Explore Chapter 18 of 'Spring Ming Outer History' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Now, seeing He Jianchen in pursuit, Yang Xingyuan turned around and headed south. Back at the Guild Hall, a long-serving attendant handed him a letter from Wu Bipo, posted from the school. He opened it and read:
"My dear brother Xingyuan, Since our spring outing, the season has waned once more. In a brief respite between afternoon lessons, I read Tang poetry by the window. Whenever I come upon lines such as 'Apricot blossoms drift like snow, the small peach trees blush red,' my spirit wanders far in reverie. Just then, a pair of butterflies fluttered in from beyond the wall, skimming past the window as if they had come straight from the blossoms, proudly displaying themselves to us. I have heard the lilacs at Daoquan Temple are in glorious bloom and have not yet faded. I plan to call at your lodgings tomorrow noon so we may go together for a half-day's excursion. Please have some pocket money ready and await me; let us not become a laughingstock for the bees and butterflies. With deepest respect, Bipo."
Yang Xingyuan finished the letter and thought, 'It's those living in the back city who have such leisure and refined tastes. I live just a stone's throw from Daoquan Temple, yet I had completely forgotten about it. No matter, I'll indulge him and spend half a day tomorrow.' The night passed without incident.
The next day, Yang Xingyuan stayed in, awaiting Wu Bipo. At one o'clock sharp, his friend arrived. Yang Xingyuan said, "I haven't laid eyes on the lilacs at Daoquan Temple for two years. Last year they held that grand Buddha's Millennium Celebration, and I kept putting off going until the day never came. Thinking of it now, I feel rather regretful." Wu Bipo replied, "What's there to regret? That whole affair was nothing but a money-making scheme cooked up by that monk, Fapo. Better you didn't go. Thanks to his connection with Xiong Fenghuang, he gradually got to know many figures in political circles. And since at that time both Li Bodhisattva and Zhang Madman were devout Buddhists, he leveraged years of such networking to pull off one grand extortion under the guise of the celebration. Even seasoned politicians lack such meticulous, long-term scheming. Not to mention other things, just the rent from the houses surrounding his temple brings in a thousand silver dollars a year. Once collected, he doesn't spend a single copper but immediately lends it out piecemeal to the poor at twenty percent interest. Isn't that despicable?" Yang Xingyuan said, "I don't believe it. How could a man who has left the world do such things? Besides, Fapo is a renowned senior monk. I've even heard his poetry is quite accomplished; he hardly seems the type for such baseness." Wu Bipo said, "He's a monk, and I bear him no grudge. Why would I spread rumours about him? I have a relative who rented a room from his temple, so I know the inside story. The monk also has a most peculiar habit: when exchanging silver dollars for copper cash, he always shops around several money shops, afraid of getting short-changed. After using the coppers, he neatly folds the tattered newspaper they were wrapped in, tucks it into his pocket, and takes it home to store. Once he's accumulated enough, he sells the lot for four or five coppers a catty to the waste-paper collector. He absolutely refuses to trade whole piles of scrap paper for matches, saying it's a terrible loss. I wonder, is this monk pure or corrupt? What malignant influence from the hills and streams of Hunan produced such a monster?" Yang Xingyuan laughed. "If the monk loves money so, why did he take monastic vows? I think you're exaggerating somewhat." Wu Bipo said, "I won't argue with you. Perhaps we'll run into him. One look at the man and you'll see the light."
Thus ended their debate, and they set off for Daoquan Temple. Just at the entrance, a monk in his forties came out to greet them, all smiles and nods. Passing through the inner gate, they seemed to catch a whiff of delicate fragrance. Looking into the courtyard, they saw a layered canopy of green and scattered flecks of white-the lilac blossoms were already half fallen. Yang Xingyuan exclaimed, "Ah! We've come at the wrong time." Hearing this, the monk thought they meant to leave and quickly urged, "Please, gentlemen, come have a cup of tea. Though the flowers are past their prime, the lingering scent is even more delightful than at their peak." Before Yang Xingyuan could reply, two men squeezed past them to leave. A young novice followed, holding several dozen copper coins, showing them to the elder monk while gesturing at the retreating pair. The elder monk asked, "How much is this?" The novice said, "Three strings' worth." The elder monk scowled and cursed at their backs, "Bah! The shameless wretches!" The novice added, "They didn't just drink tea; they had a plate of melon seeds and a plate of peanuts too. This barely covers the tea; aren't we out of pocket? They carried themselves like high and mighty gentlemen who could splash out three or five dollars, yet after eating and drinking their fill, they leave just these few coppers." The elder monk told the novice, "In future, best not to entertain such riff-raff." Yang Xingyuan took this in but paid no heed. Pointing at a tree, he said to Wu Bipo, "This is an ancient tree; do you know it?" Before Wu Bipo could answer, the monk turned with an ingratiating smile. "This was planted in the Ming dynasty. It's a catalpa. For three hundred years, many high officials have composed verses in its praise. You gentlemen must be aware of this, surely?" All the while chatting and smiling, he ushered Yang and Wu into a small guest hall. The hall was a three-bay room opened wide, with some calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls. Quite oddly, three sets of tables and chairs were lined up, giving it the air of a cheap restaurant. Once inside, the young novice, without so much as a by-your-leave, laid out plates of snacks and brewed tea, his bald little head bobbing in and out busily. Yang Xingyuan whispered to Wu Bipo, "This looks rather coercive. I fear we're trapped." Wu Bipo smiled. "I suspected as much." The monk, anxious lest they refuse the tea, shifted a chair, his face wreathed in smiles as he bowed and gestured obsequiously. "Please, sit, sit!" They had no choice but to comply.
