Explore Chapter 9 of '啼笑因缘' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
As Fan Jiashu arrived at Houmen, Guan Shoufeng was already waiting outside to greet him. With a smile, he said, "I finally listened to you and moved here. Although this house is narrower than the one at Yongdingmen Gate, it's quite clean. For no other reason, I thought moving here would be convenient for both of us." Fan Jiashu smiled, looking at his dark face that revealed a row of white teeth stretching to his ears. He thought to himself, this old man is truly straightforward. Entering the courtyard, he saw it was a three-sided compound. The east wing room's door was closed, and the three northern rooms were connected into one. Outside the house, there was a gray shed piled with old things. In the courtyard stood two locust trees, with several ropes crisscrossed between the branches, hanging some worn clothes. Under the window of the east wing room, there was a small table with a teapot, a few coarse bowls, and a large earthenware pot containing sauce, along with a green onion. An old man, wearing a blue cloth jacket, barefoot, holding a pair of large cloth shoes, was squatting on the ground by the table, scrubbing them. Seeing Fan Jiashu enter, he stood up with a smile and said, "Oh my! What wind blows Master Fan here today? I've long wanted to move and be your neighbor to chat more, but at Yongdingmen Gate, I've grown accustomed and am reluctant to leave. Inside and outside Yongdingmen Gate, there are many trees, it's spacious, and the air is fresh." Fan Jiashu laughed, "This place isn't bad either. Firstly, it's quiet, and secondly, Uncle Guan has moved here."
Guan Shoufeng invited Fan Jiashu into the room to sit. Inside the northern rooms, against the east and west walls, there were two earthen kangs each, covered with reed mats and folded with thin cotton quilts. In the middle stood a worn table with a water kettle, tea bowls, and a pile of old books. Against the wall was a dilapidated bookshelf, also stacked with old items. Guan Shoufeng had Fan Jiashu sit on a chair by the table and said with a smile, "Young friend! Ever since I met you, I've felt you're a good person. But Master Fan, you're used to living in grand mansions. Coming to my humble abode today, this room must be beneath you." Fan Jiashu smiled, "That doesn't matter. I know Uncle Guan's temperament. A good person makes a good home, even if it's a bit shabby." Guan Shoufeng laughed heartily, "Young friend! You're truly straightforward. I like that about you."
The old and the young chatted very congenially. Shoufeng smiled, "Young friend! You haven't eaten yet, have you? Let me treat you to a small eatery." Fan Jiashu said, "That's not necessary. I have to hurry back today. If Uncle Guan has anything to say, please go ahead." Shoufeng said, "Since you're busy, I won't keep you. But there's something I'd like to discuss with you. It's fortunate you came today. If you hadn't, I would have written to you tomorrow. I moved here precisely for this matter. I have a friend named Wang, an old escort agency man, now nearly seventy, living inside Yongdingmen Gate. He has great skills, proficient in all kinds of martial arts. He has a son, twenty-four this year, also highly skilled. Both father and son are well-known inside and outside Yongdingmen Gate, famous as Wang Laohao and Wang Xiaohao. I often visit them to chat, and it lifts my spirits. Though old, the man is full of energy, capable of walking dozens of miles a day. His son is even more remarkable, able to lift stone locks weighing over two hundred pounds with both hands. I often think, if such people were born centuries ago, they'd be heroes. In this day and age, such talents are buried."
Fan Jiashu said, "Such people are born with it, they can't be buried. Uncle Guan, being with them often, you can learn some skills too." Shoufeng laughed, "At my age, what skills am I to learn! But I see the father and son are truly admirable, and I'd like to get closer to them. My reason for moving is partly to be near you, and partly to be near them. After moving, I told them I'd invite you over for a chat. Would you like to meet them?" Fan Jiashu said, "Why wouldn't I? I'd like to meet such people too." Shoufeng said, "Unfortunately, today they're both out. In a day or two, when they return, I'll arrange it." Fan Jiashu said, "Excellent. Just let me know when Uncle Guan sets the date."
