Spring Pearl: The Last Flower

• The Lost Garden
• The Rats’ Nest
• The Cage
• The Test
• Pins and Needles
• Miss Weed
• The Power Behind the Throne
• The Traitor
• The Collector
• Hope
• Roots
• The Return
• The Warriors
• The Flower
• Then and Now: China

The Lost Garden

The boy looks at Spring Pearl and tells her that they should be going now. She asks him for just one more moment. He probably can’t understand why anyone would want to stay any longer. She sees her derelict home through his eyes. She has let things become shabby while Mother was sick. The walls are in need of repair, there is dust, and the few sticks of furniture are pieces no one would have wanted to buy. But in Spring Pearl’s mind’s eye, she can see Mother sitting while she sews and Father in another chair staring into space before he begins painting. And Spring Pearl is there with them, balancing on a stool, trying not to fall off while she does her lessons.

In the corner sits a straw mat. Spring Pearl looks away; that was where her mother had her last breath. The landlord was upset when he found out she died inside. He’d have to reduce the rent for the next tenants who might think Mother’s ghost was haunting the cottage. But even if that were true, her gentle soul would never harm anyone.

Spring Pearl runs her hands over her jacket. It had been one of the last things Mother made. Master Sung, Father’s good friend, had gifted the silk. She smoothes it over her sides, feeling its lightness. Mother had sewn camellias, which were her favorite flowers, on the hems and cuffs.

“Please, miss, I have other chores,” the boy begs. He is several years older than Spring Pearl, with a pleasant round face and small eyes. She reaches for her basket. The boy says he’ll take that—it’s his job after all. The boy says all he needs is his bamboo pole from outside, and he can carry everything. Perhaps Spring Pearl has never had any servants.

Spring Pearl shakes her head. Guilty, she thinks that if Mother had more help than just her maybe she would still be alive. The boy comes back into the room with a pole two meters long, and he reaches for rope to tie all of Spring Pearl’s items to the pole. Spring Pearl wants to be helpful, so she bends over to pick up the coil of old cord. The boy says that Spring Pearl is better spoken than any of the ladies of their household, and her manners are better, too, but there’s more to being a lady than speech and polite ways. A lady should never do her own lifting. Master Sung’s household will be a lot different than Spring Pearl’s old home here.

The boy explains that if Spring Pearl acts like a servant, then the Sungs will treat her like one. Proudly, Spring Pearl says she intends to earn her keep. The boy laughs, but says the Sungs will see that she does. It’s not his place to say, but Spring Pearl is moving in with the sharks. Looks aren’t everything. The sweetest little old auntie could be a tiger in disguise.

He concludes by saying that Spring Pearl must be well-educated. Although the boy says although he cannot read or write, he’s a regular professor when it comes to surviving the Sungs. He finishes tying the baskets to the end of the pole. When Spring Pearl asks him his name, he says he answers to the name “Doggy.”

When Doggy stands up, the pole bows in the middle but doesn’t break. Spring Pearl introduces herself as Chou Spring Pearl. Although Chou is her surname, Doggy casually calls her “Miss Pearl.”

They step outside into the little garden outside the house. Mother had been so proud of it before she passed away. The three of them had spent many afternoons painting and studying and sewing. Spring Pearl looks over to the spot where Father had died a year ago. A little white jasmine is still blooming on the bamboo fence. When Mother tended to it, all of it was white. Now, tall vines choke the new growth like tangles of cord, and leaves litter the ground. There aren’t even any birds to sing her goodbye. Due to the recent rebellions and wars, the peasants had trapped and eaten all of them.

Spring Pearl begins to feel an ache inside as if she’s mourning her parents all over again. She can’t save all of the flowers here, but she’s determined to save something. Anxiously, Spring Pearl looks through the weeds for the camellias. Her parents always loved them, and Father had even written a poem on one of his paintings of camellias, calling them a pearl given by nature. That is why they named her “Spring Pearl.” Hunting, Spring Pearl finally finds a survivor buried under the weeds and overgrowth. She digs up the surviving bulb and puts it in an old pot.

Sighing, Doggy finds a space in the basket and puts the flower inside. He begins to shuffle forward, and Spring Pearl squares her shoulders and begins after him. She shouldn’t look back. Her old home is already gone. But the closer she gets to the gate, the more her stomach tightens with fear. What would become of her now that her parents are dead? Even as Mother lay dying, she wept with worry for Spring Pearl. Spring Pearl reassured her over and over that she would be all right. Now it’s time to keep her word.

The Rats’ Nest

As Doggy and Spring Pearl begin their journey, the autumn air is so still that Spring Pearl can still smell the stink of the Pearl River that runs through the heart of Canton. Occasionally, the odors from the river had even overpowered Mother’s flowers. The rest of Canton sneers at their old neighborhood, calling it the “Rat’s Nest.” Since the river smells so bad, most people prefer to live away from its banks. But in the last few centuries, poor folk have taken over the open spaces. They’d thrown together shacks out of sticks, and no one stopped them from living there. Houses made of mud barely hold up during the monsoon rains. Spring Pearl’s little bamboo house was one of the few places that was actually legal. It was a palace compared to their neighbor’s homes.

They approach the stall of Auntie Wong. She thrusts a small bundle into Spring Pearl’s hand. It’s the eve of the Moon Festival, and Spring Pearl can smell the mooncakes inside the bundle. She wasn’t Spring Pearl’s real aunt, but she acted like one. Spring Pearl uses her free arm to hug Auntie. She thanks Auntie—she and Mother would have starved without Auntie Wong’s help.

More people start to come out of their shacks and stalls to say goodbye to Spring Pearl. Uncle Soo, the butcher, holds out a cylindrical shaped package. Spring Pearl recognizes the cylinder. It’s the backing that Father had used at one time for his paintings. Uncle Soo says he’s passing it back on to Spring Pearl. He looked at it happily for many years. Uncle Soo says since Spring Pearl had to sell everything to buy her mother’s medicine, the least that he can do is ensure that Spring Pearl gets to have one of her father’s paintings again.

Even though Spring Pearl knows her parents would have wanted her to leave the painting with Uncle Soo, she can’t seem to set it down. Close to tears, Spring Pearl only nods her head gratefully. Auntie’s son, Hammer, adds a European spittoon to the load in Spring Pearl’s arms. He works loading and unloading ships, and said he found it. Spring Pearl chuckles on the inside. Her father used to say that receiving a gift is more of an art than giving one. Spring Pearl thanks Hammer for the gift, even though she will most likely never use it as a spittoon.

Nearly everyone on the street turns out with a gift. Many are small items, but they’re all that the Rats can afford. Even the gamblers interrupt their game long enough to hand Spring Pearl several dice. Auntie Wong promises that no matter what, Spring Pearl will always have a place in the Rat’s Nest.

Somehow, Doggy manages to stow all of the gifts away in the baskets or tie them to the pole. He’s carrying quite a load by the time they leave the Rat’s Nest.

Spring Pearl wasn’t able to afford a proper funeral for Mother, and since there was no public wake, Spring Pearl didn’t know how many people cared about her or Father. Spring Pearl wishes her parents could have seen how much they were loved. Doggy observes that it wasn’t just them who were loved; Spring Pearl was, too. Spring Pearl insists that she did not do anything. She can’t paint like Father and she’s hopeless with a needle, unlike her mother.

Doggy says she must have other talents. Spring Pearl shakes her head. Although she can write a little, she has no talent for words. She usually has to copy the form letters in her book whenever someone wants to send mail. That wouldn’t have been good enough for Father’s scholarly friends, but it was just fine for fellow Rats in the nest. Spring Pearl also says that she helped Uncle Soo with his accounts. He’s hopeless when it comes to addition.

Doggy chuckles and says that all the Rats kept Spring Pearl busy. Spring Pearl responds that it was not a big deal. After all, they needed help. Doggy says that there are some folks who always run away from any mess, and there are some folks who always tidy up. Most likely, Spring Pearl tidying was enough to make them love her. Perhaps Doggy is right. Spring Pearl’s fellow Rats will miss her as well as her parents. Realizing this just as she’s leaving only makes her feel worse.

Doggy and Spring Pearl continue walking along the river, and soon pass the remains of the foreigners’ warehouses and offices. Nothing was made there, even though the buildings there were called factories. But the foreign merchants who bought and sold things for other people had called themselves “factors,” an old British word for “agents.” After the foreigners left, the buildings were looted and torched. But the smell of smoke still clings to the ruins.

Father liked to sketch the little garden next to the factories, and Spring Pearl used to tag along for the spectacle. The Chinese government hadn’t allowed foreigners to leave that area but curious Chinese had been drawn there to watch the foreigners’ strange antics. Mealtimes always drew the biggest crowds, because the foreigners used to put sugar in their tea, and they used to hack away like butchers at big slabs of meat on the dining table instead of cutting it in the kitchen sensibly.

But now that the foreigners have left since the war began, all of that is gone. The war between China and Britain had started again, and foreigners were forced out and their businesses destroyed. Spring Pearl stares at what had once been Mr. Fortescue’s establishment. She hopes he escaped. If there had been more foreigners like Mr. Fortescue, perhaps the opium trade would have ended. He hated that drug because it destroyed so many lives.

Mr. Fortescue was a British merchant who admired Father’s garden sketches. Their first attempts at a conversation had been through signs, but their communication improved as Mr. Fortescue learned some Chinese and Father and Spring Pearl learned a little English. Eventually, Mr. Fortescue commissioned Father to paint landscapes of the city so he could see what Canton looks like.

Everything had been going along fine until 1856, when an imperial Chinese official had seized some Chinese criminals who were serving on the crew of a British ship called the Arrow. The British were looking for an excuse to fight, so they declared war. Fifteen years earlier, the British had gone to war to force China to allow them to sell their drugs in China. After they won that war, they demanded all sorts of trading rights, as well as land for their own city, Hong Kong. Now it seems the British want even more, and they are, again, willing to use force.

Another group of people called the French have joined in as well. There are rumors that the French have their eye on seizing an area called Viet Nam from China’s control.

Because of all these troubles, China’s emperor placed a tough-minded official called Viceroy Yeh over the governors, including their province’s governor, Po. This viceroy refused the foreigners’ demands and instead placed a bounty on the head of every foreign soldier or sailor. The British ships retaliated by coming up the Pearl River, blasting a hole through the outer city wall, and sending troops to capture the viceroy himself. But despite the rumors the viceroy was enormously fat, he was nimble enough to escape the foreign kidnappers. Although the foreigners had taken the city, they had too few men to hold a half-million people captive for long.

The foreign ships finally retreated after the viceroy attacked them with floating torpedoes recently devised by a clever American mechanic. All of Canton celebrated the victory.

Doggy and Spring Pearl now turn their backs on the river to walk north. They enter the Western Suburbs, where many merchants and craftspeople live and work. Signs hang in front of shops, and you can tell what is sold in each shop from the shape of the sign. One street is candle makers, and another’s incense sticks. A third sells glue. Gold, silk, and every sort of raw stuff comes from all over China and the South Seas to be sold in little shops like these. From them flows jewelry, fans, and other objects the rest of the world desires.

Spring Pearl pauses at the space where Father always set up his small table and chair. His paper signs are still pasted to the wall. Spring Pearl would help him set up his stand and mix his ink for him. If she closes her eyes, she can almost see him still there, sitting proudly on his chair.

Doggy offers to go first through the marketplace, so he can clear the way. Spring Pearl draws her eyebrows together and says that she can trade elbows with the best of them, demonstrating quick jabs of her elbows, which she learned from years of shopping in the crowded market stalls. Doggy, laughing, says he wouldn’t show that technique to the Sungs if he was her. Doggy explains that although they do go shopping, it’s up to the servant to break the waves like the prow of a ship.

When Spring Pearl looks confused, Doggy explains slowly that if rich folk took care of themselves, servants would be out of a job. Even though Spring Pearl may think she’s just being helpful and taking care of herself, it might make some servants snicker. Some servants can be more stuck-up than their masters and mistresses. It’s a sort of reflected glory. He reminds her that if she acts like a servant, they’ll treat her like one.

