City of Streamer

During a rainstorm in the early autumn, the grey dense clouds high above receded, exposing the bright azure sky.

Feng Shizhen sat in the Rong family’s bright keeping room; head buried deep in solving math problems.

The Rong family servants walked to and fro in the nearby hallway, the swing doors to the kitchen opening and closing, creaking in sound. Bursts of the strong aroma of food flowed over and burrowed into Fan Shizhen’s nose.

It was almost noon. Woken early in the morning and only having a bowl of rice porridge, Fan Shizhen was unable stop her stomach from beating drums.

There was a crash and the chef screeched at the errand boy, “You rascal, young mistress is allergic to seafood. Mixing the salad right after you peeled the shrimp, are you trying to kill someone?”

The attendant hurriedly ran over from end of the hallway and yelled into the kitchen from the door, “Young master’s not coming down to eat lunch. Send a bowl of seafood wontons up and add an extra spoon of chili.”

“Madam is home, he’s still not going to come down to eat?” an old auntie piqued up, “Madam has been busy trying to find him a private teacher, he should at least come down and take a look.”

“Apparently, it’s because he just came back from Chongqing so he’s not used to the food.”

“I think it’s because he just doesn’t want to eat at the same table as madam.”

“So what. He needed to go study abroad anyways.”

“So nosy, what are you still working here for, why don’t you go join the police arrest team!” The middle-aged steward walked over, tone full of reprimand. The chatter in the kitchen immediately died down.

The steward turned around and entered the parlor, saying to Feng Shizhen, “Miss Feng, the madam invites you to the study room.”

Feng Shizhen picked up the paper and followed the steward as they walked past Rong family’s majestic antechamber. Hearing the door to the study room open, a girl wearing a deep blue skirt hurried ran out. Not looking at anyone and hugging the satchel in her arms tightly, she left without a second glance back.

The girl was interviewing for the position of private teacher right before Feng Shizhen. It was obvious she failed to be selected.

The Rong family was looking for a private teacher for the young master and young mistresses and yet they’re so picky, even requiring applicants to finish a test. It was also the first time Feng Shizhen witnessed this. The Rong family’s style indeed ranked first in the Bund.

The steward knocked on the door of the study room, to which a man’s voice unexpectedly answered.

The Rong family’s study room was enormous; three sides were covered with tall bookcases while the last side was a wide window wall that faced the backyard lawn.

 A pretty woman just over thirty sat in the middle of the high-backed sofa, gracefully and leisurely sampling her black tea. Behind the red oak desk sat a man wearing a grey dress shirt.

The man was not yet twenty years old, handsome and cultured, yet stoic and unsmiling. Peering through his gold-rimmed glasses, he glanced over at Feng Shizhen before looking down at the test paper she completed earlier. Madam Rong had permed a trendy short curly hairstyle and wore a light purplish gold slim qipao, the hem fashionably shortened by half an inch, revealing slim snow-white ankles.

Feng Shizhen stood next to the coffee table and respectfully greeted Madam Rong.

A young lady just barely over twenty, tall, posture perfectly straight, not wearing any jewelry at all. Feng Shizhen was born with a gentle and cordial oval face, her untouched eyebrows delicate and natural. Her porcelain-like pale skin was so bright and clean that it made people envious. Her luscious long black hair was braided and rested right behind her head, and she wore a bamboo green sleeved qipao with bamboo prints. Overall, her appearance was simple, neat, and composed without fault. She stood there elegantly, the fragrance of grass after an evening rain wafting over.

“Miss Feng, please sit,” Madam Rong was still considered polite, calling the servant to pour tea for Feng Shizhen, “I see you’ve brought with you Mr. Pei Dongren’s recommendation letter, are you his disciple?”

Feng Shizhen replied modestly, “I was not able to have the honor of being accepted under his tutelage. I used to go listen to his lectures with a few classmates and have helped him organize his library before. Mistress liked having us over, so she would often invite us over for tea.”

Madam Rong nodded, “Mr. Pei is a man of virtue and honor, an esteemed figure in the scholarly world. Although our Rong family is a business family that only knows money, we still deeply respect him. Where does Miss Feng live? What do your parents do for a living?”

