director of a Board of Punishments Bureau for several years,” the man said in a genial tone. “This is my wife, and he is my son. I must ask Grandma to excuse the humble place we call home.”
“You know who I am,” Zhao said, embarrassment showing on his face.
“Truth is,” Liu Guangdi said, “our jobs are essentially the same. We both work for the nation and serve the Emperor. But you are more important than I.” He sighed. “Dismissing several Bureau directors would have no effect on the Board of Punishments. But without Grandma Zhao, it would no longer be the Board of Punishments. Among all the thousands of national laws and statutes, none is more important than those upheld by your knife.”
Zhao fell to his knees and, with moist eyes, said:
“Excellency Liu, your words have moved me deeply. In the eyes of most observers, people in my line of work are lower than pigs, worse than dogs, while you, Excellency, esteem our work.”
“Get up, Old Zhao, please get up,” Liu said. “I won’t keep you any longer. One of these days we’ll sit down over something strong to drink.” He turned to his son, the gaunt young man. “Pu’er, see Grandma Zhao out.”
“I cannot let your honorable son . . .” Zhao was clearly flustered.
The young man smiled and made a polite gesture with his hands. Zhao Jia would not easily forget his fine manners and humility.
————
3
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On the first day of the New Year, 1897, Liu Guangdi strode into the eastern side room of the executioners’ quarters, dressed in official attire and carrying an oilpaper bundle. The men were drinking and playing finger-guessing games to welcome in the New Year, and the sight of a senior official walking in unannounced threw them into a panic. Zhao Jia jumped down off the kang barefoot and knelt on the floor.
“Best wishes for the New Year, Excellency!”
The other executioners followed his lead:
“Best wishes for the New Year, Excellency!” they cried out from their knees.
“Get up,” Liu said, “all of you, get up. The floor is cold. Get back up on the kang.”
The men stood up but, hands at their sides, did not dare to move.
“I am on duty, so I figured I’d spend the day with you men.” He opened his bundle, which was filled with cured meat, then took out a bottle of spirits from under his robe. “My wife prepared this meat herself; the spirits were a gift from a friend. See what you think.”
“We would not dare to think of sharing a meal with Your Excellency,” Zhao said.
“It’s New Year’s, so we can dispense with the formalities,” Liu replied.
“We truly dare not,” Zhao insisted.
“What has gotten into you, Old Zhao?” Liu said as he took off his hat and official robe. “We all work in the same yamen, so let’s act like it.”
The other men looked at Zhao Jia.
“Since Your Excellency does us this honor, it is better to accept humbly than to courteously decline,” Zhao said. “After you, sir.”
Liu Guangdi removed his shoes and sat on the communal kang with his legs folded. “You’ve got this nice and hot,” he said.
The men received the compliment with a foolish grin. “You don’t expect me to lift each one of you up here, do you?” he said.
“Go on, get up,” Zhao said. “We mustn’t offend Excellency Liu.”
So the execution team climbed back onto the kang, where they made themselves as small as possible. Zhao Jia picked up a glass, filled it from the bottle, then knelt on the kang and held it out with both hands.
“On behalf of my fellows, Your Excellency, I wish you wealth and promotions.”
Liu Guangdi accepted the glass and drained it.
“Fine stuff,” he said as he licked his lips. “Now join me, all of you.”
Zhao Jia drank a glass and felt his heart bubble over with warmth.
Liu Guangdi raised his glass.
“Old Zhao,” he said, “I am in your debt for helping me get home that time. Come on, men, fill your glasses and accept my toast!”
They drained their glasses with great emotion. With tears in his eyes, Zhao Jia said:
“Excellency, not since Pangu split heaven and earth and the ancient emperors ruled the earth has a senior official actually joined a group of executioners to celebrate New Year’s with a bottle. Let us raise our glasses to His Excellency, everyone!”
The executioners knelt in place, raised their glasses, and toasted Liu, who clinked glasses with each of them and, as his eyes brightened, said: