The Snake Sisters-Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing

Once upon a time, there were two sister snakes. The elder sister was white, white from the top of her head to the end of her tail. She was whiter than the whitest cloud. The younger sister was green, green from her tail to the top of her head. She was greener than the greenest wood in spring. They lived in far away hills, among the clouds and the stars.

There Death came to the mountains every year. It carried off the young and the old, the sick and the healthy. The white snake hid in the clouds and the green snake hid among the trees. Death was never able to catch them. They lived for many hundreds of years.

They knew every tree on the hills, every cloud that flew by. They made friends with the wind, and learnt about the ways of the earth. They talked to the stars, and they came to understand the ways of sky. They became wise, and the secret of life was shown to them.

On the night that they became a thousand years old, they took human shape and turned into two beautiful women. The elder sister dressed in white, the younger sister in green.

They walked day and night in the woods, they talked and sang on the mountain tops. But soon they became tired of this way of life. They wanted to see what lay beyond mountains.

One night they said goodbye to the woods and the hills, the wind and the stars, and left for the cities.

Mortal Man- Xu Xian

After many dark, cold days, spring came to Lake West. It was the most beautiful time of the year, although it rained sometimes. People from all over China came to see Lake West in spring. Some came in groups. Some came in pairs. Some came alone and Xu Xian was one of them. However, he did not come to see the beautiful countryside. He came to Lake West because his parents were buried there. Every year around this time, he came to pay his respects to them.

The rain came very suddenly in the afternoon. It had been a very nice and sunny morning. The weather had been almost warm. The rain sent the people running for shelter. The lake, which had been filled with rowing boats, was not left in peace.

The rain sent up mist from the lake. The cold that had been forgotten in the sunshine a moment ago, returned. The people in bright coloured clothes went as quickly as the came. Soon there was no other noise, but that of the rain. It fell on the thin new leaves. It fell on the roofs covered with straw. It fell on the lake.

It was perhaps the best time to enjoy the beauty of Lake West. Only those who were trapped in the rain saw the beauty of it. But they just wanted the rain to stop, so that they could go away.

Xu Xian was ready for the rain and he had brought along an umbrella then je walked to the edge of the lake. He waited patiently for the boat that he had hired. He lived in a town just across the lake.

Xu Xian was a nice looking young man of about twenty. People in those days in China married young. By the time he was twenty, if he was not too poor, a man would have a wife and children. But Xu Xian was still not married.

Both his parents had died when he was very young. He was brought up by his sister who was a lot older than him. She ruled her little brother's life. She ruled her own husband's life as well as his business. If you let her, she would rule the world. She was the kind of woman. Her husband owned a small shop selling medicines in the town where they lived.

Since he was a boy, Xu Xian had a very little to be happy about. Sometimes he was not sure if his sister really cared about him. But she always said she did.

"Stay home and clean up the kitchen. Playing with those boys out there will only make you a good for nothing."

If he disobeyed her, she would beat him. She never had a kind word for him.

The rain stopped suddenly as he heard noise coming from behind him. People were running out of their shelters. The sky still looked grey and the rain was likely to fall again.

He hear the voices of two young women, talking and laughing. They were coming his way.

"Oh there's a boat coming. There's a boat coming," cried one of them.

"Just in time too," said the other one. "I hate rain. I hope it's not going to fall again. My shoes are wet and dirty."

The boat was rowed up to small pier which was made of bamboo. A number of people get off the boat. The boatman called out to Xu Xian.

"Have i kept you waiting for very long, sir? The water is a little rough today. Hard rowing. It's hard life being a boatman, you know. In winter,, you stand in the cold wind the whole day to wait for someone to come. Now you row the whole day. You don't even have time to say you're tired. I tell you, sir, this is a hard life…"

The boatman went on. He wore a raincoat made from dry leaves and was an old man.

Xu Xian walked out to the pier, and stepped down on on to the boat. Just at this moment, the rain began to fall again.

The Two Young Woman

There were two women standing on the pier. Neither of them had an umbrella. The taller of them was dressed in flowing white silk. Standing there in the rain, she was the most beautiful woman Xu Xian had ever seen. She looked as though she was a fairy risen from the lake. The other young women was dressed like a servant. She wore a long light green dress. She talked to the boatman.

"Boatman, can you take us across too? We don't know how long we shall have to wait for another boat. We'll pay for the ride."

"He must decide," the boatman said, pointing to Xu Xian. "He has hired the boat."

The maid turned to Xu Xian, and bowed. She said, "We're in hurry, sir, and we did not expect this rain. Please let us ride with you."

"Where are you ladies going?" Xu Xian asked.

"Li Jiang," she answered.

"I'm going that way too, so please come aboard."

