Madam White Snake

When Love Comes

That night he could not sleep.
He kept thinking of the boat ride and everything that had happened. He remembered every word Suzhen had said to him. He remembered her face. He remembered her eyes, clear and beautiful, they were always looking at him. He tried not to think about it, but it was like a song that keeps repeating itself in one's head. A song of love that he heard for the first time in his life. It filled his heart with a joy which he could not quite explain. Because he could not explain it, his heart was also troubled by it.

Xu Xian 's sister
There he lay awake, until the light came through the windows in his room. Then he fell asleep. The next thing he heard was his sister's voice calling loudly in his ears. She woke up earlier than anybody in the house. After that, she could leave no one sleeping peacefully.
First she started a fire in the kitchen and boiled a large pot of water for the day. Usually she made such a loud noise that everyone woke up. Xu Xian nearly always woke up. But this morning was different.
When he woke up, he felt different. He did not seem to hear his sister's unpleasant voice ordering everyone to work. He had always found that very dull. He had always wanted to be left in peace in the morning and had always done his work in the morning in silent anger.
This morning he felt different. Although he had an little sleep, he did not feel tired. He felt fresh. The morning felt fresh and he did his work that morning willingly. His sister noticed the change in her brother. But she did not say anything cause it did not make any difference to her.
That morning business was good in the shop. A lot of people came to buy medicinea. Xu Xian and his brother in law, Lee Wing worked in the shop.
Lee Wing was a gentle man. He looked much older than his age. He was very tall, and had a very poor eye sight and always bend down to seem. As a result, his back was very bent. He was very fond of playing chess. It was the only thing that he cared for once he had cared about his business, before his wife decided to rule it for him. Now chess playing was his life. He spent his afternoons playing the agme while his wife had her afternoon sleep.
He neither liked nor disliked Xu Xian. The two men shared one thing, fear of the same woman. They often lied for each other so that they would not be scolded by her.
That afternoon when the sister was asleep, Xu Xian said to his brother in law, "I have something to do this afternoon. Could you please look after the shop for me?"
As usual Lee Wing was reading his chess book. He said, "Yes," without looking up.
Xu Xian left the shop and walked to Wuzhen. It was quite a long walk. He could have taken a boat there but his sister had not given him any money that day. He did not mind the walk, he was the happiest man in the world that afternoon.

Suzhen's house
Wuzhen was a quiet little town and Bai Suzhen's house was just outside the town, it was the only big house there. One could see it from a long way away. It looked grand.
As Xu Xian was walking up to it, he began feel a little worried about this visit. He thought, "She must be very rich to live in a house like this." He felt ashamed of his clothes. He slowed down, and tired to think of what to say when he saw her.
"Perhaps I'll just get back my umbrella from her maid and leave. After all, that's what I came here for, isn't it?" He said aloud.
The closer he got to the house, the more he wanted to turn back. He ahd not often seen such a grand house. And he had never entered one.
At last he reached the front door, it was a heavy wooden door which opened in the middle. It was a deep red colour and there were two big copper rings on it. Xu Xian held on to one of them for a long time. He did not dare to knock, just then it started to rain.
It began a small drops and then suddenly it came down heavily.
"I can't stand here like this forever," he thought, "I'll get very wet."
He picked up one of the copper rings. Before he could knock, the door was opened from the inside.
"Come in, Master Xu. We've been expecting you all afternoon." It was Xiaoqing at the door with an umbrella. She was smiling very cheerfully and seemed very pleased to see him.
She led him into the house, the house was built around a rock garden in four blocks. Each block had two floors. They were joined togeher by galleries. The walls, windows, and galleris were painted red, only the roof were green. In the garden there were rocks of different shapes and sizes, they were made to look like the kind of mountains that one finds in Chinese paintings. There were small and larger ponds. Some of them were covered with water lilies. Others were filled with flowers of all kinds and beautiful trees.