Spring Pearl sighs and allows Doggy to go ahead of her. He nimbly weaves his way through the crowd, leaving a space for Spring Pearl to walk in peace. As Spring Pearl walks, the peanut peddler and vegetable seller start to push their goods in her face before recognizing who she is. They all grin at each other because they know how hard a bargain Spring Pearl can drive.

They cross a creek whose murky waters had been nicknamed the “Jade Stone Belt.” Before them rises the Old City wall that is eight meters wide and fifteen meters thick. With the walls that run around the New City, the walls run for nine and a half kilometers. In an open space, Chinese and Manchu soldiers practice slicing at invisible foreign invaders. Because there aren’t enough regular soldiers to guard the long walls, clans from all over the province had sent their warriors to defend Canton from the foreign invasion. Except for their special badges and weapons, the clan warriors dress and wear their hair like normal civilians.

The Manchus, a people from the north, conquered China 200 years ago and now rule the empire. They had taken over part of the Western Suburbs of the Old City. They make all men wear their hair in queues, like the tails of the horses the men rode to victory. Perhaps the Manchus ancestors would have been strong enough to keep out the British and French, but their descendants had grown fat and lazy from living off the Chinese. Their soldier’s uniforms are stained, and everyone can smell the stink of liquor on their breath.

Over the last 2,000 years, the houses and shops in this area had been squeezed together, forming a maze of narrow lanes and alleys. Over the rooftops, Spring Pearl can see the top stories of the eight-sided Flowery Pagoda that the poet Su Tung P’o had so admired. As they cross the street that runs straight and true to the great North Gate, they enter the Chinese section. Here, monasteries and government buildings rub shoulder-to-shoulder with schools and the homes of officials and scholars.

Doggy calls Spring Pearl over to a building with several sedan chairs. Some of them are covered on the sides and have curtain windows, while others are completely open. The sedan carriers scramble to their feet at Doggy’s hail. Spring Pearl says to Doggy that she can walk. Doggy shakes his head. The next lesson she must learn is to never walk when she can ride. Doggy inspects the chairs, and selects one with little curtains to screen the inside and bargains with the carriers. When they are done, they’re all grinning. Spring Pearl thinks it must have been some sort of game. Though both sides pretend outwardly to be unhappy, they are all secretly satisfied.

Doggy pulls aside the curtain to let Spring Pearl sit on the cushion. Because the cushion is thick and clean, it’s probably one of the better chairs. However, the fancy cushion hides the fact that some of the bamboo slots of the seat are broken. As the carriers lift the chair into the air, Spring Pearl feels herself sag so much that she clings to one side. Doggy walks in front of the first carrier, leading the way.

As precarious as the seat is, Spring Pearl enjoys the novelty of a ride. She can’t resist peeking out of the window. They pass a wealthy monastery where statues are freshly painted and gilded. On the other side, hidden by more long high walls, sit mansions of the ancient families who helped rule the empire for centuries. No windows break the surface, but through some openings of the gates, Spring Pearl can see beautiful courtyards and large houses. Although Master Sung is only a merchant, he had bought a scholarly degree that gave him the status of a gentleman, and Spring Pearl knows he lives in this area.

Finally, they come to the highest, longest wall of all. To anyone else it would have been the sign of a palace. Why then, does Spring Pearl feel like she’s entering a prison?

The Cage

Doggy turns sideways to keep the baskets from swaying too much. With his foot, he kicks at the gate to announce that Miss Chou has arrived. An old man comes and opens the gate. Doggy steps inside the gate, and jokes around a bit with the old man who opened it for him. The carriers set the chair down, Doggy pays them in cash, and Spring Pearl steps out.

She notices both the granite stones that pave the large courtyard and the weeds that grow through the cracks of some of the broken ones. But what impresses her most is the quiet. It’s strange to come into a peaceful place after the commotion of the streets.

Stone columns support tiled roofs to form a veranda that shade the other three sides of the courtyard. There’s carved wooden screens and rice paper that covers the windows of the rooms. Large stone jars in front of them must have held flowers at one time, but now they only hold weeds. Doggy whispers to Spring Pearl that she shouldn’t gawk as he tucks some extra cash into his sleeve. Suddenly, Spring Pearl understands his trick.

Spring Pearl points out that the chair was supposed to be brought to her house to pick her up for the whole trip. Doggy chuckles. He says to consider it a tip. Now, Spring Pearl should put a frown on her face, for her troubles are starting.

Doggy struts toward a pair of girls that are lounging on the steps. They wear expensive silk clothes, so Spring Pearl assumes they are Master Sung’s daughters. But before Spring Pearl bows, Doggy stops her. They are not Master Sung’s daughters. Apparently, they are servants! A girl named Snow Goose rises slowly, and saunters off to tell the family that Miss Chou has arrived. Her friend studies Spring Pearl. So, she is the crazy man’s daughter. Spring Pearl comments that he was a famous painter. The girl shrugs. If he was such a famous painter, why is Spring Pearl living on their charity? Doggy points out that this is Master Sung’s house, not the girl’s. So, he can do what he likes.

Spring Pearl, blushing, says that living there is just temporary, until she can figure out what to do next. Doggy shoots an exasperated look at Spring Pearl as the girl laughs. That’s what all the leeches say. Snow Goose comes back, and says it’s time for Spring Pearl to meet the rest of the family. Doggy dips his head, and says he’ll bring her things to her room.

Snow Goose leads Spring Pearl across the front courtyard into a second one, where the family lives. Rooms with verandas lay on three sides, and in the center, there’s what looks like a garden, but now is just a scrap of wilderness. It’s ten times larger than Spring Pearl’s old little plot back home, but it’s in far worse shape. Snow Goose explains the gardener died two years ago, and they never replaced him.

Snow Goose and Spring Pearl enter a room in the right wing of the mansion, and Spring Pearl hears enough yelling for a rooster fight. Snow Goose loudly announces that Miss Chou has arrived, and the room falls silent. Incense tickles Spring Pearl’s nose. Three girls lounge in chairs, fanning themselves with expensive fans. The oldest girl looks about Spring Pearl’s age.

Each of them is dressed well enough to be a princess. The servants and their fancy clothes now seem shabby compared to them. The oldest girl wears a dazzling jacket of chevrons. The chevrons look like angular rainbows marching one after another. Her hair rises above her head in four large loops. She says her name is Miss Emerald. The other girls are her sisters, Miss Willow and Miss Oriole. Spring Pearl can feel their eyes appraising her as carefully as her mother had inspected a piece of cloth. Spring Pearl gives her full name, and Miss Emerald slyly comments that she should be called Miss Ratty. When Spring Pearl questions what was said, Miss Oriole pipes up that she came from the Rat’s Nest, whatever that is. She probably lived in a dirty shack before. Miss Oriole looks about eight and Miss Willow about ten.

Miss Oriole’s dressed in a blue jacket and pants with an intricate geometric design of diamonds and squares. Her hair is coiled into buns on either side of her head, and decorated with gold hair pins. Miss Willow wears a jacket and trousers of tan color with a complicated design of waves and golden thread. Her hair is twisted into braids that are woven intricately into a bun above the crown of her head so her head seems to tilt forward. Spring Pearl bows politely, thanking the family for taking her in. But her house was no shack like what the girls may think. It was quite nice, and they had a garden too. Spring Pearl used to help her mother tend it.

Miss Willow’s mouth twitches. Spring Pearl tended her own garden? Spring Pearl shifts on her feet uncomfortably. She explains if she didn’t do it, no one else would keep the garden alive. Miss Willow pantomimes digging with pale, exquisitely manicured fingers. It must have dirtied her hands to use them that way.

Spring Pearl is puzzled. It was so nice to sit in the garden. Miss Willow continues to make fun of Spring Pearl., until Miss Emerald says that there’s been no one to show Spring Pearl the proper way. They must make allowances.

The only thing that makes Spring Pearl feel good is that Miss Willow compliments her exquisite clothing. It makes Spring Pearl feel proud to find that a rich girl would want her mother’s handiwork. But even such a compliment is diminished when Miss Emerald comments that Spring Pearl’s cuffs should go all the way to the floor. When Spring Pearl says that plenty of girls have pants that length, Miss Emerald leans forward to comment that the other girls don’t have Spring Pearl’s large feet.

Spring Pearl retorts that her feet are only a little larger than Miss Emerald’s. It’s the fashion among rich Chinese families to bind a girl’s feet to make them more attractive. Using ribbons, they would bend a girl’s toes under the sole to shape the feet and keep them small. Bound feet are considered desirable, but they make it hard to walk.

Miss Emerald slides her own feet underneath her chair as if she’s embarrassed. Her mother is half-Hakka and they don’t do that to their own girls. Miss Oriole asks if Spring Pearl’s mother is Hakka, too. Spring Pearl shakes her head. Her mother’s feet were bound, and it was so painful, she vowed she would never do it to her own daughters. But it didn’t stop her from working in the garden.

Miss Emerald raises her hand and says at least they must do something about Spring Pearl’s hair. Spring Pearl reaches up and feels her braids that hang down her back. Miss Emerald comments that girls haven’t worn hair like that for years. Miss Willow snickers. A river rat in fancy clothes is still a river rat.

It sounds as if the Sung sisters have been teased so much about their own unfashionable feet they try to be stylish more than anything else. Spring Pearl thinks they are like peacocks, trying to make up for their ugly feet by displaying the biggest and fanciest tails. Spring Pearl knows that Miss Emerald is trying to help her, but in many ways, her kindness seems crueler than Miss Willow’s contempt.

Suddenly, Miss Oriole and Miss Willow start to go at each other again. Even in the presence of Spring Pearl, they go on and on about going to some party, what shoes they’re wearing, and who would have made fun of who. Spring Pearl stands patiently, waiting for an opening in the argument. She points out that there’s a war, so she’s surprised that anyone would go to a party.

Miss Willow presses her fan to her lips. Of course no one should be afraid of the foreign barbarians. The Chinese troops sent them packing quickly enough. Spring Pearl warns that they’ll come back with more ships and more troops next time. Miss Willow waves her fan as if she could blow the British and French ships back to their homeland with it. She says the viceroy and their brave officers will make the wretched barbarians beg for peace.

Spring Pearl mentions that foreigners have more modern weapons, not the old muskets that the Chinese army uses. The girls look at her as if she’s an annoying mosquito that simply buzzed into the room. They insist that there’s no way Heaven would let them win. Miss Emerald says that the Chinese empire is over 4,000 years old. There is no way that the European kingdoms, which must only be a few hundred years old, could take over the Chinese.

Spring Pearl tries to reason with them but it’s no use. Their tongues are sharp enough so she knows their minds have to match. It seems the girls take no more interest in the outside world than birds in a cage. What concerns them is what happens inside their own mansion and those of their friends. Spring Pearl was wrong. The Sung mansion is not a prison. It’s a fairy tale grotto where time and life follow separate rules from the rest of Canton. And now, she is trapped inside.

The Test

Spring Pearl is grateful when Snow Goose comes back to announce that the Master and Mistress Sung were ready to receive Spring Pearl. She nods to the girls and leaves. Snow Goose leads Spring Pearl around the garden to the center of the mansion. The maid says that soon, Spring Pearl will get used to the area and will be able to find her own way around. About ten feet from an ornate doorway, Snow Goose’s posture changes. She stands straighter and she takes smaller steps. It was like watching an actor assume a role. When Snow Goose opens the door, she transforms into another actor. The sullen, insolent girl is gone, and is replaced by the picture of meekness. She takes a deep bow, and informs Spring Pearl that it’s time for her to enter.

Even with her eyes closed, Spring Pearl would have known it was a study by the smell of scented ink. Elegant teak cabinets with fancy brass fittings hold piles of books. There’s snuff bottles, and scrolls written in beautiful hands. Strange shaped rocks on thin, long legged stands, are scattered on the tables. The teak desks’ intricate carvings have literary themes. There’s a poet trying to embrace the moon’s reflection on a lake. Another side shows poets drinking wine and writing poems. Behind the desk, sits a familiar face, for Master Sung had often visited Spring Pearl’s father. He greets her, and says it’s nice to see her again. He wears the cap of a scholar, but his robe is of costly silk brocade that most scholars can’t afford. He’s a short barrel of the man with the same ink-stained fingers as Spring Pearl’s father. He introduces his wife, Mistress Sung.

