🧚 A Story of Old China, part 3

“Alas!” said he.1 “There is for me no living road, I will end it here.2 I have failed in my promise to my mother.”3

Taking his girdle, he was fastening it about a beam in the temple when an old priest came in and said, “Son, what would you do?4 I may be able to help you.”5

The poor lad poured out his sad story, and at its close the priest said:6

“Son, listen to me; I will help you find your father again, and a plan by which he must own you.7 You dry your tears and stay here with me a few days, and I promise you, you will yet be a happy boy.”8 Then he thought a while and at last disclosed his plan in part to the lad.9

He taught the boy some songs and helped him put his own life-story into rhyme, and one day said, “I want you to sing for the ‘foundation beaters,’ who are preparing the ground for a beautiful pavilion in a flower garden belonging to a rich man.10 They are in need of a leading voice such as you have, and you can sing for them; you may also sing your own song at that place.”11

Ting Lang went with him, and his beautiful voice and handsome face won the hearts of all the workmen, and they joined in the choruses with a will, throwing all their strength into the work.12

For a day or two he caught no glimpse of the family, and his heart was sad and heavy; so also was the heart of the father, had he but known it.13 The sight of the boy had brought back the memory of his early life and the parting with the boy’s mother.14 The boy was in the city; people would know all and talk and it would come to his father-in-law’s ears, yet he could not bring himself to tell him first.15

The third day Ting Lang was singing he caught sight of a lady sitting by the window listening.16 She was greatly interested in this child-singer as she had heard him leading the workmen, and what was her horror when she saw one of her servants go up and strike the child a sharp blow, knocking him from the bench on which he was standing.17 Seeing the child did not get up, she called to the servant and berated him soundly for his brutality.18

“Why did you strike him?”19

To which the servant answered, “He used the name of my master.”20

“Fool,” said the lady, “you are more than stupid.21 Can there not be many by your master’s name in all these provinces?22 Go and bring the boy in here at once and revive him, and I will pardon you this cruelty.”23

The servant obeyed her, and the boy was brought to the lady’s room.24 After he revived and was quite himself again, she asked him who he was and how old; why he had left his mother and come to another province, as she could tell by his voice that he was from the north.25 He told her he was twelve years old; had come from his home in the north to seek his father, and then he went on and told her how his mother fainted when he left her, and of his own sad and lonely journey.26

“How old is your mother?” asked the lady.27

“She is thirty-six,” was his reply.28

“And your father, how old is he?”29

“I remember hearing my mother say that he was older than she by two years, and so he should be thirty-eight.”30

“What is your father’s name?” was her next question.31

“Tu Ching Ling,” was the answer.32

The room was quiet a moment, and then came the question, “How does your mother live?”33

To this Ting Lang replied, “At first we were supported by my grandparents, but they are dead now; died poor, and my mother, for some time, has had to take in washing.34 She has only one eye, so she cannot see to do fine sewing.35 She is reduced almost to a beggar.”36

“Have you any proof of your father?” was the next question.37

“Yes, I have the three mementos.38 The half of each are in my father’s possession.39 These I have are the half my mother kept, and I was to present them when I found my father.”40

“When she gave you these, did she tell you when she gave the other half to your father?”41

Ting Lang said, “Yes.”42 Then he told of their parting as he had learned it from the lips of his mother.43 Then he went on and told how he came to start out in search of his father, the long, lonely road; how and why his father was banished.44 It was with many sobs and tears that the story was told, and before he was through the lady was weeping with him.45 As he closed she put her arm around him and said:46

“I am your second mother.”47

When the boy heard this he was frightened and said, “Alas! alas! what have I done!”48

“Nothing,” was the reply; “rest your heart, you are indeed my son, for I also am your father’s wife.”49 Then she told him the story of his father’s coming to the city, her father’s interest in him, and her marriage.50 “He said he had no family when we asked him and I could not know of your mother.51 You have a younger brother, my little son, who is nine years old.52 His name is Kan Lang; that corresponds with the name your father left you, and I believe all your story.53 The mistake is all your father’s.54 You are indeed his son.”55

Ting Lang knelt and knocked his head to his second mother.56

As she raised him up she said, “You have indeed suffered; you are the best and bravest boy I ever heard of; you shall never leave us.”57

This mother, Hu Yüch Ying, was also a very beautiful character, and her sweet, gentle manners won the heart of Ting Lang and he believed her word.58 She sent a servant to call her own little son, Kan Lang, and when he came he asked, “Did you call me, mother?”59

“Yes,” she said.60 “This is your older brother.61 Greet him first.”62

“But, mother, I never saw or heard of him before,” was the reply of Kan Lang.63

“Greet him as I tell you, and afterward I will explain matters to you.”64 The boys then bent the knee to each other and then the mother told her son that she was a second wife; that the first wife was the mother of Ting Lang, and she was also his mother; that Ting Lang was also her son, and they were to care tenderly for each other.65 Then she sent a servant to find his master and invite him to come to her apartments.66

When he came in she asked, “Do you know this lad?”67 Her husband replied, “I saw him outside the gate of the city.68 Who is he and what does he want here?”69 Then his wife said:70

“You are an ungrateful man.71 You deserve the severest punishment Heaven can give.72 When I asked you if I had an ‘older sister’ you said no!73 My father and mother treated you as a piece of fine gold.74 You had nothing when you came to them.75 You should have told them the truth, and after marriage told me the truth.76 You dress in silk, satin, and broadcloth; you eat the best of the land, live in a great house, read, write, and have tens of servants to wait at your door.77 You go out; it is either on horse, in chair, or by cart, and ever with your outriders.78 You left my poor sister in sorrow and poverty for twelve long years, while you have lived in luxury and pleasures.79 Twelve years for her of bitterness and death, forgotten by the man she trusted and for whom she gave her beauty of person.80 You with your four seasons’ clothing, she almost a beggar.81 Look at this your son, and think of his twelve years; ah! they have made him a stronger man, though a boy yet, than his father.82 Think of the long, weary way he has come seeking you; ah! the heart of an iron or a stone man must have cried out at such sorrow as has been theirs.83 How can you call yourself a man?84 How can you see my parents?85 Above all, how will you ever be able to look in the face of my sister, the mother of Ting Lang?”86 Then turning to the latter she said:87