Yang Xingyuan struck up conversation with the monk, asking his religious name. The monk stood to one side, bowing slightly. "I am unworthy. It is Ciquan." Yang Xingyuan asked, "Is your abbot, Fapo, at home?" Ciquan replied, "He has gone to the residence of Premier Qian. He should return before long." Yang Xingyuan remarked, "One who has renounced the world-how can he still be so occupied?" Ciquan chanted, "Amitabha Buddha! The temple's income is meagre, and there are many monks. For the sake of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, one must toil a little harder." Wu Bipo said, "I hear your temple collects a fair amount in rent. Is that true?" Ciquan said, "We who have left the family do not lie. There is some, but a few dozen dollars a month-what can that accomplish?" He then pointed to the snack plates on the table. "These are all clean. Please help yourselves." Pressed by his insistence, Yang Xingyuan could only take a few melon seeds to crack and walked out to the courtyard to look at the flowers. Wu Bipo followed. Beneath the lilac boughs lay many fallen petals. The remaining blossoms on the branches, lit by the sun, drifted down one by one from among the leaves. Suddenly, a voice called from behind, "Mr. Wu!" Wu Bipo turned to see the Hunanese Xi Houyan and nodded in acknowledgement. Xi Houyan sized up Yang Xingyuan and asked Wu Bipo, "This gentleman seems familiar." Wu Bipo said, "He is my fellow townsman, Yang Xingyuan." Xi Houyan exclaimed, "An honour long awaited!" He produced a name card from his person and presented it to Yang Xingyuan. Yang Xingyuan saw a man of about forty, wearing a faded blue linen gown that had turned greyish-white, stained all over with ink blots and grease spots. His head was bare, hatless, rather like a menial servant. Reading the card, he found, besides the name, address and telephone number, a string of epithets: "A Struggling Youth of the Twentieth Century," "Vanguard of Cultural Reform," "External Editor for Liang Bao," and so on. On the back were two lines: "My New Poetry Collection, Price: Eighty Cents per Volume. Available at all Major Bookshops." Only then did Xingyuan realise this was the ubiquitous contributor Xi Houyan and offered a few polite words in response.
At that moment, an elderly monk entered the courtyard, around fifty years old, with one shoulder higher than the other, walking with an unsteady, swaying gait. Wu Bipo came over and told Yang Xingyuan, "That is Monk Fapo." Yang Xingyuan watched as Fapo fumbled inside his robes for a long while before pulling out two copper coins. He handed them to the young novice, saying, "I've been running about all day and am famished. Go buy me three sesame cakes. And don't forget-I should get five small coins back." The novice assented and started off. Fapo called him back. "Listen, the cake shop at the mouth of this alley makes them too small, and the dough is poor. Go buy them outside the alley. Pick out three large ones." The novice uttered several "Yes, yes." Fapo added, "And don't forget-five small coins change." With that, he swayed off towards the rear hall. Yang Xingyuan thought, "We came to see flowers, but they're past their best. There's little to look at, and sitting here indefinitely drinking tea is pointless." He said to Wu Bipo, "Let's go." Hearing this, Monk Ciquan fixed his full attention on the two, watching to see who would pay for the tea, while simultaneously refilling their cups from the pot. Xi Houyan merely gathered the melon seeds scattered on the table, paying no mind. When Wu Bipo placed a silver dollar on the table, Monk Ciquan promptly pressed his palms together in thanks. In that instant, Xi Houyan noticed half a plate of melon seeds still on the table. He picked up the plate and tipped its contents into his sleeve. Wu and Yang didn't notice, but it sent Monk Ciquan into a silent rage, his eyes bulging as he muttered "Amitabha Buddha" under his breath.
