All the Flowers in Shanghai by Duncan Jepson Read Free Book Online Page A

else? You must be joking!” Ma knew he hated confrontation and that he would not answer her immediately.
    “The doctors are saying we should only bring it forward if we don’t plan to stop it,” he patiently replied.
    “Well, we don’t plan to stop it. We will never stop it!” She began to shout at him again. “Only a fool would suggest this. Nothing can be changed when she is married. Once it is done, nothing else will matter. Don’t you understand?” She looked at him hard in order to provoke him. Then her mouth formed a derisive smile, her lips curling bitterly, and she cocked her head slightly to one side and looked directly at him. “But then, you always have been a fool. This is the best match we could possibly have hoped for. If we had more money or a better position in Society then we could choose . . . but we don’t. Only a fool would think this way.” She paused before delivering the final insult. “Are you a fool?”
    Ba stepped closer to Ma. It looked as though he might slap her then but he stopped himself.
    “I will make all the arrangements so that nothing need affect the wedding plans,” she declared and walked off, leaving him staring after her as she disappeared inside the house.
    Ba was a naturally lean man who never seemed to grow fat. His friends would joke that this was the reason he’d never be rich. Grandfather, too, had the same slight build, nervous smile, and thick hair. When they were anxious, they would run their left hand through their hair and pat it down at the back. They both had the habit of looking away from things, as if they hoped that when they finally looked back they could begin anew. Their expression glowed when they were happy, and although sometimes there seemed to be little wisdom in their faces, there was always kindness.
    I am sorry that I cannot tell you much more, but I do know many people saw weakness in their natural generosity and warmth. Ba had always been exploited, particularly by Ma, but I believe that colleagues at work or the occasional business associate also took advantage of him. He did not try to force his own opinions, believing in politeness, in listening to others, giving them a fair hearing. Ma was not a particularly hard or domineering woman but she had what I now understand to be a narrow-minded indifference to other people’s opinions, thinking only of her own advantage. On this occasion Ma chose to ignore his views and simply turned her back, for she knew he would do nothing to resist.
    I watched Ba for a few minutes then ran to Grandfather to tell him what I had heard. He said nothing after hearing my story, just sat in the hardwood reclining chair, undid the top button of his shirt, and looked at Grandmother’s portrait. He was silent for a long while, though I repeatedly asked him what it all meant. Eventually he pulled himself up out of his chair.
    “Xiao Feng, we must keep this to ourselves. Do you promise, little one?” He leaned toward me and whispered, “I think your sister is pregnant. Your mother and the fiancé’s family probably want to bring the wedding date forward so no one will notice and we don’t all lose face. It is shameful. It is so shameful.” He sank back down.
    My first thought was that we would have a baby in the house and I smiled, asking whether I would be its auntie. Grandfather suddenly became very serious and raised his voice to me.
    “Feng, don’t be so stupid! This is very serious . . . it’ll ruin our family name. This is what can happen when a family tries to rise to a different level. It would be better not to have the baby than to bear such shame. Everyone will know.”
    He looked so solemn that I was dumbstruck. He got up and left me sitting on the floor in front of his empty chair. The room remained still and silent and I with it, until a servant came in to sweep the floor.
    I seemed to be the only one who was looking forward to seeing this baby. Grandfather and I resumed our walks in the