Mai Ling

"You did this. You did all of this. Sun Yang would've had you killed years ago if I hadn't agreed to marry him. [...] He beat me, raped me... not once, regularly. Where were you then? And now... the great warrior Ah Sahm crosses the salt to save his poor, lost sister."

—Mai Ling to Ah Sahm^[src]

Mai Ling (born Xiaojing) is the older sister of Ah Sahm and the wife of the late Long Zii. After arriving in America several years ago, having fled from China and an abusive warlord husband, Sun Yang, she married Long Zii in a power play to gain his trust and act as his advisor before ultimately killing him in order to lead the Long Zii tong herself and take over the opium trade. Mai Ling is relentless and will stop at nothing to rid Chinatown of the Hop Wei, even at the cost of her own brother.

Biography

Early life

Mai Ling was born and raise on a farm in Fo Shan, along with her brother Ah Sahm, their father, and American sea captain grandfather.^[1] Their grandmother died when she was young and Ah Sahm was just a baby, but their grandfather lived on the farm with them until he passed when Ah Sahm was 13 years old. Before he died, he taught them English and filled their heads with stories about America.^[2]

After their grandfather died, Ah Sahm began acting out and getting into fights, many of which he would lose until Mai Ling recruited Sifu Li Qiang to train him. For a time, Ah Sahm even left home but promised his sister to visit her every month.^[3]

More than five years ago, Ah Sahm challenged the son of a warlord to a fight, which ultimately resulted in the death of Sun Yang's son. As a result, Sun Yang ordered for Ah Sahm to be killed. In an attempt to save his life, Mai Ling offered to marry Sun Yang. He agreed, but unfortunately, he was abusive and raped her regularly. So, Mai Ling eventually worked up the courage to flee to America. However, this resulted in Sun Yang killing their father.^[1][4] During their marriage, his men would often come back wounded, and Mai Ling would sew up their wounds and patch them up the best she could. Over time, she developed a certain skill for it. However, when his men died, he would blame her.^[5]

Reuniting with Ah Sahm

Xiaojing, now known as Mai Ling to the Long Zii and their enemies, is reunited with her brother, Ah Sahm, who came to San Francisco to bring her home, now that it was safe, following the death of her husband, Sun Yang, who she only agreed to marry in an effort to save Ah Sahm's life. Unfortunately, when she fled China, their father was killed, but Mai Ling was left with no choice, as he beat and raped her repeatedly, and no one was there to save her then. When Mai Ling discovers that Ah Sahm's been branded by the Hop Wei, she orders him to leave.

Mai Ling rendezvous with Buckley and informs him that Long Zii intends to reach out to Father Jun to make peace, which doesn't serve either of them. With that said, Buckley will expedite the opium delivery, which her men can pick up tomorrow. However, Buckley warns Mai Ling that he can take her out of the opium business just as fast as he brought her in.^[1]

Mai Ling is engaged in an affair in Li Yong, which she keeps secret from Long Zii, who confronts her after learning that several of their men were slaughtered by the Hop Wei in retaliation for Mai Ling breaking the treaty. Mai Ling argues that opium is the future and that they won't survive if they don't get in now. But Long Zii fears that war will only make things worse, as it'll attract more cops, who've already formed a Chinatown Squad.^[6]

Threatening the O'Sheas

Upon learning that Ah Sahm had been arrested, Mai Ling and Li Yong pay Paul and Seamus O'Shea a home visit, where she tells them not to show up to court tomorrow, and in return, his family will be unharmed. When Mai Ling pulls a knife on one of his daughters, he reluctantly agrees. And the following day, when Ah Sahm is released due to lack of witnesses, Mai Ling instructs Chao to give Ah Sahm passage and tell him to leave Chinatown.

