonight. We have two rooms. I expect Dad and Mom will be sleeping in the front room, and Dahai never sleeps at home, so by midnight I should have the back room all to myself. zhou ping : Well, then, shall I whistle as usual? (He whistles.) You’ll be able to hear me all right, won’t you? lu sifeng : Yes. If the coast is clear, I’ll have a red lamp in the window. If there’s no lamp there, you mustn’t come near the place. zhou ping : No? lu sifeng : That’ll mean I’ve changed my mind because there are too many people in the house. zhou ping : All right, as you say. Eleven o’clock, then. lu sifeng : Yes, eleven. (lu gui appears through the center door. Seeing lu sifeng and zhou ping together, he stops short and smirks knowingly.) lu gui: Oh! (To lu sifeng ) I was just looking for you. (To zhou ping ) Good afternoon, Master Ping. lu sifeng : What did you want me for?

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lu gui : Your mother’s arrived. lu sifeng (her face lighting up with delight): She’s here? Where is she? lu gui : In the porter’s lodge. Your brother’s just gone down to see her, and they’re having a chat. (lu sifeng hurries toward the center door.) zhou pin g : Sifeng, give your mother my best when you see her. lu sifeng : Thank you. See you later. (She goes out.) lu gui : Is it tomorrow you’re leaving, sir? zhou ping : Mm. lu gui : May I see you off at the station? zhou ping : Don’t bother. Thanks all the same. lu gui : You’ve always been so kind to us. My daughter and I will miss you. zhou ping (smiling): You mean you’re broke again, eh? lu gui (simpering slyly): You’re pulling my leg, sir. I really mean what I said. Lu Sifeng can tell you how highly I always speak of you, sir. zhou ping : Mm, yes. You’re not—after anything, are you? lu gui : Oh no, nothing like that. I just thought you might be able to spare a moment for a little chat. As you know, Sifeng’s mother’s here—the mistress wants to see her— (He breaks off as he catches sight of zhou fanyi coming in from the dining room.) Why, ma’am! You’re downstairs! Are you quite well again, ma’am? (zhou fanyi nods briefly.) I kept inquiring how you were. zhou fanyi : All right, you may go now. (lu gui bows and goes out through the center door.) (To zhou ping ) Where’s he gone? zhou ping (blankly): Who? zhou fanyi : Your father. zhou ping : Oh, he’s busy—got a visitor. Shouldn’t be long. Where’s Chong? zhou fanyi : He’s gone out, the crybaby. zhou ping (ill at ease to be left alone with her in this room): Oh, I see . . . I got to go. I’ve got some packing to do. (He goes toward the dining room.) zhou fanyi : Come back. (zhou ping stops.) I wish you’d stay for a moment. zhou ping : What for? zhou fanyi (darkly): I want to talk to you. zhou ping (seeing her mood): You seem to have something important to say to me. zhou fanyi : Right. zhou ping : Go ahead. zhou fanyi : I hope you fully realize what that scene this morning was all about. It’s not just an isolated incident, you know.

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zhou ping (evasively): Oh, well, Father’s always been like that. What he says goes. zhou fanyi : But it’s not in my nature to do just as I’m told by anybody. zhou ping : Yes, I know what you’re like. (Forcing a smile) Then just don’t take any notice of him. zhou fanyi : Oh, Ping, I wish you’d be as warm and sincere as you used to be. I don’t like to see you adopting this cynical attitude that’s so fashionable among young people these days. You must realize how bad I feel when you’re not around. zhou ping : That’s why I’m going away. So that we won’t have to keep seeing each other and being reminded of what we most regret. zhou fanyi : I don’t regret it. I’ve never regretted anything. zhou ping (wishing he didn’ t have to say this): I think I’ve made my position quite clear. I’ve been keeping out of your way all these days—I think you understand why. zhou fanyi : Only too well. zhou ping : I’ve been stupid, an utter fool. Now I’m sorry because I realize I’ve made such a mess of my life. I’ve done injustice to myself, to my brother, and what’s worse, to my father. zhou fanyi (in an ominously low voice): But you’re forgetting the person you’ve done the worst injustice to. A little too conveniently, I think. zhou ping : Of course there is such a person, but I don’t have to tell you who. zhou fanyi (smiling sardonically): But that’s not her! It’s me, your stepmother, the woman you seduced! zhou ping (starts panicking): You must be crazy. zhou fanyi : You’re in my debt. You’ve incurred certain responsibilities. You can’t just run off on your own the moment you discover a new world. zhou ping : That’s an outrageous thing to say! You can’t talk like that in a—a respectable family like Father’s. zhou fanyi (furiously): “Father”! “Father”! To hell with your father! “Respectable”! From you of all people! (With a sneer) Eighteen years now I’ve been in this “respectable family” of yours. I’ve heard all about the sins of the Zhous—and seen them—and committed them myself. Not that I’ve ever considered myself one of you. What I’ve done I’ve done on my own. No, I’m not like your grandfather, or your great-uncle, or your dear father himself—doing the most atrocious things in private and wearing a mask of morality in public. Philanthropists, model citizens of society! zhou ping : Well, of course, you have the occasional black sheep in any big family, but our branch, except for me— zhou fanyi : You’re all the same, and your father’s the biggest hypocrite of the lot. Years ago now he seduced a good girl from a decent family. zhou ping : You don’t have to mouth off like that. zhou fanyi : Ping, listen to this carefully: you’re your father’s illegitimate child! zhou ping (shocked and at a loss): You’re lying! What proof have you got? zhou fanyi : Go and ask your “respectable” father yourself. He told me all about it one night fifteen years ago, when he was drunk. (Pointing to the photograph on the

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bureau) That girl was your mother. Your father turned her out, so she drowned herself. zhou ping : You’re—you’re—you’re just—oh, all right, all right—(smiling wryly) I’ll take your word for it. Then what? What is it you want with me? zhou fanyi : Your father let me down. He tricked me into coming here—the same old wiles. There was no escape for me, and so I had Chong. All these years he’s been the hateful tyrant that you saw this morning. Bit by bit he ground me down until I became as cold and dead as a stone. Then, suddenly, you showed up from our place in the country, where you’d been living. It was you who made me what I am, half stepmother, half mistress. It was you who seduced me! zhou ping : “Seduced” indeed! I’d rather you didn’t use that word, if you don’t mind. Do you remember what actually took place? zhou fanyi : Have you forgotten what you told me here in this very room, in the middle of the night, while I was crying? You sighed and said you hated your father. You said you wished he were dead, even if that meant patricide. zhou ping : Ah, but don’t forget I was too young then to keep my head cool. I came out with all that nonsense when I was hotheaded. zhou fanyi : Aren’t you forgetting something? There may have been only a few years between us, but I was still your mother. Don’t you see you had no right to say such things to me? zhou ping : Oh—(sighs) well, anyway, you shouldn’t have been married into this family in the first place. The air of the Zhous’ house is filled with sin. zhou fanyi : Right, it’s all sin, sin! Your family has never been clean, from your ancestors down. zhou ping : You mean you can’t forgive a young man for doing wrong in a moment of stupidity? (He frowns in agony.) zhou fanyi : It’s not a question of forgiving anything. I thought I was already half dead and was quite prepared to go the rest of the way in peace when someone came along and brought me back to life and then dumped me again so I’m left to wither away and slowly die of thirst. Now you tell me what I should do. zhou ping : Er—well, I’ve no idea. What do you say? zhou fanyi (hammering out her words one by one): I don’t want you to go away. zhou ping : Eh? You mean you want me to stay here with you, in this home of ours? So that every day we’re reminded of our past sins until they gradually suffocate us? zhou fanyi : If you know this is a suffocating place, how can you have the heart to go away by yourself and leave me here? zhou ping : You’ve no right to say that. You’re still Chong’s mother. zhou fanyi : No! I’m not! I’m not! Ever since I placed my life and my name in your hands I’ve shut myself off from everything else. No, I’m not his mother, no, I’m not! And I’m not Zhou Puyuan’s wife, either! zhou ping (icily): Even if you don’t regard yourself as my father’s wife, I still consider myself his son.

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zhou fanyi (rendered speechless for a moment by this unexpected remark): I see, so you’re your father’s son. I suppose the reason you’ve made a point of not coming to see me lately is because you’re afraid of your father? zhou ping : I suppose you could put it like that. zhou fanyi : And the reason why you’re going away to the mine is because you’re following your father’s heroic example by throwing away the one person who really understands and loves you? zhou ping : I see no reason why you shouldn’t interpret it like that, if you want to. zhou fanyi (coldly): So you’re truly your father’s son. (She laughs) His father’s son! (Laughs hysterically) His father’s son! (More hysterical laughter, then suddenly returning to stern calmness) Humph! You’re both the same—useless, cowardly creatures, not worth anyone’s self-sacrifice! I’m only sorry I didn’t find you out sooner! zhou ping : Well, you know now, don’t you! I’ve let you down, but I’ve explained to you at great length that I find this unnatural relationship between us repugnant. Yes, repugnant. I take responsibility for what I did wrong, and I freely admit my mistake, but you cannot disclaim all responsibility for what I did. I’ve always looked upon you as a most intelligent and understanding woman, and so I’m sure that one day you’ll understand and forgive me. You may accuse me of being cynical or irresponsible if you want, but I want to tell you this: I hope this meeting will be our last. (He goes toward the dining-room door.) zhou fanyi (in a heavy voice): Wait. (zhou ping stops.) I hope you understand what I meant just now. I’m not begging you for anything. I just want you to think back, and go over in your mind all the—(pauses, distressed) all the things we ever said to each other in this room. Remember, no woman can be expected to submit to humiliation at the hands of two generations. Just think it over. zhou ping : I’ve already thought it over—from top to bottom. I don’t think you can be entirely unaware of the torment I’ve gone through these past few days. And now perhaps you’ll excuse me. (He disappears into the dining room. As zhou fanyi watches him go, tears run down her cheeks. She walks over to the mirror and looks at her pale and wrinkled face. She throws herself on the dressing table and sobs. lu gui comes in stealthily through the center door and sees that she is weeping.) lu gui (softly): Ma’am! zhou fanyi (starting): What are you doing here? lu gui : Mrs. Lu’s here. She’s been here some time. zhou fanyi : Who? Who’s been here some time? lu gui : My wife. You asked me to bring her here, didn’t you, ma’am? zhou fanyi : Why didn’t you tell me earlier? lu gui (smirking): I meant to, only I—(lowering his voice) I saw you were having a conversation with Master Ping, I didn’t want to disturb you. zhou fanyi : Oh, so you—you were—?

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lu gui : Me? Oh, I’ve been waiting on the master and his visitor in the main drawing room. (Pretending not to understand her suggestion) Why, did you want me for something, ma’am? zhou fanyi : No. Well, you’d better show Mrs. Lu in. lu gui (smiling obsequiously): You mustn’t mind my wife, ma’am; she’s from the lower class and doesn’t really know how to talk. zhou fanyi : She’s a human being the same as anyone else. I only want to meet her and have a little chat with her. lu gui : It’s very kind of you, ma’am—oh, yes, the master was telling me to ask you to find that old raincoat of his, because he thinks there’s going to be a storm tomorrow. zhou fanyi : Sifeng looks after his clothes. Can’t she get it for him? lu gui : Well, that’s what I said to the master, since you’re not feeling very well, but he insists that you should get it, ma’am. zhou fanyi : All right, I’ll get it shortly. lu gui : The master says he wants it now. He may be going out any minute. zhou fanyi : Oh, I see. I’ll go and get it right away. You go and ask your wife to come in and wait in here. lu gui : Very good, ma’am. (He goes out. zhou fanyi ’s face is paler than ever now; she is making a great effort to suppress her anguish.) zhou fanyi (opens the window, draws a deep breath, and speaks to herself ): Oh, this terrible heat! It’s absolutely stifling!—really can’t live in this house anymore. Oh I wish I could become a volcano at this very moment and just erupt with a bang and burn everything down to the ground! Even if it meant I would then turn into ashes in a glacier, that once-in-a-lifetime ignition would be well worth it. My past is already dead, so is my future, most likely. So I’m ready. Now, come on, all those who hate me, all those who have disappointed me, all those who make me jealous, come on, all of you! I’m waiting. (She gazes listlessly into the distance, then bows her head. lu gui reenters.) lu gui : The master just sent somebody along about the raincoat: he wants it immediately. zhou fanyi (lifting her head): All right. You needn’t wait. I’ll tell Nanny Chen to bring it along. (She goes out through the dining room. lu gui goes out through the center door. After a while, mrs. lu, or lu shiping , enters with lu sifeng . She is about forty-seven, and her hair is beginning to gray at the temples. Her complexion is fair and clear and makes her look eight or nine years younger. Her eyes are somewhat dull and lifeless and, from time to time, will become fi xed in an unseeing stare; yet, there is something about the long, delicate lashes and the large, round pupils that tells us of the charm and sparkle that must have been hers in her younger days. Her clothes are plain but neat, giving one the impression of a woman of good family who has fallen on bad times. Her gracious demeanor forms a sharp contrast with the mean vulgarity of her husband.

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She wears a white towel around her head, apparently to keep the dust off her hair during her train journey. Whenever she speaks, she smiles slightly. She is especially delighted at the sight of her daughter, whom she hasn’t seen for the past two years, such that her cheeks glow with joy. Her voice is low and steady. Her accent is that of a southerner who has lived a long time in the north, with a characteristic lilt but clear-cut articulation. Her teeth are good and evenly set, and when she smiles, deep dimples appear at the corners of her mouth, reminding us of the fainter dimples that accompany lu sifeng’s smiles. She comes in hand in hand with her daughter, lu sifeng , who is nestling affectionately up against her. lu gui comes in behind them carrying a bundle wrapped in a piece of old cloth. He is smiling complacently. Compared with the joyfully innocent mother and daughter, he is all the more coarse and vulgar.) lu sifeng : Where’s the mistress? lu gui : She’ll be down in a minute. lu sifeng : Sit down, Mom. (mrs. lu sits down.) Aren’t you tired? mrs. lu : Not a bit. lu sifeng (in high spirits): Mom, just sit back and relax. I’ll get you a glass of iced water. mrs. lu : No, don’t go away. I don’t feel hot. lu gui : Get your mother a bottle of soda, Sifeng. (To his wife) In a big house like this they have everything! In summertime, there’s lemonade, fruit juice, watermelon juice, oranges, bananas, fresh lychees—whatever you want. mrs. lu : No, don’t, Sifeng. Don’t listen to your father. Those things don’t belong to us. You just stay here with me a little longer and then, when Mrs. Zhou comes, we can see her together. I’ll enjoy that more than all your cold drinks. lu gui : The mistress should be down any minute now. Look at that head scarf of yours. Why don’t you want to take it off? mrs. lu (with a good-natured smile): You are right. We just kept talking and talking. (Beaming at lu sifeng ) Look, I’m still wearing the white towel that I put on for the train. (She starts removing it.) lu sifeng (smiling): Mom, I’ll do it for you. (She goes over to help. In the meantime, lu gui goes over to the low table and puts away a few cigarettes into his own cigarette case.) mrs. lu (removing the white towel): No smuts on my face? It was so dusty on the train. My hair’s okay? I don’t want to look a mess. lu sifeng : No, you look perfect. You know, you haven’t changed a bit these past two years. mrs. lu : Oh, Feng, I almost forgot. You see what a bad memory I have? I’ve been so busy talking all this time that I forgot to show you the one thing I’m sure you’ll like best of all.

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lu sifeng : What is it, Mom? mrs. lu (producing a small packet): Have a look. I’m sure you’ll like it. lu sifeng : No, don’t let me see it yet. Let me try and guess. mrs. lu : Okay, see if you can. lu sifeng : A little stone figure? mrs. lu (shaking her head): No, you’re too big for things like that. lu sifeng : A little powder puff? mrs. lu (shaking her head again): What use would that be to you? lu sifeng : It must be a little sewing kit, then. mrs. lu (smiling): Close. lu sifeng : Let me open it then. (She undoes the packet.) Gee, Mom! A thimble, a silver thimble! Look, Dad, see what I’ve got! (She shows it to lu gui .) lu gui (without looking at it): Good, good. lu sifeng : Oh, what a beautiful thimble! And there’s a precious stone in it. lu gui : What! (Coming quickly across for a closer look) Let me see it. mrs. lu : It’s a present from the headmaster’s wife. You see, the headmaster lost an important wallet. I found it and returned it to him, and his wife insisted on giving me a present. She brought out a whole lot of little trinkets and told me to choose one—for my daughter, she said. So this is the one I chose for you. Do you like it? lu sifeng : Oh, yes, Mom. It’s just what I’ve always wanted. lu gui : Hah! Humph! (Handing the thimble back to lu sifeng ) Forget it! The stone’s fake. See what you chose? lu sifeng (contemptuously, her tongue loosened by the excitement of seeing her mother again): Humph! That’s just like you! Even real stones would turn to paste in your hands! mrs. lu : Sifeng, don’t speak to your father like that. lu sifeng (playing the victim): But Mom, you’ve no idea how Dad’s been taking it out on me when you were away. He’s been bullying me all the time. lu gui (full of contempt for the two women’s rustic behavior): Look at yourselves, chattering away in a corner like a pair of poor bumpkins! Why don’t you make the most of being in a big house and see what they’ve got. Sifeng, show your mother all the clothes you’ve bought these last two years. lu sifeng (scornfully): Mom’s not interested in such things. lu gui : And haven’t you got a bit of jewelry of your own, too? Bring it out and show her, and then see who she thinks was right: her, who wanted to keep you locked up at home, or me? mrs. lu (to lu gui ): I told you before I left that I wouldn’t let my daughter go into service in a big house, and every time I wrote to you over the past two years I reminded you about it. But you still go and—(suddenly breaking off as she remembers that this is no place to discuss family matters, turning to her daughter instead) where’s your brother?

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lu sifeng : I thought he was waiting for us at the porter’s lodge. lu gui : It’s not you two he’s waiting for, it’s the master he wants to see. (To his wife) I sent word to you last year about Dahai. He’d become a foreman at the mine. It was all because I put in a word for him. lu sifeng (finding her father’s repeated bragging distasteful): Dad, hadn’t you better go and look after Dahai? He’s a bit short-tempered and may lose patience waiting and get into a fight with Mr. Zhang and Mr. Liu. lu gui : Oh, shoot, I’d forgotten all about his bad temper. (Going toward the center door, then stopping and turning for a last few words) You’d better stay here in this room and not go fooling around all over the place. The mistress will be down any minute. (lu gui exits. Once he is out of the room, both mother and daughter breathe a sigh of relief, like prisoners seeing their warden gone. They look at each other with a wry smile. All of a sudden, their faces light up with joy, and this time it’s the smiles of happiness from the bottom of their hearts.) mrs. lu (holding out her hands to lu sifeng ): Let me have a good look at you, child. (lu sifeng goes across to her mother and kneels down.) lu sifeng : You’re not cross with me, are you, Mom? You’re not going to chide me for not listening to you and coming to serve at the Zhous’ house? mrs. lu : No, no. What’s done is done. But why have you kept quiet about it all this time? I only heard from Mrs. Zhang that you were here after I got home from the train station. lu sifeng : I didn’t dare to tell you, because I was afraid you’d be angry with me. Actually, Mom, we are not some rich family, and even if I do work as a servant, I don’t think it matters much. mrs. lu : No, it’s not that I don’t like being poor or that I’m afraid of having people laugh at us because we’re poor. No, child, I don’t mind a bit and I’m most content with fate. What really worries me is that you’re still very young, and you might easily go and do something foolish. I’ve suffered, I know. You don’t understand that the world is too—I mean people are too—(heaving a sigh) well, well, let’s not talk about it now. (She gets up.) I wonder what your mistress wants to see me about. Strange, isn’t it? lu sifeng : I suppose it is. (Becoming apprehensive, but still trying to be optimistic) You know, Mom, the mistress here hasn’t got many friends. She’s heard that you can read and write, so perhaps she feels you’ve got something in common and wants to talk to you. mrs. lu (incredulously): D’you think so? (She looks slowly around the room at the furniture.) This room’s very elegantly furnished—although the furniture looks pretty old. (Pointing to the mahogany table) And this is? lu sifeng : This used to be the master’s desk. Now it’s just for display. They say it’s thirty years old, but the master loves it and takes it wherever he goes. mrs. lu (pointing to the bureau with the mirror on it): What about that?

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lu sifeng : That’s another piece of old furniture. They say his first wife was very fond of it—the young master’s mother, that is. See how cumbersome the furniture from those days is? mrs. lu : That’s funny—why should all the windows be kept closed in this weather? lu sifeng : Yes, it is queer, isn’t it? One of the master’s queer ideas. He will have the windows closed in the heat of summer. mrs. lu (trying to remember something): You know, Feng, I seem to have seen this room somewhere before. lu sifeng (laughing): Oh yeah? You must’ve been thinking about me too much, and come here in a dream. mrs. lu : Yes, it does seem like a dream—so weird, this place is really weird. It suddenly reminds me of so many things. (She hangs her head and sits down.) lu sifeng (alarmed): Mom, are you feeling all right? It must be the heat. Shall I go and get you a glass of water? mrs. lu : No, I’m all right. Don’t go—I’m scared. There are ghosts in this room. lu sifeng : What’s the matter with you, Mom? mrs. lu : I’m really scared. All of a sudden all the things that happened thirty years ago have come back to me. All the people I’ve long forgotten are back in my mind again. Sifeng, feel my hands! lu sifeng (feeling her mother’s hands): Icy cold. Mom, don’t scare me, I easily get frightened. Mom, Mom, this room was haunted once. mrs. lu : Don’t worry, child. I’m all right. But, Sifeng, I do seem—I mean my soul seems to have been here before. lu sifeng : Oh, don’t be so silly, Mother. How can you have been here before? It’s twenty years since they moved up north here, and you were still living down south then, weren’t you? mrs. lu : No, no, I still say I’ve been here before. Look at all the furniture—I just can’t recall, but I’ve seen it somewhere. lu sifeng : Mom, don’t you stare like that. You scare me. mrs. lu : Don’t, don’t be scared, child. (Her voice dwindles to a whisper as she racks her brains to remember. Her entire body shrinks deeper and deeper into the abyss of her memory.) lu sifeng : Mom, why are you staring at that bureau? It used to belong to the first mistress, the one who died. mrs. lu (suddenly, in a quivering voice): Feng, you go and look, go and look, the third drawer on the right, is there an embroidered shoe in there—one of those that kids wear? lu sifeng : What’s wrong with you, Mom? Don’t tell me you’re seeing things! mrs. lu : No, no, Feng. You go, you go and take a look. I’m terrified, I can’t move. You go! lu sifeng : Okay, I’ll go and look. (She goes to the bureau, opens a drawer, and looks.) mrs. lu (anxiously): You see it?

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lu sifeng : No, Mom. mrs. lu : Are you sure? lu sifeng : Sure, only some tea things in here. mrs. lu : Oh! So I must have been daydreaming. lu sifeng (feeling sorry for her mother): Don’t talk anymore, Mom. Just relax for a while. Mom, it must have been tough for you out there. (Tearing up) You weren’t like this before. (Hugging her) Poor Mom! Are you better now? mrs. lu : It’s all right. I gathered when I was down at the porter’s lodge just now that there are two young masters in this house. lu sifeng : Yes, there are. Very nice, both of them, very kind. mrs. lu (to herself ): No, my daughter just can’t stay here. That won’t do, won’t do! lu sifeng : What were you saying, Mom? You know what, everyone here has been nice to me. Mom, the master and mistress are never cross to the servants, and the two young masters are both very kind. In fact, all the Zhous are nice people, not only those who are living, but even the dead ones had good hearts. mrs. lu : The Zhous? Is that their name? lu sifeng : Now Mom. Didn’t you have to ask the way to the Zhous’ when you came? You can’t have forgotten already. (Smiles) You must have got a touch of the sun on your way here. Look, here’s a photo of the master’s first wife. You take a look while I go and get you some water to drink. (She brings the photograph across from the dressing table and stands behind her mother, holding the photo in front for her to look at.) mrs. lu (taking the photograph and looking at it): Ah?! (She is too astonished for words and trembles.) lu sifeng (still standing behind her): You can see how good-looking she was. She was the oldest son’s mother. Look, how beautiful the way she smiles. They say she looks a bit like me. It’s a pity she’s dead. Otherwise—(sensing mrs. lu ’s head tipping forward) Mom, Mom! What’s wrong? What’s the matter? mrs. lu : Nothing, I’m just feeling dizzy. Get me a drink of water. lu sifeng (nervously, pinching her mother’s fingers, rubbing her forehead): Mom, you’d better come over here. (She takes her mother by the arm and leads her across to the large sofa. mrs. lu still has the photograph clutched tightly in her hand.) Just lie down here for a minute. I’ll go and get you some water. (She hurries out into the dining room.) mrs. lu : Oh, my God! . . . So I’m dead. But this photo, and this furniture—how come? Oh, isn’t the world big enough to—how come after all these years of misery my own poor child should have to be put back in his—his house of all places? Oh, isn’t God being unfair! (She weeps. lu sifeng comes in with the water. mrs. lu hurriedly wipes her tears.) lu sifeng : Here you are, Mom. Have some more. (mrs. lu drinks.) Feel a bit better now?

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mrs. lu : Mm, yes, I’m all right now. You’re coming straight home with me, Sifeng. lu sifeng (surprised): Why, what’s the matter now? (zhou fanyi ’s voice calls “Sifeng!” from the dining room.) mrs. lu : Who’s calling you? lu sifeng : It’s the mistress. zhou fanyi’s voice : Sifeng! lu sifeng : Yes, ma’am? zhou fanyi’s voice : Come here, Sifeng, where have you put the master’s raincoat? lu sifeng (loudly): I’m coming. (To her mother) I won’t be long, Mom. mrs. lu : Go on, then. (lu sifeng goes out. mrs. lu looks all around the room, then goes across to the bureau and touches this familiar piece of furniture. Suddenly hearing footsteps from the garden, she turns around, waiting. lu gui comes in through the center door.) lu gui : Where’s Sifeng? mrs. lu : She’s been called away by her mistress. lu gui : Well, when you see the mistress, tell her she needn’t send the raincoat along when she’s found it. The master will be coming here himself because he wants to see her about something. mrs. lu : You say the master’s coming to this room here? lu gui : Yes, and make sure you tell her properly, because if you don’t and she’s not here when he comes, the old man will go right up in the air again. mrs. lu : You’d better tell her yourself. lu gui : I’m up to my eyes in work with all these servants to look after. I haven’t got time to stand about here. mrs. lu : Well, I’m going home. I won’t be seeing your mistress after all. lu gui : But why not? She’s sent for you, and you never know, she may have something important to see you about. mrs. lu : I’m taking Sifeng home with me. She won’t be working here any longer. lu gui : What! Who d’you think you— (zhou fanyi enters from the dining room.) Ma’am! zhou fanyi (speaking back into the dining room): Bring the other two as well, Sifeng, and let the master choose. (Turning to mrs. lu ) Ah, you must be Sifeng’s mother? I’m sorry I’ve kept you waiting all this time. lu gui : You shouldn’t apologize to her, ma’am. You’ve done her a great honor by allowing her to come and pay her respects to you. (lu sifeng enters from the dining room with the raincoats.) zhou fanyi : Won’t you sit down? You must have been waiting a long time. mrs. lu (looking zhou fanyi up and down, but not sitting down): Only a few minutes, ma’am. lu sifeng : Shall I take all three raincoats along to the master, ma’am? lu gui : The master wants them left here; he’s coming for them himself. Oh, and ma’am— he said, would you please wait for him here, because he’d like to have a word with you.

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zhou fanyi : Very well. (To lu sifeng ) Go to the kitchen and see how they’re getting on with dinner. Make sure they know what’s wanted. lu sifeng : Yes, ma’am. (Shooting a glance first at lu gui and then, apprehensively, at zhou fanyi , she goes out through the center door.) zhou fanyi : Lu Gui, tell the master I’m engaged here with Sifeng’s mother and that I’ll let him know when I’m ready to see him. lu gui : Very good, ma’am. (He does not move.) zhou fanyi (seeing that he is still there): Is there something else you want to see me about? lu gui : Yes, ma’am. This morning the master asked the German doctor to come for a visit. zhou fanyi : I know. Master Chong’s already told me about it. lu gui : The master was just saying that he’d like you to see the doctor as soon as he arrives. zhou fanyi : All right. You can go now. (lu gui goes out through the center door.) (To mrs. lu ) Let’s sit down, then. Make yourself at home. (She seats herself on a sofa.) mrs. lu (sitting down on a nearby chair): The moment I got off the train, I was told you wanted to see me. zhou fanyi : Yes, I’d heard so much about you from Sifeng. She tells me you’ve had an education and that you come from a very good family. mrs. lu (not wishing to bring up the past): Sifeng’s a silly child. Not much sense. She must have caused you a lot of trouble. zhou fanyi : On the contrary, she’s very intelligent and I’m very fond of her. I don’t think a girl like her should be in service at all. She should be given a better start in life. mrs. lu : Thank you for your kind words. Actually, I’ve been against her going into service all along. zhou fanyi : I know just what you mean. Now, I know you’re an educated, sensible person, and both of us are pretty straightforward, so I may as well tell you right now why I asked you to come. mrs. lu (intuitively): Why, has this girl of mine done anything that has caused gossip? zhou fanyi (smiling and assuming an air of complete assurance): Oh no, nothing like that. (lu gui comes in through the center door.) lu gui : Ma’am? zhou fanyi : What is it? lu gui : Dr. Kramer’s here. He’s just arrived in our car and is waiting in the small drawing room. zhou fanyi : I have a visitor.

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lu gui : A visitor?—but the master would like you to see the doctor now, ma’am. zhou fanyi : All right. You needn’t wait. (lu gui goes out.) (To mrs. lu ) Well, let me tell you something about the family first. To begin with, there are very few women in the house. mrs. lu : I suppose not. zhou fanyi : In fact, there’s only myself who’s a woman. There’re the two young masters, and the master himself. We do have one or two maids, but the rest of the servants are all men. mrs. lu : I see. zhou fanyi : Sifeng’s very young; only nineteen, isn’t she? mrs. lu : Eighteen. zhou fanyi : Oh yes, that’s right. I remember now, she does look about a year older than my son. Yes, so young, so attractive—and working away from home. mrs. lu : Ma’am, if Sifeng’s done anything improper, please don’t keep it from me. zhou fanyi : No, it’s nothing like that. (She smiles again.) She’s a very nice girl. I’m only telling you how things are here. I’ve got a son, just seventeen—you may have seen him in the garden when you came in—not particularly bright. (lu gui comes in from the study.) lu gui : The master wants you to go and see the doctor immediately, ma’am. zhou fanyi : Is there no one to keep the doctor company? lu gui : Bureau Chief Wang’s just left. The master’s with him himself. mrs. lu : Ma’am, you go ahead and see the doctor. I can wait here, no problem. zhou fanyi : No, we haven’t finished yet. (To lu gui ) You can tell the master that I’m not sick. It wasn’t I who asked for a doctor. lu gui : Yes, ma’am. (He remains where he is.) zhou fanyi (looking at him): What are you waiting for? lu gui : I thought there might be something further, ma’am. zhou fanyi (struck by a sudden thought): Yes, there is something. After you’ve told the master what I said, go and find an electrician. I’ve just heard that an old electric cable on the wisteria trellis has snapped. It’s trailing loose and it’s live. Tell him to get it fixed as soon as possible. We don’t want any accidents. (lu gui goes out through the center door.) (Seeing that mrs. lu is on her feet) There’s no need to get up, Mrs. Lu. Phew, this room’s getting more stifling than ever. (She goes across to a window, opens it, then returns to her seat.) Just lately I’ve noticed that my son isn’t quite his usual self. All of a sudden, he told me that he’s very fond of Sifeng. mrs. lu : What!

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zhou fanyi : He wants to share his school allowance with her to pay for her education. mrs. lu : That’s out of the question, ma’am. zhou fanyi : He even says that he wants to marry her. mrs. lu : You needn’t go on. Now I understand what it’s all about. zhou fanyi (pressing further): Sifeng is older than my son, and she’s a very intelligent girl. In a situation like this— mrs. lu (resenting zhou fanyi ’s insinuating tone of voice): I think I can trust my daughter. I’ve always believed that she’s a sensible girl and knows the difference between right and wrong. I’ve never liked her going into service in a big house, but I have confidence in her and I don’t think she could have done anything foolish in the two years that she’s been with you. zhou fanyi : Yes, Mrs. Lu, I agree that Sifeng’s a sensible girl, but now that this unfortunate situation has happened, well, I’m afraid it can easily cause misunderstandings. mrs. lu (with a sigh): I never expected to find myself here today. I’m going to take her home with me, so I’d appreciate it if you’d let her take a permanent leave. zhou fanyi : Well—if you think it would be for the best, I’ve got nothing against it. Though there is one thing: my son’s a bit reckless, and I’m afraid he may try to see Sifeng at your home. mrs. lu : You needn’t worry about that. I can see now how stupid I was. I should never have left her for her father to look after. I’m leaving here tomorrow and I’ll be taking her with me to a faraway place, so she’ll never see any more of the Zhous. Ma’am, I’d like to take her away this very moment. zhou fanyi : Well, if you insist. I’ll get the office to make up her wages, and her personal belongings can be taken around to your house by a servant—and I’ll also send a suitcase of some of my old clothes that she may have some use for at home. mrs. lu (to herself ): Oh, Feng, my poor child! (Sits down on the sofa and starts weeping) Oh my God! zhou fanyi (going up to her): Don’t take it so much to heart, Mrs. Lu. If you have any difficulty with money because of this, please don’t hesitate to come and see me. You can rely on me to help you. Now, take her home where you can look after her. With a good mother like you to guide her, she’ll be much better off than working here. (zhou puyuan enters from the study.) zhou puyuan : Fanyi! (zhou fanyi turns, while mrs. lu slips away into a corner. Greatly alarmed, she observes him closely.) Why haven’t you gone yet? zhou fanyi (all innocence): Gone where? zhou puyuan : Aren’t you aware you’re keeping Dr. Kramer waiting? zhou fanyi : Dr. Kramer? Who’s he? zhou puyuan : Why, the Dr. Kramer that you saw before.

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zhou fanyi : I’ve had enough medication. I don’t want any more. zhou puyuan : Then what about your disease? . . . zhou fanyi : But I have no disease. zhou puyuan (patiently): Dr Kramer’s been a good friend of mine since we first met in Germany. Specializes in gynecology. You may be experiencing a slight nervous breakdown. I’m sure he’ll fix it. zhou fanyi : Who says I’m having a nervous breakdown? Why are you all cursing me like this? There’s nothing wrong with me, I tell you, nothing at all! zhou puyuan (coldly): Look, you’re raving and screaming in front of other people. You’re sick but refuse to admit it and get seen by a doctor. Aren’t all these symptoms of a nervous problem? zhou fanyi : Humph! If there were indeed something wrong, it wouldn’t be anything a doctor could cure. (She goes toward the dining-room door.) zhou puyuan (at the top of his voice): Stop! Where do you think you’re going? zhou fanyi (nonchalantly): I’m going upstairs. zhou puyuan (imperiously): Do as you’re told! zhou fanyi (as if not understanding): Oh? (Pauses and looks him disdainfully up and down) Look at yourself! (Breaking into shrills of laughter) You simply make me laugh. (Laughs disdainfully) And who do you think you are? (She laughs again and dashes out through the dining room, slamming the door shut behind her.) zhou puyuan : Here, somebody! (A servant appears.) servant : Yes, sir? zhou puyuan : The mistress is upstairs. Tell Master Ping to take Dr. Kramer up to her room. servant : Yes, sir. zhou puyuan : Tell Master Ping the mistress has a serious nervous problem. Tell him to be careful and ask the nanny upstairs to keep an eye on the mistress. servant : Yes, sir. zhou puyuan : And tell Master Ping to ask the doctor to excuse me. I’m tired and I’ll have to leave him on his own. servant : Very good, sir. (He goes out.) zhou puyuan (lights a cigar, then, noticing the raincoats on the table, addresses mrs. lu ): Are these the raincoats the mistress hunted out? mrs. lu (looking at him): I think so. zhou puyuan (picking them up for a closer look): No, no, these are not the ones I want. They’re all new. I want my old one, tell her. mrs. lu : Mm. zhou puyuan (seeing that she does not stir): Don’t you know that servants aren’t allowed to be in this room unless they’re sent for?

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mrs. lu (looking at him): No, I didn’t know that, sir. zhou puyuan : Are you a new servant here? mrs. lu : No, I came to see my daughter. zhou puyuan : Your daughter? mrs. lu : My daughter, Sifeng. zhou puyuan : Then you’re in the wrong room. mrs. lu : Oh. Will that be all, sir? zhou puyuan (indicating the open window): Who’s opened that window? mrs. lu : Oh, yes. (She strolls across to the window as if quite at home here, closes it, then goes slowly toward the center door.) zhou puyuan (suddenly struck by something odd about the way she closes the window): Wait a minute. (mrs. lu stops.) Who—what’s your name? mrs. lu : Lu. zhou puyuan : I see, Lu. You don’t sound like a northerner from your accent. mrs. lu : You’re quite right. I’m not. I’m from Jiangsu.3 zhou puyuan : It sounds rather like a Wuxi4 accent. mrs. lu : Well, I was born and bred in Wuxi. zhou puyuan (deep in thought): Wuxi, eh? Wuxi . . . (Suddenly) When were you there, in Wuxi? mrs. lu : The twentieth year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign.5 About thirty years now. zhou puyuan : So you were in Wuxi thirty years ago, eh? mrs. lu : Yes. Thirty years ago. I remember we still didn’t use matches in those days. zhou puyuan (deep in thought again): Thirty years ago . . . Yes, it’s a long time. Let’s see, I must have been in my twenties then. Yes, I was still in Wuxi then. mrs. lu : So you’re from Wuxi, too, aren’t you, sir? zhou puyuan : Yes. (Meditatively) Nice place, Wuxi. mrs. lu : Yes, very nice. zhou puyuan : And you say you were there thirty years ago? mrs. lu : That’s right, sir. zhou puyuan : Something happened in Wuxi thirty years ago, quite a to-do— mrs. lu : Oh! zhou puyuan : You know about that? mrs. lu : Well, I might still remember if I knew what you were referring to, sir. zhou puyuan : Oh, it happened so long ago that I expect everyone’s forgotten all about it. mrs. lu : You never know. There may be someone who still remembers it. zhou puyuan : I’ve asked dozens of people who were in Wuxi at that time, and I’ve sent people down to make inquiries on the spot. But the people who were there at the time are either too old or dead, and the few who are still alive either knew nothing about it or else they’ve forgotten all about it.

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mrs. lu : If, sir, you are still interested, there are still people in Wuxi that I know. Although we haven’t heard from one another for a long time, I think they wouldn’t mind making some inquiries for me, no matter what. zhou puyuan : I’ve sent people down to find out. But perhaps you might happen to know. Well, there was a family in Wuxi thirty years ago named Mei. mrs. lu : The Meis? zhou puyuan : There was a young lady in the family, very intelligent, and very proper in her conduct, too. One night, she suddenly went and drowned herself. Then, afterward—you heard about it? mrs. lu : I don’t think so. zhou puyuan : Oh. mrs. lu : But I did know a girl by the name of Mei. zhou puyuan : Oh? Tell me about her. mrs. lu : But she wasn’t a lady, and not very intelligent—and not very proper in her conduct, either, by all accounts. zhou puyuan : Perhaps—perhaps you’re talking about the wrong girl—though I’d like you to go on, all the same. mrs. lu : Well, this girl Mei threw herself in the river one night, though she wasn’t alone. She held in her arms a three-day-old baby boy. She had conducted herself rather improperly, so they said. zhou puyuan (wincing): Oh? mrs. lu : She was a low-class girl and didn’t seem to know her place. It was said she’d been having an affair with a young master of the Zhou family. She’d had two sons by him. Well, just three days after the second one was born, this young Mr. Zhou suddenly turned her out. The first child was left with the family, but the newborn baby was in her arms when she threw herself in the river. That was on a New Year’s Eve. zhou puyuan (with beads of perspiration on his forehead): Oh! mrs. lu : She was no lady, only the daughter of a maid at the Zhous’ in Wuxi. Her name was Shiping. zhou puyuan (looking up): What’s your name? mrs. lu : My name’s Lu, sir. zhou puyuan (heaving a sigh and becoming lost in thought): Yes, Shiping, Shiping— that was the name. They say some poor man found her body and had it buried. Could you make inquiries and find out where her grave is? mrs. lu : But I don’t see why you should take such an interest in all this business, sir. zhou puyuan : She was a sort of relative of ours. mrs. lu : A relative? zhou puyuan : Yes, er—we’d like to look after her grave. mrs. lu : Oh, but there’s no need to do that. zhou puyuan : How do you mean? mrs. lu : She’s still alive. zhou puyuan (shaken): What!

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mrs. lu : She never died. zhou puyuan : Still alive, you say? But how can she be? I saw her clothes on the bank of the river, and inside them was a note she’d left. mrs. lu : But she was rescued by a kindhearted person. zhou puyuan : She was? mrs. lu : But because she was never seen in Wuxi again after that, everybody there thought she was dead. zhou puyuan : Where is she now, then? mrs. lu : She’s living alone, miles away from Wuxi. zhou puyuan : What about the baby? mrs. lu : He’s alive, too. zhou puyuan (suddenly standing up): Who are you, anyway? mrs. lu : I am Sifeng’s mother, sir. zhou puyuan : Hm. mrs. lu : She’s getting on now. She’s married to a poor man, and they’ve got a daughter. She doesn’t have an easy time of it. zhou puyuan : D’you have any idea where she is at the moment? mrs. lu : I saw her only the other day. zhou puyuan : What! You mean she’s here of all places? In this city? mrs. lu : Yes, in this city. zhou puyuan : Oh! mrs. lu : Would you like to see her, sir? zhou puyuan (hurriedly): No, no, thanks. mrs. lu : Fate has been hard on her. After she left the Zhous’, the young Mr. Zhou married a rich, well-connected young lady. But this girl Mei was on her own, far from home, without a single relative or friend to help her. And, she had this child to support. She did everything—from begging to sewing, from working as a maid to being a servant in a school. zhou puyuan : But why didn’t she go back to the Zhous’? mrs. lu : Perhaps she didn’t like the idea. For the child’s sake she got married, twice. zhou puyuan : So, she married again, twice, eh? mrs. lu : Yes, and both times to very low-class people. She’s been unlucky in her husbands. Perhaps you’d like to help her in some way, sir? zhou puyuan : Well, I think you’d better go now. Let me think. mrs. lu : Will that be all, sir? (She gazes at him, her eyes filling with tears.) zhou puyuan : Er—oh, you can tell Sifeng to get my old raincoat out of the camphorwood chest—and she can take out those old shirts while she’s about it. mrs. lu : Old shirts, did you say? zhou puyuan : Yes, tell her they’re in that oldest chest of mine—silk ones, with no collars. mrs. lu : But aren’t there five of those silk shirts, sir? Which one did you want? zhou puyuan : What do you mean “which one”?

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mrs. lu : Well, isn’t there one that’s got a hole burnt in the right sleeve, and wasn’t it patched up by having a plum blossom6 embroidered over the hole? And then there’s the one— zhou puyuan (startled): A plum blossom, you say? mrs. lu : Yes, and there’s another silk shirt that has a plum blossom embroidered on the left cuff, with the name “Ping” embroidered next to it. And there’s another— zhou puyuan (rising slowly to his feet): Then you—then you—you’re— mrs. lu : I used to be one of your servants. zhou puyuan : Shiping! (In a low voice) So it is you, then? mrs. lu : Of course you never would have imagined seeing Shiping looking so old one day that even you wouldn’t recognize her. zhou puyuan : You—Shiping? (He glances automatically at the photograph on the bureau, then looks back at mrs. lu.) mrs. lu : Puyuan, weren’t you looking for Shiping? Well, here she is. zhou puyuan (with sudden sternness): What did you come here for? mrs. lu : I didn’t ask to come. zhou puyuan : Who sent you here, then? mrs. lu (bitterly): Fate! Unjust fate brought me here! zhou puyuan (coldly): So you’ve found me anyway, after thirty years. mrs. lu (indignantly): But I wasn’t looking for you. I wasn’t. I thought you were dead long ago. I never thought I would find myself here today. It’s heaven that wants me to meet you again. zhou puyuan : Well, you might be a bit calmer about it. We’ve both got families of our own now. If you think you have a grievance, let’s at least begin by saving all these tears. We’re a bit too old for that kind of thing. mrs. lu : Tears? I cried my eyes dry long ago. No, I’ve got no grievance; all I’ve got left is hatred, and regret, and the memory of the misery I’ve gone through, day in, day out, for the past thirty years. You may have forgotten what you did. Thirty years ago, on New Year’s Eve, just three days after I’d given birth to your second child, you turned me out of your house in a snowstorm, just because you were in a hurry to get rid of me so that you could marry a young lady of wealth and status. zhou puyuan : What’s the point of raking up old scores after all these years? mrs lu : The point? It’s just because while our young Mr. Zhou has done well all these years and is now a respectable member of society, I was turned out by your family, and, after trying to kill myself, lost my mother to shock and grief. And your family forced me to leave my two babies behind at your house. zhou puyuan : But you took the younger one with you, didn’t you? mrs. lu : Yes, your mother let me take him, but only because she thought he wouldn’t survive long. (To herself ) My God! It all seems like a bad dream! zhou puyuan : I don’t see the need to go on raking up the past like this. mrs. lu : But I do! I do! I’ve kept it pent up inside me for thirty years! After you married and moved out of the district I thought I’d never see you again for the rest of my life.

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The last thing I expected was that my own daughter would come to work in your house of all places and do the kind of job her mother did. zhou puyuan : No wonder Sifeng looks so much like you. mrs. lu : I waited on you, and now my child is waiting on your sons. That’s called retribution, yes, retribution. zhou puyuan : Now, calm down. Let’s be sensible about it. I’m not as cold-blooded as you think. You don’t imagine anyone can stifle his conscience as easily as that? You’ve only got to look at this room: all your favorite furniture of the old days is here. I’ve kept it all these years to remember you by. mrs. lu (with bent head): Mm. zhou puyuan : I always remember your birthday, April the eighteenth. Everything is kept as you would’ve liked it as my lawful wedded wife. Remember how you insisted on keeping the windows closed because of your delicate health after you had Ping? Well, I still keep them closed in memory of you to help make up for the wrong I did you. mrs. lu (with a sigh): Now, we’re both getting on, please don’t say such silly things. zhou puyuan : I couldn’t agree more. Now we can have a straight talk. mrs. lu : I don’t think there’s anything to talk about. zhou puyuan : On the contrary. You don’t seem to have altered much in temperament— Lu Gui strikes me as being rather a shifty character. mrs. lu : You’ve got nothing to worry about. He’ll never know anything about it. zhou puyuan : Which is a good thing for both of us. There is one other thing I’d like to know: what’s become of the boy you took with you? mrs. lu : He’s working at your mine. zhou puyuan : I mean, where is he at this moment? mrs. lu : In the porter’s lodge, waiting to see you. zhou puyuan : What! Lu Dahai? You mean—he’s my son? mrs. lu : Because of your negligence, to this day he has a missing toe. zhou puyuan (wryly): That means it’s my own flesh and blood who has turned against me and is inciting a strike in my mine! mrs. lu : He and you are poles apart. zhou puyuan (lost in thought): And he’s my son. mrs. lu : Don’t think he’ll own you as his father. zhou puyuan (suddenly): All right! Let’s have it! How much do you want? mrs. lu : What? zhou puyuan: To keep you in your old age. mrs. lu (with a twisted smile): Ha! So you think I came here purposely to blackmail you, do you? zhou puyuan : All right, let’s say no more about that for the moment. I’ll tell you first what I have in mind. Well now, Lu Gui will have to go, and Sifeng can’t very well stay here, either. However— mrs. lu : You needn’t be afraid. You think I’d blackmail you with our relationship? Don’t worry, I won’t. In three days’ time I’ll be going back to where I came from, and

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I’ll be taking Sifeng with me. This is all a bad dream. I just couldn’t bear to stay in this place any longer. zhou puyuan : Good idea. I’ll pay all your fares and expenses. mrs. lu : You’ll do what? zhou puyuan : It’ll make me feel a bit better. mrs. lu : You? (She laughs) I managed the last thirty years on my own all right, and now you think I need money from you? zhou puyuan : All right, all right, what is it you want, anyway? mrs. lu (after a pause): Well, there is—there is one thing I’d like. zhou puyuan : And what’s that? Say it. mrs. lu (blinded by tears): I—I just want to have a look at my son Ping. zhou puyuan : You want to see him? mrs. lu : Yes. Where is he? zhou puyuan : He’s upstairs with his stepmother and her doctor. I can send for him now if you like. Although— mrs. lu : Although what? zhou puyuan : He’s grown up. mrs. lu (recalling): He should be twenty-eight now. I remember he’s just a year older than Dahai. zhou puyuan : And he thinks his mother’s been dead for years now. mrs. lu : Now do you think I would beg him in tears to call me Mother? No, I’m not that foolish. Don’t I know that I’m not the sort of mother that any son could feel proud of? I quite understand that neither his social status nor his education would allow him to own a woman like me as his mother. I have learned a thing or two all these years, you know. No, all I want is just to have a look. After all, he’s my own child. You’ve got nothing to worry about. Even if I did spoil everything for him by telling him, he’d still never own me. zhou puyuan : So that’s settled, then. I’ll have him down here and let you have a look at him, and after that, no Lus will ever set foot inside this house again. mrs. lu : All right, then. And I hope I’ll never set eyes on you again as long as I live. zhou puyuan (taking a leather-covered checkbook from an inside pocket and making out a check): Fair enough. Here’s a check for five thousand dollars, which I hope you’ll accept. I hope it’ll help to atone for my sins. mrs. lu (takes the check): Thank you. (She tears it up.) zhou puyuan : Shiping! mrs. lu : No amount of your money can cancel out all these years of suffering. zhou puyuan : But you— (He is cut short by angry voices outside. lu dahai ’s voice is heard shouting, “Get out of my way. I’m going in.” Then come the voices of several footmen: “Stop. You can’t go in. The master’s resting.” The noise of a struggle follows.) (Going to the center door) Come here, somebody!

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(A servant appears in the doorway.) Who’s that making all that noise? servant : It’s that miner, Lu Dahai. He won’t be reasonable and insists on seeing you now, sir. zhou puyuan : I see. (Hesitating a moment) You’d better let him come in, then. Wait a minute: send someone upstairs for Master Ping. I want to see him. servant : Very good, sir. (He goes out through the center door.) zhou puyuan (to mrs. lu ): Don’t be so stubborn, Shiping. If you don’t take the money, you’ll regret it one day. (mrs. lu looks at him without so much as a word. Three or four servants bring in lu dahai . He stands on the left with the servants clustering around him.) lu dahai (noticing his mother): Mom, I didn’t know you were still here. zhou puyuan (sizing him up): What’s your name? lu dahai : Don’t you put on airs with me. Are you trying to tell me you don’t know who I am? zhou puyuan : All I know is that you were the biggest troublemaker during the strike. lu dahai : Precisely. That’s why I’ve come to pay you a visit. zhou puyuan : What is it you want? lu dahai : As chairman of the board of directors, of course you know what I want. zhou puyuan (shaking his head): I’m afraid I don’t. lu dahai : We’ve come all this way from the mine, and since six o’clock this morning I’ve been cooling my heels in your porter’s lodge, just so that I can ask you, Mr. Chairman, what exactly you’re going to do about our demands. Do you accept them or not? zhou puyuan : Hm. What about the other three representatives, then? lu dahai : I’ll tell you: they’re busy contacting other trade unions. zhou puyuan : I see. But didn’t they tell you anything else? lu dahai : It’s none of your business what they told me. And now I want to know what exactly you think you’re playing at, blowing hot and cold all the time. (zhou ping comes in from the dining room. Seeing that his father has company, he turns to go.) zhou puyuan (catching sight of zhou ping ): Don’t go, Ping. (He glances at mrs. lu. ) zhou ping : Very well, Father. zhou puyuan (gesturing to one side): Come and stand here by me, Ping. (To lu dahai ) You’ll find you need something more than just emotion if you’re going to be a negotiator. lu dahai : Humph! Don’t think I don’t know your tricks! I know them all. All this stalling is to give you time to buy over a few miserable scabs. You’re just keeping us here out of the way until you’ve done it. zhou puyuan : I must admit that your perception is not entirely groundless.

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lu dahai : But you’re wasting your time. The miners are solidly behind the strike this time, and they’re very well organized. We representatives are not here to beg you. Get that straight: we’re not here to beg you. If you accept our demands, well and good; if not, then the strike goes on until you do. We know just how long you can last out: two months, and you’ll have to close down. zhou puyuan : So you think all these representatives and leaders of yours are reliable, eh? lu dahai : At least they’re much more reliable than anybody in your money-grabbing corporation. zhou puyuan : Then let me show you something. (He looks for a telegram on the table. A servant hands it to him. Just at this moment zhou c hong slips in from the study and stands there listening.) (Handing the telegram to lu dahai ) This telegram came from the mine yesterday. lu dahai (reading it): What! They’ve gone back to work! (Putting the telegram down) Impossible, impossible. zhou puyuan : The miners went back yesterday morning. You mean to say you didn’t know, and you one of their representatives? lu dahai (outraged): So the mine police can get away with opening fire on the miners and killing thirty of them, eh? (He bursts out laughing) Hah, it’s a fake. You faked this telegram to break us up. What a dirty, low trick! zhou ping (unable to contain himself any longer): Who do you think you are? How dare you speak like that! zhou puyuan : You keep out of this! (To lu dahai ) So you have complete faith in the other representatives who came with you, eh? lu dahai : All right, don’t waste your breath. I know what you’re getting at. zhou puyuan : Very well, then. What if I show you the written agreement to call off the strike? lu dahai (laughing): You needn’t try to bluff me; I wasn’t born yesterday. An agreement doesn’t mean a thing without the representatives’ signatures on it. zhou puyuan : Get the agreement. (A servant goes into the study and returns with a document, which he hands to zhou puyuan .) There you are: the agreement, complete with the signatures of the other three. lu dahai (looking at it): What! (Slowly, in a low voice) They’ve signed it. All three of them. How could they just sign like that, without consulting me? They can’t just ignore me like this! zhou puyuan : So there you are, you young fool. Shouting and blustering won’t get you anywhere. Experience is what you need. lu dahai : Where are the other three? zhou puyuan : They caught a train back last night. lu dahai (as the scales finally fall from his eyes): So the three of them have doublecrossed me, the spineless rats! And sold their mates, too! So your money’s done the trick again, you shameless members of the board of directors!

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zhou ping (angered): You scoundrel! zhou puyuan : Hold your tongue. (Turning back to lu dahai ) You’re no longer in a position to speak to me, Lu Dahai—you’ve been fired by the mine. lu dahai : Fired? zhou chong : That’s not fair, Father. zhou puyuan (turning to zhou chong ): You shut up and get out! (zhou chong storms out through the center door.) lu dahai : Okay, very well. (Grinding his teeth) Your dirty tricks are nothing new to me. You’d do anything that could bring you money. You get the police to mow down your men, and then you— zhou puyuan : How dare you! mrs. lu (going over to lu dahai ): Come on, let’s go. That’s enough. lu dahai : Yes, and I know all about your record too! When you contracted to build that bridge over the river at Harbin, you intentionally breached the dike— zhou puyuan (harshly): Get out of here! servants (tugging at lu dahai ): Come on! Go! Go! lu dahai (to the servants): Take your hands off me, you bastards! Yes, I want to speak. You drowned two thousand two hundred coolies in cold blood, and for each life lost you raked in three hundred dollars! I tell you, Zhou, you’ve made your money by killing people, and for your ill-gotten wealth you and your sons are damned for ever! And now you’re still— zhou ping (hurling himself on lu dahai and striking him twice in the face): Take that, you rascal! (lu dahai returns a blow but is seized and held by the servants.) Give him what for! lu dahai (to zhou ping ): You, you—! (The servants set upon him. Blood appears on his face. mrs. lu shields lu dahai , crying and protesting.) zhou puyuan (harshly): Stop! Leave him alone! (The servants stop but still keep hold of lu dahai .) lu dahai : Let go of me, you hooligans! zhou ping (to the servants): Take him away! mrs. lu (breaking down): Yes, you are a bunch of hooligans! (Going across to zhou ping ) You’re my—mighty free with your fists! What right d’you have to hit my son? zhou ping : Who are you? mrs. lu : I’m your—your victim’s mother. lu dahai : Take no notice of the rat, Mom. You don’t want them to lay their hands on you, too. mrs. lu (staring dazedly at zhou ping’s face, then bursting into tears again): Oh, Dahai, let’s go! Let’s get out of here! (She holds on to lu dahai ’s injured head and keeps on crying. lu dahai is escorted out by the servants, followed by mrs. lu. Only zhou puyuan and zhou ping remain on the stage.)

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zhou ping (apologetically): Father. zhou puyuan : You were a bit too rash. zhou ping : But the fellow had no right to throw mud at you like that. (Pause.) zhou puyuan : Did your mother see Dr. Kramer? zhou ping : Yes, but he couldn’t find anything wrong with her. zhou puyuan : Hm. (Lost in thought for a while, then, abruptly) Here, somebody! (A servant comes in through the center door.) Tell the mistress to check the pay for Lu Gui and Sifeng. They’ve been fired. servant : Yes, sir. zhou ping : But what have they done wrong? zhou puyuan : Aren’t you aware that this fellow we had here just now is also a Lu, Sifeng’s brother, in fact? zhou ping (taken aback): That fellow’s Sifeng’s brother? But, Father— zhou puyuan (to the servant): Tell the mistress that the office is to give Lu Gui and Sifeng two months’ extra pay, but they must leave the house today. That’s all. (The servant goes out through the dining room.) zhou ping : But, Father, Sifeng and Lu Gui have both been excellent servants, and very loyal. zhou puyuan : Mm. (Yawning) I’m tired. Think I’ll go and have a rest in the study. Tell them to bring me a cup of Pu’er tea—strong. zhou ping : Yes, Father. (zhou puyuan goes into the study.) (Heaving a sigh) Phew! (He hurries toward the center door. Just at that moment zhou chong comes in through the same door.) zhou chong (anxiously): Ping, where’s Sifeng? zhou ping : I’ve no idea. zhou chong : Is it true that Father wants to fire her? zhou ping : Yes, and Lu Gui, too. zhou chong : Even if her brother did upset Father, he got beaten up for it, didn’t he? No point in taking it out on the girl, is there? zhou ping : Go and ask Father. zhou chong : It’s just outrageous. zhou ping : Yes, isn’t it? zhou chong : Where is Father? zhou ping : In the study. (zhou chong goes into the study, leaving zhou ping pacing up and down. lu sifeng comes in through the center door, drying her eyes.) (Hurrying across to her) I’m sorry, Sifeng. I really had no idea who he was. (lu sifeng gestures helplessly. Her heart is too full for words.) But your brother shouldn’t have said such wild things, either.

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lu sifeng : No use bringing it up again. It’s all wrong. (She makes straight for the dining room.) zhou ping : Where are you going now? lu sifeng : I’m going to pack my things. It’s goodbye now. Since you’ll be leaving tomorrow, I may never see you again. zhou ping : No, don’t go. (He stands in her way.) lu sifeng : No, let me go. Don’t you know we’ve already been fired? zhou ping (hurt): Feng, you—will you forgive me? lu sifeng : No, no, don’t say that. I’m not blaming you. I knew it would end up like this sooner or later. But don’t come to see me tonight, whatever you do. zhou ping : But—what about the future? lu sifeng : Well—we’ll just have to wait and see. zhou ping : But, Sifeng, I will see you this evening—I must. I’ve got so many things to talk over with you. Sifeng, you— lu sifeng : No. Whatever happens you mustn’t come. zhou ping : Then you’ll have to find some other way to see me. lu sifeng : There isn’t any other way. Can’t you see how things are? zhou ping : Then I’ll have no choice but to come. lu sifeng : No, you mustn’t. Don’t be a fool. I absolutely forbid you— (zhou fanyi enters from the dining room.) Oh, ma’am. zhou fanyi : Oh, I didn’t know you two were here. (To lu sifeng ) Your father’s gone for the electrician. He’ll be back shortly. I’ll have him take your things home for you. Or else one of the servants can come—where do you live? lu sifeng : No. 10, Apricot Blossom Lane. zhou fanyi : Don’t let it upset you. You can come and see me whenever you’re free, as often as you like. Yes, I’ll have one of the servants take your things along. No. 10, Apricot Blossom Lane, did you say? lu sifeng : Yes. Thank you, ma’am. mrs. lu’s voice : Sifeng! Sifeng! lu sifeng : Yes, Mom? I’m in here. (mrs. lu comes in through the center door.) mrs. lu : Come on, Sifeng, pack up your things and let’s go. It’s going to pour. (There is the noise of wind, and distant thunder approaching.) lu sifeng : All right, Mom. mrs. lu (to zhou fanyi ): I’ll have to say goodbye to you now, ma’am. (To her daughter) Thank your mistress for everything, Sifeng. lu sifeng (dropping a curtsy to zhou fanyi ): Thank you, ma’am! (She gazes tearfully at zhou ping , who slowly turns his head away. mrs. lu and lu sifeng go out through the center door. The sounds of wind and thunder grow louder.) zhou fanyi : Now, Ping, what were you and Sifeng talking about just now?

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zhou ping : You’ve no right to ask me that. zhou fanyi : Ping, don’t imagine she could ever understand you. zhou ping : What do you mean? zhou fanyi : Don’t try and put me off with lies again. I want to know where you said you were going. zhou ping : It’s none of your business. It’s beneath your self-respect to ask a thing like that. zhou fanyi : You must tell me: where is it you’re planning to go tonight? zhou ping : I—(abruptly) I’m going to see her. Now, what are you going to do about it? zhou fanyi (menacingly): Do you realize who she is and who you are? zhou ping : No. All I know is that I’m really in love with her now, and that she loves me in return. I’m well aware that you’ve known all about it all the time. Since you now want to have it out in the open, there’s no need to conceal it from you any longer. zhou fanyi : To think of a well-educated young man like you carrying on with such a low-class girl, a mere servant’s daughter— zhou ping (exploding): How dare you! Who are you to call her low-class, you of all people! zhou fanyi (with a sneer): Oh, be careful. Careful! Don’t drive a disappointed woman too hard. She’s capable of anything. zhou ping : I’m prepared for the worst. zhou fanyi : All right. Go, then! But be careful—(looking out of the window, half to herself, hinting ominously) the storm’s coming! zhou ping (understanding her): Thank you. I know. (zhou puyuan comes in from the study.) zhou puyuan : What are you all talking about? zhou ping : I was just telling Mother what had happened. zhou puyuan : Have they gone? zhou fanyi : Yes. zhou puyuan : Fanyi, I’ve gone and made Chong cry again. Call him out and calm him down, would you? zhou fanyi (going across to the door of the study): Chong! Chong! (Receiving no answer, she goes into the study. Outside, wind and thunder howl and roar. zhou puyuan goes over to the window. A shrieking gust of wind sends flowerpots on the windowsill outside crashing to the ground.) Ping, the flowerpots have been blown down by the wind. Tell the servants to hurry up and close the shutters. Looks like a big storm’s coming. zhou ping : Yes, Father. (He goes out through the center door. zhou puyuan stands in front of the window, watching the lightning outside.) (Curtain.)

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A CT 3 (Inside lu gui ’s house—at No. 10, Apricot Blossom Lane. First let us look at the scene outside the house: The station clock has struck ten, and the people of Apricot Blossom Lane, old and young, are taking the air along the banks of a pond that, although it is the source of evil exhalations drawn up by the summer sun in the daytime, provides late at night an open space where one may catch the fresh, cool breezes from the less-crowded area of the foreign concessions.7 Despite a sharp downpour a moment ago, it is still unbearably hot and close, and the sky is dark with thunderclouds, black and ominous. It is the sort of weather that makes people feel like sun-scorched blades of grass moistened by a light dew during the night but still parched inside and thirsting for another thunderstorm. Yet the frogs that crouch among the reeds by the pond are as untiringly strident as ever. The voices of those hanging out there come in desultory snatches. From time to time a silent flash of lightning splashes the starless sky with a harsh blue glare and for one startled moment shows us the weeping willows by the pond, drooping and trembling over the water. Then, just as suddenly, it is dark again. One by one, the air-takers drift away and silence closes in on all sides. A rumble of distant thunder seems to cow even the frogs into silence; a breeze springs up again and sifts through the rustling leaves of the willows. From some echoing alleyway comes the lonely, frantic barking of stray dogs. Presently the lightning blazes again, stark and terrifying. Then a jarring burst of thunder goes shuddering across the sky. In its wake comes a close, oppressive silence, broken only by the occasional croaking of a frog and, what is louder, the sharp clack of a night watchman’s bamboo clappers. A storm is about to break. And when it does, it will last right through to the final curtain. All the audience can see, however, is the interior of lu sifeng’s room. [It is, in fact, the back room of lu gui’s two-roomed hut.] Of the scene just described, apart from the sounds, the audience can see only what is visible through the window in the middle of the back wall. Now let us examine lu sifeng’s room. The Lus have just finished their evening meal. All four of them are in a bad mood, and each of them is occupied with his or her own thoughts. lu dahai is sitting in a corner cleaning something. mrs. lu and lu sifeng keep an uncomfortable silence. The former, her head bent, is clearing away the bowls and chopsticks from the round table in the center of the room. A fuddled lu gui sits slumped back like a monkey in a rickety easy chair on the left. He stares at his wife from bloodshot eyes and hiccups. He puts his bare feet now on the staves of the chair, now on the floor with his legs sprawled wide apart. He wears a white T-shirt, sweat-soaked and clinging. He fans himself incessantly with a palm-leaf fan. lu sifeng is standing in front of the window. Her back is toward the audience as she stares anxiously out. From outside the window comes the croaking of the frogs and the

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lighthearted voices of passersby. She seems to be listening uneasily for something, and from time to time she looks around at her father and then looks swiftly away again in disgust. Next to her, standing against the left wall, is a plank bed covered with a mat and a spotless double quilt. A mat pillow and a palm-leaf fan are neatly placed on it. The room is very small and, as is always the case in the houses of the poor, the ceiling comes oppressively low overhead. On the wall over the end of the bed hangs an illustrated poster advertising a brand of cigarettes, while on the left-hand wall is pasted an old reproduction originally put up as a New Year decoration and now very tattered and torn. A small table stands by the only chair in the room—now occupied by lu gui—with a mirror, a comb, and various cheap cosmetics on it: apparently lu sifeng’s dressing table. Along the left-hand wall stands a bench, and by the table in the middle of the room there is a solitary stool. At the foot of lu sifeng’s bed, there is a trunk draped with a white cloth and with several pairs of fashionable shoes, a teapot, and several cheap bowls on it. An oil lamp with a bright red paper lampshade stands on the round table. The light is not very strong, yet one sees enough of the articles on the table to know that it is a woman’s bedroom. The room has two doors, of which the one on the left—the side where the bed is—is no more than a gaudily patterned red curtain hanging over a recess that, besides providing storage space for a heap of coal and bits of old furniture, also serves as lu sifeng’s dressing room. The door on the right is of cracked and battered planks and leads to the front room. This is lu gui ’s room, and it is in this front room that he and his wife will sleep tonight. From the front room a door opens on the muddy path leading to the edge of the pond. Just inside the door between the two rooms, leaning against the wall, are several long planks with which to make an extra bed. When the curtain rises, lu gui has just delivered a voluble and highly colorful lecture to his family. In the tense silence following this spirited outburst one can hear the strains of some indelicate love song coming from the direction of the pond, mingled with the murmur of conversation from the people outside relaxing in the cool of the evening. Inside the room, the four heads are bent in silent preoccupation. Hard drinking and the effort involved in the delivery of such a forceful lecture have bathed lu gui in perspiration from head to foot, and now he sits with slobbering lips and his face an ugly red. He is apparently reveling in his position of authority as head of the family, judging by the gusto with which he brandishes his tattered palm-leaf fan and the way he points and gestures with it. His sweat-soaked, fleshy head is thrust forward and his glazed eyes swing from one member of his family to another. lu dahai is still busy cleaning the object in his hand, which the audience now sees to be a pistol. The two women wait in silence for lu gui to launch another shrill tirade against them. The croaking of the frogs and the voice of a street singer now drift in through the window. Still standing in front of the window, lu sifeng now and then heaves a deep sigh.) lu gui (coughing): Darned! (Spits on the dirt floor, heatedly) Just look at you. There’s not one of you can look me in the face! (Turning to lu dahai and lu sifeng ) It’s no

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good your pretending not to hear, either. I’ve worked my fingers to the bone to bring you two up, both of you, but what have either of you ever done to show your gratitude? (To lu dahai ) Eh? (To lu sifeng ) Answer me that! (To mrs. lu, who is standing by the round table in the center, triumphantly) Or perhaps you can tell me, since they’re your darling children? (He spits on the floor again. Silence. From outside comes the sound of someone singing to the accompaniment of a Chinese fiddle.) lu dahai (to lu sifeng ): Who’s that still singing at this time of night? It’s almost half past ten. lu sifeng (listlessly): Oh, some blind man and his wife. They’re here every day. Street singers. (She heaves a faint sigh as she fans herself.) lu gui : All my life I’ve just had one patch of bad luck after another, and every time it’s been because some miserable nobody has put a spoke in my wheel. Just when I’d been with the Zhous two years and got my children fixed up with good jobs, you (pointing at his wife) came along and messed it all up. Every time you come home there’s trouble. Look at what happened today: I go out to get an electrician and when I get back what do I find? Sifeng’s lost her job and I got uprooted, too. If you hadn’t come home, damn you (pointing at her again), all this would never have happened! lu dahai (putting down the revolver): If you want to cuss me, just go ahead. There’s no need to beat around the bush and take it out on Mom. lu gui : Me cussing you? As if I’d dare cussing a young gentleman like you! You have the guts to cuss rich people in their face! Me cussing you? lu dahai (losing patience with him): You get two or three drinks down your throat and then you go and shoot your mouth off. It’s been half an hour now. Can’t you give us a break? lu gui : A break? No way! I’ve had a bellyful of wrongs and now you want me to take a break? Oh no, I haven’t finished yet! It’s not as if your old dad had always been a servant. There was a time when I had people waiting on me. I lived like a lord wining and dining and womanizing—what didn’t I have? But from the day I married your mother, I started going to rack and ruin, each day from bad to worse. Yes, from bad to worse . . . lu sifeng : You know very well it was gambling that ruined you! lu dahai : Take no notice of him. Let him babble on. lu gui (carried away by his own eloquence, as if he had been the only one to have suffered): I tell you I’ve been going to rack and ruin, from bad to worse. I’ve been trampled upon by them, and I’ve been trampled upon by you. And now, I don’t even have a workplace where I can be trampled upon! I’ve just got to stay here and starve to death with you! Now just ask yourselves, what have you ever done for me that you can be proud of? (He suddenly finds that he has nothing to rest his legs on.) Shiping, bring that stool over here for me to put my legs on.

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lu dahai (frowning discouragement at his mother): No, Mom! (Nevertheless, mrs. lu brings the only stool in the room anyway and places it at lu gui ’s feet. He puts his legs on it.) lu gui (looking across at lu dahai ): And who’s to blame for it all? If you have to go and call people names and upset them, it’s only natural that they’re going to fire us. I can’t help being your father, can I? Now just think, Dahai. Think of me, an old man, having to starve to death because of you. Would you have anything to say to clear yourself? Eh? What if I did die like this? lu dahai (rising, unable to contain himself any longer. loudly): Get on with it and die, then! Who do you think you are, anyway? lu gui (brought back to earth with a jolt): Well, I’ll be darned! mrs. lu and lu sifeng (together): Dahai! lu gui (awed by lu dahai ’s tall, muscular body and the gun in his hand, smiling nervously): Well, well! Doesn’t the kid have a temper! (After a pause) But you know what, come to think of it, it’s not all Dahai’s fault. There isn’t a single decent Zhou in the whole of their family. I’ve been with them two years, and what I haven’t found out about their little antics isn’t worth knowing. Still, it’s always the same for people with plenty of money—they can get away with anything. The worse they behave the more respectable they pretend to be. The more civilized their language, the filthier their minds! Shit! Look at the way they carried on when I left this afternoon. There they were, both of them, trying to smooth me down with their soft soap. Well, just you wait and see! They think I don’t know about the goings-on in the house! lu sifeng (afraid he may create a scandal): Dad! Don’t you, don’t you go back to the Zhous’. lu gui (with a swagger): Ha! Tomorrow I’m going to make a public statement and tell it all about the lady of the house and the oldest son. That should bring the old man himself to his knees to beg for my mercy, that ungrateful old bastard! (He coughs with satisfaction.) Shit! (Spits on the floor again; to his daughter) Where’s my tea? lu sifeng : I think you must be drunk, Dad. Didn’t you see me put it on the table for you a minute ago? lu gui (picking up the cup, inspecting it, and turning back to lu sifeng ): What’s this, my lady? Plain water? (He empties the cup on the floor.) lu sifeng (coldly): Of course it is. There isn’t any tea. lu gui (disgruntled): Bullshit! Don’t you know I always have a nice cup of tea after my dinner! lu dahai (sarcastically): Well, well, so Daddy would like tea after his dinner. (To lu sifeng ) What do you mean, Sifeng, upsetting Father like that? You should have made him a pot of Dragon Well tea—it’s only four dollars eighty an ounce. lu sifeng : Dragon Well! Why, there isn’t even a pinch of tea dust in the house. lu dahai (to lu gui ): Hear that? You’ll have to make do with boiled water and lump it, and stop being so damned fussy.

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(He pours out a cup of boiled water, puts it on the table beside lu gui , then walks away.) lu gui : This is my house, and if you don’t like it you can clear out. lu dahai (advancing on him): Now, you— mrs. lu (holding him back): No, don’t do anything, there’s a good boy. Don’t quarrel with him, for my sake. lu gui : You really think you’re somebody, don’t you! You haven’t been here two days before you start all this trouble, and before I’ve even breathed a word about it you’re threatening to attack me! Go on, get out of my sight! lu dahai (keeping his temper): Mom, I’m not staying here any longer if he goes on like this. I got to go. mrs. lu : Don’t be silly. It’s going to rain any minute. Where would you go, anyway? lu dahai: I’ve got some business to take care of. If I don’t pull it off, I’ll probably go rickshaw-pulling. mrs. lu : Now look here, Dahai— lu gui : Out he goes. Don’t stop him. He’s just a worthless pauper! He can get out. Right out. Go on! lu dahai : You’d better watch it. Don’t get me too riled. lu gui (brazening it out): Don’t forget your mother’s here. You wouldn’t dare do a thing to your dad, would you? You bastard! lu dahai : What was that? Who do you think you’re swearing at? lu gui : At you, you— mrs. lu (to lu gui ): Now shut up and stop making such an exhibition of yourself. lu gui : Me make an exhibition of myself? Look who’s talking! At least I didn’t produce bastards—and take one of them along—(pointing at lu dahai ) into a marriage. mrs. lu (hurt and incensed): Oh, my God! lu dahai (drawing his pistol): I’ll—I’ll kill you for that, you old dog! lu gui (leaping to his feet, he dashes to the inner room and stands petrified, shouting): A gun! A gun! A gun! lu sifeng (rushing across to lu dahai and seizing his wrist): Dahai! mrs. lu : Put it down, Dahai. lu dahai (to lu gui ): Now, tell Mother you’re in the wrong, and promise that you’ll never say such vile things to her again. lu gui : Er— lu dahai (taking a step forward): Say it! lu gui (intimidated): If—if—if you put that gun down first. lu dahai (angrily): No. You say it first. lu gui : All right. (To mrs. lu ) It was wrong of me, and I’ll never say such vile things to you again. lu dahai (pointing to the only chair in the room): And sit over there again! lu gui (completely deflated, he sits down on the chair, hangs his head, and mutters to himself ): Bastard! lu dahai : Humph! You’re not worth my wasting my energy on!

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mrs. lu : Put that gun down, Dahai. lu dahai (putting it down and smiling): Don’t worry, Mom. I only wanted to scare him. mrs. lu : Give it to me. Where did you get it from? lu dahai : I brought it from the mine. Police dropped it in the scuffle when they fired on us. mrs. lu : What are you carrying it around on you now for? lu dahai : No particular reason. mrs. lu : Oh yes. Now tell me. lu dahai (smiling cruelly): It’s nothing, really. But if the Zhous drive me to the wall, this will be one way out. mrs. lu : Nonsense. Give it to me. lu dahai (protesting): Mom! mrs. lu : I told you at dinner. Our family’s finished with the Zhous, and we’ll never mention them again. lu dahai (quietly and slowly): And what about the blood they spilled at the mine? What about the slap in the face I got from that young Mr. Zhou? You expect me to forget these things just like that? mrs. lu : Yes, I do. You can never get these scores settled. Once you start taking revenge, there’ll be no end to it. It’s all fate. I’d rather see my son suffer a little. lu dahai : It’s all right for you, Mom, but I— mrs. lu (raising her voice): Now, listen to me, Dahai. You’re my dearest child, and I’ve never talked to you like this before. But let me tell you this: if you hurt any of the Zhous—I don’t care whether it’s the master or the young gentlemen—if you so much as lay a hand on any of them, I’ll have nothing more to do with you so long as I live. lu dahai (pleading): But Mom— mrs. lu (decisively): You should know what I’m like by now. If you go and do the one thing I just couldn’t bear you to do, I’ll kill myself before your eyes. lu dahai (heaving a long sigh): Oh no, Mom—(looking up, then lowering his head) then I’ll hate—I’ll hate them for the rest of my life. mrs. lu (sighing): God, you can’t blame me for that. (To lu dahai ) Give me that gun. (lu dahai refuses.) Give it to me! (She goes up to him and seizes the pistol.) lu dahai (hurt): But Mom, you— lu sifeng : Let Mom have it, Dahai. lu dahai : Okay. You take it, then. But you’ve got to tell me where you put it. mrs. lu : Very well, I’ll put it in this chest here. (She puts it in the chest by the bed.) But—(looking at lu dahai ) I’ll take it to the police and hand it in first thing tomorrow morning. lu gui : Quite right. That’s the most sensible thing you can do. lu dahai : You shut up! mrs. lu : Dahai, you mustn’t speak to your father like that.

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lu dahai (looking at lu gui , then turning back to mrs. lu ): Well, Mom, I’m off now. I’ll go down to the rickshaw depot and see if I can find any of my old mates. mrs. lu : Go on, then. But you must be sure to come back. We can’t have all the family falling out with one another like this. lu dahai : All right. I’ll come straight back. (He goes out through the outer room on the right. The sound of his closing the outer door is heard. lu gui stands up to see lu dahai go, and then returns resentfully to the side of the table.) lu gui (muttering to himself ): The bastard! (Turning to mrs. lu ) Why didn’t you buy some tea? I told you to, didn’t I? mrs. lu : We can’t afford it. lu gui : But, Sifeng, where’s my money—the wages you brought from the Zhous’ this afternoon? lu sifeng : You mean the two months’ extra pay? lu gui : Yes. There should be sixty dollars altogether. lu sifeng (realizing that he will have to be told the truth sooner or later): It’s all gone. To pay off your debts. lu gui : What do you mean, “all gone”? lu sifeng : That fellow Zhao was here again not long ago. Wouldn’t go away till we’d paid off your gambling debts. So Mom gave him the money. lu gui (turning to mrs. lu ): The whole sixty dollars? You gave him the lot? mrs. lu : Yes. That means that your latest gambling debts are all paid off. lu gui (really anxious now): Darn! No wonder you’ve ruined me, if that’s the way you carry on. What’s this—is this the time to pay off debts? mrs. lu (calmly): It’s better to have all your debts paid. I’ve decided to give up this house. lu gui : You’ve what? mrs. l u : I’m thinking of going back to Jinan in three days. lu gui : But when you’ve gone there’ll still be Sifeng and myself here. We’ll still need the place even if you don’t. mrs. lu : I’m taking Sifeng with me this time. I’m not going to leave her here on her own anymore. lu gui (smiling at lu sifeng ): Hear that, Sifeng? Your mother wants to take you away with her. mrs. lu : When I went away last time, I didn’t know how this job of mine would turn out. I was going to a strange place and I didn’t have any friends there. Here she’d at least have Mrs. Zhang next door to look after her, so naturally I didn’t take her with me. Now that I know my job’s a steady one, and she’s lost her job here, so why shouldn’t I take her with me? lu sifeng (alarmed): So you—you really want to take me with you? mrs. lu (in a pained voice): Yes. Mom will never leave you on your own anymore. lu gui : Here, hold on. We’ll have to talk all this over properly first. mrs. lu : What’s there to talk about? If you want to come with us, we can all go together. But you won’t find any of your cronies there.

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lu gui : Of course I’m not coming with you. But I still don’t see why you should want to take Sifeng with you. mrs. lu : It’s only natural that a girl should be with her mother. I had to leave her here last time because I had no choice. lu gui (glibly): If Sifeng stays with me she’ll have all the goodies in life and she’ll only mix with the best people. If she goes with you, her life will be miserable. So what’s the point? mrs. lu (giving him up as hopeless): Oh, it’s no good talking to you. You just won’t understand. You’d better ask her if she wants to come with me or stay with you. lu gui : She wants to stay with me, of course. mrs. lu : Ask her! lu gui (confident of winning): Come here, Sifeng. Now, you’ve heard what it’s all about. Well, which way do you want to go? It’s all up to you. You want to go with your mother, or stay here with me? (lu sifeng turns around, her face streaming with tears.) Well, I’ll be—what are you crying for? mrs. lu : Oh, Feng, my poor child! lu gui : Well, come on. It’s not as if you were being married off! Say who you want to go with. mrs. lu (comforting her): That’s all right, Feng, you can tell me. You promised to come with me a little while ago, but perhaps you’ve changed your mind now? Tell me, my dear, tell me truly. I’ll still love you whichever way you choose. lu gui : You see, you’ve upset her with all your talk about taking her with you. I happen to know that she can’t tear herself away from this place. (He smiles.) lu sifeng (to lu gui ): Oh, go away! (To her mother) Don’t ask me, Mom. I feel so sad. Oh, Mom, Mom! I am coming with you. Oh, Mom! (She flings herself sobbing into her mother’s arms.) mrs. lu : There, there, my dear. I know you’ve had a bad time of it today. lu gui : See what I mean? She’s too much of a lady with her little scenes. She’ll find it tough going if she goes with you. mrs. lu (to her husband): Be quiet, you. (To lu sifeng ) It’s Mom’s fault. I’m sorry, Feng, Mom was born under the wrong star. But don’t feel miserable. From now on you’ll be with me, and no one will dare to bully you. My own dear child! (lu dahai enters from the right.) lu dahai : Mrs. Zhang’s back now, Mom. I just ran into her. mrs. lu : Did you say anything to her about selling our furniture? lu dahai : Yes, I did mention that. She said she can help. mrs. lu : Did you find anybody you know down at the rickshaw depot? lu dahai : Yes, but I’ll have to go out again to find a guarantor. mrs. lu : I’ll come with you. I won’t be a minute, Sifeng, I’ll be right back. lu dahai (to lu gui ): Are you sobering up yet? (To mrs. lu ) I won’t be home tonight. (He and his mother go out together.)

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lu gui (following them out with his eyes): Humph! Shit! (Noticing that lu sifeng has gone back to her place at the window, he turns to her) Well, that’s your mother out of the way, Sifeng. Now, tell me, what are you going to do? (lu sifeng sighs but pays him no attention. She stands listening to the frogs outside and the rumble of distant thunder.) (Scornfully) Seems you’ve got quite a load on your mind. lu sifeng (covering it up): What load? It’s the weather, so stuffy. lu gui : You can’t fool me. Ever since dinner you’ve been miles away, just staring into space. What’s worrying you? lu sifeng : Nothing. lu gui (playing sentimental): Feng, you’re my clever child, my only daughter. If you go away with your mother, I’ll be left here all on my own. lu sifeng : Please don’t go on. I feel all mixed up inside as it is. (There is a flicker of lightning outside.) Listen, it’s thundering now. lu gui : Don’t change the subject, child. Have you really made up your mind to go to Jinan with your mother? lu sifeng : Yes. (She heaves a short sigh.) lu gui (singing dispiritedly): Flowers blossom, flowers die, Another year’s passing by. Spring’s youth come and gone, Life’s short, time moves on. Ai! (Suddenly) You know, Sifeng, we’re only young once, and we have to make the most of it. And opportunity only knocks once. lu sifeng : Oh, please go. I’m ready for bed. lu gui (letting down the bait): You don’t have to worry about your job at the Zhous’. With me on your side, we’ll get right back there tomorrow. (Insinuating) Do you really believe you could tear yourself away from a nice place like that? Could you really let go of the Zhous? lu sifeng (afraid): You’d better stop talking and go to bed! Look, everybody’s gone home outside. Why don’t you go to bed? lu gui : Don’t you be a little idiot. (For once from his heart) You can’t trust anyone in this world. Money’s the only real thing. What a shame, you and your mother are the only ones who don’t see the good of money. lu sifeng : Listen. I thought I heard a knock. (A knock is heard at the front door.) lu gui : Who can it be at this time of night? It’s nearly eleven. lu sifeng : Let me go and see, Dad. lu gui : No, I’ll go. (Opening the door on the right halfway) Who is it?

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voice outside : Hello! Is this where the Lus live? lu gui : Yes. What do you want? voice : I’ve come to see someone. lu gui : Who are you? voice : My name’s Zhou. lu gui (his face lighting up): There you are! What did I say? Somebody from the Zhous’. lu sifeng (alarmed, hastily): No, Dad. Tell him there’s nobody at home. lu gui : Eh? (Throwing her a shrewd glance) What’s the idea? (He goes out. lu sifeng hurriedly straightens up the room as best she can. She puts some of the things away into the curtained recess on the left, then stands in the righthand corner, waiting for the visitor. In the meantime, zhou chong can be heard in conversation with lu gui . After a moment they both come in.) zhou chong (delighted to find lu sifeng there): Why, Sifeng! lu sifeng (looking at him, puzzled): Master Chong! lu gui (smiling obsequiously): I hope you don’t mind, sir. This isn’t much of a place to welcome you to. zhou chong (laughing): Really wasn’t easy to find this place. You’ve got quite a stretch of water outside—quite nice. lu gui : You must take a seat, Master Chong. Sifeng (pointing to the round table), bring the good chair over here. zhou chong (struck by lu sifeng’s silence): What’s the matter, Sifeng? Are you feeling unwell or something? lu sifeng : I’m all right. (Behaving flawlessly) Master Chong, why did you have to come here? If the mistress finds out, you’ll— zhou chong : But it was Mom who sent me. lu gui (not sure if he understands): The mistress herself sent you? zhou chong : Yes, but I wanted to see you all in any case. (To lu sifeng ) Where are your brother and your mother? lu gui : They’ve gone out. lu sifeng : How did you find out where we live? zhou chong (naively): Mom told me. I didn’t expect to find such a lot of water outside. And it’s so slippery after the rain. You have to be careful in the dark, otherwise you might soon fall into the water. lu gui : I hope you didn’t do anything like that, Master Chong? zhou chong : Oh no. I came in our own rickshaw. Great fun. (His eyes stray around the room and finally come to rest on lu sifeng ; beaming at her) So this is where you live! lu sifeng : I think you’d better hurry up and get back. lu gui : What! zhou chong (suddenly): Oh yes, I almost forgot what I came for. Mom says she’s rather concerned about you all now that you’ve left. She was afraid you might not be able to find a job right away, so she’s sent a hundred dollars for your mother. (He produces the money.)

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lu sifeng : What! lu gui (taking this to be an act of conciliation on the part of the Zhou family, he smiles smugly at lu sifeng ): You see how kind and generous they are? After all, you know, they are people of wealth. lu sifeng : No, Master Chong. Please thank the mistress for us, but we can manage all right on our own. Please take it back. lu gui (turning to lu sifeng ): Wait, what do you think you’re saying? See how kind the mistress’s been in sending Master Chong in person to deliver her gift to us! How could we not accept such kindness? (He takes the money.) Give Mrs. Zhou our best regards and tell her we’re all fine. Tell her not to worry about us, and thank her for everything. lu sifeng (obstinately): Dad, this will never do. lu gui : You’re too young to understand. lu sifeng : Mom and Dahai would never let you keep the money if you did take it. lu gui (ignoring her and turning to zhou chong ): Thank you for coming all this way. I’ll be off and buy you some fruit. Just take a seat and Sifeng will keep you company. Please excuse me. lu sifeng : Dad, you mustn’t go! That won’t do! lu gui : Stop talking and pour Master Chong a cup of tea. I won’t be long. (He hurries out.) zhou chong (ambiguously): May as well let him go. lu sifeng (with loathing): Ugh! It’s sickening! (Displeased) What business is it of yours to come here with money? zhou chong : You—er—you don’t seem particularly pleased to see me. What’s the matter? I’ll watch my mouth from now on. lu sifeng (making conversation): Has the master had his dinner yet? zhou chong : Yes, he’s just finished. He lost his temper again, and Mom rushed upstairs before she’d finished eating. She was in a tearing rage. I went up to her and spent a long time trying to cheer her up. I could have gotten here a bit earlier. lu sifeng (casually): How’s Master Ping? zhou chong : I haven’t seen him, but I know he’s pretty upset. He’s been drinking in his room again, so he’s probably drunk by now. lu sifeng : Oh! (She heaves a sigh) Why couldn’t you send one of the servants around with the money? There was no need for you to come to this slum of ours yourself. zhou chong (earnestly): You’ve got a grudge against us now, isn’t that true? (Shamefaced) That was a bad business today. It made me feel ashamed to see you folks treated like that. You mustn’t think Ping really meant any harm. He’s terribly sorry for what he did. He’s still very fond of you, you know. lu sifeng : Master Chong. Please remember that I’m not one of your family’s servants now. zhou chong : But can’t we always remain good friends? lu sifeng : I’m going back with my mother. To Jinan.

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zhou chong : No, don’t go yet. We can get you and your father back with us sooner or later. By the time we’ll have moved into our new house, Father will probably have gone back to the mine. Then you can come back to us, and I’ll be so glad to have you back! lu sifeng : You’ve got a good heart, really. zhou chong : Sifeng, you mustn’t let a little thing like this upset you. The world is such a big place. You should go to school, and then you’d learn that there have been lots of people like us in this world—putting up with suffering, working hard, and biding their time, and in the end enjoying happiness. lu sifeng : Ah, but a woman’s just a woman after all! (Suddenly) Listen! (The croaking of frogs is heard.) Why don’t the frogs go to sleep? Why are they still croaking in the middle of the night? zhou chong : No, you’re no ordinary woman. You’ve got strength, and you can put up with hardships. We’re still young. We’ve got all our lives ahead of us to work for the well-being of mankind. I hate this unequal society. I hate people who believe in tyranny. I loathe my father. You and I are in the same boat together—we’re both victims of oppression. lu sifeng : You must be thirsty, Master Chong. I’ll get you some tea. (She stands up to serve tea.) zhou chong : No, I’m all right. lu sifeng : Yes, let me wait on you once again. zhou chon g : You mustn’t say things like that. The world as it is now should never have been in the first place. I’ve never thought of you as a servant. You’ve always been my older sister, my guide. Our world, the real world, is not this one. lu sifeng : You certainly know how to talk! zhou chong : Sometimes I forget the present—(dreamily) I forget my home, I forget you, I forget my mother—I even forget myself. It seems like a winter morning, with a clear, bright sky overhead . . . On the boundless sea there’s a little sailing boat, light as a gull. When the sea breeze gets stronger, and there’s a salty tang in the air, the white sails billow out like the wings of a hawk and the boat skims over the sea, just kissing the waves, racing toward the horizon. The sky is empty except for a few patches of white clouds floating lazily on the horizon. We sit in the bow, gazing ahead, because ahead of us is our world. lu sifeng : Us? zhou chong : Yes, you and me. We can fly—fly to a place that is truly clean and happy, a place where there is no conflict, no hypocrisy, no inequality, no—(lifting his head as though such a world were there before his eyes, then, abruptly) do you like it? lu sifeng : You’ve got a wonderful imagination. zhou chong (affectionately): Will you go there with me? You could even bring him, too, if you wanted to. lu sifeng : Who?

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zhou chong : The one you told me about yesterday, when you said your heart already belonged to another. I’m sure he must be just like you—someone nice and friendly. (lu dahai comes in.) lu sifeng : Hello, Dahai. lu dahai (coldly): What’s all this? zhou chong : Ah, Mr. Lu! lu sifeng : Master Chong from the Zhous’ has come around to see us. lu dahai : Oh. I didn’t expect to come in and find you two here. Where’s Father? lu sifeng : He’s gone out shopping. lu dahai (to zhou chong ): Isn’t this strange—at this time of night—you, young master of the Zhou house, should want to come down to this wretched slum of ours—to see us! zhou chong : It was you that I really came to see. Would you want to—shake hands with me? (He offers his right hand.) lu dahai (disagreeably): I don’t understand these foreign habits. zhou chong (taking back his hand): Then, let me say this: I feel I owe you an apology. lu dahai : What for? zhou chong (blushing): This afternoon, at our house, when you— lu dahai (flaring up): Better not mention that! lu sifeng : Don’t be like that, Dahai. He’s come with the best of intentions—to offer us his sympathy. lu dahai : We’ve no use for your sympathy, Master Chong. We were born paupers and we’re used to being treated like that. We don’t need to have anybody coming here in the middle of the night to give us their sympathy. zhou chong : Oh, I think you’ve got me all wrong. lu dahai (distinctly): No I haven’t. There wasn’t a third person in this house: my sister was here, and you were here. What was this all about? zhou chong : I didn’t expect you to think along that line. lu dahai : But everybody would think along that line. (Turning to lu sifeng ) You go out. lu sifeng : But, Dahai! lu dahai : Go and leave us on our own: I want to have a word with Master Chong. (lu sifeng makes no move.) Go on! (lu sifeng goes out slowly through the door on the left.) I’ve already had a chat with you, and I realize you’ve got a little more sense than the rest of your family. But remember this: if you ever come here again to—to show us your sympathies (with a sudden ferocity), I’ll break your leg! zhou chong : Break my leg? lu dahai (affirmatively): Yep.

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zhou chong (with a smile): But I don’t see how anybody can be offended by an offer of sympathy. lu dahai : There could never be any sympathy between you and me. Our stations in life are too far apart. zhou chong : I think your prejudices get the better of you sometimes, Dahai. It’s no crime to be wealthy, so why shouldn’t I make friends with you? lu dahai : You’re too young to understand. I’d be wasting my breath if I tried to explain any further. I’ll just say this much: you should never have come here. This is no place for you. zhou chong : But why? Only this morning you said you’d like to be friends with me, and I think Sifeng would like to be friends with me, too, so why won’t you even let me come and offer my help? lu dahai : Don’t imagine you’re doing us a good turn, Master Chong. They tell me you wanted to send Sifeng to school, that right? Well, she’s my sister, I know her. She’s just another gullible, ordinary young girl, with all her dreams of silk stockings and cars. zhou chong : Then you’ve got her wrong. lu dahai : No I don’t. The more she sees how you rich people live, the more confused she becomes. Your cars, your dance parties, your days of idleness—they’ve all quite dazed her over the last couple of years, so much so that she’s quite forgotten where she’s from. Now when she comes home she can feel unhappy about everything she sees. But she’s nothing but the daughter of a poor man, and her lot in life will be to marry somebody from her own class—a life of washing, cooking, and scavenging. Go to school, get an education, and then marry a rich guy? That’s the dream of a respectable young missy! Something we poor people can’t even afford to think about. zhou chong : There’s something to what you say, but— lu dahai : So, if you, young master and son of a mine owner, should really be concerned about Sifeng, then would you please have nothing more to do with her? zhou chong : I think you’re too prejudiced. Just because my father’s a mine owner, that’s no reason why you should— lu dahai (glaring at him): Now I’m warning you. zhou chong : Warning me? lu dahai : If I ever catch you here with my sister again, I’ll—(some of the tension suddenly goes out of him) oh, forget it, I just hope this will never happen again. It’s getting late. Time for bed. zhou chong : I—I never expected that you’d be like this about it. I never expected that what Father said would turn out to be right after all. lu dahai (grimly): Humph! (Exploding) Your father’s an old scoundrel! zhou chong : What! lu dahai : And your brother’s a— (lu sifeng comes running back into the room.)

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lu sifeng : Stop! Stop saying such things! (Pointing at lu dahai ) I think you—you’re a monster! lu dahai : You, you’re an idiot! lu sifeng : I’ve nothing more to say to you! (To zhou chong ) Now go, go. Don’t say another word to him. zhou chong (looking helplessly at lu dahai ): All right, then, I’ll go. (To lu sifeng ) I’m really terribly sorry. I didn’t know I’d only make things more unpleasant for you by coming here. lu sifeng : Forget it, and please go. This is no place for you. zhou chong : All right, I’m going. (To lu dahai ) Goodbye. I forgive you. (Good-naturedly) I’d still like to be friends with you. (Holding out his hand) Won’t you shake hands with me? (lu dahai ignores him and turns away.) lu sifeng : Humph! (Having nothing more to say, zhou chong makes for the door. Just then, lu gui comes in with fruit, wine, and various kinds of food. His face looks even more flushed than before, and he wobbles a little.) lu gui (seeing that zhou chong is leaving): What’s this? lu dahai : Get out of the way. He’s going. lu gui : No, wait, wait. Why are you rushing off like this, Master Chong? You’ve only just gotten here. lu sifeng (angrily): Ask Dahai! lu gui (guesses what ’s happened; with a smile, to zhou chong ): Don’t mind him. Stay a little longer, won’t you? zhou chon g : No, I really am going. lu gui : But you’ll have something to eat first, won’t you, sir? I’ve been a long way to get these things for you. You will have a bite and a glass of wine before you go, won’t you? zhou chong : No, it’s getting late now. I’ve got to get home. lu dahai (to lu sifeng ): Where did he get the money to buy all this stuff? lu gui (turning around): It was my own money. I’d earned it myself. lu sifen g : No, you didn’t, Dad. It was money from the Zhous. And you’re squandering it. (Turning to lu dahai ) Mrs. Zhou sent Mom a hundred dollars. Mom was out, and Dad took it. He wouldn’t listen to me. lu gui (looking daggers at lu sifeng , then turning to lu dahai ): Master Chong brought it in person, so I couldn’t very well refuse it, could I? lu dahai (going up to zhou chong ): So! You came to bring us money, did you? lu sifeng (to lu dahai ): Now perhaps you’ll understand! lu gui (to lu dahai , obsequiously): You see what kindhearted people the Zhous are? lu dahai (turning to lu gui ): Give me the money! lu gui (apprehensively): What for? lu dahai : Are you going to give it to me or aren’t you? (With menacing voice and eyes) If you don’t, just remember what’s in the chest there.

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lu gui (terrified): All right, you can have it! (He fishes the notes out of his pocket and hands them over to lu dahai ) Here you are. A hundred dollars. lu dahai (after counting the notes): Ten dollars short. Well? lu gui (forcing a smile): Well—er—I—I spent it. zhou chong (not wishing to see any more): Well, bye. I’m off now. lu dahai (grasping his arm): Oh no, not yet. Don’t imagine we can be tricked as easily as that. zhou chong : What do you mean? lu dahai : Yes, I have the money, I have the money. Just ten dollars left in my pocket. (He produces some silver and small notes, then counts them.) Ten dollars exactly. Here’s your money back. We’ve no use for it. lu gui : This is outrageous! zhou chong : You don’t seem to be able to appreciate kindness. lu dahai : You’re quite right. I don’t. And I don’t understand your family’s hypocrisy and crocodile tears, and their— lu sifeng : Dahai! lu dahai : Take it away. Now get out. Go on, out! zhou chong (his illusions half shattered, he stands there lost for a moment, then suddenly picks up the money): Okay, okay, I’m leaving, I’m sorry. lu dahai : Now I’m telling you: if any of you Zhous come here after this, I’ll kill you, whoever you are! zhou chong : Well, thank you! But I don’t suppose anyone else in the Zhou family would be as foolish as I was. Goodbye! (He goes toward the door on the right.) lu gui : Dahai! lu dahai (shouting): Get him out of here! lu gui : All right, all right. I’ll give you a light. It’s dark in the front room. zhou chon g : Thank you. (lu gui and zhou chong go out through the door on the right.) lu sifeng : Master Chong! (She runs out after them.) lu dahai : Don’t go, Sifeng! Sifeng! (Seeing her gone) Oh, she just doesn’t understand! (mrs. lu comes in through the door on the right.) Mom! Did you know that Master Chong of the Zhous was here? mrs. lu : Well, I saw a rickshaw outside the door. I didn’t know who it was so I didn’t dare come in. lu dahai : You know I just threw him out? mrs. lu (nodding with a heavy heart): Yes, I know. I’ve been listening at the door for a while. lu dahai : Mrs. Zhou sent you a hundred dollars. mrs. lu (indignantly): I don’t want any money from her. I’m leaving and taking Sifeng with me. lu dahai : So you are leaving? And taking Sifeng with you?

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mrs. lu : Yes, tomorrow. lu dahai : Tomorrow? mrs. lu : Yes, tomorrow, I’ve changed my mind. lu dahai : Glad to hear it! Then I don’t have to say anything more. mrs lu : What’s that? lu dahai (ambiguously): Nothing, really. Just that when I got back I found Sifeng here chatting with this Master Chong. mrs. lu (in spite of herself ): What were they talking about? lu dahai (insinuating): I don’t know. They seemed very close. mrs. lu (alarmed): Oh? . . . (To herself ) Silly girl! lu dahai : Mom, did you see Mrs. Zhang? mrs. lu : Yes, she’ll sell the furniture for us. Everything’s settled. lu dahai : Well, I’ll be off now, Mom. mrs. lu : Where to? lu dahai (looking lonely): The last of my money’s gone, so I’m thinking of doing a night’s rickshaw pulling. mrs. lu : What for? There’s no need to do that. I’ve got some money here. You stay home and sleep. lu dahai : Keep it. You may need it yourself. I’m off now. (He goes out through the door on the right.) mrs. lu (calling after him): Dahai! Dahai! (lu sifeng comes in.) lu sifeng : Hello, Mom. (Uneasily) You’re back, then. mrs. lu : You were too busy seeing your young Mr. Zhou off to notice me. lu sifeng (making an effort to explain): It was his mother who told him to come. mrs. lu : Dahai tells me you had a long chat together. lu sifeng : You mean me and Master Chong? mrs. lu : Yes. What did he say to you? lu sifeng : Nothing much. Just the usual sort of thing. mrs. lu : You’re sure, Feng? lu sifeng : What’s Dahai been telling you now? He just doesn’t understand people. mrs. lu (sternly): Feng! (Looking her daughter full in the face and holding her hand) Look at me. I’m your mom, am I not? lu sifeng : What’s the matter, Mom? mrs. lu : Feng, don’t you know that I love you more than anyone else? lu sifeng : Why do you ask that, Mom? mrs. lu : Answer me. Is Mom the most pitiable and most miserable old woman on earth? lu sifeng : No, Mom, don’t talk like that. I love you. mrs. lu : I want to ask a favor of you, then. lu sifeng : Of course. What is it? mrs. lu : You’ve got to tell me what there is between you and that Zhou boy. lu sifeng : That’s Dahai’s silly nonsense again. What’s he been telling you?

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mrs. lu : No, it’s not Dahai. He hasn’t told me anything. It’s just that I want to know from you. (The rumble of distant thunder is heard.) lu sifeng : But what makes you ask these things, Mom? Haven’t I told you there’s nothing at all between us? There isn’t, Mom. (There is the sound of thunder again.) mrs. lu : Listen. There’s thunder. Now be fair with your poor mother. I can’t have my own daughter deceiving me about such things! lu sifeng (after a pause): I’m not deceiving you, Mom! Haven’t I told you that for the past two years— lu gui’s voi c e (from the front room): Shiping. Come on in to bed. It’s late. mrs. lu : Don’t worry about me. Get to bed yourself. lu gui : Come here! mrs. lu : Leave me alone. (To lu sifeng ) What were you saying? lu sifeng : Haven’t I told you that in these past two years I always came home—every night? mrs. lu : Now you must tell me the truth, child. Mom can’t go through any more catastrophe. lu sifeng : Mom (sobbing), why can’t you trust your own daughter? (She flings herself into her mother’s arms. mrs. lu hugs her tight.) mrs. lu (shedding tears): Feng, my poor child, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I love you so much that I can’t afford to let people take advantage of you. (With anguish in her voice) I just can’t trust this world. You’ve no idea, you silly girl, all that I’ve been through all these years. I could never begin to describe it. I never had anyone to warn me when I was young. And that’s the pity of it. One false step, and I lost my way completely. You’re the only daughter I ever had, Feng, and I can’t bear to see you go the way I did. Human nature is all too unreliable. I don’t mean to say that human beings are all bad. But human nature is just too weak, too treacherous. My child, my only one. You will love me forever, promise me. If you ever deceive me I’d rather die. Oh, my poor child! lu sifeng : No, Mom, I’ll never deceive you. From now on I’ll be yours—always. mrs. lu (abruptly changing the subject): Feng, I can’t feel at ease as long as we are here. We must go tomorrow—get away from this place. lu sifeng (rising): Tomorrow? As soon as that? mrs. lu (with finality): Yes. I’ve changed my mind. We’ll go tomorrow and we’ll never come back here again. lu sifeng : Right, we’ll never come back here again. But Mom, why do we have to be in such a hurry? mrs. lu : You’ve got nothing else to do here before you go, have you? lu sifeng (hesitantly): I—er— mrs. lu : Don’t you want to leave here with me as soon as we can? lu sifeng (with a sigh and a wry smile): All right, then. Let’s go tomorrow.

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mrs. lu (suddenly suspicious again): Child, I think there’s still something you’re keeping from me. lu sifeng (wiping her eyes): No, there isn’t, Mom. mrs. lu (tenderly): You’ll remember what I was telling you just now, my dear? lu sifeng : Yes, Mom, I will! mrs. lu : Feng, I want you never to see any of the Zhous again so long as you live! lu sifeng : All right, I won’t. mrs. lu (gravely): No, you must swear that you won’t. (lu sifeng looks fearfully at her mother’s stern face.) lu sifeng : Oh, must I? mrs. lu (as gravely as before): Yes, you must. lu sifeng (falling to her knees): Mom—(throwing herself on mrs. lu ’s lap) I—I can’t. mrs. lu (with tears streaming down her cheeks): Do you want to break your mother’s heart? You forget that three years ago when you were sick I almost died taking care of you? And now you— (She turns her head aside and sobs.) lu sifeng : All right, Mom. I swear. mrs. lu (rising): Then do it on your knees, like you are now. lu sifeng : I promise you, Mom, I’ll never see any of the Zhous again. (A peal of thunder rolls across the sky.) mrs. lu : Hear the thunder? Now, what if you forget what I’ve told you and see any of the Zhous again? lu sifeng (apprehensively): But I won’t, Mom, I won’t. mrs. lu : No, my child, you must swear that you won’t. If you should ever forget what I’ve told you— (There is another peal of thunder.) lu sifeng (in desperation): Then—then, may I be struck dead by lightning. (Flinging herself into her mother’s arms) Oh, Mom! (She bursts into tears. There are more crashes of thunder.) mrs. lu (her arms around lu sifeng , crying aloud): Feng, my child! It’s Mom’s fault. Mom’s a sinner. Mom’s done you wrong, Mom’s done you wrong! (She sobs. lu gui comes in wearing nothing above the waist except a sleeveless undershirt, revealing a body of fat, his face streaming with greasy sweat. Singing an erotic ditty, he leers at mrs. lu and lu sifeng .) lu gui (to his wife): Aren’t you ever coming to bed tonight? What’s all the gabble about? mrs. lu : None of your business. lu gui : What! lu sifeng : Now go on, Mom. Please go to bed now and leave me to myself. lu gui : The poor kid’s had enough to put up with for one day. What have you got to keep on at her for? mrs. lu : You sure you don’t want me to stay with you?

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lu sifeng : No, Mom. I only want to be left on my own. lu gui : Come on. What the heck? Let the kid have a good rest on her own. She always sleeps by herself. I’m off. (lu gui goes out.) mrs. lu : All right, go to bed like a good girl, then. I’ll come and see you later. lu sifeng : Yes, Mom. (mrs. lu goes out. lu sifeng closes the door on the right. In the next room lu gui is singing his song again: “Flowers blossom, flowers die . . .” She goes over to the round table and turns the lamp down to a glimmer. From outside come the croaking of frogs and the barking of dogs. She undoes two or three buttons as she paces restlessly up and down, then goes and sits on the edge of the bed. Finally, she heaves a deep sigh and throws herself down on the bed. In the next room, lu gui is still humming his ditty, and his wife is telling him to call it a day. The regular, hollow clop-clop-clop of a night watchman’s bamboo clappers breaks the silence. lu sifeng sits up again and fans herself vigorously with her palm-leaf fan. Finding the air too close and stifling, she opens the window and stands in front of it. She lets down her hair, takes a deep breath, then closes the window halfway. Feeling restless and remembering all kinds of things, she wipes the sweat on her face with a handkerchief and walks over to the round table. Once more lu gui is heard talking and singing. Depressed, she lets out a cry, “Oh my God!” and suddenly picks up the bottle of liquor and takes a gulp. She touches her chest, feels her heart burning, and sits down at the table. lu gui comes in by the right door, his bare feet slipshod.) lu gui : What, still up? lu sifeng (throwing him a brief glance): Uh-huh. lu gui (seeing her holding the liquor bottle): So you’ve been drinking? (Picking up the bottle and the food he bought, smiling) Come on, now, get some sleep. lu sifeng (absentmindedly): Mm. lu gui (at the door): It’s getting late. Mom’s already asleep. (He goes out. lu sifeng goes across to the door on the right and closes it. She stands by the door for a few moments, listening to her parents’ talking in the next room, then goes back to the round table with a long sigh, puts her fists down on it heavily, and throws herself down across it, sobbing, “Oh God!” Suddenly, someone whistles outside, from a distance. lu sifeng starts up and listens, holding her breath. She quickly turns up the lamp and runs across to the window. She puts her head out for a quick look around, then closes the window and stands leaning against the windowsill, afraid and breathing heavily, her chest heaving and falling. The whistles become more distinct. She puts a red paper lampshade over the lamp and places the lamp in the window. She looks pale and starts panting. The whistles come nearer and nearer. There is a distant rumble of thunder. She is scared and takes back the lamp, turns it down, and listens, leaning on the table. Then comes the sound of footsteps outside the window, plus a couple of coughs. lu sifeng goes softly to the window and, turning to the audience, leans against the windowsill. There is a tap on the window.)

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lu sifeng (gasping): Oh! (There are more taps on the window.) voice outside (in an undertone): Hey! Open up! lu sifeng : Who is it? voice outside (muffled): Guess! lu sifeng (her voice trembling): What—what are you doing here? voice outside (ambiguously): Guess! lu sifeng : I can’t see you now. (She looks very pale, and her voice keeps trembling.) voice outside (with a subdued chuckle): Is that what you really mean? lu sifeng (desperately): Mother’s at home. voice outside (seductively): You can’t put me off with that. She’s gone to bed. lu sifeng (with a note of concern in her voice): You’d better be careful. My brother hates you like poison. voice outside (indifferently): I know he’s not home. lu sifeng (turning away from the audience): You must go away! voice outside : Not I! (He tries to force the window open by pushing it inward, but lu sifeng holds it shut by pressing as hard as she can against it.) lu sifeng (anxiously): No, no, don’t. You can’t come in. voice outside (in an undertone): Now, come on, Sifeng. Open up. Please! lu sifeng : No, I can’t! It’s the middle of the night, and I’ve already gotten undressed. voice outside (urgently): What? Undressed? lu sifeng (nodding): I’ve already gone to bed! voice outside (quivering): In that case . . . I’d—I’d better— (He heaves a long sigh.) lu sifeng (pleading): Then you will go away, won’t you? voice outside (submissively): All right, then. If I must. I’ll be off, then. (Suddenly becoming urgent once more) But first open the window a minute, so I can— lu sifeng : No, no. You must go away at once! voice outside (pleading urgently): No, Sifeng, all I want is—is to give you a kiss. lu sifeng (painfully): Oh, Master Ping, this is not your home. You must forgive me this time. voice outside (bitterly): So you’ve forgotten me. You no longer want— lu sifeng (decisively): Right. (Turning around to the audience, in a pained voice) Yes, I’ve forgotten you. Now go away. voice outside (suddenly): Wasn’t my brother here a short while ago? lu sifeng : Yes . . . (Hesitantly) He . . . he . . . he was. voice outside (acidly): Oh! (Heaving a deep sigh) That explains it. lu sifeng (helplessly): You know very well that I don’t love him. voice outside (viciously): Humph, you heartless little creature. If you throw me over, you’d better watch out. I—

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lu sifeng: What do you mean, “throw you over”? voice outside (impatiently): Then why won’t you open the window and let me in? Don’t you realize that I love you? That I can’t live without you? lu sifeng (pleading): Please don’t pester me anymore. All day you’ve been making trouble for us. Don’t you think you’ve done enough? voice outside (sincerely): I know I did wrong. But I now want to see you—I must. lu sifeng (with a sigh): All right, we’ll see about it tomorrow. I’ll do whatever you want tomorrow. voice outside (earnestly): Tomorrow? You really mean that? lu sifeng (smiling tearfully, wiping her tears): Yes. I really mean it. Tomorrow. voice outside (suspiciously): Tomorrow, really? lu sifeng : Yes, really. I never deceived you. voice outside : All right, then, let’s make it tomorrow. Don’t you trick me. (There is the sound of footsteps.) lu sifeng : You going now? voice outside : Yes, I’m off. (The footsteps fade into the distance.) lu sifeng (to herself, as if a weight has been lifted from her mind): He’s gone! (Puts her hand on her chest) Oh, it’s so stuffy, so hot. (She opens the window to let in the breeze. She puts her hand on her burning cheek and heaves a deep sigh.) Oh! (All of a sudden zhou ping appears at the window.) Oh my gosh! (She quickly closes the window. But zhou ping has forced it ajar. The two engage in a tussle.) zhou ping (with hands pressed against the window): You won’t get rid of me so easily this time! lu sifeng (straining to hold the window shut): No—no—go away! (zhou ping finally succeeds in forcing his way into the room. He is covered with mud and his face is bloody.) zhou ping : You see? I’ve gotten in after all. lu sifeng (recoiling from him): You’re drunk again! zhou ping : No. (Pitifully) Sifeng, why did you try to avoid me? You weren’t like that before. I’m leaving early tomorrow morning, and you tricked me by promising to see me tomorrow. This is the only time I can see you. What is it that makes you so afraid to see me? (He turns his bloody cheek toward her.) lu sifeng (frightened): What’s happened to your face? (She points to his cheek.) zhou ping (feeling his face with his hand, which comes away covered in blood): That’s from falling over on my way here—just to see you. (He comes close to lu sifeng .)

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lu sifeng : You must go! Please, please— zhou ping (with a strange laugh): No. I want to have a good look at you first. (He grabs hold of her hand. There is a peal of thunder.) lu sifeng (shrinking away from him): Don’t. Listen! Thunder, thunder! Shut the window for me. zhou ping (shuts the window and closes in on her): What are you afraid of? lu sifeng (her voice trembling): Of you. (Retreating) You look awful. There’s blood all over your face . . . I just don’t recognize you—you are— zhou ping (again with a strange laugh): Who do you think I am? You silly girl! (He takes her hand. A woman sighing is heard from outside, followed by taps on the window.) lu sifeng (pushing him aside): Listen. What’s that? Someone’s knocking on the window. zhou ping (listening): Nonsense. There’s nothing. lu sifeng : There is, there is! Listen, a woman’s sighing. zhou ping (listening again): No, nothing. (Suddenly laughing) You must’ve seen a ghost. (Against the background of a crescendo of thunder there is a deafening crash overhead.) lu sifeng (in a subdued voice): Oh, Mom! (Taking refuge in zhou ping’s arms) I’m frightened! (Runs to a corner to hide. As the thunder roars and the rain pours down in torrents, the lights are gradually dimmed. A gust of wind blows open the window. It is pitch-dark outside. A sudden blue flash of lightning lights up an eerie white face at the window. It is zhou fanyi ’s. She looks like a corpse as she stands there, heedless of the rain that pelts down on her disheveled hair, tears streaking down the corners of her eyes as she gazes at the couple in each other’s arms. The lightning stops for a moment. The sky is pitch-dark again. A new flash of lightning shows her reaching her hand inside and pulling the window to, then fastening it on the outside. As the thunder crashes and roars louder than ever, the stage is plunged into complete darkness. Only lu sifeng’s low voice can be heard.) (In a low voice) Hold me tight. I’m afraid. (During the blackout, only the flickering light of the lamp on the table and the blue flashes of the lightning can be seen. lu dahai ’s voice is heard outside shouting to be let in. lu dahai is heard entering the house. The lights gradually come on again. zhou ping is sitting on the chair, while lu sifeng stands close by. The bedsheets are somewhat ruffled.) zhou ping (listening): Who’s that? lu sifeng : Shh! Don’t make a sound! mrs. lu’s voice : What, back again, Dahai? lu dahai’s voice : It rained so hard that the sheds of the rickshaw depot collapsed. lu sifeng (in a low, urgent voice): It’s my brother. You’ll have to get out. Fast. (zhou ping dashes to the window and tugs at it.) zhou ping (unable to make it budge): That’s funny!

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lu sifeng : How’s that? zhou ping (anxiously): Someone’s fastened the window from the outside. lu sifeng (frightened): No! Who could have done that? zhou ping (tugging at the window again): It’s no good, it won’t budge. lu sifeng : Quiet! They’re just outside the door. lu dahai’s voice : Where are the bed planks? mrs. lu’s voice : In Sifeng’s room. lu sifeng : They’re coming in. Hide yourself in here, quick. (Just as she is pushing zhou ping into the curtained recess on the left, lu dahai comes in with a lamp.) lu dahai (slowly, in a hissing voice): What’s this? (He sees the pair of them standing petrified) Mom! Come in here, quick! I see ghosts! (mrs. lu rushes in.) mrs. lu (stunned): Oh my God! lu sifeng (seeing mrs. lu, bursting out of the room by the right door): Oh no! (mrs. lu, clinging to the door, almost faints.) lu dahai : So it’s you, is it! (He snatches the kitchen knife from the table and rushes at zhou ping with it.) mrs. lu (catching him by the sleeve and holding him back with all her strength): Stop, Dahai, stop! Over my dead body! lu dahai : Let me go! Let go of me! (He stamps his foot.) mrs. lu (seeing zhou ping still standing there rooted to the spot): Run, you fool! Don’t just stand there! (zhou ping runs out through the door on the right.) lu dahai (shouting): Grab him, Dad! Grab him! (He tries to catch him but is held down by his mother. The result is mrs. lu gets dragged along on the floor for quite a few steps.) mrs. lu (waits until she is satisfied that zhou ping has made good his escape before releasing lu dahai , then sits down on the floor in a stupor): Oh, my God! lu dahai (stamping his foot): Mom, Mom! What a stupid thing you did! (lu gui comes in.) lu gui : Has he gone? Hey!—where’s Sifeng? lu dahai : She’s bolted, the little slut. mrs. lu : Oh, my child! The river’s in flood out there! You mustn’t do it! Sifeng! (She goes to run out.) lu dahai (holding her back): Where are you going? mrs. lu : It’s pouring so hard. She’s out on her own. I’ve got to find her! lu dahai : Sure. I’m coming with you. mrs. lu : Quick, then! I can’t wait! (Shouting) Sifeng! (She runs out. Her voice fades in the distance. Suddenly, lu gui puts on his hat and follows her out. lu dahai goes across to the chest and takes out the pistol. Thrusting it

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inside his coat, he hurries out. There is the noise of a raging storm outside, drowning the sound of mrs. lu ’s calling lu sifeng .) (Quick curtain.)

A CT 4 (In the Zhous’ drawing room, about two o’clock in the morning. When the curtain rises, zhou puyuan is sitting on a sofa, reading some documents by the light of the floor lamp beside him. The rest of the room is in darkness. The distant rolling thunder and the hiss of the rain are clearly audible, though the window curtains are drawn and the center door closed. Through the glass pane above the door the garden is shrouded in utter darkness. Every now and then a dazzling streak of lightning across the sky reveals the dark blue silhouette of a tree here and an electric wire pole there. The next moment it ’s pitch-darkness again.) zhou puyuan (putting down the documents and stretching wearily): Hello, there! (Picking up his glasses, rubbing his eyes, raising his voice slightly) Here, somebody! (Walks across to the dining-room door, polishing his spectacles as he goes, resuming his normal voice pitch) Anybody there? (There are flashes of lightning outside. He goes over to the bureau and rings. His eyes happen to land on shiping’s photo. He picks it up and puts on his glasses to take a closer look. A servant appears.) servant : You rang, sir? zhou puyuan : I’ve been calling you long enough. servant : Quite a job to hear anything with this rain, sir. zhou puyuan (indicating the clock): What’s happened to the clock? It’s stopped. servant : Well, you see, sir, it was always Sifeng’s job to wind it, but since she’s gone today, it’s been overlooked. zhou puyuan : What’s the time now? servant : Er—must be about two. zhou puyuan : I told the office to wire some money to Jinan. Are they clear what they’ve got to do? servant : The money that was to go to somebody in Jinan by the name of—er—Lu, you mean, sir? zhou puyuan : Yep. servant : It’s been attended to. (There are flashes of lightning outside. zhou puyuan turns and looks out at the garden.) zhou puyuan : The electric wire down by the wisteria trellis—did your mistress send for someone to fix it? servant : Yes, but the electrician said he couldn’t work in this heavy rain and that he’d have to come back tomorrow.

