Everlasting Pearl | Page 9

next, but
being of the same generation as the bride and bridegroom, they also
knelt down and "worshipped" them in return. Each relative put a piece
of money, wrapped in red paper, on a tray placed there for that purpose,
and, when filled, it was carried to the bride's room until a more
convenient time was found for the counting of the money.
The whole party, headed by the bridegroom and the bride, then
proceeded to the kitchen for the purpose of worshipping the kitchen
god. The bridegroom carried a rice measure with a lamp placed in it,

the bride a brush for cleaning the cooking pan. Many superstitious rites
are connected with the worship in the kitchen, the smallest detail has its
own meaning, but it would be too tedious to relate all.
The dinner came next, and this time the bride had to take the seat of
honour at the top table, but once seated there, she remained as silent as
the night before, and ate nothing. Again she went round to bow to the
guests at the different tables, who all stood up and solemnly drank her
health.
After dinner she was allowed to put off her bridal attire, and wear some
of the clothes sent her by her husband. She was also permitted to throw
off some of the reserve of the past days, and could talk more freely to
those around her.
The following day a messenger arrived from Mr. and Mrs. Tu, inviting
the young couple to return to the bride's home for dinner. They were
both carried in sedan chairs, and had to wear most of their wedding
garments again. They were very careful and modest in their
behaviour,--young Hsü especially was afraid of offending in word or
deed,--and they were not sorry when, soon after the formal dinner, they
could once more return home. Another formal visit had to be paid,
about two months later, at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, to
the bride's home, but then a more free and natural relationship was
established between the two families.
CHAPTER VII
DARK DAYS
The home Everlasting Pearl had entered was not a rich one. The
members were all simple, hard-working people, ordinary country
farmers who had to earn their living by the sweat of their brow. But
they were honest and peace-loving, and the five brothers worked
together in unity. Although one of the Chinese sages had said:
Let brotherly love in the home abound And to gold will be changed the
dust of the ground,

the gold seemed a long time coming to the Hsü family. They were able
by steady work to make a comfortable living at their farming, but there
was little over to make a fortune. On the whole, Everlasting Pearl was
moderately happy. Her husband was quite satisfied with his bright
young wife, and treated her kindly. The mother-in-law was rather hard
on her and inconsiderate, but the father-in-law loved her as a daughter,
and made things as easy as possible. Her husband's brothers, too, were
kind, and she went about her common task cheerfully, quite ready to
take her share in the household work.
Four years passed peacefully, but no child came to gladden the home,
and that was a sore disappointment to the young people. The
mother-in-law too was disappointed, and did not look very kindly on
the young wife who was trying so hard to do her duty. Old Mr. Hsü had
left this world. For three days and nights the Taoist priests had come to
chant their formulas, promising to cleanse the house from evil spirits,
and to break open the door of hell and rescue the soul of the departed
father. There was real sorrow in Everlasting Pearl's heart as she knelt
near the coffin wailing. The old man had been like a father to her, and
had helped her over many rough places. She knew things would be
harder without him, but little did she realize what heavy trials awaited
her. A merciful God had hidden the knowledge from her sight, or her
inborn courage might have failed.
During the fifth year of Everlasting Pearl's married life her sorrows
began. Twice within a few months she was summoned to the deathbed
of her loved ones. She first knelt mourning at the grave of her father;
and then, before that sorrow had had time to lose its sting, she was
throwing herself in agony over the body of her dead mother, the mother
who had always loved her so tenderly. And death was fearful to her.
The "three souls and seven spirits" had evidently all taken their
departure. Where had they gone? If only she knew, the separation
would not be so hard. But there was no one to solve the mystery