Mai Ling meets with Buckley and discuss why she hasn't made a move against the Hop Wei. Mai Ling explains that her husband has been showing restraint, though she intends to get that under control. In the meantime, all she needs from Buckley is a greater police presence against the Hop Wei. In addition to, she'll need another shipment of opium, promising Buckley that soon the streets of Chinatown will flow with blood.^[7]

An alliance with the Fung Hai

Mai Ling arranges a meeting with the Fung Hai to discuss a potential partnership. However, Pai, the leader of the Fung Hai tong, doesn't seem very interested in speaking with Mai Ling, a woman, who he thinks less than of. She figured as much, which is why she's already killed him, having poisoned his meal. Pai begins to bleed from his eyes and slowly die as he attempts to get to Mai Ling on the other side of the table. Meanwhile, his lieutenant, Zing, has double-crossed him and assumes leadership, as unlike Pai, he is willing to at least hear out Mai Ling's proposition.

When Ah Sahm neglects to leave town, as she suggested, Mai Ling confronts him herself and hands him a ticket home via steamboat, but Ah Sahm refuses to leave without her, which is not Mai Ling's concern, reminding Ah Sahm that she was nobody in China, whereas he's nobody in Chinatown. There's going to be a war between the tongs, and if Ah Sahm's on the wrong side, she won't hesitate to kill him. However, Ah Sahm's already made one mistake by letting her marry Sun Yang, and he's never going to make that mistake again, ripping up the ticket as he exits the carriage.^[2]

Killing Long Zii

Upon meeting with Father Jun and learning that he intends to kill Long Zii, he and Mai Ling seek refuge in one of his safe houses. However, they are attacked by Bolo, who after killing the guards, goes after Mai Ling, who is armed with a knife but still poses little threat to Bolo. She tries to defend herself, but Bolo is far too great a match and nearly strangles the life from Mai Ling until Ah Sahm intervenes and saves her from his grip. A fight ensues, but Ah Sahm manages to get the upper hand and defeat Bolo, who in then killed by Mai Ling. Beaten and battered, Mai Ling returns to Long Zii, who stands near the bed, armed with a sword. She tells him that it's over and takes the sword away. As he gets back in bed and she grabs the blade, he realizes that she intends to kill him. Long Zii says that he's glad it's her killing him, just before closing his eyes. Mai Ling kisses him on the forehead and drives the sword through his abdomen.

With Long Zii's death, Mai Ling takes command of the tong and attends his funeral, where she recalls the story of the Tiger and the Fox that her dad used to tell her about, relating it to Long Zii and their enemies.^[8]

Fighting for molasses distribution

Having taken control of the tong, Mai Ling meets with Father Jun, who is willing to end the war, but only if the opium treaty is upheld. When Mai Ling refuses, Father Jun is willing to work out a supply deal for Long Zii territory, but for now, he wants her word to honor the treaty and not receive any more opium shipments. Lao Ting doesn't like the increased police presence and believes that the best option is for both tongs to select their best fighter for a duel. If the Hop Wei win, the treaty stands for five more years. If the Long Zii win, they carve out an area in which they can distribute molasses independently.

When Mai Ling discovers that Ah Sahm has been chosen as the Hop Wei's fighter for the duel, she warns him to back out, as Li Yong will kill him. She suggests that he get injured or break a bone during training, forcing the Hop Wei to pick someone else, but he refuses.^[9]

All three tongs are in attendance for the fight between Li Yong and Ah Sahm to determine if the Long Zii will be allowed to distribute molasses independently. The fight begins and the two combatants exchange blows, and unfortunately for Mai Ling, the fight initially shifts in Ah Sahm's favor. However, Li Yong manages to gain the upper hand and deliver a heavy blow, breaking Ah Sahm's nose. Li Yong grabs Ah Sahm from behind and prepares to snap his neck when Mai Ling gives the signal. However, a single shot is fired in the air, and the crowd disperses.

Following the tournament, leadership of the Long Zii is officially transferred to Mai Ling. However, Zhang voices his disapproval of her leadership, given the war she started with the Hop Wei and also accuses her of manipulating Long Zii, as he lost his sense when she climbed into his bed, as well as Li Yong's. Mai Ling suspects that their hesitation of her leadership is due to the fact that she's a woman, so she provides a demonstration of strength and authority by shooting Zhang in the head. With Zhang dead, the council gives their full support.^[3]

A wavering alliance

Mai Ling meets with Buckley, who congratulates her for the new-found leadership, but he is concerned that with the Long Zii being cut in on the opium business, she's inadvertently achieved the peace that her late husband so badly wanted. But Mai Ling assures him that war isn't far off. As for the opium, she'll need twice as much as she ordered last time.

