Explore Chapter 13 of 'Cat Country' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
I (the narrator)'s residence was beyond his concern. Staying in his house was out of the question, absolutely not, for a thousand reasons. Finally he said, "Living with us would demean your status! You are a foreigners (from other Martian states), why not stay in the foreign district?" He voiced what those two Luminia (the Land of Light) people had been unwilling to say outright-such shameless candor!
I (the narrator) was not angered and even explained in detail why I (the narrator) wanted to stay in Felicity (the city). I (the narrator) even hinted that if his home was inconvenient, I (the narrator) only wished to see what his house looked like. Then I (the narrator) would find other accommodations on my own. But seeing was also not allowed. This refusal was expected. During those months in the groves of intoxicating leaves, where did he actually live? I (the narrator) had never found out. Now that all the intoxicating leaves were hidden at home, wouldn't it be dangerous if I (the narrator) knew? I (the narrator) told Scorpion (Da Xie) that if I (the narrator) had intended to rob his intoxicating leaves, I (the narrator) would have done so last night. Why bother waiting for him to hide them and then go to more trouble? He shook his head. There were women in his household, and it was inconvenient to entertain male guests-a very compelling reason. But just looking wouldn't strip a piece of flesh from the women. Oh, I (the narrator) was a bit confused. That wasn't Scorpion (Da Xie)'s meaning.
An old cat head emerged from the top of the wall, with a head full of white hair and a pig-like mouth twitching like a wind-dried small papaya. The old cat shouted, "We don't want foreigners (from other Martian states)! We don't want foreigners (from other Martian states)! No, no!" This must be Scorpion (Da Xie)'s father.
I (the narrator) was still not angered. On the contrary, I (the narrator) admired this old cat with the dried papaya mouth. He not only showed no fear but even dared to look down on foreigners (from other Martian states). This contempt might stem from ignorance. But in I (the narrator)'s view, he had more humanity than Scorpion (Da Xie).
A young felinoids-this was whom I (the narrator) most hoped to meet. This youth was Scorpion (Da Xie)'s son. I (the narrator) was even more delighted. I (the narrator) had encountered three generations. The old cat with the papaya mouth and Scorpion (Da Xie), though still alive and perhaps quite influential, were ultimately figures of the past. To diagnose whether the cat nation's illness showed any signs of improvement, the youth were the pulse point.
"Alright." I (the narrator) also couldn't insist on finding a quiet place. "What about your father?"
"Father is a new man, at least he was twenty years ago. Twenty years ago, he opposed eating intoxicating leaves. Now he has inherited Grandfather's the groves of intoxicating leaves. Twenty years ago, he advocated for women's rights. Now he won't let you in because there are women in the household. Grandfather often says that in the future, I will be the same. In youth, one's temper is drawn to novelty and curiosity. But by middle age, one looks back to the ancestral ways. Grandfather understands nothing of foreign affairs. So he takes the rules passed down by our ancestors as the standard for conduct. Father knows a bit about foreign matters. In his youth, he wanted to imitate foreigners (from other Martian states) in every way. But now he uses that knowledge as a tool to maintain his own interests. Where new methods are needed, he employs them, unlike Grandfather who is stubborn. But this is merely a tactical adjustment in conduct, not a change in the purpose of life. In purpose, Father and Grandfather are completely identical."
I (the narrator) closed my eyes. From the light of these words, I (the narrator) saw the outline of a picture of social change. Around this outline, there might be a bright glow. But within the forming lines of the outline, it grew darker and darker. Whether this dark mass could reunite with that stretch of bright glow, moving from shadow to light, all depended on whether there was any powerful light in Young Scorpion (Xiao Xie). I (the narrator) thought this, though I (the narrator) didn't know what kind of person Young Scorpion (Xiao Xie) was.
"Individual effort?"
"Useless! So many muddled, honest, foolish, pitiful, poor, adaptable, happy people. So many soldiers who only wield clubs and only rob intoxicating leaves and women. So many clever, selfish, short-sighted, shameless politicians who plan for themselves but care nothing for society. Individual effort? One's own head is ultimately more worthy of concern than others'!"
"What? Young people? In our cat nation, there are no young people! Here, we only have distinctions of age. If those younger in age are considered youth, then the elders who emerge from such youth are naturally old-" He was probably cursing, but I (the narrator) couldn't remember the original word. "Here, some younger people have minds older than my grandfather's. Some are narrower-minded than my father. Some-"
"A poor environment does have negative effects. But on the other hand, a poor environment is precisely what can awaken people. Youth should have some mettle. But our youth are born half-dead. If they don't see a small advantage, it's fine. But once they see the benefit of a small coin, their hearts stop beating. Ordinarily, they find everything unsuitable. But when they see profit, personal gain, everything seems acceptable to them."
"You're too pessimistic. Forgive me for saying so, you are a clear-minded but courage-lacking pessimist. You only take the reasons you disdain to make an effort as the basis for judging others. So you see everything as black, hopeless. In reality, it might not be so. Perhaps if you look with a different eye, this society isn't so dark and terrifying?"
The people around us seemed to have had enough of watching how I (the narrator) opened my mouth and blinked my eyes-whether they understood was still doubtful. They began to look at I (the narrator)'s tattered pants. I (the narrator) had many more questions to ask Young Scorpion (Xiao Xie). But there was almost no air left around I (the narrator). So I (the narrator) begged Young Scorpion (Xiao Xie) to find I (the narrator) a place to stay. He also advised I (the narrator) to stay in the foreign district. But his words were full of philosophical flavor. "I don't hope you truly undertake that observation. Because I fear your bit of enthusiasm and expectation will be completely extinguished. However, if you insist on staying here, I can indeed find you a place. This place has no other merit, but they don't eat intoxicating leaves."