Free A Concubine for the Family: A Family Saga in China by Amy Kwei Page B

contacted all the party guests to discuss their understanding of the Xian Incident. When he called on Glorious Dragon, he was surprised to be invited by the young man to visit his sister and brother-in-law in Hangzhou. The beauties of the idyllic West Lake in Hangzhou had been renowned since the time of Marco Polo, so he accepted.
    The diligence of the American reporter impressed Glorious Dragon. He understood the foreigner’s confusion. He mulled over Strong’s questions at the dinner table but could not respond without giving him a lecture on Confucian culture and ethical behavior. Although this was already 1937, the Chinese people understood that the emperor ruled with a mandate from Heaven based upon his exemplary life. Zhang would go down in history as the quintessential hero who had kidnapped the present emperor, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and forced him on a course of virtue — unification with the communists to fight Japan. Zhang would accept whatever punishment, including death, if required. For centuries, storytellers, singers and actors had celebrated such courageous men, in households, theaters, operas, teahouses, wine shops and restaurants with slight variations on the theme. How could Strong even begin to understand the emotions simmering in the Chinese soul? Glorious Dragon would not know how to tell him. Should he take Strong to a Chinese opera based on the same heroic theme? The falsetto voices of the singers on a bare stage would be trilling in half tones and would drive Strong away from his seat within minutes. No, he could not lecture Strong on Chinese thought and maintain a cordial relationship.
    More to the point, Glorious Dragon wanted to know what Mr. Strong had already discovered about the recent events in Nanking. Would the generalissimo continue to keep Marshal Zhang under house arrest? Would he integrate the Communists into his army, and thus pose a serious threat to the Japanese occupation?
    In a flash of inspiration, he decided that the American should meet his sister Purple Jade, who had so patiently taught him his classics. His brother-in-law, Righteous Virtue, had deplored Western powers’ competition for Chinese territory and trade. He had rejected communism, Nazism and materialism, but he was familiar with Western manners. He lived the life of an exemplary Confucian scholar: conservative, with a learned contentment and pacifism. Glorious Dragon was confident Strong would benefit from a meeting with his sister and brother-in-law — two living embodiments of the finest in Chinese culture.
    When Archie Strong entered the Huang family’s first court, he took a quick breath, arrested by the sight of a dwarf cedar leaning toward a structure of porous Taihu rocks. The beautiful formation towered over a small pool where silver, gold and red carps swam. A covered walkway surrounded the courtyard on three sides, away from the front gate and spirit screen wall. Under an overhang of terra-cotta roof tiles at the entrance to the first hall, Righteous Virtue stood waiting for his guests. He was wearing an ankle-length brown silk gown with cream silk cuffs and trousers.
    Strong was surprised that the mandarin spoke English. They took tea in the first hall and exchanged social pleasantries. Righteous Virtue suggested they visit the larger garden the Huangs shared with the Chous, his wife’s maiden family.
    “A walk in the garden is perfect after our train ride,” Strong agreed. Righteous Virtue instructed the servants to relay the following message to Purple Jade: they would dine in the moon pavilion.
    Leading the way, Glorious Dragon passed through a moon-gate faced with red-lacquered wood. The round frame offered a long vista across a lotus pond. A pavilion with latticed windows loomed in the right corner, towering over a blanket of budding azalea bushes.
    “I often come here to view the lotus when they’re in bloom,” Righteous Virtue explained as they strolled along the covered walkway