Mrs Spring Fragrance

Koan-lo the First is one of the wealthiest Chinese merchants in San Francisco. A compassionate man, he has taken on the care of his orphaned nephew, Koan-lo the Second. The younger man is envious of his uncle’s wealth, muttering things like: “He that hath wine hath many friends” (109). He attributes his uncle’s popularity to the older man’s wealth, as opposed to his personal qualities.

While still in China, Koan-lo the Second had fallen in love with Sie, the daughter of a slave. Koan-lo the First was unaware of his nephew’s history with the young woman when he sent for her to be his own bride. Koan-lo the First has sent Sie’s father one installment for her hand in marriage and will pay the balance once she arrives in San Francisco. Sie’s father will be able to use this money to purchase his own freedom.

Koan-lo the First sends his nephew, Koan-lo the Second, to pick up Sie from the steamer. Sie is overjoyed to see Koan-lo the Second, and she assumes that he is the one who purchased her as a bride. The young man, deeply in love and still resentful of his uncle, lets Sie believe that he is her intended husband. It is not until weeks later that Koan-lo the Second admits the truth to Sie. He asks her to run away with him, but Sie cannot allow her father to remain enslaved.

Sie runs away from Koan-lo the Second and throws herself on the mercy of her intended husband. She offers to be Koan-lo the First’s slave if he will agree to pay the balance of the money to her father so that he can gain his freedom. Koan-lo the First agrees to send the balance of the money to her father, but because slavery is illegal in the United States, he will hire Sie as his servant for five years. At the end of the five years her debt to him will be paid off. Just then, Koan-lo the Second rushes in looking “haggard and wild” (113), and grabbing Sie, he says: “You are mine! [...] I will kill you before you become another man’s” (113). Koan-lo the First deescalates the situation and explains to his nephew that he will take Sie on as a servant, not his wife. However, he tells Koan-lo the Second: “This is your punishment; the God of Restoration demands it. For five years you shall not see the face of Sie, your wife. Meanwhile, study, think, be honest, and work” (113).

Five years have passed, and Koan-lo the Second has used this time to become “worthy of such a pearl” (114). After they are reunited, Koan-lo the Second asks Sie, “[H]ow can you care for me when you know what a bad fellow I have been?” (114). Sie answers, “Well […] it is always our best friends who know how bad we are” (114).