Feng Shizhen replied, “Our family used to live in Wenchunli in Hongkou, where my father opened a medicine shop.  Just recently, we had to close due to poor management. After I graduated from college, I taught at Moore Church’s women cram class, teaching English, French, and mathematics. Afterwards, I taught at Tongwen Academy’s cram class teaching mathematics during the night shift. I’ve taught those from elementary school to middle school. Even if it’s college coursework, I can still provide some guidance.”

For every sentence Feng Shizhen said, Madam Rong nodded. Feng Shizhen spoke in a clear and orderly manner, her words carrying a slight Jinling1 accent. This caused Madam Rong, whose family came from Nanjing, to naturally feel familiar with her, her gaze gradually becoming gentler.

At this time, the man finally finished looking over the test sheet and passed it over to Madam Rong. Madam Rong scanned over it briefly before revealing a very satisfied smile.

“As expected of a top student from Ginling College, every subject has full marks!” Madam Rong said, “Xiucheng said he specifically chose hard problems from teaching materials used abroad, so many of the previous female teachers applying were unable to solve them. Miss Feng is the first to complete it all correctly.”

Feng Shizhen smiled bashfully, dipping her head, “I’m flattered.”

Madam Rong set down the test sheet, looking at the innocent young lady in front and said, “Miss Feng probably doesn’t understand our family’s situation. The young master attended a military school in Chongqing and only just came back last month. The child did not study in Chongqing so his grades aren’t good enough to get into college. The young mistress just turned sixteen this year, and the second mistress is younger by half a year. They both want to attend McTyeire School, so they need tutoring in English. The rest of the kids are still young, so they currently don’t need to be taught.”

Feng Shizhen replied, “Madam, please don’t worry. When I was in school, I tutored middle schoolers on their homework. I also spent a few years teaching classes, especially specializing in exam preparation.”

Madam Rong nodded, “The other kids in the family are fine, you might have to spend a little more effort on the young master though. He has more to catch up on. I’m worried since you’re not older than him by much, he might not listen to you.”

Feng Shizhen politely smiled, “I’ve also taught college boys before. If I establish myself as a teacher, I’ll be able to manage him some.”

Madame Rong replied, “Then it’s set. It’ll be twenty dollars every month, and if you do well, I’ll give you a raise. If the young master can successfully get into a college next year, then there’ll even be a bonus. Miss Feng, when is it convenient for you to move in?”

Feng Shizhen breathed out a sigh of relief, and immediately broke out into a wide smile, her face innocent and radiant, “I still need to go home and tell my parents. Would the day after tomorrow work?”

Madame Rong agreed, paying Feng Shizhen ten yuan in advance on the spot. She ordered an older maidservant to take her measurements for a tailored outfit and even asked her to stay for lunch before leaving.

Feng Shizhen politely turned her down repeatedly. Madam Rong thus ordered an errand boy to call for a rickshaw at the crossroad outside, sending Feng Shizhen away.

Yang Xiuchen flipped through the papers on the desk, saying to Madam Rong, “Aunt, tbere’s five more people left, do you still want to check them out?”

“No need.” Madam Rong leaned against the sofa lazily. Thinking of Feng Shizhen’s innocent and shy appearance and the way she tried to pretend to be calm, she couldn’t help but smile sarcastically, “She’ll do. Educated, graceful, and neat. Isn’t that exactly that person’s type? Even if he isn’t interested in her, it’ll be enough to annoy Concubine Sun for a while. Just because she’s pregnant and her brother works as a comprador, doesn’t mean she’s able to become my equal!”

Yang Xiucheng rolled up the remaining resumes and threw it into the ashtray, lighting it up with a match.

“Has aunt read We Zetian’s story before?”

“I know what you’re worried about.” Madam Rong hmphed in laughter, “If my Jiaxin was still alive, he’ll probably be taller than me already. I also had a son. It’s his father that wasn’t able to save him.”

Mentioning her son that died young, Madam Rong’s heart ached and she started choking with sobs.

Yang Xiucheng pretended to not notice the tears around her eyes and pulled the bell to call a servant to clean the ashes on the desk.

The maidservant pushed the door open, a gust of wind blowing in and carrying the ashes from the ashtray up and out the door, like a black butterfly spreading its wings and flying towards an unknown world.

1 Jinling is also known as Nanjing. Jinling was the name in olden times.