Peach Blossom Pavilion (17 page)

De plopped down to check on the crumpled flesh. "Don't worry; he's still breathing evenly."

Mama yelled at De, "Get him some wine and medicinal oil, quick!"

De poured wine from the table and started to feed Big Master Fung with one hand, while his other hand vigorously rubbed Fung's temple.

Mama stepped close to me and asked in a heated whisper. "Did you try to kill him?"

"No, I ... I tried to . . . to please him."

It surprised me that suddenly Mama's face glowed. "You mean he liked to be tortured?" She grinned mischievously. "Did he ask you to play the whipper and he the whipped," she winked, "you know, that kind of thing?"

I didn't know what she really meant, but I assumed, judging from her cheerful expression, I'd be spared from being whipped myself if I nodded. So I swung my head like a hammer on an anvil.

She pinched my face. "Ah, you little slut. Did Pearl teach you this?"

I shook my head.

She looked at me appreciatively. "So you've learned all these by yourself without being taught, eh?"

I kept smiling and nodding like a lunatic.

Suddenly De yelled, "Look!"

We turned and saw Big Master Fung opening his eyes.

De helped him to sit up.

Mama turned to stoop down beside him. A big grin broke on her face. "Ah, Big Master Fung, you had a good time; didn't you?"

To all of our surprise, Big Master Fung lunged at her with full force. "You ... you ... you should discipline your girls before you let them out to serve customers!"

Mama exclaimed, with the grin still stretching taut on her face. "But Xiang Xiang told me you like it that way! "

"Like it that way, what are you talking about? You ugly old bitch!"

Mama cast me a murderous look.

Big Master Fung struggled to get up. After he steadied himself, he slapped Fang Rong's face, then Wu Qiang's, then did the same to mine. Before we had time to think what to do, he spat, then kicked over the table. Next he shattered the bowls, plates, vases. All the food, snacks, and wine splashed on the floor in myriad directions like scurrying mice. He picked up the phoenix candle and hurled it toward the mirror. The glass cracked and collapsed into a hundred shards glinting on the floor.

De whispered loudly to Mama, "Oh heaven. He's smashing the cave.

I felt a spider weaving an icy web along my spine.

Now Big Master Fung walked over to the burner. Seeing that he was about to kick it over and set the room on fire, Mama and De plopped down and frantically kowtowed. Seeing that I was still standing like a statue, Mama yanked me down and began to bounce my head on the floor as if she were pounding rice in the imperial kitchen.

"Oh merciful and generous Big Master Fung," Mama pleaded with a voice spilling fear, "please don't do this to us. We'll teach Xiang Xiang a good lesson. Please extinguish your angry fire!"

Without losing a bit, De added, "She's just a child and doesn't know better. All she did was to try to please you."

Now seizing the chance, I chimed in, "Yes, Big Master Fung, please forgive me. I thought you liked it; you screamed that I was excellent and you acted so happy. It was just an accident."

Mama gave out a tentative chuckle. "Yes, so can't you just forgive the little girl and forget about the little accident?"

Seeing that Big Master Fung had calmed down a little, De pinched my hip while throwing me a meaningful glance. I immedi ately tugged at Big Master Fung's pant. "Big Master Fung, please forgive me and don't smash the cave!" I said, tears started to roll down my cheeks while I exaggerated the heaving of my shoulders.

Miraculously, those tears and heavings worked; now Fung's anger seemed to abate. He even lifted the corners of his lips to resemble a smile. "Hmmm ... let me think what I should do to this little naughty witch-"

De pleaded, "Forgive her; just forgive-"

Mama chimed in, "And forget, it's just a little girl's little mistake."

I paraded kowtows with my head hitting loudly on the floor. "Yes, Big Master Fung. I'm sure a generous man like you also has a generous heart, so forgive me, please! If not," I took a deep breath, then blurted out in a girlish, high-pitched voice, "my little bottom will be furiously blossomed, even right in the middle of this cool room! "

At hearing this, Big Master Fung finally burst into laughter. We all felt relieved. De swiftly stood up to pour tea for him-a gesture of respect and apology. Mama flipped open her fan and fanned him vigorously-a gesture to please and flatter. She winked to me and I immediately knelt down beside him to massage his legs.

Big Master Fung sat and smiled superciliously like an emperor being served by his fat maid, suave eunuch, and flirtatious concubine.

This went on for a long time before Fung's anger had completely dissipated.

When he finally took leave, he said, "I'm too tired today and I need some balm for my bruises. Anyway, I'll come back. "He turned to scan us. "And next time I'll get an imperial treatment. You understand?"

This was the first time that all three of us answered with one heart and one mind. "Yes, Big Master Fung!"

11

Rape of the Rock

that evening I felt so relieved that I actually danced in my room. Then I bathed, changed into my pajamas, and collapsed into the bed. But I couldn't sleep because events of the day kept spinning in my mind like a merry-go-round lantern.

Big Master Fung's face lingered. I could almost see him returning with his gang to Peach Blossom Pavilion. At first he'd ask for a massage, after that, he'd press his wrinkled, spotty body against mine and peck his stinky mouth all over my face. When I refused his demand of introducing his jade stalk inside my golden gate, he'd kick over the furniture and smash the cave!

