Gold Mountain Blues - Ling Zhang [118]
A drop of Mrs. Mak’s saliva had fallen on Six Finger’s cheek. She wiped it with the front of her jacket and walked unsteadily from the room. Some of the servants were outside but no one looked at her. They simply carried on with what they were doing, but Six Fingers knew they must have heard. Among them she spotted Mak Dau; he was mending a hole in a woven basket used for rice. He looked wild-eyed and, throwing down the strips of bamboo, he knocked his head against a pillar in frustration: “Missus, please let me tell them! Why won’t you let me tell them?”
“Are you getting sick in the head just because the old Missus is?” snapped Six Fingers. “Don’t talk such rubbish! Get on with your work, all of you!” The servants scattered.
From that day on, Mak Dau would stiffen like a fighting cock every time he saw Six Fingers, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
Finished with her letter writing, Six Fingers put the writing materials away and posed a question to Mak Dau: “How old are you this year? Is it twenty-five or twenty-six?” “My birthday’s at the end of the year, Missus, so you can call me either.” “You should be getting married by now, shouldn’t you?” Mak Dau said nothing. “What do you think about Ah-Yuet?” Ah-Yuet was Ah-Fat’s aunt’s servant. She was eighteen this year so she was of marriageable age too. Mak Dau still said nothing. When Six Fingers pressed him, he said reluctantly: “She waddles like a hen.” “She’s hard-working and honest. Not bad-looking either. You don’t have to look at her from behind. Look at her front.” Mak Dau had to laugh, and his teeth lit up the room. “Even if I’m trying not to look at her, I can’t avoid her if she’s walking in front of me.” “I think she’ll suit you,” said Six Fingers. “If you marry someone in the family, you’ll be in the same position as Ha Kau—you’ll be able to live here for the rest of your life.”
Mak Dau stood there looking blank. After a long silence, he said: “If you think it’s right, young Missus, then I’ll do it.” “Good. In a couple of days, I’ll get Third Granny to bring you the proposal.”
Mak Dau turned to leave, his head down. Then he turned back and said hesitantly: “Why won’t you let me speak, Missus? I feel bad that you’ve been wronged. When the Master comes home from Gold Mountain, he’ll believe all that gossip, and then what will you do?” Six Fingers smiled: “If he wants to believe it, then telling him a hundred times won’t make any difference. The truth will be out in any case, whatever you say.” Mak Dau said nothing and went out. Six Fingers leaned out of the window and ordered: “Go and see if it’s time for the teacher to have his tea. If it isn’t, don’t disturb him. If it is, tell Kam Ho I want him.”
A few minutes later, Kam Ho trotted in. “Your father’s spent all this time and money building us a fortress home and Mak Dau’s overseen all the work. I’ve never set eyes on it and it’ll be finished at the beginning of next year. Let’s go and take a look.” Kam Ho looked doubtful. “What about Granny? We’re not allowed out.”
Six Fingers smiled dryly. “Chu Sei couldn’t keep me locked up and neither can anyone else. Don’t worry, my time hasn’t come yet. When the Grim Reaper comes for me, it doesn’t matter whether I’m at home or out, there’s no avoiding him. But if it’s not my time, then even a knife at my throat won’t harm me.” Kam Ho was as fed up as his mother with being confined to the house and had been trying to find an excuse for an outing. Her words gave him courage.
They were on their way out when they bumped into Ah-Choi. The servant stammered: “The old Missus.…” but Six Fingers fixed her with a look and Ah-Choi hurriedly fell back. All she could do was to look meaningfully