A Concubine for the Family: A Family Saga in China Read Online Free Page A

really must send Silver Bell to the school room. She’s running wild like an animal.”
    “I suppose you’ve been studying the Five Classics and the Four Books all morning?” her mother responded with a sidelong glance. “You know I don’t like your Western learning in the school room. Your father promised to tutor you in the classics. When did you have your last lesson?”
    “Last Wednesday, I think. He’s been so busy in the council.”
    Orchid brought in a basin of water and placed it on the rosewood night table. She then took out her mistress’s box of Chinese medicines. Purple Jade always took an interest in the ancient arts of acupuncture and herbal medicines. Everyone in the household went to her for their ailments: headaches, menstrual cramps, muscle strains, stomachaches and various cuts and bruises. Leaning on Orchid, Purple Jade wobbled over and took out some alcohol to rinse Silver Bell’s finger.
    “Ouch, ouch! It hurts!”
    “A Western education may be useful in the West, but it is courting disaster to have a Western mind and a Chinese body! Who would marry such a girl?” Purple Jade lapsed into her usual complaint.
    “Miss Tyler is not married,” Golden Bell said. “She doesn’t need approval from any man!”
    “But you’re Chinese!” She rubbed Silver Bell’s finger with more alcohol.
    “Ouch!”
    “Never forget who you are. We have no sons! Your first duty is toward your family. If no one wants to marry you and take our name . . .” The thought was too repugnant; she took a deep breath. “Without an heir, who will burn incense and make monthly offerings before our ancestral tablets at home and in our village temple? This family will be the laughingstock of the whole region. Hai, the West Ocean barbarians are so strange.” Purple Jade looked up from the basin to collect her thoughts. “When I first met your Miss Tai . . . Tai . . .” She could not pronounce the name.
    “Tai-lar!” Orchid offered.
    “Oh yes, Tai-Lar, ‘Spicy-Too-Hot!’” Purple Jade smiled as she translated Miss Tyler’s name into Chinese. Everyone laughed except Golden Bell.
    “Your Miss Spicy-Too-Hot was such a frightful sight. With that red curly hair, blue eyes and enormous nose, she looked like the devil herself!”
    “Oh
M-ma
, Miss Tyler is so kind! She has taught Iris at no extra charge,” Golden Bell said.
    “Iris is good company for you.” Purple Jade wiped Silver Bell’s hand. She turned toward Iris. “Don’t let your fancy education turn your head. There are plenty of sing-song girls who know English and are working in the Shanghai bars.”
    Orchid brought a clean strip of silk, and Purple Jade wrapped it around her daughter’s finger.
    “Orchid, take Peony and her mistress to fetch the silkworm eggs. Make sure you don’t go out the back door!” She wagged a finger at the two maids and Silver Bell.
    As Purple Jade wobbled back to her writing table, Iris hurried to her side. Purple Jade leaned on Iris’s arm, saying: “I must admit, your Miss Spicy-Too-Hot is rather gracious for a West Ocean barbarian. She spoke Chinese to me very properly, though she had to think of the east and west before she said anything.”
    The sight of her mother toddling with the help of a maid always made Golden Bell want to turn away, but she did not. She wanted to say Westerners were not cruel. They would never bind women’s feet. She sensed that would be going for her mother’s jugular. She swallowed and cleared her throat. “I’ve learned so much from her, M-ma,” she said. “Please invite her to Father’s birthday party.”
    “I suppose there is no harm in that.” Her mother nodded. “It will please your father. I have used all my influence to keep you at home, away from that missionary school. Imagine, a daughter from this book-fragrant family going to school with orphans, children of peasants and common shopkeepers!”
    The ink was running dry. Purple Jade dribbled a few more drops of water