Mrs Spring Fragrance

In this sequel to “The Story of One White Woman Who Married a Chinese,” Minnie reflects on her marriage with Liu Kanghi after his death. What she values most in her husband is how she felt free to talk to him about anything that came to mind. Unlike James, he never made her feel as if her thoughts were stupid or inadequate. She says that Liu Kanghi is the kind of man “that children, birds, animals, and some women love” (76).

Not only is Liu Kanghi thoughtful toward his wife, but he keeps the promise he made in the previous story to treat Minnie’s child as his own. At one point, he allows a rat trap to snap him to save his adopted daughter, as she had innocently picked up the dangerous trap.

Minnie is careful not to make Liu Kanghi seem perfect. She also talks about his faults, but in an endearing way, rather than in a resentful way:

He had his littlenesses as well as his bignesses, had Liu Kanghi. For instance, he thought he knew better about what was good for my health and other things, purely personal, than I did myself, and if my ideas opposed or did not tally with his, he would very vigorously denounce what he called ‘the foolishness of women’ (77).

Their marriage survives even bigger challenges. Liu Kanghi had a sort of “childish" jealousy and suspicion: “[T]he assumption of the white men that a white woman does not love her Chinese husband, and their actions accordingly” (78). Minnie belongs to the “dominant race” (78), which also causes tension in the marriage. Minnie placates her husband’s insecurity: “You are my superior […] I would not love you if you were not” (78).

Minnie is concerned Liu Kanghi might take a second wife since it was sometimes the custom for a man to take a second wife in China. When Minnie confronts Liu Kanghi on this, he explains that he has no reason to take a second wife: “If a Chinese marries for love, his life is a filled-up cup, and he wants no secondary wife” (79).

The children follow Liu Kanghi as he leaves one morning and ask him for a red ball each. Later that day, he is shot in the head because “[t]here are some Chinese, just as there are some Americans, who are opposed to all progress, and who hate with a bitter hatred all who would enlighten or be enlightened” (80). When his body is brought home, Minnie finds a red ball for each child in his pocket.