Explore Chapter 21 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.
Li Jing entered Desheng Gate in a daze. The wind had died down, but her tears flowed more freely than when the wind had whipped them out earlier. After crossing Desheng Bridge, people on the street pointed ahead and said, "Look! Dong the Philanthropist!" An old woman urgently told a beggar girl, "Hurry up, Dong the Philanthropist is over there, go!" Li Jing also stopped to look. An elderly gentleman wore a blue cloth cotton robe that reached his feet, a monk's cap on his head, and a string of beads in his hand. His round face was covered with silver-gray beard, and he had kind, benevolent features. Beggars surrounded him. He slowly pulled out a roll of banknotes from his monk's cap and gave one to each beggar. Then he burst into wild laughter and loudly chanted, "Amitabha Buddha!"
Li Jing's heart stirred, but she dared not approach. She slowly followed the elderly gentleman southward. After passing the East Entrance of Jiang Yangfang, the gentleman suddenly burst into wild laughter again. He turned around and walked back, entering the alley leading to Yinding Bridge. Li Jing watched him enter the alley, then began to head to her aunt's house.
"Sister Jing! My matter is settled!" He spoke as affectionately as a child seeing his own sister. "Really?" she said. "Yes! I'll be a proofreader and manuscript writer for Da Qiang Newspaper, and cover news. In two years, with my talent, I'll become Editor-in-Chief. Sister! You know, Editors-in-Chief are all literary giants!" "Wang De!" "Here!" "Is Aunt home?" "She went to the shop to ask Uncle for money." "Hurry up, let's go home. I have something important to tell you." "Aye, aye!"
When the two arrived home, Li Jing urgently said to Wang De, "Wang De! Can you do something for me?" "Sure! But let me finish talking about my matter first." "Wang De!" Li Jing was on the verge of tears. "I beg you to go and do this for me right away!" "No! If I don't tell you about my matter first, it's like a big python is hiding in my heart, crawling out section by section. This matter is..." "Wang De! You're too selfish! Don't you love me?" "If I don't love you, I'm a little yellow calf without horns!" "Then why aren't you listening when I ask you to do something?" "Speak! Miss! I'm listening! Finish yours, then I'll tell mine!" "Do you know there's a Dong the Philanthropist in the north city? Go find out his address for me." "Why do you want to know about him?" "If you love me, please don't ask for details!" "Today's matters are quite mysterious! No asking, no telling! Fine! I won't ask then. Wang De is off!"
Wang De dashed out, banging open the street door with a thud, followed by an "Ouch!" Li Jing ran out after him and saw Wang De covering his head with one hand and trying to lift the door bolt with the other. "Wang De! Are you hurt?" "No! Except that now I have a lump on my head." Wang De said and then dashed off again.
In less than ten minutes, Wang De came running back. "Wang De, does your head hurt?" She touched his head. It was still burning hot. "It doesn't hurt! Sister Jing! I ran to the street and had an idea. Instead of going to the north city to inquire, I should ask a policeman. Sure enough, the policeman told me the philanthropist's address is at number ninety-eight, Yinding Bridge. Your matter is done, now can I tell mine?" "Go ahead."
"Sister! What's on your mind? 'Go ahead' doesn't sound like your usual tone." "Nothing's on my mind. How about your matter?" "Being a Reporter, and in the future, an Editor-in-Chief! This is by no means an ordinary career! You see, enlightening the people's minds, isn't that the best thing?" "You want to write articles and manuscripts? It would be strange if the Newspaper Office accepted your submissions!" "Sister Jing, how can you mock me!" Wang De was truly displeased.
"If you don't believe me, wait until Uncle returns and ask him. See what he says!" "Certainly! After asking Uncle, it will probably prove your words wrong!" Wang De pouted, thinking to himself. How to write a manuscript, how to get it published in the newspaper, how to secretly place the newspaper with his manuscript in her room. Then when she sees it, she'll be so impressed. ... Li Jing thought of her own matters. He thought of his own. Neither felt lonely as they looked at each other without speaking.
Li Ying returned. "Li Ying! Haven't seen you in years!" Wang De finally found someone who loved to listen to his matters, because Li Jing was unwilling to. "Wang De, why do you always talk nonsense? We saw each other this morning, how can it be years?" Li Ying then said to her sister, "What did Uncle say?" "Right, let the siblings talk! There's no place for me to speak today!" "Wang De! Don't make a fuss!" Li Ying still asked her, "How is Uncle?" "Uncle is as usual. He only told you to work well." Li Jing concealed other matters. "Wang De, your matter?" Li Ying, afraid Wang De might be displeased, quickly asked. "You're asking me? This is what you love to hear? Good! Listen! Today I went out of the city. I met a relative who introduced me to Da Qiang Newspaper Office. I'll work half as a Reporter, half as a Proofreader. Proofreading is done daily, with a monthly salary of ten yuan. News coverage is irregular. If a manuscript is adopted, there's additional remuneration. I'll start work tomorrow to try my hand. Li Ying, by learning proofreading and editing manuscripts, one understands a large part of the newspaper office. In two or three years, I might even start my own newspaper office. I'm not doing it for money, but to enlighten the people's minds. This is a genuine good deed." Wang De finished, waiting specifically for Li Ying's praise. "It's not wrong," Li Ying said slowly. "But in worldly matters, before experiencing them personally, it's better not to judge them as good or bad." "Good! Another damp squib! Back in school, I always said you were like an eighty-year-old. You talk just like my granddad!" Wang De didn't lack a smile. "That's how it is! It's not that I have experience and you don't." "You don't understand my meaning, Wang De! When we have time, we'll discuss it in detail. Now I need to think about my own matters." Li Ying finished and went to her room. Li Jing went to the kitchen to make dinner, leaving only Wang De muttering to himself, "Right! I'll think about my own matters too!"