Read Online Three Souls by Janie Chang - Free Book Online

pronouncements of doom.
    “ Wah, wah, Third Young Mistress. Your father wants you in his study. Immediately.”
    I hurried back to the house, leaving Sueyin surrounded by anxious ducks. When I arrived, Tongyin was in Father’s study, seated on the leather sofa and looking gloomy. Father paced up and down the Turkish carpet. He motioned for me to sit beside Tongyin.
    “One of your eldest brother’s friends was at Yen Hanchin’s lecture last night.”
    No wonder Tongyin looked so unhappy. The friend probably saw me get into the rickshaw with Cha Zhiming.
    “Second Son, the lecture was about politics. With leftist messages. Now a daughter of our house has been seen at a political meeting.”
    “Sir. Not so, sir. Let me explain.” Tongyin’s hands plucked at his monogrammed handkerchief.
    “Second Son, no explanations. I’m tolerant of your interest in politics. It is part of being a student. But your sister’s reputation is another matter. When the time comes to arrange her marriage, there must be no hint of any interest in Communism. It would be extremely detrimental to her prospects.”
    I opened my mouth, then closed it.
    “Second Son, you’re an adult but also a son of this house. You must avoid public events of a questionable nature. If Yen Hanchin speaks on literature, or reads his poetry, you may attend. But not if the speech is about unions or socialist ideologies.”
    How could Father think that Hanchin’s poetry was independent of his political beliefs? In China Millennium, it was clear that Hanchin’s ideals inspired his work. Even his poetry alluded to politics and social change.
    “Third Daughter, no more of this going out to working-class neighbourhoods. The location of that school should have warned you, but it was not your fault. No more lectures from now on unless they’re through your school.”
    I nodded, both disappointed and relieved. At least Father didn’t know about Cha Zhiming taking me home. Tongyin tried not to look too pleased that I couldn’t follow him around anymore. Behind Father’s back, he made a face at me.
    ***
    My yang soul shakes his grey head. You were dreaming to think he would approve of your marrying such a man.
    I see that now. I sigh at the memory.
    But you did so enjoy being in love. It’s like being pleasantly ill, my yin soul says. Drugged and excited, all at once. She throws her arms in the air and dances along the terrace of the family shrine.
    Anyway, don’t you remember Father saying he believed that once Hanchin’s poetry gained more recognition, he would move away from politics? I believed that everything would work out.
    My hun soul laughs, a brittle tinkling sound. Oh, Leiyin. Your father might have admired starving poets, but that didnn’t mean he wanted his daughter to marry one.
    ***
    Finally, I mustered the courage to write my first letter to Hanchin:
Dear Mr. Yen,
I have attached some questions about the April issue of your magazine regarding the proposal to simplify written Chinese. Please don’t write back, because Father reads our letters. He would object to our correspondence—not to you specifically, but to any man who isn’t a relative. I hope we’ll be able to discuss these questions at the next salon. Thank you for understanding.
Song Leiyin
    The letter was in my bag the next day when I went to see Nanmei. Nanny Qiu accompanied me as usual and I was debating whether I could go to the post office after seeing Nanmei. Could I trust Nanny to keep my secret? Once we entered the gates of the Wang estate, she headed for the servants’ quarters to see who was free to enjoy a good gossip.
    “What do you mean, your nanny might tell?” Nanmei looked puzzled when I asked her to post the letter for me. I realized again that her family was far more casual than mine.
    A light rain had started falling so instead of strolling in the Wangs’ gardens, we walked along the joined verandas of four houses that bordered a large courtyard. A small bamboo