Hearing this, Shoufeng was very pleased. After chatting awhile, Fan Jiashu bid farewell and left. Shoufeng saw him to the gate, smiling, "I have nothing to do, so I won't escort you further. Do come often." Fan Jiashu agreed and walked out of the alley. He took a rickshaw back to the Tao family residence.
Upon returning home, Liu Fu presented two letters. Fan Jiashu saw one was from He Lina, the other from Feng Xi. He Lina's letter invited Fan Jiashu to meet at the ballroom of the Beijing Hotel at six o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Feng Xi's letter informed Fan Jiashu that she would start attending Women's Vocational School the next day. Fan Jiashu glanced at both letters and set them aside. He thought, going to He Lina's didn't matter much, but Feng Xi starting school tomorrow was indeed a joyous thing.
The next day, after lunch, Fan Jiashu took a rickshaw to Shuiche Hutong. Entering Feng Xi's new room, he saw her wearing a blue cloth jacket and a black cloth skirt, her hair tied in two small buns, face free of makeup, exuding a student-like appearance. Fan Jiashu smiled, "Good! Good! You really look like a female student." Feng Xi laughed, "Don't say that. I argued with my mother all morning over these clothes. She said, 'You have silks and satins to wear, yet you put on a blue cloth jacket and black cloth skirt.' I said, 'This is what students should wear.' She said, 'There's no rule that students must wear blue cloth jackets.' Later, my uncle said, 'Since you're going to school, you should look the part.' Only then did my mother stop complaining."
Then Auntie Shen came out smiling, "Master Fan! What do you think of our girl's attire? Does she look proper?" Fan Jiashu smiled, "Very good, very good. This is true beauty." Feng Xi glanced at him, "You're talking nonsense again." Auntie Shen said, "You two chat. I have some things to do." With that, she went into the inner room.
Fan Jiashu asked Feng Xi, "Are you all prepared for school?" Feng Xi said, "All prepared. I'll go this afternoon." Fan Jiashu said, "Shall I escort you?" Feng Xi smiled, "That would be wonderful. But our school isn't like a university. Having someone escort a student seems awkward." Fan Jiashu said, "What does it matter! I'll take you there and wait at the school gate. When you finish, I'll bring you back." Feng Xi said, "That's too much to ask." Fan Jiashu said, "Why not? I have nothing else to do." Feng Xi thought for a moment and smiled, "Alright. But when you reach the school gate, you mustn't go in." Fan Jiashu said, "Naturally."
After chatting awhile, Fan Jiashu noticed Feng Xi seemed somewhat uneasy. He asked, "You seem to have something on your mind?" Feng Xi said, "What could be on my mind? It's just my first day of school, my heart is beating a bit fast." Fan Jiashu said, "That's alright. You'll get used to it gradually."
At three in the afternoon, Feng Xi changed clothes, and Fan Jiashu went out with her. At the alley entrance, Feng Xi suddenly stopped and smiled, "I just remembered, our school is in the east city, far from here. Let's take a rickshaw." Fan Jiashu said, "That's fine." So they hired two rickshaws, Fan Jiashu in front, Feng Xi behind, heading toward the east city.
Arriving at the gate of Women's Vocational School, Fan Jiashu got off first, and Feng Xi followed. Fan Jiashu saw the school was an old-style building, with a wooden sign at the entrance reading "Capital Women's Vocational School." Those coming and going were all female students, the oldest no more than twenty, the youngest only thirteen or fourteen. Seeing Feng Xi and Fan Jiashu standing together, they couldn't help glancing over. Feng Xi's face instantly turned red. Fan Jiashu also felt uneasy and said to Feng Xi, "Go on in. I'll wait here." Feng Xi nodded and entered the school.
