Explore Chapter 10 of '老张的哲学' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
The Chinese nation is ancient, vigorous, and courageous. How is this proven? It is demonstrated in the restaurant.
Upon entering the restaurant, one is greeted by three-foot flames and splattering oil. The cook, as portly as a judge and as fierce as a demon, wields a large iron ladle with a bowl a foot wide and a handle three feet long. He treats soy sauce, vinegar, oil, salt, chicken, fish, duck, spittle, ash, fly specks, and pig bristles with equal indifference. When frying, he shakes the wok, sending three-foot flames leaping up to perform a rolling curtain of fire. With a flick of the wrist, he tosses a slice of meat from the ladle, catching it mid-air with a long tongue to taste the seasoning. After sampling, he spits it back into the pan, then sneezes twice into the sizzling wok like a tiger pouncing. When the heat is perfect, the ladle clashes against the iron pan with a mountain-shaking roar, making gluttons a mile away drool with anticipation. This is the first barrier of the restaurant. A few steps in, several elderly waiters chant in unison, "Master is here! Master is here!" Then the younger ones shrill, "Seats, please!" Followed by slapping dust from shoes, popping open sodas, whooshing towel throws, buzzing to shoo flies-ever-present in all seasons-and gurgling mouth rinses that spread far and wide. This is the second barrier. Once host and guests are seated, instead of ordering, they burst into singing opera arias. Regardless of the fiddle's pitch or the singer's voice, if someone sings, someone cheers, and if someone cheers, someone sings again. They care only for their own vocal pleasure, heedless of others' eardrums. This is the third barrier.
After the opera singing, they order wine and dishes. They shun inexpensive items even if wholesome, but insist on costly ones even if they cause diarrhea. The wine must be from venerable old brands, sealed and authentic; the tea must be brewed and chilled in an icebox. In winter, they demand fresh melons and mung beans; in summer, they crave last year's fried sticky cakes. When the wine and food arrive, they start with drinking games and finger-guessing. A slap echoes like a lion's roar; three cups down the throat, and their spirits soar like a rainbow. The host piles on more wine and dishes, fearing inadequacy; the guests drain their cups at every toast, ending up dead drunk. This is the fourth barrier. Then comes the final roast duck or braised chicken. Bowls are raised aimlessly; spoons are held upside down, poking toward eyebrows. Then nausea strikes, followed by bouts of vomiting. They tasted little while eating, but with each retch, they savor a lingering sweetness. After gulping down a digestive pill, they are helped into rickshaws. The breeze revives them gradually, and they start humming again, "The late emperor, the yellow steed," gearing up for another evening gathering. This is the fifth barrier. To breach all five barriers and charge through as if into no-man's land-that is what is called "eating with courage!"
Master Sun and the others arrived at Harmony House. Naturally, they had to conquer the restaurant's five barriers one by one. Officer Long refused to drink due to his religious beliefs. After Old Zhang repeatedly argued, "Beer comes from abroad, and Christianity also comes from abroad, so having a little shouldn't conflict," and with Master Sun insisting on toasting Officer Long to calm his nerves, he downed three bottles of Five Star Beer. Fortified by the alcohol, he began chatting warmly with the group. When the topic turned to Rickshaw Man Zhao, Officer Long declared firmly, "Rickshaw Man Zhao forgot to pray to God this morning. No wonder he broke his leg! He usually runs much faster than today-why wasn't he in danger then?"
"I see no need to go back," Old Zhang said with utmost sincerity. "You treated us to breakfast, and dinner won't spare you either. One guest shouldn't trouble two hosts. Let's take a stroll outside the city and discuss the regulations another day. Brothers aren't easily gathered together."
Li from Shandong had eaten too much and was dozing off. Suddenly, he vaguely heard someone say "go out of the city." He lifted his head from the table, pried open his eyes, and said, "Go out of the city to listen to opera! The actress Little Sachet in 'The Triple Hanging'! Just saying it is thrilling! Let's go! Little Sachet! 'The Triple Hanging'!..."
Old Zhang never spent his own money on opera, so his knowledge of drama was naturally scant. He didn't know what kind of sachet Little Sachet was, or what strange thing "The Triple Hanging" referred to. Not daring to ask aloud, he thought to himself, "I must see this oddity! Probably it's about being forced to hang oneself over unpaid debts! Hanging oneself over debts is downright contemptible!" He stood up and patted Master Sun's shoulder. "Shopkeeper Li is the best at critiquing opera. What he says must be right! Eighth Master, it's your treat. When you take a concubine, Old Li and I will gift you a grand opera performance!"
"Taking a concubine is a personal matter, but listening to opera is for everyone. Eighth Master, are you going or not? If you don't go, I'm leaving!" Li from Shandong said, half-awake and half-asleep.