Xu Xian is invited to play cards
"We were playing card game when you came," Xiaoqing said as they entered the house.
"I can't take up too much of your time," Xu Xian said. "I came for my umbrella, and I'll.."
"You'll stay of course," Xiaoqing said happily. "It's more interesting for three people to play cards. We haven't had a visitor for such a long time. Oh, I don't remember how long. It's a very simple game really. I'll teach you to play..."
She talked on. All the time Xu Xian was busy looking at the rooms they were walking through. There were so many things to see such as the paintings on the walls, the art objects, the beautiful furniture, the garden through the windows. To him it was like walking into a strange new world.
At last they reached a room on the first floor. It was warm and comfortable. A light, sweet scent filled the room. Suzhen was sitting at the table by the window. She looked even more beautiful than he remembered. She stood up to greet him. They bowed and she invited him to sit down.
"Master Xu is going to join our card game," Xiaoqing cried. "Let's play, shall we?"
She went up to the table by the window and picked up the playing cards. She was eager to start the game.
"Xiaoqing," Suzhen said, "Master Xu has come a long way to see us. He is our guest."
She turned to Xu Xian and said, "Would you like a cup of tea?"
Before he could answer, she told Xiaoqing to bring Master Xu some tea. Xiaoqing jumped up from her chair and left the room.
"You must forgive my maid," Suzhen said with a smile. "She's a silly girl and I've never really tried to train her. She looks upon me as her elder sister. I even allow her to call me sister when we're alone."
"Oh, you're all wet!" She said lookinh at his clothes. "You must change into something dry, or you'll be ill."
"Oh, I'm quite alright," Xu Xian said uncomfortably. "I'm alright, really. Just a bit wet, that's all."
Xiaoqing walked into the room with some tea. She put it down on a table and poured two cups for Xu Xian and Suzhen. She brought the tea to Xu Xian and bowed. At the same time, she gave him a wink.
"Xiaoqing," Suzhen said, "would you help Master Xu fine some dry clothes? You'll find something for Master Xu in father's room."
"I'm quiet alright. Really, I.."
"Come this way please, Master Xu."
Xiaoqing took him to a room and laid out some clothes for him. They were colourful. She picked up a light purple garment and held it up in front of him.
"I think you'll look very handsome in this," Xiaoqing said. "You're a find looking man, you know. There's a mirror behind you."
Xu Xian turned and saw himself for the first time in the mirror, he had never really had the chance to look at himself in a mirror before. In those days, only the rich people could afford to have mirrors, which were made from copper. Xu Xian had only seen a mirror four times in his life. Standing in front of it, he could not take his eyes off himself.

Xu Xian would like to marry Suzhen
He heard Xiaoqing say, "Let me tell you a secret. Since we came back from Lake West, my mistress has been talking about nothing but you. Tell me, what do you think of my mistress?"
"Well, i think she is.." He watched with interest how his own lips moved.
"Pretty?" Xiaoqing asked.
"Yes, very." He smiled at himself in the mirror.
"Are you married?"
"No." He took one step forward.
"Would you like to be married?"
"Of course I would."
"Would you like to marry Suzhen?"
"I'd love to." And then he realized what he had said. He turned and saw Xiaoqing standing by the door. Her face was half hidden in shadow and no longer smiling.
Xu xian felt that he had something wrong. Xiaoqing looked at him, waiting. She seemed to have changed, don't know why he felt a little frightened of her. He explained, "I've never met anyone as beautiful as your mistress, it all happened so quickly."
He stopped to think, and then continued, "I am poor, your mistress is rich. I'll never have the money to marry anyone rich. It is quite impossible, i don't even dare to think of such matters. Are you trying to make fun of me?"
Xiaoqing stepped back into the light that came in front the door, she had a kind smile on her face.
She said, "I can see that you are an honest man, Master Xu. I wasn't trying to make fun of you, I was serious. Suzhen likes you, I can tell you that. I care very much for her, I dont want her to be unhappy."
Turning to go, she said, "I still think you look good in light purple. Anyway, choose what you like. Will you be able to find your way back? Good. I'll go and prepare dinner for the two of you. You'll stay of course and one more thing, if you ask Suzhen to marry you tonight she will probably accept."
She closed the door behind her and left. Xu Xian changed into some dry clothes. Alone in the room he felt strange, he could not believe that it was real. Suzhen, Xiaoqing, the things he had heard and said, the fine bug house, and even his own face in the mirror seemed unreal. He walked out of the room as though he were in a dream.