Peach Blossom Pavilion Read Online Free PDF Page A

prime has passed and now I'm but a worthless old woman. But you're young and beautiful and have a bright future waiting before you, so I won't let you squander it in a nunnery. Besides," she sighed again, "one of the novice nuns told me that the Mother Abbess said .. She stopped in midsentence.

    "Said what?"
    "That you're too beautiful to be a nun, and she fears your beauty will bring bad luck to her temple."
    Usually my heart would leap to heaven when people said that I was pretty, but now it sank to the bottom of the sea. "How do they know that I'm pretty?"
    "I told them, because I'm so proud of you." Mother patted my head. "Xiang Xiang, I know a servant girl's life isn't easy. But it's only temporary. We'll find a way out sooner or later. Now listen to me. After you've seen me off, go right back to your master. And don't forget it's very important that you obey him and his wives, and try your best to get along with everyone, otherwise you won't have a roof to live under nor even thin rice gruel to warm your stomach. Remember, not only that you must put up with any hardship, you have to endure it with a smile, so no one will see a trace of bitterness." She paused to search my face. "Xiang Xiang, instead of complaining, you should thank heaven for all this, you understand?"
    I nodded, licking and tasting the salt of my tears. "Ma, when will we see each other again?"
    "Not for a while, but we will." Mother squeezed out a smile. "We can always write to each other. Or maybe I can even try to come back here to see you." She paused, "There are many temples on the western side of the Taiyi Mountain southwest of Peking. I think I'll settle there, but I'm still not sure in which one. I'll write you as soon as I arrive."
    She sighed, looking at me with her tear-misted eyes. "Hai, Xiang Xiang, I know no matter how decently they treat you in your new house, you're still a maid after all." She considered for a moment, then spoke again thoughtfully, "Just remember one thing: We can't beat fate, but we can play along and make the most out of it. Try to be happy." Mother went on, "Also, be careful what you tell about yourself in the new house. Don't say anything about how your baba died. Be cautious."

    I nodded.
    Mother gave me a quick hug. "Xiang Xiang, I'm afraid our paths must part now. May Guan Yin be with you till we meet again.
    With that, she hurried toward the train, tripped, pulled herself up, then, without turning back, mounted the black monster. With her back to me, she frantically waved her one-way ticket until her familiar slender figure vanished among the crowd.
    I stared hard at the tracks that would take her away to the nunnery in Peking but would never bring her back.

     

3(

The Dark Room
    Tith the "Wu! Wu! " sound of the train still ringing in my ears, _ I hired a rickshaw to go back to Peach Blossom. When I got off the vehicle and started to walk, I felt both the bitter cold wind and my own tears stinging my cheeks.
    To my surprise, as I sneaked up to the main gate, I saw Fang Rong standing there, thrusting forward her fat, wrinkled neck. Once she spotted me, she hollered, "Catch this little bitch!"
    Immediately, a huge lump of a man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me. His hold was so tight that his fingers pinched deeply into my flesh. Before I could scream, I felt blows on my head and slaps on my face.
    Then Fang Rong's voice screeched next to my ear like an out-oftune fiddle. "I told you that you can't go out by yourself! Where have you been?! "
    "To ... see my mother off to Peking."
    "See your mother off? Are you blind? Don't you see your mama is right here in front of you?" More slaps on my face, then, "To the dark room!"
    I was immediately blindfolded, lifted up, and carried away. Although the man walked fast, it still seemed a long time before he dropped me down and removed my blindfold. I was thrown into a dim, airless cubicle, and immediately I knew that people didn't have to die to go to hell. It was