第六章 萍水约双栖非鸡非鹜 钗光惊一瞥疑雨疑云 (Chapter Six: A Chance Pact for Shared Abode, Neither Fowl nor Drake; A Glimpse of Hairpin’s Gleam, Murky as Rain or Clouds)

As Wang Tianbai and Huang Bieshan were discussing Chen Ruokuang's affairs after his passing, they unexpectedly received news of his death. Huang Bieshan said to Wang Tianbai, "There is nothing else to say at this point. The first priority is to secure a coffin. Once the deceased is properly laid to rest, everything else can await the arrival of his family. I hope you can take charge of this matter for the time being." Wang Tianbai started in alarm. "A coffin? That is no trivial matter; it would cost at least a hundred dollars! I am financially strained these past few days. Where am I to raise such a sum?" Huang Bieshan replied, "I know the amount is substantial, and you may not have it readily available. But if you are willing to sign for it, I have acquaintances at coffin shops who can let us have one on credit. We can then gradually raise the money to repay them later." Wang Tianbai said, "Since you know the coffin shops, you can simply go and get one on credit. Why must I sign?" Huang Bieshan explained, "I am a notorious pauper. The more familiar people are with me, the more they cut off all financial dealings. But you, after all, are the president of The Happiness News. Using those two words-'president'-to secure a coffin on credit should present no problem. Moreover, the coffin shops in Beijing are sharp-eyed. They need not make other inquiries; simply seeing the president's carriage often parked at the newspaper office entrance would suffice for them to extend credit." Wang Tianbai retorted, "Did I not just say? If his family arrives and refuses to acknowledge this debt, I will have to cover it myself. What would be the point then?" Huang Bieshan heard this and gave only a cold laugh. Just then, another call came from the hospital, saying that Chen Ruokuang's body had been brought to the hospital gate and requesting someone from the newspaper office to open the door to let the corpse in. Upon hearing this, Wang Tianbai trembled from head to toe. "This is perfect!" he said. "Bringing a dead body into the newspaper office is simply outrageous!" Huang Bieshan said, "Matters have come to this pass. There is no other way but to open the door and let it in. We shall purchase the coffin after daybreak." Wang Tianbai declared, "In that case, I shall take my leave. With a corpse entering the premises, it is inauspicious for me to remain here." Huang Bieshan responded, "Since you insist on leaving, I cannot compel you to stay. However, you must make a trip to the coffin shop tomorrow morning without fail. Do not shirk your responsibility." Wang Tianbai said, "Naturally, naturally." With that, he grabbed his cane and hurried out. At the main gate, he saw hospital attendants carrying Chen Ruokuang's body in on a plank. Wang Tianbai recoiled in fear and hastily made his escape.

Huang Bieshan followed them out and saw them place the corpse in the courtyard. As the weather was still cold, the body would not spoil even outdoors, so he decided to wait until daybreak. He went inside and managed to catch a few hours of fitful sleep. The next morning, Huang Bieshan awoke to find it was already ten o'clock. Going out to check, he saw the corpse still lying in the courtyard. He hurriedly telephoned Wang Tianbai to urge him to go to the coffin shop. However, after the phone rang for a long time, no one answered at Wang Tianbai's home. Huang Bieshan grew anxious and had no choice but to go to Wang Tianbai's house himself. Arriving at the door, he found it tightly shut. His repeated knocking yielded no response. Huang Bieshan thought, "Could he have made himself scarce?" He asked the neighbor next door. The neighbor said, "This morning, I saw Mr. Wang carrying a suitcase and leaving in a great hurry. I do not know where he went." Upon hearing this, Huang Bieshan knew that Wang Tianbai had intentionally absconded. He could not help but sigh. He thought to himself, "In all worldly affairs, friendship after a person's death is the most unreliable. When Chen Ruokuang was alive, Wang Tianbai flattered him so. Yet once he died, Wang Tianbai would not even spare a coffin on credit. It is truly lamentable." With this in mind, he had to find a solution on his own.

Huang Bieshan went to a familiar coffin shop to negotiate for a coffin on credit. The shopkeeper, knowing Huang Bieshan was a pauper, shook his head. "Mr. Huang, it is not that I am unwilling to extend credit. It is simply that our capital is meager, and we cannot cover the advance." Huang Bieshan pleaded many kind words before the shopkeeper finally agreed to provide a fifteen-dollar coffin on credit, but on the condition that Huang Bieshan find a guarantor. Where could Huang Bieshan find a guarantor? After some thought, he had no choice but to seek out Yang Xingyuan. He went to the Guild Hall, where Yang Xingyuan happened to be at home. Huang Bieshan recounted the situation: Chen Ruokuang had died, Wang Tianbai had fled, and the coffin shop demanded a guarantor. Yang Xingyuan said, "I can act as guarantor. However, I myself have no money at present; I cannot afford the coffin cost." Huang Bieshan replied, "As long as there is a guarantor, I will find a way to cover the coffin money." Yang Xingyuan said, "In that case, I shall accompany you there." With that, the two went to the coffin shop. Yang Xingyuan acted as guarantor, and only then did the shopkeeper release the coffin. Huang Bieshan hired two men to carry the coffin to the hospital, where they encoffined Chen Ruokuang's corpse. As Chen Ruokuang's family had not yet arrived, they temporarily placed the coffin in a temple.