Mai Ling informs Zing there's been an increase in police presence since his men attacked a cop and asks what he was thinking. Zing replies that it doesn't concern her. But it does when his actions are cutting in on their profit by bringing extra police scrutiny. Zing informs Mai Ling that he only agreed to their partnership because it was a way for him to gain leadership and get the Fung Hai into the opium business, but he reminds Mai Ling that he doesn't work for her and that Fung Hai will continue to do business as he sees fit, even if that means killing ten cops. When she threatens to kick him out, Zing invites them outside to show them his army waiting just outside their door.^[10]

Guilt-ridden

While paying her respects to their parents, Mai Ling tries to explain to Ah Sahm that she did everything she could to keep him out of the tournament, but all Ah Sahm is concerned about is the fact that she ordered his death. Mai Ling warns Ah Sahm that he's backing the losing side, reminding him that the Hop Wei tossed him out like he was nothing, only for him to rejoin. She suggests that he join her, but Ah Sahm has no intentions on working for her and tells Mai Ling that she's going to wish she had killed him.

Mai Ling is worried about Ah Sahm, which she expresses to Li Yong. She could see the hate in his eyes. Li Yong isn't concerned that they'll break the treaty, but Mai Ling worries he could lose his grip on the tong. While Ah Sahm may be able to fight, he's not a leader, Li Yong retorts. Mai Ling was so furious with Ah Sahm when he first came looking for her as if she was the same sister he'd remembered, as if he still knew her. But she never thought that maybe she didn't know him either.^[11]

Leading the Long Zii

Mai Ling's truce with the Hop Wei is pushing Buckley's patience, but that truce has allowed them to increase their share of the molasses trade. Unfortunately, the other tongs are becoming restless, and it's only a matter of time before they get greedy and make a move. However, Buckley informs Mai Ling that he needs chaos, and he needs it quickly. He also reminds Mai Ling that they're not partners. He sells, and she buys. That's the simple nature of their arrangement.

Hearing that the Suey Sing tong has been selling opium in back alleys and brothels, while not a threat, Mai Ling sees this as an opportunity to send a message, which Li Yong isn't in agreement with. The leader of the Suey Sing, Loa Che, is young and reckless, but he's not stupid. Li Yong suggests simply talking to him. Mai Ling agrees, but tells Li Yong to bring Zing with him.

Given her uneasy relationship with Buckley, Mai Ling goes to see Mr. Nichols, who used to work for the Pinkertons and still does a bit of private consulting. She simply needs his help to find dirt on Buckley.^[12]

Mai Ling and Li Yong pay Zing an unexpected visit after he turned up short based on the opium receipts. Zing claims that he charged them a small service fee for killing the Suey Sing, but that isn't what they agreed upon, and Mai Ling expects the money she's owed by the end of the day. She also warns him that the next time Zing goes against another tong without consulting her, she'll consider it a breach of their agreement and kick him out of the opium business.

After meeting with Zing, Mai Ling gets a visit from Chao, who is weary of her alliance with the Fung Hai, as he doesn't trust or like them, especially Zing, but Mail Ling isn't concerned with his input.^[13]

Mai Ling hears out a proposal of a $300 loan to a local merchant for a laundry business. However, she is so impressed that she's willing to give him $1,000. She isn't interested in a one-time interest payment on an insignificant loan. Her money is an investment, and in exchange for 40% of their monthly revenue, they'll receive protection, a guarantee that no harm will come to their business, as well as an opportunity to expand operations, which Liu Wei wasn't after but has no choice but to accept. The more legitimate businesses they own, the less they expose themselves to. One day, the government may decide to take out the tongs, and when that happens, Mai Ling wants to have a back-up plan, as she refuses to go back to nothing.

