Zhao Shoubei

His Story

The former garrison commander of Chang’an. His son was betrothed to Jin-ge, daughter of a rich local family; when Li Yanei, the prefect’s brother-in-law, wanted the girl and her family moved to return the betrothal gifts, his household refused, abused the Zhangs and threatened to go to law. In Chapter 15 the abbess Jingxu carries the Zhang family’s request to Wang Xifeng, who takes three thousand taels and has a letter sent to the military governor of Chang’an that leaves him no ground to stand on. He swallows it and takes the gifts back. In Chapter 16 Jin-ge hangs herself and his son drowns himself. The novel gives him nothing after that — not even, as it happens, a surname.

In Xiang Li's Hands

Grey robe, blue cap-ribbon, blue underskirt; the beard and the hard sideways look carry the whole face. One hand opens empty at his hip. Behind him a carved chair, a censer and a vase are left in uncoloured outline — a room he is walking out of rather than into.

The Calligraphy

赵守备 — and this inscription does something the novel does not. Cao Xueqin never gives this man a surname. He appears only as 长安守备, the Chang’an garrison commander, or 原任守备, the former commander: a rank standing in for a name, which is part of how the episode works. The sheet supplies 赵. Whether it came from a commentary, a stage adaptation, or simply from the need to write something before the rank, the painting names a man the book left anonymous.

Connections

• Jin’ge 金哥 — betrothed to his son, and dead by her own hand when the engagement is broken.
• Li Yanei 李衙内 — the rival suitor whose pursuit sets the case moving.
• Wang Xifeng 王熙凤 — takes three thousand taels to apply the pressure that makes him withdraw.

Named on these pages Zhang Yuanwai 张员外 · Zhao Gongzi 赵公子

Dream of the Red Chamber
Xiang Li painted all 413 characters of the novel between 1975 and 1985, the first person to complete the entire cast. See the whole collection · Chinese Empresses