Page 70 - Vol. VII #7

New Work in New China (continued from page 56)
businesses, she distributes the money to schools and orphanages. She has also started a program that helps underprivileged young people in the countryside find jobs in the city. The lobbyists hate her. Watching her argue, Pei Pei finds her a remarkable woman. He will like to join her cause as soon as he comes to power.
doesn’t look like a concubine at all; she looks like a young girl in a pretty dress, like a college student hard at work.
A few hours before a meeting, Lady Jing complains of a headache, and tells Pei Pei to attend in her place. During the meeting, the Henan lobbyists talk amongst themselves, seeing that Pei Pei is not officially any- thing yet, and hand him envelopes, telling him to deliver them to Lady Jing. After the meeting, taking advantage of Lady Jing’s absence, Pei Pei walks over to Lady Xiu, and introduces himself.
“You are from the countryside?” she asks. “I am,” he says. He feels almost ashamed.
“I admire what you’re doing,” he says. “New China needs more concubines like you.”
She slides over and takes his hand. “No one is fit to become a gong-gong,” she says. “Why would you want to give up what you have for this? Some of us are here not because we want to be, but because we have to.”
Lady Xiu looks him up and down, and Pei Pei realizes that he has forgotten his place, that he is not officially anything yet. He kneels and begins to kowtow.
“My village is poor,” he says. “We have no food. My family is counting on me.”
“You still have your testicles?” she asks.
“Your family needs you to be where you are.”
Pei Pei nods. He looks up and sees that she is smiling. Her eyes are surprisingly gentle.
Pei Pei nods, and then looks down. “Lady Jing will be wondering why I’m not back yet.”
She leans in. “Let me give you some advice,” she whis- pers. “Keep your testicles. Leave this place.”
Lady Xiu smiles. She leans in and kisses him on the cheek. ~
“What does the Lady mean?” he asks. “Come to my chambers and I’ll explain.”
Busy commanding his armies in Mongolia, the em- peror has left Zhang in charge of the palace. Before he left, he told Zhang to be especially wary of Lady Xiu. The emperor complained that she had been more interested in politics than in sex during her nights with him. Zhang told the emperor that he was suspicious of her himself. One night, while taking a walk on the outermost walls, he saw her talking with some strange men. She was disguised, but dropped her hood for a moment and Zhang could tell she was a concubine. Her headdress also indicated that she was from Beijing. “If anything else of the slightest suspicion occurs,” the emperor said to Zhang, “do not hesitate to take action.”
He follows her down the palace hallway and into her private chambers. Her maids stand guard by the door Inside, the room is almost identical to Lady Jing’s room. The bed, desk, chairs, lamp, and vases are all placed in the same locations. Stacks of books and pa- pers litter the floor. On her desk is a large typewriter with a half-written letter inside.
She sits down at her desk and puts on a pair of spec- tacles. “The emperor doesn’t allow us to have televi- sions or computers,” she says, tying the letter. “I had to have my chambermaids steal this typewriter from outside the palace walls.”
Zhang is pleased that the emperor has given him such powers. He wants to take full advantage of them, and appoint Pei Pei before the emperor re- turns. Secretly, Zhang calls Pei Pei’s parents. He tells them to pack their bags and prepare to leave for Tibet. He also tells them to inform Song that her hus- band will become a high official. Pei Pei has been in Tibet for a week now, and Zhang suspects that he is beginning to get used to the daily baths, meaty meals,
He looks around and realizes that something is miss- ing. “Why doesn’t the Lady have a gong-gong?” he asks.
“He sleeps in his room all day. It’s what I tell him to do. You can never trust eunuchs. They’re always out for themselves. Useless in more than one way.”
Pei Pei keeps quiet. With her spectacles on, Lady Xiu 63
She laughs. “You walk in giant steps, like you’re standing in a sorghum field.”
He looks down. “Is that why Lady Xiu thinks I am not fit to become a gong-gong?”