Having left Daoquan Temple, Wu and Yang, seeing it was still early, arranged to visit the United Apartments to meet another fellow townsman. This man was named Lu Wuya, a Japanese returned student who had never graduated, now eking out a living teaching at both Pingdeng University and Jiangnan Public School-a rather desperate existence. That day, Yang and Wu found him at home. Lu Wuya exclaimed, "Goodness! Mr. Yang is a busy man. What brings you here today?" Yang Xingyuan laughed. "What busy man am I? You're the busy one! A middle school teacher, a university lecturer, also serving as secretary of some physiology research society and editor-in-chief of a so-called romance magazine. Isn't that busier than I?" Wu Bipo said, "I don't mind speaking frankly. None of Wuya's positions amount to much, and that Jiangnan Public School of his is, as they say in Shanghai, pure 'ya-ya-wu'-all show and no substance!" Lu Wuya merely smiled at this. Yang Xingyuan said, "I've heard that at Jiangnan Public School, ringing the bell isn't enough; the janitor has to go to each dormitory to personally invite the students to class. Is there any truth to that?" Wu Bipo said, "You're making a fuss over nothing. The thirty-four students at Jiangnan are treated like thirty-four young masters. The janitor fetching them for class is nothing. As long as they don't treat the teachers like circus bears, it's considered a good day. Once, a teacher was writing equations on the blackboard when a pair of clowns showed up. One stood on the right, deliberately asking, 'Why is this positive here? Why is that negative there?' The other stood on the left, pretending to study the equations, but in fact he reached behind and, with a bit of chalk, drew a turtle as big as a washbasin on the teacher's black woollen jacket. The whole class roared with laughter. The teacher took off his jacket and saw it; his face turned sallow with fury. Just as he was about to explode, the two clowns stood neatly to attention and gave him three deep bows. The poor teacher couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry, and could only heave a sigh in the end." Lu Wuya said, "Enough, enough! Walls have ears. You speak so freely, but if this gets to a journalist's ears and into the papers, all us southerners will lose face. What's the point?" Yang Xingyuan smiled. "For our kinsmen's sake, let's drop the topic of Jiangnan for now. But may we hear some amusing tales from your esteemed university?" Lu Wuya said, "Our Pingdeng University is a perfectly respectable institution. What is there to say?" Wu Bipo said, "I've heard the female students at your university are particularly pretty. Any truth to that?" Lu Wuya said, "Not necessarily." Yang Xingyuan chuckled. "If that's the case, with a dashing fellow like you teaching there, problems are bound to arise." On hearing this, Lu Wuya blushed as if a secret concern had been touched, and he muttered some vague reply.
Now, this Lu Wuya taught English at Pingdeng University, a core subject requiring daily attendance. Moreover, the class he taught was a preparatory one. The classroom was small, the students many, squeezing the seats of about twenty young women into the left corner near the lectern. The delicate scents and glimpses of coiffured hair were tantalisingly close. At first, Lu Wuya, mindful of the teacher-student distinction, dared not let his thoughts wander. Later, given suitable opportunities, he couldn't help stealing a glance or two at the female students. Once he started looking, he found he couldn't stop. During lessons, he even devised a method for covert observation. He would place his lecture notes on the desk, leaning partly over them. Crooking his right elbow, he'd prop himself up with his hand, half-crouching as if studying his notes, while in fact, under cover of this bowed head, he would direct his full gaze at the young women. These girls were all comely, needless to say. Among them was a Miss Chen Guoying, especially striking. She was only about eighteen or nineteen, in the very bloom of youth. Her attire was chic, her manner lively-truly a flower of unfettered grace. Such a person naturally drew the covetous, crow-like stares of every male classmate. Yet Miss Chen paid none of them any heed. However, during Lu Wuya's classes, she couldn't help noticing his furtive glances, which made her rather uncomfortable. Thinking him her teacher, she couldn't very well make a scene, so whenever Lu Wuya peeked, she would blush and lower her head, pretending nothing was amiss. As time passed, this matter lodged in her mind, becoming something she pondered, as if Lu Wuya himself had become a subject worthy of study. She thought, 'This man is only in his twenties, rather handsome, his speech gentle, and his scholarship is undoubtedly sound. So perhaps his peeking shouldn't be taken in ill part.' Slowly, imperceptibly, her heart began to stir. Occasionally she would ask Lu Wuya about some difficulty in English, and he would answer with calm thoroughness, without a hint of teacherly condescension. Chen Guoying grew to find him increasingly amiable and congenial, though there was no opportunity for closer contact.
Time flew, and soon the winter vacation approached. Students were naturally thrown into a flurry of activity. But Miss Chen Guoying, being highly competitive and confident in her usual diligence, was determined to come first in her class. In the days leading up to the exams, she drove herself relentlessly, studying day and night. Her classmates said, "Miss Chen, with such effort, you're sure to be first." Chen Guoying replied, "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure." But inwardly she thought, 'If everyone expects me to be first and I fail, how mortifying!' This only steeled her resolve. During the exams, she found most subjects went well, only English left her uncertain. Asking around her classmates, she learned her paper had several errors; at best, she might barely pass. This dismayed her greatly. Her seemingly assured first place was now jeopardised by poor English alone. Yet, upon reflection, the mistakes seemed pardonable. Fortunately, the English teacher, Lu Wuya, was a flexible man, and moreover, he seemed to think well of her. Perhaps he would give her a few extra marks? But then another thought struck: 'If my paper is truly wrong, there's nothing he can do.' Torn by anxiety, she decided to go and ask Lu Wuya secretly about her results. However, there was a hitch: Lu Wuya was the one who liked to sneak glances at her. Going alone would be terribly awkward. At this thought, her cheeks flushed and her heart began to race. But then she reasoned, 'He's my teacher after all. What is there to fear?' She tidied her hair, dabbed on a little snow cream, changed into fresh clothes, and then hired a rickshaw to Lu Wuya's apartment.