She is taller than her husband, has pale skin, and looks as if she stepped out of a portrait of an empress. Her robe is of rich lavender brocade silk over a blue skirt, and her hair is wrapped around a wire frame in the shape of a butterfly’s wings. From her rich, dark tresses hang little flowers of jade and coral. “So,” she says, “you are my husband’s orphan.”

Suddenly, Spring Pearl is reminded she isn’t there on a tour of the mansion but that as a charity case. She bows her head gratefully and thanks Mistress Sung for her kindness. Master Sung waves a hand as if embarrassed. It’s the least he can do for the daughter of his great friend. Mistress Sung however feels differently. She appraises Spring Pearl with the same penetrating eyes as her daughters. When Spring Pearl says that she will only be with them until she can find another option, Master Sung says that’s simply nonsense. She may stay as long as she likes. He plays with a stack of large silver coins, clinking them together. He comments that her father was always so gentle with critiquing his paintings and poems. Spring Pearl smiles and says he was always grateful to Master Sung for protecting him against bullies when they were at school together.

Spring Pearl had never seen coins such as the ones Master Sung is playing with. He says they are silver coins from Mex-i-co. He says they’re replacing Chinese coins as currency. Spring Pearl had seen coins similar to those where the foreigners used them as currency with Chinese customers. Spring Pearl tries to remember what father’s foreign friends had said about Mexico. He said it was in the south of the Land of the Golden Mountain. That’s what everyone calls America, where gold was discovered eight years ago.

Mistress Sung speaks for the first time, and says that she is surprised Spring Pearl knows about other countries. Spring Pearl explains that they used to visit some of the foreign merchants. She almost mentions the riverside, but catches herself in time and corrects herself to say “our home” instead. Mistress Sung knows full well where Spring Pearl used to live. She calls it the Rat’s Nest, too. Her tone makes it clear that she disapproves of Spring Pearl’s old neighborhood.

However, Master Sung is marveled by the fact that Spring Pearl knows about other countries. Despite his praises, Spring Pearl seems to think that she’s being examined by Mistress Sung. Is she judging if Spring Pearl is fit for company for her daughters? She thinks of their comments on her hair and length of her cuffs. Is she to be put on the street because of that?

Mistress Sung scolds that all of Spring Pearl’s answers about the world are secondhand from her father. Spring Pearl speaks up and says that she was able to ask her questions directly to the foreign merchants. Mistress Sung responds that it was simple gobble-gobble talk.

Spring Pearl’s eyes move to a painting on the wall behind their heads. She recognizes the strange, twisted tower-like crags that were called the Seven Stars. It was painted by her father. Spring Pearl remembers the day father painted it. He had his sketches all over one wall. Spring Pearl walks over to the painting, and comments the garden was so sunny that month. He had Spring Pearl read poetry to him while he painted.

Mistress Sung is surprised that Spring Pearl can read. Spring Pearl diminishes her own talents, saying she merely tried her best. Mistress Sung shoves a thick book into Spring Pearl’s arms and asks her to read it. Spring Pearl picks up the book and recognizes it as a collection of poetry by a poet who lived a thousand years ago. Father had once told Spring Pearl that philosophers believed nothing happens by chance. Everything is destined, and everything is interconnected. So, Spring Pearl opens the book and looks at a poem. It’s full of characters with many strokes, but she remembers having read this one with father. She states it out loud.

Master Sung is thrilled. Spring Pearl is a regular scholar. Not even their son can do that. Mistress Sung demands another poem. The next poem is new to Spring Pearl, but she recognizes many of the characters, so she reads it as best she can, telling truthfully when she doesn’t know a word. Master Sung wonders if his son’s tutor could even read that well. Mistress Sung, always keeping to the point, asks if Spring Pearl can write. Modestly, Spring Pearl says she has a tolerable hand. She used to help her father write letters for people by copying them from form letters in a book. Master Sung comments that Spring Pearl is quite accomplished. Mistress Sung inclines her head to concede to that point.

Mistress Sung laces her fingers together and peers at Spring Pearl. She says what the household really requires is a seamstress. Mistress Sung knows that Spring Pearl’s mother was talented at sewing. Master Sung interrupts and says that that’s an insult to Spring Pearl’s mother. She was a magician with a needle. Mistress Sung, ignoring her husband, asks if Spring Pearl can sew as well as she can read or write.

Spring Pearl confesses that she tried to learn, but she’s terrible at sewing. Mistress Sung bluntly says that Spring Pearl was raised to be more of a son than a daughter. Master Sung is shocked by his wife’s rudeness. Spring Pearl kindly says there is a little bit of truth to that. But she can do simple repairs, and she can tend the garden.

Mistress Sung sniffs and says they don’t have any garden staff to follow Spring Pearl’s orders. The taxes have been so heavy over the years with trying to control the rebels. As if China didn’t have enough trouble with foreigners, there’s all sorts of rebels causing trouble, too.

Master Sung spreads his hands in frustration. He complains that because now they have to pay for fighting the British and the French, the war has been especially costly. And the foreign blockade is ruining trade. So they can’t afford to hire new help.

Spring Pearl sympathizes, and she says she can handle the gardening herself. Unlike her daughters, Mistress Sung is horrified rather than amused. Spring Pearl might as well have confessed to stealing. Spring Pearl, wondering if she’ll get herself expelled, says she hates to see a garden go to waste. Mistress Sungs stiffly says that they may waste whatever it is they want.

Spring Pearl realizes that the Sung’s garden doesn’t mean the same to them that Spring Pearl’s did to her family. The Sung’s have a garden not because they love it but because it was what rich families had. It was simply an example of wealth. Master Sung smiles. If Spring Pearl’s father allowed gardening he sees no reason why she can’t garden here.

Spring Pearl says she did not mean to be rude. Spring Pearl likes Master Sung, but not his wife and children. Spring Pearl claims she will gather her things and leave. Master Sung is concerned. What will Spring Pearl do? Spring Pearl says she’ll beg on the streets if she has to.

Master Sung looks at his wife, begging that they cannot let that happen. Mistress Sung twiddles her fingers. Finally, she says that Spring Pearl can stay. She can earn her keep sewing. Master Sung nods his head eagerly. Yes, Mistress Sung’s advice is always so helpful.

Master Sung turns to Spring Pearl and welcomes her to the House of Sung.

Pins and Needles

Spring Pearl follows Mistress Sung through the mansion to a small room filled with cabinets and a couple of tables and waits in the doorway while Mistress Sung opens the cabinet. She pulls out a bolt of expensive blue silk and says it will look nice on Willow. Mistress Sung gives Spring Pearl dimensions for a blouse. When she comes back an hour later, she gazes in dismay at the scraps on the table. She comments on how Spring Pearl wasted a lot of the material. Her face is serious when she holds up Spring Pearl’s attempt at a blouse. “This would be excellent if Willow’s left arm were two meters long and her right half a meter.”

Mistress Sung looks at the crooked stitches. And she sees a dot of blood. Spring Pearl comments that she may have pricked herself a couple of times. She knows she ruined the blouse, and she’ll work twice as hard to make up for it. Mistress Sung studies Spring Pearl and then drops the blouse into a basket of rags. Apparently Spring Pearl cannot sew at all. And they can’t afford to waste good silk while Spring Pearl learns.

Spring Pearl says that maybe she can help with the mending. Mistress Sung tactfully responds that Spring Pearl will need even more practice than that. Maybe Spring Pearl can make shoes for the servants. Spring Pearl, looking at her bandaged fingertips, asks if maybe she can help in the kitchen.

Mistress Sung looks hurt. They’re not ogres. How can they make the daughter of a scholar stoop so low as to work in the kitchen. No no, Snow Goose will show Spring Pearl how to make shoes.

When Snow Goose arrives, she smirks while she shows Spring Pearl how to paste clean scraps together to make a shoe’s sole. Fitting the straps scraps together is like fitting together pieces of a puzzle. At the end there are at least twenty layers of scraps. Eventually the sole is attached to the upper cloth part of the shoe. It’s hard to force the needle through so much cloth, even with a thimble. Spring Pearl uses a special pair of pliers to pull the needle through the rest of the way. It is grueling work that makes Spring Pearl’s fingers ache.

When Spring Pearl isn’t working on the shoes, she practices her stitches, because at the end of the day, Mistress Sung will check them.

After sewing, Spring Pearl follows Mistress Sung’s directions to her room. She ends up having to ask Snow Goose for help because she gets lost. At first, she can’t believe it’s her bedroom. It has a cabinet and chairs and a real four-poster bed instead of a sleeping mat. But then she overhears Snow Goose talking with another servant about how they put all of the old furniture in Spring Pearl’s bedroom. Spring Pearl examines the furniture more closely and sees that it is dusty because no one bothered to clean it. Through the dirt, she can see many scratches and nicks. No matter what Master Sung says, it’s clear to Spring Pearl what the rest of the household thinks of her.

As Spring Pearl dresses for dinner and twists her hair into her usual braids, she feels even more alone. But then, her eye catches sight of the belongings in the corner. Doggy had placed the little camellia plant on top. Spring Pearl tells herself it’s time to stop feeling miserable. She might not be able to help herself but at least she can do something for her flower.

After putting on a plain blouse and pants, Spring Pearl makes her way to the garden. Mistress Sung never actually forbade her from working in the garden. Spring Pearl wades through the high weeds until she finds a spot that the camellia might like. Spring Pearl yanks out the weeds by the handful to clear space, and digs a hole. Spring Pearl pauses for a brief rest, and she begins to see what a magnificent place the garden had once been. Lost among the weeds are rare maple trees, flowers, and even orchids. But they are all slowly being strangled. It was a garden no one wanted. Just like Spring Pearl.

Spring Pearl barely has enough time to finish planting her camellia and get it some water before she hears Snow Goose calling. She completely lost track of time. Spring Pearl washes her hands and face in the bucket and then goes back to her room to change. She only has one nice set of clothes to wear, which Miss Willow dutifully notes as Spring Pearl sits down breathlessly at the dining table.

On a formal occasion, Master Sung would eat separately with male guests. But because it’s an informal evening, he’s dining with the rest of the family. Dinner is beef, chicken, pork, and fish dishes, each finer than the last. Spring Pearl makes a special effort to eat daintily to avoid spilling gravy on her clothes. However, Master Sung keeps wanting to talk about poetry or fiction or art with Spring Pearl, making it hard for her to concentrate on eating politely. Miss Emerald assures her that she can speak up whenever Spring Pearl gets bored. But Spring Pearl genuinely does enjoy the conversation. The girls all stare at one another when Spring Pearl confesses this, until Miss Willow snarkily remarks that nobody else enjoys these conversations at the dinner table.

Master Sung comments that he is also a scholar. His family is quick to point out that he bought his title because it carries privileges. Master Sung however is hurt. He believes his title is not an empty one. His daughters and wife all agree that at the very least it’s a good thing that their father finally has someone to talk to about these senseless things.

When everyone is almost done eating, the Sung’s oldest son, Blessing, stumbles into the room. He’s about sixteen years old, and is quite handsome. It looks as if he knows he’s handsome, too. He comments that he had dinner with some of his classmates at a restaurant. But Spring Pearl can tell this merely from the number of stains that ruined his expensive robe. Master Sung huffs about Blessing picking up the bill yet again. Blessing comments he doesn’t want to look stingy or cheap to his friends. Mistress Sung agrees. Blessing’s reputation is also the Sung’s reputation.

Master Sung insists that business is bad. They’re still paying for the war, and the British blockade is strangling what’s left of all of the trade resources. Blessing comments that the war should be over soon. If the barbarians come back, the viceroy will push them out again. It seems the entire family except for Master Sung is oblivious to the state of the family’s finances.

Everybody sits at the table until Master Sung is done eating. That is the custom. After supper, the Sungs go to a huge room that they use for evening amusement. The chairs and sofas are covered with comfortable cushions and the tables have a variety of games, books, and musical instruments. It’s obvious the Sung sisters are talented in their own right. They can play the lute and flute quite well, and Miss Oriole has a sweet singing voice.