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zhou puyuan : But wouldn’t that be dangerous? servant : Precisely. Just a little while ago Master Ping’s dog ran by and hit the wire and got electrocuted. Now the place has been roped off so no one can pass through. zhou puyuan : I see. Er, what did you say the time was? servant : Nearly two o’clock. Will you be retiring now, sir? zhou puyuan : You can ask your mistress to come down here. servant : She’s retired for the night. zhou puyuan (casually): What about Master Chong? servant : He went to bed quite a while ago. zhou puyuan : Well, see if Master Ping’s still up, then. servant : Master Ping went out after dinner and isn’t back yet. (There is a long pause.) zhou puyuan (going back to his seat on the sofa and speaking in a mournful voice): So there’s no one else in the house still up, then? servant : No, sir, not a single one. zhou puyuan : No one visited here this morning? servant : No, sir. It’s been raining so hard that anyone who has a home would prefer to stay home. zhou puyuan (yawns, feeling an even deeper hollowness): And in this home I’m the only one still up. servant : Right. Almost everyone is asleep. zhou puyuan : All right. That’ll be all. servant : Nothing more you need, sir? zhou puyuan : No. (The servant goes out through the center door. zhou puyuan gets up again and paces moodily up and down. He stops in front of the bureau, picks up shiping’s photo again, and switches on the main light. zhou chong comes in from the dining room.) zhou chong (not expecting to find his father there): Father! zhou puyuan (obviously glad of the interruption): Haven’t—haven’t you gone to bed yet? zhou chong : No. zhou puyuan : Did you want to see me? zhou chong : No, I thought I’d find Mom here. zhou puyuan (disappointed): Oh—er—your mother’s upstairs. zhou chong : I don’t think she is, though. I knocked at her door a long time. It was locked . . . that’s right . . . Then maybe . . . Well, I’ll be going now, Father. zhou puyuan : Chong. (zhou chong stops.) Don’t go yet. zhou chong : Is there anything I can do for you? zhou puyuan : No. (Affectionately) How is it you’re still up? zhou chong (submissively): Sorry, Father. I am up rather late. I’ll turn in straightaway. zhou puyuan : Did you take the medicine Dr. Kramer gave you?

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zhou chong : Yes, I did. zhou puyuan : Did you play tennis today? zhou chong : Yes. zhou puyuan : Happy? zhou chong : Uh-huh. zhou puyuan (getting up and taking zhou chong by the hand): What’s the matter? Afraid of me? zhou chong : Yes, I am, Father. zhou puyuan (dryly): You seem to be a little unhappy with me. Is that it? zhou chong (ill at ease): I—I really don’t know how to put it, Father. (There is a pause. zhou puyuan goes back to the sofa and sits down with a sigh. He beckons zhou chong across to him.) zhou puyuan (mournfully): Today I—er, well, I somehow feel I’m getting old . . . Know what I mean? zhou chong (indifferently): No, I don’t. zhou puyuan (abruptly): If I should die one of these days and leave you alone, with no one to look after you, wouldn’t you be worried? zhou chong (without any trace of emotion): I expect I would. zhou puyuan (affectionately, in an attempt to put his son at ease): You said this morning you’d like to share your school allowance with someone—well, let’s hear all about it. Maybe I could give you my consent. zhou chong : I was just being silly. I promise I won’t say anything like that again. (There is a long pause.) zhou puyuan (ingratiatingly): We are moving into our new house the day after tomorrow. Don’t you like it? zhou chong : Uh-huh. zhou puyuan (staring reproachfully into zhou chong’s face): You don’t seem to have much to say to me. zhou chong (listlessly): I—I don’t know what to say. As a rule, you don’t seem particularly willing to see us. (Falteringly) But—but today you seem rather—rather different, somehow. I—I— zhou puyuan (who has heard enough): All right. You may go now. zhou chong : Very well, Father. (He goes out through the dining room. zhou puyuan looks disappointed as he watches his son out of the room. When he is alone, he picks up shiping’s photo again and looks around him, feeling deserted. He switches off the light and turns toward the study. zhou fanyi comes in quietly through the center door. Her raincoat is still dripping wet, her hair drenched. Pale and haggard, her entire visage is like that of a plaster statue, with her high and pallid nose and thin, red lips carved on a deathlike face, creating the image of a stern mask. Her face is totally without expression. Only her eyes are burning with the fire of madness from within her heart. But even that is cold and merciless, her love and hate having burned to ashes every ounce of her femininity. She seems to have abandoned all, and all that is left are the thoughts of revenge that rise

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wave upon wave from her calculating mind. She sees zhou puyuan , who watches her with astonishment.) zhou fanyi (showing no surprise): Still up? (She remains standing by the door.) zhou puyuan : You! (Going across to her) Where have you been? (Gazes at her, pauses) Chong’s been looking for you all evening. zhou fanyi (simply): I was just out for a walk. zhou puyuan : What, when it’s pouring like this? zhou fanyi : Uh-huh—(suddenly vindictive) I’m neurotic, remember? zhou puyuan : Now tell me: where’ve you been? zhou fanyi (crossly): None of your business. zhou puyuan (looking her up and down): You’re wet through. You’d better get those wet things off. zhou fanyi (coldly but meaningfully): I felt feverish inside, so I went out to cool off. zhou puyuan (impatiently): Cut all that crap. Where exactly have you been? zhou fanyi (listlessly, looking him full in the face, a syllable at a time): I’ve been at your place! zhou puyuan (annoyed): At my place? zhou fanyi (gloating with a faint smile): Uh-huh. Enjoying the rain in the garden! zhou puyuan : What, all this time? zhou fanyi (ecstatically): Yes, I’ve had a nice long soak. (There is a pause. zhou puyuan stares at her in startled bewilderment. She just stands where she is by the door, impassive as a statue.) zhou puyuan : Fanyi, I think you’d best go upstairs and get some rest. zhou fanyi (coldly): Uh-huh. (Suddenly) What’s that you’ve got in your hand? (Scornfully) Humph! That woman’s photo again! (She reaches out for it.) zhou puyuan : You needn’t look at it. It’s Ping’s mother, you know. zhou fanyi (snatching it from him and looking at it under the light): Ping’s mother was very good-looking. (zhou puyuan ignores her and goes and sits down on the sofa.) Mm? Don’t you think so? zhou puyuan : I suppose so. zhou fanyi : She looks very good-natured. (zhou puyuan looks blankly ahead.) Intelligent, too. zhou puyuan (contemplating): Uh-huh. zhou fanyi (pleased): And so young! zhou puyuan (unconsciously): No, she’s old. zhou fanyi (recalling): Isn’t she long since dead? zhou puyuan : Right. Long since dead. zhou fanyi (putting the photo down): It’s funny, I seem to have seen her somewhere. zhou puyuan (looking up, suspiciously): Impossible! Where could you have seen her?

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zhou fanyi (abruptly): Her name sounds very elegant—Shiping, Shiping—only a little like a maid’s name. zhou puyuan : Now, come on, time for bed. (He gets up and takes the photo from her.) zhou fanyi : Well, what do you want to hold that for? zhou puyuan : I’m afraid it might get lost during our move the day after tomorrow. zhou fanyi : Uh-uh! (Taking the photo from him) Leave it over here for the night! (With an unnatural laugh) You won’t lose it. I’ll look after it for you. (She puts it on the table.) zhou puyuan : Don’t act like you were crazy! You’re playing the fool with me! zhou fanyi : But I am crazy. And I’d rather you left me alone. zhou puyuan (agitated): All right. Now you go upstairs. I need a break here on my own. zhou fanyi : Oh no. I need a break here on my own. You’ll have to get out. zhou puyuan (sternly): Fanyi, I’m telling you to go upstairs! zhou fanyi (contemptuously): I don’t wish to. You hear? (Irritably) I do not wish to. (Pause.) zhou puyuan (in a low voice): Better watch out—(tapping his own head) up here. Remember what Dr. Kramer said. He wants you to be quiet and not talk too much. He’ll be here again tomorrow. I’ve made an appointment for you. zhou fanyi : Thanks. (Looking straight in front of her) Here again tomorrow? Humph! (A crestfallen zhou ping comes in from the dining room and walks with bent head toward the study.) zhou puyuan : Ping. zhou ping (looking up with a start): Why, Father! You’re still up. zhou puyuan (censoriously): Only just got back home, I suppose? zhou ping : Oh no, Father. I’ve been back some time now. I only went out to do some shopping. zhou puyuan : What do you want here? zhou ping : I was going to the study to see if your letter of introduction was ready. zhou puyuan : But you’re not leaving until tomorrow morning, are you? zhou ping : I suddenly remembered there was a train leaving at half past two tonight, so I’ve decided to go straightaway. zhou fanyi (suddenly): Straightaway? zhou ping : Mm. zhou fanyi (meaningfully): You’re in a tearing hurry, aren’t you? zhou ping : Yes, Mother. zhou puyuan (paternally): But it’s raining hard. Not the kind of weather to go out in at this time of night. zhou ping : If I go on this train I’ll get there first thing in the morning. That’ll give me more time to look up all the people I’ve got to see. zhou puyuan : The letter’s on the desk in the study. I suppose it’s not a bad idea if you want to go now.

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(zhou ping nods and turns to go into the study.) Wait. You needn’t get it yourself. (To zhou fanyi ) You go and get the letter for him, will you? zhou fanyi (looking distrustfully at her husband): Okay. (She goes into the study.) zhou puyuan (waiting until she has gone out and then, cautiously): She refuses to go upstairs. I want you to take her up to her room and tell one of the maids to see her into bed all right. zhou ping (helplessly): Very well, Father. zhou puyuan (even more cautiously): Come here! (zhou ping comes closer.) (In an undertone) And tell the servants to be on the lookout. (With disgust) I think her nerves are getting worse than ever. She had suddenly been out all by herself a short while ago. zhou ping : Out? zhou puyuan : Yes. (Gravely) She’d been out in the rain all the evening. And she was talking weird! I don’t like the look of it at all. (Feeling the onset of a bad omen) I’m getting on in years, and I want everything to go smoothly in the family . . . zhou ping (uneasily): I think, Father, if you don’t attach too much importance to these things, you’ll find they’ll straighten themselves out. zhou puyuan (recoiling): No, no. Sometimes things turn out in a way you’d never have imagined. This thing called the will of heaven—pretty weird. What’s happened today has made me suddenly realize just how risky, how absurd life can be. (Wearily) I’m tired. (Relieved) Well, the day’s over, more or less. (Reassuring himself ) I don’t think there would be—shouldn’t—any more upheavals. (Shudders) No, there shouldn’t be. (zhou fanyi comes back in with the letter.) zhou fanyi (resentfully): Here’s your letter! zhou puyuan (coming back to earth with a start and turning again to zhou ping ): All right, you can go now. I’m going to bed. (Suddenly cheered up) Yes, we’ll definitely move into our new house the day after tomorrow. Have a good rest in the meantime. zhou fanyi (eager to see him go): Yes, I will. (zhou puyuan goes out through the study.) (A s soon as zhou puyuan is gone, despondently) So you’ve really made up your mind to go, then. zhou ping (somewhat resentfully): Yes. zhou fanyi (with sudden edginess): What was your father saying to you just now? zhou ping (evasively): He said I was to see you up to your room and ask you to go to bed. zhou fanyi (with a sardonic smile): He should’ve had me dragged upstairs by the servants and locked in! zhou ping (pretending not to understand): What on earth do you mean?

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zhou fanyi (letting fly): Don’t think you can pull the wool over my eyes! I know all about it. (Bitterly) He’s been telling you I’m neurotic—lunatic. I know quite well he’s trying to convince you that I am. He’s trying to convince everybody that I am. zhou ping (nervously): No, you mustn’t go getting ideas like that. zhou fanyi (looking bewildered): You, too? Even you trying to deceive me? (In a low voice, morosely) I can see it in your eyes, both of you. You and your father are both the same—you wish to see me go mad! You—father and son—you gossip about me behind my back, and laugh at me, and plot against me. zhou ping (calming himself ): You’re imagining things. I’ll see you up to your room. zhou fanyi (suddenly raising her voice): I don’t want your help! Get away from me! (Restraining herself, but speaking under her breath with detestation) I haven’t gotten to the stage yet where your father needs to go behind my back and tell you to be careful and see the lunatic up to her room! zhou ping (suppressing his distaste and annoyance): If that’s the case, perhaps you’ll give me the letter so that I can get out of your way. zhou fanyi (puzzled): Where are you going? zhou ping (reluctantly): I’m going away. I’ve got some packing to do. zhou fanyi (suddenly cold and calm): Tell me, where did you go tonight? zhou ping (with animosity): You don’t need to ask. You know very well. zhou fanyi (menacingly, in a hushed voice): So you went to see her after all. (There is a pause. zhou fanyi stares at zhou ping until he drops his head.) zhou ping (with sinister firmness): Yes, I did, I did. (Defiantly) What are you going to do? zhou fanyi (crumpling): Nothing. (Forcing a smile) It was wrong of me to say what I did this afternoon. You mustn’t think too badly of me because of that. There’s just one thing I want to know: what are you going to do about her after you’ve gone? zhou ping : After I’ve gone?—(impulsively) I’ll marry her! zhou fanyi (abruptly): Marry her? zhou ping (with finality): Yes. zhou fanyi (touching him to the quick): What about your father? zhou ping (nonchalantly): Plenty of time to think about that. zhou fanyi (mysteriously): Ping, I’ll give you a chance. zhou ping (blankly): Eh? zhou fanyi (persuasively): If you don’t leave today, I think I can get around your father for you. zhou ping : Thanks, but there’s no need. This business is quite square and aboveboard as far as I’m concerned. I can talk to anyone about it. As for her, she—she’s just poor. zhou fanyi (agitated): You’re talking like your brother now. (Miserably) Oh, Ping! zhou ping : Well? zhou fanyi (moodily): You realize what will become of me after you’ve gone? zhou ping : I’ve no idea. zhou fanyi (trembling at the prospect): Just look at your father. Can’t you imagine? zhou ping : I don’t understand what you mean.

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zhou fanyi (tapping her head): It’s all here. Know what I mean? zhou ping (not sure whether he understands or not): What exactly do you mean? zhou fanyi (as though speaking about someone else): Well, first of all, this specialist, Dr. Kramer, is bound to come here every day, giving me medicine and forcing me to take it. And so it’ll go on—medicine, medicine, medicine, day in and day out! Gradually there’ll be more and more people to wait on me, to look after me, to keep watch over me, as if I were something peculiar—a freak. They’ll— zhou ping (impatiently): Now listen to me: you’re just imagining things, okay? zhou fanyi (ignoring what he was saying): They’ll gradually start talking the way your father does: “Be careful, watch out. She’s got a touch of insanity.” Wherever I go, I’ll hear people whispering behind my back, gossiping about me. Gradually everyone will become wary of me, and no one will dare come and see me. Finally I’ll be put in chains, and by that time I really shall have gone mad. zhou ping (at a complete loss): Oh, no! (Glancing at his watch) It’s getting late. Give me the letter, then. I’ve still got some packing to do. zhou fanyi (pleading): Ping, don’t think that that can’t happen. Think it over, Ping. Haven’t you even a—even a spark of feeling? zhou ping : If you—(with deliberate venom) if you’re so set on taking that road, what can I do about it? zhou fanyi (indignantly): What! Have you forgotten that your own mother was also hounded to her death by this father of yours? zhou ping (abandoning all reserve): My mother wasn’t like you. She knew what love meant. She loved her son, and she did nothing to betray my father. zhou fanyi (her eyes ablaze with the light of madness): What right have you to say a thing like that? Have you forgotten what you did three years ago, in this very room? You forget that you yourself are the culprit. You forget we—(checking herself abruptly, sneering) but what’s the use of bringing all that up again? It’s over and done with. (zhou ping , his head bowed, drops into a sofa. Regret grabs his heart, his facial muscles twitching.) (Turning to zhou ping , in desperation) All right, Ping. This time I’m begging you— begging you for the last time. I’ve never gone down on my hands and knees like this to anyone else, and now I’m begging you to have pity on me. I can’t stand this house any longer. (Plaintively) You saw with your own eyes what I went through today, and it isn’t only going to be today: it’ll go on for days, months, years until I’m dead. He hates the sight of me, your father. And he’s afraid of me, because I know all about him. He wants everybody to think I’m a freak, a lunatic! Oh, Ping!— zhou ping (profoundly disturbed): Don’t—don’t talk anymore. zhou fanyi (insistently): I’ve got no relatives, Ping, no friends, nobody I can trust. I beg you, Ping, stay a little longer— zhou ping (trying to put her off ): Oh, no, I couldn’t do that. zhou fanyi (imploring him): Well, if you must go, take me with you, away from this— zhou ping (horrified): What! You’ve lost your senses!

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zhou fanyi (still imploring him): I’ve not, I’ve not. Take me with you, away from this place! (In utter desperation) And afterward, if you wanted to have Sifeng come and— and live with you, I’d agree to that, even, if only—if only—(frantically) if only you don’t leave me! zhou ping (looking at her in horror and astonishment and backing off, pausing for a long time, then in a trembling voice): I’m—I’m beginning to think you really are mad. zhou fanyi (reassuring him): No, you mustn’t say things like that. I’m the only person that really understands you. I know your weaknesses—and you know mine. I know you inside out. (Putting on a seductive smile, beckoning at him in a queer manner, and smiling even more seductively) Come here. What—what are you afraid of? zhou ping (gazing at her, then shouting in spite of himself ): Stop smiling like that! (More emphatically still) Don’t smile at me like that! (Beating his head in distress) Oh, I hate myself. I wish I were dead! zhou fanyi (miserably): Am I such a burden to you? But you know I haven’t got many more years to live. zhou ping (in an anguished voice): But surely you realize that such a relationship must seem revolting to anyone else? You know I’ve been drinking and carousing every day just because I hate—hate myself? zhou fanyi (coldly): How many times have I told you that I don’t look at it like that? My conscience isn’t made that way. (Solemnly) Ping, I was wrong in what I did this afternoon. If you’ll follow my advice now and not go away, I can get Sifeng to come back here. zhou ping : What? zhou fanyi (distinctly): It’s still not too late to get her back. zhou ping (going up to her and hammering out each syllable): Get out of my sight! zhou fanyi (pauses, slowly): What! zhou ping : You don’t seem to be thinking straight. Get upstairs to bed. zhou fanyi (knowing her destiny): That’s that, then. zhou ping (wearily): Yes, go now. zhou fanyi (despairing and dejected): I saw you with Sifeng at the Lus’ tonight. zhou ping (astounded): Eh? Is that where you went, then? zhou fanyi (sitting down): Yes. I spent quite a long time standing about near their place. zhou ping (disturbed): What time were you there? zhou fanyi (hanging her head): I watched you get in through the window. zhou ping (anxiously): Then what? zhou fanyi (looking straight ahead with lifeless eyes): Then I went over to the window and stood there. zhou ping : Then there was the sound of a woman sighing. Was that you? zhou fanyi : I suppose so. zhou ping : Then you went on standing there for a long time? zhou fanyi (slowly and distinctly): Right up until the time you left.

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zhou ping : I see. (Going across to her, in a low voice) So it was you who closed the window! Right? zhou fanyi (gloomily, in an even lower voice): Yes, it was me. zhou ping (revolted, venomously): Why, you’re a monster, worse than I ever imagined. zhou fanyi (looking up): What? zhou ping (in an outburst): You are a lunatic, every inch of you! zhou fanyi (looking at him, totally expressionless): Well, what are you going to do about it? zhou ping (viciously): I want you to go to hell! Goodbye! (He storms out through the dining room, slamming the door behind him.) zhou fanyi (sits there in a daze, staring at the dining-room door. Catching sight of shiping’s photo, she picks it up and then, in a low, despondent voice): So this is your child! (Then, slowly taking the photo from the backboard, she tears it up piece by piece. Calm and poised, she stands up and begins pacing up and down.) Strange, how peaceful I feel. (The center door opens quietly. zhou fanyi turns to find lu gui stealing in, his sly eyes smiling at her.) lu gui (with a slight bow): Good evening, ma’am. zhou fanyi (somewhat taken aback): What are you doing here? lu gui (with an oily smile): I’ve come to see how you’re getting on, ma’am. I’ve been waiting outside the door for some time. zhou fanyi (calmly): I see, outside the door, were you? lu gui (in a low voice): That’s right. (Mysteriously) When I saw that Master Ping was quarrelling with you, I—(smirking) I didn’t like to come in. zhou fanyi (still poised and unruffled): What did you want? lu gui (with complete assurance): Well, I really came to tell you that Master Ping got drunk again tonight and came around to our place. But now that I know you were there yourself, ma’am, there’s nothing more for me to say. zhou fanyi (with disgust): What are you after now? lu gui (haughtily): I’d like to see the master. zhou fanyi : The master’s gone to bed. What do you want to see him about? lu gui : Oh, nothing important. If you’d like to see to it yourself, ma’am, then we needn’t trouble the master. (With a meaningful look) It all depends on you, ma’am. zhou fanyi (deciding, after a pause, to put up with him): Very well, then. Tell me what it is. Perhaps I can help you. lu gui (repeating, craftily): If you would like to handle the matter and save my seeing the master, that’ll save everybody a lot of trouble. zhou fanyi (still unperturbed): Just say it. lu gui (ingratiatingly): Bless your heart, ma’am, if you can help us out. All we want is to ask you to give us our jobs back. zhou fanyi (crossly): Do you suppose I—(softening) very well, that’s no big deal. lu gui (pleased with himself ): Thank you, ma’am. (Shrewdly) Then perhaps you’d fix a definite date for us to come back, ma’am.

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zhou fanyi (simply): Make it the day after we move into the new house, then. lu gui (bowing): Thank you for your kindness ma’am. (Suddenly) Oh, I almost forgot. Have you seen Master Chong, ma’am? zhou fanyi : No. lu gui : Didn’t you send him around to our place with a present of a hundred dollars? zhou fanyi (irritated): What’s that? lu gui (euphemistically): But—but the money was sent back by our own young master. zhou fanyi : Your young master? lu gui (explaining): That’s to say Dahai—that wretched son of mine. zhou fanyi : Well, what about it? lu gui (smoothly): Well, Shiping—our Shiping, still knows nothing about it. zhou fanyi (alarmed, under her breath): Shiping? (Seriously) Who is Shiping? lu gui (feeling slighted, haughtily): Shiping is Shiping, my wife, Mrs. Lu. zhou fanyi : Did you mean to say that Mrs. Lu’s name is Shiping? lu gui (bragging): You see, she’s been to school, too. Her name is quite elegant. zhou fanyi : Do you know how to write the two characters for “Shiping”? lu gui : I, I—(embarrassed, forcing a smile) I don’t remember. Anyway it’s the same “Ping” as Master Ping’s name as far as I can recall. zhou fanyi : Oh! (Suddenly she picks up the bits of the torn photo from the floor and pieces them together for him to see) Take a look. Do you know this person? lu gui (looks at it for a while, and then looks up): No, I don’t, ma’am. zhou fanyi (anxiously): You know of no one who looks like her? (After a slight pause) Just think, anyone close to you? lu gui (shaking his head): Not a single one, ma’am, not a single one. (Suddenly alarmed) Ma’am, are you okay? zhou fanyi (reflecting, no longer sure of herself ): Most likely it’s my fantasy. lu gui (greedily): Ah yes, ma’am, didn’t you send us a gift of a hundred dollars just now? But it was sent back by our Dahai. You see— (The center door opens.) (Looking around) Who is it? (lu dahai comes in, his clothes drenched and his face glum. He looks around with unease, showing fatigue, with obvious hatred in all his movements. zhou fanyi looks at him in astonishment.) lu dahai (to lu gui ): So here you are! lu gui (hates to see his son): How did you get in? lu dahai (coldly): The gates were shut and I couldn’t make anybody hear, so I climbed over the wall. lu gui : What are you doing here? Why didn’t you go and see if your mother’s found Sifeng? lu dahai (wiping the rain off his face with a wet towel): Sifeng’s nowhere to be found. Mother’s waiting outside. (Grimly) Did you see Sifeng? lu gui (with contempt): No, I didn’t. (Frowning with annoyance at what he regards as much ado about nothing) Oh, forget it. She’ll be back home any minute. (Walking up

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to lu dahai ) Now you come home with me. I’ve fixed everything with the Zhous here. Everything’s all right now. Let’s be off. lu dahai : I’m not leaving yet. lu gui : What do you want? lu dahai : Don’t you go yet, either—not until you’ve gotten me the young gentleman here. I can’t find him. lu gui (apprehensively, stroking his chin): What are you up to now? I just fixed everything, and now you want to start trouble again? lu dahai (calmly): Nothing. I just want to talk to him. lu gui (disbelieving him): Oh no, you don’t. It looks like you are going to— lu dahai (flaring up, grabbing lu gui by the collar): Will you find him for me or won’t you? lu gui (cowed): Okay, okay, take your hands off me first. lu dahai : All right. (Letting go of him) Go on. lu gui : Dahai, you—you promise me first: you’ll just have a few words with Master Ping and will not— lu dahai : Well, I can tell you I’m not here to pick a fight. lu gui : Really? lu dahai (going up to lu gui menacingly, in a low voice): Are you going or not? lu gui : I, I, Dahai, you, you— zhou fanyi (calmly): Go and get him, Lu Gui. It’ll be all right with me here. lu gui : Okay. (To lu dahai ) But after I’m done with Master Ping, I’ll leave by that door. I—(smirking) I have some other business. lu dahai (commanding): Tell them to open the gate and let Mother in. She needs shelter from the rain. lu gui : All right, all right. (Headed toward the dining room) But as soon as I’ve finished I’m off for other business. lu dahai : Stop! (Making one step forward, in a low voice) You go in there, but if you sneak away without getting him here, you’d better watch out when we get home—humph! lu gui (irritated): You, you, you—(in an undertone, to himself ) you little bastard! (With no alternative, he goes out through the dining room.) zhou fanyi (getting up): Who are you? lu dahai (rudely): Sifeng’s brother. zhou fanyi (in a tender voice): Are you here to look for her? You want to see Master Ping, you say? lu dahai : Yes. zhou fanyi (gloomily): I’m afraid he may not want to see you. lu dahai (calmly): That’s possible. zhou fanyi (easily): I think he’s about to leave for the station to catch a train. lu dahai (looking around): Eh? zhou fanyi (hinting darkly): In fact, he’s leaving immediately. lu dahai (enraged): Running away, eh? He— zhou fanyi : Right, he—

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(zhou ping comes in from the dining room, looking uneasy. He sees lu dahai and gives him an awkward nod.) zhou ping (steadying himself with an effort, his voice trembling): Oh! lu dahai : Ah, good, you’re still here. (Looking around) Ask the lady to leave us. I want to have a word with you alone. zhou ping (looks at zhou fanyi , and when she does not move, he goes across to her): Please go upstairs. zhou fanyi : All right. (She goes out chin up through the dining room. There is a pause. Both men hold their fists tight. lu dahai glares angrily at zhou ping .) zhou ping (unable to bear the suspense any longer, in a trembling voice): I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. lu dahai (ominously): I hear you’re going away. zhou ping (alarmed but soon calming himself, forcing a smile): It’s still not too late, though. You got here in plenty of time. What is it you want? I’m ready. lu dahai (smiling viciously): Ready, you say? zhou ping (looking at him glumly): Yes. lu dahai (going up to him): Take that! (He strikes zhou ping hard in the face, opening the old wound, which bleeds again.) zhou ping (his fists clenched in an effort to control himself ): Why, you— (He takes a white handkerchief out of his pocket and wipes the blood off his face with it.) lu dahai (grinding his teeth): Humph! So you were going to run away! (Pause.) zhou ping (suppressing his anger and explaining in a deep voice): I’d made plans some time ago. lu dahai (with a malicious laugh): You had, eh? zhou ping (becoming calmer): I think there’re too many misunderstandings between us. lu dahai : Misunderstandings! (He notices the blood on his hand and wipes it off on his clothes.) There isn’t much I misunderstand about you! I know you are a spineless creature who cares about nothing but yourself, a downright scoundrel! zhou ping (in a soft, even voice): We’ve met twice, but on both occasions I’ve been in a filthy temper. I’m afraid you must have gotten a rather bad impression of me. lu dahai (contemptuously): Keep your excuses. You may be a young gentleman, but you act like a rat. Life’s too easy for people like you. You’ve got plenty of surplus energy and nothing to do with it, so you pick up a poor man’s daughter to amuse yourself with. When you’ve finished with her, off you go and responsibility be damned. zhou ping (disappointed at lu dahai ’s stance): I can see it’s no use explaining anything to you now. I know you’re here for something. (Calmly) Well, out with your gun or your knife or whatever it is. Dispose of me as you think fit.

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lu dahai (tauntingly): Very generous of you!—and in your own house, too! You’re very clever. But you’re not worth it. I’m not ready to pay with my own useful life for a halfdead creature like you. zhou ping (looking him full in the face with renewed audacity): I suppose you think I’m afraid of you. Well, you’re wrong. I’m more afraid of myself than I am of you. I’ve made one mistake, and I don’t want to make another. lu dahai (scornfully): So far as I can see, your biggest mistake was to be born. If it hadn’t been for my mother, I’d have slaughtered you there and then! (Threatening) I hold your life in my hand even now. zhou ping : Death would be a welcome release for me. (Sadly) You imagine I’m afraid of death? No, I’m not, I’m not! I hate to be alive. I welcome your visit. I’ve had enough of life; I’m fed up with it. lu dahai (disgustedly): Oh, so you’re fed up with life, are you? But not too much to make my poor young sister share it with you, with you—huh! zhou ping (helplessly, with a wry smile): You mean I’m selfish? You really think I’m a heartless creature who only wants her for his own amusement? Just ask your sister, will you? She knows I really love her. She’s all I live for now. lu dahai : You’ve got a smooth tongue, haven’t you! (Suddenly) Then why don’t you— why don’t you marry her? zhou ping (after a slight pause): That’s just what I hate myself most for. My position is an extremely difficult one. Can you imagine a family like mine approving of a thing like that? lu dahai (with pungent scorn): So you think you can say you really do love her, and make that an excuse for doing whatever you like with her, while at the same time you’ve got to consider your family and your board chairman of a father, eh? Then anytime they want you to dump her and marry some rich young lady who’ll be the right match for your family status, you will—is that it? zhou ping (finding this too much to swallow): I wish you’d go and ask Sifeng. She can tell you why I’m going away. It’s to get away from my family and try to shake myself free of my father so that I’ll have a chance to marry her. lu dahai (mocking him): You talked your way out of that pretty well! But how do you account for this business of coming around to our place in the middle of the night? zhou ping (roused): I’m not talking my way out of anything, and I don’t need to make excuses to you. I’m only telling you all this because you’re Sifeng’s brother. I love her. And she loves me. We’re both young, and when two young people are in each other’s company day after day, something’s bound to happen. But I’m sure I’ll be able to do the right thing by her one day and marry her. My conscience is perfectly clear. lu dahai : Well, you sound as if everything you’ve done is well justified, eh? But who do you imagine is going to believe that you, the boss’s son and heir, had fallen in love with a poor girl whose brother’s a miner and whose mother’s a servant? zhou ping (after a pause, hesitantly): Well, I—er—I may as well tell you this: my hand was forced by a woman who left me no alternative.

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lu dahai (tensed up, in a low voice): What? You mean there’s another woman involved? zhou ping : Yes. The lady that was here just now. lu dahai : Her? zhou ping (distraught): Yes. She’s my stepmother! All these years I’ve kept this secret bottled up inside me. I’ve never dared tell anyone. She’s had a good education and all that, but—the moment she set eyes on me she developed a passion for me and wanted me to—(breaking off abruptly) of course I have to take part of the responsibility as well. lu dahai : Does Sifeng know about this? zhou ping : Yes, I’m sure of it. (With tears of agony in his eyes) I was a fool ever to have started. As time went on I became more and more afraid, and the whole business became more distasteful and hateful to me. I hated this unnatural relationship. Can you understand? I wanted to leave her, but she tightened her grip on me. She wouldn’t let me go. She’s a monster, capable of anything. My life became a burden to me. You understand? I drank, I messed around, I was ready to do anything, even die—as long as I could free myself from her. She made me sick of any woman with a good education and a respectable surface. But then Sifeng came along. She gave me hope—and another year of life. lu dahai (breathing a sigh of relief ): I see. zhou ping : All this—I’ve never been able to bring myself to tell anybody about it, and yet—(slowly) the funny thing is, I’ve suddenly told it all to you! lu dahai (grimly): This is probably a retribution on your father. zhou ping (rather put out by lu dahai ’s unexpected remark): That’s bullshit! (He now feels he’s been too impetuous in letting a stranger in on his private thoughts. It takes him a while to calm down and reflect on his rashness.) (Suddenly, in a measured tone) The reason I’m telling you all this is because you’re Sifeng’s brother. I want you to believe that I’m sincere. I’ve never had the slightest intention of deceiving her. lu dahai (showing some goodwill): Then you really intend to marry Sifeng? You know she’s a silly girl. She’d never marry anybody else after this. zhou ping (in all sincerity): Yes, I’m leaving today, but in a month or two I’ll be back to get her. lu dahai : Now look here, you son-of-the-boss you, you don’t expect anyone to believe that, do you? zhou ping (taking a letter out of his pocket): You can read this letter that I just wrote her. It’s all explained here. lu dahai (evading): I don’t want to see it. I—I haven’t got time now. zhou ping (looking up after a moment ’s silence): Then I’m afraid there’s no other way of proving my good faith. Though that lethal weapon you’ve got there in your pocket should be guarantee enough. If you still don’t believe me, I’m still at your mercy, you know.

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lu dahai (acidly): My dear young master, you think I’m going to let you get away with it as easily as that? (With a sudden ferocity) You really think I’m ready to let my sister marry a creature like you? (He suddenly whips out his pistol.) zhou ping (panic-stricken): What are you going to do? lu dahai (ferociously): I’m going to kill you! Your father may be evil, but he at least looks pretty decent. You, you are the most useless, spineless thing in the world! zhou ping : All right, go on, then! (He shuts his eyes in terror.) lu dahai (exhaling sharply, he hands the gun to zhou ping ): You’d better take this. It belongs to your mine. zhou ping (puzzled): What’s the matter? (He takes the gun.) lu dahai (despondently): Nothing. Old ladies are all muddleheaded. I know my mother. My sister is all she lives for. If you can give Sifeng a decent life, I’ll let you go this once. (zhou ping opens his mouth to speak, but lu dahai stops him with a wave of the hand. Grimly zhou ping goes and puts away the gun in the drawer of the long table.) (Peremptorily) And now will you bring in my sister? zhou ping (bewildered): What? lu dahai : Sifeng. I take it she’s here. zhou ping : No, no, she’s not here. I thought she was at your house. lu dahai (uncertainly): Well, that’s queer. Mother and I spent two hours looking for her in the rain, but there wasn’t a sign of her. I thought she must be here. zhou ping (anxiously): You mean she’s been out wandering around in the rain for two hours? Isn’t there—anywhere else she could have gone to? lu dahai (positively): No, where could she have gone in the middle of the night? zhou ping (suddenly panicky): No! Don’t say she’s gone and— lu dahai (knowing what zhou ping means): You think she’s—no, she wouldn’t do that. (Contemptuously) No, I don’t think she’d have the guts. zhou ping (trembling): Yes, she would. You don’t know her. She’s proud, and strongwilled, and she—but she should have seen me first. She (as if seeing her body floating in the river) shouldn’t have been so rash. (Pause.) lu dahai (suddenly): Humph! A fine bit of playacting that was! Think you can put me off like that? Eh? She’s here! She must be here! (A whistle is heard outside the window at a distance.) zhou ping (raising his hand for silence): Shh! Stop shouting. (The whistling comes closer and his face lights up) That’s her! Here she is! I can hear her! lu dahai : Eh? zhou ping : That’s her. We always do this when we meet. lu dahai : Where is she, then?

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zhou ping : Probably out in the garden. (He opens the window and whistles back. The response comes even closer.) (Over his shoulder, smiling between tears) Here she comes! (There is a knock on the center door.) (To lu dahai ) I think you’d better keep out of sight in the next room for the time being. She wouldn’t be expecting to find you here. I don’t think she could stand any more shocks. (He takes lu dahai to the dining-room door. lu dahai leaves.) lu sifeng’s voice (low): Ping! zhou ping (hurrying across to the center door): Feng! (Opening the door) Come in! (lu sifeng comes in, her hair disheveled and dripping, sticking into the corners of her eyes, her clothes drenched and clinging to her skin, her face wet with tears and rain. The chill after the rain makes her shiver and her teeth clatter. She sees zhou ping the way a lost child finds her mother. She stares at him as if in a trance.) lu sifeng : Ping! zhou ping (touched): Feng. lu sifeng (timidly): No one around? zhou ping (sad and compassionate): No, it’s all right. (He grasps her hands.) lu sifeng (letting herself go): Oh, Ping! (She flings her arms around him and sobs convulsively.) zhou ping (as if he had not seen her for a long time): How—how did you—how did you find me here? (Babbling with relief ) How did you get in? lu sifeng : I slipped in through the back entrance. zhou ping : Your hands are like ice. You’d better get changed first. lu sifeng : No, Ping—(with a sob) let me have a look at you first. zhou ping (taking her over to a sofa and sitting her down beside him, ardently): But— but where have you been, Feng? lu sifeng (looking at him and smiling with her eyes full of tears): Here you are at last, Ping. It seems like ages. zhou ping (picking up a purple cotton yarn blanket and wrapping it around her): My poor darling, how can you be so silly? Where have you been, my silly girl? lu sifeng : I just ran on and on in the rain until I didn’t know where I was. The thunder kept rumbling and cracking and all was dark and blurry in front of me. My mind was a total blank. I thought I heard Mom calling after me, but I was afraid, and I ran as fast as I could. I was looking for the river out in front of our place. I was going to throw myself in. zhou ping (tightening his hold on lu sifeng’s hands): Feng! lu sifeng : But somehow I couldn’t find it, round and round in circles looking for it. zhou ping : Oh, Feng, it’s all my fault. Please forgive me. It was I who let you go through all this. Do forgive me and not hold it against me. lu sifeng : Ping, I’ll never hold it against you. Somehow I stumbled here in a daze and found myself under that pole with the broken wire. Suddenly I wanted to die. I knew all I had to do was to touch that live wire and I could put everything behind me. I

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loved my mother. I was afraid of the oath I had made in her presence. I was afraid that she would call me a bad girl. I’d rather be dead. But just before I was to touch that wire, all of a sudden I saw there was a light in your window and I realized you were in. Oh, Ping, suddenly I felt that I couldn’t just die: I couldn’t bear to be parted from you. It occurred to me that the world is big and we can still go away—only we must go away together. Oh Ping, you— zhou ping (gravely): Are we leaving together? lu sifeng (earnestly): It’s the only way out, Ping. I’ve got no home to go to now. (Sadly) Dahai hates me, and I just couldn’t face Mom now. I’ve got nothing now—no family, no friends. I’ve got only you, Ping. (Imploringly) Take me with you tomorrow. (Pause.) zhou ping (shaking his head glumly): No, no— lu sifeng (disappointed): Ping! zhou ping (looking at her, gravely): No, no—we must go right now. lu sifeng (incredulous): What, this minute? zhou ping (tenderly): Yes. I was planning to go alone and then come back for you later, but there’s no need to wait now. lu sifeng (still incredulous): You really mean it? We’ll go together? zhou ping : Yes, really. lu sifeng (delirious with joy, she throws away the blanket, stands up, seizes zhou ping’s hands and kisses them wildly while wiping the tears streaming down her cheeks): So it’s true! It’s true, it’s true! Oh, Ping! You darling, you! You’re my savior, you’re the best person in the whole world. You’re my—oh, I love you! (She weeps in his arms.) zhou ping (moved, wiping his tears with his handkerchief ): Feng, from now on we’ll be together for ever. We’ll never be separated. lu sifeng (assuring herself, cuddling in his arms): Yes, we’ll leave this place now, and we’ll never be parted from each other. zhou ping (restraining himself ): All right, Feng, but before we go there’s someone we must see. As soon as we’ve done that, we’ll be away. lu sifeng : Who do you mean? zhou ping : Your brother. lu sifeng : Dahai? zhou ping : He’s been looking for you. He’s in the dining room there. lu sifeng (frightened): No, no, don’t you see him. He hates you. He’ll hurt you. Let’s go—let’s get out—quick. zhou ping (comforting her): I’ve already seen him. And now we must see him once more—(with an air of finality) otherwise we just won’t be able to go. lu sifeng (timorously): But, Ping, you— (zhou ping goes across to the dining-room door and opens it.) zhou ping (calling): Lu Dahai! Lu Dahai!—I say! He’s gone! That’s funny. He must have gone out through the other door. (He looks at lu sifeng .)

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lu sifeng (going up to zhou ping and pleading with him): Never mind, Ping, let’s go. (Dragging him toward the center door) Let’s go just as we are. (As lu sifeng gets zhou ping to the door it opens. mrs. lu and lu dahai come in. mrs. lu looks a changed woman. She has cried and shouted herself hoarse in the rain. Her eyelids droop in despair. The wrinkles in her forehead look deeply etched. Overagitation has turned her into a stupor, her whole figure a statue of rigid agony. Her wet clothes are now partly dry. Her hair is still a little wet, disheveled and sticky at the temples. Her hands trembling, she enters gingerly.) (In alarm) Mom! (There is a slight pause, mother gazing at daughter with sad compassion.) mrs. lu (in an agonized voice, her arms held out toward lu sifeng ): Feng, come here. (lu sifeng rushes toward her mother and kneels.) lu sifeng : Mom! (She clasps her mother’s knees.) mrs. lu (stroking lu sifeng’s head, distressfully): My child, my poor, poor child. lu sifeng (sobbing her heart out): Oh, Mom, forgive me, forgive me. I forgot your warnings. mrs. lu (pulling her up): Why didn’t you tell me earlier? lu sifeng (hanging her head): I love you, Mom, that’s why I was afraid. I didn’t want you to dislike me, and despise me. I just didn’t dare tell you. mrs. lu (sorrowfully): It’s my own fault for being so stupid. I should have thought of it before. (Bitterly) But who could have expected anything like this? And to think that it should have happened to my own children of all people! Your mother’s fate has been hard enough, so is yours now. lu dahai (unemotionally): Let’s go, Mom. Sifeng will be going home with us first. I’ve arranged everything with him—(pointing to zhou ping ) he can go on in advance and come back for Sifeng later. mrs. lu (bewildered): Who said that? Who said that? lu dahai (looking at his mother, unperturbed): I know what’s on your mind, Mom. There’s no other way out. So I’m not going to have any more to do with the Zhous. Just let them go. mrs. lu (perplexed, sitting down): What! Let them go? zhou ping (hesitantly): You can trust me, Mrs. Lu. I’ll be good to her. I’m taking her with me and leaving right now. mrs. lu (holding lu sifeng’s hand, trembling): Do you want to go with him, Feng? lu sifeng (hanging her head, tightly gripping her mother’s hands): Mom, I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you for a while. mrs. lu (unable to hold it back anymore): You can’t live together! lu dahai (surprised): What’s the matter, Mom? mrs. lu (standing up): No! It wouldn’t do! lu sifeng (anxiously): Mom! mrs. lu (ignoring her pleading, grabbing her by the hand ): Sifeng, we’re going home.

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(To lu dahai ) Go and call a rickshaw. I think Sifeng’s too weak to walk anymore. We must go—as fast as we can! lu sifeng (recoiling from her in desperation): You can’t do this to me, Mom! mrs. lu : No, it wouldn’t do! (Woodenly and monotonously) Let’s go, let’s go. lu sifeng (imploringly): Do you want to drive your daughter crazy and see her die before your very eyes? zhou ping (going up to mrs. lu ): Mrs. Lu, I know I’ve done you wrong, but I’ll do my best to make up for it. Now that things have gone this far, you— lu dahai : Mom! (Puzzled) Mom, I don’t get it, Mom. mrs. lu (seeing no alternative, sternly): You go and get a rickshaw! (To lu sifeng ) Now listen to me, Feng: I’d rather you didn’t exist than see you living with him! Come on, then. (Just as lu dahai gets to the door, lu sifeng screams.) lu sifeng (screaming): Oh, Mom! Mom! (She faints into her mother’s arms.) mrs. lu (holding lu sifeng in her arms): My child! You— zhou ping (agitated): She’s passed out. (mrs. lu feels lu sifeng’s forehead and softly calls her name. She breaks down into tears. zhou ping runs toward the dining room.) lu dahai : Don’t panic: a drop of cold water and she’ll be all right. She was like that when she was little. (zhou ping gets some cold water and sprinkles it on lu sifeng ’s face. She gradually comes to but her face is deathly pale.) mrs. lu (feeds lu sifeng with the cold water): Feng, my good child, come back. Come back, my poor child. lu sifeng (gradually opening her mouth, then her eyes, drawing a deep breath): Ah, Mom. mrs. lu (trying to comfort her): Don’t be hard on me, child. I’m not being hard-hearted. I just can’t tell you what I’m going through. lu sifeng (sighing deeply): Mom! mrs. lu : What is it, Feng? lu sifeng : I—I’ve got to tell you something, Ping! zhou ping : Feel better now, Feng? lu sifeng : I—I’ve been keeping it from you all the time. (Looking piteously at her mother) I couldn’t even bring myself to tell you, Mom. mrs. lu : What is it, child? Tell me. lu sifeng (sobbing): I, I—(summoning all her courage) he and I are going to have a . . . (She breaks down in a flood of tears.) mrs. lu : What? You mean you— (Prepared for the worst, she is expressionless.) zhou ping (seizing lu sifeng’s hand): Sifeng! Is it true? You— lu sifeng (weeping): Yes. zhou ping (both sad and happy): But when? How long?

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lu sifeng (hanging her head): About three months now. zhou ping (relieved): But, Sifeng, why didn’t you tell me? I—oh, my— mrs. lu (under her breath): My God! zhou ping (going over to mrs. lu ): You just can’t stand in our way now, Mrs. Lu. It’s all my fault. I beg you! (Kneeling) I beg you: let her go. I give you my word I’ll be worthy of her, and of you. lu sifeng (stands up, walks over to her mother, and goes down on her knees at her mother’s feet): Have pity on us, Mom. Say yes and let us go. mrs. lu (sitting there in a daze, unable to speak for a moment): I must be dreaming. My children, my own children, after thirty years—oh, my God! (She buries her face in her hands and bursts into tears, then waves them away.) Go away! I don’t know you! (She turns her face away.) zhou ping : Thank you! (Rising) We’d better go, Feng. (lu sifeng gets to her feet again.) mrs. lu (turning back, uncontrollably): No, you can’t! lu sifeng (falling on her knees again, pleading): What’s the matter with you, Mom? My mind’s made up. Doesn’t matter if he’s rich or poor, doesn’t matter who he is, I’m his now. From the first my heart was promised to him, and all I see is him. Mom, this is where I am now: wherever he goes, I go, whatever he is, I am. Can’t you understand, Mom, I— mrs. lu (gesturing to her to stop, painfully): Child! lu dahai : Well, Mom, since she’s gone this far, we may as well let her have her way. zhou ping (grimly): Mrs. Lu, if you refuse to let her go, we’ll have no choice but to disobey you and just go. Feng! lu sifeng (shaking her head): Ping! (Still watching mrs. lu ) Mom! mrs. lu (deeply grieved, in a low voice): Oh, God knows who has committed the sin, who deserves to be punished. My poor children, they didn’t know what they were doing. Oh, God, if anyone has to be punished, let it just be me. I alone am guilty. It all began when I took the first false step. (Heartbroken) Now I understand, now I see. What is done is done. No use blaming heaven for injustice. When you commit the first sin, the second is bound to follow. (Stroking lu sifeng’s head) They’re my innocent children; they deserve a good and happy life. The guilt is here in my heart, and I should be the one to suffer for it. (She rises to her feet and looks heavenward) And tonight, here I am letting them go away together. I know I’m doing wrong, but this way the responsibility will all be mine; all this trouble was caused by me in the first place. My children are good kids; their hearts are pure. If there must be a punishment, let me take it—me alone. (Looking away) Feng— lu sifeng (uneasily): Mom, you must feel very sad. But I don’t understand what you’ve been saying. mrs. lu (turning her face away, tenderly): It’s nothing. (Smiling) Now get up, Feng. You can go now, both of you. lu sifeng (getting up, deeply touched, embracing her mother): Oh, Mom!

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zhou ping : Come on, then. (Looking at his watch) We haven’t got much time. Only twenty-five minutes before the train goes. Tell them to get the car out. Come on. mrs. lu (calmly): No. You’re going away in the dark of night. Don’t disturb anyone. (To lu dahai ) Dahai, you go and get a rickshaw. I’m going home now. You can see them off at the station. lu dahai : All right. (He goes out through the center door.) mrs. lu (to lu sifeng , with sad tenderness): Come here, my child. Let me kiss you goodbye. (lu sifeng goes up to her mother and embraces her.) (To zhou ping ) You come here, too. Let me have a look at you. (zhou ping goes and stands in front of mrs. lu, his head bent.) (Looking at him and wiping her eyes) Okay, you can go now. But I want you both to promise me one thing before you go. zhou ping : What is it? mrs. lu : If you don’t promise, then I won’t let Sifeng go after all. lu sifeng : Tell us what it is, Mom. I’ll promise. mrs. lu (looking from one to the other): When you go, you’d best go as far as you can and never come back. Once you’ve left tonight, you must never see me again as long as you live. lu sifeng (in distress): Oh, Mom, don’t— zhou ping (tipping her a wink and whispering): She’s upset right now, that’s why. She’ll be all right later. lu sifeng : All right, then. We’ll be off now, then, Mom. (Her eyes fill with tears as she kneels for a farewell kowtow to her mother. mrs. lu is controlling her own emotions with an effort.) mrs. lu (waving them away): Go away. zhou ping : Let’s go out through the dining room. I’ve still got some of my things in there. (Just as the three of them—zhou pin g, lu sifeng , and mrs. lu—get to the diningroom door, it opens and zhou fanyi comes in. The three are startled and eye each other.) lu sifeng (involuntarily): Ma’am! zhou fanyi (with composure): Why, where are you all going? There’s still a thunderstorm going on outside, you know! zhou ping (to zhou fanyi ): So you’ve been eavesdropping at the door, have you? zhou fanyi : Yes, and I’m not the only one. There’s someone else here. (Turning back to the dining room) Come out here, you! (A sheepish zhou chong emerges from the dining room.) lu sifeng (startled): Master Chong! zhou chong (disconcertedly): Sifeng! zhou ping (annoyed): How come you are so childish, Chong? zhou chong (still at sea): It was Mom who told me to come here. I’d no idea what was going on.

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zhou fanyi (coldly): You’ll know soon enough. zhou ping (to zhou fanyi , fuming): Now what’s the meaning of all this? zhou fanyi (mockingly): I just wanted your brother to come and give you two a send-off. zhou ping (furiously): How despicab— zhou chong : Now, Ping! zhou ping (to zhou chong ): I’m sorry! (Rounding abruptly on zhou fanyi again) But there isn’t another mother like you on earth! zhou chong (bewildered): What’s going on, Mom? zhou fanyi (to lu sifeng ): Where are you going, Sifeng? lu sifeng (stammering): I . . . I . . . zhou ping : Don’t tell them a single lie! Tell them proudly, with chin up, we’re going away together. zhou chong (now he knows): What’s this, Sifeng? You’re going away with him? lu sifeng : Yes, Master Chong. I—I’m— zhou chong (somewhat reproachfully): Then why didn’t you tell me before? lu sifeng : Not that I didn’t. I told you to leave me alone because I—I was no longer a good woman. zhou ping (to lu sifeng ): No, why should you say you are not good? Go on, tell them! (Pointing to zhou fanyi ) Tell them that you’re going to marry me! zhou chong (rather taken aback): Sifeng, you— zhou fanyi (to zhou chong ): Now you know what it’s all about. (zhou chong hangs his head.) zhou ping (turning to zhou fanyi with sudden viciousness): You spiteful creature! You think he’ll help—and spoil everything? Well, Chong, what ideas have you got? Tell us what you want to do to me. Speak! I’ll forgive you. (zhou chong looks from his mother to lu sifeng , then hangs his head in silence.) zhou fanyi : Come on, Chong! (After a pause, more insistently) Why don’t you say something, Chong? Why don’t you grab hold of Sifeng and ask her? Why don’t you grab your brother and ask him? (There is another pause. Everybody looks at zhou chong , who stands mute.) Say something, Chong! You’re not dead, are you? Or dumb? Or are you just a stupid child? Surely you’re not just going to stand there and feel nothing when you see your own sweetheart snatched away from you? zhou chong (lifting his head and reacting as tamely as a lamb): No, no, Mom. (Looks at lu sifeng again, then hangs his head) So long as Sifeng is willing, I’ve no objection. zhou ping (going up to zhou chong , holding his hand): Oh my good brother, Chong! My sensible brother! zhou chong (with a puzzled frown): No, no. I suddenly realize—I feel—as if I wasn’t really in love with Sifeng after all. (Staring abstractedly into space) It was—I, I, I think it was—probably just a silly infatuation. zhou ping (gratefully): But, Brother Chong—

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zhou chong (shrinking back from the ecstatic zhou ping ): Yes, take her away with you—only be good to her. zhou fanyi (all her hopes dashed): Ugh, you! (With a sudden fury) You’re not my son! You’re not a bit like me! You—you’re just a dead pig! zhou chong (feeling insulted): Mom! zhou ping (shocked): What’s wrong with you? zhou fanyi (incoherently): You’re no man at all! If I were you, I’d smash her, burn her, kill her! You’re just a poor, feeble idiot—not a spark of life in you! You’re your father’s son, your father’s little lamb. I should have known better—you’re none of mine—no son of mine! zhou ping (outraged): Aren’t you Chong’s mother? How could you talk like that! zhou fanyi (distressed): Ping, you say it. You tell him. I’m not afraid. Tell him I’m no longer his mom. zhou chong (pained): What’s the matter with you, Mom? zhou fanyi (throwing off all restraint): I’d already forgotten who I was when I got him here. (To zhou chong , hysterically) Don’t think I’m your mother. (Raising her voice) Your mother died long ago. She was crushed to death, smothered to death by your father. No I’m not your mother, but a woman brought back to life by Zhou Ping. (With total abandon) Yes, she also needs true love from a man, she wants to be a truly living woman! zhou chong (heartbroken): Oh, Mom! zhou ping (winking at zhou chong ): She’s sick. (To zhou fanyi ) You’d better come upstairs with me. You probably need a rest. zhou fanyi : That’s all trash. I’m not sick, I’m not sick, I tell you, no mental illness, nothing. Don’t you think I’m talking nonsense. (Wiping her eyes, in an anguished voice) How many years have I endured in this hell of a place, this prisonlike residence of the Zhous? Eighteen years in the company of this king of hell! But my heart is not dead. Your father may have made me have you, Chong, but my heart—my soul is still my own. (Pointing to zhou ping ) He’s the only one that’s ever possessed me body and soul. But now he doesn’t want me, he doesn’t want me anymore. zhou chong (considerably distressed): Mom, my dearest mom, What is all this about? zhou ping : Take no notice of her. She’s going off her head! zhou fanyi (heatedly): Don’t you talk like your father. No, I’m not mad—not in the least! And now it’s your turn to speak, and tell them all about it—it’s my last chance to get even with you! zhou ping (fiercely): What do you want me to tell? I think you’d better go upstairs to bed. zhou fanyi (sneering): Stop pretending! Tell them that I’m not your stepmother. (There is general astonishment, a short pause.) zhou chong (at a loss): Mom! zhou fanyi (recklessly): Go on, tell them. Tell Sifeng. Go on, tell her! lu sifeng (overcome): Oh, Mom! (She throws herself into her mother’s arms.)

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zhou ping (looking at his brother, then turning to zhou fanyi ): Why do you have to do that? Why do you have to dwell on the past? See how unhappy that would make Chong feel the rest of his life. zhou fanyi (abandoning her maternal sentiments, screaming): I have no child, no husband, no family. I have nothing. All I want to say to you is: I—I’m yours. zhou ping (distraught): Oh, my brother, look at poor Brother Chong. If only you still have some of your mother’s heart left! zhou fanyi (vindictively): Copying your father now, are you? You hypocrite! Remember: it was you, and you alone, that deceived your brother, and deceived me, and deceived your father! zhou ping (furiously): You liar! I didn’t. I didn’t deceive him. Father’s a good man, a moral man all his life. (zhou fanyi sneers.) (To lu sifeng ) Take no notice of her. She’s mad. Let’s get out of here. zhou fanyi : You wouldn’t get far. The gate’s locked. Your father will be down any minute. I’ve sent for him. mrs. lu : Oh! Ma’am! zhou ping : What are you trying to do? zhou fanyi (with icy calm): I want your father to meet his dear future daughter-in-law before you leave. (Calling her husband) Puyuan! Puyuan! zhou chong : Mom, please! zhou ping (advancing on zhou fanyi ): Don’t you dare shout again, you lunatic! (zhou fanyi runs to the door of the study and shouts again.) mrs. lu (in panic): Let’s get out of here, Sifeng. zhou fanyi : No. He’s coming! (zhou puyuan comes in from the study. There is a deathly hush, and no one moves an inch.) zhou puyuan (in the doorway): What’s all the shouting for? You ought to be in bed by now. zhou fanyi (haughtily): I want you to meet some relatives of yours. zhou puyuan (astonished to find mrs. lu and lu sifeng together): Why, what the— what are you two doing here? zhou fanyi (taking lu sifeng’s hand and turning to puyuan ): Let me introduce your daughter-in-law. (To lu sifeng , indicating puyuan ) Greet your father! (Then to puyuan , indicating mrs. lu ) And I’d like you to meet this lady here, too! mrs. lu : Ma’am! zhou fanyi : Come here, Ping! You can pay your respects to your new mother now that your father’s here. zhou ping (embarrassed): Father, I—I— zhou puyuan (taking in the situation): Why—(to mrs. lu ) so you’ve come back again after all, Shiping. zhou fanyi (taken aback): What? mrs. lu (unnerved): No, no, you’re mistaken.

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zhou puyuan (remorsefully): Yes, Shiping, I thought you’d be back. mrs. lu : No! No! (Hanging her head) Oh, God! zhou fanyi (stupefied): Shiping? You mean she’s Shiping? zhou puyuan : Yes. (Irritated) Fanyi, don’t start pretending you didn’t know and asking silly questions. She’s Ping’s mother, the one that died thirty years ago. zhou fanyi : In heaven’s name! (A long silence follows, broken only by a cry of anguish from lu sifeng as she stares at her mother, who sits there with her head bent, as if in pain. Dazedly, zhou ping’s eyes travel from his father to mrs. lu, while zhou fanyi steals around to zhou chong . She is suddenly aware that a far greater tragedy than her own is unfolding before her eyes. This gradually arouses her sympathy for zhou ping . She now sees the frenzy in her action and is thus quickly restored to her normal maternal sentiments. In spite of herself, she looks at her own son zhou chong with remorse.) zhou puyuan (with a heavy heart): Ping, come here. Your own mother never died at all. She’s here, alive. zhou ping (beside himself ): No, it can’t be her! Father, say it’s not her! zhou puyuan (severely): Shut up, you idiot! You are not supposed to talk like that! Ping, she may not be from a good family, but she’s your mother just the same. zhou ping (in utter despair): Oh, Father! zhou puyuan (seriously): Don’t feel embarrassed to find you and Sifeng have the same mother. It is against human nature to deny your family ties. lu sifeng (turning to her mother): Oh, Mom! (She is overcome with grief.) zhou puyuan (despondently): Forgive me, Ping. This was the only real mistake I ever made. I never imagined for one moment that she was still alive and that one day she’d find us here. I can only put it down to divine justice. (Turning to mrs. lu with a sigh) I’m getting old now. I felt very sorry after I told you to go this afternoon, and I’ve arranged to have twenty thousand dollars sent to you. Now that you’ve come back again, I think Ping will be a good son to you and look after you. He’ll help to make amends for the wrong I did you. zhou ping (to mrs. lu ): So you—you’re my— mrs. lu (unable to control herself any longer): Oh, Ping! (She turns her head away and sobs.) zhou puyuan : Down on your knees to her, Ping! You’re not dreaming. She’s your mother. lu sifeng (utterly confused): This can’t be true, Mom. (mrs. lu makes no reply and continues to sob.) zhou fanyi (smiling to zhou ping , repentantly): I never expected it to—to turn out like this, Ping! zhou ping (smiling wryly, to zhou puyuan ): Father! (With his wry smile, to mrs. lu ) Mother! (Looking at lu sifeng and pointing at her) You— lu sifeng (exchanging looks and weird smiles with zhou ping , suddenly at the end of her tether): Oh, my God!

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(She rushes out through the center door. zhou ping throws himself down on the sofa and buries his head in his arms. mrs. lu stands motionless, lifeless.) zhou fanyi (calling anxiously): Sifeng! Sifeng! (Turning to zhou chong ) I don’t like the look of this, Chong. You’d better hurry out and find her. (zhou chong runs out through the center door, calling after lu sifeng .) zhou puyuan (going up to zhou ping ): Now, Ping, what’s all this about? zhou ping (bursting out): You should never have brought me into this world! (He runs out through the dining room. Suddenly, a heartrending shriek is heard from lu sifeng in the distance, followed by zhou chong’s frantic shouting of “Sifeng! Sifeng!” Then comes a similar shriek from zhou chong .) mrs. lu (shouting): Sifeng, what’s happened? zhou fanyi (simultaneously): Chong! My boy! (They both run out through the center door.) zhou puyuan (hurries to the window, pulls aside the curtain, and quavers): What’s happened? What’s happened? (A servant comes running in through the center door.) servant (gasping): Sir! zhou puyuan : Quick! What’s happened? servant (in a panic-stricken gabble): Sifeng—she’s—she’s dead! zhou puyuan (aghast): What about Chong? servant : He’s—he’s dead, too. zhou puyuan (in a trembling voice): No! No! How—how come? servant : Sifeng ran into the live wire. Master Chong didn’t know about it, and he caught hold of her. They were both electrocuted. zhou puyuan (almost passing out): No, it can’t be true! It’s—it’s impossible! Just impossible! (He hurries out with the servant. zhou ping comes in from the dining room. He is deathly pale, yet his manner is perfectly calm. He goes over to the long table, opens the drawer, and takes out the pistol that lu dahai has left him. Then be goes into the study. There is a hubbub of voices outside—a babel of weeping, shouting, and altercation. mrs. lu comes in through the center door, followed by an old servant with a flashlight. She stands silent at center stage.) old servant (trying to comfort her): Now come on, ma’am, you can’t just stand there like that. Go ahead and cry. What you want is a good cry. mrs. lu (expressionless): I can’t cry! old servant : Well, that’s the will of heaven. There’s nothing you can do about it—but you need to cry for your own good. mrs. lu : No, I need a quiet moment. (She stands there in a daze. The center door is flung wide open and zhou fanyi appears in the doorway, surrounded by a number of servants. It is hard to tell whether she is laughing or crying.) servant (behind her in the doorway): You’d best go in, ma’am, and not look.

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(The servants shepherd her into the room, but she stops just inside the door. She leans against the doorpost in a fit of hysterical laughter.) zhou fanyi : Why are you gaping at me like that, Chong? Why are you smiling at me like that? Oh, Chong, my silly boy! (zhou puyuan appears in the center door.) zhou puyuan (tears on his face): Come on in, Fanyi! My hands feel numb. You mustn’t look at them anymore. old servant : Come on in, ma’am. They’re burned to a cinder, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it now. zhou fanyi (coming forward into the room, convulsed with sobs): Chong, my boy, my boy! You were alive and well a moment ago. How can you be dead—so horribly dead? (She stands in a stupor.) zhou puyuan (now inside the room): Steady, now. Steady. (He wipes his eyes.) zhou fanyi (laughing hysterically): You deserve to die, Chong, you deserve to die! With a mother like me you deserve to die! (From outside comes the noise of a scuffle between lu dahai and the servants.) zhou puyuan : Who’s that? Who’s that quarreling at a time like this? (The old servant goes out to find out. Another servant comes in immediately.) What’s going on out there? servant : It’s that Lu Dahai again, the one who was here this morning. He’s back again now, and starting a fight with us. zhou puyuan : Tell him to come in. servant : Sir, he injured several of us kicking and hitting. Now he’s gone by the back entrance. zhou puyuan : Got away, you say? servant : Yes, sir. zhou puyuan (suddenly): Go after him, then, and bring him back here. servant : Very good, sir. (All the servants go out, leaving only zhou puyuan , mrs. lu, and zhou fanyi in the room.) zhou puyuan (brokenhearted): I’ve lost one son. I can’t afford to lose another. (They all sit down.) mrs. lu : Let them all go! Perhaps it’s best that he has gone. I know what the boy’s like. He hates you, I know. He won’t come back. zhou puyuan (as if bewildered by the sudden quiet): It doesn’t seem true that the youngsters have gone first and left us old—(suddenly) Ping! Where’s Ping? Ping! Ping! (There is no reply.) Come here, somebody! Where are you all? (There is still no reply.) Go and find him for me! Where’s my oldest son? (There is the sound of a pistol shot from the study, followed by a deathly silence in the room.)

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zhou fanyi (suddenly): Ah! (She runs into the study. zhou puyuan stands motionless, like a man in a trance. zhou fanyi returns at once, wailing dementedly.) He—he— zhou puyuan : He—he— (They both run into the study. mrs. lu stands up, staggering a few steps toward the study until she reaches center stage. She then starts to fall, gets on her knee, in the same posture as the old lady at the end of the prologue. As the stage lights dim, the same high mass by Bach played in the prologue is heard again from a distance, crescendoing till complete darkness, just like at the end of the prologue. The curtain falls and rises again immediately for the epilogue.)

E PIL OGUE (The curtain rises on a dark stage. The church choir singing the mass with organ accompaniment is heard from a distance. Accompanied by the music is the echo of the little brother and little sister’s dialogue from the prologue.) little brother : Sis, you go ask her. little sister (in a low voice): No, no, you ask her. You ask her. (The stage is gradually lit to reveal the same scene as in the prologue, ten years later on the afternoon of Chinese New Year’s Eve. The old woman, mrs. lu, is still lying on her side, center stage, with little brother and little sister standing close by watching.) You ask her. She knows. little brother : No, I’m afraid. You, you go! (He pushes his sister. The chorus stops. sister b enters from the center door, is shocked to see the old woman lying on the floor, rushes over, and helps her up.) sister b (holding the old woman): Stand up, Granny Lu! Stand up! (She walks her to the fireplace on the right and sits her down. She hurries back to the brother and sister.) (Comfortingly) You weren’t scared, were you, young man? Go now, your mom’s waiting for you outside. Honey, go with your brother. little sister : Thank you, Sister! (She helps her brother button up.) sister b : It’s cold outside. Both of you should bundle up. little sister : Right. Bye-bye! sister b : Bye! (Sister and brother exit by the center door. sister b rushes back to the fireplace to look after the old woman. sister a enters from the dining room on the left.) Hush! (Pointing to mrs. lu ) She came out. sister a (in a low voice): Mr. Zhou will be down in a minute to see her. You take care of her. I have to go.

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sister b : Okay. Wait a minute. (Picks up an umbrella from a corner) It looks like snow outside. Take this. sister a (amiably): Thank you. (She takes the umbrella and exits from the center door. The old man enters from the left, stands at the door, and watches.) sister b (pointing to mrs. lu ): Here she is! old man : I see. (There is a long pause.) (Showing concern) How is she? sister b (sighing softly): Still the same. old man : Is she eating fine? sister b : Not much. old man (pointing to his own head): How about here? sister b (shaking her head): No good. She still doesn’t recognize people. (There is another long pause.) Did you get to see your wife upstairs? old man (woodenly): Yes. sister b (encouragingly): She’s been doing fine lately. old man : Right—(pointing to mrs. lu ) No one’s been here to see her? sister b : You mean her son? old man : Yes. A man by the name of Lu Dahai. sister b (sympathetically): No. How sad! She misses her son so much that every holiday she comes to the window and watches the whole evening. old man (sighs in despair, to himself ): I’m afraid—I’m afraid he’s dead. sister b (with hope): Can’t be. old man (shakes his head): I’ve been looking for him for the last ten years—not a shadow of him has been found. sister b : Ai, if her son comes back, I’m sure she’ll recognize him. old man (walks to the fireplace and bends down): Shiping! (The old woman turns around, stares at him as if not knowing who he is. She rises to her feet and, completely expressionless, walks toward the window.) (In a low voice) Shiping! Shi— sister b (waving at him, in a low voice): Let her be. Don’t disturb her! (The old woman reaches the window, slowly pulls back the curtain, and looks out in a daze. The old man turns around, despairing, and gazes at the flames in the fireplace. Suddenly from outside comes the sound of children laughing and footsteps. The center door is thrown wide open. little brother and little sister come in.) little sister (to her brother): Here? Are you sure it’s here? little brother (weeping, nodding): Uh-huh. sister b (glad they are there to break the silence): Sweetheart, why are you crying? little brother (sobbing): I lost my gloves! It’s snowing. My gloves, my new gloves are missing.

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sister b : Don’t be upset, sweetheart, I’ll look for them with you. little sister : Brother, let’s look together. (The three of them look for the gloves in the left corner.) sister b (to little sister ): Did you see anything? little sister : No. little brother (gets behind the sofa, jumps up, then suddenly): Here they are! Here they are! (Waving the gloves) Mom, here they are! (He dashes out.) sister b (envying the joy): Good. Go now. little sister : Thank you, Sister! (little sister exits by the center door. sister b closes it. There is another long pause.) old man (looking up): What’s that? Raining again? sister b (nodding calmly): Yes. (The old man takes another look at the old woman standing in front of the window, then turns around to sit down in the armchair next to the fire. He gazes long into the fire. Meantime sister b sits down on the sofa, picks up a copy of the Bible, and starts reading. Lights dim.)

Not es

1.

2. 3. 4. 5.

This is the first complete English translation of Cao Yu’s masterpiece according to its first edition, written in 1933 and published the following year. The existing translation by Wang Tso-liang and A. C. Barnes (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1958, 1978) is based on the 1956 edition of the play. The latter version makes significant cuts, notably the entire prologue and epilogue, following the by-then established practice of its stage productions. A careful comparison between the two editions also reveals a deeper level of significance beyond technical considerations in that the cuts and changes made in the 1956 edition point to a conscious but subtle shift of emphasis from a classic human tragedy to a more radical drama of social critique. The translation here adopts, after a line-by-line reexamination, the bulk of the Wang-Barnes translation in recognition of its overall excellence. But, in restoring all the omitted and altered parts, it is necessarily an extension and revision of that translation. This revised translation also includes stylistic changes targeting mainly British usage and undue literariness in some of the dialogue. The herbal ingredients of a prescription in traditional Chinese medicine have to be boiled in a special pot before the concoction is poured out through a strainer into a bowl or cup to be drunk, while hot, by the patient. Jinan is the capital of Shandong province, a northern province on China’s east coast. Jiangsu is a province on China’s east coast, south of Shandong, with Nanjing as its capital and the Yangtze River flowing through it into the sea. Wuxi is a city in Jiangsu, on the southern bank of the Yangtze. Emperor Guangxu reigned from 1875 to 1908. The twentieth year of this reign was 1895, and if that is “thirty years” ago, the story of the play is set around 1925.

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The word for plum in Chinese is the same as the surname Mei. Beginning with the Treaty of Nanking, 1842, following the Opium War of 1840, the imperialist powers coerced the weakened Chinese government into “leasing” to them areas in major cities such as Shanghai and Tianjin (where the story of this play takes place) as semicolonial “concessions.”

Under Shanghai Eaves (1937) Xia Yan Tra nsla ted by G e or ge Hay de n

C ha r a c t e rs lin zhicheng ⼢㺠⒱, sublessor of the lane house, thirty-six years old yang caiyu 㬚⏴㲙, lin zhicheng ’s wife, thirty-two years old kuang fu ⶿⡒, yang caiyu ’s former husband, thirty-four years old baozhen 䏵㸈, yang caiyu ’s daughter by kuang fu , twelve years old huang jiamei ⪞⭨䲵, garret tenant, twenty-eight years old guifen ⥌➲, huang ’s wife, twenty-four years old huang’s father ⪞⡖, fifty-eight years old shi xiaobao 㖣㨏⌒, tenant of the front room upstairs, twenty-seven years old “little tianjin ” 㨏㝢ⱆ, shi xiaobao ’s pimp, in his thirties zhao zhenyu 㷸㸕㲖, tenant of the scullery, forty-eight years old zhao’s wife 㷸㋠, forty-two years old a xiang ≐㦓, the Zhaos’ daughter, five years old a niu ≐㇧, the Zhaos’ son, thirteen years old li lingbei ⹼⼶⌚, tenant of the rear room upstairs, fifty-four years old others : secondhand goods vendor, vegetable peddler, restaurant delivery boy, et al.

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A CT 1 (The time is April 1937, on a day during the rainy season. The setting is the same throughout the play. The curtain rises on a cross-section of a “lane house” typical of Shanghai’s east side. On the right is an open back gate through which people can be seen walking along the lane. Adjoining the gate is the scullery, with a water faucet and a cement water basin downstage. Slightly beneath the open window of the garret above the scullery is a galvanized steel awning that, on rainy days, shelters the women washing clothes and rice around the basin. At this window hang flat baskets used for washing rice, steaming racks, and laundered diapers, left there to dry. To the left of the scullery is a steep staircase, its edges worn down in the middle through constant use and its bottom steps patched with boards. A door to the garret is to the right of the stairway landing, and over the landing hangs a five-watt light bulb, with only half its shade remaining. A banister leading to the front room upstairs is visible to the left of the landing. Slats partition off a “rear room” to the right of the stairs, and when no light is on, nothing can be seen in it. Further to the left on the ground floor and separated by a wall of boards is the parlor with its long and narrow French windows. Furthest left is a small courtyard and half the front gate. This courtyard, like the one in the back, is covered by a galvanized steel awning, and beneath it, dilapidated furniture, a small cookstove, plank tables, and such are piled every which way.

In all, five households occupy this two-story house. The sublessor, lin zhicheng , and his family occupy the parlor. The scullery makes up the room of the primary school teacher, zhao zhenyu. Through the window and doorway of the scullery can be seen an iron bed at a right angle to the window and, close to the window, a square table and a small cot across from it. On the wall are hung a cabinet, hamper, and other items, and, by the entrance, there are a coal cookstove set on a pedestal built of broken bricks, a wok, and other cooking

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utensils. huang jiamei , once an employee of a foreign-owned company but now unemployed, lives in the garret. A kerosene stove is on the stair landing; here his family does their cooking. The upstairs front room is where shi xiaobao lives alone; she does no cooking but has lunch and dinner sent over from a caterer. The attic, not visible to the audience, is the home of an old newspaper vendor who drinks heavily from time to time and is a bit eccentric. His fondness for singing the line from the traditional Peking opera Li Ling bei [Li Ling’s Monument] “When I gaze on the lovely child, I can hold back no longer” has earned him the name of the play as his sobriquet. The parlor, as the residence of the sublessor, is furnished with somewhat more care than the other rooms. A desk and a glass bookshelf, now converted to a clothes cabinet, show that lin zhicheng was once, perhaps, a writer. It is the rainy season and uncomfortably stuffy. From the opening curtain to closing curtain the fine rain rarely stops. Heavier rain can be heard occasionally, gurgling in the drainpipes and pouring off the eaves, but then, a minute later perhaps, a pallid sun may thread its way through the clouds. The barometer is low and the air is very heavy, which has its effect on the emotions of the tenants. Their actions and speech reveal the depression, irritability, and anxiety they all share, so that the slightest provocation can at any moment trigger an outburst of excessive pent-up anger. The time is shortly before eight o’clock in the morning. Since it is raining, the rooms are very dark. yang caiyu is in the process of tidying up the apartment and the breakfast dishes. baozhen sits alone at the table, playing a toy piano and singing softly, her eyes intent on some books. At the back gate, zhao zhenyu ’s wife, a xiang close by her side, is buying vegetables. zhao zhenyu, wearing his eyeglasses, is concentrating on his newspaper, and a niu, about to leave for school, is gathering up his schoolbooks. The constant noise of peddlers and their loud chatter comes from the front and back lanes.) baozhen (sings): . . . But let me ask you this: From one bolt of cloth, how much can you earn— (The melody is not quite right, and so she starts over.) . . . But let me ask you this: From one bolt of cloth, how much can you earn? Once they have your money, Once they have your money. They’ll turn it into bullets right away . . . yang caiyu : Baozhen! It’s getting late! baozhen (wrinkling up her mouth and paying no attention):

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. . . Once they have your money, They’ll turn it into bullets right away, And one by one, one by one— They’ll get you right in the heart . . . yang caiyu : Listen to me; it’s getting late! baozhen : But I haven’t learned the song right yet, and I have to teach it after school. yang caiyu : You’re going to teach something when you don’t even know it yourself? (Picks up a piece of clothing from the bed) When you take off your clothes, you wouldn’t dream of hanging them up nicely, oh no, you just toss them on the bed. Twelve years old now, and you can’t even take care of yourself, much less teach anyone else. What kind of a “little teacher” are you going to make? baozhen (puts her books in a stack): That’s for the laundry! yang caiyu : Laundry? Well, you have all the answers, don’t you? It would never get dry with all this rain, even if I did launder it. (She hangs up the clothing.) baozhen (runs over and quickly takes it off the hook, and then throws it into the leftover water in the washbasin): It’s unsanitary to wear dirty clothes! yang caiyu (both amused and angry): I need you to tell me that, do I? (She goes to the courtyard with the washbasin.) baozhen (packs her book bag): A Niu! (She picks up the book bag and walks toward the scullery.) zhao’s wife (offstage): If it’s for sale, then sell it and be done with it; if it isn’t, then haul it away! (She enters in a huff, carrying a grocery basket. A vegetable peddler, counting the coins in his hands and wearing an expression of enormous grievance, forces his way through the gate and speaks with a tone of desperation.) peddler : All right, have it your way, two and a half cents an ounce; even that’s three cents off. With the basket it’s one pound, two ounces; without the seven-ounce basket it’s eleven ounces, twenty-seven and a half . . . zhao’s wife : Seven ounces? What are you talking about? (Dumps the Indian rice stalks out of the basket and weighs the basket on the scales) Looks like eight and a half to me . . . peddler : Hey, look . . . zhao’s wife (goes through the motions of weighing the basket, considers her point made, then heads indoors): If you’re going to sell it, sell it; if you’re not, then take it out of here! peddler : All right, all right, two cents more . . . zhao’s wife (turns around and feels in her pocket, hesitates on purpose, then grudgingly hands him two coins; when he picks up his carrying basket and is just leaving, she quickly snatches a stalk from the basket): One more! peddler (flustered): Oh no you don’t . . .

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zhao’s wife (slams the gate, a xiang trying to help by propping the gate closed with her body): You vegetable peddlers never stop arguing! (Turns her head and says to herself ) After half a month or so of rain, it’s getting so you can’t even afford spinach or rice stalks anymore! peddler (offstage): Hey! Hey! (Pushes on the gate a few times, then gives up and, with a long, quavering voice) Ehh . . . rice stalks, oh, cabbage for sale . . . (zhao zhenyu gives his wife a glance and a slight smile, then quickly turns back to the newspaper.) baozhen (loudly): A Niu, have you learned the song I taught you yesterday? a niu (sticks his head out of the scullery): You’re not supposed to call me that; you have to call me Zhao Zhen! baozhen: I’ll call you that if I want to. A Niu, A Niu, Niu . . .1 a niu: So, you’re really going to call me that, are you? baozhen: Well, weren’t you born in the year of the ox? a niu: Then I’ll call you something! I’ll call you A Tuo, for stepchild!2 baozhen (urgently): Zhao Zhen! a niu: Ha, ha, ha! (He ducks back inside and grabs his book bag. yang caiyu is just coming out with her grocery basket; baozhen pouts and gives her mother a look.) yang caiyu : What are you— baozhen (pointing to a niu ): A Niu said it again; he called me— yang caiyu (softly but with force, as a shadow passes across her face): Don’t pay any attention to him. Go to school! Do you have your snack money? (baozhen shakes her head. yang caiyu goes back inside, gets some money, and gives it to her. At this moment lin zhicheng enters through the front gate. His face wooden, as if beset with countless injuries, without a sound he crams the door key of a spring lock into his pocket. He takes a glass of water from the table and gulps it down, then flops down on the bed.) (A bit surprised) What’s wrong, aren’t you feeling well? (Silence.) You aren’t even changing your clothes . . . (Hands the house robe to him, but lin zhicheng says nothing; angrily) What is it? You, always taking your anger out on me; well, I won’t have it! (On seeing that yang caiyu is upset, lin zhicheng sits up in order to change his clothes. He is about to say something but stops short. yang caiyu ignores him, picks up the grocery basket, and leaves with baozhen , closing the door between the parlor and the back room on the way out. lin zhicheng , after changing, plunks himself down and goes to sleep.) a niu (seeing that baozhen is leaving for school, shouts): Wait up, Baozhen! (Turns back to his mother) Mom, five cents for pencils. zhao’s wife : Don’t have it! a niu : The teacher says I have to have it!

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zhao’s wife : That may be what he says, but I say you don’t! (zhao zhenyu, laughing, hands a niu some money from his pocket.) a niu (to baozhen ): I still don’t know the last two lines . . . baozhen : The last part . . . (sings) “One by one, one by one . . .” a niu : Okay, one more time . . . (They both start to leave.) yang caiyu (after them): Baozhen! Come right home after school. If you run around like crazy outside and your dad finds out, you’ll . . . baozhen (irritated): What “dad”? (She exits. guifen , on her way back from buying groceries, comes face-to-face with yang caiyu ; zhao’s wife steals a glance at yang caiyu.) yang caiyu (to guifen , trying to cover up): Oh, good morning! (She leaves through the gate.) zhao’s wife (quickly, to guifen ): Did you hear that? guifen : What? zhao’s wife (she purses up her mouth in the direction of the gate, then says softly): When they started talking about her dad, Baozhen got angry and started pouting (imitating baozhen ), “What ‘dad’?” Hm, times have certainly changed. Children are getting so they understand grown-up things early now; you can’t get the slightest thing past them anymore! guifen (smiling): She’s twelve or thirteen now; why shouldn’t she understand? (She takes her vegetables out one by one near the water basin.) zhao’s wife (cocks her ear toward the parlor, then says softly): But I hear that when Lin married her mother she was still very small. guifen : To be fair about it, Lin treats her very well indeed. I always say, a stepfather like him is pretty hard to come by these days. zhao’s wife (breaking in): You’re so right. It’s been almost a year since we moved here, and I’ve never heard him spank her or bawl her out. Sometimes, when Lin is having a fight with her mother and gets in a fit of temper, all he has to do is look at the young girl and he won’t have anything more to say at all. guifen : Hm, I suppose that’s human nature, to treat someone who’s not your own child a little differently. What’s more, her playmates like to tease her about being a stepdaughter . . . (Laughs) Children are always trying to best each other. zhao’s wife (after a pause): Well, let me tell you, when she’s talking with our A Niu and the conversation gets around to Lin, it’s always “Uncle Lin”; I’ve never heard her refer to him as “Dad.” guifen : Isn’t that because they knew each other before? zhao’s wife : More than that; Lin and her own father were good friends, from what I hear. guifen : Oh, then why . . . (Suddenly the rain, as if a thundershower, comes down in large drops.) zhao’s wife : Ugh, the rainy season is such a nuisance, wet and stifling; you feel you’re being suffocated!

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guifen : Yes, with the rain never stopping, it even gets through your rubbers! zhao’s wife (sees the fish and meat that guifen is washing): Oh, you bought all that today? (In the garret, huang’s father coughs loudly.) guifen (gives a strained smile): Our dad’s here from the country, so we have to buy a little extra! zhao’s wife : Oh, that’s right, I forgot—his first time in Shanghai? (She peels a rice stalk.) guifen: Uh-huh, actually he was supposed to come last fall . . . zhao’s wife : Oh (as if recalling something) he’s here to see the new grandson, right? guifen (smiles in a forced manner): He—it’s been five or six years now since we’ve visited him! zhao’s wife : Well, he looks in good health! The big department stores on Nanjing Road—I suppose you’ve taken him to see everything? guifen : Almost everything; you know, the usual things for somebody in Shanghai for the first time. zhao’s wife : He got back late last night. Did your husband take him to the Great World Theater? guifen : No, to somewhere close by, the movies at Eastern Sea. (Laughs spontaneously) But once the money was spent on the tickets, he didn’t like it, said people’s heads were big one minute and small the next, and as soon as he was getting the hang of what was going on, poof, everything would jump away. zhao’s wife (agreeing): I don’t like movies, either; all that flashing makes me dizzy. Older people always like the theater; take him to The Burning of Red Lotus Temple. The end of last year, my brother took me once, and oh, it was wonderful! The costumes were fine, and the scenery was all new. When they turned the lights off, everything onstage was suddenly completely different. Right, let him have a look before he goes back to the farm, and (laughs) he may never stop talking about it for days on end. guifen : Yes, that’s what Jiamei says. zhao’s wife : Will he be staying a few more days in Shanghai? guifen (lowers her eyes): I can’t say for sure; a few more days, I suppose. zhao’s wife : Lucky for him! His son getting established in Shanghai, and a grandson . . . guifen : But . . . if only Jiamei had a job . . . (Glances at the garret, then softly) It’s what they mean when they say you don’t always know what’s going on in a family. In my father-in-law’s eyes, a life like ours must be pretty disappointing. A farming family sweats blood to raise a son and put him through college. Country people have such a narrow way of looking at things; they’re thinking, Jiamei has become a success in Shanghai and is doing something important, but . . . (becoming somewhat despondent in spite of herself ) now that he’s come to Shanghai and seen for himself, a whole family living in a garret . . . (She finishes washing the vegetables and stands up.) zhao’s wife : Does your husband have any brothers in the country?

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guifen : Well, it would be nice if he did; he is the only son. zhao’s wife (tries to offer some kind of consolation): But your husband has a lot of spirit, and the day will come when— guifen (breaks in): What good is it, when in this godforsaken Shanghai the ones without it seem to get by all right, and he, he has that bad attitude of his, won’t settle halfway on anything! zhao zhenyu (puts down his paper and, removing his glasses with one hand, rubs his eyes with the back of the other): No, no, to take it easy and settle halfway, that’s a bad attitude. Society goes bad because people go bad, and a good man starts with himself. If everyone were as serious and uncompromising as your husband— guifen (about to leave): Taking things seriously entitles you to live in a garret, is that what you mean? zhao zhenyu : No, no, that’s not what I’m getting at. All you need is a clear conscience; for example— zhao’s wife (in exasperation): Spare us your “for examples”! If you don’t get going, you’ll miss class, that precious class of yours that’s worth a few cents an hour, and they’ll deduct something from your salary too . . . zhao zhenyu : Not at all. It’s quarter to eight now, and four and a half minutes is all it takes to get to school. (Turns back to guifen , then earnestly) For example— (When he looks up, he finds that guifen has already gone upstairs.) zhao’s wife (smiling scornfully): Do you think anybody wants to listen to what you have to say? If you want to talk like that, go to the classroom and give a lecture, go hoodwink the children! zhao zhenyu (undisturbed): They can listen or not, as they choose, but whether I speak or not is my business! I, I— zhao’s wife : Fine, fine, now get going or Lin will come by soon, and you’ll never stop talking, you and your verbal diarrhea . . . zhao zhenyu (looks toward the parlor): Has he been on the night shift the past few days? zhao’s wife : Day shift, night shift, what do you care? (Outside the gate the sweet-rice peddler is heard.) a xiang : Mom, I want some sweet rice! zhao’s wife (searches her pocket, apparently finds no money, and so changes her tone): Didn’t you just have some porridge? a xiang : Uh-huh! I want— zhao’s wife (exasperatedly): Wait till your dad gets rich! (a xiang enviously looks out the gate. In the front room upstairs, shi xiaobao has just gotten up. Her room is very dark, and, after stretching herself, she lets in some light by jerking aside the window curtain. She lights a cigarette, then opens the window, frowns, and makes a face at the rain. Taking along a thermos bottle with her, she ambles downstairs. When she reaches the garret landing, she glances through the crack in the garret door and, as if having seen something amusing, smiles to herself with pursed lips.

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She is a so-called cheap modern young woman. Her hair is fashionably curled, and some makeup from the previous day remains on her sleep-filled eyes. The mandarin collar on her deep red flower-print dress is loose, and she scuffs along in her slippers. She is not really very pretty, but her eyes hold a certain charm, and there is a kind of languid grace in her walk. She goes to the scullery entrance and casually throws away her cigarette, not yet half smoked. When zhao’s wife hears her coming down, she gives her a scathing look, then purposely averts her eyes, meanwhile energetically fanning the coal brazier and producing a straight column of white smoke.) shi xiaobao (gives zhao’s wife a glance): Oh, you’re all up so early! (Yawns) Raining again. The sound of the raindrops makes me want to stay in bed . . . (She yawns.) zhao’s wife (maliciously): Well, aren’t you the lucky one! shi xiaobao (gives her a smile): Oh, aren’t you going to school today, Mr. Zhao? (zhao zhenyu concentrates on his newspaper.) (A bit taken aback) What’s the matter with you today? Even when people don’t speak to you, you usually have plenty to talk and laugh about anyway. Now, when I speak to you, you don’t pay any attention to me. zhao zhenyu (quickly puts down his newspaper): Ah ah, it’s you; look at this, the paper says . . . shi xiaobao (casually pours the leftover water out of the thermos): What does the paper say? (The water splashes onto zhao’s wife , who shoots her a murderous glare.) Ah, sorry! (She leisurely opens the rear gate and goes out to get some boiled water. lin zhicheng , unable to sleep, tosses and turns, finally sits up.) zhao zhenyu (on seeing his wife’s furious expression, cannot hold back): Ha, ha . . . zhao’s wife (suddenly turns around): What are you laughing at? zhao zhenyu : Why can’t you ever get along with her? Here you are, living in the same house, and you start bickering the minute you lay eyes on her. It’s disgraceful! zhao’s wife : It’s the way she acts that I can’t stand: a streetwalker pretending to be something else. The witch, her husband never around, and bringing all kinds of trashy men home with her . . . (In the garret, huang jiamei coughs violently and leans halfway out the window. He is pale and emaciated, with a melancholy expression. He fans away the coal smoke with his hand and closes the window. From within comes the sound of a baby crying.) zhao zhenyu : Eh, what business is that of yours? You can’t exactly blame her, either. Haven’t I told you? She has to eat, what with her husband roaming all over the world on a ship, Japan today, the South Seas tomorrow, America the day after that, able to come home less than three or four times a year; no resources, no ability, no way to earn a living, and you want her to be a paragon of fidelity. Now, aren’t you being a little too . . . too . . .

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zhao’s wife : If you’re going to give a sermon, go to church and do it! No matter what it is, out you come with one of your long sermons. But I know you’re just sounding off. You for one have some talent and education; how are you at earning a living? Huh! Suppose I can’t get along with her; what does that have to do with you? When I talk with other people, I don’t want you butting in! zhao zhenyu : What? I . . . ridiculous . . . (Gesticulating, he walks up to his wife and is about to make some kind of pronouncement when, at the call of a cake seller outside the gate, a xiang runs back and interrupts.) a xiang : Mom, I want to buy some cake! zhao’s wife : Are you ever full? You just . . . (shi xiaobao , back from getting hot water, pushes the gate open with one hand.) shi xiaobao (toward the lane): Cake, hey! (Buys several pieces, turns her head and catches sight of a xiang ’s expression, then back to the cake seller) Hey, another piece! (To a xiang ) Come on, come on! (a xiang walks over to take it.) zhao’s wife : Don’t take it. shi xiaobao (laughs): What’s the harm? Children love it. zhao’s wife : Don’t take it! Listen to what I tell you! (a xiang watches her mother but still has her hand outstretched.) shi xiaobao : It doesn’t matter; go ahead. zhao’s wife (jerks a xiang away): Spineless little brat! Haven’t you ever had cake before? (Face suffused with anger, she looks at shi xiaobao.) shi xiaobao (raises her eyebrows): Oh, for heaven’s sake! zhao’s wife : For heaven’s sake what? shi xiaobao : She’s just a child; why take it so seriously? zhao’s wife : The child happens to be mine, so even if you don’t care to take it seriously, I do! I’ll tell you this: we may be poor, but we’re not about to let our children eat anything bought with dirty money! shi xiaobao (also angry now): What do you mean? Whose money is dirty? zhao’s wife (laughs scornfully): You have to ask me that? shi xiaobao : Oh, why are you so unreasonable? You don’t even know what’s good for you, and when someone with the best of intentions— zhao’s wife (as if spitting it out): Who needs your “best of intentions”? shi xiaobao : All right then, forget it! (L aughs) Unreasonable—(starts upstairs) idiot! zhao’s wife (mounts one step): Who are you calling an idiot? shi xiaobao (turns back from the staircase with a look of disdain, but still smiling): You! (She skips upstairs. Just when zhao’s wife is about to say something further, huang’s father comes down the stairs with a two-year-old child in his arm. guifen , carrying dirty clothes, follows. All zhao’s wife can do at this point is spit.) zhao’s wife : Shameless!

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(huang’s father is very much a man of the countryside; over his rough denim robe of faded blue he wears an apron. His hair and beard are grizzled. Holding his grandson with an air of satisfaction, he descends cautiously, step-by-step, as if unfamiliar with the narrow staircase. With a glance of curiosity toward shi xiaobao , guifen speaks to her father-in-law in a loud voice.) guifen : You can take a walk in the lane, but don’t let him near its entrance to the street. There are cars out there. huang’s father (waves eagerly to zhao zhenyu and points to the child): He wants me to carry him out on the street. Ha, ha, Shanghai does not let you walk anywhere you please; now, if we were in the country . . . zhao zhenyu (joining in the conversation): Do you find Shanghai more interesting than the countryside? huang’s father (not having heard zhao zhenyu ’s question): A few days ago he was bewildered by seeing me, but after a while he started to get used to me around here! Look how he always wants me to carry him. zhao zhenyu (at a loss): Hm? guifen (to zhao zhenyu ): He’s hard of hearing; he didn’t hear you. zhao zhenyu (nods, then loudly): Do you find Shanghai more interesting than the countryside? huang’s father : The countryside? Oh, oh, I’ll be staying a few more days; Jiamei and she (points to guifen ) won’t let me leave. It’s all right, though; the silkworms have been taken care of. We don’t make silk ourselves, so once we’ve sold off the cocoons, we don’t have anything more to do . . . zhao zhenyu : Hm, how interesting. (To guifen ) How do you carry on a conversation with him? Can’t he hear anything at all? guifen (laughing): You shout or make hand signals! (huang’s father , carrying the boy, pushes open the gate and steps through, and a xiang , seizing this opportunity, follows along behind.) (Runs up) Hey (loudly), don’t buy him anything to eat! He’ll get a stomachache. (Turns back in, speaking to herself ) He loves him so, he’ll give him anything at all to eat, and I just can’t get it across to him. (To zhao’s wife ) Still, there’s something to be said for his being hard of hearing! We can keep unpleasant things from him; even now he has no inkling whatever that Jiamei is out of a job. We’ve told him that it’s examination time at school and classes have been out these past few days. He doesn’t understand anyway, so . . . zhao zhenyu : You’ve told him your husband teaches school? So we’re colleagues, are we? guifen (with a forlorn laugh): Jiamei told him he teaches at a YMCA night school, and he believed every word of it. The other day when we were on a streetcar going by the front gate of the YMCA, he started shouting, “Ah! that’s Jiamei’s school,” as if he owned the whole building. That gave everybody on the streetcar a good laugh! (She starts washing the clothing.)

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zhao zhenyu : Ha, ha, ha, that’s the way to look at it: I own the whole building! Ha . . . (The sun suddenly appears. lin zhicheng paces back and forth, then pushes open the French windows.) zhao’s wife (hearing these sounds, very quickly): It’s time now, get going. Lin’s up; in a little while he’ll be here, and once you start talking to him, you’ll never get away. zhao zhenyu : It’s all right. zhao’s wife : What do you mean, “all right”? Hurry, he’s already up. zhao zhenyu : What’re you afraid of? He’s not a tiger, and he’s hardly going to ask you for the rent right now. zhao’s wife : I just don’t like his manner, cold as ice, as if you’d done him some kind of a wrong, and when you say hello to him, the air catches near his throat, “Mm.” Even the children are scared of him (solicits agreement from guifen ), isn’t that right? (guifen nods.) zhao zhenyu (with a self-satisfied expression): But he gets along well enough with me; whenever he sees me, he— zhao’s wife (interrupting angrily): God, I’m sick of hearing it: verbal diarrhea; he can’t even manage his own affairs, yet he still talks about the nation, soc-, soc-, society. (To guifen ) I could never learn all that blather, even if I wanted to! (guifen smiles.) shi xiaobao (comes to the edge of the stairs, softly): Mr. Huang! Mr. Huang! huang jiamei (steps out of the garret): What is it? (Somewhat embarrassed as they approach each other) I . . . these past few days . . . your money . . . shi xiaobao (with a charming smile): No, don’t mention it; what does such a little amount matter . . . Uh, Mr. Huang, I wonder if you would do me a favor? huang jiamei : What? (guifen is listening to this.) shi xiaobao (takes a letter out of her pocket): Please read this to me! huang jiamei (looks the letter over): This is from your father. Hm . . . he says everything’s fine at home. shi xiaobao (before he can finish): But he wants some money, doesn’t he? huang jiamei : Hm . . . a windstorm blew down the wall, so he’d like . . . shi xiaobao : It’s always the same. Don’t read any more, Mr. Huang; just tell me how much he wants. huang jiamei : Mm, at least fifteen dollars. Plus . . . shi xiaobao (suddenly takes the letter back): Fifteen again; well, his daughter’s rich, isn’t she, a lady of the house and everything . . . (She is about to leave.) huang jiamei : Oh, about the five dollars I owe you; at the end of the month . . . shi xiaobao (gives him an arch look): You—take everything too seriously; what does it matter? (Laughs) The world doesn’t have enough honest men like you! (She gives his chin a gentle tap with a magenta-polished fingernail, then blithely walks off. Somewhat embarrassed, huang jiamei feels the spot where she touched him and returns slowly to the garret.)

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lin zhicheng (walks to the faucet and rinses his mouth, muttering): Buying groceries, huh? What’s taking her so long? zhao zhenyu (beaming): Good morning. Were you on the night shift? lin zhicheng (without a trace of a smile): Mm . . . zhao zhenyu (as if speaking to himself ): You must be very busy, with business so good at the silk factory . . . lin zhicheng : Huh! It’s all the same with us, no matter what business is like. When business is off, we worry every day about a shutdown or a layoff, and when business finally gets going again, then it’s three shifts a day and work all night. They don’t care whether you live or die; they can always get another workhorse! zhao zhenyu : Still, it’s surely better for business to be good than bad! For example— lin zhicheng : No such thing. Right now the factory’s driving us day and night, and the goods have been ordered all the way up to March of next year. Our boss was having a rough time for a few years and got ten million or so into debt, but now he’s paid every penny of it back in one year. Altogether he’s got five factories now. He must be taking in an average of thirty-five thousand dollars a day, and in a month, let’s see, three times five is fifteen, three times three makes nine—over a million a month, and of course that makes twelve million a year. We’re the ones who suffer, though. If the workers can’t take it, they can always cut a shift or two, but an office worker doesn’t have that privilege. For thirty to fifty dollars a month, you’ve bought yourself a manager, who’ll do your arithmetic and your paperwork, your cuffing and your bawling out for you . . . zhao zhenyu : Hm, thirty-five thousand a day, twelve million a year; why, in ten years that comes to a hundred and twenty million . . . lin zhicheng : Everything else aside, take payday, several thousand dollars every half month; all that bright-colored paper slipping through my fingers. Everybody thinks paying the wages is a fat job, but I can’t get used to that sort of monkey business. And yet, if you act in good conscience, they make you pay for any little discrepancy. Just today I failed to deduct thirty-five cents for savings3 and got a “reprimand” from the head of the labor department. Reprimand! He joined the plant two years after I did, but he’s good at kissing up to the top men, so now he’s head of a department. Ah, none of it makes any sense at all! zhao zhenyu (nods): Mm, one is never happy with one’s own job, as the saying goes. But there’s another way of looking at it: to be with a factory for five or six years, as you have, why, there’s something to be said for that, at least. A life like ours naturally seems bad when you compare it with those on top, but we’re still better off than the ones on the bottom . . . (Points to a newspaper article) Scads of people in Shanghai are destitute. Now when you put yourself alongside them— lin zhicheng (before he can finish): No, the way I see it, when you’re on top or on the bottom, at least you know where you are; the worst off are people like us. If you’re rich, all right, you live in a big foreign-style house and ride around in a car, and everything’s just fine. And if you’re poor, then you might as well be like Li Lingbei up there in the attic, and that’s that. He eats when he can, and when he can’t, well, he

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just cinches up his belt, climbs up to the attic, and goes off to sleep. He doesn’t have to worry about appearances or reputation; no wife or children, no social obligations, and when his clothes get tattered, he gives a seamstress a few pennies to fix them up. He goes out on the street, just the same as you or I, and nobody laughs at him, but we, now, do you suppose we could get away with going to work with patches in our clothes? Goddamned office types, we’ll put on a show even if we have to go into debt to do it! (guifen glances at him surreptitiously.) zhao zhenyu : But from Li Lingbei’s point of view, our life just might seem better than his! A person can never be satisfied, and when he’s dissatisfied, he starts to complain. The complaining makes him pessimistic, and the pessimism ruins his health. Now, tell me, since my health is all I have, why should I want to do it any harm? So, here’s the way I handle it: whenever I’m dissatisfied about something, I compare my lot with people worse off, and then I calm down. For example— zhao’s wife (interrupts in an explosive tone): “For example, for example”! You’ll never amount to anything, the way you’re always stooping beneath you! Why don’t you try comparing yourself with the people with money and power sometime? zhao zhenyu (paying no attention to her but settling down for a long conversation): For example— zhao’s wife : No more “for examples,” please! Aren’t you going to school today? zhao zhenyu (as if he hadn’ t heard): For example, we had an opportunity to be educated and find out about things. And we can observe this bustling world we live in, even come out with an opinion from time to time. This, after all, is a privilege. (Loudly) Ha, ha, ha . . . lin zhicheng (in sharp disagreement): Oh no, I don’t feel I’m entitled to privileges like that at all! zhao zhenyu : But, Mr. Lin, looking at it dispassionately, you’ll have to agree that society has been pretty good to us educated people. After all, how many people are there in China who can read, who can, as we do— zhao’s wife (sarcastically): Oh, yes, pretty good, all right! Hah, so you can go out begging for a living! zhao zhenyu : I say that nowadays everyone in the whole world is equally miserable; everybody has his own particular suffering. Look at this news item. (He offers him the newspaper.) When we see them on the street, they look fierce and proud, sitting in their armored cars. There’s such a vicious expression on their faces; those hard, glinting eyes under their helmets look as if they’d like to gobble us up. But take off their tiger skins, and they’re no different from us! lin zhicheng (takes the paper and looks at it, then, with an expression of pain): What— (huang jiamei pushes the window open and looks down.) zhao’s wife (her curiosity piqued): What’s the matter? zhao zhenyu : It’s all beyond you! zhao’s wife : So that’s why I’m asking in the first place!

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zhao zhenyu : All right, then I’ll explain it to you. (Unconsciously assuming the tone he uses in telling stories to his grade school students) It says in the paper, in . . . a country right next to our China, there was a soldier who had been in combat and had earned a medal—do you know what I mean? A medal you wear on your chest—but when he got his discharge, he found he couldn’t support his wife and parents, and one evening he sneaked off to a room he’d taken for the purpose and swallowed opium . . . No, no (takes a quick look at the newspaper) he swallowed poison and killed himself! In his suicide note he said, “I’ve sold what I can, and now I have nothing left but the body my mother and father gave me. I’ve heard that medical schools buy corpses; if that’s so, then sell my corpse so that my family can eat . . .” The upshot of it was that they did sell the corpse as he’d requested, for thirty-six dollars, minus the hotel bill of a dollar twenty, and with tears in his eyes, his father took away an estate of thirty-four dollars and eighty cents! The newspaper reporter gave the story a headline—you know what a headline is, don’t you? It means title—“Hero for Sale: $34.80”! lin zhicheng (vehemently): Goddamn it (throws the newspaper away), the bastard who took away the dollar twenty is nothing but a robber! zhao zhenyu : You’re so right. Just for money, for such a piddling amount too—(turns and deliberately teases his wife) so you see, I hate the sight of money. huang jiamei (in an aggrieved tone): Guifen. (guifen is absorbed in the conversation and does not reply.) lin zhicheng : Huh . . . with corpses floating all over this China of ours, I wonder if any one of them could get a price like that!4 zhao zhenyu (off on a new topic): Say, speaking of floating corpses, it says in today’s paper . . . (little tianjin , a young Shanghai street type, pushes his way through the gate, eyes everyone, and goes straight up the stairs. With an expression of disgust mixed with some self-satisfaction, zhao’s wife whispers in guifen ’s ear.) guifen (eyes alight with interest): Really? zhao’s wife (points to her own eyes): I saw it with my own eyes. He sneaked out with her night before last, and they didn’t get back till daylight yesterday. Right here last night (points to the water basin) I saw him get his cut from her! guifen (covering her mouth): Disgraceful! lin zhicheng : Damn it, the men are thieves and the women whores in this world, and it’s all for money. There’s nothing they don’t do for it! (Upstairs, shi xiaobao catches sight of little tianjin and yells, “Get out of here!” Everyone looks up.) There will come a day when I’ll have some power, and then I’ll get those— zhao zhenyu (interrupts loudly): Oh my god! (Jumps up) I’ve got only three minutes! (He picks up his books from the table and dashes out.) zhao’s wife (staring angrily after him): Won’t you ever change? huang jiamei (from upstairs): Guifen! Guifen! guifen (raises her head): What?

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zhao zhenyu (pushes through the gate violently): Forgot my hat! (He rushes into the house, gets his hat, stuffs it on his head, and rushes out again.) zhao’s wife (chasing after him and shouting at the gate): Hey, why haven’t you put your rubbers on? (She sees that he is well on his way and so turns around and mumbles something. guifen is wringing out the laundry.) lin zhicheng (returns to his room, now that his companion in complaining and conversation has left): Shopping for groceries, huh? Nine o’clock, and not back yet. huang jiamei (descends from the garret, while guifen , wiping her hands, is on her way up): Come here! guifen : What is it? I haven’t finished all the laundry yet. (zhao’s wife cleans up her room, and lin zhicheng , alone, pours out some water and washes his face.) huang jiamei (standing in the middle of the stairs): What’s the rush? With the weather the way it is, it’ll rain in a little while anyway, and it’ll never get dry. guifen (looking at him): What’s the matter? huang jiamei (hesitates for an instant): Do you have anything left? guifen (uncomprehending): What do you mean? huang jiamei : Yesterday’s . . . (He swallows the rest.) guifen (understands his meaning now, lowers her head): I have a few dimes leftover from groceries. huang jiamei : Then, today . . . guifen (looks up at him): Today? huang jiamei (falls silent a moment, then, as if searching for another topic, with a wry smile): Guifen! Do you think Dad—do you think Dad is disappointed in me? From his expression . . . guifen : Why? I can’t tell. huang jiamei (painfully): Why? He sold his land, mortgaged his house, borrowed money at a bloodsucking rate just to raise his son, but now— guifen (cutting him short): There you go again; what’s the good of all that? You haven’t done anything wrong; you’re not too lazy to look for work. If you can’t find some little job or other in a place as big as Shanghai, well, it’s not your fault. huang jiamei (runs his fingers through his hair, becoming more and more excited): It’s all because of the bad advice of that elementary school teacher Mr. Yao. He told my dad, “This boy is a genius. Our school had never had such a gifted student, and he’s really going to amount to something. It would be a shame to keep him buried out here in the country!” But if he were alive today, I’d like to invite him here for a good look at his genius, living in a garret! (He coughs.) guifen : Oh, for heaven’s sake, you’re . . . (Worried that others will hear, she tries to calm him down.)

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huang jiamei (after a pause, exhales and lowers his voice): Now that Dad’s finally gotten to Shanghai, to have him stay in the room all day looking after the baby is a damned shame! guifen : I know, but— huang jiamei : Doesn’t the baby still have his locket? (He averts his eyes.) guifen (raising her eyebrows): The three dollars or so I gave you last time, wasn’t that from the gold locket? huang jiamei : That’s right! (In despair) Poor little child, even an insignificant thing like that . . . (guifen looks at him and says nothing.) Then you— (He breaks off.) guifen : What? (She looks at him. huang jiamei lowers his head and says nothing.) Actually, I suppose, when you’re rich, you should live like a rich man, and when you’re poor, you should live like the poor. Perhaps—your dad isn’t going to be here for very long . . . (huang jiamei says nothing.) (In a spontaneous outpouring) But what I’m worried about is the future. If we keep on borrowing three dollars here, five dollars there, and living hand to mouth from one day to the next, the day will come when— huang jiamei (suddenly raises his head and as if exploding): You think I’m never going to find a job, is that it? (He stops abruptly and looks down.) guifen (in consternation): No, no, that’s not what I mean. Oh, you (shifts to a pleading tone), Jiamei, I just didn’t put it the right way! (Silently, huang jiamei caresses her shoulder, turns, and goes toward the stairs. At this moment, the back gate creaks open, and huang’s father enters holding his grandson. He seems to be very happy. The boy has a piece of cake in one hand and a string of water chestnuts in the other. a xiang , her hands behind her back, follows along behind, stealthily, her eyes glued to her mother.) huang’s father : Ha, ha, that’s right, that’s right, this is the place, all right; say, you’re pretty clever! huang jiamei : Ah, you’re back, Dad! (He is about to go up to him but is suddenly seized with a fit of coughing.) guifen : Go upstairs; it’s windy here. zhao’s wife (looking at her daughter’s hands): What in the world? Who gave you . . . a xiang (also has a string of water chestnuts; pouts): I told him I didn’t want any, but he (points to huang’s father ) insisted on giving me some. zhao’s wife : Idiot, you just don’t have an ounce of manners! (She is about to say something to huang’s father , then suddenly remembers his deafness and shows her thanks with gestures.)

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huang’s father (loudly): I’m much obliged to her. The houses in Shanghai all look alike, and as soon as I was out the door, I couldn’t tell which one it was! Ha, ha, ha! (He goes to the stairs.) zhao’s wife (takes three water chestnuts from a xiang’s string): You can have half! (Puts her apron to a xiang’s nose) Blow! (a xiang gives a hefty and very noisy blow.) Five years old, and can’t even blow your own nose! (She takes a xiang into their room.) huang jiamei (holding back a cough and forcing a smile, takes the boy in his arms): Little rascal, just have to have your grandpa hold you, don’t you? (To his father) Dad, go on up and lie down for a while. We’re going to the theater tonight, The Burning of Red Lotus Temple! (guifen stares at the water chestnuts in her son’s hand.) huang’s father (has not understood): Ai, that’s all right, that’s all right, it doesn’t matter! Kids in the country eat thirty or fifty or so at a single sitting. The more you eat, the more you get used to them! Ha, ha . . . (With a downcast expression, guifen goes back to the water basin, but when it suddenly pours down rain, she retreats to the scullery door. huang jiamei comes out of the garret and coughs violently, holding a handkerchief to his mouth, as if to prevent his father from seeing him. guifen is listening to him.) zhao’s wife (in an admonishing tone): You’d better have a doctor come and see what’s wrong with your husband! Early in the morning his coughing sounds really terrible! guife n : But he . . . zhao’s wife : Oh, while we’re on the subject, I have a prescription that’s done the trick for quite a few people. At noon of the fifth day of the fifth month, you take forty-nine large cloves of garlic, and when nobody is around . . . (All of a sudden, from shi xiaobao’s room comes an earsplitting noise as if something has been pushed over. zhao’s wife , guifen , and lin zhicheng simultaneously look up, listening. Immediately afterward, little tianjin comes out with a nonchalant air. He is whistling—probably the latest dance hall tune—and shi xiaobao is close on his heels, shouting.) shi xiaobao : I’m not going, I’m not, I’ll be damned if I will! (little tianjin stops on the stairs, turns his head, and looks at her. He keeps on whistling and says nothing. shi xiaobao walks down to the landing.) Go tell him it’s not my fault. He wants me to apologize to him, does he? Forget it! If I hit him, he had it coming. Hah! What a pig, asks me out to eat, then starts to get ideas! I told him Johnnie’s coming back, and if he has anything he wants to say, he can say it to him! (She turns and is about to go off. little tianjin beckons her with his chin.) (Descends a few steps) What? (She raises her eyebrows.) little tianjin (casually grabs a banister rail, gives it a light twist or two, breaks it off, and brushes the wood chips from his hand, then coldly, to shi xiaobao ): You’ll still

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have to walk in the Shanghai Bund perhaps. If you don’t listen to me . . . well, your legs aren’t any stronger than that wood, are they? (He resumes his whistling, continues downstairs under the fixed stare of several pairs of eyes, and saunters out the gate. zhao’s wife hurriedly follows him out and watches him leave, then slams the gate closed.) shi xiaobao (a little shaken, but feels compelled to put up a bold front): Thieving son of a bitch! (She goes back upstairs and throws herself on the bed. lin zhicheng , hearing the quarrel, has run out from the parlor and stood watching little tianjin ’s departure. Finally he goes over to the stairway and picks up the banister rail.) lin zhicheng (angrily): I must have been blind! What a splendid bunch of tenants I’ve got! (He is about to turn around and go back when there is a knocking at the back gate. Since zhao’s wife doesn’t dare to answer it but stands watching lin zhicheng instead, he gathers his courage and pulls the gate open. The person at the gate is a middle-aged man with disheveled hair and a beard, in ill-fitting Western clothes that are soaked through at the shoulder. His eyes, long and narrow at the corners, are kind. He has a high-bridged nose. From his bearing it is clear that at this moment a surfeit of hardship has left him physically and spiritually exhausted. This is yang caiyu’s former husband, lin zhicheng’s close friend, and baozhen ’s father—kuang fu.) kuang fu : I wonder if a certain Mr. Lin—(sees lin zhicheng and looks him up and down) ah, there you are, Zhicheng! I’ve been looking all over for you! lin zhicheng (taken aback, stares with bloodshot eyes and steps back a few paces): You . . . you . . . kuang fu : You don’t recognize me anymore, eh? I . . . lin zhicheng (after close scrutiny, turns pale): Ah, Fusheng! What . . . kuang fu (warmly extends his hands): Oh, I’ve changed, all right! I’ll bet if you’d run into me on the street, you wouldn’t have known me, would you? (He smiles sadly.) lin zhicheng (almost as if struck by lightning, speechless and utterly bewildered): Ah— kuang fu (grabs lin zhicheng’s hand in great enthusiasm): Zhicheng! lin zhicheng (after the shock of recognition, seized now with the emotion of seeing an old friend): Fusheng! You’ve come back! It’s you! (He starts to embrace him but stops and assumes a bleak expression. kuang fu looks around him, sees the others staring at him, and politely greets them.) kuang fu (to lin zhicheng ): Are these people all your family? lin zhicheng (as if waking from a reverie): Ah, no, no. Come on in and sit down! (He leads kuang fu to the parlor while the others look on in astonishment. As soon as they are inside, lin zhicheng closes the door.) kuang fu (walking along): This area’s changed entirely; you’ve got a trolley bus through here now, and most of the houses are new. When I lived here seven or eight years ago— (lin zhicheng looks at him as if in despair.) What’s the matter, Zhicheng? You see the way I look . . .

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lin zhicheng (trying to mask his confusion): Uh-huh, sit down, sit down. Have a smoke? (He searches a drawer for cigarettes.) kuang fu : Hm? Have you forgotten I don’t smoke? lin zhicheng : Oh, oh, then . . . (He tries to pour some boiled water from the thermos but is unaware that it is empty and that he is merely going through a pantomime of pouring.) Have some water! (His hands are shaking.) kuang fu (watching lin zhicheng’s hands and beginning to be alarmed at his distraught expression): What’s the matter, Zhicheng? Did I come here too unexpectedly? Is it too much of a shock? How have you been feeling? There’s nothing wrong, I hope. lin zhicheng (even more distressed): No, no . . . kuang fu : Then, my old friend, why aren’t you happy over my newfound freedom? If you count the year and a half before I went in, it’s been ten whole years since we last saw each other! lin zhicheng : Uh-huh, Fusheng, I—I’m very happy, but, it—it must be a dream! kuang fu (laughing): No, squeeze my hand. It isn’t a dream, it’s real! (lin zhicheng grips his hand, glances at him, then lowers his head in silence.) (Emotionally) I dreamt for eight years in that pigeon cage, and now, by god, it’s all come true! Whenever we’d get out into the yard and I’d breathe the fresh air, or when the wind would blow in from far off, I’d think of you right away, Zhicheng. And when my time was up, I had to find you first of all, so that I could see my Caiyu and my Baozhen! Zhicheng, they, they . . . lin zhicheng (with a gleam of terror in his eyes): They, uh, they . . . kuang fu : Are they all right? They .  .  . (Grips lin zhicheng’s hand tightly) Oh, Zhicheng, I don’t know how to thank you. Tell me how they’ve been for the past few years. (lin zhicheng is unable to reply.) Are they all right? Zhicheng, say something! lin zhicheng (his throat constricted): They— kuang fu (alarmed): What’s happened to them? (lin zhicheng cannot speak. kuang fu jumps up.) Zhicheng, tell me, how are they? They . . . no use trying to fool me, they’ve— (He is grief-stricken.) lin zhicheng : No, no, they’re all right . . . In a little while— kuang fu (relieved): Oh, they’re all right, are they? Zhicheng! If I hadn’t had a friend like you, they might have been dead by now, or drifting around in the streets. I don’t know how many terrible dreams I’ve had, of Caiyu and Baozhen begging for food in the streets. My god . . . (While they are talking, a xiang goes on tiptoe to the door and peeks in, listening. zhao’s wife is frying vegetables on a small stove, and when she sees that a xiang has

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run off to eavesdrop, she immediately rushes over and pulls her away, threatening her with her fist. Helplessly a xiang walks away. But when zhao’s wife hears kuang fu mention yang caiyu, she stops short and, in spite of herself, assumes a xiang’s identical stance, eavesdropping through the crack in the door. a xiang stands by the stairs and, pouting, glares at her mother. Before kuang fu has finished speaking, there is a sudden knock at the front gate. lin zhicheng , in embarrassment, stands up but does not go to answer it. He finally makes a decision.) lin zhicheng : She— voice (interrupting from outside the gate): Ma’am, do you have any bottles or old newspapers? lin zhicheng (furiously): No! voice (monotonously): Got any used-up pots and pans, old clothes, old shoes to trade in, anybody? (His cries drift away.) kuang fu (after this interruption, he picks up the glass, notices that it has no water in it, and puts it down again. He looks the room over for the first time, and his gaze falls upon a dress hanging on the wall): Oh, Zhicheng. (With forced enthusiasm) I had no idea; are you married? lin zhicheng (with increased anguish): Mm . . . kuang fu : For how many years, and who is she? (Again lin zhicheng can’ t speak.) I don’t know why it is, but when I was inside, the days seemed to crawl by. Actually, now that I think about it, the time went pretty fast, and now my old opponents in the dining hall fights at school are all already middle-aged men! Zhicheng, you’re thirtyfive now? lin zhicheng (can hold off no longer): Fusheng! Why haven’t you written in the last few years? You might at least have sent me a letter saying you were all right! It wouldn’t have been impossible, would it? kuang fu : What do you mean? lin zhicheng : Ever since I got that one letter from you when you were in the Longhua prison, not a word—and at that time your case was so serious! kuang fu : My friend, I’m sorry. I had no idea what the situation was like outside, and it might have been dangerous for you if I’d sent you a letter. lin zhicheng (on the brink of tears): But, but, Fusheng! In that way, in that way you made me commit a crime, a crime so horrible I can’t even face you, my friend! Fusheng, spit on me, curse me, I beg you to do it! I’m vile, I’ve done a terrible thing to you . . . kuang fu (shocked): What is it? Tell me! lin zhicheng : I’m unspeakable, I can’t face you, I . . . (He holds his head in his hands.) kuang fu : What are you talking about? I don’t understand; tell me! Tell me! lin zhicheng : Fusheng! kuang fu : What?

