Explore Chapter 6 of 'The True Story of Ah Q' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
When Ah Q reappeared in Weizhuang, it was just after the Mid-Autumn Festival that year. People were astonished, saying that Ah Q had come back, and then they thought back, wondering where he had been before. In previous trips to town, Ah Q would have eagerly told everyone, but this time he did not, so no one paid any attention. He might have told the old man who looked after Tutelary God's Temple, but according to Weizhuang custom, only Zhao Taiye, Qian Taiye, and licentiate were considered worthy of note when they went to town. Not even The Fake Foreign Devil counted, let alone Ah Q. Thus the old man did not spread the news, and the people of Weizhuang had no way of knowing.
But this return of Ah Q was vastly different from before, truly worthy of astonishment. As dusk approached, he appeared drowsy-eyed at the door of the tavern. He walked up to the counter, reached into his belt, and pulled out a handful of silver and copper coins, throwing them onto the counter with the words, "Cash! Bring me wine!" He was wearing a new lined jacket, and from his waist hung a large money belt that weighed down his trousers so heavily that their band sagged into a deep arc. According to Weizhuang custom, when one saw a figure of some note, it was better to show respect than neglect. Now, although they clearly knew it was Ah Q, because he was different from the ragged-jacketed Ah Q of old, and as the ancients said, "A scholar who has been away for three days must be looked at with new eyes," the waiter, the shopkeeper, the drinkers, and the passersby naturally showed a look of frozen respect. The shopkeeper nodded first, then began to speak.
This bit of news spread through all of Weizhuang the next day. Everyone wanted to know the story of how Ah Q, with his cash and new lined jacket, had achieved his resurgence. So in the taverns, teahouses, and under temple eaves, people gradually ferreted out the information. The result was that Ah Q gained new respect.
According to Ah Q, he had been working for the provincial graduate. At this, all listeners became solemn. This gentleman's surname was Bai, but since he was the only provincial graduate in the whole city, there was no need to include his surname when referring to him; when people spoke of the provincial graduate, they meant him. This was true not only in Weizhuang but within a radius of a hundred li. Most people almost thought his name was provincial graduate himself. To be working in his household was certainly respectable. But according to Ah Q, he no longer wished to work there because this provincial graduate was too much of a "son of a bitch." At this, the listeners sighed with a mixture of regret and satisfaction, for Ah Q was not really fit to work in the provincial graduate's household, and yet it was a pity to have left.
According to Ah Q, his return also seemed partly due to his dissatisfaction with townspeople. This dissatisfaction stemmed from their calling long benches "strip benches," using shredded scallions when frying fish, and, from his recent observations, the way women walked-not swaying properly. Yet there were occasional things worthy of admiration. For instance, the villagers of Weizhuang only played bamboo-card games with thirty-two tiles, and only The Fake Foreign Devil could play "mahjong," but in town even the little brats were expert at it. As for The Fake Foreign Devil, place him in the hands of a little brat of ten or twelve from town, and he would instantly be "a little demon meeting the King of Hell." At this, the listeners blushed.
"Have you ever seen a beheading?" Ah Q asked. "Ah, it's a sight. Executing revolutionaries. Oh, beautiful, beautiful..." He shook his head, sending spittle flying onto the face of Zhao Sichen, who was sitting opposite. At this, the listeners turned pale with awe. But Ah Q looked around, then suddenly raised his right hand and chopped it down directly onto the back of Wang Hu's neck, who had been straining his neck to listen.
Wang Hu jumped in fright, and as quick as lightning, he shrank his head. The listeners were both startled and delighted. From then on, Wang Hu was dazed for many days and never dared approach Ah Q again. The same went for the others.
Although Ah Q's position in the eyes of the Weizhuang people could not be said to surpass that of Zhao Taiye, it might be called nearly equal, and this would probably not be an overstatement.
