The Blue Dress Girl Read online

  Kau-lin, like She-she, was a Hakka. Their feet had been left unbound because few Hakka families could afford to have a girl in the household who was not able to work to earn her keep. Kau-lin, in particular, was fortunate to be alive. As she told She-she, every other girl born in the village in her birth year had been consigned to the Canton river.

  During She-she’s first, unhappy week, Kau-lin became her constant companion. She did her best to keep the new blue dress girl’s spirits from sinking too low. Kau-lin was a bright and cheerful girl and her efforts met with success during the day. She could do nothing to help She-she at night, when loneliness closed In.

  Yet She-she found the night-time solitude in her room preferable to the alternative offered by her new way of life, and reminders of her place in Li Hung’s household were never far away.

  This was 1857 and Canton was a busy trading port. Relations between China and the Western nations were currently under considerable strain, but many sailing-ships, flying the multi-coloured flags of Great Britain, France, America and Portugal, were constantly being towed upstream from Whampoa by multi-oared ‘dollar boats’. An occasional sea-going steamer was also to be seen, owned by one of the far-away sea-faring nations.

  Not built to battle against the currents of great rivers, the paddles of the steamships threshed the water to foam and black smoke poured from tall, thin funnels as the craft struggled against the tide to reach their assigned anchorages. Unseen in the dark oven-like caverns of the boiler-rooms, near-naked lascars were driven to the limits of endurance in order to meet the constant demand for more power. Frequently they collapsed from a combination of heat and exhaustion.

  Standing at a window of the great house, which was set well back from the water in order to avoid the odours of the river, Li Hung would watch the bustle of commerce with great satisfaction. Each ship arriving at Canton brought to China broadcloth, chintzes, tin, Bengal cotton, rice – and opium. Such cargoes meant revenue for the Imperial coffers, with a considerable sum from each siphoned off into the account of Li Hung.

  When the holds of the ships were emptied they would take on cargoes of silk, Sycee silver, satins and tea for the return voyage to Europe. An even larger percentage of the revenue from such exports would also find its way to Li Hung. It was a most satisfactory arrangement.

  Li Hung was not greedy by Chinese standards and no official complaint had ever been received from the foreign traders who made use of Canton’s facilities. Indeed, traders and ships’ masters were always eager to avail themselves of the Canton Hoppo’s world-renowned hospitality. Food was plentiful on his tables, the wine flowed freely and, for those who wanted it, there was a ready-warmed bed to help a man forget the uncertainties of navigation and commerce, while he recalled what he had left at home.

  Hoppo Li Hung enjoyed such simple pleasures as much as he delighted in offering them to others, although the women who shared his bed were dainty-footed Chinese girls from good backgrounds.

  For the ‘Foreign devils’ he had his senior eunuch gather in peasant girls. True, they were the pick of the countryside, but they were Hakkas, the daughters of fishermen or peasant farmers. Girls whose feet were like those of men. The traders and sea captains seemed not to care. Such lack of taste served only to increase Li Hung’s carefully concealed contempt for the barbarians whose commerce had made him a very rich and powerful man.

  ‘Foreign devils’ came to the quarters of the blue dress girls nightly during She-she’s first week there. All were regular traders who had their own established favourites among the girls. Nevertheless, each night she lay awake as the heavy and unsteady footsteps of the Fan Quis came along the corridor. They were accompanied by the soft-walking eunuchs with their high-pitched voices, and only a flimsy curtain separated her from the men she feared so much.

  On one occasion Kau-lin received a visit from one of the traders. When she appeared the next morning she looked pale and tired.

  She-she offered the other girl her sympathy. ‘I heard the Fan Qui being taken to your room. Was it very bad?’

  To She-she’s surprise, the other girl smiled. ‘Bad? No. He was young – and almost sober. I lay back and imagined he was a man from my village. The one I would have married had I not come here. It was almost enjoyable. I would have enjoyed it more had he drunk an extra glass or two of Li Hung’s wine. Then he might have allowed me some sleep. Do I look awful this morning?’

