A Gentleman II

This article was written on September 28, 2013.

Author: Lü Jianfeng

In 1999, Beijing's winter was particularly cold, with the lowest temperature at night reaching minus 18 degrees Celsius. A lived in a single room in a courtyard house without heating in Dayangfang, Lishuiqiao. The room was less than 20 square meters, leaving little space after placing a bed. Because of the cold, A bought a honeycomb briquette stove and a cartload of coal, learning from the landlord how to use it. When not in use, the stove was covered to keep the fire alive. Upon returning, A would lift the lid with iron tongs to cook and warm the room, filling it with warmth mixed with the smell of food and coal. Before sleeping, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, the stove had to be covered and moved outside. Days passed with the stove being moved in and out.

Next to the courtyard where A rented, there was a small shop, usually attended by an old mother. A often went there to buy oil, salt, MSG, and other daily necessities. Because the location was remote and the weather cold, the shop's wooden window was usually closed, and customers had to knock on the window to call for service. One day, A went to buy something again. The window opened, revealing a young and beautiful face—it was M. A was stunned. M, biting her lower lip and smiling, asked a second time what A wanted, and only then did A, flustered, buy the items and rush back.

A few days later, A learned that M was the old mother's daughter, who had just started working in Anzhen. From then on, A hoped that the window would open to reveal M's flower-like face. A began to buy items one at a time, even enthusiastically offering to buy for other tenants, hoping to see M more often. Gradually, A started chatting with M, learning about her, and soon obtained M's pager number and understood her schedule. At that time, A was quite shy, often looking around during commutes hoping to encounter M, asking villagers in Dayangfang about her, and collecting information about her everywhere. After more than a month, A mustered the courage to ask M out in front of the window. M said she was busy that day and suggested another time. That night, A analyzed for a long time whether M was truly busy or unwilling to go out with him, or perhaps she had a boyfriend, though he had never seen or heard of one. In a daze, A seemed to dream of M that night.

Not long after, A, who worked in Zhongguancun, needed to transfer to bus 358 at Anzhen on his way home. There were many people waiting for the bus. That day the wind was strong, and everyone had their collars up and hands tucked into sleeves. A, who always dressed lightly, was jumping and stamping his feet on the bus platform to keep warm. Suddenly, someone tapped A's shoulder. Turning around, A saw M's flower-like face. A no longer felt cold, and excitedly chatted with M, stuttering at first, then becoming more natural. He learned that M had no boyfriend, worked as an accountant, and knew what movies she liked and what food she enjoyed. That day, the bus came unusually slowly, and there were many people. Two large 358 buses passed, but A and M couldn't squeeze on. When a small 358 bus arrived, M suggested taking it, walking toward it as she spoke. A hesitated for a moment, saying he never took small buses. M, already getting on, hesitated and slowly sat down.

A watched the small bus start, waved to M, then turned to look at the newspaper board on the platform. A few minutes later, A slowly turned back, his gaze searching in the direction of the small bus, but it was already out of sight. Clutching his monthly pass tightly, A gritted his teeth, regretting deeply. Why didn't he have any money on him today? He couldn't even afford the 2 yuan small bus fare. Why hadn't he withdrawn the 200 yuan from his savings? What was he saving for...

The following spring, on his way home from work, A saw M in the distance, arm in arm with a man, leaning on him as they walked slowly. A remained very calm, quickly caught up to them, and greeted M. When M saw A, she quickly withdrew her arm, introduced A and the man somewhat awkwardly. A saw that the man was handsome, well-dressed, and greeted A with great confidence. A thought they were a perfect match.

That night, A bought several bottles of beer, tore up the notebook page where he had recorded M's pager number (which she had never used to call him), and drank himself drunk.