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lin zhicheng : I— (He stops.) kuang fu : What’s the matter? Go on. lin zhichen g : Caiyu and I . . . (between clenched teeth) Caiyu and I have been living together! kuang fu (confused and unconscious of his actions): Uhh—(collapses onto his chair; as if by rote) living—together! guifen (loudly): Oh dear! Mrs. Zhao, your vegetables are getting burnt! (zhao’s wife runs back awkwardly. guifen takes some laundry upstairs.) lin zhicheng (softly but emphatically): Once I got the letter you’d had relayed to me from Longhua, I went to Caiyu, and as you had feared they were living in poverty in an attic, almost everything you owned having been taken away when you were in trouble. I . . . (takes a deep breath) I looked out for them as well as I could, but a year went by, then two, and I didn’t get any news at all from you. Some of the ones sentenced along with you died, others changed completely. I waited for you three full years (in gradually increasing excitement and louder voice) and I just didn’t know if you were alive or dead. (Quickly changes his tone) But no, no; I can’t use that as expiation; I did a criminal act, and I’m ashamed to face you. But, Fusheng! I’m a human being, I have feelings for them, and because I wanted them to be happy, I . . . kuang fu (excitedly): You wanted them to be happy! (With great effort brings his confused emotions under control) Mm . . . wait, I . . . let me think . . . lin zhicheng : I understand now that the cause of my misery was a worthless thing called devotion. I wanted to help a friend, help a friend’s family. Every time I’d see Baozhen, I would think to myself that I had to protect her and make sure she got an education, so that she could follow in your footsteps . . . But that made me commit my crime, and I . . . kuang fu (as if lost in thought and oblivious to what lin zhicheng has just said): Wanted them to be happy . . . lin zhicheng (with a touch of hysteria): I’m a man, and I have some education. You used to treat me like your own brother, and so when you were up against it, do you suppose I would do anything to hurt you? After a month or two, I felt the danger, and I made up my mind several times to leave. I planned to gather up a good amount of money and give it to Caiyu. In that way I wouldn’t have to look after them all the time, but— kuang fu (has finally recovered his equilibrium): So, what about Caiyu? lin zhicheng : I suppose you could say the same thing happened to her; fate covered both our eyes, and the more we struggled, the worse the danger became, until finally— kuang f u : Wait, so now— lin zhicheng (before he can finish): Now? Isn’t everything clear enough already? I’ve  committed a crime, and I’m waiting for your sentence. No, before you pronounce sentence, I must tell you I’ve already suffered the inquisition of my conscience. Whenever I would feel even the slightest degree of happiness, something of the warmth that a family can bring, at that very instant, some invisible instrument

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of torture would clamp down on my heart. But it’s all right now, you’re here, and I’ve confessed to you, held nothing back .  .  . I acknowledge my crime before you and await your verdict! (After all this in one stream, he takes a long breath, exhausted but seemingly content.) kuang fu : No, I don’t care about that. What I want to know is whether you and Caiyu are happy. lin zhicheng (curtly): Do you think happiness can be built on misery? kuang fu (sadly): Mm . . . (After an interval of silence, guifen comes out of the garret with a bottle.) huang’s father (offstage): Don’t buy anything to drink; I’m not having anything. (guifen goes to the back gate just as li lingbei , the attic tenant, comes in with several unsold newspapers under his arm. He has already had a bit to drink and, unmindful of the others, is singing to himself as he goes up the stairs.) li lingbei (sings): “When I gaze on the lovely child, I can hold back no longer, the tears fall like pearls from my eyes . . . (Plaintively) My son, my seventh son, gone back to Wild Swan Gate for more troops to come in aid, why, oh why, now that you are gone, do you not come back . . . ?” kuang fu (following with his eyes li lingbei ’s voice as it proceeds to the roof, then despondently): I should never have come to see you; I’m just stepping in where I’m not wanted . . . lin zhicheng : What do you mean? (kuang fu is silent. Someone knocks at the gate, and lin zhicheng gets up without the slightest hesitation. He has clearly come to a decision.) Good, she’s back. I—I’m going out now, so you two can talk, and I’ll agree to anything you decide. My friend, I’ll be waiting for your decision . . . (He opens the gate, but the person who enters is a young man in working clothes.) young man (excitedly): Mr. Lin, hurry, the head of the labor department wants to see you right away; there’s trouble at the factory. Hurry . . . lin zhicheng (with indifference): It’s the day shift; it’s none of my affair. young man : No, no, it’s really a mess. Hurry, everybody’s waiting! (He tugs, at the point of coercion.) lin zhicheng : No, no, I’m busy . . . (Under pressure, he finally changes his clothes and leaves. kuang fu once again examines the room closely; he walks over to the desk, picks up a songbook left by baozhen , and gives it a glance.) kuang fu (to himself ): Lin Baozhen; hm, Lin! (Puts the book down and counts on his fingers) She was five then . . . (He absentmindedly plays a few notes on baozhen ’s toy piano. At this moment there is a flash of sunlight. huang’s father , holding his grandson, leans out of the garret window and looks at the sky. huang jiamei hurries down the stairs with a package and, when he reaches the water basin, comes upon guifen , back from buying some liquor.) guifen (noticing his package): What’s that?

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huang jiamei (somewhat ashamed): Some clothes . . . guifen (pulls out part of a piece of clothing sticking out from the package, looks at him, then): Jiamei, that’s all I have to wear when we go out. (huang’s father is watching from the window.) huang jiamei (as if in self-justification): Well, you don’t have any social life anyway, and it’s so hot now you don’t need it. In a few days . . . (He sees guifen ’s reluctance to part with it and so, with forced indifference, walks away.) guifen : Jia— (huang jiamei walks on without turning his head. Her eyes fixed on his retreating form, guifen suddenly covers her face with her hands and bursts into tears. huang’s father , watching from upstairs, turns solemn and comes rapidly downstairs. When the two come face-to-face by the stairway, guifen greets him with a strained attempt at a smile.) Dad . . . huang’s father (looking at her): Mm . . . (At the back gate, yang caiyu, holding a grocery basket, directs a curious glance at them. The rain increases, as does the shouting of children in the lane.)

A CT 2 (It is the afternoon of the same day. In the parlor, yang caiyu is slumped over the table in tears. kuang fu paces back and forth aimlessly, his hands behind his back. Both are silent. Above the parlor, little tianjin is lying on shi xiaobao’s bed, smoking a cigarette and smiling maliciously. shi xiaobao is sitting at her dressing table and applying makeup to her sad face. They too are silent. In the garret, amid the sound of a child’s crying, huang jiamei is talking loudly to his father, but the words are muffled. guifen , her expression distraught, slowly descends the stairs with a thermos. As she opens the rear gate and steps out, she listens to the conversation. In the scullery, zhao’s wife is silently mending clothes. A minute passes. The sun appears and casts a dazzling beam of light into the house,  long soaked with humidity. zhao’s wife quickly gets to her feet and opens a soggy umbrella outside to dry, then puts a bamboo pole with wet clothing on it into the sunlight.) huang’s father (offstage): Look, isn’t that the sun shining? (He opens the window.) huang jiamei (offstage): Stay a few more days, Dad. When it clears up tonight we’ll go see The Burning of Red— (He coughs.)

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huang’s father (offstage): After a half month’s rain, I’m afraid the lower land has been flooded over by now, and if I don’t get back to replant, what’re we going to eat this year? (After finally putting all the clothes out to dry, zhao’s wife goes back inside, gets herself settled comfortably, and picks up her sewing. The sunlight disappears, and it showers heavily again. She gets up immediately and retrieves the clothes.) zhao’s wife (peevishly): Damn! kuang fu (paces up to yang caiyu and stops): So you mean . . . you’ve been living with Zhicheng . . . You’ve been living with Zhicheng just to stay alive, not on account of any feeling . . . (Without making a reply or raising her head, yang caiyu automatically reaches for her handkerchief with her right hand. kuang fu picks her handkerchief up from the floor and hands it to her without speaking. There is a moment of silence. From the back gate comes the voice of a peddler. a xiang quietly opens the back gate but, apparently worried about her shoes, which are thoroughly wet, is afraid to step inside.) Hm, to stay alive, just to stay alive! (Nods and sits down in dejection, then after a moment, as if in both ridicule and release of pent-up resentment) Ten short years have changed us completely! Ten years ago, for the sake of love you forsook your family; ten years ago, for the sake of love you risked everything and married a man without roots like me, but now after those ten years . . . the courageous disciple of love triumphant over all has finally turned into a timid little housewife! (yang caiyu makes no reply but wipes her eyes and looks at him.) Caiyu, I doubt if anybody would have thought you could— (He breaks off.) yang caiyu (softly): You still hate me, don’t you? kuang fu : No, I don’t hate anybody! yang caiyu : Then you must be laughing at me . . . you must despise me. While my own husband, whom I loved, was suffering in prison, I was thinking of marriage as just an occupation and was confusing sympathy with love, and so, very cautious and circumspect about everything, I’ve been keeping house for someone else. kuang fu : Caiyu! yang caiyu (on a slightly higher pitch): But before you blame me, you have to try to imagine what it’s been like for the last ten years! After we got married, we didn’t spend a day in peace: poverty-stricken, on the run, separated from all our friends and family. At that time, I suppose you could say I was just barely hanging on, hanging on for the sake of your ideals and for everyone else’s future. But once you went to prison, I couldn’t locate a single one of your friends. Oh, the ones I did find might not have said so in so many words, but I could tell from the way they acted they were afraid I’d get them involved. All right, I was Kuang Fu’s wife and I’d have to get by on my own, so I made up my mind to look for a job. But I had Baozhen tied to me, she was only five then; I tried everywhere, thought of everything, but do you think anybody would spend his money to hire a woman with a child? On days so hot the asphalt on the streets would stick to the soles of our shoes, Baozhen would go along

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with me. At first, before she could get very far, she would cry out that her feet were sore, but as the days went by, when I would ask her, “Baozhen, can you keep going?” she would smile and say, “I’m used to it now, Mommy; I’m not a bit tired.” (Tries to fight back her tears but fails) That was—how we lived! kuang fu (painfully, walks over to her and puts a hand on her shoulder): Caiyu, I haven’t the slightest intention of blaming you; I just think . . . yang caiyu : Do you think there’s a chance at all in this world for us women to find any job? They use every trick they can think of—sarcastic smiles, contempt, pressure, insults, anything to force you into marriage, to force you into the role of the nice, sweet housewife! kuang fu : Caiyu, it’s no good talking about the past; you can’t bring it back, anyway. You’ve got to calm yourself; we can talk about other problems, after all. yang caiyu (after a pause): Other problems? (She turns around.) kuang fu : Yes . . . (He falls silent and resumes pacing. guifen comes in with boiled water and several biscuits, a xiang enviously following along. guifen goes upstairs and, after a moment, comes out onto the stairs again with huang jiamei , who is furious.) huang jiamei : What did you say to Dad the minute I stepped out? (guifen shakes her head.) Nothing? Then why was he on top of the world this morning and now all set to go back home? He said he’s going back tonight! guifen (in surprise): Tonight? Didn’t you tell me we were going to the theater? huang jiamei (viciously): He’s already packing his things, as if you didn’t know. guifen : As if I didn’t know? What do you mean? huang jiamei : I mean you forced him to go! guifen : I . . . forced . . . him . . . to go! Jiamei! You can’t just say everything that comes into your head like that; why would I want to force him to go? How could I? huang jiamei (coldly): As for why, because I’ve pawned your clothes, and as for how, with your tears, that’s how, with that frowning look you carry around with you all day. He may be deaf, but he isn’t blind yet, and your intentional worrying and sighing over our poverty have kept him . . . kept him from staying on. guifen : My intentional— huang jiamei : My dad is getting old, and you, you— guifen (finally goaded to a retort): You can’t be so unreasonable! Don’t try to get the idea from somebody else around here that you can use your wife as a whipping boy. You’d like your dad to stay on a few days, I understand that, it’s a natural thing to want. But let me ask you this: what good would it do for him to stay a few days more under these circumstances, for him, and for you? You keep on this way and you’ll drive us all to our deaths, all of us together. Why (begins to weep), why would I ever want to force him . . . to go? (huang jiamei says nothing but savagely runs his hand through his hair.) (Tenderly) Jiamei! Your health . . .

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(From the garret comes the sound of a child’s crying.) huang’s father : Oh, don’t cry, don’t cry. I’ll hold you. It’s all right, it’s all right . . . (guifen wipes her tears with her sleeve, and huang jiamei quickly wipes her eyes with his own handkerchief. He steps back to allow guifen into the room, then with head bowed follows her inside.) kuang fu (after listening to huang jiamei and guifen ’s conversation): So—your life now . . . yang caiyu (with a sad smile): See for yourself! kuang fu : I see that Zhicheng has aged a lot. I suppose my coming today was too much of a shock, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I had the feeling that, on top of the melancholy he’s had ever since childhood, there’s anxiety too . . . How is he getting along at the factory? (yang caiyu shakes her head.) He still can’t get along with anybody, is that it? yang caiyu (nods, then after a pause): What about me? I’ve aged, haven’t I? kuang fu (has some difficulty in answering this): Uh . . . yang caiyu : Haven’t I? (kuang fu looks at her.) Go ahead and say it, I— (He is still silent. She gives a forced laugh.) You won’t say it; all right, I will. I’m no longer the Yang Caiyu of ten years ago! kuang fu (nervously): No, no, I was just thinking . . . (Silence.) yang caiyu : You were thinking, were you? Well then, do you think I’ve been happy? kuang fu : I hope so! yang caiyu : Tell me the truth! Do you think he’s been able to make me happy? kuang fu : I hope he has. yang caiyu (smiles sarcastically and avoids his eyes): You say I’ve changed, but I think you have, too. You’re not as natural as you used to be, or as candid. kuang fu : What do you mean? yang caiyu (quickly continues): Suppose I told you that Zhicheng has been unable to make me happy, that I’ve been miserable, that Baozhen, along with me, has been treated badly? He can’t get along with people at the factory; he takes all kinds of abuse, he’s the target of jokes, and his juniors climb on past him, one after the other. He worries all day about losing his job, and by the time he gets home, he’s ready to let out all his frustrations on me with a vengeance. At the slightest provocation he pouts and refuses to say anything, plays dumb for three days or even more . . . Fusheng! Can you possibly consider a life like that happy— kuang fu (in anguish): Caiyu, I’m ashamed of the way I’ve treated you. (The back gate opens, and baozhen enters in a rush. When zhao’s wife sees her, she quickly beckons to her, but baozhen seems not to notice and strides directly into the parlor. The conversation thus interrupted, kuang fu, in a reflexive action, gets to his feet.) yang caiyu : Baozhen, come here; this is—

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(She hesitates.) kuang fu (breaks in): Is this Baozhen? (He looks at her tenderly.) baozhen (startled): Do you know me? May I ask your name, sir? yang caiyu : Baozhen— (She finds it impossible to go on.) kuang fu (laughing): My name is Kuang. baozhen (innocently): How do you write “Kuang”? kuang fu (writes on the table with his finger): Like this: the “king” character inside a box. baozhen : Kuang? I didn’t know there was such a strange name! What does the character mean? kuang fu (caught short): Well, let me think— baozhen (quickly goes to the table and finds a tiny dictionary, which she leafs through): “Box” radical, one, two, three, four strokes . . . here it is; hm, “Kuang, to reform, to correct.” But, Mr. Kuang, do people still use a character like this? kuang fu (never takes his gaze, amazed yet loving, from her): Well, yes, but pretty seldom now. baozhen: My teacher says useless characters should be done away with, isn’t that right? yang caiyu : Baozhen! kuang fu : Mm! You’re right! (Laughing) From now on I’ll do without it. baozhen : Oh good! Mom, why are you staring at me that way? Come on, give me something to eat; I’m off to school. kuang fu : How’s that? Didn’t you just get through with school? baozhen : No (proudly), what the teacher just got through teaching me, I’m going to go teach somebody else. I’m a “little teacher”; I teach singing and reading. kuang fu : “Little teacher”? (yang caiyu gives her a few crackers; she takes them and eats while she talks.) baozhen : You don’t know what “little teacher” means? The idea is “once you find out, pass it on”; once we learn something, we tell it to other people . . . Oh, it’s getting late; bye-bye! (Bounds off, singing) “It’s bootleg, dirt cheap!” zhao’s wife (softly but with force): Baozhen . . . (baozhen , paying no attention, exits.) kuang fu (unconsciously follows her for a few steps, then, after watching her leave, turns around): Hm, where have all the days gone? yang caiyu (nostalgically): Don’t you think she acts just the way you did when you were young? When you were a student, wouldn’t you stay up for several nights on end and get sick, just on account of an algebra problem? She’s the same way; she just has to get to the bottom of everything! kuang fu : But I don’t have that attitude any more . . . (Ponders, then as if remembering something) Caiyu! I’m content now, because when I was in prison and the beriberi was bad, I’d already given up hope of ever seeing you both again, but now, now that I’ve seen Baozhen with my own eyes and find she’s just like me when I was young— yang caiyu : Content? Do you think Baozhen is happy?

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kuang fu : No, that’s not what I mean . . . yang caiyu (despondently): Her memories used to be so unclouded, but a stain is on them now that can never be washed away. The other children call her . . . (She looks at kuang fu.) kuang fu : What do you mean, that even she has— (At this instant, the sound of children fighting comes from the rear gate. zhao’s wife looks out the gate.) a niu’s voice : Give it back! Give it back! a xiang’s voice : It’s mine! Mommy! (She screams.) zhao zhenyu (apparently just back from school, enters holding the two children apart): Go on inside! Go on! (a niu and a xiang wrestle.) Ha, ha . . . a niu : Give it back! (Turns to his father) It’s my “work project,” and she took it. Give it back! a xiang : Mommy gave it to me to play with! It’s mine! (The two wrestle and hit each other. zhao zhenyu makes no attempt to interfere but  looks on, smiling. zhao’s wife immediately sets her sewing down and steps outside.) zhao’s wife : A Niu! (Sees zhao zhenyu ’s expression, then furiously) Hope you’re enjoying the show! They could be beating each other to death, for all you care! (She pulls on a niu.) zhao zhenyu (calmly): No chance, no chance of that at all. It’s the rainy season, and they need all the exercise they can get! zhao’s wife : No hitting, A Niu! You brat! (a niu hits a xiang , who cries.) zhao zhenyu : Ha, ha, ha . . . zhao’s wife (jerks a niu away): Have a good laugh. (With mocking obedience, zhao zhenyu stops laughing. At this instant, a niu charges by and grabs a cardboard model from a xiang’s hands.) What are you doing, stealing that! (She pulls a niu into the room.) zhao zhenyu (squats down and wipes a xiang’s tears with a handkerchief, meanwhile, in a tone that only a teacher could perfect): Don’t cry now. I’ve told you, don’t laugh when you win and don’t cry when you lose. Only crybabies cry! (Softly, for fear his wife will hear) You can fight again tomorrow! (Takes a xiang into the apartment) You’ve heard the story I’ve told your brother; now, when Napoléon was banished to Elba, what did he say? Hm? Hm? .  .  . Ah, look! There’s A Niu laughing already. (L oudly) Ha, ha, ha. (In the front room, shi xiaobao , her makeup completed, hears zhao zhenyu’s laughter and heads downstairs, as if remembering something she had forgotten.) little tianjin (angrily): Where do you think you’re going?

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shi xiaobao (raising a slippered foot): What are you getting so excited about? I can’t exactly run away. (Descends the stairs and goes to the scullery door, where she surreptitiously beckons to zhao zhenyu ) Mr. Zhao! zhao zhenyu : Oh, you’re home, are you? (He walks over, while his wife glares angrily.) shi xiaobao (softly): Would you mind looking something up in the last few issues of the newspaper for me? zhao zhenyu : What is it? (His wife gets to her feet and stands at the scullery door.) shi xiaobao : If you would try to find out about Johnnie—when his ship is due back in Shanghai. zhao zhenyu : Oh, oh (turns back in to get the newspapers, then, seeming to recall something), what’s the name of the ship? shi xiaobao : Well, let’s see . . . Uh, it’s got a “maru” on it. zhao zhenyu : Ha, ha . . . a lot of ships have a “maru” in their names; for example— shi xiaobao : Then— zhao’s wife (making it a point to be heard by shi xiaobao ): Shameless! zhao zhenyu : Your husband is coming home soon, is he? shi xiaobao (turns away and becomes despondent): If only he could! (She climbs partway up the stairs, thinks of something, and comes back down again. She goes to the parlor, sees that there is a visitor, and hesitates.) Oh, sorry. Is Mr. Lin out? yang caiyu : Uh-huh, is there anything I can do? shi xiaobao (has difficulty in broaching the subject): Mrs. Lin! I’d like to talk to you about something. yang caiyu (walks to the doorway): What is it? shi xiaobao : Is Mr. Lin coming back right away? yang caiyu : Do you have some kind of problem? You can tell me. shi xiaobao (falters for a moment, then decisively but softly): Is there any way you can get rid of that thug in my room for me? yang caiyu : What do you mean, thug? (kuang fu stands up.) shi xiaobao : He, he wants me to—I don’t want to go, and if that man of mine comes back in a day or two, there could be trouble. yang caiyu : I don’t understand; who is your— little tianjin (somewhat suspicious, gets up and goes to the head of the stairs): Xiaobao! shi xiaobao (in alarm, quickly): He’s a gangster, and he’s trying to make me go to— little tianjin : Xiaobao! shi xiaobao (turns around and mounts the stairs; in a pleading tone): When Mr. Lin gets back, would you tell him to . . . (She goes upstairs.) kuang fu (once she has left): What’s the matter?

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yang caiyu : I have no idea! (They look upstairs.) shi xiaobao : What are you getting so excited about? We’re not rushing to a coroner’s office! little tianjin : He’s waiting; let’s go! shi xiaobao (against her will, sits down and puts on high-heeled shoes): Cigarette. (little tianjin pulls out his cigarette case, sees that it is empty, and hands her the cigarette he is smoking. shi xiaobao takes a long drag, then flips the cigarette away.) (With an intentionally nonchalant air) Johnnie’s coming back tomorrow, you know. (little tianjin seems unconcerned.) Aren’t you afraid he’ll raise hell? little tianjin (ignores this, suddenly stands up): Let’s go! shi xiaobao (smiling archly): But let’s get something settled before we do! (She approaches suggestively.) little tianjin : You want me to get rough? (He yanks her sharply.) shi xiaobao (concealing her distress): Then tomorrow I’m going to tell him; the whole story, since you’re not afraid of anything anyway. (She starts off, with little tianjin following her downstairs in a coercive manner.) little tianjin (on the stairs): Let me tell you something. Johnnie’s in the States right now, got that? (shi xiaobao says nothing. As they leave, zhao’s wife’s angry eyes follow them out. She looks back, about to make a remark, but stops when she finds she has no one to make it to. A peddler is calling his wares outside the gate. The sky darkens suddenly. guifen steps out to the landing and shouts.) guifen : Mrs. Lin, would you turn the main light switch on, please? (When yang caiyu, without a word, turns on the main switch, the garret is suddenly filled with light. Thunder sounds in the distance, and while kuang fu and yang caiyu are talking, the tenants of the garret and the scullery begin to prepare dinner.) yang caiyu : You still haven’t answered my question just now; do you think our life now is a happy one? (He does not reply.) If, tell me the truth now, if you thought Baozhen and I were unhappy, then .  .  . Could your conscience be at peace? (kuang fu, distressed, makes no reply.) (Takes a step toward him) Why don’t you say something? Didn’t you used to tell me you would do anything to make me happy? kuang fu (painfully): Don’t press me, Caiyu! My mind is all confused, and I don’t know what to do. I—I . . . (He gets to his feet and paces aimlessly.) yang caiyu (after a moment of silence): Oh, Fusheng! Do you remember about Dasha? kuang fu (stands still): Dasha?

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yang caiyu : Uh-huh, when we were living on Little Sandbar Lane and I had the flu, you sat by my bed and told me stories. Wasn’t there a woman in a novel who was called Dasha? kuang fu : Ah, ah . . . yang caiyu : You said then that I was too weak, and when you told about Dasha, you would say, “Yang Caiyu! You should try to be brave like Dasha!” What book was that? I can’t remember! kuang fu : Hm, it was . . . the name of the book was Cement, by Gladkov, wasn’t it? yang caiyu : That’s right, Cement. How do you feel about a woman like Dasha now? (kuang fu makes no reply.) Out of all the stories you told me, I don’t know why, but I’ve never forgotten Dasha. Maybe— kuang fu (interrupting): Don’t say anything more, Caiyu; I understand what you mean, but— yang caiyu : I know I can’t compare myself to Dasha, but didn’t you used to say you always, always wanted me to be happy? As long as you lived. Do you think I can’t be like Dasha? Just as in the novel, when her husband comes home— kuang fu (despairingly): But though you could be Dasha, I’m no longer a Gleb. When Dasha saw her husband again, he was a hero back from victory, while I am just a casualty from life’s battlefield. yang caiyu : Fusheng! kuang fu : Just now you said I’d changed, too. You’re right, I’m aware of it myself, I have changed. I used to look at everything so simply, as if everyone were just like me, and with determination anything at all could be accomplished. But in the past few years I’ve seen too much, and things just aren’t that simple. Pettiness, deceit, selfseeking, hurting others for no purpose, like wild animals, these are the things men do . . . (Seems to remember something suddenly) Oh, but don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean Zhicheng; he’s like me, he’s one of the weaklings, too! yang caiyu (shocked): Is this you talking, Fusheng? Weakling, you’re admitting you’re a weakling? Didn’t you used to say time after time— kuang fu : So, I admit openly that I’ve changed. Look at me. These past few years have ruined my health and destroyed my courage, and when I think about going on with life, I have no more confidence in myself. Do you think a casualty like me could still make anybody happy? yang caiyu : Then you think . . . our . . . kuang fu (in despair): I just got through saying to Zhicheng, I regret coming here to see you; I’m just making things worse! yang caiyu : Fusheng! Is that what you really think? You never used to lie! (There is a pause. She continues, with a trace of anger.) Then you’re too selfish; you’ve tricked me! All the time we’ve been married. kuang fu : What do you mean? (He takes a step toward her.) yang caiyu : Ask yourself!

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kuang fu : Caiyu! That’s not what I meant. I was only saying that as far as going on living is concerned, I’ve lost faith in myself and have no guarantee that I can make you and Baozhen more— yang caiyu : Then let me ask you this, very simply: suppose for these eight and a half years you hadn’t had a friend like Zhicheng and he and I hadn’t had the relationship we now have, then, as a matter of course, suppose Baozhen and I had been on the streets, destitute, and, perhaps, one of us dead by now. Suppose, in a situation like that, you had found me and I had asked you for help. Could you have said then, as you just did, “I no longer have the self-confidence to make you happy; I can only let you starve to death on the streets”? kuang fu (stymied): I—I— yang caiyu : Then I can only say that you’re either cruel, or jealous! kuang fu (at a complete loss): Caiyu! yang caiyu : If the situation were different, you would no doubt say to me, “Caiyu, I’m home now. Don’t be afraid; we’ll make a new start.” But now—you, you’re casting me aside—because I wanted to stay alive . . . kuang fu (in anxiety and pain): Don’t say things like that, Caiyu. What, what should I do? I just can’t think of any other solution! (At the impatient cry of “Evening paper!” in the lane, zhao zhenyu hurries to buy a newspaper.) yang caiyu (in a tone of supplication): Fusheng! You can’t leave me again; you can’t leave Baozhen, who everybody thinks has no father. For Baozhen’s sake, for our only . . . kuang fu (after a moment of reflection): Wouldn’t—wouldn’t that make Zhicheng . . . make Zhicheng even more miserable? yang caiyu (pauses): But I told you before, it was only for survival. kuang fu (hangs his head, then listlessly): Caiyu . . . yang caiyu (gripping his hand): Be brave . . . It’s my turn now to tell you what you used to say to me. (He laughs and raises his head.) You’re still young. (Feels his chin) Now then, shave off that beard of yours . . . (While speaking, she gets lin zhicheng’s safety razor and various other articles from a drawer.) Fusheng! Don’t think any more about it. Today we’re supposed to be happy, aren’t we? kuang fu (as if all his pent-up affection is bursting forth): Caiyu! (He leans his head on her breast.) yang caiyu (stroking his head): Fusheng! You, you . . . (Overcome with emotion, she weeps; they embrace. The sky gradually darkens. A hoarse, tired voice calling, “Evening News, Evening Gazette, radio programs .  .  .” passes by outside the front gate, along with the piercing voice of a woman crying, “Evening paper” and so forth. A light comes on in the scullery. Suddenly there is a sharp knock at the front gate. In reflex, kuang fu and yang caiyu break apart.)

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Who is it? (She opens the gate. A young employee of the factory, leading someone who looks like a foreman, enters, his face covered with perspiration.) young man : Hurry, they want Mr. Lin right away! yang caiyu : He isn’t back yet. young man (as if wanting to charge in and conduct a search): Mrs. Lin, I need your help. The head of the labor department is already in a fit, and it’s none of my responsibility. (L oudly) Mr. Lin! yang caiyu (startled): It’s true, he hasn’t come back. He left this morning and hasn’t been back since! Is anything the matter? young man (impatiently): I’ll say there is . . . Mrs. Lin, did he really—then, do you know where he went? yang caiyu (worriedly): How should I know? When did he leave the factory? Is anything the matter? . . . young man (does not reply but turns to the foreman): All right, hurry over to Number 2 Plant and take a look. (The foreman looks kuang fu over, then exits.) Mrs. Lin, this is serious. If he doesn’t come . . . (Wipes the perspiration from his forehead) Well, when he does get back, ask him to come over right away. The boss is waiting for him, too. (He hurries off.) yang caiyu : All right . . . (She shuts the gate and looks anxiously at kuang fu.) kuang fu (worriedly): What’s the matter? yang caiyu : There’s been a lot of trouble at the factory lately, but . . . kuang fu : Where did he go? (Uneasily) He wouldn’t do anything . . . yang caiyu (lowers her head): No, I’m sure he wouldn’t, but . . . (She also feels uneasy. Amid the sounds of laughter and cursing, the back gate swings open, and li lingbei staggers in drunk, singing to himself. A crowd of women and children, apparently enjoying the scene he is making, follows along behind, a xiang among them. kuang fu perks up his ears, but yang caiyu is accustomed to such performances. She glances at the safety razor and pours some water.) li lingbei (drunkenly): You want a song, all right, you’ll get one, that’s nothing to . . . (Sings) “The sun is sinking, the moon is rising, it is twilight. When I gaze on the lovely child, I can hold back no longer, the tears fall like pearls from my eyes . . .” voice (outside the gate): Great! About as good as the master Ma Lianliang!5 second voice : One more verse! third voice : Hey, Li Lingbei! Your “lovely child” is dead! Dead! li lingbei (suddenly turns around): Goddamn it, who says so, who says so? Our A Qing is a general; he may be a division commander, or a commissioner, or maybe . . . maybe . . . first voice : Or maybe he’s cannon fodder by now! second voice : Don’t interrupt him; let him sing!

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li lingbei (threatening a child by the gate with his fist): Goddamn it, even you dare to treat me bad too, huh? (The children give a yell and scatter, then with a sound of laughter begin to gather again.) When A Qing comes back a general, I’ll be . . . (speech thickening) the patriarch, goddamn it . . . (Walks up to zhao zhenyu and rudely snatches his newspaper away, then points to it) Mr. . . . Mr. . . . Mr. Zhao, is there anything in the paper about General Li, General Li A Qing coming to Shanghai? (zhao zhenyu smiles at him.) When there is, you . . . you tell me, and I . . . I’ll buy you a drink! (Returns the newspaper) Goddamn it, one fine day A Qing’ll come home . . . (Lurches upstairs, singing plaintively) “With tears of sorrow, I enter the camp. My brows are knit in worry; I am hungry and cold, trembling . . .” zhao zhenyu (gets to his feet and disperses the onlookers): Nothing to see here .  .  . (Turns his head and spots a xiang , grabs her) So you’re enjoying the show, too. I’ve told you before, when Li Lingbei comes around, you’re not to laugh. You . . . you . . . (Unconcerned whether or not she understands him) You just exult in another person’s pain, don’t you? That, that . . . (The sky grows even darker. yang caiyu turns on a lamp and, after pouring out some water for kuang fu, watches him.) kuang fu : What was that all about? yang caiyu : The roomer in the attic, a strange man. He had an only son, who joined the army during the January 28 Campaign against the Japanese and was killed.6 They never found the body. He insists that his son is still alive and is a general. He’s not quite right in the head. kuang fu : Mm . . . (He is affected by this; he begins to shave.) li lingbei’s voice (plaintively): “.  .  . I can hold back no longer, the tears fall like pearls from my eyes . . .” (huang’s father comes down the stairs holding the boy. There is distant thunder.) guifen (from the garret door): Dad, it’s late, don’t take him out! (huang’s father has not heard this; he sees zhao zhenyu and waves to him eagerly.) zhao zhenyu : Mr. Huang! It’s going to rain! huang’s father (has not heard this, either): I’m going back home tonight (with a touch of sadness), so I’m holding him a little extra, ha, ha . . . zhao zhenyu : What’s that, going back to the country? (Turns to ask his wife) Didn’t you say they were going to the theater tonight? (huang jiamei leans out the window.) huang’s father : Too much rain this year; I’ve got to replant the spring shoots in the lower fields. zhao zhenyu : Enjoy yourself a few more days. There are a lot more places to see in Shanghai.

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huang’s father (playing with the child, to himself ): All right, all right, let’s go out and I’ll get you something to eat . . . (Just as he is about to step out the gate, there is a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder. He turns around and looks at the sky.) (To zhao zhenyu ) That’s why I say the world has changed. When we were young, there would always be thunder with the lightning, but now that it’s the Republic, the lightning doesn’t make a sound anymore, right? They say, “The thunder god’s drum is broken.” zhao zhenyu : What do you mean? Wasn’t that thunder just now? (A fter a moment of consideration, understands) Ha, ha . . . (L oudly) Mr. Huang! The thunder god’s drum isn’t broken; it still makes a noise. You’re hard of hearing, so you just can’t hear it, ha, ha, ha . . . huang’s father : What’s that? What I say is if there isn’t any thunder, the spring flowers will . . . zhao zhenyu (suppresses his laughter with some effort, to his wife): Did you hear that? He said now that it’s the Republic, there’s no thunder anymore, ha, ha, ha—(earnestly, to huang’s father ) the thunder in the sky is electricity, and it makes a noise even with a change of rule . . . (There is another roll of distant thunder.) Yes, yes, there it goes again. huang’s father (puzzled): What’s that? In the sky? . . . zhao zhenyu (loudly): The thunder in the sky isn’t a bodhisattva, it’s electricity (into his ear), electricity! huang’s father (still uncomprehending): City? What about the city? zhao zhenyu (loudly): Electricity, like in an electric light . . . zhao’s wife : We’re out of soy sauce, go get some! zhao zhenyu (loudly): The clouds in the sky have a kind of electricity in them, elec— zhao’s wife (holds the soy sauce bottle under his nose): Go buy some soy sauce! zhao zhenyu (without thinking, to his wife in an even louder voice): Have A Niu go buy it! zhao’s wife (startled, then angrily): I’m not deaf! (The usually melancholy huang jiamei finds himself smiling at this.) zhao zhenyu (with sudden realization): Ah, right you are. (Softly) Have A Niu go buy it, all right? (Turns back to huang’s father , softly) There’s a kind of electricity in the sky . . . zhao’s wife (angrily): A Niu’s studying. (She stuffs the soy sauce bottle into his hand.) zhao zhenyu (out of excuses, to huang’s father , loudly): Wait, I’ll be right back. (He exits.) huang’s father (confused, to zhao’s wife ): What was he talking about? Hm, my bad ears . . . (He turns and goes upstairs.) guifen (just coming down with a pail, from the stairs): Be careful, Dad. (She turns on the stairway light.)

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huang’s father (startled): Mm . . . (He looks at the light, then continues upstairs.) zhao’s wife (notices guifen coming down): Say, why is your father-in-law going back tonight? (guifen nods but makes no reply.) Is there something urgent? At home? guifen : Older people sometimes act a little funny! He just upped and said he wanted to go, and off he’s going tonight. zhao’s wife (surreptitiously): You know (points to the parlor, softly) Mrs. Lin’s former husband . . . zhao zhenyu (reenters and sees his wife’s expression): Incorrigible! I keep telling you not to meddle in other people’s business, and that goes for other people’s husbands, too— zhao’s wife (interrupting angrily): Pah! (In a low voice) Then what are you doing meddling in mine? zhao zhenyu (scratches his head, suddenly remembers something): Ah, where’s old Mr. Huang from upstairs? We haven’t finished our conversation. zhao’s wife (to guifen , surreptitiously as before): Just now I heard Lin tell him such and such about Baozhen . . . (When a xiang comes over to listen in, angrily) What are you listening for? Little brat! (A gain to guifen ) Lin ran off, and I just now heard her crying. Good heavens, it’s really a mess! Have you seen him? guifen (shakes her head): Is he still here? zhao’s wife (nodding): Uh-huh, with rags on his back, like Xue Pinggui in the play . . . 7 (She is about to go on, but lin zhicheng , exuberant, enters through the back gate. She quickly swallows what she was going to say and assumes a bland expression. He has a bottle of liquor and some snacks; as usual, he ignores everyone as he walks in.) zhao zhenyu (noticing): Oh, Mr. Lin! (Stands and points to a newspaper item) Today your factory— (When lin zhicheng walks on past, seemingly oblivious, zhao zhenyu sits down again. zhao’s wife excitedly watches lin zhicheng walk away.) yang caiyu (looks at kuang fu, now clean shaven): Now, don’t you feel a lot younger? (When lin zhicheng enters without saying a word, yang caiyu and kuang fu step away from each other, the latter feeling somewhat ill at ease.) Young Chen from the factory was here just now; he said they want you. lin zhicheng (morosely): I know. (He hands yang caiyu the bottle and the food.) yang caiyu : Is there something the matter at the factory? He said they want you to come right away. lin zhicheng : I know. We were out of food, so I went to the little place on the corner and ordered a few dishes. (To kuang fu ) I thought we’d do a little drinking tonight. kuang fu : Zhicheng, you— lin zhicheng (with unnatural joviality): Fusheng! It’s been a long time since we’ve had a meal together. You don’t drink, I know, but you’ve got to have a glass tonight.

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I haven’t had a drink in a long time myself, but I feel very good today. You’ll be glad to know I’ve been liberated. kuang fu (pained): Zhicheng, don’t talk like that. lin zhicheng : No, no, I feel so relieved now. I’ve been freed from the life I’ve been living: taking it from one side and dishing it out to the other. (L oudly) I’m out of a job, but from now on I don’t have to act against my own conscience toward anyone. kuang fu and yang caiyu (almost simultaneously): What have you . . . lin zhicheng : Ridiculous, wanting me to go out and hire gangsters to beat somebody up. Hah! Why should I do a filthy job like that? I quit instead! Hah, what a relief! Head of the labor section, always so high and mighty ( gets increasingly excited), well, I saw through him today! (To yang caiyu ) How about fixing something to eat? kuang fu (concerned): Relax a little, Zhicheng; you look exhausted! lin zhicheng : No, no, I feel just fine. A big stone that’s been pressing down on my mind has finally been taken away! Fusheng! It’s strange, isn’t it? I was always afraid of losing my job. Whenever they were making noises at the factory about letting people go, I’d always go in and take a look at the head man’s expression. And whenever he’d send for me, I could feel all the blood in my body rushing to my face. But today when he got blue in the face, pounded on the desk, and said, “Get out!” I wasn’t frightened a bit, I was very calm. I can hardly believe it myself. yang caiyu (carrying a basin of water to him): You . . . lin zhicheng (still in a state of excitement): Plant manager isn’t a job for a human being at all. The ones over you treat you like an ox, and to the ones under you you’re a dog. From morning to night, nobody, top or bottom, will give you the time of day. But now I don’t have to take the rap for anybody; I don’t have to be treated like a dog by anybody. (Hysterically) Ha, ha, ha. kuang fu : Don’t get too excited now, Zhicheng— lin zhicheng : But first of all, you’ve got to be happy for me, that I got out of that kind of life! yang caiyu (unable to keep from asking): Then from now on you— lin zhicheng : From now on. Hm . . . (He washes his face. At this moment zhao’s wife seizes an opportunity to peer in; meanwhile a xiang , seeing that her mother is absent, makes a beeline out the gate.) zhao zhenyu : A Xiang, A Xiang! (zhao’s wife glances back. A restaurant delivery boy enters through the back gate with a food basket and heads upstairs. He knocks at shi xiaobao’s door and, when there is no answer, peeks through the crack in the door. He puts the basket down before the door and leaves. lin zhicheng finishes washing his face. With yang caiyu gone to prepare dinner, he walks up to kuang fu and is about to say something, then hesitates.) lin zhicheng : Uh, Fusheng! kuang fu : Yes?

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lin zhicheng : Can we still be friends . . . the way we were before? kuang fu : Of course . . . but about this matter, I still have to . . . no, ahh, I just don’t know what to say . . . (lin zhicheng sits down dejectedly. zhao’s wife returns to her room, finds a xiang gone, and runs to the gate.) zhao’s wife : A Xiang, A Xiang! (Goes out the gate, then comes in dragging a xiang ) Twerp! Fooling around outside all day, don’t you want to eat anything? (On the landing, guifen is cooking on the kerosene stove. yang caiyu is about to go out to buy groceries.) lin zhicheng (routinely): Isn’t Baozhen back yet? Yang, go look for Baozhen! (Outside the gate, there are the sounds of peddlers as usual.)

A CT 3 (The evening of the same day. In the parlor, after dinner, lin zhicheng has had a little too much to drink and is slumped in a chair. yang caiyu is silently gathering up the dishes. kuang fu is engrossed in a conversation with baozhen , while a xiang sits beside them, staring at kuang fu. The room above the parlor is dark and empty. In the garret, guifen is busy packing her father-in-law’s things. In the scullery, zhao zhenyu is contentedly reading a book; he frequently waves his head back and forth while reciting a passage. In one hand he holds a rush fan, with which he mechanically drives off the mosquitoes. zhao’s wife is wiping her hands after having finished washing the dishes. a niu is bent over his homework at the table. There is the sound of rain. In the distance, a popular Cantonese song can be heard on a radio. When the curtain rises, kuang fu and baozhen are laughing.) kuang fu : Now that’s interesting. baozhen (with a touch of self-satisfaction): That kind of thing happens a lot. When a “little teacher” holds class, the grown-ups sometimes like to make trouble. For example, we would ask, “Do you understand that? Those who do, raise your hands,” and at that point they would stick their feet up, just to have fun with us. So I told everybody, “Don’t pay any attention to them. Grown-ups who don’t know how to behave are worse than we children.” The children ignored them and studied as usual, and later on they stopped trying to fight me. kuang fu : Hm . . . baozhen : The “middle teacher” who teaches us said to me that they must have been thinking how humiliating it was for a child to know something they didn’t. kuang fu : Are there a lot of those “big students”? baozhen : I teach five: a fruit seller, a laborer—there’s an old man whose grandson is as tall as I am.

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kuang fu : Then you— a xiang : Baozhen, teach me a song. baozhen : Wait a minute for your brother to get here. I’m teaching him a really good one. a xiang : I still haven’t learned the one you taught me yesterday. baozhen : Yesterday’s? Hm . . . (As she goes through the song on the piano, kuang fu avidly watches them.) a niu (taking his schoolbook over to his father): Dad, “ ‘A’ saves sixty-five dollars a month; after three years and eight months, what do his total savings come to?” What’s the answer? zhao zhenyu (assuming a strict attitude): A Niu! If you bother me again when I’m reading, you can forget about hearing any more of my stories. a niu (goes to his mother): Mom, somebody saves sixty-five dollars every month; after three years and eight months, how much does he have altogether? zhao’s wife : Saves money? Who is that, pray tell? If we don’t run into debt we’re doing all right. Think we have anything leftover? Sixty-five dollars every month! Are you dreaming? a niu : It’s in the book. zhao’s wife : What does something in a book have to do with us? Sixty-five dollars, hah! If your dad has six dollars and fifty cents left every month, it’s a miracle! a niu (can do nothing now but go back to the table): Three years and eight months, three years, thirty-six months . . . (huang jiamei , holding an umbrella, returns with bananas, apples, and biscuits; he hurries upstairs. lin zhicheng tries to stand up, but his legs give way, and he sits down again.) lin zhicheng : Hm, I have such a feeling of relief tonight! huang’s father (loudly): I told you before not to buy anything; take it back to the store, go on, take it back! guifen (loudly): It’s nothing much, just a snack for the trip. huang’s father : I don’t want anything! Jiamei, I can’t eat that foreign stuff . . . yang caiyu (helps lin zhicheng to his feet): You’ve had too much; go to bed. lin zhicheng No, no, just a drop or two . . . kuang fu : Go take a rest, Zhicheng! I—I— lin zhicheng : No, no, I want to have a talk with you. (yang caiyu helps him into the back room.) a niu (once again takes the book to his mother): Mom, a man named Wang gets paid three hundred and fifty dollars a month, and a man named Li gets two hundred and eighty. After three years, what’s— zhao’s wife (before he can finish, as if exploding): I don’t want to hear any more of that business! Your dad doesn’t even make thirty-five dollars a month! zhao zhenyu (startled): What’s that? a niu (pleading): Tell me! The teacher’s going to ask me tomorrow. It’s something in the book. A man named Wang gets three hundred and fifty dollars a month . . .

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zhao’s wife (irritably): Go ask somebody who’s rich; I’ve never laid eyes on three hundred and fifty dollars in my whole life! a niu (in resignation goes to his father): Dad, after three years, what’s the difference between the amount of money each one has? zhao zhenyu : Hm, hm, three hundred and fifty and two hundred and what? a niu : Two hundred and eighty . . . zhao zhenyu : What you have to do first is find out the difference between the two men’s salaries of one month, do you get that? (He does some calculations with his pen.) zhao’s wife (still incensed): Three hundred and fifty dollars a month’s salary, saves sixty-five dollars a month, fantastic! a niu (turns around in rebuttal): It’s in the book! zhao’s wife : In the book, huh? This kind of book is for the rich people! zhao zhenyu (to a niu ): Hey, hey, look, look at what I’m doing here. (yang caiyu waits for lin zhicheng to get into bed, then pours a cup of tea and places it on the bedside table.) yang caiyu : Would you like some tea? (lin zhicheng mumbles a reply, as if already asleep. She puts a small quilt over him. Carefully opening a chest with a key, she takes out a large quilt and spreads it over a smaller bed. She then takes the pillow from the small bed into the parlor. baozhen finishes teaching her song.) kuang fu (with great enthusiasm): Hm, then on rainy days like these, don’t your students skip class? They’re all . . . baozhen (proudly): Not a bit. Not only on rainy days, they come even when it’s snowing, and they’re not a minute late. They’re more on time even than the students at school assembly. A few days ago a fruit seller’s kid— yang caiyu (interrupts): Calling the others “kids” makes you an adult, I suppose? (She laughs.) baozhen : A fruit seller’s daughter was coming to learn how to read. When somebody outside yelled, “Anybody have any bananas for sale?” she didn’t even answer but ran straight over to us with basket and everything. kuang fu : Hm, that’s a good story. But I’ll tell you something: when we were little, we’d always pretend to have a stomachache and ask the teacher to let us stay home. baozhen (innocently): Then you weren’t a very good student! yang caiyu : Baozhen! baozhen : If one of our students gets lazy and doesn’t come to class, the next time he has to write on the board! “So-and-so is a lazybones and doesn’t work”! kuang fu (unable to keep from laughing; then, off guard): But when you were little, you used to be lazy, too! baozhen : I was? How did you know that? (yang caiyu gives kuang fu a warning glance.) kuang fu : Ah, that’s not right; I was talking about my own daughter. She’s the same age as you . . .

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baozhen (looks at kuang fu closely, then at yang caiyu ): Mom! (Steps away) I have a question to ask you. yang caiyu : What? (She follows her.) baozhen (softly, so that kuang fu cannot hear): Just now Mrs. Zhao told me—(whispers in her ear) . . . Is that right? (She glances at kuang fu.) yang caiyu (somewhat embarrassed): Nonsense! Oh, don’t bother about it—that’s something that concerns grown-ups; just don’t bother about that. baozhen (pouting): I’m a grown-up now. Tell me, come on, tell me, is it the truth? Hey . . . (She leans up so that her ear is close to her mother’s mouth.) yang caiyu : What a nuisance; you’re such a busybody! baozhen : Is it true? Nod your head if it is! yang caiyu : Busybody! (She nods.) baozhen : Ah! (She jumps up and looks at kuang fu without blinking. lin zhicheng turns over, listening.) kuang fu (unmindful now of anything else, walks toward her): Baozhen! Say it to me! Say it to me! baozhen (faltering): Da—(runs away bashfully) . . . A Niu! A Niu! kuang fu (breaks out in fresh, spontaneous laughter, in sharp contrast to his previous melancholy and taciturnity): Ha, ha . . . (The laughter arouses lin zhicheng ; he sits up and listens.) a niu : I’m busy! You come over here! yang caiyu (joyfully): Do you think she . . . ? kuang fu : There’s a saying from overseas, “We live through our issue”! The spirit I had ten years ago still survives in Baozhen. She has taught me so much! yang caiyu (gripping his hand): That’s right, and you’re still young. For her sake, you should try all the harder now! (Picks up a mirror from the table and holds it up to him) See? (She laughs.) kuang fu : Oh, I’m so grateful to you. And you, too, should— yang caiyu : Fusheng! (They embrace.) baozhen (at the door of the back room): A Niu, come on, I’ll teach you a song! a niu : Wait a minute. Figure it out for me; A gets a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars a month, and B gets . . . zhao’s wife (furiously): I don’t want to hear any more about it! If you have to do your arithmetic, go to the front room. (Muttering) Three hundred and fifty indeed . . . zhao zhenyu : Ha, ha . . . (Making a face, a niu tiptoes to the parlor. On hearing his approach, yang caiyu steps away.)

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yang caiyu (pointing to kuang fu ’s shirt): Oh, it’s torn here. Take it off and I’ll mend it for you. You won’t get too cold, will you? kuang fu (taking off his shirt): No, no, it’s so hot and humid. yang caiyu (hands him his jacket, now dried): You’re not very strong. If you’re not careful, you’ll catch a chill . . . baozhen (to a niu ): Where’s your dad? Go get him to tell a story. a niu : Let’s sing first, then he’ll come over. (baozhen brings out her toy piano and a songbook. After mulling things over for a long while, lin zhicheng gets up in a determined manner, then holds his head in his hands, thinking. huang jiamei glumly comes downstairs carrying a net basket.) guifen (at the garret door): Jiamei, we need three rickshaws. huang jiamei (turns his head): What’s that? guifen : I’m going, too. huang jiamei : Then the baby will wake up . . . guifen : It won’t matter if he does. I’ve arranged with Mrs. Zhao to look after him. (huang jiamei puts the basket under the stairs and leaves to get the rickshaws. a xiang sneaks out in the direction of the parlor.) zhao zhenyu (to his wife): Huh, is he really leaving? (She pays no attention. zhao zhenyu stretches.) Ah, ah . . . Where’s A Niu? A Xiang! (He stealthily gets to his feet and glances at his wife, thinks about sneaking away as well, but just as he is about to move—) zhao’s wife : Where are you going? zhao zhenyu : Nowhere; I’m going to look for A Xiang! zhao’s wife : No you don’t! Forgetting your own age and learning songs from children; aren’t you ashamed? zhao zhenyu : What’s the matter with that? Confucius said that to feel no shame— zhao’s wife (in a swift counterattack): I don’t want to hear about your precious Confucius! (From outside the gate come sounds of rickshaws and voices.) huang jiamei’s voice : Come in and get the luggage! (Enters and shouts upstairs) The rickshaws are here! guifen’s voice : You come up! Papa won’t let me carry the luggage! voice of huang’s father : It’s not heavy, not heavy at all . . . huang jiamei (going to a rickshaw man): The net basket goes. (Turns to zhao zhenyu ) Mr. Zhao, sorry, but would you mind keeping an eye on things? zhao zhenyu : Fine, fine. huang jiamei (going upstairs): I’ll get it, Dad! huang’s father (comes down carrying an old-fashioned chest): If I can’t even manage this little thing, how am I supposed to do any planting? Have to haul a load of rice, too . . . (He refuses huang jiamei ’s offer of help.) huang jiamei : Dad, let the rickshaw man . . .

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guifen (comes down holding the boy): Heavens, older people are really— (She turns the light off in the garret.) zhao zhenyu (sticks up his thumb toward huang’s father ): Bravo! Bravo! huang’s father (proudly): That’s nothing; when I was young, I used to haul two hundred pounds of grain and still . . . (When a drop of rain from the eaves falls on his neck, looks up at the sky) Still raining? Damn! The lord in heaven never gives poor people a break! Got to get back right away! The land by Xia’s Pond must be washed away by now! (When a rickshaw man comes up to take the luggage, he is refused firmly, but to huang jiamei , as if suddenly remembering something) Keep an eye on this! I . . . guifen : Mrs. Zhao, I’m really sorry to trouble you with the baby. He’s sleeping right now . . . zhao’s wife : Fine, I’ll hold him. huang’s father (comes back in): Let me hold him one more time. (Takes the baby) Mm, sound asleep. (L eans down and nuzzles him) Mm, mm, I’m not getting any younger, and I never know what the next day is going to bring. (Half to huang jiamei , half to himself ) You never come out to the farm, and I can’t come to see you very often. Maybe . . . I won’t be able to hold him too many more times. Mm, one more time. (To guifen ) Take good care of him now. Let him eat all he wants, and whatever he wants. None of this foreign business about several hours between meals; you’ll starve him to skin and bones that way! (When no one is looking, stuffs a paper envelope into the child’s clothing) Ha, ha, ha . . . (To zhao zhenyu ) Once you’ve held your own grandson, you’ve lived a full life. Ha, ha . . . zhao zhenyu (loudly into huang’s father’s ear): Fortune has been good to you! huang’s father (joyfully): Thank you! Goodbye! (Gives the child to guifen , who puts him on the Zhaos’ bed.) huang jiamei : Mr. Zhao, I’m sorry to trouble you like this! zhao zhenyu : Not at all. huang’s father (at the gate, turns back once more to zhao zhenyu and the others): Come on down to the country and see us sometime! Ha, ha . . . (huang jiamei and his wife exit with huang’s father . The sound of rickshaw men shouting is heard.) zhao’s wife : A Niu! A Xiang! (The steadily increasing rain pours through the downspouts.) Damn, it just keeps on raining—for most of the month, drip, drip, drip! zhao zhenyu : What are you upset about? So it keeps on raining; it’ll clear up someday. zhao’s wife : It’ll clear up, huh? Take a look for yourself! zhao zhenyu (placidly): Even so, do you say the rain will last all year? zhao’s wife (angrily): I’m through talking to you! (Sees zhao zhenyu timidly sneaking out) Where do you think you’re going? zhao zhenyu : Uh, I’m going to check on A Niu . . . zhao’s wife : To check on A Niu! We don’t even have any money for groceries tomorrow, and it seems it’s up to me alone to run this household; as soon as you get home,

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it’s read your newspaper, read your books, blather on about God knows what, and sing songs with the children, not giving a damn about anything to do with household . . . (zhao zhenyu is aware that she is off on another of her tirades and quickens his steps in the direction of the parlor. In the back room, lin zhicheng , after a siege of agonized reflection, gets to his feet, as if he has settled on a plan of action. He stands in the dark, absorbed in thought and listening to the conversation in the front room.) baozhen : When I raise my hand (to a niu and a xiang ), sing in unison, and when I drop my hand, listen to me sing the solo, got that? a xiang (shaking her head): I don’t know it! baozhen : Listen to me play it through first! yang caiyu (finishes with the mending): Finished. Now put it on; it’s going to cool off soon. (She puts it on him.) zhao zhenyu (steps in, mistakes kuang fu, whose back is toward him, for lin zhicheng ): Ah, Mr. Lin, didn’t your factory have a big—(when kuang fu turns his head in zhao zhenyu ’s direction) ah, I’m sorry, uh, uh . . . (To yang caiyu ) Where is Mr. Lin? Has he gone out? I—I was— kuang fu (a bit ill at ease): Your name, sir? zhao zhenyu (searching a long time for a name card but cannot find one): Ah, ah, I’m Zhao Zhenyu. May I ask . . . yang caiyu (speaking for kuang fu ): Mr. Kuang, Zhicheng’s old classmate . . . zhao zhenyu : Oh (offers his hand), it’s a pleasure . . . ha, ha . . . Mr. Lin and I really get along very very well— a niu (before he can finish): Come on, Dad, tell us a story! zhao zhenyu : What, a story? Haven’t I finished telling it? a niu (pushing him): Tell us one! zhao zhenyu : Ha, ha . . . We have a visitor today, and we’re talking. Uh, sing some songs, why don’t you? baozhen : No, no, tell us a story first, and after you get through, I’ll teach you a fine song, one I just learned today! zhao zhenyu (to kuang fu ): Will you look at them, always wanting me to tell—ha, ha, what’ll I tell this time? Say, how about an old favorite, one about Napoléon . . . a xiang : No, you’ve told us about Napoléon ten times already. zhao zhenyu : But you’ve forgotten what I just asked you, haven’t you? When Napoléon was sent in exile to Elba, what did he say? a xiang : No, no! zhao zhenyu : Well . . . well then, you sing your songs now and let me think of something . . . (Turns back and glances into the room, then to yang caiyu ) Has Mr. Lin gone out? yang caiyu : No, he had a little too much to drink and is sleeping in back . . . zhao zhenyu : Hm? Mr. Lin drinking? That’s strange; I thought he never used to touch it. a niu : Dad, listen to this, “Brave little children . . .”

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(baozhen plays the piano. Meanwhile, lin zhicheng quietly packs some things together in the back room, as if preparing to leave. yang caiyu, reminded by zhao zhenyu, goes to the back room to look in on him and is astonished to see him standing in the dark.) yang caiyu : Oh dear, you’re up? (kuang fu listens to this intently, while zhao zhenyu and his children are listening to baozhen teaching her song. lin zhicheng gestures to her to be quiet.) What’s the matter with you? (Turns on the light) Aren’t you feeling well? (Sees that he is packing and stops in surprise) What are you doing? (In the lane, a wonton peddler shouts.) zhao zhenyu : Who taught it to you? baozhen : Never mind about that. I’ll teach it to you now. (She plays the piano.) yang caiyu (alarmed, but softly): Zhicheng! What are you doing? You— lin zhicheng (looks at her without replying, then, as if having made up his mind, stretches out his hand to her): I have to be going now, Caiyu. yang caiyu : Going? (She grips his hand.) lin zhicheng (nods): I’ve nothing to worry about now, and it’s time for me to leave. yang caiyu : But . . . (She turns and is about to call to kuang fu but is pulled back by lin zhicheng .) lin zhicheng (softly): Don’t let Fusheng find out; let me go quietly! (Grips yang caiyu ’s hands again) I wish you both well. yang caiyu : No, no, Zhicheng, where are you going? lin zhicheng (shakes his head): Right now I don’t know myself, but no matter what . . . yang caiyu (panicky): What do you mean? Are you going to— lin zhicheng (stops her): No, I’m free now, and content. Just as long as you and Fusheng can forgive me, I’ll have peace of mind. (kuang fu is listening closely, his expression troubled.) yang caiyu (weeping): But you . . . lin zhicheng : Don’t cry! No matter what, the world has a lot of room in it, and there has to be one place where I won’t be the odd man out. All right then! Caiyu! Forget about me, forget all about me. Look on these past eight years as a dream. yang caiyu : No, no, you can’t go, I—I can’t let you go—I know (weeping), I know you don’t want to leave us— lin zhicheng (in a burst of emotion): Caiyu! (He holds her tightly as she sobs. kuang fu is standing, lost in thought.) baozhen : Good, now watch my hand, one, two, three . . . (She sings.) “Little children, little children, Everyone clasp hands and join in the game!”

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all (in unison): “Little children, little children, Everyone clasp hands and join in the game!” baozhen (sings): “Who is a brave little child?” all (in unison): “I am, I am!” baozhen (sings): “Let me ask you this.” all (in unison): “Go ahead and ask, go ahead and ask!” baozhen (sings): “If the bandits come, will you fight?” all (in unison): “We’ll fight, we’ll fight! If one’s not enough, everybody help!” baozhen (sings): “Right! If one’s not enough, everybody help! When you walk in the dark, are you afraid?” all (in unison): “I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid! If I fall, I can pick myself up!” baozhen (sings): “Right! If I fall, I can pick myself up!” (kuang fu becomes absorbed in their song.) (Sings) “When you cry, are you foolish or not?” all (in unison): “You’re foolish, you’re foolish, You’re a good-for-nothing fool!” baozhen (sings): “Right! You’re a good-for-nothing fool! When the going gets rough, are you afraid?” all (in unison): “I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid! The rougher it gets, the braver I am!”

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baozhen (sings): “Right! The rougher it gets, the braver I am! Good! We’re all brave little children! All uniting to save our country!” all (in unison): “Save our country!” baozhen and others (in unison): “Good! We’re all brave little children! All uniting to save our country! Save our country!” (The children and zhao zhenyu applaud enthusiastically.) zhao zhenyu : That was wonderful! “When you cry, are you foolish or not?” that’s in the story about Napoléon, too. Napoléon had never cried before, so— a niu : Baozhen, sing the first few lines again by yourself! baozhen : You still don’t get it? You really are an ox—(looks at zhao zhenyu and laughs) then listen! (She softly sings again, everyone joining in. kuang fu comes to a decision, and his expression is no longer as forlorn as before. As if to keep baozhen and the others from noticing, he takes up a pen, leans over the desk, and writes something. He then stands and walks over to baozhen .) kuang fu : Come here! Let me look at you! baozhen (stops singing, surprised): What’s the matter? Don’t you think we sing well? kuang fu (nods emphatically): You sing very well, Baozhen. You deserve to be a “little teacher”; you’ve certainly taught me a lot! (Upon hearing kuang fu ’s voice, lin zhicheng and yang caiyu fall silent.) baozhen (innocently): You sing, too, okay? kuang fu : No, no, it’s all clear in my mind now, Baozhen! Let me have another look at you! (Overcome with emotion, kisses her tenderly) You be a brave little child now! My blessings go with you, through the rest of your life! Goodbye! baozhen (changes from shyness to surprise): What do you mean? Are you going? Da— kuang fu (stops her): Goodbye! (He holds her tightly, then, taking his hat and stepping out into the rain, quickly pulls the gate open and is gone.) baozhen (puzzled, as she watches him leave): Mom! Daddy—is going away! (a niu, a xiang , and zhao zhenyu are at a loss. lin zhicheng and yang caiyu run out, yang caiyu wiping her eyes with her sleeve.) lin zhicheng : What’s happened? yang caiyu : Going away?! (She sees the note on the table.) lin zhicheng (snatches up the note): He . . . yang caiyu : What does it say?

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lin zhicheng (reads aloud in a puzzled tone): “It makes me very happy to know now that your life together means more than just survival! I realize that by staying on, I would be disturbing the peace you share . . . I shall always love you both . . .” yang caiyu (half crazed): Fusheng! (Rushing out into the rain without waiting for lin zhicheng ) Fusheng! lin zhicheng (comes to his senses): Yes, I’ve got to get him back! (He rushes out.) zhao zhenyu : What is going on? (baozhen , shocked, looks at the others. a xiang runs out to look but shrinks back immediately when the cold rain hits her. Amid the sound of rain and the shouts of the wonton peddler, the back gate squeaks open, and shi xiaobao enters. Her clothes are torn, and her hair is awry. Her face is streaked with tears. She almost hurls a handful of coins at a rickshaw man, and half of them fall onto the ground. As the rickshaw man picks up the coins, he stares at her in surprise. zhao’s wife , startled from her nap by the noise, looks up, glaring, and sees shi xiaobao’s sorry condition, then, curious, gets up. While shi xiaobao is running straight upstairs, zhao’s wife follows her to the staircase and stares upward. shi xiaobao runs into her room, turns on the light, and collapses onto the bed, weeping.) shi xiaobao : Johnnie, Johnnie . . . (She sobs.) zhao’s wife (with a disgusted expression): Pah! (Looks toward the parlor) A Niu! A Xiang! It’s late! (On hearing his wife’s shouts, zhao zhenyu returns on tiptoe.) (Angrily) You’re hopeless, always with those children. A Niu! A Xiang! a niu (makes a face): We’re singing. (There is a knock at the back gate, and when zhao zhenyu opens it, huang jiamei and guifen enter, their clothes drenched.) huang jiamei (notices zhao zhenyu ): Sorry! In all this rain! (To his wife, resentfully) I said to take a rickshaw, but no, you wanted to walk . . . guifen (to zhao’s wife ): Thank you, Mrs. Zhao. Did he wake up? zhao’s wife : No, he’s been sleeping nicely. guifen (holding the child): Thank you. It’s late; see you tomorrow! (Goes to the staircase, then to huang jiamei ) Yes, we could have taken a rickshaw, and there would have gone tomorrow’s grocery money .  .  . (Climbs a couple of steps, then turns around, as if having made a sudden discovery) Jiamei! huang jiamei : What? guifen : Look! It’s . . . (Takes a red envelope from the child’s pocket) Your father must have left it for him. huang jiamei (his eyes wide with astonishment): Huh? Let me see! (As he grabs the envelope, one or two silver dollars roll onto the ground.) guifen (snatches them up): What in the world . . . huang jiamei (counts out several bills and three silver dollars, then stands stock-still on the stairs, a grief-stricken expression on his pale face): Probably the only money Dad

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has left after all the sweat and pain he’s been through! (Bitterly) We tried to deceive him! We tried to deceive him, but he knew all the time! (guifen suddenly breaks out in tears.) (In sorrow, to the baby) You must never forget, your grandfather’s hopes in me have come to nothing, and now they lie in you! guifen (stops him): Sh, don’t wake him up . . . (With her head bent down, she carries her son upstairs, followed by huang jiamei . The garret light comes on, and guifen ’s sobs can be heard faintly. The front gate opens, and lin zhicheng enters holding yang caiyu; both are soaked by the rain. As if in a daze, they walk into their room and forget to close the door, the children watching them in amazement. lin zhicheng stands with his head bowed.) baozhen : Mom, what’s the matter? yang caiyu (pays no attention; after a moment, suddenly, to lin zhicheng ): He wouldn’t . . . he wouldn’t take his own life, would he? lin zhicheng (startled): What? yang caiyu : What if something should happen . . . (She gives a choked sob.) lin zhicheng (gravely): I think you can rest assured on that score. Look, he says, “Baozhen has taught me so very much. In leaving you, I am not running in flight, and I will never disappoint you. Live your lives in courage, my friends. Goodbye!” (yang caiyu reads the letter.) He will hold on to his courage, for all of us who suffer . . . yang caiyu (bursts out in bitter weeping): Fusheng! (Without a word lin zhicheng steps up and puts his arm around her heaving shoulders. There is the sound of rain. baozhen walks over and tugs at her mother’s dress. li lingbei comes down from the attic, one step at a time, singing sadly to himself.) li lingbei (sings): “Day after day, burning oil pours onto my heart . . .” a niu (frowns toward baozhen and a xiang ): Oh, there goes Li Lingbei again. Don’t listen to him; let’s sing! (Sings) “When you cry, are you foolish or not?” a niu and a xiang (in unison): “You’re foolish, you’re foolish, You’re a good-for-nothing fool!” baozhen (joins in): “Right! You’re a good-for-nothing fool! When the going gets rough, are you afraid?” a niu and a xiang (in unison): “You’re foolish, you’re foolish, You’re a good-for-nothing fool!”

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baozhen (sings): “Right! The rougher it gets, the braver I am!” (lin zhicheng and yang caiyu realize what the children are singing and look up. While his wife is turned the other way, zhao zhenyu comes in again on tiptoe and listens to the children’s singing.) all (in unison): “Good! We’re all brave little children, All uniting to save our country! Save our country!” (During the song, the curtain slowly falls.)

Not es

1.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

7.

This translation is based on the text in Zhongguo xin wenxue daxi xubian (Continuation to the Compendium of New Chinese Literature) (Hong Kong: Xianggang wenxue, 1968), 9:379–452. Niu means “ox.” Along with the southern familiar prefix “A,” it makes up the boy’s childhood name; on formal occasions he would be called by his legal given name, Zhen. In the same way, A Xiang is his sister’s childhood name, or “milk name.” “A Tuo” is a derisive term for “stepchild.” “Savings” is a euphemism for a mandatory deduction from a worker’s wages. The “floating corpses” were those of miners and factory workers tossed into rivers after they had been beaten or collapsed from exhaustion under abusive labor conditions. During the 1930s such incidents were familiar enough to inspire the play Fushi (Floating Corpse), by Yu Ling, another communist playwright, written at the same time as Under Shanghai Eaves. For the text of that play, see Yu Ling, Yu Ling juzuo xuan (Selected Plays of Yu Ling) (Beijing: Renmin wenxue, 1958), 136–77. Ma Lianliang (1902–1967) was a leading actor of “old man” (laosheng) roles in opera, whose very successful career lasted until the Cultural Revolution in the mid-1960s. The January 28 Campaign, or Shanghai Incident, of 1932 involved Japanese ground and air attacks on the city of Shanghai to break a boycott there of Japanese goods. Chinese troops assisted by civilians resisted until the Chinese government reached an accommodation with Japan in May of that year. Xue Pinggui is the name of a character in various local traditional operas, a warrior from an impoverished background.

Teahouse (1958) Lao She Tra nsla ted by Y i ng R u oc he ng Revised by Cla i r e C onc e i s on

C ha r a c t e rs silly yang 㬚▙㓱, a male professional beggar who goes from shop to shop reciting improvised doggerel wang lifa 㠩⺉➂, when we first see him, in act 1, he is only a little over twenty years old. Though young, he is already the manager of the Yutai Teahouse because of his father’s early death; shrewd, somewhat selfish, but not really bad at heart tang the oracle 㜼㝰㾌, a man around thirty years old who makes his living by fortune-telling; an opium addict master song 㚁✠㮙, timid and talkative, in his thirties master chang ⒋㙼㮙, a man around thirty years old, upright and robust, a good friend of master song ’s; both regular customers at the Yutai Teahouse li san ⹼㑻, a waiter at the Yutai Teahouse, in his thirties, hardworking and kindhearted erdezi ✠☦㽳, an imperial wrestler, in his twenties master ma ⿷㙼㮙, a minor character, in his thirties, of some influence, who lives off the Christian missionaries and bullies the people pockmark liu ⽁⿳㽳, a professional pimp, vile and venomous, in his thirties kang liu ⶅ⽅, a starving peasant from the outskirts of Beijing, about forty years old tubby huang 奐㈚㽳, an underworld boss, in his forties

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qin zhongyi ㎘㺻㯏, owner of wang lifa’s premises, in his twenties in act 1, son of a rich family, later becomes a capitalist with reformist leanings old man ⹝㑉, eighty-two years old, destitute peasant woman 㦗⡜, in her thirties, so poor that she tries to sell her young daughter little girl 㨏䩦, daughter of the peasant woman , ten years old e unuch pang ㈗㜡⭶, forty years old, having amassed a fortune, wishes to take a wife xiao niur 㨏㇧✛, madame pang ’s personal attendant, in his teens song enzi 㚆✙㽳, an old-fashioned secret agent, in his twenties wu xiangzi ‫ݟ‬㦙㽳, a colleague of song enzi ’s, in his twenties kang shunzi ⶅ侌㽳, daughter of kang liu , fifteen years old in act 1, sold to eunuch pang as his wife wang shufen 㠩㗡➲, wang lifa’s wife, about forty years old, more fair-minded and upright than her husband policeman 㫞ⳁ, in his twenties paperboy ⌔㟣, sixteen years old kang dali ⶅ▙⻲, twenty years old, a son purchased by eunuch pang ; he and his foster mother, kang shunzi , are deeply attached to each other lao lin ⹝⼢, a deserter from the warlord armies, in his thirties lao chen ⹝⒪, another deserter, thirty years old, lao lin ’s sworn brother cui jiufeng ▄ⳕ⟅, a former member of parliament, now in his forties, who devotes himself to Buddhist canonical studies; tenant in the lodging house attached to the Yutai Teahouse army officer ⴎ⤵, thirty years old, with the execution squad wang dashuan 㠩▙㙡, wang lifa’s eldest son, about forty years old, a man of principle zhou xiuhua 㺾㩑⪀, forty years old, wang dashuan ’s wife wang xiaohua 㠩㨏⪂, thirteen-year-old daughter of wang dashuan ding bao ⛃⌒, seventeen-year-old waitress of easy virtue, but with a mind of her own and a lot of courage pockmark liu jr . 㨏⽁⿳㽳, son of pock mark liu , in his thirties, carrying on and advancing his father’s “profession” electricity bill collector 㐟♋☪➱☨, in his forties tang the oracle jr . 㨏㜼㝰㾌, son of tang the oracle , in his thirties, carrying on his father’s profession and entertaining hopes of becoming a “heavenly teacher” in a superstitious cult supported by the KMT chef ming タ㖠⡓, a banquet chef, in his fifties zou fuyuan 㽾⡁㴜, a well-known professional storyteller, in his forties wei fuxi 㢲⡁㥢, originally a storyteller, trained by the same master as zou fuyuan , but now a Peking opera singer, in his thirties fang liu ➝⽅, a crafty dealer in secondhand goods, in his forties che dangdang ⒝☕☕, a dealer in silver dollars, about thirty years old

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madame pang ㈗㙼ㅒㅒ, an ugly and repulsive woman of forty years of age, wife of eunuch pang ’s fourth nephew, aspiring to be the empress of China chunmei ╠み, nineteen years old, bondmaid of madame pang old yang ⹝㬚, peddler of pawned goods, in his thirties erdezi jr . 㨏✠☦㽳, son of erdezi and a professional thug, thirty years old yu houzhai 㲂⨋㷏, wang xiaohua’s teacher in the primary school, in his forties xie yongren 㨩㱪㑈, teacher in the primary school, in his thirties song enzi jr . 㨏㚆✙㽳, son of song enzi , a secret agent like his father, about thirty years old wu xiangzi jr . 㨏‫ݟ‬㦙㽳, son of wu xiangzi , a hereditary secret agent, about thirty years old xiao xinyanr 㨏㨲㬇, a nineteen-year-old waitress of easy virtue director shen 㔮╌⒌, chief of a division in the military police headquarters, forty years old several teahouse customers ␒⶝㑲⡧㑉, all male teahouse waiters , one or two , ␒➟㮥‫ץ‬⢔, male some refugees , of both sexes and all ages , ㅗス㗷㑉, 㱸ㅖ㱸ㇲ, 㱸⹝㱸㔕 s everal lodgers ⤇㴈㽁⶝㗷㑉, all male several soldiers ▙⍤㑻㣗㑉, all male execution squad 㫦▙⼺☨⍤㋡㑉, seven, all male four military policemen 㦌⍤㙼㑉, all male

PRO L OGUE (As some time must be allowed between acts for the actors to change their makeup, I have devised a character [who should be considered as one of the dramatis personae] reciting seemingly improvised rhyme with bamboo clappers, as a sort of entr’acte. That may make the intervals seem shorter and at the same time give people some idea about the background of the play.) silly yang : I’m Silly Yang, and from shop to shop I make my rounds till here I stop. This great teahouse, Yutai by name, A booming business, fortune and fame. Trade is brisk, lots of tea sold, Everyone welcome, young and old. Some sing or hum, others sit and chat, Each in his gown, each in his hat.

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This is where bird fanciers meet, Where cricket and grasshopper owners compete. With tea and snacks, you can while away the day, But not a crumb for those who cannot pay. Here chess players meet for their favorite game, Tasty meatballs, the winners claim. Pomp is loved, but manners one must note, Everything has style, even clearing the throat. But above all else, get this straight, Never, if you please, discuss affairs of state. Matters there, alas, aren’t good at all, The Great Qing Empire seems headed for a fall. Mandarins and generals have one common trick, Faced by foreign armies, they turn tail double quick. Foreign goods you’ll find everywhere, With opium thrown in as an extra fare. The peasants’ plight, words cannot say, Forced to sell their children, there’s no other way. The rich got richer, the poor got worse, Till Tan Sitong demanded a reverse. Kang Youwei supported him and Liang Qichao, All wanting the reforms, here and now. But such major changes the despots’ doom presaged, No wonder the empress dowager was enraged. “Treason!” she screamed, wanting blood, So the movement was crushed, nipped in the bud. But I’d better stop and hold myself in check, Talking too freely will surely risk my neck! Beating my clappers, into the teahouse I go, Hoping that somebody some interest will show. Would you like a story to cheer you up, Of heroes and heroines, while you enjoy your cup? Manager Wang, for you these seem profitable times, Don’t be hard on poor old me, living by my rhymes!

A CT 1 (The time is early autumn in 1898, just after the reform movement, led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, has been crushed. Morning; the place is the Yutai Teahouse, Beijing. The curtain rises: One doesn’ t find large teahouses like this anymore. A few decades ago, every district in Beijing had at least one. Tea was served as well as simple snacks and quick meals. Bird fanciers, after having spent what they considered sufficient time stroll-

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ing about with their caged orioles and thrushes, used to come here every day to rest, sip tea, and demonstrate the singing virtuosity of their birds. The teahouse was also a meeting place for all sorts of discussions and transactions, and a haven for go-betweens and pimps. Gang fights were common in those days, but fortunately there were always friends around to calm things down. Between thirty and fifty thugs from both sides, reconciled through the good offices of a mediator, would gather here to drink tea and consume bowls of noodles with minced pork [a specialty of large teahouses, cheap and easy to prepare], and peace would once more have been restored in the land. In short, the teahouse was a most important institution, a place where people could come for business or just to while away the time. At its tables one could hear the most preposterous stories, such as how a giant spider turned into a demon until it was finally struck by lightning; or the most extraordinary views, such as how far it was possible to prevent all foreign armies from landing by the simple expedient of building a long high wall along the seacoast. Yet this was also the place to learn the latest aria devised by some Peking opera actor or the most sophisticated method for preparing opium. Here, too, one could see newly acquired treasures such as an excavated jade fan pendant or a three-color glazed snuffbox. The teahouse was indeed an important place, almost a center of cultural exchange. Immediately inside the entrance we see the counter and the brick stove [though, for staging purposes, the actual stove can be replaced with the clatter of pots and pans offstage if necessary]. The building is extremely large and high-ceilinged, with rectangular tables, square tables, benches, and stools for customers. Through the window an inner courtyard can be seen, where there is a matted canopy for shade and seats for customers. There are hooks for hanging up birdcages, both in the teahouse and in the courtyard. Paper signs saying do not discuss affairs of state are pasted on walls throughout the teahouse. Two customers, whose names are not given, are softly humming a tune, keeping time with their hands, their eyes narrowed and their heads rocking. Two or three others, also nameless, are fascinated by some crickets in an earthenware jar. Two men in gray gowns, song enzi and wu xiangzi , are talking to each other in whispers. From their appearance one can deduce they are agents from the Northern Yamen, the security authority in those days. Another gang fight has been brewing today. The reason, according to some sources, was a dispute over the ownership of a pigeon. It seemed quite likely that the whole affair would end in violence. If so, then a loss of life would result, for the thugs invited by both parties included characters well-known for their physical prowess, such as the imperial wrestlers and guards of the imperial storehouses. Fortunately, nothing of the sort will happen, for before either party had assembled their ranks, mediators were already busy trying to bring about some kind of truce; so now the two sides are meeting in the teahouse. Throughout the first part of this act, these thugs, in twos and threes, looking belligerent and dressed in short clothes [for fighting, as opposed to long gowns], will enter the teahouse and head for the inner courtyard. master ma , alone in a corner, sits inconspicuously drinking tea.

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wang lifa sits at a vantage point behind the counter. tang the oracle enters, his shoes half off his feet and wearing an extremely long and dirty gown, some scraps of paper tucked into his hat near the temples.) wang lifa : Mr. Tang, why not take a walk somewhere else? tang the oracle (with a wan smile): Oh, Manager Wang, boost up poor old Oracle a bit. Offer me a cup of tea, and I’ll tell your fortune for you. With palm reading thrown in, it won’t cost you a copper! (Without waiting for wang lifa’s consent, takes hold of his hand) Now, it’s the twenty-fourth year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign, the year of the dog, and your honorable age is . . . ? wang lifa (snatching his hand away): Enough, enough! I’ll give you a cup of tea, but spare me the sales talk. What’s the point of fortune-telling? In this harsh world, we’re all on our own. Life will never be easy. (Comes out from behind the counter and makes Tang sit down) Sit down! Listen to me! If you don’t stop smoking opium, you’ll never have any luck. There, you see, I’m a better fortune-teller than you! (master song and master chang enter, each carrying a birdcage. Greeted by wang lifa , they hang up the cages, then look for a place to sit. master song , who has a genteel air about him, carries a delicate oriole’s cage, whereas master chang , looking bold and sturdy, has with him a thrush’s cage of much greater dimensions. The waiter li san hurries over to prepare their lidded cups of tea, the leaves of which they have brought themselves. When the tea is ready, master song and master chang offer it to the customers around them.) master song and master chang : Drink some of this! (They look toward the inner courtyard.) master song : Trouble again? master chang : Don’t worry, they won’t come to blows. If it was serious, they’d have left the city long before this. Why come to a teahouse? (erdezi , one of the thugs, enters just in time to overhear master chang’s words.) erdezi (moving closer): What do you think you’re talking about? master chang (refusing to be intimidated): Who, me? I’ve paid for my tea. Do I have to bow to someone as well? master song (after sizing up erdezi ): Excuse me, sir, you’re with the imperial wrestlers, aren’t you? Come, sit down. Let’s have a cup of tea together. We’re all men of the world. erdezi : What I do is none of your damn business! master chang : If you want to throw your weight around, try the foreigners! They’re tough all right! You’re on the public payroll, but when the British and French armies destroyed the old Summer Palace, I didn’t see you lift a finger to stop them! erdezi : Leave the foreigners out of this! (Raising his fist) I’ll teach you a lesson first! wang lifa : Now, now, gentlemen! Surely we can settle this as friends. Master Erdezi, why not take a seat in the inner courtyard now? (erdezi , ignoring wang lifa , suddenly sweeps a teacup off the table, smashing it. He makes a move, trying to grab master chang by the collar.)

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master chang (dodging him): What do you think you’re doing? erdezi : Perhaps I don’t touch foreigners, but I’ll show you a thing or two. I will! master ma (without getting up): Erdezi, you’re quite an important person, aren’t you? erdezi (looking around and spotting master ma ): Oh, It’s you, Master Ma! Pardon, sir, I didn’t see you sitting there. (erdezi goes over to master ma , dropping on one knee in the traditional gesture of obeisance.) master ma : Settle your disputes in a reasonable way. Must you always resort to violence? erdezi : I’m paying for the tea for this table! (He exits to the inner courtyard.) master chang (going over to master ma , wishing to air his grievances): Sir, you’re a sensible gentleman. Please tell us who you think was right. master ma (standing up): I’m busy. Goodbye! (He exits.) master chang (to wang lifa ): How odd! Strange character, isn’t he? wang lifa : Don’t you know that’s Master Ma? No wonder he snubbed you. You offended him. master chang : I did? This is my lucky day! wang lifa (lowering his voice): You were saying something about foreigners just now. Well, he lives off the foreigners. Follows their religion and speaks their language. If he wants, he can go straight to the mayor of Beijing on business.1 That’s why even the authorities handle him with care. master chang (going back to his seat): Pshaw! I have no time for people who serve foreign masters! wang lifa (tilting his head slightly in the direction of song enzi and wu xiangzi , in a whisper): Be careful what you say! (In a louder voice) Li San, a fresh cup of tea here! (wang lifa picks up the shards of the smashed teacup.) master song : How much for that teacup? I’ll pay for it. We men aren’t like mean old shrews! wang lifa : No hurry. We can settle that later. (He exits. The pimp pockmark liu leads kang liu into the teahouse. pockmark liu greets master song and master chang .)2 pockmark liu : You gentlemen are early today. (Takes out a snuffbox and measures out a little) You must try this! I just got it, the real thing from England! So fine and pure! master chang : Imagine! Even our snuff has to come from abroad. How much silver must flow out of the country every year! pockmark liu : Our great Qing empire has mountains of silver and gold. It’ll never run out. Please be seated, I have some business to attend to. (He leads kang liu to a seat. li san brings over a cup of tea.) Now, let’s talk it over. Will ten taels of silver do? Be quick! I’m a busy man. I haven’t got all day to wait on you! kang liu : Master Liu! A fifteen-year-old girl only worth ten taels?

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pockmark liu : A brothel might give you a few taels more, but you don’t want that. kang liu : My flesh and blood, how could I . . . ? pockmark liu : But you can’t feed her. Who’s to blame? kang liu : We peasants can’t live anymore. If we each had a bowl of gruel every day and I still wanted to sell my daughter, then I’d be a beast! pockmark liu : That’s your problem, not mine! You asked me to help you, so I’ll see to it you’re not cheated and your daughter fills her belly. What more do you want? kang liu : Who’s she being sold to? pockmark liu : This should please you: a palace official! kang liu : What palace official wants a peasant girl! pockmark liu : That’s why your daughter’s a lucky girl! kang liu : But who is he? pockmark liu : The grand eunuch Pang! Even you must have heard of him. A personal attendant of the empress dowager, her great favorite! Even the vinegar bottle in his house is made of agate! kang liu : But Master Liu, please. How could I ever face my daughter again if I sold her to be the wife of a eunuch? pockmark liu : But you are selling her, aren’t you? How can you face her anyway? Don’t be a fool! Think about it. Once she’s married, she’ll eat delicacies and wear brocades! I call that a lucky fate! Well, make up your mind, yes or no? Let’s get it over with! kang liu : But who has ever heard of such a thing . . . ? Ten taels. Is that all he’ll pay? pockmark liu : Where in your whole village can you scrape up ten taels? You know very well in the countryside a child can be bought for five catties of wheat flour. kang liu : I, well, I’ll have to talk it over with my daughter. pockmark liu : I’m telling you, you won’t find another opportunity like this. If you lose it, don’t blame me! You’d better get a move on. kang liu : Yes. I’ll be back as soon as I can. pockmark liu : I’ll be here waiting for you. (Exit kang liu, dragging his feet.) pockmark liu (moving over to master song and master chang ): These country bumpkins are a nuisance. They’re so slow making up their minds! master song : Another big deal? pockmark liu : Not so big. If all goes well, I may get about twenty taels of silver. master chang : What’s going on in the countryside? Why are they selling their children like this? pockmark liu : Who knows? That’s why people say that even a dog wants to be born in Beijing. master chang : Master Liu, it takes nerve to have a hand in such a business! pockmark liu : But if I didn’t bother, they might not find a buyer! (Changing the subject abruptly, takes a small pocket watch out of his pocket) Master Song, have a look at this! master song (taking the watch): What a fine little watch!

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pockmark liu : Listen to it, ticking away merrily! master song (listening): How much does it cost? pockmark liu : Why, you like it? Then it’s yours! Just five taels! Whenever you’re tired of it, give it back to me and I’ll refund you to the last copper! It’s really top quality, fit for a family heirloom. master chang : It puzzles me, the amount of foreign things we all have. Take you, for instance, Liu—you have foreign snuff, a foreign watch, a gown made from foreign satin, and a jacket and trousers made of foreign cloth . . . pockmark liu : But foreign things look so nice! If I went around in simple cloth, looking like a country bumpkin, who would ever talk to me? master chang : I still think our own satin and Sichuan silk are much nicer. pockmark liu : Master Song, you really ought to keep this watch. Nowadays, if you carry a foreign watch around, people will treat you with new respect. Isn’t that so? master song (in love with the watch, but hesitating at the price): I . . . pockmark liu : Keep it for the time being. You can pay later! (tubby huang enters.) tubby huang (with a severe case of trachoma, has very poor eyesight; bending one knee as soon as he enters): Now, now, folks, for my sake, please, I’m here greetin’ you all! We’re all brothers, ain’t we? Let’s have none of them bad feelings! wang lifa : These aren’t the people you’ve come to see. They’re in the inner courtyard. tubby huang : Oh, my sight ain’t too good! Manager Wang, prepare them bowls of noodles! With me, Tubby Huang, here, no one’s goin’ to fight! (He heads for the inner courtyard.) erdezi (coming out to greet him): The two sides have already met. Come quick! (erdezi and tubby huang go in. Waiters begin to busy themselves taking hot water for tea into the inner courtyard. The old man enters, carrying metal toothpicks, beard combs, ear picks, and such items. He moves slowly from table to table, his head bent. No one is interested in his wares. Just as he is heading for the inner courtyard, he is stopped by li san.) li san : Now, old man, better try somewhere else. They’re trying to settle a dispute in there. No one will buy your things. (He hands him a cup of leftover tea in passing.) master song (lowering his voice): Li San! (Pointing at the inner courtyard) What’s it all about? Why are they going to fight? li san (in a low voice): It’s supposedly all over a pigeon that flew from the Zhang family over to the Li place. The Lis refused to return it . . . Well, better not go into it. (To the old man ) Old man, you must be well on in years. old man (drinking the tea): Thanks a lot! I’m eighty-two! No one to look after me. These days, a pigeon’s better off than a man. Well, well! (He goes out slowly. qin zhongyi , meticulously dressed and in high spirits, enters.) wang lifa : Oh! Master Qin! How can you spare the time to visit the teahouse? Not even a servant to accompany you?

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qin zhongyi : Just taking a look around to see if a young fellow like you can run a business like this. wang lifa : Well, I learn as I go along. I have to. It’s my living! With my father dying so young, I have no choice. Luckily my customers were all friends of my father’s. They’re ready to overlook my slips. In a business like this you have to be popular. I do everything just like my father—always be polite, always make obeisances, try to please everybody. Then there won’t be any serious trouble. Please take a seat, sir. I’ll make you a cup of our very best tea. qin zhongyi : I don’t want any tea and I won’t sit down. wang lifa : Just for a moment! You’ll be doing me a great honor. qin zhongyi : Oh, all right. (Sitting) But don’t make such a fuss. wang lifa : Li San, a cup of our choicest tea. Sir, your family is well, I hope? And what about your business? Thriving? qin zhongyi : Not so good. wang lifa : But surely you’ve got nothing to worry about. With so many different interests, a mere trifle to you would be my entire fortune and more! tang the oracle (edging his way closer): Oh, what auspicious features! Truly an inspired forehead and a commanding jaw! Not the makings of a prime minister, but the potential for fabulous wealth! qin zhongyi : Leave me alone. Go away! wang lifa : Mr. Tang, you’ve had your tea. Now go somewhere else. (He gently pushes tang away.) tang the oracle : Oh, very well! (He exits dejectedly.) qin zhongyi : Now, young man, don’t you think it’s about time we raised the rent a bit? The pittance your father used to pay me as rent won’t even keep me in tea! wang lifa : Of course, sir, how right you are! But there’s no need for you to bother yourself over such small matters. Send your steward around and I’ll work it out with him. I’ll certainly pay what’s fair. Yes I will, sir! qin zhongyi : You rogue, you’re even more crafty than your father. You just wait, one of these days I’ll take this place back. wang lifa : You’re joking, sir! I know perfectly well you’re concerned about my welfare. You’d never drive me out onto the streets, to sell tea from an earthenware pot! qin zhongyi : Just you wait! (A peasant woman enters, leading by the hand a little girl with a straw stuck in her hair, indicating that she is for sale. li san is on the point of stopping them, but, feeling a twinge of pity, leaves them alone. The two make their way slowly into the teahouse. The customers suddenly stop their talk and banter to watch them.) little girl (stopping in the middle of the room): Ma! I’m hungry! I’m hungry! (The peasant woman looks blankly at the little girl . Suddenly, her legs give way and she sinks to the floor, sobbing into her hands.) qin zhongyi (to wang lifa ): Get rid of them! wang lifa : Yes, sir. Go away! You can’t stay here.

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peasant woman : Won’t some kind person do a good deed? Take this child! Only two taels of silver! master chang : Li San, fetch two bowls of noodles, and take them outside to eat. li san : Yes, sir! (Going over to the peasant woman ) Get up! Wait at the entrance. I’ll get you the noodles. (The peasant woman rises and goes to the entrance wiping her tears, looking dazed as if she has forgotten about the child. After a few steps, she suddenly turns around and takes the child in her arms, kissing her.) peasant woman : My little darling! wang lifa : Now, now, move on! (The peasant woman and the little girl exit. li san follows them a moment later with two bowls of noodles.) (Coming over) Master Chang, you’re really softhearted giving them noodles! But let me tell you, there are so many cases like this. Too many! You can’t help them all. (To qin zhongyi ) Don’t you think I’m right, sir? master chang (to master song ): It seems to me that the great Qing empire is done for! qin zhongyi (with a superior tone): Whether it’s done for or not doesn’t depend on giving bowls of noodles to the poor! Really, Wang, I’m serious about taking back this house. wang lifa : But you can’t do that, sir! qin zhongyi : Oh, yes I can. Not only the houses, but also the shops in the city and the land in the countryside. I’m going to sell them all! wang lifa : But why? qin zhongyi : I’m going to put all my capital together and start a factory! wang lifa : A factory! qin zhongyi : Exactly. A really big factory! That’s the only way to help the poor, keep out foreign goods, and save the empire. (Speaking to wang lifa but with his eyes on master chang ) But what’s the use of talking to you about such things? It’s over your head. wang lifa : Do you mean you’re going to get rid of all your property, just for the sake of others, with no thought for yourself? qin zhongyi : You wouldn’t understand. It’s the only way to make the country prosperous and strong. All right, time for me to go. Now, I’ve seen with my own eyes that you’re doing good business. Don’t you dare play your tricks and refuse to pay up when I raise the rent! wang lifa : Just a moment. I’ll get you a cart! qin zhongyi : Don’t bother. I’d rather walk. (qin zhongyi turns to go with wang lifa seeing him off. eunuch pang enters, supported by xiao niur , who is carrying a water pipe.) Your Excellency, Master Pang! eunuch pang : Why, Master Qin! qin zhongyi : You must be feeling a lot more relaxed these past few days.

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eunuch pang : Of course. Peace reigns once more. The imperial edict has been proclaimed and Tan Sitong has been sentenced to death. I tell you, anyone who dares to meddle with the statutes laid down by our ancestors will have his head chopped off! qin zhongyi : I always knew that. (The customers are suddenly silent, as if holding their breath listening.) eunuch pang : Ah, yes, you’re so smart! That’s why you’ve made such a fortune. qin zhongyi : My little bit of property isn’t worth mentioning. eunuch pang : How modest you are! Who in Beijing hasn’t heard of Master Qin? You’re more powerful than the mandarins. I’ve heard it whispered that quite a number of the rich support the reformists. qin zhongyi : Well, I wouldn’t say that. What little influence I may wield won’t go far in your presence. eunuch pang : Well said! Let’s both try our best, and see what happens. Ha, ha, ha! qin zhongyi : Allow me the pleasure of paying you a visit one of these days. Goodbye! (qin zhongyi exits.) eunuch pang (muttering to himself ): Bah! If an upstart like that dares to exchange words with me, times must really have changed! (To wang lifa ) Is Pockmark Liu here? wang lifa : Your Excellency, please take a seat. (pockmark liu had spotted eunuch pang the moment he entered but refrained from interrupting the latter’s conversation with qin zhongyi .) pockmark liu : Oh, my master! May heaven bestow fortune on you! I’ve been waiting for you for a long time! (pockmark liu helps eunuch pang sit down. song enzi and wu xiangzi come over to pay their respects. eunuch pang whispers something to them. The other customers in the teahouse, after being silent for a while, resume their conversations.) first customer : Who is this Tan Sitong? second customer : I seem to have heard of him somewhere before. He must have committed a horrible crime. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been sentenced to death. third customer : In the past two or three months, some officials and scholars have been trying to stir up all sorts of trouble. We’ll never know what mischief they were up to. fourth customer : One thing’s certain. My bannerman’s subsidy is safe again. That Tan Sitong and Kang Youwei were saying all subsidies should be abolished and we should make our own living. I call that wicked! third customer : Anyway, by the time we get our subsidies, our superiors have skimmed off the best part of them. It’s a dog’s life whichever way you look at it. fourth customer : Still, it’s better than nothing! A dog’s life is better than no life. If I were to earn my own living, I’d surely starve. wang lifa : Gentlemen, let’s refrain from discussing affairs of state, shall we? (People quiet down and turn to discussing their own affairs once more.) eunuch pang (already seated): What’s that? Two hundred taels of silver for a country girl!

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pockmark liu (standing in attendance): A country girl, true, but what a peach! Once in the city, with a bit of makeup and instruction, you’ll have a well-mannered beauty on your hands. I’ve done more than I would for my own father. I left no stone unturned trying to serve Your Excellency! (tang the oracle comes back.) wang lifa : Hey, Tang, what are you doing here again? tang the oracle : The streets are crawling with soldiers and horsemen. What’s happening? eunuch pang : They have to weed out Tan Sitong’s supporters, don’t they? Don’t worry, no one wants to lay hands on you. tang the oracle : Thank you, Your Excellency! Now, if you would oblige me with a few grains of your prepared opium, I’d be most grateful. (Several customers, sensing trouble, begin, one by one, to slip out.) master song : We’d better start moving too. It’s getting late. master chang : Right. Let’s go. (The two men in gray gowns—song enzi and wu xiangzi—approach them.) song enzi : Just a moment! master chang : What’s the matter? song enzi : You said just now, “The great Qing empire is done for!” didn’t you? master chang : Me? I love the empire! I hope it isn’t done for. wu xiangzi (to master song ): You heard him? Did he put it like that? master song : Now, now, gentlemen, we have tea here every day. The manager knows us well. We’re both law-abiding men. wu xiangzi : I’m asking you whether or not you heard him! master song : We can easily settle this. Please take a seat. song enzi : You refuse to answer? We’ll take you in too. Since he said “the great Qing empire is done for!” he must be a follower of Tan Sitong. master song : Well, I—I heard him, but he was only saying . . . song enzi (to master chang ): Get going! master chang : Where to? I demand an explanation! song enzi : Oho! So you’re resisting arrest? Look, I’ve got the “law” here with me! (He pulls out an iron chain from under his gown.) master chang : Remember, I’m a bannerman! wu xiangzi : Bannerman? A bannerman turned traitor gets a heavier sentence! Restrain him! master chang : Don’t bother! I won’t run away! song enzi : Just you try! (To master song ) You come along too. Tell the truth in court and you won’t get into trouble. (tubby huang , accompanied by three or four others, comes out from the inner courtyard.) tubby huang : Well, we’ve done it again! All smoothed over! I never come here for nothing! master song : Master Huang! Master Huang! tubby huang (rubbing his eyes): Who’s that?

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master song : It’s me, Song! Please come over here and put in a good word for us. tubby huang (finally understanding the situation, turns to the two secret agents): So! It’s you two gentlemen! On official business, are you? Carry on! Carry on! master song : But Master Huang, please help us. Just a few kind words! tubby huang : What the authorities can’t handle, I do. But when they can, I keep my nose out of it! (To all present) Ain’t that so? customers : Yes! That’s right! (song enzi and wu xiangzi escort master song and master chang toward the entrance.) master song (to wang lifa ): Please take care of my birds! wang lifa : Don’t worry, I’ll send them to your houses. (master chang , master son g, song enzi , and wu xiangzi exit.) tubby huang (having been told by tang the oracle that eunuch pang is present): Ah, Your Excellency! I hear that you’re starting a family. Allow me to congratulate you before the happy event. eunuch pang : You’ll be invited to the banquet! tubby huang : What an honor! I’m so honored! (tubby huang exits. The peasant woman enters with the empty bowls, which she places on the counter. The little girl follows her inside.) little girl : Ma! I’m still hungry! wang lifa : You’d better go now. peasant woman : Let’s go, my child. little girl : You’re not going to sell me now? Oh, Ma! I won’t be sold! peasant woman : Come! (Weeping, the peasant woman leads the little girl away. kang liu enters leading kang shunzi . They stand in front of the counter.) kang liu : My daughter! Oh, Shunzi! Your father’s a beast! But what can I do? You have to find somewhere to feed yourself or you’ll starve. I must get a few taels of silver or our landlord will beat me to death. Shunzi, accept your fate and have pity on us! kang shunzi : I . . . I . . . (She is unable to speak.) pockmark liu (rushing over): So you’re back! She agreed? Good! Come and meet His Excellency. Kneel down before His Excellency! kang shunzi : I . . . (She faints.) kang liu (supporting his daughter): Shunzi! Shunzi! pockmark liu : What’s wrong with her? kang liu : She’s so hungry and upset that she’s fainted. Shunzi! Shunzi! eunuch pang : I ordered something alive. I won’t take it dead! (Silence.) first customer (playing a chess game with the second customer ): Check! You’re finished! (Curtain.)

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E NT R’ ACTE silly yang : Beating my clappers, here I am again, Life’s hard for a rhymester, so a beggar I remain. The republic was set up and we all did acquiesce, Our queues were cut off, but the country’s still a mess. Manager Wang, reforming, all the tricks did play, To give his teahouse a new look in every way. But all his efforts, alas, are looking pretty thin, For with heads he lost, nor with tails did win. Warlords were rampant, civil wars routine, One warlord hardly ousted, another on the scene. Zhao would fight Qian and Sun would fight Li, Wars involving thousands for no reason one could see. In order to fight, one must buy guns, So to foreign countries went the silver by the tons. And warlords are encouraged in their careers, While China is carved up into many spheres. When armies appear, poor peasants are squeezed, Since their grain and beasts are always seized. Now, Manager Wang, his reformer’s zeal burning, Has turned his shop into a seat of learning. With well-spoken students as lodgers in the place, The teahouse has acquired a more educated face. But pray to heaven no brutish soldiers come, For wrecking the teahouse is their idea of fun. But I’d better not go on in this gloomy way, I ought to wish him luck on his opening day. With the crowd of well-wishers, I’ll now mingle, After all, I’m great at making up some jingle!

A CT 2 (The time is nearly twenty years later. The place is the same as in act 1. It is now the period after Yuan Shikai’s death, when the warlords, at the instigation of the imperialist powers, forcibly set up their separatist regimes. There were continual civil wars. Early summer, before noon. The curtain rises. The large teahouses in Beijing have closed up shop one by one. The Yutai, the only one still open, has had to change both its appearance and line of business in order to survive. The front part continues to serve tea, but the rear section has been

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converted into a boardinghouse. Only tea and refreshments like melon seeds are sold; “noodles with minced pork” are a thing of the past. The stove has been moved to the back, for preparing meals for lodgers. The teahouse has undergone a great improvement too. The tables are now smaller, with pale green tablecloths and wicker chairs. The huge painting of “ the intoxicated Eight Immortals” on the wall and the shrine of the god of wealth have disappeared. In their place are posters of fashionably dressed beauty queens—advertisements for foreign cigarette manufacturers. The do not discuss affairs of state signs, however, have survived, written in even larger letters. Like “a sage who follows the fashions,” wang lifa has not only managed to keep the Yutai going but also given it a new look. The teahouse has not been open for the last few days, owing to slight repairs. Now it is getting ready for its formal opening the following day. wang shufen and li san are busy putting the place in order, trying out different positions for the tables and chairs, adjusting and readjusting them until the desired perfection is achieved. wang shufen has her hair coiled up in a round bun, fashionable at that time. li san , however, still wears the queue stipulated by the previous Qing dynasty.3 Two or three students come out of the boardinghouse, exchange greetings with them, then go off.) wang shufen (not happy about li san ’s queue): Master Li, with our “reformed” teahouse, don’t you think it’s time you got rid of that queue? li san : Reformed indeed! Soon you’ll have nothing left to reform! wang shufen : Don’t put it like that. You must have heard, the Detai Teahouse, at Xizhimen, the Guangtai Teahouse, at Beixinqiao, and the Tiantai Teahouse, in front of the Drum Tower, have all closed down. Of all the large teahouses, our Yutai is the only one still in business! Why? Because my husband’s good at reforms! li san : Humph! The emperor’s gone—isn’t that reform enough for you? But, with all that reforming, Yuan Shikai still wanted to be emperor. After he died, what a mess! Guns firing away today, the city gates closed tomorrow! Reform indeed! I’ll keep my queue where it is. What if they decide to reform the reform and bring the emperor back again? wang shufen : Don’t be so stubborn, Master Li. Since the country’s been reformed and a republic set up for us, we’d better conform, hadn’t we? Look at our teahouse. With all the rearranging, doesn’t it look more tidy and smart? Now our customers will be fine gentlemen. Won’t that be more respectable? But that queue of yours, it’s an eyesore! li san : It may be an eyesore to you, but I’m sore about other things! wang shufen : Why, what are you sore about? li san : Don’t you know? A teahouse in the front, a boardinghouse in the back. And only the manager and me to staff them! We’ll never be able to cope! wang shufen : Leave the teahouse to him. I’ll always lend a hand with the boardinghouse. li san : Even with your help it’s too much. Twenty-odd rooms to clean and twenty-odd mouths to feed. Plus making tea, fetching hot water, doing the shopping, and delivering letters. I ask you, how can one man do all that?

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wang shufen : You’re quite right, Master Li, but these days you can thank your lucky stars if you have a job at all. We all have to be a bit patient. li san : Well, I’m at the end of my rope! I can’t go on. Only four or five hours’ sleep every night. I’m not made of iron! wang shufen : None of us has it easy! You wait, Dashuan will finish primary school this summer and his brother is growing up fast. When they can give us a hand, life will be easier. You’ve been with us since the days of the old manager. You’re our old friend, our old partner! li san : Old partner? It’s more than twenty years now. Did I ever get a raise?! Since you’re so keen on reforms, why don’t you reform my wages? wang lifa : That’s no way to talk! If business gets better, of course I’ll give you a raise! Enough of that now. We’re opening tomorrow. We need all the luck we can get. Let’s not argue. Just leave it at that, all right? li san : Leave it at what? If you don’t reform my wages, I’m leaving! (Someone calls from the back “Li San! Li San!”) wang lifa: Mr. Cui is calling you—better hurry up. We can talk about this later. li san : Huh! wang shufen : Yesterday the city gates were closed and they might be closed again today. Master Li, let the manager tend to things here. Please go and buy some food. If nothing else, at least some pickled turnips! (More calling from the back: “Li San! Li San!”) li san : I like that. Ordering me here and calling me there! You might as well cut me in half! (li san goes off grumpily to the back.) wang lifa : Well, old girl, Master Li’s getting on. You’d better . . . wang shufen : He’s been grumbling all morning. But he has his grounds. I didn’t want to say so in front of him, but I tell you frankly, we must get more help! wang lifa : More help means more wages! Where’s the money going to come from? If I were good at something else but refused to budge from this teahouse, I’d be a fool! (There is the distant rumbling of cannons.) Those damn cannons are at it again! And you stand there making a scene! How are we going to open tomorrow? What a mess! wang shufen : I didn’t expect to hear such nonsense from you! What have the cannons got to do with me? wang lifa : Oh, stop arguing! Go and do some work! wang shufen : One thing’s certain. Either your slave-driving or those cannons will finish me! (wang shufen reluctantly goes off toward the back.) wang lifa (relenting): Now, now, old girl, no need to be so jumpy! We’ve been through this cannon fire quite a few times, but we’ve never been hit. Beijing’s a charmed city! wang shufen : Charmed indeed! My heart’s always in my mouth! Well, I’ll go and get some money for Master Li to do the shopping. (She exits. A group of refugees gather at the entrance, begging.)

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refugees : Kind sir! Do a good deed. Take pity on us! wang lifa : Move on. We’re not handing out anything today. We’re not open yet. refugees : Have mercy! We’re all refugees. wang lifa : You’re wasting your time! I don’t even have enough for myself! (The policeman enters.) policeman : Go away! Move along now! (The refugees disperse.) wang lifa : How are things, my friend? Is the fighting bad? policeman : Terrible! Otherwise there wouldn’t be all these refugees. We’ve been instructed by our superiors that you’re to provide us with eighty catties of pancakes before noon. We must feed the soldiers in the city before sending them out to the battlefield, mustn’t we? wang lifa : That’s reasonable! But you know I only provide food for the lodgers now. The teahouse doesn’t serve meals anymore. And we haven’t opened yet. I can’t even hand over one catty of pancakes, let alone eighty! policeman : You have your excuses, I have my orders! Well, do as you like. (He makes as if he is going away.) wang lifa : Wait a minute! I’m not open yet. You know that! When we are, we’ll need your help even more. Take this and buy yourself a small packet of tea. Put in a good word for me and I’ll be most grateful! policeman (accepting the money): All right, I’ll try, but don’t count on it. (Several soldiers in tattered uniforms, all armed with rifles, charge in.) Look here, sirs, I’m making a routine check of the residents. This place isn’t open yet. a soldier : Bastard! policeman : Manager Wang, offer them some money for tea. Then they’ll go elsewhere. wang lifa : Sirs, I’m so sorry we’re not in business yet, otherwise we’d be honored to put you up here. (He hands over some banknotes to the policeman .) policeman (passing the money on to the soldiers): I’m sure you’ll understand. He really can’t serve you today. a soldier : Bastard! Who wants paper money? Give us silver dollars! wang lifa : Sirs, where can I get silver dollars? a soldier : Bastard! Beat the shit out of him! policeman : Quick! Give them some more! wang lifa (taking the money out of his pocket): You can burn my house down! I haven’t one dollar more! (He hands over paper money.) a soldier : Bastard. (He takes the money, turns to go out, and, in passing, snatches away two tablecloths. Exit the soldiers.) policeman : There! Saved you from real trouble. If they’d stayed, it would have been the end of you! Not a single teacup left!

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wang lifa : And I mustn’t forget such a service, eh? policeman : Aren’t you going to do something about it then? wang lifa : Right! How stupid of me! You better search me, I haven’t a copper left. (Lifting up his gown to be searched) Go ahead, search me! policeman : Okay, you win. See you tomorrow. Tomorrow’s anybody’s guess! (He exits.) wang lifa : Mind your step! (Stomping his foot after the policeman has gone) Damn it! War, war, all the time! What the hell is all the fighting about? (tang the oracle enters. He is as emaciated and as dirty as ever, but now he wears a silk gown.) tang the oracle : Ah, Manager Wang. Congratulations! wang lifa (still grumpy): It’s Mr. Tang! No free tea anymore. (Takes another look at him and smiles) So, you’re doing all right. In silk too! tang the oracle : Somewhat better off than before, thanks to the times. wang lifa : Thanks to the times? tang the oracle : The more chaos, the better my business. Nowadays life and death are a matter of luck. More and more people want their fortunes told and their features read. You understand? wang lifa : Well, that’s one way of looking at it! tang the oracle : I hear you’ve converted the courtyard into a boardinghouse. What about renting me a room? wang lifa : Now, Mr. Tang, with that addiction of yours, don’t you think . . . ? tang the oracle : I’ve given up opium. wang lifa : Good! Then you’ll be able to make something of yourself! tang the oracle : I’ve taken up heroin instead. (Pointing at the cigarette advertisement on the wall) Look, see that Hatamen brand of cigarettes? They’re long and the tobacco’s loosely packed. (Taking out a cigarette to illustrate his point) By knocking one end gently you get an empty space, just right for heroin. British imperial cigarettes and Japanese heroin! Two great powers looking after poor little me. Aren’t I lucky? wang lifa : Yes, very lucky indeed! But our place is full. As soon as I get a vacancy, I’ll hold it for you. tang the oracle : I know, you don’t think much of me. You’re afraid I won’t pay the rent. wang lifa : Nothing of the sort! We all grew up in the streets. It’s not for us to look down on one another. See, I’m being perfectly frank, like an old friend! tang the oracle : You’ve got a smooth tongue! Better than mine! wang lifa : I’m not just talking. My heart’s in the right place. How many cups of free tea have you had off me all these years? Count for yourself. Now that you’re better off, has it ever crossed your mind to pay me back? tang the oracle : I’ll pay you back one of these days. But altogether, it won’t come to much!

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(Muttering these words, he tries to beat a retreat. The paperboy is heard crying in the streets: “Read all about the great battle at Changxindian!” The paperboy pokes his head in.) paperboy : Hey, Manager! Latest news about the fighting at Changxindian. Won’t you buy a copy? wang lifa : Any news about people not fighting? paperboy : Maybe. Look for yourself! wang lifa : Go away! I’m not interested! paperboy : Won’t make no difference, Manager! The fighting will go on just the same. (To tang the oracle ) Sir, you interested? tang the oracle (points to wang lifa ): I’m not like him. I’m always concerned about affairs of state. (He takes a copy and sneaks off without paying. The paperboy runs off after him.) wang lifa (to himself ): Changxindian! Changxindian! That’s near here. (Shouts) Master Li! Master Li! You’d better go for the food right away. The city gates are sure to close soon. We won’t be able to get anything. You hear me? (When no answer comes from the back, he goes toward there angrily. master chang enters with a string of pickled turnips and two chickens.) master chang : Manager Wang! wang lifa : Who’s that? Why, Master Chang! What are you doing these days? master chang : Selling vegetables. Earning my own living. I’m not going to fall apart. Today there was such a pandemonium outside the city. I couldn’t pick up any vegetables. All I could get were these two chickens and some pickled turnips. I heard you’re opening tomorrow. Thought these might come in handy, so I brought them along. wang lifa : Thanks a lot! I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage. master chang (taking a look around): Nice! Very nice! You’ve done it up well! All the large teahouses have closed down. You were the only one sharp enough to make the most of the changes and reforms. wang lifa : Thanks for the compliment! I do my best, but if the country carries on in this mess, it’ll all be wasted. master chang : Well, someone like me won’t be able to afford a seat in such a fancy teahouse, that’s for sure! (master song enters, his clothes looking threadbare, though he still carries his birdcage.) master song : Manager Wang! You’re opening tomorrow? I’ve come to offer my congratulations! (Sees master chang ) Oh, Master Chang, my old friend! How I’ve missed you! master chang : Master Song, my brother! How’ve you been? wang lifa : Why don’t you both sit down? master son g : Oh, Manager Wang! How are you? How’s the missus? How are your boys? How’s business?

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wang lifa (trying to answer all the greetings): Very well, thank you. Master Chang (picks up the chickens and the pickled turnips), what do I owe you? master chang : As you like. Whatever you think is fair. wang lifa: Of course! I’ll get you a pot of tea. (He goes to the back with the things.) master song : Master Chang, how’s life treating you? master chang : Now I’m selling vegetables! Since the bannermen’s subsidy was abolished, I earn my own living. What about you? master song : Me? Just hearing you ask that brings tears to my eyes. Look at my clothes! They’re a disgrace! master chang : But you read and write, and do accounts! You can’t find a job? master song : Exactly. Who wants to starve? Yet who wants a bannerman! Looking back, the great Qing empire wasn’t so good, but now, in the republic, I’m starving! wang lifa (returning with a pot of tea and giving master chang some money): I don’t know what you spent. Hope that’s enough! master chang (taking the money without counting): Never mind! wang lifa (pointing at the birdcage): Still crazy about orioles? Does it sing well? master song : Of course, it’s an oriole! Look! He’s such a handsome bird! I may starve, but I won’t allow my bird to. Whenever I look at him, I don’t want to die anymore. wang lifa : Master Song, you mustn’t talk of dying. One of these days your luck will change! master chang: Come, brother, let’s go and have a drink. Drown our sorrows in wine. Manager Wang, I won’t invite you. Not enough money, you understand? wang lifa : I’ve got work to do, anyway. Forgive me for not keeping you company. (Just as master chang and master song head for the entrance, song enzi and wu xiangzi enter. They are still in gray gowns, but with narrower sleeves because of the new fashion, and with black jackets.) master song (recognizing them, involuntarily goes down on one knee to pay his respects): Oh, it’s you, gentlemen. (wang lifa , apparently influenced by master song , also greets them in the same way. The two secret agents are disconcerted.) song enzi: What’s the matter with you? We’ve been a republic for several years now. No need to bend the knee. Don’t you know how to bow in the new style? master song : Seeing your gray gowns makes me feel it’s still the Qing dynasty. I can’t help bending my knee! wang lifa : Me too. I feel that bending the knee’s more satisfying than bowing. wu xiangzi : Ha, ha! Master Song, your bannermen’s subsidy used to be a sure source of income. Well, that’s all gone now. But our gray gowns proved a better bet, eh? Ha, ha! (Seeing master chang ) It’s Master Chang, if I’m not mistaken? master chang : Yes, you have a good memory. In 1898, I made the remark here “the great Qing empire is done for!” For that I was arrested by you two and imprisoned for more than a year! song enzi : Your memory’s not bad either. Doing all right these days?

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master chang : Yes, thank you. It was 1900 soon after I got out of prison, the year of the Boxers. Their slogan was “Support the Qing and annihilate the foreigners.” I joined them and fought a few battles against the foreign armies. But that didn’t help. The great Qing empire was done for after all! It deserved it! I’m a bannerman, but I must be fair! Now I’m up every day before dawn, carrying two baskets of vegetables to the city. By ten they’re sold. I earn my own living and I’m stronger than ever. If foreigners come here again with their armies, I’m ready to fight them. I’m a bannerman, but bannermen are Chinese too! How’s life treating you two gentlemen? wu xiangzi : Oh, muddling along! When there was an emperor, we served him. When there was President Yuan Shikai, we served him. Now, Song Enzi, how should I put it? song enzi : Now we serve anyone who puts rice in our bowls. master chang: Even foreigners? master song : Master Chang, let’s get going! wu xiangzi : Understand this, Master Chang. Everyone we serve is backed by some foreign power. How can anyone make war without foreign arms and guns? master song: You’re so right! So right! Master Chang, let’s go. master chang : Goodbye, gentlemen. I’m sure you’ll soon be rewarded and promoted! (He goes off with master song .) song enzi : Damn fool! wang lifa (pouring out tea): Master Chang has always been stubborn, won’t bow down to anyone! Take no notice of him. (Offering them tea) Have a cup, it’s fresh. song enzi : What sort of people do you have as lodgers? wang lifa : Mostly university students, and a couple of old acquaintances. I’ve got a register. Their names are always promptly reported to the local police station. Shall I fetch it for you? wu xiangzi : We don’t look at books. We look at people! wang lifa : No need for that. I can vouch for them all. song enzi : Why are you so partial to students? They’re not generally quiet types. wang lifa : Officials one day and out of office the next. It’s the same with tradesmen: in business today and broke tomorrow. Can’t rely on anyone! Only students have money to pay the rent each month, because you need money to get into college in the first place. That’s how I figure it. What do you think? song enzi : Got it all worked out! You’re quite right. Nowadays even we aren’t always paid on time. wu xiangzi : So that’s why we must make arrests every day, to get our bonus. song enzi: We nab people at random, but they never get out at random. As long as we make arrests, we get our bonus. Come on, let’s take a look back there! wu xiangzi : Yes, let’s go! wang lifa : Gentlemen, gentlemen! Don’t trouble yourselves. Everyone behaves himself properly, I assure you. song enzi : But if we don’t take a look, we can’t nab anyone. How will we get our bonus?

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wu xiangzi : Since the manager’s not keen to let us have a look, he must have thought of another way. Ought to try to help him keep up a front. Right, Manager Wang? wang lifa : I . . . song enzi : I have an idea. Not all that brilliant perhaps . . . Let’s do it on a monthly basis. On the first of every month, according to the new solar calendar, you will hand in a— wu xiangzi : A token of friendship! song enzi : Right. You’ll hand in a token of friendship. That’ll save no end of trouble for both sides. wang lifa : How much is this token of friendship worth? wu xiangzi : As old friends, we’ll leave that to you. You’re a bright fellow. I’m sure you wouldn’t want this token of friendship to seem unfriendly, would you? li san (entering with a shopping basket): Oh, gentlemen! (Bends down on one knee) Are the city gates going to be closed again today? (He heads for the entrance without waiting for an answer. Two or three students return in haste.) student : Master Li, better stay at home. The army’s seizing people on the streets for coolies. (They proceed to the back of the teahouse.) li san (not stopping): So what? I’m just a coolie here, aren’t I? (pockmark liu, frightened out of his wits, rushes in and collides with li san .) What’s wrong? You look like death! pockmark liu (breathlessly): Don’t—don’t go out! They nearly grabbed me! wang lifa : Master Li, better leave it for now. li san : What about lunch? wang lifa : Tell everyone there will only be pickled turnips and rice for lunch. That’s the best we can do. For supper, we’ll have those two chickens. li san : As you like. (He goes off to the boardinghouse.) pockmark li u : Oh, lord! Almost scared me to death! song enzi : So what! You’ll only buy and sell a few more girls! pockmark liu : Well, some wish to sell and some wish to buy. All I do is lend a helping hand! Don’t blame me! (He drinks three cups of tea left on the table, one by one.) wu xiangzi : I’m warning you! Since the time of the empire we’ve been dealing with revolutionaries. We don’t like dirtying our hands with slave traders and pimps like you! But now if we catch you at it, we won’t turn a blind eye anymore. When the likes of you get pulled in, you can be sure of this: you’ll get chained to the piss pot! pockmark liu : Now, now, gentlemen, no need to put it like that! These days I’m down-and-out like everyone else. In the good old days, I had connections with the Manchu nobles and eunuchs of the court. Since the revolution, I’ve been leading a dog’s life. When ministers and vice ministers, generals and colonels take concubines, they want singsong girls and Peking opera stars. They’ll pay thousands of silver dollars for them. I can’t even get my toe in the door. Why pick on my miserable bit of business?

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song enzi : You’ll change your tune when you’re chained to that piss pot! pockmark liu : Gentlemen, gentlemen! I have nothing to offer you today, but one of these days, I promise you something worthwhile. wu xiangzi : You must be doing a deal of some sort or you wouldn’t poke your nose out on a day like this. pockmark liu : No! I’m not! song enzi : There’s never a word of truth from you. Lying to us won’t do you any good! Manager Wang, we’ll take a walk around. The first of next month, according to the new solar calendar—don’t forget! wang lifa : I may forget my own name, but never your business! wu xiangzi : That’s settled, then! (He exits with song enzi .) wang lifa : Master Liu, had enough tea, I hope? Now take yourself somewhere else! pockmark liu : Carry on! Don’t mind me! I’m waiting here for a couple of friends. wang lifa : I’d better make it clear, once and for all! Conduct your line of business elsewhere! We’ve reformed! We’re civilized now! (kang shunzi , a parcel in her hand and leading kang dali , peeps in at the entrance.) kang dali : Is this the place? kang shunzi : It’s the place all right! But it looks so different. (She enters, takes a good look around, and sees pockmark liu.) Come in, Dali. This is it, all right! kang dali : You sure, Ma? kang shunzi : No mistake! With him here, I’m quite sure. wang lifa : Who are you looking for? kang shunzi (without answering, goes straight to pockmark liu ): Pockmark Liu, recognize me? (Wants to strike him but is unable to raise her hand; seized by a fit of trembling) You! You! (She wants to swear at him but finds it too difficult.) pockmark liu : Why pick on me, miss, for no reason at all?! kang shunzi (summoning all her strength): No reason? Take a good look at me! Do you see who I am! Couldn’t you make a decent living any other way? Do you have to follow your filthy trade? Bah! wang lifa : Now, now, ma’am! Don’t get so upset! Calm down! kang shunzi : Are you the manager? Do you remember, almost twenty years ago, there was a eunuch who bought a wife? wang lifa : Ah, so you’re Eunuch Pang’s . . . kang shunzi (pointing at pockmark liu ): And it was all his doing! Today I’m going to make him pay for it! (She attempts to strike him once more but is still unable to bring herself to do it.) pockmark liu (dodging): Hold on! Hold on! What decent man would fight a woman! (Backing away) I—I’ll get someone to make you see sense. (He runs to the back.)

