Three Souls by Janie Chang Page B

believe she was asking Stepmother for advice.
    You always did underestimate your stepmother, says my hun soul.
    ***
    When the newlyweds paid their respects to Father during their formal Third Day visit, Sueyin wore one of the new suits from her trousseau, pale blue, with a little blue straw hat. Tienzhen’s striped necktie exactly matched the blue of her suit. We sat in the drawing room and a servant brought in refreshments served on our most expensive Limoges china, for now Sueyin was a guest, a member of the Liu family.
    Changyin and Shen debated the success of the Nationalists’ most recent attempts to disband the warlord armies, while Tienzhen smiled politely.
    “How is your esteemed father?” Father asked Sueyin in a formal tone. Judge Liu was now her father. The Liu family now owned her loyalties.
    “My father is well. His health couldn’t be better.”
    Then she turned to our brothers. “There’s a small theatre at the estate. Mother doesn’t like going out, so we watch films at home. We really enjoyed Romance of the Western Chamber the other evening.”
    “It’s an excellent film,” Tongyin was quick to say. “Most excellent. Hou Yao is the most talented director in Chinese cinema today. How do you find his films, Second Brother-in-Law?”
    Tienzhen nodded, more animated now. “I didn’t think he could do better than A String of Pearls but this one is truly a masterpiece.”
    Sueyin stood up. “Please excuse me, Husband. I’d like to spend a little time with my sisters. When you’re ready to leave, just send someone to get me.”
    Gaoyin and I followed her upstairs, where she opened the door of her old room and sat at the dressing table, now emptied of combs and creams. She gazed around at the walls, the panels painted in cream and gold, the leaf-patterned wallpaper, the pale blue drapes. We waited for her to speak.
    “He’s kind to me. And he says he’s ashamed of his addiction. He’s promised to try to give it up. But I don’t believe he can. Let’s say no more about it.”
    “All right then. What does he read?” I asked. “What do you enjoy in common?”
    “He enjoys reading film magazines.”
    Gaoyin pursed her lips. In our family, that made Tienzhen practically illiterate.
    “He confides in me, I think. He talks a lot when we’re alone.”
    Gaoyin put her arm around Sueyin’s shoulders. “That’s good, isn’t it?”
    “He talks because I’m the only person who listens. His mother keeps to her rooms except when she plays mah-jong. For her, it’s enough that he comes when she sends for him.”
    “But that estate is filled with family,” I said. “There must have been a dozen households at your wedding, all those aunts and uncles and cousins.”
    “He doesn’t like them. The entire family lives off the Judge’s wealth. They flatter us and resent us.”
    “Oh, Second Sister, this is worse than we could have imagined,” I said. “You’ll find no true friends there.”
    “Second Sister, come to stay with me in Shanghai whenever you can,” said Gaoyin. “Bring Tienzhen with you, if you have to.”
    A soft knock on the door, and we fell silent immediately. Stepmother entered.
    “Your husband wishes to leave now, Second Stepdaughter.”
    Sueyin stood up and nodded. I could almost see her stiffen with the effort.
    We escorted Tienzhen and Sueyin to the main gate. Lao Li and the Lius’ chauffeur sprang to attention and the chauffeur pulled open the door of their motorcar with a white-gloved hand. Tienzhen held Sueyin’s arm as she climbed in. The car horn tooted, and the vehicle pulled out onto the street. Through the rear window we saw Tienzhen lean over to kiss Sueyin’s cheek. Then Lao Li pushed the gates closed again.
    I turned back to the villa, but Gaoyin grabbed my hand.
    “Let’s go for a walk in the Old Garden.” She put a finger to her lips as we turned away from the rest of the family.
    Gaoyin marched at a pace more suited to leading an army, a grim set to