“ So he ’ s the fearsome Du Yuesheng that my father has been working with ?” Fanchone questioned himself .
Du saw Fanchone and moved forward . Fanchone trembled . Du patted his head , “ Come , child , this is your home from now on .”
* * *
For some reason , Du loved Fanchone and treated him better than his own blood . Although Fanchone loved Du as a father , he detested Du ’ s ways in running the opium trade , courtesan houses and racketeering businesses in Shanghai .
At eighteen , Fanchone was good-looking for his age . He had inherited the best of his dead parents ’ features – his mother ’ s light brown hair and leaflike ears , his father ’ s rounded chin and hazel eyes . He came with Du to Du ’ s favorite courtesan house every day .
~
Fanchone sat at the table , watching the beauties file in . Each one reflected gracefulness , charm and beauty . Fanchone noticed that the colors of their qipaos complimented the Mei Langfan teahouse . Thick carpets , colorful tapestries , fainting couches , flower stands with peonies as big as babies ’ heads . The food on the table looked Western but tasted Chinese .
Sipping wine , Fanchone watched a song girl take to the stage . Another courtesan seated herself before the zither . As she swept her hand across the silken strings , the room fell silent .
Softly at first , the first cabaret let a few notes flow from her throat . Slowly , her voice rose , then fell again , like the waves of the ocean . Every person sat mesmerized , struck dumb by the magic in her voice .
The girl came to the climax of the song . The waves roared , reaching its peak . On the wings of music , she seemed to fly through the starry night sky , her eyes seemed faraway and distant , her face shone with jubilance . As she ended , the girl ’ s last lines sent a shiver down Fanchone ’ s spine .
For so long we have met under the bamboo tree ,
And in spirit you will always be free .
You are free
The moment you wish to be .
The audience took a moment before they gathered themselves enough to applaud . The girl simply walked away and began to help serve . Fanchone watched her quietly . As she placed a cup of tea in front of him , Fanchone saw her sneak a glimpse at him . He learned that her name was Muoli , and in turn he gave her his name .