Mistress Sung picks up some embroidery to work on while Blessing leads Spring Pearl over to a table where a chess set is sitting ready. Spring Pearl is used to a chess board of paper with wooden discs, but the Sung’s board is of carved wood and the discs are fine, painted porcelain. Master Sung and Blessing take a bet on whether Spring Pearl will win or lose the game. Master Sung thinks Spring Pearl will win, and Blessing thinks he will win.

Piece by piece, the two play the game. Blessing attacks early and is soon left with all offense and no defense. It’s easy for Spring Pearl to slip behind his attacking chariots and cannon to take his general. Blessing is in disbelief. He has never been beaten so fast. In reality, Master Sung had the advantage; he knew that Spring Pearl was very good at this game.

The two start another game together, but the end result is the same. After Blessing loses a third time, he picks up a wooden box and challenges Spring Pearl to a game of dominoes instead. The Sungs continue to make bets with each other over how Spring Pearl will fare in the next game. When Spring Pearl continues to win at dominoes, Blessing doesn’t learn his lesson, and continues to take more and more bets. He’s either very determined, or very reckless.

When Blessing has finally had his fill of losing, he pretends to yawn and goes to bed. He says that tomorrow, he’ll find something to beat Spring Pearl at.

Miss Weed

Over the next week, Blessing keeps trying to beat Spring Pearl at something. They play cards, rock-paper-scissors, and mah jong. However, Blessing’s defeat continues to pile up and he begins to even laugh about it. Blessing comments that he never really can keep anything up for very long. All of his hobbies only last a little while.

Although Blessing has become friendly, his challenges also become tiresome. Spring Pearl even thinks about slipping him some loaded dice from the gamblers in the Rat’s Nest so that he can just win for once.

The Sung sisters were another matter. They didn’t intend to be cruel. In fact, after Spring Pearl begins beating their brother, they take a liking to her. Unfortunately, they’ve decided to give Spring Pearl a makeover. Whenever they try to improve her, they intend to be kind. But none of the girls have a drop of sensitivity. Their suggestions about Spring Pearl’s hair, clothes, and manners begin to hurt Spring Pearl deeply inside.

Spring Pearl never feels like she is one of them. She’s only a sad creature who’s been rescued from the slums. Even the servants take their cues from the children. They’ve stopped being outright insulting and instead call her “Miss Ratty,” just like the Sung sisters.

Spring Pearl’s ears burn, and she longs to be back by the riverbank. But, Spring Pearl has a friendly face in Doggy. Doggy is constantly cheerful. Even when Master Sung cuts everybody’s wages and makes a plan to decrease household spending, Doggy is cheerful. Doggy says that when his uncle sets up his company, Doggy hopes to go work with him.

To make it even better, Doggy comments that all the other servants were so sure that the young Sungs would send Spring Pearl packing, so he wagered a bet with them. He said that Spring Pearl would stay. Apparently, Doggy has been collecting from the other servants for a while. As long as Spring Pearl can last another month, she’ll become a better investment than a prize fighting rooster.

As odd as the compliment is, it’s the first one that Spring Pearl has received in a long time. Then, a thought occurs to her. The Sung girls were friendly to Spring Pearl because she allowed them to win back half of Blessing’s things in bets. Had Spring Pearl also bought Doggy’s friendship as well?

In response, Doggy reassures Spring Pearl that he would probably still be a fan of her even if he lost his wages. She’s nothing like the Sungs, and he likes that.

As Doggy begins to walk away, Spring Pearl can see he’s limping. She asks him what’s wrong, and he comments that he’s wearing a pair of her shoes. Apparently one of the soles is lumpy.

Even after Doggy’s assurances, Spring Pearl can’t shake the feeling of loneliness. There’s no one in the household who she truly trusts. And despite Doggy’s words, she feels more like a prize fighting rooster than not. She’s a novelty to the Sungs. But when will Master Sung tire of her? When will Blessing decide to find some other amusement than letting Spring Pearl beat him? Will she be discarded like another one of Blessing’s hobbies?

Instead of sitting in her room brooding, Spring Pearl decides to go to the garden. She puts on an old blouse and trousers and heads outside. Of course, the Sung girls can’t let Spring Pearl garden without teasing. They say they wanted to make Spring Pearl into a flower, but she was determined to be weed. They’ve even begun calling her “Miss Weed” instead of “Miss Ratty.”

There is so much more work to do in the Sung’s garden than at Spring Pearl’s home. However, that meant more challenges, too. Spring Pearl doesn’t know where to begin. Mother had known how to design a garden so that it pleased the eye but also followed the rules of feng shui. She’d line up the flowers, trees, and shrubs for the best flow of energy. But Spring Pearl never learned any of that. So instead, she closes her eyes, and listens to the breeze wrestling the plants and sniffs the scents of the garden.

At peace again, Spring Pearl turns her face toward the sun and feels the warmth bathe her eyes and cheeks. Suddenly, she hears Master Sung complaining about the intolerable taxes hikes. He is talking with a few other men, and they comment about how the British won’t come back. Apparently, they’re busy fighting more wars in India.

Master Sung spreads out his arms, and comments they should tell the viceroy that they will pay no more taxes for their wars. Spring Pearl, unable to help herself, says that the British will still come. But as everyone’s heads swing towards her, she wishes she could take it back. Her face is sweaty, her hair is falling down, and her blouse is covered in dirt. Master Sung asks Spring Pearl what she’s doing.

Spring Pearl admits that she felt bad that the garden was so neglected. Master Sung snaps that she should get out of the garden. She’s not a peasant. Spring Pearl stands up, feeling her cheeks blush. Master Sung is right. It’s not the proper image for the daughter of a famous scholar to be working in the garden. She places her weeds in the basket and turns to leave.

But before she does, the men stop her. They ask her why she’s saving the weeds. Spring Pearl blurts out that they’re to be used for fuel for the stoves. Master Sung’s friends turn to him, poking fun at his economizing. But Master Sung just chuckles and laughs that old-fashioned girls find a lot of thrift where modern girls do not. If she was a boy, she could sit for government exams.

Master Sung’s friends comment that even a parrot can recite all Five Classics. but that doesn’t mean it understands anything. Wanting to, no doubt, test Spring Pearl’s intelligence, another man questions why Spring Pearl thinks the British will come. Spring Pearl licks her lips, and explains that a foreign merchant, Mr. Fortescue, said the British are like bulldogs. Once they clamp their teeth onto something, they don’t give it up. All of the foreigners she met were determined. And the British won’t forget the bounty the viceroy placed on their heads. They’ll be back for revenge.

Master Sung only hears what he wants to hear. He states the British will find Canton’s a tougher nut to crack the second time around. They have new guns in the forts and more troops in the city. The men turn away, leaving Spring Pearl standing in the garden. As they walk away, they casually mention that Spring Pearl will be stuck with the Sungs forever; nobody will ever want to marry an odd little creature like her.

The Power Behind the Throne

After the men leave, Spring Pearl sits in the garden for a while. Their words circle around her head, replaying through her mind. Not only is Spring Pearl a weed, but she’s also a monster that nobody wants. Spring Pearl touches her hair and then her shabby clothes. She supposes that Master Sung’s friends would prefer someone like Miss Emerald. But it wasn’t in Spring Pearl to be pampered like a little pet.

Spring Pearl feels tears begin to sting her eyes. If there’s one thing she hates, it’s self-pity. She notices a weed sticking up between the tiny greenish-white flowers, and she reaches down and begins tugging.

Suddenly, Mistress Sung comes out of a building. She comments that Spring Pearl is pulling a useful plant. Spring Pearl watches uneasily as Mistress Sung walks toward her, sure she’s about to receive a lecture on how she’s shaming her father.

Instead, Mistress Sung squats beside Spring Pearl. She explains that Spring Pearl is pulling the “fragrant tiger bone.” She crushes the plant between her hands and holds out a palm for Spring Pearl to smell. It’s a pungent, but not unpleasant, odor. Mistress Sung explains that country folk use it for mosquito bites and even sunburn. It’s tough, hardy, and can survive in many places where other plants cannot. It is also called “goosefoot.” Mistress Sung turns and cups the camellia plant between her fingertips. She asks Spring Pearl if she planted it.

Hastily, Spring Pearl says she hopes it’s all right that she did. Spring Pearl knows it’s a common plant but… After a moment of silence, Spring Pearl says she’ll go clean up. Mistress Sung stops her. She tells her not to bother with their visitors. People always used to say it was a shame that Mistress Sung was born a girl, too. But she recalls one time, when her father said “a weed is a plant that hasn’t found its home yet.” Sometimes a seed blows into a rice field and it’s a nuisance. But sometimes it blows into an herb garden, and it becomes a joy. Mistress Sung explains that her father was a farmer. She once had mud between her toes just like Spring Pearl. But she was determined to be a wife Master Sung would be proud of, so she learned a few things.

Spring Pearl takes this to heart. Perhaps she is an odd creature at the Sung’s house, but surely there’s a place for her somewhere. She asks Mistress Sung if she’ll teach her how to make the insect bite ointment out of the goosefoot. Mistress Sung, nodding, says that it always worked better than any new-fangled ointment the doctor gave her.

After a few moments of silence, Mistress Sung apologizes for how she treated Spring Pearl when she arrived. She explains that her husband’s scholarly friends are always taking advantage of him. They’re constantly borrowing money and never paying back. Mistress Sung wanted to protect her husband, just in case Spring Pearl was just another one of the leeches.

Although Spring Pearl is terrible at sewing, and Mistress Sung doubts she’ll ever improve, what Master Sung really needs at this time is another clerk. Specifically, they need a clerk who can read and write. In fact, Mistress Sung would prefer it if it was somebody that was inside the household, and not a stranger. In addition, reassigning Spring Pearl to this job would spare the staffs’ feet.

Spring Pearl is grateful that she’ll not only be allowed to stay, but she won’t have to sew anymore. Mistress Sung advises her to clean herself up, and come to her husband’s study. They must begin immediately. And, when Spring Pearl isn’t working, she’s welcome to work on the garden. But, she must wear a hat. A daughter of a scholar should not be as tanned as a field hand.

When Mistress Sung leaves, Spring Pearl feels happier than she had since she arrived. She may not be as elegant as Miss Emerald, but even a weed girl has her uses!

After washing and changing, Spring Pearl goes to the study. Mistress Sung seems quite at home sitting behind her husband’s desk. When Mistress Sung asks why Spring Pearl dressed up, Spring Pearl comments that her other gown is dirty. Mistress Sung frowns. They didn’t have more robes made for Spring Pearl? Spring Pearl shakes her head, and Mistress Sung exclaims that her first clerical duty will be to make a note for more dresses to be made for her. The maids will get silk from the storage room. Even a Rat has a right to clothes.

Spring Pearl begins to think there’s not much that Mistress Sung misses. Then, Mistress Sung picks up a stack of papers. She says that her husband doesn’t mind if Mistress Sung looks at them. She often helps her husband with his many business affairs. Although she can neither read nor write, she isn’t stupid. However, it must be their secret. She must respect her husband’s face outside of the study.

Slowly, the two make their way through the letters and replies. Mistress Sung is very shrewd. Her husband is wise to trust her with his affairs. Spring Pearl thought she had understood the Sung household, but over the next month, she realizes how little she’d really seen. A household has as many currents and eddies as a river. She thought Master Sung was like an emperor who gave commands. However, with Mistress Sung’s help, Spring Pearl sees Master Sung is more like an acrobat trying to balance on a tall stack of chairs. He has to keep a household happy even on a lower budget. And though his official business is silk, he has his finger in many other dumplings. She’s also happy to see that he likes to do business only with foreign merchants like Mr. Fortescue, who don’t deal in opium.

Meanwhile, Master Sung is busy with the tax protest. Many of the merchants in the city are opposed to paying for war that they believe would never happen. He seems to always be rushing to or returning from a meeting. That left most of the business matters to Mistress Sung, and therefore, to Spring Pearl. Mistress Sung also shows Spring Pearl that money is as difficult to keep as it is to make.

But they say that the nail that sticks out gets hammered. And Master Sung sticks out most of all. So naturally, the government decides to smash him first.

