Follow the dragon -all parts of it!

Chapter 1
A Visit to the Baths

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Chapter Description: The old and new cause a Dad anxiety in China. He tries to help, but curiosity undoes his efforts. (needs further polish, but hubby needs breakfast now!)

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A visit to rural China is an adventure for an Westerner. As an American I’d seen downtown Beijing and Shanghai, the lights, the stores the at once Chinese and very cosmopolitan lifestyle. This time a Chinese friend I’d met in New York was taking me to her home town in rural Heilongjiang Province -the frozen North, like the Maine of China.

Liwei was very pretty to a Western eye. Delicate of frame and features, thick black hair in an Asian Page with bangs style, and a captivating smile. My appearance was the opposite; fair blonde hair, tall, deep set blue eyes in a body that likes to work out. We were going to see Liwei’s parents, and they had insisted that I stay in the local hotel, as they felt that their bathroom arrangements were, umm, insufficiently westernised. What did this mean? Liwei explained that for one thing, I wouldn’t like to squat over a toilet in the bathroom floor, and for another, there was no shower. The first was an easy adaptation, but the second? Her folks looked clean and neat as a pin in the photos. In fact most folk are notably clean in China.

"Don’t look so shocked." Liwei said. Almost nobody has much of a shower at home. It’s much nicer to go to the neighborhood Baths."

"Baths? Sounds like Roman or something..."

"No, Silly. The Baths building is a beautiful building were most people go to get really clean. We go many times a week. Relax. The men go in separately from the women. When you go, you get a fresh bathrobe and towel and a locker key so you can leave your clean clothes ready for after. First you take a shower to loosen all the stuff stuck to your skin, then a sauna to open up the pores and clean the inside. Now you lie on a bench while a man firmly rubs you all over with a slightly rough flannel cloth to thoroughly clean the the skin surface of any dead skin. Then you take a shower again, shampoo and do your teeth. First half done!

"And then what?"

"The best bit." Liwei smiled. "And then we go home."

The travel was surprisingly easy. An air China Jumbo from JFK had us in Beijing Capital airport in 12 hours. We got two full meals and a snack and everything like baggage check all included. It was an interesting polar route flight, leaving in the afternoon, and arriving in the afternoon, with the sun up all the time. We stayed a night at an airport hotel before taking a domestic flight to Harbin. The flight was just a couple of hours, another meal included, all in a style of how flying used to be in US. The crew were most fashionably and colorfully uniformed, helpful, cheerful and everything was spotlessly clean and professional. I was the only westerner aboard, but all the same they made sure to repeat all announcements in English. We thanked them for all their efforts and left the plane for baggage check.

Outside Mom and Dad were waiting, and after a welcoming handshake for me and hugs all round for Liwei, we took a taxi for the hotel. The hotel was a three-star, the first in town to have Western style bathrooms. The room was comfortable, and the bathroom got a through check by Dad, who inspected the toilet, muttered something and shook his head, smiling. Ahh well.

Soon we were left on our own, with a promise to meet for dinner. The entire family assembled at a local restaurant, and even complimented my chop-stick skills, though I had little idea of how else one should behave at a meal in China. Much food, beer and an introduction to the liquor, Baijiu had us well relaxed and very well welcomed.

The hotel bed was so comfortable, and soon Liwei had snaked an arm around a shoulder and whispered,

"You’re kinda stinky, but I love you. We do the Baths tomorrow! You’ll love it!"

We turned up at the Baths building, with big Chinese characters for the name in in lights "Hai" "Deg "Ar", an impressive marble front, and checked in. The showering and sauna and all went as expected, but felt so good. The staff were professional and attentive and everything was so clean. Soon I was directed upstairs and ushered to a large comfortable chair up one end of a big room. There was a mahjong table and waitress service for refreshments. The other end of the room were six massage beds with a uniformed masseuse at each. A mantel had a curious sculpture of a traditional Dragon and Phoenix, decorated with beads. A pair of particularly shiny examples hung from the nether regions of the dragon.

In a moment, Liwei arrived chatting with a girlfriend. We each enjoyed a massage, limbs, trunk, hands, feet and head and shoulders. The sensation was pleasurable sometimes unexpected ans many acupressure points were activated. Liwei said something to my masseuse, a stocky man, about my age, who looked often and long at Liwei as he worked my back. I suspect that the miserable fella ogled her more or less continuously. It was kinda strange because the woman who worked Liwei’s back kept looking at me. Soon it was all done and we dressed to go out to dinner.

"What was between the masseuses?" I asked Liwei.

"Oh. That was funny. The man has had a crush on me since High School, and the woman hadn’t seen a blond Western man in in his underwear before. She very much approved! -And don’t worry about the woman, I told her that you were my boyfriend."

"Thank you. The bath and massage was the best. We’ll have another soon."

And after a couple of days, we were back at the Baths. We cleaned up and went for a massage. Liwei said she just wanted here feet done. I settled on the couch and was recommended to have the full treatment of back and limbs. The arms were massaged, and stretched and pressed and momentary electric sensations shot around the body as special points were activated. The masseuse paused and went to the foot of the bed, said something as he stood next to the dragon and then continued the massage the backs of the legs, thighs, buttocks and back with a slowly heating oil.

