一地鸡毛 (8 page)

"Have you any children?"

Young Li Bai stretches out three fingers. Young Lin is shocked:

"Don't you practise birth control?"

Young Li Bai smiles: "I had three marriages and three divorces. I've just got married again. From each of the three marriages I had one child, and none of my ex-wives took the children when we got divorced. So I'm saddled with three! What if I don't sell ducks? I have five mouths to feed at home!"

Young Lin smiles too. Young Li Bai is true to his name. Though no longer writing poems, he has the same free and easy manner. It is getting dark when he suddenly slaps Young Lin on the back:

"I've got it!"

Young Lin is startled: "You've got what?"

"I have to go out of Beijing for about ten days—to buy some ducks wholesale. But there won't be anyone here to take the money. I've been worried about finding someone suitable. Why don't you come after work and help me out?"

Young Lin shakes his head: "No, no, I need to go to work. And besides, I don't know how to sell ducks!"

Little Li Bai answers: "I know, you're worried about losing face. You are still naive and inexperienced. Who cares about face-saving anywhere these days? With it you look poor and affected; without it you enjoy wealth and glory. Are you the only one aloof and superior? Judging by your clothes and expression, you are still the same shambling Young Lin you always were. Come and help me collect money for ten days, I'll pay you twenty yuan a day!"

After that, he gives a big duck to Young Lin and pushes him away.

In a happy mood, he returns home with the duck. His wife, however, is not very happy about him coming back so late as the child was not picked up on time. She is even angry when she sees the big duck. She cries out: "Since when have you become so high and mighty that you can buy such a big duck?"

He gives her a glare and throws the duck onto the dining table.

"This is a present!"

"Are you some sort of an official now that anyone should offer you a gift?"

He tells her about the chance encounter at the food market and how Young Li Bai has asked him to help sell ducks. Surprisingly, his wife is glad. She says persuasively:

"It will not hold up your work in any way. Two hours per day at twenty
yuan
—that's even better than waiting on customers in a foreign restaurant! Why not take it! Start tomorrow, I'll pick up the child. You go and sell ducks."

Lying down on the bed with his hands supporting his head, he says:

"I can manage it but I feel I will lose face selling ducks!"

His wife replies: "Don't bother about saving face. With it you have been hard up for all these years. Why should you be afraid of losing it now? You're not looking for a wife and I don't mind!"

The next day after work, Young Lin goes to sit behind the food-cart collecting money. At first he feels embarrassed. When he puts on a white apron, he dares not look up at his customers in case he sees acquaintances. As soon as he gets home, he takes a shower to wash off the smell of duck. Two days later, however, getting two tenners each day, he no longer worries about looking up, or needs to shower afterwards. He has got used to it all. He likens it to the experience of a prostitute. The first time she sleeps with a patron is always frightening and embarrassing, but as time goes on, she will become more hardened, whoever the customer may be. Now he thinks duck-selling is not too bad even on a long-term basis. This way he can earn an extra 600 yuan a month. In a year's time, he will be well-off. It is a pity that Young Li Bai is away for only ten days and he cannot carry on when he returns. It would be better if he came across Young Li Bai earlier!

On the ninth day, Young Lin meets another acquaintance. On the whole, he doesn't mind seeing people who know him. But this one is an exception. He is the head of the office, Old Guan. He lives in another district, so naturally he doesn't shop in this food market. Old Guan's eyes open wide as he sees one of his staff behind the duck cart, and Young Lin feels ill at ease. The next day Young Lin is prepared to be sent for by Old Guan. Sure enough, Old Guan asks to "have a special word" with him. By now he doesn't feel afraid in the slightest. Everyone is drifting along in today's society. What's  wrong with my earning some pocket money by selling ducks after working hours? Life is certainly more enjoyable with more money. During these nine days he has earned 180 yuan with which he has bought a long overcoat for his wife and a big. Hami melon as a treat for his daughter. It gives so much pleasure. Face and Old Guan's criticism is really nothing compared to the pleasure. Having been in the work unit for so many years, Young Lin is not as naive and honest as when he was first assigned to it. He has learned to mingle the truth with falsehood—they can be twisted round. It seems those who tell lies get promotion and more pay while those who tell the truth don't get on and suffer. So when Old Guan asks him for an explanation for yesterday, Young Lin puts on an air of innocence. With a smile he explains that the duck seller is his former classmate, and as a joke, he put on his apron and sat there crying "duck." It was just for fun. He wouldn't disgrace his work unit by selling ducks. Old Guan is convinced. He says, "That's just what I thought! How can a dignified government staff member reduce himself to duck selling! Since that is the case, let's put an end to it. Make sure you don't play jokes like that again!"