  She-she was taken aback by the matter-of-fact manner with which Kau-lin was able to talk of a night spent being made love to by a ‘Foreign devil’. She lapsed into silence.

  ‘Was there no one in your own village you hoped to marry, She-she?’

  The girl thought hard. There were a number of young men of whom she was fond, but she could think of no man she would like to have shared a bed with. ‘No. Is it really what you do? Think of someone else while it’s happening?’

  ‘Sometimes. But last night was not too bad. The Fan Qui was not like the others. He has learned a little of our language and tried to speak to me. He likes to talk, that one … when he is not doing other things.’

  When O-hu, the senior eunuch, came into the garden a few days later, his glance fell upon She-she and she immediately knew the purpose of his visit. The other girls had fallen silent at his approach, but She-she never noticed them. She had eyes only for the eunuch. He stopped in front of her, inclining his head slightly before speaking. It seemed to her there was malicious delight in his expression.

  ‘Good evening, She-she. You will be pleased to know you are at last to have the privilege of repaying Li Hung for the honour he has brought upon you and your family. You will go and bathe, using sweet herbs. When you return to your room you will put on the silk robe laid out in readiness on your bed. The Fan Qui who will come to you tonight is a most important man. You will ensure he has a night of great pleasure.’

  ‘Who is this “most important Fan Qui”?’ Kau-lin was the only blue dress girl who dared question O-hu. He was usually quick to take offence, but he seemed to find only amusement in Kau-lin’s cheekiness.

  ‘It is the trader, Courtice. He is both important and wealthy.’

  ‘Why is he to go with She-she? Trader Courtice has always been Che’eng’s man.’

  Che’eng was the oldest of the blue dress girls. There had long been speculation about the length of time she would remain in the household of Li Hung. Now O-hu put an end to such speculation.

  ‘Che’eng is too old to remain as a blue dress girl any longer. Tomorrow she will leave the house of Li Hung.’

  ‘But she has nowhere to go. What will become of her?’

  ‘Arrangements have been made for her future.’

  ‘What sort of arrangements?’ Kau-lin persisted. Li Hung had a reputation for ruthlessness from which ageing blue dress girls were not immune.

  ‘She is to go to a flower-boat tomorrow. It has been agreed with the flower-boat owner.’

  There was a gasp from the listening blue dress girls and the unfortunate Che’eng put her hands to her face and fled inside the house. The flower-boats were curtained sampans that plied the Canton river. Bedecked with flowers and manned by prostitutes, they found their customers among the ships anchored in the waterway. Catering for sailors of all nations, the girls were despised by their fellow-countrymen, and women.

  ‘Why give She-she to Trader Courtice? Why not some other girl? Me, if you like. She-she doesn’t know enough to please an important man like him.’

  O-hu showed She-she the malicious smile once more. ‘You are right, of course, but I think perhaps the Fan Qui will enjoy teaching her.’

  ‘The Trader Courtice is a pig. A fat, Fan Qui pig.’

  ‘You will watch your tongue, or Che’eng will have company when she goes to the flower-boats.’ O-hu responded to Kau-lin with a sudden flash of venom that showed his patience was not inexhaustible, even with her. ‘Come, She-she. You will ready yourself now.’

  ‘I’ll come and help her.’
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br />   O-hu inclined his head once more. ‘As you wish, but be quick or you will both feel the bamboo cane tomorrow.’

  As the eunuch walked away, She-she discovered she was shaking. Kau-lin noticed it and took her friend’s arm. ‘Take no notice of O-hu. The only pleasure he will ever have in life is frightening blue dress girls.’

  ‘Have you seen this Trader Courtice? What is he really like?’ She-she was still trembling uncontrollably.

  ‘Huge and hairy, but don’t let that frighten you. Don’t let anything frighten you. While you bathe I’ll tell you what you can do to make it easier….’

  Chapter 3

  AS THE LIGHTS went out one by one in the quarters of the blue dress girls, She-she’s hopes began to rise slightly. She had been waiting for Trader Courtice for many hours. Perhaps he would not come. He was an important man, O-hu had said. It might be that he had business elsewhere.

  As the sounds of Li Hung’s household faded and died she relaxed even more. It was very late. Surely he would not come now?

