10 IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS THE TRIADS AT SHANGHAI 11 have acquired great wealth,for I fear that you have too And so it was settled;and my project of going to Shanghai delicate a conscience.As a banker you will probably not was settled too.I spent with my family the New Year, make so great a fortune,but the position is an honourable which that year was forty-nine days after the winter solstice; one;and,having official rank,fairly won by examination, and with my father I paid and received all the ceremonial and not obtained by purchase,your status will exempt you visits,and shared all the festivities,of the season.Quiet was from persecution by the minor officials and their subordi- restored to us by the tenth day of the month,and on that nates,and no magistrate will dare to threaten you with day I went to Soochow to pay my respects to Yaolin and his personal indignities or corporal punishment." family,and to receive his final instructions.He gave me a My father was just as positive that I should accept letter of introduction to Yang Tzetang and added- Yaolien's proposal,and he added two words of counsel. "I shall write to Tzetang and give him full details of my "My son,thanks to your open air life,you have a strong plans for you,so that he will be prepared to receive you on body;see that you keep it so.None of your fellows in.a a proper footing.Here is a cheque for one thousand taels bank will ever take any exercise;it is not our Chinese Tsaoping weight of the Treasury touch,which is my present custom;but I advise you to stipulate for some time free in to you.You may hand it to your father if you wish;but I every day,and some days in every month,to keep up your advise you to let me remit it by bank draft to Tzetang,to physical training.” remain on deposit with the Taki Bank as security for your "Now,"he added,"I have to speak of another matter. conduct.The bank will give you one-and-a-half per cent a You ought to be married,as you are already in your month interest,and this you can allow to accumulate to twentieth year,but I was reluctant to interfere with your provide increased security as you are entrusted with larger studies before.Now however,I shall take the matter in hand responsibilities.I will,of course,also sign your security at once.As soon as the New Year holidays are over,and bond which the bank will require." you have gone to Shanghai,I will see Liangshih,the go- The next day I returned to Tungli.The sixteenth day of between,.and set her to work to hunt up a suitable match.I the month was found to be one of bad omen;so I made a will let you know when it is all arranged,and then,when the pretence of starting my journey by leaving my father's house astrologers have selected a propitious day,you can come on the evening of the fifteenth,which was declared to be home for the wedding.” highly propitious.That night I slept at Cockeye's house on "My dear father,I cried,"is there any hurry?Could the shore of the lake,and the next morning at dawn we I not wait for a year or two yet?" started in my double slipper-boat,taking a direct route "Don't be a fool!You are my only son,and if anything through lakes and side canals,and arrived at Shanghai happened to you,where should I be?Who would offer the shortly after sunset. sacrifice to my tablet or to yours?Who would keep my grave in order?I don't wish to adopt a son,but what else could I do,if you don't give me a grandson "Don't be angry,my revered father,I will do as you say; but I hope you will select someone to be my wife who is young,pretty and amiable." "Again I say,don't be a fool!If only she is virtuous and well-connected,and provided her eight characters harmonize with yours,what possible difference can anything else make?