First Opium War

Chapter 4: Jasper Landry

Jasper Landry, nicknamed Jaspy, is an aristocrat from the Landry noble family. Before the societal induction of the chinese slaves, the Landry family captured Chinese men and women who were free and sold their captives to King Walter Bertrand who awarded them lots of money. Recently, Jasper was sent to finish a transaction with King Bertrand. That was when he saw Bertrand murder one of his servants in the hall of his castle.

        Up until that point, Jasper was unaware of the treatment slaves went through. When his family sold slaves to Bertrand he thought they were helping the Chinese overcome homelessness. Despite being British himself he felt empathy for the slaves. But naivety struck after seeing the reality. He never collected the money he was sent to retrieve from Bertrand. He decided he will no longer be the reason why slaves are sent and tortured.

        His family's mansion has a Victorian style architecture: The base color of the mansion was white, with a light blue roof and tall ceilings. Beautiful art designs were painted across the archways on the ceiling while the floors were comforted with dark purple carpets spread throughout the estate. And lastly, the walls were decorated with designs depicting the 16th century.

        It was a place that the wealthy felt comfortable visiting. The Landry family sat at marble Platine De Royale dinner table - a very expensive investment. Jasper sat with his brother, sister, mother, and father. Meals were usually silent which was a common thing among their family. Jasper's father, Phillip Landry, used a fork and knife to cut a piece off his chicken. Their house maid was Changying Lin who worked at the mansion since she was twelve years old. She is now twenty-two.

       Sometimes, Phillip would have sex with Changying against her will but she never told anyone what Phillip was doing to her, not even Jasper's mother, Francesca. Changying cooked the family their favorite Kung Pao Chicken with healthy vegetables.

        Phillip broke the silence. "So, you made it back," he said to Jasper. "Did everything proceed well?" He asked while chewing his food.

        "...Yes, sir." Jasper replied reluctantly. 

        It was the first time he returned without his father's money. 

        "Well?" Phillip gazed at Jasper in anticipation, waiting to see the envelope that Bertrand normally puts the money into. 

         Phillip always chewed with his mouth closed. He called it manners. Disgusting man. Phillip rarely smiled or laughed when it came to transactions because money was a serious deal for him, and more important to him than blood. He would even kill to get it. And Jasper knew that if he didn't proceed with closing the business transaction, but instead avoided it, he knew that would anger his father.

         Jasper's older brother, Franklin, often scolded him because Francesca liked to play favorites and Jasper was her golden child; while Franklin received her cruelty. 

         "Stop tapping your plate!" Francesca coldly whispered to Franklin. 

         Their younger sister, Lindsey, was the spoiled one. All she did was giggle under her breath at Franklin. Sometimes, Lindsey would ask Changying to 'make her pretty,' by the use of expensive make-up. 

         "Well did you hear me boy?" Phillip asked Jasper again. "Where is the money?"

          "Just blurt it out!" Jasper thought. "I ran!" 

          His family gazed at him as Jasper slammed his hands on the dinner table in frustration. The platinum made utensils jumped when Jasper did so.

          "Excuse me?" Phillip said, feeling his anger build. 

          "We treat these poor people like wazzocks!" Jasper shouted. 

          Changying looked at Jasper and for the first time in a long time she smiled. 

          Jasper continued. "How can you sleep? Trading off women and children? To pish with your money!" Jasper finished, storming out of the mansion. 

          Both of Jasper's siblings laughed as Francesca ran after her beloved son, begging him to come back. But he couldn't come back. Not anymore. Jasper hated his family. They treated the Chinese like simpletons. He wants to undo what his father did and rescue the slaves. 

          "You bloody pillock. You dare undergo treason using the Landry name!" Shouted Phillip as he tried to chase after him. 

          Francesca held her husband with her frail, wrinkled hands. 

         "Don't you ever come back or you will dance with the oppressed!" Phillip finished yelling. 

          But by then Jasper had already disappeared amongst the tall and sacred redwood trees just south of their home.

           In present day, after the Chinese were inducted into British society in 1902, Jasper became a traveling merchant. He haven't spoke to his family in years since he left. Rumor has it that his father was put in charge of Bertrand's societal reform - tasked with finding subtle ways to modernize slavery. And since the reform Jasper sold trinkets and food to British citizens; but gave food and money to poor and helpless Chinese citizens for free. 

         British customers payed big prices for the items he sold, but that was his way of hating his heritage. He acquired these trinkets by stealing from British-built museums in Xianfan.

         Lately, there were people talking about a possible war with Japan. Bertrand formed a military draft - recruiting both Chinese men and women against their will. A disgusting thing. The poor devils will be used as meat shields and thrown on the front lines to die. Bertrand has no empathy. Nothing but a narcissist he is. 

       "But what can I do? Ah, I got it!" Jasper thought, as he stood next to his horse and his cart. "There will be soldiers near the border of Japan...um, I think? Perfect! I can help Chinese draftees! Give them free food! Ho, ho, ho...Brilliant I say!" Jasper hurried and gathered his things. His next stop? Japan's western border.