As fate would have it, Lu Wuya was at home. The sight of Chen Guoying sent his heart into a wild flutter-a dream he'd never dared hope would come true. He couldn't help exclaiming, "Ah! Miss Chen!" Chen Guoying, naturally rather shy, blushed, gave a slight bow, and softly addressed him as "Sir." Lu Wuya beamed. "Please, sit! You're such a diligent student; what brings you to my humble abode?" Chen Guoying said, "It's nothing urgent. I merely wished to inquire about my examination paper." Lu Wuya, understanding her intent perfectly, replied with feigned gravity, "Regarding your paper, Miss Chen, there are no major errors, but many in your class performed rather better." Chen Guoying couldn't hide her disappointment. "Could you tell me which parts I got wrong, Mr. Lu?" Lu Wuya smiled. "Strictly speaking, I shouldn't disclose such things before the results are published. But between us, it should be fine." He fetched her paper from the shelf and pointed out where the grammar was faulty and the translations erroneous. Chen Guoying saw the score was a mere fifty percent. Her heart sank; first place now seemed hopeless. Lu Wuya then showed her some of the top papers, explaining how they should have been done. Chen Guoying could only sigh. "I understood all these answers. How could I have forgotten everything during the exam?" Leaning against the table, one hand supporting her, the other idly turning the pages of a book, she fell into a daze. Lu Wuya smiled. "The paper's done now; fretting won't help." Chen Guoying said, "To be frank, sir, I scored above ninety in every other subject. I had my heart set on first place. Now, with English so poor, it's gone." Lu Wuya said, "In that case, would Miss Chen like to explore a remedy?" Hearing this, she sensed a hidden meaning. "If there is a way, that would be wonderful. But what remedy could there be?" Lu Wuya gave a faint smile. "There is a way, but for your sake I would have to wrong the entire class. My conscience would trouble me greatly." Chen Guoying said, "Since you put it that way, there must be a way. Please tell me. If it doesn't harm my classmates, you might as well do me this favour." Lu Wuya pulled two blank examination booklets from beneath the pile and handed them to her. "These are spare papers. If we put your name on one, correct all the mistakes from the original, and copy it out anew, wouldn't that make a perfect paper worthy of a hundred percent?" Chen Guoying said, "Thank you, Mr. Lu. Let me take it and copy it over." Lu Wuya smiled. "That's possible. But this concerns both our reputations. Utmost secrecy is required." Chen Guoying smiled slightly. "Naturally." Lu Wuya said, "In doing this, I'm making a great sacrifice of conscience. How will you thank me?" Chen Guoying blushed. "What could I possibly offer? I could knit you a pair of woolen slippers." Lu Wuya shook his head. "No." Chen Guoying said, "Then perhaps I could invite you to the movies at the Zhenguang Theatre?" Lu Wuya shook his head again. "No, no." Chen Guoying said, "If this won't do and that won't do, a poor student like me can't afford to thank you." Lu Wuya smiled. "The days are long. Neither of us is in a hurry. We can speak of it another time." Then, adopting a deliberately solemn tone, he said, "This paper shouldn't be taken back to the dormitory to copy. If anyone found out and word got around, it wouldn't matter for me-I'd just stop teaching at Pingdeng University-but your sacrifice would be immense. We'd never clear our names even if we jumped into the Yellow River!" Chen Guoying heard his rambling and understood perfectly well, yet felt too embarrassed to contradict him. She said, "What do you suggest then, sir?" Lu Wuya said with a grin, "My suggestion is we discard your original paper completely. I'll help you redo it right now, and you can copy it fair here. You'll hand it to me, and I'll give you a hundred percent on the spot. Quick and secret. What do you say?" Chen Guoying hesitated, unwilling to agree. For one, she feared staying too long and being seen by someone, which would be terribly awkward. For another, a man and a woman shut up alone in a room conducting secret business was highly improper, and she was most reluctant. Yet on the surface, he seemed to mean well, and she found it hard to refuse, leaving her in a quandary. Lu Wuya understood her thoughts perfectly. "Don't worry. No one will come at this hour. If you're uneasy, I can tell the attendant here to say I'm not at home to any visitors and turn them away." He called an attendant in, gave the instruction. The attendant glanced at Chen Guoying, assented, and left. Lu Wuya then closed the door, turned to Chen Guoying with a smirk, and said, "Just you wait. I'm going to have a bit of fun with you." At this point, Chen Guoying could only submit to Lu Wuya's arrangements and carry out his plan step by step. By the time the paper was neatly copied, the short winter day had ended and the streets were aglow with lamplight. Lu Wuya wanted to keep Chen Guoying for dinner, but she said, "It's getting late. I'll come another day." Lu Wuya grinned. "That 'another day'-is it just a polite phrase, or do you truly mean it? If it's true, I'll let you go." Chen Guoying had to say, "I truly mean it." Hearing this, Lu Wuya could press no further and had the attendant hire a rickshaw to see her home. As she was leaving, Chen Guoying blushed and whispered to Lu Wuya, "Today's matter, you must keep it absolutely secret. Even the fact that I came here must not be told to anyone." Lu Wuya smiled. "That goes without saying. You may set your heart at rest." Chen Guoying returned home somewhat reassured, and the night passed without further incident.