It was a small boat. Xu Xian gave his seat to the two ladies and stood at the front. The boat slowly made for the other side of the lake in the rain.

The lady in white whispered a few words to her maid. The maid turned to Xu Xian and said, "Please come inside and sit with us, sir. It's windy and uncomfortable out there. You'll catch cold."

"The lady is right," the boatman added. "The boat is small, and the wind is strong. You'd better sit down too."

A little red in the face, he closed his umbrella and went inside. The ladies made room for him and he sat down by the door. He felt rather uncomfortable, he did not know what to say or do.

In those days, men and women did not mix. The young ones, especially, were not allowed to be friendly. They had very little chance to meet. Xu Xian now found himself alone with two women of his own age. It had never happened to him in his life before. And one of them was so beautiful too!

The boatman saw all this. He rowed and sang:

"A man loves to sail on a day like this,

Rowing in the light rain.

How did we come to meet

On this lovely day of May?

And why have I fallen in love with you

Long before I even know your name?"

"The lake does look lovely from here," said the lady in white. "Where do you live if i may ask?" She said resting his eyes on him.

Xu Xian almost jumped at the question. For a moment he did not know what to say. He moved uncomfortably in his seat and said, "I live in Zhouzhuang."

The young maid said cheerfully, "Then we're neighbours. We live in Wuzhen, you know. How nice!"

She talked very quickly and her face wore a naughty smile. The maid was a happy girl, happy and bold. She went on, "If it wasn't for you, sir, we would certainly have caught a cold. Why does it have to rain? Why can't we have sunshine all the time? I love the sun. Don't you?"

"Oh, yes.."

"Look, I'm talking to you, but I don't even know your name."

"Don't be rude, Xiaoqing," the mistress called out gently.

Xu Xian told her his name.

"You see, Master Xu doesn't mind," Xiaoqing said to her mistress. She turned to Xu Xian and bowed.

She said, "My humble greetings, Master Xu."

Xiaoqing did not remain serious for long. She lowered her voice and said to Xu Xian, "I'm a bad maid. That's what my mistress says all the time. I ask too many questions. That's what my mistress says too. What can I do? I was born like this. What are you doing here today? Oh, I'm sorry. I am doing it again."

Xu Xian was more comfortable now. He said, "It's alright. I'm here to pay my respects to my parent's graves. They're buried here."

"We're very sorry to hear that," the lady in white said.

"Xiaoqing, please behave yourself. You've just reminded Master Xu of something very sad."

"It's alright. My parents died a long time ago. I dont remember them very well."

They began a long talk in this manner. The lady in white told him that her name was Bai Suzhen. Like his, her parents both died. She was nineteen years old. He father had been an army officer an he had been killed in battle. Her mother had been very sad after that. She had become sick and died soon afterwards. Since then, Suzhen had been living all by herself. Xiaoqing, the lively maid, grew up with her. She was like a sister to her.

"Perhaps that's why she never obeys my orders. That naughty girl!" She looked up and smiled at Xu Xian. Their eyes met. He felt as he had never felt before, and it was a strange feeling then he looked away at once. He saw that the boat had reached Wuzhen. Not only that, but he did not know that they had talked for so long.

"Here you are," the boatman cried out. "Wuzhen. Time to get off, ladies."

They said goodbye to each other.

"Oh, it is still raining!" Xiaoqing said. "Does it ever stop?"

"I have an umbrella here with me, please take it," Xu Xian offered.

"No, I can't do that," Suzhen said. "You need it yourself when you get off."

"Please take it," Xu Xian said. "I'm quite sure it won't rain when I get to Zhouzhuang. Anyway I live only a few steps from the pier. I'm alright, really."

Xiaoqing took the umbrella from Xu Xian, saying, "It's very kind of you, Master Xu. I'll return it to you tomorrow. Just tell me where you live now."

Xu Xian suddenly thought of his sister. She would ask a lot of unpleasant questions if she met Xiaoqing. He knew his sister could be very unkind sometimes. She would scold him for talking to strange girls. She would scold him for…

"No, that'll be too much trouble for you," he said. I'll pick it up myself tomorrow."

"You're indeed very kind, sir," Suzhen said. "We live just around the corner. A short walk from here." She pointed out the direction for him. "It's a red house. Very easy to find. Although we've just met, you're already and old friend to us, so please come to pay us a visit tomorrow if you're free."

"Yes, I will," he said quietly, long after the boat had started for Zhouzhuang.

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.

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. Although he had a 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 because 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 had 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 together by galleries. The walls, windows, and galleries 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.

"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.

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 then 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 big house, and even his own face in the mirror seemed unreal. He walked out of the room as though he were in a dream.