Fan Jiashu walked back and forth a few times at the school gate, feeling bored. Seeing a small teahouse nearby, he went in, ordered a pot of tea, and slowly drank it. He thought, Feng Xi was actually attending school now. This was, after all, the fruit of his efforts, not wasted. In the future, after graduation, with knowledge, she could naturally find a proper job, no longer needing to be a drum-song performer. Thinking this, he felt very pleased.
After about an hour, Feng Xi came out of the school. Fan Jiashu paid the tea bill and left the teahouse. Feng Xi smiled, "Were you waiting anxiously?" Fan Jiashu said, "No. I was drinking tea in the teahouse, not anxious at all." Feng Xi said, "Our teacher said our school has half-day study and half-day work. Study is from eight to twelve in the morning, work from two to six in the afternoon. Today, my first day, I only had two hours of class, and the teacher let me go." Fan Jiashu said, "That's good. Do you find studying difficult now?" Feng Xi said, "Not difficult. Today the teacher taught Chinese literature, and I could understand it." Fan Jiashu said, "If you put your mind to it, it won't be difficult."
As they talked, they hired rickshaws back. At the entrance of Shuiche Hutong, Feng Xi got off and said to Fan Jiashu, "Won't you come in for a while?" Fan Jiashu said, "It's getting late. I'll come again tomorrow." Feng Xi said, "Then, see you tomorrow." Fan Jiashu said, "See you tomorrow."
Two days later, Guan Shoufeng indeed came to invite Fan Jiashu to meet the Wang Laohao father and son. Fan Jiashu followed Shoufeng to a narrow alley inside Yongdingmen Gate. The alley was extremely narrow, allowing only one person to pass. Both sides were earthen walls covered with deep moss. Reaching a doorway, Shoufeng stopped and knocked. Someone inside asked, "Who is it?" Shoufeng said, "It's me, Guan Shoufeng."
The door creaked open. The opener was a young man in his twenties, wearing a blue cloth outfit, very sturdy. Seeing Shoufeng, he smiled, "Uncle Guan is here. My father was just mentioning you at home." Shoufeng said, "This is Master Fan. I brought him to meet your father." The young man glanced at Fan Jiashu and smiled, "Please come in."
Fan Jiashu followed Shoufeng into the courtyard. It was small, with only two northern rooms and one eastern room. At the entrance of the northern room stood an old man, his beard already white, but he looked hale and hearty. Seeing Shoufeng, he smiled, "Old Guan! What brings you here today?" Shoufeng said, "I brought a friend to meet you." Then he introduced Fan Jiashu, "This is Wang Laohao." And to Wang Laohao, "This is Master Fan, a scholar who greatly admires martial arts."
Wang Laohao clasped his hands toward Fan Jiashu and smiled, "Master Fan, please come in and sit." Fan Jiashu entered the northern room to see that apart from a kang and a table, there was little else. But it was neatly kept. The kang was covered with a reed mat and folded with a cotton quilt. On the table were a teapot and a few tea bowls.
Wang Laohao said, "I heard from Old Guan that Master Fan admires martial arts. Martial arts aren't in fashion nowadays. My son and I know some basic skills, just to stretch our limbs, not worth a laugh." Fan Jiashu said, "Uncle Wang is too modest. I heard both you and your son are highly skilled. I came specifically to learn."
Wang Xiaohao acknowledged and went to the courtyard. Fan Jiashu and Shoufeng followed. They saw Wang Xiaohao stand firm, first exhale, then separate his hands and begin to practice fist techniques. Though Fan Jiashu knew little of martial arts, watching his fists and feet move like the wind, advancing and retreating with method, he knew this was no ordinary person. After finishing the set, his face remained unchanged, breath steady. Fan Jiashu couldn't help exclaiming, "Excellent!"
Wang Laohao smiled, "This boy only knows these few moves. Master Fan, don't laugh." Fan Jiashu said, "Brother Wang's skills are truly impressive. But might Uncle Wang also demonstrate a set?"
Fan Jiashu chatted very congenially with Wang Laohao and his son. Only when it was nearly dark did he and Shoufeng bid farewell and leave.