"I’ll wait at the end of the room until you’re done." Said Liwei as she slipped off from her treatment.

The rubbing and oiling reached everywhere and felt glorious, but I felt that something like a suppository had been slipped in between the rubbing and pressing. This was certainly not part of "respectable" massage, and I had to ask Liwei about it. The oil was all dried off and we dressed for dinner.

"I had the same masseuse today, and he did something unexpected." I started to explain to Liwei.

"Yes, I was watching him as best I could, Hon. He went to the Phoenix, took something from it and it looked like he was holding it as he continued the massage."

"I wouldn’t be surprised he had posted something from the dragon inside me. What would it do? Does it matter?"

"I don’t know, but I need to look into it for you. We’ll go again tomorrow, just for a hand massage. It’s quick, feels good and gives us a chance to give that old dragon a count. I can’t believe he’s now missing one, but we can see easily enough. They are spectacularly shiny!"

We went to the hotel, and soon we were in a fine embrace. Liwei certainly knew how to make a man happy, but this time not all was well. No way would my member cooperate. It just wouldn’t wake up. The first time ever.

"Don’t worry, Hon." Liwei cooed with a trace of disappointment. "It’ll be better tomorrow."

We turned up in the morning for a hand massage. The Baths establishment was already doing a fine business. We went up to have hands done. As we settled in our chairs, I said to Liwei,

"Look he’s lost one!"

"So he has. The right one’s gone. Strange."

Liwei then quizzed the masseuses for any folklore or local knowledge about their dragon and phoenix.

"Well?" I asked.

"The dragon is old. Originally it was not so adorned, and was made by a Ming eunuch. He regretted his "pruning" and added the beads after. The masseuse tells me they are what makes him a real adult dragon."

"But what if they are removed?" I had to know.

"I’ll ask." Liwei said with scarcely concealed concern.

"It seems," Liwe continued, "that the old guy cursed them. You’re not going to like this next bit, but it appears that anyone who holds one of the dragon’s beads overnight will first lose potency, and then slowly regress in age to when he was castrated."

"Find out how much is that." I asked in panic.

"They say he was done about his first birthday." This didn’t sound good, even if no actual castrating was involved this time. I had to think.

"If it’s true, it looks like you’ll have a kid for a boyfriend. Just as well it’s a story." I added, hoping to reassure.

We left the Baths, and enjoyed the city, with it’s Russian quarter and and the famous ice sculpture and lights. We even tried a day at a ski resort. Liwei kept looking at me with some deep concern that she would put into words. Was I really getting younger. I didn’t feel any different.

"I’ll go and find XiaoXin and quiz him and the other masseuse as to what’s going on. We’ve got to know what this means, if anything." Liwei said.

"Good plan." I said.

I spent a day window shopping and exploring while Liwei had set up a meeting with both the masseuses. They met for lunch and the meeting seemed lengthy, as I received Liwei’s phone call at nearly 4 pm.

"Come meet me at the Baths. We have another massage and I’ll tell you everything."

I hailed a taxi and we sped to the Baths building on the outskirts of Harbin. Liwei was waiting. She gave me a big hug and then said she’d tell me everything after the massage, and not a word before. We showered, the sauna, the whole works and went up to the massage room.

The same two masseuses welcomed us, now with a different new and friendly tone, not the distant professionalism of the first meeting. They said they were sorry to have upset us, and therefore would we please accept this massage free. It had all been discussed over lunch and they felt it was the least they could do.

We climbed up and and my treatment started with my head, while Liwei had them begin with her back. The warm cloth on my face made impossible to see, but only a sound of massage came to my ears, then a quiet whimper from Liwei, and then continued massage. After a while, we were finished, and we all sat at the table, in our bathrobes and uniforms.

"Well?" I asked. Liwei shed a little tear. I dabbed her eye.

"Look at the Dragon." Liwei said. "I have it."

"What? Why did you do this?" I asked.

"If this thing works as is said, you’re going to be a kid again. I couldn’t leave you, so I had her put the other bead into me. I’ll make sure to keep it overnight. This way we’ll always be together whatever happens."

"Why did they do it to me first?" I asked.

"Oh, he was just jealous, and they are a childless couple. He thought he could stop you having me and they’d get the kid they wanted. They’re not bad folks really, so I persuaded them that twins would be better, and she agreed."

"What happens now?" I asked, really wanting to know.

"Either nothing; we’ll just poop the beads and life will be as before, or we stay at the hotel until we are young enough to go to their home. Time will tell." Liwei seemed entirely at ease with these vastly different scenarios. I could only marvel at her skills of adjustment.

"How much time until we know.?"

"I’d say a week at most. Honey you are already littler, and your hair is and isn’t in places like you’re now a youngster. I guess I’ll be joining you now." Liwei started to cry.

"Come Honey, we’ll always look out for each other, no matter what." I tried to sound reassuring.

Our new "parents" smiled and said they’d be taking the greatest care of us and would love us for ever. I really couldn’t get my mind around this last bit at all.

