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cheeks were still gleaming and taut.
    “No. Sometimes I go by the schoolroom to watch Miss Tyler. She doesn’t scare me. But the chauffeur says that in Shanghai men and women openly hug and kiss each other! The barbarians know no shame.”
    “That is exactly how I feel, my little heart-and-liver.” She took her daughter’s hand. “And that is one reason you are not going to the schoolroom.”
    “Will
jei-jei
also hug and kiss when she goes to Shanghai?”
    “Golden Bell is not going to Shanghai.” Her mother dropped the hand. “Now, are you ready to recite your lesson?”
    “No
M-ma
, it’s too hard to memorize things I don’t understand!”
    “It is good discipline to memorize. You’ll understand when you’re older.” Her mother opened the book. “These passages are relevant to what we were talking about. The first couplet says man is always born good and kind.
    Origin of man,
Is always kind
.
    “The second couplet says while nature will stay true, bad habits will corrupt man and bring him far from his original goodness.
    Nature brings close
Habit channels away
.
    “So the third couplet concludes that if a child is not properly taught, his good nature will change.
    If not taught
Nature will change
.
    Now, do you think you can memorize these few couplets?”
    “I’ll try. But I wish I could learn about the electric lights instead.”
    “Hai, what’s a mother to do?” she moaned. In her mind, she knew perfectly well how her daughters felt — as if a fluttering bird from that foreign picture had flown inside them.
    Silver Bell smiled. “
M-ma
, have you thought of a birthday present for Father?”
    “I am embroidering this vest for him.” She shifted in her seat. “Except for our chess games, he isn’t interested in anything I do anymore.” Her eyes narrowed as she reached for her embroidery. She did not mean to confide her innermost fears to her young daughter.
    “Father is a book-fragrant gentleman. You always said he never indulges in sleeping with the willows and lying with the flowers.” Silver Bell tilted her head to peer into her mother’s face.
    “Yes, he is too noble.” Purple Jade shuddered at the thought of an unfaithful husband. “He deserves a better wife. All the wind-and-water men chose the best date and time for our marriage, yet we have no sons.”
    “Would Father take a concubine?”
    Purple Jade paused. Giving her husband a concubine — this would be the traditional way to ensure an heir. The thought sent her heart thumping. Somehow, her silk thread became tangled. She laid down her embroidery and looked for her scissors. “No, my little heart-and-liver, your father is too Westernized. If you do not go near the schoolroom but study your classics instead, I will find you a husband someday who is willing to take our name. Then no male relative would dare claim to be a master of this house.”
    “But Father says I must go to the school room, after I turn ten next winter.”
    Purple Jade stared into the empty space ahead. Fingering the mangled threads, she asked: “If you should become Westernized, who will marry you and serve as our heir?” Silver Bell was not listening. “
M-ma
, I’ll try to memorize the couplets!” She touched her mother’s back and ran off.

“M ORNING PEACE, JADE-
jei
.” Glorious Dragon entered his sister’s sitting room. He was five-feet-ten. In his gray wool suit he looked like an Oxford student on a foreign holiday.
    “Morning peace, Dragon, but it is already past ten o’clock. Were you up last night checking the company books I sent you?” Turning to her maid, she ordered: “Orchid, bring us tea.”
    “I don’t want tea.” Glorious Dragon motioned Orchid to stay and started pacing. “Everyone knows I’m here to check on our family business, but I don’t need to look at the books.” He stared at the ground. “I’m here to ask for your help. It’s a worthy adventure.”
    “What do you mean?” Purple Jade frowned. “What