look. “You think you have better eyes than me?”
“Of course not, Aunty, I’m sorry.”
“Ignorant girl, it’s at most mediocre. Worse, one symbolism for emperor is missing. It has the sun, moon, stars, and fire for brightness, mountains for steadfastness, bronze vessels for offerings, rice for nourishment, and opposite-facing bows for justice, and, of course, dragons . . . But there is no seaweed!”
“Seaweed?” we all asked at once.
“Haven’t any of you heard the phrase, ‘Following the sea’s rising and falling currents’?”
Of course we hadn’t, so Aunty went on triumphantly. “Because all emperors hoped they would ride forever over the ups and downs of fortune.”
Leilei blurted out, “Aunty Peony, how do you know about all this?”
Our teacher simply ignored her question and continued. “The emperor didn’t just wear one robe, but had many for different occasions, such as meeting with high ministers at court, leading his soldiers into battle, and especially important rituals, such as honoring Heaven and Earth at the Temple of Heaven.”
Just then Little Doll piped up. “Aunty Peony, are we going to have our picture taken now?”
Aunty’s voice softened a bit. “Of course, Little Doll.”
10
Memory Lane Photography Studio
T he Memory Lane Photography Studio was a small space filled with photography paraphernalia. Tripods supporting large, accordion-like cameras were scattered around. Framed black-and-white pictures and hand-colored ones hung on the walls. Yellow film boxes spilled from shelves. However, one corner was neat, primly decorated with stiff, high-backed chairs, a vase with flowers on a carved stand, and landscape paintings on the wall. Aimed at these decorations were two large lamps with black covers.
Aunty Peony told the skinny, fortyish photographer that we wanted group pictures with her sitting in the middle, the three of us standing behind her, and Little Doll squatting in front. After fussing with his strange equipment, the photographer finally asked Aunty to sit and us girls to gather around her. After that, he carefully instructed us as to how to arrange our heads, hands, and legs into the “just right” positions.
Then he yelled, “That’s it, don’t move. Now, smile!”
We did what we’d been told. But I also thought: What is there to smile about?
He pressed the button repeatedly, resulting in a series of crisp click, click, click. After that, he announced that the pictures were taken and we could all relax. He said it’d take a couple of weeks or even longer for the pictures to be ready. But since we were not going to stay that long, either the store would have to send us the pictures or one of us would come back here for them. I secretly hoped Aunty would choose me, but knew this was unlikely.
Our stay in the famous city lasted only six days. We visited a few more shops, which gave Aunty the opportunity to criticize everyone else’s work. In the evenings she would treat us to Peking duck and other special local dishes at an elegant restaurant, then walk us back to the inn and admonish us to go to sleep early. Although we heard the door of her room close, I was pretty sure she would go out alone, but where and for what I had no idea.
Finally, the day before we went back to Soochow, Aunty said she’d take us to the Forbidden City. She said since we didn’t have much time, we’d only see a small part of it—the emperor’s throne room. I wondered why, among all the treasures of this famous place, all she wanted to see was a chair, not where the Empress Dowager had slept, or her huge collection of jewelry.
The Forbidden City was conveniently within walking distance of where our inn was located. When we arrived at the enormous palace, Aunty seemed to know exactly where she was going—the Grand Hall of Ultimate Harmony, the site of the dragon throne. There were not many tourists around, so we were able to get quite close to the chair. It was
“Of course not, Aunty, I’m sorry.”
“Ignorant girl, it’s at most mediocre. Worse, one symbolism for emperor is missing. It has the sun, moon, stars, and fire for brightness, mountains for steadfastness, bronze vessels for offerings, rice for nourishment, and opposite-facing bows for justice, and, of course, dragons . . . But there is no seaweed!”
“Seaweed?” we all asked at once.
“Haven’t any of you heard the phrase, ‘Following the sea’s rising and falling currents’?”
Of course we hadn’t, so Aunty went on triumphantly. “Because all emperors hoped they would ride forever over the ups and downs of fortune.”
Leilei blurted out, “Aunty Peony, how do you know about all this?”
Our teacher simply ignored her question and continued. “The emperor didn’t just wear one robe, but had many for different occasions, such as meeting with high ministers at court, leading his soldiers into battle, and especially important rituals, such as honoring Heaven and Earth at the Temple of Heaven.”
Just then Little Doll piped up. “Aunty Peony, are we going to have our picture taken now?”
Aunty’s voice softened a bit. “Of course, Little Doll.”
10
Memory Lane Photography Studio
T he Memory Lane Photography Studio was a small space filled with photography paraphernalia. Tripods supporting large, accordion-like cameras were scattered around. Framed black-and-white pictures and hand-colored ones hung on the walls. Yellow film boxes spilled from shelves. However, one corner was neat, primly decorated with stiff, high-backed chairs, a vase with flowers on a carved stand, and landscape paintings on the wall. Aimed at these decorations were two large lamps with black covers.
Aunty Peony told the skinny, fortyish photographer that we wanted group pictures with her sitting in the middle, the three of us standing behind her, and Little Doll squatting in front. After fussing with his strange equipment, the photographer finally asked Aunty to sit and us girls to gather around her. After that, he carefully instructed us as to how to arrange our heads, hands, and legs into the “just right” positions.
Then he yelled, “That’s it, don’t move. Now, smile!”
We did what we’d been told. But I also thought: What is there to smile about?
He pressed the button repeatedly, resulting in a series of crisp click, click, click. After that, he announced that the pictures were taken and we could all relax. He said it’d take a couple of weeks or even longer for the pictures to be ready. But since we were not going to stay that long, either the store would have to send us the pictures or one of us would come back here for them. I secretly hoped Aunty would choose me, but knew this was unlikely.
Our stay in the famous city lasted only six days. We visited a few more shops, which gave Aunty the opportunity to criticize everyone else’s work. In the evenings she would treat us to Peking duck and other special local dishes at an elegant restaurant, then walk us back to the inn and admonish us to go to sleep early. Although we heard the door of her room close, I was pretty sure she would go out alone, but where and for what I had no idea.
Finally, the day before we went back to Soochow, Aunty said she’d take us to the Forbidden City. She said since we didn’t have much time, we’d only see a small part of it—the emperor’s throne room. I wondered why, among all the treasures of this famous place, all she wanted to see was a chair, not where the Empress Dowager had slept, or her huge collection of jewelry.
The Forbidden City was conveniently within walking distance of where our inn was located. When we arrived at the enormous palace, Aunty seemed to know exactly where she was going—the Grand Hall of Ultimate Harmony, the site of the dragon throne. There were not many tourists around, so we were able to get quite close to the chair. It was
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