Six Records of a Floating Life (Chapter three: Ups and downs 08)

    As soon as these arrangements had been made, Mrs. Hua's boat arrived. This was on the twenty-fifth of the twelfth moon, 1800. "If we should leave like this," said Yun, "I am afraid the neighbours will laugh at us, and besides, we haven't repaid the loan due to the foreigner. I don't think he will let us off. We must leave quietly before dawn tomorrow."

    "But can you stand the early damp morning weather in your present state of health?" I asked.“Oh! I shouldn't worry about that," she said. "It's all a matter of fate how long one is going to live!"

    I secretly informed my father about this arrangement, which he also thought best. That night, I first brought a little bag down to the boat and asked Fengsen to go to bed first.

    Ch'ingchun was weeping by her mother's side, and this was Yun's parting instruction to her： "Mamma was born under an evil star and is, besides, sentimentally passionate. That is why we've come to this. However, your father is very kind to me and you have nothing to worry on my account. I am sure that, in two or three years, we shall be able to manage so that we can be reunited.

    When you go to your new home, you must try to be a better daughter-in-law than your mother. I know that your parents-in-law will be very kind to you because they are very proud of this match. Whatever we have left behind in the trunks and bags are yours, and you can bring them along. 

    Your younger brother is still young, and therefore we have not let him know. At the time of parting, we are going to say that mamma is going away to see a doctor and will return in a few days. You can explain the whole thing to him when we have gone a long distance, and just let grandfather take care of him."