Editing François du Gard (section)

='''Background and Notes'''=
A Chinese-French mix, born and raised in Paris. Father, in the tea trade, brought back a wife from Wenzhou. The young idealist volunteered for a tour in the Spanish Civil War. After watching some friends get blown to bits, he wrote a novel about his experiences that was somewhat successful. Now he's a sort of Hemingway-esque figure, living life to the fullest, drinking hard and partying (he's relatively good-looking). Deciding to learn something of his Chinese heritage, hoping to get inspiration for a new book, and interested in goings-on in China (still somewhat of an idealist, although forever changed by the war), he takes a ship to Shanghai. Having arrived a week ago, he's got a room, deposited funds in the bank, done a little sight-seeing, and has begun the habit of hanging out at the Vienna Club.

François carried a letter of introduction to his mother's relatives, the Zan family. Also in the tea industry, the business was run by Uncle Jixing, Aunt Wubian (François' mother's sister) and their daughter Piaoliang. Aunt Wubian was quite distraught at the recent, unexplained disappearance of her husband, Uncle Jixing. Appealing to her nephew, François agreed to try and track his uncle down.