第二十章 (Chapter Twenty)

Xiangzi's life took another turn. Mr. Cao fled to Shanghai, and Mr. Zuo was also forced to leave Beiping. Some advised Xiangzi to flee quickly, but he could not bear to part with his wages or with Beijing. One evening, he suddenly received a call from Fourth Master Liu, saying that Tigress was dying and urging him to come quickly.

Xiangzi rushed to the hospital. Tigress had been in difficult labor for two days. The doctor said both mother and child were in danger and required surgery. It would cost dozens of dollars. Xiangzi only had the thirty-plus dollars that Tigress had given him, far from enough. He begged the doctor to save her first, promising to borrow the money. He ran back to Rénhé Yard, but it had changed owners. He went to Mr. Cao's residence, but Mr. Cao had left. Other familiar places, upon hearing he needed to borrow money, offered little. Only a policeman came to warn him not to wander the streets.

Xiangzi had no choice but to return and stay by Tigress's side. Tigress could no longer speak. She only opened her eyes to look at him with a tearful expression. Xiangzi sat beside her. The room was hot, and with his anxiety, he sweated profusely. Waiting was tedious, but not waiting was impossible. Sweat poured down. His hands and feet stiffened, and his heart felt empty.

The midwife came again, refusing to act without payment. Xiangzi glared, helpless. He hated himself and hated everything. The room grew even hotter. He felt steam rising from his head. He dared not look at Tigress again. She was no longer human, but something else.

By midnight, even Xiangzi could see that it was truly hopeless. Tigress had only a breath left. The midwife, with no options, left. Xiangzi gave her the few dollars he had left. "Thank you for your trouble! I will repay you another day!"

The doctor came once more and gave Tigress an injection. Xiangzi felt slightly relieved. He sat on the edge of the kang, watching her. She lay with closed eyes, her breathing faint. He waited and waited, hoping she would revive.

The rooster crowed, and the east began to pale. Tigress slowly opened her eyes, glanced at him, and closed them again. Xiangzi knew she was truly gone.

The funeral procession was simple. A single cart and a few people buried Tigress outside the city. Xiangzi followed the cart, head bowed, walking step by step. He did not cry, nor did he think of anything. He just walked.

Back in his room, he counted the remaining money. There were still over ten dollars. He had nothing left, not even a change of clothes. He needed to find work immediately, for he could not stay idle. But where could he go?

He could not return to Rénhé Yard, and Mr. Cao had left. As for other wealthy households, he could not bring himself to beg. After wandering the streets for days, he found work taking on casual fares. The pay was meager, but it was better than idleness.

Leaving early and returning late each day, Xiangzi seemed to have lost his soul. He no longer thought of buying a rickshaw or of the future. He only thought of how to fill his belly today. He learned to smoke and drink, and sometimes went with other rickshaw pullers to the white houses.

He hated Tigress and hated Fourth Master Liu. But what use was hatred? He had to live. Sometimes he thought of Little Lucky One, but where was Little Lucky One? He dared not seek her out, nor did he have the face to do so.

Winter came again. While pulling his rickshaw, Xiangzi often felt cold. His body was not as strong as before. He panted when running, and his legs grew weak. He knew he was finished, but he had to struggle on.

One evening, he took a fare to the western city. On the way back, it began to snow. The road was slippery, and he dared not run fast. Suddenly, his feet slipped, and he fell with the rickshaw. The passenger cursed a few times, left without paying a cent, and walked away.

Xiangzi got up and touched his waist. It hurt terribly. He lifted the rickshaw. The handlebars were bent. He pushed the cart, walking step by step back. The snow fell heavier, and there was no one on the road.

He suddenly remembered this time last year, when he still had his own rickshaw and hope. Now? He had nothing. He wanted to cry, but no tears came.

Back at the rickshaw yard, he paid the daily rental fee. Only a few coppers remained. He bought a catty of flatbread, returned to his small room, and ate it with cold water. The room was as cold as an icehouse. He curled up on the kang, unable to sleep.

He thought of many things. Coming from the countryside to the city, pulling a rickshaw for the first time, buying his own rickshaw, having it seized by soldiers, meeting Tigress... Scene after scene passed like a dream.

Now the dream had ended. He had nothing left. He was still alive, but it was almost like being dead.

Outside the window, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the world in white. Xiangzi watched the light on the window paper and slowly closed his eyes.