We took a cab to the hotel and fell in to each others’ arms.

"You don’t want a poop do you?" I asked Liwei.

"No way. I’m with you all the way, even with this bead inside. I brought you to China, and I’ll certainly not leave you now." Liwei gave a gentle peck on the cheek to seal the promise.

Morning came and we decided over breakfast that we’d best make the most of our time as we became younger. Tonight we’d hit the disco scene and keep with the appropriate age group as things changed. So we went on a shopping spree for the best fashions. Current fashions are most definitely not the jeans and tee of America. Beautiful dresses and shoes, in a choice of styles colors and materials not seen in New York. I had to admit that the youthful Liwei was dressed to kill. What a knockout!

"Not bad yourself" she opined, as she gave an encouraging squeeze to my waist.

"Is Harbin ready for us?"

"Let’s find out!" Liwei was excited -and stunningly pretty.

We danced and partied all that night and sampled several of the city’s nightspots. We identified a short list for the next night, and sleepily returned to the hotel. Even the doorman complimented the dozy Liwei on her outfit, and we took the elevator to our room.

We had a late breakfast and had many questions to address. The first was how long could we live at the hotel? What would happen when we were no longer old enough for a disco? We decided that a regular stop in at the massage house would keep us in contact and would make the transition easiest when the time came.

So we turned up to the Baths about mid morning. The business is usually slowest about then, so we figured that we’d have the best chance to meet our "parents". The plan worked perfectly. They met us upstairs, and then gently ushered us to a staff lounge that we’d never seen before. There was a big refrigerator, hot water for tea, magazines and newspapers and a few kids’ toys. Next, our "parents’ introduced themselves, Mama and Baba! They then explained that it was now time to come home with them, but first some things had to be done.

We sat and waited. Then Baba returned with a big dark blue thick velvet bag, about the size of a garbage bin liner. It was opened on the floor and Mama invited Liwei to step inside and sit. Mama then gently lifted the bag around Liwei and gathered it round her neck with a thick red satin cord. Liwei sat calmly. Baba now opened a box on the table and took out a battery hair clipper, and began to approach Liwei.

"No!" I objected. Liwei’s hair was full and spectacular -just one of her best features. Seconds later Liwei sat with a long buzz-cut all over, the beautiful long hair lying around the bag. Baba then adjusted the clipper and went to work again, starting at the back, he shaved her clean, all except for a little tuft on each side. Mama then held a mirror for Liwei, who looked carefully, smiled and said,

"My first kid girl’s traditional haircut! Cool! Make sure you also leave a tuft in the middle front for him. He needs the best kid boy’s first haircut!"

Mama and Baba nodded. The mirror was put down and then Baba and Mama both began to gently lift the neck of the bag upwards. Slowly, Liwei’s head slithered inside and out of view. The lifting continued, and Liwei’s outline inside began to reduce until it was easy for them to lift the bag clear of the floor. The bag was set down on the table and the neck was untied. A little Liwei, about two, sat, a little bewildered. Mama lovingly lifted her out of the bag and soon had her diapered for safety. Next she was given a feed bottle, which she took with relish.

Next, I was ushered to the bag. I sat. It was strangely cool inside as the top was gathered around the neck as before. Swift work with the clipper caught Liwei’s attention and made her laugh. I was shown the handiwork in the mirror. Bald as an egg, with a tuft at each side and one in the front middle. While correct, it looked odd on a fair-haired adult. No need to worry about that as the last thing I saw as the bag was raised, Liwei making excellent use of her new diaper! The sensation of the bag was first a little gentle pressure under the head and then a gentle slide inside to darkness and cool. The bag gathered all around gently and then then relaxed. Something firm was underneath, maybe the table. In next to no time the bag was open and the same diaper indignity as Liwei followed.

Time to look around. Mama and Baba were enormous, but Liwei was smaller, getting ever littler with each successive diaper. Next came a bottle for me. At first I held sitting, but soon it came more easily to lie. I looked at Liwei and she looked at me. I held her hand and we both giggled, and returned to sucking. Mercifully, the pooping stopped; there was anything one could do about it anyway.

"Haode! (Good!)" announced Mama, and began to put us in pink and blue onsies over the diapers, then came matching fleece sleepers, a little ring binkie for each. and a warm wool hat -pink and blue.

Baba reappeared with a pair of baby slings -a broad loop of strong cloth that is worn by a parent, diagonally over the shoulder. The infant is securely cradled in the loop, close to the breast if need be. Baba loaded Liwei into his and Mama loaded me. Why a bottle? I can smell milk here! So good! Baba’s big bag with the velvet bag and things was picked up, and Mama hitched a big baby bag on her other shoulder. Liwei gave a contented gurgle with the swing of Baba’s pace.

We left the Baths by the Staff entrance, and took the subway to an apartment block. We had many compliments on the way, though I couldn’t understand any of them. Apparently we were as cute as buttons, and quite the center of attention. Gradually recognition of words and much else was fading as new-found enjoyment of the sling and a new Mama overtook all.

 

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