Mirage

8. Shen Jin is restored to office by imperial grace | Su Wankui dies on hearing of a robbery

Jishi had had no peace of mind since parting from Qiao, but his father was very strict and would not let him return to the city, and he had to get the servants to make discreet inquiries for him. When he learned that Qiao had joined the Heh household, he naturally felt heartbroken , but he was also relieved that the superintendent had fortunately not discovered her secret. At the festival he sent men into town to deliver presents to various people, and they brought back the message that the teacher was holding his monthly test on the thirteenth and that Jishi’s presence was required. He reported this to his father, who said, “Certainly you should attend. And isn’t it Director Shen’s birthday on the eighteenth? In that case you’ll need to prepare some presents and go and offer him our congratulations. You should also ask your teacher if he has had any news. Come back on the nineteenth. But you mustn’t go bothering your friends and relatives; stay at our house instead. And check the accounts that Su Xing has been keeping. You’re not a child anymore; next year we’ll be holding your wedding, and then the house will be your concern. I’m too busy to see to it.” Early on the thirteenth Jishi set off for the city, and after he had finished the test, he paid a visit to the Wens and stayed there the night. Mistress Shi told him about the Shy family, and he felt a keen sympathy and resolved to help, although he didn’t say so at the time. After breakfast the following day he took a chair back to the old house on Haoxian Street. On alighting, he heard a piteous sobbing from across the way and asked 8 shen Jin is RestoRed to offiCe by impeRial gRaCe su Wankui dies on heaRing of a RobbeRy Mirage-FA02_13Jan2014.indd 111 15/1/14 11:30 AM 112 | Mirage the person at the gate, “There never used to be anyone living there. Why all this sobbing?” The youth at the gate, Awang, replied, “It’s the Shy family, who’ve just moved in. The head of the family used to be a Customs clerk, but he was driven to take his life by the superintendent. There’s no coffin in the house, so they have to sell their daughter. At the moment there’s no one to buy her, and mother and daughter have been sobbing for a long time. Do a good deed and help them out, sir!” “You don’t understand—they’re relatives of ours. Go over and tell them I’m coming to pay them a visit.” The youth left, and Jishi strolled over. The house was narrow and probably had no more than three rooms in all—a wretched little place. Shy Yannian soon came out to welcome him, and Jishi took his hand and expressed his sympathies, then asked if he could pay his respects to Yannian’s mother. He expressed his feelings to her as a relative, and both mother and son told him of their ordeal. Jishi then ordered Aqing to go and ask Su Xing for three hundred taels. He was also to find a coffin of good quality and bring it to the house as quickly as possible. Mistress Shi then drew her son and daughter together and they kowtowed in gratitude. As Jishi helped them to their feet one after the other, he couldn’t hold back his tears. He noticed that although Xia’s face was drawn and stained with tears, it was quite touching in its poignant beauty. However, in the midst of the intense grief that he felt for Qiao he paid it scant attention. Before long the money arrived, and he handed it to Yannian, who thanked him. Jishi then asked Su Bang to buy all the things that they needed. “Last night at my father-in-law’s they hadn’t heard the sad news,” he said. “I must send them a message.” He told Su Bang to have some servants come over and attend on the family, then took his leave. Inevitably, the thought of the superintendent’s vicious behavior made him feel sick at heart. Before long Chuncai arrived. His mother had received Jishi’s message and sent him with some servants to visit the Shy family and ask how they were. She had also sent two loads...