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wang lifa (to kang shunzi ): Please sit down, ma’am. Take your time. Where’s the eunuch? kang shunzi (sits down, out of breath): Dead! Starved to death by his nephews! After the republic, he still had money, but no more influence. His nephews treated him badly. When he died, they threw us out, without so much as a blanket! wang lifa : And this is . . . ? kang shunzi : My son. wang lifa : Your . . . ? kang shunzi : Also bought. As the eunuch’s son. kang dali : Ma, is this really where your father sold you? kang shunzi : That’s right, my dear. This is the place! I fainted as soon as I came in. I’ll never forget it. kang dali : But I can’t remember where my father sold me. kang shunzi : Well, you were only a year old then. Ma brought you up. We’ll always be together, won’t we, dear? kang dali : That old ogre! He used to pinch you, bite you, and jab me with his opium skewer! There were too many of them. There was nothing we could do. Ma, if it wasn’t for you, I’d have died long ago. kang shunzi : Yes, there were too many of them, and we were too soft. Just now, when I saw Pockmark Liu, I wanted to bite him, but I couldn’t even slap him. I just couldn’t do it! kang dali : Ma, when I grow up I’ll help you beat them all up! I don’t know who my real mother was, so you’re my mother, my real mother! kang shunzi : Yes, my dear. I am! We’ll stick together, always! I’ll earn some money so you can go to school. (At a loss for a moment) Manager, since I was sold here twenty years ago, it seems a bit of luck that we’ve met again. Can you find me a job of some kind? It’s not for myself, but he’s a good boy with no one but me to look after him. He mustn’t starve. (wang shufen enters and stands there unnoticed, listening.) wang lifa : What can you do? kang shunzi : Washing, sewing, mending, cooking—things like that. I come from the countryside. I don’t mind hard work. As long as I’m not a eunuch’s wife, any bitterness will seem sweet. wang lifa : How much would you want? kang shunzi : I’ll be happy with three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, and enough to send Dali to school! wang lifa : Right, I’ll keep an eye open for you. Fact is, I’ve never forgotten what happened here all those years ago. Always left a bad taste in my mouth! kang shunzi : But where can we go now? wang lifa : How about going back to the countryside and looking up your old father? kang shunzi : Him? I haven’t a clue if he’s alive or dead. Even if he’s still around, I won’t look him up. He never stood by me, his own daughter, back then—I won’t call him father now!

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wang lifa : But a job right away won’t be all that easy to find! wang shufen (coming over): She’s good at housework and not asking too much. I’ll keep her! wang lifa : You? wang shufen : Don’t I run half the teahouse? You want to work me and Master Li to death? kang shunzi : Manager, give me a chance. Whenever you feel I’m not up to it, just say the word and I’ll go. wang shufen : Come with me, Sister. kang shunzi : Since I was sold here, this is like my parents’ home. Come, Dali. kang dali : Manager, if you don’t beat me, I’ll help with the work too. (He goes off with wang shufen and kang shunzi .) wang lifa : Damn! Two more mouths to feed! The eunuch’s gone but I get stuck with his family! li san (coming out with pockmark liu, screening him): Better get going! (He goes back.) wang lifa : Make it snappy! Unless you want your face slapped! pockmark liu : I told you, I have to wait for two friends! wang lifa : I can’t think of a good enough name for you! pockmark liu : Nothing you can do about it. Once in a trade, always in the trade. You’ll always be selling your tea. I’ll always be doing my business! Till my dying day! (lao lin and lao chen 4 enter, beaming.) (Despite the two deserters’ being younger, he insists on addressing them respectfully) Elder Brother Lin! Elder Brother Chen! (Sensing wang lifa’s anger, hastily adds) Manager Wang, there’s no one around. Let me borrow your place just this once—I promise it’s the last time! wang lifa (pointing to the back): Don’t forget she’s in there! pockmark liu : Never mind, she can’t do much. If she tries, these fellows can help me. wang lifa : You! Bah! (He retires to the back.) pockmark liu : Sit down. Let’s talk it over. lao lin : You say it, Second Brother. lao chen : No, you say it, Elder Brother. pockmark liu : What’s the difference who speaks? lao chen : You say it, you’re the elder brother. lao lin : Well, it’s like this, we’re sworn brothers. lao chen : That’s right! Sworn brothers—so close we’d share the same pair of trousers. lao lin : He’s got a few silver dollars. pockmark liu : Silver dollars? lao chen : Elder Brother here also has some. pockmark liu : How much altogether? Tell me! lao lin : We’re not going to tell you that yet.

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lao chen : Not till we know if it’s possible. pockmark liu : With silver dollars everything’s possible! lao lin and lao chen : Really? pockmark liu : If I’m lying to you, I’ll be damned! lao lin : You say it then, Second Brother. lao chen : No, no! You say it, Elder Brother. lao lin : See here. There are two of us, right? pockmark liu : Right! lao chen : Our friendship’s so close we can share the same pair of trousers, right? pockmark liu : Right! lao lin : No one would laugh at our friendship, would they? pockmark liu : Friendship is friendship. Who laughs at that? lao chen : And no one makes fun of friendship among three people either, do they? pockmark liu : Three people? Who? lao lin : Us and a woman! pockmark liu : Oh! Oh! Now I get it! But this is going to be a bit tricky. I’ve never done anything like it before. People usually talk about some nice young couple. But who’s ever heard of a nice young triple? lao lin : Tricky, eh? pockmark liu : Very tricky! lao lin : What do you think? lao chen : We’re not going to call it off, are we? lao lin : Hell, no! We’ve been in the army for more than ten years and can’t even end up with half a wife? Damn it all! pockmark liu : We won’t call it off. Let’s think it over! How many silver dollars do you have? (wang lifa and cui jiufeng come out from the back, walking slowly. pockmark liu and the two deserters cease talking.) wang lifa : Mr. Cui, why didn’t you go when Master Qin sent you an invitation yesterday? You’re a learned man. You know all about heaven and earth. You’ve been a member of the legislature. Yet you shut yourself up here chanting Buddhist scriptures! Why not do something more useful? A good man like you should go into politics! With worthy men like you in office, we ordinary folk might enjoy a few days of peace! c ui jiufeng : You make me feel ashamed! Yes, I was a member of the legislature, a grievous sin. What has the revolution accomplished? We mislead ourselves and others. Now I spend my days in meditation and repentance. That’s all I can do! wang lifa : But look at Master Qin! Running a factory and getting ready to open a bank! c ui jiufeng : With all his factories and banks, what can he do? He says he’s going to save the country by industry and commerce. But who has he saved? Himself! He’s richer than ever. And all his industry and commerce will collapse if the foreigners lift just one little finger. Then he’ll never get on his feet again. wang lifa : Oh please don’t say that! Isn’t there any hope for us?

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c ui jiufeng : Hard to say. Very hard to say. Now Marshal Wang wages a war on Marshal Li. The next day Marshal Zhao attacks Marshal Wang. Who’s behind it all? wang lifa : Who? The bastard! c ui jiufeng : The foreigners! wang lifa : The foreigners? I don’t understand. c ui jiufeng : One day you will, when China is reduced to a colony and all of us are slaves! I took part in the revolution. I know what I’m talking about. wang lifa : Then why don’t you do something? Save us from being slaves. c ui jiufeng : As a young man, I thought my ideals could save the world. I tried to follow them. Now I’ve seen through it all. China’s finished! wang lifa : But we must try to save her! c ui jiufeng : Save her? That’s just wishful thinking! A corpse can’t be brought back to life. Everything dies sooner or later. Well, I’m off to Hongji Temple. If Master Qin should send for me again, just tell him I’m only interested in chanting Buddhist scriptures. (He exits. song enzi and wu xiangzi enter again.) wang lifa : Gentlemen, any news? (The two say nothing and take seats near the entrance, watching po c kmark liu and the two deserters. pockmark liu, nonplussed, looks at his toes. lao lin and lao chen , also uncomfortable, look at each other.) lao chen : Elder Brother, shall we go? lao lin : Yeah! song enzi : Just a minute! (Standing up, he blocks the way.) lao chen : What’s up? wu xiangzi (also standing up): You’d better be telling me what’s up! (The four of them stare at one another for a moment.) song enzi : Better come quietly! lao lin : Where to? wu xiangzi : Deserters, right? Trying to hide in Beijing, with a few silver dollars in your pockets, right? When the money runs out, become bandits, right? lao chen : None of your damn business! I can lick eight of your kind with one hand! (He prepares to fight.) song enzi : You? Pity you sold your gun, right? Bare hands ain’t no match for a gun, right? (Patting the gun under his gown) I can lick eight of your sort with one finger! Right! lao lin : We’re all brothers, aren’t we? No need for unpleasantness. wu xiangzi : That’s more like it. Let’s sit down and have a little chat. Make your choice. Your silver dollars or your lives! lao chen : We went through hell to earn this bit of money! We fought for whoever paid us! Shit! The number of battles we fought! song enzi : But you know very well how they treat deserters! lao lin : Let’s talk it over. After all, we’re all brothers.

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wu xiangzi : That’s the way to talk among friends. Now let’s get down to business! wang lifa (at the entrance): Hey! The execution squad’s coming! lao chen and lao lin : Oh? (In a panic, they try to run to the back.) song enzi : Stop! Our word of honor: split the silver dollars with us and you’ll be safe. We’re friends, right? lao lin and lao chen : Yeah! Friends! (The execution squad enters: two soldiers carrying rifl es and broadswords swathed in red cloth in the lead, one bearing the execution edict shaped like a huge arrow in the middle, and four soldiers carrying clubs painted red at one end and black at the other bringing up the rear. The army officer enters last, dominating the squad.) wu xiangzi (standing at attention with song enzi , lao lin , and lao chen in a line, takes out his credentials from under his cap and shows to the army officer ): May I report, sir? We’re interrogating a deserter here. army officer (pointing at pockmark liu ): Him? wu xiangzi (pointing at pockmark liu ): Yes, him! army officer : Tie him up! pockmark liu (screaming): Sir! I’m not! I’m not! officer : Tie him up! (The execution squad and pockmark liu exit.) wu xiangzi (to song enzi ): Let’s go and pull in those two students. song enzi : Yes, come on! (The two hastily head for the boardinghouse.) (Curtain.)

E NT R’ ACTE silly yang : When trees are old, their sap is spent, When men are old, their backs are bent. Needless to say, I’m done for altogether, Even Manager Wang’s at the end of his tether. Worn down by age, his money gone, His shabby winter jacket is all he has on. The Japs held old Beijing for eight long years, Those were the days of blood and tears. For those who survived, life was hell on earth, The Eighth Route Army’s victories, the only source of mirth. Hoping against hope such days would soon be past, Till the day came when the war was won at last.

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Then to old Beijing came the KMT! As cruel a tyrant as the Japs could ever be. Poor old Wang, disillusioned through and through, Keeping alive is all that he can do. His teahouse collapsing before his eyes, Won’t perk up, no matter what he tries. What in the heavens above or the earth below Can stop the officials from having all the dough?

A CT 3 (The time is around 1948, after the defeat of the Japanese in 1945, the period in which U.S. soldiers and KMT secret service agents were running loose in Beijing. An early morning in autumn. The place is the same as in the previous act. The Yutai Teahouse is no longer the dignified establishment of earlier times. The wicker chairs have disappeared, replaced by stools and benches. Everything, from the building to the furniture, looks gloomy. If there is anything outstanding that catches the eye, it is the paper signs with do not discuss affairs of state on them. Their number has increased and the Chinese characters have been enlarged. Alongside them, new paper signs have been added, with please pay in advance written on them. It is early morning, and the wooden shutters have not yet been taken down from the windows. wang dashuan , son of wang lifa , is in low spirits as he tidies the premises. His wife, zhou xiuhua , leading their young daughter, wang xiaohua , by the hand, enters from the back. They are talking to each other as they enter.) wang xiaohua : Ma, make me some hot noodle soup for lunch. It’s been ages since we’ve had some. zhou xiuhua : I know, pet, but who knows if there’ll be any flour in the shops today? Even if there is some, I don’t know if we have money to afford it. What a life! wang xiaohua : Let’s hope there will be both, Ma. zhou xiuhua : You can hope, but that won’t get you far. Off you go now! Be careful of those jeeps on your way! wang dashuan : Xiaohua, wait! wang xiaohua : What is it, Dad? wang dashuan : About last night . . . zhou xiuhua : I’ve drilled it into her. She’s a sensible child. wang dashuan : Never tell anybody about your uncle Dali. If you do, we’ve all had it! Understand? wang xiaohua : I won’t say a word, even if they kill me. If I’m asked about Uncle Dali, I’ll just say he’s been gone for many years. No news about him at all! (kang shunzi enters from the back. Her back is now slightly bent, but she’s still going strong. She is calling out to xiaohua as she comes in.)

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kang shunzi : Xiaohua! Xiaohua! You still here? wang xiaohua : Granny Kang, what is it? kang shunzi : My dear, let me have another look at you. (Stroking xiaohua’s hair) How pretty! But too thin! With more to eat she’d look even better. zhou xiuhua : Auntie, have you made up your mind to go? kang shunzi : Yes, I’ll go. Then I won’t be a burden to you. I brought Dali up. Now he wants me to go with him. How can I refuse? When we first came here, he wasn’t even as big as Xiaohua is now. wang xiaohua : Now he’s so strong. He’s wonderful! kang shunzi : He was here only a few minutes, but I really feel years younger. I haven’t a thing in the world, but when I see him, I feel I have everything. Yes, I’ll go with him. With him, whatever hard labor comes or whatever bitterness I have to eat will be sweet. Have you seen those big hands and feet of his? He’s a real man! wang xiaohua : Granny, I want to go with you! kang shunzi : Xiaohua, I’ll come back and see you. wang dashuan : Xiaohua, go to school now. Don’t be late. wang xiaohua : Granny, don’t go till I’ve come back from school. kang shunzi : Yes, yes! Run along now, my dear! (wang xiaohua exits.) wang dashuan : Auntie, has Dad agreed to let you go? kang shunzi : He hasn’t decided yet. What worries me is, if Dali’s visit somehow leaks out and then I suddenly disappear, it may mean trouble for you. People are getting arrested all the time. I don’t want to let you down. zhou xiuhua : Now, Auntie, you just go ahead. You’ll have a chance to live if you go away. Customers are always whispering to one another, “If you want a chance to live, go to the Western Hills.” wang dashuan : That’s right. kang shunzi : Well, Xiuhua, let’s talk it over. I mustn’t think of only myself and let all of you suffer for it. Dashuan, you’d better think it over too. (She goes off with zhou xiuhua . ding bao enters.) ding bao : Hi, Manager, I’m here! wang dashuan : Who are you? ding bao : Little Ding Bao. Pockmark Liu Jr. told me to come here. He says the old manager here asked him to find a hostess. wang dashuan : Take a good look around, miss. You think a dump like this needs a hostess? But the old manager here is so desperate for money, he’s always thinking up some crazy scheme! (wang lifa enters with a slow gait. He’s still in good health, but shabbily dressed.) wang lifa : Now, Dashuan, who taught you to talk about your elders behind their backs? Who’s full of crazy schemes? Take down the shutters! The teahouse should have opened hours ago. (wang dashuan goes to take down the shutters.) ding bao : Old Manager, you look pretty fit!

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wang lifa : Yes. If there were some noodles with fried bean sauce around, I could pack away three huge bowls. Only there aren’t any. Still in your teens, miss? ding bao : I’m seventeen. wang lifa : Only seventeen? ding bao : Yes. My mother was a widow, tried to bring me up. After the war, the government insisted that the little house my father left us was traitor’s property and took it away from us. The shock killed my mother. So I became a waitress. Old Manager, I haven’t a clue what “traitor’s property” means. Do you know? wang lifa : Better watch your tongue, miss. One wrong word can make anything traitor’s property. Take the place behind here. Used to be a warehouse of Master Qin’s. Then someone frowned at it. Said it was traitor’s property. Simple as that! (wang dashuan comes back.) ding bao : You said it, Old Manager. Even I’m traitor’s property! I have to suck up to whoever’s the boss. Hell! I’m only seventeen but I often wish I were dead! At least my body would be my own! This job rots you away slowly. wang dashuan : Dad, do you really want to hire a hostess? wang lifa : I had a chat with Pockmark Liu Jr. about it. I’ve always been keen on reforming. And with business so bad, I’m worried. wang dashuan : Me too! But don’t forget the Yutai’s good name. A respectable old name of sixty years’ standing now hiring a hostess? ding bao : Good old name my foot! The older you become, the more worthless you are! You don’t believe me? If I were twenty-eight years old, I could call myself Tiny Ding Bao or Ding Baby, but I bet no one would look at me twice. (Two customers enter.) wang lifa : You’re early, gentlemen! Brought your own tea? Dashuan, get the water. (wang dashuan goes off.) I’m sorry, but please pay in advance. first customer : I’ve never heard such nonsense. wang lifa : I’ve been in this business for fifty years now, and I’ve never heard such nonsense either. But, as you know, the prices of coal and such things are always going up. Perhaps while you’re having your tea now, they’ll go up again. So, it saves a lot of trouble if you pay in advance. second customer : Having no tea at all saves even more trouble! (The two customers exit.) wang dashuan (entering with hot water): What? They’re gone! wang lifa : Now do you see what I mean? ding bao : If I’d gone over and said, “Hi, you two suckers!” they’d have handed over a shiny silver dollar right away. wang lifa : Dashuan, you’re as stubborn as a mule! wang dashuan (putting down the hot water): Do what you like! I’ll take a walk. It’s too stuffy in here. (He exits.) wang lifa : Stuffy? I can hardly breathe!

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(pockmark liu jr . enters. He is in Western clothes and carries a briefcase.) pockmark liu jr . : Hi, Little Ding Bao, so you’re here! ding bao : On your orders! How could I refuse? pockmark liu jr. : Manager Wang, what do you think of this little baby I’ve found for you? Looks, age, fashion, experience—she’s a real winner! wang lifa : Only snag is I can’t afford her. pockmark liu jr. : No problem. She doesn’t want any wages. Right, baby? wang lifa : No wages? pockmark liu jr. : Leave it all to me, old man. Me and baby have got a way all worked out. Haven’t we, baby? ding bao : Sure, without your crooked ways, where would you be? pockmark liu jr. : Crooked? You’ve said it! So was my old man. He was nabbed right here! If you don’t believe me, ask the old manager. Wasn’t that so? wang lifa : Saw it with my own eyes. pockmark liu jr. : See, baby, I’m not just shooting my mouth off about something that never happened. He was dragged right to the middle of the street, and with one big whack of the sword, his head was chopped off. Right, Old Manager? wang lifa : I heard that whack. pockmark liu jr. : So I wasn’t just telling you stories, baby, was I? But my old man didn’t have what it takes. All that work, but he still didn’t get far. Now it’s my turn— I’ll get an American to back me up and I’m going to hit the big time! (Opens briefcase and takes out the plan) Here, baby, take a look at my plan. ding bao : I don’t have time. I think I’ll take a day off and come back to work tomorrow. wang lifa : Ding Bao, I haven’t made up my mind yet. pockmark liu jr. : Manager Wang, I’ve made it up for you! You’ll see, tomorrow morning baby will stand at the entrance giving everyone the eye. Before you know what’s happened you’ll have two hundred customers on your hands! Now, baby, better listen to my plan, because you’re in it. ding bao : Huh! I was hoping I wasn’t. pockmark liu jr. : What’s the matter, baby? You’re such a wet blanket! Listen . . . (The electricity bill collector enters.) collector : Hey, Manager, your electricity bill. wang lifa : Electricity bill? How many months behind am I? collector : Three. wang lifa : Wait another three months and it’ll be half a year. I still won’t be able to pay you! collector : That’s nonsense! pockmark liu jr. : No, I’m serious! This joint’s under Director Shen’s control. Member of the municipal KMT party committee, director of the military police. You want to collect his electricity bills? Come on, tell us. collector : What do you mean? No, no! Sorry, I guess I came to the wrong place. (He exits.)

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pockmark liu jr. : See, Manager Wang, you can’t do without me! Your Qing dynasty methods are way out of date! wang lifa : Right. That’s why, as they say, one must live and learn. And I’ve got a lot to learn! pockmark liu jr. : Now you’re talking! (tang the oracle jr . enters. He wears a silk gown and new satin shoes.) Oh, shit! It’s you, Oracle Jr.! tang the oracle jr. : Oh, shit! It’s you, Pockmark Jr.! Come, let me give you the once-over! (Looking him over, front and back) You little bastard! In that Western gear, from behind you look more foreign than a foreigner. Old Manager, I’ve been studying the stars and there’s irrefutable evidence that the true Son of Heaven will come among us very soon now. That’s why prodigies like me and Pockmark Jr. here and— pockmark liu jr. : Little Ding Bao—the talk of the town! tang the oracle jr. : Ah, yes—and Little Ding Bao have been sent into the world. Look at us, endowed with wit and beauty, accomplished in letters and prowess—just right for the times! And, boy, aren’t we going to enjoy it! Old Manager, turn your face here. I’ll read your features. Good, good, a fine forehead! You’re in for a spell of good luck! Now what about a cup of tea? wang lifa : Oracle Jr.! tang the oracle jr. : Don’t call me Oracle anymore. My new title is Tang the Heavenly Teacher. pockmark liu jr. : Who gave you that? tang the oracle jr. : You’ll hear about it in a few days. wang lifa : All right, Heavenly Teacher, but don’t forget, your father had free tea off me all his life! That’s not going to be hereditary, I hope! tang the oracle jr. : Manager Wang, when I have put on my special robes, you’ll regret what you’ve just said. You just wait! pockmark liu jr. : Tang, my old pal, I’ll treat you to a coffee later with baby here to keep us company. But first I want to tell you something important. tang the oracle jr. : Manager Wang, has it never entered your head that by offering me some free tea now I may make you a county magistrate later? Now, Liu, my old buddy, say your piece. pockmark liu jr. : I’ve got a tremendous plan. tang the oracle jr. : I’m all ears. pockmark liu jr. : I’m going to organize a trust. That’s an American word, so perhaps you don’t understand it. In Beijing dialect, we’d say, “It’s all yours.”5 tang the oracle jr. : Of course, I see it. It means you want to take care of all the girls. pockmark liu jr. : Right! That brain of yours really works! Baby, listen carefully. You’re a part of this too. Even the old manager here’s included. wang lifa : That’s why I’m listening. pockmark liu jr. : I’m going to organize all the dance-hall girls, prostitutes in the brothels, and tarts on the street, jeep girls and hostesses from the whole city into a huge trust.

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tang the oracle jr. (with his eyes closed): Got all the official backing you need? pockmark liu jr. : Sure! Director Shen will be chairman of the board. I’ll be general manager. tang the oracle jr. : What about me? pockmark liu jr. : If you can think up a good name for it, you’ll be our adviser! tang the oracle jr. : I won’t take national currency bills for my fees. pockmark liu jr. : Only greenbacks every month! tang the oracle jr. : Fire away! pockmark liu jr. : The business will have four departments: purchase and sales, transport, training, and service. Whoever wants to buy or sell girls, whether they’re to be transported from Shanghai to Tianjin or from Hankou to Chongqing, whether it’s training jeep girls or hostesses, or girls serving U.S. Army personnel or our own officials, all this will be taken care of by our firm. Total satisfaction guaranteed. What do you think of that? tang the oracle jr. : Marvelous! Marvelous! Theoretically, it follows the principle of getting everything under control. In practice it satisfies the needs of the GIs, and that’s in the interest of the state. pockmark liu jr. : So, think of a nice name. Something real classy, like “Willow-Leaf Eyebrows,” “Almond-Shaped Eyes,” “Cherry-Red Lips of a Dainty Size.” Poetic, you know. tang the oracle jr. : Hmm . . . Trust, trust . . . No, that’s not classy at all. In Beijing dialect the word sounds like “Pull them in and tear them to pieces”! Sounds too much like kidnapping to be classy. pockmark liu jr. : It may not sound classy, but it’s an American word and that’s fashionable. tang the oracle jr. : I still feel that “Such and such Incorporated” sounds better. It’s got more taste. pockmark liu jr. : You’ve got a point there. But what “Incorporated”? ding bao : How about “Crooked Incorporated”? pockmark liu jr. : Look, baby, this is serious! Don’t be so smart! Do your job well and there’s a good chance you’ll become the chief instructor of the hostesses. tang the oracle jr. : What about this: “Two Blossoms Incorporated”? What do pretty girls make you think of? Blossoms! If people want these girls, they’ll spend lots of money and your business will what—blossom! The two blossoms! And in traditional opera there are many references to two blossoms. So what do you think? pockmark liu jr. : Tang, my friend, I thank you. Thanks a lot! (Shaking his hand warmly) I’ll go right now and see Director Shen and discuss it with him. If he agrees, you’ll definitely be our adviser. (He puts the briefcase in order, ready to leave.) wang lifa : Hey, what about Little Ding Bao? pockmark liu jr. : Leave it to me! The trust will have everything under control. I’ll try it out here first.

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ding bao : Didn’t you say something about coffee? pockmark liu jr. : See if Tang’s coming. tang the oracle jr. : You go ahead. I’m expecting someone here. pockmark liu jr. : Then let’s get going, baby. ding bao : Bye-bye, Old Manager. Bye, Heavenly Teacher. (ding bao goes off with pockmark liu jr .) tang the oracle jr. : Old Manager, where’s the paper? wang lifa : I’ll have to look for it. Perhaps some copies from two years ago are still lying around somewhere. tang the oracle jr. : Oh, stop talking nonsense! (Three customers enter: chef ming , zou fuyuan , and wei fux i, chef ming finds a place for himself, while zou fuyuan and wei fuxi sit together. Knowing them all, wang lifa greets them.) wang lifa : My friends, I’m sorry to ask you, but please pay in advance. chef ming : We all know that, old man. wang lifa : Pay in advance! I’m really ashamed to say it. (He busies himself preparing the tea.) zou fuyuan : What about it, Manager? How about storytelling as an added attraction in the evenings? wang lifa : I tried, but it was no good. Only increased the electricity bill, but not the number of customers! zou fuyuan : Exactly! Take me. Day before yesterday at the Huixian Teahouse, I told the story of the three gallants, four worthies, five braves, ten heroes, thirteen celebrities, nine elders, and fifteen youngsters’ storming Phoenix Mountain, how the hundred birds paid homage to the phoenix, and how the phoenix’s leg was hurt. Guess how many came to listen to me? wang lifa : How many? You’re the only one left who can tell that story. zou fuyuan : A true connoisseur! But only five turned up, and two of them didn’t even pay. wei fuxi : Well, anyway, you’re better off than me. Another month now and I’ve had no work. zou fuyuan : But why did you give up storytelling for Peking opera? wei fuxi : I’ve got the voice and the looks. zou fuyuan : But onstage, you don’t throw yourself into the part! wei fuxi : Damn it, for singing the whole opera, I don’t get enough to buy three corn buns! Why tire myself out? You think I’m crazy? zou fuyuan (sighs): Well, Fuxi, it looks as though we’ve been beaten by pop songs and trashy operettas like Spinning Cotton. The way I see it, it doesn’t matter if you or I live or die, but it breaks my heart to think that what’s left of our art will die out in a few years! We’ve failed our legendary founders. It’s an old saying that evil will never vanquish good. But these are evil times, and everything good is rotting away at the roots!

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wang lifa : Ah! (Turning to chef ming ) Chef Ming, I haven’t seen you for ages. chef ming : Can’t get out so much these days. I’m now in charge of the food at the prison. wang lifa : What? You? But you used to cater for those fancy imperial-style banquets with more than a hundred tables. Now you’re cooking for jailbirds! chef ming : What can I do? Nowadays it’s only in jail that you can find so many mouths to feed. Imperial-style banquets indeed! I’ve even sold off my cooking utensils. (fang liu enters, with some traditional painted scrolls.) No, thanks. I’m just waiting for someone. fang liu : Master, it’s you! Is your wife not coming? chef ming : Mr. Fang, come over here, please. What happened to my two dinner services? I need the money! fang liu : Chef, pick one of these scrolls instead. chef ming : But what would I do with a scroll? fang liu : They’re so well painted. Even better than the originals! chef ming : They may be the best in the world, but they won’t fill my belly. fang liu : When the owner handed them over to me, he was in tears. chef ming : So was I when I handed over my dinner services! fang liu : I know damn well who’s in tears and who’s stuffing his face! That’s why I’m always so upset. Don’t imagine people in my trade have no heart and just go around buying and selling things. chef ming : Mr. Fang, everyone has at least a little humanity. You’re surely not going to cheat an old friend, I hope? fang liu : Only two dinner services, wasn’t it? Peanuts! Please don’t mention them again. Doesn’t sound friendly somehow. (che dangdang enters, rattling two silver dollars.) che dangdang : Who’ll buy silver dollars? Anyone want to buy silver dollars? Heavenly Teacher, won’t you favor me? (tang the oracle jr . ignores him.) wang lifa : Dangdang, try your luck somewhere else. I can’t even remember what silver dollars look like. che dangdang : Have a good look, then, old man. Free of charge! (che dangdang drops the silver dollars onto the table. madame pang enters with her bondmaid, chunmei . Her fingers encrusted with all kinds of rings, the woman is overdressed to a nauseating degree. old yang , the peddler, enters in her wake.) tang the oracle jr. : Your Imperial Majesty! fang liu and che dangdang : Your Imperial Majesty! madame pang : Heavenly Teacher! tang the oracle jr. : At your service. (He helps madame pang to a seat, pours tea for her.) madame pang (as che dangdang prepares to go): Dangdang, just a minute! che dangdang : Yes, ma’am!

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old yang (opening up his chest of goods): Have a look, Your Imperial Majesty. madame pang : Let’s hear that jingle of yours. It just kills me! old yang : Yes, ma’am. (Recites) Yankee needles, Yankee thread, Toothpaste white and lipstick red. Patent potions, facial lotions, Nylons sheer, you’ll find them here. In my small box, all goods are fine, But atom bombs just ain’t my line. madame pang (laughing, picks two pairs of nylon stockings): Chunmei, put them away. Dangdang, settle the accounts with Yang. che dangdang : Oh, Your Imperial Majesty, don’t do that to me. madame pang : But I lent you money, so what do you owe me now, at compound interest? Heavenly Teacher, check the accounts! tang the oracle jr. : Immediately. (He takes out a small notebook.) che dangdang : Heavenly Teacher, don’t bother! I’ll settle everything with Yang. old yang : Your Imperial Majesty, have pity on me. I’ll never get that money. madame pang : Don’t worry, Yang. I’ll see to it that he won’t cheat you. old yang : Yes, ma’am. (To the others present) Anyone else want to buy something? (Begins his recitation again) Yankee needles . . . madame pang : Enough! Beat it! old yang : Sure. (Recites) Yankee needles, Yankee thread, If I don’t go, I’m a silly fathead! Let’s go, Dangdang. (old yang and che dangdang exit.) fang liu (coming over): Your Imperial Majesty, I managed to get hold of a set of cloisonné incense burners, five pieces in all. Antiques! The real thing! Dirt cheap too. Just right for the altar of our secret society. Why not have a peek at them? madame pang : Show them to the emperor. fang liu : Of course! I hear that our emperor is going to have his coronation soon. My congratulations! I’ll go and get the incense burners now and take them to the altar. (Making his way out) If Your Imperial Majesty puts in a good word for me, I won’t forget it. chef ming : Mr. Fang, what about our bit of business? fang liu : Keep an eye on those scrolls for the time being. (He exits.)

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chef ming : Hey! Wait! Swindle me out of my dinner services, would you? Remember I’ve still got my meat chopper left. (Pursuing fang liu, he goes off.) madame pang : Manager Wang, is Aunt Kang around? Please ask her to come here. tang the oracle jr. : I’ll do it. (Running to the door at the back) Old Mrs. Kang, please come here. wang lifa : What’s all this about? tang the oracle jr. : Momentous affairs of state! (kang shunzi enters.) kang shunzi : What do you want? madame pang (welcoming her effusively): Mother-in-Law! I’ve longed to see you for such a long time. I’m the wife of your fourth nephew. I’ve come to take you home. Please sit down. (She forces kang shunzi into a chair.) kang shunzi : Wife of my fourth nephew? madame pang : That’s right. But when you left the Pangs, I hadn’t married into the family. kang shunzi : I’ve finished with the Pangs. Why look me up? madame pang : Your fourth nephew, Haishun, is the high priest of the Tri-emperor Society, a big wig in the Kuomintang, and a sworn brother of Director Shen. Soon he’s going to be made emperor! Isn’t that fantastic? kang shunzi : Going to be made emperor? madame pang : Yes. His imperial dragon robes are all ready. The coronation will soon take place in the Western Hills. kang shunzi : The Western Hills? tang the oracle jr. : Old lady, don’t you know the communist Eighth Route Army units are in the Western Hills? When Master Pang becomes emperor, he’ll wipe out those commies. Of course the Nanjing government is all for it! madame pang : I have nothing against the master, except that he’s taken to boozing and women lately. Got himself several concubines already! tang the oracle jr. : But, Your Majesty, an emperor should have seventy-two concubines apart from his official wives. That’s all laid out in the old books. madame pang : You’re not an empress. How can you know what an empress has to suffer? Now, old lady, I’ve got an idea. If you side with me, I’ll make you the empress dowager. Then between us we’ll have the emperor under our thumb. That’ll make my life a lot easier. Come with me, old lady, and I promise you the best food and drink, plus some silver dollars to jingle in your pocket! What a posh life! kang shunzi : And if I refuse? madame pang (on the verge of an outburst): What? Refuse? tang the oracle jr. : Give her time to think it over. Give her time! kang shunzi : I don’t need it. I’m finished with the Pangs forever! Wife of my nephew, you carry on being an empress and I’ll carry on being a poor old woman. Let’s keep out of each other’s hair! Just now you were about to make a scene. You think that’d

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scare me? After all these years of suffering on my own, I know how to take care of myself. Try something, and I’ll teach you a lesson! (She stands up and walks to the back.) tang the oracle jr. : Old lady! Old lady! kang shunzi (stops and turns to tang the oracle jr .): As for you, you young loafer, why don’t you stand on your own two feet and make a decent living? (She exits.) madame pang (venting her wrath on wang lifa ): Manager Wang, come here! Go and talk some sense into that old hag! Persuade her, and I’ll give you a bag of flour. If not, I’ll have your teahouse smashed up! Heavenly Teacher, let’s go! tang the oracle jr. : Manager Wang, I’ll be back for your answer this evening. wang lifa : Suppose I kick the bucket this afternoon? madame pang : Bah! Then good riddance! (She goes off with tang the oracle jr . and chunmei .) wang lifa : Huh! zou fuyuan : Now, have you ever seen a better act? Ha, ha! wei fuxi : I know more than two hundred operas, but I’ve never come across this one before. Where does the old cow come from? zou fuyuan : Everyone knows! Her father’s a local gangster who runs the eastern district in Beijing. She herself, before she got married, gave birth to . . . er, well, let’s not go into the details! Looks as though those thugs are having their last fling before they go under. It won’t be long now! (wang dashuan comes back.) wang lifa : Keep an eye on things, Dashuan, I have to go and talk something over. (He exits.) erdezi jr. (with a thunderous shout before entering): Get out of the way! (Enters) Brother Dashuan, a pot of the very best. I’m in the money today! (Takes out four silver dollars and puts them down one by one) Work it out for me. Just spent one dollar. Got four left. Half a dollar each, how many I done in? wang dashuan : Ten. erdezi jr. (counting on his fingers): Right! Four the day before yesterday, six yesterday. That’s ten all right. Brother Dashuan, here’s a couple of dollars. When I’m broke, I drink your tea free. When I’m in the money, I pay you. Take ’em! (Picks one up, blows on it, then holds it to his ear) That’s a good one. Good enough for two! Take it! wang dashuan (without accepting the money): Erdezi Jr., what’s your racket? Silver dollars don’t grow on trees! erdezi jr. : I’m studying at the university! wang dashuan : You can’t even read the character for “one”!6 What are you doing at university? (erdezi jr . picks up the teapot and gulps down tea from the spout.) erdezi jr. (in a whisper): The Beijing KMT party headquarters sent me to the Institute of Law and Politics. What a pushover! A dream! Better than mixing with those bums in Tianqiao. Half a dollar for every student I do in. How many did I get yesterday?

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wang dashuan : Six. erdezi jr. : Right. Including two chicks. One punch after another. A dream! (Flexing his biceps) Brother Dashuan, feel this. Feel it! Reinforced concrete! Imagine that on the students. Beautiful, huh? wang dashuan : Of course they take it all lying down? erdezi jr. : I go for the easy ones. Think I’m nuts? wang dashuan : Listen, Erdezi Jr., beating up people is wrong. erdezi jr. : Who says so? Look at the dean of the institute. He teaches KMT party doctrine. When he gives a lecture, first thing he does is take out his pistol and bang it on the table. Me, I only use my fists, not pistols! wang dashuan : Dean indeed! He’s a gangster! erdezi jr. : Right! A gangster! Ah, no, that makes me a gangster too! Now, Brother Dashuan, you have a strange way of mocking me! You’ve got guts! Don’t my reinforced concrete muscles scare you? wang dashuan : You can beat me to death, but if I never give in, you don’t win, do you? erdezi jr. : Such an odd way of putting things! You should come and teach party doctrine. You’ve got what it takes. Well, today I won’t be beating up any more students. wang dashuan : Why only today? Give it up altogether. erdezi jr. : I’ve got another job today. wang dashuan : What’s that? erdezi jr. : The teachers! I’m going to tear into them! wang dashuan : Why? Beating up students is bad enough. Now you want to start on the teachers? erdezi jr. : I do what I’m told. My boss told me the teachers are going on strike. That means they’re breaking the law. That means they get what’s coming to them—a licking. I was told to wait here and beat up all the teachers I see. zou fuyuan (sensing danger): Brother, let’s go. wei fuxi : Let’s. (wei fuxi and zou fuyuan exit.) erdezi jr. : Here, Brother Dashuan, take this dollar! wang dashuan : I won’t take money you got for beating up students. erdezi jr. (takes out another dollar): I know what. You keep an eye open for me, and I’ll run out and treat you to a good meal! What’s life without good chow, good drinks, and a bit of fun? (He pockets the money and goes off. kang shunzi comes onstage carrying a parcel. wang lifa and zhou xiuhua follow her.) kang shunzi : Manager Wang, if you’ve changed your mind and want me to stay, I will. wang lifa : I . . . zhou xiuhua : Madame Pang wouldn’t dare smash up our teahouse. wang lifa : How do you know? It doesn’t pay to tangle with the Tri-emperor Society. kang shunzi : What really worries me is Dali’s coming here last night. If that leaks out, we’re all finished. That’s more serious than smashing up the teahouse.

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wang dashuan : You’d better leave, Auntie! I’ll see you off. We’ll go to Deshengmen, since Xizhimen is closed. Dad, I can see her off, can’t I? wang lifa : Well— zhou xiuhua : All these years Auntie has done so much for us. The least we can do is see her off. wang lifa : Did I say no? You go ahead, see her off! wang dashuan : Just a minute, Auntie. I’ll grab a coat. (He exits.) zhou xiuhua : What’s wrong, Dad? wang lifa : Don’t ask me any more questions. I can’t think straight. I’m all muddled. Never been so muddled before. Xiuhua, you go with Auntie first. I’ll tell Dashuan to catch up. Auntie, if you have any trouble, you just come back! zhou xiuhua : This will always be your home, Auntie. wang lifa : But who knows what will . . . ? kang shunzi : And I’ll never forget you. Old Manager, I wish you good health! (She exits with zhou xiuhua .) wang lifa (follows them a few steps and stops): Good health! What’s the use? (Two teachers, xie yongren and yu houzhai , enter.) xie yongren (after a look at the wall, places money on the table): Old Manager, a pot of tea, please. (He sits.) wang lifa (takes money first): Right. yu houzhai : Yongren, perhaps this is our last time in a teahouse? xie yongren : I may be coming here a lot from now on. I’ve decided to give up teaching. I’m going to start pedaling a pedicab instead! yu houzhai : You’ll certainly earn more than a primary school teacher! xie yongren : It’s crazy! Being a gym teacher when both the kids and I are starving! (wang xiaohua runs in.) wang lifa : Why are you back from school so early, Xiaohua? wang xiaohua : Our teachers are on strike! (Sees yu houzhai and xie yongren ) Oh, Teacher Yu, Teacher Xie! Aren’t you going to teach us anymore? Oh, please come back! We missed you so much. We were all crying. We had a meeting—everyone promises to behave and never make you angry again. yu houzhai : We hate upsetting your studies as much as you do. But we can’t teach on empty stomachs. We have children of our own. It isn’t fair to let them starve while we teach other children, is it? There, there, don’t worry! After we’ve had our tea, we’re going to a meeting. Maybe we can find a way out. xie yongren : Stay at home and revise your lessons. Don’t go fooling around, Xiaohua. (wang dashuan enters from the back, a parcel under his arm.) wang xiaohua : Dad, these are my teachers. wang dashuan : Teachers, get out of here quickly! They’ve got a thug lying in wait. wang lifa : Who?

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wang dashuan : Erdezi Jr.! He was here a moment ago. He’ll be back any minute. wang lifa : Gentlemen, here’s your money back. (Handing over the money) Please go! Now! wang dashuan : Come with me. (erdezi jr. enters.) erdezi jr. : The streets are full of demonstrators! Can’t buy a damn thing! Brother Dashuan, where are you going? Who are those two? wang dashuan : Customers. (He starts to exit with yu houzhai and xie yongren .) erdezi jr. : Hey! Stop! (The three ignore him.) What’s this? Don’t listen, eh? I’ll show you! wang lifa : Erdezi Jr.! erdezi jr. (already swinging his fist): Take that! xie yongren (giving erdezi jr . a slap with his hand and a kick with his foot): And you take that! erdezi jr. : Ouch! (He falls down.) wang xiaohua : Serves you right! Serves you right! xie yongren : On your feet! Another round! erdezi jr. (struggles to his feet, a hand to his face): Ow! Ow! (Backing away) Ouch! wang dashuan : Let’s beat it! (He drags the two away. They exit.) erdezi jr. (venting his anger on wang lifa ): You just wait, you old fool! You let them get away. You’ll pay for that! Maybe I can’t lick those two, but I can sure beat the shit out of an old geezer like you! (He exits.) wang xiaohua : Grandpa! Grandpa! Is Erdezi Jr. after our teachers? What can we do? wang lifa : Don’t worry! He wouldn’t dare do anything! I’ve seen lots like him in my time. Bullies like him are all cowards. wang xiaohua : But what if he comes back here after you? wang lifa : Me? Grandpa knows how to charm him with a few nice words. wang xiaohua : Where’s Dad gone? wang lifa : He’ll be back soon. Don’t worry. Now go and do your homework. There’s a good girl! wang xiaohua : I hope nothing will happen to our teachers. I’m so worried! (She exits.) ding bao (entering): Old Manager, I have something to tell you! wang lifa : What, miss? ding bao : Pockmark Liu Jr.’s up to no good. He’s going to take over your teahouse! wang lifa : How come? What would he want with a shabby old place like this? ding bao : They’ll be here any moment. No time to explain! You’d better think of something quick!

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wang lifa : Thanks for the heads-up, miss. ding bao : I just want to help you! Don’t tell on me! wang lifa : I haven’t lost it yet, my girl! Don’t worry! ding bao : Okay. See you later. (She exits. zhou xi u hua comes back.) zhou xiuhua : Dad, they’re gone. wang lifa : Good. zhou xiuhua : Dashuan said you’re not to worry. He’ll be back as soon as he’s seen her safely there. wang lifa : That’s up to him! zhou xiuhua : Why? What’s the matter, Dad? Why are you so upset? wang lifa : Oh, nothing, nothing! Go and see to Xiaohua. Didn’t she want some hot noodles? If there’s any flour left, make her some. Poor child, nothing good for her to eat! zhou xiuhua : There’s not a scrap of flour left in the house! I’ll see what I can do. Maybe make a bowl of dough-drop soup with corn flour. (She exits. tang the oracle jr . returns.) tang the oracle jr. : Manager Wang, did you persuade her? wang lifa : This evening. I promised you an answer this evening. tang the oracle jr. : You were complaining my father never paid you for his tea. So, in return, here’s a piece of advice that may save your neck. Listen, the Tri-emperor Society’s even stronger now than it was under the Japs. Smashing up a teahouse like yours is kids’ play to them! You’d better watch out! wang lifa : Oh, I understand all right! You don’t want to get my dander up. Yet at the same time, you want to get in your empress’s good graces. Right? (song enzi jr . and wu xiangzi jr . enter, both in brand-new Western-style suits.) tang the oracle jr. : Gentlemen, quite a busy day, eh? song enzi jr. : Too damn busy! There’s a teachers’ riot! wang lifa : So, now you gentlemen call it a “riot” instead of a “strike”? tang the oracle jr. : What’s happening? wu xiangzi jr. : They won’t get away with it! We’ve already nabbed more than a hundred and beat the daylights out of more than seventy. That’ll teach them! song enzi jr. : They don’t know which side their bread’s buttered on. If they toe the line, the Yankees’ll send over rice and flour. tang the oracle jr. : Exactly. If there’s any rice and flour on the way, don’t forget me! When the time comes to divine an auspicious site for your ancestral tombs, I’ll do it for free. Well, gentlemen, back to business! (He exits.) wu xiangzi jr. : You were asking just now how a “strike” becomes a “riot,” weren’t you, Manager Wang? wang lifa : I’m too old to understand newfangled things. I just asked, that’s all. song enzi jr. : Hmm! You all belong to the same bunch. wang lifa : Me? You flatter me!

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wu xiangzi jr. : We got no time to waste on you. Let’s make it snappy. wang lifa : That means? song enzi jr. : There’s someone behind the teachers’ riot. wang lifa : Who? wu xiangzi jr. : Who came here last night? wang lifa : Kang Dali! song enzi jr. : That’s the man! Hand him over! wang lifa : If I’d known he was such a character, would I have told you his name? I dealt with your fathers long enough to learn at least that much, I hope! wu xiangzi jr. : Talking about your age won’t get you anywhere. Let’s get to the bottom of this. wang lifa : Hand him over or else pay up! Right? song enzi jr. : Dad trained you well! You said it yourself! Either hand him over or hand over those gold bars you’ve stashed away. Other shops come and go, but you’ve managed to keep your head above water. You must have a neat little pile tucked away somewhere. (erdezi jr . rushes in.) erdezi jr. : Come quick! There ain’t enough of us in the streets. Hurry up! wu xiangzi jr. : You little bastard, what are you paid for? erdezi jr. : I did my best. Take a look at my face! It’s all swollen! song enzi jr. : Manager, we’ll be back in a jiffy. So make up your mind! wang lifa : You aren’t afraid I’ll run off? wu xiangzi jr. : Giving us some of your lip, are you, you old devil? We’ll follow you to hell and back! (He slaps wang lifa , then goes off with song enzi jr . and erdezi jr .) wang lifa (calling to the back): Xiuhua! Daughter-in-Law! zhou xiuhua (rushing out with wang xiaohua ): I heard everything! What are we going to do? wang lifa : Get out of here! Try to catch up with your aunt Kang! At once! wang xiaohua : I’ll get my satchel. (She exits.) zhou xiuhua : Take some clothes along, Xiaohua. Dad, what will you do all alone? wang lifa : This is my teahouse. I’ve lived in it. I’ll die in it! (wang xiaohua , her schoolbag slung over her shoulder and some things under her arm, runs back.) zhou xiuhua : Dad! wang xiaohua : Grandpa! wang lifa : Don’t cry! Off you go now! (Takes out all his money and an old photograph) Daughter-in-Law, take the money. Xiaohua, you take this. It’s a photo of the old Yutai Teahouse taken thirty years ago. Give it to your dad. Now go! (pockmark liu jr . and ding bao come back.) pockmark liu jr. : Xiaohua, going to your granny’s because the teachers are on strike? wang xiaohua : Yes.

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wang lifa (taking up the cue): Xiuhua, be back soon! zhou xiuhua : Dad, we’ll only stay a couple of days. (She goes off with xiaohua .) wang lifa : Congratulations! pockmark liu jr. : Congratulations to you too! The director also approved fixing up the teahouse. As soon as I suggested it he said “okay.” It’s the way he says it: “Okay!” Just like a foreigner! wang lifa : What’s all this about? pockmark liu jr. : Your troubles are over! The whole place will be managed by me. You can clear out. Get this straight now. I don’t want you pestering me later on. wang lifa : Don’t worry! Pure coincidence! I’m on the point of moving out myself. ding bao : Pockmark, the old manager’s been here for ages. That’s no way to treat him. pockmark liu jr. : We’ll see. I always play fair. Now, Manager Wang, I’m going to fetch the director to look over this place. You tidy it up! Baby, you get hold of Xiao Xinyanr. The two of you should be here to welcome the director. Remember to bring some perfume and spray it around this place—it stinks. Let’s go! (He goes off with ding bao.) wang lifa : Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Too wonderful to be true! Ha, ha! (master chang enters with a small basket, in which there are some peanuts and paper money—white paper cut in the shape of coins that is scattered at funerals for the dead to use in the next life. He’s over seventy but still holds himself straight.) master chang : What’s so wonderful, my old friend? wang lifa : Why, Brother Chang! Just the man I was wanting to have a chat with. I’ll make a pot of the very best tea. We’ll drink it together. (He goes off to make the tea. qin zhongyi enters. He has aged beyond recognition and is very shabbily dressed.) qin zhongyi : Is Manager Wang here? master chang : Yes he is. You’re . . . ? qin zhongyi : My name’s Qin. master chang : Master Qin! wang lifa (bringing the tea): Who? Master Qin? I was just thinking of telling you, another great “reform” is about to take place. Sit down! Sit down! master chang : I’ve got some peanuts here. (Taking some out with his hand) Tea and peanuts, what more can you want? qin zhongyi : But who’s going to chew them? wang lifa : Well, I never! At last we manage to get hold of some peanuts but we don’t have any teeth left to chew them with! Isn’t that a joke? How are things with you, Master Qin? (They sit down.) qin zhongyi : No one wants to listen to me anymore, so I’ve come to you. I just went to Tianjin to have a look at my factory. wang lifa : But it was confiscated, wasn’t it? So they’ve given it back to its rightful owner again? Congratulations!

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qin zhongyi : It’s been torn down! master chang and wang lifa : Torn down? qin zhongyi : Flattened! Forty years of my sweat and blood razed to the ground! Others may not know it, but you do, Manager Wang. Since my twenties I’ve advocated national salvation through industry. And now . . . When they seized my factory, I couldn’t lift a finger. I was a nobody. No match for them! Still, I hoped they’d run it well. It could have helped the country to prosper and benefited the people. Now it’s demolished! All the machines sold as scrap! Where in the world, in the whole wide world, can you find another government like this one? I ask you! wang lifa : Years ago, my boardinghouse was doing fine. But you insisted on building your warehouse here. Then what happened? The warehouse was sealed up and all the goods stolen! Years ago, I warned you not to sell off all your property. But you insisted so you could start your factory! master chang : Remember the time I gave that young woman selling her daughter two bowls of noodles and you mocked me? qin zhongyi : Well, I know better now! Manager Wang, I want to ask you a favor. (Takes out one or two small machine parts and a penholder) My factory’s been demolished. This is all I picked up from the rubble. This penholder has my name engraved on it. A witness to the number of checks I signed and the number of plans I drew up. I’ll leave these things with you. You can tell your customers stories about them when you have nothing better to do. Tell them, once upon a time there was a foolish man called Qin who was mad on industrialization. After many years, these were the only things he salvaged from the rubble of his factory. The moral of this story is: If you have money, spend it all on wine, women, and gambling. Just enjoy life. Never try to do anything useful! Tell them, this man called Qin didn’t understand these simple truths until he was in his seventies because he was such a damn fool! wang lifa : You’d better take care of the penholder yourself. I’m moving out of here soon. master chang : Where will you go? wang lifa : What does that matter? Master Qin, Master Chang, I’m not as great as you. Master Qin, you had great wealth and ambitions. But, as they say, it’s the tall tree that bears the brunt of the storm. And you, Master Chang, you never gave in, never accepted injustice to yourself or to others. You never feared the consequences. Me, I’ve been an obedient subject all my life. I bowed and scraped to everyone. I only wanted a good future for my children. Food and clothes. To be safe and sound. Then, when the Japs were here, my second son ran off, and my wife died of a broken heart. When the Japs finally left, we all hoped life would be better. Who’d have thought—ha, ha! . . . master chang : I’m no better off than you! I earned my own living and worked hard all my life. But where’s that got me? Selling peanuts in my seventies. One man’s life doesn’t count. But what I hoped for was that our country would become a decent place. No longer sat on by foreign powers. But—(laughs grotesquely) ha, ha! . . .

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qin zhongyi : When the Japs were here, they called it cooperation. That was the last I saw of my factory. When our own government came back, my factory somehow became traitor’s property. wang lifa : Reform, that’s one thing I never forgot! Always afraid I’d lag behind. When tea wasn’t selling well, I started the boardinghouse. When that went bust, I threw in storytelling as a draw. When that didn’t work, I swallowed my pride to hire a hostess! One has to live! I did everything just so that we could live! Yes, I handed over bribes when I had to. But I never did anything bad or criminal. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to live? Who have I hurt? Who? All those bastards, that “emperor” and his “empress” are having the time of their lives. Why am I singled out to starve? Whose idea was that? master chang : All I hoped for is that everyone would be fair and no one bullied. But I saw with my own eyes how my friends, one by one, starved to death or were killed off. I wanted to weep, but no tears came! My friend Master Song starved to death! I had to go and beg alms to get a coffin for him. At least he had a friend like me who could get him a rough coffin made of thin planks. What’ll happen to me when my time comes? I love our country, but who loves me? See here (taking paper money out of his basket)—whenever I see a funeral, I try to pick up some of this paper money. I won’t have any burial clothes. I won’t even have a coffin. All I can do is save some paper money for myself. Ha, ha! qin zhongyi : Master Chang, let’s offer ritual funeral sacrifices for ourselves. Throw the paper money in the air. Something special for us three old fogies! wang lifa : Right! Master Chang, don’t forget to chant it like in the old days! master chang (stands up, chanting): Pallbearers at the four corners; from the family, a reward of one hundred and twenty strings of cash! (He throws the paper money into the air.)7 qin zhongyi and wang lifa : One hundred and twenty strings of cash! qin zhongyi (holding a hand of each): No need to say anything more. Goodbye! (He exits.) wang lifa : Goodbye! master chang : One last cup of your tea! (Drinks it at one gulp) Goodbye! (He exits.) wang lifa : Goodbye!8 (ding bao and xiao xinyanr enter.) ding bao (spraying perfume in the room): They’re here, Old Manager! wang lifa : Good. I’ll make room for them. (He picks up the paper money and heads for the rear.) xiao xinyanr : Mr. Wang, why the paper money? wang lifa : Who knows? (He exits. pockmark liu jr . enters.) pockmark liu jr. : Here he comes. One on each side, attention! (ding bao and xiao xinyanr stand on either side of the entrance. There is the sound of a car stopping outside the entrance. Two military policemen enter first. director

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shen enters in off-duty clothes, riding boots, and spurs, with a short whip in his hand. Two more military policemen follow him in. director shen , as at a military inspection, examines ding bao and xiao xinyanr .) director shen (after looking them over): Okay! (ding bao gets a chair for director shen to sit in.) pockmark liu jr. : May I report? The old Yutai has been in business for more than sixty years. It’s well-known in every part of Beijing. Well situated too! Such an old name would be ideal for our purposes of setting up an intelligence center. I carry on selling tea here, and Little Ding Bao and Xiao Xinyanr will be the hostesses. I’ll be here keeping an eye on people from all walks of life. We’re sure to pick up a lot of information and get our hands on the commies! director shen : Okay! (ding bao takes a packet of Camel cigarettes from a policeman and offers one to director shen ; xiao xinyanr takes a lighter and lights it for him.) pockmark liu jr. : Behind here there used to be a warehouse. You’ve already got rid of the goods in it. It’s quite empty now. I’m going to do it up, with a small ballroom in the middle and a few bedrooms at the side, complete with bathrooms. When you have a moment to relax, sir, you can come here to dance, play cards, and have coffee. If it’s late, and you feel like it, you can stay the night. Like it’s your private club. With me in charge, compared to your official residence, it’ll be easier, freer, and livelier. director shen : Okay! ding bao : It’s a pity about the poor old manager here. If we give him a doorman’s uniform, he can take care of the honored guests getting in and out of cars. He’s been here for ages. Everyone knows him. He’s like a trademark! director shen : Okay! Summon him! pockmark liu jr. : Yes, sir! (Running to the back) Manager Wang! Old Manager! Friend of my father! Old Mr. Wang! (He disappears, reappears a moment later.) May I report, sir, he’s hanged himself! He’s dead! director shen : Okay! Okay! (He gives a thumbs-up.)

E PIL OGUE (At the end, after wang lifa’s death, silly yang enters once more, to find ding bao weeping.) silly yang : Now, little girl, don’t be so forlorn, It’s always darkest before the dawn.

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Now, little girl, don’t let it haunt you so, Water from the Western Hills to the east shall flow. That water is sweet, not the bitter stuff of yore, And all who drink it will be slaves no more. (Curtain.)

Not es

1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

6. 7.

This text is based on the 1999 publication of the 1978 translation of Lao She’s 1956 play Chaguan (Teahouse) by the late Ying Ruocheng (1929–2003) in preparation for the 1980 European tour of the original 1958 Beijing People’s Art Theatre production, directed by Jiao Juyin (and revived in 1979 on the eightieth anniversary of Lao She’s birth). The current version has been revised by Claire Conceison for this anthology. Ying’s translation was first published in Chinese Literature (Beijing) 12 (1979) and, in 1999, as a separate volume in a bilingual edition by China Foreign Translation Publishing. The same bilingual edition (but with extensive production photographs and a production history appendix added) was published jointly by the Beijing People’s Art Theatre and China Foreign Translation Publishing in 2005, when the play toured the United States. Ying Ruocheng was a renowned actor, director, translator, and China’s vice minister of culture from 1986 to 1990. His autobiography in English, Voices Carry: Behind Bars and Backstage During China’s Revolution and Reform, was published in 2008 by Rowman and Littlefield. Lao She’s original says “magistrate of Wanping county” (Ying Ruocheng changed this to “Mayor of Beijing” to make it more familiar to foreign readers / audiences). Ying Ruocheng played the part of Pockmark Liu in the original 1958 production and in the 1979 revival, subsequent overseas tours, and 1992 final performance with the original cast. Voices Carry includes detailed information about these stagings of Teahouse. The queue was the hairstyle of the later Qing dynasty: it featured a shaved hairline above the forehead, with the remaining hair grown long and gathered into a single braid starting at the nape of the neck and extending down the back; it was fastened at the end (sometimes with a tassel elongating the braid). Ying Ruocheng’s original translation of Teahouse used the term pigtail, but this can be confused with a different hairstyle. In Voices Carry, Ying uses the term queue to refer to the hairstyle. Lao Lin and Lao Chen may be called instead “Old Lin” and “Old Chen,” since the word lao is not their surname but rather a term for “old” that indicates familiarity and respect when used as a form of address. In the original Chinese, Lao She uses the transliteration “tuolasi” for the English word trust; Ying Ruocheng translates Lao She’s phrase in Beijing dialect baoyuanr as the English phrase “it’s all yours.” The Chinese character for “one” is the simplest character, a single horizontal stroke. Following is a translation of a footnote in Lao She’s original text: “Thirty or forty years ago [this refers to the second and third decades of the twentieth century], when wealthy Beijingers died, either thirty-two, forty-eight, or sixty-four pallbearers were hired to

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carry their coffins at funerals. Four other men holding banners were positioned at the four corners of the coffin, and at a signal from these four, shifts of pallbearers would change. During this process, one of these men would call out the ‘money sum’ [jiaqian], announcing the tips that the family of the deceased had donated. As the tips were called out, people would scatter paper funeral money.” The version of Teahouse often performed (including the performance that toured the United States in 2005) ends here. The original ending of Lao She’s play follows.

Guan Hanqing (1958) Tian Han Retra nsla ted b y Amy Dool i ng

C ha r a c t e rs mistress liu ⽁▙ㅵ, proprietress of a tavern erniu ✠䩦, her daughter, later called autumn swallow guan hanqing ⤴⧔㎤, a prominent playwright during the Yuan dynasty, also known as Jizhai xie xiaoshan 㨩㨏㓹, a member of the literary society, an artist, and authority on folk songs of the Jin dynasty qian shuaqiao ㍷㙛㎎, an actor, later sai lianxiu ’s husband young lord ⤇㽳, akham ’s twenty-fifth son henchman 㠕べ㽳, addressed as Fourth Master Cui by mistress liu zhu lianxiu 㻎⻽㩑, a famous entertainer and actress xianggui 㦓⥌, her maidservant yan shanxiu 㬌㓹㩑, zhu lianxiu ’s pupil ma er ⿷✠, yan shanxiu ’s husband sai lianxiu 㑺⻽㩑, another of zhu lianxiu ’s pupils; later becomes qian shuaqiao ’s wife entertainment house procuress 凟ㄾ akham’s mother ≐ㄾ akham’s twenty-fifth daughter-in-law ⥏⡜ spring cuckoo ╠⳻, the maid of akham’s mother guan zhong ⤴㺴, guan hanqing ’s old servant

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yumei 㲙み, the “Flute King” yang xianzhi 㬚㦄㺐, guan hanqing ’s old friend, nicknamed Patchman Yang, a great contemporary dramatist ye he f u 㮠⧧⡄, a black sheep in theatrical circles wang heqing 㠩⧧㎤, guan hanqing ’s old friend superintendent he ⧨㽼⤸, manager of the Yuxianlou Playhouse bodyguard s 㗆㢲 playhouse attendants ⨍㜞⤸㖼 wang zhu 㠩㻚, military commander of Yizhou hao zhen ⧜伫, assistant to the prime minister, akham ’s henchman horikhoson ⧧⹿⫌㚧, a high minister, later prime minister akham ≐⧩⿷, deputy prime minister, Kublai Khan’s favorite warden 㲤⺂ prison officer s ⱏ㽳 female prison officer ⱏ㋇ prison guards 㲤㾄 zhou fuxiang 㺾⡁㦙, a messenger, erniu ’s husband long - life liu ⽁⒌㔶, a prisoner tselbukhe ⒡⹽⏥⪀, horikhoson ’s confidential secretary peasant liu ⽁▙㮙, erniu ’s father peasant zhou 㺾⹝⧔, erniu ’s father-in-law young peasant ㎠ㅰ㇭ス liang jinzhi ⼆ⱌ㺐, a composer and physician wang shifu 㠩㖯⡄, another great dramatist wang neng 㠩ㅢ and li wu ⹼㣖, deportation escorts petty official 㨏⺂ b rothel m anager 㨾㴠㽼⤸ subordinate 㨾㴠㽼⤸☨㗐㥲㑉

S CE NE 1 (The capital city of Cambaluc [present-day Beijing], during the reign of Kublai Khan, in the year a.d. 1281. A small tavern on a street corner near the city gate. A crowd of people has gathered in the road to watch an execution procession. Amid a flourish of trumpets, the Mongol officer in charge gallops past, followed by attendants beating bamboo clappers and shouting, “Make way, make way!” Then, to the rumble of gongs and drums, the executioner marches by, sword in hand, a long plume in his hat, escorting a mule-drawn cart with a female convict. Her hair is disheveled and her head slumped down, and the placard across her back bears her death sentence. An old woman trails behind the cart, crying frantically, “My child, my child!

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Heaven, spare my child! Don’ t let them do this!” The attendants snarl at her savagely: “Out of the way, old woman! D’you want lose your head, too?” mistress liu, proprietress of the small tavern, stands waiting, holding a bamboo basket filled with wine, meat, and sacrificial paper money. From the look of it, she is on her way to intercept the procession but, finding it impossible to make her way through the crowd, retraces her steps, murmuring to herself, “The poor, poor child!” Just then a few manservants, wearing Mongolian-style clothes, happen to pass her. She swallows her tears, dries her eyes, and beckons her daughter, erniu, who is looking on as though spellbound. erniu, though dressed plainly, is a real beauty.) mistress liu : Come, Erniu, what’s the point of watching? There’s housework to do. erniu : I’m coming, Mother. (Nevertheless she keeps watching.) mistress liu : I hear you but you haven’t budged. Not a month goes by without this sort of public spectacle. What could be so interesting? erniu (turning back reluctantly and taking her mother’s hand): What a shame, Mother! How could such a pretty young woman be a murderess? mistress liu : Who said she was? She’s as sweet and innocent a child as you are. Don’t you remember Xiaolan, who came to visit two springs ago? erniu : Xiaolan? You mean Mistress Chen’s daughter-in-law? mistress liu (wiping her eyes): That’s right. erniu : But she doesn’t look anything like she used to! Mother, isn’t there something we can do to help her? mistress liu : What can we do, foolish child? (Pointing at the bamboo basket) I prepared some sacrificial wine and meat to make an offering, but I daren’t even do this. Poor Xiaolan! To think she should have run into— (She stops short. guan hanqing , a playwright of great renown, also a physician of the Royal Academy of Medicine, who has been watching the procession from the back of the crowd, comes over to join them.) guan hanqing (in a hushed voice): I beg your pardon, Mistress Liu, do you know her? mistress liu : Good heavens! You’re here to watch all the commotion too, Master Guan? guan hanqing : Not exactly. I happened to be on my way out of town to see a friend. As I was passing by, I found the street blocked off. erniu : Ah, Uncle Guan, won’t you come in and sit down for a while? (She hastens to serve tea.) Please have a cup of tea. guan hanqing : Thank you, Erniu. You get prettier all the time. And you still remember me, eh? mistress liu : Of course she does. We used to be neighbors, and it’s only been a little over two years since you moved away—how could she have forgotten you? Have a seat. guan hanqing (sits): How’s business?

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mistress liu : Not too bad. Only we’re shorthanded and can’t afford to hire any help. The old man spends most of his time down in Wanping Village and only makes it back once or twice a month at best. guan hanqing : Not to worry. Erniu must be a great help. mistress liu : She is, but I wish she were a boy. A daughter in public is an invitation to trouble, I tell you. guan hanqing : I know what you mean . . . Tell me, Mistress Liu, are you acquainted with the condemned? mistress liu : I am. As a matter of fact, I’m distantly related to her mother-in-law. (Heaving a sigh) To think I should see with my own eyes an innocent child sent to her death and not be able to do a thing about it. Really . . . (She dries her tears.) guan hanqing : What happened? How could such a young thing have committed such an atrocious crime?! mistress liu : What crime? She’s a good girl. guan hanqing : Then, why . . . ? mistress liu (in a hushed voice, seeing that the crowd on the street has begun to disperse): Master Guan, what I am about to tell you is what her own mother-in-law told me. And it is the whole truth. You can’t save the living, but perhaps you will be able to avenge the dead. guan hanqing (eagerly): Go on; I’m listening. mistress liu : The name of the unfortunate girl is Zhu Xiaolan. She comes from a peasant family in Xiangyang. Xiangyang, as you know, was under siege for a number of years. After its fall, Lord Alihaiya1 seized a huge tract of grazing land for his horses. He not only confiscated the small plot belonging to Xiaolan’s family but also conscripted her father as a stable hand. He fled in indignation. Abandoned, Xiaolan and her mother had no way to survive, so they came here to the city in search of an uncle. Unfortunately he was away. They took up lodging at the house of Mistress Chen, who was also a native of Xiangyang. Then Xiaolan’s mother fell ill and was laid up for more than six months. They had to borrow ten taels of silver from Mistress Chen to pay for a doctor and medicine. Mistress Chen had a son named Wenxiu, an honest enough young fellow, but he had been in poor health since childhood, so no betrothal arrangements had been made. One day Mistress Chen demanded her ten taels of silver back. Xiaolan’s mother, of course, had no money to repay her. So she promised to wed her daughter to Mistress Chen’s son in partial settlement of the debt. In the meantime, her illness persisted. She would get a bit better for a spell and then have a relapse, until finally last autumn she died. guan hanqing (sympathetically): What became of Xiaolan after that? mistress liu : She married Wenxiu. The young couple lived together quite happily. Mistress Chen loved her like her own flesh and blood. And so the small family prospered. But then, somehow, calamity struck from within! erniu : Mother, please, let’s not talk about this! Isn’t there something we can do to save Xiaolan? I’m worried sick. Can’t Uncle Guan think of something? There’s no time to spare. Hurry!

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mistress liu : My poor child, Uncle Guan is a physician. His business is to save people when they come down with colds or coughs, not when their heads are about to be chopped off. Now, listen, I’m in the middle of a conversation, don’t interrupt. (Restless and frustrated, erniu dashes back outside.) guan hanqing : Go on, Mistress Liu, how did calamity strike from within? mistress liu : You see, Mistress Chen’s maiden name is Li. She had a paternal cousin called Li Liushun, who had come to live in the Chen residence in his old age. Mistress Chen was short of help and so he was entrusted with various household affairs. Then the year before last, Liushun’s son, who had not been seen in years, turned up. His name is Li Yi, but because he is such a reckless good-for-nothing, people call him Donkey Li. He drifted about with the army for a while and supposedly enlisted in the southern expeditionary army under Commander Sa, but when he got to Lin’an,2 he somehow scored big and quit. From the time he returned, he set his eye on Xiaolan and wanted her for his wife even though Xiaolan didn’t give him the time of day. Even after Xiaolan married Wenxiu, Donkey Li wouldn’t give up. One day Wenxiu went out and never came back. It wasn’t until two days later that they found out he had been drowned. People said it was Donkey Li who had done it. guan hanqing (banging the table): What a vile scoundrel! Preying on good people. Obviously it was to get his hands on Xiaolan, right? mistress liu : Precisely. After Wenxiu was buried, Xiaolan wept day and night. But that brazen-faced Donkey Li lost no time in asking her to marry him. She refused and vowed to serve her mother-in-law for as long as she lived. As for Mistress Chen, she was so distraught over the loss of her son that she cried herself sick. One day, she felt well enough to have a bit of mutton tripe soup. After Xiaolan had prepared it, Donkey Li came up with an excuse to send her on an errand and then slipped in some arsenic. His scheme was to poison Mistress Chen, thereby removing the final obstacle to marrying Xiaolan. But it so happened that the patient took a turn for the worse and didn’t even taste the broth when it was served. It was the old man, Li Liushun, who loved food, who carried it off to eat. No sooner had he done so than blood began to pour from his mouth, nostrils, ears, and eyes, and he died right there on the spot. Then Donkey Li threatened Xiaolan, saying he would hush up the incident if she promised to be his wife; otherwise he would drag her to court. But Xiaolan knew she was innocent and said, “Fine, go ahead and turn me in.” As fate would have it, her case wound up before a corrupt official. guan hanqing : Hm, nowadays few are those who are not corrupt. Who heard the case? mistress liu (in a whisper): The case was brought before the Daxing prefecture. The prefect, Lord Khoshin,3 as you well know, is greedy beyond measure and so concerned about his reputation that he often demands to be presented with the tenthousand-name homage umbrella.4 He is a Semu,5 and, seeing that Xiaolan was the daughter of a lowly “barbarian,”6 who, moreover, had left her home village, he disliked her from the start. Then Donkey Li handed over a personal letter from Commander Sa and some silver to boot, so whose side do you think he took? At her hear-

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ing, Xiaolan told the whole story exactly as it had happened, but the prefect simply turned a deaf ear to her defense and instead subjected her to all manner of torture to get her to confess that she had poisoned Donkey Li’s father. Xiaolan stoutly maintained her innocence, however, and refused to plead guilty. guan hanqing : Good for her! She shouldn’t have pled guilty under any circumstance. mistress liu : But then Lord Khoshin insisted that since Zhu Xiaolan had not confessed, it must have been the mother-in-law who had mixed the poison in the broth. So he ordered the old woman be subjected to a flogging of eighty lashes. As soon as she heard this, Xiaolan knew that her elderly mother-in-law would never survive such a beating. Steeling herself, she resolved to plead guilty even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. guan hanqing : Oh heavens, why did she go and do that? mistress liu : If she hadn’t, that corrupt official would have beaten her mother-in-law to death, don’t you see? guan hanqing : But she should never have signed a confession. Didn’t it occur to her that to plead guilty was to give up her own life? mistress liu : How could she have not known? But her one and only concern at that moment was to save her mother-in-law; she wasn’t thinking about herself. That’s the way she always was—straightforward and resolute. guan hanqing : She certainly was a woman of fine character. It’s a pity a more attentive official hadn’t presided over her case. mistress liu : But, Master Guan, who would that be? These days, the life of a Han is worth less than a mule. Xiaolan was granted just one hearing the day before yesterday; today she’s already been sentenced to be beheaded. guan hanqing : They’re everywhere—these damned officials who trample on human life as though it were nothing but grass! mistress liu (lowering her voice): Master Guan, watch what you say. (More people in the street crowd their way past the tavern. erniu dashes back in.) erniu (tugging her mother’s sleeve): Mother, do something! Hurry! (Looking at guan ) Think quickly, Uncle Guan. You have many friends. Do something quick! (A cannon sounds in the distance.) mistress liu : It’s too late now. She’s no longer with us. Poor Xiaolan! (She sits down crying with her face buried in her hands. erniu begins to sob, too.) guan hanqing (with great disappointment and sadness): What kind of world is this! (Rising from his seat) Mistress Liu, thank you. I must be going. (Talking to himself ) Treating people’s colds and coughs, is that all I’m good for? mistress liu : Watch your step, Master Guan. Come visit again when you have time. Are you heading home? guan hanqing : No, I must go out of town to see a friend. (He takes leave with a heavy heart, but before he can make his exit, two literary friends, xie xiaoshan and qian shuaqiao , enter the tavern. The moment xie xiaoshan sees guan hanqing , he grasps his arm. The latter, absorbed in thought, is startled.)

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xie xiaoshan : Lao Guan,7 I’ve been looking for you. When I went by your house you were out. I didn’t expect to find you here drinking. guan hanqing : I haven’t been drinking. I was talking with Mistress Liu about the woman convict who was just executed. xie xiaoshan : I heard a bit about it, too. I understand she was falsely accused. qian shuaqiao : I heard some guy set her up when she refused to marry him. guan hanqing : Mistress Liu told me the whole story just now. It makes my blood boil! xie xiaoshan : Why get angry? These days nine out of ten verdicts are unfair. If you’re going to get so worked up each time, you might as well hang yourself . . . Now, I wanted to ask you about something, so why don’t you come over to our place for a drink? guan hanqing : No thanks, I have to go out of town. What did you want to ask? xie xiaoshan : Some fellow has asked me to teach him one of your ballads. The first line, as far as I can remember, goes, “Drink when thirsty; eat when hungry; and sing when you’ve had one too many.” But Qian Shuaqiao insists that it’s “Drink when thirsty; sing when you’ve had one too many,” without the part “eat when hungry.” Now that we can check it against the original, tell us, who’s right? guan hanqing : You both are. qian shuaqiao : Come on. Just tell me which one of us is right. guan hanqing : You are. “Eat when hungry” was inserted later to make the line easier to sing. But some people thought the change broke up the melody and was not as clever as the original. xie xiaoshan : That’s true. I think I’ll stick with the original version when I give the singing lessons. The gentleman is particularly fond of the lines “To till your own land, to retire to the mountains—in quiet leisure one can brood over what has come to pass. My rival may be wise; I may be a fool. But why struggle?” He thinks these lines have been superbly written. guan hanqing (thoroughly opposed to this sort of detached outlook on life): No, they aren’t good in the least. My rival is not necessarily wise, and I’m not necessarily a fool. We’ve got to duke it out to see who is wise and who is a fool, to determine what is right and what is wrong. Xiaoshan, I think you’d better stop teaching that ballad. xie xiaoshan : Why? What’s come over you? Then, what about the piece entitled “Feng liu ti”? Do you still intend to learn it? guan hanqing : Yes, I do. I’ll be over later. (To qian shuaqiao ) Is Fourth Sister Zhu in today? qian shuaqiao : Probably. guan hanqing : Probably? What about Sai Lianxiu? Is she feeling any better? qian shuaqiao (tossing his head): I wouldn’t know. guan hanqin G: You wouldn’t know? I thought you two were quite close. xie xiaoshan : It’s all over between them. This guy got drunk the other day and forgot all his lines when he was onstage. Sai Lianxiu really told him off. He couldn’t take it and has been playing hooky for several days now. guan hanqing : Tell me, Qian Shuaqiao, should a fellow in our profession forget his lines onstage, no matter how good an actor he might be?

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qian shuaqiao : Of course not. guan hanqing : Then you know she did it for your own good. Why take it so hard? qian shuaqiao : Because . . . because . . . guan hanqing : Because you were scolded by a woman, right? Well, the truth is the truth whether you are a man or a woman. I want you to come with me to Fourth Sister’s place and apologize to Sai Lianxiu. (To mistress liu and erniu ) Mistress Liu and Erniu. Good day. We’re going now. mistress liu : Take care. (They walk to the corner of the street.) guan hanqing (taking leave of xie xiaoshan at the street corner): Xiaoshan, will you make an appointment for me with the drummer, Lao Rensi, and the flutist, Yumei? I have a new play in mind, and I want to consult them about the melodies8 and the stage directions. xie xiaoshan : Fine. (He heads toward town. guan hanqing and qian shuaqiao head toward the city gate. At this juncture, the servants in Mongolian attire who had just passed by turn back again, followed by an opulently dressed young lord and his henchman . They enter mistress liu ’s tavern.) mistress liu : Young Lord, sit down, please. young lord : No. (To his henchman ) Tell her. henchman : Well, Mistress Liu, what do you have to say about the matter we discussed yesterday? mistress liu : The matter we discussed yesterday? Oh, yes, Fourth Master Cui, but I thought I had already made it clear. My daughter, Erniu, is engaged to be married. Sixth Master Zhang, you know, served as the matchmaker. Her fiancé, Zhou Fuxiang, comes from a peasant family from Wanping. He works at the residence of His Lordship Horikhoson. The wedding will take place after the fall harvest. (She gestures to erniu to go into the inner chambers. erniu does as she is told.) henchman : Don’t bother repeating all that. I’ve heard it before and reported as much to the young lord already, but this is what he said, “That doesn’t matter. A mere servant at the minister’s residence! Why, even the minister’s own son would have to stand aside. Give this Zhou fellow some cash and tell him to go marry someone else.” mistress liu : But the rules of decency and propriety would never permit such a thing. My daughter is already betrothed. henchman : Rules of decency and propriety? The twenty-fifth son of His Excellency, Lord Akham, has taken a fancy to your daughter, and that is the greatest form of decency and propriety. Few people ever have the chance of gaining access to our great house. The young lord, however, has deigned to call on you here in person on several occasions. Don’t tell me you still decline such an honor. Now, are you in agreement or not? mistress liu : Fourth Master Cui, please say something to the young lord on my behalf. Erniu has already been betrothed to somebody else, and so she simply cannot accept this good fortune. henchman (to the young lord ): What shall I say?

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young lord : It’s no use wasting any more breath on her. Seize the girl! henchman (to the servants): Seize her! (The servants start dragging erniu from the inner chamber.) erniu (resisting): Mother! Help! Help! mistress liu : Young Lord and Fourth Master Cui, you can’t do this! Her father has gone to Wanping. I am in no position to make a decision like this. Can’t you wait until he returns? I beg you. (She sinks to her knees.) henchman : When he gets back, send him over. mistress liu : But I won’t allow you to take her. henchman : Oh yes you will! (Without another word the servants drag erniu away, with the young lord leading the way. The henchman follows behind. mistress liu hangs on to his robe desperately.) mistress liu : How dare you abduct someone’s child in broad daylight! Don’t you know the law? henchman : Don’t be an ass. You should know, Mistress Liu, this is the way of His Excellency, Lord Akham, and his whole family, and so it has been for the last twenty years. If you want to talk about the law, go to Daxing prefecture. You’ll find out soon enough that the prefect of Daxing, who is also the governor of Dadu province, is none other than Lord Khoshin, the first young lord of our house! (He shoves mistress liu away, then swaggers off.) mistress liu : Woe is me, woe is me! I shall die, I shall die! (She lies on the ground and wails.) (Lights out.)

S CE NE 2 (zhu lianxiu’s apartment in the outskirts of Cambaluc, where the pleasure quarters are located. On the wall hang a pipa, a flute, a sword, and a whisk broom. zhu lianxiu is the fourth-born child in her family and is thus known to her friends as Fourth Sister. In the Yuan dynasty, female entertainers customarily took the character “xiu” [elegance] as one component of their names. zhu lianxiu [pearl-screen elegance] had achieved renown early in her career. A versatile actress gifted with an exceptional voice, she is a star of the first magnitude. Among her pupils are sai lianxiu and yan shanxiu, and her acquaintances include hu zishan and feng haisu et al. But her dearest friend is guan hanqing , who once presented her with a ballad 9 as a tribute to her performances in many of his plays, such as Rescued by a Coquette, The Cunning Maid, The Riverside Pavilion, and The Prayer to the Moon. zhu lianxiu comes from a fine family and is noble-minded and brave. As the scene opens, zhu lianxiu is elegantly dressed in purple, in accordance with the regulation about courtesan dress codes. In the tenth month of the year 1268 it was announced

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that “ because courtesans and prostitutes dressed in a manner similar to the elites, the noble and the lowly cannot be differentiated. Therefore, it is decreed that they be classified properly and wear dark purple gowns and headwear.” Because zhu lianxiu is a famous courtesan, she dresses in particularly gorgeous attire. She is listening to guan hanqing as he finishes telling her all about zhu xiaolan . Her maid, xianggui , serves him tea from an exquisite tea set.) guan hanqing : So you see, they stole a precious life so brutally and shamelessly, yet they still have the gall to call themselves “fathers of the people.” (He pounds the table.) zhu lianxiu (hastening to steady the teacups): Why take it out on the table and teacups, my dear Master Guan? guan hanqing : What kind of world is this? Can one not be outraged, Fourth Sister? zhu lianxiu : Of course not. My heart is numb with disgust. Some people no longer expect anything else. But you, with your graying hair, still have the spirit of a man in his prime who rages against injustice. (Draws near him) It is precisely because of such courage that you have won people’s love and respect, you know? guan hanqing : That’s enough! (Rises and turns away from her) Perhaps it is because I have not seen enough of the world that I feel differently from you about the matter. zhu lianxiu : It’s not that. It’s just that you haven’t quite lost that “pure childlike heart” that you often go on about. But those who no longer get upset over the present state of affairs are not necessarily less worthy than you. It may be that they suffer more bitterly than you. With talent and learning, you men can go far. You may face an occasional setback, but chances are you will see your dreams come true. We women are the ones to be pitied. I was from a decent family, too. But in order to pay off the exorbitant rent imposed by Prince Puhua, my father died in jail and I was sold off to this playhouse as an entertainer. I’ve been stuck here for over a decade now. Haven’t I suffered injustice all these years without any way to air my grievances? And yet I’m better off than most. There are twenty-five thousand women quartered outside the city walls of Cambaluc living in the most inhumane conditions. Some struggle to stay alive but fail; others yearn in vain for death and would be better off being executed. guan hanqing : You certainly do suffer a great deal. But exactly what kind of future do we men of learning have? Remember, according to customary ranking, artisans occupy the seventh place, courtesans the eighth, Confucian scholars the ninth, and beggars the tenth.10 So these days our social status is even lower than yours. On the other hand, I must confess that I have held an unduly high opinion of myself. Du Fu said, “Having pored over ten thousand volumes, one can write with godly power.” I’ve always considered myself pretty resourceful. But today, when I witnessed with my own eyes a pack of bloodthirsty thugs drag an innocent woman off to the execution ground to chop off her head, I hadn’t the slightest idea what to do. I am the author of The Butterfly Dream,11 in which, upon Wang Shihe’s acquittal by Justice Bao, I had his mother sing: “Our sadness has turned to joy, our debt of sorrow is paid. We

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have left the castle of darkness.” How I longed then for another Justice Bao to turn our sorrows into joy. But instead, what we have are man-eating beasts, and in the face of such beasts our hands are tied. Mistress Liu was right: Dr. Guan Hanqing merely saves people from coughs and colds! Her rebuke stung, but it is the truth. I am indeed merely a physician who writes out prescriptions for peppermint and licorice root. “Black Whirlwind” Li Kui,12 a complete illiterate, had the courage to raid the execution ground at Jiangzhou. But me? All I could do was to stand there at the back of the crowd with folded arms and look on, restraining my indignation. That was me, the proud Guan Hanqing. How I despise myself! zhu lianxiu (holding his hand to comfort him): Li Kui was very brave indeed. But would he have made the raid on his own? It had been carefully planned by the heroes of Liangshanbo. Now, what can you possibly do, if you perchance come across something unjust? guan hanqing : When the ancients encountered injustice on the road, they would draw their swords and go to the rescue. In my case, I have no sword to draw, only an old worn-out brush. zhu lianxiu : Isn’t the brush your sword? Aren’t your plays your sword? In your plays you have unmasked such villains as Lord Yang, Ge Biao, and Lu Zhailang.13 And right along with us, your audiences despise those men who defy moral principles, persecute the innocent, and terrorize ordinary citizens. So why don’t you depict Donkey Li, Khoshin, and their like as the monsters they are to right the wrongs done to many women? guan hanqing : But those monsters aren’t an isolated few. There’s a huge pack of them conspiring in this man-eating business. How can they all be represented? I had always believed that, though the ways of the world were unfair, heaven, earth, and the gods had eyes and upheld justice and equity. But now I realize that this just isn’t so. zhu lianxiu : Well, then, if the wicked are too numerous, just single out the worst, the most hideous to write about. If heaven, earth, and the gods have unseeing eyes, then condemn them as well. guan hanqing : Exactly. On my way over I was thinking about Zhu Xiaolan’s case, and I’ve decided to write a play about it. I’ll lay bare the hypocrisy of these vicious, corrupt officials for all to see in broad daylight. I’ll give voice to the resentment and grievances of women who have been wronged. Let all know that, in their hearts, the common people still understand justice and the difference between right and wrong. zhu lianxiu : Wonderful! I know a thing or two about this prefect Lord Khoshin, too. He uses the influence of his powerful father to commit all manner of crimes. Recently he was charged with mistrial in a sentence he handed down. Lord Xu Heng14 came to investigate the proceedings. Khoshin feigned illness and refused to receive him. Xu could do nothing about it and had to drop the matter. guan hanqing : Help me gather more evidence of his crimes. He’ll never get away with his misdeeds. I have an outline of the script in my head, and I’ve got a name for the female lead, too. There is one question, however. zhu lianxiu : What’s that?

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guan hanqing : What if no one dares perform the play once it has been written? zhu lianxiu (after a moment ’s thought): Hanqing, just write it. If you have no objections to my troupe, we’ll give it a try. guan hanqing : Why would I object to your troupe? zhu lianxiu : Well, didn’t you once say that only private performances by respectable offspring of good families can be called true stagecraft, whereas what we singing girls and actors do amounts to little more than crude entertainment? guan hanqing : Please! I said nothing of the sort. Don’t believe everything Zhao Mengfu15 says. Nowadays, whether someone’s an amateur artist from a respectable family or a professional entertainer, it makes no difference. They are all oppressed and downtrodden. They are all slaves! zhu lianxiu : Well then, if you’ll dare to write the play, I’ll dare to stage it. guan hanqing : For my part, then, if you dare to stage it, I’ll surely write it without delay. zhu lianxiu : Fine, that’s settled then. I’ve been acclaimed for my performances as Zhao Pan’er, Tan Ji’er, Wang Ruilan, and Yanyan.16 Now, on Zhu Xiaolan’s behalf, and on behalf of wronged women everywhere, I promise to perform my new role well. guan hanqing (grasping her hands, visibly moved): Well said, Fourth Sister! zhu lianxiu : What name do you intend to give to the female role? guan hanqing : I’m going to call her Dou E. zhu lianxiu : Dou E? Perfect! I remember you once thought about writing a play about a filial daughter called Cao E. Now you’ll simply turn the filial daughter into a filial daughter-in-law and call her Dou E instead. Am I right? guan hanqing : Exactly. You guessed it. (Enter yan shanxiu, her husband, ma er , sai lianxiu, and qian shuaqiao , talking and laughing.) yan shanxiu (to zhu lianxiu ): Teacher, here’s something very strange! Qian Shuaqiao has actually apologized to Sai Lianxiu! ma er : We have Master Guan to thank for that. I was beginning to think you two were mortal enemies. guan hanqing : Ha, ha, ha! He was really pigheaded about it, though. It took ages to talk him around. zhu lianxiu : You owe it to him. It had to be done, of course. He models himself after you. He’s always saying you call yourself “the prince of gentlemen” and “the king of gallants.” I can see he has made himself into quite the young gentleman, to say the least. guan hanqing : I don’t see anything wrong with that. But the point to remember is this: those of us in theater strive to be fair and reasonable, for it is reason that makes us human. If we stray too far from reason or go so far as to totally abandon it, then how can we consider ourselves gentlemen and gallants? zhu lianxiu (to the others): Did you all hear that? To be a true gentleman you must uphold reason and respect yourself. Oh, by the way, Sai Lianxiu, I have some good

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news to share. Master Guan is going to write a fantastic new play. And he says he’ll let our troupe stage it. sai lianxiu : Wonderful! Only I hope we won’t mess it up. guan hanqing : You needn’t be so modest, Sai Lianxiu. sai lianxiu : I hope it doesn’t take you long. I’m all better now. I’m dying for a new part. ma er : Master Guan, Qian Shuaqiao is dying for a new part, too. Why don’t you write him something like “The Uncouth Li Kui Tenders His Apology”?17 (Everyone bursts out laughing.) qian shuaqiao : Ha, ha, ha, ha! (Changing the subject and turning to guan hanqing ) That reminds me. There will be a party at Liulang Village in the western suburbs. We’ve been asked to perform your play Lord Guan Goes to the Feast.18 Will you be able to attend? guan hanqing : When is it? qian shuaqiao : Sometime early next month. I’ll let you know as soon as the date is fixed. guan hanqing : Of course, I’ll go if I’m free. I myself used to perform at Liulang Village. ma er : We seldom see you onstage anymore. How about joining us? I suggest we present your The Jade Mirror Stand.19 Fourth Sister can play Liu Qianying; you, Wen Qiao; Sai Lianxiu, Mistress Liu; Yan Shanxiu, the maidservant; Qian Shuaqiao, the matchmaker; and of course we couldn’t do without me as Prefect Wang. guan hanqing : Ha, ha! Your casting isn’t bad. But I’m afraid the villagers won’t necessarily go for something so genteel. How about The Wife-Snatcher?20 Fourth Sister can play Li’s wife, you take Zhang Gui; Qian Shuaqiao, the silversmith, Li Si; and I’ll be Justice Bao. ma er : Good, that’s even better. (Reciting some lines) “It is said Lu was brazen beyond words. He is an official but obeys no law. Even the courts are under his thumb. He seizes people’s wives and daughters at will, and tramples the common folk beneath his feet. Few officials have such power as he . . .” qian shuaqiao : Citizens today are just like wild geese whose beaks have been pierced by arrows: no one even dares cough. Such a play, I am sure, will be more than welcome. ma er (to guan hanqing ): Then we look forward to seeing your performance as Justice Bao. (Enter the entertainment house procuress . She greets guan hanqing .) procuress : The superintendent stopped by just now to say there will be a reception at the prime minister’s residence this evening in honor of the guests from Persia. You are all to go rehearse the program at once. yan shanxiu and the others : Excuse us, Master Guan. (They retire with the entertainment house procuress .) sai lianxiu : Master Guan, if you will excuse me. I must go, too. (To zhu lianxiu ) Teacher, have Master Guan stay. (She and qian shuaqiao exit.)

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guan hanqing (rising to his feet): Well, Fourth Sister, I must be off. zhu lianxiu : Why, are you going home to work on the play? (Warmly) Why don’t you stay and write here? I’ll be rehearsing. Afterwards we can dine together. Sai’s father sent over some carp he caught at the lake. You might as well have some to show your appreciation. (To the maid ) Xianggui, please see to the tea. Use the finest I have. (xianggui nods in compliance.) But you mustn’t disturb Master Guan. Close that door so that he won’t hear the noise of the drums and gongs. xianggui : Yes, but Master Guan wouldn’t be bothered by anything like that. Wasn’t he working on a script backstage just the other day? He didn’t even seem to notice the music and singing up front at all. He’s a real genius. zhu lianxiu : Silly girl. You think I don’t know how capable Master Guan is? But this play is quite different from his others. He needs peace and quiet and mustn’t be disturbed, that’s all. Understood? xianggui : Yes, of course. guan hanqing : Fourth Sister, it’s very thoughtful of you. Please give my thanks to Sai Lianxiu, too. I am still working it out in my head, so I’m afraid it’ll be a few days before I can commit it to paper. Right now I have to go out to the Western Hills to make a house call. zhu lianxiu : Make a house call? guan hanqing (smiling): Don’t forget I’m still a physician. And when the Royal Academy of Medicine sends for you, you must go. Some patients don’t want us to know anything about their identity. You might make several visits and still not even know their names. zhu lianxiu : Why do you carry on with this nuisance of a profession? Wouldn’t you be better off resigning and devoting yourself to your writing? guan hanqing : Well, if I resigned, I’d have to fork over all sorts of taxes and levies. And I’d be forced to accept some other menial job. So I’m better off doing this, for at least I have time to do things of my own. Besides, physicians, you know, rank fifth on the social scale. As a writer I’m one rank below you female entertainers, but, as a royal physician, I’m a few ranks higher. Ha, ha, ha, ha! zhu lianxiu : So that’s why! All right, then, I won’t keep you any longer. Allow me to wish you riches and good luck in bringing a miraculous cure to your patient, my dear Dr. Guan. guan hanqing : You! (Lights out.)

S CE NE 3 (A gorgeous villa outside the capital city in the heavily wooded Western Hills. It belongs to akham , the most powerful minister of the day. guan hanqing is attending to his pa-

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tient, akham’s mother . An aristocratic young woman, akham’s daughter-in-law, and spring cuckoo , a maidservant, are standing in waiting.) guan hanqing (to the patient): How are you feeling today, Your Ladyship? akham’s mother : Much better. You’re a brilliant doctor. This ailment had been weighing on me for years, and I’ve consulted many of the best physicians before you. Now at last it has taken a turn for the better. It’s no small accomplishment. akham’s daughter-in-law : You really are a brilliant doctor. The last few days not only has Her Ladyship’s heartburn disappeared but her appetite has returned to normal as well. Yesterday she ate quite a bit and had no indigestion whatsoever. She has never had the chance to see the Western Hills, even though this is where she resides. Today she was absolutely delighted to be able to go out and take a walk for the first time. akham’s mother : I certainly was. To think of all I have missed these years. Why, I haven’t been anywhere at all! We must be sure to show our appreciation to the doctor. akham’s daughter-in-law : Yes, of course. I’ve already seen to it. (To the maid) Spring Cuckoo, help Her Ladyship back to the inner apartment. But first have Autumn Swallow bring some refreshments for the doctor. spring cuckoo : Yes, madam. (She exits.) akham’s mother (making friendly conversation): Doctor, may I ask your age? guan hanqing : I’m forty-eight. akham’s mother : I trust your mother is in good health? And how many children has your wife borne you? guan hanqing : My mother is quite well, thank you. My wife died several years ago. She left me only one child, who does not live with me at the present moment. akham’s mother : That is most unfortunate. Don’t you need someone to look after you at your age? guan hanqing : I manage, Your Ladyship. (spring cuckoo returns. Then enters autumn swallow, carrying a tray of pastries. When she and guan hanqing see each other, they both give a look of surprise.) autumn swallow : Oh my, close . . .21 spring cuckoo : Close what? (The curtain swells with the breeze.) autumn swallow : Will you close the window, Sister? spring cuckoo : All right. (She shuts the window and then helps akham’s mother into the inner apartment. akham’s daughter-in-law also withdraws.) guan hanqing (cautiously): Aren’t you Erniu? What are you doing here? autumn swallow : Uncle Guan, Akham’s twenty-fifth son wanted to marry me. His wife found out and had me sent here to serve the old lady. That one just now is Akham’s twenty-fifth daughter-in-law. But the twenty-fifth young lord still comes out here all the time. Please find a way to get me out of here.

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guan hanqing : This . . . autumn swallow : This, that, the other. Don’t tell me you still have no idea what to do. (akham’s mother , having changed her gown, reappears, flanked by spring cuckoo and akham’s twenty-fifth daughter-in-law. The latter steps aside as autumn swallow helps the old lady to her seat.) akham’s mother : Doctor, you have been here quite a few times. Do you know who we are? guan hanqing : I do not, Your Ladyship. At the Royal Academy of Medicine, we are not allowed to ask such questions. akham’s mother : You know how to follow the rules and you have cured me, and for that you have earned yourself a fortune that should last a lifetime. Now, Spring Cuckoo, present my gifts to the doctor. spring cuckoo : Yes, Your Ladyship. (She brings over a large tray covered with a brocade cloth underneath which are obviously pearls, gold, and silver pieces.) akham’s mother : Just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it with my compliments. guan hanqing : I couldn’t, Your Ladyship. Your recovery is honor enough for a physician. I could never accept such lavish gifts. akham’s mother : Perhaps they are unworthy of acceptance? guan hanqing : Not at all. akham’s mother : But it is no small feat to have cured my illness. By all means your kindness must be amply rewarded. Perhaps you prefer something else? Well, not to boast, but, except for the stars in the sky and the jewels in the hands of the Dragon King, I think we can pretty much secure any worldly treasure you desire. Now do tell me what you want. guan hanqing : If I do, I hope Your Ladyship will not begrudge me. akham’s mother : Certainly not. guan hanqing : Your humble servant craves neither jade nor gold. (Casting his eyes upon erniu ) I admire only the swallow nesting under your roof. akham’s mother : Ha, ha! So the doctor has taken a fancy to our Autumn Swallow. You have very sharp eyes indeed. But I’m afraid (looking at her granddaughter-in-law) this girl isn’t available. akham’s daughter-in-law (speaking to akham’s mother in a whisper): Grandmother, she is. akham’s mother : She is! Very well! (Turning to erniu ) Autumn Swallow, are you agreeable? (erniu nods bashfully.) Very well then. Now give them two hundred thousand paper currency22 for a dowry and see them off on my behalf. (Lights out.)

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S CE NE 4 (guan hanqing’s study. Hanging on the wall are a zither and a sword. guan hanqing is seated facing a flickering candle that has burnt nearly all the way down. Sometimes he hums and reads aloud, sometimes he pauses to think or bends over the desk scribbling. Now and then he gets up to stretch his legs and does some swordplay for exercise. The drum tower sounds the third watch. The cock crows. guan hanqing is still busy writing. Enter guan zhong , an old servant, with a coat draped over his shoulders.) guan zhong : You’re still at it, sir? You should really get some sleep. It’s almost daybreak. guan hanqing : Never mind. Once I’ve finished act 3, I’ll have the basic outline for the play. guan zhong : Sir, you yourself are a doctor. And you are always cautioning people not to ruin their health by staying up all night. Why do you refuse to heed your own advice? guan hanqing : You don’t understand. As a doctor I am obliged to tell my patients not to stay up late, but as a writer I must stay up late myself. These are two entirely different things. guan zhong : I’m afraid I don’t get it. All I know is, you’re working much too late. You must be cold and hungry. And we haven’t much to eat in the house, either. The best I can offer you is boiled eggs. In the old days your wife used to take such good care of you, and you pretty much listened to what she said. But now you work as late as you please. At first I thought I’d be able to look after you, too, but these last few years I’ve gotten so old and now even my eyes and ears fail me. I can’t do as much as I’d like to. guan hanqing : Why tell me all this? Who needs you here in the first place? Why don’t you go to bed? guan zhong : How can you expect me to sleep with you working here like your life depended on it? You ought to know better. I’m going to boil you an egg. guan hanqing : Honestly, I’m not hungry. If you want to help, leave me alone and go to bed. guan zhong : All right, I’ll leave you alone. But you must get some rest as soon as you’ve finished. First thing tomorrow morning, Mistress Liu and her husband are coming by to thank you in person. guan hanqing : What do they want to thank me for? I’m busy tomorrow. (He stops writing.) What? Was Liu there when you escorted Erniu back home? guan zhong : Not just Erniu’s father but her fiancé, Zhou Fuxiang, too. Needless to say, it was quite a family reunion. They feel enormously indebted to you. They said but for your help they wouldn’t have even learned about Erniu’s whereabouts. Zhou Fuxiang told me he wanted to come tomorrow, too, but he works over at Lord Horikhoson’s. He and Erniu are to be married soon. This time, sir, you have done a kind deed equal to the goodness of heaven. For this you deserve another good wife and many more children.

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guan hanqing : Enough of this nonsense! Go and get yourself some sleep. guan zhong (walking to the window): Look, the eastern sky is getting light already. guan hanqing : Oh, could you fetch me another candle? guan zhong : Really, sir, that’s enough. Call it a day when this one burns out. (He trims the wick and removes the melted wax.) guan hanqing : All right then. (He bends over the desk and resumes his work. The cock crows. Suddenly there is a knock at the door.) guan zhong (answering the door): Who is it? a voice (outside the door): Me. guan zhong : Who—at this hour? the voice : What? Don’t you recognize my voice? It’s Xie and I’m here to see Lao Guan. guan hanqing : Open the door for him. It’s Master Xie. guan zhong (unbolting the door): Why, Master Xie. Isn’t it rather late, though? (The cock crows.) xie xiaoshan : Why, here I am before daybreak, yet you complain that I’m late? (Everyone laughs. yumei steps inside after xie xiaoshan . He holds a long cloth pouch containing various flutes. He is known in dramatic circles as the “Flute King.”) guan hanqing (rising to receive the visitors): Oh, so Yumei is with you. Sit down, sit down. xie xiaoshan : You told me you wanted to see Rensi and Yumei. Someone invited Rensi to Dongzhou, so he’s away. Yumei performed today, and I had to wait for him until just now. He wanted to go home to bed, but I’ve kidnapped him. guan hanqing (to yumei ): How come it ended so late? yumei : It was a reception at General Juri Timur’s23 residence. Our program started yesterday afternoon and lasted until now. Altogether they requested three long operas and five short ones. Only when the audience got tired out were we allowed to take a break. I played the flute so long my lips bled. In this profession you really get worked like a horse! xie xiaoshan : Yumei hasn’t had his dinner yet. guan hanqing : Oh! . . . (Looking at guan zhong ) Is there anything to eat? guan zhong : I’d better go and boil a few eggs. (Serves tea) I’m sorry the tea is a bit cold. (He exits.) guan hanqing : You’ve come at just the right moment. (To xie xiaoshan ) Do you remember how I told you I was going to write Dou E? Well, I’ve reached act 3, but I’m stuck. I’m hoping that perhaps you gentlemen can give me some advice. xie xiaoshan : Is the story the same one we talked about last time? I thought it was pretty good. What’s the problem? guan hanqing : Please check the melodies for the first three acts. xie xiaoshan (takes the manuscript and reads with yumei ): I see the melodies you use: You begin with “Dian jiang chun” in the Xianlü mode, in act 1; and with “Yizhi hua,”

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in the Nanlü mode, in act 2; and “Muyang guan,” and Nanlü again in act 3 for “Ma yulang,” “Gan huang’en,” “Caicha ge,” and so on. So you’ll use these tunes when Dou E sings her address to the court, when she is tortured, and when she is forced to plead guilty. “How could I allow you to be flogged, Mother? And how can I save your life except by giving my own?” Your finale here is excellent. guan hanqing : But that’s precisely where I’m at a loss. In the very next scene Dou E is to be executed. In the hour of death she is so overwhelmed with anger and vengeance that she utters three vows—that her blood will gush up and stain the banner on the flagpole, that snow will fall in June, and that there will be a drought for three years to come. Obviously the Nanlü mode won’t do for such an outburst. So, beginning with “Duanzheng hao,” I’ve switched it to Zhenggong. The tune “Gun xiuqiu” is fairly satisfactory to me. Then at the hour of execution, I’ve switched to “Shua hai’er,” “Ersha,” and “Yisha.” So, within a single act, the musical mode changes three times. This is how I’ve written it, but I’m afraid it goes against all the rules. What do you think? xie xiaoshan : I don’t see anything wrong with that. The music is supposed to reflect the emotion. If the emotion changes, naturally the music must as well (To yumei ) Yumei, what’s your opinion? yumei : I quite agree with you. I feel it’s high time something was done about these socalled dramatic conventions. Ordinarily they’re not that noticeable. But last night playing the flute in three long operas in a row—I could really feel how monotonous the rules can be. Why, for instance, must a play always be limited to four acts, and each act have only one mode? And why is only one singer permitted per play? It seems to me that sooner or later all these rules are bound to be broken. Last year at Bianjing,24 I saw an adaptation of your Madam Liu Gives a Feast.25 It had been redone in the local style and no longer adhered to any of these rules. guan hanqing : Is that right! So they turned it into a southern drama. yumei : Yes, indeed. It was absolutely delightful. (To guan hanqing in a serious tone) You, sir, lead the way in the drama world today. As such, you’re expected to guide us in the right direction. This is better for others and for you, too. Don’t lead us down treacherous windy paths that will be hard on us and on you also. Am I not right, Master Guan? (They all laugh.) xie xiaoshan : I must say windy paths aren’t half as bad as the dead ends certain luminaries would have us go down. (guan zhong enters with a bowl of boiled eggs.) guan zhong : Oh dear, I’m very sorry. We only had three eggs left to begin with, and then one got broken by the cat. That leaves only two. What shall we do? guan hanqing : Well, there are two guests, so that’s one each. xie xiaoshan : Please, I’m not hungry. Give them both to Yumei. yumei : No, that won’t do. xie xiaoshan : This is no time for ceremony. (yumei tucks in.) guan hanqing (to xie xiaoshan ): Xiaoshan, as long as you’re here, why don’t you go over all three acts to see if they read smoothly and won’t tangle the tongue?

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xie xiaoshan : With pleasure. (He starts reading the manuscript with great interest.) yumei (having finished eating): Mm, I do declare those two eggs were a lifesaver. xie xiaoshan : A friend in need is a friend to feed. (Discovers something wrong and points it out) Look, Yumei, read this line. Wouldn’t it be easier to sing without these two words? yumei : Where? (He reads the line then tries it out on his flute.) Hm, you’re quite right. xie xiaoshan : I say, Lao Guan, how about striking these two words here? (There is no response from guan hanqing .) yumei : He’s fallen asleep! xie xiaoshan : Lao Guan, Lao Guan! yumei : Don’t wake him up. He must be exhausted. Just go ahead and strike them out. xie xiaoshan : All right then. (He does so.) Guan Zhong, help him to bed. We’re leaving. guan zhong (supporting guan hanqing by the arm): Sir, sir. (He helps his master to bed. guan hanqing snores.) xie xiaoshan : Yumei, my home’s not far. Why don’t you come over and take a nap? Later on I’ll treat you to a drink. yumei : No, thanks. It’s morning, and I’ve got to get to Nan Tianxiu’s place right away for her singing lesson. xie xiaoshan : What! Have you no life of your own anymore! yumei : I’m getting paid for it. What can I do? xie xiaoshan : Well, Guan Zhong. We must be off. See you tomorrow. (xie xiaoshan and yumei leave.) guan zhong : Goodbye, and mind your step. (He closes the door.) Good heavens! At last I can get some sleep. (The cock crows. The dawn brightens the sky.) (Lights out.)

S CE NE 5 (Still guan hanqing’s study. His good friend yang xianzhi , nicknamed Patchman Yang, is reading the finished script. guan hanqing is looking over yang xianzhi ’s shoulder.) guan hanqing : Well, Xianzhi, what do you think? yang xianzhi : I think it’s a masterpiece. But there are a few points I’d like to ask you about. First, is the mother-in-law Cai supposed to come across as a good or a bad

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character? If she’s supposed to be bad, how do you account for the fact that Dou E actually sacrifices her own life to save her? guan hanqing : On the whole I would say she’s rather good-hearted. After all, she’s very fond of Dou E, right? yang xianzhi : But if she’s supposed to be a good woman, then how come she’s a moneylender? She lends five taels and collects ten a year later, principal and interest, or loans ten and demands back twenty. If you haven’t the money to repay her, you’ll have to hand over your own girl as a daughter-in-law. How can such a woman be a good person? I rather think Doctor Lu did the right thing when he tried to strangle her with a rope.26 guan hanqing : And once she’s been strangled there’ll be no more moneylenders? yang xianzhi : There will still be others. guan hanqing : Well, there you are. Society is filled with money usurers and loan sharks. But compared to most of them, this old woman’s not half bad. Only when all usurers have been wiped off the face of the earth will you find truly good, honest people. yang xianzhi : All right, I’ll let it go. Now let me ask you another question. The Shanyang magistrate announces his sentence, “Dou E shall be executed tomorrow,” immediately after forcing a confession out of her. Now, not only was she denied the legal procedure known as “three appeals and six hearings,” but the sentence was not even submitted to the Ministry of Justice for approval. Now, if this is supposed to be a historical play, don’t you think it’s at odds with customary practice? guan hanqing : That’s a good question. But tell me, under this great Yuan dynasty, does the trial of a capital crime necessarily go through “three appeals and six hearings” and have to be approved by the Ministry of Justice? Is it not a fact that, in the case of Zhu Xiaolan, she was granted but a single hearing by Khoshin and then executed the very next day in a most hasty manner? yang xianzhi : Oh, I see. If that’s what you mean, I’ve nothing more to say. Now, from a literary standpoint, I quite like these lines from act 2: “I fall unconscious from pain, come to once more only to faint away again. I must suffer a thousand strokes and my body drips with blood. At each stroke, my skin is streaked with blood and a layer of flesh torn away.” It’s quite moving and profound. But in the verse that follows, “Oh earth, you fail to distinguish between right and wrong! Oh heaven, I blame you for the injustice I suffer!”—it seems to me that you’d be better off changing the last line to “Oh heaven, in mistaking the sage and the fool, you wield celestial power in vain.” Don’t you think it’s more powerful that way? guan hanqing : Oh yes. Go ahead and change it. yang xianzhi : But hadn’t you better think it over? I was merely making a suggestion. guan hanqing : And a fine suggestion it is. Go ahead and make the correction for me. (yang xianzhi does so. A sheet of paper falls off the table, which he quickly picks up.) yang xianzhi (as his eyes run down the page, reads quietly): “There’s a spirit of righteousness existing between heaven and earth in various guises. It becomes mountains and rivers as it descends, but becomes the sun and stars as it rises high above. In man, the spirit overwhelms the entire universe . . .” Who wrote this?

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guan hanqing (in a low voice): Prime Minister Wen. yang xianzhi : Who? Prime Minister Wen? Oh. You mean Wen Tianxiang,27 of the Song dynasty. guan hanqing : That’s the one. yang xianzhi : Have you ever met him? guan hanqing : No, I haven’t, but Liang Jinzhi has. yang xianzhi : But isn’t he under detention? guan hanqing : Yes, he is, but as physicians, we have opportunities like that. yang xianzhi : Has the prime minister taken ill? guan hanqing : Being confined to a damp place like that all these years, who wouldn’t have? Luckily for him, he has a cultured mind and a firm constitution coupled with a strong will, so that he doesn’t succumb to illness easily. Otherwise he’d have been dead long ago. yang xianzhi : I understand the emperor has great respect for those Song officials who have sworn their allegiance to him. How is it that Prime Minister Wen is being quartered in such a miserable place? guan hanqing : Precisely because he refuses to declare his allegiance. In the three years since the fall of the Song dynasty, Prime Ministers Bayan28 and Bor29 have tried time and again to get him to change his mind, but he adamantly refuses. His sole wish is death. A man of iron, I must say! yang xianzhi : That reminds me of a recent poem by Xu Weiqing,30 which reads, “If His Majesty spares the life of Prime Minister Wen, it will be a case of royal magnanimity and will encourage personal loyalty.” Do you think the emperor will spare his life? guan hanqing : It’s hard to say. Do you really suppose His Majesty is that charitable? . . . I was deeply moved by Prime Minister Wen’s “Song of Righteousness Prevailing,” which Jinzhi brought to me. Would you like to read it? yang xianzhi : Very much, but I must be off now. I’ve got something to do. guan hanqing : What’s the big rush? yang xianzhi : Reading your new play has got me thinking about my Riverside Inn in Autumn Rain.31 I think I’m going to strengthen that part where Cui Tong is taken to task. What do you think? guan hanqing : Riverside Inn is an excellent piece of work. It gives the reader the feeling of being caught in an autumn rainstorm with Zhang Cuiluan and listening to the patter of the rain with her. You make the rain itself tell a tale of companionship. But couldn’t you make the conclusion more forceful, such as the part dealing with Cui Tong? yang xianzhi : Exactly my feeling; that’s why I want to make some changes. I’ve also polished up The Bitter Cold Pavilion32 a bit here and there. Well, I think I’ll take Prime Minister Wen’s poem with me, if you don’t mind. guan hanqing : Don’t lose it, though, and don’t tell anyone about it. yang xianzhi : I won’t.

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(He walks out in a hurry. guan hanqing pores over the first three acts where changes have been made by yang xianzhi , and, unable to resist, he reads aloud. He doesn’t notice when guan zhong enters to announce a visitor, ye hefu, a boorish literatus who mixes in theater circles to curry favor with the authorities. Presently he holds back guan zhong , tiptoes in alone, and pricks up his ears, hanging on every syllable.) guan hanqing (chanting with feeling): For no reason at all I am accused of violating imperial law, And condemned to be beheaded— My cries of injustice stir heaven and earth! I reproach both heaven and earth, For they do not save me. The sun and moon appear by day and by night, And the gods and spirits have power over life and death; Yet heaven cannot tell the innocent from the guilty, And confuses the wicked with the good! The virtuous suffer poverty and die before their time, The wicked enjoy wealth and longevity. The gods fear the mighty and bully the weak, And push the boat along with the current. Oh earth! You fail to distinguish between right and wrong; Oh heaven! In mistaking the sage and the fool, You wield celestial power in vain! Alas! Tears stream down my cheeks like rain! guan zhong (getting guan hanqing’s attention): Sir, Master Ye is here to see you. guan hanqing : Who? (As though aroused from his literary reverie) Oh, Hefu. guan zhong : Master Ye has been here for quite some time. guan hanqing : Do sit down, please. I didn’t realize you were here. Excuse my belated greetings. ye hefu : Oh, it is I who should apologize for the intrusion. Perhaps my unexpected visit has disturbed your literary efforts. guan hanqing : Not at all. Guan Zhong, a bit of tea. guan zhong : Yes, sir. (Serving ye hefu a cup of tea) Please have some tea. ye hefu : Lianxiu informed me yesterday that you were writing her a play. Is that what you were reading just now? guan hanqing : Indeed. ye hefu : Is it done? guan hanqing : Not quite. There’s one more act to do, but it’s almost done. ye hefu : No doubt another masterpiece. What you just read sounds charming. May I take a quick peek? (He takes the manuscript from guan hanqing and glances over it.)