The next day, Chen Guoying hoped the whole affair was over. But before noon, an express letter arrived from Lu Wuya. Opening it, she found not a few words-counting the pages, there were a full twelve sheets. The very first line read, "To my beloved schoolmate Guoying." Chen Guoying's face flushed, then paled; her heart pounded like a frantic drum. She thought, 'Men are truly trouble. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. This letter runs to thousands of words, but it all boils down to one thing: he wants me to accompany him to the park. Logically, since he helped me so greatly, I cannot refuse. But I've heard it said that when a man and woman reach the stage of strolling in a park together, it's highly suspect. Does he mean to use that tactic on me? And if, at that moment, he really speaks his mind, how should I answer?' This line of thought left her utterly bewildered. She turned the twelve pages over and over, reading them several times, her heart still racing. She thought, if a classmate were to see this letter, it would be catastrophic! For a moment she considered burning it, but then another thought occurred: this was, after all, a singular experience in her life. Why not keep it as a memento? So she folded the twelve sheets together with the envelope and tucked them under the mattress by her pillow. She sat alone in a daze for a while, as if some unresolved question hung over her. Her mind in turmoil, she couldn't even eat lunch. While her heart was thus entangled, Lu Wuya on his side was in a state beyond description. Since sending the letter, not knowing whether it would bring fortune or disaster, he had been pacing his room like ants on a hot griddle, unable to sit still. He thought, 'My letter was quite tactful, nothing presumptuous. Given her attitude yesterday, surely she won't refuse. But then, I invited her for a moonlit stroll in the Amusement Park. That level of intimacy may not have been reached yet; perhaps she won't agree. Moreover, I used rather affectionate terms-wasn't that too forward? If she takes offense and sends the letter to a newspaper for publication, how will I ever make a living in Beijing again?' The more he thought, the rasher the letter seemed. He blamed his own impatience. Throwing himself on the bed, he mentally recited the letter from start to finish. 'Fortunately, I remember most of it. Some phrases were quite moving; she probably won't turn hostile. And then, yesterday when she left, her head bowed, face flushed, telling me to keep it secret... That demeanour, upon reflection, is like savouring an olive-a回味 with a subtle, lasting flavour. She must not be entirely indifferent?' At this thought, he couldn't help but jump up. The jump caused a loud *thump*, as if the house were collapsing, startling him into a cold sweat. It was merely him leaping off the bed with too much force, causing the rattan bed frame to give way. Taken by surprise, he broke into a sweat, then couldn't help laughing at himself. He called the attendant in to fix the bed, and顺便 instructed him, "If any letters come for me from outside, tell the accountant to bring them in immediately. Don't leave them lying about." The attendant assented several times. Lu Wuya then asked, "Why hasn't lunch been served yet?" The attendant said, "Didn't I just ask you to eat, sir, and you said you wouldn't?" Lu Wuya said, "You asked me?" The attendant said, "Goodness! How could you forget something that just happened? When I came in, you were lying on the bed. I said, 'Sir, lunch is ready,' and you shook your head and said, 'Not eating.'" Lu Wuya thought for a moment; it seemed vaguely familiar. He smiled. "Ah, I forgot. Off you go." The attendant left, smiling. Lu Wuya felt his mind was in utter chaos. He randomly pulled a book from the shelf and sat at the table to read. But after a long while, his vision remained blurry;明明 he was reading the first line, his eyes would skip to the second. Groping on the table, his hand found a teapot. His eyes fixed absently on the book, he grabbed the pot and brought it to his lips to drink from the spout, but got nothing. Instead, he felt a scalding heat run down his sleeve. Opening his eyes wide, he saw the teapot spout pointing skyward; he had been drinking from the handle. Tea had spilled from the lid and was streaming down the wide sleeve of his gown straight towards his armpit. Lu Wuya thought, 'What on earth is wrong with me today? If I go on like this for three more days, I'll be done for.' After a moment's thought, he stamped his foot. 'To hell with it! I'll write another letter urging her on. Even if it falls through, I'll sacrifice my reputation and bear the charge of seduction. What's the worst that can happen?' Having decided, he picked up his pen and wrote another letter. At the end, he signed in English: "Your sincere friend, So-and-so." His intention was to first shed the formal title of 'teacher' so they could speak of love. The letter written, he found a pink envelope, addressed it "To be delivered to Miss Chen Guoying, Women's Dormitory, Pingdeng University." On the top left he wrote four characters: "Awaiting Your Reply." Beneath these four characters he added an exclamation mark for emphatic tone, and around each character he drew three concentric circles in ink. At the bottom, instead of signing, he wrote "Details within." The letter ready, he called an attendant, gave him three strings of cash for rickshaw fare, and told him to deliver it and bring back a reply.