After handling all matters, Huang Bieshan returned to the newspaper office. He saw a letter on the table. Opening it, he found it was from Wang Tianbai. The letter read: "Dear Brother Bieshan, I had urgent business and left Beijing in haste, unable to bid farewell in person. Please properly handle Mr. Chen's affairs. Advance any expenses, and I shall repay you upon my return to Beijing." Huang Bieshan read it and gave a cold laugh. He tossed the letter aside.

Two days later, someone from Chen Ruokuang's family arrived-a man in his fifties who was said to be Chen Ruokuang's father. Huang Bieshan recounted the circumstances of Chen Ruokuang's illness and death. The old man listened and wept. "This child would not heed advice and has come to such an end through his own actions. Yet I am immensely grateful for your help in handling his affairs." Huang Bieshan said, "It is merely the duty a friend should fulfill. The coffin is currently placed in a temple. You may go and see it, sir." The old man said, "Since the coffin is ready, I wish to transport it back to our hometown for burial at the earliest opportunity. However, please tell me the total cost incurred here, so that I may arrange to repay it." Huang Bieshan replied, "The coffin was obtained on credit for fifteen dollars. In addition, there are porterage fees for carrying it and temple storage charges. Altogether, it amounts to roughly twenty dollars. I advanced this money myself. There is no need for haste, sir; you may repay me slowly." The old man said, "How can that be permissible? You, sir, are also a scholar of modest means. I cannot let you advance the money." As he spoke, he took out thirty dollars from his person and handed it to Huang Bieshan. "Please accept this. Beyond the expenses, keep the remainder as a token of gratitude." Huang Bieshan said, "That is unnecessary. I only wish to recover my advance." He accepted only twenty dollars and returned the remaining ten to the old man. The old man repeatedly refused to take it back. Huang Bieshan said, "If you insist on giving it, sir, I shall donate this money to a charitable organization. It will count as a good deed done in Mr. Chen's memory." Seeing Huang Bieshan's firm stance, the old man finally relented.

Chen Ruokuang's father transported the coffin back to their hometown. Huang Bieshan used the twenty dollars to settle the account with the coffin shop. Thus, the matter was concluded.

After this incident, Huang Bieshan felt disheartened and wished to leave Beijing and return south. Yang Xingyuan, learning of his intention, came to persuade him. "Brother Bieshan, why be so pessimistic? Chen Ruokuang brought misfortune upon himself. What does it have to do with you? You have done your utmost as a friend." Huang Bieshan said, "It is not because of Chen Ruokuang's matter that I am disheartened. I have seen through the fickleness of human relationships. Someone like Wang Tianbai was so intimate with Chen Ruokuang ordinarily, yet in times of trouble, he turned away without a second thought. It is truly lamentable." Yang Xingyuan said, "Such people abound in society. Why be angry with them? You should instead focus on running your newspaper with a calm mind." Huang Bieshan replied, "I run this newspaper merely to scrape by. Now I have grown weary of it. I wish to return south and seek other work." Seeing that he could not be dissuaded, Yang Xingyuan let the matter drop.

A few days later, Huang Bieshan indeed resigned from his position at The Happiness News. He packed his luggage and returned south. Yang Xingyuan saw him off at the train station. Returning to the Guild Hall, he felt gloomy and discontented. He thought how a good man like Huang Bieshan met with misfortune, while someone like Wang Tianbai prospered. Truly, Heaven is blind.

As he was lost in wild thoughts, a servant suddenly brought in a letter. Yang Xingyuan took it and saw the envelope addressed "For the personal attention of Mr. Yang Xingyuan," with no signature below. Opening it, he saw the letter read:

Dear Mr. Xingyuan,

I have missed you greatly since we parted. I have safely arrived in Shanghai. Please do not worry about me. I am deeply grateful for all your care during my time in Beijing. I have now found employment at a newspaper office in Shanghai to make ends meet temporarily. Please convey my regards to our friends in the capital. With best wishes,

Sincerely,

Your brother, Huang Bieshan

Upon reading it, Yang Xingyuan knew that Huang Bieshan had secured a footing. He felt somewhat comforted. He picked up a pen to write a reply, offering words of consolation.