The Traitor

The soldiers come in the night. When Spring Pearl first hears the shouting, she thinks it’s the Sung girls quarreling again. Then she realizes that the voices are too deep and too numerous. Maids are running this way and that way like a flock of hens at the sight of Cook with a chopping knife. Spring Pearl stops Snow Goose to ask what’s going on. She says it’s thieves. Another maid skids to a halt saying it’s assassins. There are as many rumors as the maids themselves, but none of them have seen anything. They’ve only heard the noise. Spring Pearl hears weeping coming from Miss Emerald’s room. On the bed, she sees three shapes huddled together. Miss Oriole says they’re going to die. Miss Emerald knows she should go see what’s happening, but all three of the girls are so scared.

Finally, Spring Pearl says she’ll go to figure out what’s wrong. Miss Emerald should stay to defend her sisters. Spring Pearl grabs a statue and hands it to Miss Emerald. Spring Pearl returns to her room to put on some clothes, and makes her way through the dark hallways filled with servants. Spring Pearl sees uniformed soldiers in the middle of the garden, heedless of the flowers. They’re armed with spears and lanterns.

One of Master Sung’s so-called friends, Lord Chin, who Spring Pearl met the first day in the garden, is standing in front of them. He is accusing Master Sung of treason. Lord Chin explains that he was only protesting the tax increases in order to draw out the traitors. Master Sung spits in at his feet, saying that he’s the traitor. Then, the soldiers step forward with a cangue, a wooden yolk that fits around a prisoner’s neck.

Mistress Sung tries to shove them back. How dare they treat Master Sung like a criminal? One of the soldiers pushes Mistress Sung into the ground. However, Master Sung cannot reach his wife. His captors’ grip is unbreakable. Mistress Sung tries to get up, but Spring Pearl holds her back. If Mistress Sung tries to fight the soldiers, she might get injured. The soldiers force Master Sung’s head down, and the rectangular wooden yoke is fitted around his neck so that it looks like he thrust his head through a small legless table. On it is written the word “traitor.” When the yolk is locked in place, its weight forces him to bend over.

Lord Chin says that they’ll meet again, and raises his hand in a salute as he climbs into a sedan chair. The soldiers hoist him into the air and begin to march out of the garden. One of the soldiers pokes Master Sung until he moves. They’re to take Master Sung with them to prison.

As Master Sung leaves, Mistress Sung looks after him, promising to free him soon. She vows they will all be there when he gets out.

Perhaps the worst torture is to his pride, for Master Sung is paraded through the streets with that horrible yolk around his neck. When the last lantern fades, they are left in the dark garden. Mistress Sung jumps to action, saying they must get help. They must make sure he has clothing and food.

Spring Pearl reminds Mistress Sung that they must remember the children. Mistress Sung says there’s no way the viceroy would arrest the children, too. She has been rich for so long that she forgot that mice don’t walk up to cats and make demands. Spring Pearl explains when they take a prisoner through legalities, sometimes it chews through the family as well.

With a sigh, Mistress Sung states that their business enemies would love to use this excuse to carve their holdings. There’s many wars and battles being fought. And even though Master Sung has done nothing wrong, if he is convicted of treason, the viceroy can seize his assets. And those assets would be distributed to all of the viceroy’s friends. They must protect as much as they can.

Spring Pearl watches Mistress Sung rise from the earth, tall and strong and proud. She’s more of a warrior than any of the soldiers they saw ten minutes ago. Mistress Sung instructs Spring Pearl that she must spread the word that everyone is to gather in the reception hall.

When everyone gets there, the chairs and tables are moved to the side of the wall so there’s plenty of room to stand. Spring Pearl stands with the Sung girls, holding Miss Oriole’s hand. Miss Emerald and Miss Willow also press close to her, as if for reassurance. The servants stand behind, but Spring Pearl can see that they are as frightened as she is. Even the older servants are crying; everyone is sure that the Sung household is now doomed. Only Doggy catches Spring Pearl’s eye and gives a nod.

Everybody bows when Blessing walks into the room, followed by his mother. He looks pale and speaks monotonously, as if reciting a memorized speech. He announces that these are sad times, but soon they will have Father back. He shakes tears from his eyes, and looks blankly ahead until his mother whispers something in his ear. He continues to say that Father would want everyone to continue their duties. Until Father returns, he is now the head of the household. Although Spring Pearl likes Blessing, she has doubts as to whether he can hold up under the pressure.

After that, nobody sleeps. Spring Pearl joins Blessing and his mother and Master Sung’s study. Blessing looks lost in the big mahogany chair. Mistress Sung couches orders in the form of suggestions and tactical questions to steer her son in the right direction. Most of her suggestions involve protecting the business and property. Customers and creditors need to be reassured that things will go on as before. Certain valuables must be hidden away in case the worst happens. Titles to buildings and lands need to be transferred to protect them. At first, Blessing seems to enjoy it, as if it’s a new game he’s trying to play.

Blessing sends out messengers to the other tax protesters but one of them brings back bad news. Another friend of Master Sung’s has been arrested, too. If Viceroy Yeh wanted to frighten the other tax protesters, he did. All of them made some excuse or another why they could not come to help the Sungs.

When they finally hear back from the last of the messengers, Mistress Sung announces that they are alone. It slowly dawns on Blessing that this is no game, and that to lose means disaster.

Luckily, Mistress Sung is still of a practical mind. She says they first need to send clothes to their father. After a beat of silence, Spring Pearl volunteers that she can go try to deliver clothes. She may be able to talk her way into the jail.

Blessing shakes his head, and volunteers in Spring Pearl’s place. Spring Pearl knows that she’s now off the hook, but she can’t let Blessing go. Spring Pearl owes that much to Master Sung for his kindness. Furthermore, it’s too risky. If Blessing is taken as a hostage, they could force Master Sung to sign a confession. Spring Pearl says she is confident she can talk her way into jail.

Mistress Sung agrees, but says she’ll send a servant with her. Spring Pearl suggests Doggy. Mistress Sung shakes her head and says she wants to send someone burlier and stronger. Spring Pearl shakes her head, saying she needs slyness, not muscle.

Nodding, Mistress Sung agrees, and turns to her son to plan what to say to the clerks when they come in a few hours to begin work.

The Collector

Before she goes to change, Spring Pearl stops to look at the garden. She’s appalled at how much damage the soldiers had done. But at least, they spared the camellia.

Back in her room, Spring Pearl decides to put on her best clothes, since she’s going to have to talk to officials. As she puts on her jacket, she thinks again of her mother. Her mother had made each flower with such love. As she puts on the silk, it feels as if her mother is holding her again. Silently, Spring Pearl says a prayer to her mother and father.

Spring Pearl meets Doggy in the courtyard. He’s holding a package. Doggy thanks Spring Pearl for volunteering him, but Spring Pearl feels as if they might be heading to their own prison cell. So, she forces herself to sound cheerful.

The streets are eerily empty. All the buildings have their doors locked and windows shuttered. Word of the arrests have spread. The only sounds are of the soldiers drilling in the distance, still practicing to fight the British. Spring Pearl thinks about when Mr. Fortescue said that the British Army had new powerful weapons. Will the Chinese swords and old-fashioned muskets do significant damage against big weapons like the British have?

Spring Pearl asks Doggy what he thinks will happen when the British finally attack again. Doggy says the British will win like last time, and then he and his uncle will have a chance at their business. Spring Pearl is horrified. How can he be okay with them selling their drugs in China? Doggy explains that they shouldn’t sell opium. But the war will shake some things up. The last war’s outcome made it possible for regular folks to trade with foreigners. Before the war, only a few Chinese merchants got rich. After the next war, maybe the rules will loosen even more.

That’s the way it is right now. Rich people are on top. and people like him are stuck on the bottom. But when the British come back, all of that will change.

Doggy also explains that although he does not know English, his uncle does a little. He and his uncle have saved up enough money to start a company. He would like to trade with foreigners. Spring Pearl is surprised by Doggy’s ambition. She always assumed he was cheating money to pay off his gambling debts. Doggy looks hurt. He has mighty plans.

The attention turns back to Spring Pearl. Doggy asks what Spring Pearl’s dreams are. After all, Master Sung is a kind man, but he’s been brought low, and so has his family. Doggy is right. Spring Pearl probably doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life depending on Master Sung’s charity. Her own situation had been precarious enough before last night. But no, she can’t be selfish at this time. She has to worry about repaying Master Sung.

When the two of them pass the prison, they see several wretched creatures standing outside tied to stones or iron bars. For them, public humiliation is part of their punishment. The prisoners stare at them with hopeless eyes as they pass. The prison is next to the magistrate’s offices, where cases are judged and the daily tasks of the empire performed. However, the soldiers seem more intent on gambling than guarding anything.

Doggy murmurs in Spring Pearl’s ear that it might be a good time to start treating some folks to tea. When Spring Pearl looks confused, he explains that “tea money” is a polite phrase for a bribe. Spring Pearl gulps. She didn’t bring any cash. Doggy sighs and digs some coins from his sleeve. He says he expects to be repaid.

Doggy wiggles his shoulders as if trying to relax, then swaggers up to a soldier. If Spring Pearl didn’t know any better, she would have missed the coins being passed from his palm to the soldier’s. Doggy and Spring Pearl enter the magistrate’s office and go down a corridor to a paper-filled room with a clerk. Doggy passes him a few coins and asks to see Master Sung. The clerk obediently states that all requests must now be referred to the Viceroy’s new assistant, Lord Chin.

Doggy and Spring Pearl follow the clerk’s instructions into the next building. It takes a couple of tries to find the office of the newly installed Lord Chin. Here, the clerk is busy scribbling on a sheet of paper. He snaps that they’ll have a proclamation drafted for the viceroy in a bit. Although it’s difficult to read upside down, Spring Pearl can make out that the proclamation the clerk is writing is to the British, telling them to leave. The victory seems to think he can paper them to death.

Spring Pearl explains she comes to see Master Sung, not about the war. Spring Pearl points to the bundle in Doggy’s arms, and says that they brought him proper clothing. Without thinking about it, the clerk denies the request. With a sigh, Doggy slips his free hand into a sleeve and pulls out some money.

Then, a door opens and Lord Chin pokes his head into the room. He states he needs someone to hang a painting. Spring Pearl volunteers Doggy. Lord Chin recognizes Spring Pearl, and when he asks why she’s there, she states that she brings clothes for Master Sung. Lord Chin explains that he can’t allow that to happen. It’s not very efficient to give him clothes if they want him to sign a confession. Humiliation is part of the interrogation technique.

Doggy’s breath tickles Spring Pearl’s ear as he whispers that Master Sung is being tortured. Spring Pearl gasps. She knows she should give up right then, but she thinks of Master Sung’s kindness. Isn’t there anything that can change Lord Chin’s mind?

Suddenly, Lord Chin leans his head to the side. He stares at Spring Pearl’s jacket, expressing how beautiful her mother’s handiwork is. Spring Pearl comments that it was the last piece that her mother had sewn. Lord Chin responds that it’s provenance. If Spring Pearl had disliked Lord Chin before, she hates him now. But she hides it well. Spring Pearl offers to let Lord Chin look at some of her parents’ work later.

Lord Chin smiles, and invites them into his office. Inside, there’s a huge teak desk, and books stand in stacks waiting to be placed on bookshelves. Draped over the books are several of Spring Pearl’s father’s work. Next to them are the embroidered copies that her mother sold. Spring Pearl has to confess that for a moment, she forgot why she was there. Instead, her mind is flooded with thoughts of her parents.

One by one, Spring Pearl goes through the paintings with Lord Chin. It’s like walking through memories as she recalls happier times with her parents. As Spring Pearl reminisces, Lord Chin becomes more and more pleased. He states she’s a regular treasure trove. Her stories make the pieces all the more valuable.

Lord Chin explains that when they have more time, Spring Pearl must come tell him more. But now, he must get back to business. At that moment, Spring Pearl remembers why she’s supposed to be there. Suddenly, Spring Pearl knows what she has to do. She touches her jacket and suggests that maybe it would be the prize of his collection. Lord Chin hesitates. It is her mother’s last work, and it would make him the envy of every collector.

After a moment’s silence, Lord Chin comments that Spring Pearl’s loyalty is rare. If everyone gave the same loyalty to the emperor, the Empire would have nothing to fear. At last, he says he will allow Doggy and Spring Pearl to speak to Master Sung. And with that, Lord Chin calls his clerk to bring him a permission slip, and some old clothes for Spring Pearl.

