A Guardian’s Devotion

This thread traces Mr Auslander’s movement from dream interpreter and outsider to Duckling’s loving guardian, and the lasting imprint he leaves on Jinzhen.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Stranger at the Mansion

A Stranger at the Mansion A valued interpreter Mr Auslander arrives in Tongzhen from overseas and impresses Grandmother Rong with his interpretations of her dreams. His abilities bring him into a powerful household despite his foreignness. A life shaped by words His talent brings both admiration and danger: a merchant’s anger leads to a severe beating that leaves him disabled in one eye and both legs. The Rong household takes him in, and he remains there.

A Home in the Pear Garden

A Home in the Pear Garden Choosing a secluded refuge Mr Auslander lives in the Pear Garden, a neglected place feared because of an earlier death there. Its distance from household traffic suits his wish for quiet and privacy. A small ritual of care He gathers pear blossoms, dries them, and makes them into tea. The garden and its flowers become a refuge that sustains him through pain and loneliness.

Duckling’s First Attachment

Duckling’s First Attachment A child drawn to the garden Duckling visits Mr Auslander daily and gradually begins to stand and move toward the old man. The rest of the household offers him little recognition, making the garden a rare place where he is seen. The word Daddy One day the child calls Mr Auslander “Daddy,” and the old man takes him into the Pear Garden to live. Their bond gives Duckling the closest thing he has to a parent.

A Last Request

A Last Request Planning beyond his death As illness takes his voice, Mr Auslander writes to Young Lillie asking him to become Duckling’s guardian. He describes the boy’s intelligence and asks that he be given both education and a name. A final act of protection He delays sending the letter to spend more time with the child. By the time it arrives, Mr Auslander is dead, but his appeal determines Jinzhen’s next home.

The Father Remembered

The Father Remembered Counting a life Jinzhen tries to calculate how many days his father lived, writing out the arithmetic on wrapping paper. The task makes grief visible through the only kind of expression he can readily sustain. A lasting inheritance Pear blossoms, stomach pain, and private memories keep Mr Auslander present in Jinzhen’s inner life. The old man’s care becomes a standard against which later forms of institutional attention are measured.

before 1873

after his injury, before 1932

around 1935, when Duckling is nearly three

1944, during Mr Auslander’s final illness

after Mr Auslander’s death