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guan hanqing : It isn’t anything much. It’s still a bit rough around the edges, as they say. I wanted to have Xianzhi polish it up for me, but he doesn’t have the time. ye hefu : Rough around the edges, yet a natural beauty. That is your trademark. But judging by what you’ve just read, it must have been written with pent-up fury. “Oh earth! You fail to distinguish between right and wrong; oh heaven! In mistaking the sage and the fool, you wield celestial power in vain!” Why, you even revile heaven and earth! Couldn’t you make it a bit more pleasant and entertaining like your other works? guan hanqing : You are no stranger to the literary world. So naturally you are aware that the style of a play changes according to the plot. Now, the plot of this play is anything but pleasant and entertaining, and so it would be ridiculous to present it that way. As a matter of fact, I detest excessively pleasant and entertaining writing. I feel such efforts are no different from prescribing peppermint and licorice root to cure colds and coughs. ye hefu (unable to follow the drift of the remark): But I still prefer your usual style. If you sell peppermint and licorice root, then that’s what people will come to buy from you. Isn’t that perfectly natural? guan hanqing : Is that what you people think of me? ye hefu : Oh, I’m just joking, of course. (Changing the subject) In what dynasty does the story of the play take place? guan hanqing : It’s not specified. Perhaps the Han dynasty. During the Han dynasty, as you know, in the Donghai district a filial woman was wrongfully executed by the prefect of Dong’a.33 Thereupon, the district suffered three years of severe drought. ye hefu : And it started raining only after another prefect, Yu Gong, overturned the unjust verdict, right? Well, the incident happened over a thousand years ago, and you’re still so sentimental about it. Aren’t you a little overly concerned about the ancients? guan hanqing : But injustice of this kind still occurs. ye hefu : Ah, now I see. Lianxiu told me that you felt very strongly about the case concerning Zhu Xiaolan. guan hanqing : Yes, I do. I should think any person with his heart in the right place would feel the same way. ye hefu : I should say so, too. You hear the matter being discussed on every street corner. A sentimental man of letters like yourself, of course, cannot be expected to keep quiet. Nevertheless, no matter how much other people discuss it, under no circumstances should you write anything about it. guan hanqing (annoyed): Why not? ye hefu : In the first place, your recent productions, such as Rescued by a Coquette,34 The Gold-Thread Pond,35 and The Riverside Pavilion,36 deserve the high praise they garnered. No theater can make money without your plays. The female roles you’ve created are so successful that you’re looked upon as the great master of “rouge and powder.” But now all of a sudden, you want to write about a legal case. If your new

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play is successful, so much the better. But if not, you’ll sink into obscurity overnight. It’s not worth it, I tell you. guan hanqing : Me, the great master of “rouge and powder”? Rubbish! It’s true some of my plays are tinged with “rouge and powder.” But I wrote Rescued by a Coquette because I wanted to sing the praises of the noble courtesan Zhao Pan’er. I wrote The Gold-Thread Pond because I felt deep sympathy for Du Ruiniang and her wretched fate. I wrote The Riverside Pavilion because I wanted to extol the wit and courage shown by the widow, Tan Ji’er, in her struggle for a happy life. But in these same plays I condemned that oppressor of women, Zhou She; I condemned Mistress Du, who forced her own daughter into prostitution, and I condemned Lord Yang, who relied on his influence and position to terrify others and abduct their wives. None of the villains in any of my plays escape with impunity. And I’ve certainly never used my plays to flatter or appease people like that. As a playwright, I have covered practically every subject, including court cases, such as The Butterfly Dream and The WifeSnatcher. But whatever I wrote, I’ve always spoken up for the downtrodden common people. I’ve never sought fame, so why would I worry about sinking into obscurity now? . . . ye hefu (trying to outtalk guan hanqing ): Don’t be offended, I haven’t finished yet. My second point is this: there are varying accounts of the Zhu Xiaolan case. You mustn’t listen to just one side of the story. According to Donkey Li, Zhu Xiaolan actually intended to poison her mother-in-law so that she could marry him. It was his father who unexpectedly became the victim. guan hanqing (angrily): And yours is not a one-sided account, eh? That son of a bitch Donkey Li had an innocent woman framed on a murder charge, and now that she’s dead, he continues to fling dirt on her good name! ye hefu : Wait. I have a third point. Just now you read, “The gods fear the mighty and bully the weak.” Actually, in all actions and words one ought to be realistic and weigh carefully who is mighty and who is weak. Of course, Donkey Li is a nobody, but he has the backing of Commander Sa and Lord Khoshin. Lord Khoshin, as everybody knows, isn’t much of a man. He’s greedy and corrupt, and he couldn’t care less about upholding justice. I’m not just flattering you when I say you’re right to condemn him. But what good will it do? He is Lord Akham’s eldest son, and Lord Akham is His Majesty’s most trusted God of Wealth. Nobody dares utter a negative syllable against him; those who do come to no good end. Haven’t you heard, for instance, about the imperial censor, Bai Dong, who filed a petition to impeach Lord Akham? To this day he is being held in the cells of the Ministry of Justice. Or take a look at the fate of Qin Changqing, the chief of the imperial guards. He’d been handpicked by His Majesty, so you’d think he’d be in royal grace. Well, he, too, filed a charge against Akham. Not a hair on Akham’s head was touched, while Qin was suffocated to death in prison with his mouth and nose plugged with wet paper. All this goes to show who is mighty and who is weak in this world of ours. You could compare Lord Akham to a massive boulder and everyone else to chicken eggs. Not only

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earthly beings, I tell you, even heaven keeps him at a distance. And you dare snub him? guan hanqing : What? Are you here to threaten me? ye hefu (energetically): Listen, it makes no difference what dynasty you pretend to write about. Once the play is staged, everybody will know who it’s really about. In act 3 you deliberately assign the clown role to the part of the Shanyang magistrate and you have him say, “I’m a hardworking official; for lawsuits, gold and silver are my price; and when my superiors come, I stay home sick in bed.” Now, who won’t know that you’re poking fun at Lord Khoshin? And you even make the official kneel before the litigants and say, “Any party to a lawsuit who supplies me with food and clothes is as dear to me as my own parents.” Just think about it, will any official stomach such an insult? And if this ever reaches Akham’s ears, both the playwright and the actors will lose their heads. guan hanqing : I don’t know what you’re talking about. What has my play to do with Akham? ye hefu : It’s obvious. Do you think that if you rebuke Khoshin, it will be of no concern to his father? As a matter of fact, Lord Akham admires your work. Hanqing, let me tell you some good news. The day before yesterday Lord Hao Zhen sent for me. He wanted Lianxiu to perform The Riverside Pavilion at his residence. Lord Hao Zhen is a favorite of Lord Akham’s. In other words, it had to have been Lord Akham’s idea. Now that the God of Wealth has become a fan of your plays, you’ll never want for food to eat or wine to drink. And we may partake of your good fortune, too. Won’t that be wonderful? guan hanqing : Mr. Ye, are you finished? ye hefu : Yes, for the moment. guan hanqing : Well, then, I’ve something to tell you in return. First, as you’ve all said, I always have women in the leading roles in my plays. Now, while the play I am currently writing does differ somewhat from previous ones, it, too, is nonetheless about a woman—a most extraordinary woman, one who is willing to sacrifice herself to save another, whose sterling qualities have moved me so deeply that I must write about her. So you see the play is not simply an attack on any particular person. I sincerely hope you’ll assist me in getting this point across. Second, I write plays because I enjoy it, not because of food and drink or riches. If all I wanted to do was get rich, perhaps I wouldn’t write at all. Indeed, have any of our friends who write plays ever made any money? Therefore, just as I have no desire to share others’ fortune, so I’ll have no fortune for others to share. There is an old saying, “Each man has his own aspirations.” So, if you’ll please excuse me. I’ve made up my mind to write this play, and I’m prepared to suffer the consequences. I certainly wouldn’t want to involve you. ye hefu : Whoa, what are you suggesting? We’re old pals, are we not? When I smell trouble, naturally I want to caution you. Whether you believe me or not is entirely up to you. (Sees zhu lianxiu come in from outside and looks greatly relieved) Ah, here comes Lianxiu. Thank goodness! Try and talk to Hanqing. He’s being rather stub-

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born. As far as I can see, writing this play is to court disaster, and it’s just not worth it, I tell you. You’re the one who cares most deeply about him, and he’s more likely to listen to you. Come, your words will certainly yield better results than mine. zhu lianxiu (glancing at guan hanqing , who is facing ye hefu, looking furious): All right, Master Ye, you can go now. I’ll talk to him. ye hefu : Good. Do talk him out of it. I have to report to Lord Hao Zhen about The Riverside Pavilion. You will perform it, right? zhu lianxiu : How could I decline such an honor? ye hefu: Very well. I’ll see to everything else, of course. This time the God of Wealth himself will grace your play with his attendance. You can rest assured that he’ll bestow more than a pittance. zhu lianxiu : Much depends on your help. ye hefu : Goodbye, Hanqing, and mind you think over what we discussed. guan hanqing : You . . . ! (Sensing his anger, ye hefu slips out the door.) zhu lianxiu : What’s the matter? Have you two been quarreling? guan hanqing : That jerk gets more and more impossible. zhu lianxiu : Perhaps he means well. guan hanqing (taken aback): What? It was both blackmail and bribery. And you call that being well intentioned? zhu lianxiu : Perhaps he was afraid you might offend the God of Wealth and then you’d be sorry for it. guan hanqing (glares at her): So you’re really here to try to coax me, too! zhu lianxiu (laughing): Yes, that’s what I’m here for. guan hanqing : Go ahead and try. (He muffles his ears with his hands.) zhu lianxiu (removing his hands): I want to coax you to hurry up and finish your play so that we can stage it at once, my dear Master Guan. guan hanqing (brightens with a smile): Now that sounds more like Fourth Sister. Have you read the first two acts? zhu lianxiu : Not only have I read them, I’ve learned nearly every word by heart. I’m particularly fond of the ballad in act 2: Where is there one like Lady Zhuo,37 who humbly served in a tavern? Or like Meng Guang,38 who raised the dinner tray as high as her eyebrows? As for women today, You can neither know their character from their speech, Nor judge them by their actions. They forget past affections, and favor new love; And before the earth on their husbands’ graves has dried, They hang up new clothes. Where is the woman whose tears for her husband made the Great Wall crumble?39

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Where is she who left behind her washing And drowned herself in the river? 40 Where is she who turned to stone41 while longing for her husband? How shameful that women today are so unfaithful, So few of them chaste, so many wanton. We are fortunate having exemplars from the past, But claim not women today follow their example. There you give these fickle, unchaste women quite a dressing-down. And it’s the filial Dou E who is reproaching her mother-in-law for her second marriage. On the other hand, though Dou E speaks so harshly, the moment the corrupt official threatens to flog her mother-in-law, she saves her by pleading guilty and chooses death herself. What a beautiful soul! Hanqing, when I play this part, rest assured, I will do it well. guan hanqing : Splendid. Now that you so thoroughly grasp the stuff Dou E is made of, I have no doubt that you will. You know, of course, that even though the examples in the ballad are all women, what I’m actually condemning is the dishonorable, faithless, lustful life led by men. I used to think that, were it not for our memory of virtuous forebears, our generation would have become complete degenerates. But after reading Prime Minister Wen’s “Song of Righteousness Prevailing,” I came to realize that there are still men today who, no less than our forefathers, can be truly called the corners of the earth and the pillars of heaven, and I find this greatly uplifting. zhu lianxiu : Hanqing, your courage is truly impressive! I told you to reproach heaven and earth if they were unjust, and so you have written, “Oh heaven! In mistaking the sage and the fool, you wield celestial power in vain.” What powerful words! guan hanqing : Now read this last part. I’ve fixed it. zhu lianxiu (takes the script and reads with feeling): “You say expect nothing from heaven, for it pities not the human heart; but heaven is just. Otherwise, why did the rain not fall for three years? It was all because of the injustice suffered by the filial woman from Donghai. Now the time has come for Shanyang district! Because you officials have no heart to uphold the law and the common people have mouths but dare not speak out.” I love the line “because you officials have no heart to uphold the law and the people have mouths but dare not speak out.” You’ve really got some guts. I have no doubt that the play will cause quite a sensation, and that the common people will thank us for speaking up on their behalf. But the officials will take offense and will almost certainly make trouble. guan hanqing : And the trouble won’t be insignificant. I know I’m risking my neck by writing it. But, Fourth Sister, are you sure you want to take such a chance? zhu lianxiu : I’ve given you my word already. If you’ll risk writing it, I’ll risk performing it. guan hanqing : You won’t regret it? zhu lianxiu : Well, to quote Qu Yuan, “I shall not regret it even though I shall die nine times!”

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guan hanqing (holding her hand in a firm grasp): Fourth Sister! zhu lianxiu (thinks for a moment, then, with great seriousness): Hanqing, it’s all very well for you to have the temerity to write and for me to dare to perform, but whether the play can be successfully staged remains to be seen. guan hanqing : Why’s that? zhu lianxiu : For one thing, we require a theater. And whether any theater will put this play on depends upon the owner. That, of course, is beyond my control. In addition, there are quite a few characters besides Dou E. I’ll play the part of Dou E, of course, but will anyone else have the courage to play Mistress Cai, Donkey Zhang, and the Shanyang magistrate? guan hanqing : You’re right. It looks as though I’ve written the play in vain. So, that’s that. zhu lianxiu : It’s not all that bad. You’re an old hand at this game. It’s never so simple. guan hanqing : But didn’t you just say that there may be no theater willing to stage the play and that we may not be able to find a cast? zhu lianxiu : “May not” is not necessarily the same as “will not.” Let’s have a think; perhaps there is a solution. guan hanqing : You’ll have to do the thinking alone. I’m one of those people whose minds draw a blank when their hands are full. zhu lianxiu : I’m not sure yet what to do about a theater. As for the cast, I think I can more or less count on my pupils. I’ll let Sai Lianxiu play Mistress Cai; Yan Shanxiu will do Dou Tianzhang; we can have her husband, Ma Er, play Donkey Zhang; and Qian Shuaqiao can take the part of the Shanyang magistrate. It seems to me that will make a fairly strong cast. guan hanqing : Doesn’t Yan Shanxiu always play female roles? Will she be able to perform the role of Dou Tianzhang? zhu lianxiu : Don’t underestimate that girl. She can handle both male and female roles. We’re a small troupe with a big repertoire, so everybody has to be able to play all parts. Take me, for instance. I play royal roles as well as all types of male and female characters. Now, if a few agree to it, the rest will follow. My pupils pretty much do as I say. Besides, they’re used to life on the road and they’re no scaredy-cats. So, the real problem is the theater. Of course, we must take care not to give any owner the impression that the play would land him in any trouble. Just say you’ve got a new play. They all know both your Riverside Pavilion and Prayer to the Moon were big hits, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they saw you as a moneymaker. guan hanqing (laughing a sardonic laugh): Since when have I become a moneymaker? (Enter guan zhong .) guan zhong : Master Wang is here, sir. guan hanqing : Which Master Wang? guan zhong : Master Wang Heqing. zhu lianxiu : Heqing! Splendid! We can ask him about a theater. He’s on good terms with Manager Chen.

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guan hanqing : You’re right. (wang heqing , a native of Bianjing, is a noted composer. He serves in Cambaluc as a petty official. He and guan hanqing are very close friends and often joke around with each other. He sails into the room in a familiar way.) wang heqing (throwing a glance at guan hanqing and zhu lianxiu, hastens to back up): Well, pardon me, I can see my visit is most untimely. guan hanqing : What makes you think so? wang heqing : Looks to me as though three would make a crowd, wouldn’t it? guan hanqing : Well, as a matter of fact we were just about to sing a dipengzi42 but were short a clown. wang heqing : Have you taken a look in the mirror? And you still have the nerve to take the role of the handsome young hero? zhu lianxiu : That’s enough, Heqing. Don’t waste your breath. We’ve got serious business and we were just looking for a clever chief of staff like you. Now, do come and sit down. (She pulls him by the sleeve and seats him in a chair.) wang heqing : Aha! “We,” “we”! When’s the wedding? zhu lianxiu : Stop fooling around and listen to what I have to say. Hanqing has written me a play. The cast is almost complete. But we’re having some difficulty booking a theater. You and Manager Chen are from the same hometown, aren’t you? And I know the two of you are related somehow. If you talked to him, I’m sure he’d let us have his theater. Can you help us out? wang heqing : Is the script done? guan hanqing : Almost. wang heqing : Anything in it that will offend the authorities? zhu lianxiu (hastening to cover up the truth): I should think not. wang heqing : Good, so long as you aren’t staging Dou E, you may rest assured that I’ll have a talk with Chen. guan hanqing : But it is precisely Dou E that we want to stage. How did you know? wang heqing : “If you don’t want others to know about something, don’t do it.” Now, you’ve written Dou E reproaching heaven and earth and the authorities and you expect me to arrange for the theater so that I’ll take the fall when trouble comes. Is that it? guan hanqing : You must have seen that blasted Ye Hefu. (Gruffly) Well, to tell you the truth, we’ve made up our minds to put on the play and we will, even if we have to do it without a theater. I’ve told Ye that we’ll take the consequences, good or bad. We don’t need your esteemed self to take any fall on our behalf. So, please take your leave, too, lest you are inconvenienced. wang heqing : Ha, ha! A toad may be rather small, but it sure can hold a lot of air in its belly. Will your esteemed self please rub your eyes so that you can see that Wang Heqing is not Ye Hefu? The difference is that, without my help, your Dou E really won’t be staged anywhere. zhu lianxiu (seizing the moment): Didn’t I tell you both to stop this nonsense? (To wang heqing ) I wouldn’t argue with Hanqing. You know how stubborn he can be.

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And you know full well that he only wrote Dou E to vindicate justice. I bragged that if he had the courage to write the play, I’d have the courage to perform in it. But the theater presents a problem. Just now Ye Hefu came to see Hanqing and dampened his enthusiasm. Now he hears the same thing from you; naturally he’s upset. wang heqing : Upset? Being upset won’t produce a theater, will it? zhu lianxiu : Indeed, no! That’s why I said we had to come up with a solution. Heqing, you have far more connections than Hanqing. Be serious now and help us out. In return I promise to invite you to some of our best shows. wang heqing : So it turns out Fourth Sister is the reasonable one. Well, since Hanqing has guts enough to write the play, and you have guts enough to act in it, for my part, I ought to have guts enough to book a theater for you. zhu lianxiu : Bravo! Will you go see Manager Chen today then? wang heqing : Why Chen? What’s so great about that dilapidated playhouse of his? Wouldn’t you rather have me book the Yuxianlou Playhouse? zhu lianxiu : The Yuxianlou? A fine building, excellent location, plenty of seats—why, what could be better! We never even dreamed of putting the play on in such a good location. But would they rent to us? wang heqing : They will if I say so. guan hanqing : Heqing, we are asking you to do us this favor in dead earnest. You’d better not be teasing. wang heqing : Who’s teasing? You’d better keep your honorable mouth shut in this matter and leave it to Fourth Sister. zhu lianxiu : Tell me right now how exactly you’ll manage to rent the Yuxianlou. wang heqing : Actually renting the theater isn’t the hard part. The hard part is finding a patron more influential than Akham. If such a man sponsored your play, anything is possible. zhu lianxiu : Okay. But who could we find? Who could be more influential than Akham? wang heqing : Well, as luck would have it, Prime Minister Bayan is out of town. His wife is planning a birthday celebration for his mother and wants to make it a public occasion. The old lady is one of those sentimental types who enjoy going to the theater after a good dinner, to shed tears over something sad. Now, she would love to see a new tragedy. But where on earth can one be so easily found? I thus recommended Dou E. zhu lianxiu : Is that so! How wonderful! I never knew you had connections with Prime Minister Bayan’s family. wang heqing : Who says I have? guan hanqing : Then . . . wang heqing : Here’s what happened. Prime Minister Bayan’s family has put Superintendent He, of the Yuxianlou Playhouse, in charge of entertainment for the birthday. He and I know each other. And he knows that Hanqing and I are good friends, so he’s been pestering me to get hold of Hanqing for him. guan hanqing : He wants to see me?

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wang heqing : Don’t flatter yourself. He’s not interested in your plays but in your prescriptions. guan hanqing : My prescriptions? wang heqing : Yes, your prescriptions. He suffers from heart trouble. I recommended you as one of the top royal physicians as well as a heart specialist by family tradition. When he heard that, he asked me to make an appointment for him. I took the opportunity to mention your new play, Dou E, how tragic the story is and what a perfect cast you put together. He said, “That’s precisely what Her Ladyship wants to see.” Is this not a case of “there is no story without happy coincidences”? All you have to do is pay Superintendent He a visit and treat his heart trouble. Then it’ll be smooth sailing from there on out. Do you think you can manage it? guan hanqing : Why not? wang heqing : I’m not so certain. Quite a few men of letters have taken up the medical practice. They may write fairly well, but their medical knowledge leaves much to be desired. Take you, for example. From morning to night you think about dramatic characters, the sheng, dan, jing, mo, and the chou. I can’t help wondering if you can still remember the different parts of the human body as well, such as the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. guan hanqing : More or less. wang heqing : You see? “More or less,” he says. Sounds doubtful! Careful not to kill the man, otherwise Dou E will never see the light of day. guan hanqing : Don’t worry. (sai lianxiu rushes in to see her teacher, zhu lianxiu.) sai lianxiu : Teacher! zhu lianxiu : What have you come here for? sai lianxiu : They want to know whether we’re still going to rehearse Wang Kui Cheats Guiying.43 Everybody’s at home waiting. zhu lianxiu : Didn’t I tell you to prepare to rehearse Dou E? sai lianxiu : Yes, but Master Ye came by just now and told us we’re not allowed to perform Dou E. zhu lianxiu : Says who? Go and have everyone wait for me. I’ll be back at once to tell them all about Dou E. (Lights out.)

S CE NE 6 (Backstage at the Yuxianlou Playhouse. guan hanqing , together with ma er , yan shanxiu, and sai lianxiu, who have all removed their makeup, are peering anxiously through the embroidered curtains, intently watching the performance onstage and its effect upon the audience. Every once in a while they whisper back and forth. The attendants and the Mongolian guards keep moving about. The final scene of act 4 of Dou E is proceeding.)44

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female spirit (singing): With the golden tally and the sword of authority bestowed upon you by imperial decree, Put an end to those vile officials and dishonest clerks. You’ll do the emperor a great service by ridding the people of a scourge. (The spectators exclaim “Bravo!” One shouts out, “Rid the people of a scourge!”) (Speaking) Father, my mother-in-law is old and has no one to support and serve her. dou tianzhang : What an obedient and filial child you are. female spirit (singing): Father, I beg you to have my grandmother reburied and to take care of my mother-in-law out of compassion for her old age, then reopen my case and clear the unjust charges. (The audience shouts approval: “Bravo! Bravo!”) dou tianzhang : Dawn is breaking. Go and arrest the officials of Yangzhou prefecture who presided over the case of Dou E. zhang qian : As you wish . . . (The final act is still going on. zhu lianxiu, having finished her part as the spirit of dou e , exits the stage. guan hanqing , moved, helps her backstage. All her pupils gather around her. xianggui brings her some tea.) guan hanqing : Sit down and rest, Fourth Sister. You performed magnificently. The power of the play surprises even me. zhu lianxiu (removing the tassels from her costume as the spirit): Did I hear people shouting? guan hanqing : Yes, someone cried out, “Rid the people of a scourge.” (wang heqing and superintendent he enter excitedly.) wang heqing : Lianxiu, you were simply marvelous. Such a splendid performance with so few days’ rehearsal! (To guan hanqing ) You’re quite the writer of tragedy, I must say. Of course, you mustn’t forget that, if we hadn’t taken advantage of this opportunity, there’s no way the play ever would have been staged. guan hanqing : I must thank you for that. wang heqing : You needn’t. However, it would be quite all right if you didn’t order my deportation next time I visit. (They all laugh.) guan hanqing : Fourth Sister, you must be exhausted. You’d better get out of your costume. superintendent he : Please don’t, or rather change back into the costume you wore in the first act. I’ll present you to Her Ladyship. You have no idea what a marvelous evening she’s had. She went through one yellow silk handkerchief after another, and said, “I’ve never seen such a good play in all my life. I must meet that poor little daughter-in-law. Give her something. She deserves a reward.” When Madame Bayan saw Her Ladyship so exuberant, she chimed in, “The play was excellent.” Well, it looks as though I’ll keep my job as program director.

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(A bodyguard in Mongolian uniform rushes in.) bodyguard : Quickly now. Her Ladyship anxiously awaits you. superintendent he : Coming right away. (To zhu lianxiu ) Now, stick a couple more flowers in your hair and put on a bit more powder and rouge. Her Ladyship, you know, wouldn’t be pleased to see a young woman looking so plain. (zhu lianxiu ’s pupils help her apply fresh makeup. Enter an attendant.) attendant (to superintendent he ): Sir, Commander Wang has requested to see Zhu Lianxiu and Master Guan. superintendent he : Do you mean Commander Wang Zhu, of Yizhou? Show him in. (To guan hanqing after the attendant has withdrawn) You’ll find this commander to be a warm, openhearted man. He was the one in the audience who cried out, “Rid the people of a scourge!” I suggest you receive him. guan hanqing : Why certainly. (wang zhu, a stoutly built military officer, is ushered in by an attendant.) wang zhu (to superintendent he ): Who performed the role of Dou E? superintendent he (turning his eyes to zhu lianxiu, who is dabbing her nose with a powder puff ): That’s her. wang zhu (to zhu lianxiu ): Your performance was spectacular. You took the words right out of our mouths: “The officials have no heart to uphold the law and the people have mouths but dare not speak out.” zhu lianxiu : Thank you, but it is Scholar Guan who should be credited with those words. (She directs his attention to guan hanqing .) wang zhu : Just the same, it was the way you sang, with such emotion and power in your voice, that made every word hit home. bodyguard (to zhu lianxiu ): Hurry up. Her Ladyship is waiting. zhu lianxiu (to wang zhu ): I hope to have another opportunity to hear your comments. I must go and see Her Ladyship immediately. Please excuse me. (Straightens up her clothes in front of the mirror, turns to her pupils) Go on ahead without me. (zhu lianxiu retires, flanked by superintendent he and the bodyguard. Her pupils start collecting their things; some leave.) wang zhu (to guan hanqing ): Master Guan, I have seen many of your plays, but this one moves me the most. Many in the audience this evening were moved. If I may be so bold as to inquire, was the plot inspired by the Zhu Xiaolan case? guan hanqing (embarrassed): Eh, no, it wasn’t. It’s a historical drama. wang zhu : I see. Then you should write more historical dramas. (hao zhen , an assistant to the prime minister, an attendant, and ye hefu enter.) hao zhen : Where is Zhu Lianxiu? attendant : Your Excellency, Superintendent He took her to see Her Ladyship just now. hao zhen : Then which one is Guan Hanqing? (Silence.) ye hefu (pointing at guan hanqing ): This gentleman here.

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hao zhen (sizing him up): So you’re the playwright Guan Hanqing. Don’t you know who I am? (Again silence.) ye hefu : This is His Excellency, Lord Hao Zhen. guan hanqing : Oh . . . hao zhen : I thought you were a royal physician. So you write plays, too, eh? guan hanqing : Not very good ones. hao zhen : You needn’t be so modest. You write quite well. All the old ladies were moved to tears. Ha, ha, ha! Even our Lord Akham saw part of the play. Tomorrow we’ll have to trouble you to put on the same performance again. We’ve decided to put Dou E on the program instead of The Riverside Pavilion. Do I make myself clear? (guan hanqing says nothing.) So that’s settled. But the script will have to be changed in a number of places by your esteemed self. (To ye hefu ) Did you note down the lines pointed out by His Lordship? ye hefu : I did, Your Excellency. hao zhen : Where is the list? ye hefu : Here it is. hao zhen (taking the list from ye hefu and handing it to guan hanqing ): Make these changes, all right? guan hanqing (taking the list and glancing it over): I’m afraid that’s impossible. If all this were changed, it wouldn’t be the same play. (wang zhu takes the list from guan hanqing to read.) hao zhen : It wasn’t a play in the first place. Not only we officials, but heaven, earth, and the gods all come under fire. You call that a play? I’m telling you, but for the presence of Her Ladyship, Lord Akham would have flown into a complete rage. It was I who . . . ye hefu : It was Lord Hao Zhen who kept explaining and apologizing for you until Lord Akham finally agreed, “All right, tell Guan Hanqing to change it and we’ll watch the play again tomorrow.” guan hanqing : But I can’t do that. hao zhen : You can’t do it? Is that all you have to say? But Lord Akham has ordered the play banned unless you fix it. wang heqing : Hanqing, just make the changes. guan hanqing : No, I would rather see it banned than change it. hao zhen : You seem to be quite proud of your obstinacy. Didn’t your great sage Confucius say, “Know your wrongs and do not fear to abandon them”? guan hanqing : He meant wrongs . . . hao zhen : And you aren’t in the wrong? (zhu lianxiu, carrying an armful of gifts, returns with superintendent he .) superintendent he : My, my, Her Ladyship is in high spirits today. Look at all these lavish gifts—she has never done such a thing in her life. hao zhen (to superintendent he ): Listen, Lao He.

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superintendent he (sensing something is not right): Yes, my lord. hao zhen : Same time tomorrow evening. superintendent he : Yes, sir. hao zhen : And this same theater. superintendent he : Yes, sir. hao zhen : And the same play. Lord Akham wants to watch it once more. Understood? superintendent he : Very well, sir. hao zhen : But the play has to be fixed and performed accordingly. Guan Hanqing has been given the list of changes. guan hanqing (with determination): Lord Hao, may I ask you to report back to Lord Akham that I would prefer to have the play banned. If all those changes were made, it would be completely ruined and no longer recognizable as the original Dou E. hao zhen : Ha, ha! You’re very, very foolish indeed, Guan Hanqing. Do you suppose Lord Akham is actually interested in seeing your original Dou E? Well, I think I’ve made myself clear: the play is to be changed and performed accordingly, otherwise you will all lose your heads. (hao zhen , followed by his bodyguards , storms off. ye hefu stays behind.) ye hefu : Hanqing, didn’t I warn you that this play would bring you trouble? Look here, a wise man never fights at a disadvantage. Just change it. Just now Lord Khoshin expressed dissatisfaction to his father Akham about the way your play ridiculed him. Some of your words stung the old man himself. How could he not get mad? Those of us in this trade know too well that we’re only playing a game. Fix a few lines, cut a few lines, and the storm will blow over. I’m telling you, Hanqing, listen to the advice of an old friend. guan hanqing (forced to draw the line): You . . . an old friend? Bah! A spy—that’s what you are! wang heqing (fearing guan hanqing might make an indiscreet remark): Hanqing! ye hefu : Look here! I’m only trying to help, but you’re being just as stubborn as ever. wang heqing : Lao Ye, say no more. Can’t you see Hanqing has lost his temper? ye hefu : And so has Lord Akham. Let’s just see whose temper counts. Good night and goodbye! (He walks away haughtily, revealing his true form.) wang heqing (watches ye hefu leave): I never would have guessed he was such a jerk! (wang zhu brings himself face-to-face with guan hanqing and grasps his hand in a warm clasp.) wang zhu : Master Guan, I consider it a great fortune this evening not only to have seen your fine play but also to come to know you as a man. You value your work so dearly that you are prepared to answer for it with your life. And for that I am even more deeply moved. You are absolutely right—let them kill the play, but not a word shall be changed. On the other hand, such an excellent piece of work deserves to be performed far and wide. If it can’t be put onstage in Cambaluc, then go elsewhere. If it can’t be shown in the north, go south. After all, China is a big country. Anytime

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you come to Yizhou, you can count on my hospitality. When I watched your play this evening, I couldn’t help shouting out. I’m sure when you take it to the people, you’ll hear many more do the same. Yes, indeed, we must rid the people of a scourge and cease putting up with vile officials and dishonest clerks. Well, I bid you all farewell. Do take good care of yourselves. (He salutes, then strides off with a determined gait.) wang heqing : Compare the two: that is a man, whereas Ye Hefu is at the very best a mouse. zhu lianxiu : Hanqing, what shall we do? As soon as I heard the audience start to shout, I knew there would be trouble. Besides, Sai Lianxiu got carried away and seems to have appended a few extra lines. My heart was literally in my mouth. superintendent he : Master Guan, after all is said and done, I’m afraid it simply means more work for you. You’ll have to make all the changes listed on that slip tonight. Tomorrow morning Lianxiu and the others will have to rehearse again so they don’t make a mess of their performance in the evening, don’t you think? I am inclined to agree with Lao Ye. You needn’t rewrite the whole thing. Just leave certain parts out. Phrases like “the officials have no heart to uphold the law,” for instance, might as well be deleted. As for your reproach of heaven and earth, well, keep it in if you can’t do without it. You won’t get anyone killed by singing those things. To tell you the truth, the big shots are extremely sensitive about any ridicule cast on officialdom. They don’t mind your grievances against heaven and earth so much, for they feel it’s none of their business. wang heqing : You’re quite right. superintendent he : Well, it’s time everybody went home now. (Looking at zhu lianxiu ) Lianxiu, you must have worn yourself out these last few days to produce this magnificent show. You’d better turn in early and restore your energy for tomorrow’s performance. Apart from the storm cloud, I should think you’ve every reason to be satisfied, since Her Ladyship presented you with such fine gifts. She’s taken a real liking to you—why she even mentioned the idea of taking you as an adopted daughter. So, good evening, everybody. See you all tomorrow. (He turns to leave.) everybody : Good night. superintendent he (looking over his shoulder): Master Guan, don’t forget: “A real man is he who knows when to eat humble pie and when to hold his head high.” Just make the changes, won’t you? (Exit superintendent he , followed by the attendants. Left on the stage are guan hanqing , wang heqing , and zhu lianxiu, who has removed her costume and makeup.) zhu lianxiu : Well, Hanqing and Heqing, we’d better figure out immediately what we’re going to do. wang heqing (after a momentary pause): The performance this evening was a sensation. Even some of the officials were moved. Take Commander Wang, for example. But it’s obvious that the more moving a performance is, the more irksome it becomes

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to those with guilty consciences. Akham wields more power in the court than all the rest. Many of his own colleagues have fallen at his hands. Obviously he won’t let us get away with it. Luckily, being a celebrity, Hanqing can’t be so easily disposed of. On top of that, Bayan’s mother liked the play so much that she sent for Lianxiu. Other wise, I shudder to think what would have happened to us. The resolute stand Hanqing has taken is admirable. But the play won’t be allowed back onstage without the changes. On the other hand, it has to be shown, for they’ve already booked the theater for that very purpose. So, whether we shall live or die, whether fortune will smile or frown upon us, depends entirely on us. guan hanqing : My mind is made up. Let them ban the play; I won’t change a word. wang heqing : But didn’t they say that the play couldn’t not be performed? zhu lianxiu (resolutely): Then we’ll perform it as is. There won’t be any changes. wang heqing : But you can’t fool these cunning old foxes. Didn’t you hear what Hao Zhen said? “The play is to be changed and performed accordingly, otherwise you will all lose your heads.” zhu lianxiu (after a moment ’s thought): I have an idea, Heqing. Help smuggle Hanqing out of town tonight, please. (To guan hanqing ) Hanqing, you must go. Leave the rest to me. They may chop my head off, but I’ll see to it that your play doesn’t receive so much as a scratch. guan hanqing : No, that won’t do. If you’re prepared to give up your head, so am I. (Lights out.)

S CE NE 7 (In the hall of the Yuxianlou Playhouse. Deputy Prime Minister akham , in the company of High Minister horikhoson , is watching the performance. Because zhu lianxiu ’s performance adheres to the original version of the play, of which not a single word has been changed, hao zhen and other responsible officials have tried several times to find the opportunity to explain to akham and to request further instructions but have found it inexpedient to do so in the presence of horikhoson . akham is livid, his eyes wide open; nevertheless, he feels obliged to humor his guest.) horikhoson : This play isn’t bad at all, Lord Akham. No wonder Bayan’s mother enjoyed it. The playwright has something to say. I understand he is among the leading writers of the day, isn’t that so? akham : That’s right. Lord Horikhoson, have you ever seen any of his plays? horikhoson : Not many. You know, I’m not much of a theatergoer. That’s why I didn’t attend the performance yesterday. But when you requested my company this evening, I couldn’t possibly decline the honor. akham : The honor is mine, of course. You’re quite right—the author of this play is something of a celebrity. Apparently he has written fifty or sixty plays. You know, under our dynasty, these Hans who have read a few books are no longer able to

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compete for glory in the civil service examinations, so they’ve turned to this. But that’s quite all right with us. After all, didn’t His Majesty instruct us to find them an outlet for their creativity? That’s why I often take time out to see their shows. For one thing, it’s entertaining and I can also find out for myself what they’re really thinking about. horikhoson : Lord Akham, you’re very wise indeed. Next time there is an excellent performance of this kind, allow me to attend. I shall be only too pleased to keep you company. akham : Hm, but these monkey bastards, you know, can be darn difficult to control. They never stay where they belong. If they’re not using the past to depict the present or pointing to the mulberry to berate the ash, they’re doing exactly what we’ve told them not to do. Didn’t you hear the way this one just now criticized us officials? horikhoson : Yes, I did. Very forceful, I must say, the way he criticizes corrupt bureaucrats. But what’s that got to do with us? akham : Lord Horikhoson, you’re far too fair-minded, I’m afraid. If he can revile them, then certainly he can revile us, too. horikhoson : Let them revile away. Strengthening the social order has its advantages. akham : No, they can’t be allowed to speak. Once we let the lid off, there’ll be no end to their rebellion against the authorities and the havoc they’ll wreak. How outrageous would that be! (horikhoson , momentarily unable to think of an appropriate comment within the bounds of politeness in response to akham ’s haughty remarks, remains silent. Their attention once again shifts to the stage. zhu lianxiu, in the role of dou e , sings.) dou e : This is not me, Dou E, making absurd wishes; The injustice I suffer is not insignificant. If no divine sign is manifest to the world, Then a clear, blue heaven cannot be known. I want my warm blood to stain the white silk hanging from the eight-foot flagpole. And not a single drop to redden the earth; When it is visible from every direction, It will be just like the blood of Zhang Hong Turning to green jade, Or Wang Di becoming a crying cuckoo. executioner : Have you anything else to say? Speak now in the presence of His Honor, the execution supervisor, for you won’t have another chance. dou e : Your Honor, it’s now the middle of summer. But if I have truly been condemned unjustly, following my death heaven will send down three feet of snow to cover my corpse.

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execution supervisor : At the height of summer, even if your grievances did reach all the way up to heaven, not a single flake of snow would be at its command. Enough of this nonsense! dou e (singing): You say that snow cannot fall in the summertime. Have you never heard of the June frost on account of Zou Yan? 45 If I am bursting with grievances that seethe like fire, Snow will tumble down like cotton, And shield my corpse from exposure. What need have I for white horses and a white cart, To escort my funeral down the ancient highways? (Kowtows) Your Honor, I, Dou E, truly die unjustly. From this day forth, Chuzhou district is to suffer from drought lasting three years. execution supervisor : Slap her face! What nonsense! dou e (singing): You say expect nothing from heaven, For it pities not the human heart; But heaven is just. Otherwise, why did the rain not fall for three years? It was all because of the injustice suffered by the filial woman of Donghai. Now the time has come for Shanyang district! Because you officials have no heart to uphold the law And the common people have mouths but dare not speak out. akham (roars): Stop! Stop the play! bodyguards : Stop the play! akham : This is outrageous! (To hao zhen ) What have you done? hao zhen : I told them last night to make the changes you ordered. Even today before the performance began I was assured by Zhu Lianxiu herself that your instruction had been followed. But apparently, not a single word has been fixed. akham (laughing scornfully): I thought you’d been doing a decent job. How could you have turned into such an ass all of a sudden? Bring that filthy slut Zhu Lianxiu here at once! hao zhen (to the bodyguards ): Bring Zhu Lianxiu! (The bodyguards rush off and return with zhu lianxiu, in her costume as a condemned convict.) zhu lianxiu (to akham ): Allow me to kowtow to you, Your Lordship. akham : So you’re Zhu Lianxiu. zhu lianxiu : Yes, I am.

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akham : You have some nerve, I must say. (To hao zhen ) What did you tell them yesterday? hao zhen : Your humble servant instructed them that the play had to be changed and performed accordingly, or else their heads would roll. akham : And the playwright, Guan Hanqing? Is he present this evening? zhu lianxiu : No, he didn’t come. akham : Where is he? zhu lianxiu : I don’t know. His mother is sick; perhaps he has returned to the countryside. akham : You people were told to make changes, but you deliberately refused. Just what do you think you’re doing, anyway? zhu lianxiu : Guan Hanqing did make the changes. But there was only half a day left for rehearsal. I wasn’t able to learn all the new lines on such short notice, so I had no choice but to sing the original. I deserve a thousand deaths. I beg you, Your Lordship, have mercy on me. akham : Couldn’t learn the new lines on such short notice? Aren’t you a famously quick study? Clearly you’re no coward. To save the neck of Guan Hanqing, just like Dou E trying to save her mother-in-law, you would take the whole load on your own shoulders. (To horikhoson ) A fine tale she has told, don’t you think? (He turns to zhu lianxiu ) Very well, your good intentions will be rewarded. Guards! bodyguards : Yes, sir. akham : Take her away and cut off her head! (As the bodyguards tie up zhu lianxiu, guan hanqing rushes in.) guan hanqing : Stop! (To akham ) Lord Akham, it is I who has forbidden any changes to the play. It has nothing to do with Zhu Lianxiu. akham (to hao zhen ): Who is this man? hao zhen : It is Guan Hanqing himself. akham : He steps forward so his whore won’t have to take all the blame. I can see he’s no coward, either. Now, Guan Hanqing, you’ve written quite a few plays; surely you’re aware that under the laws of our dynasty it’s a crime to write inflammatory literature against the authorities. This latest work of yours is not only inflammatory but full of personal slander and satire. That alone ought to have cost you your head. But, considering the fact that you’ve made something of a name for yourself as a playwright, I gave you a chance to amend the play and present it again. But you defied my orders and even had that wench of yours perform the original script. Is that not tantamount to rebellion? I may as well grant both of you your wish to be martyrs. Guards! bodyguards : Yes, sir. akham : Take them away and behead them both. (The bodyguards grab guan hanqing and tie him up mercilessly. Greatly disturbed and unable to hold his peace, horikhoson rises from his seat next to akham ’s.) horikhoson : Lord Akham, if I were to plead for mercy on someone’s behalf, would you indulge me?

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akham : Why of course, Lord Horikhoson. Please do not stand on ceremony. May I know your wish? horikhoson : I am not acquainted with the woman, but I have had the privilege of meeting Guan Hanqing before. He’s a heart specialist and the remedy he prescribed for me worked wonders. Quite a few of our colleagues suffer from heart trouble. If there should be inquiries about what has become of the doctor, it might be somewhat awkward. I understand your mother also suffers from the same ailment, is it not so? akham : Very well, then, on the strength of Lord Horikhoson’s recommendation, have Guan Hanqing locked up for the time being. (The bodyguards take guan hanqing away.) hao zhen : What about Zhu Lianxiu? akham : Behead that whore! bodyguards : Yes, sir. (The bodyguards are about to take her away when superintendent he rushes up.) superintendent he : Lord Akham, Zhu Lianxiu can’t be beheaded, either. akham : Why not? superintendent he : Yesterday Prime Minister Bayan’s mother received her in person and showered her with all sorts of fancy gifts. Her Ladyship even said something about taking her as a goddaughter. Now if she should ask about her again, what would we say? akham : What? Have all the eighth or ninth grade scum of society managed to find themselves patrons? All right, lock her up, too, I’ll sentence them after my next audience with His Majesty. (The bodyguards lead zhu lianxiu away.) (To hao zhen ) The one who played Mistress Cai, what was her name? hao zhen : Sai Lianxiu. akham : These monkey bastards are an unruly lot. One’s as bad as the next. What they need is a little discipline. Bring in Sai Lianxiu! (Presently sai lianxiu appears, led in by the bodyguards . She is still in her stage costume.) sai lianxiu : Allow me to kowtow to you, Your Lordship. akham : Tell me, Sai Lianxiu, can you read? sai lianxiu : A bit, Your Lordship. I can read scripts. akham : The line you delivered just now onstage, “The day shall arrive when heaven will open its eyes and have these cruel officials skinned alive.” Was that in the script, I wonder? sai lianxiu : No, it wasn’t. akham : If it wasn’t in the script, then what possessed you to say such a thing? sai lianxiu : I borrowed the line from another script. Couplets like “Flowers may blossom anew, but youth never returns” are often freely borrowed in singing. akham : There’re plenty of good quotations to choose from. Why did you happen to pick that one in particular? So, what is your situation?

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sai lianxiu : Do you mean the kind of family I come from? Well, I am the daughter of a peasant from a village west of the capital. We had a few mou of land, but they were seized by one of Your Lordship’s servants. My father, unable to eke out a living, finally had to sell me to the entertainment house to train as a singer. akham : You have no patron? sai lianxiu : No, I have none. akham : Very well. You wish heaven could open its eyes and avenge your wrongs, don’t you? sai lianxiu : How could a girl like me dare dream of such a thing? akham : Guards! bodyguards : Yes, sir. akham : Gouge out her eyes! (The bodyguards seize sai lianxiu and skillfully carry out the order.) sai lianxiu (shrieking): Help! Help! akham : Now, Sai Lianxiu, do you still thirst for revenge? sai lianxiu : How could a girl like me ever get revenge? I only beg Your Lordship to have my eyeballs strung up the walls of Cambaluc. akham : On the city walls? What for? sai lianxiu (bursting with indignation): To see Your Lordship’s demise! akham (roaring): Throw her into the cell for condemned prisoners! horikhoson (springing to his feet, thoroughly disgusted): Pardon me, Lord Akham. I  must take my leave. (Lights out.)

S CE NE 8 (In a prison at Cambaluc at the end of March in 1282. Late at night. The warden presides over an interrogation. Intimidating prison guards are lined up on either side. Though it is late spring, the air is bitterly cold. The warden glances over the dossier, and then looks over at the two prison officers .) warden : Has Guan Hanqing been calm the past few days? prison officer : Fairly calm. warden : Any visitors? prison officer : His servant, Guan Zhong. warden : Nobody else? prison officer : Yang Xianzhi and Liang Jinzhi visited, and Wang Shifu sent over some food and other items. A certain Mistress Liu and her daughter brought him some things and wanted to visit, but they weren’t admitted. warden : Did Guan Hanqing receive it all? prison officer : Yes, he did, as you instructed, sir.

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warden : From now on, no more visitors are to be admitted, and nothing else brought to him. (He looks at the female prison officer ) And that goes for Zhu Lianxiu, too. Understood? prison officer and female prison officer : Yes, sir. warden : Any visitors for Zhu Lianxiu? female prison officer : Her pupil, Yan Shanxiu, came and Superintendent He had some things delivered to her. warden : Who else? female prison officer : That’s all. warden : From now on, keep a close watch on her. female prison officer : Yes, sir. warden : How about that Sai Lianxiu? Is she still ranting and raving? female prison officer : Yes, though on the whole she has calmed down a bit. But her eyes continue bleeding. Shall we send for a doctor? warden : They may summon her any day now, you never can tell. I wouldn’t want her to die here. Get a doctor to prescribe her something. Has she had any visitors? female prison officer : An actor by the name of Qian Shuaqiao comes to see her every two days or so. warden : From now on, she’s not allowed visitors, either. Now, bring in Guan Hanqing! (The prison officer exits, and almost immediately one hears chains and fetters clanking. Enter guan hanqing .) prison officer : On your knees! (guan hanqing stoutly refuses to kneel down. The prison officer is about to strike his legs with a heavy club.) warden (stopping the prison officer ): Don’t be too hard on him. (To guan hanqing ) You may sit down. (To the prison guard ) Bring him a stool. (The prison guard brings over a stool for guan hanqing to sit on.) Well, how do you find yourself these days? guan hanqing : The sun and moon warm my heart though my eyebrows and temples are frosted over. I’m not dead yet. warden : I certainly don’t want to see you die. Your literary works are beyond me, but I do know for a fact that you are a fine doctor. My mother has felt so much better ever since she took the medicine you prescribed. She suffered from rheumatism for years; we never expected such a speedy recovery. She’s already able to walk again with a cane. guan hanqing : A short stroll will do her good. But she mustn’t push herself at her age. warden : I understand perfectly. I am truly grateful. Now, Guan Hanqing, your case is getting more and more serious. Frankly, I’m afraid no one can help you. I don’t know what can be done! (Some of the prison guards whisper to one another.) guan hanqing (baffled): More and more serious? warden : Terribly serious. Are you acquainted with a certain Wang Zhu?

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guan hanqing : Wang Zhu? warden : Yes, Commander Wang Zhu, of Yizhou, do you remember? What is your relationship with him? guan hanqing : Oh, now I remember. The night Dou E was performed at the Yuxianlou Playhouse, he came backstage to meet us. warden : He was deeply moved by your play, wasn’t he? guan hanqing : So he said. He got so excited during the performance that he even yelled out, “Rid the common people of a scourge.” We met him just that once, so it’s not exactly a relationship. warden : Well, he is a man of action, all right. And he’s wreaked quite a bit of havoc. Do you have an old friend by the name of Ye Hefu? guan hanqing : Well, there exists such a person, but I would hardly call him an old friend. warden : He wants to have a talk with you. guan hanqing : I have nothing to say to him! warden : See him anyway. It might help. (Turns his head) Master Ye, please. (ye hefu enters from a back room.) ye hefu (in a voice of exaggerated concern): My dear old friend! To think we should meet in a place like this! You didn’t listen to me then, but I knew all along it would come to this and that’s why I urged you not to write Dou E. I told you it would bring you nothing but trouble. Alas, my prediction has come true. guan hanqing (with great disdain): Just say what you have to say. ye hefu : Well, look at you, as hotheaded as ever. Isn’t it about time you learned to control that temper of yours? guan hanqing (annoyed): If you have something to say, just say it. (ye hefu whispers in the warden’s ear.) warden (to the prison guards and the prison officers ): Everyone out. (They exit.) ye hefu (in a low voice): Now, Hanqing, I’m afraid I must first break some terrible news. That friend of yours, Wang Zhu, in cahoots with the wizard-monk Gao, assassinated Lord Akham and Lord Hao Zhen last month on the night of the tenth in Xanadu.46 guan hanqing : Oh is that so? ye hefu : It’s absolutely true. The incident has got the whole imperial court, high and low, shaking in its boots. What a great misfortune for the nation, don’t you think! guan hanqing : What else did you want to say to me? ye hefu : I want you to realize that this terrible calamity has come to pass because you wouldn’t heed my advice! That rebel Wang Zhu, you know, hatched his plan only after seeing your play. guan hanqing (angered): What makes you think that? ye hefu : Lots of people heard him cry out, “Rid the common people of a scourge” during the performance of Dou E at the Yuxianlou. And later, when he was brought to justice at Xanadu, he again cried out, “I, Wang Zhu, have rid the common people of

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a scourge.” And then in your play there is actually a line that reads, “Put an end to those vile officials and dishonest clerks” . . . guan hanqing (with restraint): You don’t think that vile officials and dishonest clerks ought to be done away with? ye hefu : Well . . . yes, of course. guan hanqing : And should we or should we not rid the common people of a scourge? ye hefu : Of course we should. But Wang Zhu was wrong to think his assassination of Lord Akham would be a service to the people. guan hanqing : Whether the assassination of Akham serves the interests of the people or not is for the people themselves to judge. But, if, as you claim, Wang Zhu conspired to take Akham’s life under the sway of my play, then how do you explain why the monk Gao, who never even saw the play, also wanted to assassinate Akham? ye hefu : Well . . . guan hanqing : Playwrights can’t avoid making judgments. Take, for example, historical figures. We sing the praises of Yue Fei but we condemn Qin Gui.47 If it so happens that a spectator kills the same type of man as Qin Gui out of righteous indignation, can you honestly charge the playwright with aiding and abetting? ye hefu : Hanqing, what you’re saying makes certain sense, of course. But at the present moment, with feelings running so high, do you expect His Majesty and his ministers to listen to you? In any case, I’m not here tonight to argue with you about the impact of your play Dou E. (With bated breath again) I’m here on personal instructions from Lord Khoshin to discuss with you a matter of paramount importance. You know, your case is quite serious, but if you promise to cooperate, it could be mitigated, even to the point of securing your release. guan hanqing : I’ve got nothing to discuss with Khoshin. ye hefu : Come, my dear friend, calm down; you’ve got nothing to lose. Wang Zhu is dead, so he can’t be called as a witness. All you have to do is testify at your hearing that Wang Zhu assassinated Lord Akham with the intention of disposing of a minister loyal to the Yuan dynasty and of plotting against the court in collusion with the riffraff elements of the Jin and Han people throughout the country. Assuming you testify in this way, your sentence will be reduced and Lord Khoshin will give you a cash reward of one million in paper currency. Quite a handsome sum, old chap. guan hanqing (beside himself with anger): Have you finished? ye hefu : Yes, this important matter was all I came here for tonight. guan hanqing : Come closer and let me tell you something. ye hefu (stepping over): Do you agree? guan hanqing : Do I? (He slaps ye hefu on the face, delivering a blow so hard that he is thrown off balance.) ye hefu (staggering to his feet): Hanqing, I was talking with you in earnest. How can you be so rude?

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guan hanqing : You dog, you have two slits for eyes yet you see nothing. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. I, Guan Hanqing, am known to the people as a ringing copper pea that can withstand steaming, boiling, mashing, and frying. You try to bribe me at the bidding of the vile bureaucrat, Khoshin. To think that a shameless creature like you was bred within our own midst! I would give anything to devour your flesh! ye hefu (grimly): You won’t agree to it, eh? Fine, then await your execution. guan hanqin G: For the life of me I will never speak another word to such a wretched scoundrel. Warden, take me back to my cell. warden : Very well. (To ye hefu ) Master Ye, you’d better take your leave. (ye hefu slinks off. The prison guards file back in and resume their formation.) Guan Hanqing, you’re right. If you ever consented to testify as he suggested, it would be disastrous for us Han. But that guy Ye will inevitably report back to Khoshin and Khoshin will inevitably pursue the case against you. You’re a good man, and moreover I’m personally indebted to you for having cured my mother. Unfortunately, I’m merely a lowly official and my powers are limited. There isn’t much I can do for you, except to provide this bit of information: you have only a day or two to live. Now, if you have any personal affairs that need to be attended to, or any message that needs to be delivered, so long as it is within my power, I am at your disposal. Is there anything you feel like eating? I can buy it for you, you know. guan hanqing (trying to collect himself ): Thank you. But I’ve no appetite for anything in particular, nor is there any business that awaits my attention. But seeing that you are so devoted to your mother, I have here a letter for my own, and I wonder if I may trouble you to have it delivered after it’s all over. Please take care not to frighten her. This little request of mine is just like Dou E’s when she asked not to be taken by the main street so as to avoid being seen by her mother-in-law. warden (taking the letter): All right, I assure you I’ll have it delivered according to your wishes. Don’t worry. guan hanqing : Would it be possible for Guan Zhong to pay me one last visit? warden : I’m afraid not. I’m sorry. guan hanqing : It’s quite all right. warden : Is there anything you wish to tell anyone? guan hanqing : Plenty, but I wouldn’t know where to begin or whom to tell. (Suddenly occurring to him) Would you allow me to see Zhu Lianxiu? warden : Well . . . I suppose so. I can take the responsibility for that. But what good will it do? She’s in the same boat as you. guan hanqing : We’re like two fish swapping spit in a drying pond, as the saying goes. If you think you can manage it, I would be much obliged. warden (to the female prison officer ): Bring Zhu Lianxiu! female prison officer : Yes, sir. (She withdraws and a short while later brings in zhu lianxiu, still dressed as the convicted dou e , her chains and fetters clanking as she enters.) zhu lianxiu (falls to her knees): Allow me to pay my respects to Your Lordship.

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warden : You may rise. Guan Hanqing wants to have a word with you. I’ll give you a few moments. (To the prison officers ) When they’re done, take them back to their cells. Mind your duty. (To the prison guards ) Let us retire. (Exit all except guan hanqing and zhu lianxiu.) zhu lianxiu : Well, Hanqing, we finally see each other again. guan hanqing (in a grave tone): I’m afraid this is the last time. zhu lianxiu (in a tremulous voice): Really? guan hanqing : Do you remember that Commander Wang? zhu lianxiu : You mean Wang Zhu whom we met backstage at the Yuxianlou Playhouse? guan hanqing : Yes, that’s the one. zhu lianxiu : I spoke but a few words with him, but somehow he struck me as an honest and upright man. But I must say I never imagined he would embark upon such an earthshaking enterprise. For that we have every reason to be proud of him as a patron of our stirring play The Injustice Done to Dou E, Which Moved Heaven and Shook the Earth. guan hanqing : You sound quite pleased. You’re aware that he assassinated Akham? zhu lianxiu : Of course I am. Yesterday a new inmate arrived—Commander Wang’s aunt, from Cambaluc. She told me that Commander Wang kept shouting in protest up to the very last moment, “I rid the common people of a scourge. Now I’m going to die, but in the future someone will bear testimony to my deed in his writing.” A remarkable man! guan hanqing : Well, there are some people who have forced a connection between what he did and the line in our script “You’ll do the emperor a great service by ridding the people of a scourge.” They charge that we encouraged Wang Zhu to assassinate ministers of the court, and this has made our case even worse. zhu lianxiu : But he did assassinate a scourge of the common people, didn’t he? That ruthless Akham was so cruel he even gouged out the eyes of my pupil. guan hanqing : Wang Zhu has vindicated her, and us as well—I really would like to write something about him, but alas there’s no time left. zhu lianxiu : No time? guan hanqing : The warden just informed me. In a day or two it’ll all be over for me. And I’m afraid you’re next. He advised us to tell him of any personal affairs or messages we may have for friends or relatives in good time so that he can see to them for us. I wonder, is there any note you’d like him to deliver? Oh, and also, if there is anything you’d like to eat, he can get it for you. (Seeing her look of alarm) Oh, Fourth Sister, you’re not afraid, are you? zhu lianxiu (turning pale but pulling herself together): No, I’m not afraid. guan hanqing : Fourth Sister, I’m truly sorry. It’s all because of my play that you have to suffer all this. zhu lianxiu : What nonsense! Didn’t I give my word that if you dared to write the play, I would dare to perform in it? When I said that, I was prepared for such a day. guan hanqing : But you didn’t expect it to come so soon.

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zhu lianxiu : What difference does it make—sooner or later? As a matter of fact, I’ve never found life so rich and meaningful as it has been these past days. I feel all the more keenly that I am one among many. Don’t you see? The people despise Akham; so do we. We dared to stand up against him and his like. Wang Zhu rid the people of a scourge and gave his life for it, and again we find ourselves on his side, battling the wicked to the end. Isn’t Dou E just such a woman, who wouldn’t yield to the forces of evil even on pain of death? I admire women like her and am willing to die as she did. Look at this costume I’m wearing, the same as Dou E wore, and before long I’ll fall just as she did. And I won’t go meekly. Like Dou E, I’ll cry out before I collapse. Perhaps I’ll even cry out like Wang Zhu, “Rid the people of a scourge!” What do you think, Hanqing? Right now I’m not even sure if I’m living life or performing onstage, for I feel as though I’m facing thousands of spectators with perfect confidence. Truth be told, just now when you broke the news that the time had come, I did feel somewhat distressed, but I’m all right now. Set your mind at rest: I’ll remain as firm and unflinching as Dou E. guan hanqing : You can set your mind at rest as well, Fourth Sister. My family name is Guan, and although I now reside in Cambaluc, my hometown is Xieliang, in Puzhou.48 I’ll lay down my life as fearlessly as my great heroic ancestor. “Jade may be crushed, but its color remains immaculately white; bamboo may be scorched, but its joints are indestructible.” These words express the feeling in my heart. zhu lianxiu : But there is one thing that I will always regret. That evening at the Yuxianlou Playhouse, I asked Heqing to help you get away. Why didn’t you leave? Instead you came back to watch the play the following night. Are you that fond of theater? guan hanqing : How could I leave? How could I let you bear such a heavy burden alone? zhu lianxiu : But who am I? A mere entertainer who sings in zaju plays. How can I be compared with you? You are one of the great writers of our age at the forefront of contemporary drama. Theatergoers will be miserable without your plays. You must continue writing for the people. You must continue speaking out for the common people, who dare not speak for themselves. You must carry on seeking justice on behalf of women who have been wronged and oppressed. But . . . but now they’ll kill you and me alike just like that! No, they can’t do this to you! Let them take my life, but they must spare you . . . (She bursts into a convulsive sob.) guan hanqing : Fourth Sister, I appreciate your concern. But won’t our deaths speak for the people? It’s said that what is written in blood is more precious than what is written in ink. Perhaps our deaths will make our voices resonate even more strongly. However, there is a difference between us: I’m nearly fifty, while you’re still so young and talented; already you’ve made a name for yourself. I’m afraid people will blame me for your untimely death. Doesn’t Prime Minister Bayan’s elderly mother adore you and even want you to be her goddaughter? Why don’t you write to her and implore her for help? I’m sure it would help. If you entrust the letter to Superintendent He, she’s sure to get it. Write it right now, won’t you? Or, if you like, I’ll do it for you.

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zhu lianxiu : What about you? You could seek her help as well. guan hanqing : How could I? zhu lianxiu : Then why should I? After all, isn’t she the mother of that Prime Minister Bayan, who murders people in cold blood? She only liked me because my performance amused her. I don’t think she truly understood the play. Crying over a tragedy is nothing but an act to make the public think she has a soft heart. But does she shed a single tear when her son massacres the whole population of a city one day or slaughters those who had surrendered to him the next? I despise that kind of woman. Implore her? No, not for the life of me! guan hanqing : If you don’t, you’ll . . . zhu lianxiu : Die? But what more can I hope for than to die together with you? If fate won’t allow me to enjoy your companionship in life, then may we rest in peace together, Hanqing! (She holds guan hanqing’s hands in a warm clasp.) guan hanqing : Fourth Sister, I feel our hearts are closer to each other at this moment than ever before. When we were first imprisoned, I prepared myself for this hour. The night before last, I wrote a melody called “A Pair of Butterflies.”49 I wanted to show you, but nobody dared to take it to you. I didn’t insist, of course. Now I present it to you in person. How wonderful it would be if you sang it. zhu lianxiu : Let me see. (She takes it from his hand.) guan hanqing : It’s practically illegible. Can you read it? zhu lianxiu : Certainly. (Alternately reading and singing) We shall lay down our lives like the martyrs of old, Whose spirit keeps haunting the wicked. And our blood shall flow Eternally like the Yellow River, Like the Yangtze mingling with the souls of heroes Of times bygone. This is more noble than writing of maidens Embroidering in their chambers, Or scholars in their silks Visiting the royal court, Or philanderers romancing by brightly painted windows. These embellished lines may give the country Something to read and think about, But to survive the rigors of a snowstorm Takes the strength of a pine. I studied thousands of volumes of the classics; I wrote more than fifty plays. And all these years the nation has been crushed,

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People have suffered untold misery everywhere. We saw, and we fought, Till Dou E sped us to our deaths. The moon wanes by itself, The single wick flickers out alone, But we shall die together. Resting, we share The same glimpse of the clouds Through our barred windows. Walking, our chains clank in unison. But like the rainbow, Our hearts are bright with faith and strength. Who would waste tears? If there is no place for martyrs In the nether world, Are there not green vales reserved In which the pure and great may rest? Years divide us, but our hearts are one. Unwedded, we shall lie in the same grave. Behold! When the fields again Are red with azalea blossoms, How two butterflies, you and I, Will flutter in the breeze, loving each other, Never to part! (zhu lianxiu is very touched.) Oh, Hanqing! (She embraces him. Enter the prison officers .) prison officer : Your time’s up. Back to your cells. (He separates them.) female prison officer (to zhu lianxiu ): Hearing you two talk I do feel really sorry for you. You probably won’t see each other again, so I’ll let you say your final goodbyes. zhu lianxiu : That won’t be necessary. guan hanqing : There is no need for us to say farewell, for we shall never part. female prison officer : Then back to your wards. (They are both led away, their chains and fetters rattling in unison.) (Lights out.)

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S CE NE 9 (erniu ’s home. mistress liu has come to visit her daughter, who is now the wife of zhou fuxiang .) mistress liu : Is Fuxiang home? erniu : Yes, he just got back. But he says he has to go back to work again. He’s on duty tonight. Mother, did you go yesterday and did you get to see Uncle Guan? mistress liu : I did go. But it was even worse this time. They wouldn’t even take my package. Things must be coming to a head. Oh dear, what shall we do? (zhou fuxiang , a young man, partly dressed in Mongolian fashion, walks in briskly.) zhou fuxiang : Ah, here you are, Mother! mistress liu : At last I’ve caught you at home. erniu : Mother went again to see Uncle Guan yesterday. Not only was she denied entry, she wasn’t even allowed to leave anything for him. What’s the news? zhou fuxiang : Actually, the news isn’t all that bad. mistress liu (her face brightening with a smile): What? Is Master Guan going to be okay? erniu : Speak up. You had me worried to death not saying anything just now. zhou fuxiang : But the news isn’t directly connected with Master Guan’s case. That’s why I didn’t say anything. erniu : Then what’s so good about it? zhou fuxiang : Well, His Majesty sent Lord Bor, Lord Horikhoson, and Counselor Ari to Xanadu to investigate the case of Wang Zhu and Monk Gao. At first, you know, His Majesty was furious and ordered summary arrests and executions. But when Lord Bor briefed His Majesty on Akham’s twenty-odd-year record of gross misdeeds, he said, “Then Wang Zhu’s assassination of Akham was correct.” Thereupon, Akham’s coffin was unsealed at Tongxuan Gate in Xanadu and his corpse decapitated. Today Khoshin and the rest of Akham’s sons were placed under arrest. Isn’t this good news? erniu : It certainly is. mistress liu : If Khoshin has been arrested, then no one will press charges in Master Guan’s case. How wonderful! zhou fuxiang : Lord Horikhoson will be transferred to the cabinet as deputy prime minister. He’ll take over all of Akham’s cases. mistress liu : Really? Do you think he’ll release Master Guan then? zhou fuxiang (shaking his head): That’s why I said none of this has direct relevance to Master Guan’s case. mistress liu : Why not? zhou fuxiang : Well, under the present law, to rebel against the authorities is a most grave crime. To their thinking, Master Guan has committed such a crime and the

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punishment is beheading. And quite a few ministers maintain that Master Guan should be dealt with severely. Lord Horikhoson once intervened on Master Guan’s behalf and asked Akham to spare his life, but as the situation stands today, he is likely to go whichever way the wind blows. mistress liu : Then you must have a word with Lord Horikhoson. Think of the great kindness Master Guan bestowed upon you two; how can you turn your back on him and let him die? zhou fuxiang : Of course I would do anything to save him. But what can I say? Besides, we’re forbidden by His Lordship as a rule to talk about public matters. erniu : Haven’t you told me that you’re working in His Lordship’s office? You’re bound to have a chance to say something. mistress liu : Oh, that reminds me, Master Xie Xiaoshan arrived early this morning. He says members of the literary society and other friends have signed a petition seeking the release of Master Guan and Zhu Lianxiu on their guarantee, and he wants to ask you to submit it to His Lordship. (Looking out through the window) Master Xie, please come in. (xie xiaoshan steps in and greets zhou fuxiang .) xie xiaoshan : How do you do? zhou fuxiang : How do you do, Master Xie. Please sit down. mistress liu : Did you bring along the petition, Master Xie? xie xiaoshan : Yes, here it is. I’m sure your son-in-law will oblige us. zhou fuxiang (visibly troubled): But . . . xie xiaoshan : Say no more. I understand perfectly well the position you’re in. I’m a nobody. But this is a people’s petition. Night and day for three days straight, members of the society and I have been tracking down anyone who has ever seen one of Guan Hanqing’s plays or who knows what kind of man he is, as well as those who sympathize with Zhu Lianxiu and have seen her performances. We’ve collected over ten thousand signatures. Those who couldn’t write their names have affixed their fingerprints . . . mistress liu (grabs the document briskly and points out her own name): See? Here’s my fingerprint. Never mind whether it’ll do any good or not; the thing is we have done our bit, and no one can say we weren’t grateful. (To zhou fuxiang ) Aren’t you going to sign your name, too? xie xiaoshan : If he is to present the petition, it would be better if he didn’t. erniu : Then let me. (To her husband) Will you write down Autumn Swallow for me? (zhou fuxiang puts down her name, and erniu firmly affixes her fingerprint. zhou fuxiang unrolls the petition and is moved to tears upon seeing that it is several feet long and filled with small, densely written signatures.) xie xiaoshan : Young man, don’t forget this document represents the will of more than ten thousand people, including your mother-in-law and your wife. erniu : You must do whatever it takes to present it; otherwise, don’t bother coming back home!

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mistress liu : Not only did Master Guan help you two get married, but he gave Erniu two hundred thousand in cash for a dowry. If you don’t find some way to put it through, I’ll say there’s something wrong with your heart. zhou fuxiang (after a thought): Mother, Master Xie, you needn’t worry. His Lordship has a private secretary named Tselbukhe, whom he has taken into his confidence. Even though he’s a Mongol, the man is warmhearted and likes helping people out. He’s also a fan of Master Guan’s plays. I’ll approach him. Perhaps he can present the document. xie xiaoshan : Splendid. And so, young man, we’ll leave the matter in your hands. (Lights out.)

S CE NE 10 (The patter of chilly autumn rain. In a prison cell, an inmate sits huddled in a corner, silent as the grave. Two prison guards are leading guan hanqing to this cell. They unlock the door and shove him to the ground with a loud rattling of his handcuffs and fetters. The prison guards lock the door again and march away. guan hanqing staggers to his feet, rubbing his legs and arms.) guan hanqing (thinking aloud with a deep sigh): They are mine no longer. But (gnashing his teeth) they will not make my heart waver nor ever claim it. (Exhausted, he heads for the corner, where the other inmate is huddled. The inmate utters a sound.) (Staring) What? You’re human? long-life liu (in a tone of self-mockery): Well, for the time being I am. guan hanqing (sweeping the cell with a listless glance): It’s just you? long-life liu : There was someone else last night. guan hanqing : Where’s he gone? long-life liu : They dragged him off this morning and skinned him alive. guan hanqing (with utter disgust): Hm, they either gouge out your eyes or break your bones or skin you alive—it’s the daily routine. But how did you find out what they did to him? long-life liu : They told me. guan hanqing : How did you wind up in here? long-life liu : Because I’m a Han. guan hanqing : For no other reason? long-life liu : They demanded my wife. I refused. They beat me and I struck back. guan hanqing : That was all? long-life liu : That was all. guan hanqing : You’re a man, you had to fight back. long-life liu : And what brought you here?

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guan hanqing : I was accused of “propagating inflammatory literature against the authorities.” On top of that . . . long-life liu : So you must be Guan Hanqing? guan hanqing : How did you know? long-life liu : Well, among playwrights nowadays there aren’t that many who would dare defy the authorities. Besides, when you first got here, the whole prison heard about it. Isn’t there a certain Zhu Lianxiu with you? guan hanqing : That’s right. long-life liu : You’re good people. You had the courage to speak out for us. Too bad I didn’t get to see your new play. Isn’t it called Dou . . . something or other? guan hanqing : It’s entitled Dou E. I hope you’ll have a chance to see it someday. long-life liu (with a sardonic laugh): In my next life, you mean. (His voice expressing sympathy and deep concern) But how come you’ve been moved into this cell, too? You shouldn’t be here! guan hanqing : Why’s that? long-life liu : Nobody in this cell has ever lasted more than three days. guan hanqing : How many days have you been in here? long-life liu : I was moved here the day before yesterday. guan hanqing : Oh dear! What’s your name? long-life liu : Long-Life Liu. A joke of a name now. guan hanqing (his voice earnest with conviction): I don’t think so. You’re one of the brave who dared fight back, and for that you’ll have eternal glory. long-life liu : Thanks. With such words I can die happily. guan hanqing : Is there anything I can do for you? I’m at your service. long-life liu : But you have only a day or two left to live yourself. guan hanqing : Then I shall do whatever I can with those two days. long-life liu : Well then, will you please tell people that if they all had the courage to fight back, better times would come? guan hanqing : I couldn’t agree more. (Enter the warden and prison guards on inspection duty, lanterns in hand.) warden (calling the roll): Long-Life Liu. long-life liu : Present. warden : This way. long-life liu : Farewell, Guan Hanqing. guan hanqing : I’ll be coming soon. (long-life liu goes out.) warden : Tie him up. (As the prison guards come to bind up his hands, long-life liu strikes one with his fist and sends him reeling. But more prison guards rush up and eventually manage to tie him up.) Take him away. (The prison guards withdraw with long-life liu.)

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(Shining the lantern on guan hanqing ) Guan Hanqing! guan hanqing (perfectly calm): Present. warden (passes a slip of paper to guan hanqing and speaks under his breath): It’s from Zhu Lianxiu. (He locks the door and retires forthwith.) guan hanqing (unfolds the slip and reads it in the dim lantern light): In fetters bound I sat and listened to the autumnal rain Till I fell asleep. I dreamed I was set free, Acting Dou E again. I awoke with a start Upon hearing the drum tower sound. We may go any minute, But our hearts shall shine Through all eternity. —Dedicated to Hanqing in prison. Adapted to the tune “Jishengcao.” Put your mind at ease, Fourth Sister, I’ll be brave! (Lights out.)

S CE NE 11 (horikhoson ’s office. Although horikhoson is a civil official, the wall is decorated with a Mongolian saber, bow, and arrow—obviously reminders of a not-too-distant nomadic life. On another wall is an altar with a portrait of Guan Yu, testimony to the immense popularity of this historical figure—the “handsome bearded general”—among the hero-worshippers in the north. zhou fuxiang unlocks the door and enters quietly. He leafs through the papers on the desk. When he discovers that the ten-thousand-signature petition is buried in the files to be shelved, he hastens to pull it out and file it with cases pending review. Hearing footsteps in the distance, he quickly withdraws from the room and locks the door again. Enter horikhoson and his confidential secretary, tselbukhe .) tselbukhe : Your Lordship, you must be exhausted from your journey back from Xanadu. You ought to get some rest. Will Your Lordship allow us to see to these matters? horikhoson : But His Majesty has ordered me to clear up the mess caused by Akham’s death. I must devote my full attention to it, lest I make matters worse and therefore fail in my duty.

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tselbukhe : Yes, yes. This time the audacity of Wang Zhu and Monk Gao truly knew no bounds. Handling such a major case as this, Your Lordship is rendering His Majesty a great service. horikhoson : For over twenty years, you know, Akham enjoyed the emperor’s confidence. Naturally His Majesty was utterly enraged by the assassination. But when Akham’s countless crimes were duly reported, even His Majesty had to concede that Wang Zhu had done the right thing. It must be admitted that Wang Zhu’s deed gave us all great satisfaction. I myself attended the execution, but in my heart I was grateful for what they had done. tselbukhe : Grateful, Your Lordship? horikhoson : Some ten years ago I learned that Akham had spoken ill of me before the emperor. Thanks to my own prudence and circumspection, I did not fall for his trap. Thereafter, I was constantly on my guard. Now that Wang Zhu and Monk Gao have carried out such a fine deed, I can live in peace. I may as well tell you that I was personally acquainted with both of them. Three years ago I journeyed to the north with the monk, and last year I attended a play with Wang Zhu. Wang Zhu was a man of great conviction, who never ran from trouble. He was truly a great soul. It may sound ridiculous, and perhaps it’s because my physical and mental strength has diminished in my old age and I can no longer withstand stress, but ever since I came back from Xanadu, I’ve been having nightmares. The moment I shut my eyes, I see Wang Zhu and the monk again. tselbukhe : Then, Your Lordship, we’d better do something to drive away the bad spirits. horikhoson : That won’t be necessary. All my life I’ve been a devoted worshipper. (Points to the image of Guan Yu) I think offering a prayer will do. tselbukhe : Yes, yes, Your Lordship. horikhoson (turning his head): Zhou Fuxiang! (zhou fuxiang walks in with a brisk step.) zhou fuxiang (respectfully): Your Lordship summoned? horikhoson : From now on increase the daily offerings of incense, wine, and fruit. (Points to the image of Guan Yu) Do you hear? zhou fuxiang : Certainly, Your Lordship. (He performs his duty accordingly.) horikhoson (to tselbukhe ): Now, in the documents you brought me yesterday, wasn’t there a ten-thousand-signature petition? tselbukhe : Yes, it was a petition on behalf of Guan Hanqing. I reviewed it and it does indeed contain more than ten thousand names. The appeal was written in sincere and moving language; that’s why I ventured to bring it to Your Lordship’s attention. horikhoson : Yes, a fine piece of writing, all right, but the signatories are a bunch of insignificant townspeople and country bumpkins. If the ministry started taking petitions from the common people seriously, there would be no end to it.

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tselbukhe : According to my review, the petitioners aren’t just common city folk and peasants. They include such celebrities as Wang Shifu, Yang Xianzhi, Wang Heqing, and others. You are to be congratulated on the fact that these gentlemen would endorse a ten-thousand-signature petition addressed to Your Lordship. (Rises and bows with his hands clasped together) For twenty-two years, Akham savagely tyrannized the people, and they, though enraged, dared not air their grievances. Now that Akham has seen his demise and his position is occupied by Your Lordship, the first thing to materialize is a ten-thousand-signature petition. It’s obvious that the people revere Your Lordship. Moreover, the petitioners don’t ask for much. It’s only the release of a script writer and two actresses. Your Lordship could magnanimously grant their request and use it as an opportunity to win over the public while letting Akham take the blame for all the rest. His Majesty would be pleased with this approach, too. horikhoson : There is truth to your words. I must say that I know about all three of them, too—Guan Hanqing, Zhu Lianxiu, and Sai Lianxiu. Guan Hanqing once prescribed medicine for me, and I have seen his plays as well. And when Akham threatened to have him put to death, I even personally intervened. However, Lord Bor feels that the rebellious tendencies of men like Wang Zhu, who were so reckless as to conspire to slay a state minister, must be nipped in the bud. He maintains that Guan Hanqing, whose crime is the propagation of inflammatory literature against the authorities, must be dealt with severely. Seeing how adamant he is, I feel I have no choice but to yield to his views. tselbukhe : But Wang Zhu’s case was a military matter, whereas Guan Hanqing’s offense is civilian in nature and hence strictly within the jurisdiction of the chancellery. horikhoson : I am not about to get into a dispute with Bor and the rest over something like this. That’s why I rejected that ten-thousand-signature petition. But then the most peculiar thing happened. tselbukhe : What happened, Your Lordship? horikhoson (in a low voice): I rejected that petition twice and twice it reappeared on my desk. Isn’t that strange? tselbukhe : I should say so! But such incidents are known to have happened to good judges in the past, too, such as Judge Bao. Where was the petition before Your Lordship last left the office? horikhoson : I put it right here—I’m positive. (Glances through the files in the tray) What! Gone! (Hastens to search his desk, greatly astonished) Good heavens! Here it is again! tselbukhe : Aha! That reminds me; the petition refers to Guan Hanqing as a native son of Puzhou. horikhoson : Then, could it be? . . . (He looks up at the portrait of Guan Yu shrouded in smoke rising from the incense burner.) (Lights out.)

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S CE NE 12 (At Lugou Bridge, not far from Cambaluc. It is also called Marco Polo Bridge by some people, because the Italian, Marco Polo, who served under Kublai Khan, mentioned the structure in his writings. Actually the bridge was built some eighty-eight years before the arrival of Marco Polo at Kublai Khan’s court and represents the monumental craftsmanship of Chinese working people. It had nothing to do with Marco Polo. The stone railings on each side are decorated with exquisitely carved lions, more than a hundred of them in various poses. At the head of the bridge is a pavilion and a row of willow trees. Under the bridge, the river is swollen with spring fl oods. This is where the southbound highway begins and where the people of Cambaluc come to bid travelers farewell. Two old peasants, one carrying a hoe over his shoulder, the other with a plow, come across the bridge from one end and are greeted by a young peasant, who, plow in hand, is heading the other direction.) young peasant : Uncle Zhou, Uncle Liu, are you done for the day? peasant zhou : Pretty much. young peasant : Old folks shouldn’t work too hard, Uncle. peasant zhou : What else can I do? Thank heaven for my boy’s help. I only just managed to get my small plot back. So I have to work it. And you, young fellow, are you off to the fields? young peasant : No, I’m going to take a look at the flooding. (He crosses the bridge.) peasant liu (heaving a sigh): Last year a great drought and this year too much rain. One more flood and we’ll be done for. peasant zhou : You ought to be glad you keep a small tavern in town, and that you have so capable a wife. peasant liu : But I constantly worry with her in the city. You saw what happened! peasant zhou : You think that sort of thing doesn’t happen in the countryside, too, these days? Why, over there in Cui Village the other day, wasn’t old man Hu’s daughter abducted by a tuluhun?50 peasant liu : Tell me about it. It makes no difference—town or country. Heaven alone knows when we people will enjoy a few days of peace again. peasant zhou (putting his hoe on the ground): I’m beat. How about stopping here for a smoke? peasant liu (laying down his plow): Sure, let’s have a rest. (They strike a flint to light their pipes.) young peasant (suddenly returning): I forgot, Uncle Zhou, your new daughter-in-law has returned and her mother is with her. Auntie Zhou wanted me to tell you. I forgot to tell you just now. (Having delivered the message, he goes on his way.)

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peasant zhou : Much obliged. (To peasant liu ) Your daughter is back. Let’s go. peasant liu : What’s the big hurry? She’s your daughter-in-law now. Let’s finish our pipes. peasant zhou : All right. (They sit down face-to-face, smoking. Enter wang heqing and his servants. They start to unpack a case they have brought with them, putting cups, saucers, bowls, and chopsticks on the stone table in the pavilion. Around the table are seven or eight stone chairs. There are also stone stools between the stone pillars. The servants are tidying up the place. yang xianzhi enters and greets wang heqing .) yang xianzhi : Good day, Heqing! wang heqing : Why, it’s you, Xianzhi. Have you just arrived? yang xianzhi : No, I got here a while ago. I went to Wanping to see a friend. Are you here to see Hanqing off, too? Didn’t you used to argue with him all the time? Ha, ha! wang heqing : I certainly did. But it looks like I’ll have to carry on our arguments alone, now that Guan Hanqing is going away. Heaven knows what will happen next. (When he hears the name guan hanqing , peasant liu rushes over anxiously.) peasant liu : Excuse me, sir. Has something happened to Guan Hanqing? wang heqing : Well, old man! Even you know who Guan Hanqing is? peasant liu : Who doesn’t? Everybody in Cambaluc has seen his plays. peasant zhou : In his play Lord Guan Goes to the Feast, Guan Hanqing depicts the hero in a way worthy of his illustrious ancestor. I even saw him act onstage himself. In his younger days, he used to come to our village to perform quite often. I knew then that this young fellow would one day be the best around. Well, isn’t he the best playwright today? peasant liu (to wang heqing ): Sir, has anything happened to Guan Hanqing? I heard he’d been sentenced to death, is it true? Good men like him in Cambaluc are few and far between. Why can’t they just let him live a bit longer and write great plays? I must say the ways of the world are mighty strange. Damn it! “Good men die young while bad guys live on and on.” wang heqing : You needn’t worry anymore, my friend. Guan Hanqing’s death sentence has been commuted to exile. We are waiting here to bid him farewell. peasant liu : What’s that? Guan Hanqing is coming this way? He’s still alive? He’s about to leave us? wang heqing : Indeed. peasant liu (picking up his plow and turning to peasant zhou ): Hey, let’s get going. (They set out at once.) wang heqing (moved): Well, I concede defeat! yang xianzhi : What for, Heqing? wang heqing : Well, in arguments and banter, I could always outtalk Hanqing. But today I’ve found out that in befriending the common people and winning public opinion, I trail far behind, so I concede I am the loser.

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(Enter liang jinzhi , a great composer and physician, and wang shifu, a noted dramatist. wang heqing and yang xianzhi go up to greet them.) liang jinzhi : Xianzhi and Heqing, you two must have arrived here quite early. yang xianzhi : No, we just got here. wang heqing (to wang shifu ): I hear you haven’t been well. Are you sure you can take this wind coming off the river? wang shifu : Coming out for a stroll is not a problem; it’s writing that makes my head ache. Yesterday I received a letter from my son and learned that Hanqing was leaving for the south. I set out in the dead of night to make sure I’d get here in time to see him off. But my donkey was in no hurry and I didn’t think I’d make it. Fortunately everything has turned out all right. wang heqing : I can’t help reciting those brilliant lines of yours: “Up in the blue sky the clouds travel high, and the earth is littered with yellowed flowers. The westerly wind sharpens, and the wild geese hurry south.”51 Although the present season is one of greening willows and blue rippling waters, the spring is at the mercy of autumn, and the northern wild geese have begun migrating south. wang shifu : A most unexpected turn of events. Cases of writers being persecuted are not unprecedented, to be sure. And I must say in our own time it has been Hanqing who has been victimized in the worst conceivable way. The second time I sent my son over to take him some things, the prison refused to accept them. At the time I feared I would never see him again. Then, all of a sudden, the case was relaxed. Why? Could it have been because they overturned the Wang Zhu case? wang heqing : I think so. Thanks to something His Majesty said, all cases in which Akham had a hand were relaxed. The imperial censor, Lord Bai Dong, has been released. Hanqing and Zhu Lianxiu, who very nearly lost their heads, also had their sentences reduced. Otherwise, we’d be seeing them off at the execution ground. wang shifu : Xie Xiaoshan came by soliciting my endorsement of a ten-thousandsignature petition. I signed my name. But I wonder if it was ever presented. yang xianzhi : Yes, that’s right. We all signed, and helped draft the petition. If it was submitted, it ought to have had some effect, I’m sure. liang jinzhi : What I can’t understand is this. If it’s true that Akham deserved to be put to death, that Wang Zhu did the right thing, and that the denunciations in Dou E are all justified, then why hasn’t Hanqing been acquitted and released? Why does he have to be banished? yang xianzhi : Don’t forget the laws of the present dynasty. Admittedly, Wang Zhu was justified in assassinating Akham, but it’s still a crime for a Han to kill a Mongolian or a Semu. By the same token, Hanqing was justified in denouncing Akham and his son. But a verbal attack against the authorities itself is an offense. I’ve heard that Hanqing’s sentence was commuted to exile only because of his fame as a scholar. wang shifu : Now I see. (guan hanqing arrives in travel attire under the escort of two prison guards , wang neng and li wu. guan zhong , carrying the baggage across his shoulders, follows in the rear.)

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wang neng : We’ve reached Lugou Bridge. Let’s rest. Brother Li, keep an eye out. I’m going to make a trip into town. li wu : All right. Go ahead. Nothing can go wrong here. (Exit wang neng .) (Glancing at the pavilion) Guan Hanqing, go ahead and relax. Your friends are here to see you off. (wang heqing and the party hurry up to extend their greetings.) wang heqing : Hanqing, come over here and sit with us. (To the escort ) You certainly need a break, too, after such a tiring journey. li wu : I’m quite all right, thank you. (He steps aside and stands watch from a distance.) liang jinzhi (to guan hanqing ): Big Brother, in this package are some new clothes and an ample supply of brushes and paper so that you can write letters or compose poetry on your journey. yang xianzhi (to guan hanqing ): We have also procured two fine horses for you. guan hanqing : Thank you very much. (Notices wang shifu ) Look who’s here! Shifu, you shouldn’t have gone to such trouble. wang shifu : What a thing to say to an old friend! You have suffered bitterly. I hope your health hasn’t been ruined. guan hanqing : Well, I’m still alive. But I very nearly never saw any of you people again. wang shifu : It certainly was a stroke of good luck that the Wang Zhu case was overturned so quickly. wang heqing : I was just saying how we much prefer seeing you off here than at the execution ground. guan hanqing (smiling): Well, I didn’t think I would come out alive myself. I even wrote a farewell letter to my mother. Jinzhi, it would still be best to keep the news from her until I’ve arrived safely in the south. Then I’ll write to her again myself. liang jinzhi : Fine. As far as your household affairs are concerned, you may set your mind at ease. Xianzhi and I will take care of everything. yang xianzhi : My home is near yours. I promise to look after your mother. guan hanqing : Please do. I am immensely grateful (Takes out a letter and hands it to wang shifu ) I wrote you this note in prison. I thought it was to be my last. wang shifu (takes the letter and reads it eagerly): So, even in prison you were fretting over my Tale of the Western Chamber. Your suggestions are excellent. I’ll make the changes accordingly. As a matter of fact, I wanted to work on the play but had to put it off because I’ve been in such poor health. But I couldn’t agree more that one’s writings are of greater consequence than life itself. A man’s life is only so long, but his writing carries on into perpetuity . . . So I’ll get to work on the revisions without delay, you can be sure. I understand the play is now being staged in the south, too. Do let me know what you think once you’ve seen it. wang heqing (looking into the distance): Hey! It’ll be performed right here at Lugou Bridge today, too.

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wang shifu (doesn’ t follow): Where? wang heqing : Look, isn’t that caravan over there coming to stage act 4 of The Tale of the Western Chamber?52 (Recites) “My eyes are fastened on the pavilion post ten li out, and I grow thinner with each passing day, but who knows of this agony and gnawing pang?” Now aren’t these lines perfect for the present scene? (Some distance away zhu lianxiu and sai lianxiu can be seen approaching. sai lianxiu, her empty eye sockets covered up by a white silk band, is being led by qian shuaqiao and the maidservant, xianggui . The entertainment house procuress brings up the rear.) liang jinzhi : Aha. Our very own “Yingying!” has arrived (There is a peal of laughter.) guan hanqing (in a deeply sympathetic voice): Good heavens! Sai Lianxiu has come along, too! The poor child! (zhu lianxiu, in new clothes, looks more beautiful than ever. She greets everybody, then goes straight up to guan hanqing .) zhu lianxiu (with a certain measure of anger): Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving? guan hanqing : The warden delivered my sentence and bade me leave without delay. I requested that you be notified only to find out that you had been released the previous day. But I wrote you a note and had Guan Zhong deliver it to your residence. Didn’t you receive it? zhu lianxiu : I did not. No doubt the house manager thought I’d run away. (After a moment ’s thought, in a determined tone as though having reached some decision) But never mind. (Hands a parcel to guan hanqing ) This is from Sai Lianxiu. guan hanqing (taking the parcel in a solemn manner, to sai lianxiu ): Thank you ever so much, Little Second Sister. I’m flattered that you should come such a long way to see me off. Do your eyes still hurt? sai lianxiu : Yes, but there’s been some improvement. guan hanqing : What can I say to comfort you? You are a brave woman. As long as I live, you may count on my help. The same goes for my friends. wang shifu : That’s right, Sai Lianxiu, although you’ve lost your sight, you’ve gained many new friends. wang heqing : Shifu is absolutely right. We are all your friends and you can count on our help. Don’t despair. sai lianxiu : Thank you all for your concern. I don’t feel bad. I asked them to hang my eyeballs on the city wall so that I could see Akham’s demise, and it came to pass a lot sooner than I’d expected. guan hanqin g : Yes, and his punishment was immensely gratifying to us all. (To qian shuaqiao ) Qian Shuaqiao, you take very good care of Little Second Sister now. You mustn’t drink like you used to. qian shuaqiao : Master Guan, don’t worry. I gave up drinking after she was imprisoned. Soon we’ll be married, and I promise to be a good husband and take very good care of her. guan hanqing : Wonderful! I know you’re a man with a good heart and you deserve Little Second Sister’s love.

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zhu lianxiu : Sai Lianxiu has considerable ambitions. She wants you to write more plays like Dou E and says she can perform in them even without her sight. She wouldn’t be the first to make a name for herself as a blind actress, would she? wang heqing : Of course not. No disability can stop an ambitious artist. Besides, she was a fine actress to begin with. guan hanqing : Little Second Sister, I promise to continue writing, in spite of the fact that, when I was released, the warden warned me to steer clear of traitors and slanderers in my future plays. zhu lianxiu : And what did you say to that? guan hanqing : I told him that the day China was free of traitors and slanderers, I would cease to write about them. Then he said, “Isn’t Akham dead already?” “Well,” I replied, “Akham may be dead, but can you be sure that there won’t be a second or third Akham?” zhu lianxiu : Good for you, Hanqing. wang heqing : You’re right, Hanqing. guan hanqing: The warden went on, “In view of your stubbornness,” he said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were back here again tomorrow. To tell you the truth, quite a few of the imperial laws and ordinances were designed for men like you. Mark my word, sooner or later your head will roll.” I said, “Who’s to say? But I hope you won’t mind my bothering you again, when the time comes.” The warden was quite amused. (Everybody bursts into laughter.) wang heqing : Someone once discovered these lines on a prison wall: “You’re not a real man if you’ve never been here before, and those who are back for a second time are true heroes.” I propose that we present Hanqing with these words as our farewell message. (Everybody laughs. mistress liu, peasant liu, and erniu, in her best clothes, rush upon the scene.) mistress liu : Master Guan, Master Guan, at last I see you again. guan hanqing : Who’s this? Why, it’s you, Mistress Liu! How are you? (Turns his eyes to erniu ) And this young lady? erniu : Uncle Guan, once again you don’t recognize me? Can’t you see I’m the same Erniu whom you rescued? mistress liu : As soon as Erniu came back to us, I made arrangements for her wedding. We all owe you a huge debt of gratitude. (To her daughter) Erniu, aren’t you going to pay your respects to Uncle Guan? (erniu sinks to her knees and starts to kowtow immediately.) guan hanqing (hastening to make erniu rise to her feet): Please, Erniu. I didn’t recognize you because of your new clothes. You folks make me feel exceedingly guilty, coming all this way just to see me off. mistress liu : Stop! We’d have come no matter how great the distance. I told you before—remember?—my son-in-law’s family lives right here in Wanping Village, and my old man works his land here, too. Well, Erniu came down today from Cambaluc

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to visit her father and her husband’s parents, and I tagged along. Erniu’s mother-inlaw and I were chitchatting about housekeeping when the old man came by to tell me there were some folks at the bridge waiting to see Master Guan off and he wanted me to go over and have a look. And lo and behold here you are! Erniu and I went to the prison quite a few times, but we were never allowed in to see you. It had us worried to death. My old man kept saying never in our whole lives could we forget the great kindness you did us. peasant liu (cups his hands together as a gesture of respect): Allow me, Master Guan. I’m just an old peasant, and I really don’t know how to thank you properly . . . Erniu is my life. But for you, I would have lost her. mistress liu : Later it was rumored that you and Fourth Sister Zhu had been sentenced to death. I would run out to the street every time I heard a prisoner’s cart passing by and would only relax again after seeing that none of the condemned looked like either of you. But then someone told me that a lot of prisoners are tortured to death right there in jail. I had Erniu’s husband make inquiries from time to time. I’m sure if he hears the news of your departure today, he’ll be over in a flash. erniu : Master Xie came to us with a ten-thousand-signature petition the other day. My mother and I both put our fingerprints on it. He told me later that it was finally presented by a Mongol secretary. guan hanqing : Many thanks to all of you. Without your help, we never would have been released. mistress liu : All’s well that ends well . . . It will do you good, Master Guan, to go down south for a rest. But now that Madame Guan has passed away, who is going to take care of you so far from home? I can’t help worrying about you, really. (Turns to zhu lianxiu ) Fourth Sister Zhu, you have my greatest admiration. Your spirit is rare even among men. Pardon me for speaking my mind so bluntly, but I honestly believe that you and Master Guan would make an ideal couple. Why aren’t you going with him? guan hanqing : Now, Mistress Liu. I’m afraid you don’t know what you’re talking about. wang heqing : Ha, ha, ha! I should say Mistress Liu is absolutely right. Why, it would be perfect, if it could be arranged. liang jinzhi : It so happens we have two horses here. (zhu lianxiu is speechless.) wang heqing : Fourth Sister is usually so self-confident. Why so bashful all of a sudden? (There is a peal of laughter.) zhu lianxiu : How I wish I could go with Master Guan. But would they allow me? yang xianzhi : True. Lianxiu has a point. Under the laws of the present dynasty, actresses can only be wedded to musicians or actors; they’re forbidden to marry scholars or sons of good families. wang heqing (rubbing his hands as a gesture of resignation): There’s the difficulty.

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wang shifu : Hanqing is known in the drama world far and wide and he’s well versed in music. Quite often he performs onstage himself; he sings, he dances—there’s nothing he can’t do. He’s what you would call a multitalented entertainer and actor; actually he has every qualification to marry Fourth Sister. But there’s still the fact that entertainers and actresses are forbidden to ride horses. Violators are punished by law; their horses turned over to whoever apprehended them. Now, in order to be able to travel by horse with Hanqing, Lianxiu would first have to renounce her status as an actress. But there’s no time for that. liang jinzhi : Heavens! So many restrictions! guan hanqing : Fourth Sister, haven’t you gained your freedom? zhu lianxiu : You call that freedom? I’m under strict supervision at the brothel. guan hanqing : Strict? zhu lianxiu (nodding): Yes, strict. It’s nothing new. I’ve been under strict supervision from the day I was first taken there. The time will come when, like that butterfly you wrote about, I shall fly, fly, fly away to wherever you are. (Her voice chokes with emotion.) guan hanqing : Now that I think about it, in prison we could still see each other and we could still have our heart-to-heart talks. But once we part ways today, heaven knows when we shall meet again. zhu lianxiu : Come, come, Hanqing. (To yang xianzhi and wang heqing ) Master Yang and Master Wang, can’t you talk them (pointing at the escort ) into letting Hanqing stay another half day? yang xianzhi : What for? zhu lianxiu : Well, right before we were supposed to be executed, Hanqing urged me to write to Prime Minister Bayan’s mother to plead for clemency, but I didn’t. This time, however, when I learned of Hanqing’s departure, I did send her a letter through Superintendent He. I instructed Yan Shanxiu and her husband to stay home to await her reply. (yang xianzhi walks over to the escort, li wu.) yang xianzhi : What do you say? Would it be all right to let Guan Hanqing stay a half day longer? li wu : It’s fine by me, sir. But by imperial orders, we are to proceed without delay and make no stops. We ought to be leaving right away, sir. (wang heqing walks over, grabs li wu ’s hand, and presses a silver piece into the hollow of his palm.) wang heqing : Look here, can’t you do us all a favor? You don’t have to report everything, you know. li wu : Very well, sir. Let me go and have a talk with my partner. He went into town and hasn’t come back yet. (He sets out in the direction of the town.) wang heqing : We’ve prepared wine and food. Let’s have a farewell party for Hanqing.

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yang xianzhi (raising his wine cup): Brother Hanqing, parting here on this bridge is indeed a sad occasion. But given all that has transpired, your departure is certainly better than what might have been. Your destination, Hangzhou, is a scenic spot, famous for its lake and hills. People refer to it as a paradise on earth. Moreover, it was the last stretch of the Song empire to be taken over by the Yuan dynasty. I’m sure the place will arouse all sorts of emotions that will inspire your poetry. Allow me, therefore, to toast to your health and your literary success! guan hanqing (raising his cup): Thank you, Xianzhi. wang heqing (filling a cup and passing it to wang shifu ): Please, Shifu. wang shifu (raising his cup with a heavy heart): What is there to say, Hanqing? Old acquaintances, one after another, are seen no more. Do take care of yourself. (His eyes are already filled with tears.) guan hanqing (downs his drink in one gulp): Shifu, take good care of yourself, too. liang jinzhi (raising his cup): Big Brother, good luck. Xianzhi and I will take care of your family. guan hanqing (drinking another cup): I’m counting on you. Please visit my mother as often as possible and do send word to my son. yang xianzhi : You can be sure we will, my friend. guan hanqing : In the future, I’ll no longer be able to seek your advice on my writing. yang xianzhi : You flatter me. Besides, I’ll come south to visit you. wang heqing (raising his cup): My dear old friend, once you leave, I shall have one less with whom to argue. I don’t know how I’ll fill the void. Think often of your hometown and of the Western Hills, of this day at Lugou Bridge, and of pals like us. Write us often. If you can’t, then at least curse us, so we can feel our ears burn. (Everybody laughs.) guan hanqing (drinking another cup): I promise. I hope you’ll write me, too. yang xianzhi : Of course, and I’ll definitely keep you informed about your mother. sai lianxiu (pulling qian shuaqiao by the sleeve): Fill me a cup, please. qian shuaqiao (handing her some wine): That’s right. Let us drink a toast to Master Guan, too. sai lianxiu : Master Guan, no matter where you end up, don’t abandon the voiceless common people or us women who feel wronged. I lost my eyes at the hands of a vicious, corrupt bureaucrat because I performed in your play. But did I give up after that? I can still sing, and I will still sing. As long as I have even a single spark of fire left in my singing, I will sleep in peace. Master Guan, the people want plays like Dou E, so please write more of them. Now, bottom’s up, please. guan hanqing (in one gulp, spiritedly): Little Second Sister, I will indeed. No matter where I go, you will never be far from my heart. You were maimed for denouncing vicious, corrupt bureaucrats. The people will never forget you. Your friends will hold you dear and Qian Shuaqiao will take good care of you. To your health, Little Second Sister.

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sai lianxiu : Take good care of yourself, Master Guan. qian shuaqiao : To your health, Master Guan. wang heqing : With all this speechmaking, we’ve forgotten the star of our Tale of the Western Chamber. I say it’s an outrage. Lianxiu, you’re up. zhu lianxiu : I’m sorry I don’t drink, and I don’t think we ought to make Hanqing drink too much either. I’ll sing Hanqing’s “The Intoxicating East Wind.” everyone : Splendid! (Takes the pipa xianggui hands to her and plays as she sings) North and south, So near, yet so far, The moon wanes, The flowers fade All in a fleeting moment. I raise my cup, I hold my tears. But it’s hard to say “To your health!” Without a tremor in my heart. Adieu, nevertheless, A long future before you! (Before she can finish she breaks down.) guan hanqing : I wrote that on the spur of the moment and never imagined it would describe this day. Fourth Sister, do not despair. I haven’t forgotten the night you recited “A Pair of Butterflies.” zhu lianxiu : We will never say goodbye, we will be together always! (zhu lianxiu and guan hanqing embrace, weeping. wang neng , li wu, and a petty official rush in.) petty official : By imperial orders, Guan Hanqing shall leave the capital and be banished to Hangzhou without delay. (To everybody) Those who’ve come to see him off, please be on your way. wang heqing : Wait a moment. Zhu Lianxiu has sent a letter to Prime Minister Bayan’s mother. We would like to await Her Ladyship’s reply. petty official : That won’t change the situation. Guan Hanqing must leave the capital immediately. (To the entertainment house procuress ) Take Zhu Lianxiu back. procuress : Yes, sir. (wang neng and li wu try to separate guan hanqing and zhu lianxiu. The entertainment house procuress joins forces by pulling zhu lianxiu away.) zhu lianxiu : No, I can’t leave him. procuress : What’s the matter with you? Didn’t you promise to behave? Come home with me at once!

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zhu lianxiu : I made no such promise. For the life of me, I won’t go back! (The brothel manager , accompanied by a subordinate , arrives and confers with the petty official in whispers.) petty official : Well, Zhu Lianxiu, the manager is here. brothel manager : Listen, Zhu Lianxiu, you go back right now. There’s a show this evening. They’ve requested that you perform The Cunning Maid. Now, hurry back and rehearse, do you hear? zhu lianxiu : I won’t go. brothel manager : Lianxiu, you listen to me. I knew there would be trouble, so I rushed all the way out here myself. Yan Shanxiu and her husband would have come, but I didn’t let them because they would have bungled the matter. Now go back. zhu lianxiu : I asked Yan Shanxiu to wait for a reply to my letter. Why didn’t you let them come? brothel manager : A reply? Ha, ha, ha! You mean a reply from Madame Bayan? Superintendent He wanted me to inform you: Her Ladyship has left for Xanadu and finds it inconvenient to write back. zhu lianxiu (with disappointment): She went to Xanadu? brothel manager : There, there, Number Four, don’t be foolish. Even if she were in Cambaluc, she wouldn’t have been able to write back. You’re on parole, and by imperial orders you have been placed under our strict supervision. How can we possibly allow you to run off with some man? I tell you, it’s only because the powerful have taken a fancy to your performances that we’ve treated you differently. Don’t be so stubborn. zhu lianxiu : You heard what I said. I won’t go back for the life of me! brothel manager : You won’t, eh? And just where do you think you’ll go? The great empire of the Yuan has unified the realm. Dare you violate the laws of the state? (Puts on a stern face) Now, go back at once! zhu lianxiu : No! brothel manager : Since you refuse to listen, well—come, just put her on the wagon! (His subordinate comes to drag her away. She makes a dash for the bridge, but her attempt to jump over is thwarted by wang heqing and others.) guan hanqing (shouting): Fourth Sister! sai lianxiu : Teacher! wang heqing (furiously): Are you people trying to force her to take her life? procuress : She’s on parole. Think you could take responsibility for her? (While they argue the sound of hooves can be heard and a horse comes racing up. zhou fuxiang dismounts.) zhou fuxiang : Are there a Scholar Guan and a Fourth Sister Zhu present? mistress liu : Son-in-law, this is Master Guan and Fourth Sister Zhu. zhou fuxiang : I present Prime Minister Horikhoson’s proclamation: Guan Hanqing is a first-rate writer who dared stand up against powerful traitors. Even though he is to be exiled from Cambaluc in accordance with the law, he is still recognized as the

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leader of the literary world. Zhu Lianxiu is an outstanding actress, but I grant her permission to give up her classification as a performer and accompany Guan Hanqing to the south. She is not to be detained en route. (After reading the document, he hands it to zhu lianxiu.) zhu lianxiu : My goodness! Thank you, Prime Minister. zhou fuxiang (approaches guan hanqing ): Master Guan, I finally caught up with you. My wife and I will never forget your tremendous kindness to us. Well, I must hurry back to report to the prime minister. Bon voyage! erniu : Will you be home tomorrow night? zhou fuxiang : Yes! Goodbye, Father and Mother-in-Law. Master Guan, Fourth Sister, farewell. (zhou fuxiang mounts his horse and gallops off.) wang heqing (to the brothel manager ): Well, looks like you should head back. You’ll have to get someone else for tonight’s show. brothel manager (to the entertainment house procuress ): Let’s be on our way! procuress : Yes, yes. Sai Lianxiu, Xianggui, come on! xianggui : Fourth Sister, bon voyage! sai lianxiu : Teacher, your departure fills me with joy as well as sorrow. Have you any final words of advice for us? zhu lianxiu : Leaving you all makes me sad, too. Take good care of yourself. Second Sister, we will write often. Please send my regards to Yan Shanxiu and her husband, as well as to the children there. Tell them to be good and to study hard. sai lianxiu : I will, but I can’t bear to part with you, Teacher, and I can’t bear to part with Master Guan. I don’t know if I’ll ever hear your voices again. Let me too sing from “The Intoxicating East Wind” as a farewell song. (qian shuaqiao hands her a pipa.) The horse and cart are so far away, Teacher and disciples wane like the moon And fade like the flowers. How can we talk about a farewell banquet, When all I have are blood and tears? Only when dark clouds gather do We know how precious the brightness is. We must sing to the end, so please send us more plays! zhu lianxiu : You’re right, Second Sister, we must sing to the end, fight to the end, and brighter days will come. guan hanqing (calmly): I will continue to write plays and I will send them to you, you have my word, Second Sister. yang xianzhi (to wang heqin g, liang jinzhi , and the others): In my view, this scene here today does not resemble The Tale of the Western Chamber so much as “Bidding Farewell to Lord Jing on the Banks of the Yishu.”

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wang heqing : Our contentious friend has no place for his talents. yang xianzhi (to wang shifu ): Come on, Mr. Shifu, let’s do one. (They whisper. The petty official comes over.) petty official : Guan Hanqing, it’s time you were on your way (The escorts and guan hanqing all pick up their luggage.) yang xianzhi : I suppose Lianxiu can now go by horse as well. wang heqing : That’s right. Your messenger did his job well. (Gives both escorts some money) Please take good care of them both on the journey. wang neng and li wu : We will. (To guan hanqing and zhu lianxiu ) Please mount your horses. (From a distance, xie xiaoshan and yumei come rushing forward. The pouch of flutes yumei carries swings back and forth.) xie xiaoshan : Slow down, wait for us. Our cart broke down halfway and so we had to run on foot. guan hanqing (runs over): Aiya, Xiaoshan, Yumei, I am truly grateful. Xiaoshan is not a young man anymore, how could you make him run all this way? xie xiaoshan : The members of the literary society had a letter for you but didn’t have time to get it to you, so they entrusted it to me. guan hanqing : Please convey my gratitude. We will always be together in our work. Yumei, you must be exhausted lugging all those flutes. yumei : You know the saying, “The warrior never leaves his sword, the writer never leaves his pen, the beauty never leaves her flowers, and the musician never leaves his flute.” guan hanqing : You couldn’t have put it better. But having run all this way, what if you can’t play? yumei : Being unable to play is not as bad as having nothing to play on. Be sure to write a lot of good work for us. wang shifu : Hanqing, Fourth Sister Zhu, we just talked it over; we’d like to invite our Flute King to accompany us as we sing yet another verse of “The Intoxicating East Wind.” everyone (singing in unison): Why lament that the distance is so great, Why mourn the waning of the moon And the fading of flowers? Clear up the goodbye cups, Dry the farewell tears And have our blessings as you fly away together as one. (During this, wang neng and li wu have helped guan hanqing and zhu lianxiu mount their horses.) everyone (singing in unison):

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As you fly toward the enchanting scenery in Jiangnan We hope you won’t forget the desolate gates you have left behind. (Riding slowly across Lugou Bridge they turn back to wave reluctantly to the send-off party. The escorts and guan zhong follow. sai lianxiu, facing their direction, raises her arm and shouts, “Teacher, Master Guan, farewell!” Suddenly she is overwhelmed by sorrow and tears stream from her hollowed-out eyes. qian shuaqiao quickly takes hold of her arm, “You mustn’t.”) (Curtain.)

Not es

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8.

9.

This is the first complete English translation of Tian Han’s play according to the 1958 edition (reprinted in Tian Han quan ji [The Complete Works of Tian Han] [Shijiazhuang: Huashan wenyi chubanshe, 2000]). An earlier English translation, published in 1961 by Foreign Languages Press, was based on the 1960 version of the play, which contains an alternative ending in the final act. Tian Han reportedly rewrote the ending as a tragedy as a result of political pressure at the time. The translation in this anthology was done with reference to the original translation but restores omitted lines and reflects an overall more idiomatic style. The majority of original endnotes from the 1961 translation have been retained but revised. Lord Alihaiya was a Uighur general who served under Kublai Khan. Lin’an, present-day Hangzhou, was the capital of the Southern Song dynasty. Lord Khoshin was Akham’s eldest son. With his father’s influence, he became governor of Dadu province (in modern Hebei) and prefect of Daxing (near Beijing). Umbrellas bearing the names of ten thousand subscribers were presented to popular officials. Semu (Colored Eyes) refers to the national minorities in China’s northwest, who had been conquered by the Mongols. They included the Hui, the Uighur, and the Tanguts. Khoshin was a Uighur. During the Yuan dynasty, the population was divided into four grades; at the top were the Mongols, who held official positions; next came the Semu; the Han people inhabiting the northern part of China occupied earlier by the Mongols came third; the last were the Hans in southern China, who came under Mongol rule after the Song dynasty fell. This is a derogatory term for the Hans and “southerners.” “Lao” (literally, old) is a familiar form of address. In Yuan drama, melodies followed rigid rules. Typically a play would be divided into four acts, each having a melody belonging to one gong or diao denoting the musical pitch. The different gong and diao and the way they are sung express different ideas and emotions. Nan lu gong expresses lamentation and sorrow; zheng gong, melancholy but prowess; ban she diao, mixed feelings or subdued sadness. Entitled “Yi zhi hua” (A Flower), the ballad contains a verse describing the rolling up of the screen. Guan Hanqing dedicates this ballad to Zhu Lianxiu, whose name translates literally as Pearl-Screen Elegance.

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10. Tradition has it that, in the Yuan dynasty, the Hans and the “southerners” were graded into ten social classes: (1) high officials, (2) lower officials, (3) Buddhist priests, (4) Taoist priests, (5) physicians, (6) manual workers, (7) artisans, (8) courtesans, (9) Confucian scholars, and (10) beggars. 11. In this tragicomedy by Guan Hanqing, Mrs. Wang’s husband is killed by a vicious nobleman, Ge Biao, and her three sons avenge their father by killing the murderer. When the case comes to court, Judge Bao (999–1062), known in Chinese history as a fair and honest judge, pronounces that the youngest and cleverest boy, Wang Shihe, should die. Secretly, however, he arranges to have another criminal who has been sentenced to death take the boy’s place, thus bringing about the happy reunion of mother and children (Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang, trans., Selected Plays of Guan Hanqing [Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1958], 79–105). 12. Li Kui is one of the 108 heroes of Liangshanbo in the traditional novel Shui hu zhuan (The Water Margin, or All Men Are Brothers), which describes the peasant uprising against the Song dynasty rulers. Before the uprising, Song Jiang, the leader, is arrested and sentenced to death in Jiangzhou. Li Kui and the other heroes storm the execution ground and rescue him. “Black Whirlwind” is the nickname given to Li Kui to indicate his uncouth ways and brave character. 13. The villains are in three of Guan Hanqing’s plays: The Riverside Pavilion, The Butterfly Dream, and The Wife-Snatcher, respectively. 14. Lord Xu Heng, a Han Chinese, served the Yuan court as an adviser. During Kublai Khan’s reign, he and Akham had political differences. 15. Zhao Mengfu (1251–1322), a descendant of the Song imperial family, became an imperial academician after surrendering to the Yuan rulers. A well-known scholar, painter, and calligrapher, he is said to have been responsible for the statement falsely ascribed to Guan. 16. These are the female leads in four plays by Guan Hanqing: Rescued by a Coquette, The Riverside Pavilion, The Prayer to the Moon, and The Cunning Maid. 17. This is an incident from the Shui hu zhuan in which Li Kui hears the malicious rumor that Song Jiang, his leader, has forcibly abducted a woman. Furious, he denounces Song. Upon discovering his mistake he goes to apologize to Song, carrying a stick on his back to indicate that he is prepared to be flogged. 18. In Lord Guan Goes to the Feast, Guan Yu, loyal general and sworn brother of King Liu Bei during the time of the Three Kingdoms (220–280), shows his magnificent courage and heroic stature when he attends a feast in the enemy’s camp and returns unscathed, having overawed his foes. 19. In this play, the character Wenqiao (288–329), an academician of the Jin dynasty, invites his widowed aunt and her eighteen-year-old daughter to live with him in the capital. When he falls in love with his beautiful cousin, he cannot ask for her hand openly, as he is so much older than she. In the name of another, younger man, he proposes marriage and presents a jade mirror stand as a betrothal gift. Only on the wedding day does the bride discover who the bridegroom is and protest. Eventually, he wins her over with his literary talent. 20. In this play, a lawless scoundrel named Lu Zhailang abducts other men’s wives by force. He first snatches a silversmith’s wife, then the wife of a petty official, thus breaking up two happy homes. Judge Bao has the villain executed and the families reunited.

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21. Having recognized Guan Hanqing, Autumn Swallow is actually uttering his surname. Since guan can also mean “to close” in Chinese, Spring Cuckoo mishears her. 22. The term used here, zhongtongchao, refers to the paper currency of the Yuan dynasty. 23. This is a fictitious Mongol aristocrat and ruler. 24. Bianjing is present-day Kaifeng, in Henan province. 25. In this play, General Li Ziyuan, of the Later Tang dynasty (923–936), adopts a boy on a hunting trip. Eighteen years later the boy is reunited with his mother. The story is an intricate one and in content similar to Baitu ji (The White Rabbit), a popular opera of southern China during the Yuan dynasty 26. In the play Dou E, Doctor Lu tries to strangle the old woman when she presses him to repay her loan. 27. Wen Tianxiang (1236–1282) commanded troops resisting the Mongol invasion of southern China. After he was captured by the enemy, he refused to swear his allegiance to the new regime and was finally executed in the capital. The quotation cited above is from “Zheng qi ge” (Song of Righteousness Prevailing), which he wrote in prison. 28. Bayan (1236–1294) served under Kublai Khan as a military commander and as prime minister. 29. Bor was Kublai Khan’s right-hand man, in charge of military affairs. After Akham was assassinated, he and Horikhoson were ordered to suppress the rebellion. 30. Also known as Xu Shilong (1204–1283), Xu Weiqing was a Han Chinese. In the early Yuan dynasty he was an expositor at the Hanlin Academy. He was responsible for drafting many imperial edicts and documents. He also wrote many volumes of literary and poetic works. 31. In this play by Yang Xianzhi, the scholar Cui Tong goes to the capital to sit for the imperial examination, marries the examiner’s daughter, and forsakes his first wife, Zhang Cuiluan. When Cuiluan goes in search of her husband, he refuses to recognize her, brutally beats her, and has her exiled to a border region. After many hardships she meets her father at the Riverside Inn. The father, then a high official, has Cui Tong brought to court for a trial. The son-in-law admits his guilt and husband and wife are reconciled. 32. This play by Yang Xianzhi examines the breaking up of a home as a result of a marriage between a petty official and a courtesan. 33. The story of the filial daughter, Zhou Jing, of Donghai, is told in the biography of Yu Dingguo (Yu Gong’s son) in the Han shu (History of the Former Han), and also in the Soushen ji (In Search of the Supernatural), written by Gan Bao sometime in the fourth century. 34. In this play by Guan Hanqing, Song Yinzhang, a singsong girl, is tricked into marrying a profligate. When he ill treats her, she seeks the help of Zhao Pan’er, another singsong girl. Indignant at the injustice done to her friend, Pan’er feigns love for the villain and uses her beauty to lure him into divorcing Song Yinzhang. When the persecuted wife is free, Pan’er marries a scholar, leaving the profligate in the lurch (Yang and Yang, Selected Plays of Guan Hanqing, 106–29). 35. In this play by Guan Hanqing, the singsong girl Du Ruiniang falls in love with a scholar but is nearly prevented from marrying him as a result of the machinations of the house guardian, Mistress Du. The resulting misunderstanding between the lovers is eventually cleared by a friend, and the couple is reconciled.

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36. In this play by Guan Hanqing, the villainous Lord Yang wants to take as his concubine Tan Ji’er, a beautiful widow who has recently married the official Bai Shizhong. Lord Yang attempts to ruin Bai by bringing false charges against him. Tan Ji’er disguises herself and steals the gold tally and sword of authority with which the heartless official means to kill her husband. She saves Bai’s life and teaches the villain a lesson (Yang and Yang, Selected Plays of Guan Hanqing, 130–52). 37. Zhuo Wenjun, the daughter of a rich man, eloped with the famous Han-dynasty scholar Sima Xiangru. Since they were poor, they ran a small tavern in Chengdu. 38. Meng Guang was the wife of Liang Hong, of the Later Han dynasty. She and her husband were known for their deep love and respect for each other. 39. Thousands of the men conscripted by Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, died while building the Great Wall. According to legend Meng Jiangnü, the wife of one of those conscripts, wept so bitterly at the wall that part of it crumbled. 40. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 b.c .), Wu Zixu fled from the state of Zhu to Wu. A woman washing by a river took pity on him and fed him. Upon leaving, he asked her not to tell his pursuers which way he had gone. To set his mind at rest she drowned herself. 41. This legendary woman, whose husband left to fight a great flood, climbed a hill every day to watch for his return, till at last she was transformed into a boulder. 42. This type of simple, impromptu performance usually took place in the open air, with a cast consisting of a hero, a heroine, and a clown. 43. In this famous play of the Song and Yuan dynasties, Wang Kui, a poor scholar, marries a kind singsong girl, Guiying. When he goes to the capital to sit for the imperial examination and succeeds in obtaining the first place, he marries the prime minister’s daughter and writes home to divorce his wife. Guiying is persecuted to death. Her spirit comes to take vengeance, and Wang Kui meets his deserved end. 44. For a complete English translation of the original Yuan play, see Chung-wen Shih, Injustice to Tou O (Tou O Yuan): A Study and Translation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972). 45. Zou Yan, a loyal subject of the prince of Yan during the Warring States period (475–221 b.c .), was imprisoned after a sham trial. According to legend, a frost occurred in the summer. 46. Shangdu, or Xanadu, is near present-day Dolun county, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. 47. Yue Fei (1103–1142) was a famous patriotic general of the Southern Song dynasty (1127– 1279) who resisted the Jurchen invaders. Qin Gui, then prime minister, collaborated with the enemy and advocated a truce. He plotted Yue Fei’s death. 48. Xieliang, Puzhou, is now Xiexian county, Shanxi province. According to the chronicles of the Yuan dynasty, Guan Hanqing was a native of Xieliang. By “my great heroic ancestor,” Guan Hanqing means Guan Yu, the famous patriotic general of the Three Kingdoms period, who was also born in Xieliang. In the traditional novel Sanguo yanyi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms), Guan Yu utters the lines cited here. 49. This song was written in classical style by the author of this play, Tian Han, in Guan Hanqing’s name. 50. Tuluhun, a Mongolian term, refers to a steward who serves a commander of one to ten thousand men.

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51. This quotation is from The Tale of the Western Chamber, a drama attributed to Wang Shifu, Guan Hanqing’s contemporary. It portrays a love affair between Zhang Junrui, an impoverished young scholar, and Cui Yingying, daughter of the prime minister. Yingying’s mother separates the lovers by sending Junrui to sit for the imperial examinations. 52. Act 4 is the climax of The Tale of the Western Chamber, from which the quotation is taken.

The Young Generation (1965) Chen Yun Tra nsla ted by C ons tant i ne Tu ng a nd Kevin A. O’C onnor

C ha r a c t e rs xiao jiye 㨒⭢㮟, male, twenty-seven, graduate of the Geology College, member of a prospecting team grandma xiao 㨒ㅒㅒ, about seventy, retired factory worker, xiao jiye’s grandmother lin yusheng ⼢㲥㔶, male, twenty-four, graduate of the Geology College lin jian ⼢⭷, over fifty, lin yusheng’s foster father xia shujuan 㥴㗡⳼, over forty, lin jian’s wife and lin yusheng’s foster mother lin lan ⼢䚼, seventeen, soon to graduate from senior high school, lin jian and xia shujuan’s daughter xia qianru 㥴䃗㑥, twenty-three, xia shujuan’s niece, soon to graduate from the Geology College, has been living with the Lins li rongsheng ⹼㑗㔶, male, sixteen, an unemployed youth yao xiangming 㮐㦢タ, female, twenty-three, classmate of xia qianru’s zhou jie 㺾䩾, female, twenty-five, classmate of xia qianru’s students a, b, and various common people

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A CT 1 (Summer, just the time when graduating high school students are going to college or to work, and when college graduates are about to begin their careers. It is the time when young people are full of hope, passion, worries, and anxieties. It is a Saturday afternoon, in the small living room of the lins’ home in the suburbs of Shanghai. A staircase ascends to the upstairs; there is a window through which the audience can see the scenery of suburban Shanghai, with factories in the distant background. A large door opens to the outside, one door to the kitchen, and another to lin lan and xia qianru’s room. In the living room there are a sofa, dining table, and other things. The whole setting projects a feeling of simplicity and cleanliness. xiao jiye enters, carrying a backpack.) xiao jiye: Lin Yusheng! Lin Yusheng! (xia shujuan comes down the stairs.) xia shujuan: Who is it? xiao jiye: Hello, Auntie! xia shujuan: Xiao Jiye! What are you doing back? Are you on business? xiao jiye: Yes, I am, Auntie. Where’s Yusheng? xia shujuan: He went out. xiao jiye: How is he? xia shujuan: He’s been back for almost a year now, but his arthritis still gives him trouble quite often. Well, sit down! You young people! I hear that you’re doing a remarkable job. Have you turned up anything, looking for that ore? xiao jiye (smiling): Yes, there is a possibility that we have. xia shujuan: Well, that’s good. I really hope that you all can accomplish something, and do it soon, too. When your Uncle Lin came back this time, he asked after you. xiao jiye: Uncle Lin came back? xia shujuan: He came to Shanghai for a meeting. We Chinese have to stand up for ourselves; we can’t always be letting others insult us like before. You are all truly good models. (She gets a glass of water.) xiao jiye: No thank you, Auntie! xia shujuan: Oh, you haven’t been home yet, have you? Well, hurry up. You don’t know how happy your grandmother will be to see you! xiao jiye: When’s Yusheng coming back? xia shujuan: He’ll probably be back pretty soon. xiao jiye: I have something to see him about in a while. (He exits, xia shujuan following.) xia shujuan: Grandma Xiao! Grandma Xiao! Look who’s come back! (She exits. Presently lin yusheng enters, pushing a bicycle from which there hang two net bags and other things that he unties and removes.)

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lin yusheng (toward the outside): Bye-bye. (Shouts) Qianru! Qianru! (xia shujuan enters.) xia shujuan: She hasn’t come back yet. lin yusheng: Mom, are you back from work already? xia shujuan: I asked to leave early. lin yusheng: You’re not feeling well again. Mom, I’ve said before, don’t be so anxious about working. Your health is your capital. If you lose it, then what’ll you do? xia shujuan: If I don’t do work right, I just don’t feel right. What are these? lin yusheng: Two bottles of wine and some candy. Don’t you remember? I made a date with some schoolmates to come over and celebrate Qianru’s birthday today. xia shujuan: Look at you, sweating like that! Your leg isn’t better yet and you’re running around all day! Yusheng, you probably haven’t had lunch yet. lin yusheng: Yes I did. I had lunch with Little Wu. xia shujuan (opening a box): A dress? lin yusheng: To give to Qianru. xia shujuan: Is there any news about Qianru’s assignment after graduation? lin yusheng: None yet. I’ve already written a letter to the school’s party committee. I hope they’ll keep her in Shanghai. xia shujuan: Do you think the school will agree? lin yusheng: If they give us special consideration as fiancés, I think they’ll agree. xia shujuan: I’ve talked this over with Qianru. The primary thing is to obey the assignment. Of course, I just have this one niece, and she has been with me all these years. If they can give you special consideration and keep her in Shanghai, that would be wonderful; but, Yusheng, you still had better be prepared. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Xiao Jiye’s back. lin yusheng: He’s back? xia shujuan: He’s just gotten back and says he has something to see you about. lin yusheng (starts): Oh. xia shujuan: He’s all tanned, and he’s gotten more muscular. Why don’t you invite him over for supper tonight? You’re classmates and you worked on the same prospecting team. lin yusheng (reluctantly): Okay. xia shujuan: Have you taken your medicine yet? lin yusheng: I am, now. (He takes the medicine.) xia shujuan: It would be wonderful if you were healthy like Xiao Jiye. lin yusheng: Yeah, Mom. Where’d Lanlan go? xia shujuan: She went to take the exam for the Cinema School. She didn’t even come back for lunch. lin yusheng: I just ran into Teacher Yang from the Cinema School, and she said that Lanlan didn’t even take the test. xia shujuan (surprised): Didn’t take the test? That can’t be!