Hope

When Spring Pearl sees Master Sung huddled in the tiny cell, she gasps. Bruises cover his face and Spring Pearl assumes from the way he sits and leans forward that there are more bruises all over his body. The smell of urine and unwashed bodies fills her nose. In amazement, Master Sung asks what they’re doing. Spring Pearl wants to cry, but she thinks tears might make him feel worse, so she holds them back.

Spring Pearl motions to Doggy that they brought him clean clothes. Doggy says that nobody else could have talked her way into the jail. Speaking of clothing, Master Sung comments that Spring Pearl should have better clothes. Spring Pearl is wearing an old, holey blue blouse and black slacks. The sleeves and trousers are so long that she had to roll them up. and from the bites she feels, she’s sure she’s sharing the clothes with fleas. Spring Pearl comments that she has better clothes at home.

Doggy however, confesses to Master Sung that Spring Pearl gave up the outfit her mother made for her to Lord Chin. Master Sung tries to sit back, but winces. Spring Pearl comments that Master Sung has a right to protest against useless taxes. Master Sung explains that the viceroy doesn’t agree. and he suspects that Lord Chin is maneuvering to confiscate their property. Spring Pearl reassures him that Mistress Sung is doing everything she can to protect it.

Spring Pearl says that they must tell Mistress Sung what is going on so that they can free Master Sung. He orders her not to. They are not to bankrupt the family. Master Sung straightens proudly saying that River Rats aren’t the only ones made of stern stuff.

Doggy clears his throat, and explains that he can smuggle packages into Master Sung. It’s just a question of treating the right jailer to tea. Master Sung and Spring Pearl agree that that will be sufficient.

As they leave the cell, the screaming begins again. To distract herself, Spring Pearl comments that if the food is anything like the accommodations, Master Sung will starve to death. Doggy vows that he will take care of it.

When they return to the mansion, the gatekeeper tells them that the family wants to see Spring Pearl immediately. She runs hastily to her room to change, and that’s when Miss Emerald tracks her down. Her shirt is halfway over her head when Miss Emerald announces that mother wants to see her. But when she sees what Spring Pearl is wearing, she immediately questions why Spring Pearl is dressed as a peasant.

Spring Pearl tries to shift the subject to her father. Spring Pearl isn’t great at lying, but Miss Emerald takes the bait. She explains that she would have been gone to see her father herself, but her parents treat her like porcelain. Spring Pearl can hear the hurt in Miss Emerald’s voice, but can’t help wondering what would have happened if she had seen her father. Would she have fallen apart, or is she as tough as her father and mother? Spring Pearl reassures Miss Emerald that her family needed her more. And with a thank you, Miss Emerald leaves.

After she’s done cleaning up, Spring Pearl goes to Mistress Sung’s bedroom, where the rest of the family waits. Spring Pearl lies again to the family, and she feels guilty when Blessing, Miss Willow, and Miss Oriole believe her lie. When she mentions they can try to sneak in packages, Blessing suggests they send Master Sung a book of poetry. Miss Willow suggests they all write a letter. And Miss Oriole pipes up that she will draw a picture. Spring Pearl thinks to herself that she will also make sure there are some salves for his bruises and cuts. As the family relaxes, Spring Pearl begins to think that perhaps Master Sung was right to protect his family from the truth.

Miss Oriole suggests a lot of “essential” things to go in the package, that they probably won’t be able to put in. Perhaps a fan, for example. Blessing reminds her that they have to smuggle in whatever they pack. As everybody leaves outside, still chatting away, Mistress Sung calls Spring Pearl to her. Miss Emerald tries to stay in the room to listen, but Mistress Sung continues to dismiss her. With a stamp of her foot, Miss Emerald announces that she will stay. It isn’t until Spring Pearl reminds Mistress Sung that if she keeps a bird in a cage it will never learn to fly, that she agrees.

Mistress Sung asks Spring Pearl what she really saw. Mistress Sung says that to save him, they must know the truth. So, Spring Pearl tells them the truth about the cell and the torture. With every detail, their faces grow more and more horrified. Spring Pearl ends by explaining that Master Sung does not want the family to go bankrupt in order to secure his release.

Mistress Sung’s chin hangs to her chest. She knows that he is right, but they cannot abandon him either. They will wait for his release, and until he’s freed, they will try to make him as comfortable in his cell as possible. But right now they should hide the deed and the goods.

Miss Emerald announces that she wants to be taught. She doesn’t know a lot, but she proves herself to be a good student, helping Mistress Sung and Spring Pearl, as well as Blessing. Miss Emerald steps up and proves to Spring Pearl that there’s more in her brain and heart than Spring Pearl assumed.

Throughout the next few days, Blessing really shows his loyalty and bravery as well by saying he wishes to join the army. Miss Emerald and Spring Pearl convince him out of it, explaining that if something happens to him while Father is gone, they will lose everything. And Spring Pearl is happy to see he doesn’t drop the family’s business like he historically had his other hobbies.

The Sung’s affairs include business in all parts of the city. Mistress Sung, Blessing, and Spring Pearl have to journey just as much as Master Sung once did. But no matter where they went, they made sure their trips included two stops.

The first is the prison. It had taken Doggy only a few days to develop a channel to Master Sung. Mistress Sung has not only repaid him what he had advanced, but she also gave him a generous allowance for future bribes. Soon, food and medicines are flowing. They can only hope it helps.

The other stop is at the city walls by the river to see how the war was going. At the beginning of winter, the British had returned with even more ships and troops, and French ships steamed up the river beside them. Oddly enough though, this time the Chinese troops had done almost nothing to stop them. Standing on top of the wall, they see the enemies’ steamships floating on the river, as sleek and deadly as wolfhounds. Spring Pearl can’t help glancing toward her old home. The shacks of the riverbank are deserted. Rats are good at escaping, just as they did whenever the river flooded and sent them scrambling from their home.

The only thing that Viceroy Yeh bombards the British and French with are letters and proclamations ordering them to leave. It is almost as though he thought he could will them away. However, he has executed more than 400 Chinese rebels and hung their heads on the walls as a warning to the foreigners. Mistress Sung thinks the viceroy has become a mad beast, and Spring Pearl is inclined to agree. They begin to worry that Master Sung might be the next victim.

They are all surprised when one day, they see the soldiers dismantling the defenses at the gate. A soldier explains that the viceroy ordered them to take it down. The viceroy must have worked out some sort of deal, and they’re probably paying them off. For the first time in over two months, Spring Pearl begins to feel hope. If the war is ending, maybe they’ll release Master Sung. But if he were there, Doggy would have warned them that they should not build a mansion before they have money in their hand.

Roots

At first, Spring Pearl thinks it’s a thunderstorm. Then, she hears distant explosions and feels the ground shaking faintly. She shivers as she pulls on her shoes and pads into the hallway. As usual, the maids are panicking. Miss Oriole is already in her doorway. When Miss Emerald and Miss Willow come to the hallway, Spring Pearl announces to everyone that she’s going to see what’s happening.

Back in her room, Spring Pearl begins to change into her good jacket and trousers. But then, she notices the jail rags in the corner, and decides to change into those instead. She braids her hair into a man’s queue. She’s hoping she’ll pass for a boy. Girls are always doing that in the kung-fu novels.

Mistress Sung herself is downstairs in the front courtyard listening to the explosions. There’s a faint smell of gunpowder in the winter air. Without looking at Spring Pearl, she says that the British and French ships are bombarding the city. Spring Pearl turns to see where Mistress Sung is pointing. She can see smoke rising from the river and spreading across the sky. She hopes her fellow Rats are all right.

Spring Pearl tells Mistress Sung that she’s going to see what’s going on. The rest of them have to go down to rooms where the shells can’t get to them. Mistress Sung hesitates, but simply says that Spring Pearl is right, and that she shouldn’t go too far.

Doggy is waiting by the gates. He comments that he thought Spring Pearl might be coming outside. He scratches his cheek and says he better tag along to keep Spring Pearl out of trouble.

The streets are deserted as they make their way to the city walls. As they walk, Spring Pearl begins to feel a lump to make her left foot ache. She must be wearing a pair of shoes that she made. The thundering grows louder as they get closer to the gates. When they round the last corner, they’re just in time to see the disaster.

A pack of troops break from the tower, but there’s no orderly march. Spears and swords clatter against the stones as they throw them away as they run. An officer roars at them to stand fast, but Spring Pearl doesn’t even think they hear him. Panic is spreading.

The street beneath the wall is filled with troops. The troops have been swaggering about the city for months, bragging about how they’re going to chase the British away this time. But instead, they flee.

The fleeing troops sweep Spring Pearl and Doggy through the city as if they are pieces of driftwood. Several times, Spring Pearl trips and almost goes down. She is sure she will be trampled, but each time Doggy’s strong hand grabs her arm and pulls her back to her feet. The hardest part is when it’s time to leave the human river. Getting out of the crush of people is like fighting against a strong current of rocks and tree branches. Doggy and Spring Pearl use their elbows, and she even sees Doggy butt heads a few times. But they finally break free into one of the cross streets not far from the Sung mansion.

They stand there, gasping for a moment. Spring Pearl had lost her hat, and her hair tumbles loosely down her back. Doggy shirt is torn and he lost a shoe. They see more people trying to flee, and not just soldiers. Some of them have baskets on poles. Others seem to have thrown what they could into quilts they have bundled on their back. Children cry as their parents drag them along. One man is so busy saving his prize fighting rooster that he almost forgets to hang on to his son’s hand.

They thread their way through the crowd, and Spring Pearl can feel her stomach tightening with fear. It is a relief to finally see the walls of the Sung mansion, but they also see the gates of their neighbors open. Half-dressed servants carrying a dozen sedan chairs lurch toward them like a flock of drunken birds. Behind them, servants stagger under the weight of chests and boxes.

When they get to the Sung’s gate, they see that the gatekeeper has stayed at his post. They hear the crossbar sliding off the holders and the gate swings open. Spring Pearl quickly tells the servants that the Chinese lost. The Army is deserting the wall. Spring Pearl demands to see Mistress Sung immediately.

Spring Pearl leaves Doggy to deal with the servants’ questions while she goes inside. She runs around the house trying to find Mistress Sung. Finally, Miss Emerald finds her. Miss Emerald says that her mother is in the garden.

Miss Emerald leads Spring Pearl down to the garden where the family is standing, staring at their mother as she sits on a drum-shaped porcelain stool under a quince tree next to some jasmine. Mistress Sung is dressed in one of her best robes and her hair is as neatly coiffed as ever. But when Spring Pearl gets closer, she sees Mistress Sung has taken off her shoes.

Mistress Sung is thrilled to see Spring Pearl back again. Spring Pearl explains that it’s all bad. She hears gasps as she fills everyone in. When Spring Pearl says they can still escape through the north gate, Mistress Sung shakes her head. She promised her husband they would be there waiting for him, and she intends to keep that promise. They will all be safe inside their locked gate. Now, it is time for breakfast.

Before she leaves, Spring Pearl offers to bring a bucket of water for Mistress Sung to wash her feet. At that question, Mistress Sung, wriggling her toes in the dirt, says that she used to love feeling the earth on her bare feet. As she lived here, she was so busy trying to be the rich matron that she ignored the plants. But that was silly. Spring Pearl has done wonders with the garden. Suddenly, in a surprising moment of silliness, she announces to the children to take off their shoes.

Glancing at each other skeptically, the children take off their shoes. Then, Mistress Sung begins to take out the remnants of Spring Pearl’s braid. She has Blessing get some jasmine, and she uses her fingers to comb the tangles out of Spring Pearl’s hair. Mistress Sung then begins to entwine the jasmine into Spring Pearl’s hair. And then, she begins to work on her daughters’ hair, too.

As the sun warms Spring Pearl’s face and the cool moist earth embraces her feet, Spring Pearl begins to feel like she’s become a flower herself.

The Return

Spring Pearl peeks through the gates, watching the streets go crazy. The mansions pour out hordes of people fleeing the invaders. Servants, carrying their masters and mistresses in sedan chairs, struggle to make headway through the other refugees. Chests of money and jewelry flow out of the houses on the backs of servants.

