Scarring Jasmine-Chapter Thirty One Disturbance

10/11/2024 Friday 40-71F Sunny

Qian came home in the evening. Jasmine already had her dinner and was embroidering in a chair. “Today I was busy and will stay in the study for a while.” He stroked Jasmine’s hair, “You go to sleep first.” 

Right after he sat on his chair, two maids came in and knelt down. “Master, we have something to report to you.” 

“Well,” Qian looked over them, “speak.” 

“Early this afternoon, Second Young Master entered Madam’s room while she was napping.” One maid said. 

Qian’s nerve was hit, “What did he do?” 

“We were not there when he was in. But later we came by and found him kissing Madam’s foot and stroking her calf. He left at once upon seeing us.” 

“Did anyone else see it?” 

“No master, only we two, even Madam didn’t know it. We figured that we’d better report it to you first.” The other maid answered. 

Qian rose from his chair, paced to the window then turned to the two maids: “Ok, you two did well. Don’t tell anyone.”

Qian went to Zhongyou’s room, he wasn’t there; and no-one in the house knew where he went. 

“What’s wrong master?” Seeing an unusual look on Qian’s face, First Madam asked. 

Qian dismissed all the servants and maids in that room, then said: “Your son is casting his dirty eyes on Jasmine!” 

It was a great shock to First Madam: “How can it be possible? Are you sure that you are not mistaken?” 

“Look at this paper written by your son to Jasmine; only he would do such a thing!” Qian took out that folded paper and slapped it on to her table, “And the maids just reported to me that he snuck into Jasmine’s room this afternoon, misbehaving while she was asleep! So far Jasmine still knows nothing about this.”

But that night Zhongyou didn’t come back home, nor the next day. “Father, should I send someone to look for him? Or contact his friends to see if anyone knows where he is?” Bojun asked. 

“No need. Once he uses up his money, he will be back!” 

On the seventh day after Zhongyou’s disappearance, he finally showed up again in the house. Bojun informed his father at once. Qian found Zhongyou in First Madam’s place, who apparently just had given him a lecture. 

“Where did you go?” Qian stared at him, asking. 

“Shanghai.” 

“Then why did you come back?” 

Zhongyou shrugged, “I spent all my money.” 

“Tell me, why did you write those two poems to Jasmine?” 

“Father,” Zhongyou yelled out, “it was just a joke! You shouldn’t be so serious about it!” 

“Joke?” Qian was still fixing his eyes on his son, studying his mind. “Then how do you explain that you snuck into her room while nobody was there, and she was sleeping alone? What exactly did you do to her?” 

Zhongyou blushed crimson. 

“Why can’t you speak now? Was it another joke? She is your Third Mother, how dare you?!” Qian gave Zhongyou’s face a stinging slap, drawing blood from his nose instantly. 

Zhongyou wiped his nose with his sleeve but kept his silence. First Madam rushed to him, used her handkerchief to cover his nose. “Bojun,” She ordered, “go ask a servant to bring in some cotton!” Bojun hurried out. “Master,” She then turned to Qian, “Zhongyou did do something stupid and willful, but he is still your son. Slapping his face won’t solve the issue.”

Soon Bojun took the servants in. Qian breathed out a sigh and left. 

Later that afternoon, Bitao appeared in Qian’s study. “Master, the slap you did to Zhongyou was too harsh; half of his face is swollen!” 

“You have long ears!” Qian scorned. 

“My ears are not long, but the walls’ and windows’ are.” Bitao patted on the wall, “It seems that master has some issues.” 

“Well, what kind of issues?” 

“Oops, you are fooling me master. Have you forgotten who I was in Shanghai? Even though I didn’t taste the pork, I saw how pigs ran. The issue is headachy, however, perhaps I can help you with my little suggestion.” She stood from her chair, walked to Qian and laid her hands on his shoulders, “Master, why not let Jasmine live somewhere else for a while? Zhongyou is your son, he is young and rash, so his infatuation also comes and goes easily. If he can’t see Jasmine, gradually his flame will die out. This house is his home; his father, mother, and brother all live here; you really can’t and shouldn’t cut him off from it. While to Jasmine, there is no difference whether living in this house or another one. In the future once Zhongyou settles, it is always up to you to move her back.”

“Not bad! I will consider it.” Qian patted on Bitao’s hand. 

“Master,” Bitao drew her face closer to Qian’s, “I have asked the kitchen to braise a fat pheasant for me, and yesterday I just got some nice rice wine. Why not come to my place for dinner? You haven’t been there for almost half a year. You ought to relax a bit and let me serve you!” 

“Ok,” Qian smiled, “I will go with you.”

Bitao helped Qian put on his hat and outer jacket; Before they left the study, Qian called to a servant: “Go tell Third Madam that I will dine with Second Madam today!”

The dinner was pleasant; the wine wasn’t bad either. Bitao tried all her best to delight Qian. When eventually the dinner was over and the darkness fell, she spoke to him: “Master, it is raining now. Tonight, please sleep here. I have already told the maid to prepare the bed for you.” 

Qian hesitated for a minute, then said: “No need. I will go back to my study and finish something there.” 

He stood up to get his hat and jacket, while Bitao was still sitting on the stool. “Master, am I really that old and ugly?” She spoke sadly, “Once before you told me that I was the most attractive woman, and that you didn’t want me to bear children because it would make me wrinkled and swollen, and that you had enough money to bring me lifelong security without having my own child. Am I not that woman anymore?” 

“Don’t think too much! Go to sleep.” He stepped out. 

Bitao wanted to refill some wine in her cup but found the flagon empty. She cast her eyes outside, watching his back drawing further in the drizzle and among the yellow swaying bamboo. Then the lanterns hanging under the eave went out in the wind. “I am just one piece of old furniture for him.” She murmured. A tear slid into her empty cup.

Qian entered Jasmine’s living room and kicked off his shoes. “Master, we all thought that you wouldn’t come back tonight.” A maid helped him take off his wet jacket, saying, “Madam has gone to sleep. I will bring you some hot water to soak your feet.” Qian nodded, then walked into the bedroom.

The bed curtains were still hanging up, Jasmine was sleeping in bed deeply. Qian sat on a chair, watching her face from fifteen feet. This woman was his prize; he found her on the street, then took her home, dressed her with the best silk. Every man wanted her, including his business partner and his own son! So perhaps men were the same, regardless of age and position—Because the first day he saw her, he wanted her very much as well; he felt like he was drunk and lost his mind. Should he move her out like Bitao suggested? All his other properties in Wuxi were far from this house. Indeed, the further she lived, the harder for his son to reach, but also tougher to catch him when he did. He could buy a new house nearby, but in that case his son would find her easily as well. So no matter where she would live, he had to bear some sort of headache and risk; and that risk could turn into a great shame, or a sin. 

Perhaps Zhongyou’s infatuation wouldn’t last long, perhaps it would. Since he saw his mother’s feet at his father’s waist that early summer afternoon, he still couldn’t forget about that scene even forty three years later! And it also cast his obsession with women’s Golden Lotus feet. So, who knew what exactly Zhongyou had done to Jasmine, and what kind of evil would be kept in his mind? This thought stirred him. He felt that Jasmine had been shared and his exclusive ownership of her was under a severe challenge. 

The maid brought in a bronze basin of hot water. She knelt on the floor and helped Qian take off his socks. He soaked his feet in the hot water, feeling much more soothed. “He kissed her foot and stroked her calf!” Qian thought. After the maid dried his feet and carried the water away, he walked to the bed barefooted. Underneath the blanket, his hand found Jasmine’s foot. He rubbed it tenderly.