The attendant took the letter to the dormitory. Chen Guoying happened to be in, whiling away the time with a modern-punctuated edition of Dream of the Red Chamber. Receiving this letter, she was dumbstruck for a long moment, unsure how to handle it. She thought, 'If I keep ignoring him, he'll just keep writing. If my classmates find out, it will be a terrible scandal. I should never, never have aimed for first place and entered into that secret pact with him. Now I'm under his thumb, unable to speak out. Otherwise, I could take these two letters straight to the principal and make him regret the day he was born! But now there's no way out. The only thing is to meet him face to face and tell him to stop writing. Since he wants me to go to the Amusement Park, I'll simply agree and settle this once and for all. Then we'll see what he does. Anyway, I know my own mind; I'm not afraid of whatever tricks he might pull.' Having decided, she took the fountain pen from her lapel, and on a sheet of English writing paper, she penned a reply. Her letter was the very antithesis of Lu Wuya's: exceedingly brief, stating only that she would wait for him at the movie theatre in the Amusement Park at six o'clock that evening. The attendant brought the reply back. Lu Wuya, having waited with twenty-four parts impatience, was thinking, 'This apartment-house attendant is truly detestable. If I were head of the police, I'd punish such fellows severely, sending them to a reformatory for at least half a year.' When the attendant entered and he spotted the letter in his hand, his heart leapt with joy, almost jumping out of his mouth. Now all thoughts of sending the man to a reformatory vanished. He rushed forward, snatched the letter, and tore it open. His delight need not be described. He glanced at his watch: it was already three o'clock. Opening his trunk, he took out ten silver dollars he had saved. This money was originally a filial offering, intended to buy some foreign ginseng for his mother. He had been delayed, the ginseng never bought, and now, unexpectedly, it would fund his evening entertaining his beloved. Heaven was indeed smiling on him. He also took from the trunk a clean set of underclothes and hurriedly changed. His fur-lined gown and hat were freshly brushed. After twenty minutes of such bustle, everything was ready. Looking in the mirror, he felt refreshed and vigorous, except for the dense stubble on his chin, which was most vexing. He thought, 'I really should get a shave. It's only just past three. I might as well go to Xiangchang for a bath and a haircut first, then proceed to the Amusement Park. That would make it just six o'clock. Perfect.' Decision made, he hired a rickshaw to Xiangchang. In his eagerness for speed, he agreed to the first price quoted and jumped in. The rickshaw puller happened to be a descendant of the Eight Banners, probably of the fourth or fifth rank in his former life. Even pulling a rickshaw, he couldn't shake off the airs of a young master. He walked with measured, deliberate steps. Lu Wuya kicked the footboard. "Can't you go any faster?" The puller, hearing this, bent his back, gripped the shafts, and with his head bobbing forward, managed a run of twenty or thirty steps before falling back into his stately pace. Lu Wuya cursed, "You fool! At this rate, when will you ever get me to Xiangchang?" The puller, hearing this, simply set down the shafts, pulled a ragged cloth from his waist, and wiped the greasy sweat from his brow. Panting, he said, "Sir, I can't go any faster. But I'll get you there, never fear." Lu Wuya looked at the man: his face was wrinkled like a plucked chicken's, his beard and鼻涕 stuck together in a clump-a picture of decrepitude. Stirred by the passion of love, Lu Wuya was moved to charity. He gave the man a string of cash, dismissed him, and hired another rickshaw to take him to Qinghua Garden in Xiangchang.
After bathing and getting a shave, it was already past five. Suddenly an idea struck him. He went to a foreign-goods shop and bought a pink silk handkerchief and a bottle of sandalwood perfume. Wrapping them up, he placed them in his overcoat pocket before heading to the Amusement Park. Fearing Chen Guoying might arrive first, he searched the old theatre, the new theatre, the variety hall, and the movie theatre, but she was nowhere to be seen. Though he hadn't found her, he was considerate enough to worry that *she* might not find *him*, so he went to wait on a chair by the main entrance where tickets were taken, scrutinising every passer-by. His chosen spot happened to be near where the military police were stationed. One or two of them glanced his way. He thought, 'Not good. They might suspect me.' He stood up and, pretending to look at photographs on the wall, drifted away. But his desire to wait for Miss Chen was sincere, and he was not about to miss his chance through carelessness. So after a few steps, he wandered back. After about twenty minutes, Miss Chen finally arrived. Lu Wuya, seeing her, beamed with delight, bowed, and said, "It's rather crowded here. The movie theatre is much quieter. Shall we sit there?" Chen Guoying gave a slight smile. "As you wish." That smile of hers was like ambrosia to Lu Wuya, filling him with an indescribable joy. He led Chen Guoying to the movie theatre, chose a table, invited her to sit, then took off his overcoat and sat down himself. A waiter brought tea. Lu Wuya took a cup, wiped it with his handkerchief, poured tea for her, and said with a smile, "It was quite a distance for you to come, Miss Chen. I feel rather bad." Chen Guoying said, "It is I who should thank you, sir. Your saying so makes me feel worse." Lu Wuya smiled. "You are too polite! There is another thing. You keep addressing me as 'sir.' It makes me most uncomfortable. In the classroom, we are teacher and student. Outside it, we are friends. Besides, apart from knowing a little English, in what way am I superior to you, Miss Chen? I would consider it an honour to be your friend, and fear you might refuse. How dare I presume on the title of teacher?" As he spoke, Chen Guoying poured a cup of tea and placed it before Lu Wuya. Lu Wuya quickly stood to receive it. In doing so, he caught sight of her hand, so fair and delicate, slightly reddened by the cold-truly, as the modern poets would have it, "as娇艳 as a rose." Added to this was the faint fragrance of snow cream from her face and