And the noise! There are babies and children bawling their heads off. People are shouting for lost relatives and cursing at anyone who gets in their way. Then suddenly, the street is deserted. Spring Pearl feels like a ghost as she stares out at the now-empty mansions.

The British and the French do not assault the walls that day. Instead, they keep firing their guns in a slow, steady rhythm. At night. the city sky glows red from the fires and from the sparkling trails of rockets the foreigners begin to shoot off. Spring Pearl doesn’t think anyone sleeps that night.

When the bombardment stops the next morning, it’s a shock. Mistress Sung refuses to let Spring Pearl see what happened. After all the desertions, the Chinese now have too few men to defend the entire wall. Those who are left choose to defend the wrong part.

The French climb up where no one expects them and then the British clamber up another undefended spot. Once they’re on the walls, they drive the defenders away. By that afternoon, the foreigners hold the city walls.

And then, they just sat there, looking down at the Chinese over their rifles. It’s like being knocked down by a wolf and then having a wolf just bear his teeth but not bite your throat. Watchmen go around reading aloud an official proclamation from the Manchu General and our provincial governor, Po. They tell everyone to stay calm in the state of emergency. However, the viceroy does nothing. Doggy and the servants bring back rumors that are flying around the city. Some think the viceroy has lost his senses. Others think he’s dabbling in evil magic.

By the third day, Spring Pearl puts on her ragged clothes, and slips outside the gates on her own to find out what she can. A grumbling Doggy comes along.

There are a few people on the streets, but they catch glimpses of the blue uniforms of the foreign troops on the wall. Armed sailors at the goldsmiths’ street are smashing in heavy doors. Doggy pulls Spring Pearl into a doorway, out of sight, and tells her that the invasion is starting. They should get back. Spring Pearl sees a sailor swagger out of a store with gold chains draped around his neck and bracelets on his arm. He has bulging pockets that she is sure contain more treasure. He says something to a friend, and she doesn’t recognize the words, so she assumes they’re French. They look more like thieves than warriors.

Spring Pearl leads Doggy back through the alleyways and narrow lanes. She’s sure that she can keep them hidden. She feels comfortable in the tunnel of shadows.

But Spring Pearl isn’t as clever as she thought. As they round a corner she bumps straight into a giant foreign sailor. His uniform is different from the looters’ uniform, but he catches her with his free hand. Doggy springs to Spring Pearl’s defense, demanding that he let her go. The sailor next to the captor raises his rifle, but Spring Pearl grabs the barrel and in English, tells him to stop. She explains that she doesn’t mean any harm. The second sailor exclaims in surprise, “You can speak.” Apparently he doesn’t consider Chinese real speech, but Spring Pearl doesn’t think it’s the right time to correct him.

After Spring Pearl nods her head, the captor let’s go of Spring Pearl’s arm. He asks her to make sure that she’s all right. She says that she’s fine, and whispers the same to Doggy. Then, Spring Pearl sees another man behind them. He recognizes her, and asks if it is really Spring Pearl. It is Mr. Fortescue! He comes up to her and says he was hoping that he would find her. He asks about her mother and father. Spring Pearl explains that they passed away. Mr. Fortescue takes Spring Pearl’s hands in his own and gives them a squeeze. He asks if she needs any help. She says no. She lives with one of Father’s friends, Master Sung.

Mr. Fortescue dips his head back. He always found Master Sung a fair man, but a hard bargainer. He asks if he can help in any way. Spring Pearl explains that she’s not wearing her regular things. She wears these when they go out to gather news. Master Sung is very kind.

Speaking in Chinese, Mr. Fortescue says that they can go back home and tell everyone not to worry. They should have peace soon. Spring Pearl asks if the viceroy is going to make peace. Mr. Fortescue shakes his head, and says the provincial governor is working on terms privately. He knows because he’s been seconded to the military as an interpreter, thanks to Spring Pearl’s father’s Chinese lessons.

Mr. Fortescue explains they are on a scouting mission. They need someone who can read the signs. And despite the dangers, he’s been enjoying his first jaunt inside Canton after staring at the walls all these years. But there are orders against looting.

When Spring Pearl says that some of the sailors are disobeying, he frowns and says they must have sneaked down into the city when their officers weren’t watching. Mr. Fortescue squeezes her hands urgently. It’s best if she goes home right away. But when it’s all over, she only needs to send word to him if she needs anything at all.

Mr. Fortescue finally lets go of Spring Pearl’s hands and tells her to be careful and stay well.

As the two of them go back to the Sung’s house, Doggy quizzes Spring Pearl on all the merchants she knows. Even Spring Pearl is surprised by how many she knows. With a shrug she simply says they all want to learn Chinese.

When Spring Pearl and Doggy get back to Mistress Sung, she orders all the staff and family to arm themselves so they can come out for sentry duty against the looters. Mistress Sung has chairs and cushions brought out to the front courtyard the guards can be comfortable while on duty. After changing, Spring Pearl goes outside and finds Mistress Sung and Doggy taking the first watch. She settles into a chair beside Mistress Sung and says she might be able to convince foreign soldiers to go elsewhere. Mistress Sung agrees that she can sit and resumes binding a slender knife to a broom handle with a strong twine. Doggy holds out the hilt of a large kitchen knife. He says that he figures where there’s trouble, Spring Pearl can’t stay away.

Spring Pearl comments that Mistress Sung seems to have many talents. She responds that she comes from the hills, where feuds are a way of life. She remembers many times when her father went armed to his fields. Spring Pearl comments that it must be especially true for a Hakka. Mistress Sung nods and says sometimes she thinks it’s a mistake for them to keep their own ways and their own tongue. They should have tried to fit in better. The nail that sticks out gets hammered.

Mistress Sung stands up and thrusts at the air. She parries against an invisible foe. When she’s done, she exclaims that her make-do spear will hold.

To pass the time while they wait, Mistress Sung speaks of her younger days, when she had the mud between her toes. She explains that she first met Master Sung because she thought he was a thief or raider, and she tried to stab him.

Later, after the sky has grown darker, Mistress Sung makes Spring Pearl go back inside, assuring her that she’ll be the first to be summoned if looters come. However, the looters do not come. They hear of incidents in other parts of the city, but the looters never reach their street. The worst complaint is that Mistress Sung ordered their food to be rationed as a precaution.

After seven days, the British and French lose patience with the slow pace of the negotiations and send troops into the city. The viceroy is taken prisoner to the foreign ships, and then the British place Governor Po in charge. Everyone knows it is the foreigners who put the words into Governor Po’s mouth.

Feelings run high through the city. Some think anyone who helps the foreigners is a traitor. Others, like Mistress Sung, think the governor is just being practical. Spring Pearl has to agree with her. Until they have guns and ships as powerful as the foreigners, they have to let them do as they want.

Governor Po, however, did do some things of his own choice. He arrests Lord Chin, and others, for their crimes. And he releases some prisoners, like Master Sung and his other friends who were arrested, whose only sin had been to ask for justice.

When Master Sung steps from the sedan chair, he looks very old and frail. His plumpness has been replaced by wrinkles. The clothes Spring Pearl brought him are stained and torn. They are covered in brown spots that Spring Pearl guesses may be his own blood.

However, Master Sung refuses help. He teeters across the stones under his own power. Mistress Sung bows and welcomes him home. Miss Oriole runs into her father’s arms. For once, even the older children forget their own dignity and run to him, too. Spring Pearl feels sad as she watches Master Sung fuss over his children. It reminds her of her own parents, and how they can never do that for her.

Just then, Master Sung calls out for Spring Pearl. He comments that she did very well and gives her a smile, but no hug. After all, Spring Pearl is only his orphan, and not family. As the Sungs begin to tease and talk to one another more, Spring Pearl gives them privacy by retreating to the garden. There, she does her best to help the plants that the soldiers had not trampled. She fusses over them as much as she wishes her parents could still fuss over her.

The Warriors

Under his family’s loving attention, Master Sung grows stronger every day. But Spring Pearl likes to think that her garden also plays a role. Mistress Sung brings him out to see the plum and cherry and quince trees, which have begun to bloom. A shawl is wrapped around his shoulders in the cool air, and he munches on the yellow orange loquats that Spring Pearl picks for him.

Outside the gates, an uneasy peace settles over Canton. Things seem to be starting to go back to normal, but as Spring Pearl walks the streets, she feels a tingling at the back of her neck. Nobody stops to chat or gossip. They scuttle to do their errands and hurry home. It’s as if the whole city is holding its breath, waiting for something worse to happen.

Spring Pearl has taken it upon herself to do the shopping. Cook is pleased with her skills. She brings back better groceries and at a cheaper price than anyone else. Mother and Father had always left such things to Spring Pearl. When you don’t have a lot to spend, you develop a knack for haggling.

Only Doggy is unhappy with the new arrangements, because it’s his misfortune to carry Spring Pearl’s purchases. Spring Pearl takes twice as long and buys twice as much stuff. Doggy is never happy unless he has something to grumble about.

As they shop, Doggy and Spring Pearl see something. Little dots of blue on the walls. It’s the uniforms of the foreign sailors and soldiers. It’s impossible for them to forget who really rules the city now.

As they finish up their shopping, Spring Pearl comments that the Sungs are kinder than most masters are. Doggy, nodding his head, explains they are always kind to him. They treated Doggy’s grandfather and father just as well. That’s why all the other servants think he’s crazy for wanting to leave their service.

Just then, a storekeeper pelts past them. In his arm, he has a small strongbox. He’s yelling at them to run! The devils are coming! They have barely stepped out of the way when the crowd of terrified clerks and shopkeepers follows at his heels. In the wink of an eye, Doggy and Spring Pearl are standing alone among the abandoned shops. Hats and even shoes mark the trail of the fleeing merchants.

A moment later, a squad of foreign soldiers rounds the corner. Doggy drops the bundles, thinking they should run, too. Spring Pearl begins to pick up the bundles and teases Doggy. How is he ever going to do business with them if he runs away every time he sees them? However, as the column of soldiers draws near, Spring Pearl begins to second-guess her words. The only two foreign warriors that she had ever met had been with Mr. Fortescue. These soldiers are as tall as giants, and as stern as statues.

However, the soldiers march right past them, and a soldier with red whiskers and stripes on his sleeve winks at Spring Pearl. When they pass, Doggy says that the merchants and clerks are already coming back. Some Chinese men turn to the other end of the street, to enter the first store. Spring Pearl gets ready to walk down to them when she hears a crash. More crashes follow from the next few stores as other men enter.

A man emerges from one of the shops with arms full of expensive silk. He wears ragged cotton clothes so Spring Pearl knows he doesn’t belong there. They’re looters. They must be following the foreign soldiers.

Spring Pearl grabs some of the bundles from Doggy’s arms so they can make better progress going home faster. The next street they pass is as deserted as the last, and the other streets are emptying fast, too.

When they get to Master Sung’s street, the mansions seem like big, gloomy tombs. Doggy says the looters aren’t waiting for the barbarian patrols. They’re striking off on their own. Spring Pearl grabs the rest of the boxes from Doggy’s arms, and tells him to go find the soldiers and then use these words: “We need help.”

It takes Doggy a couple of tries to get the pronunciation of the English words right, but eventually he repeats those words, more or less. Spring Pearl staggers toward Master Sung’s, and realizes Doggy had a right to complain. Spring Pearl’s packages really are heavy.

Spring Pearl kicks open the gate and drops her parcels on the side to alert the Sungs. Master Sung is going to stay to defend the house, but he sends the rest of his family away to the interior of the house. Mistress Sung shakes her head and stays with him. To her surprise, the children stay as well.

As the defenders gather in the courtyard, Spring Pearl begins to wish she hadn’t sent Doggy off. They arm themselves with kitchen knives and broom handles to hold off looters. Master Sung struts in front with the antique sword from his study. All in all, it doesn’t seem like much to hold off an invasion. They could have used Doggy’s strong arms.

The crashes and thuds are growing closer and Mistress Sung grips her homemade spear. She comments under her breath that the Chinese are worse than the barbarians. The looters don’t even try to break through the gates, which the Sungs had barred again. They must have stood on one another’s shoulders because a head soon pokes up over the wall itself. On the thief’s head is an expensive cap that he must have stolen.