Young Lin agrees, and as his head of office leaves he spits on the ground: "Why shouldn't I 'lower myself' and sell ducks? I have been selling ducks for nine days! It's too bad that today is the last time. If I had the chance, I would do it permanently."

It is a pity that Young Li Bai returns from his trip on time. this afternoon

Young Lin has to say good-bye to the food cart. Young Li Bai gives him the last twenty yuan owing and tells him to come for free ducks whenever he wants. Young Li Bai promises that if he has to go away again, he will ask him to help. This time Young Lin does not feel embarrassed at all. "Just let me know whenever you need me!" he replies loudly.

7

The Lins' daughter has been at the nursery for three months. Young Lin and his wife are busier at home after the childminder has gone. They wash up; mop the floor, and do the laundry. They have to take the child to nursery in the morning and be on time to collect her in the evening. Yet despite more housework, they feel relaxed because there is no one at home during the day except themselves and their little girl. They are a proper family without a childminder whom they had to pay over a hundred yuan a month. Nursery fees still leave them fifty to sixty yuan extra. They are much better-off. Young Lin's wife can spend more on food. Now and then she buys sausages; even a roast chicken occasionally. They both agree it is much better to be without a childminder, and remind each other of the disadvantages when she was there. Gradually they feel it a bit petty to talk about her while they are eating roast chicken. They agree not to talk about her, and soon she is rarely mentioned.

Though their daughter is going to a good nursery, it annoys Young Lin and his wife that it is through the good offices of the "Indian" family, who wanted a companion to go with their daughter. It makes them feel unhappy every morning when they send their child to the nursery and every evening when they pick her up. They frequently meet the "Indian" woman or her husband, and are polite but afterwards they feel ashamed and uncomfortable. Their daughter is still too young to understand, so she walks hand in hand with the "Indian" woman's child and they get on well together. But everything has to adapt and later they regard the whole situation matter-of-factly. They weigh the alternatives and come to the conclusion that as long as their child is happy, it doesn't matter whether she goes as a companion or not. It's almost the same as selling ducks. He may lose some face and he has been censured by his boss, but two hundred yuan is not to be sneezed at. Sometimes they still feel angry at the motives of the "Indian" family. But they just curse inwardly:

"I don't owe you anything even though you helped us!"

The child has to adapt, too. She refused to go to nursery on the first few days, crying bitterly when taken there, and crying when she was picked up. She was too young to understand but it needed time for her to get used to her new environment and if the parents were firm, she would surely settle down. Once she got to know the teachers and other children she didn't cry anymore. Young Lin sometimes feels sad for such a little child having no other choice but to adapt. But he realizes it doesn't do to keep her under his wing all the time. When she grows up she will have bigger obstacles to overcome. With that consoling thought he does not take the sadness too much to heart.

The World Cup soccer is now on. Young Lin was very fond of watching soccer several years ago. It was exciting and exhilarating. He could name all the world famous soccer players then. At that time, he concluded that watching World Cup soccer was the main purpose in life. It is held only every four years and how many four years can a man have? But when he got married and was working he lost interest. However expertly the footballers played, they didn't solve any of his practical problems: housing, child care, coal briquettes, childminder and guests from his hometown. He has been turning a deaf ear to the bustling outside world. But now that the child is in nursery and he is a bit more relaxed he can't help wanting to watch the soccer match in the evening when he learns that it is a final. Live transmission is at midnight so he plans to ask his wife to let him watch. To put her in a good mood, he picks up the child after work, and busies himself with the chores. Seeing his unusual behaviour, his wife asks him the reason and he tells her sheepishly. He did not expect his wife to react as unreasonably as she used to, but her mind isn't completely at rest yet. Casting her apron onto the table she shouts:

"You want to watch soccer at midnight when we are out of briquettes? Obviously you are not tired enough! If you can make Maradona bring briquettes for us, then you can watch!"