  It was peaceful in this part of the house and she must have dozed off. It could not have been for more than a few moments, but she awoke with a start to see O-hu standing in the entrance to her room, an expression of disapproval upon his face. He was holding back the curtain and through the opening behind him a man entered. A Fan Qui man. He was so tall he needed to stoop in order to pass through the doorway.

  The man came across the room somewhat unsteadily and She-she looked up at him with horror. Trader Courtice was more than a big man. He was huge. He must have weighed at least three times her own weight and he was old. Older than her father. It was difficult to see much of his face, hidden as it was behind a huge, bushy beard, but above the hair his skin was blotchy and laced with thin, purple veins.

  Signalling for the eunuch to leave the room, Trader Courtice stood swaying beside the bed for many moments, gazing down at She-she. His blue, bulging eyes reminded her of those of one of the great carp that swam in the waters of the pool in Li Hung’s garden, eyes blue-blind with age.

  Trader Courtice stood swaying above She-she for what seemed an age. Then he grunted and began to undress. Pulling his shirt over his head he revealed a chest that was almost as hairy as his face. Her heart racing alarmingly, She-she closed her eyes, unable to look any longer. She knew she had to make an effort to control the revulsion she felt, but this Courtice was more animal than human. He reminded her of a drawing of a huge ape that had filled a page in one of the books belonging to her uncle.

  What was Li Hung thinking of, entertaining such a creature? This Fan Qui should be caged. Instead, he had been brought to her room so he might make love to her … No, love was not involved. He was here to use her.

  She-she opened her eyes when the clothes were pulled back from the bed. She averted her gaze again immediately. Courtice stood over her, gross in his nakedness, a huge belly sagging over the parts she tried hard not to look at.

  The trader spoke one word. It was the only word she would hear him utter, and it made no sense to her. He said it again and it sounded more like the noise made by an uncertain dog: ‘Off.’ This time the word was accompanied by a gesture and She-she understood. Courtice wanted her to remove the sleeping robe she wore.

  She obeyed as though she were acting out a dream. A nightmare. Then she lay back and the trader stood looking down at her, studying her from head to toes.

  She-she still averted her eyes from his ugly body, but the was aware that the sight of her nakedness had mitred him.

  Courtice sat down heavily on the side of the bed and the stout bamboo frame protested noisily. The trader ran a hand over her body and she closed her eyes once more as her skin recoiled in revulsion from his touch.

  His hands roamed her naked body, feeling, pressing, probing. She-she moaned in abject despair, but Courtice took it to be a response to his crude explorations. He lay down beside her for a moment and then rolled over upon her. As his huge flabby body sagged on top of her, enveloping her, the mass of hair on his chest covered her nose and mouth. She found difficulty in breathing.

  She-she fought hard to free her face but Courtice again misinterpreted her response. He grunted as he fumbled in an attempt to force himself inside her.

  Suddenly something in She-she’s mind snapped. It no longer mattered that this man was one of Li Hung’s honoured guests. It counted for nothing that he was a wealthy and powerful trader. She began a frenzied attempt to break free of his embrace.

  Finding a strength she had never known before she beat at the huge trader, punching and gouging. When this proved futile she seized the hair of his head with both hands and forced it back. She even sank her teeth into the loose, flabby skin of his. revolting, hairy chest.

  Taken by surprise, Trader Courtice let out a bellow of pain. He heaved his chest clear of her face but as She-she sucked in great gulps of air he raised his fist to strike her.

  The blow never fell. A frightening, deep gurgling sound filled Trader Courtice’s throat and for a few moments there was a terrible conflict deep within his body. The sounds ceased as suddenly as they had begun and his body sagged to envelop She-she once more.

  This time she had her face turned to one side. Although the smell of him threatened to choke her, she could at least breathe – but she had not stopped fighting him. Making a supreme effort she pushed Trader Courtice away.

  The large man rolled off her and crashed to the floor. Gasping for breath, She-she swung her legs from the bed, steeling herself for a beating from the gross Fan Qui.