Master Sung raises his sword threateningly, and tells them that they enter at their own risk. He would be more intimidating if he wasn’t shaking so badly that his sword looks like a reed waving in the wind.

The thief laughs insolently, and then hoists himself so that he’s straddling the wall. But then, a jagged rock whizzes past Spring Pearl’s ear and hits the thief. With a cry, he falls backward. Mistress Sung had set down her spear and is picking up another piece of broken paving stone from the courtyard.

The rest of them hurry around to find more broken paving stones, while Mistress Sung keeps throwing. Her aim is accurate, but there’s too many looters. A couple of them scuttle like spiders over the wall and drop into the courtyard. They’re both wearing some of their loot. One robber has jewelry hanging around his neck and arms. The other’s wearing an expensive brocade vest over his bare chest. They begin to throw off the wooden bar on the gates.

Inspired by his wife, Master Sung swings his sword at the thieves and charges. Spring Pearl follows. None of the servants come, but she’s surprised to see all the Sung children moving with her.

They don’t have any skill with their improvised weapons, but fear and anger lend them energy. Unfortunately, Master Sung is as much of a threat to the Sungs as the thieves. His sword cuts have more enthusiasm than accuracy, and they have to keep ducking. And now they’re by the gates, so Mistress Sung has to stop throwing stones and more thieves begin to drop around them.

The maids watch hopelessly, standing there shrieking in fear. Cook is just as frightened. Mistress Sung picks up her spear, and charges forward to save her family.

Now, they are surrounded. Blessing and Miss Emerald have already been disarmed. Miss Oriole squeals as a robber grabs her, and then promptly drops her when she bites him. Miss Willow and Spring Pearl are standing back to back while Master Sung flails away with the sword. His blows keep missing, but he has cleared a circle around himself. He’s puffing like a blacksmith’s bellows and sweating more than he had probably ever sweated in his life.

Suddenly, behind Spring Pearl, Miss Willow gives a cry. Spring Pearl turns to see her in the arms of a thief in an expensive silk robe flapping around his dirty legs. Spring Pearl raises her knife and turns to stab him when he starts to laugh. Spring Pearl would have known that laugh anywhere. It is her friend, Hammer!

At the call of his name, Hammer turns around to stare at Spring Pearl. She says she didn’t expect him to be here. What would Auntie say? Hammer gulps and says she got sick when they had to leave their home. They needed money for medicine, but there weren’t any jobs. Spring Pearl knows his mother must truly be sick, because Hammer’s queue is all tangled. If his mother had been well, she never would have allowed him to go out like that.

Spring Pearl asks Hammer what his mother would say if she knew he was stealing. Hammer turns red. It would kill her. Miss Willow wriggles free from Hammer’s grasp and is astonished that Spring Pearl knows him. Spring Pearl briefly explains he’s a fellow Rat.

Hammer, feeling guilty, says that they should leave the Sungs alone. They’ve got plenty of other places to loot. Spring Pearl would never have picked a fight with Hammer. Years of loading and unloading ships has given him plenty of muscles, and years of Riverside brawls taught him to fight. But when a thief claims that Hammer is going soft, Hammer jerks him upright with a sneer and the next moment, the other thief is flat on his back. The other thief’s face turns purple, and he slaps the cobblestones to indicate surrender.

Master Sung says that if they all go away, he will pay them. Another thief suggests that they might as well just take it all, but the thief on the ground sits up. He jerks his head at Hammer and says it’s not worth it. The thieves all let the other Sung children go, and they gather around Master Sung protectively while he sets a price with the thieves. It’s a lot of money, but Master Sung doesn’t seem upset. Spring Pearl knows it could have been worse.

After Master Sung pays, Hammer unbarres the gate and the thieves troop out. Hammer says he’ll stand guard to ensure nobody comes back. When Master Sung asks Spring Pearl if she trusts him, she comments that he is as honest as she is. He’s just going through hard times. Master Sung, nodding, turns to Hammer and tells him that when things settle down, he will find work for him. Hammer bows in disbelief, and thanks him.

Mistress Sung drops her spear and stretches her arms as wide as she can so she can hold her husband and children all at the same time. She scolds them all for fighting, and says they’re not to do something so stupid again. Miss Oriole squeezes her head out of the hug, and invites Miss Weed into the hug. Mistress Sung urges Spring Pearl to join them. Miss Willow turns her head and asks what Spring Pearl is waiting for. She’s family, too.

Spring Pearl had taken several steps forward until Miss Willow said the word “family.” She can feel her eyes tearing up as she moves forward into their hug.

Poor Doggy was the only real casualty. He never did catch up with the British patrol, and finally comes back to help. Unfortunately, Spring Pearl didn’t warn Hammer, so Doggy winds up with a black eye with such vivid purples and blues that even Spring Pearl’s father couldn’t have captured all the colors.

The Flower

Over the next month, mixed patrols of foreign soldiers and Chinese police bring order to the streets. Floggings keep the foreigners and the Chinese from looting. But as they draw close to the New Year, the city stays tense because of the Chinese patriots who refuse to give up the fight against the foreigners. Fighting a war from the shadows, they ambush any foreign sailor or soldier who strays too far into the alleys. Then, the British and French retaliate by burning down the houses in the area where the murder happened. The revenge reaches a height when ninety-six Chinese are executed for the murder of a cook from a French ship.

Despite that, the British and French are going to lift the blockade, and things are already beginning to return to normal. So is Master Sung. With rest and care, he has healed up and resumed work.

Spring Pearl finally has enough time to return to her garden. Just before New Year’s, the Kitchen God always goes back to heaven to report about the household. It’s a cheerful time when they remind him of the nice things the family had done that year. It’s a chance to recall only good memories. Then, they bribe the Kitchen God by smearing his mouth with honey. After, they burn the Kitchen God’s picture, and then they buy another one to put up in the kitchen.

The Sungs, as they do everything, would send the Kitchen God off more grandly than Spring Pearl’s parents had done. An altar is set up in the front courtyard where they would set fire to the picture. There’s straw to feed the divine horses of his chariot as well. However this year, because of trigger-happy foreigners, there will be no firecrackers.

To her dismay, Spring Pearl finds that weeds have sprung up all around her plants in the garden, so she gets to work clearing them. She’s so busy she doesn’t recognize Doggy. He’s in a formal cotton house jacket with his collar buttoned up and clean pants. The crown of his head is freshly shaved, and his queue is newly braided. He announces that the Master and Mistress wish to see Spring Pearl. There’s not even enough time for Spring Pearl to change. They wish to see her immediately.

He starts to pull Spring Pearl toward the main hall. Spring Pearl insists the study is the other direction, but Doggy snaps in exasperation for Spring Pearl to shut up for once. As they walk, Spring Pearl grows curious as to why Doggy is dressed so formally. But she doesn’t ask him. When he opens the tall doors for Spring Pearl, she wonders when he became such a gentleman. And then, Spring Pearl comes to a halt.

Inside the main hall, she sees Master and Mistress Sung in their formal robes, seated in heavy teak chairs. On either side are their children in exquisite clothing as well. Standing in ranks on her left and right are the entire household staff. They’re all dressed as neatly as Doggy. Master Sung scowls. How dare she come dressed like that? This is a formal occasion.

Spring Pearl, glancing down at her filthy clothes, explains that she was told to come right away. Mistress Sung says it is an insult. Spring Pearl drops to her knees, and says that it won’t happen again. Suddenly, her stomach tightens. They are going to let her go. Spring Pearl can’t understand what she has done wrong. She thought she had become a part of their family. She must have finally worn out her welcome.

However, Spring Pearl only feels a little frightened at the prospect of being on the streets again. She had survived a war, and even the Sung household. Spring Pearl is sure she can manage anywhere. Instead, what she feels is sadness. In this short time, she’d come to like each of them in their own way. She felt like she was losing a second family.

After touching her forehead to the floor, Spring Pearl straightens, and thanks them for all they’ve done. She’ll pack her things and leave.

Master Sung thunders that she will do no such thing. In fact, she’ll wear this for the next formal occasion. With a smile, Miss Oriole squirms off her seat with a package in her hands. Spring Pearl had never seen her look so serious as she walked over to her. The package is wrapped in a lovely piece of green satin. Spring Pearl feels the luxurious cloth, and thinks of the wonderful things her mother could have made with it.

Spring Pearl undoes the ribbon, and sees a flash of pink silk with a green border. It is the clothing that she gave to Lord Chin. Miss Oriole says that Father got the British to take it back. In fact, it is the Sung’s wish that tonight, Spring Pearl will wear it to the banquet, where she’ll be the guest of honor.

Miss Emerald says that they all survived because of Spring Pearl. Miss Emerald bows, and then the rest of the Sungs do, too. Even the Master and Mistress. Getting up, Spring Pearl stumbles from the hall. She somehow makes her way back to the garden.

She sits down and catches her breath. Then she looks around. It’s so strange how the mansion no longer looks like a fort or prison. Suddenly, a splash of red catches her eye. It’s the camellia. It’s finally blooming, spreading out its large, red petals. It likes its new home as much as Spring Pearl does.

That’s where Doggy finds her. He apologizes that he couldn’t warn her, but they all wanted to surprise her. and because Spring Pearl is such a terrible liar, she never could have faked it.

Doggy dips his shoe into the dirt, and says that he has a proposition. His uncle is finally ready to start his business, and Doggy is going to join him soon as a partner. Spring Pearl doesn’t know why anyone would miss such an annoying boy, but the news makes Spring Pearl feel sad. She simply nods her congratulations.

Then, Doggy explains that they believe the British and French are going to force China to open up more trade. They don’t have enough interpreters. Not many can get their tongue around the speech of the foreigners like Spring Pearl. What’s more important, Spring Pearl has pull with foreign merchants, as well as Master Sung. She can also talk to government folks because they’re all scholars. And yet, she can handle the workers that load and unload ships. So, how about if Spring Pearl joins them? And to sweeten the deal, they’ll make her partner in a few years.

Spring Pearl stares at him in astonishment. Doggy continues to say that the Sungs treat her right, but she’ll always be their dependent. With Doggy and his uncle, she can be free. Spring Pearl loves the Sungs, and she thinks all of them love her. But freedom. The word is as potent as tiger whiskey. It makes her feel almost dizzy.

Doggy urges that in the old days, there wouldn’t be much of a place for a servant like him or a poor girl like her. But the world is changing. She has talents and friends. She’ll be in demand. In fact, she can have a garden, too, on the roof. He will even carry her camellia himself.

With the shake of her head, Spring Pearl smiles. Fuming, Doggy marches away, exclaiming at how infuriating Spring Pearl is. Spring Pearl chuckles, and lets her eyes fall onto the camellia. Would it take to new soil in another home? In her heart, Spring Pearl knows it can. It can survive anything, just like her.

Then and Now: China

Discusses what life was like in China in the 1850s. Topics include:

• The traditions that bound China for thousands of years, and how families’ record books would go on for centuries of history
• What Chinese women wore, from their clothes to their purses and jewelry
• How Chinese women and girls would bind their feet, and how the Han, the largest ethnic group in China, thought small, bound feet were beautiful
• Foot-binding showed a family’s wealth, as servants, poor families, and other ethnic groups, such as the Manchus and Hakkas, wouldn’t bind their feet
• The skills, such as sewing and embroidery, girls would learn; girls were typically less valued in a family than boys
• The foods that the Chinese ate, such as the mooncakes and rice-flour pastries for celebrations
• Canton, now called Guangzhou, was the biggest city on the south coast
• Chinese rulers had limited contact with the foreigners
  • For years, Europeans weren’t allowed to mingle with the Chinese citizens
• The war in the 1840s, in which Great Britain forced China to open up trade and allow the British to sell opium, an addictive drug, in China
  • This is now called the First Opium War
• In 1857, the British and French attacked China again, starting the Second Opium War
• These wars, and influence from those moving to America to mine gold, brought new ways into China
• Now, China’s ancient traditions have changed
  • Girls have more choices in activities and education
  • Foot-binding was outlawed in 1911
• But girls in China still face prejudice
  • From 1979-2015, families in China were only allowed to have one child, and most families hoped for a boy
  • Some families would “abandon” their infant daughters to try again for a boy
  • Many of the girls were adopted by international families, and never meet their biological families