hands, subtly permeating the air. How could Lu Wuya, in such close proximity to such exquisite loveliness, not be utterly captivated? On his part, Lu Wuya longed at that moment to pour out his love for Chen Guoying from the very depths of his soul, and even better, to have her agree to a formal engagement that very night. But how could he bring himself to utter the words "I love you"? Torn between the desire to speak and the inability to do so, he could only resort to small talk. On her part, Chen Guoying, rather displeased by Lu Wuya's advances, felt she could not be openly rude upon meeting him, and so also kept to idle chatter. They sat together for some time, yet the main subject remained unbroached. Moreover, the movie theatre was a public place with many eyes and ears; it was hardly suitable for discussing matters of the heart. Suddenly, Lu Wuya had an idea. He said to Chen Guoying, "You came early, Miss Chen. I expect you haven't had dinner yet. The Western food at the Guanying Pavilion here isn't bad. Shall we go and have something to eat?" Chen Guoying said, "That's not necessary. I've already eaten." Lu Wuya smiled. "You may have, but I haven't. I must eat something. So let me invite you to sit with me. It's perfectly alright." Put this way, Chen Guoying had no choice but to accompany him to the Western Restaurant. The waiters at the Amusement Park were sharp fellows. Seeing a man and woman enter, one immediately lifted the curtain of a small private booth for them. Naturally, Lu Wuya took the host's seat. Glancing at the menu, he handed it to Chen Guoying, asking if she wished to change anything. Chen Guoying said, "This stewed duck-perhaps change it to ham and eggs? Would that be alright, sir?" Lu Wuya said, "Excellent! Excellent! Your tastes coincide exactly with mine. In Western meals, these various fowls-chicken, duck, and such-I always find them tough to cut, and one ends up making a terrible clatter with knife and fork. At a formal banquet, it's truly most embarrassing." Now Lu Wuya's tongue was loosened. He spoke of how banquets were held in Europe, how they were held in Japan. He said that in the West, where social interaction between the sexes was open, women often took the leading role at such gatherings, which was the complete opposite of the custom in China. From social interaction he moved on to the topic of love between the sexes, saying love was of two kinds: love in form and love in spirit. And spiritual love, or so the philosophers call it, could be either mutual or one-sided. Here he gazed at Chen Guoying and sighed. "My own situation at present, for instance, is one-sided..." Before he could finish, Chen Guoying's face flushed crimson. She lowered her head and busied herself with cutting the roast beef on her plate. Lu Wuya turned his face and said with a smile, "Miss Chen, I've heard that a classmate of yours, Wu Guoliang, is a fellow townsman of yours. Is that true?" Chen Guoying said, "Yes, but there are many fellow townsmen in our class." Lu Wuya said, "But I've heard you have other... connections with him." Chen Guoying pursed her lips. "That's nothing but rumours spread by classmates. As for his scholarship, I don't rate it highly." Lu Wuya said, "Then, judging by your standards, which classmate do you look upon with approval?" Chen Guoying gave a slight smile. "Since I came first in class, none are better than I. I don't particularly admire anyone!" Lu Wuya squinted and smiled. "Such lofty standards! Let me press a step further. If no student meets your approval, what about the teachers? Do you look down on all of them as well?" Chen Guoying, momentarily at a loss for an answer, took a handkerchief from her lapel and covered her mouth as she laughed. Lu Wuya said, "Go on, speak! Are you silently agreeing they are all good?" Chen Guoying, her eyes on the vase on the table, said softly, "There are some I respect, and some I do not." Lu Wuya said, "Needless to say, someone like me must be among those you do not." Chen Guoying smiled. "You're turning things upside down, sir. If even you are to be looked down upon, then Pingdeng University would have no good teachers left." Lu Wuya, his eyes narrowed in a smile, said, "Is that true?" Chen Guoying said, "It's true." Lu Wuya said, "Since you hold me in such esteem, guess who it is I admire most." Chen Guoying, her lips pursed in a smile, shook her head. Lu Wuya said, "You are a person of rare intelligence. Don't play the innocent. You must know." Chen Guoying said, "How strange. How could I possibly guess what is in your heart?" Lu Wuya said, "Just name someone at random. Let's see if you're right." Chen Guoying said, "Should it be Russia's Lenin?" Lu Wuya said, "Ah! Too far, too far!" Chen Guoying said, "Then perhaps Sun Yat-sen? Or..." Lu Wuya said, "Still too far. Let me tell you plainly. This person is right here at Pingdeng University, and is moreover of the female sex. Having said that much, you must understand now?" Chen Guoying said, "Do you mean there is a female classmate you admire? Is it Miss Liu, or Miss Wang?" Lu Wuya tapped his plate lightly with his knife. "You really are adept at speaking in circles. I think I must invite the sharp-tongued Sister Lin from the Prospect Garden here to see who is the more eloquent, you or her. With my clumsy tongue, I admit defeat." Chen Guoying said, "You set me a difficult riddle to guess, then accuse me of speaking in circles. Isn't that rather unfair?" Lu Wuya said, "You really can't guess? I'll tell you. The one I admire most-her surname is the character for 'east,' with the ear radical added to it. Having said it so clearly, you must understand now?" Chen Guoying smiled. "Do you mean to say, sir, that the one you admire is me? That is odd. What in me is worthy of admiration?" Lu Wuya said, "You are too modest. Your scholarship and disposition are already rare among your classmates. Added to that, you..." Lu Wuya here felt he was being too bold, and changed his words. "...you are more diligent than anyone else. Others I cannot speak for, but for my own part, I admire you to the very core. Miss Chen, may I be so bold as to say that whoever is fortunate enough to win you as his life's companion will be a lucky man indeed." On hearing this, Chen Guoying could not help but blush. Lu Wuya said, "I speak in all sincerity, not in jest. I have a presumptuous hope: I would like to be a friend with whom you can discuss