Disappointed, he shakes his hand:

"Enough. Enough. Forget it. I won't watch. I'll go and buy briquettes tomorrow!"

He stops doing the chores and sits lost in thought in front of the bed, just as his wife sometimes does when she has had a bad day at work. He cannot sleep that night. His wife wakes up and finds him lying there with open eyes. Frightened, she says:

"Go ahead if you really want to watch it, but just make sure you buy briquettes tomorrow."

By now, he has lost all interest and does not feel at all grateful. He replies bitterly,

"Have I said I want to watch it? You don't let me think about anything even when I'm not watching soccer!"

He asks for a half-day's leave the next morning to carry briquettes home, and goes back to work in the afternoon. When the newly assigned university graduate comes over to ask him about the final, Young Lin angrily replies:

"Damn the soccer! What's there to watch? I never watch soccer!"

Then he starts looking through the newspapers. The university graduate is started. In the evening, his wife finds him in low spirits. The briquettes have been brought home, and feeling she has been unfair to him, she tries to do all the housework, takes care of the child and tries to cheer him up. This makes him feel contrite and he feels better.

They are about to have dinner when the lame water meter inspector comes. It is not the date for checking meters but as he has come you cannot say no. They stop their meal while he checks the meter. Apart from the spanner to turn the water supply off, the old man has a big bag on his back which appears rather heavy. His face is dripping with sweat from the weight. Seeing the big bag, Young Lin is wondering what the old man is up to. As expected, after he checks the meter he sits on the bed. Young Lin waits; is he going to talk about his horse-feeding experience when young or the water stealing event? But the old man does not mention either of those. With a smile he says:

"Young Lin, I have a favour to ask you."

Young Lin is taken aback. "Grandpa, what are you talking about? I am the one who is always asking you for favours. How can you ask me instead?"

The old man says: "I'm serious. Aren't you working in a certain office under a certain bureau of a certain ministry?"

Young Lin nods his head.

The old man continues: "Is there a certain report for approval held in your office from a certain county of a certain district in a certain province?"

Young Lin dimly remembers there is such a report, which has been pigeonholed by a young woman colleague called Little Peng. It is delayed because Little Peng has been too busy learning
qigong
in Ritan Park. So he answers: "It seems to me there is such a report."

Clapping his hands, the old man says: "That's right! This county of this district in this province is my native place. They are extremely anxious about this report. Both the county magistrate and the Party secretary have come to see me for a solution!"

Young Lin is again taken aback: the county magistrate and Party secretary coming to Beijing in person to ask a water meter inspector for help? Recalling that the old man once fed horses when he was young for an important person, he realized it is reasonable.

The old man goes on: "What solution can I get? I asked them to find out which office under which bureau has got the report and they did. It so happens that the office is no other than the one you are working in. We are acquaintances so I've come to you for a favour. Do you think it can be done?"

Young Lin has been in the office for about six years so he knows the ins and outs of the routines. This could be done easily. If he goes and has a word with Little Peng tomorrow, the report can be processed as quickly as she puts lipstick on. It could be difficult though if she is practising
qigong
and you have disturbed her, or she is in a bad mood. She can pick out many mistakes, list many state regulations and enumerate many reasons why the report cannot be ratified. In the end, you will be convinced the report has defects, not because of any other reason. The report could be executed tomorrow if Young Lin helps. If he doesn't, it will be shelved for ages. It all depends on whether Young Lin is willing to help or not. This lame old man is not just an ordinary man; he is the man in charge of their water meter and he will have to help him. Young Lin today, however, is no longer the Young Lin he used to be. He is now mature. If such a thing happened in the past, he would have readily promised help. That shows a person's naivety. Now he doesn't commit himself right away. If you say at first "can't" and "hard" but finally the job is done, people will feel indebted. If you give a ready promise but for whatever reason you fail to fulfil it, people will blame you. So, leaning against the stacked quilts with his head resting on his hands, Young Lin says: