Chinese Literature

Aunt Li answered for her. “Brother Tseng is a little hesitant. He’s afraid the clan is too strong against them.” ;

“Aiya!’ exploded the Elder. “Then you go and speak to him! And if anybody in the clan ever talks any more of that nonsense, just send him to me and IJ’ll convince him!”

He squatted beside the bed and pulled out from underneath an old wooden trunk. Opening it, he groped around and produced two objectsan antique silver bracelet and a flowered quilt cover.

“These things are the most valuable of what I gave Huan for her dowry. The silly child naturally never wore the bracelet; she didn’t use the quilt cover either. When she decided to die, she sent them back to me.” The Elder paused and his eyes reddened. But he took a grip on himself and continued. “I don’t want to keep these things here. It hurts me to look at them. You two, mother and daughter, have suffered because of me. Let me give you these small gifts. Consider them as keepsakes. The quilt cover is for Chun-mei; the bracelet is for her mother. Of course, the bracelet is out of style. If you like, you can bring it to the silversmith in the city and let him make something else out of it.”

Seeing the reluctance of the other two, Aunt Li hastened to accept the gifts on their behalf. “Thank you, Elder. They'll take them!”

The old man again seated himself in his armchair. He seemed about to say a good deal more. But just then a great beating of gongs resounded on the street, and the Hlder’s grandson rushed in.

“Grandpa, Grandpa, a government comrade is going to make an announcement at the temple! I want to go!”

Aunt Li stood up. She explained to the old man that a month of publicity and explanation of the new marriage law was beginning, that the team which would do this work was arriving in the village.

Chun-mei had an idea.

“Grandfather, you just said you’d convince anyone who still talked nonsense about marriage. But convincing people one at a time would be a long job. It wouldn’t be nearly so good as getting up on the platform and talking to all of them at once!”

Flustered, the old man rubbed his mouth, fingered his beard. But at last he said firmly, “That’s right. I—I ought to take myself as an example!”

Late in the afternoon, the meeting ended. Group after group emerged from the ancient Yang family temple. Yang the Elder strolled slowly, carrying his hookah, chatting with a few neighbours about some of the points he had just made from the speakers’ platform. Behind, a noisy group of youngsters was approaching. The old man turned and saw Chun-mei in their midst, like a queen bee. They caught up to the older folk, and Chun-mei hailed the Elder with a dazzling smile.