Apr 16 2008
An ostracized concubine
Popo’s grandfather 玉山老人 (1837 Jiande, Anhui -1921 Tianjin) had three concubines 侧室, the last one was a young maid on the staff. She was expelled abruptly for something that considered a grave offense to an official family, not long after giving birth to Xuehui (1882 Tianjin -1971 Tianjin). Yiliang wrote in his popular memoir that the girl had no family nor got married, lived her life out in solidarity in Yangzhou. The son only could visit her once a year in Yangzhou. After the grandfather passed away in 1921, his fourth son Xuexi (1866 Jinling -1947 Beijing) took over as the patriarch. Xuehui kneed for extended long time in front of his half bro Xuexi, asking for forgiveness so that he could bring his mother back to the family. The older bro never flinched.
When I had the opportunity to chat with Li Yanxing (1928 Yangzhou -), Xuehai (the oldest son)’s great granddaughter, I asked about the severe fault the maid has committed.
“Oh, it’s really nothing. I heard she smiled to a young male servant in the alley way between two houses, as they passed by each other.”