Now Jiang Ping followed the waiter into the courtyard, and heard the waiter say, “Is the fish to your taste, sir? If it wants any seasoning, just say the word, and tomorrow morning I’ll have the kitchen take more care over it.” “Very good,” said Han Zhang. “No need for any orders; the seasoning is excellent. When I’m better I’ll thank you all properly.” “It’s only our duty to wait on you, sir,” said the waiter. “How could we deserve any thanks?”

He had got no further when a voice in the courtyard cried, “Oh, Second Brother! I’ve missed you half to death!” At this the waiter picked up his tray and made straight for the door. Fourth Master Jiang came into the room and dropped to both knees. The moment Han Zhang saw him, he rolled over to face the wall and paid him no heed at all. Jiang Ping wept. “Second Brother, I know very well you’re angry with me. But I have to tell you plainly how I’ve been wronged too, and then I’ll die content. Back then, what Fifth Brother did — showing off his daring and his skill with no regard for the laws of the realm — drove Eldest Brother to such shame he had nowhere to put himself. If I hadn’t seen through it, Eldest Brother would long ago have hanged himself outside the wall of the Pang mansion1. Second Brother, you do know that, don’t you? Even setting you against Fifth Brother — I had my deep reasons for that too. Everything was Fifth Brother’s doing. Everyone knew it was the work of the Sleek Rat, and nobody knew there was any Han mixed up in it. If at the end you’d been dragged along into a murky lawsuit like that, Second Brother, wouldn’t it have tarnished the name of the Earth Rat2? And then, when I sided with Eldest Brother and insisted Fifth Brother must be caught, it wasn’t that I’d forgotten our sworn bond: that was the very way to save him. Don’t you know what he’d done, Second Brother? If he hadn’t met our gracious Minister Bao and all our good friends there, how could he have come through without a scratch — and been given rank and office besides? How has he been wronged? Ever since the five of us swore brotherhood on Xiankong Island, we’ve been together morning and night. We never dreamed it would come to this. And now that it has — now that we four have all received the Emperor’s favour and His Excellency’s patronage — do you think we’ve forgotten you, Second Brother? The four of us have wept over it together time and again. Eldest Brother takes it hardest of all; he misses you so. To tell you the truth, Second Brother, I’ve come on this errand first by imperial decree, second at Minister Bao’s command, and third because Eldest Brother sent me. That’s why I put on this act and got myself up like this, to search high and low for you. I’d made up my mind: if I found you, well and good; if I couldn’t, I’d leave the world for good and be a Taoist who’d been wronged, and that would be that.” At this point he broke down sobbing. But all the while he was stealing glances at Han Zhang, and when he saw Han wiping his face with his handkerchief, he knew he had touched him. “He’s giving a little,” he thought, and went on: “Who’d have thought I’d find you here today, Second Brother? And yet you’re angry with me — doesn’t that bury all my good intentions? In a word, it’s hard to be a good man. Now that I’ve seen you and told you everything that’s been twisting in my heart, I don’t want to live any longer. I’ll hide myself away in the hills, find some place where there’s nobody, have a good cry on my own, and do away with myself, and that’s all.” By now his voice was choked and hoarse, and he was on the point of wailing aloud.

Han Zhang could not bear it, and in spite of himself he turned over. “I understand your heart now. You say I act too viciously; but think what you did yourself — that was cruel enough.” Seeing Han Zhang turn over, Jiang Ping knew his mind had come round, and hearing him say “cruel”, he asked quickly, “What cruel thing did I do? Tell me, Second Brother, please.” “When you tricked me out of the medicine,” said Han Zhang, “why did you take both pills, so that yesterday I nearly lost my life? Wasn’t that cruel?” Jiang Ping burst out laughing. “If that’s why you’re angry with me and hate me, Second Brother, you’ve blamed me for nothing. Think it over yourself. How much room is there in a little pouch? If I hadn’t taken out both pills, how could I have fitted that note in3? Besides, I’m no prophet. How could I know that on such-and-such a day of such-and-such a month of such-and-such a year, at such-and-such an hour, my Second Brother would be hit by a poisoned dart and need that antidote? If I’d known, I’d have kept one back when I stole them, ready for you in an emergency, and saved you hating me.” At this Han Zhang laughed too. He reached out, pulled Jiang Ping to his feet and asked, “How are Eldest Brother, Third Brother and Fifth Brother?” “All well,” said Jiang Ping, and sat down on the edge of the kang. They talked over all that had happened, and were moved all over again.