"Heaven, help!" I jolted awake from the nightmare, the back of my pajamas soaking wet.

While I was taking deep breaths to calm myself, I noticed a creaking sound. I flung off the bed sheet, jumped out of the bed, and went to check the windows-all tightly closed. As I was about to return to bed, I felt an arm grab me from behind. My heart knocked around like a trapped mouse. Before I could scream, a hand had already sealed my mouth. I struggled but the arm clasped me as tightly as the chain around Mama's safe.

While one hand pressed against my mouth, the other dangled something before my eyes. A snake? Cold sweat broke out on my forehead and armpits.

Finally the person released me. "You like this, Xiang Xiang?"

I couldn't believe it was Wu Qiang's voice!

I turned to find his face looming ominously over mine. "De . . . " I racked my mind, trying to think of some way to placate him. "Thank you today for helping me with Big Master Fung-"

"Your sorry doesn't mean anything. You have to do something to make amends."

"Like what?"

Now he grinned widely, his teeth neat like watermelon seeds. "Like," he said, again dangling the snake.

It was not until then that I realized what it was. A whip!

Chills splashed down my spine. "De, please don't whip me! Big Master Fung is not angry anymore!"

"Whip you?" He pinched my face with his long-nailed fingers. "Ali, of course not, silly girl. You think I have the heart to do that to your pretty face and lovely body?" He leaned close and murmured into my ear, "Xiang Xiang, I want you to whip me." He winked. "Like what you did to Big Master Fung today."

"But I didn't-" I stopped in midsentence; how could I tell him what had actually happened?

"Don't lie to me, Xiang Xiang. We all know what you did today to make Big Master Fung a very happy man." He paused, then, "Anyway, now I want to be as happy as him, but this time don't overdo it, all right?" He handed me the whip, then slipped off his shirt and went to lie facedown in bed.

Aii-ya! The whip was as heavy as a drunken snake!

Wu Qiang's voice rose in the dark. "Just whip me. The others will think it's just another customer and a sister stirring up the clouds and rain." He hollered, "Come on, swing the damned thing!"

I mustered up all my energy and sent it to the whip. The swinging was at first tentative, then, seeing that he actually enjoyed it, I slashed harder. And harder. Ha, now I could finally avenge myself for all I'd endured in the prostitution house! The whip fell sharper and sharper onto the squirming flesh. De moaned and cried as if he didn't know whether to feel joy or pain. Under the moonlight streaming in from the window, I saw on his back big beads of perspiration scatter like sightless pupils.

The whipping went on for ten minutes until finally he told me to stop. We both felt extremely exhausted and happy.

Then ... he pulled me down on the bed and forced his jade stalk into my precious gate.

When I was crying hysterically, Wu Qiang pulled up his pants and cursed, "Shit! Shit! You're a rock, a rock! Why didn't you tell me you're still a virgin?"

I kept crying.

He plunged on, "Why are you still a virgin? Didn't Big Master Fung fuck you? Tell me the truth!"

I shook my head.

"He didn't?"

I shook my head again.

"Then what did he do?"

I was still too stunned to say anything.

De snatched up the whip and swung it menacingly in front of me. I smarted just from the smacking of leather against the cold floor.

"Are you deaf? Did you hear my question? Didn't Big Master Fung stick his stalk into you? ! "

"No!"

"Oh, my heaven!" Now the whip dropped on the floor like a gutted eel. "But you played sex games with him, you whipped him!"

"No, I didn't!"

"You didn't? Then why was he hurt?"

I told him what had actually happened.

"You kicked him in the face?"

"But just by mistake!"

Wu Qiang looked as if his only son had just jumped off the roof. Silence passed before he threw me a chilling glance. "Don't tell your Mama anything about tonight, or I'll kill you!" Then he let out a bloodcurdling laugh. "You're smart, Xiang Xiang, which would you prefer: to be skinned alive, whipped till you become a mess of rotten flesh, or just keep your mouth shut?"

I was too stunned to reply. The handsome, scholarly-looking De had shown himself to be a wolf hidden in human skin!

Tears streaming down my cheeks, I dashed to Pearl's room, but her door was tightly closed. Sounds of her voice and the pipa wafted from within-she was entertaining a guest. I went to her room three more times but a male voice could be heard through the closed door, so I did not dare knock.

Waiting till next morning, I slipped into her room and told her about Big Master Fung and Wu Qiang.

Pearl spat, "That thousand-knives-slashed bastard!" Then her eyes, instead of darting like a butterfly, now fixed on me, full of concern. "Are you all right, Xiang Xiang? Did De hurt you?"

Of course he did, but what could I do? If I ran away and got caught, I'd end up a delicious meal for the rats in the dark room. Anyway, living in a prostitution house, sooner or later I would be "raped." So, what difference did it make?

So I hardened myself and lied, "Not really. Anyway, don't worry about me, Sister Pearl. I'm fine." I changed the conversation. "Why was De so upset?"