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lin yusheng: No, it’s quite possible. All along, she wouldn’t go register for the exam, so I took her there and made her register. xia shujuan: That child! lin yusheng: Teacher Yang said that she’d try to give her another chance to take the exam. She said she’d discuss it with the directors of the school. (He goes into his room.) xia shujuan: Ah! Who knows what she’s up to! You’re probably hungry. I’ll get you something to eat. lin yusheng (from his room): No thanks. (He starts humming a tune.) xia shujuan: Again, “No thanks.” (She goes to the kitchen. xiao jiye enters, hears the humming, and goes toward lin yusheng’s room.) xiao jiye (excitedly): Lin Yusheng! (lin yusheng comes out.) lin yusheng: Hey, Xiao Jiye! xiao jiye: How are you? Hah! You’ve put on some weight! lin yusheng: Why are you back? xiao jiye: I came back because of the research report for Mineral Region 205. lin yusheng: What’d you conclude? Is there any ore? xiao jiye: Yes. There are really good signs. lin yusheng (surprised): Oh, is that right? xiao jiye: You probably didn’t think there’d be any. How’s your leg? Any better yet? lin yusheng: Same as before; sometimes okay, sometimes not. I’m afraid it would be a lot of trouble. xiao jiye: Oh? lin yusheng: How are the other comrades on the team? xiao jiye: They’re all fine, but everybody wanted me to come and give you hell . . . lin yusheng: Give me hell? xiao jiye: You lazy slug, it’s almost a year now, and you haven’t written one word, and you don’t even answer our letters. What do you say? Don’t you deserve to catch a little hell? lin yusheng: I’ve been sick, you know. If I’m not resting, then I’m taking medicine. What’s there to write about? Oh, right, how’s Little Yang’s playing on the huqin? Still screeching away on it like he’s killing chickens all day! xiao jiye: He plays it pretty well now. When we get together with the local people, quite a few of them ask him to play music for them. lin yusheng: Looks like you’re all coming along pretty well in your work. How are you? Still write a lot of poems? xiao jiye: It’s poetry just living out there with the soaring mountains, dense forests, deserts, and rivers. There’re “battles” everywhere; there’s poetry everywhere! The more work we do, the more I believe that there is just too much treasure under the ground. It’s a pity that there aren’t enough people available. The province has

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decided to start a geology training class now to train a group. The comrades responsible for this have told me to tell you that they’d like to have you come back to be an instructor. lin yusheng (starts): Me? The reason I came back was that I have rheumatoid arthritis in my leg, remember? xiao jiye: I know. They don’t want you to come back to the prospecting team. They want you to be an instructor. This is a letter for you from the head of the team. Oh, yes, I brought your pay, too. lin yusheng: This . . . this wouldn’t work. The climate there isn’t right. As soon as I get there, my leg’ll get bad again. xiao jiye: Did the doctor say so? lin yusheng: Yes. He’s the head of surgery I told you about. He’s the one who wrote the medical certificate that I used when I applied to come home to recuperate. xiao jiye: Oh. (Disappointedly) Look, the people in charge thought that this work would really be quite suitable for you. lin yusheng: This leg of mine, you know. It’s really bad. xiao jiye (after thinking it over): Okay, let’s wait a while and discuss it again. If you really don’t want to go, then you’ll just have to say so. lin yusheng (relieved): I guess that’s all I can do. xiao jiye: Let’s discuss it again later. I have to go to the hospital. lin yusheng: What’s wrong? Are you sick? xiao jiye: It’s nothing, really. I wasn’t careful and tripped and fell and hurt my leg, so I’m going to have it checked. If I don’t go today, I’ll have to wait till Monday. lin yusheng: Oh, right! Today’s Qianru’s birthday. I’ve invited a few of her schoolmates over to get together. So you come, too, later on. xiao jiye: I’ll be sure to come later on. I want to tell her some good news. (He exits. xia shujuan enters.) xia shujuan: Was that Xiao Jiye? Why’d he go? lin yusheng: He’ll be back soon. xia shujuan: Was there something he had to see you about? lin yusheng: No. (The happy sound of lin lan’s singing can be heard.) xia shujuan: Lanlan’s back. (lin lan enters.) Where have you been? lin lan: I was at Volunteer Labor. xia shujuan: You didn’t go take the exam for the Cinema School? lin lan: Uh . . . right. lin yusheng: Great, just great! lin lan: What’s wrong with you? lin yusheng: Why didn’t you take the exam? lin lan: I never intended to. lin yusheng: So you don’t plan to go to college, then?

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lin lan: Who says so? I want to go to an agricultural college. xia shujuan: I’d agree to let you go to an agricultural college, but can you guarantee that you’d get in? Wouldn’t taking the exam for the Cinema School give you one chance more? Teacher Yang has said that you have a good potential as an actress. lin lan: Right now our nation is making great efforts in agriculture. Many educated young people are answering the party’s call to help on the battle lines of agriculture. And I’m one of them . . . (lin yusheng is about to start arguing with lin lan.) xia shujuan: All right, wait till your father gets home and let him decide. lin yusheng: Mom, is Dad coming home today? xia shujuan: He’ll probably be back. If he doesn’t have a meeting this afternoon, he’ll come back. lin yusheng: So, when my friends come, we’ll eat in my room, then. (lin lan works on her agricultural experiment; lin yusheng agitatedly paces over to the doorway, waiting for xia qianru.) xia shujuan: Why isn’t Qianru back yet? lin yusheng: I’ve already called her. lin lan: So you called her again! You go telling her to come home for no reason. Shame on you! lin yusheng: You’ll understand when the time comes. lin lan: What’ll I understand? That you’re an empty-headed idiot? lin yusheng (counterattacking): And your head is so full of wisdom, you doctrinaire little brat! lin lan: Even when she’s studying for the graduation exam, you call her. If she fails and doesn’t graduate, then what’ll you do? lin yusheng: You don’t have to worry about that. She’s the top student at our school. Last year during practical training she submitted a proposal to the directors of Mineral Region 508, and right now they’re considering adopting her advice. Won’t be able to graduate! That’s a laugh. lin lan: If she goes on like you did, even if she does graduate, she won’t amount to much. xia shujuan (stops lin lan): Lanlan, that’s enough. (To lin yusheng) What Lanlan says is right. You shouldn’t interfere with Qianru’s studying. lin yusheng: Mom, where’s the dress I bought for Qianru? xia shujuan (takes out the paper box): It’s here. Why do you always buy these exotic foreign things? lin yusheng: What do you mean? That’s an export item. Little Wu helped me pick it out. lin lan: Yusheng, I’d advise you not to hang around with Little Wu. Why do you always make friends with that kind of guy? lin yusheng: What’s wrong with him? lin lan: He didn’t obey his assignment, he uses his family’s money to show off their wealth, and he doesn’t earn his own living. He’s a parasite!

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lin yusheng: Don’t preach. If we don’t go help politically backward people, then who will help them? lin lan: Help him! If you hang around with him a little longer, pretty soon you’ll be just like him. xia shujuan: Lanlan, why do you have such an attitude toward your brother? If you have an opinion, can you offer it in a more pleasant manner? lin yusheng: No matter who she looks at, no one looks right to her. She’s the only one who’s okay. Actually, you know, Little Wu has his good points. lin lan: Anyway, he praises whoever flatters him; all you have to do is say a few words to flatter him, and then he wouldn’t know what he is. lin yusheng: What do you mean? (The phone rings.) (Answering the phone) Lanlan, Teacher Yang’s calling. The school has agreed to let you take a makeup exam. lin lan: I won’t take it! xia shujuan: Look at this child! lin yusheng: Don’t be foolish. If you miss this chance, it’ll be too late to cry. lin lan (determined): I will not take the exam. lin yusheng: I can’t get through to you. I’m telling Teacher Yang that you’ll take the exam tomorrow morning. (Picks up the phone) Hello? Teacher Yang? lin lan: What are you doing? (She grabs the phone, hangs up.) lin yusheng: Mom, please talk to her! xia shujuan: Lanlan, you’ve got to stop being so stubborn. lin lan: I have said that I will not take the exam. (There is the sound of a car.) lin yusheng: Dad’s home. lin lan: Daddy’s home! (lin lan exits. She enters with lin jian.) lin yusheng: Dad, Lanlan’s being ridiculous. We tell her to take the exam for the Cinema School, and then she doesn’t take it. When other people like Teacher Yang call up to tell her to take a makeup exam, she hangs up on them. lin jian: Lanlan, why won’t you take the exam? lin lan: Didn’t I already write you a letter about this before? I want to take the exam for the Agriculture College. lin jian: Oh, so we have a disagreement in the family? lin lan: Dad, studying to be an actress would be fine, of course; but the party and Chairman Mao are calling on us to aid on the front lines of agriculture. As a member of the Communist Youth League, I ought to answer the call. I intend to take the exam for the Agriculture College, to master more techniques of agriculture, and to strive for the modernization of agriculture of the motherland. xia shujuan: What you plan to do is good, but what’ll you do if you don’t pass the exam? (The telephone begins to ring again.)

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(Answering the phone) Hello . . . Oh, Teacher Yang. So sorry to make you call again. Oh, all right, all right. Hold on, please. (To lin jian) Old Lin, the Cinema School has agreed to let Lanlan take the makeup exam. What do you think? lin jian: Lanlan, why don’t you take the call yourself? lin lan: What should I say? lin jian: That’s your business. Say whatever you feel you should. xia shujuan: Old Lin! You . . . lin jian: Look, Shujuan, in this kind of problem, we can only offer advice. lin lan: All right, I’ll take it. (Excitedly takes the receiver) Hello, Teacher Yang? Thank you for your concern, but I don’t plan to take the exam . . . That’s right, I’m planning to take the exam for the Agriculture College. Goodbye. (She hangs up.) Thank you, Dad. From now on I can review all I’ve learned. lin jian: Right, and do a good job of reviewing. Make up your mind to do your best, to go to the front lines of the construction of socialism, to study, to train, and to reform yourself! That’s the idea, right? (To lin yusheng and xia shujuan) Lanlan’s ambitions are in agriculture, and she’s done the right thing by being able to relate her individual ambitions with the needs of the motherland. There are some young people who aren’t willing to work in agriculture even if you tell them to. So it’s very good that she intends to work in agriculture. We should encourage her. (He goes upstairs, talking with xia shujuan.) xia shujuan (turns to lin yusheng, lin lan): Your father’s back now. Tidy up the downstairs. (lin lan and lin yusheng clean the table.) lin lan: Brother, take your books away. (lin yusheng takes his books offstage. lin lan takes a large inkstone from the wall chest. Then, as she dusts, she looks at the pictures on the wall.) Brother, why don’t you hang these pictures of yours in your own room? (lin lan puts the big inkstone on the table and takes out lin jian’s photograph with his friends, The Four Comrades-in-Arms. lin yusheng comes out, takes down the pictures on the wall, puts up the photograph, and exits. When lin lan rolls up the bamboo curtains and sees the garden tools in the yard, she shouts upstairs.) Hey, Dad, I’ve planted a lot of pumpkins, tomatoes, and some other things in the garden. They’ve gotten pretty big now. Do you want to go see them? lin jian (upstairs): Okay, I’m coming. (lin jian and xia shujuan come downstairs talking.) xia shujuan: Xiao Jiye has come back. lin jian: Oh, well ask him over tonight to chat. lin lan: Come on, Dad, let’s go look at the big pumpkins. lin jian: Okay. Can I help you with anything? lin lan: Could you water them? lin jian: All right.

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xia shujuan: Let your father rest a little right now. lin jian: Ah, laboring is better than any kind of rest. (To lin lan) Shall we go? lin lan: Okay. Oh no! Our bucket’s broken. I’ll go over to Grandma Xiao’s and borrow theirs. (She exits.) lin jian: Yusheng. (lin yusheng comes out.) Well, how are things? Leg any better? lin yusheng: It’s all right now, but it hurts whenever the weather changes. lin jian: What do you do all the time you’re home? lin yusheng: I read technical books, study some problems in my field. I’m afraid that I’ll get out of practice if I leave it alone too long. lin jian: I think you’d better do some reading in Chairman Mao’s works, rearm your mind. I hear that you’re looking for a job in Shanghai? lin yusheng: Yes. lin jian: Did you find one? lin yusheng: Over the past few days I’ve heard that my alma mater’s prospecting department needs an administrative person, so I thought I’d go talk it over with Director Yan. lin jian: Oh, and what do you think? lin yusheng: I think that I’d better look for work in my own field, so I’m still considering. Dad, could you find a job for me in the Geology Research Institute? You know Director Liu, don’t you? lin jian: You ought to go through proper channels when you’re looking for a job. Aren’t you still connected with Qinghai? At the very beginning, when you and Xiao Jiye signed up for the exam for the Geology College, you were really dedicated. Didn’t you once say: “The wide open ocean allows the fish to leap / The boundless sky allows the birds to soar?” I think that was well put. When the leadership assigned you to Qinghai, it was just the place for all of you on the prospecting team to show your talents. How could you be willing to leave so easily? lin yusheng: I didn’t want to leave, but the doctor said that my leg wasn’t suitable for the work out there. xia shujuan: His leg isn’t very good. lin jian: If something’s wrong with your leg, then take care of it. When it’s better, you still should go back to Qinghai. Young people with ambition ought to go out and see the world. With the world so huge, why’s everybody crowding into Shanghai? Didn’t I used to tell you the story of your uncle Shaobai and the others? When they were your age, they’d been all around most of China. This is revolution, how can you be nesting away at home all day? (The telephone rings.) (Answers the phone) Hello, this is Lin Jian . . . Well, that doesn’t have to wait until Monday. I’ll come right now. xia shujuan: What is it? Do you have to go again?

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lin jian: There’s important business. (To lin yusheng) Yusheng, go upstairs and bring down my briefcase. (lin yusheng exits. lin jian puts on his coat.) xia shujuan: Old Lin, I’m really worried about that boy Yusheng. He’s been back for almost a year now; how can he go on like this? Would you give more thought to the problem of his getting a job? lin jian: We can’t accommodate him. I think something is wrong with the kid’s way of thinking. We’ve got to be strict with him; otherwise we wouldn’t be able to face his real parents. I’m wondering whether we should . . . (lin yusheng enters, gives the briefcase to lin jian. lin lan enters.) lin lan: Daddy, you’re going away again? lin jian: Yes, I am! I can’t help you now. (To xia shujuan) Today I probably won’t be back. What we were just discussing . . . we’ll talk about it later. Yusheng take care of your leg and when you get better, go back to Qinghai! lin yusheng: Mm . . . lin jian: Shujuan, I’m off. (He exits.) xia shujuan: If you can’t come back, give a call. (There is distant shouting, “Lanlan, come help me.”) lin lan: Oh. Brother, you help Auntie, okay? She’s so busy she can’t manage by herself alone. lin yusheng: What could I help with? lin lan: Wash the vegetables and the rice. That’s all. xia shujuan: Never mind. Your brother isn’t well. Let him rest. You go. lin lan: I still have a lot of things to do. He doesn’t have anything to do. xia shujuan: All right, all right. You get busy with your work. I’ll go. lin lan: Mom, don’t go. I can’t stand the sight of that lazy brother of mine. xia shujuan: Ah, at it again. (She is about to exit.) lin lan: Brother, you’re having guests today. lin yusheng: Mom, you rest a while. I’ll go. xia shujuan: I better go. You, the more you help, the worse it gets. (She exits. lin yusheng exits. At the door, li rongsheng appears, pushing a bicycle.) li rongsheng: Hi, Lanlan. lin lan: How come you didn’t go? li rongsheng: Where? lin lan: To Volunteer Labor. li rongsheng: So you went? lin lan: Of course I did. I waited a long time for you this morning. li rongsheng: I didn’t want to go. lin lan: You don’t feel like doing anything. It’s almost time for the exam, and you still spend all day outside wandering around.

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li rongsheng: There’s no hope for me anyway. Last year I didn’t pass the exam. So this year, with the standards even higher for high school students, how can I pass? lin lan: How can you pass if you just keep on wandering around! Did you finish the algebra problems I gave you? li rongsheng: No. I don’t know what’s wrong; I can’t ever seem to concentrate. Has your father come back yet? lin lan: He came back, but he left again. li rongsheng: He left again? Why didn’t you call me? It’s been several months since we moved into Workers’ New Village, and I haven’t seen your father even once. lin lan: My father’s away most of the year. This time he came back for a meeting. li rongsheng: I heard that he used to be in the Liberation Army and was really brave in the war. Oh, I’d really like to see what he’s like. Does he have a beard? lin lan: What would he do with a beard? li rongsheng: He certainly must be tall. lin lan: He’s not so tall. Ah! (Points to the photograph) he’s the first one, there. li rongsheng (looks at the photograph taken when lin jian participated in the workers’ movement as a youth): So young?! lin lan: It’s from thirty years ago. li rongsheng: Who are the other ones? lin lan: My father’s comrades-in-arms. li rongsheng: I’d really like to meet him. Anyway, when he comes back, you let me know. lin lan: No problem. li rongsheng: Then it’s settled. (He is about to leave.) lin lan: Uh-uh. li rongsheng: What? lin lan: The algebra problems. (When she turns around, li rongsheng starts to slip away.) Little Li! Little Li! li rongsheng: Bye. lin lan: Stop! (She exits, chasing him. lin yusheng enters. After a moment xia qianru enters.) lin yusheng (walking toward xia qianru): You’re back! Did the college get in touch with you to talk? I wrote them a letter. xia qianru: They called me to talk about it this morning. lin yusheng: How’d it go? xia qianru: They won’t go along with it. lin yusheng (disappointedly): They won’t? xia qianru (annoyed): I told you so before. I told you not to write to the party committee, but you . . . lin yusheng: What did they say?

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xia qianru: They told me to tell you that they couldn’t give special consideration in a case like ours. lin yusheng: Why not? xia qianru: I think it’s because you don’t have a job in Shanghai and might try to transfer later on to where I am. lin yusheng: Didn’t you tell them, my leg . . . ? xia qianru: I didn’t have the gall to tell them. I was embarrassed enough as it was. (Pause.) lin yusheng (decisively): All right, then. Originally I was hesitant about becoming an administrative staff member, but now, since this is the way things are, I’m going to fight for it. xia qianru: You will? Because of me . . . ? lin yusheng: It’s not just because of you. I also need a job. I can’t stand staying at home all day doing nothing. xia qianru: Didn’t you say you were going to ask your father to look for a job for you at the Geology Research Institute? lin yusheng: He wouldn’t do it. He said that . . . Never mind. So, for the time being, I’ll be an administrative staff person, I guess. I’m going to see Director Yan, of the college. (He is about to go.) xia qianru: No, Yusheng. We better think this over. lin yusheng: What’s there to think over? If we think it over any longer, the list for the assignments will have been decided and it’ll be too late. xia qianru: But won’t this mean giving up your own profession? lin yusheng: That’s not important. I can do administrative work and still find time to do research in my field. If I can just get out a few substantial scientific papers, I probably won’t have any trouble later applying for a transfer to a teaching position. (xia qianru is silent.) Why are you putting on such a sad face? Oh, that’s right! I got a present for you. (Brings out the paper box) Guess what it is. xia qianru: A blouse? lin yusheng: Wrong. xia qianru: A scarf? lin yusheng: No. (Opens the box) Look! Do you like it? xia qianru: Oh! (She laughs.) lin yusheng: What’s wrong? xia qianru: If I wore this dress and then put on a geology backpack, that’d look ridiculous! lin yusheng: This dress isn’t supposed to be worn with a geology backpack. It’s for you to wear in the research laboratory or when you’re in our own little home in the future. xia qianru: Come on, stop dreaming! I still don’t know where I’m going to be sent.

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lin yusheng: There’s no problem. If I can just get a job as an administrative staff person, I think the party will give us special consideration. Just think how great it’d be if they kept you in Shanghai! During the day we’d go to work together, and at night we’d come home, listen to some music like Carmen and La Traviata, read novels or poetry, or see movies. On Sundays we’d go to the park or find some friends to chat with . . . Of course, we’d have to do a good job, and we’d have to make some contributions to our field. (Sighs) I dreamed about this kind of life when I was in Qinghai, and now soon it’ll come true! Okay, I’m going to the college now. Put on the dress. xia qianru: I won’t go out in it. It’s too gaudy. lin yusheng: What do you mean? Little Wu says it’s the latest style. xia qianru: Little Wu, again. Didn’t I tell you not to hang out with Little Wu all the time? You . . . lin yusheng: He’s not such a bad guy, you know. xia qianru: I’ve never liked the looks of him. lin yusheng: That’s your prejudice. Actually, Little Wu is quite straightforward. (Walking toward door) That’s right! I’ve borrowed a few of your favorite records, La Traviata and Carmen, and also some solos by Vishnevskaya.1 When we finish dinner tonight, we’ll play records for our friends. Oh, right! Xiao Jiye’s also going to come. xia qianru: Xiao Jiye’s come back? (xiao jiye enters.) lin yusheng: Xiao Jiye, Qianru’s back. xia qianru: Xiao Jiye, hello! (Advances, shakes hands) How are you? lin yusheng: All right, you two talk. xiao jiye: Where’re you going? lin yusheng: I . . . have something to do. (He exits.) xiao jiye: Uh, you . . . Why’d he leave? I was just about to tell you some good news. xia qianru: Come on, sit here. xiao jiye (excitedly): You know that proposal you gave to Mineral Region 508? They’ve decided to use it! xia qianru (happy and excited): Really? How do you know? xiao jiye: When I was in Beijing, I ran into the comrades in charge of that mineral region, and they told me. xia qianru (excitedly): Really? When do they begin test drilling? xiao jiye: They’re going to begin right away. xia qianru (excitedly): Oh! It’d be so wonderful if I were able to go see for myself. xiao jiye: They intend to ask the college to assign you to them. Just this year they’re assigned to get a few new people to them. xia qianru: Oh? xiao jiye (earnestly): You probably didn’t expect it, huh? I remember when you were there for practical training, you wrote and said that, after you graduated, you’d definitely try and get to go there. Now it’s happened. Soon you’re going to get your wish.

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I’m really happy for you. They also told me to tell you that, if the college asks for your opinion, the mineral region hopes that you’ll let them know what you think. xia qianru: Oh? But . . . xiao jiye: What’s the matter? xia qianru: This is too sudden. xiao jiye: Hadn’t you planned on it being this way long before? xia qianru: Last year, I did. xiao jiye: What about now? xia qianru: Now . . . Look, Yusheng is in Shanghai, and if I get sent someplace else . . . xiao jiye: Yusheng is back for recuperation; and besides, he doesn’t have a job here. xia qianru: He will soon. xiao jiye: He will? xia qianru: He plans to become an administrative staff member at the college. xiao jiye: When did he decide on this? xia qianru: Just now. xiao jiye: Just now? Is the college likely to agree? xia qianru: There probably won’t be any trouble. Yusheng has gone to see Director Yan. xiao jiye: Oh! (The telephone rings.) xia qianru (answering the telephone): Hello, who do you want? . . . All right; hold on please. (To xiao jiye) It’s for your grandmother. (Goes to the door, shouts) Grandma Xiao, the factory’s on the phone for you. (xia shujuan’s voice: “Qianru, come and help me.”) I’m coming. (To xiao jiye) I’m going out for a second. (She exits. grandma xiao enters.) xiao jiye: Hi, Grandma. grandma xiao: You’re here? Did you get your leg examined? (Picks up the telephone) Old Liu? Yes . . . I know. Ridiculous, it is just ridiculous. When I heard about it yesterday, I was so mad I couldn’t get a good sleep. Look, Old Liu, I want to go see them myself and talk with them, just ask them if that’s the way workers should act. What? Take a rest? Hah! A person can retire, but can her mind retire, too? I think we should do it this way: you tell them to wait for me at the factory tomorrow, and I’ll come early in the morning. Uh-huh. That’s right. Okay, see you tomorrow. (She hangs up.) What did the doctor say? xiao jiye: The doctor said that he couldn’t figure it out all at one time, so he told me to go there Monday for an X-ray. What’s going on at the factory? grandma xiao: Ahh. It’s really got me in a bad mood. There’re some young workers at the factory who aren’t doing their work right. They just float along doing enough to get by. But they don’t lag behind when it comes to claiming their fringe benefits. They’ve only been there a few days now, and they’re eager to look for girlfriends and boyfriends and can’t wait to get free housing. The comrade on the factory party com-

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mittee told me to stay home and write my memoirs and rest up. But how can I go on resting up? These young people, if you don’t give them a good talking-to, they’ll still think that the good life today just fell from the sky. (Noticing that xiao jiye is not listening attentively, asks sharply) Jiye! What are you thinking about? xiao jiye: I’m just thinking, Grandma, about what brought Lin Yusheng back home. grandma xiao: Didn’t he say that he’s sick and came back to recuperate? xiao jiye: Yes. He also sent a doctor’s note. But when I just went to see the doctor, I happened to run into that chief of surgery who examined Lin Yusheng, so I asked him whether Lin Yusheng’s leg would stop him from teaching in Qinghai. He said that Lin Yusheng’s arthritis isn’t serious at all and wouldn’t even stop him from working on the prospecting team. He also said that he never wrote a doctor’s note for Yusheng. grandma xiao: You mean the doctor’s note is a fake? xiao jiye: From what I saw of Yusheng’s performance in Qinghai, that could be possible. grandma xiao (weighed down by the news): How could he change so? xiao jiye: Right after we’d gotten to Qinghai, he did quite well. Only he couldn’t take the hardship and got more and more dissatisfied with the work. Grandma, I’m going to write a letter back to the prospecting team and tell them to send the doctor’s note to me for verification. You think that’s right? grandma xiao: Yes. You ought to help the truth come to light. Oh, I’m afraid to hear about this kind of thing, but I want to hear about it, too. What I’m afraid is that the young people aren’t doing the right thing. But I think that it’s all right if I do hear about it so that I can help them in time. Where is Yusheng now? xiao jiye: He went to the college to see Director Yan. He wants to be an administrative staff person at the college. grandma xiao: He does? Is the college going to agree to that? xiao jiye: I think that unless they receive approval from Qinghai, the college won’t give him the job. grandma xiao: Shouldn’t you let the college know about it? When Yusheng comes back, you two better have a good talk. I’ll also go discuss this with Old Lin. You’re a party member, and the branch headquarters would want you to persuade him to go back, so you better do your duty. (The two of them exit, talking. Voice of yao xiangming: “Qianru, Qianru.” zhou jie, yao xiangming enter. xia qianru comes out of the kitchen.) yao xiangming: What’s the matter with you? As soon as you heard the lecture, you left. xia qianru: I had something to do at home. Where are the others? yao xiangming: They’re still at the discussion meeting. zhou jie: They probably won’t be able to come. xia qianru: Guess what, Xiao Jiye has come back! yao xiangming: Xiao Jiye, the one who was chairman of the student association for the class of 1960?

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zhou jie: Doesn’t he live right here? xia qianru: Yes. He was here just a moment ago. yao xiangming (calling out): Xiao Jiye! (xiao jiye enters.) xiao jiye: Hi, Yao Xiangming (shaking hands), how are you? zhou jie: How are you! Did you come back for vacation? xiao jiye: No, I came back on business for Mineral Region 205. xia qianru: Have you finished writing the detailed investigative report? xiao jiye: Yes, we’ve finished it. yao xiangming: What about the research design? Did you finish that, too? xiao jiye: Yeah, that too. zhou jie: And the conclusion is . . . xiao jiye: There’s ore. zhou jie and yao xiangming (together): It’s . . . that ore! xiao jiye: That’s right! According to our estimate, the deposit is very large. The quality is very high, too! (Everyone is happy, and singing.) xia qianru: And that foreign expert still says that there isn’t any ore there! (Everyone laughs.) zhou jie: If there really is ore, you’ll have made quite a contribution! It’ll make us Chinese all feel proud, and let people see that we do have that kind of ore, and quite a lot of it, too. xia qianru: Has the ministry approved the report yet? xiao jiye: Not yet. The technical conference on our type of ore is in Shanghai this time, right? At the meeting, the Ministry of Geology instructed the conference to set up an experts’ panel to evaluate our report. That’s why I came back from Qinghai. xia qianru: If they can approve it, that’d be wonderful! yao xiangming: Ah, you’ve been working so hard! No wonder you’re all tanned! I daresay it was because you were laboring so selflessly! xiao jiye: Ah, you haven’t changed! zhou jie: No, she’s more vivacious than she used to be. The older she gets, the more lively she gets! yao xiangming: That’s because as we get closer to going out to real life, whenever I think that soon I’ll be able to fly, I get a feeling that I just can’t quite describe. xiao jiye: Where are you trying to fly away to? yao xiangming: Guess. xiao jiye: You, eh? Tibet. yao xiangming (surprised, shouts): Oh my! How did you know? Somebody must’ve told you. zhou jie: Forget it. You don’t need other people to tell him. As soon as you entered college, you started shouting it everywhere. Everybody knows! xiao jiye: Has your family agreed?

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yao xiangming: No problem. My mother said, “Don’t worry. Just go, and don’t worry about us.” My father said, “If you’re going to go, then you have to make up your mind to spend your whole life there. If you retreat halfway, you better not plan to enter our home again.” zhou jie: Very tough! xiao jiye: But what if they don’t send you to Tibet? yao xiangming: You’re testing me! Humph. Here’s my letter of determination. I haven’t had time to hand it in yet. xiao jiye (reads): “Place: wherever the motherland most needs me. Goal: revolution. I have only one request: give me the hardest work.” yao xiangming: Well? Is that good enough? xiao jiye: Very much so! Try and get to go to our place in Qinghai. Out there where we are, not only is everything under the ground a treasure, but so is everything above the ground. One time when I was in a thick forest, I discovered a whole grove of apple trees where apples must have fallen, and trees grown up, and apples fallen again, and more trees grown up. There were just no people to pick them! You like shrimp, right? At the foot of the Kunlun Mountains, I’ve seen a lake that’s filled with shrimp. You just reach into the water, and you get a huge handful of them. If you go out there, I guarantee that you’ll have plenty to eat. yao xiangming: Not me. If they could let me choose for myself, I’d still have the same idea of going to Tibet. I’m going to stand on the peaks of the Himalayas and look out over the whole world! (xia qianru has been slowly drawing apart, as though she were not one of the graduates-to-be.) xiao jiye: What about you, Zhou Jie? zhou jie: I’ll go wherever the party sends me. xiao jiye: Does your mother agree to that? I remember that you’re the only daughter in your family. zhou jie: I had to try very hard to convince her! It’s all right now. My mother finally agreed to it. No matter where the party sends me, I’ll pack my bags and go. Of course, at the start there’ll be a lot of difficulties, and perhaps it’ll be very hard. But recently Party Secretary He put it quite well: “The people of this generation weren’t born to take it easy. If there weren’t any difficulties, then what use to have us?” xiao jiye: That’s right. And there were difficulties blocking our progress as members of the prospecting team. For those of us who had lived a long time in the city, it took a while to get used to life in the wilderness; but when we overcame the difficulties, we felt an incomparable joy. On the way back this time I looked in on Mineral Region 508. Three years ago our class went there for practical training. Originally that place was just a vast, uninhabited wild plain, and now it’s already become a modem industrial city. I thought since our labor can bring so many advantages to people, it doesn’t matter if we have it a little hard! In his poem “Ode to Loushan Guan,” Chairman Mao wrote:

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The majestic pass and the endless road Are as hard as iron; Today we will take broad strides Marching over the pass. We should have that kind of spirit! zhou jie: Yes, that’s right. I’ve come to love our profession exactly because it’s like that. yao xiangming: Geologists are the guerrillas of this period of construction. That says it all: hardship, but glory! xiao jiye: Yes! Some people only know about the hard side of our lives as a prospecting team, but actually, even in the hardest times, we’re still happy. Because we didn’t hold back our strength, we were able to live up to the party’s and the people’s expectations for us. The wind and the snow of the Kunlun Mountains know whether we are cowards or heroes. The fierce sun of the Gobi Desert understands whether we are mud or pure gold. It was just this kind of pride in the team members that brought us inexhaustible happiness and strength, because we were fighting for the happiness of hundreds of millions of people. xia qianru: Yao Xiangming, give me your letter of determination. yao xiangming: What are you going to do with it? xia qianru: I’m just going to look at it. yao xiangming: Okay. (She hands her the paper. zhou jie and xiao jiye note xia qianru’s actions. lin lan enters.) lin lan (very happily): You’re all here! Brother Jiye, why, you’re back? xiao jiye: Lin Lan! How are you? Hah! Your hands are all muddy, so you’re still doing your agriculture experiment? (lin lan smiles.) What major are you going to take the exam for? The Agriculture College? lin lan: Yes. xiao jiye: Well, good. Give support to the front line in agriculture. Hey, I haven’t seen you for two years. You’ve grown into a young woman. lin lan: That’s a law of nature. Later I’ll grow into an old lady. (Everybody laughs.) xiao jiye: Do you remember? When I left Shanghai, you were only this tall, and you were always asking me to tell you stories! Now . . . lin lan: How could I forget? You told me about how, when you were a child laborer, you got back at the foreman with the flat nose, and just before the liberation how you used to be a messenger for the factory’s defense squad; also about how you put up pamphlets at Kuomintang police checkpoints. Right? yao xiangming: Heeey . . . So our former president of the student association also had a great past! You weren’t frank with us when we elected you president. xiao jiye: You voted carelessly, without getting things straight!

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zhou jie (just thinking of it): Hey! Where’s Yusheng? xia qianru: He . . . He went out. yao xiangming: The host isn’t back, and the guests are a bit hungry! zhou jie: Shame on you! xia qianru: Well, let’s start. zhou jie: Let’s wait a little while for Yusheng. xia qianru: Let’s not wait. He’ll be back right away. Lanlan, you show everybody where the food is. lin lan: Follow me. (Except for xia qianru, the others all follow lin lan offstage. From the kitchen there immediately comes the sound of the song “The Song of the Geologists.” xia qianru sets the table, then takes out the letter of determination, engaged in an intellectual struggle. lin yusheng enters.) xia qianru: How did things go? lin yusheng: Not well. xia qianru: What about the business with the college? (lin yusheng is silent.) Well, what happened after all? Say something! lin yusheng: It’s no good! xia qianru: Why not? lin yusheng: Just now, when I went to see Director Yan, he said that the opinion of those at the college was that if they don’t have Qinghai’s approval, they won’t be able to arrange a job for me . . . What was Xiao Jiye talking to you about just now? xia qianru: What do you mean? lin yusheng: He was just telling me that he hoped I’d go back to Qinghai. (The stage is momentarily silent.) xia qianru: That’d be all right. I was just planning to discuss something with you. I don’t plan to request special consideration. lin yusheng (surprised): Why not? xia qianru: Xiao Jiye said that the people in charge of Mineral Region 508 have decided to adopt the prospecting approach that I proposed. They’d like to have me try to go there. lin yusheng: They want you to go there? Well, do you want to? xia qianru: I think that I ought to go. They need me there. lin yusheng: So this is how it’s going to be. xia qianru: No, Yusheng. The past few days I’ve been awfully troubled. I’ve felt a head shorter than other people . . . My classmates are all writing their letters of determination, writing applications, but I .  .  . It’s as though I had done something to be ashamed of. lin yusheng: Is this because Xiao Jiye said something to you? xia qianru: No. It’s just that I’ve been criticizing myself. Look, this is Xiangming’s letter of determination. I’m a young person, too. Why don’t I . . . I want to write one, too.

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lin yusheng (taking the letter of determination): What kind of crazy things are you thinking of? Don’t listen to Xiao Jiye and that bunch of . . . (Everyone enters carrying cups, bottles, and food.) yao xiangming: Hey, Yusheng’s back. We were just waiting for you. lin yusheng: Thank you. zhou jie: Why did you buy all this food? If we’d known earlier that you were going to throw your money away like this, we wouldn’t have dared to come. xia qianru: It isn’t often that we can all get together. Please sit down, everybody. xiao jiye (walks over to lin yusheng): Yusheng, I’d like to talk with you in a while. (xia shujuan enters.) lin yusheng: What about? xia qianru: Xiao Jiye, Yusheng, sit down. zhou jie: Auntie, please join us. xia shujuan: You all go ahead. Lanlan, come on. (xia shujuan and lin lan exit.) zhou jie: Lanlan, don’t work too hard. (lin lan’s voice: “I’m coming.”) yao xiangming: Since today is Xia Qianru’s birthday, we should congratulate the couple. (To zhou jie) Come on, say a few words. zhou jie: That’s right. Xiao Jiye, you’re the one from far away, so you represent us. xiao jiye: Okay, I’ll do it. On behalf of everyone, I wish you both— lin yusheng: Not so fast. You’re the guest of honor. We better not let you drink your wine just any old way like this; but so that we can recall our past, Qianru, please go get those two ox-horn cups that Xiao Jiye gave me. (xia qianru exits.) Before you speak on behalf of everybody, how about the two of us making a toast first? xiao jiye: Great! lin yusheng: Well, what do you say? xiao jiye: To our friendship. lin yusheng: Then I’d like to ask you to promise me something, for the sake of our friendship. xiao jiye: As long as I can do it, I’ll definitely promise. lin yusheng: You can do it. You know about Qianru and me. xiao jiye: Yes, I know. lin yusheng: And you know about the trouble I have with my leg, too. xiao jiye: Uh . . . I know about that, too . . . (lin lan enters.) lin yusheng: So, in the name of our friendship, I’d like to ask you to consider my present situation. As far as these problems go, I hope that you won’t purposely cause any difficulties for us. xiao jiye: I don’t understand what you mean.

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lin yusheng: In my problem of getting a job, and in Qianru’s problem of getting her assignment, I hope that you can do something a bit more realistic. You don’t consider this request too unreasonable, I hope? xiao jiye (puts down his cup): This is a toast I can’t make. (xia qianru enters bringing the ox-horn wine cups.) lin yusheng: What? Weren’t you just talking grandly about friendship? Since we’re good friends, we should be honest with each other. xiao jiye: What do you mean by that? lin yusheng: I think that deep down you understand. (He angrily lowers his glass, exits.) xia qianru: Yusheng . . . lin lan: Brother! yao xiangming: What’s with that guy? (lin lan exits to the kitchen, comes right back, entering with xia shujuan, and with her exits through the main door.) xia qianru: Xiao Jiye, don’t mind him. You know what his temper is like. Don’t . . . xiao jiye (smiles): It’s not important, doesn’t matter. xia qianru: Come on, let’s go ahead and eat. (Short pause. xiao jiye picks up the two ox-horn cups that xia qianru has set up on the table, thinks deeply.)

A CT 2 (A morning a week later. In front of the door to lin jian’s house there are trees, a trellis covered with melon creepers. It is a place where people can work, rest, and sit in the shade. Stage left is the corner of lin jian’s house; stage right connects with grandma xiao’s house. Under a tree there are a stone bench and some paraphernalia. The tireless cicadas sing as a gentle breeze rocks the tree branches. Music for physical exercises is heard from the public address system of the nearby school. xiao jiye is exercising his leg. When it can support him no longer, he limps over to the stone bench, sits down, and starts to rub his leg. grandma xiao enters and gives xiao jiye a small package.) xiao jiye: Oh, spiced beans. grandma xiao: What’s wrong, child? xiao jiye (evasively): Nothing, Grandma. grandma xiao: Why haven’t they come up with a diagnosis after all these days? xiao jiye: The doctor said that it’s not just an external injury. He also found some other symptoms and wants me to stay in the hospital. grandma xiao (starts): Stay in the hospital! xiao jiye (comfortingly): It’s nothing serious; they just want to run some tests.

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grandma xiao (feels the matter is not so simple): Oh! This afternoon I’m going to see the doctor and talk about this. You should rest, too. Look at you, all sweaty. You said you came back to rest and recuperate, but these past few days that you’ve been back, when have you stayed home? xiao jiye: Grandma, it’s not easy to get to come back. I have some problems that I haven’t been able to solve out in the field. So after all the trouble of coming back here, I better use this opportunity to ask my teachers for some advice. The geological report hasn’t been approved yet . . . grandma xiao: What does the chief engineer say? xiao jiye: I just went to see him, but he wasn’t in. I’m going to go back there again later on. grandma xiao (fondly): You’ve been like this ever since you were a child. Once you start something, you just won’t spare yourself. Oh, there’s a letter here for you from Qinghai. (Gives him the letter) Is Yusheng still refusing to go back to Qinghai? xiao jiye (reads the letter): The prospecting team has sent Yusheng’s medical certificate. grandma xiao: I think that you’d better go to the hospital this afternoon and verify it. If there’s any news, tell me. I want to see old Lin and discuss this, but I just haven’t run into him. All right, off with you, now. Today I’m going to make dumplings for you. xiao jiye: Dumplings? Grandma! Still just like when I was little. You’d make dumplings and they’d smell so good. I’d help you make the dumpling skin and you’d tell me stories. grandma xiao: Yes, while we were making dumplings, I’d tell you stories. I had bushels of them. xiao jiye: On about beating the foreign devils and old Chiang Kai-shek. You could go on all day and night and not run out of stories. (The two exit together. zhou jie and xia qianru enter through the main gate and cross the stage as they talk.) zhou jie: So come on over this afternoon. xia qianru: All right. zhou jie: I think you ought to move in at the school and stay there. xia qianru: I want to see how things go. Please tell my schoolmates that I’m very grateful to them for their offer. (The two exit together. lin yusheng enters through the main gate. xia qianru enters again.) lin yusheng: Has Zhou Jie gone? xia qianru: Yes. lin yusheng: Did she come again to work on changing your mind? (xia qianru does not speak for a moment.) xia qianru: Yusheng, at a time like this you should be helping me, giving me strength, and letting me go to my work station without having to worry! But you . . . lin yusheng: The past few days I’ve been wasting my breath. I really don’t understand what’s wrong with staying in Shanghai. Speaking of the needs of the country, you

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ought to put up a real fight to stay in Shanghai. Look, as the best student in our school, you have all the qualifications. You also have the duty to make a greater contribution to geology than others do. Not only does Shanghai have a lot of literature and bibliographical resources, but you can go to an expert for guidance at any time. Is that possible out on the frontier? xia qianru: I know all that. The problem is that out in the frontier region they need people more than they do in Shanghai. If we just work hard and create the necessary conditions ourselves, we can make a contribution no matter where we are. Yusheng, we are members of the Communist Youth League. Can I just think of myself and ignore the needs of the nation? lin yusheng: Sure, you ought to think of them, but you’ve got to consider reality, too, you know. Just think about this: if you really get sent out to the frontier, you’d better not get any ideas about coming back again later. Then—who knows?—maybe they’ll send me out there, too, later on. I don’t really mind the hardships of life out there, but what will we do if my arthritis gets bad again? xia qianru: Well, what should we do, then? lin yusheng: I think you should fight to stay in Shanghai. In fact, can’t we serve the people no matter where we live? When the good of the individual and the collective can be united, why do we have to create artificial contradictions? Both from the logical standpoint and from the standpoint of my own feelings about it, I see nothing wrong with requesting special consideration in our case. xia qianru: If we’re eligible for special consideration, then the party will arrange it; so we don’t need to go looking for it ourselves. lin yusheng: This year there are a thousand-some students graduating from colleges. Can the people in charge consider every case so thoroughly? Look at my case. When I was on the prospecting team, if I hadn’t come back to see the family and then sent back a certificate from a Shanghai hospital, would they have let me stay in Shanghai? When you run into this kind of situation, if you don’t express your opinion and don’t make an active effort to get what you want, well, strictly speaking, it’s a failure to do your duty to the nation. xia qianru: If all those students in the colleges tried to get what they wanted, wouldn’t that be a mess! It would affect the national job assignment program, you know. Besides, the leadership has already said they can’t give special consideration in our case. lin yusheng: Okay, as long as you don’t try to go out on the frontier, I’ll think of a way to take care of the other problems. xia qianru: How can you? I can’t disobey the state’s job assignment! lin yusheng: We’ll get married tomorrow. Once we’re married, the college’ll have to think about giving us special consideration. xia qianru: Ridiculous! Get married all of a sudden, just to stay in Shanghai? I’m sorry you thought of it. lin yusheng: I think it’s all the same whatever means you use to achieve an end, as long as you don’t have a bad motive.

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xia qianru: It simply isn’t the right way to do things! And how can you say that you don’t have a bad motive? I’ve just graduated, there isn’t a sign of a job yet, and you’re busy getting . . . I won’t agree to it. lin yusheng: Okay, then let’s not get married! If you’re too scared to do anything like this, I think that you won’t be able to manage much of anything. Let’s do this: I’ll have Mother see Secretary He and tell him that working in Qinghai wouldn’t be good for me. What do you think? Say something. xia qianru: Let me think it over. (She exits.) lin yusheng (sighs): Ahh. (xia shujuan enters from the street.) xia shujuan: What’s got you sighing like that? Is it Qianru’s job assignment? lin yusheng: Mom, could you see Secretary He and talk it over with him? Tell him that I’ll go back to Qinghai again after two years and ask him to let me work at the college. That way, Qianru can stay, too. xia shujuan: Ask him for a favor? lin yusheng: It’s not asking for a favor. Isn’t it quite common for parents to offer their opinions to the college? xia shujuan: How can I offer that kind of opinion? lin yusheng: What’s wrong with it? xia shujuan: It’s not right to do things that way. lin yusheng: Then what’ll I do? This has got me worried to death. Tomorrow the list of names and job assignments will be announced . . . I really don’t mind going to Qinghai. But if my arthritis gets bad again, this leg is finished. (He puts on a painful expression.) xia shujuan (ponders): Did you take your medicine today? lin yusheng: Do you think I feel like taking it? I’m worried to death. xia shujuan (pondering): Will Qinghai agree if you’re transferred to Shanghai? lin yusheng: My health problem is evident, right? I’ve already written them a letter. xia shujuan (thinks it over): All right, then. I’ll inform the college of your situation. You’ll still have to let the college decide whether they’ll give you an assignment and whether Qianru ought to remain in Shanghai. lin yusheng: Mom, could you go right away, then? xia shujuan: All right, I’m going. (She goes into the house.) lin yusheng: Could you hurry up, Mom? (After a pause, xia qianru enters the house.) xia qianru: Yusheng, how could you tell your mother to go see Secretary He? And you didn’t even discuss it with me. lin yusheng: If we had discussed it anymore, it would have been too late. xia qianru: I’ve always felt that it’s not too good to do things this way. (lin lan enters.)

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lin yusheng: What’s wrong about it? Since doing things this way can solve my problem of getting an assignment, it can also solve your problem and allow you to stay in Shanghai. If you don’t like it, what do you think we should do then? (xia qianru does not speak.) Don’t worry. Mom wouldn’t have agreed to go if it weren’t right. xia qianru: What did she say? lin yusheng: She said that she’d inform them of our situation and ask them to reconsider. So don’t worry. I’ll go in again and hurry her up. (He exits.) lin lan: Hi, Cousin. xia qianru (turns): Did you take the exam for the Agriculture College? Did you do well? lin lan: Cousin, have you really agreed to my brother’s idea to have my mother go to the college? xia qianru: She’s just going to inform the authorities of our problem. I don’t think it’s improper. lin lan: Oh, you! (She starts to leave.) xia qianru: What’s wrong with it? lin lan: I want to find a place where I can think about whether I should ever look for a husband. xia qianru: What do you mean? lin lan: I’m afraid that if I have a husband, I’ll have to throw away my career. xia qianru: You little brat! You’re getting sassier every day. lin lan (walks over to xia qianru): Cousin, I’m really sad for you. You were never like this before. You used to be idealistic. You were willing to throw yourself into your studies. You said that you wanted to make some contributions to geology. But now . . . After thinking about this a little, I’m really worried about you, letting my brother drag you down with him like this. You do whatever he wants. xia qianru: I’m also very confused about it. But . . . Oh! You don’t understand. lin lan: No, I don’t understand why you yield to his every wish. xia qianru: Wait’ll you fall in love with someone, and you’ll understand. lin lan: If love is like this, then I don’t ever want a husband. Really, I don’t! (She exits toward the home of grandma xiao. After a slight pause, xiao jiye enters.) xiao jiye: From what Lanlan said, it sounds like you plan to stay in Shanghai? xia qianru: It’s not that I want to stay in Shanghai, but Yusheng . . . xiao jiye: What do you want to do? xia qianru (thinks a while): I’m willing to obey my job assignment; but if there really is some problem, then I’ll stay in Shanghai and do my best working here. xiao jiye: Is it really for the sake of work that Yusheng wants you to stay? xia qianru: What do you mean? xiao jiye: Perhaps what I’m going to say will make you unhappy, but I’m still going to say it.

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xia qianru: Oh, you probably think it’s because I’m looking for an easy life, right? But you’re wrong. I’m not really so eager to stay in Shanghai, or to continue the lifestyle I have now. It’s on account of Yusheng. He . . . xiao jiye: So you’re going to do whatever he wants you to do? xia qianru: I really don’t want to. Every day now, I’m losing what I’ve learned and can’t put my ideals into practice. Sometimes I . . . I’m so miserable. xiao jiye: Then why don’t you just snap out of it? To put it bluntly, there are certainly some unhealthy elements in Yusheng’s thought. As his closest comrade, you ought to help him. If you accommodate him in this unprincipled way, there’s no advantage in it for you or for him. (Emphasizing) There can be no peaceful coexistence with incorrect thought! You feel miserable now. Well, if you go on like this, I’m afraid that, in the end, you won’t be the least upset over even this. You’ll just gradually get used to it, and become insensitive. xia qianru: I am struggling, but . . . xiao jiye: But you always end up accommodating him. The love you get in exchange for sacrificing your principles isn’t the kind that will bring you happiness . . . I often wonder, since life certainly is so complicated, how can a person choose the right road and avoid the wrong road? xia qianru (gives a weak smile): Well, how then? xiao jiye: In our society, it’s not at all hard to tell the correct way. The party has already shown us the right road, and our comrades can remind us in time, too. The important thing is your own determination to do the right thing. There are still a lot of obstacles and difficulties in the path of the revolution; and not everyone has enough courage and strength of will to go this way even if they want to. (Both are silent.) xia qianru: You’re right. But there are some practical problems that I have to consider. xiao jiye: We don’t have any right to consider only ourselves. Besides, who else doesn’t have real problems? For example, some have problems with their families, some have problems because of their spouses, some have poor health, some are afraid of the cold, some are afraid of hot weather, and there are a lot more. What do you think things would be like if everyone harped on his own difficulties? (xia qianru does not answer.) Furthermore, Yusheng won’t be in Shanghai later on. I’m persuading him to go back to Qinghai, don’t you know? xia qianru: He’s got a bad leg. You know that. xiao jiye: It’s not all that serious. It’s all a— (He suddenly stops.) xia qianru (attentively): What is it? You were saying . . . xiao jiye: I was saying that his leg will probably get better. You ought to use this chance to pull him out of that narrow, individualistic world of his. If you go on this way, not only will you destroy him, but you’ll destroy yourself. (lin yusheng enters.) xia qianru: Yusheng, tell your mother not to go to the college.

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lin yusheng: What’s the matter? xia qianru: I’ve thought it over, and it’s not too good to do it this way. lin yusheng: Is this again somebody else’s idea? xia qianru: No. It’s my own idea. lin yusheng: No, it’s not your own idea. xia qianru: Yes it is my own idea. I’ve just been talking about it with you for half the morning. lin yusheng (annoyed): So what are we going to do then? It was hard enough to talk my mother into it. Now you go and do this! How can I talk to her about it again? xia qianru: I’ll go talk with her myself, then. (She goes into the house.) lin yusheng: Qianru! Ahh. (He turns, sees xiao jiye. xiao jiye walks forward. xia shujuan enters.) xia shujuan: Yusheng, now Qianru tells me not to go. What’s going on? lin yusheng: Mom, just go like you were going to before. Don’t pay attention to her. xiao jiye: Hello, Auntie. xia shujuan: Ah, Jiye! I’ve heard that you’re having trouble with your leg, too. How is it? xiao jiye: It’s nothing, Auntie. xia shujuan: Watch out now, son. If your leg gets bad . . . lin yusheng: Mom, could you go now? xia shujuan (thinks a moment): All right . . . (To lin yusheng) You talk with Xiao Jiye; you’ve been good friends since you two were little. Jiye, Yusheng has something to talk over with you. xiao jiye: Good. (xia shujuan exits.) Yusheng, do you still intend to ask your mother to go request special consideration for you? lin yusheng: What of it? xiao jiye: Have you thought about whether it’s good to do things this way? lin yusheng: What’s so bad about it if the family elders are just doing their part, informing the school about the matter? xiao jiye: You know yourself that this will get your parents in trouble. lin yusheng: What does this have to do with my parents? If there’s some problem, I’ll bear the responsibility. xiao jiye: Yusheng . . . I just received a letter from our prospecting team. They hope you’ve gotten better, and will come back to Qinghai soon . . . lin yusheng: You might concern yourself a bit less with my affairs. (He exits.) xiao jiye: Yusheng . . . (Disturbed, he watches lin yusheng leave. grandma xiao enters.) grandma xiao: Jiye, the chief engineer’s here. xiao jiye: What, the chief engineer himself? (He can’t put out of his mind the trouble with lin yusheng.)

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grandma xiao: What’s the matter? xiao jiye: Yusheng actually told his mother to go see Secretary He and request special consideration. grandma xiao: And what did his mother do? xiao jiye: She agreed to go. It’s terrible . . . grandma xiao: The chief engineer is waiting for you. You go on ahead. (xiao jiye exits. Disturbed by this news, grandma xiao plans to go find xia shujuan. lin jian enters.) lin jian: Grandma Xiao, hello. grandma xiao: Hello, Old Lin. My, you certainly are a busy man. I heard that you’d come back, but I never ran into you. lin jian: How are you, Grandma Xiao? grandma xiao: I’m fine. Old Lin, do you have time? I’d like to talk something over with you. I’m the kind of person that gets worried when I find out about this kind of thing . . . lin jian (sensing what it is): Oh yeah, has my boy Yusheng been behaving himself in the past year? Have you heard something about him? grandma xiao: That boy Yusheng worries me. How was it he came back? Do you know? lin jian: For the past few days I’ve heard that Xiao Jiye’s come back, and I meant to see him and talk about this, to try to understand what the situation was when Yusheng was in Qinghai. grandma xiao: Yusheng says that he came back to recuperate, but he’s always riding his bicycle all over the place. He also associates with rather unsuitable people. lin jian: And his mother hasn’t had any concern over him? grandma xiao: Speaking of Shujuan, I can’t understand her either. I see that she’s very strict in what she expects from Lanlan, but why does she always accommodate Yusheng? Of course, Yusheng’s not well, and Shujuan is very fond of him, I know. But there should be a right way to be fond of someone! Just now I heard that Shujuan had agreed to see Secretary He about having Yusheng stay in Shanghai. lin jian: That’s simply . . . Ah. I don’t know about all this. grandma xiao: You’re usually away from home, Old Lin, so Shujuan has quite a burden! I think that you ought to share a little responsibility with her in bringing up the children. lin jian: You’re right. “In adversity one flourishes, in tranquillity one perishes.” In peaceful times young people particularly need discipline. How to bring up our revolutionary successors is a vital issue. We should put it on our agenda. (xia shujuan enters.) xia shujuan (surprised): You’re back? lin jian: I came back to pick up some papers. xia shujuan: And you’re here, too, Grandma Xiao? grandma xiao: I’ve been talking about you with Old Lin. xia shujuan (laughing): What’ve you been saying about me?

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grandma xiao: I was saying that you weren’t bringing up your son properly. Are you angry with me? xia shujuan: What do you mean? Of course not. grandma xiao: Well, it’s good that you aren’t angry. All right, you two talk about it. I have company right now! (She exits.) lin jian: You’re going to go to the school? xia shujuan: Yes, Yusheng’s health . . . lin jian: You know what effects that will have! xia shujuan: I’m just going to talk it over with the people at the college, tell them that Yusheng has poor health and that it would be hard for him to go to Qinghai to work . . . lin jian: Enough! That’s enough! It would be hard—so what of it? You’ve worked at schools; you know better than I do how much resources the country uses to educate one student. The laboring people sacrifice and live with little to support themselves while they’re studying, and what’s it all for, in the end? What’s going on here? As soon as some people run into a problem, they throw away their principles. xia shujuan: Who’s throwing away their principles? If you’re going to maintain your principles, you also have to consider reality. He has a bad leg; the college will give him a little consideration. I don’t think there’s anything you can say against that. lin jian: So he has a bad leg, but it’s not at all serious. And he certainly can’t use it as an excuse. I think he’s just not willing to leave Shanghai. You still don’t see it? I began to see it just a few days after he came back. He just hasn’t got the right attitude. Everybody’s out there working their tails off to build socialism. What about him? All day long he hides in his little nest, seeing only the petty advantages right under his own nose, caring nothing about the great things going on in the world! He just mopes around the house all day; no one knows what he’s thinking about! He doesn’t have the slightest notion of responsibility toward the party or the people. He has no ambition, no ambition! When we were his age, we had already begun to fight for the liberation. But he just takes it easy. Hopeless! xia shujuan: You’re being too harsh on him. Yusheng does have a bad leg. And he wants to stay in Shanghai just for the time being. Wait until he’s better, then he’ll go back to Qinghai again. Didn’t you say so yourself? lin jian: That’s right, I said so, but don’t get mixed up about what I meant. (xia shujuan does not speak.) I just heard from Grandma Xiao that Yusheng is getting worse and worse, and he even has bad friends. And all along you never told me. xia shujuan: He’s graduated from college. Can I still be watching him all day long? lin jian: Do you mean that we should quit caring and let him do what he wants? Comrade, whether our sons and daughters are brought up the right way is a question that is relevant to the revolution! We must not be insensitive to this problem! xia shujuan: I know that. But Shaobai and Yufen gave their lives for the revolution, and so every time I see that boy even the least bit sick, I just feel so sad and imagine

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the scene twenty-four years ago when Yufen was in jail and gave the baby to me. If he doesn’t turn out right, how could we face his real parents? lin jian: But it’s just because his parents died for the revolution that it’s all the worse to be lax with him. I understand your feelings, but if you really love him, then you ought to be strict with him, to enable him to carry on what his parents were trying to do when they died. But you, ever since he was a child, you’ve pampered him; you’ve never made strict demands on his thought, you’ve given him too loose a rein, and now you’ve completely spoiled him. Just look at what he’s like now. He can’t endure hardship, can’t stand discipline. If it goes on any longer, that boy will become a captive of capitalist ideology. Think about it—if the boy doesn’t make some progress, how can we face his real parents? Shujuan, what do you think of this: I’m going to take this opportunity to tell him about his real parents, get it out into the open, let him know who he is, and let him know the weight of his responsibility. xia shujuan: Why tell him after so many years of not letting him know that we aren’t his real parents? lin jian: Well, should we go on like this, never telling him? xia shujuan: No. Wait until he joins the party and then tell him. By then he’ll be able to deal with the problem correctly. lin jian: Then we better tell him now, to get him moving. Judging by the way he is now, he’ll never get into the party. Think it over. (He goes into the house. After a brief pause, lin jian enters again.) So don’t go to the college. And tell Yusheng to wait for me at home tonight. Tomorrow we’ll have a family meeting and everybody can discuss . . . to let Yusheng and Qianru express their own opinions. I’m leaving now. (He exits. lin yusheng enters, pushing his bicycle.) lin yusheng: Mom, why haven’t you gone yet? xia shujuan: I’m not going. Your father’s right. You need to do what is right. lin yusheng: Dad’s back? How did he find out? xia shujuan: Isn’t it better that he has? He wants you to wait at home for him tonight. (She exits. lin yusheng thinks about this, looking at xiao jiye’s house. li rongsheng enters, listlessly searching for amusement. Seeing lin yusheng’s bicycle, he comes over and rings the bell.) lin yusheng (annoyed): Cut it out, will you! (He takes his bicycle offstage.) li rongsheng (mystified): What a grouch. (lin lan enters.) lin lan: What’re you doing here? li rongsheng: Nothing. Ahh, I’m so bored! lin lan: Why don’t you go downtown and see what’s going on? li rongsheng: My bicycle got smashed up. lin lan: Who did it?

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li rongsheng: A car. lin lan: A car? li rongsheng: No. I smashed into the car. I almost had to go to the police station. Hah! (Pulls out a ticket) I got a ticket. lin lan: And you’re proud of it! What about the exam for senior high? li rongsheng: No hope! lin lan: Hey, what do you think about both of us going to Jinggang Mountain Farm in Jiangxi? li rongsheng: Weren’t you going to take the exam for the Agriculture College? lin lan (sadly): I won’t pass. li rongsheng: What do you mean? Usually you do really well in school, right? lin lan: But something happened today. li rongsheng: What? lin lan: Nothing much, really. Anyway, I won’t be able to pass. li rongsheng: You’re still beating around the bush. I’m all confused. lin lan: What’s there to be confused about? I didn’t make it, that’s all. li rongsheng: So, you really want to go to Jiangxi? lin lan: What’s so strange about that? Quite a few people have gone there already. A hardy seed sprouts anywhere it falls. The closer it is to reality, the deeper the roots go. I definitely want to spend the rest of my life there. I want to be “red and expert”2 at Jinggang Mountain. li rongsheng: I’m not going. lin lan: You’re just going to keep on wandering around like this, huh? li rongsheng: I’ll study by myself at home for two years and take the exam for the Cinema School and be an actor. lin lan: What made you think of going to the Cinema School? li rongsheng: What else do you think I can pass the exam for? I get a headache as soon as I see anything about math or physics or chemistry. You know that. lin lan: Oh, so you think it’ll be both easy and fun at the Cinema School, because they don’t have math or physics or chemistry? li rongsheng: At least there won’t be as many things to give me headache. I’ll just give it a try. And if I really make it, it’ll be great! I’ll be a movie actor! lin lan: You want me to teach you a little now, Mr. Future Actor? li rongsheng: You know about acting? lin lan: You’ve forgotten! I’m a member of the drama troupe at the Palace of Youth, and teachers from the Cinema School have taught us there. li rongsheng: Well, let’s try and see, then. lin lan: Okay, first you can practice some elementary things. li rongsheng: Like what? lin lan: Think you can take it? li rongsheng: Yes, I can. What’s so tough about it? lin lan: You won’t complain?

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li rongsheng: Don’t try to scare me! lin lan: Okay, then, come over here. First we’ll do leg stretching. (Takes li rongsheng over to the railing) Put your foot up here. (li rongsheng puts his foot on the railing.) Too low. (Gets a few bricks from the ground) I’ll put a brick in. (Puts a brick between li rongsheng’s left leg and the railing, inspects the arrangement) Not enough. (Adds another brick) How is it? li rongsheng: It’s . . . It’s okay. Go ahead and put in some more bricks. lin lan (gets vicious): I’ll put them all in. Lift your foot up. li rongsheng: I can’t lift it up! lin lan: I’ll help you. (She lifts up li rongsheng’s foot, sticks in two bricks. li rongsheng bends his leg, so lin lan presses it back down.) Keep it straight! li rongsheng: Ow! Oww! lin lan: You’re yelling about this? You still have to lower the rest of your body. li rongsheng (propping himself up by main force): That’s okay. lin lan: Okay, just hold it like that. li rongsheng (face covered with sweat, haltingly): Lanlan, how much longer? lin lan: Twenty minutes. li rongsheng: Twenty minutes? (No alternative but to beg mercy) Lanlan, this’s about enough, huh? I think this is about enough. lin lan: Still think it’s easy to be a movie actor? li rongsheng: No, it’s not so easy. lin lan (helps li rongsheng to take his leg down): But you think it’s so easy to pass the exam for the Cinema School! li rongsheng (holding his leg and rubbing it): Oh, mother! It’s all tight and sore. Do you have to do this to get into the Cinema School? lin lan: You have to do more than that! Come on, the second one is . . . li rongsheng (shaking his head): I won’t do it. lin lan: You just want to find something easy, but it’s just the same being an actor— you have to put in a lot of work! li rongsheng (sighing dejectedly): Oh! lin lan: Come to Jiangxi with me! li rongsheng: I don’t want to go! lin lan: What do you plan to do, then? li rongsheng: I don’t know. Anyway, I’ll stay at home and wait for a good opportunity. lin lan: How long are you going to wait? li rongsheng: What’s the rush? I’m only sixteen this year! (The phone rings in the house.) lin lan: How many times will you be sixteen? li rongsheng (interrupting her): Your telephone! lin lan: You’re wasting your youth this way—

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li rongsheng: The telephone! lin lan: —frittering away the best years of your life! (li rongsheng does not speak.) You stay here and think about that. (She exits.) li rongsheng: Oh, it would be so good if I could just find a job that I could do and that I’d like, too. (lin lan enters, carrying books and magazines.) lin lan: Grandma Xiao! (grandma xiao answers from inside her house: “What is it?”) The hospital wants you on the phone. (grandma xiao answers: “Coming.”) Hey, weren’t you bored? Here’s A Story of the Pioneers; here’s Red Cliff. They’re all yours to keep. (grandma xiao enters.) li rongsheng: Telephone, Grandma. grandma xiao: Okay. (She goes into the lins’ home.) lin lan: Here’s the China Youth that just came. I haven’t looked at it yet. You go ahead and read it. li rongsheng: It’s so thick, how can I finish it? lin lan: It’ll do you good to read a lot. Your brain’s gotten rusty. (She goes into the house.) li rongsheng (paging through the magazine): Oh, a difficult assignment. (li rongsheng stands up, exits. grandma xiao, despondent, enters. lin lan enters with her.) lin lan (anxiously): What is it, Grandma Xiao? Do they really want to amputate Jiye’s leg? grandma xiao: There’s a bone tumor in the leg and it’s quite possible that it’s malignant. lin lan: Are they sure? grandma xiao: That’s what the doctor said. (An excited xiao jiye enters.) xiao jiye: Grandma, just now the chief engineer said that the evaluation group has gone over our report several times, and that from the various materials in it, it seems that there is scientific evidence for our conclusion. It looks like there really is ore! Grandma, it’s the kind of ore that I was talking about. grandma xiao: I see, I see . . . xiao jiye: According to the estimates, the deposit is quite large. Lanlan, do you understand? There’s ore! There’s ore! Hooray! Our group worked so hard to find evidence that Region 205 really does have ore. Every morning when we put on our packs and went out into the sun, I always said to myself: “There are going to be new discoveries today for sure.” That was the hope that nourished us as we traveled over mountains and through valleys, drank springwater when we were thirsty, ate dry rations when

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we were hungry. In the winter, we endured the piercing wind; in the summer, we withstood the fiery heat of the sun. Life was difficult, but it was also so engrossing, so attractive, because there was our hope encouraging us that we’d find the ore, we’d find it, for sure. We even sensed that there was a kind of voice underground calling out, “Let me come out and give heat and light for socialism!” I could even sense how it breathed and moved. And now this is about to come true right before my eyes! Grandma, this afternoon when they held the last evaluation session, they wanted me to do a presentation. As soon as they approve it, I’m going to put on my backpack and go right back to the prospecting team in Qinghai. Later on, I want to see for myself how they take the ore out of the earth. I want everyone to know that we have the ore! Hooray! Grandma, we have our own ore! (grandma xiao has tried several times to interrupt xiao jiye’s speech.) grandma xiao: I see you’re happy . . . (Straining to hide the pain in her heart, she exits.) xiao jiye (suspecting something): What’s wrong with my grandmother? (When he turns to look at lin lan, she avoids his gaze.) Lanlan, what’s wrong? lin lan: Oh, nothing. xiao jiye: No, it doesn’t seem that way. What’s happened? lin lan: Nothing. Nothing’s happened. xiao jiye: No, there’s something you’re both hiding from me. lin lan (anxiously): There’s nothing. Really, there’s nothing. xiao jiye (suddenly becomes worried): Was that telephone call just now from the hospital? Was it? lin lan: No. No, it wasn’t! xiao jiye: But that’s exactly what you said when you called my grandmother! Why are you evading my questions? (He seizes lin lan when she tries to exit. grandma xiao quietly enters.) Lanlan, is it my leg? (lin lan shakes her head.) Lanlan, don’t worry. I can take it. There’s some serious trouble, isn’t there? (lin lan does not speak.) Well, isn’t it true? grandma xiao: Yes, my child. xiao jiye: What did the doctor say? grandma xiao (calmly): They may have to amputate. (Weighed down by this news, xiao jiye sits. Silence.) lin lan (walks over to xiao jiye): Brother Jiye, don’t be sad. They don’t know for sure. Go talk to the doctor again. Maybe there’s still hope. And if there really isn’t any hope, that doesn’t matter either. Really, it doesn’t matter. There’s a teacher in our school who got his hand seriously burned when he saved our country’s property during the big fire. We respect and admire him even more now. My father has an old friend from the army who was injured during the Korean War and had his leg ampu-

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tated, but he’s made many, many contributions to the nation, just like he used to before. You could be like them. Don’t be sad. Really, it’s no use to be sad. I . . . (Can’t think what she ought to do for him) I’ll get you a bowl of water. (She exits. grandma xiao quietly sits beside xiao jiye, rubs his shoulder. Silence.) xiao jiye (suddenly lifting his head, emotionally): Grandma, you’ve encountered a lot of trouble in your life. How did you get through the roughest time? grandma xiao (thinks a while): I can’t really keep straight the troubles I’ve been through in my life, but I’d have to say the worst time was in 1936, when our underground organization was almost wiped out. I left the factory, but then, at the very worst time, your father was murdered in jail by the Kuomintang. He was my last son. Out of the whole family, only you and I were left. And you were just one year old . . . I couldn’t make contact with the party, I couldn’t get work, and friends and relatives didn’t dare to let me stay with them . . . Oh, it was hard, it was really hard. But I also thought of how I had gotten into this trouble. It was all for the revolution! When there were so many good comrades in jail sacrificing their lives for the revolution, how could I complain, if I had it a little tough? So that’s the way it was. I just gritted my teeth and managed to get through. Jiye, working to build socialism is also working for the revolution. (lin lan brings in the water.) xiao jiye (to himself ): The revolution! (Rubbing his leg) I’m a prospector, and I can’t give up my leg! (Suddenly he stands up.) grandma xiao: Where are you going? xiao jiye: I’m going to see the doctor. (He exits with large strides.) lin lan: Don’t run away like that! Don’t run! (Turns around) Grandma Xiao, why did you tell him? grandma xiao: It’s always better to let people know the truth. It has been twenty-six years. A whole twenty-six years. During these twenty-six years I’ve taken him along through many situations; but no matter when it was, as long as he showed a little progress, I’d feel so happy. But if he did something wrong, I wouldn’t be able to sleep for the whole, long night. It wasn’t easy! It’s been hard bringing him up, and now that he’s just learned to fly, he’s broken his wings . . . lin lan: Grandma! (li rongsheng enters, carrying a magazine.) li rongsheng: Hey, Lanlan, guess what! Xiao Jiye has been named one of the “nation’s model workers for the building of socialism.” lin lan: Really? li rongsheng: He came back from a meeting in Beijing, and he didn’t tell us about it. He didn’t even mention it! lin lan: How do you know about it? li rongsheng: There’s an article in China Youth about him. You know how his leg got hurt? It was because he saved another worker from being crushed to death. Hey, there’s a paragraph here I’ll read to you:

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“One time he and his comrades were collecting material in a three-meter-deep exploratory shaft. Since it had just rained, the earth was not very firm. Xiao Jiye suddenly noticed that some large rocks were shaking and would soon fall. He also saw that a comrade was working right under the boulders and was in danger of being crushed. Without regard for his own safety, Xiao Jiye rushed forward and saved his comrade’s life; but his own leg was injured . . . Yet he persevered and completed his task despite the injury. It was in this shaft that they collected valuable material and found important evidence for determining whether or not that area contains ore.” lin lan: Grandma! grandma xiao (smoothing lin lan’s hair): Don’t be sad, child! There’s an old saying, “It takes one hundred refinings to make steel.” If somebody never experiences hardship, he’ll never become a good person. Being a good person is like walking: it’s hard to avoid falling down or suffering setbacks once in a while. (Forcefully) But as long as you obey the party and are a revolutionary, then even in the face of tremendous difficulties, you can still go forward. (lin lan slowly raises her head, resolutely looks forward. li rongsheng stands marveling at this scene. The curtain slowly closes.)

A CT 3 (Following closely on the preceding act, with the setting as in the first act. A breathlessly hot afternoon, the sun glares down upon the earth. Even the chirping of the cicadas sounds heavy and dull. From the window of the lin home’s living room dark clouds can be seen floating in the deep-blue sky. Deep rumbles of far-off thunder can be heard. A storm is approaching. lin lan is in the small living room repairing a wooden bucket. Her concern for xiao jiye makes her uneasy. She goes out to look toward the road. lin yusheng is sitting on the sofa reading a magazine. xia qianru enters.) xia qianru (toward the inner room): Auntie, I’m going to the college. (She exits. Just as lin yusheng is about to go into an inner room, the telephone rings.) lin yusheng (answering the phone): Hello! Hi! . . . It’s me . . . Go swimming? So you still feel like going swimming. I don’t want to go . . . Look, things are really screwed up. Sure, I got my mother to go along, but my father found out . . . Yes . . . I simply don’t have any alternative now . . . What? Write a letter to the school and use my father’s seal? No, that’s no good . . . No, anyway, I can’t do that . . . Go to the college myself? . . . Yeah. Anyway, it’s not against the law to express my opinion. Okay, I’ll go try and see . . . Bye. (He hangs up and, pushing his bicycle, is about to exit.)

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lin lan: Brother, who was that on the phone? .  .  . Little Wu again. Where’re you going? lin yusheng: There are some things I have to do. (He exits.) lin lan: Dad’s coming—he wants to see you! (She chases after her brother, shouting. lin jian enters, sees the broken bucket, and starts to repair it. li rongsheng enters.) li rongsheng: Lanlan! Lanlan! She’s not home! (Sees lin jian) Oh, good. Just in time, a bucket repairman. We have a broken bucket, too. If you come over to our place in a while and fix it, we’ll pay you. lin jian (looks at li rongsheng, laughs): Fine. Which house do you live in? li rongsheng: Number 2 in Workers’ New Village. I’ll take you there in a while. I ran into you just in time. Otherwise I’d have gotten yelled at. lin jian: What do you mean? li rongsheng: My father would have come home and said, “All day long you do nothing. I tell you to fix the bucket and you won’t. The only thing you know how to do is open your mouth to eat.” lin jian: What? Don’t you go to school? li rongsheng: Last year I didn’t pass the exam for senior high, so now I just hang around the house. lin jian: Why don’t you find some work to do? li rongsheng: What is there good to do? Last year the neighborhood committee sponsored me to be a clerk, but I didn’t want to be one. Now they’re after me to go to work on a farm, but I don’t want to. lin jian: Why don’t you go? I would if I were you. li rongsheng: It’s okay if you want to go. You’re a manual laborer, but I’m an intellectual. lin jian (laughs): Hah! What a big intellectual! li rongsheng: Well, I’ve been through nine years of school, and they want me to do farmwork! And they keep on saying how happy I ought to be to have grown up under socialism. What a pain! lin jian: Why aren’t you happy? Isn’t it good to go to the countryside to build socialism and new farm villages and use your own hands to create a beautiful new life? li rongsheng: Why should I be so happy about wallowing around in the mud all day and getting all stinky and sweaty? lin jian: Well, what do you think you would be happy doing? li rongsheng: A lot of things. Ha, like Lin Lan’s father—a great leader. That must be impressive, and interesting! lin jian: No. It’s no fun being a great leader. li rongsheng: Come on, what’s so hard about being a great leader? lin jian: Suppose I don’t mention the past when we used to fight as guerrillas against the Kuomintang, but just stick to the present. If you’re a factory head, you have to take part in the labor; you have to learn new skills and also get the work done fast and

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efficiently. There are quite a few things to worry about. And if you have a free moment, you still have to take care of other things, like fixing this wooden bucket. li rongsheng: Oh, come on, a big leader fixing a bucket? lin jian: Why not? Leaders are just ordinary people. li rongsheng: From what you say, it isn’t so much fun to be a leader. lin jian: The way you look at things, you wouldn’t be satisfied no matter what you did. li rongsheng: Ohh. You seem to know quite a bit. How come? Did you go to school, too? lin jian: Did I ever go to school? I was an apprentice when I was quite young, but my education is only what I was able to piece together for myself later on. How can I compare with you intellectuals? Back in the old days . . . li rongsheng: Ohh, you too! As soon as you open your mouth, you start with “Back in the old days . . .” just like my father. We aren’t in the old days anymore. I’m sick of hearing about them! lin jian: If you don’t know how bitter it was back in the old days, then you don’t know how sweet it is today. Unless we talk about those times, you’ll all think that the good life we have today just fell from the sky. li rongsheng: Boy, you’re a good talker. Why don’t you get another job? You only fix buckets! lin jian: If nobody wanted to be a bucket repairman, then you’d have to fix your bucket yourself. And if you don’t fix it, your father will yell at you, right? li rongsheng: Then let somebody else fix it. Don’t you have some education? It is really too bad for you to be doing this. lin jian: Is it? What do you think would be appropriate for me? li rongsheng: Let me think. (Thinking seriously) That’s it! You could be a store clerk. lin jian: But you didn’t want to do that yourself, right? li rongsheng: I’ve gone through nine years of school, but you’ve only . . . lin jian: I only have a little bit of education, right? li rongsheng (satisfied): Yep. (lin lan enters.) lin lan: Dad! You’re back? li rongsheng (surprised): “Dad”? He’s your father, the one who’s a big leader? lin lan: I only have one father. (Sees that li rongsheng wants to run off ) What are you running away for? Come here, come here. Dad, this is Little Li. lin jian: We’ve met. li rongsheng: So you’re the one who won all those battles . . . the . . . great leader. lin jian: Great leaders still fix buckets, right? li rongsheng (to lin lan): Is it true that your father wants to go down to the countryside? lin lan: Why shouldn’t it be true? Too bad his superiors won’t let him go. (li rongsheng stares at lin jian.) lin jian (to lin lan): Well, how about you? Did you do well on the exam for the Agriculture College?

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lin lan: Dad, I didn’t take the exam. li rongsheng (amazed): Didn’t take it? lin jian (surprised): Oh? What happened, you . . . lin lan (hurriedly explaining): No. Dad, I ran into something unexpected. lin jian: An accident? lin lan: Well, yes. This morning on the way to the exam, I thought I’d go meet Wang Xiu and go to the exam together with her; but when I got to her house, she had already left, and I found her mother having a relapse of her heart trouble. What could I do? There was nobody else at home. If I didn’t help her, it’d be too late, so I took her right to the hospital. After the doctors saved her and felt that the crisis had passed, I waited until they put her in a hospital room before I left. By that time, everybody had finished the exam. lin jian: So that’s what happened. lin lan: Just now Wang Xiu told me that she wanted to go explain the reason to the entrance examination committee and request them to give me a makeup examination, but I wouldn’t agree to it. Dad, I didn’t plan to tell you, but I was afraid you’d be sad, so now . . . lin jian: You did the right thing! In order to help a person, you gave up a chance to advance your own education. That kind of spirit is commendable. But what do you plan to do later on? lin lan: I plan to go to Jinggang Mountain Farm in Jiangxi. lin jian: Ah, good. You can learn by real work. Whether it’s self-cultivation or agricultural knowledge, in both you can learn something. But once you’re there you may run into a lot of difficulties. Have you considered that? lin lan: Yes, I have. I think that no matter how big the difficulties are now, they can’t compare with the ones you had when you were working for the revolution. (As though to herself ) Since the people in our parents’ generation are all courageous, we better not be cowards! lin jian: Well said! lin lan: Mom’ll not agree to this. lin jian: Is she home? lin lan: She’s probably upstairs. lin jian: Your mother’ll agree. She’ll agree. lin lan (happily): Little Li! Let’s go there together! li rongsheng (hesitantly): I . . . I don’t want to go. lin jian: What? Oh, you can’t find happiness as a peasant, right? (li rongsheng does not speak.) That’s right, that’s right. Young people always like to talk about happiness. As long as things are going along the way they want, they say, “I’m so happy.” But when they run into the least thing that doesn’t go their way, they say, “I’m not happy at all.” But what is this happiness? They haven’t even figured it out themselves. lin lan: Dad, what do you say happiness is? lin jian: Happiness is just an attractive word. (To li rongsheng) Hey, come on, Little Li, sit down. Different people, different classes have different understandings of

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this word. Some people feel that happiness is just eating and playing without having to do any work. There are also people who feel that happiness is having fame and power. These views are both wrong. They do not correspond to the proletariat’s view of happiness. We say that for a true revolutionary, happiness and struggle are inseparable. Before the liberation, countless revolutionaries struggled heroically to overthrow the reactionary system. In their view, there was no greater happiness than that. Today, since liberation, we don’t suffer oppression and exploitation, but the struggle has not stopped at all. There is no greater happiness than for a young person to be able to take part in today’s class struggle and socialist construction, to contribute his or her share to the work for the party and for the people. (Pointedly) The kind of person who does not put out his or her best efforts can never achieve happiness. Right, my intellectual? (li rongsheng does not speak.) You’re not a child anymore! You have to use your brains. It’ll be just terrible if you keep on muddling along like this! (li rongsheng lowers his head and does not speak.) lin lan (to li rongsheng): Well, how about it? You’d better come with me to Jinggang Mountain. li rongsheng: I . . . I’ll think it over. lin jian: Good. You have to consider it. If you aren’t busy, come over often; and if there’s time, we’ll talk about it. How’s that? (li rongsheng nods.) You little imp. li rongsheng (to lin lan): I’m going now. Here’s your China Youth. (Bows to lin jian) Goodbye! (He exits.) lin jian (about to exit, turns to lin lan): Where’s your brother? lin lan: He went to the college about Qianru’s job assignment. lin jian (severely): What, he went himself? lin lan: Yes. Just now, that Little Wu called again, and after Yusheng took the call, he left. (Silence.) lin jian: When he comes back, tell him to see me upstairs. (He exits. After a brief pause, xiao jiye enters, walking with difficulty.) lin lan: Jiye! You’re back! xiao jiye: Where’s your brother? lin lan: How’s your leg? xiao jiye: Isn’t he home? lin lan: What’d the doctor say? xiao jiye: He wants me to go to the hospital right away . . . to have a biopsy. lin lan: There’s hope, isn’t there? (xiao jiye does not speak.) xiao jiye (after a pause): Where’d Yusheng go?

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lin lan: He went to the college. xiao jiye: He went himself! lin lan: Oh, my brother wants to stay in Shanghai himself, and he’s also trying to keep our cousin here, too . . . How could you have agreed to let him come back? Is his leg really that bad? That hospital must be crazy. They even gave him a medical excuse. xiao jiye: That’s just what I came to see him about. lin lan: What for? Is . . . xiao jiye: I want to ask him about . . . ask him whether he can go back to Qinghai a little earlier. lin lan: Yeah. That’ll be good if you make him go back early. (After a brief pause, lin yusheng enters through the front door.) Xiao Jiye, my brother’s back. lin yusheng: Oh, you’re here. I was just thinking of looking for you. xiao jiye: I’ve been thinking of coming to see you, too. (To lin lan) I’d like to talk to your brother alone. (Exit lin lan.) lin yusheng: Good. I hope you can give me an explanation. xiao jiye: An explanation of what? lin yusheng: Of why you want to make trouble between Qianru and me, of why you’re always trying to encourage her to leave Shanghai. Why? xiao jiye: Because the job requires you to leave this place. As a former classmate, I couldn’t bear to see you going on like this. lin yusheng: Thank you for your concern. xiao jiye (sincerely): Yusheng, we were schoolmates for many years . . . If I go too far, please don’t get mad. We’ve been apart for almost a year now, and I really didn’t expect you to turn out like this. lin yusheng: May I ask how I’ve turned out? xiao jiye: Just think, now. What have you done for the whole year? All day long you just stay hidden away in your petty, individualist world, satisfied with your mediocre, trivial existence, hankering after the easy, the only thing in your immediate view. lin yusheng: Since you’re so concerned about my life, I’ll speak frankly with you. We do intend to make our lives better, more comfortable, to make our lives richer and more varied. Why is everybody working so hard? Isn’t it just to make life better and happier? xiao jiye: To make whose life happier? Is it just to make your individual life happier, or is it to give more happiness through your and everyone’s labor to the lives of hundreds of millions of people? You want your life richer and more colorful. That’s all right. Our lives today are the richest, most varied in history. Yet, it certainly is not in your little room, but in the ardent struggle of the broad masses! lin yusheng: Don’t talk to me about your high principles. I ask you, do you still admit the existence of individual happiness? xiao jiye: In a socialist society, no worker is oppressed, and no worker is exploited while working in the collective. One can develop one’s intelligence and abilities to the fullest,

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and create a more beautiful future. Isn’t this the greatest happiness for an individual? Yusheng, the key to this question is just this: what kind of happiness is it that you’re pursuing? If the whole country hadn’t been liberated, then for sons of workers like you and me, it would be hard even to survive, not to mention graduating from college. And how could you even begin to discuss this kind of happiness that you’re thinking of? When we think of happiness today, we must never, never just pursue individual pleasure, or forget the responsibility that we young people bear toward the party and the people. We must not forget to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the magnificent work of building socialism. lin yusheng: I haven’t forgotten, and I can’t possibly forget! If we do feel some interest in our own happiness, well, so what? We work and we labor like anybody else. We neither go around robbing and plundering, nor do we exploit or interfere with others; we just spend our days according to our own wishes and our own ideals. May I ask, what is illegal about that? xiao jiye: There it is; over and over again “ourselves” and “ourselves.” You start with yourself, and finish with legality, so where do you put the interests of the nation and the collective? Our country works according to plans, so when you put the interests of the individual before those of the collective, beyond the scope of national planning, how can that not interfere with others? How can you say it’s legal not to respond to the needs of the country, not to obey your job assignment?! Why shouldn’t you be criticized for it? lin yusheng: Do you mean that the only thing in the interest of the nation is to go to some border area? Everyone has his own needs. Surely you wouldn’t go so far as to have everybody live the life of those in the mountain gulches! xiao jiye: I’m sad for you when you talk that way. In the mountain gulches, you say? If it hadn’t been for the members of the older generation of the revolution struggling in the wild mountains, then there wouldn’t have been any victory for the Chinese revolution. If it weren’t for the support from the mountain gullies and farming villages all over the country, our great cities and industries would have lost their lifeline. How can we achieve socialism, how can we gain happiness for the people, unless we arduously build up the country? Besides, the battle post for us geologists is right in the mountains! Yusheng, what’s happened to that great ambition you had just after we graduated? You’re on a very dangerous road! lin yusheng (sneers): Dangerous road? What’s the danger? xiao jiye: The danger is that you aren’t thinking of the revolution anymore. The danger is that individualistic thought can corrupt your spirit without your being aware of it! It can destroy your ideals, erode your resolve, and make you fall deeper and deeper into the capitalist quagmire. lin yusheng (contemptuously): Don’t try to scare me. I did not come from a family of the capitalist class. xiao jiye: As the postrevolution generation, we have to be even more careful. If we aren’t, then, despite the fact that we may have been born into the right family, capitalist thought can still bore its way into our minds. (Emphatically) It’s up to you what path you take, but you’re responsible for your behavior.

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lin yusheng (counterattacking): What about you, then? It doesn’t look like you’ve done any earthshaking deeds! xiao jiye: That’s right. Earthshaking deeds are done by the masses, not by any individual. I recall Chairman Mao’s saying something like “Abilities of individuals vary. As long as one is not selfish, then one is a noble person, a pure person, a virtuous person, a person who has abandoned vulgarity, a person who is useful to the people.” My abilities are very limited, but I’m willing to use all my strength to work in accord with the needs of the party, and to be a simple, solid screw in the machine of revolution. lin yusheng: Ah, what lofty ideals! xiao jiye: No! It’s just the standard behavior for the busy lives of the young people in the era of Mao Zedong. All of us ought to be like that. Yusheng, don’t go on like this! Come back to Qinghai! lin yusheng: I have a bad leg. Don’t you know? xiao jiye: Is it really that bad? lin yusheng (pretending to be tough but actually afraid): What do you mean by that? The doctor gave me a medical excuse. You’ve seen it. xiao jiye: Yes, I’ve seen it; it’s in my pocket right now. lin yusheng: What? xiao jiye: But the doctor’s added a few words. lin yusheng: You . . . xiao jiye: See for yourself. (He hands the certificate to lin yusheng. lin yusheng looks at the certificate, and his face immediately goes pale. He reaches out to take the slip of paper and, with shaking hands, looks at the doctor’s repudiation, then collapses onto a chair. Thunder rumbles. lin lan enters, sees the certificate on the table.) lin lan (reads aloud): “This hospital never issued this certificate. It is a forgery.” (lin yusheng exits hurriedly.) So this is how it is! (She is about to go upstairs.) xiao jiye (hurries to stop her): Lanlan! Don’t tell your father about this for a while. We should try to help your brother. (xia qianru enters through the front door. xiao jiye takes the certificate from lin lan’s hands and hides it.) lin lan: Cousin— (She is stopped by xiao jiye.) xia qianru (senses something amiss): What’s going on? xiao jiye: Nothing. xia qianru (to xiao jiye): What’re you holding? lin lan: It’s . . . xiao jiye (immediately): A letter. xia qianru: No. It looks like you’re trying to hide something from me, Xiao Jiye. Let me see it. xiao jiye: I can’t let you see it.

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xia qianru: Why? xiao jiye: It has nothing to do with you. (xia qianru looks at them suspecting something and suddenly becomes worried. lin yusheng enters, unnoticed.) xia qianru: Did he do something wrong? Why don’t you say something? Give me the letter. (No one speaks.) Ahh. Don’t torture me! lin yusheng (to xiao jiye): Give me the certificate. (After receiving the certificate, resolutely hands it to xia qianru) Qianru, I’ve done something very wrong. (xia qianru tensely looks at the certificate and then, downcast, walks toward the window. Outside, it begins to pour.) xia qianru (softly): It’s really pouring! . . . (For a long time she stands with her back to the audience. li rongsheng enters, fleeing the rain, and takes in the scene with great amazement. There is unbearable silence.) lin yusheng: Well, what do you all say? What should I do? xiao jiye: Go back to the prospecting team. If you’ve fallen down at some place, then you just get back up right there. lin yusheng: No. I’ve got a bad leg. Even if I did exaggerate the trouble, it really is true that there is trouble. lin lan: Your trouble isn’t in your leg; it’s in your head! xiao jiye (sincerely): Yusheng, just think of how many people are struggling day and night for the success of the revolution. For the past thirty years, your father has been risking his life for the revolution. And now he’s still at the front line of socialist construction. My grandmother’s almost seventy, but has she ever stopped working for the revolution? If the older generation is still at the front line today, then what reason do we young people have to hide away in a little corner of individualism? lin yusheng: It’s easy to talk, but if your leg were like mine, then you’d . . . lin lan: Brother! xiao jiye: Then I’d sneak away from the prospecting team? No, I never would. lin yusheng: Sure, it’s easy to talk, but if it were really that way . . . lin lan (sharply): Brother! Do you know that they’re going to amputate Xiao Jiye’s leg? xiao jiye (trying to stop her): Lanlan! lin yusheng (at the same time): What? (Everyone is shocked into silence by this sudden news.) xiao jiye: It doesn’t matter. If they do amputate, I’ll go back to the prospecting team on crutches. If I can’t climb mountains, then I’ll just stay on the ground; if I can’t go out into the field, then I’ll just stay in the tent. But I’m going to work my whole life on the prospecting team, no matter what! . . . (Looks at his watch) I have to go to a meeting. xia qianru: Oh, don’t go. xiao jiye: Yes, I have to go; they’re going to evaluate our geological report today. They’re all waiting for me! (lin lan brings out an umbrella.)

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lin yusheng: I’ll go with you. xiao jiye (warmly seizing lin yusheng’s hand): No. You stay at home and think about this. li rongsheng (takes the umbrella from lin lan): I’ll go with you. xiao jiye: Okay, I’ll let you come with me. (To lin yusheng) We’ll talk again in a little while. (xiao jiye and li rongsheng exit, lin lan following. lin yusheng and xia qianru are left onstage. There is embarrassed silence.) lin yusheng: Why don’t you say something? Well . . . let me have it. You have the right to. xia qianru: No, I don’t have any right to yell at you. I can see in you now what I’d have been like later on. It’s only after all this that I’ve been able to understand clearly what I’ve actually been doing for the past year . . . But you—I never would’ve thought . . . (lin lan enters, turns, and starts upstairs.) lin yusheng: You think that I didn’t intend to do a good job? At the beginning I worked really hard, but later . . . There were the hardships of the life there, the difficulties in the work, and then my leg started up on me . . . The only thing I could do was . . . xia qianru: The only thing you could do was sneak away and come back here? And you even forged a medical certificate! lin yusheng: How else could I have managed it? You know what my family is like. If I came back the way the others do, could they have forgiven me? Then Little Wu gave me the idea. xia qianru: Little Wu again! Do you mean that you’re not responsible for this? lin yusheng: No, of course not. I’m not trying to hide what my idea was at that time. At the time I thought that, since I wasn’t well, couldn’t it be just the same to go back to Shanghai and work? Anyway, I wouldn’t be able to come up with any great accomplishments out there. xia qianru: You were fooling yourself! Why was Xiao Jiye able to accomplish something out there? I never thought that you’d turn out like this! (Painfully) I’m really ashamed of you . . . (She turns, about to exit.) lin yusheng: Qianru, you . . . (lin jian enters, xia shujuan, lin lan following.) xia qianru: Hello, Uncle! lin jian: Don’t go. Everybody sit down. (Silence.) Where’s the certificate? (lin yusheng takes out the certificate.) Put it up on the wall. lin yusheng (pleading): Dad! lin jian: Put it up. Let everybody take a good look at it again and again. This is a lesson for you and for the whole family. How could our family produce a gutless loser like you?

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(lin yusheng hesitantly looks at his mother.) (Firmly) Put it up! Put it up yourself. xia shujuan: Do what he says. (With no alternative, lin yusheng reluctantly walks over to the wall.) lin jian: Afraid our family will lose face, are you? You already made the whole working class lose face. (Pained) Doing what you did—a deserter! You’ve betrayed the party that trained you, you’ve betrayed the teachers who taught you; but worst of all, you’ve let down your own departed parents. (Everyone starts.) Shujuan, it’s time to tell him. (He turns and goes upstairs.) lin yusheng: My departed parents? Mom, you . . . xia shujuan (pained): No, we aren’t your real parents. Your real parents died in a Kuomintang prison twenty-four years ago. lin yusheng: Really? xia shujuan: Your real parents worked in a factory with your father, joined the labor movement together, and were also comrades-in-arms. During one strike, they were captured and put in jail. The enemy sentenced your real parents to death. Three days after you were born, they were killed. (lin jian comes downstairs carrying a box.) lin jian (takes a letter out of the box): This is the letter your mother wrote for you just before she died. lin yusheng: A letter from my mother. (He takes the letter.) lin jian (pained): Read it out loud; look at the hopes your parents had for you. lin yusheng (reads aloud): “My dear child: The executioner has already lifted his ax. All our comrades are singing heroically. We’ll have to go up to the execution ground soon. You will never see your own parents again. My child, I’m writing this letter to remind you that your parents are workers and have sacrificed their lives for the revolution of the proletariat. You can forget your father and you can forget your mother, but you must never forget the world that still harbors our class enemies! You must struggle for the sacred ideals of communism. My child, hold the red flag high! Always advancing, always working for the revolution, always loyal to the party, always for the people! It is time now. The prison doors are clanging. The executioner is coming. Farewell forever, my beloved child! We are going. Remember your debt. Don’t forget your roots. Don’t forget your roots .  .  .” (Toward the letter) My mother! My own mother! (He hunches over on the table, crying.) lin jian: That’s right, that’s right. Don’t forget your roots! Don’t forget that you’re the son of workers. Even more important, don’t forget that throughout the world there are still a great many . . . Oh, my old comrades-in-arms! You gave everything for the revolution. Our life today is what we got with your blood, with your heads. But what

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can I say? . . . I’ve let you down. I haven’t brought him up to be the kind of person that you wanted. (Painfully) But I, I never imagined that he could . . . Ohh. (Strikes the table with his fist and, after an emotion-choked pause, sadly) Yusheng, it wasn’t easy for the proletariat to obtain power! The imperialists and reactionaries are just dreaming of a chance to get their wish to oppose the revolution and restore the old order by using you young people. Son, you’ve got to be careful! lin yusheng: Don’t say any more, Dad. Please don’t say any more! (He runs off, crying.) xia shujuan: Yusheng! lin jian: It’s all right; let him go run for a while in the rain and the wind. (To xia shujuan) You see? You can’t be lax! (xia shujuan does not speak.) Of course, I’m responsible, too. The past few years, I’ve been rather insensitive to the problems of rearing our children. I always thought that in our society young people couldn’t go too far astray. (Forcefully) No. The influence of the capitalist class is still extremely strong. Not every young person can correctly choose his or her own path! (xia qianru suddenly stands up, walks toward the door.) lin lan: Where are you going? xia qianru: I’m going to see Secretary He. (She exits.) lin jian: She ought to go. (Silence. lin lan is quietly looking at her father.) After every kind of hardship, our generation finally seized political power and established the regime of the proletariat; but Chairman Mao has repeatedly warned us that we have just taken the first step in our Long March! The way we are going is a road full of difficulties, but it is the road to victory! But what about the next generation? Will they be able to follow our path after all? lin lan (resolutely): Yes, Dad. Don’t worry. We can follow your path to the end! lin jian (looking at his daughter, emotionally): Good! You’ve got to be determined to obey the party. Always keep to the revolutionary road! (Severely) There are people who want to make our next generation corrupt and degenerate . . . They can’t! We’ll never let them! (Curtain.)

A CT 4 (A morning ten days later. The scenery is the same as in act 2. The cicadas drone continuously. A truck passes nearby, allowing the sound of graduates’ singing to be heard. lin lan and xiao jiye have already been speaking for some time.) lin lan: It looks like he’s struggling pretty hard with his thought. xiao jiye: That’s good for him. Ah, why hasn’t Qianru gotten here yet?

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lin lan: She should be back. Everybody promised to meet here today and leave together. Xiao Jiye, you go back to the hospital. All those doctors studying your case might want to see you. xiao jiye: Before starting their discussion, they had already come to my room to do the diagnosis. How else could I have gotten out? lin lan: If they turn up something, then . . . xiao jiye: My grandmother will come and tell me. Hurry up with your packing. lin lan: Right, there isn’t much time left. (xia qianru enters.) Hi, Cousin. xia qianru: Xiao Jiye! xiao jiye: You’re back? lin lan: I’ll go look for my brother for you. (She goes into the house.) xiao jiye: You leave today? xia qianru: Yes. Everybody’ll be here to leave together in a while. I hear they made a prognosis today. What’s the conclusion? xiao jiye: They’re going to announce the verdict anytime now! xia qianru: Oh . . . Did you have something important to call me back here for? xiao jiye: I heard that you moved in at the college and wouldn’t come back. Who have you turned Yusheng’s problem over to? xia qianru: I didn’t know what to do about it. Before I moved in at the college, I talked it over with him, but he wouldn’t go back. xiao jiye: A problem in one’s thinking can’t be solved just by a few conversations. Uncle Lin has worked a lot with him, but I could never help. He wouldn’t come to the hospital; when I came back to see him, he’d avoid me. There was just no way. The only thing I could do was to ask you to come back and let you help him. Before you go, talk with him again. As long as everyone patiently helps him, he’ll rise to the challenge. xia qianru: I’ve already talked with him, but he wouldn’t listen to me. Do you think I can defer to him like before? xiao jiye: Of course you don’t have to defer to him, but you do need patience. With things developing this way, don’t you think we have some responsibility? xia qianru: I don’t intend to evade my responsibility. I used to accommodate him as though I had no principles, and now I can’t go back to being like that again. Since it was useless for us to stay together, I thought that we had better break up for the time being. xiao jiye: Oh, no wonder he’s been so touchy about you. Doing something like that now can only cause him unnecessary anguish, and add to the weight of his mental burden. I understand him. He just doesn’t have the face to go back and see his comrades. We should trust him. After all, he has received a revolutionary education, and he’s not the unambitious type. xia qianru: All right, I’ll go see him and talk to him again . . . (lin lan enters pulling lin yusheng along.)

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lin lan: Cousin, my brother’s here. xiao jiye: Hello, Yusheng. lin yusheng: You’re back? How’s your leg? xiao jiye: There won’t be any news for a while. lin yusheng: Oh . . . (For a time he can’t think of anything else to say.) xiao jiye: Qianru’s leaving today. lin yusheng: I know. xiao jiye: Then you two talk. (He is about to exit.) lin yusheng: No, you . . . lin lan: I have to pack. (She goes into the house.) xiao jiye (in a low voice, to xia qianru): Try to explain it to him. (He exits.) xia qianru: Yusheng. lin yusheng: You’re back. xia qianru: Yes. (There is a brief pause.) lin yusheng: Leaving today? xia qianru: Yes. I haven’t been back for quite a few days. How are you? lin yusheng: Oh, all right. xia qianru: Yusheng, what are you planning to do? lin yusheng: Leave here, and go somewhere far away . . . xia qianru: Then why don’t you go back to the prospecting team? lin yusheng: I can go anywhere except back there. I’m afraid . . . xia qianru: Actually, you’re just being overanxious. As long as you’re willing to go back, your comrades will welcome you back. Xiao Jiye was right when he said, “In our society, if a person falls down, there will be a lot of comrades around to give him a hand and to help him up.” (Silence.) It seems that you have something against me. Is that right? lin yusheng: No, nothing. I can only blame myself. xia qianru: Do you think I did this for myself, that I left you because you did something wrong? lin yusheng: I don’t think that. I’ve fallen down, but I can get up again. xia qianru: I really hope you can. The past few days I’ve been examining myself over and over again! For the past year it was as though I had fallen into thick, gooey mud, and as I struggled to get out, I’d sink even deeper, and soon the mud would be over my head . . . Once my comrades pulled me out of this filthy mud, I had to do a thorough job of washing off the slime. I thought that, since it was useless to either of us to be together, it would be best to break up for the time being, so that we both could

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think over some of the problems. I never imagined that, quite the contrary, this would make you misunderstand the situation. (Silence.) (Warmly) Go back, Yusheng. It’s time for you to make up your mind! lin yusheng: I want to forget the past completely, to make a fresh start. I’ve already written a letter to the team, requesting the boss to send me to work in the hardest area. xia qianru: If you don’t solve the problems with your thought, it’ll be the same no matter where they send you. lin yusheng (emotionally): The past few days, as my father’s been talking to me, I’ve gradually begun to understand what kind of road it is that I’ve been traveling for the past year, and what a dangerous road it is! At first I still adopted lofty disinterest and the ideal of legality to fool myself; but actually, capitalist thought had already led me onto the wrong path. A few days ago, Dad took me to see the grave of my parents. After I came back, I couldn’t sleep all night. As soon as I closed my eyes, I could see my parents . . . When I think of it, I can’t wait to throw myself into my work to make up for my error. But it’s just because this is the way it is that I feel even more strongly that I don’t have the face to go back and see my comrades on the team. It’s not the disciplinary action that I’m afraid of; it’s just that I cannot face them. xia qianru (with affection): Why do you feel that way? You shouldn’t feel that way. It’s very good that you can recognize your mistakes. Since you’ve made up your mind to correct your mistakes, you ought to have the courage to face reality. The past few days I’ve got a sort of new understanding. If a person has taken the wrong path, coming back always takes even greater resolve, even greater perseverance! The key to whether one can reform oneself is whether one can withstand this kind of test, even if the cost is sometimes very high. (lin yusheng does not speak.) Yusheng, go back to the team! If you don’t even have the courage to face reality, then how can you talk about reforming yourself and making a fresh start? (li rongsheng’s voice: “Lanlan!” lin yusheng walks toward the path along the river. xia qianru follows him off. li rongsheng enters carrying his luggage; lin lan enters.) li rongsheng: Lanlan! When’re we going? lin lan: Are you really planning to go? li rongsheng: Of course! lin lan: Think it over one last time. It’s a lot harder out there than it is in Shanghai. If you want to go, you have to make up your mind that you won’t run away like a deserter after you’re there. li rongsheng: What do you mean? Don’t be prejudiced against me! When I listened to your father that day and also saw Xiao Jiye and your brother, I went home and thought about it for several days. And I came to a conclusion. I can’t go on muddling along like I used to. I just have to be a person like Xiao Jiye, but I can’t be like your brother. What do you think? Am I right?

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lin lan: I guess so. Have your mother and father agreed? li rongsheng: They agreed a long time ago. When they get off work, they’re even coming to the station to see me off! lin lan: Well good for you. But I . . . li rongsheng: What is it? Haven’t you told your mother yet? lin lan: Look, my cousin’s leaving today, and now my brother won’t be staying in Shanghai, and I’m leaving soon, so my mother . . . li rongsheng: What’re you going to do? lin lan: I’ve had it figured out for a long time. I wait until my mother isn’t home and get the luggage to the station, and then, a little later, I say that I’m going to see off Qianru and the others, and as soon as we get to the station . . . li rongsheng: We’ll just disappear. Hurry up and get your bags. (lin lan exits. li rongsheng opens his trunk, inspects the contents.) Sweater’s here, cotton jacket, pants, toothpaste . . . (lin lan enters carrying her bags.) lin lan: Why’d you buy so much toothpaste? li rongsheng: This isn’t too much. A dozen tubes of toothpaste, half a dozen toothbrushes. I’m prepared not to come down from that mountain for three years. lin lan: What’d you bring spiked shoes for? li rongsheng: To climb the mountain. The slopes there won’t be so slippery with these shoes. lin lan: You’ve really thought of everything. li rongsheng: You’re bringing so few things? lin lan: They’re enough. Going there to work isn’t quite the same as going there to fool around. Okay, let’s get this stuff to the station. And then at night—goodbye Shanghai, goodbye families. We’ll leave and go to Jinggang Mountain. (Longingly) In the place where Chairman Mao once lived, on the earth that was splattered with the blood of the martyrs of the revolution, we’ll work for a different revolution, we’ll make the wild mountain yield its treasure, and demand grain from the earth. li rongsheng: I didn’t know you were a poet until now. lin lan: Too bad you discovered so late. Come on. (They pick up their bags and are about to exit.) li rongsheng: Oh, no! Your mother’s coming back. lin lan: Quick! Hide the bags! (In the confusion, li rongsheng’s suitcase falls to the ground, and its contents scatter all around.) Oh! Hurry and pick them up. li rongsheng: Help me. (Just as they are busily repacking the suitcase, xia shujuan enters. lin lan quickly hides her bags.) xia shujuan: What are you doing? li rongsheng: Auntie, how are you! lin lan: Mom, Little Li is . . . sunning his things . . .

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xia shujuan: He came over here to sun his things? Is our yard so big? li rongsheng: Yes. It’s much . . . much bigger than ours. (Thoroughly flustered, he takes out things to sun them.) xia shujuan: You have to sun your toothbrushes, too? li rongsheng (realizing that’s not quite right): Uh, I’m afraid that they’ve gotten moldy. xia shujuan: What about the toothpaste? Afraid that’s gotten moldy, too? li rongsheng (unable to speak at first): No harm in sunning that, too, while I’m at it. Anyway, the sun doesn’t cost anything. xia shujuan (deliberately searching, finds lin lan’s backpack): Isn’t this our pack? (lin lan has nothing to say.) I think that you two are trying to keep me from finding out that you’re going away somewhere, right? lin lan: Uh, Mom, I’ll tell you everything— li rongsheng (anxiously butts in): No, nothing like that. What would we be doing running away somewhere? It’s so good to stay at home. It’s warm and comfortable, a lot better than Jiangxi. I hear that there’s nothing but huge mountains down there. (lin lan hurriedly stops li rongsheng.) xia shujuan: Are you going to Jiangxi? li rongsheng: No, not at all. I was just giving an example. We wouldn’t go to Jiangxi! xia shujuan: So, you don’t intend to go to Jiangxi? li rongsheng: That’s right. Why should we go there? (To lin lan) Isn’t that right? xia shujuan: Oh, I guess I wasted my time going shopping then. lin lan: What do you mean? xia shujuan: At first I thought that you were going to Jinggang Mountain Farm, so I went shopping to buy you a few things. lin lan: What? xia shujuan: Look. lin lan: Mom. li rongsheng (looks): Sweater, sneakers, notebooks . . . lin lan: Really? Mom! xia shujuan: Yes. Now that you’re not going, I’ll just take these things and . . . lin lan: No, Mom, since you’ve bought so many things for me, I’d be embarrassed not to go. Going to Jiangxi is the only way I can prevent you from having shopped in vain. xia shujuan (laughing): Lanlan, you’re still trying to keep me in the dark. lin lan (hugging her mother): Mom! Dad told me to tell you myself today, but I was afraid . . . xia shujuan: Afraid I’d hold you back, huh? lin lan: No. I was afraid you’d be sad. xia shujuan: Oh, the business with your brother has given me a big lesson. When I was young, I worked for the revolution together with your father and never once com-

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plained. After the liberation, I thought to myself that no matter what, we had to let you children have a better life, especially your brother. I never thought that, on the contrary, that would actually have a bad effect on him. Your father was right when he said that, if you really love your children, then you’ve got to be strict with their thought, supervise them, and bring them up as people who are useful to the nation and to the people. lin lan (affectionately): Mom! (Silence.) xia shujuan (returning from her reverie): All right, it’s late. I’ll cook something for you to eat before you start out. Little Li, my little plum!3 The sun’s gone down behind the mountains. You’d better not sun your things now. (She enters the house.) lin lan (happily): Hah! Why didn’t I think of it! li rongsheng: That’s some good luck you didn’t expect! lin lan: Come on, let’s eat. li rongsheng: The bags . . . lin lan: What are you worried about? Now we can openly march out. (Pulling li rongsheng along, both exit. yao xiangming enters, her voice reaching the stage before her person.) yao xiangming: Qianru! We’re here! (As zhou jie and some other college students enter, everyone chattering noisily, the stage immediately becomes brisk and lively. xia qianru enters.) xia qianru: You’re all here? (To yao xiangming) I heard your voice miles away. yao xiangming: Good. I can get a job as a loudspeaker! student a: Is Uncle Lin at home? xia qianru: No, he isn’t . . . student b: Didn’t he promise to talk with us? xia qianru: He’ll be back in a little while. It’s still early, so everybody just rest here for a while. yao xiangming: It sure is cool here. This is one place that we’ve come to quite often over the past five years, and now we’re going to say goodbye to it. zhou jie: Yeah. For five years we’ve lived together, studied together, worked together . . . yao xiangming: We’ve also quarreled together, argued together . . . xia qianru: No. We fought together . . . yao xiangming: We’ve quarreled together. But when we go to the station in a little while, you’ll go to your Xinjiang, I’ll go to my Tibet, and she’ll go to her Qinghai. If I want to have a quarrel, I’ll have to go look for someone to fight with. Pretty soon I’ll be standing on the peaks of the Himalayas . . . student a (taking it up): . . . looking out over the whole world. (As some trucks full of young people who are going to join frontier-area construction drive by, the sound of their songs floats in. The young people onstage enthusiastically wave to them.)

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student b: Yes! Let’s sing our song! (Everyone starts to sing enthusiastically “Song of the Geologists.” xiao jiye enters. lin lan and li rongsheng enter.) xiao jiye: You’re all here! zhou jie: Xiao Jiye, how’s your leg now? xiao jiye: The specialists are discussing it now. When my grandmother comes back, I’ll know. student a: Didn’t Secretary He also go to participate? xiao jiye: Yes. The comrades in the Shanghai Geological Bureau are also concerned. An official at the Geological Bureau in Shanghai has also gone to meet with the party committee in the hospital, to ask them to try to think of a way to save my leg. zhou jie: Does it look like there’s any hope? xiao jiye: Who knows? But I’ve already prepared myself for the worst. (Walks over to xia qianru) Everybody’s going to leave. How was your talk with Yusheng? xia qianru: He recognizes his error, all right; it’s just that he’s too embarrassed to go back to the team. yao xiangming: You mean he still hasn’t made up his mind? lin lan: Look, Grandma Xiao’s coming. (Restraining his anxiety, xiao jiye goes to the stone bench and sits down. The singing stops. lin lan runs over toward the main road, and all the people watch the place where grandma xiao will come onstage. Silence. lin yusheng and grandma xiao enter; lin lan follows behind her.) (Anxiously) Grandma Xiao, what did they say finally? Hurry up and tell us! (grandma xiao walks over to xiao jiye.) xiao jiye (suppressing his anxiety): What did they say, Grandma? grandma xiao: Son, don’t get too excited when I tell you. xiao jiye: I won’t, Grandma! I’ve prepared myself for this. I’m not afraid of any bad news! grandma xiao: No, child! . . . After the specialists studied your case, they said that it’s not necessary to amputate your leg! xiao jiye: What? It’s true! Grandma! It’s true! grandma xiao: It’s true, child. xiao jiye (emotionally): I simply can’t believe it. grandma xiao: There’s something else. The prospecting team sent a letter. (She gives the letter to xiao jiye.) lin lan: They can save it! They can save it! (The crowd surrounds xiao jiye.) grandma xiao: The doctors said that the people of the whole nation are progressing, and so medical workers also must make progress . . . xiao jiye (finishes reading the letter): Hey, everybody! The first drilling in Region 205 has already hit ore! all: What? Hit ore?

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(xiao jiye gives the letter to zhou jie. A few future team members excitedly crowd around to read the letter. lin yusheng stands hesitantly to one side.) xiao jiye: Yusheng, the director of the team wrote to say that they’ve received your request to be transferred, and he feels that it’s not necessary. The comrades of the whole team warmly welcome you back. Here’s a letter for you from the director and all the comrades. lin yusheng (surprised): Really? (He reads the letter. xia qianru watches lin yusheng closely.) What? You’ve advised the team to let me go back and take over your work? xiao jiye: And the team’s agreed to it. (lin yusheng is so affected that he doesn’t know what to say.) Yusheng, this shows the hope and trust that the team leader has in you. zhou jie: Xiao Jiye! (Shaking hands with xiao jiye, she congratulates him.) yao xiangming: This is wonderful! (The students throng to congratulate xiao jiye.) zhou jie (excitedly): I never imagined that we’d hear so much good news just as we were about to go. We better go now. yao xiangming: Didn’t Uncle Lin say that he’d see us off? lin lan: My father had a lot of things to do. I’m afraid he won’t make it back in time. zhou jie: Well, it is getting late. We better go. lin lan (to inside the house): Mom, we’re leaving. (xia shujuan enters.) xia shujuan: What? You’re leaving right now? (xia shujuan rushes to help lin lan carry her bags. Everyone gets ready to leave. xia qianru goes over to lin yusheng, who is engaged in an intense inner struggle.) yao xiangming: Qianru, let’s go! (xia qianru turns, picks up her luggage.) lin yusheng (suddenly): Wait. (He rushes off.) xia shujuan: What is it? (xia qianru follows him off. Everyone is talking. xia qianru shouts from inside, “Auntie, come here a second.” xia shujuan exits. lin yusheng enters carrying his bags. xia qianru and xia shujuan follow him onstage.) lin yusheng: I’m going with you. lin lan (happily surprised): Brother! xiao jiye: Yusheng! lin yusheng (walks over to xiao jiye, firmly grasps his hand): I don’t know what to say. Just one thing: I . . . I’ve been terribly confused. I let down the party that trained me all these years, let down the teachers that instructed me, and also let down my parents, who sacrificed their lives . . . The past few days I kept wanting to see you and discuss this, but . . . I didn’t have the face to see you! (He hangs his head.)

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xiao jiye: Don’t say that! lin yusheng (emotionally): Our society really is a warm family. If a person falls down, countless comrades on all sides offer their hands. Now that the comrades have already offered me their hands, I want . . . Hah. I won’t say it. You all see what I’m doing. xia qianru (with emotion): Auntie! (She hugs xia shujuan.) xia shujuan (squeezing xia qianru): My girl, I guess we didn’t waste our love on him. (The song of job-bound graduates floats in from the distance.) xiao jiye: Yusheng, tell the comrades that I’ll be back soon. lin yusheng: We’ll be waiting for you! See you with the team! xiao jiye: See you there! lin yusheng (walks over to grandma xiao): Grandma Xiao, I’m leaving. grandma xiao: It’s good that you’ve corrected your error. lin yusheng: Mom, I’m going. xia shujuan: You’re doing the right thing, son. Do a good job. (lin yusheng walks over to xia qianru.) xia qianru (unable to say any of the thousand things she’d like to, emotionally): Hey everybody, let’s go! (They are all about to exit.) xiao jiye: Hey everyone, Uncle Lin’s coming! (lin jian rushes onstage.) all: Hello, Uncle Lin. lin jian: Hello, all. You’re all going to leave now? I guess I’m in time. (He notes his son’s carrying bags.) lin yusheng (walks over close to lin jian): Dad, I’m going, too! lin jian: Where are you going? lin yusheng: Back to the team. lin jian: Good! I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say that! But remember, the others aren’t going to be wild to welcome you back. There are new trials waiting for you. You’ve got to have the perseverance to stick it out to the end. If you’re prepared, you should decide to spend the rest of your life working there. Otherwise, you’ll land on your can again. lin yusheng: I’ve already prepared to accept my trials, and I’ve made up my mind to work there the rest of my life. lin jian: That’s good. Do you have the letter from your parents? lin yusheng: I put it in my bag. lin jian: You should keep it deep in your heart! lin yusheng (resolutely): Dad, don’t worry. I won’t forget my own parents, and I’ll be even less likely to forget that there are still class enemies today. I’ll always keep that in my heart. Always, always . . . lin lan: Dad, the hospital says that Xiao Jiye can keep his leg. lin jian: Really? Good for you, Jiye.

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xiao jiye: Thank you, Uncle Lin. lin jian: Grandma Xiao, you must have been very worried the past few days. grandma xiao: How could I not be worried for him? Old Lin, we’re old now, and we’ve passed on our hopes to these young ones. We haven’t lived in vain. I hope they can do even better! lin jian: Everyone! You heard. Grandma Xiao just told you what we older people have on our minds. You should remember what she said. li rongsheng: We will, Leader. lin jian (takes out a book, gives it to li rongsheng): This is for you. li rongsheng (reads aloud): Memoirs on the Workers’ Revolution in Shanghai. Is this for me? lin jian (humorously): Yes, my great intellectual! li rongsheng: No. I’ll be a physical laborer soon, Comrade Leader. lin jian: As I watch you all leaving now, I recall how it was in the old days when we went to the liberated region: I left alone, in a great blizzard, fighting all the dangers along the way. Look at you all! It’s really different now. You’re all singing, leaving in a big group. But, children, the road of the revolution is very long. Before you all now is an even more difficult, more glorious responsibility. That is, to continue the revolution; to spread the revolution far and wide. We must pursue the revolution to the utmost, for the people of the whole nation, and also for the people of the whole world! Children, throw yourselves into the raging torrent of the revolution, and strengthen yourselves. all: We’ll remember! lin jian: Then goodbye! (One after another, trucks carrying job-bound young people pass by. One can hear the sound of ardent singing. Everyone warmly says goodbye.) lin lan (with greatest warmth): Mom, Dad, goodbye! Grandma Xiao, Jiye, goodbye! (Walks to the front of the stage, facing the audience) Goodbye teachers, friends, comrades! We’re going. Soon we’ll be leaving you, going to our different posts, and like seeds scattered over the ground, we’ll grow roots in those places, send up sprouts, blossom, ripen. Goodbye! My dear comrades, we’re leaving, with your hopes and your wishes, to create a beautiful, beautiful future. (The young people wave goodbye to the audience. Trucks keep driving past. The volume of the singing rises. In the distance, a train races toward some far-off place. The curtain slowly closes.)

Not es From Constantine Tung: The Young Generation was translated some thirty years ago, and a portion of it was included in Kai-Yu Hsü, ed., Literature of the People’s Republic of China (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1980). Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate my cotranslator of the play, Kevin A. O’Conner. Kevin, who had a good

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command of the Chinese language, was a graduate student in computer science at SUNY at Buffalo at the time. I hereby express my thanks to him for his contribution to the translation of The Young Generation. This translation is based on the 1964 edition of the play. Xiaomei Chen and I discussed whether the play’s 1962 version should be adopted. After comparison, we agreed that the 1964 version was appropriate for its more polished style and ideologically more reflective of the political climate, the anxiety of the revolutionary generation of old, that foreshadowed the eruption of the Cultural Revolution two years later. The 1962 edition has Chen Yun as the sole author. In the 1964 version, Zhang Lihui and Xu Jingxian, two party functionaries in Shanghai, were added to the play’s authorship. I asked Chen Yun when I met with him in Shanghai in 1986 about the play’s authorship. He told me that he was the author of the play, and that the addition of Zhang and Xu as coauthors was a political necessity of that time. I wish to thank Anna Ma, a research assistant and a student of Professor Chen’s, for scanning the text and transcribing the names of the characters from the Wade-Giles system to pinyin. My gratitude also to Professor Chen for her decision to include the play in her anthology—and to Edward M. Gunn, who, miraculously, retained a copy of the translation of the play and lent it to us, as I had misplaced my own copy. The Chinese transliteration here is Lai-mi-xie-fu, which may represent something like Raimishev, Laintishev, or Rajmishev. Since it was not clear what name is represented by this transliteration, we have substituted the name of the Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. You hong you zhuan in Chinese, this was a popular slogan in the PRC especially in the late 1950s and early 1960s; it expressed the party’s expectation that young people would be both ideologically correct and professionally well trained in their fields. The surname Li can be associated with the word for plum. Xia Shujuan capitalizes on this coincidence by adding to the surname the character for zi, creating a more familiar form of address and thus turning “Little Li” into “little plum.”

Commemorating the Twenty-eighth Anniversary of the “Talks at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art” A Quotation from Chairman Mao: Thousands upon thousands of martyrs have heroically laid down their lives for the masses; let us hold aloft their flag and forge ahead over the blood of the fallen!

