confusion, he hoped to diversify his family fortunes rather than concentrate on the silk trade.
In the late afternoon, Glorious Dragon played tennis with Messrs. Peter Wilson and George Dunning, the new representatives of Babson and Westcott, a British engineering company. He knew that these Englishmen must be cultivated with the utmost care, because no one had the money to buy generators.
As the men stepped out of their shower stalls after the games, giggling young servant girls greeted them with warm towels. After drying and powdering the men, the girls led them to silk-covered massage tables. The masseuses proceeded to give them a soothing rubdown in scented oils. A more vigorous massage of each muscle followed, from the scalp all the way down to the toes. Initially the Englishmen were surprised and embarrassed, but soon, as the kinks and knots in their arms and legs disappeared in blissful warmth, their tensions and suspicions evaporated. They dozed for half an hour. “That Dragon fellow is a most sporting chap.” They agreed.
Afterward, the threesome relaxed on the stone patio. They sipped their whiskey and nibbled on Russian caviar, Chinese fried peanuts, and Japanese seaweed crackers.
“Shanghai is now one of the great metropolises of the world,” Glorious Dragon said. “As you can see, we’ll need more electric-generating power. Tonight I’ll introduce you to several directors of the Shanghai Power and Light Company. They’re interested in your generators, but you must convince your company or government to supply the loans.”
Red Chinese lanterns danced among the trees, and the shifting shadows on the broad lawns made Wilson and Dunning feel they had arrived in paradise. The gloom of England, on the verge of another war, seemed very far away.
Glorious Dragon understood their mood. The Englishmen had no interest in discussing China’s dread of yet more foreign political interference. He had to remain positive. “Of course, being a poor country, we can accept loans only on the most favorable terms. We’ll discuss the details in my office tomorrow. Your company will prosper and you’ll become great humanitarians for helping us develop.”
“Yes, Mr. Chou, we’ll be most happy to help.” Wilson spoke for both of them. “You have our word!”
The Englishmen appreciated hearing this fine fellow speak humbly, like the most courteous of Chinamen. These would be very risky loans. Japan might invade China, but Shanghai would still need power. If the English company would not supply the loans, the Chinese could persuade American bankers to finance the deal. Yes, the English were ready to grease whatever wheels were necessary to sell generators to the Chinese. With the increase in business, perhaps they could get themselves transferred to the Orient, where they would be treated like kings. Such complicated arrangements would be time-consuming, but this Dragon chap seemed to know how to take care of a fellow. They agreed to meet at ten-thirty the next morning.
Like Glorious Dragon, Bright Crystal had lost her mother in infancy. Since her father was a cook for a foreign family, she had grown up in a foreigner’s home. She had a small straight nose and an infectious smile that made the most of her beguiling dimples. As a child, she played freely with her master’s two young boys. When the boys were old enough to attend boarding schools in England, she capitalized on her childhood English to become a hostess in the Cathay Hotel on the Bund. With her hair elegantly bobbed, and her judicious use of makeup and scent, she radiated cosmopolitan charm. Although her manners were reserved and her eyes modestly hooded, she had a habit of throwing back her head whenever she laughed. She soon won General Chin Bartau’s patronage.
Bright Crystal’s father now supervised her famous kitchen. No one except Glorious Dragon knew the identity of the rotund master chef. Bright Crystal was fully aware that the foreigners
In the late afternoon, Glorious Dragon played tennis with Messrs. Peter Wilson and George Dunning, the new representatives of Babson and Westcott, a British engineering company. He knew that these Englishmen must be cultivated with the utmost care, because no one had the money to buy generators.
As the men stepped out of their shower stalls after the games, giggling young servant girls greeted them with warm towels. After drying and powdering the men, the girls led them to silk-covered massage tables. The masseuses proceeded to give them a soothing rubdown in scented oils. A more vigorous massage of each muscle followed, from the scalp all the way down to the toes. Initially the Englishmen were surprised and embarrassed, but soon, as the kinks and knots in their arms and legs disappeared in blissful warmth, their tensions and suspicions evaporated. They dozed for half an hour. “That Dragon fellow is a most sporting chap.” They agreed.
Afterward, the threesome relaxed on the stone patio. They sipped their whiskey and nibbled on Russian caviar, Chinese fried peanuts, and Japanese seaweed crackers.
“Shanghai is now one of the great metropolises of the world,” Glorious Dragon said. “As you can see, we’ll need more electric-generating power. Tonight I’ll introduce you to several directors of the Shanghai Power and Light Company. They’re interested in your generators, but you must convince your company or government to supply the loans.”
Red Chinese lanterns danced among the trees, and the shifting shadows on the broad lawns made Wilson and Dunning feel they had arrived in paradise. The gloom of England, on the verge of another war, seemed very far away.
Glorious Dragon understood their mood. The Englishmen had no interest in discussing China’s dread of yet more foreign political interference. He had to remain positive. “Of course, being a poor country, we can accept loans only on the most favorable terms. We’ll discuss the details in my office tomorrow. Your company will prosper and you’ll become great humanitarians for helping us develop.”
“Yes, Mr. Chou, we’ll be most happy to help.” Wilson spoke for both of them. “You have our word!”
The Englishmen appreciated hearing this fine fellow speak humbly, like the most courteous of Chinamen. These would be very risky loans. Japan might invade China, but Shanghai would still need power. If the English company would not supply the loans, the Chinese could persuade American bankers to finance the deal. Yes, the English were ready to grease whatever wheels were necessary to sell generators to the Chinese. With the increase in business, perhaps they could get themselves transferred to the Orient, where they would be treated like kings. Such complicated arrangements would be time-consuming, but this Dragon chap seemed to know how to take care of a fellow. They agreed to meet at ten-thirty the next morning.
Like Glorious Dragon, Bright Crystal had lost her mother in infancy. Since her father was a cook for a foreign family, she had grown up in a foreigner’s home. She had a small straight nose and an infectious smile that made the most of her beguiling dimples. As a child, she played freely with her master’s two young boys. When the boys were old enough to attend boarding schools in England, she capitalized on her childhood English to become a hostess in the Cathay Hotel on the Bund. With her hair elegantly bobbed, and her judicious use of makeup and scent, she radiated cosmopolitan charm. Although her manners were reserved and her eyes modestly hooded, she had a habit of throwing back her head whenever she laughed. She soon won General Chin Bartau’s patronage.
Bright Crystal’s father now supervised her famous kitchen. No one except Glorious Dragon knew the identity of the rotund master chef. Bright Crystal was fully aware that the foreigners
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