After finishing the letter, Yang Xingyuan felt listless and went for a walk in the courtyard. He saw the pear blossoms in the courtyard had already bloomed and fallen, covering the ground with petals. Yang Xingyuan sighed. "How swiftly time passes. In the blink of an eye, spring is ending again." Lost in thought, he suddenly heard the gatekeeper call out, "Mr. Yang, a guest has arrived." Yang Xingyuan turned and saw a young man in his twenties, wearing a blue cotton long gown, walking in. Yang Xingyuan recognized him as Ling Songlu, whom he had met previously at the Pine and Bamboo House, and stepped forward to greet him. Ling Songlu smiled. "Mr. Yang, it has been a long time." Yang Xingyuan said, "Mr. Ling, what brings you here today?" Ling Songlu replied, "I came specifically to pay you a visit. I heard you have been very busy lately, so I did not dare disturb you often." Yang Xingyuan said, "Please come inside and sit." With that, he ushered Ling Songlu into the room.

The two sat down, and Yang Xingyuan asked how Ling Songlu had been lately. Ling Songlu said, "Still muddling along as before. However, there is one matter recently for which I would like to ask for your help." Yang Xingyuan said, "What is it?" Ling Songlu replied, "I have started a small newspaper called The Leisure Record. I would like to invite you to contribute articles on a regular basis." Yang Xingyuan laughed. "How could I possibly write articles? Do not jest, Mr. Ling." Ling Songlu said, "You are too modest, Mr. Yang. Who does not know that you are a novelist? If you would honor us with your contributions, the remuneration will certainly be generous." Yang Xingyuan said, "It is not that I am unwilling; it is simply that I have no time." Ling Songlu insisted, "You need only write some short stories or casual notes occasionally." Yang Xingyuan, unable to resist his persistence, reluctantly agreed to write a little from time to time. Seeing Yang Xingyuan's agreement, Ling Songlu was delighted. He chatted for a good while longer before taking his leave.

After Ling Songlu left, Yang Xingyuan recalled Ling Songlu's previous arrest. He asked the servant, "Do you know why Ling Songlu was arrested?" The servant said, "I heard it was due to some fraud case, but I do not know the details." Yang Xingyuan did not pursue the matter further.

A few days later, Yang Xingyuan indeed received a letter of appointment from The Leisure Record, inviting him to serve as a special contributing writer with a monthly stipend of twenty dollars for transportation. Yang Xingyuan initially did not wish to accept, but Ling Songlu pleaded repeatedly. Having no alternative, he agreed. From then on, Yang Xingyuan often contributed articles to The Leisure Record.

One day, while Yang Xingyuan was writing at home, he suddenly received a telephone call from He Jianchen, inviting him to dine at Jiuhua Restaurant. Yang Xingyuan went. At Jiuhua Restaurant, He Jianchen was already waiting. The two sat down, and He Jianchen said, "I invited you today to tell you something." Yang Xingyuan asked, "What is it?" He Jianchen said, "Guess." Yang Xingyuan replied, "I cannot guess." He Jianchen smiled. "Li Yun is about to be discharged from the hospital." Yang Xingyuan felt a stir in his heart. "When?" he asked. He Jianchen said, "Probably within the next couple of days." Yang Xingyuan asked, "Where will she go after discharge?" He Jianchen said, "I heard she has an aunt in Beijing. She plans to stay at her aunt's house." Yang Xingyuan said, "That is good." He Jianchen added, "However, she has another favor to ask of you." Yang Xingyuan said, "What is it?" He Jianchen replied, "She would like you to help her find a position as a primary school teacher." Yang Xingyuan said, "How could I possibly have such ability?" He Jianchen said, "Do you not know many people in education circles? Ask them for an introduction. It should be possible." Yang Xingyuan said, "I shall try." He Jianchen said, "Then I shall thank you on her behalf." The two conversed about other matters before parting ways.

Yang Xingyuan returned to the Guild Hall and, thinking of Li Yun, felt somewhat melancholy. Originally, after Li Yun fell ill last time, she had entered the hospital. Although Yang Xingyuan occasionally visited her, opportunities for them to meet were few. Now that Li Yun was about to be discharged, Yang Xingyuan felt a touch of reluctance to part.

The next day, Yang Xingyuan went to friends in education circles to inquire on Li Yun's behalf about any openings for a primary school teacher. After visiting several places without success, he finally found a friend who was the principal of a certain primary school. The principal said the school indeed lacked a music teacher, only he was unsure whether Li Yun was up to the task. Yang Xingyuan said, "She sings rather well. She might be able to handle the duties of a music teacher." The principal said, "In that case, please have her come for a trial." Yang Xingyuan was very pleased to hear this and went to the hospital to tell Li Yun.

At the hospital, he saw Li Yun. Her complexion was much improved from before, and her spirits were vigorous. Yang Xingyuan told her about finding the position. Li Yun listened with deep gratitude. "Thank you for going to such trouble, Mr. Yang. I truly do not know how to repay you." Yang Xingyuan said, "It is nothing. Since you wish to improve yourself, I naturally should help." Li Yun said, "After I am discharged, I shall work diligently and not let down your kindness." Yang Xingyuan sat for a while longer before taking his leave.

Two days later, Li Yun was discharged and moved to her aunt's house. Yang Xingyuan helped her finalize the arrangements with the school, and Li Yun began working as a music teacher there. From then on, Li Yun could be considered to have embarked on a proper path in life.