The Red Lantern (1970) Weng Ouhong and A Jia, Revised by the China Peking Opera Troupe T ransla ted by Brenda A u st i n and J ohn B . We i ns t e i n

C ha r a c t e rs li yuhe ⹼㲙⧧, railway switchman, member of the Chinese Communist Party tiemei 㝰み, li yuhe ’s daughter grandmother li ⹼ㅒㅒ, li yuhe ’s mother messenger Ⰿ㟜㴗, messenger for the Eighth Route Army’s Pine Mountain base of operations knife maker ㄫ☚㑉, guerrilla platoon leader of the Eighth Route Army in the Cypress Mountains huilian ⪳⻷, li yuhe ’s neighbor aunt tian 㝥▙㔰, huilian ’s mother-in-law eighth route army cypress mountain guerrilla captain ≹⿁ⴎ⊆㓹㱶 ⫏⛵⛵⒌ various guerrilla soldiers 㱶⫏⛵㴗㑲⡧㑉 woman selling rice porridge ⿾㻂▙㓥 girl selling cigarettes ⿾㫸ㇲ⦼ workers a, b, c, d ⧢㻂☨⹛⛑㐸㺼⭭, 㮼, ⍧, ⛃, customers at the rice porridge stall hatoyama 凝㓹, captain of the military police squadron of the Japanese enemy wang lianju 㠩⻸Ⳬ, originally served as a double agent for the Chinese Communist Party but later defected to the enemy

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auxiliary hou ⨈㦌⏣, reserve soldier for the Japanese military police squadron sergeant 㣛⒌, Japanese military police chief spy messenger ⭯Ⰿ㟜㴗, special agent for the Japanese military police squadron shoemaker ㊦Ⰷ, special agent for the Japanese military police squadron various japanese military police officers and spies 㑓ⶬ㦌⍤, 㝎㣣 㑲⡧㑉

S CE NE 1 Contacting the Messenger (The era of the War of Resistance Against Japan. A night early in winter. An area near the Longtan railway station, in northern China. The railroad tracks are clearly visible. Mountain ranges rise and fall in the distance. As the curtain rises, the north wind howls. Four japanese military police officers march past on patrol. Full of youthful vitality, yet calm and composed, li yuhe enters with vigorous strides, holding a red railway signal lantern in his hand.) li yuhe (singing xipi sanban1): Red lantern in hand, I look everywhere . . . The leaders have sent a man here to Longtan, The time has been set for half past seven, He should arrive on the very next train. (The wind blows. Enter tiemei , carrying a basket, walking into the wind.) tiemei : Dad! li yuhe : Oh, Tiemei! (Concerned that the child might be cold, he removes his scarf and wraps it around her neck.) How was business today? tiemei : Humph! The military police and their henchmen were searching and harassing everybody. People were so terrified—who could buy anything? li yuhe : Those criminals! tiemei : Dad, you’ve got to be more careful. li yuhe : All right. Tiemei, go and tell your grandmother that your uncle is coming. tiemei : My uncle? li yuhe : That’s right. tiemei : What will the uncle be like this time, Dad? li yuhe : Child, don’t keep asking such questions.

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tiemei : I’ll go ask Grandma, then. li yuhe : What a child! (Exit tiemei .) (Watches tiemei depart, very pleased) Good girl! (Singing xipi yuanban) She sells the goods and scrounges for coal, She carries the water and chops firewood. With skill and ease, the poor man’s child, Must quickly learn how to manage the house, From different trees grow different fruits, From different seeds bloom different flowers. (Enter wang lianju.) wang lianju : Old Li, I’ve been looking for you all day . . . (li yuhe signals wang lianju not to speak, vigilantly surveying the area.) Old Li, the Japanese devils tightened security today. From the looks of it, they must be up to something. li yuhe : I know. Old Wang, from now on we should meet as little as possible. In the meantime, I’ll contact you if necessary. wang lianju : All right. (Exit wang lianju. A train whistle sounds in the distance. Exit li yuhe . Lights fade. A train roars past. Gunfire. Lights brighten. A messenger tumbles down the embankment and lands, unconscious. li yuhe rushes in.) li yuhe (to himself ): A glove on the left hand . . . (Gunfire. wang lianju returns.) wang lianju : Who is this? li yuhe : One of ours. I’ll carry him. Cover me! wang lianju : Okay. (Exit li yuhe , carrying the messenger on his back. Shouts of pursuing japanese military police officers . Gunfire. wang lianju, moving in the opposite direction from li yuhe , fires two shots. The japanese military police officers approach. Trembling, wang lianju shoots himself in the arm to save his own life and collapses to the ground. Enter the sergeant with several japanese military police officers .) sergeant (to wang lianju ): Hey! Did somebody jump off the train? wang lianju : Huh? sergeant : Did somebody jump off the train? wang lianju : Oh! (Points in the opposite direction) Over there. sergeant (alarmed): Hit the ground! (All the japanese military police officers throw themselves down. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

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S CE NE 2 Accepting the Mission (Immediately following the last scene. Both the interior and exterior of li yuhe’s house are visible. The door opens onto a small alley. The furniture is arranged in the center of the room, and a red paper butterfly is pasted onto the windowpane. At the far right, there is an inner room with a curtain hanging over the doorway. As the curtain rises, the north wind whistles and the room is dim; grandmother li adjusts the lamp and the room brightens.) grandmother li (singing xipi sanban): Fishermen must brave the fierce wind and waves, Hunters (changing to yuanban) never fear ferocious beasts. The darkest of nights still cannot withstand The brilliant blaze of the Revolution. (Enter tiemei , carrying a basket.) tiemei : Grandma! grandmother li : Tiemei! tiemei : Grandma, my dad said that my uncle is coming right away. (She puts down the basket.) grandmother li (to herself, expectantly): An uncle is coming! tiemei : How come I have so many uncles, Grandma? grandmother li : Well, our family has many aunts, so you have many uncles. (grandmother li is mending some clothing.) tiemei : Which one is coming today, Grandma? grandmother li : There’s no need to ask. You’ll know when he comes. tiemei : Hm. Grandma, even though you won’t tell me, I already know. grandmother li : You do? What do you know? tiemei : Grandma, listen to me! (Singing xipi liushui) I have more uncles than I can count, They come only when it’s something important. Although, although we call them family, we have never met, Yet they are closer to us than our actual family. Daddy and Grandmother call them our own, I think I know part of the reason why: They are all just like my father, Each has a heart bright and red.

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(Enter li yuhe , anxiously carrying the messenger on his back. He pushes the door open and walks in, signaling tiemei to close the door and keep watch. He gently helps the messenger to sit down and hands him a drink of water.) messenger (regaining consciousness): Can you please tell me if there is a railway switchman here named Master Li? li yuhe : That’s me. (li yuhe and the messenger exchange the secret password.) messenger : I have wooden combs for sale. li yuhe : Any made of peach wood? messenger : Yes, but for cash only. li yuhe : All right, wait a minute. (li yuhe signals grandmother li to give him the lantern test.) grandmother li (lifts up a kerosene lamp to look at the messenger ): Fellow villager . . . messenger (realizing that the secret signal is incorrect): Thank you for saving me. I’ll be leaving now. li yuhe (holding up the red lantern): Comrade! messenger (excitedly): I’ve found you at last! (tiemei takes the red lantern, suddenly realizing its significance. grandmother li signals tiemei to take her basket and go out to keep watch.) Old Li, I am the messenger from the Pine Mountain base. (Takes a secret cipher code out of the sole of his shoe) This is the secret code. (With seriousness, li yuhe accepts it.) Transfer it to the Cypress Mountain guerrilla force. A knife maker will contact you tomorrow afternoon at the old rice porridge stall in the flea market. Use the same password as before. li yuhe : Same password as before. messenger : Old Li, this mission is difficult! li yuhe : Don’t worry. I will complete the mission! messenger : All right. Old Li, time is running out. I must return immediately. li yuhe : Comrade, are you hurt . . . ? messenger : I was just knocked out by the fall. I can walk now. li yuhe : All right. Wait a second, I’ll get you a change of clothes. (li yuhe gives the messenger a change of clothes.) (With serious concern) The enemy is searching everywhere. It’s a very tight situation. Be extra careful on the road! messenger : Don’t worry, Old Li! li yuhe : Comrade . . . (Singing erhuang kuaisanyan) Take care of yourself on the road—the mountains are high, the rivers dangerous.

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Follow narrow alleys and shorter bridges for seclusion and safety. Together, we give the Revolution our heartfelt devotion. (He sees the messenger off. Enter tiemei . He continues singing.) I welcome any test, and bear any burden, within the raging inferno. I never fail to meet the Party’s expectations, my strength is infinite. Nothing on earth can ever daunt a communist! (A police siren wails. Quick-witted and decisive, li yuhe motions to grandmother li to blow out the lamp. Grasping the secret code, li yuhe strikes a dramatic pose. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 3 Narrow Escape at the Rice Porridge Stall (The next afternoon at the rice porridge stall in the flea market. As the curtain rises, worker c sits sipping rice porridge. workers a and b enter, sit down, and sip rice porridge. The girl selling cigarettes sits near the stall. li yuhe enters calmly and vigilantly with his red lantern in one hand and a lunch box in the other.) li yuhe (singing xipi yaoban): Going to the flea market, I seek my relative, Hidden in my lunch box, the secret code. Millions of obstacles cannot stop me, I must deliver it to the Cypress Mountains. worker c (stands up): Master Li! li yuhe (with concern): Oh, Old Zhang, has your wound healed? worker c : It’s much better. li yuhe : Ah. Be more careful in the future! worker c (sighs; talking to himself ): At the beginning of the year I ran into Japanese devils who wanted to ride for free, and then they went and beat me up. What kind of world is this! (Exit worker c . li yuhe walks to the porridge stall and hangs the red lantern on a pillar.) workers a and b : Master Li, you’re here! Come sit with us. li yuhe (warmly): Let’s all sit down.

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woman selling rice porridge : Master Li, would you like a bowl of porridge? li yuhe : Yes, please. Sister, how is business going? woman selling rice porridge : Ah, we’re still scraping by. (She ladles porridge for li yuhe . Enter worker d.) worker d : Shopkeeper, get me a bowl of porridge. (Takes the bowl, about to eat) What’s wrong with it? It’s all moldy! worker a : Hey! This is that rationed flour mixture! woman selling rice porridge : There’s nothing I can do! worker b : Ouch! (Crunches bits of stone, spitting them out) Almost broke a tooth! worker a : It’s full of stones! worker b : Humph! They really treat us like animals. worker a : Be quiet, don’t start any trouble! worker b : How are we supposed to eat this? This is no way to live! li yuhe (sharing their feelings, singing xipi liushui): So many of my countrymen fume with discontent, Struggling under oppression, their hatred won’t subside. Spring thunder waits for an opportunity to erupt, The heroic Chinese people will never bow their heads before the butcher’s knife! May our comrades arrive soon from the Cypress Mountains— (Enter the knife maker .) knife maker (singing xipi yaoban): Searching for my relative, I look in all directions. The red lantern hangs high to greet me, I call out: “Get your scissors and kitchen knives sharpened!” li yuhe (singing xipi yaoban): The knife maker fixes his gaze upon my red lantern, He lifts his left hand toward me, in search of conversation. As we talk things over, I will slip in the password— (Before he can speak to the knife maker , a siren wails and japanese military police officers charge in. The knife maker deliberately tips over his bench to draw the enemy’s attention away from li yuhe and toward himself.) (Continues singing) He draws the wolves to himself to let me slip away. (As he sings, he calmly empties his porridge into his lunch box.)

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Sister, another helping, please. (li yuhe lets the woman selling rice porridge ladle porridge into his lunch box. The japanese military police officers finish searching the knife maker , angrily dismissing him and turning to inspect li yuhe . li yuhe seizes the opportunity to consent to an inspection of his lunch box. The japanese military police officers smell the rancid porridge and push it away. After searching him, they wave him off. li yuhe picks up his lunch box and his red lantern and walks calmly to the center of the stage. He smiles faintly, for he has deceived the enemy. He turns around and marches off victoriously with his head held high. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 4 Wang Lianju’s Betrayal (Afternoon. hatoyama’s office. As the curtain rises, hatoyama is answering the telephone.) hatoyama : Oh, oh! . . . What, they threw us off the trail? . . . Oh, don’t worry, I will definitely get the code . . . The case must be solved before the deadline! Yes! Yes! (Hangs up the telephone; talking to himself ) Those communists are something else! Just when headquarters gets on their trail, they throw us off. Those communists are tough! (The sergeant and auxiliary hou enter.) sergeant : Reporting! We searched everywhere, but there was no sign of the man who jumped off the train. We arrested a few suspects. hatoyama : Humph! What’s the use of arresting suspects? The jumper is a messenger for the Communist Party, and he’s carrying an extremely important secret code. If this code falls into the hands of the Cypress Mountain guerrilla force, it will be a tremendous blow to our empire! sergeant : Yes, sir! hatoyama : Where is Inspector Wang? auxiliary hou : He’s here, sir. hatoyama : Call him in. auxiliary hou : Yes, sir! (Calling offstage) Inspector Wang! (Enter wang lianju with his wounded arm in a sling. Exit auxiliary hou.) wang lianju : Captain! (He salutes.) hatoyama : Oh, you brave young man, you’ve been through so much! On behalf of headquarters, I present you with this third grade medal of honor. (He affixes the medal to wang lianju.)

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wang lianju : Thank you, Captain. hatoyama (singing xipi sanban): So long as your loyal heart spares no effort for the empire, Your political star will have the chance to rise. As the saying goes: Boundless is the sea of bitterness, yet a repentant man can reach the shore nearby. Now it all just depends on whether you are interested . . . (laughs coldly) or not! wang lianju : Captain, I don’t understand what you’re saying. hatoyama : Humph! You ought to understand! Tell me, how could the man who jumped off the train shoot you from a distance of only three centimeters away? wang lianju : Captain . . . hatoyama : Out with it, young man. Who was your accomplice? wang lianju (blurts out): Accomplice?! hatoyama : Precisely! It’s perfectly clear. If the jumper didn’t have one accomplice to assist him and another to cover him, then perhaps he just sprouted wings and flew away? wang lianju : Captain, by that time I’d been shot and was lying on the ground. How am I supposed to know how he escaped? hatoyama : Of course you know. If you didn’t know, then why would you have shot yourself? (wang lianju is taken aback.) (Presses harder) Young man, you tell me the truth right now. Who’s in the underground Communist Party? Who was your accomplice? Where is the messenger hiding? Who’s holding on to the secret code? Tell me everything. I have plenty of medals and reward money waiting for you. wang lianju : Captain, the more you talk, the more confused I get. hatoyama : Well! If that’s the case, then we’ll help you think more clearly! Sergeant! sergeant : Yes, sir. hatoyama : Take him away and help him think more clearly. sergeant : Yes, sir. Guards! (Enter two japanese military police officers .) Take him away! wang lianju (begging for mercy): Captain . . . sergeant (fiercely): Hey! (He kicks wang lianju. The two japanese military police officers press wang lianju to the ground.) wang lianju : I’m . . . innocent! hatoyama : Beat him! sergeant : Take him away! Take him away!

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(wang lianju is dragged out by the japanese military police officers , all the while screaming, “I’m innocent!” The sergeant follows.) hatoyama : Humph! Torture will make him talk! He will surely reveal his accomplice! (Enter the sergeant.) sergeant : Reporting, sir. He has confessed! hatoyama : Who was his accomplice? sergeant : The railway switchman Li Yuhe. hatoyama (in recollection): Li Yuhe?! (Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 5 The Family’s Painful Revolutionary History (Dusk. li yuhe’s house; both the interior and exterior are visible. As the curtain rises, grandmother li is inside waiting anxiously for li yuhe .) grandmother li (singing xipi yaoban): It is already dusk, but my son Yuhe has still not returned. (tiemei emerges from the inner room. A police siren wails.) tiemei (continues the singing): There is chaos in the streets, and my heart is anxious for my daddy. (Enter li yuhe , carrying his lunch box and the red lantern. He knocks at the door.) li yuhe : Tiemei. tiemei : My dad is back! grandmother li : Quick, open the door! tiemei (opens the door): Dad! grandmother li : Yuhe. li yuhe : Ma! grandmother li : You’ve returned at last! Did you meet with him? (She takes the red lantern and lunch box from him.) li yuhe : Not yet. (He takes off his overcoat.) grandmother li : What’s happened? li yuhe : Ma! (Singing xipi liushui)

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I went to the porridge stall to make contact with the knife maker, But then a police car came and those devils started a frantic search. The knife maker threw himself to the wolves to save me, And I seized the chance to hide the secret code in my lunch box. They couldn’t find the secret code hidden under the porridge— tiemei : Uncle Knife Maker is such a good man! grandmother li : Yuhe, where is the code? li yuhe : Ma! (Continues singing softly and secretly) I’ve found a safe place to protect it from harm. tiemei : Dad, you’ve really found a way! li yuhe : Now you know everything, Tiemei. This is more important than our own lives. We’ve got to keep it a secret even if we lose our heads because of it. Understand? tiemei : Yes! li yuhe : Aha, you understand! What a smart girl! tiemei : Dad . . . li yuhe : Ah . . . (It is gradually getting dark outside. grandmother li brings a kerosene lamp.) grandmother li : Ah . . . Just look at you two, father and daughter . . . li yuhe : Ma, I need to go take care of something. grandmother li : Be careful. And don’t be out too late! li yuhe : I won’t, don’t worry. tiemei : Dad, take my scarf. (Wraps the scarf around his neck) Dad, don’t be out too late! li yuhe (affectionately): I won’t, don’t worry. (He walks out the door. Exit li yuhe . tiemei closes the door. grandmother li carefully polishes the red lantern. tiemei watches attentively.) grandmother li : Come here, Tiemei. I’ll tell you the story of the red lantern. tiemei : Okay. (She happily walks over to the table and sits down next to it.) grandmother li (with seriousness): For many years, this red lantern has lit the path for us poor people, for us workers. Years ago your grandfather carried this lantern, and now your father carries it. Child, you know what happened last night. We can’t do without it at important moments like this. Remember, this red lantern is our family’s special treasure! tiemei : Oh. The red lantern is our family’s special treasure? (Brimming with confidence, grandmother li looks at tiemei and goes into the inner room. tiemei picks up the lantern, examining it thoughtfully.) (Singing xipi sanban)

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I have heard Grandmother speak of the red lantern; While the words are few, the meaning is deep. Why do Daddy and my uncles (changing to yuanban) not fear danger? To save China, to save the poor, to defeat the Devil Army. Now I know: I want to do those same things, And to become that same kind of person. Tiemei! You are seventeen, a child no more, Why should you not share Daddy’s worries? It’s like this: if Daddy carries a thousand pound load, Tiemei, you ought to carry eight hundred. (grandmother li emerges from the inner room.) grandmother li : Tiemei, Tiemei! tiemei : Grandma! grandmother li : What are you thinking about, child? tiemei : Nothing. (There is the sound of a baby crying next door.) grandmother li : That’s Long’er crying, isn’t it? tiemei : It sure is. grandmother li : Oh, they have nothing to eat again! We still have some cornmeal left. Quick, go take it to them. tiemei : Okay. (She gets the cornmeal. Enter huilian , knocking at the door.) huilian : Grandmother Li! tiemei : It’s Sister Huilian. grandmother li : Quick, open the door for her! tiemei : Okay! (She opens the door; huilian enters.) Sister Huilian. grandmother li (with concern): Huilian! Is your baby doing any better? huilian : Oh! How can I afford to take him to the doctor? Fewer and fewer people have been paying me to mend and wash clothes for them this year. We never know where our next meal is coming from, and now we’ve got nothing to eat. tiemei : Sister Huilian, take this. (She hands her the cornmeal. huilian is deeply moved.) grandmother li : Take it. Tiemei was just going to take it over to you. huilian (accepts the cornmeal): You’re too good to me! grandmother li : Don’t mention it. With the wall between us, we’re two families. If we tore it down, we’d be one. tiemei : Grandma, we are one family even with the wall between us. grandmother li : Tiemei is right. (The baby’s cries grow louder.)

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aunt tian (offstage): Huilian! Huilian! (Enter aunt tian .) tiemei : Auntie. grandmother li : Please have a seat. aunt tian : No, thank you. The baby’s crying again, Huilian. You need to come home and take care of him. (She sees the cornmeal in huilian ’s hand and is moved.) grandmother li : First, make some food for the baby. aunt tian : But your family isn’t rich! grandmother li : Ah. (Warmly) Our two families shouldn’t speak of what’s yours and what’s mine. Don’t talk that way. aunt tian : We must be going now. grandmother li : Don’t worry. Watch your step. (Exit aunt tian and huilian.) tiemei (closes the door): Grandma, Huilian’s family is having such a hard time right now. grandmother li : Yes, they are. Huilian’s father-in-law was a railway porter, and he was run over by a train. The Japanese devils refused to give them any compensation, and they forced her husband to work as a coolie. Tiemei, our two worker families have endured the same suffering, and we share a common enemy. We’ve got to do our best to take care of them. (Enter the spy messenger . He knocks at the door.) tiemei : Who is it? spy messenger : Does Master Li live here? tiemei : It’s somebody looking for Dad. grandmother li : Open the door. tiemei : Okay. (She opens the door. The spy messenger enters and quickly closes the door.) grandmother li : And you are . . . spy messenger : I have wooden combs for sale. grandmother li : Any made of peach wood? spy messenger : Yes, but for cash only. tiemei : Okay, just a minute! (The spy messenger turns around and puts down his saddlebag. tiemei reaches for the red lantern, but grandmother li quickly stops her and takes up the kerosene lamp to test him. tiemei suddenly understands.) spy messenger (turns around and sees the lamp): Oh, I’ve finally found you! Thank heaven! It wasn’t easy. (tiemei ’s surprise turns to anger. She seethes with an uncontrollable rage.) grandmother li (seeing through his ruse, calmly): Shopkeeper, please show us the combs so we can pick one. spy messenger : Huh? I’m here for the secret code, ma’am.

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grandmother li : What’s he talking about, girl? spy messenger : Hey! Don’t play dumb! The code is a very important Communist Party document, ma’am. The future of the Revolution depends on it. Give it to me! tiemei (angrily): What are you talking about? Get out of here! spy messenger : Hey, don’t, don’t, don’t . . . tiemei : Get out! (She pushes the spy messenger out the door, forcefully throws his saddlebag at him, and slams the door.) Grandma! (grandmother li hurriedly stops tiemei from speaking. The spy messenger signals two plainclothes spies to monitor the house. They split up.) Grandma, he almost tricked me! grandmother li : Child, there is definitely a traitor in our midst. Our secret has been leaked. tiemei : Grandma, what do we do? grandmother li (whispers): Quick, take down the signal. tiemei : What signal? grandmother li : The red butterfly on the window! tiemei (surprised): Oh! (She goes to tear it down.) grandmother li : Tiemei! Open the door to block the window. You tear down the signal, and I’ll sweep the floor to cover you. Quickly, quickly! (tiemei opens the door. li yuhe strides in, closing the door behind him. tiemei is startled. The broom that grandmother li is holding drops to the floor.) li yuhe (realizing that something is wrong): Ma, what happened? grandmother li : There are dogs outside! (Showing no fear, li yuhe makes a quick appraisal of the enemy intelligence.) Son! Son! . . . li yuhe : Ma, I’m probably going to be arrested! (Urging, with seriousness) I’ve hidden the secret code under the stone monument beside the old locust tree on the west bank of the river. You’ve got to do everything in your power to get it to the knife maker! Use the same password as before! grandmother li : Same password as before! li yuhe : Yes. You’ve got to be extremely careful! grandmother li : Don’t worry, son. tiemei : Dad . . . (Enter auxiliary hou. He knocks at the door.) auxiliary hou : Is Master Li in? li yuhe : Ma, they’re here. tiemei : Dad! You . . . li yuhe : Tiemei, go open the door.

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tiemei : Okay! auxiliary hou : Open up! (tiemei opens the door, seizing the opportunity to tear down the red butterfly.) (Entering the house) Oh, are you Master Li? li yuhe : Yes. auxiliary hou : Captain Hatoyama would like to invite you to have a drink with him. (He hands him a written invitation.) li yuhe : Oh! So Captain Hatoyama is inviting me to a banquet? auxiliary hou : Yes! li yuhe : Wow! What an honor! (He throws the invitation onto the table in disgust.) auxiliary hou : He just wants to be your friend. Come along, please, Master Li! li yuhe : After you! (To grandmother li , firmly and gravely) Ma, you take care. I’m leaving! grandmother li : Hold on a minute! Tiemei, go get some wine. tiemei : Okay! (She goes into the inner room to get the wine.) auxiliary hou : Oh! Ma’am, there will be plenty of wine for him to drink at the banquet. grandmother li : Ha! .  .  . We poor people are used to our own wine. Each drop touches the heart. (Takes the wine from tiemei and, gravely, bids li yuhe a deeply emotional farewell) Son, this bowl of wine . . . you, you must drink it down! li yuhe (accepts the wine solemnly): Ma, after this bowl of wine, I can stomach whatever kind of wine they give me. (Drinks the wine in one gulp) Thanks, Ma! (Singing xipi erliu with grandeur) Before I leave, I drink the wine my mother gives me, My entire body is filled with courage and valiance. Hatoyama is throwing a banquet to make me his “friend,” I can stomach a thousand or even ten thousand cups. This is a bad time of year, with sudden wind and snow, Mother must prepare for changes in the weather. tiemei : Dad! (She rushes toward li yuhe , sobbing.) li yuhe (continues singing, kindly and with deep significance): Little Tiemei, when you go out to sell your goods, keep an eye on the weather, And keep track of all of the “accounts” that come and go. When you are weary, beware of wild dogs, When you are worried, wait for the magpie to sing on the branch.

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You must manage the family’s affairs, And you must share your grandmother’s burdens. tiemei : Dad! (She throws herself into li yuhe’s arms and sobs.) auxiliary hou : Master Li, let’s go! li yuhe : Don’t cry, child. From now on, you must do as your grandma says. tiemei : I will! grandmother li : Tiemei, open the door so your father can go to the “banquet.” li yuhe : I’m leaving now, Ma. (li yuhe and grandmother li clasp each other’s hands tightly, encouraging each other to remain committed to the fight. tiemei opens the door. A gust of wind blows in. li yuhe strides proudly forward into the wind. auxiliary hou follows. tiemei runs after him with a scarf, crying, “Dad!” spies a , b , and c rush forward to block her way.) spy a : Stop! Go back! (He forces tiemei back. Enter the group of spies .) tiemei : Grandma! . . . spy a : Search them! Don’t move! (The spies ransack the house in their search. One of them emerges from the inner room with an almanac, looks through it, and tosses it aside.) Let’s go! (Exit spies .) tiemei (closes the door, draws the curtain, and looks around the room): Grandma! (She throws herself into grandmother li ’s arms and sobs; a short time passes.) Grandma, my dad . . . will he ever come back? grandmother li : Your dad . . . tiemei : Dad . . . grandmother li : Tiemei, tears can’t save your father! Don’t cry. It’s time I told you the truth about our family. tiemei : Grandma, what is it? grandmother li : Sit down, and Grandma will tell you! (grandmother li eyes the scarf. Revolutionary memories flash before her eyes; hatred for the enemy, both past and present, wells up in her heart. tiemei gets a small stool and sits by her grandmother’s side.) Child, is your father a good man? tiemei : Of course he is! grandmother li : But he’s not your real father. tiemei (shocked): Ah! What are you talking about, Grandma? grandmother li : And I’m not your real grandmother. tiemei : Ah! Grandma! Grandma, have you gone crazy? grandmother li : No, child. Our three generations are not from the same family. (Stands up) Your last name is Chen, mine is Li, and your dad’s is Zhang. (Singing erhuang sanban)

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For seventeen stormy years I’ve been afraid to tell you, I was afraid you were too young to hear the truth, Several times I tried to tell you but the words wouldn’t come. tiemei : Tell me, Grandma. I won’t cry. grandmother li (singing erhuang mansanyan): It looks as though your father is gone, never to return, I, your grandmother, will inevitably be arrested and imprisoned. Before our eyes, Revolution’s heavy burden will fall upon your shoulders, I’ve told you the truth, Tiemei, Don’t cry, don’t be sad, be brave and strong, learn from your father’s Revolutionary courage and lofty goals! tiemei : Grandma, sit down and tell me everything. (tiemei helps grandmother li to a seat.) grandmother li : Ah! It’s a long story! Long ago, your grandfather was a maintenance worker in Jiang’an, near Hankou. He had two apprentices. One was your real father, Chen Zhixing. tiemei : My real father, Chen Zhixing? grandmother li : The other was your current father, Zhang Yuhe. tiemei : Oh! Zhang Yuhe? grandmother li : At that time, the country was being torn apart by feuding warlords. It was total chaos! Then, Chairman Mao’s Communist Party led the Chinese people to Revolution! In February of 1923, the Beijing–Hankou Railway workers established a labor union in Zhengzhou. Wu Peifu, an accomplice of the foreign devils, tried to stop them. At the call of the union, all of the workers on the line went on strike. More than ten thousand workers in Jiang’an took to the streets to march. It was such a cold, dark night. I was so worried about your grandfather that I couldn’t sit still and I couldn’t sleep, so I was mending some clothes by the lamp. After a while, I suddenly heard someone knocking at the door, calling, “Auntie, open the door. Quick, open up!” I hurried to open the door, and a man rushed inside! tiemei : Who was it? grandmother li : It was your father! tiemei : My father? grandmother li : Uh-huh, it was the father you have now. He was badly wounded, and he was holding this very lantern in his left hand . . . tiemei : The red lantern? grandmother li : And he was holding a baby with his right. tiemei : A baby . . . grandmother li : A baby less than a year old. tiemei : That baby . . . grandmother li : It was none other!

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tiemei : Than who? grandmother li : Than you. tiemei : Me? grandmother li : Hugging you tightly to his chest, with tears in his eyes, your father stood before me shouting, “Auntie! Auntie!” For a long time he just stared at me, unable to speak. I was terribly worried, and I urged him to tell me what had happened. He .  .  . he said, “My master and Brother Chen were both .  .  . sacrificed! This is Brother Chen’s child, an heir to the Revolution. I must raise her to carry on the Revolution.” Then he said, “Auntie! Auntie! From this moment forward, I shall be your son and this child shall be your granddaughter.” Then I . . . I took you and I held you close in my arms. tiemei : Grandma! (She throws herself into grandmother li ’s arms.) grandmother li : Be strong! Listen to Grandma! (Singing erhuang yuanban) At the strike, your real father and mother died a tragic death at the devils’ hands, But Li Yuhe threw his heart and soul into building the Revolution. He pledged his life in the martyrs’ footsteps, keeping the red lantern bright, He wiped away the blood, buried the dead, and went on with the fight. Now the Japanese invaders have come to burn, kill, and plunder, Before our eyes your father was arrested and thrown in prison. You must remember this debt of blood and tears, You must start with great ambition, cultivate your will, and settle scores with the enemy; a debt of blood must be repaid with blood! tiemei (singing erhuang yuanban): I have heard my grandmother tell the heroic and moving story of the Revolution, I have been in the wind and been in the rain since birth, Grandma! Your kindness in raising me for seventeen years is as deep as the ocean. Today, with rising will, I clearly see, A debt of blood must be repaid with blood. The next generation must carry forth the cause of our ancestors! Now I raise the red lantern to let its brilliance shine—Dad! (Changing to erhuang kuaiban) My daddy’s will is as strong as the pine tree, A heroic communist fearing nothing under the sun,

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Following in his footsteps I shall never falter. Lifting the red lantern high, the light flickering, Shining upon my daddy fighting those ferocious beasts. Generation after generation, we will carry on the fight, Never leaving the battlefield until all of the wolves are slaughtered! (tiemei and grandmother li lift up the red lantern, striking a dramatic pose. It casts a brilliant red light. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 6 Battling Hatoyama at the Banquet (Immediately following the previous scene. hatoyama’s reception room. A banquet is laid out on the table. As the curtain rises, auxiliary hou enters.) auxiliary hou : Please come in, Master Li. (li yuhe enters calmly with firm steps. Exit auxiliary hou.) li yuhe (singing erhuang yuanban): A poisoned arrow is hidden in the invitation, A sudden change in the winds and clouds means traitors lurk within. I laugh at his banquet laid out among swords and axes, Focused upon the integrity of the Revolution, I will face the enemy with composure, majestic as a mountain. (Enter hatoyama .) hatoyama : Oh, hello, old friend. li yuhe : Oh, Mr. Hatoyama, how are you? (hatoyama attempts to shake li yuhe’s hand, but li yuhe ignores the gesture. hatoyama awkwardly withdraws his outstretched hand.) hatoyama : Well! It’s been so difficult to reach you! Do you remember that year when I treated you in the railway hospital? li yuhe : Oh, in those days you were a rich Japanese doctor, and I was a poor Chinese worker. We were like two trains running on different tracks, traveling in different directions. hatoyama : Ah, no matter how you put it, we’re not strangers, are we! li yuhe (feigning politeness): Well, then, I expect that you’ll take care of everything! hatoyama : That’s why I’ve invited you for a good chat. Come here, sit down, sit down. This is a private banquet, old friend. We’ll discuss friendship and nothing else, all right?

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li yuhe (calmly surveying the enemy): I am a poor worker, and I prefer to be direct. Tell me what’s on your mind. hatoyama : Well, well! Come on, old friend, have a drink. li yuhe : It’s very kind of you, Mr. Hatoyama. But unfortunately, I don’t drink wine. (He pushes the cup away, takes out his pipe, and lights it.) hatoyama : You don’t drink? No! There’s an old Chinese saying, “Life is like a dream.” A hundred years go by in the blink of an eye. It’s like the saying “Here before us, wine and song, for man does not live long.” li yuhe (blowing out his match with disgust): Yes, listening to songs and drinking the best wine is the life of the immortals. May you always live this way, Mr. Hatoyama, and may you have a “long life”! hatoyama : Ha . . . (Forcing a smile) Old friend, I am a Buddhist. There is a line in a Buddhist sutra that says, “Boundless is the sea of bitterness, yet a man who will repent can reach the shore nearby.” li yuhe (countering): I’m not a Buddhist. But I’ve also heard the saying, “The law is strong, but the outlaws are even stronger.”2 hatoyama : Yes! Well said! However, old friend, this represents only one belief system. As a matter of fact, the highest form of belief can be condensed into only two words. li yuhe : Two words? hatoyama : That’s right. li yuhe : What are they? hatoyama : “For myself.” li yuhe : Oh, for yourself? hatoyama : No, every man for himself. li yuhe (feigning ignorance): “Every man for himself”? hatoyama : That’s right. Old friend, “Unless a man lives only for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him.” li yuhe : What? Heaven and earth destroy those who don’t live only for themselves? hatoyama : That’s the secret to success in life. li yuhe : So there’s a secret to success in life? hatoyama : There’s a secret to everything. li yuhe : Oh no, Mr. Hatoyama, to me your secret is more like trying to flatten fire with a rolling pin. It just doesn’t work! (hatoyama is taken aback.) hatoyama : This is no time for jokes, old friend! I’d like to ask for your help. li yuhe : I’m just a poor worker, what could I possibly help you with? hatoyama : All right, there’s no need to keep going back and forth about it. Hand it over! li yuhe : Hand what over? hatoyama : The secret code! li yuhe : Ha . . . secret colt or secret donkey or whatever it is you’re talking about, I’m just a railway switchman. I don’t know anything about it.

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hatoyama (threateningly): If you propose a toast but don’t drink, you’ll have to drink as a punishment, old friend. Don’t blame me for misunderstanding our friendship! li yuhe (calmly): As you wish, then! (Enter wang lianju at hatoyama’s signal.) hatoyama : Look who it is, old friend! (wang lianju trembles in li yuhe’s piercing gaze. hatoyama gives the signal for wang lianju to persuade li yuhe .) wang lianju : Old Li, you shouldn’t . . . li yuhe : Shut up! wang lianju : Old Li, you shouldn’t be so stubborn . . . li yuhe (pounds the table, stands up, and points angrily): Shameless traitor! (Singing xipi kuaiban) Only a true coward would bend his knee to surrender, A pitiful creature clinging to life and fearing death. I constantly sounded the alarm to warn you About the enemy’s threats and bribes! You swore that you would “die for the Revolution,” So how could you betray us and become their accomplice? The enemy is treating you like a dog, Yet you view disgrace as an honor! In the end, the people will put you on trial, Your betrayal is an unforgivable crime! (Terrified by li yuhe’s revolutionary integrity, the trembling traitor hides behind hatoyama .) hatoyama (pleased with himself ): Eh! Don’t be angry, old friend. Ah . . . (Waves wang lianju away) I wasn’t going to pull out my trump card, old friend, but you leave me no choice! And so, I must do it. li yuhe (confronting him directly): Humph! I expected as much! This trump card of yours is nothing but a dog with a broken back. You’ll get no satisfaction out of me, Hatoyama! hatoyama (realizing that he has been outsmarted, reveals his true self ): How can you not know what my job is, Li Yuhe? I’m the man who issues passes to hell! li yuhe (in direct opposition): Humph! And how can you not know what my job is? I’m the man who’s going to tear your hell apart! hatoyama : You must know that my torture instruments have never been vegetarians. li yuhe (contemptuously): Humph! I’ve always had an appreciation for those sorts of objects. hatoyama (trying to be threatening): Li Yuhe, I suggest you reconsider before your bones end up broken. li yuhe (overpowering the enemy): I’d rather have my bones broken than reconsider.

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hatoyama : Our military police squadron is ruthless. You’ll never get out alive! li yuhe (with determination and courage): Communists have iron wills. Death is nothing to us, Hatoyama! (Singing xipi yuanban to denounce the Japanese invaders) You Japanese warlords are wolves, Your merciless nature hidden beneath a smile. You kill my people and invade my country, (Changing to kuaiban) That so-called East Asia Co-prosperity is not co-prosperity! The Communist Party and Chairman Mao are leading the People’s Revolution, Hundreds of millions of heroes are fighting against Japan to save our nation. You seem to think that relying on traitors is effective, But it is of no more use than fishing for the moon in the water! hatoyama : Enter! (The sergeant and two japanese military police officers enter.) (Singing xipi sanban) My Five Punishments are ready for you to enjoy. (Ready to fight, li yuhe dramatically throws open his coat, striking a dramatic pose.) li yuhe (smiles coldly): Humph . . . sergeant : Move! li yuhe (singing xipi sanban): All you’ll do is loosen up my joints a little! sergeant : Get him out of here! (The two japanese military police officers seize li yuhe .) li yuhe : I don’t need your help! (As li yuhe flings his arms, the two japanese military police officers stagger backward. li yuhe calmly buttons his coat, picks up his hat, dusts it off, turns around, and holds it behind his back. He strides away, overwhelming the enemy. The sergeant and the two japanese military police officers follow.) hatoyama (utterly defeated, with no way out): He’s so fierce! (Reciting pu deng e) What makes a communist tougher than steel? My bribery and threats are of no use. I can only hope that he will confess under torture—

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(Enter the sergeant.) sergeant : Reporting! Li Yuhe would rather die than confess. hatoyama : He’d rather die than confess? sergeant : Let me take some men to search his house, Captain. hatoyama : Forget it. Communists are very vigilant. I’m afraid that he must have hidden the code some time ago. sergeant : Yes, sir! hatoyama : Bring him in! sergeant : Bring in Li Yuhe! (Two japanese military police officers drag li yuhe in. Badly wounded and stained with blood, li yuhe heroically closes in on hatoyama . Turning around, he stands up, supporting himself on a chair.) li yuhe (singing xipi daoban): You have a wolf’s heart, Hatoyama, you thief! hatoyama : The secret code! Hand it over! li yuhe : Hatoyama! (Continues singing, changing to xipi kuaiban) No matter how devastating your cruel torture, Pure gold fears not melting in the raging fire, Nothing can make me bow my head! Ha . . . (His heroic spirit shatters the enemy’s courage. li yuhe strikes a dramatic pose. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 7 Help from the Masses (Several days later. Morning. The interior and exterior of li yuhe’s house are visible. As the curtain rises, the shoemaker , a spy in disguise, is sitting close to the door, monitoring the Li home. The knife maker calls out offstage: “Any knives or scissors to sharpen?” Enter the knife maker , still yelling while vigilantly surveying the area. He sees that the signal has been taken down and notices the spy. He decides to wait for a better opportunity to make contact. At the same time, grandmother li and tiemei hear him calling and emerge from the inner room to look out the window. Exit the knife maker , nonchalantly continuing his call. The spy sees him but notices nothing out of the ordinary.)

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grandmother li : Perhaps that knife maker came to contact us, Tiemei. tiemei : Grandma, I’ll run after him with the red lantern and ask him the secret question to find out if he’s one of us. grandmother li : That won’t work. You can’t leave the house with that spy outside! tiemei : Oh no! That’s right. Then how am I supposed to go out? (Pondering) Grandma, I’ve got an idea! I’ll leave through Sister Huilian’s house! grandmother li : How can you do that, child? tiemei : The other day near the bed in the next room, a stone at the base of the wall near the bed came loose. When I was helping my dad fix it, I pulled it out and crawled through the hole for fun! grandmother li : What, you crawled through the hole? tiemei : Sister Huilian’s house is right on the other side. grandmother li : Good! Let’s ask the Tians for help. You can leave from there! Tiemei, do you remember the password your father gave you? tiemei : Yes, I do. grandmother li : All right. If you catch up with the knife maker and he gives you the right password, then take him to the west bank of the river and get the code from underneath the stone monument next to the old locust tree. tiemei : Underneath the stone monument next to the old locust tree? grandmother li : Child! Didn’t you hear your father mention it? You can’t afford to make the slightest mistake! tiemei : Don’t worry, Grandma! grandmother li : Be careful! tiemei : I will. (tiemei takes the red lantern into the inner room and exits. The shoemaker throws away an empty matchbox and knocks on the door.) shoemaker : Open up! grandmother li : Who’s there? shoemaker : It’s the shoemaker. grandmother li : Hold on a minute! (She opens the door.) shoemaker (enters): Ma’am. grandmother li : What do you want? shoemaker : I need a match. grandmother li : There are some in the cupboard. shoemaker : Ah. Where’s the girl, ma’am? (He lights a cigarette.) grandmother li : She’s not feeling well. shoemaker : Not feeling well? Where is she? grandmother li : She’s in bed in the next room. shoemaker : Oh! All right, thank you. (He exits.)

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grandmother li : Scoundrel! (At the shoemaker’s signal, two spies appear, whispering. As grandmother li closes the door, they force their way into the house.) What are you doing? spy b : We’re searching the premises. spy a : Where’s your granddaughter? grandmother li : She’s sick. spy b : She’s sick? Where is she? grandmother li : Lying down in the next room. spy b : Tell her to get up! grandmother li : The child is sick. Let her rest. spy b : Out of my way! (He pushes grandmother li aside and reaches for the door curtain. Voice from behind the curtain: “Grandma, who’s here?”) grandmother li : It’s a police inspection! (Staring at each other helplessly, the spies exit. grandmother li closes the door, turns around, looking surprised. huilian emerges from the inner room.) Ah! Huilian, how did you get in here? huilian : Grandmother Li! (Singing xipi liushui) Tiemei has already left through my house, My mother-in-law sent me here to tell you not to worry. When I arrived, I heard the spies interrogating you, To deceive the enemy, I pretended to be Tiemei lying in bed. When Tiemei comes back, she can return through my house, With me covering for you, you don’t need to worry. grandmother li (with gratitude): You’ve helped us so much! (tiemei emerges from the inner room.) tiemei : Grandma! Sister Huilian! huilian : Tiemei, you’re back! grandmother li : If it hadn’t been for Huilian, we’d be in serious trouble. huilian : I’m glad you’re back. I should head back, too, and see if everything’s okay. tiemei : Thank you! (huilian exits into the inner room.) grandmother li : Quick, go tidy up in there, Tiemei! (tiemei goes into the inner room. grandmother li hangs up the red lantern. tiemei returns.) Child, did you catch up with the knife maker? tiemei : Oh! I looked for him on several streets, but I couldn’t find him. I was worried that I was taking too long and might get caught by the spies, so I hurried home.

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grandmother li : Oh! (Enter auxiliary hou. He sends the shoemaker away and knocks at the door.) tiemei : Who is it? auxiliary hou : Captain Hatoyama is here to see you. tiemei : Grandma! grandmother li : Tiemei, if I get arrested, you’ve got to do everything you can to get the secret code to the Cypress Mountains! tiemei : Don’t worry! auxiliary hou : Open up! grandmother li : Go open the door! tiemei : Okay! (She opens the door. hatoyama enters the house. auxiliary hou follows and stands guard.) hatoyama : Oh, hello, ma’am! grandmother li : You are Mr. Hatoyama? hatoyama : Yes, I’m Hatoyama. grandmother li : Just a moment, please. I’ll just tidy up a bit and go with you! hatoyama : Oh, that’s not why I’m here. Li Yuhe said that he left something here with you, ma’am. grandmother li : Left what? hatoyama : The secret code! grandmother li : What is he talking about, girl? hatoyama : It’s a book. grandmother li : A book? hatoyama : That’s right. grandmother li : Mr. Hatoyama. (Singing xipi yuanban) My family has always suffered hunger and cold, In three generations none of us learned to read; why would we have a book hidden in our house? hatoyama (continues the singing): Li Yuhe has told me that the book is here, so why try to hide it from me? tiemei (continues the singing): Let my dad come and find it himself; why should you go to such trouble? hatoyama : All right, all right. If you give me the book, then Li Yuhe can come home immediately, and I’ll make him a deputy section chief. I’ll guarantee you all wealth and glory.

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grandmother li : Humph! (Continues the singing) I look upon wealth and glory as filth, Impoverished people find coarse food to be delicious. Since you have taken so much trouble to seek it— (To tiemei ) Go take a look for him. (tiemei goes into the inner room and gets an almanac, which she hands to grandmother li .) (Continues singing, to hatoyama ) This is so you won’t have to leave empty-handed. (She hands the “book” to hatoyama .) hatoyama : Excellent! That’s it! That’s it! An almanac? (Flipping through it) I’ll take it back with me and study it. Are you coming to see your son, ma’am? grandmother li : All right! Tiemei, look after the house! hatoyama : No! The little girl has to come, too! tiemei : Let’s go, Grandma! (Singing xipi sanban) I’ve learned to be courageous like Daddy, so I have nothing to fear— (grandmother li and tiemei leave the house. hatoyama follows. auxiliary hou orders the spies to seal the door.) grandmother li (continues the singing): People of the Revolution can withstand the collapse of heaven and earth! (Grandmother and granddaughter go forward, striking a dramatic pose. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 8 Battle on the Execution Field (The middle of the night. A corner of the Japanese military police squadron prison. As the curtain rises, the sergeant and auxiliary hou are waiting. Enter hatoyama .) hatoyama : It seems as though a public interrogation won’t get us the secret code! Is the bug in place?

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auxiliary hou : Already installed. hatoyama : Good. We’ll see what he says when he sees his mother. Maybe we’ll find some clues. Bring in the old woman! auxiliary hou : Yes, sir! (Offstage) Let’s go! (Enter grandmother li .) hatoyama : Do you know where we are, ma’am? grandmother li : It’s the military police headquarters! hatoyama : This is where your son will ascend to heaven! Ma’am, when a man commits a crime and his mother refuses to save his life even though it’s within her power, wouldn’t you consider that kind of mother cruel? grandmother li (speaking righteously and sternly, putting him on trial ): What are you talking about? You arrested my son for no reason and now you want to kill him. You’re the criminal! You’re the one who’s cruel! You kill the Chinese people, and yet you blame them for it. Now you want to go and blame an old woman like me? hatoyama : Fine! Go see your son! (grandmother li goes without hesitation. hatoyama signals auxiliary hou to follow her.) hatoyama : Take Li Yuhe over there! sergeant : Bring in Li . . . Yu . . . he! (The lighting changes. A corner of the execution field: an enclosure, a steep slope, and a sturdy pine tree towering overhead. In the distance, a tall mountain reaches into the clouds.) li yuhe (offstage, singing erhuang daoban): At the prison guard’s wolflike howl, I move forward— (enters the field and strikes a dramatic pose) leaving the prison. (Two japanese military police officers push him. With a strong sense of righteousness, li yuhe is persistent and undaunted. li yuhe performs Peking opera dance steps: he moves quickly to the side using both legs, backs up a few steps on one leg, pauses, turns around on one leg, and swings the other leg in a dramatic pose. He boldly advances, forcing the two japanese military police officers to retreat. li yuhe strokes his wounded chest, then places one foot on a rock and rubs his knee. He looks down at his chains with contempt, his noble spirit soaring.) (Singing huilong) Look at me, wearing iron shackles, wrapped in iron chains, with my hands and feet locked together; still, they cannot lock down my lofty aspirations rising to the clouds!

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(A sharp pain in his wounded leg causes li yuhe to back up a few steps on one leg, rub his leg, and stand on one leg in a dramatic pose.) (Singing yuanban) That thief Hatoyama used every means of torture to obtain the secret code, My bones are broken, my flesh is ripped to shreds, but my will is even stronger. Walking boldly onto the execution field, I raise my head and look upward, I see the red flag of the Revolution raised high, The flames of resistance against Japan are spreading. Japanese invaders, we’ll see how much longer your rampage can last! When the storm has passed (changing to mansanyan), a hundred flowers will burst with color, A new China will shine upon the world as brilliant as the morning sun. And when that time comes, red flags will fly throughout the nation, This thought bolsters my confidence and strengthens my will to fight! (Changing to yuanban) I haven’t done enough to serve the Party, The code, I fear, will never reach the Cypress Mountains. As I alone had contact with Wang Lianju, I do not fear that he can cause any more damage. My mother and daughter are just as courageous as I am, Thief Hatoyama, you want the secret code, but no matter where you search, no matter where you look, even if you search all of heaven and earth, you will never get your hands on it; the Revolutionaries’ indomitable spirit courageously marches on! (Enter grandmother li .) grandmother li : Yuhe! li yuhe (looks back): Ma! grandmother li (rushes over to support li yuhe , singing erhuang sanban): That scene seventeen years ago flashes before my eyes! And hatred for the enemy of my class and my nation fills my heart. These, these, these Japanese invaders, so brutal and dangerous, Have beaten you half to death . . . my son! My son! li yuhe : Mother, don’t grieve for me! grandmother li (continues singing): With such a fine son . . . a mother should not grieve!

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li yuhe : My good mother! (Singing erhuang erliu) Raised by the Party to be a man of steel, I fight the enemy and never waver. I am not afraid of torture, to have every bone in my body broken, I am not afraid to be locked up until I wear a hole through the prison cell floor. My heart breaks to see our nation torn apart, I burn with rage for the suffering of my people! However hard and dangerous the road to Revolution, We must press forward in the steps of the fallen! Although your child dies without regret, There is still the “account” (indicates the secret code) that has not yet been settled; for that, your son cannot rest in peace. I long to soar through the air, To dance on the wind over the mountains, So that I might free millions of my compatriots from suffering. How gladly would I die then for the Revolution! (Enter auxiliary hou, followed by two japanese military police officers .) auxiliary hou : Old woman, Captain Hatoyama wishes to speak with you. grandmother li (to li yuhe ): Son, I already know what he is going to say. auxiliary hou : Come on! (Exit grandmother li , fearlessly. Exit the two japanese military police officers .) Bring in Li Tiemei! (Enter tiemei , hurriedly.) tiemei : Dad . . . (Exit auxiliary hou.) (Singing erhuang sanban) Day and night I’ve been longing to see Daddy again, And now . . . your whole body is bloody, and your entire face is battered . . . Oh, Daddy! li yuhe : Child, don’t cry! (Lovingly caressing tiemei ’s hair, resolutely) Be brave, my child! (Helping tiemei to her feet, with emotion) My child! (Continues singing) There is something I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, but I couldn’t find the words,

Th e Re d La nte rn (1970)

It has been hidden in my heart for seventeen years. I . . . tiemei (quickly interrupting): Dad! Don’t say it. You are my real father! (She kneels.) (Singing erhuang kuaiban) Don’t say it, Dad; don’t discuss it, Dad. I know the bitter story of the past seventeen years . . . (li yuhe helps tiemei to her feet, with a surge of emotion.) li yuhe (singing erhuang yuanban): People say that love for one’s flesh and blood is the most important thing in this world, But the way I see it, love for one’s social class is as weighty as Mount Tai. A proletarian fights courageously throughout his life for the people’s liberation, Making a home wherever I am, I have lived in poverty for decades. The red lantern is my sole possession, You must keep it safely by your side. tiemei (singing erhuang kuaisanyan): Daddy has given me a priceless treasure, It will light my path forever. Daddy has passed on to me his character, So that I may stand firm as a rock. Daddy has passed on to me his wisdom, So that I may be clear in my heart, never to be deceived. Daddy has passed on to me his courage, So that I might dare to fight the ravenous beasts. The red lantern has been passed down the family line. Oh, Daddy! If your wealth could be carried by a car or loaded on a ship, a thousand cars wouldn’t be enough to carry it and ten thousand ships wouldn’t be enough to load it. I, Tiemei, will keep it safely by my side. li yuhe (singing erhuang sanban): For ten thousand miles the Yangtze River’s waves swell! Our family’s red lantern will always have someone to pass it on.

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(To tiemei ) If you are able to return home, Stay with family through hunger and cold, and “settle the account” (gestures to indicate the secret code), then of worries I shall be free. (Enter a group of japanese military police officers , pushing grandmother li forward. Enter the sergeant.) sergeant : Captain Hatoyama is giving you a final five minutes to reconsider. If you don’t hand over the secret code, you will all be executed by firing squad! (Pulls tiemei near) Little girl, these are your final moments. Hand over the secret code, and your family survives! Understand? Speak! (tiemei unflinchingly returns to her family’s side.) The secret code! tiemei : I. Don’t. Know! sergeant : Execute them all! japanese military police officers : Hai! li yuhe : Don’t you threaten us! Tiemei, let’s get your grandma and all leave together! (The music of the “Internationale” begins to play. Courageous and steadfast, the three of them link their arms and face forward. Holding their heads high, they ascend the high slope.) (Enter hatoyama .) hatoyama : Not so fast! I’ll give you one last chance. Please do reconsider! li yuhe (stirred with a spirit that startles the heavens): Hatoyama! The Chinese People— the people of the Chinese Communist Party—can never be annihilated! You must carefully consider your fate! hatoyama : Well, how frightening! (To the sergeant ) Carry out the execution according to plan. (Exit hatoyama .) sergeant : Fire! (Amid the majestic music of the “Internationale,” the three generations of the li family heroically face death. With their heads held high, they exit the stage. Exit the sergeant and japanese military police officers . The field is quiet. li yuhe screams offstage: “Down with Japanese imperialism!” and “Long live the Chinese Communist Party!” All three generations cry out, “Long live Chairman Mao!” Sound of gunfire. Two japanese military police officers pull tiemei onstage and push her over.) tiemei (stands up and turns around to shout): Dad! Grandma! (Enter hatoyama , auxiliary hou, and the sergeant.) hatoyama : Li Tiemei, hand over the secret code! auxiliary hou and sergeant : Speak! (tiemei glares at hatoyama furiously.)

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hatoyama : Let her go! auxiliary hou : Yes, sir! Move! (The sergeant pushes tiemei away; the japanese military police officers follow.) Captain, why did you let her go? hatoyama : This is what they call casting a longer line to catch a bigger fish. auxiliary hou : Yes, sir! (Lights dim.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 9 Advancing Wave upon Wave (Early morning, immediately following the previous scene. Interior and exterior views of li yuhe’s house. As the curtain rises, tiemei enters the house, leaning on the door. Looking around the room, she is filled with grief and indignation at the thought of her martyred father and grandmother.) tiemei : Dad! Grandma! (She throws herself on the table and sobs; after a moment, she slowly raises her head and looks at the red lantern, rushes toward it, and holds it aloft.) Grandma! Dad! I understand why you had to die. I will carry out your dying wish and be the heir to the red lantern! I must deliver the secret code to the Cypress Mountains. The debt of the deep sea of blood must be repaid with blood. Hatoyama, oh Hatoyama! Whether you capture me or set me free, you’ll never get your hands on the secret code! (Singing xipi daoban) I explode with rage at the thought of the enemy! (Changing to kuaisanyan) I grind my teeth to suppress my hatred. That thief Hatoyama will stop at nothing to get the secret code, Even gunning down Grandma and Daddy! (Changing to erliu) Biting my resentment, biting my hatred, I chew them up and choke them down,

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My hatred and resentment will take root in my heart! I will not bow my head; I will not retreat, (Changing to kuaiban) No tears shall fall upon my cheeks, They shall flow into my heart to ignite the spark. Flames of rage rise ten thousand feet high, They will incinerate the forces of evil! I, Tiemei, am prepared: I fear neither capture nor exile; I fear neither the crack of the whip nor the confines of prison! You can break my bones and I will never hand over the secret code. Thief Hatoyama, just you wait— This is Tiemei’s answer to you! Onward! (She takes the red lantern and prepares to leave. huilian emerges from the inner room.) huilian : Tiemei! tiemei : Sister Huilian! (She puts down the red lantern and bolts the door.) huilian : My mother is here to see you! (aunt tian emerges from the inner room.) aunt tian : Tiemei! tiemei : Auntie . . . (She throws herself into aunt tian ’s arms.) aunt tian : Child, we all know what happened to your dad and grandma. We’ll just see how long these man-eating savages can run wild! Tiemei, at this moment there are spies out there looking for you. You can’t leave through this door, so you’d better go through our house! Quickly, switch clothes with Huilian! tiemei : No! Auntie, I can’t get you into trouble. aunt tian : Child! (Singing xipi sanban while helping the two girls switch their clothing) If the poor do not help each other, no one else will, We are two bitter gourds on the same vine. We must help you to escape from danger, To free you from the tiger’s jaws so that you may forge ahead. tiemei : Auntie, what if something happens to you? aunt tian : We come from working-class families and share a common enemy. No matter what the risk, I must see you off safely.

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tiemei (with gratitude): Auntie . . . aunt tian : Hurry, child! huilian : Tiemei, hurry! tiemei : Sister, Auntie, I will never forget you! aunt tian : Hurry! (tiemei picks up the red lantern and exits into the inner room.) Huilian, be very careful! (aunt tian exits into the inner room. huilian wraps tiemei ’s scarf around her head, obscuring the lower half of her face. Carrying a basket, she leaves the house, closing the door behind her, exits. spies b and c emerge from behind a telephone pole and follow her. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 10 Ambushing and Annihilating the Enemy (Immediately following the previous scene. On the road leading to the Cypress Mountains. As the curtain rises, the knife maker enters with two guerrilla soldiers dressed as peasants. Enter tiemei . They meet.) tiemei : Uncle Knife Maker! (She takes the red lantern from the basket and holds it up.) knife maker : Tiemei! (Turning to the two guerrilla soldiers ) Stand guard! tiemei : Uncle, I’ve found you at last! My dad and my grandma . . . knife maker : We know everything. Don’t be sad, Tiemei. Turn your sorrow into strength. We will be avenged! And the secret code? tiemei : I’ve got it! knife maker : Excellent. tiemei : Uncle, thanks to my neighbor Sister Tian Huilian disguising herself as me and distracting the spies, I was able to safely bring the secret code here. knife maker : Tian Huilian’s family will definitely attract the spies’ attention. (To guerrilla a ) Old Feng, find a way to relocate the Tian family as quickly as possible. guerrilla a : Right away! (He exits. A police siren sounds.) guerrilla b : Old Zhao, the enemy is coming! knife maker : You take Tiemei up the mountain. We’ll deal with them. (guerrilla b leads tiemei away. wang lianju, offstage, shouts “Halt!” Enter japanese military police officers , led by hatoyama and wang lianju; the knife maker blocks their way. hatoyama shouts, “Get him!” The knife maker grabs wang lianju ’s pistol, killing a japanese military police officer . He hits wang lianju with his workbench.

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Numerous guerrillas leap from a grove, striking a dramatic pose. On a cliff, a guerrilla kills a japanese military police officer . hatoyama and wang lianju flee, pursued by the knife maker and the guerrillas . The guerrillas dash down from the cliff in pursuit of the enemy. A guerrilla with a red-tasseled rifle bravely fights two japanese military police officers . They flee, pursued by the guerrilla . The knife maker pursues wang lianju. They wrestle. Enter h atoyama and numerous japanese military police officers . Hand-to-hand combat ensues. The guerrilla force annihilates the Japanese invaders. They execute the traitor and eviscerate hatoyama with a knife. The ambush is a great success. The guerrilla force strikes a dramatic pose. Lights fade.) (Curtain.)

S CE NE 11 Forging Ahead in Victory (Immediately following the previous scene. The Cypress Mountains. As the curtain rises, red flags wave across the clear blue sky. The guerrilla captain walks down the hillside. Enter the knife maker with tiemei . Enter numerous guerrillas . tiemei solemnly gives the secret code to the guerrilla captain . Brandishing their swords and rifles, the crowd joyfully celebrates their victory. tiemei holds aloft the red lantern; brilliant rays of light emanate from it.) (The curtain slowly falls.)

Not es

1.

2.

This translation is based on the text in Zhongguo Jingjutuan (China Peking Opera Troupe), “Hongdeng ji” (The Red Lantern), Hongqi zazhi, May 1970, 23–46. Xipi sanban refers to the mode (in this case, xipi) and the metrical type (in this case, sanban) of the aria sung here by Li Yuhe. Jingju, also known as Peking opera, has two modal systems, xipi and erhuang, each taking its name from the principal mode within each system. There are ten standard metrical types in jingju: yuanban, manban, kuaiban, kuaisanyan, erliuban, liushuiban, sanban, daoban, yaoban, and huilong. (The final ban can be dropped from longer terms like erliuban and liushuiban, as is the case in this text.) Model revolutionary jingju like The Red Lantern can also include combined metrical types and entirely new ones, as well as music from sources beyond jingju. For detailed explanations of these various modal and metrical terms, see Elizabeth Wichmann, Listening to Theatre: The Aural Dimension of Beijing Opera (Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 1991), 53–130. The 1970 edition of the play has a footnote at this point. The footnote reads: “The law is strong, but the outlaws are even stronger: a fixed expression [chengyu]. Here, ‘law’

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refers to the reactionary ruling class, and ‘outlaw’ refers to the rebellious spirit of the proletariat and the people of the Revolution in their struggle against the reactionaries. Li Yuhe uses this expression to strike back at Hatoyama, expressing that the Japanese invaders may temporarily have the upper hand, but the truly great strength belongs to the people of the Revolution. The Japanese invaders face certain defeat, and China, certain victory.”

The Bus Stop (1983) Gao Xingjian Tra nsla ted by S hi ao- L i ng Y u

C ha r a c t e rs silent man ⒩ㄲ☨㑉, a middle-aged man old man ▙㮙, in his sixties girl ⤟ㅵ, twenty-eight years old hothead 䠾㨏㽳, nineteen years old glasses ▝㬇ⳇ☨, thirty years old mother ㄾ㎗, forty years old carpenter 㖠⡓, forty-five years old director ma ⿷㻙㑌, fifty years old (The ages listed represent each character’s age at his or her first appearance.) Place: A bus stop in the suburb of a city (A bus-stop sign stands in the middle of the stage. The words on the sign are no longer legible due to years of exposure to the elements. Beside the bus-stop sign are two rows of iron railings where the passengers line up. The railings are shaped like a cross, with each of the four posts a different length. This shape is symbolic of a crossroads, or a fork in the road on the journey of life, or a way station in the lives of the characters. The actors can come onto the stage from all directions. The silent man comes onto the stage carrying a bag. He stops under the sign to wait for the bus. The old man comes on empty-handed.)

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old man : Did the bus just pass? (The silent man nods.) Are you going to town? (The silent man nods.) When you go to town on Saturday afternoon, you have to start out early. If you wait till you get off work to catch the bus, you won’t make it. (The silent man smiles.) (Turning his head to look) Not a bus in sight. Wouldn’t you know there would be fewer buses on a Saturday afternoon, when everybody wants to go to town? If you leave one minute too late, you’ll hit the “rush hour”—what a weird expression! The moment everybody gets off work, the rush begins. They all hurry to squeeze in, but you have to be strong to push your way through the crowd. At my age I just can’t do it. It’s a good thing I got an early start, before those who knock off early even get started on their way. I didn’t even dare to take a nap. (Feels relieved and yawns) If I didn’t have important business in town, I wouldn’t come now. (Taking out a cigarette) Do you smoke? (The silent man shakes his head.) It’s better not to smoke. Why waste your money to get bronchitis? Besides, it’s hard to get good cigarettes. The minute the Big Front Door cigarettes1 arrive in the stores, people start lining up in the street; the line goes all the way around the corner. Each customer is limited to two packs. When your turn finally comes, the sales clerk turns his head and walks away. If you ask him a question, he doesn’t bother answering you. Is this “serving the customers”? It’s only lip service! All those Big Front Door cigarettes have gone out the back door! It’s just like waiting for the bus. When you stand in line according to the rules, there are always some who don’t go by the rules. They push to the front, wave to the driver, and the door opens for them. They’re the “preferred passengers with connections.” God! How I hate that term! By the time you try to get on, the door is slammed shut again. That’s how they “serve the passengers”! What can you do but stare at them in frustration? Everybody knows this happens, but nothing is ever done about it. (Looking at the side of the stage) Hey, someone is coming. You stand at the head of the line, and I’ll stand behind you. In a little while when the bus comes, all hell will break loose. Whoever is strongest will get a seat. That’s how people behave nowadays. (The silent man smiles. The girl comes onstage holding a small handbag. She stops at a little distance from them. The hothead enters, and with one leap sits down on the iron railing. He then takes out a cigarette with a filter tip and lights it with a lighter.) (To the silent man ) See, that’s the fad nowadays. (The silent man taps the iron railing to show his agreement.) hothead : How long have you been waiting? (The old man pretends not to hear.) How long does it take for a bus to come?

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old man (peevishly): Go ask the bus company. hothead : That’s a funny answer. I’m asking you. (The silent man takes out a book from his bag and starts to read.) old man : Asking me? I’m not the dispatcher. hothead : I’m asking you how long you’ve been waiting. old man : Young man, that’s not how you ask a question. hothead (realizing his mistake): Grandpa. old man : I’m not your grandpa. hothead (sarcastically): Then Your Honor . . . old man : There’s no need for that. (hothead, feeling rejected, starts to whistle while glancing at the old man and swinging his legs.) This railing is for people to rest their hands on while standing in line. It is not a seat. hothead : You can’t hurt it by sitting on it. It’s not made of straw. old man : Don’t you see it is tilted? hothead : Did I make it tilt? old man : If everybody sits on it and rocks it, how can it not tilt? hothead : Is it your private property? old man : I make it my business to protect public property. hothead : Don’t argue with me! Why don’t you go home and argue with your old woman? (He shakes the railing even more.) old man (trying his best to control his anger, turns to the silent man ): You see . . . (The silent man has been reading; he has paid no attention to the conversation. glasses comes running.) (To the girl ) Get in line. In a little while there’ll be total chaos. (hothead jumps down from the railing and pushes forward. He stands in front of the girl . The mother arrives, hurriedly lugging a big bag.) Let’s observe the rule of first come, first served. girl (to the old man in an almost inaudible voice): It doesn’t matter. I’ll just stand here. (The sound of a bus is heard. The carpenter arrives with big, vigorous strides, carrying a tool bag. He stands at the end of the line. The sound of the bus gets nearer; everyone looks in the direction of the bus. The silent man puts his book away. The line slowly moves forward.) (Turning back to look at glasses ) Don’t push. old man : Get in line, everybody get in line. (The sound of the bus moves past them. The hothead suddenly gets in front of the old man and the silent man and runs to the head of the line.) others (to hothead ): Hey! Hey . . . hey . . . (The bus does not stop.) all : Stop! Why didn’t it stop? Hello . . . (hothead runs a few steps after the bus. The sound of the bus fades away.) hothead : Damn it!

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old man (angrily): The bus is not going to stop if we all act like this. mother : Hey, you people in front—please get in line! glasses (to hothead ): Get in line, get in line! Can’t you hear? hothead : What’s the matter with you? After all, I’m in front of you. mother : There are not that many of us. Wouldn’t it be better if we got on the bus in an orderly fashion? glasses (to hothead ): You were behind her. old man (to the silent man ): Ill-bred. hothead : You’re well-bred? mother : Do you think you don’t have to stand in line? old man (enunciating every syllable very slowly): You jump the queue when you’re supposed to stand in line. That’s what I call ill-bred. hothead : If your feet itch, tell your old woman to scratch them for you. Why are you taking it out on me? mother : Young man, don’t be so rude. glasses : We all tell you to line up. Why are you so insensitive? hothead : Who says I didn’t line up? The bus didn’t stop. Why are you all yelling at me? glasses : You were behind someone else. hothead : I’m in front of you anyway. old man (trembling with rage): Get in line! hothead : Why do you keep stirring up trouble? You think I’m afraid of you? old man : Are you looking for a fight? (The silent man walks over to them. Seeing that he is quite strong, the hothead backs up a step but continues leaning against the railing so as not to appear weak.) hothead : If you’re so powerful, why didn’t you make the bus stop? (He leans against the railing and shakes it some more.) old man : Young man, didn’t you learn anything in school? hothead : It’s none of your business. If you’re so learned, why aren’t you riding in a limousine? old man : Waiting for a bus is nothing to be ashamed of; it’s social morality. Didn’t your teachers teach you that? hothead : We never had such a lesson. old man : Your parents didn’t teach you either? hothead : Your mother taught you, how come you didn’t get on the bus either? (The old man falls silent, not knowing what to say. He glances at the silent man , who has resumed reading.) (Smugly) If you’ve never gotten on a bus before, you’ve lived all these years in vain. glasses : We’re all waiting for the bus; please be a little considerate of the others. hothead : Am I not standing in line? I’m right in front of you. glasses (pointing at the girl ): You were behind her. hothead : She can get on ahead of me. But when the bus comes, she must be able to squeeze in.

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girl (turning her back to him): How disgusting! hothead (to the old man ): If you can get on, just go ahead. If you can’t, don’t blame me. And don’t block the way either. If you’re such an educated and sensible person, you must know how to get on a bus. I haven’t had much schooling, but I sure can get on a bus. (The sound of a bus is heard.) mother : The bus is coming. Everybody get in line. hothead (still leaning on the railing, to the girl ): I’m after you. If you can’t get on later, don’t blame me for pushing you. girl (frowning): You go ahead. (The sound of the bus is getting closer. The silent man puts his book away. The carpenter , who has been squatting all this time, stands up. Everybody pushes forward along the railing.) glasses (to the girl ): Try to get on the bus from the side. Hold on to the door handle. (The girl looks at glasses but says nothing. Everybody moves forward in the direction of the bus. hothead stands outside the railing, following right behind the girl .) old man : Stop! Stop! glasses : Hello . . . stop! mother : We’ve been waiting a long time! girl : The one before this one didn’t stop. hothead : That son of a bitch . . . carpenter : Hey! (They all run after the bus and crowd to one corner of the stage. hothead suddenly dashes forward; glasses grabs him. hothead swings his arm; glasses seizes him by his sleeve. hothead turns around and slaps glasses . The sound of the bus becomes faint.) glasses : How dare you hit me? hothead : So what if I hit you? (The two fight.) old man : They’re fighting! They’re fighting! mother : Young people nowadays. girl (to glasses ): Why don’t you get out of his way? glasses : That troublemaker! hothead (rushing forward): I’ll slap you again! (The silent man and the carpenter separate them.) carpenter : You both stop! Stop! You guys have nothing better to do? glasses : Stinking asshole! hothead : You son of a bitch! mother : Oh, how awful. Don’t you people have any shame? hothead : Why did he pull my sleeve? glasses : All I did was give him a little tug. Why didn’t you stay in line?

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hothead : Don’t try to be a hero in front of the womenfolk. If you’re really somebody, let’s take a little walk. glasses : Do you think I’m scared of you? You idiot! (hothead lunges at glasses again, but the carpenter grabs his wrist, making him unable to move.) carpenter : Don’t make any trouble. Go stand in the back. hothead : It’s none of your business. carpenter : Go to the back! (He grabs him by the wrist and drags him to the rear of the line.) old man : That’s right. Don’t let him create any more trouble. Otherwise, none of us can get on the bus. (To the silent man ) He has it coming. (The silent man did not hear what was said. He has started reading again.) hothead : I was at the front of the line. Do you think only you people can go to town, but I can’t? mother : Nobody said you can’t go. old man (to the mother ): We all go to town for some purpose, but he only wants to make trouble. There are those “three-handed” people2 on the bus; we’d better watch out for them. (Everyone feels his wallet except the silent man and the carpenter .) hothead : What makes you think you’re so important? Old turtle! (The girl and the mother smile at each other. The old man glances at them disapprovingly.) mother (quickly changing the subject, to glasses ): There’s no need for you to get into a fight with him. You’re no match for him. glasses (heroically): Has anyone seen such a troublemaker? No one will be able to get on the bus because of him. Are you going to town? mother : My husband and child live in the city. It’s such a headache trying to catch a bus on Saturdays. You have to fight your way on. glasses : Why don’t you ask to be transferred to the city? mother : Who doesn’t want to be transferred to the city? But you’ve got to have connections. What can we do? girl : Two buses have passed without stopping. glasses : They’re already full before they leave the starting point. Are you going to town for some business? (The girl nods.) You’d do better to get on at the starting point. Where do you live? (The girl looks at him with a guarded expression and does not answer his question. glasses , feeling put out, adjusts his glasses. The silent man closes his book and turns to look in the direction from which the bus had come. He appears a little anxious and buries himself in his book again.) old man : I’m really worried. I have to be at the Cultural Palace in the city by seven o’clock. mother : You really have a zest for life. Going to town to watch a show?

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old man : No such luck. Let the townspeople watch the shows; I’m going to a chess game. mother : What? old man : A chess game. Chariot, horse, cannon—do you understand? Checkmate! girl : Oh, to play chess. You must be crazy about it. old man : My young lady, I’ve played chess all my life! glasses : Everyone has his interest. If people didn’t have a passion for something, life would be very dull. old man : Well said! I’ve studied all kinds of chess manuals. From Patriarch Zhang’s Secret Methods for Chess Playing to the recently published Solutions to One Hundred Unfinished Chess Games—I can show you all the moves without missing a single one! Do you play chess too? glasses : I play occasionally. old man : It’s not enough just to play it occasionally; there’s a lot to chess. It’s a specialized learning. glasses : Yes, it’s not easy to play it well. old man : Have you heard of Li Mosheng? mother (seeing that the carpenter’s bag is next to hers, she moves her bag closer to herself ): Do you do carpentry work? carpenter : Mm— glasses : Which Li Mosheng? mother : You work on Saturdays? carpenter (too lazy to respond): Uh. old man : You say you play chess but you don’t even know Li Mosheng? glasses (apologetically): I have no recollection . . . mother : Do you fix chair legs? Our— carpenter (interrupting her): I make fine furniture. old man : Don’t you read the evening news? glasses : I’ve been busy preparing for the college entrance exam. old man (losing interest): Then you don’t even know the ABCs of chess. mother (turning to the girl ): Does your family also live in the city? girl : No, I have to do something there. mother (looking her up and down): To meet a friend? (The girl nods with embarrassment.) He must be a good young man. What work does he do? (The girl shuffles her foot, her head bent.) Is the wedding date near? girl : What are you saying! (Taking a handkerchief from her handbag and fanning herself ) How come the bus isn’t here yet? glasses : The dispatcher must be chatting with someone and has forgotten the time. mother : Is this how they “serve the passengers”? old man : It’s the passengers who serve them. If there are no people waiting at the bus stop, how can they prove their importance? You might as well be patient and wait.

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mother : In the time we’ve been waiting here I could have washed a big tub of dirty clothes. girl : You rush home on Saturday to wash clothes? mother : This is what married life is like: that husband of mine only reads his books; he doesn’t know how to do anything else—can’t even wash a small handkerchief! When you look for a husband, don’t get a bookworm like that. A more resourceful person would have moved his family to the city long ago. old man : But you asked for it. Why don’t you have him transferred to the country? Every week you wait for the bus, push and shove to get on the bus. How can you stand it? mother : I have a child and I must think about his future. As you well know, rural schools are not up to standard. How many of their graduates get into college? (Nodding toward hothead ) I wouldn’t want my Peipei to end up like that and ruin his future. (The sound of a bus is heard.) girl : The bus is coming! glasses : It’s really coming. It’s empty too. mother (lifting her big bag): Don’t push. We can all get on and everybody will have a seat. hothead (to the old man ): You’d better watch your step. If you trip and lose your wallet and can’t pay for your ticket, you’ll really make a fool of yourself. old man : Young man, don’t be so sure of yourself. Sooner or later it will be your turn to weep. (To the others) No need to rush. Everybody line up to get on the bus. (They pull themselves together and form a neat line. The sound of the bus gets closer. director ma arrives just in time, his jacket unbuttoned, his hands swinging. He walks straight toward the bus.) others : Hey, get in line! What’s the matter? Don’t you know the rules? Go stand in the back! director ma (disagreeably): I just want to take a look. You people line up all you want. glasses : Have you never seen a bus before? director ma : I’ve never seen anyone like you before. (Staring at him) I’m looking for someone. (The sound of a bus passes by them; again the bus does not stop. director ma anxiously runs to the front of the bus stop.) (Waving repeatedly) Hey! Hey! Old Wang! Driver Wang! I’m Old Ma of the general supplies store! (The group breaks up and they all run after the bus.) glasses : Why didn’t it stop? girl : Several buses have come and gone. Stop this one quickly! mother : There were only a few passengers on the bus. Why didn’t it stop? director ma (chases the bus, running and shouting): Let me on! Open your front door! I’m Old Ma of the general supplies store! Just take me along . . . old man (cursing at the driver): How can you act like this? Don’t you have any concern for the passengers?

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carpenter : That son of a bitch! hothead (picking up a stone and throwing it at the bus): I’m going to smash you to pieces! (The sound of the bus becomes fainter and fainter. The silent man gazes in the direction of the bus.) director ma : Okay. From now on don’t you bus companies expect any favors from me. old man : Are you Director Ma of the general supplies store? director ma (putting on airs): What about it? old man : You know the driver? director ma : They’ve changed drivers. Those goddamned ingrates! old man : Oh, that’s why they don’t appreciate what you’ve done for them. director ma : Don’t talk about it anymore. My friendly relationship with them is over. Next time those bus company people come to me, I’ll treat them just like everybody else. (Taking out a cigarette) Do you smoke? old man (glancing at the brand of the cigarette): No, thanks. I forgot to bring my glasses with me. director ma : It’s the Big Front Door brand. old man : That brand is hard to get. director ma : That’s for sure. Day before yesterday, the bus company people came to me, and I let them have twenty cartons. I had no idea they’re so mean. old man : How about letting me have a carton? director ma : That’d be tough; they’re in short supply. old man : The Big Front Door has gone out the back door. No wonder these buses don’t stop at their stops either. director ma : What do you mean by that? old man : Nothing. director ma : What does “nothing” mean? old man : It doesn’t have any meaning. director ma : What is the meaning of “it doesn’t have any meaning”? old man : It doesn’t have any meaning means it doesn’t have any meaning. director ma : “It doesn’t have any meaning means it doesn’t have any meaning” does have meaning. old man : Then what do you think it means? director ma : It’s very clear. You’re saying that, as a director, I’m leading the way to open back doors. Isn’t that right? old man : You said it yourself. (The silent man paces back and forth in agitation.) glasses (reading his flash cards): Book, pig, desk, dog, pig, dog, desk, book . . .3 carpenter : Which country’s English are you reading? glasses : English is English. There’s no which country. Well, I’m reading American English. The British and American people both speak English, but their pronunciations are different. It’s just like the word “I” in Chinese; you say “an,” they say “zan.” In order to take the college entrance examination, we also have to take a test in for-

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eign languages. I’ve never studied English before. I have to start from scratch now. I can’t just stand here waiting for the bus and wasting my time. carpenter : Go ahead and study. Study. mother (murmurs to the audience at the same time as the girl ): My Peipei is waiting for me to make sweet dumplings for him. He doesn’t like those made with sugar, bean paste, or five-kinds-of-nuts fillings . . . He only likes sesame seed filling . . . girl (in unison with the mother ): We’re supposed to meet at seven fifteen in front of the park entrance, across the street, under the third streetlamp. I’m to carry a purplish red handbag, and he’ll be leaning against a Flying Dove bicycle . . . (The silent man walks up to them and looks at them with a melancholy expression. They stop talking.) director ma (addressing the old man ): Do you know what’s meant by “commodities in short supply”? old man : Things you can’t buy. director ma : For consumers, it’s things they can’t buy. For us in the commercial departments, it’s insufficient supply. Insufficient supply creates a contradiction between supply and demand. How do you solve this contradiction? old man : I’m not the director. director ma : But you’re a consumer! Can you give up smoking? old man : I’ve tried several times. director ma : Do you know smoking is bad for your health? old man : I know. director ma : You know, so why do you still smoke? You know very well that we say one thing and do another. Don’t we publicize family planning every year? But there’s no reduction in the number of births, and our population continues to grow. Before grown-ups give up smoking, youngsters still wet behind the ears take up the habit. The number of smokers grows faster than tobacco leaves. Tell me, how can we solve this contradiction between supply and demand? (The silent man flings his bag onto his shoulder. He is about to leave, but halts.) glasses (reciting in a loud voice): Open your books! Open your pigs—not right; open your dogs—not right, not right! old man : Can’t you produce more? director ma : You ask the right question! But that’s the problem with the production department. How can we in the commercial department solve it? You blame me for opening the back door, but our back door can only take care of our old customers. Can we open our front door wide to the public? No way! It’s always been like this: some people can get what they want, some can’t. If everyone could buy whatever he wanted, there wouldn’t be any contradictions, would there? girl : What’s all this yammering? How annoying! mother : You have no idea of what’s annoying. Wait till you become a mother; then you’ll know what’s annoying. (The silent man turns around. The girl’s eyes meet with his and she immediately lowers hers. The silent man does not notice her and walks off with long strides, not

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even turning his head. The sound of soft music can be heard. The music expresses a painful yet determined search. The girl looks in the direction he has gone, lost in thought.) carpenter : Excuse me for interrupting. (director ma and the old man turn their heads.) I’m not talking to you. You two just go on with your “comic dialogue.”4 director ma : You think I’m wasting my breath with comic dialogue? I’m working on the ideology of my customer. (Continues to persuade the old man ) You don’t understand the situation in our commercial department. You’re unhappy, right? Do you think it’s easy being a director? You just try doing my job. old man : I can’t do your job. director ma : Just try. old man : I give in. You win. director ma (to the carpenter ): Did you see that? Did you see that? carpenter : See what? You mean that teacher with glasses? glasses (making sentences): Do you speak English? I speak a litter . . .5 hothead (imitating him, in a strange voice): Ai—si—pi—ke—ai—li—tu—er— glasses (angrily): Are you a pig? hothead : Look who’s shitting! girl : Stop it, will you? I can’t stand it anymore! carpenter : Excuse me, mister, what time do you have? glasses (looks at his watch, shocked): What’s happened? What . . . carpenter : It stopped? glasses : I wish it had stopped . . . Why, a year has passed! girl : You’re fooling us. glasses (looks at his watch again): It’s true. We’ve been waiting a whole year at this bus stop. (hothead puts his index finger into his mouth and whistles with all his strength.) old man (glares at them): Rubbish! glasses : What do you mean, rubbish? If you don’t believe me, look at your watch. carpenter : No need to get excited. It’s nothing serious. mother : How come it’s only two forty on my watch? hothead (moves over to take a look): It has stopped! carpenter : What are you yelling about? (To the old man ) Let’s look at yours. old man (after much fumbling, takes out his pocket watch with a shaking hand): How come it doesn’t look right? hothead : You’re looking at it upside down. old man : Ten past . . . one. It’s stopped. hothead (gloatingly): See, your watch is worse than hers. Your watch is just like you— too old. director ma (shaking his wrist, listens): Mine has stopped too. mother : Look at the date. Doesn’t yours come with a calendar?

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director ma : It says “thirteenth month, forty-eight”—strange, my watch is an imported Omega! hothead : Maybe it’s only a plastic imitation. director ma : Go away! glasses : Mine is a digital watch; it can’t go wrong. Look, it’s still ticking. I bought it last year and it’s never stopped. It has six functions—it tells the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. Look, hasn’t a whole year passed? carpenter : You really scare us. So what if it’s a digital watch? That doesn’t mean it keeps good time. old man : My friend, we must believe in science. Electronics is science, and science shouldn’t scare people. We’re living in an electronic age. Something must have gone wrong with us. mother : You mean we really have been waiting a whole year at this bus stop? glasses : It’s true. It’s really been a year—one year and three minutes, one second, two seconds, four seconds, five seconds, six seconds . . . Look, it’s ticking away. hothead : Hey, it’s true, you guys. A goddamned year has really gone by! (The girl runs away from the crowd, her hands covering her face. The others all look very grim.) mother (muttering to herself ): They must be out of a clean change of clothes by now. He doesn’t know how to do anything; can’t even mend his torn pants. Peipei must be crying his heart out for Mommy. Oh, my poor Peipei . . . (The girl squats down. The others slowly crowd around her.) glasses (softly): What’s the matter? carpenter : Are you hungry? I have a piece of pancake in my bag. old man : Stomachache? director ma (speaking loudly, to the audience): Is there a doctor among you? Someone please come and take a look at her. (The mother , keeping her own emotions under control, walks over to the girl and bends over her.) mother (stroking the girl’s hair): Are you not feeling well? Tell me. (The girl buries her head in the mother’s arms and bursts out sobbing.) We gals need to have a talk. You people please leave us alone. (The others disperse.) Miss, tell me, what’s bothering you? girl : Elder Sister6 . . . I feel so sad . . . mother (caressing her): Lean against me. (She sits on the ground and lets the girl lean against her, whispering to her.) old man (obviously aged): Ah, this chess game has fallen through . . . director ma : You go to town to play chess? old man : For this chess game, I’ve waited and waited. I’ve waited all my life. girl : No! No! He’s not going to wait for me any longer . . . mother : Foolish girl, he will.

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girl : He won’t, he won’t. You don’t understand. mother : How long have you known each other? girl : This is our first meeting, at seven fifteen, in front of the park entrance, across the street, under the third streetlight . . . mother : You’ve never met before? girl : A friend of mine who works in the city, she introduced us. mother : Don’t feel bad. You can always find somebody else. There are plenty of young men out there. girl : Never again. No one will ever wait for me again! director ma ( facing the audience, muttering to himself ): I must be going now. I was only going to be wined and dined at the Tongqing restaurant. Someone is giving a party, an old customer. But I don’t have to wait a whole year just to have a drink in town. I have plenty of booze at home. Even that world famous Maotai, packaged in white porcelain bottles and tied with red ribbons—I only have to drop a hint, without even lifting a finger, and someone will bring it to me. I’m not boasting. I don’t have to go to town. (Loudly) I don’t have to! old man (excitedly): I must play this game of chess! director ma (to the audience): There are all kinds of weirdos in this world. They would even wait a whole year at the bus stop for a game of chess. (To the old man , with kindness and pity) I’ve played plenty of chess in my life, but I’ve never become so attached to it as you are. You must be getting very anxious to play by now. Come to my house, we can have a drink together and I’ll play a game with you. We’ll just drink and play, play and drink. Sir, you’re advanced in years, why waste the rest of your life away at this bus stop? Come with me. old man (with contempt): Come with you? director ma : Sir, there are about one hundred employees in my general supplies store and no fewer than a dozen section heads and department heads, but none of them is my match. If you don’t believe me, just go and ask them. glasses (reading): pig, book, desk, dog . . . k . . . g . . . k . . . old man (trembling with excitement): You . . . do you read the evening news? director ma : Never miss it for a day. I only subscribe to the evening news. The evening news from the city is delivered to the post office in my township by noontime and distributed to our general supplies store in the afternoon. I always keep the paper to read after supper. Then the next day I know all the news from the city. old man : Do you know Li Mosheng? director ma : Sure, that newly famous opera singer. He’s marvelous! old man : How can you say you play chess? I’m talking about our national chess champion! director ma : Oh, you mean that Li somebody who took first place in the chess competition? He has the same family name as my wife. old man : So what if he’s the chess champion? His chess playing is just so-so. director ma : My old friend, you mean you could be a champion too?

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old man : The game he played to win the championship was published in the evening newspaper. I’ve . . . I’ve studied it. It’s only because he lives in the city; if I also lived in the city . . . director ma (laughing): Then you would be the champion. old man : I wouldn’t say that. Anyway, I wrote him a letter and we agreed to play a game in the Cultural Palace in the city. It was for tonight . . . , a year ago tonight. When you play chess, you’re not supposed to change your move. I shouldn’t go back on my word either. director ma : That’s very true. glasses (trying to memorize with great difficulty): Bik, pook, Desgdokpikboog—this really sounds awful! hothead : It sounds like you’re farting foreign farts. glasses (exasperated): I’m not like you. You can goof off and do nothing, but I must take the college entrance examination! This is my last chance. If the bus doesn’t come soon, I’ll be too old to take it. Wait and wait—I’ve wasted my youth waiting. But you can’t understand that. Please leave me alone. hothead : I’m not bothering you. glasses (pleading): Will you please leave me alone and let me have some peace and quiet? Can’t you go somewhere else? hothead : I can’t go to the city! (He walks away, feeling bored.) (Suddenly explodes) Why is it that only city folks get to walk on city streets? Am I not a human being like anyone else? Why can’t I go to the city and look around? I’m going no matter what. carpenter (irritated): What are you shouting for? Can’t you sit still? (He squats down, tears a piece of old newspaper from his tool bag, takes out a tobacco leaf, crushes it, and rolls it into a cigarette. Silence. The lights dim and the sound of cars can be heard in the distance. A barely discernible music is heard; the signature tune of the silent man becomes audible again. They all listen. It sounds like the wind and soon dies down.) director ma (to the audience): They’ve all been hit by some strange disease. (To the others) Hey, haven’t you people given up yet? Are you leaving or not? hothead : Where to? director ma : Go back. hothead : I thought you were going to the city. director ma : I’m not crazy. Go all the way to the city just to have a lousy drink? I’m not that desperate. hothead (sadly): But I just have to go to the city to have a taste of yogurt. director ma: I’m not talking to you. Why are you butting in? (To the old man ) You want to stay but I have to go. (They all look at one another, almost moved to action.) old man : Oh. (He looks at director ma , not knowing what to say.)

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mother (looks at the old man ): You . . . girl (looks at the mother ): Elder Sister . . . glasses (looks at the girl with worried concern): You . . . carpenter (watches glasses ’ action): Hey! (director ma walks up to the carpenter , motioning for him to follow. The carpenter keeps looking at glasses . director ma glances down at the carpenter’s tool bag and kicks it. The group stops looking back and forth at one another.) hothead : Hey, where’s that guy? Did he sneak away? old man : Who sneaked away? hothead : You’re so old and confused. That guy who was standing right in front of you—he’s gone without saying a word and left us all behind. others (all become very excited, except the girl ): Who? Who? Who are you talking about? Who’s left? old man (slapping his thigh, suddenly remembers): That’s right. I said hello to him just a while ago. He’s left without uttering a word. mother : Who? Who’s left? glasses (recalling): He was carrying a bag over his shoulder, stood at the head of the line, was reading all the time . . . mother : Oh, when you people started fighting, he was the one who broke up the fight. carpenter : That’s right. How come I didn’t see him leave? glasses : Could it be that he got on the bus? director ma : They opened the front door for him? girl (at a loss): The bus didn’t stop at all. He went to town on his own. director ma (pointing in two opposite directions): Did he go this way or that way? girl : He was following the highway. director ma : You saw him leave? girl (sadly): He glanced at me, then walked off without even turning his head. glasses : He must be in the city by now. hothead : He must be. old man (to the girl ): Why didn’t you say something earlier? girl (feeling uneasy): Weren’t we all waiting for the bus? . . . old man : He’s really a conniving sort. girl : When he looks at you, his eyes don’t even blink, as if he were looking right through you . . . director ma (a little nervously): I hope he’s not some official from the city who was here to investigate something. Was he listening to us when I was discussing ideologies with that old gentleman? girl : I don’t think he was at that time. He was pacing back and forth as if something was troubling him . . . director ma : Did he collect . . . for example, information about the supply of cigarettes, or the selling of the Big Front Gate brand through the back door? girl : I didn’t hear him say a single word.

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director ma : Why didn’t you tell him about the problems with the bus companies? The public is really unhappy with them. old man : Nowadays, it’s really hard to go anywhere. (Striking the iron railing while spinning around and pondering) This traffic, it’s so confusing. Are you sure we’re waiting at the right stop? carpenter (uneasily): Old man, what are you saying? This stop is not for going to the city? old man : Maybe we should wait for the bus on the other side of the street. glasses (looks at the other side): That stop is for going back. carpenter (relieved): Oh, sir, you scared me. (He squats down.) old man (trembling and facing the audience): Y’all waiting for the bus? (Talking to himself ) Can’t hear anything. (Louder) Are you waiting for a bus to go back to the countryside? (Talking to himself ) Still can’t hear anything. (To glasses ) Young man, I’m hard of hearing. Please ask them if they’re going back to the countryside. If they’re going back, I don’t want to put myself through so much trouble to go into the city. director ma (shaking his head, sighs): The city is not paradise. I’d better go back. My son is getting married. (To the carpenter ) Do you do carpentry work? carpenter : Mm. director ma : What about making some furniture for my son? It’s better than wasting time here waiting. I’ll treat you right. carpenter : I’m not interested. director ma : I’ll give you wages and meals. You’ll also get two packs of Big Front Door brand cigarettes, wrapped in tin foil, a day. (Talking to himself ) Better not mention Big Front Door anymore. If the management of the commercial department hears this, I’ll be in big trouble. Hey! I still don’t know how your workmanship is. carpenter : I make fine, hardwood furniture—those carved rosewood armchairs, black sandalwood screens for the living room. Can you afford them? It’s a craft that’s been handed down by my ancestors. director ma (to the audience): He’s really putting on airs. (To the carpenter ) Let me tell you, city folks like to sit on sofas. Who wants to sit on your hard armchairs that hurt their butts? carpenter : My furniture is for people to look at, not to sit on. director ma : Huh, this is news to me. So, you only make ornaments? carpenter : You can’t find workmanship like mine anywhere. That’s why the foreign trade company in the city wants me to teach my trade to a class of apprentices. director ma : Wait here if you want to, but I’m going back. Anyone want to come with me? (Silence. The lights become dimmer and the sound of a bus can be heard in the distance. The signature tune of the silent man becomes audible again, soft yet distinct. The searching beat of the music becomes clearer.)

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glasses : Listen, can you hear it? It . . . (The music fades.) How come you all didn’t hear it? That fellow must have gotten to the city long ago. We can’t wait any longer. It’s no use to keep waiting. This is sheer torture . . . old man (at the same time as the mother and the girl ): You’re so right. I’ve been waiting all my life. Just wait and wait. I’m getting old . . . mother (at the same time as the girl and the old man ): Had I known it was going to be so much trouble, I wouldn’t have brought such a big bag with me. It would be a waste to throw all these red dates and sesame seeds away. girl (at the same time as the mother and the old man ): I’m exhausted, and I probably look a wreck. I don’t want anything now; I just wish I could take a nap . . . hothead : Stop that chattering. We could have crawled into town by now if you people hadn’t wasted time arguing. carpenter : Why don’t you start crawling? hothead : If you crawl, I’ll crawl with you. carpenter : My hands are for doing work. I don’t crawl around like a maggot in a cesspool! glasses (facing the audience): Hello, hello, are you still waiting? That’s strange, no one answers. (Louder) Anybody over there still waiting for the bus? girl : I can’t see a thing in this pitch-darkness. It’s night now; there won’t be any more buses. carpenter : We’ll wait till dawn. The bus-stop sign is here. It can’t be just a trick. director ma : If the bus still doesn’t come (to the carpenter ), are you going to wait here for the rest of your life like a fool? carpenter : I have my trade—they need people like me in the city. What would anybody want you for? director ma (feeling hurt): I’m invited to a dinner, but I don’t particularly want to go. carpenter : Why don’t you go back then? director ma : I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while now. (Worried) I’ll have to go through the open field; no villages or houses for miles. What if a dog attacks me in the darkness? Hey, which one of you wants to go back with me? old man : I’d like to go. But going back is even harder—walking all that way in the dead of night. hothead (getting up, slapping his thighs): Aren’t you going? director ma : Okay. The two of us will keep each other company. hothead : Who’s going with you? I’m going to the city to taste yogurt. carpenter : To make perfectly good milk sour, how can that taste good? There’s also that beer you find in the city; it tastes like horse urine. Not everything in the city is good, mind you! hothead : I’m gonna have a taste of yogurt if it’s the last thing I do. I’ll drink five bottles of it in one go.7 (To glasses ) Don’t waste any more time with them. Let’s the two of us get going.

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glasses : What if the bus comes right after we leave? (Facing the audience, muttering to himself ) And if it comes but still doesn’t stop? My head tells me I should start walking, but I’m not one hundred percent sure. What if it’s the wrong decision? But I must make a decision! Desk, dog, pig, book. Go or wait? Wait or go? That is the question of our existence. Perhaps fate has decreed that we should wait here for the rest of our lives, until we grow old, until we die. Why don’t people take their futures in their own hands instead of submitting to the dictates of fate? Then again, what is fate anyway? (Addressing the girl ) Do you believe in fate? girl (softly): Yes. glasses : Fate is like a coin. (Taking out a coin from his pocket) You believe in this? (Tosses the coin in the air, then catches it) Heads or tails? Pig, book, desk, dog, that decides it! Are you teachers? No. Are you a pig? No. I’m none of these. I am I. I am who I am. You don’t believe in yourself, but you believe in this? (Self-mockingly he tosses the coin again and catches it.) girl : What do you think we should do? I don’t have any strength left to make a decision. glasses : Let’s gamble with fate: tails we wait, heads we go. It all depends on this toss. (He tosses the coin in the air. It falls to the ground and he covers it with the palm of his hand.) Go or wait? Wait or go? Let’s see what our fate says. girl (hurriedly pressing her hand over his): I’m scared. (Realizing that she is touching his hand, she quickly withdraws hers.) glasses : Scared of your own fate? girl : I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. hothead : These two are really weird. Hey, are you going or not? carpenter : Haven’t you carried on enough already? Whoever wants to leave, just get moving. The bus stop is here, and people are waiting here. How come there’s no bus? How can they pay their drivers if they don’t take on any passengers? (Silence. The sound of a bus and the tune of the silent man can be heard, gradually becoming more distinct.) director ma (waving his hands as if to disperse the disturbing sounds): Hey, any of you want to leave? (The sounds stop. The old man , who has been leaning against the bus-stop sign napping, lets out a snort.) old man (without opening his eyes): The bus is here? (No one answers.) hothead : We’re all glued to this wooden post. How stupid! (He does a handstand, then flops down on the ground listlessly. The others variously squat or sit on the ground. The sound of a bus is heard again. No one makes a move, but they all listen intently. The sound gets louder as the lights on the stage become brighter.) (Still sitting on the ground) Hey, it’s here.

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mother : It’s about time. Wake up, Grandpa, it’s already daybreak and a bus is coming. old man : A bus? (Getting up hurriedly) A bus! girl : This time it won’t drive by without stopping? Will it? glasses : If it doesn’t stop, we’ll block the road. girl : It’s not going to stop. old man : They wouldn’t dare; it’s their job. mother : What if it doesn’t stop? hothead (suddenly jumps to his feet): Hey, Carpenter, do you have any big nails in your bag? carpenter : What for? hothead : If it doesn’t stop, we’ll blow its tires. Then no one will go to town. girl : You can’t do that—it’s against the law to disrupt traffic. glasses : I say let’s block its path. Let’s all line up to block the road. carpenter : Good idea! hothead (picking up a stick): Hurry up, it’s coming. (They all stand up at the sound of the approaching bus.) girl (shouting): Stop! mother : We’ve been waiting a whole year. old man : Hey you—stop! director ma : Hey . . . (They all push to the front of the stage and try to block the road. A horn sounds.) glasses (directing everyone): One, two . . . all (together): Stop! Stop! Stop! glasses : We’ve waited a whole year. all (together, waving and shouting): We can’t wait any longer. Stop! stop! stop! . . . (There is the sound of a horn blaring wildly.) old man : Get out of the way! Get out of the way, quick! (They all get out of the way of the bus, then run after it yelling and shouting.) hothead (rushing forward and waving his stick): I’ll smash it! glasses (holding him back): You’ll be run over. girl (closes her eyes in horror): Oh, dear . . . carpenter (rushes forward and pulls hothead back): You want to get yourself killed? hothead (breaking free and running after the bus, throws the stick after it): You son of a bitch! Go flip into a river and let the turtles eat you. (The sound of the bus fades away. Silence.) carpenter (at a loss): It was full of foreigners. mother : It’s a tourist bus for foreigners. glasses : Thinks he’s a big shot because he’s driving foreigners. old man (grumbling): It wasn’t even full. carpenter (feeling hurt): Couldn’t they even let us stand in that bus? It’s not that we won’t buy tickets.

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director ma : Do you have foreign currency?8 You need foreign currency to get on that bus. old man (stamping his feet): But we’re not in a foreign country. girl : I knew they wouldn’t stop for us. (At this moment, a number of vehicles speed past them—cars of different makes and sounds and moving in opposite directions.) director ma : This is . . . this is just too much. They’re playing tricks on us! If they don’t want to stop here, then they shouldn’t put up a bus-stop sign here! Let me tell you something: if this bus company is not shaken up, our transportation service will never improve. Why don’t you all write a letter of complaint and I’ll take it to the Transportation Department personally. (Pointing at glasses ) You can write it. glasses : How do I write it? director ma : How to write it? Well, you just say this and that. What kind of intellectual are you? You don’t even know how to write a letter of complaint? glasses : What good would it do anyway? We’d still have to wait. director ma : You can keep on waiting if you want to, what do I care? I didn’t want to go to that dinner in town in the first place. I’m concerned for your sakes. Go ahead and wait, it’ll serve you right. (They all remain silent. The signature tune of the silent man starts up again and changes into a fast and taunting melody in triple time.) glasses (looking at his watch, shocked): Oh, no! (The girl goes over to look at his watch. They count the numbers indicated on the face of the watch in time with the music.) (Continuously pressing the indicator button on his watch) Five months, six months, seven months, eight months, nine months, ten months, eleven months, twelve months, thirteen months . . . girl : One month, two months, three, four . . . glasses : Five months, six months, seven months, eight months . . . girl : One year and eight months altogether. glasses : Another year has just gone by. girl : That makes two years and eight months . . . glasses : Two years and eight months . . . No, it’s three years and eight months. No, wrong again, it’s five years and six . . . No, seven months, eight months, nine months, ten months . . . (They all look at one another in astonishment.) hothead : This is crazy. glasses : I’m quite sane. hothead : I don’t mean you. I said that the watch is crazy. glasses : Mechanical devices cannot become crazy—they don’t have any nerves. A watch is just a device that measures time, and it isn’t influenced by the psychological state of man. girl : Don’t say any more, I beg of you.

576

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glasses : Don’t stop me, please. This is not up to me. You can’t stop the passage of time. Look, you all come and take a look at this watch. (They all crowd around glasses and peer at his watch.) Six years, seven years, eight years, nine years. Ten years have passed just as we were talking. carpenter : Could it be wrong? (Grabs glasses ’ wrist, shakes it, listens to it, then looks at the face of the watch.) hothead (coming forward to press the button on the watch): See, no more numbers, just a blank dial. (Raising glasses ’ arm for all to see) Just one touch of that knob and it stops. (Smugly) Almost got fooled by this gadget. glasses (solemnly): What do you know? Just because you switched off my watch, it doesn’t mean that time has stopped. Time is an objective reality; it can be proven by a mathematical formula—T = a + β + Σ2, or something . . . It’s all in Einstein’s theory of relativity. girl (hysterically): I can’t take it anymore, I can’t take it anymore! old man : This is outrageous (coughing) making passengers stand around and wait till their hair turns gray. (Suddenly becoming very old and decrepit) Absurd . . . really absurd. carpenter (feeling very sad): The bus company must be trying to get even with us for something. But we haven’t offended them, have we? mother (exhausted): Peipei, my poor Peipei and his dad, what’s going to happen to them now? They not only don’t have a change of clothes, their clothes must be in rags by now . . . He doesn’t even know how to hold a needle. (hothead walks to one side and kicks a stone along the road. He then flops down on the ground, spreads his legs out, and stares ahead in a daze.) girl (numbly): I feel like crying. mother : Yes, dear, have a good cry. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. girl : But Elder Sister, I can’t . . . mother : It’s all because we were born women. We’re doomed by our fate to endless waiting. First we wait for the right man to come along, and then we wait to get married. Then we wait for a child, after which we wait till the child grows up. By then we’ve already grown old . . . girl (leaning on the mother’s shoulder): I’m old already, old already . . . mother : Go ahead and cry if you want; you’ll feel better afterwards. I wish I could bury myself in his arms and have a good cry . . . I don’t know why I feel this way . . . It’s hard to explain. director ma (turns to the old man , sadly): I’m telling you it’s not worth it, old man. Why not grow old in the peace and quiet of your home? The playing of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting9 are for whiling away time. You can enjoy these in the comfort of your home. Why do you have to go to the city to compete with others? Is it worth throwing your last years away on the road for a few chess pieces? old man : You don’t understand. All you know is wheeling and dealing in business. But we chess players value the feeling of exhilaration we get from playing; it’s all a matter of the spirit. The matter of the spirit, that’s what life is all about.

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(hothead, feeling very bored, walks up behind glasses and slaps him hard on the shoulder, which snaps him out of his reverie.) glasses (angrily): You don’t know what pain is—that’s why you’re so numb. We’ve been cast aside by life and forgotten by the world. Life is flowing away right past you. Do you understand? You don’t understand. You might be happy muddling along like this, but not me . . . carpenter (saddened): I can’t go back. I make fine, hardwood furniture. I’m not going into the city just to make money; I’ve got my craft to think about. Back home I make a good living with my skills—putting a bed together, making a dining table or cabinet. My family and I have enough to eat. But I can’t let the craft that’s been handed down to me by my ancestors die out like this. You may be a director, but you don’t understand how I feel. glasses (pushing aside hothead ): Go away. Leave me alone. (In a sudden fury) I need some peace and quiet. Do you understand? Peace and quiet. (hothead walks away obligingly, starts to whistle but then takes his fingers out of his mouth.) girl (facing the audience while muttering to herself ): I’ve had many dreams in the past, some of them quite beautiful . . . mother (facing the audience and talking to herself ): Sometimes, I really wanted to dream . . . (From here on, the girl’s and the mother’s speeches are spoken simultaneously and weave together as they address the audience without interacting with each other.) girl : I dreamt that the moon laughed out loud . . . mother : But then I always collapsed on the bed, dead tired. I could never get enough sleep . . . girl : I dreamt that he was holding my hand and whispering in my ear. I really wanted to get close to him . . . mother : The moment I opened my eyes I saw Peipei’s toes sticking out of his socks . . . gir l : I don’t have any dreams now . . . mother : The hem on his daddy’s sweater sleeve was also undone . . . girl : No more black bears jumping at me . . . mother : Peipei wants a little battery-driven car . . . girl : or anyone chasing after me ferociously . . . mother : Tomatoes cost twenty cents a pound . . . girl : I won’t have any more dreams . . . mother : That’s how mothers are. (Turning to the girl ) I wasn’t a bit like you when I was your age. (The following is a dialogue between the girl and the mother .) girl : You have no idea how much I’ve changed. I’ve become so petty—I can’t stand to see girls dressed nicely. I know it’s not right to feel this way, but whenever I see city girls wearing those high-heeled shoes, I feel like they’re walking all over me and flaunting themselves to humiliate me. Elder Sister, I know I shouldn’t have these feelings.

578

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mother : I understand. I don’t blame you . . . girl : You can’t imagine how jealous I am, how very jealous I am . . . mother : Come on, don’t be silly. Don’t be so hard on yourself . . . girl : I’ve always wanted to wear one of those one-piece floral dresses, the kind with a little zipper at the waist. But I don’t even dare to make one. If I lived in the city, it would be different. You see girls wearing those dresses all over the place. How could I wear something like that here? mother (stroking the girl’s hair): Wear whatever you want to wear; don’t wait until you’re my age. You’re still young—some young man will surely be interested in you. You’ll fall in love, then you’ll bear his child, and he’ll love you even more . . . girl : Go on, please go on . . . You noticed I have some gray hair? mother (inspecting her hair): No, I haven’t found any. girl : Don’t lie to me. mother : Well, just one or two strands . . . girl : Pull them out. mother : They don’t show. Better not pull them out. You’ll only get more if I pull them out. girl : Please, I beg of you. (The mother pulls out a gray hair. Suddenly hugging the girl to her, she starts to cry.) Elder Sister, what’s wrong? mother : I’ve got a lot of gray hair. Is my hair almost white? girl : No, it isn’t. (She hugs her and they cry in each other’s arms.) hothead (sitting on the ground, slaps a banknote down, takes three playing cards from his pocket, and throws them on the ground too): Who wants to play? I’ll bet this five bucks against any of you. (The old man feels his pocket.) Don’t worry. I made this by doing odd jobs. The lucky person will win it. I’m not going to hang around here any longer. (The old man and director ma move closer.) Which one of you is putting up the stake? Three dollars in the left hand, two in the right—I’ll be the five bucks banker in this game. My round-trip ticket and yogurt money are all in here. director ma: How’s a young fellow like you fallen to such bad ways? hothead : Cut it out. Save your lecture for your own kids. How about it, old man? Want to try your luck? You can bet on both hands. If you pick the right card, then luck is with you; if you lose, well, what’s a few bucks to a big shot like you? If they sell drinks here, I’ll buy everyone a drink. (The carpenter walks over to join them.) Gate of Heaven, Gate of Earth, Blue Dragon, White Tiger.10 Which one you want to bet on? (The carpenter slaps him.)

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What if I don’t want to go to town anymore? What if I don’t want to eat yogurt anymore? (Bursts into tears) Let those goddamned city dudes strut on their city streets. old man : Pick ’em up. My boy, pick ’em up. (hothead rubs his eyes with his dirty hands, blows his nose, then picks up the money and cards. He continues to sob with lowered head. Silence. The sound of traffic in the distance mingles intermittently with the tune of the silent man . The tempo of the music speeds up and it turns into a lively melody.) glasses: There’s not going to be any bus. (With great determination) Let’s start walking, like that man. While we were wasting our time at this bus stop, he’s already gotten into town and gotten something done. There’s nothing for us to wait for anymore. old man : You’re right. Young lady, don’t cry anymore. If you had left with that man, you’d have been married long ago, and your child would be walking by now. But we stayed here waiting and getting more and more bent with age. (With difficulty) Let’s go . . . (He staggers forward. glasses hurries over to give him a hand.) I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it . . . (To the mother ) Are you coming with us? girl : Elder Sister, should I still go to the city? mother (smoothing down the girl’s hair): How unfair. Don’t tell me that no one wants a nice girl like you. Let me introduce you to someone. (Picks up her traveling bag) I wish I hadn’t brought such a heavy bag. girl : Let me carry it for you. director ma : Are you on a purchasing assignment for your unit? old man : Are you coming or not? director ma (pondering): If it’s quality of life you’re after, it’s nice and peaceful in a small country town. We don’t need to mention other things—just take crossing a street in the city for an example. I tell you, what with those confusing red and green lights, before you know what’s happening you’ll get yourself run over. carpenter : I’m going. hothead (having regained his composure): Do you want us to carry you in a sedan chair? director ma : What are you making such a fuss about? I’ve got high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. (Angrily) I don’t have to make it hard for myself. (He exits, then looks back.) I forgot to take my medicine. It’s made of wolfberry soaked in wine and formalin sedative with nutritive additives. (All watch director ma exit.) old man : He’s gone back? mother (muttering): He’s gone back. girl (feebly): Don’t go. hothead : Let him go. We’ll go our way. carpenter (to glasses ): Are you coming? glasses : I want to take one last look to see if a bus is coming.

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(He wipes his glasses, then puts them back on. They all split up and pace up and down the stage. Some of them start to move; some remain motionless; still others collide with one another.) old man : Don’t block my way! hothead : Go on then! mother : What chaos. glasses : Ah, life . . . girl : You call this living? glasses : Sure it is. Despite everything, we’re still alive. girl : We’d be better off dead. glasses : Why don’t you die, then? girl : If I die now, I’ve gotten nothing out of life. glasses : There should be some meaning to life. girl : But to live like this, how boring! (They all walk in place and then turn around in circles as if possessed.) carpenter : Let’s go. girl : No— glasses : No? hothead : Come on. mother : Yes, coming. old man : Coming— (Silence. There is the sound of falling rain.) It’s raining? hothead : Old man, if you go on dawdling like this, the raindrops will turn into hail. carpenter (looking at the sky): It’s so unpredictable, this weather. mother : It’s really raining. (There is the sound of rapidly falling rain.) old man (mumbling): We’ve got to take shelter from the rain . . . girl (taking the mother’s hand): Let’s go. So what if we get wet? hothead (taking off his shirt): We’ll get wet for nothing if we stand around here. Oh, mighty heaven, you can send down knives on us if you wish. glasses (to the girl ): Don’t go. You’ll catch cold if you get wet. carpenter : It’s just a shower, nothing to worry about. When the clouds pass over, the rain will stop. (He takes out a sheet of plastic from his tool bag and puts it on the heads of the old man and the mother .) mother : You think of everything. carpenter : I’m on the road a lot, I’m used to all this wind and rain. (To the others) Everyone come here and get out of the rain. (It’s raining very hard. glasses and the girl both come to stand under the plastic sheet in silence.) (To hothead ) You’re acting foolishly again. (hothead also gets under the plastic sheet. The light turns dim.)

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old man : This autumn wind and cold rain is nothing to the young people. But when you get old and suffer from rheumatism, it’s really hard on you. glasses (to the girl ): Do you feel cold? girl (shivering): A little. glasses : You don’t have enough clothes on. Here, put on my jacket. girl : What about you? glasses (his teeth clattering): I’m fine. hothead (pointing at glasses ’ watch): Is that thing still ticking? What time could it be now, I wonder. girl : Don’t look at the watch! Don’t look at the watch! mother : I have no idea what time it is now. girl : It’s better not to know. (There is the sound of wind and rain. The following speeches are spoken against the background of the wind and rain. Several voices are heard simultaneously.) hothead : The water level has risen in the river . . . girl : Just sit here like this . . . glasses : I like it this way . . . hothead : I should be able to catch a few fish now . . . girl : Let it rain! Let it rain! The wind is so cold . . . glasses : Everything is fogged up, the field, the little hill over there . . . hothead : Grandpa . . . girl : But I feel warm in my heart . . . glasses : The future road of life, everything is misty . . . hothead : You want to bet? girl : To lean against him, to sit together like this . . . glasses : She is so gentle . . . so kind . . . so good . . . old man : Young man, you’re not so young anymore. If you muddle along like this . . . girl : Your glasses are frosted up . . . glasses : . . . so beautiful . . . How come I didn’t notice it before? . . . old man : . . . how are you going to have a family? girl : . . . by water vapor . . . glasses : Ah, water vapor—don’t wipe it, just let it be foggy and misty . . . (The following speeches are divided into three groups. They are spoken simultaneously, and sometimes they overlap. The dialogues and monologues in the three groups are sometimes loud, sometimes soft, as emphasis is shifted from one group to another during the course of the conversation.) old man (loudly): It’s about time that you learned a trade; otherwise, no girl would want to marry you. glasses (less loudly): I’m past the age for taking college entrance examinations. Why am I going into the city? mother (softly): Once I was walking at night. It was also raining, raining without stopping. hothead (loudly): What’s the use? No one wants to teach me.

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old man (loudly, hinting with his eyes): That master carpenter is right in front of you. glasses : Without my knowing it, my youth has slipped away. girl (less loudly, nudging glasses with her shoulder): Can’t you take the examination for evening school? There’re also correspondence schools. You’ll pass the examinations, surely. mother : I felt like someone was following me. I glanced back but couldn’t see clearly because of the rain. I only knew there was a person, carrying an umbrella and following me at a distance. hothead (loudly, gathering all his courage): Sir, do you still take apprentices? carpenter (less loudly): It depends on what kind of apprentice. glasses (loudly): Do you think so? girl (loudly): I do. (glasses quietly holds her hand.) mother : When I walked faster, he also sped up; when I slowed down, he did the same. hothead (loudly): What kind do you want? carpenter (less loudly): Learning a trade is not like going to school. You must be nimble and hardworking. girl (loudly): Please don’t. This doesn’t look good. mother : I was so scared, my heart was jumping wildly! hothead (loudly): What do you think of me? (Quickly withdrawing her hand, the girl turns to clasp the mother’s arm. glasses listens to their conversation with his hands clasped around his knees.) girl (less loudly): What happened then? mother (less loudly): I finally reached home . . . carpenter (loudly): A little too glib. (A lively conversation ensues, with everybody joining it.) mother : I stopped; the person came closer. In the streetlight I could see it was a woman. She was also afraid—afraid that she was alone and she might run into some bad people. carpenter : There are still more good people than bad people in this world, but you still have to be on your guard. Even if you don’t take advantage of others, others may take advantage of you. old man : It’s this wanting to take advantage of other people that’s so bad. You push me, I step on you. If we could be more considerate of others, we would all have an easier time. mother : If we could be close to one another and care for one another, wouldn’t it be great? (Silence. There is the sound of rustling wind.) carpenter : Move inside a little more. old man : Move closer together. glasses : Lean against one another’s backs. mother : We’ll keep warm that way. girl : I’m ticklish.

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hothead : Who’s tickling whom? (They press together even more. In the roaring of cold wind, director ma ’s voice can be heard: “Wait for me—don’t go!”) carpenter (to hothead ): Who’s calling over there? Go take a look. hothead (sticking his head out from under the plastic sheet): It’s Director Ma of the general supplies store. (director ma comes running, shivering from cold. He quickly ducks under the plastic sheet.) mother : You’ll get sick from those wet clothes. Take them off quickly! director ma : I hadn’t gone very far, then . . . then . . . Achoo! (He sneezes repeatedly.) old man : You insisted on going back by yourself. If you had stayed with us, you wouldn’t have become such a drenched chicken. director ma : Ah, His Honor is still alive? old man : I couldn’t expire on the road, could I? You’re still going to that dinner given by your connections in town? director ma : You’re still waiting for that long-ago-finished chess game? old man : Can’t I go to visit my chess-player friends? mother : You two, stop arguing. director ma : It’s that stinking mouth of his. old man : You don’t know how disgusting you are. mother : We’re all under the same sheet together . . . director ma : He made fun of me—(his sneeze not quite coming out) ach— mother : We’ll feel better when the sun comes out. director ma : Oh, this rain. old man : It isn’t rain, it’s snow! (They all stretch out their hands and feet from under the plastic sheet to find out.) girl : It’s rain. glasses (stretching out his foot to step on the ground): It’s snowing. hothead (rushes out, leaping and jumping): It’s goddamned hail! carpenter : You’re acting crazy again. Hold up the sheet! (The hothead comes back obediently to hold up the plastic sheet. The sound of wind and rain mixes with other sounds—the sounds of vehicles starting and braking, the tune of the silent man , at first faint then becoming more lively.) mother : We won’t be going anywhere after all. (Picking up her bag) Who knows how long we have to wait . . . This rain and snow, when will it ever stop? . . . glasses (bending over a stack of flash cards and memorizing them): It is rain, that is snow. old man (drawing a chessboard on the ground): The cannon moves horizontally from position 7 to 8; the horse moves horizontally from position 9 to 5.11 (The girl , deep in thought, walks out from under the plastic sheet and from her character. An obvious change is taking place in her with every step, and she becomes a different person by the time she walks to where the audience sits. Light on the stage gradually dims until it is totally dark.)

584

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girl : Who cares whether it’s rain or snow, three years, five years, or ten years? How many ten years do you have in your lifetime? (In the following dialogues, three voices speak at the same time.) Your whole life is wasted in this way. glasses (softly): It rains, it rained. old man (even more softly): The horse advances from position 9 to 8; the cannon moves back from position 4 to 3. girl : You just keep on waiting and waiting forever? glasses : It is raining; it will rain? old man : The soldier moves horizontally from position 6 to 5; the chariot advances from position 5 to 1. girl : Will you always have regrets, always suffer like this? glasses : It snows; it snowed. old man : The minister moves back from position 5 to 6; the cannon moves horizontally from position 4 to 7. girl : Will we go on waiting endlessly, painfully, and never see the light at the end of the tunnel? glasses : It is snowing and it will snow. old man : The chariot advances from position 3 to 5; the minister moves back from position 5 to 6. girl : The old have already become old; the newborn will be born soon. glasses : Rain is rain, snow is snow. old man : The chariot advances from position 3 to 2; the cannon moves back from position 4 to 1. girl : After today there’ll be another today. And there’ll always be a future. glasses : Rain is not snow, snow is not rain. old man : The general moves back from position 5 to 3; the cannon moves horizontally from position 4 to 7. girl : You just keep on waiting like this, and have regrets all your life? glasses : Rain isn’t snow and snow isn’t rain! old man : The general moves back from position 7 to 5; the chariot advances from position 3 to 7. Check! (The stage becomes bright. The girl has already returned to the stage and to her character. The sound of wind and rain has also stopped.) carpenter (looking at the sky): I said this rain wouldn’t last long. See, the sun’s coming out. (To hothead ) Fold up the plastic sheet. hothead : Yes. (He quickly folds up the sheet.) mother : Shall we start off? girl (looking at glasses ): Are we going? old man : Where are you going? hothead : Into the city. Right, master? carpenter : You just follow me.

