Up To Cloud Dispelling Hall

Arthur, you went off without me, says Sikong Shu.

And me, says Richie.

Without us, says Sikong Shu.

That's true, says Arthur. And now look what's happened.

What? says Sikong Shu.

We've reassembled, says Arthur. Just the same as before. Richie still has his notebook and pencil. You have a pot of rose jam.

Wrong, says Sikong Shu. When you left I had not bought the jam. I was in the process of buying it. And this pot of jam was for you.

Was? says Arthur. Aren't I getting it?

You are getting it, says Sikong Shu. But you don't deserve it. You have shown yourself to be unreliable.

Arthur looks unaccountably pleased.

What is it? says Deng Xiumei. Oh lovely jam! I have here some biscuits.....

This is Deng Xiumei, says Arthur. She makes tigers out of butterfly wings.

Awesome, says Richie, writing it down in his notebook.

And I am a breeder, says Zhao Qinglin.

There seems no polite answer to that.

.............

Some time later, Arthur, Sikong Shu and Richie are on the road heading for Beijing.

They are coasting downhill.

Where would you like to go next? says Sikong Shu.

Anywhere but the Summer Palace, says Arthur.

Forbidden City? says Sikong Shu.

Cool, says Richie.

..........

Gaius, Margaret, Rosamunda and Professor Mee-man Chang are still at the Summer Palace. They have finished their lunch and are taking a look at the Marble Boat, a beautiful lakeside pavilion. Dr Zhu Min has gone home.

It is called the Boat of Purity and Ease, says Professor Mee-Man Chang. It was restored in 1893 by the Empress Cixi. She embezzled the money for the restoration from the Imperial Navy. It was quite ironical.

Why so? says Gaius.

Because she spent the money on a boat that couldn't go anywhere, says Professor Mee-Man Chang. And the navy being short of funds subsequently lost many sea battles.

Shocking! says Gaius. I can sympathise, being myself a military man

I did not know that, says Professor Mee-Man Chang, making a mental note.

It seems to have an interesting drainage system, says Margaret.

Rosamunda can't believe it. Interesting drainage system. Time to move on.

The waters that float the boat can also swallow the boat, says Professor Mee-Man Chang.

Did you make that up? says Rosamunda.

No, says Professor Mee-Man Chang. And now, let us climb up Longevity Hill to Cloud Dispelling Hall.

Who could fail to be delighted by that?