However, before long, Ah Q's great name suddenly spread throughout the women's quarters of Weizhuang. Although only the Qian and Zhao families in Weizhuang had great mansions, and nine-tenths of the others had only humble dwellings, women's quarters were still women's quarters, so this was considered a marvel. When women met, they would say that Zou Qisao had bought a blue silk skirt from Ah Q-old, to be sure, but costing only nine dimes. Also, Zhao Baiyan's mother-or some said Zhao Sichen's mother, to be verified-had bought a child's bright-red foreign-silk shirt, seventy percent new, for only three hundred cash exchanged at ninety-two percent of face value. So they all looked eagerly for a chance to see Ah Q. Those who needed silk skirts wanted to buy them from him; those who wanted foreign-silk shirts wanted to buy them from him. Not only did they not avoid him, but sometimes after he had passed, they would chase after him and call him back to ask.
Later, this news finally passed from the humble women's quarters into the grand ones. Because Zou Qisao, in her exultation, took her blue silk skirt to show to Mistress Zhao, who then told Zhao Taiye and lauded it highly. At the dinner table, Zhao Taiye discussed it with licentiate, saying that Ah Q was really quite strange and that they should be careful about their doors and windows. But he wondered if there was anything else worth buying from him, perhaps something good. Furthermore, Mistress Zhao herself wanted to buy a cheap but good leather vest. So the family decided to ask Zou Qisao to go find Ah Q immediately, and for this purpose they made a new exception: on this night, they would specially allow the oil lamp to be lit.
The oil lamp burned a long time, but Ah Q did not appear. The entire Zhao household grew anxious, yawning, some blaming Ah Q for being so elusive, others complaining that Zou Qisao was not diligent enough. Mistress Zhao feared that Ah Q might not dare to come because of the incident last spring, but Zhao Taiye thought this was not a concern, because "I" was the one who called him. And indeed, Zhao Taiye was right; Ah Q finally followed Zou Qisao in.
"Ah Q, I hear you've made a fortune outside," said Zhao Taiye, pacing and looking him up and down. "That's good, very good. Now... I hear you have some old things... you can bring them all for us to see... It's nothing special, I just wanted to..."
"And we won't pay less than anyone else!" said licentiate. The licentiate's wife quickly glanced at Ah Q's face to see if he was moved.
Although Ah Q agreed, he left lazily, and it was unclear whether he took it to heart. This greatly disappointed Zhao Taiye, leaving him angry and worried, to the point that he stopped yawning. Licentiate was also indignant at Ah Q's attitude and said that this bastard should be watched, or perhaps they should tell the constable not to let him live in Weizhuang. But Zhao Taiye disagreed, saying that might incur resentment, and besides, people in this line of business usually "don't eat where they nest," so there was no need to worry about the village itself. They just had to be more vigilant at night. Licentiate found this "paternal instruction" very reasonable and immediately withdrew his proposal to expel Ah Q, also cautioning Zou Qisao not to mention this conversation to anyone.
But the next day, Zou Qisao dyed the blue skirt black and spread the word about suspicious points concerning Ah Q. However, she did not mention the part about licentiate wanting to expel him. Even so, this was very unfavorable for Ah Q. First, the constable came to his door and took away his door curtain. Ah Q said Mistress Zhao wanted to see it, but the constable did not return it and also demanded a monthly tribute. Then, the villagers' awe of him suddenly changed. Although they still dared not be presumptuous, they kept their distance, but this attitude differed from their earlier wariness that he might "chop" them, containing a strong element of "respect but aloofness."
Only a group of idlers persisted in trying to get to the bottom of Ah Q's story. Ah Q did not conceal anything, proudly recounting his experiences. And from this, they learned that he was merely a minor player, unable to climb walls or even enter holes, only standing outside to receive stolen goods. One night, he had just received a bundle and was reaching in for more when suddenly he heard a great shouting inside. He fled at once, climbing out of the city that very night and escaping back to Weizhuang, never daring to go back. But this story was even more unfavorable to Ah Q. The villagers had kept their "respect but aloofness" because they feared making enemies, but who would have thought he was just a thief who dared not steal anymore? Truly, "he is not worth fearing."