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old man : Still going into the city? Will I ever get there at my age? glasses : Wouldn’t you have to walk if you go back? old man : That’s true too. mother : But my bag is too heavy. glasses : Lady, I’ll carry it for you. (He picks up her bag.) mother : Oh, thank you so much. Grandpa, watch your step, don’t step in the water. girl : Be careful. (She supports the old man.) old man : You people go ahead; don’t let this old fellow slow you down. If I drop dead somewhere along the way, may I trouble you all to dig a hole for me? And don’t forget to put up a sign and write a few words on it, which should say something like this: Buried here is an unrepentant chess fan, who has no other talents except having played chess all his life. He always yearned for an opportunity to go to the Cultural Palace in the city to show off a little. He waited and waited, grew old and decrepit, and finally collapsed on the road to the city. girl : Oh, please don’t talk like that! old man : You’re a nice young lady. (He looks at glasses . Feeling uneasy, glasses keeps pushing his glasses up on his nose.) Director Ma, are you going or not? director ma : Yes, I must go to the city to lodge a complaint with the bus company. I’ll find their manager and ask him whom their buses are for—for their own convenience or to serve the passengers? They should take full responsibility for abusing the passengers. I’m going to bring a lawsuit against them and ask them to pay for our lost years and health. girl : You’re a funny one. I’ve never heard of a lawsuit like that. director ma (to glasses ): Please take a look at the bus-stop sign. What stop is this? What time is it now on your digital watch? Write all that down. We’re going to settle accounts with the bus company! glasses (looking at the bus-stop sign): What? There’s no name on it. old man : That’s strange. director ma : Why did they put up a bus-stop sign without a name? Look again. girl : There’s no name. hothead : Master, I understand now—we’ve been fooled by the bus company. old man : Look again. How can there be a bus stop without a name? hothead (runs to the other side of the bus-stop sign, to glasses ): Come take a look. It looks like a paper was pasted here before, but now all that’s left is a few marks. glasses (examining it carefully): It was probably a notice of some sort. director ma : Where’s the notice? Look for it. girl (looking everywhere on the ground): With all this wind and rain, it’s vanished without a trace. hothead (standing on the railing and looking at the bus-stop sign): The paste marks have turned gray. My God, it must have been ages ago.

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mother : What? This stop has been canceled? But last Saturday I still . . . girl : Which last Saturday? mother : Wasn’t it the last, last, last . . . glasses : You mean which Saturday of which year, which month? (He peers at his watch with his glasses almost touching the watch.) hothead : Don’t look anymore. It’s just a blank dial. Should’ve put in a new battery long ago. carpenter : No wonder the buses don’t stop here. old man : We’ve waited for nothing? glasses : Yeah, exactly. old man (sadly): Why is this sign still here? They just use it to fool people? girl : Let’s go, let’s go. director ma : No, I want to sue them. glasses : You want to sue whom? director ma : The bus company. How can they fool people like this? I’ll sue them even if I lose my director’s job. glasses : You’d better sue yourself. Whose fault is it that we didn’t look carefully? Who told us to wait and wait? Let’s go. There’s nothing to wait for anymore. carpenter : Let’s go. all (together, mumbling): Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go . . . old man : Can we still get there? mother : Could it be that a bridge on the road was washed away by floodwater and the road was blocked? glasses (impatiently): How could it be blocked? So many cars have passed through. (The sound of cars can again be heard in the distance. They all look in that direction in silence. As the sounds begin to come from all directions, they are at a loss as to what to do. The sound of approaching vehicles becomes louder and louder, and the music of the silent man , like a sound from outer space, floats above the roars and rumbles of traffic. They all gaze ahead, some walking toward the audience, some remaining on the stage. They all come out from their respective characters. Light in the theater changes continuously while spotlighting the actors with varying degrees of brightness. The light on the stage disappears completely. In the following dialogues, all seven persons speak at the same time. The speeches by a , f, and g string together from utterance to utterance.)12 actress a, who plays the girl : Why are they not going? actor b, who plays director ma : Sometimes you actor c, who plays the carpenter actress d, who plays the mother actor e, who plays the old man : They all say it’s more difficult to perform a comedy actor f, who plays hothead : I don’t understand. actor g, who plays glasses actress a, who plays the girl : Haven’t they said everything that can be said?

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actor b, who plays director ma : just have to wait. Have you ever stood in line to buy fish? Oh, you actor c, who plays the carpenter : I don’t mind waiting. When people wait, it’s because they hope actress d, who plays the mother : Mother says to her son, “Walk, actor e, who plays the old man : than a tragedy. When staging a tragedy, if the people in the audience don’t cry, actor f, who plays hothead : It seems actor g, who plays glasses : I really don’t understand. actress a, who plays the girl : Then why are they still not moving? actor b, who plays director ma : don’t cook. But you must have lined up to wait for buses. To stand in line is actor c, who plays the carpenter : for something. If they don’t have hope, that’s really tragic. actress d, who plays the mother : my baby, walk!” The child can’t walk. actor e, who plays the old man : the actors can cry. But this won’t work for comedy. actor f, who plays hothead : they’re actor g, who plays glasses : Perhaps actress a, who plays the girl : But time is slipping away! actor b, who plays director ma : to wait. If you waited a long time and then discovered what they sold was not hairtail13 actor c, who plays the carpenter : In the language of this young man in glasses, it’s called despair. Despair is like drinking actress d, who plays the mother : You just have to let him crawl by himself. Of course, you can give him a hand from time to time, actor e, who plays the old man : If the people in the audience don’t laugh, how can the actors actor f, who plays hothead : waiting. actor g, who plays glasses : they’re waiting. actress a, who plays the girl : I really don’t understand, don’t understand at all. actor b, who plays director ma : but washboards—they make very good washboards in the city, actor c, who plays the carpenter : Didiwei.14 Didiwei is for killing flies and mosquitoes; why do people actress d, who plays the mother : then let him hold on to the wall actor e, who plays the old man : act merry on stage? . . . Besides, actor f, who plays hothead : Of course it’s not a bus stop, actor g, who plays glasses : Time is not a bus stop. actress a, who plays the girl : They’re not going. actor b, who plays director ma : the kind that’s gentle on the clothes—but if you already have a washing machine,

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actor c, who plays the carpenter : take it and make themselves suffer? Even if they don’t die from it, they still have to be taken to the hospital actress d, who plays the mother : and grope his way from one corner to the next and then to the door. actor e, who plays the old man : if the audience doesn’t feel like laughing, you can’t tickle them to make them laugh—they won’t let you! actor f, who plays hothead : not a terminal. actor g, who plays glasses : Life is not a bus stop either. actress a, who plays the girl : Can we really go if we actor b, who plays director ma : then you have waited for nothing. How can that not make you mad? That’s why I think actor c, who plays the carpenter : to have their stomachs pumped—that’s worse than death. actress d, who plays the mother : Perhaps you should allow him to fall down, then help him get up. actor e, who plays the old man : That’s why it’s more difficult to perform comedy than tragedy. actor f, who plays hothead : They want to leave. actor g, who plays glasses : They don’t really want to leave. actress a, who plays the girl : want to? Then tell them actor b, who plays director ma : it’s all right to wait, but you must know actor c, who plays the carpenter : Say, have you ever traveled at night? You’re walking through a wild country on a cloudy day. actress d, who plays the mother : If a child never falls down, he’ll never learn to walk. A mother actor e, who plays the old man : Even if it’s a comedy, you still have to put on a straight face actor f, who plays hothead : It’s about time. actor g, who plays glasses : Let’s go. actress a, who plays the girl : to go quickly. actor b, who plays director ma : what you’re waiting for. If you just stand in line actor c, who plays the carpenter : When it gets dark, you have no idea where you’re headed. actress d, who plays the mother : must have patience; otherwise she is not fit actor e, who plays the old man : and act out those ridiculous and laughable incidents in life actor f, who plays hothead : They’ve finished talking. actor g, who plays glasses : We’ve said everything that can be said. actress a, who plays the girl : How come they’re not going? actor b, who plays director ma : and spend half your lifetime—maybe even all of your lifetime—waiting, actor c, who plays the carpenter : You just have to wait till daybreak. If it’s already daytime and you still

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actress d, who plays the mother : to be a mother. That’s why it’s really hard to be a mother. actor e, who plays the old man : for the audience. It is therefore much more difficult to be an actor of comedy actor f, who plays hothead : We’re waiting for them. actor g, who plays glasses : We’re waiting for them to go. actress a, who plays the girl : Let’s all go at once. actor b, who plays director ma : aren’t you making fun of yourself? actor c, who plays the carpenter : hang around and don’t get on your way, you must be a fool! actress d, who plays the mother : But to be a human being isn’t very easy either. actor e, who plays the old man : than an actor of tragedy. actor f, who plays hothead : Ah, let’s go . . . actor g, who plays glasses : Let’s go! (The sound of zooming vehicles from all sides gets closer and closer, mixed with the honking of all kinds of cars. Light on the center stage becomes brighter. The actors and actresses have all returned to their respective characters. The music of the silent man changes into a humorous grand march.) glasses (gazing at the girl , tenderly): Let’s go. girl (nodding): Yes. mother : Oh, where’s my bag? hothead (happily): I’m carrying it. mother (to the old man ): Watch your step. (She goes over to support him.) old man : Thank you very much. (Helping and supporting one another, they are about to start their journey together.) director ma : Hey, wait, wait for me! I have to tie my shoelace.

Au t ho r ’ s Sugges ti ons for the Perform anc e of T he B us S top The following suggestions are for reference only. •

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This play experiments with the use of “polyphonic dialogue.” At times there are two or three, and even as many as seven, characters speaking at once. Due to the conventions of the printed page, it is difficult to show the use of this device effectively. This may cause the reader some inconvenience. But then, a play is meant to be performed on the stage, where this “inconvenience” may contribute to the enrichment of dramatic expression. Just as one does not expect every instrument in an orchestra be played at the same pitch, the polyphonic dialogues need not be delivered at the same volume. The main theme should be complemented by various harmonies and accompaniment, but not overwhelmed by them. The director may handle this matter in various ways based on his interpretation of the play.

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Since drama, like music, is an art governed by time, various musical forms can be applied to it. In this play, I have borrowed the sonata and rondo forms to replace the conventional Ibsenesque dramatic structure. The director, like the conductor, should concentrate on the changing moods of the play. Sound effects, including music itself, should not be merely expository. In this play, sound effects and dramatic situations work as a whole, and the former often act as a counterpoint to the latter. Harmonious combinations and disharmonious contrasts are used to give music an independent role, allowing it to carry on a dialogue with both the characters and the audience. When conditions permit the composition of original music for the entire play, the music of the silent man should be treated as a leitmotif with various musical variations. In traditional Chinese opera, drama and poetry are inseparable. This play is an attempt to meld modern drama and modern poetry. I hope the actors who perform this play will pay special attention to expressing the poetic quality of the work. In performing this play, greater emphasis should be put on artistic abstraction, or “essential likeness,” rather than on realistic details. Examples of this approach can be found in traditional opera, such as in the vivid and subtle performance of Mei Lanfang in Guifei zuijiu (The Consort Gets Tipsy) and Zhou Xinfang in Xu Ce pao ma (Xu Ce Rushes to the City). Care must be taken to present characters as real people in contemporary society, and exaggeration should be avoided. This play aims to combine dramatic action and inaction. When action is called for, clarity of physical movement should be stressed; when moments of inaction are indicated, characters should maintain a state of stillness while language replaces action. The dialogue is at times clear and direct, and at other times vague or even devoid of meaning, or is uttered simply for the sake of talking—like waiting for the bus without knowing why. This use of the dialogue can express the comic aspect of the characters. In delivering this kind of dialogue, there is no need to strive for clarity. This play is best suited to performance in theaters-in-the-round, assembly halls, and open-air theaters. If it is performed on the conventional stage, the performing area ideally should be extended in length but not in depth.

Not es This translation is based on the text in Gao Xingjian xiju ji (Gao Xingjian’s Collected Dramatic Works) (Beijing: Qunzhong, 1985), 84–235. The Bus Stop was first published in the magazine Shiyue 3 (October 1983). This translation was first published in Chinese Drama After the Cultural Revolution, 1979–1989, ed. Shiao-Ling S. Yu, 423–84 (Lewiston, N.Y.: Mellen, 1996). The editor of this anthology wishes to thank Professor Yu and Mellen Press for their permission to include this translation here.

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1. The brand-name Big Front Door, well-known in China, serves as an ironic contrast to the practice of “backdoorism.” 2. “Three-handed people” refers to pickpockets. 3. Glasses mumbles English words and phrases while waiting for the bus. The words and sentences in italics in this translation were in English in the original text. 4. “Comic dialogue,” or xiangsheng, is a popular form of entertainment in which two performers engage in swift and witty conversation. 5. This line by Glasses is in English in the original; the misspelling of “litter” for “little” is intended. 6. “Elder Sister” is a polite form of address for a woman about one’s own age. 7. In the early 1980s, when this play was written, yogurt had just become fashionable in China, hence Hothead’s desire to try this latest taste sensation. It was usually packaged in small porcelain jars and eaten with a spoon; it was also sold in bottles as a beverage and drunk through a straw. 8. Reference is to foreign currency exchange certificates (waihuiquan), which have the same face value as Chinese currency but are for use only by foreigners. 9. Qin, qi, shu, hua were the elegant pastimes of cultivated men in former days. 10. These names indicate the position of the cards in relation to the “banker.” 11. The Chinese chessboard, like the Western chessboard, has eight squares by nine. A “river,” a wide band, divides the playing area into two halves. On the baseline of each side there is a king’s palace marked by two diagonals. The sixteen pieces do not stand on the squares but are placed where the lines cross, thus allowing for nine men to be set up on the starting line. The rules for the movements of the various pieces are as follows: The commander in chief (jiang) is not allowed to leave the palace and may move only forward, backward, or to the side in each case. The minister (shi) may move only diagonally within the palace. The general (xiang), also called elephant, moves two diagonal steps at a time and is limited to the land he serves. The chariot (ju), which is equivalent to the castle or rook, may cross the river. The cannon (pao) moves like the chariot but can take a piece only by jumping over another piece. The horse’s (ma) move is a leap like the knight’s move, but when another piece is standing next to it, its legs are hobbled in that direction. The soldier (bing) moves forward and, after crossing the river, sideways as well. 12. In this section of the play, all seven actors (they are out of character in this section) speak at the same time in an actual performance—in what Gao calls “polyphonic dialogue.” The reader may wish to consult Gao’s suggestions for the performance of the play at the end of this translation for a better understanding. Or the reader may want to read, say, all Actor B’s lines together; for example, “Sometimes you just have to wait. Have you ever stood in line to buy fish? Oh, you don’t cook. But you must have lined up to wait for buses. To stand in line is to wait . . .” Though there are breaks in the lines as presented in the play here, each character’s lines are spoken simultaneous to those of the other characters and without interruption. 13. Hairtail refers to a kind of fish. 14. Didiwei is a pesticide.

Highest Directive There is no love in this world that is without reason or cause, no hatred in this world that is without reason or cause. —Mao Zedong

Jiang Qing and Her Husbands (1990) Sha Yexin Tra nsla ted by K i r k A. De nt on

P r i n c i pa l C hara cters jiang qing (lan ping) Ⰱ㎠ (⹄㊽) mao zedong び㵙⛍ tang na 㜼ㅏ he zizhen ⧲㽳㸈 xiao feng 㨏⟏ bodyguard 㢲㖹

PRO L OGUE (The stage is empty, dark, still, and silent. After a short while, a ray of white light descends from above, then “walks” hurriedly, as if looking for something, on stage from the side curtain. Not finding it, the light becomes agitated and picks up its “steps,” rushing around in all directions.) voice: Here I am, over here! (The white light stops and listens carefully so as to determine from which direction the voice is coming, then moves toward it, searching intently.) How fucking stupid can you get. I’m over here, here!

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(The white light stops again and intently listens to determine from whence the voice had issued, and then gingerly proceeds to search left and right.) Are you blind? Why are you just looking in the corners? Am I someone who would hide in a corner? (The white light once again stops and listens intently.) I am Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong’s wife, standard-bearer of the Cultural Revolution, the most outstanding actress. In China, I am the center of things, on center stage. (With fear and trepidation, the white light immediately rushes to center stage and finally finds its target. Under its light can now be seen the face of the principal character of this play: jiang qing. She is sixty or seventy years old, but she doesn’t seem very old—much younger than her actual age.) jiang qing (raising her head and looking at the white light with an attitude of haughty considerateness, she taps the spotlight with her hand): That’s right; very good, thank you. Shine on me, shine on me forever, thank you. . . . (Suddenly angry) No, wait. Damn! White light? Do I want white light? White light is counterrevolutionary, revisionist. No white light! (The white light changes immediately into a yellow light.) No, no! (The yellow light changes into a blue light.) Ugly as sin, ugly as sin! No blue light! (The blue light changes to red.) Make it green, make it green. Give me green light, green, apple green. (The red light changes into a green light. Only then does jiang qing settle down.) I like green, apple green. When I was young, I liked blue, so I was called Blue Apple, Lan Ping. (Gently strokes the light) Ah, what a lovely spotlight! My whole life has been spent under the dazzling lights, on the resplendent stage, because I am an actress. Really, I am an actress, an outstanding actress. (jiang qing walks out of the circle of light, the performance area enlarges, and the entire stage lights up. jiang qing plays nora from Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.) nora (enters her home, humming a tune): Helene, be sure to hide the Christmas tree well. We don’t want the children to see it in the daylight. We’ll light it in the evening. (Gets her purse and asks the porter) How much? Here’s a kroner, keep the change. . . . (To helmer) Torvald, come quickly, look at the things I bought, and so inexpensive! Look, this is a new outfit for Ivar, and a little sword. And this is Bob’s little bird1 and trumpet. And this doll and cradle are for Emmy. . . . jiang qing (appreciating herself ): I was trained professionally. At fifteen I tested into the Shandong Provincial Experimental Theater Troupe, specializing in spoken drama. I can still perform Peking opera, you know. (jiang qing goes to the side curtain and dresses as guiying in the Peking opera The Fisherman’s Revenge; sings the “Interjective Aria” from offstage: “Pulling the oars the boat shoots forward like a flying arrow . . .” guiying enters rowing a boat.) guiying (singing “Animated Aria”):

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“On and on rolls the river, spreading spray around. Summer or winter, it’s all the same for families of the poor. Father and daughter fish for their livelihoods.” (Lowers her head in the crying position.) (At this time, the wooden railings one sees in a courtroom descend from above and encircle jiang qing. Behind the railing stands a sign on which is the word “Defendant.”) jiang qing (raising her head and discovering she has been enclosed by the railing, she is taken aback): What are you doing? What are you doing? You—what is this? You’re going to try me? Why? Huh? I can’t hear you! (Takes out a hearing aid and places the plug in her ear) Say it again. What? I have committed four big crimes! Framing and persecuting leaders of the party and the country; persecuting and suppressing the party cadres and the broad masses, et cetera, et cetera. Humph, heinous crimes indeed! What? How many? (Pushes the earplug further in and listens intently) I have persecuted seven hundred thousand people? Thirty-seven thousand have died as a result? Implicated a total of one million people? (Laughs loudly, raises her finger and points back, and says with a pouting expression) Nonsense, fabricated rumors! How could I have persecuted Liu Shaoqi to death! Ha-ha-ha, that’s fucking malicious slander. The dead cannot bear witness! No, I don’t deny it—I was on the group deciding Liu Shaoqi’s case, but I was only a helper. You have recorded proof? Okay, let’s listen then. (jiang qing holds on to the railing and extends her head forward, listening attentively.) recording (jiang qing’s voice): . . . I am now taking responsibility for the nation’s number-one special investigatory case . . . and I can now tell you, Liu Shaoqi is a big counterrevolutionary who embodies all evil, an informer within the ranks, an archtraitor, a spy. He is odious! This traitor should be sliced to pieces with a thousand knives, ten thousand knives . . . (The recording finishes.) jiang qing: Mmm, seems like my voice—pretty nice—probably a talk I gave in September of 1968 to the literary world; I inserted that part in the middle. Admit my crimes? What crimes should I admit to? (In a loud voice) I committed no crimes! When you’re involved in such an important revolution, what’s the big deal if a few people die? These were extreme actions done in the momentary heat of a massive revolutionary movement. Results above all else! Wait, those are Lin Biao’s words. I probably shouldn’t say them. As for Liu Shaoqi, he was State Chairman, second in charge of the Party Central Committee. If the politburo didn’t approve it, if the members of the Standing Committee didn’t raise their hands, would he have been ousted? And now you want to blame everything on me, as if I were the arch culprit who created all this anarchy, as if I stirred up the civil war. Am I really that talented? Have I really got that kind of charisma? The Cultural Revolution was initiated and led by Chairman Mao himself. I was only carrying out his directives. What responsibility

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do I have? In fact, I was Chairman Mao’s dog. When he told me to bite someone, I did it. (Still stage. The sound of a dog barking gradually approaches, louder and louder, fiercer and fiercer, until finally it seems as if the whole world is filled with the fearful sound of this wild dog. jiang qing is also scared of the sound of the dog. In terror, she pulls out the earplug, throws the hearing aid away, and stops up her ears with her hands. The sound of the dog retreats into the distance, gradually fainter and fainter, until at last a deathlike silence is restored.) (Fearfully) No, no, I am . . . not a dog, no one’s dog. I am human, at least I used to be human. . . . Chairman Mao’s corpse isn’t even cold yet; you shouldn’t be trying me like this. This is a loss of face for the Cultural Revolution, a loss of face for the proletarian revolutionary faction! I want to leave! (She makes as if to leave the confines of the railing) I want to leave! (tang na appears to jiang qing’s left.) tang na: Wait, Miss Lan Ping! jiang qing: Who is it? tang na: Tang Na, your second husband. jiang qing: Huh, you? What are you doing here? tang na: Court witness. jiang qing: Who told you to come? tang na: You! jiang qing: Me? tang na: Yes. (mao zedong appears on jiang qing’s right.) mao zedong: Comrade Jiang Qing! jiang qing (drops her head): Who is it? mao zedong: Mao Zedong, your third husband. jiang qing: How is it you’re here, too? mao zedong: Court witness. jiang qing: Who would dare ask you to be a court witness? mao zedong: You. jiang qing: Me, again? mao zedong: Yes. jiang qing (agitated): No, I never brought either of you here; only I can give testimony for myself. I want to leave. I want to go! I want to go! I want to go! (jiang qing pushes aside the railing and leaves.) tang na: Where are you going? jiang qing (hesitantly): I . . . want to go to the 1930s . . . to Shanghai . . . (Blackout. jiang qing is playing nora, carrying a small travel bag. mao zedong is playing helmer. tang na, sitting to one side, is playing the audience; he watches the following scene with rapt attention.)

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helmer: Nora, Nora, don’t leave now; wait until tomorrow. nora (putting on her coat): I don’t want to spend a night in the house of a stranger. helmer: Wouldn’t it be possible for us to live as brother and sister? nora (putting on her hat): You know very well that wouldn’t last long. (Puts on her shawl) Good-bye, Torvald. Here—this is your ring; give me back mine. helmer: You even want to give back the rings? nora: Yes! helmer: Here. nora: So, it’s all over now. I’ll just put the keys here. As for running the house, the servants know what to do—in fact they are more familiar with it than I am. helmer: It’s over, over! Nora, I suppose this means you will never think of me again? nora: Oh, I expect I will often think of you, think of the children and this house. helmer: May I write to you? nora: No, absolutely never write to me. helmer: Please, let me at least send you some— nora: There’s no need to send anything. helmer: But I must help you out when you are in need. nora: It’s not necessary. I don’t accept help from strangers. helmer: Nora, must I always be only a stranger to you? nora (picking up her bag): Yes, Torvald, unless a miracle of miracles happens. helmer: What do you mean by “miracle of miracles”? nora: I mean, if we could both change so that— Oh, Torvald, I no longer believe that miracles are possible in this world. helmer: But I believe in them. Go on, if we could both change so that what? nora: Change so that we could live together like a true husband and wife. Good-bye. (nora goes out the hall doorway, exits.) helmer (falls into a chair by the door, with his face in his hands): Nora! Nora! (He looks around and rises) The room is empty. She’s gone. (A hope sparks from within) Oh, “a miracle of miracles.” (From below is heard the bang of a heavy door closing. The lights go down. helmer disappears and exits. tang na is so excited that he is the first to stand up and applaud. Sound effects: the prolonged applause of the audience. Amidst the applause, blackout.)

S HA N G H AI , 1930s (The entrance of the Golden City Theater. The theater is on the corner of Peking Road and Guizhou Road. The space occupied by tang na in the prologue is now a street scene. The applause has now transformed into the jazz music popular in the 1930s. The neon lights on the theater’s marquee and poster board are flashing the following words: nora, first performance by shanghai’s amateur dramatists. world-renowned play. the immortal work of ibsen. the bible of chinese women. a portrait of falsity and

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hypocrisy. performed in nineteenth-century costume, realistic staging according to norwegian style. directed by zhang min. featuring the star of the north, lan ping. The neon lights gradually diminish. Holding a copy of the program of A Doll’s House, tang na is standing and waiting on the street. He still seems absorbed in the excitement of the performance of A Doll’s House he has just watched. lan ping walks out of the theater. It is early summer (June) weather and she is wearing a blue cheongsam that fits her very nicely and is quite striking. She is excited by the success of the performance, but she is also tired. tang na goes up to greet her.) tang na: Miss Lan Ping! (Without even looking at tang na and offering no explanation, lan ping takes the program from tang na’s hand, immediately takes out a pen, and signs her name as if she had done so many times before. tang na is startled, laughs, but doesn’t say anything. There is no ink in lan ping’s pen; she gives it a shake, but still no ink. tang na immediately offers her his pen. lan ping takes it and signs her name on the program.) lan ping: Nice pen. tang na: A Parker. lan ping: Here. tang na: Could you inscribe the recipient’s name so that people know you signed it for me? lan ping: Yes. What is your surname? tang na: Tang, and my given name is the single character Na. lan ping (still writing on the program, with her head lowered): Tang . . . (Suddenly surprised) Tang Na? (Raises her head and looks him over) Sir, you . . . ? tang na: That’s right, Tang Na. lan ping: Oh, Mr. Tang. I am sorry—very, very sorry. I thought it was just some nobody from among the fans in the audience who wanted my autograph. Just now backstage I signed so many, the ink in my pen ran dry. I never thought it would be the famous critic Tang Na. tang na: I am also one of your fans. And if you mean that I am not a “nobody,” then perhaps it is because following today’s performance of A Doll’s House I am now more aware of your acting skills and have become your most loyal fan. lan ping: Mr. Tang, did you really like my performance of Nora that much? tang na: Far more than liked it; I was enthralled by it! Your Nora is a dramatic miracle. From beginning to end, I was drawn in and moved by your performance. lan ping: You’re exaggerating, but thank you anyway. tang na: No, I am sincere. Your success lies in the fact that you really live in the role you have created; you and Nora have melded into one. As Stanislavsky said, when you play a part, it is not a matter of transforming the body but transforming the spirit. This is why your performance was so lifelike, so moving. I won’t be able to keep from writing a piece about you, praising you.

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lan ping (overjoyed): Ah, with your review praising me, my status will rise inestimably. Your every word is a priceless jewel. Oh, Mr. Tang, could you first present me with two words in advance? tang na: “Two words”? lan ping: That’s right. tang na: A two-word review? lan ping: But these two words are worth a lot. tang na: Which two? lan ping: Tang—Na! tang na (laughing): Oh, you mean you want my autograph! lan ping: Not to reciprocate favors is impolite. Would you mind? tang na: It would be my honor! lan ping (takes out her diary and hands it to tang na): Would you please inscribe it in my diary? tang na (takes the diary): So, Miss Lan Ping still writes a diary? lan ping: I’ve been writing it for many years now. tang na: I can see that Miss Lan Ping is a most interesting and ambitious “modern woman.” (tang na signs his name on the title page of the diary and then returns it to lan ping.) lan ping: Please, also inscribe the recipient’s name; then we will be even. tang na: Oh, so you don’t want to go into the red? (tang na takes back the diary.) lan ping (laughing): If Mr. Tang could add an encouraging remark or two, then I could profit handsomely. tang na: In Miss Lan Ping’s presence I am even willing to do business at a loss. (tang na inscribes something in the diary and then hands it back to lan ping.) lan ping (takes it back and reads the inscription): “Struggle for the freedom and liberation of the nation.” Oh, that’s wonderful, thank you. tang na: You’re quite welcome. (Hesitates to speak, but finally bucks up his courage to carry through with his assay) Are you . . . going . . . home now? lan ping: Yes. tang na: Is there anyone expecting you? lan ping: Oh, no. I live alone. . . . Is anyone expecting you at home? (There is an awkward silence between tang na and lan ping. Each is waiting for the other to take the initiative.) tang na: Hmm . . . lan ping: What is it? tang na: May I be so bold as to request the pleasure of your company for a late meal? lan ping (happily): That would be wonderful. Where shall we go? tang na: The DDS Café on Joffre Road. lan ping: DDS? Wonderful! tang na: Shall we go!

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lan ping (suddenly puts her arm in tang na’s): Is that all right? tang na (surprised): Oh . . . yes . . . fine. (tang na and lan ping walk arm in arm. The lights go down. Then the scene is the DDS Café on Joffre Road. The waiter leads tang na and lan ping to their table, then brings them a menu.) (In English) Lady first. lan ping: What did you say? I’ve only been in Shanghai now for less than two years; I don’t know English. tang na: Oh, sorry; I asked you to order first. lan ping: Borscht, steak, some pudding, and a few pieces of bread. tang na: Anything else? lan ping: That’s plenty. tang na: Something to drink? lan ping: A small vodka . . . no, that’s too strong; how about a small glass of white wine. tang na (to the waiter): Borscht, steak, pudding, bread, and white wine for two. (The waiter leaves.) You’ve ordered so little; are you worried I can’t afford it? lan ping: No, I am not one for false manners. I normally eat even more simply than this—just a bowl of borscht, a few pieces of bread. This is already bourgeois enough! tang na: “Bourgeois enough”? lan ping: Naturally. (The waiter brings the borscht, steak, pudding, bread, and white wine, then leaves.) tang na (stands, raises a glass): Miss Lan Ping, a toast to congratulate you on this evening’s performance. Cheers! lan ping (stands, raises a glass): Thank you! (They clink glasses and each takes a small sip.) tang na: Please, sit down! lan ping (still standing): Wait, let’s drink another. tang na (stands up again): Okay. (He fills their glasses with wine.) lan ping (raises her glass): To . . . tang na: To what? lan ping: To express my gratitude. tang na: For this cheap wine and simple fare? lan ping: No, I am thanking you for the review you are going to write for me tomorrow. tang na: But I haven’t written it yet! lan ping: How can you refuse when I am willing to empty glasses with you? tang na: Of course, of course, I’ll write it. That’s for sure. lan ping (clinks glasses with tang na): Good; bottoms up. (They sit down.) tang na: In order to write the review, allow me to be bold enough to ask you some questions.

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lan ping: Of course. tang na (jotting down notes as he talks): Miss Lan Ping, I’ve heard your real surname is Li? lan ping: Yes, my real name is Li Yunhe. Lan Ping is my stage name. tang na: And your home is in Shandong? lan ping: Zhucheng County in Shandong. tang na: When did you come to Shanghai? lan ping: Two years ago, in the summer of 1933. tang na: Why did you come to Shanghai? lan ping: As for that— tang na: Look at me, like an interrogator! There’s no need to answer if you feel uncomfortable about it. lan ping: Oh no, with you I don’t feel like concealing anything. tang na: Thank you for your trust in me. lan ping: I came to Shanghai because my closest friend was arrested. I left Shandong to hide from the agents who were after me. tang na: Then you are a . . . lan ping: I am in the revolutionary party! tang na (surprised): You? lan ping: You don’t believe me, or you are surprised? tang na: I believe you, otherwise you wouldn’t have joined the left-leaning Amateur Dramatists’ Association, and you wouldn’t be performing the progressive play A Doll’s House. I’m just a little surprised. lan ping: About what? tang na: Surprised that you would reveal your political status to someone you’ve only just met. lan ping: It’s not really the first time, since I have often met you through the newspapers by reading many of your articles, especially your articles criticizing “soft” entertainment film and promoting the use of film in the service of national salvation against the Japanese.2 My admiration for you has grown through reading them. tang na: Please, that’s too kind of you. On the contrary, it is I who have great admiration for you! And not only do you perform well, you are also a revolutionary. lan ping: Mr. Tang is going too far. If it’s all right, I wonder if I might ask if Mr. Tang is . . . tang na (laughing): Miss Lan Ping, you are too trusting. If I were a member of such an organization, I would never tell somebody else so carelessly the way you do. lan ping: Then you— tang na: I am just a writer, an artist; I just use my pen to save the nation. I have no need to join any political organizations. Yet, I also must admit that I have some leftist leanings. Since coming to Shanghai I have seen the imperialists’ bullying of our China, seen the inequities between rich and poor, so I have become a little “red” in my thinking.

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lan ping: No wonder when I first saw you I felt a sense of intimacy with you. Oh, I have interrupted your interview! tang na: What is your view of the newly emerging theater? lan ping (very fluently): I feel that in the context of this difficult but great era, our newly emerging theater should fully develop its social function and shoulder the noble duty of national revolution. If we want to join our dramatic activities with the larger fundamental activities of anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism, then the newly emerging theater will have a healthy development, and only then will beautiful fresh flowers bloom. tang na: Ah, just like you’re giving a speech. I have had contact with quite a few actresses before, but I daresay there are very few who are as interesting and opinionated as you. Tomorrow I will definitely write a review to introduce you to the Shanghai audience. lan ping: Why tomorrow? Why not write it tonight? tang na: I’d like to chat with you some more. lan ping: We’ll have time later for chatting. You go on home. tang na (calls to the waiter): The bill. (The waiter comes over and hands him the bill. tang na pays and the waiter leaves.) I’ll take you home. lan ping: No, go home directly so you can get going on that review. tang na: Since Miss Lan sets such store by my review, I had better go and get it done. (tang na and lan ping leave their seats. A young refugee enters and walks up to their table. There are still some bits of bread on the table.) lan ping: Oh, wait, I’ll take those bits of bread home with me for my breakfast. (lan ping heads back to the table. The young refugee is just about to reach for the bread on the table; he sees lan ping coming and his hand retracts. As lan ping takes the bread, she sees the hungry face of the young refugee. lan ping hesitates for a moment, picks up the bread, and walks away. After going a few steps, she turns around and goes back to the young refugee.) Are you a refugee from the Northeast? (The young refugee nods his head.) Alone? (He nods his head.) What about your family? (He drops his head in silence.) Did the Japanese . . . (He lowers his head in despair. lan ping stuffs the bread into his hand.) Here! (He looks at lan ping with gratitude, then devours the bread like an animal and leaves. tang na and lan ping watch the young refugee depart. Blackout.)

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YA N ’ A N 1938 (A simple hall in the Lu Xun Arts Academy. On the stage is just a broken old table that serves, such as it is, as a lectern. Amidst enthusiastic applause, mao zedong appears behind the lectern. He is dressed simply, the knees on his cotton pants have holes. He is giving a lecture to the audience below—the members of the Lu Xun Arts Academy.) mao zedong (waving his hand so as to stop the applause): With the armed invasion of our country’s three northeastern provinces after the Mukden Incident, on September eighteenth, 1931, and since last year’s July seventh Marco Polo Bridge incident, the fascist militarists in Japan have carried out a full-scale invasion of the northern, middle, and southern sections of our country. Because of results of the policy of the Nationalist Citizen Government to carry out a national war of resistance, because of the long and persistent struggle of the Communist Party to carry on its national united front, and because the army and the people of the entire nation have risen against the enemy, we have already instigated the great and heroic war of self-defense. This is a great event in the history of the development of our Chinese people. The policies we should now maintain are to uphold the War of Resistance, uphold the united front against Japan, and uphold the protracted war. Seated here today are all students from the Lu Xun Arts Academy—those who sing songs, those who sing opera, those who dance, those who paint—all of you are workers in the literary arts. Your sacred duty now is to make large-scale use of all useful forms, carry on artistic creativity, work toward bringing art to the masses, reflect reality, and even more broadly enter into the educational work of the War of Resistance so that our people can be mobilized to guard our sovereign territory. (Enthusiastic applause below the stage, and from it the long and clear clapping of one person, jiang qing. She is seated in the first row of students below the stage. When mao zedong’s lecture to the students is finished, so as to attract mao zedong’s attention, she stands up on the seat and raises both hands above her head and applauds from this high spot. When the sound of the others’ applause has already stopped, she continues clapping as before. This action has attracted mao zedong’s attention. He looks down, sees jiang qing, and nods his head to show his gratitude.) jiang qing: Chairman Mao, please wait! (jiang qing walks up onto the stage and says coquettishly) Chairman, your lecture was marvelous, farsighted, penetrating, profound, and yet explained in simple language. I now understand much, much better the rationale behind national salvation resistance against the Japanese. (Takes out her diary) Look, I even took notes for fear that I might lose a single word. Oh, please, Chairman Mao, would it be all right if you signed your autograph? Sign here, here. mao zedong (takes the pen and diary jiang qing has passed to him): What a lovely pen. jiang qing: A friend gave it to me. It’s a Parker. If the Chairman likes it, please keep it. mao zedong: A gentleman does not take that which is valued by others. (Signs) Is that all right?

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jiang qing (takes the diary): Wonderful, thank you! mao zedong: May I inquire as to the female comrade’s surname? jiang qing: My name is Jiang Qing. mao zedong (a little pleasantly surprised): Well, well, so you’re Jiang Qing. I have long heard of you. jiang qing: The Chairman knows me? mao zedong: I saw you perform in The Fisherman’s Revenge. Your performance of Xiao Guiying was quite good. jiang qing: The Chairman enjoys Peking opera? mao zedong: Very much. Your name holds a great deal of repute in Yan’an. Jiang Qing. “When the song is over she is no longer seen / By the river [jiang] many peaks rise green [qing].”3 What a wonderful name. jiang qing: I adopted this name after coming to Yan’an. In Shanghai I was called Lan Ping. mao zedong: Jiang Qing? Lan Ping? Green [qing] comes from blue [lan] and can overcome blue. Does that mean that your life in Yan’an will be more promising than in Shanghai? jiang qing: It’s just a name I took; no special meaning. mao zedong: Such a wonderful name and taken so casually. Just think what you could do when you put your mind to it. jiang qing: Chairman, I . . . could I bother you with something? mao zedong: What is it? Go ahead! jiang qing: After listening to your lecture, there are some things I still don’t understand. Could I come to you for some individual instruction? mao zedong: The main gate to Yan’an is open to the entire nation’s patriotic youth who fight for anti-Japanese resistance. My door is also open to you; please do come. jiang qing: I am very grateful! (Just before taking his leave, mao zedong gives jiang qing a quick looking over and somewhat absentmindedly bumps into the table as he turns to leave.) Chairman, be careful! mao zedong: Yes, it seems I should be more careful! jiang qing: Or, perhaps I could . . . see you home! mao zedong: Well . . . jiang qing: Didn’t you just say that your door was open to me? mao zedong: All right, what this Mao person says does indeed count. Let’s go; promenade with me, if you will.4 jiang qing: What did you say? I only got through middle school. I don’t understand you. mao zedong: Oh, it’s a line from an old poem. What I mean to say is let us march in unison. jiang qing (laughing): “March in unison”? Okay (attempting to put her arm in mao zedong’s). mao zedong: No need for such politeness; I am not that old yet.

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(mao zedong walks alongside jiang qing, conscious of maintaining a proper distance. Blackout. Scene changes to Phoenix Mountain, the site of mao zedong’s cave dwelling, which is very simple in style.) jiang qing (surprised): Such a great leader lives here? mao zedong: The laboring masses throughout the world have yet to be liberated. And when they are, we will still institute the principle of the Paris Commune: my lifestyle will not exceed that of a skilled worker. jiang qing (looks all around): It’s really just four bare walls. mao zedong: Not exactly. There are things you cannot see. Over there are all my books. “With the classics one cannot be poor.” Indeed, I consider myself very rich. jiang qing: No wonder so many young people are rushing to Yan’an. Those who come to Yan’an just to look, if they see no other place than where you live, will never want to leave. mao zedong: Why do you say that? jiang qing: Because of the air of equality, democracy, and freedom here. mao zedong: You shouldn’t speak of it as if it were so perfect. Yan’an also has its backward side. There are no big Western-style houses, no roads. We are lacking in food and clothing. We have to till our own soil and weave our own cloth. We eat black beans all day, and that makes for poor digestion. The sound of farts can be heard everywhere. Yan’an reeks to high heaven. jiang qing (laughs): Yet I like this place. I prefer the farts of the proletariat to the sweet smell of the bourgeoisie. mao zedong: You are a determined one, aren’t you! jiang qing: Otherwise I wouldn’t have come to Yan’an. Shanghai is bustling, but it is too rotten and dirty. mao zedong: Some people have come to Yan’an just for a change of scenery. jiang qing: But I came mainly to resist Japan. mao zedong: When did you arrive in Yan’an? jiang qing: Last year, after the Marco Polo Bridge incident. mao zedong: Where were you when you first came? jiang qing: At the party training school. mao zedong: How did you come to the Arts Academy then? jiang qing: I asked to be transferred. mao zedong: And your leader agreed? jiang qing: I have brought my bags and bedroll to the Arts Academy. How can they not agree? In any case, I’m not leaving. I simply have to get into the Arts Academy. I’ll show them how to be unreasonable! mao zedong (laughs): Actually, to accomplish anything, we have to have a little rebellious spirit, this kind of burn-all-your-bridges determination. I approve of your “unreasonableness.” jiang qing: I am not just fooling around here. I am an actress, and when I was in Shanghai, I was something of a star. If I don’t get into the Arts Academy, then who should? Oh—I brought with me some stage photos, programs, and some articles I

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wrote when I was in Shanghai. I would appreciate your comments. (jiang qing takes out from her handbag stage photos, programs, reviews, and her own articles and hands them to mao zedong.) mao zedong (admiring the photos): You have quite a few; you really were a star! jiang qing (explaining the photos, one by one): This was when I performed the principal role of Nora in A Doll’s House. The second is of Katerina, the principal role in Ostrovsky’s The Storm. And this is the principal role in the Japanese play Infant Slaughter.5 These are all film photos. Yes, I was a female soldier in God of Freedom, the wife of a wheelbarrow pusher in Twenty Cents, and the wife of the pig farmer, Liu San, in Bloodbath at Wolf Mountain. And what must be my most famous role, the wife of Wang Laowu in Wang Laowu. As you can see, in film I have excelled in playing wives. How boring! mao zedong: Oh, you don’t want to perform someone’s wife? jiang qing: I have played the wives of cart drivers, hunters, and poor wretches. mao zedong: Then whose wife would you like to perform? jiang qing: How about a general’s wife, the wife of a head of state or prime minister, or an empress. mao zedong: You are quite ambitious! jiang qing: How can an actor survive without ambition? mao zedong: So many reviews of your performances? jiang qing: They praise especially my performance of Nora. The critics called 1935 the Year of Nora. mao zedong (reads): “The Shanghai audience has gone wild for Miss Lan Ping’s performance of Nora—written by Tang Na.” jiang qing: He is a very well-known critic in Shanghai, a friend of mine, very progressive. mao zedong: What a pity I haven’t seen any of your many plays and films. I have only seen The Fisherman’s Revenge. jiang qing: The Arts Academy is putting on a performance of a new play in which I have a part. We’ll invite you to come and see it when it’s ready, okay? mao zedong: Of course I will come. (The bodyguard carries in the meal and puts in on the table. It is a piece of meat cooked in red sauce.) jiang qing: My goodness, I must go. But you haven’t given me individual instruction yet! I must be going. mao zedong: How can I let a guest leave like this, when it comes time to eat. Shall we eat together? (To the guard) Bring another dish. (To jiang qing) Why don’t you sit! (The guard leaves.) jiang qing: This is too embarrassing. (Sits) Chairman, you also eat so simply? One dish and a soup! mao zedong: My stomach is easily taken care of. On the Long March, I ate wild plants and even a leather belt.

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(The bodyguard carries in another bowl of rice and a dish and places them before jiang qing; he then stands aside.) Don’t be polite, go ahead and eat. jiang qing: I’ll help myself, don’t worry. mao zedong (wants to pick up some food with his chopsticks to give to jiang qing, but seeing the bodyguard to the side, he stops): Hm, comrade, there’s no point you just standing guard there while I eat. Leave. (The bodyguard leaves. mao zedong winks at jiang qing.) They’re keeping an eye on me. jiang qing: Keeping an eye out for what? mao zedong: For this big piece of fatty meat! jiang qing: Why—afraid you won’t eat it? mao zedong: No, afraid I’ll share it with you! jiang qing: Share it with me? mao zedong: They know I like to eat fatty meat and they went to a lot of trouble today to get me this piece. They’re afraid I’ll share it with you, so they are keeping an eye on it. They’re really stingy. (He picks up half of the piece of meat and gives it to jiang qing.) Go ahead, eat it. jiang qing (promptly refuses): No-no-no. Chairman, they have expressly prepared it for you. How can I eat it? No, I couldn’t. mao zedong: I’m telling you to eat it, so you should eat it! Good fortune should be enjoyed with others, and good food should be shared. jiang qing: I . . . I don’t like to eat fatty meat. mao zedong: What possible reason can there be for not liking fatty meat? Just eat a little. (Picks up a piece for jiang qing) A larger piece would be hard for me to give up! jiang qing: Oh, thank you, thank you! (mao zedong very earnestly picks up with the tips of his fingers the kernels of rice that have fallen on the table, and then puts them into his mouth one by one, just like a peasant. jiang qing is very surprised by this.) Does the Chairman often eat alone? mao zedong: Lately it’s been that way. jiang qing: What about . . . Comrade He Zizhen? mao zedong: She . . . she’s . . . not here. jiang qing: Where has she gone? (mao zedong silently eats his meal.) I’ve heard . . . mao zedong: What have you heard? jiang qing (covering up): Oh, nothing. I heard that Comrade He Zizhen is very pretty, not too tall or too short, neither too skinny nor too fat, the most beautiful woman in Yongxin County. mao zedong: Well, let’s say she’s not ugly!

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jiang qing: I’ve also heard . . . mao zedong: Also heard what? jiang qing: That you first met her doing guerrilla work in the Jinggang Mountains, that she fought courageously and can shoot two guns at once. mao zedong: She did fight courageously and her shooting is not bad. jiang qing: I’ve also heard . . . mao zedong: Also heard what? jiang qing: That Comrade He Zizhen has given you four or five children, that your marital feelings have always been good . . . mao zedong: Yet, we . . . jiang qing: Yes, you . . . mao zedong (puts down his bowl and chopsticks): We haven’t been together now for more than half a year. . . . (For quite a while mao zedong does not speak.) jiang qing: Chairman, it’s getting very late; I should go. mao zedong: Oh, you’re going? jiang qing: I came to ask for your individual instruction. mao zedong: Yes, that’s right, you did. jiang qing: Yet I still haven’t been instructed on any questions. We only talked about other things. mao zedong: Yes, we have strayed rather far from the topic. jiang qing: If it is all right with you, I will seek your edification the next time I come? mao zedong: My door is open. jiang qing: I am only afraid that the guards by your door won’t allow me to come in. mao zedong: Just tell them that I said you could come. jiang qing: Well, then, I will return some other time. mao zedong: Thank you. jiang qing: Why are you thanking me? mao zedong: Thank you for keeping me company for an evening. jiang qing: I came to seek your individual instruction. mao zedong: That’s what you said. jiang qing: Good-bye! mao zedong: Good-bye! (jiang qing leaves, walking sprightly. mao zedong looks disappointed, as if he has lost something. Blackout.)

S HA N G H AI , 1930s (At the front entrance to the Carleton Theater, where the Japanese film New Earth is showing, a poster announces the film on the ad board. tang na is demonstrating to boycott the film, to the pedestrians passing by, to the people buying tickets, and to those enter-

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ing the theater. Although no pedestrians or spectators actually appear onstage, tang na’s performance demonstrates their presence.) tang na: Compatriots, New Earth is an anti-Chinese film, a film that insults the Chinese people. Any Chinese who is patriotic or who has a shred of self-respect should not see this film. Compatriots, let us go arm in arm to boycott the showing of this reactionary film. (tang na is looking at his watch and it is evident that he is waiting for lan ping. tang na goes up to the ticket booth and continues his demonstration.) You, sir, please don’t buy a ticket. The Japanese militarists have invaded our northeastern provinces and north China, and they are creating disturbances here in Shanghai. We are irreconcilable enemies, so how at this time can we buy tickets to see their films? Especially since this film insults the Chinese people. Sir, please don’t buy a ticket! (tang na again goes up to the entrance of the theater and looks at his watch, and seeing that lan ping still has not come, he continues his demonstrating to the spectators going into the theater.) Ladies, gentlemen, compatriots, New Earth is a coproduction of the two fascist nations Japan and Germany. It is a barefaced attempt to justify invasion, it publicly claims our land in the northeast as the “New Earth” of the Japanese Taisho nation, and it incites the Japanese people to set out for this “New Earth.” Isn’t this the gangster logic of the fascists? Compatriots, yes, return your tickets, resist. That’s what it means to be a Chinese with heart. (lan ping rushes up to him.) lan ping: My dear Tang, I am late! tang na: Lan, where were you? You didn’t come home again last night! lan ping (acting like a spoiled child): I’m rehearsing a new play! tang na: And this morning? lan ping: Relaxed and slept! tang na: Where? lan ping: In the YWCA dormitory. tang na: I called and they said you weren’t there. lan ping (hemming and hawing): Ah, I told them at the front desk to tell anyone who called that I wasn’t in. I wanted to sleep. tang na: Really? lan ping: Tang, what’s with you? I really was sleeping! tang na: With whom? lan ping: Oh, my great lover, don’t be jealous. I had rehearsed the entire night and was dead tired. How could I still have the energy to sleep with a man? tang na: Then why didn’t you come home to sleep? lan ping: I was afraid you would want to sleep with me. It’s that time of the month and I am not feeling well. tang na (starting to believe): Ah, I don’t know if this is real or if you are acting.

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lan ping (acting like a spoiled child): I’m not fooling you. We’re not even married, just living together, and already you’re so jealous. If we really were married, your eyes would turn bright green from jealousy. Enough of this; someone’s coming into the theater. Let’s go on with our demonstration! (Runs over to the entrance) Attention, compatriots, we must resist the anti-Chinese film New Earth . . . tang na: It’s already started! lan ping: Were there many who went it? tang na: A few returned their tickets after hearing the demonstration. As for the others, the more you demonstrate, the more they want to go in. lan ping: Traitors! tang na: Don’t generalize. lan ping: Let’s go in. tang na: You want to see this kind of film? lan ping: No—to demonstrate. tang na: Go in to demonstrate? But the film has already started! lan ping: All the better to stop it. tang na: No, that’s not a good method. It’s illegal! lan ping: What is illegal is showing films on Chinese territory that insult the Chinese. Come on, let’s go in. (lan ping and tang na go into the theater. Blackout. On the screen New Earth is showing. Hand in hand, lan ping and tang na grope their way in the darkness onto the stage. Then they block the images on the screen.) (Waving both hands and yelling) We won’t allow this film to be shown! Stop the film! tang na (also waving both hands): Stop the film! Stop! Turn on the lights, turn on the lights! (The hall lights brighten. The film stops and the screen goes blank. lan ping and tang na approach the front of the stage and pass out flyers to the audience below.) lan ping (impassioned): Compatriots, ladies and gentlemen, one and all, how can you watch this reactionary film? We can’t be apathetic anymore, nor can we turn a blind eye to evil. We must rise up and protest, struggle, take up weapons and drive the Japanese invaders out of our land, and drive such reactionary films out of our theaters. Those patriotic Chinese among you, please leave immediately; the traitors and sellouts can stay! (A red-turbaned Sikh patrolman blows a whistle and runs immediately onto the stage, using his police club to drive out lan ping and tang na.) (Struggling, resisting) I protest, I protest! You have no right to interfere with us, this is Chinese territory. We have the right to express our ideas and to protest. (The Sikh patrolman waves his police club and drives lan ping and tang na from the stage. lan ping shouts the slogan “Down with Japanese imperialism” as she makes her way through the audience and heads out of the hall. tang na maintains with great effort

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his gentlemanly demeanor. With dignity, he follows lan ping through the audience and out of the hall. Standing on the stage, the Sikh patrolman makes a gesture to the projection room behind the audience to signal that they can turn off the lights and continue showing the film. The hall lights go dim and the film continues. What is showing is no longer New Earth, but a scene from the feature film Wang Laowu in which lan ping starred in 1937.) offstage voice: Now showing is the 1937 feature film Wang Laowu produced by the Lianhua Studio, directed by the famous Chinese film worker Cai Chusheng. It describes the unemployment and poverty suffered by the common people on the eve of the War of Resistance against the Japanese in the squatter area of Shanghai. It belonged to the progressive category of films of that time. It was all the rage after it was shown. In this film Lan Ping plays the wife of the pauper Wang Laowu, a girl who sews clothes for others. Her performance garnered excellent reviews. (Blackout.)

SHA N G H A I 1937, EARLY SUM M ER (The road on which lan ping lives and inside her house. It’s the middle of the night; lan ping is dead drunk and being helped home by a man. All along the road she is humming and singing the theme song from Wang Laowu: “Wang Laowu, a life of pain, clothes all ragged, years lived in vain . . .”) lan ping: I’m . . . home. Leave me alone . . . I’m not drunk. Who says . . . I’m drunk? Huh? Who says so? . . . Shit, I’ll kill the bastard, ha-ha-ha. Everyone else is drunk . . . I alone am clear. Go away, don’t . . . come in. Ha, my great lover. Don’t play the sly fox with me. Once you come in, you’ll never leave, and I, too, . . . won’t bear you to leave. Not . . . today, it’s too late. I’m . . . too tired. All day long, I perform in The Storm, and in the evening we shoot Wang Laowu. Just see me to the door, to the door. Go, go, my dear . . . my dear famous director. Yesterday . . . yesterday we got intimate for the first time. Today, I’m tired, need rest . . . Be good, be good, and I’ll give you a big . . . kiss. (lan ping hugs the man and kisses him madly. tang na appears in a corner. Having witnessed the scene, he hides immediately to one side.) (A little more awake) Satisfied? My famous director! Go and come back tomorrow; I’ll wait for you. Being apart can be sweeter than being locked up together day after day! (The man leaves. lan ping opens the door and enters the room. She is so tired, she falls into a chair. tang na knocks on the door.) Go away, I’m exhausted and want to sleep! (tang na still knocks.) Go; I won’t open the door. (tang na continues to knock without stopping.)

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Shit, I told you to stop, why do you keep knocking? (Takes off her high heels and throws them savagely at the door) Okay, go ahead and knock! (From outside the door tang na hears two thumping sounds and is startled.) tang na: Lan Ping, it’s me! lan ping: Who? tang na: Tang Na. lan ping: Tang Na? (Promptly goes barefoot over to the door) What do you want? tang na: Let me come in to talk. lan ping: No; go away! tang na: Open the door! lan ping: No. tang na: Open up! lan ping: I won’t! tang na: This is also my home. We are still husband and wife! lan ping: Then come back tomorrow. I want to sleep! tang na: No; I might never come back. You must open the door now. lan ping: All right, I’ll open it, just to see what you’ll do about it! (lan ping opens the door. tang na enters the room.) What are you going to do? tang na: Who was that just now kissing you? lan ping: Oh, Mr. Tang knows how to shadow people now? tang na: I happened to be passing by. lan ping (earnestly): The great director Zhang, what of it? tang na: Director Zhang? What exactly is your . . . relationship? lan ping: Living together, for many months already! tang na: Don’t you know he has a wife! lan ping: I know, and he also knows that I have a husband! tang na: You . . . You’re truly shameless. How can you! lan ping: You have no rights binding me. We were never officially married. tang na: But we had that wedding ceremony at the Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou. And the lawyer, old Mr. Shen Junru, was our witness. lan ping: That was nothing but formalities, and I have never liked being restricted by formalities. tang na: Then, why did you agree to marry me? lan ping: First, because you were so persistent, and second, to settle the financial problems we had after we started living together—your parents could then give us some money to help pay off our debts incurred from our unemployment and illness. tang na: Then you did plan all along to just throw me aside! lan ping: No, that’s not true. Marriage should be based on love. If we love each other, it is not because of some marriage license. If we don’t love each other, then even if we have a license, it shouldn’t be binding. Moreover, I told you straight out long ago that I am a headstrong, petulant, and independent-minded woman who could never be a man’s slave, nor a plaything for someone’s family. I have my career, my interests.

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When it comes to love and career, I would prefer to choose career and abandon love. So, when you fell in love with me, I warned you many times that I am not the kind of wife with whom you could grow old, nor a lover with an ever-constant heart. If you love me, you will suffer for it. And if you have already suffered for it, you only brought it upon yourself; don’t come bothering me about it! tang na: You did this so that your fame would sweep across the land. Don’t you know what your friends are saying about you now? They say you just play with men, that you are a rotten Apple [ping]. Is it possible you are not concerned with the pressure of public opinion? lan ping (sneers): Humph, I am not Ruan Lingyu; I would never kill myself from fear of gossip.6 I’ve never been afraid of idle chatter. I, Lan Ping, am a strong woman who would never shrink under the pressure of public opinion. On the contrary, I would look for an opportunity to counterattack. tang na (weeps): Lan, could it be that you don’t love me even a little? lan ping (determined): I don’t; I don’t love weak men. tang na: Is that great director Zhang stronger than I? lan ping: Let me speak from the heart. He is not my ideal man, either. You both lack the kind of fervent willpower needed to subdue me. tang na: Lan . . . lan ping: Please leave. (tang na continues to cry as before.) Our love is a thing of the past. Now that we no longer love each other, let’s just separate peacefully. How would you have it? For the past year, you have done nothing but argue with me and berate me. Is that what you want to do now? I’ll keep you company if you like. A few days ago we got so crazy we even hit each other. Do you still want to hit me? I have a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors I can let you use. I won’t stop you. (lan ping takes out the knife and scissors and throws them in front of tang na. tang na is stunned, and trembles with anger.) tang na: It’s fortunate . . . you’re a woman. If you were a man, the whole world would tremble in your presence! lan ping: To reach this goal, I must first get you men to tremble in my presence! (Almost as if escaping, tang na runs out the door. Blackout.)

YA N ’ A N 19 38, FALL (Afternoon, the cave in which mao zedong resides at Phoenix Mountain. mao zedong is at his desk, writing. He writes with abandon, then he smokes and wracks his brain, then he paces the room, and now gazes out the window. The bodyguard enters quietly. Seeing mao zedong use his forefinger and middle finger to pick some tea leaves out of his teacup and then put them in his mouth to chew, the bodyguard retreats unnoticed and comes back carrying a kettle of boiled water. He walks lightly up to the edge of mao zedong’s desk and makes a gesture to determine if mao zedong wants him to add more

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water to his teacup. mao zedong indicates that he wants it. So the guard raises the kettle and pours. After adding the water, the guard makes a gesture to determine if mao zedong wants him to comb his hair. mao zedong thinks for a while, nods his head, and puts down his pen to indicate that he does. The bodyguard then happily puts down the kettle, stands behind mao zedong’s chair, pulls mao zedong’s shoulders up against the back of the chair, and tilts his head back. The guard takes out a wooden comb and lightly combs mao zedong’s hair from front to back. mao zedong closes his eyes and his whole body relaxes.) bodyguard (softly): Chairman, may I have a word with you? mao zedong: Hm. bodyguard: Does that feel good? mao zedong: Hm. bodyguard: Should I do it a little harder? mao zedong: Hm. bodyguard: Hurt at all? mao zedong: Hm. bodyguard (laughs): I’m trying to get you to talk, Chairman, to relax your mind, but all you can say is “Hm, hm.” If you don’t open up a little and you keep thinking about your writing, how will you be able to relax? mao zedong: Right, right. If I am going to relax, then I should relax. Hm, I’ll sing a piece from a Peking opera for you. bodyguard (shows great surprise): Can the Chairman still sing Peking opera? mao zedong: A little. I’ll sing the role of a “painted face.” (Closes his eyes and sings “Fen Die’r”) “Battling with heroes, no equal in the world, Ying of Qin destroyed, the Chu emperor gone. Struggle for control of the world.” (In verse) “Ying of Qin has lost the Way, time has come for us to move. / Six states once consumed now divided again. / Xiang Yu and Liu Bang divide the land at Yuan Gou. / Han occupies the East and I control the West.” bodyguard (applauds): Well sung, well sung! mao zedong: Really? bodyguard: As well as anyone I’ve heard. What opera does that come from? mao zedong (laughs): You don’t even know what opera it comes from. How can you tell if I am singing it well? Now I know what you just said was not sincere, only flattery. bodyguard: Well, sometimes it’s necessary to flatter a little. If I said it wasn’t good, would you be pleased? Chairman, please, what opera did it come from? mao zedong: Farewell My Concubine. (Suddenly thinks of something) Eh, I am also bidding farewell to my concubine! bodyguard: What are you saying? mao zedong: I am saying that He Zizhen wants to get divorced . . . (mao zedong feels dispirited and becomes silent for quite a while.) bodyguard: Is there no way to repair things?

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mao zedong: She ran off to Xi’an. I sent her a telegram and urged her to come back, but she refuses. She insists on going to the Soviet Union. bodyguard: Chairman, this matter should be settled once and for all. It has serious repercussions. mao zedong: Oh, what have you heard? bodyguard: Don’t listen to that stuff. mao zedong: Just say it. bodyguard: I’m afraid it’ll upset you. mao zedong: I will just have to grin and bear it. Tell me! bodyguard: Some people blame Comrade He Zizhen for being petty and jealous, making something out of nothing. They even said she got angry with you and was going to shoot you. How ridiculous! With you gone, who would lead the revolution? mao zedong: I can’t entirely blame her. Last year, just after completing “On Contradiction,” the contradictions in my own home had not been settled. The ancients said that “ordering the state and regulating the family bring peace to the universe,” but I have not regulated my family well! bodyguard: And there are also those who say that you are at fault. mao zedong: In what way? bodyguard: It is not so much that you are at fault, but that Jiang Qing is mostly to blame. mao zedong: What’s she go to do with it? bodyguard: They say that she is barging in where she doesn’t belong and has made your relations with Comrade He Zizhen even worse. mao zedong (a little angry): My problem with He Zizhen is completely unrelated to Jiang Qing. I had already fallen out with He Zizhen before I knew Jiang Qing. Why do they insist on pulling the two together? bodyguard: People say that Jiang Qing squirmed into the space between you and Comrade He Zizhen. mao zedong: Who’s squirming into whose space? In these relations between the sexes, both parties are willing. bodyguard: You were willing to get close to Jiang Qing? mao zedong: Well, I . . . how should I put it. I . . . It is hard to say exactly! bodyguard: Chairman, I think you should be careful. People say that as a film star, Jiang Qing’s past is very checkered and her life very promiscuous. mao zedong: It’s all nonsense. Comrade Kang Sheng has investigated her. (Impatiently) All right, all right, I want to write now. Don’t comb anymore. The more you comb, the messier things get! bodyguard: Wait, there’s a gray hair! (Pulls out the hair) Huh, look! mao zedong: Well, you’ve got some nerve! bodyguard: What, was I talking nonsense just now? mao zedong: No, someone once “dared touch the head of the emperor,” and now you dare to pull out hair from the Chairman’s head. You’d better watch your step. bodyguard (laughs): No, I was pulling out some weeds from the Chairman’s head.

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(The bodyguard exits. mao zedong continues to write. The bodyguard reenters quietly.) Chairman . . . mao zedong (impatiently): Don’t disturb me! bodyguard: Comrade Agnes Smedley wants to see you.7 mao zedong (without raising his head, he writes and speaks at the same time): Not now. I am right at the most crucial point. If you’re shitting and you’re only half done, how can you receive guests? Tell Smedley to come back tomorrow. Even if the Old King of Heaven came today, I wouldn’t see him. bodyguard: Yes. (The bodyguard exits. mao zedong continues to write, his head buried in his work. From outside comes the sound of a disturbance. Losing his patience, he puts down his pen and is about to explode and hit the table in anger. The bodyguard enters.) mao zedong: What is it now? bodyguard: Someone else to see you. mao zedong: Even if the Old King of Heaven came today, I wouldn’t see him. bodyguard: If I don’t let her in, she’ll make a fuss. mao zedong: Let her make a fuss, then. bodyguard: She says she has to come in. mao zedong: Who could be so unreasonable? bodyguard: Jiang Qing . . . (Hearing it is jiang qing, mao zedong immediately stands up and considers leaving his place to go outside to greet her, but on second thought thinks that inappropriate and so sits back down and waves his hand gently to the bodyguard.) Ask her to leave? mao zedong (hesitates again): Wait! bodyguard: What is it? mao zedong: Better ask her in! bodyguard: Ask her in? mao zedong: If she doesn’t stay long, it’s all right! bodyguard: It’s up to you! (mao zedong hurriedly arranges the manuscripts on his desk. jiang qing carries a small case in. She puts it down and then rushes right over to mao zedong and kisses him wildly.) jiang qing: I’ve missed you so much, so much! mao zedong (unable to resist): The bodyguard is still outside; he shouldn’t see us! jiang qing (still holding him tightly, unwilling to let go): Let those damn bodyguards see how passionate and loving we are together and see if next time they dare to refuse me entrance! mao zedong (struggles to get out of jiang qing’s embrace): You can’t blame them. In fact at this moment I really am busy with my writing. jiang qing (playing the spoiled child): No, lately you have been avoiding me! mao zedong: I have been busy lately.

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jiang qing: If you haven’t been avoiding me, then tell me you love me, love me, love me. Go ahead, say it! (mao zedong impulsively embraces jiang qing and kisses her on the face.) mao zedong: I do like you. jiang qing (intoxicated): Then why not kiss me on the lips? You always just kiss my face. mao zedong: We country folk always just peck on the cheek. Am I a bumpkin? jiang qing: No, you are the most attractive man I’ve ever met, the only one worthy of idolization. I never would have thought you were so affectionate. mao zedong: I, too, am a man, with the “seven emotions and six desires.” jiang qing: In fact, the greater the man, the more affectionate he is. Emperors of old and presidents today, they all fall for women. mao zedong: More nonsense! jiang qing: Here, come and dance! (Out of the case she brought with her jiang qing takes an old phonograph.) mao zedong: Where did you get that? jiang qing: Brought it with me from Shanghai. (jiang qing puts on a record, some dance music.) Come on! mao zedong: I . . . jiang qing: Take a break! (jiang qing and mao zedong dance. jiang qing’s dance form is graceful, while mao zedong appears a little clumsy. jiang qing not only dances, she sings at the same time.) mao zedong: Sing a little softer. jiang qing: What are you afraid of? mao zedong: Don’t sing so loud! jiang qing: I’m happy! mao zedong: You just don’t concern yourself with the consequences of your actions, do you! jiang qing: I what? mao zedong: People have quite a few opinions about you. jiang qing: What opinions? In coming to the Communist Party base areas from Shanghai, haven’t I participated in the revolution, resisted the Japanese, applied myself in study, and done physical labor? Have I done any worse than anyone else? And yet all I hear is people saying I like the finer things, dressing up, chasing after love. I’m only twenty-four this year. How can I not like the finer things, like dressing up. I’m young; of course I am interested in love. I really don’t understand it. I came to Yan’an from Shanghai in search of freedom. How can it not be free here? It’s as if I’ve fled one doll’s house only to jump into another, more rigid doll’s house. mao zedong: More nonsense! It’s your lifestyle and your lack of discipline that provoke these opinions. This is not Shanghai; how can we be so casual in our lifestyle? You should behave like the country folk so as to avoid idle gossip.

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jiang qing: I have never feared idle gossip! mao zedong (displeased): But I must consider consequences, both in the party and outside it. (mao zedong ceases to dance. jiang qing is uneasy. Awkwardly, neither budges.) jiang qing: Are you angry? (mao zedong still says nothing.) All right, all right, from now on I will concern myself with consequences. I’ll do as you say. (Half serious, half joking) In everything, everywhere, in my words and actions, I will rigorously demand of myself the standard of the Communist Party member, use the example of Yan’an to reform Shanghai, and your example to reform myself. mao zedong: You should know that within the party there are opposing views of the two of us. jiang qing: Don’t concern yourself with that. As long as the two of us agree, that’s all that matters. mao zedong: No, we also need the agreement of the Party Central Committee Secretariat. jiang qing: Love is our own private affair. What’s it got to do with the Party Central Committee Secretariat? mao zedong: It’s called party discipline! jiang qing: So what is the view of the Party Central Committee Secretariat? mao zedong: Some oppose us and some approve, and some don’t express a view. jiang qing: Then what should we do? mao zedong: Unite the majority, isolate the minority, and win over the middle ground. jiang qing: The strategy and tactics of the War of Resistance? mao zedong: The nature of it is different, but the rationale is the same. jiang qing: How long do we have to wait to organize such a “united front”? mao zedong: This is not a pressing matter. jiang qing: I really wish we could get married today! mao zedong: We can’t just fool around here; we need to prepare for a long-term, protracted war. jiang qing: Eh? mao zedong: Even if the Secretariat approves of our getting married, it will be with conditions. jiang qing: What conditions? mao zedong: There are three: One: before I get officially divorced from He Zizhen, you cannot be called Mao Zedong’s wife, only Comrade Jiang Qing. jiang qing: What? mao zedong: Two: after getting married, your only responsibility is to take care of me. jiang qing: That’s not a problem. mao zedong: Three: for the next twenty years you are not permitted to interfere in politics or meddle in party affairs. jiang qing (shaking with anger): But, that . . . that’s completely . . .

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mao zedong: What? jiang qing: Completely an unequal treaty. mao zedong: An “unequal treaty”? jiang qing: That’s right. These three conditions restrain me, oppress me, disrespect and distrust me. I am an independent woman who yearns for freedom and democracy. I won’t accept it! mao zedong: There are only two options open to us: One: accept the three conditions and begin the nuptials, or two: refuse the three conditions and go our separate ways! jiang qing: But we’ve already . . . how can we separate? mao zedong: That leaves only one option, then: we must yield. jiang qing: We yield? It’s I who am yielding, how are you yielding? mao zedong: In questions of principle I have never yielded. Perhaps you should think it over! jiang qing: It seems you have already thought it over? You have already agreed to the three conditions? Not only agreed to them, but made them your own conditions for me? mao zedong: If that’s how you see it. jiang qing (firmly, she suddenly makes a decision): Fine, I accept them! mao zedong: It’s for the best. Only in stepping back can there be movement forward. I think I will invite the comrades of the Secretariat for a meal. jiang qing: To announce that I have accepted the conditions? mao zedong: Don’t be so anxious; first make some friendly contacts and enlarge the united front. jiang qing: Then you will invite them today! mao zedong: Yes, right now! (Blackout. Another cave for greeting guests in mao zedong’s residence. A square table is placed in the middle. At the end turned away from the audience are seated a few comrades from the Secretariat. At the end facing the audience are seated mao zedong and jiang qing.) Today Jiang Qing has proposed bringing the comrades from the Secretariat together. You have been invited here today to formally introduce you to Comrade Jiang Qing, to let each of you get to know her, and for her to get to know each of you. There is no other purpose than to establish some friendly contact. The few strips of cured meat that General Peng Dehuai had brought here will serve as our main course, and we also have some cheap wine to liven things up. Comrade Jiang Qing, why don’t you pour some wine for each of our comrades from the Secretariat? (With poise, jiang qing takes up the wine bottle, leaves her seat, and pours wine for each of the seated guests.) Everyone raise your glasses. (All stand and raise their glasses.) Let us drink to the resistance struggle and to everyone’s health. Cheers. jiang qing (suddenly): Wait! (Everyone listens quietly.)

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And to Comrade Mao Zedong and my happiness, for the happy news that I am now going to announce: Comrade Mao Zedong and I are marrying today. Cheers. mao zedong (shocked): What? You? (Everyone is struck dumb. mao zedong is at a loss, not knowing what to do. Everyone’s glass hangs in midair, not moving a bit. jiang qing takes her glass and raises it to her mouth and empties it in one gulp, then stares at mao zedong. With no way out of this situation, mao zedong can only slowly, very slowly, drink his wine. The others drink their wine at various speeds and at various times. jiang qing smiles slightly.)

L US HA N 1958 , SUM M ER (“Mei Cottage,” No. 180 Hedong Road, formerly the summer home of Song Meiling and Chiang Kai-shek, now the residence of mao zedong. There is a meeting room, no longer the simple meeting room of the cave in Yan’an, and the meeting table, chairs, water jars, teacups, et cetera, are also not what they used to be; the only similarity is the position of the meeting table within the meeting room (that is, its position on the stage), which is exactly the same as before, not moved at all. Twenty years ago when mao zedong invited the members of the Secretariat for a meal, everyone was concerned with the fate of a woman; twenty years later, when mao zedong invites the members of the politburo to attend a meeting, what is being decided is the fate of the entire Chinese nation. The members of the politburo sit upright around the table, their backs to the audience. mao zedong’s seat is empty; everyone is waiting for his arrival, as if they had already been waiting for a long time. mao zedong rushes into the meeting room.) mao zedong: I’m late because I took a telephone call. Unfortunately, I now need to take off some time and will be unable to attend the meeting. Although I called the meeting of the politburo for today, I propose putting off the meeting to another time. The reason for the time off is a personal matter; an old friend of many years—a war comrade, whom I must see—has come to Lushan. It’s been twenty years since we’ve seen each other, so I must go. Please, forgive me! (The members of the politburo disperse. The bodyguard enters.) (Can’t wait) Hurry and have her come in! (The bodyguard exits. mao zedong stands still, staring at the entrance. After a short while, he zizhen enters.) Zizhen! he zizhen (greatly surprised; a moment of shock before she dares recognize him): Runzhi? Is it . . . you? mao zedong: It is I, Zizhen! he zizhen: How is it possible? mao zedong: Yes, yes, I asked Mr. and Mrs. Fang Zhichun to bring you here; didn’t they tell you?

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he zizhen: No, they didn’t say anything, only that they were bringing me to Lushan to enjoy myself and to escape the heat. mao zedong: They couldn’t say anything, a public security regulation. he zizhen: Still so excessively mysterious. mao zedong: Which explains why it’s been twenty years. It is so hard to see you. . . . (he zizhen weeps.) Don’t cry, don’t cry. Aren’t we seeing each other now? Sit down, sit down! (mao zedong pours a cup of tea and hands it to he zizhen. he zizhen takes a sip, then feels her pocket.) Looking for cigarettes? (he zizhen nods. mao zedong hands his own cigarettes to her and she takes one out, lights it, takes a fierce drag on it, then a few more, then she cries again.) What are you crying for? It’s such a rare opportunity for us to meet. If you cry the whole time, how can we talk? he zizhen: I don’t know what to say . . . twenty years’ worth of words all bottled up. mao zedong: Zizhen, I’m sorry . . . (Tears flow from mao zedong’s eyes. he zizhen brings her teacup over to mao zedong’s hands.) Back then, if you had come when I sent the telegram asking you to return from Xi’an, everything would have been fine— he zizhen: I was too young and too strong-minded. If I had listened to you, then . . . (he zizhen cries again.) mao zedong: Your health is good? he zizhen: Much better. And yours? mao zedong: Not as good as when I was young. he zizhen: You should take better care of yourself! mao zedong: I remember in 1932 in the Jiangxi Soviet areas, Wang Ming pushed me right out of power, forcing me to resign my position so that even the ghosts paid me no heed, and I passed long days, solitary and alone.8 Misfortunes never come singly. I got malaria and was unconscious a lot. I was skin and bones. If you hadn’t kept me company day and night, nursed me, given me medicine and comfort, then this body of mine might well have been buried in the Jinggang Mountains. . . . he zizhen: Had it not been for you, I would have died long ago, on the Long March. Not far into the march, after reaching Pan County, in Guizhou, a bomb from an enemy plane dropped on me. I was badly injured. Blood poured from my whole body. You got the stretcher bearers to carry me along step-by-step with the troops. It went on for a month like that, and I really felt terrible about being such a burden to everyone. I asked you several times to leave me behind, but you never agreed to it and said that we would endure misfortune together, never separate in this life and this world, that you would carry me all the way to northern Shanxi. Then, I was able to go on living. . . . mao zedong: At that time, we never imagined we would live till now. . . .

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he zizhen: And I’d never have thought I would live in this way. . . . (Stage falls silent.) mao zedong: Zizhen, don’t hate me— he zizhen: No, how could I hate you; I hate myself. . . . mao zedong: Both during the revolution and after the founding of the nation, I was just too busy and didn’t take good care of you. he zizhen: Don’t worry about me. Just take care of yourself. Are you still busy? mao zedong: I shouldn’t really be very busy, since two years ago I gave up my duties as state chairman. I’ve given up the day-to-day running of the government and retreated to the background, overseeing only party policy, but I wouldn’t have thought . . . he zizhen: Wouldn’t have thought what? mao zedong: That when the reins of power fell into the hands of others, opposition to me would be so strong. At this Lushan meeting, I acknowledged that the Great Leap Forward of the past two years has been a little dizzying and that we should temper the leftist tendency. Who would have thought that as soon as you oppose the “left,” they’d turn to the “right” and start attacking this and that without looking at the whole picture—and make everything look so bleak. So then you are forced to oppose the right. I know that in doing this I will offend a few friends. In fact, I have offended quite a few over the past few years. I’m really worried that before too long I will be all alone at the top. he zizhen: How is that possible? You will at least still have . . . mao zedong: Have what? he zizhen: Still have her . . . mao zedong: Who? he zizhen: Still have Jiang . . . Qing with you . . . mao zedong (a long sigh): Ah . . . he zizhen: What is it? mao zedong: Don’t talk about her! he zizhen: Doesn’t she treat you well? mao zedong: We’ve been living separately now for several years. he zizhen (greatly surprised): Really? mao zedong: It’s best not to mention this to anyone. he zizhen: There’s too great an age difference between you. . . . mao zedong: Yet it is not because she’s bothered by my age, or my earthiness, but that I never let her be in the limelight, that I suppress her. he zizhen: She . . . wants to appear in the limelight? mao zedong: When I got married to her, the Secretariat stipulated, before the fact, some simple rules—that she could not get involved in politics. he zizhen: Oh, but she is still a party member; couldn’t you arrange some work for her? mao zedong: I have; she’s already one of my five personal secretaries, but she wants to give orders! She—she is an extremely jealous and vengeful person, and never gets on with anyone. How can I let her grasp real power? I have made quite a few mistakes in my life, and I worry that marrying her was also a mistake. Oh, let’s not talk about

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these things. You are a rare guest, and I want to impress you with local delicacies and invite you to eat the famous three “rock” dishes of Lushan: rock hen, rockfish, and rock brake. And after eating, we can once again drink tea, and if the moon is out, stroll once more beneath the moon. What do you think? he zizhen (moved): Won’t it take you away from state affairs to accompany me like that? mao zedong: I’ve asked for some time off. Today I am neither paying attention to court politics nor concerning myself with any affairs of state. Today I love only a beautiful woman, not my country. he zizhen (startled at mao zedong’s feelings of nostalgia): What beautiful woman? I am an old lady now. mao zedong: I still can’t forget your striking demeanor of that time. You were the most beautiful woman in Yongxin County! (The bodyguard comes rushing in and whispers to mao zedong, whose expression changes.) What? She found out so quickly? (The bodyguard withdraws.) he zizhen: What is it? (mao zedong doesn’t respond, heavy of heart and hesitant.) Tell me, what is it? (mao zedong still says nothing.) Is it her . . . ? mao zedong (nodding): Yes . . . he zizhen: She’s coming? mao zedong (nodding): Yes . . . he zizhen: What is she coming here for? mao zedong: She knows I invited you here. he zizhen: We’ve only just got together. How can she keep such a close watch? mao zedong: She is a very jealous and vengeful person. he zizhen: When is she coming? mao zedong: Early tomorrow. he zizhen: Early tomorrow? mao zedong: I . . . he zizhen: Say it; what do you want me to do? (Stubbornly) You want me to leave? mao zedong (hesitates for a long time): I’ll have to . . . have to trouble you. he zizhen: Humph, I never should have come! (he zizhen leaves without a moment’s hesitation and slams shut the door. The sound is very like the famous sound of the door slamming as the curtain falls at the end of A Doll’s House. Blackout. Newsreel. On the screen are scenes showing mao zedong on the wall at Tiananmen, receiving a million Red Guards; jiang qing, in army uniform, waving a copy of Mao’s Little Red Book of Quotations; and Lin Biao giving a speech atop the wall.) offscreen voice: Referred to as Mao Zedong’s intimate comrade-in-arms, Lin Biao, Chinese Communist Party vice-chair, once praised Jiang Qing during the Cultural

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Revolution in the following terms: “Among our women comrades in the party, Comrade Jiang Qing is the most outstanding; and among our party cadres, she is the most outstanding. Her thought is very revolutionary and she has a fervent revolutionary feeling. In the past, due to her years of poor health, we did not have a chance to know her. Now in the midst of the Cultural Revolution we can see the great function she is serving. From the beginning of this movement to the end, Comrade Jiang Qing has been standing at the forefront.” (The images accompanying the offscreen voice continue to show scenes of Cultural Revolution Red Guards “sweeping away the four olds,” “struggling against black gangs,” “making revolutionary ties,” “memorizing Mao’s quotations,” interspersed with frequent scenes of jiang qing’s activities at various occasions during the Cultural Revolution. At the end is a scene of jiang qing giving a speech. Blackout. jiang qing, wearing a well-pressed army uniform, her head raised and her chest out, holding a copy of Mao’s Little Red Book of Quotations, is standing center stage giving a speech.) jiang qing (waving Mao’s Little Red Book): Young soldiers of the Red Guards, revolutionary comrades, I have come to see you in the name of Chairman Mao! In the name of Chairman Mao, I greet you, and extend to you the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution salute. I would like to announce some good news: Chairman Mao is in excellent health! (A thunder of applause. The sound of cheers and slogans: “Long live Chairman Mao!”) Revolutionary comrades, young soldiers of the Red Guards, Chairman Mao asked me to come here to learn from the revolutionary left, to become your student, and at the same time to offer you my support. What we support is the revolutionary left. Those who are revolutionary, please come forward. Those who are not, get the hell out of here. (Another thunderous applause. The sound of slogans: “Learn from the revolutionary left! Long live the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution!”) Did you know what this theater in which we are holding our meeting used to be? It used to be a great dye vat for feudalism, capitalism, and revisionism. Every day on this stage, they used to perform the roles of emperors and generals, talented scholars and beauties. How absurd that the socialist stage was ruled over by the dead and by foreigners! Our art workers ate the grain grown by the peasants, lived in houses built by the workers; the People’s Liberation Army was guarding their national defense lines, and yet we didn’t express their interests or extol them. Let me ask you: what is the class stand of artists, where is the oft-stated artists’ conscience? (Suddenly starts crying). (A silence throughout the hall. Only the sound of jiang qing’s sobbing can be heard, then the sound of a slogan quietly, softly: “Comrade Jiang Qing, don’t be sad; we love you!” Then everyone shouts out in unison: “Comrade Jiang Qing, don’t be sad; we love you!”) Thank you, thank you, everyone! I have looked into and thought about this phenomenon for a long time now and have made a report to Chairman Mao. When I became Chairman Mao’s loyal mobile sentinel on the cultural front, I began to develop the revolutionary-model theater so that the workers, peasants, and soldiers, and the

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thought of Mao Zedong, could occupy the stage. Later, Comrade Lin Biao entrusted me to convene an armed forces conference on artwork, and only then did I discover that there was a long and thick black line in the arts that started in the 1930s and continued and developed right up to the present. How shocking! So, only then did I propose that we firmly carry out a great socialist revolution on the cultural front. In August, Chairman Mao himself examined, edited, and approved the minutes of this armed-forces conference on artwork, which were distributed to the entire party. On May sixteenth, with great foresight and a strong sense of imperative and urgency, Chairman Mao proposed the national launching of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. So this revolution has been long and hard in coming, and its significance is profound and far-reaching. First was my discovery of problems on the cultural front, then Chairman Mao with his sharp insight into things launched the political and ideological side of the Cultural Revolution! Chairman Mao himself approved my taking on the position of First Assistant Head of the Central Cultural Revolutionary Group. This showed Chairman Mao’s great trust in me. He finally understood me and supported me, and it was as if I, a proletarian revolutionary stifled and persecuted for so many years, could finally raise my head proudly! Like the Red Guard soldiers, I want to shout out a thousand times: “Great leader, great teacher, great commander, great helmsman, the reddest red sun in our hearts, to Chairman Mao, long life! Long life! Long life!” (The crowd follows along: “Long life! Long life! Long life!”) But the struggle is long-term and complex! There are people who are raising the banner of model theater only to destroy model theater, to take it away from it’s model. Your “spirit engulfs the land,” you are “a great river flowing eastward,”9 and yet you are taken as “water flowing under a small bridge,”10 or a frivolous tune. They raise the red flag to oppose the red flag. They have been struggling against us in this way for the past ten years. How much we have suffered at their hands and been persecuted by them! (Gradually becoming incoherent, hysterical) Look! (Opens her mouth) These teeth of mine were knocked out by my father! (Rolls up her pant leg) And look here, I was bitten by a dog as I was walking along a road when I was young! (Sobs) Then there was someone who passed herself off as Chairman Mao’s daughter-in-law,11 but we couldn’t accept this, the class struggle struggling right into Chairman Mao’s home, with the blade pointed directly at me, out to get me. They blame me for failing to bring credit to Chairman Mao by not giving him a son! In the past it was Wang Ming who wanted to keep me down; now it is Liu Shaoqi. I’ve always been suppressed, so much so that I could hardly breathe, so that my whole body got sick! If not for this Cultural Revolution, I would never have been able to turn myself over! (Sobs). (Sound of slogans: “Learn from Comrade Jiang Qing, the heroic standard-bearer of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution! Salute Comrade Jiang Qing, the heroic standard-bearer of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution!”) I am of the proletarian revolutionary faction. I don’t shed tears. I am exceptionally firm and strong. I want those people who have suppressed and persecuted me to know who belongs to the true revolutionary faction: Jiang Qing! Now we know that

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those who are suppressing and attacking me are not part of any revolutionary faction. They are nothing but authorities within the party taking the capitalist road. I can tell you all now that I am in charge of the number-one case in the country against Liu Shaoqi. One day I worked for five or six hours on it, and I told those working on the case, don’t veer to the right, struggle fiercely, criticize fiercely, muster up all your firepower. Just a few people is no good. We need ten or twenty people to fiercely struggle. If Liu Shaoqi dies as a result, then so be it, for he is asking for it. Yan Wang in hell has invited him to drink wine. Even those who are near death should not be released. We did surprise-attack interrogations to get him to give up the materials we wanted from him. That’s how hard it was—went on for a whole year. Now I can tell you all that Liu Shaoqi is a big traitor, a treasonist, a scab, a spy, a counterrevolutionary; he is the most vile and treacherous, the most heinous, the sliest, most poisonous class enemy. I believe he—he should be cut up with a thousand knives, flayed with ten thousand knives! (Suddenly changes the subject) I—I have been put down for twenty years! (Sound of slogans: “Learn from Comrade Jiang Qing! Salute Comrade Jiang Qing! Whoever opposes Comrade Jiang Qing will have their dog heads smashed in! Swear to die in defense of Comrade Jiang Qing!” Blackout.)

BE IJING, 1974 (To one side of the stage, mao zedong, ill, his back leaning against the sofa, with his eyes closed, sits listening to his personal secretary, xiao feng, read to him classical poems.) xiao feng (reading Xin Qiji’s lyric meter to the tune of “Water Dragon Moans”12): “The southern skies are vast and clear, / water flows to the horizon and the autumn sky is limitless. / I view from afar the distant peaks, / like jade hairpins and spiral clasps, I present to them my sorrow and bitterness. / The sun sets behind the pavilion, the cry of a solitary goose, a voyager in the south . . .” mao zedong: No, that’s not right, not “voyager in the south,” traveler in the south. xiao feng: I misread it. “Traveler in the south, / I take out my precious dagger and look at it, / as I pace along the pavilion’s railing and gaze into the distance, / who can know my feelings?” mao zedong: “The traveler in the south” is Xin Qiji. He is a traveler in the south, whereas I am a solitary traveling monk, but we have both “taken out our precious daggers and looked at them, / paced along the pavilion’s railing and gazed into the distance” with no one to “know our feelings.” xiao feng: I understand. You mean no one understands your profound intentions behind the Cultural Revolution. mao zedong (sighs): Ah, “gazing into the distance, / who can know my feelings . . .” (jiang qing is now on the other side of the stage.)

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jiang qing: Xiao Feng! (xiao feng walks from mao zedong’s side over to jiang qing’s.) xiao feng: What can I do for you, Comrade Jiang Qing? jiang qing: Nothing, really; I want to give you an outfit. xiao feng: Give me an outfit? jiang qing (takes a dress out of a bag): There, an open-collared dress. It was meticulously designed by clothes designers I organized in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. I synthesized the great achievements in women’s clothing styles from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. I want to popularize it so that it becomes the national uniform of Chinese women comrades. This one is for you. Here, try it on. See if it fits and how it looks. xiao feng: Comrade Jiang Qing, I am too ugly to wear such beautiful clothes. jiang qing: I am telling you to put it on! Put it on and let Chairman Mao see it. Hopefully he’ll say a few words about it and they will be reported to the entire nation. xiao feng (forced): All right; I’ll wear it for him tonight. jiang qing (takes out a watch): Xiao Feng, I also want to give you this watch. It’s a Shanghai brand. xiao feng: No-no, I have a watch! jiang qing: I’m telling you to take it. xiao feng (forced to take it): Thank you, Comrade Jiang Qing. Was there something else you wanted to see me about? jiang qing: I was wondering if you would . . . would ask Chairman Mao to give me eight thousand yuan. xiao feng: Eight thousand yuan? jiang qing: It’s money I owe for photography equipment I bought. When you have a moment with the Chairman, just mention it to him. xiao feng: All right. jiang qing: Oh, how is the Chairman’s health lately? xiao feng: Not the best. jiang qing: Does the doctor permit him to see guests? xiao feng: He still permits him to see important guests. jiang qing: I want you to notify the Chairman that I would like to see him. xiao feng: Oh, I’m afraid that’s not possible. jiang qing: What? I have an urgent matter to report. Can’t I even see the Chairman? xiao feng: It is the Chairman’s directive that if you want to see him, you should first apply through the office. jiang qing (angered): You are misrepresenting an imperial edict! xiao feng: Go and ask the office yourself. jiang qing: Have you forgotten who I am? Hm? I am the Chairman’s wife! Can it be that I need approval from the office for a visit with my husband? xiao feng: Comrade Jiang Qing, this is the Chairman’s wish. jiang qing: That’s no good. I want you to go right now and notify him. xiao feng: But those in the office will criticize me!

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jiang qing: Do you follow my orders or those of the office? I am a member of the politburo, First Assistant Head of the Central Cultural Revolutionary Group. What seniority does the office have? xiao feng: Comrade Jiang Qing . . . jiang qing (in a thundering rage): How can you be so evil! The Chairman’s wife wants to see the Chairman and you flagrantly obstruct her. Are you a counterrevolutionary? Go, notify him! Tell him it is important! (Feeling wronged, xiao feng goes from jiang qing’s side over to mao zedong’s side.) xiao feng: Chairman! Comrade Jiang Qing wants to see you. mao zedong: Jiang Qing wants to see me? Wants money again? xiao feng: She’s asking for another eight thousand. mao zedong: Last year I gave thirty thousand when she wanted it, what does she need another eight thousand for? xiao feng: She said it is to repay a debt. mao zedong: She knows my health is not good and that I will soon be paying a visit to Marx, so she’s preparing an escape route. She’s trying to get her hands on my inheritance, my royalties and the like. (mao zedong feels hurt and sheds tears.) xiao feng (promptly wipes away mao zedong’s tears): Don’t be upset, Chairman. mao zedong: Give her the eight thousand and tell her to go away. xiao feng: She still wants to see you, says it is urgent. mao zedong: What’s so urgent? She’s the kind of person who never discusses important things, and trivial matters occupy her time. What could be so goddamn urgent? Over the years, I tried talking with her, but she never paid attention, never carried out what I told her. What good would it do to see her again? She has the works of Marx and Lenin, and my books, but she doesn’t even study them. Here I am eightyone years old, my body in poor health, and she shows no sympathy for me and can only bring me more trouble. Let’s see how she fares when I am dead. xiao feng: So the Chairman won’t see her? mao zedong: Best not. xiao feng: But she says she must see you. mao zedong: How can she be so unreasonable? I guess I’ll see her at the politburo meeting. To speak to her alone serves little purpose. I’ll say what I have to say publicly, in a party meeting, before the entire membership of the politburo. xiao feng: Yes. (xiao feng walks from mao zedong’s side over to jiang qing’s side.) Comrade Jiang Qing, the Chairman says he will not see you. jiang qing: No, I must see him! xiao feng: The Chairman says that he will see you at the politburo meeting. jiang qing (laughs aloud): How can he treat me this way! Am I not still his wife? Any legal wife has the absolute right to see her husband; why can’t I? As wife of the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, I am restrained by the party and restrained by

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the Chairman? Will I never see him again, then? Is there such a rule in the party regulations? Is there such a law in the marriage code? Would it be acceptable if I wasn’t willing to see him? Why don’t I have this kind of right? Why can’t the office place this kind of restriction on him? I . . . want to rebel against him! (Blackout.)

BE IJIN G 1976, SEP TEM BER (mao zedong’s residence. He is now very sick and bedridden. The doctor is giving him a shot; the nurse is to the side, tending to him. mao zedong awakens from a state of unconsciousness; he wants to turn on his back. The doctor shakes his finger at him and advises him to lie quietly. mao zedong can only obey, but he points a finger to the outside. Neither the doctor nor the nurse understands what he means by it. Later the nurse goes out and leads in his personal secretary, xiao feng, who stands beside mao zedong’s bed, at which point mao zedong nods his head ever so slightly.) xiao feng (to the doctor and the nurse): The Chairman has called for me. (The doctor and nurse exit.) (Bending down over mao zedong) Chairman, it’s me, Xiao Feng. What do you want to say? What is it? (mao zedong’s mouth is moving and his voice is extremely low. xiao feng presses her ear next to mao zedong’s mouth but still cannot hear clearly. mao zedong raises his hand and tries feebly to gesture in the air. xiao feng supports his arm. mao zedong signs with his hand the character for “Jiang.”) (Nods her head and says loudly in his ear) I understand; right away, I’ll ask her to come. (Blackout. Scene changes to Dazhai. jiang qing is just answering the telephone.) jiang qing: Yes, it’s me, I’m in Dazhai—doing inspection work, organizing the campaign to Criticize Deng Xiaoping and Attack the Rightist Tendency to Reverse the Verdict on him; this is more important than anything! . . . What? You want me to return immediately to Beijing? .  .  . The Chairman is critically ill? I haven’t even been in Dazhai for two days; how can I just throw aside the poor and middle peasants, the village folk, and return to Beijing? . . . What? The Chairman is telling me to return? Why is he suddenly thinking of me? Haven’t you misunderstood? The Chairman has said he is unwilling to see me! . . . Was it the Chairman’s wish? Let me think it over. What’s the rush? . . . I will return to Beijing! (jiang qing hangs up the telephone.) He thinks of me only on his deathbed! Am I a plaything at his mercy? At his beck and call? (Shouts) Somebody come now! (A nurse and a guard enter.)

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Come and play poker with me, to relax a bit! (To the guard) Today I won’t play poker with any men. I hate men. I am a great feminist. Go away and call the nurse. (The guard leaves.) We women created the world. What use are men? The only contribution men make to the world is that drop of sperm. (Another nurse comes in and they begin to play cards.) Keep me company while I relax, enjoy myself, and restore my vital energies to prepare to return to Beijing for the next big scene. Humph, the Chairman is critically ill, no reason to get in a panic! The Chairman himself said it many times. Just because the butcher dies doesn’t mean you have to eat only bristly pork. Heaven will still stand on high, and China will not collapse! Have I never been through storms before? If the Chairman is no longer with us, I will become a widow. A widow is a widow, but a woman, too, can become emperor; with communism we can also have empresses! To put it rather crudely, I am now the leader of the leftist faction! Deal. Q for Queen. (Blackout. In front of mao zedong’s deathbed. A deathly silence. The doctor and nurse are to the side, tending to him. xiao feng is also to one side keeping watch. jiang qing enters and seems almost carefree. The doctor and nurse promptly renew their attentions to mao zedong on the side.) (Shakes the doctor’s hand and appears quite relaxed) You must be tired; you’ve been through a lot! But what are you looking so glum for? You should be happy! We are materialists who fear nothing, be happy! (The doctor and nurse look dumbfounded.) xiao feng: Comrade Jiang Qing, the Chairman . . . (Choked with emotion) The old man has already fallen unconscious several times. . . . jiang qing: I don’t need you to remind me. The reason I’ve returned from Dazhai was to see the Chairman. (jiang qing walks up to the side of mao zedong’s bed and looks at him coldly, without saying anything for quite a while. xiao feng, the doctor, and the nurse don’t know what jiang qing is thinking or what she might do. They all appear very nervous.) The Chairman hasn’t said anything for the past two days? xiao feng: No. jiang qing: Did he leave any instructions? xiao feng: No. jiang qing (suddenly severe): Don’t you dare think of fooling me! xiao feng: No. jiang qing: Are the Chairman’s materials here with you? xiao feng: Yes. jiang qing: Give them to me. xiao feng: I would need to ask the politburo for instructions about that. jiang qing (flies into a rage): Xiao Feng, do you dare disobey me! xiao feng: I ask you to be quiet; the Chairman is critically ill—

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jiang qing: I’ll settle with you later. (jiang qing turns over mao zedong’s sheet and pillow and looks to see if there are any documents or materials.) xiao feng: There isn’t a thing there that you would need. (jiang qing goes through mao zedong’s pockets and still comes up with nothing.) Please don’t go through his things! jiang qing: Look, the Chairman’s back is covered with sweat; why don’t you wipe it off—are you trying to kill him? Give me a towel! (The nurse hands her a towel. jiang qing wants to turn mao zedong over to wipe off the sweat. The doctor becomes anxious and motions to xiao feng to stop jiang qing.) xiao feng: Comrade Jiang Qing, the Chairman has a heart condition and must absolutely not be disturbed. He cannot be moved. jiang qing: Who says? xiao feng: The doctor. jiang qing: Doctors are all spies. They’re all counterrevolutionaries. The Chairman’s back is soaking wet. You don’t wipe it, and you don’t let me wipe it. Isn’t this a devious plot to harm the Chairman? (jiang qing turns mao zedong’s body over and wipes his back. The doctor, nurse, and xiao feng weep.) (Scolding them) What are you crying for? He hasn’t even died and you’re crying. Do you want him to die sooner? (Screams angrily as if gone mad) Get the hell out of here! All of you! Go outside! Do you hear me! Get the hell out! (The doctor, nurse, and xiao feng tremble with fear, exit. jiang qing forces herself to calm down. She takes a look at mao zedong, sighs, and cries an exceptionally grievous cry. She cries for mao zedong and she cries for herself.) Chairman, you have asked me to come, though at first I wasn’t really willing. Before coming, I told myself that I should harden my heart, not cry, not shed a single tear for you, suppress my resentment. But now that I see you like this I cannot bear it anymore. “One night spent together, deep is the sentiment between us.” Here I am now, and you can’t even speak, can’t tell me you love me, or use words of scolding. I have not heard you tell me that you like me for the longest time. You never got used to saying you loved me, only that you liked me. In Yan’an you said it innumerable times, along the Yan River, in the cave, on the bed . . . you told me you liked me. After coming to the city, I rarely heard you say it. At first I thought you no longer said it because you were older and no longer so affectionate and because I had lost the looks of my youth. Later, I began to feel that you hated me, which is why you chose to live apart from me. Then during the Cultural Revolution we at last reunited to oppose revisionism, to bring down Liu Shaoqi and Lin Biao. But this was demanded by the struggle and there was no feeling between us. So as soon as you had the chance, you criticized me, and even criticized me during a meeting of the politburo and forced me to engage in self-criticism. (Cries) Do you know how I have suffered?

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I really wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you, but you would never see me, and now that we meet, that heart-to-heart is impossible— (mao zedong suddenly begins to slowly get up.) mao zedong: You, you’re still the same. And you have your ambition, too. You wrote me many letters saying that after the Ninth Plenum you had essentially nothing to do and that you hoped I would arrange some work for you. I advised you to read the letter that Li Gu wrote to Huang Qiong, which in thought and form is an excellent essay. You can’t say you had no work—but you wanted to issue orders, form a cabinet, and couldn’t wait to replace Zhou Enlai as premier. You’d lost your head. Human value lies in the brilliance of self-knowledge. You were never involved in most of the party’s activities in the past. You never participated in the struggles against Chen Duxiu, Qu Qiubai, Li Lisan, Luo Zhanglong, Wang Ming, and Zhang Guotao13 or marched in the Long March. So I advised you many times not to be too cavalier, to discipline yourself, to be cautious, not to act of your own personal volition, and also not to issue documents or send any materials in your own name. It’s just as I said at the Ninth Plenum in those three lines: we want Marxism-Leninism, not revisionism; unity, not division; openness and fairness, not plotting and scheming. jiang qing: Can it be that I have no virtues? mao zedong: There are two ways of looking at anything. Part good, part bad. Your opposition to Liu Shaoqi and Lin Biao was good and made a contribution. In my life I have done two things. The first was to force Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan. The second was to light the torch that ignited the Cultural Revolution. To deny your service in this regard would be to deny the Cultural Revolution and to deny myself. I still remember your service; others do not, but I do. Yet in other regards, all the political labeling, forming the Gang of Four—this was of your own doing and in the final analysis has nothing to do with me. You’d better watch out, for if you don’t change your ways, after I die you might suffer serious consequences! Aren’t you afraid? jiang qing: I am not afraid. mao zedong: You’re being disingenuous. I can see you are afraid. Afraid that after I die you will lose your patron and will suffer for it. On the outside you show no fear and try to show how at ease you are, but in fact you are afraid to death. jiang qing: Chairman . . . mao zedong: Afraid? jiang qing: Yes, I’m afraid. . . . Chairman, do you still love me—or like me? Please, be honest with me. mao zedong: I have never minced words. If back then I had not liked you, I never would have married you, would I? If I had continued to like you, then I would not have lived separately from you after we came to the city. jiang qing: Why did you live separately from me? mao zedong: Our personalities clashed. You are of steel and I, iron. When we bumped together it made a clanging noise. You always see yourself at the center of things. You’re moody, vengeful, and, forgive my directness, a little hysterical. Of

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course, it takes two hands to clap, and I, too, have my faults. From your perspective, at the least am I not a male chauvinist, a dictator in a family without equality? You should also not mince words. Communist Party members should not conceal their views. jiang qing: All right, I’ll tell you! Our marriage was from the beginning not based on equality. So I . . . (Cries) I . . . How is it that I have felt throughout my life that I am like Nora! mao zedong: Nora? Who? Oh, that foreign woman. Humph . . . I’m tired; I don’t want to discuss any more questions that should be taken up by others in the future. As for you and me—our participation in the historical turmoil of the last few decades, and our bittersweet marriage of almost forty years—let the future be the judge. I have evaluated myself according to a seventy-to-thirty ratio [seventy percent good, thirty percent bad]. What about you? Just let the future be the judge. I am so tired! (jiang qing helps mao zedong walk over to his bed. A poker card falls from jiang qing’s body.) What’s that? jiang qing: Oh, a poker card. mao zedong: Let me see. Oh, Q. jiang qing: Right—the queen. mao zedong (laughs): Just like a paper tiger, it’s a paper queen. (mao zedong crawls on his own onto the bed and covers himself with the white sheet. He is dead. The nurse, doctor, and xiao feng enter and cry bitterly. jiang qing stands center stage and faces the audience indifferently and blankly. Blackout. A railing from a court of law falls from above and surrounds jiang qing. The court is just pronouncing judgment.) offstage voice: The Special Procuratorate of the People’s Supreme Court of the People’s Republic of China now pronounces judgment. We sentence the defendant, Jiang Qing, to death, to be carried out after a two-year reprieve, and stripped of her political rights for the rest of her life. jiang qing (waking up from a state of nervousness, waits for a long while, then suddenly shouts out): Rebellion is just; no crime in revolution! Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, Wang Hongwen, what kind of attitude is this you are taking? What are you doing with your necks drawn in and your heads lowered. You three men don’t equal this one woman; fucking men! I’ll show you. (Raises her fist and shouts out loud) No crime in revolution; rebellion is just! (The bailiff comes to jiang qing’s side, handcuffs her, and takes her away. They walk along slowly for a while and arrive at a prison cell. Inside is a bed and simple utensils.) bailiff (takes off jiang qing’s handcuffs): Your prison cell. (jiang qing looks over the whole cell.) Do you need anything else? (jiang qing shakes her head. The bailiff exits.) jiang qing (suddenly calls out to the bailiff): Wait!

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bailiff: What is it? jiang qing: I want a portrait of Mao Zedong to hang above my bed. (The bailiff is stunned.)

Not es

1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

6.

7. 8.

9.

10. 11. 12. 13.

The English translation is based on the Chinese text Jiang Qing he tade zhangfumen (Jiang Qing and Her Husbands) (Hong Kong: Fanrong chubanshe, 1991). The original play has a horse, not a bird. Soft film (ruanxing dianying) was entertainment film criticized by leftist cultural figures in the 1930s. One of its leading supporters was Liu Na’ou. Couplet from the poem “Xiang ling gu se,” by Qian Qi of the Tang. “Yu zi xie xing” comes from “Wuyi” (Without Clothes) in the Book of Odes. The character Mao Zedong, or Sha Yexin, may be playing here with a line from another poem in the Book of Odes, “Ji gu” (Beating the Drum), a line that reads “to grow old with you” (yu zi xie lao). The Storm (1860), written by Alexandr Nikolayevich Ostrovsky (1823–1886). Eiji goroshi, a 1918 play by Yamamoto Yūzō (1887–1974), is about a widowed factory worker who lives in desperate straits trying to raise her child and support her parents. She is driven to kill her child and is arrested by a sympathetic policeman. Ruan Lingyu, the most famous film star of the 1930s, killed herself in 1935 after rumors circulated about her illicit affairs. In her suicide note, she wrote that “gossip is a fearful thing.” This line was immortalized by Lu Xun, who used it as a title for an essay condemning gossip. Agnes Smedley (1890–1950), American journalist sympathetic to the Communist cause in China. With a shift in the revolutionary movement from the urban areas to the countryside, Mao saw his position in the party rise from the late 1920s to 1931. Then Wang Ming’s faction emerged to take control of the party apparatus and Mao’s position eroded. “Qi tun shan he” is a reference to the hero Xiang Yu, and “da jiang dong qu” comes from Su Shi’s famous lyric meter about the Three Kingdoms hero Zhou Yu, “The Charms of Niannu.” From Ma Zhiyuan’s (1260–1325) sanqu “Heaven Pure Sand” (Tian jing sha). A reference perhaps to the nurse of Mao’s schizophrenic second son, Mao Anqing, with whom she fell in love. Xin Qiji (1140–1207), Song loyalist, who frequently wrote lyric meters lamenting the loss of his northern territory to foreign occupiers. All former heads or high-ranking members of the Chinese Communist Party who were removed from their posts for political or ideological problems.

G l o s sa r y (for Introduction)

An Chung-geun ≠㺺⢗ An Er ≠✒ Bai Mei ⊅み Bai Wei ⊅䒃 Ba Jin ≻ⱄ Beijing ren ᮶⌝ⲻ㑉᮷ Beijing Renmin Yishu Juyuan ⌝ⲻ㑉ス㮿 㗯⳹㴠 caizi jiaren ⏯㽳⭧㑉 Cao Yu ␆䀌 Chaguan ᮶␒⤹᮷ Chahua nü ᮶␒⪀ㇲ᮷ Chen Yi ⒪㯍 Chen Yun ⒪㴫 Chen Zidu ⒪㽳⛪ Chezhan ᮶⒝㷢᮷ chuanqi ║㋨ Chunliu She ╠⽄㔣 Da chu youlingta ᮶▘ⓞ㱬⼵㚶᮷ Daqingshi Huaju Tuan ▙㎬㗊⪈⳹㟹

da xie shisan nian ▙㨢㖨㑻ㅰ dianxing huanjing zhong de dianxing xingge ♈㨻⪏ⳅ㺲☨♈㨻㩂⢏ Ding Ling ⛃⼭ Ding Xilin ⛃㣩⼢ di wang jiang xiang ☿㠩⯿㦐 Dong Jian ⛏⯵ Dongya fengyun ᮶⛍㫳⟇㴬᮷ Dou’e yuan ᮶⟼✒㴏᮷ Fei xiong meng ᮶➧㩊઄᮷ feng-zi-xiu ⟂ᮢ㽪ᮢ㩌 Fu Jin ⡔ⱋ Gao Xingjian ⡽㨾⯵ Gou’er Ye niepan ᮶⤓‫ז‬㮙ㅿᔶ᮷ Guan Hanqing ᮶⤴⧔㎤᮷ guofang xiju ⥖➠㥧⳹ Guo Jianguang ⥕⯼⤾ Haiqiao chun ᮶⦽㎈╠᮷ Heinu yu tian lu ᮶⧴㇯㲝㝢⿆᮷ Hongdeng ji ᮶⨆☪⭝᮷

636

glossary

hongse jingdian ⨆㓧ⲿ♈ Hongse niangzi jun ᮶⨆㓧ㅵ㽳ⴎ᮷ Hong Shen ⨃㔪 huaju ⪈⳹ Huangyuan yu ren ᮶⪜㴓㲓㑉᮷ Huijia yihou ᮶⪰⭨㮾⨍᮷ Huohu zi ye᮶⫉⩺㺐㮣᮷ Hu Shi ⨔㗄

Shanghai Lingjie Xiehui 㔋⦽⼲ⰻ㨛⪹ Shanghai wuyan xia ᮶㔋⦽㣏⦳㥲᮷ Sha Yexin 㓯㮠㨰 shehui caifu 㔣⪹⏰⡙ shinpa (xin pai ju) 㨰㈍⳹

Itō Hirobumi 㮫㝏⏓㢶

Wang Xiaonong 㠨㨔䃋 wenmingxi 㢶タ㥧 wenren 㢶㑉 wenti ju 㢼㝘⳹ Wenxue jikan ᮶㢶㫓⭔⵿᮷ wen yi zai dao 㢶㮾㴾☤ Wuling chun ᮶㣖⼶╠᮷ Wu Qinghua ‫ݟ‬㎥⪂ Wu Song 㣖㚁

Jia ᮶⭨᮷ Jiang Qing he tade zhangfumen ᮶Ⰱ㎠⧧ 㚵☨㷭⟒わ᮷ Jiao Juyin Ⰽ⳧㯨 Jiaoyuan Shiyan Jutuan Ⰽ䪄㖯㬕⳹㟹 Jin Yun ⱉ㴬 jiuju ⳛ⳹ Kuangbiao ᮶ⷁ令᮷ Lao She ⹝㔝 Leiyu ᮶⹥㲒᮷ Liang Qichao ⼆߸⒔ Li Jianwu ⹼⯵㣓 Li Longyun ⹼⽆㴬 Liu Shaoqi ⽁㔕㋨ Longxugou᮶⽆㩙⤑᮷ Lu Xun ⾽㫤 Mai Li ren ᮶⿾⹴㑉᮷ Mei Lanfang み⹊➜ Nanguo She ㅕ⥖㔣 nan Ou bei Mei ㅕㇻ⌝み Nianqing de yidai ᮶ㅰ㎠☨㮥■᮷ Ouyang Yuqian ㇻ㬠㲙䃗 Pan Jinlian ᮶㈏ⱄ⻷᮷ Pinmin canju᮶㊸ス⏼⳹᮷

Taipinghu ᮶㜡㊿⨘᮷ Tian Han 㝥⧔

xianqi liangmu 㥽㋠⼈ㄾ xiao shimin de da juben 㨏㗊ス☨▙⳹〉 Xia Yan 㥴㬈 xinju 㨰⳹ xinmin 㨰ス xin ren xin shi 㨰㑉㨰㖼 xin wenxue yundong 㨰㢶㫓㴱⛑ Xin Wutai 㨰㣚㜞 xiqu gailiang 㥧㎺⡢⼈ Xuanting yuan ᮶㩧㟘㴏᮷ Xuesuo yi ᮶㫖⦒㮬᮷ Yang Guifei 㬚⥏䧾 Yang Jian 㬚⯵ Yang Limin 㬚⺉ス Yapo ᮶㫥㋊᮷ Yin Ruocheng 㯝㑲Ⓑ yiren 㮿㑉 Yizhi mafeng ᮶㮥㺝⿷⟄᮷ youxi de xiju 㱶㥧☨㥧⳹ Yuan Shikai 㴒㖺‫ث‬ Yuanye ᮶㴓㮚᮷

Richu ᮶㑓ⓞ᮷ Sai Jinhua ᮶䂬ⱄ⪀᮷ Sangshuping jishi ᮶㓟㗱㊼⭣㖼᮷

zaju 㴹⳹ Zhao yanwang ᮶㷸㬂㠩᮷ zhenxi 㸊㥧

glossa ry

Zhongguo Lüxing Jutuan 㺲⥖⿍㨾⳹㟹 Zhonghua Quanguo Wenyijie Kangdi Xiehui 㺲⪂㐩⥖㢶㮿ⰻⶉ☴㨛⪹

Zhong shen da shi ᮶㺷㔩▙㖼᮷ Zhou Enlai 㺾✙⹂ Zhu Xiaoping 㻎㦮㊿

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C o n t r ibu t o r s

bre nda au stin has taught Chinese language courses at the high school and college levels and has traveled and studied extensively in China. She has master’s degrees from the University of New England, the University of Minnesota, and Syracuse University. xiaomei chen is professor of Chinese literature at the University of California, Davis. She is the author of Occidentalism: A Theory of Counter-Discourse in Post-Mao China (Oxford University Press, 1995; 2nd, expanded ed., Rowman & Littlefield, 2002) and Acting the Right Part: Political Theater and Popular Drama in Contemporary China (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2002). She is the editor of Reading the Right Text (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2003) and The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama (Columbia University Press, 2010), and, with Claire Sponsler, coeditor of East of West: Cross-Cultural Performance and the Staging of Difference (St. Martin’s Press, 2001). Her book entitled Staging Chinese Revolution: Founding Fathers, Red Classics, and Revisionist Histories of Twentieth-Century China is forthcoming from Columbia University Press. c lai re c onceiso n is professor of theater studies and Asian and Middle Eastern studies at Duke University. She is the author of Significant Other: Staging the American in China (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2004) and Voices Carry: Behind Bars and Backstage During China’s Revolution and Reform (Rowman & Littlefield, 2008), the autobiography of Ying Ruocheng. ki rk a. de nto n is professor of modern Chinese literature at The Ohio State University. He is the author of The Problematic of Self in Modern Chinese Literature: Hu Feng and Lu

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Contributors

Ling (Stanford University Press, 1998) and editor of Modern Chinese Literary Thought: Writings on Literature, 1893–1945 (Stanford University Press, 1996). He is the editor of the journal Modern Chinese Literature and Culture and manages the online MCLC Resource Center. His most recent book is Exhibiting the Past: Historical Memory and the Politics of Museums in Postsocialist China (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2013). amy dooli ng is associate professor of Chinese literature at Connecticut College. She is the author of Women’s Literary Feminism in Twentieth-Century China (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005) and editor of Writing Women in Modern China: The Revolutionary Years, 1936 –1976 (Columbia University Press, 2005). paul b. foster is associate professor of Chinese at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the author of Ah Q Archaeology: Lu Xun, Ah Q, Ah Q Progeny and the National Character Discourse in Twentieth Century China (Lexington Books, 2006). He is completing a manuscript on kung fu fiction, film, and popular culture. e dward m . g unn is professor emeritus of Chinese literature at Cornell University. His most recently published book-length study is Rendering the Regional: Local Language in Contemporary Chinese Media (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2005). ge orge hayden has been teaching Chinese language, literature, and culture at the University of Southern California since 1973. His research interests are Chinese traditional drama and dramatic music and the history of the Chinese language. j onathan s . no ble has taught contemporary Chinese literature and culture at the University of Notre Dame since 2003. His essays on contemporary Chinese film, theater, and society have been widely published. He is the translator of thirty Chinese plays and screenplays. c ons tanti ne tung is associate professor emeritus at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and research member of the Three Kingdom Culture Institute, Chengdu, China. He is coeditor of Drama in the People’s Republic of China (SUNY Press, 1987) and Three Kingdoms and Chinese Culture (SUNY Press, 2008). He is completing a book in Chinese on Romance of the Three Kingdoms. j ohn b. we in stein is associate professor of Chinese and Asian studies at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and dean of the early college at Bard High School Early College, Newark. His most recent publication on Chinese drama, “Ding Xilin and Chen Baichen: Building a Modern Theater through Comedy,” appears in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture 20, no. 2 (fall 2008). He served as president of the Association for Asian Performance from 2006 to 2011. c harle s qi anzh i wu is professor emeritus of Chinese and humanities at Reed College. He has a Ph.D. in English literature from Columbia University and a special interest in classical Chinese garden culture; his book Listen to the Fragrance: Literary Inscriptions in Lan Su Yuan, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, was published in 2006.

Contri butors

641

c ars e y y e e is a Ph.D. candidate in modern Chinese history at Harvard University and has a particular interest in the local history of Taishan, Guangdong, and in Chinese migration overseas in general. He lives in Toronto and has collaborated frequently with John B. Weinstein on theatrical productions and translation. ying ruocheng (1929–2003), a founding member of the Beijing People’s Art Theatre, translated numerous plays from English into Chinese and vice versa, including works by Shakespeare, Shaw, Miller, Ba Jin, and Lao She. A renowned actor and director, he was China’s vice minister of culture from 1986 until 1990. He is best known for his portrayals of Pockmark Liu in Teahouse (1958, 1979), Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman (1983), and roles in Bernardo Bertolucci’s films The Last Emperor (1987) and Little Buddha (1993). s hi ao-li ng yu is associate professor of Chinese at Oregon State University. Her research interest is Chinese drama, both classical and modern. She is the translator and editor of the anthology Chinese Drama After the Cultural Revolution, 1979 –1989 (Mellen, 1996), for which she received a National Endowment for the Arts translation fellowship.

Weatherhead Books on Asia Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University Li t e r a ture David Der-wei Wang, Editor Ye Zhaoyan, Nanjing 1937: A Love Story, translated by Michael Berry (2003) Oda Makato, The Breaking Jewel, translated by Donald Keene (2003) Han Shaogong, A Dictionary of Maqiao, translated by Julia Lovell (2003) Takahashi Takako, Lonely Woman, translated by Maryellen Toman Mori (2004) Chen Ran, A Private Life, translated by John Howard-Gibbon (2004) Eileen Chang, Written on Water, translated by Andrew F. Jones (2004) Writing Women in Modern China: The Revolutionary Years, 1936 –1976, edited by Amy D. Dooling (2005) Han Bangqing, The Sing-song Girls of Shanghai, first translated by Eileen Chang, revised and edited by Eva Hung (2005) Loud Sparrows: Contemporary Chinese Short-Shorts, translated and edited by Aili Mu, Julie Chiu, and Howard Goldblatt (2006) Hiratsuka Raichō, In the Beginning, Woman Was the Sun, translated by Teruko Craig (2006) Zhu Wen, I Love Dollars and Other Stories of China, translated by Julia Lovell (2007) Kim Sowŏl, Azaleas: A Book of Poems, translated by David McCann (2007) Wang Anyi, The Song of Everlasting Sorrow: A Novel of Shanghai, translated by Michael Berry with Susan Chan Egan (2008) Ch’oe Yun, There a Petal Silently Falls: Three Stories by Ch ’oe Yun, translated by Bruce and JuChan Fulton (2008) Inoue Yasushi, The Blue Wolf: A Novel of the Life of Chinggis Khan, translated by Joshua A. Fogel (2009) Anonymous, Courtesans and Opium: Romantic Illusions of the Fool of Yangzhou, translated by Patrick Hanan (2009) Cao Naiqian, There’s Nothing I Can Do When I Think of You Late at Night, translated by John Balcom (2009) Park Wan-suh, Who Ate Up All the Shinga? An Autobiographical Novel, translated by Yu Young-nan and Stephen J. Epstein (2009) Yi T’aejun, Eastern Sentiments, translated by Janet Poole (2009) Hwang Sunwŏn, Lost Souls: Stories, translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton (2009) Kim Sŏk-pŏm, The Curious Tale of Mandogi ’s Ghost, translated by Cindy Textor (2010)

The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Drama, edited, with a critical introduction, by Xiaomei Chen (2011) Qian Zhongshu, Humans, Beasts, and Ghosts: Stories and Essays, edited by Christopher G. Rea, translated by Dennis T. Hu, Nathan K. Mao, Yiran Mao, Christopher G. Rea, and Philip F. Williams (2011) Dung Kai-cheung, Atlas: The Archaeology of an Imaginary City, translated by Dung Kai-cheung, Anders Hansson, and Bonnie S. McDougall (2012) O Chŏnghŭi, River of Fire and Other Stories, translated by Bruce Fulton and Ju-Chan Fulton (2012) Endō Shūsaku, Kiku’s Prayer: A Novel, translated by Van Gessel (2013) Li Rui, Trees Without Wind: A Novel, translated by John Balcom (2013) Abe Kōbō, The Border Within: Selected Writings of Abe Kōbō, translated by Richard Calichman (2013) Zhu Wen, The Matchmaker, the Apprentice, and the Football Fan: More Stories of China, translated by Julia Lovell (2013) H i sto r y, So c i e t y, a nd Culture Carol Gluck, Editor Takeuchi Yoshimi, What Is Modernity? Writings of Takeuchi Yoshimi, edited and translated, with an introduction, by Richard F. Calichman (2005) Contemporary Japanese Thought, edited and translated by Richard F. Calichman (2005) Overcoming Modernity, edited and translated by Richard F. Calichman (2008) Natsume Sōseki, Theory of Literature and Other Critical Writings, edited and translated by Michael Bourdaghs, Atsuko Ueda, and Joseph A. Murphy (2009) Kojin Karatani, History and Repetition, edited by Seiji M. Lippit (2012)