Mai Ling crosses paths with Ah Toy at a street performance. Considering that Ah Toy didn't extend a greeting, Mai Ling wonders if she's offended her somehow. Ah Toy claims she was distracted by the exhibition and extends her apology.

Mai Ling pays for Mr. Nicholas to be released from jail after he failed to show up for their meeting. Mai Ling reminds Nichols that she hired him to do a job and if he can't deliver, she'll happily make other arrangements, pointing to her gun. Nicholas is working an angle, but he needs a bit more time and money to make a trip. Apparently, there's a photograph of Buckley, and if it's what they say it is, it will be money well spent.^[14]

Seeking forgiveness from Ah Sahm

While the peace is holding, and their prospects are good, Mai Ling is having trouble sleeping, likely due to guilt over ordering Ah Sahm's death, Li Yong suspects. Mai Ling becomes defensive, justifying her decision by reminding Li Yong of what she had to endure because of her brother. Although, Mai Ling does admit that she constantly thinks about the tournament and how she regrets her decision. Li Yong believes that Ah Sahm would be open to forgive her, but Mai Ling wouldn't if she was in his position.

Mai Ling discovers Li Yong tending to his wounds after having set Zing and the Fung Hai up to be arrested, reasoning that he was out of control and ordered the death of a police sergeant and his family. The cops have their killer, and the raids will end, but Mai Ling isn't convinced the ducks will ever leave them alone and is upset with Li Yong for making a move without her.

Mai Ling tracks Ah Sahm down to the Barbary Coast, where she explains that she simply wants her brother back. Ah Sahm replies that her brother died the night she ordered Li Yong to kill him, which was only just a few days after he had saved her life. Admittedly, Mai Ling made a terrible mistake and hasn't slept a night since. She's been angry for so long that she lost herself in it, and now she wants to fix things between them, but Ah Sahm isn't interested in repairing what they had. As one final plea, she tells Ah Sahm that if the tongs go to war, they'll lose. However, Ah Sahm is on a mission to destroy the Long Zii and everything Mai Ling cares about, and then leave her alive to watch it burn.^[15]

Mai Ling learns from Nichols that Buckley had a woman. He went to war and returned to her a different man. They lasted a few years, but in the end, he left. She's since gotten married and had a few kids, but she kept a certain photograph that could ruin Buckley.

Mai Ling and Li Yong have sex. She grabs a rope from underneath the pillow and ties it around Li Yong's neck. He's cautious, but she tells him to let go of her arm and trust her, or don't and leave. Li Yong chooses to trust Mai Ling and releases his grip as she tightens the rope around his neck.^[16]

Finding Jacob

Mai Ling admits to having underestimated Ah Sahm after discovering that the Hop Wei took down what remained of the Fung Hai. She suspects that Ah Sahm is provoking her to break the treaty. Li Yong didn't think they'd move so quickly after Zing. Fortunately, Mai Ling knows of other people who aren't the least bit concerned with their treaties, that being Buckley, who she meets with to discuss Jacob, who killed Mayor Blake and must be found as soon as possible. If she doesn't help him find Jacob, it'll mean the end of her opium supply and the beginning of a new era in Chinatown, one in which the Long Zii no longer have immunity to prosecution. Mai Ling can find Jacob, but she needs Buckley to help her take down the Hop Wei when the time comes.^[17]

Upon learning that Chao was harboring Jacob and helping him escape, Mai Ling instead convinced him to tell her of his location, which she then reports to Buckley, who uses this information to apprehend Jacob. Mai Ling assures Chao that she won't forget his help today, though she didn't give him much of a choice. Chao gave Jacob his word and took his money. For that, he feels guilty. Mai Ling reminds Chao that what they did was for Chinatown, to keep the bulls and ducks out of their bowl. However, just as these words leave her mouth, the workingmen begin their assault on Chinatown.