scholarly matters, and often meet for conversation. I wonder if you would do me the honour?" When Chen Guoying first heard "presumptuous hope," her heart gave a jump. But then she heard it was merely about meeting to talk, which she hadn't anticipated. She knew perfectly well that for a man and woman to meet often could not be without consequences, and she ought not agree. Moreover, her original purpose in coming to the Amusement Park was to resolve their entanglement and break off relations. According to what he was saying now, not only would they not break off, but they would have even more opportunities for contact. Yet he had put it in such high-minded terms; she had no good reason to refuse. She could only say, "That would be a fine thing. I only hope you will often instruct me, sir. I am not worthy of the term 'discuss.'" Lu Wuya said, "Let's have no more polite formalities. Your agreeing to my request fills me with joy. Shall we then set a regular time?" Chen Guoying thought, 'Here we go, another step forward.' She said, "That's not necessary. I can come to you for guidance at any time." Lu Wuya thought for a moment. "Very well." As they spoke, the waiter brought coffee. Lu Wuya paid the bill. Chen Guoying said, "It was I who meant to thank you, yet you have treated me. How can that be right?" Lu Wuya said, "It's no matter at all. Since we are such good friends, why stand on ceremony?" He then took from his overcoat pocket the bottle of perfume and the pink silk handkerchief and, with a smile, handed them to Chen Guoying. "These are but a small token of my regard, a keepsake. I hope you will not think them too meagre." Chen Guoying had not expected this move. To accept them was awkward; to refuse would be to give offense. She could only murmur, "Thank you, thank you," unable to say anything else. Lu Wuya said, "As I said just now, we are beyond formalities!" He pressed the items upon her, insisting she take them. Having no way to refuse further, she finally accepted. Lu Wuya said, "The moonlight is lovely tonight, and it's not too cold. Shall we take a stroll in the grounds?" Chen Guoying said, "Very well." Lu Wuya, hearing this, took Chen Guoying's large red woolen scarf from the coat rack. Just then the waiter brought towels. Chen Guoying, in front of others, could not very well stop him. Lu Wuya then, with intimate care, wrapped the scarf around her neck for her. Then he put on his own overcoat and led Chen Guoying out into the open grounds.
A cold, full moon shone down, bathing the ground in a sheet of white. Looking southeast from where they stood, they could see the expanse of the Temple of Agriculture's grounds, dotted here and there with the dark clusters of ancient cypresses. The bell tower stood tall and solitary in the desolate moonlight, a picturesque sight. Lu Wuya said, "Miss Chen, see how beautiful the moonlight is! In a place like Beijing, such fine nights in winter are few indeed." As they spoke, they walked side by side until they had reached the area beyond the lotus pond. Here only bare trees stood near and far under the moon, their branches stretching starkly. Not a soul was in sight. A glass lantern hanging from a pillar of a roadside pavilion swung to and fro, casting a fitful, yellowish light that made the interior of the pavilion alternately dim and bright. Lu Wuya pointed towards the old theatre area. "Look! There, the electric lights blaze and gongs and drums resound, yet it only makes this spot seem all the more serene. I think among all the visitors to the Amusement Park, only you and I have forsaken that bustle to appreciate this tranquillity. Don't you agree?" By now Chen Guoying had sat down on an露天 bench by the path. Lu Wuya, without thinking, sat down beside her. Lu Wuya continued, "You and I share many similarities in temperament. Isn't that strange? And that we should sit here chatting tonight is something I never dreamed of. People speak of fate; we too must be under its influence." Chen Guoying made no reply to this. Lu Wuya smiled. "To converse with a beauty beneath the moon is the finest blessing a man can have. That you are chatting with me tonight is a fortune I hardly deserve. I only hope it may be repeated." Chen Guoying still said nothing, but turned her body away, lowering her head to fiddle with the tassels of her scarf. Lu Wuya said, "That short-sleeved dress of yours shows off your fair arms. It's lovely to look at, but it must be a bit chilly." So saying, he reached out and took her hand. "See, it's ice-cold." Chen Guoying pulled her hand back, pushing his away. "Don't be improper." Lu Wuya grinned. "This is improper? There are things far more improper than this." With that, he reached out again, seized her hand tightly, and simply chuckled. Chen Guoying could not push him off at all. She索性 turned to face him. "Why are you suddenly being so forward? If so, I dare not be friends with you anymore." Though her words were stern, her heart was in utter chaos, and her face burned as if on fire. Lu Wuya said, "Let me tell you plainly..." He was about to continue when a dark figure appeared in the distance, approaching slowly. The sound of footsteps, *tap-tap*, suggested leather shoes. Without a doubt, it was that ever-meddlesome policeman. Chen Guoying, quick-witted, had already moved away from Lu Wuya to the other end of the bench. The policeman walked over step by step, glanced at them, said nothing, and walked on. Lu Wuya was quite startled, though in truth such scenes occurred a dozen times a day in the Amusement Park, especially in summer when couples were to be seen on every露天 bench. The police had limited energy and could not possibly oversee them all. Chen Guoying and Lu Wuya wandered a few more rounds inside the Amusement Park. All the various shows had ended; it was past midnight. Lu Wuya said, "How dreadful! I was so engrossed in talking to you, I lost track of time. Will you still be able to get into the dormitory, Miss Chen?" Chen Guoying said, "There's no chance of that. I shall have to stay at my aunt's house." Lu Wuya smiled. "Calling on relatives in the middle of the night doesn't seem quite right, does it?" Chen Guoying said, "What else can I do?" Lu Wuya said, "Don't worry, don't worry. Let's return to the eastern city first, then we'll see." They hired rickshaws and returned together to the eastern part of the city. Once there, the night passed without further incident.