Sunday, 27 April

Second day of the fourth lunar month

When a number of families are thrown together, as we are, in a small isolated country place, subjects for gossip and local entertainment are usually not wanting. Following Ni Shao Kong’s case, we now have the Chao-Hsieh fight. Mrs. C. would have deceived any keen judge of human beings. At the first meeting one would find her nothing but facile and courteous. Born in America, she can hardly speak decent Cantonese. But to her neighbours and those who have known her long enough, she is a most difficult case. Her tongue has been used too freely; and, as with all callow young mothers, tempers her only child who becomes the horror of the whole village. Mrs. H. is quite another type. Her face alone is a breach of peace. Mr. H has more than once confessed openly that although a bull-dog himself, he is no match to the mother lion. When the two families became next door neighbours, the inevitable occurred. The two women disagreed upon some trifle, and a war of words went on for three months. Husbands’ friends counselled removal, but neither of the wives consented. Two days ago, finding words too soft and inefficient, Mrs. H. rushed into C’s room to attack the surprised couple who put up a feeble resistance. Friends and police were sent for and Mrs. H, in desperation, pretended to faint away. She was carried to the doctor, but on the way she got up and with the spirit of a fighting cock, returned to attack Mrs. C., who can use her tongue much better than her hands and so being of no equal to her opponent, she took to her heels. The pugnacious shrew finding her enemy gone, took up a knife and made a few cuts to her head. The spectators, including Fanny and her chair-coolies, were shocked at such a villainous act obviously intended to incriminate C.  When C. returned to his room, she got him to the nearby police station. The whole village was divided evenly, as both women had about the same number of enemies. The husbands were pitied by all. What could they do but act as directed by their better halves. A law suit would have followed had not our good colleague Lou Tongsun interfered. He was a wonderful mediator. Threats and sugar coated terms were suitably employed; and, at long last, C was induced to apologise, while H waived his claim to compensation. Such an easy method for expiating the fault is still regarded by Mrs. C., who was found to be the real origin of the dispute, as execrably hard on her husband and the terms were accepted with no small amount of grudging.