Our Second Master

I did not leave. I also did not know why I did not leave. Maybe it was the tears shed by Old Mistress Yang when I asked about Second Master. Later, all the people left – not only the servants, the female family members returned to their maternal homes, Old Mistress Yang took a few maidens and left. Before she left she told me, please take care of this place. In a while, Second Master will return.

But, First Master did not leave. He said that the Yang Family that Old Master Yang left behind cannot collapse like this. He told his wife to return to her family and he will return for her. I personally thought that he said it just to comfort his wife. The servants left were only three – me, Granny Feng and a servant of First Master. Even First Master’s wife had left.

First Master’s servant was called Yuan Sheng. One day while we were doing chores, he asked me why I stayed and I did not answer. I asked him back why did he stay. He said that he owed a debt of gratitude to First Master and he cannot be ungrateful. Then he asked me, if I stayed because I owed a debt of gratitude to Second Master. I only laughed then. Not to speak of gratitude, but Second Master to me, it was already very good if there is no vengeance. But, I didn’t say this because I would have to spend energy explaining if I did. So, I said yes, Second Master did a great act of kindness to me and I cannot forget this debt of gratitude. After hearing this, Yuan Sheng pulled me aside and said in a small voice, “You are also a loyal servant. Second Master shall be taken care of by you.” I paused, these words were not spoken lightly, so I asked him, “Why?” Yuan Sheng’s expression was not good but he told me, “Something went wrong with the business group right? They didn’t only delay the emperor’s shipment, they met enemies.”

I asked him, “What enemy?”

“Who knows,” Yuan Sheng said, “When a business prospers, there will be many enemies. Seeing the Yang Family lose power, someone robbed them on their way back. Old Master Yang didn’t even have a chance and went… ah…”

Don’t only sigh, I asked again, “Then our Second Master?”

Yuan Sheng replied, “Our Second Master managed to escape with his life, but…”

I really wanted to slap him, “What happened?”

Yuan Sheng stated, “I heard that he is crippled.”

That day, I was in a daze. Yuan Sheng said that Second Master’s legs were seriously injured. He had slightly recovered and was on his way back to Hangzhou. I started to calculate, how serious was seriously injured? Broken? Lame? At that time, I did not think about it too deeply. I only thought that if his legs were injured, he would recover after lying in bed. Knowing Second Master’s temper, I wonder how many kicks I must suffer.

So, I still earnestly hoped that Second Master will quickly recover. It turned out that I was simply too naive. The day that Second Master returned, I opened the door. Truthfully, I could not recognise him at all. There was a cart pulled by a cow. A fifty-year old plus rider with shabby clothes. I thought it was a beggar and said, “Master, you should go somewhere else, we almost cannot cook already.” The old man waved his hand and pointed to the back. With a thick foreign accent, he said, “I sent this here. You have to give me two taels.” I turned to the back and saw the cart was covered with rice straw, I thought I saw the glimpse of clothes. I walked over and said, “What is this, who called you?”

I thought he was selling goods and was going to chase him away when I saw the person lying behind. I stared for at least half the burning of an incense before I stuttered, “… Se…Second…Second…. Second… Ma… Master?” I did not know if Second Master was awake but his eyes were wide open. But he did not move at all, he did not blink. It was truly chilling. His hair was completely messy and his face was so scrawny that he had lost his looks. There was a thick layer of grass covering his body. Seeing him ignore me, I hesitated if I should help carry him. But the old man cried, “Miss, you have to slow down! Don’t kill him.” I was immediately unhappy – a perfectly fine person, how would I kill him. But when I removed the layer of grass, I immediately understood the old man’s words.

I calmed down my heart and went to the yard to call Yuan Sheng for help. When we carried Second Master back to the house, he was completely expressionless all the way. It wasn’t clear if he was a fake person. After we brought Second Master in, Yuan Sheng gave the money to the old man. In the evening, First Master returned and when he saw Second Master, his tears immediately fell down. He fell towards Second Master’s bedside and cried, “My younger brother, my younger brother…” Actually, I really wanted to remind him if we should first hire a doctor. But seeing him cry so despondently, I didn’t open my mouth. Compared to First Master, Second Master was much calmer. He stared at the ceiling, don’t mention cry, he did not even have a single expression.

I waited at the door and looked at Second Master through the door crack. Is this still our Second Master? I finally understood what Yuan Sheng’s serious expression had meant. Previously, I still thought that Second Master could recover. Seeing Second Master’s body now, I can only think that I was too naive. Second Master was crippled, extremely crippled. How should I say this – Second Master was only left in half. His two legs were gone. The left side was slightly stronger than the right, there was half a leg left, but the right leg was completely gone. I used to have to raise my head to look at Second Master, but now he was about my chest. Later, First Master finally remembered to hire a doctor for Second Master. Now that the Yang Family was in shambles, we could not hire a good doctor. A man from the pugilist world came to give a look.

