Chinese Literature

“Hurry up,” someone else said sarcastically. “If you don’t go, he’ll probably issue an official summons Ww

Glib Lips recognized the voice of the second speaker as that of Chun-mei’s Aunt Li. Though far from a beauty, the wine shop proprietress had a clever tongue. When it eame to talking, she could charm » bird from the tree. Yet Aunt Li was one person she didn’t care to clash with, for the words of the former were like a steel awl—they could pierce to the bottom of anything.

Chun-mei entered, and walked up to Yang the Elder without a care in the world.

“Cyandfather,” she said with a friendly smile, “what did you want to see me about?”

The Elder sagged like a piece of soft leather hit by a rock. But he recovered immediately. This child was trying to soft-soap him. His whiskers flared.

‘What indeed! Pretending you can’t even count up to three! Why did your mother hang herself?”

“Oh,” the smile left Chun-mei’s face, “That’s what Grandfather wants to know. I’m trying to get to the root myself, but I’m still not clear. You have to bother about so many things, yet you’re willing to take an interest in my Ma and me—that’s very kind!”

The Elder tottered as if from a punch. His eyes were ready to burst from their sockets. ,

‘What! You mean I have no right to bother? T’m the clan leader! When your father was dying, he asked me to look after you! If it hadn’t been for me, how do you think you would have grown up Na

“T know how I grew up,” Chun-mei retorted. “Before I was three feet high I was out with my mother and grandmother gathering grass for the pigs, picking up firewood to sell, digging roots to eat. At fifteen I became a slavey in the landlord’s house. I didn’t know a thing then. His son—one of my clan brothers—tried to paw me... . You were the clan leader then too—why didn’t you bother about him?”

The old man had no reply. Collapsing on a bench like a porter after a long journey, he sat breathing hard. Glib Lips’ mouth twitched. She poked her head forward.

“The tune you sing depends on where you are, Chun-mei. You can’t blame Grandfather—they were a landlord family!”

“Qho!” someone said derisively. “So the job of the clan leader is to control the peasants!”

Chun-mei recognized the voice of Li-chia, a member of the Youth League. It gave her additional courage.

“Hot beans out of cold ashes—who would have expected it!” she said tartly. “A clan leader! I’ve heard of township leaders, village leaders, district leaders, county leaders. But a clan leader—that’s one official I never heard of!”