Big Breasts and Wide Hips Read Free

Ting
Blacksmith; Mother’s impotent husband. Blacksmith, Shangguan Shouxi’s father. Shangguan Fulu’s wife, “Mother’s” mother. Steward of Dalan Town’s Felicity Manor; later serves as mayor.
Sima Ku
Younger brother of Sima Ting, husband of Zhaodi (Second Sister). A patriot, linked to the Nationalists during the War of Resistance (1937-1945).
Sima Liang
Son of Sima Ku and Zhaodi (Second Sister).
Sha Yueliang
Husband of Laidi (Eldest Sister), commander of the Black Donkey Musket Band during the War of Resistance (1937-1945). Goes over to the Japanese as a turncoat.
Sha Zaohua
Daughter of Sha Yueliang and Laidi (Eldest Sister). Grows up together with Jintong and Sima Liang.
Birdman Han
Lingdi (Third Sister)’s lover.
Pastor Malory
Swedish missionary; has illicit affair with Shangguan Lu, and fathers twins Jintong and Yünü.
Parrot Han
Son of Birdman Han and Laidi.
Lu Liren
Also known as Jiang Liren and, later, Li Du. Serves in many official capacities for Communists.
Lu Shengli
Daughter of Lu Liren and Shangguan Pandi (Fifth Sister). Becomes mayor of Dalan.
Speechless Sun
Eldest son of Aunty Sun, neighbor of the Shangguan family. Born a mute. Engaged to Laidi (Eldest Sister), is crippled in battle, and returns to marry Laidi.
Ji Qiongzhi
Jintong’s inspiring teacher.

Chapter One
1
    From where he lay quietly on the brick-and-tamped-earth sleeping platform, his
kang
, Pastor Malory saw a bright red beam of light shining down on the Virgin Mary’s pink breast and on the pudgy face of the bare-bottomed Blessed Infant in her arms. Water from last summer’s rains had left yellow stains on the oil tableau, investing the Virgin Mary and Blessed Infant with a vacant look. A long-legged spider hung from a silvery thread in the bright window, swaying in a light breeze. “Morning spiders bring happiness, evening spiders promise wealth.” That’s what the pale yet beautiful woman had said one day when she saw one of the eight-legged creatures. But what happiness am I entitled to? All those heavenly breasts and buttocks in his dream flashed through his head. He heard the rumble of carts outside and the cries of red-crowned cranes from the distant marsh, plus the angry bleats of his milk goat. Sparrows banged noisily into the paper window covering. Magpies, the so-called happiness birds, chattered in poplar trees outside. By the look of things, happiness could well be in the air today. Then suddenly his head cleared, and the beautiful woman with the astonishingly big belly made a violent appearance, haloed in blinding light. Her nervous lips quivered, as if she were about to say something. She was in her eleventh month, so today must be the day. In a flash Pastor Malory understood the significance of the spider and magpies. He sat up and got down off the
kang.
    After picking up a black earthenware jug, he walked out to the street behind the church, where he saw Shangguan Lü, wife of Shangguan Fulu, the blacksmith, bent over to sweep the street in front of the shop. His heart skipped a beat, his lips quivered. “Dear Lord,” he muttered, “almighty God …” He crossed himself with a stiff finger and backed slowly into a corner to silently observe the tall, heavyset Shangguan L
ü
 as she silently and single-mindedly swept the dew-soaked dust into her dustpan, carefully picking out pieces of trash and tossing them aside. Her movements were clumsy but vigorous; her broom, woven from golden millet tassels, was like a toy in her hand. After filling the dustpan and tamping down the dust, she straightened up.
    Just as Shangguan Lü reached the head of her lane, she heard a commotion behind her and turned to see what it was. Some women came running through the black gate of Felicity Manor, home of the town’s leading gentry family. They were dressed in rags, their faces smeared with soot. Why are these women, who normally dress in silks and satins, and