Vol 2 Chapter 31: There and Then
November, across the ocean.
Drinking afternoon tea was actually a very particular affair. In 1879, Emperor Ming, Zhu Quanzhong, visited the British Empire. After witnessing the table etiquette of Alexandrina Victoria, he was inspired to write a lengthy essay of ten thousand words, “On the Art of Tea.” From this, later generations could glimpse the tip of the iceberg of the aristocratic etiquette culture of the old era. For most ordinary people, it made no difference whether they stirred their tea from the six o’clock or twelve o’clock direction.
At least for Shirley Amber, it didn’t make much difference.
“Miss Amber, please start stirring your tea clockwise from the six o’clock direction, at least three times, and keep your eyes focused. This is a sign of respect for the host.” The etiquette teacher was an old maid who couldn’t get married. Although she was only in her thirties, the wrinkles on her face were as deep as her grandmother’s. Once a person lived an unhappy life, their appearance wouldn’t be pleasant.
Shirley could see the impatience in the old woman’s eyes. This kind of basic etiquette class should have been completed by every aristocratic descendant at the age of seven. If a seventeen-year-old girl didn’t know how to drink afternoon tea – forgive her bluntness – she was simply a country bumpkin. And she was that country bumpkin.
“I’m sorry.” Shirley Amber’s complexion was a sickly pale, her skin almost cold, like the most exquisite and emotionless doll. “I haven’t had any contact with such etiquette before. I thought, I thought I just needed to pick up the teacup.”
“Oh, my God. How could you think that? Are you really Miss Amber of the Amber family?” The old woman made an exaggerated expression. “When picking up the teacup, you must pinch the handle elegantly with your index finger and thumb, not reaching into the circle. There are countless etiquette rules like this, even if I talk for three days and nights, I won’t be able to finish!” Judging from her expression, she seemed quite proud of this.
But… Shirley looked at the eloquent etiquette teacher silently. But what was the use of all this etiquette?
It was status that determined etiquette, not etiquette that determined status. The same behavior had two different descriptions depending on the person’s status: approachable and disrespectful. In that case, what was the use of these outdated etiquette rules that should have been swept into the dustbin of history?
“That’s all for today’s lesson, Miss Amber. I hope that the next time I see you, you will have fully mastered the etiquette that a lady should possess.” The old woman began to pack her handbag. Shirley could see that the handbag was a fake, but she didn’t point it out and simply responded respectfully.
After seeing off the etiquette teacher, Shirley Amber went to find her father who was reading documents in his study. Calling him “father” felt a bit strange. She had only met him a handful of times and hadn’t even figured out whether his name was Aureliano or José Arcadio Buendía. She was used to calling him “Mr. Diplomat.”
“My lady, you’ve come at the right time. I have something to discuss with you.” Mr. Diplomat took off his glasses. “Are you getting used to living at home? It might be a bit different from your past life, but you’ll get used to it eventually, you know.”
It was indeed much better than her past life. Shirley Amber thought to herself. A year ago today, she was just an ordinary daughter from an ordinary family, until her “parents” told her that she was actually the illegitimate daughter of a diplomat. Now, she had the right to return to the Amber family openly. Her “parents” seemed happy for her, but Shirley didn’t think so.
“Life at home is very comfortable, thanks to you.” Shirley performed the etiquette gestures while recalling them from memory.
“Well, I’ll be stationed in Shenzhou for a long time in the future. I’ve always been fond of Shenzhou culture. It’s truly an ancient and powerful country.” Mr. Diplomat always talked about many irrelevant things before getting to the point, from Shakespeare to Márquez. “…Now, you have the opportunity to go to Shenzhou with me! What do you think, my lady?”
“…My lessons haven’t finished yet…” The so-called lessons were actually just home education, specifically, the cultivation of a lady. From etiquette to makeup, to aesthetics and art, most of it was outdated stuff that was out of touch with modern society.
Moreover, Shirley Amber subconsciously rejected unfamiliar environments. It was fine to leave her alone, to let her thoughts soar freely in her own world like unfettered birds.
This world was just too boring… She often had this thought. Watching her nominal “father” talk endlessly, Shirley Amber felt increasingly bored. “Alright, I want to go to Shenzhou too.”
Mr. Diplomat clapped his hands happily. “My lady, congratulations on making the right decision! I will arrange for you to enroll in the best school in Shenzhou. I believe you will enjoy the experience of studying there.” Shirley smiled on the surface, but shook her head inwardly. In the end, it was just to get her, the illegitimate daughter, out of the Amber family for the time being. The internal turmoil within this ancient family was becoming increasingly bizarre, so fantastical that she, as an ordinary person, couldn’t understand it.
It’s better this way.
Finding an unknown corner, living out the rest of her life in solitude, buried in a remote corner of the world along with the fallen leaves of autumn, was perhaps the only interesting thing in this life, wasn’t it? No need for a coffin, just cremate her remains. If she had a friend, she would ask them to scatter her white ashes into the sea, becoming food for fish and shrimp, merging with the blue waves.
“By the way, my lady, you need to choose a Chinese name. Let me see, your grandfather had a Chinese name, Wen Haixiao. Why don’t you also take the surname Wen? How about Wen Meihua? This name is perfect, it’s simply the most beautiful Eastern name!” Mr. Diplomat rambled on, clearly not intending to listen to her opinion.
Shirley Amber actually liked Shenzhou culture too. Her favorite novel was “Dream of the Red Chamber,” and her favorite character was Lin Daiyu.
“Let’s call it Hupo.” She rarely expressed a different opinion, and Mr. Diplomat couldn’t help but be stunned. He thought this illegitimate daughter would only say yes.
“Wen Hupo sounds good. Father, what do you think?” Shirley repeated. She didn’t like the name Meihua. If you walked down the street and asked any woman who had been to Shenzhou, they would say their name was “Meihua,” “Qiujju,” or “Hongping.” It sounded like the name of a maid.
Hupo was “amber” in Chinese, similar in pronunciation to the family name “Amber.” It was quite elegant. Mr. Diplomat stroked his chin and muttered, “This name is not bad either, Wen Hupo, Wen Hupo, why didn’t I think of that?”
Because you didn’t put any thought into it. Shirley thought to herself.
After leaving her father’s study, Shirley Amber began to pack her luggage. She didn’t have much to bring. The only thing that truly belonged to her was a palette knife. It was a birthday gift from her adoptive father when she was seven. It was useful for painting, but she couldn’t bear to use it.
Shirley Amber stared at an unfinished painting in the room, lost in thought. It was a self-portrait, but not entirely accurate, because there was also a blurry figure of a man in the painting. It was a man who appeared repeatedly in her dreams. In her dreams, he laughed and cried with her, personally put her wedding dress on her, and had children with her. But it was just a dream. Would she really fall in love with someone? What did love feel like? Ridiculous…
“Wen Hupo…” The girl murmured her Chinese name repeatedly, stroking the rough canvas. “Is it a good name?” She suddenly felt a little anticipation for life in Shenzhou.
Perhaps, it wouldn’t be so boring after all.
This was the story that happened across the ocean.
***
(End of this volume)
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