To look after the injuries, Second Master did not wear any clothes for his bottom half. The man told First Master that his life was gotten back and to take special care of him. After sending the man off, First Master returned to the house to tell this to Second Master, but Second Master completely ignored it. After a few days, before First Master could get Second Master to speak, he had to run outside to do some business. Before he left, he told me to take care of Second Master, he would return in two months. First Master brought Yuan Sheng away, and there was only Second Master and me left. Oh, and Granny Feng. But Granny Feng did not speak all day so I almost forgot about her. Accepting First Master’s command — actually even if he did not command me, I will also take care of Second Master. Who asked me to be a maid? The previous days, Yuan Sheng had taken care of Second Master. The first day when I entered the room, the entire room smelt of decay.

I opened the windows and explained to Second Master who was lying on the bed, “To allow the wind to come in.” But Second Master of course ignored me. Then, I fed Second Master food. He was like a fake person, opening and closing his mouth, not knowing where his eyes should look. Until at night, when I brought the medicine in the room, I told Second Master, “Second Master, maid will help you change your medicine.” He finally had a reaction.

Second Master’s eyes started to move and turn towards me. I walked over and was about to move his blanket. Before I could make another move, he spoke in a low voice, “Leave.” Actually, I already guessed he would say this. But to be what Yuan Sheng calls a loyal servant, of course I could not leave. I lowered my brows and gently said, “Second Master, the injuries need to change medicine. It may hurt, please tolerate it.”

Then, I removed the blanket and smelt a strong stench of rotting flesh. Yuang Sheng did not know how to take care of people at all. I held the medicine and used my greatest effort to lightly rub the medicine on Second Master’s injuries. Before the medicine touched him, I saw Second Master’s leg shook. And then, I was pushed back by a great force. I fell, the medicine splattered. Second Master’s arms were quite long. I lifted my head, and saw that Second Master’s hair was in a mess, his pair of eyes like a wild beast staring at me deathly, “I told you to leave.” Did I leave — of course I didn’t. I was very clear of how ferocious Second Master’s temper was, after all I was his venting bag for so many years. I really wanted to tell him that this push was not even painful, the kicks you gave me before was much more forceful.

And then I suddenly realised, was I no longer afraid of Second Master because he could no longer kick me? As I was ruminating on this, I prepared the medicine again and returned to Second Master’s bedside. Once bitten, twice shy – I was smarter and applied the medicine at the end of the bed. Even if Second Master tried to use his arms, he would not be able to reach. I was truly clever. I almost wanted to cheer but Second Master was truly angry. His two arms were placed at his side, and his whole bearing was as if he wanted to sit up and resolve me. But, I was completely unafraid. Because he was truly too weak now. What’s more his leg injuries had not yet recovered, they were reddish black, looking at it, I felt pain all over. If he sat up and pressed on his injuries, it was as good as death.

So, I calmly applied the medicine. Actually, I was a little embarrassed while applying the medicine. After all, Second Master was not wearing anything. Even though I was always called a monkey in the courtyard, but I was still an unmarried monkey. Seeing Second Master’s naked body, even thinking about it now, I would be a little nervous. That part of Second Master… I can only describe it as magnificent. But comparing it now, Second Master’s legs were a grander sight. I concentrated on applying the medicine. Every time I touched one part, Second Master will moan a bit. After I applied even more, Second Master’s entire buttock shook, it shook with a cry. I dared to lift up my head to catch a glance and saw that Second Master’s face was ghastly white with his veins throbbing, his face full of cold sweat.

I guessed that he was so in pain that he did not even have the strength to scold me. After applying finish the medicine, I went to the kitchen to prepare food. When I returned to the room, Second Master was still like a dead fish, eyes opened, lying down on the bed. I lifted up a spoon of porridge to Second Master’s lips. Second Master flipped it away. Luckily, I protected the bowl carefully. Although it was hot, the porridge did not spill out. “Second Master, eat a little.”

Second Master said, “Leave.”

I did not know what to do. If it was before, if Second Master asked me to leave, I will quickly leave as far as possible. But now… what will happen to Second Master if I leave? But, I did not have any other method, I could forcefully apply medicine, but what will I do with food. Wait… forcefully? Indeed, forcefully.

I placed the porridge aside and stared at it till it turned cold. So, when it’s forcefully pushed down, it will not scald. After a while, I tried it and felt it was ok. So, I brought the bowl over. Second Master possibly never had the experience of being looked down by a monkey before, his eyes were very unfriendly and I said – Second Master, sorry to offend you. And then, I really offended him.