Mai Ling and Chao take shelter in Ah Toy's brothel, where they find Ah Toy beaten and bruised, lying in bed. They need a doctor, but all they have is Mai Ling, who has some experience patching up wounds. With what little medical skills Mai Ling has, she manages to sew up Ah Toy's wound. She reveals that she was married to a warlord back in China. The men who fought for him often came back wounded, and Mai Ling patched them up the best she could, and when they died, he blamed her. If it wasn't for his cruelty, she wouldn't know anything about sewing up wounds. Everything Ah Toy has done since coming to America, she did it so that she would never feel weak and vulnerable ever again, which is a sentiment Mai Ling can relate to. To the men attacking Chinatown, they're all the same. And if they live to see tomorrow, they can go back to the luxury of their own agendas. The tongs will go back to dicing each other, and Ah Toy will go back to selling sex. They'll both do terrible things, all because neither one of them is ever going to go back to what they were.^[5]

Mai Ling is in disbelief as she walks through to see the aftermath of the riot in Chinatown, destroyed property and dead bodies everywhere, but the most startling discovery is a brand-new mural that's been painted of Ah Sahm defending the area.

Moving against Ah Sahm and Buckley

In an attempt to drive a wedge between Ah Sahm and Young Jun, who has taken over the tong and turned down her gesture of alliance, Mai Ling remarks that she doesn't want to be at war with her own brother anymore, revealing to Young Jun that she and Ah Sahm are siblings.

After Buckley failed to show up to their last meeting, Mai Ling decides to stake out the area where he often frequents to pick up redhead prostitutes. When he finally arrives, she confronts Buckley and presents him an old photograph of him fighting for the confederacy. She informs him that she has two more of the same photos for sale. Just like him, she simply wants blood in the streets. Backed into a corner, Buckley bends to Mai Ling's whim and announces his plans to wage war against the Hop Wei.^[18]

Entering the pond

After absorbing the Jiang Yao tong into the Long Zii, Mai Ling meets with Mayor Buckley, who warns her against making any more moves against the Hop Wei until after the election. And so, taking a less violent approach in leveling up, Mai Ling arranges for Chao to introduce her to wealthy duck women, one of whom by the name of Eliza Pendleton takes an interest in Mai Ling's life story of enslaved Chinese wife turned successful businesswoman and invites her to a small reception.^[19]

After arranging a meeting between Li Yong and Muchen of the Three Brothers tong, Mai Ling attends Eliza's reception as planned. There, she shares her story with other women before being given a tour of Eliza's home and gifted an evening gown.^[20]

Despite Li Yong's concerns, Mai Ling makes another trip to the pond, where she convenes with Eliza and her husband Bernard Pendleton to attend an art gallery, where she and Bernard discuss possible business ventures. Afterward, she has an impromptu meeting with Ah Sahm, who warns her about the alliances she's made. While the Hop Wei poses little threat, she makes him another offer to join her, but he refuses.^[21]

Significant kills

• Bolo — Mai Ling kills Bolo, stabbing him in the upper body several times, after he infiltrated their home in an attempt to kill Long Zii and herself.^[8]
• Long Zii — Mai Ling gained Long Zii's trust before killing him with a sword in order to gain control of the Long Zii tong and opium trade.^[8]
• Zhang — Mai Ling poisons Zhang during a tong meeting and forges an alliance with his lieutenant, Zing.^[3]

Appearances

Season 1

• The Itchy Onion
• There's No China in the Bible
• John Chinaman
• The White Mountain
• The Blood and the Sh*t (credit only)
• Chewed Up, Spit Out, and Stepped On
• The Tiger and the Fox
• They Don't Pay Us Enough to Think
• Chinese Boxing
• If You're Going to Bow, Bow Low

Season 2

• Learn to Endure, or Hire a Bodyguard
• The Chinese Connection
• Not How We Do Business
• If You Don't See Blood, You Didn't Come to Play
• Not for a Drink, a F*ck, or a G**damn Prayer
• To a Man with a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail (credit only)
• If You Wait by the River Long Enough
• All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic
• Enter the Dragon
• Man on the Wall

Season 3

• Exactly the Wrong Time to Get Proud
• Anything Short of a Blow to the Head
• No Time for F*cking Chemistry

Behind the scenes

• Mai Ling is portrayed by Dianne Doan.

Gallery

References