In the bustling heart of New York’s Chinatown, a fresh day begins for two newlyweds with an unexpected visitor. Caught off guard, Wang Ben Loy, the husband, is confronted by a woman from his past—a prostitute who refuses to believe in his new marital status. It takes a pair of his wife’s underwear as proof to send her away, yet the incident leaves Ben Loy troubled, tormented by his struggle with impotence.

Ben Loy's Double Life

Ben Loy, a diligent young waiter working in Stanton, Connecticut, lives under the shadow of his strict Confucian father. His rare moments of autonomy come from clandestine escapades to New York City, where he secretly meets with prostitutes. Alongside another waiter, he had even rented an apartment for these trysts, which now serves as his and his bride’s home.

The Patriarchal Influence

Wah Gay, Ben Loy’s father, had left China years ago, aiming to prosper in America, but ended up managing a gaming house in Chinatown. After returning to China once to marry and father a son, Wah Gay brought Ben Loy to the States at age seventeen. Once Ben Loy reached his twenties and completed his service in the U.S. Army during World War II, his mother suggested to his father that it was time for Ben Loy to marry.

An Arranged Union

Among Wah Gay’s circle of friends was Lee Gong, a fellow mah-jongg enthusiast, who shared a similar immigrant journey. With both desiring to see their children married, they orchestrated a marriage between Ben Loy and Lee Gong's daughter, Mei Oi, who resided in China. Fortunately, the young couple felt a mutual attraction, and after a joyous wedding and a few blissful weeks, they journeyed to Hong Kong and then New York. However, Ben Loy's potency mysteriously waned once they left China, leaving him feeling guilt-ridden and inadequate, while Mei Oi felt unvalued and forlorn.

The Weight of Expectations

Upon their arrival in New York, their fathers celebrated the marriage with a grand banquet, where guests subtly hinted at the expectation of a child within the year. As time passed without a pregnancy, Mei Oi’s optimism gave way to despondency. Ah Song, a regular at Wah Gay’s establishment, seized this moment of vulnerability. A notorious womanizer, Ah Song beguiled Mei Oi with lavish promises and declarations of love, leading to her pregnancy. Ben Loy, relieved by the notion of fatherhood, chose to ignore the questionable circumstances of conception.

The Scandal Unfolds

The truth unraveled when Ah Song was seen leaving Mei Oi’s apartment, igniting a chain of gossip that soon reached her father, Lee Gong, who rebuked her. The president of the Wang Family Association, Wang Chuck Ting, informed Wah Gay of the scandal, advising the couple to relocate to Stanton to mitigate public shame. Wah Gay, already aware through barbershop whispers, harshly reprimanded his son and lashed out at Mei Oi. Despite relocating to Connecticut, they faced hostility, forcing their return to New York, where Mei Oi and Ah Song resumed their affair.

Confrontation and Consequence

Eventually, Wah Gay confronted Ah Song in a fit of rage, severing his left ear. When Ah Song filed charges, Wah Gay sought refuge with an old friend in New Jersey. The Wang Chuck Ting and the influential Ping On Tong, Chinatown’s unofficial governance, mediated the situation. They persuaded Wah Gay to come out of hiding and convinced Ah Song to drop the charges, subsequently banishing him for five years. Nevertheless, the embarrassment felt by Lee Gong and Wah Gay led them to seek a fresh start in different states.

A New Beginning

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