  Trader Courtice remained where he had fallen, lying on his back on the floor. Arms akimbo and mouth open, his eyes looked more like those of Li Hung’s carp than before.

  She-she stared at the prostrate figure for almost a minute, until horror took the place of revulsion. Trader Courtice was dead. Her resistance to his advances had killed him!

  She-she’s screams wakened the other blue dress girls and brought O-hu hurrying to their quarters. He was accompanied by two lesser eunuchs.

  When the eunuchs entered the room the blue dress girls crowded around the doorway. They tittered and made immodest comments as each sought to catch a glimpse of the body of the huge trader.

  Pushing her way between the other girls, Kau-lin ran to She-she’s side and put her arms about her friend. While O-hu kneeled beside the dead trader, uncertain of what he should do, Kau-lin spoke angrily to the giggling girls.

  ‘Be quiet! This is no time for such foolishness. Can’t you see She-she is upset?’

  ‘Why upset?’ One of the girls spoke maliciously. ‘She should be proud. She has killed a Fan Qui – and on her first time too! What will she do when she has some experience?’

  As the ribaldry gained new momentum, O-hu stood up and glared at the blue dress girls in the doorway. ‘Yes, he was a Fan Qui – and a very important one. This could cause trouble – big trouble, for everyone. Li Hung must be told immediately.’

  Ordering the two eunuchs with him to dress the dead trader, O-hu ushered the girls from the room, telling them to go to bed and remain silent.

  Kau-lin remained comforting her friend. By the time the two struggling eunuchs had succeeded in dressing Trader Courtice, She-she had regained some of her composure.

  The two girls were talking quietly together when the curtain in the doorway was pushed aside and Li Hung entered the room, followed by O-hu.

  Both girls stood up and bowed low, but Li Hung impatiently ordered them to stand up and face him.

  ‘Which one is She-she?’

  ‘I am, Master.’ She-she bowed again.

  ‘You … go!’ The order was given to Kau-lin. At the same time the Hoppo waved a hand at the grovelling eunuchs and said to O-hu, ‘Tell them to drag the body of the Fan Qui outside. We will send it back to his ship and say it was found beside the road near the house by one of the servants. Trader Courtice was a very big man. Too big for his heart. It will be thought it finally failed him.’

  Turning to Sh
e-she, the Hoppo said, ‘You will say nothing of this to anyone. Should you be questioned you will deny any knowledge of the trader Courtice. Is this understood?’

  ‘It is understood, Master.’

  ‘Good!’

  Li Hung had reached the doorway before She-she’s voice brought him to a halt.

  ‘Master … O-hu must order the other girls to remain silent also. They saw the body of the Fan Qui lying on the floor of my room.’

  Li Hung was silent for a few moments and She-she thought she might have gone too far in telling the Hoppo what he should do. Then he nodded his head. ‘That was well thought. O-hu will tell them.’

  Li Hung’s gratitude extended beyond words. The following morning O-hu came to the quarters of the blue dress girls bearing a gift for She-she. It was a heavy bracelet of gold and jade, on which was worked the Chinese symbols for ‘Happiness’, ‘Long Life’ and ‘Good Fortune’.

  Chapter 4

  DESPITE THE DIRE warnings of Li Hung, the true story of Trader Courtice’s death did not remain within the walls of the Hoppo’s house for very long. Within a week the story was circulating in the market place of Canton and rumours had reached the European business quarter alongside the river. The Hoppo’s spies brought him disquieting rumours that an ‘investigation’ was being demanded into the matter, fuelled by jealous traders and merchants who had never been invited to enjoy the delights of Li Hung’s hospitality.

  He found such rumours extremely disquieting and was anxious they should go no further. But discovering the source was not a task for the District Collector of Customs. Distasteful duties of this nature were always passed on to Li Hung’s secretary, who also happened to be his nephew.

  Small and insignificant, Secretary Po was a pinch-faced young man with a diffident manner and a voice pitched almost as high as one of his illustrious uncle’s eunuchs. His appearance was deceptive. Po was one of the most ruthless and ambitious young men in the employ of the Hoppo. He would stop at nothing to help further his career, as many men had discovered to their cost.