Crossing over several stone bridges, they arrived in a private garden where Houqua motioned Will to sit on a stone bench with carved lion’s heads for legs. “Why you come to Canton, Mister Thornton?” Houqua asked when they were both seated.

Will looked at his host, unsure what to say, his words seemed inadequate. “The goods I can buy here are treasures much in favor in California,” he said finally.

Houqua’s head nodded up and down in understanding, but he quickly asked, “Why you live in California?”
“I wanted to get away from my family,” Will said, and then wished he hadn’t. Trying to recover, he added, “I wanted to show my father I could be successful on my own.”

“Impatient falcon fledglings fall from nest, patient ones soar high,” Houqua said, showing Will a real smile that made his eyes grow large. Then he turned quiet. He seemed deep in thought for some time. “When I hear your name, I remember another foreigner called Thornton,” he said at last.

“Amos?” Will asked.

“I remember name Caleb. He first come to Canton long time back, maybe thirty years. He young then, like you, want to learn business. Supercargo for Boston firm. I teach, give good prices. He leave happy, say his bosses be happy with wealth he bring them. This Thornton come back two more times. Different then, want better price than other foreigners, better goods. Still nice man, but hard, like fertile soil after dry summer. He your father?”

Will nodded. “But I’m different,” he protested.

 “Will you come back dried up like father?” Houqua asked but didn’t wait for a response. “Hope not. Would like trade many times with you. Now we speak no more of that.” He reached into a deep pocket of his robe and removed a slip of paper. He glanced at it before handing it to Will. “This what we load on your ship tomorrow and next day.”

Will took the paper and looked bewildered at the Chinese characters. Houqua showed him the other side, written in English, detailing items and their quantities. As Will studied it, his face flushed with excitement.

“I think this best cargo for new merchant in California,” Houqua said. “You like?”

The list far exceeded anything Will had expected. He had hoped Houqua would guide his purchases but now he saw the Chinese Hong merchant had gone far beyond. The list included quantities of blue and white china, including 300 tea sets, and fancier sets of enameled cups and saucers. There were chests of silks and satins with each color and quantity listed separately. Among the most valuable items on the list were thousands of pieces of nankeen, a delicate cotton cloth. Eight hundred chests of three different kinds of teas, including Hyson tea carrying Houqua’s own chop, were on the list, too, along with an assortment of furniture, and several chests containing porcelains, jades and ivories.

Will looked at Houqua, his mouth agape. He hunted for the right words to express his gratitude, but was too stunned to speak, thinking his life had changed in this instant. In the end, his head spinning with images of his future, he was able only to mumble a few meager words of thanks. Houqua looked around the garden, as if it were a shrine. “My days as Hong merchant bring much pleasure and good fortune, I hope same for you, hope you return many times,” he said. “Keep me amused.” He paused, then continued slowly. “One day I see rich man riding horse down street of peasants. They much admire him, say he must be great man. Rich man pay no attention. Farther on rich man pass beggars, still pay no attention. Finally come to poor mother. She sick with too many children to feed. Rich man ignore mother so children, not knowing man rich, throw stones and knock him off horse.”