Can Xue - Five Spice Street

As Madam X went to dry the beans in the sun, she crushed Dr. A’s instep, and he let out a frightening scream.

‘‘Why hasn’t this man left yet? I can’t see him at all,’’ she said.

Now it was Dr. A’s turn to talk. He leaned against the wall (for fear she would step on his feet again) and spoke with fervor and assurance. He talked of the sublime significance of representatives and of all the hope the residents of this street had invested in her. As a Ph.D. in the field of her kind of problem, he was clearer about this than anyone. ‘‘This is the highest honor.’’ Please don’t think she earned this honor because of her ability. Not at all. He could divulge a little of the inside story: it was he, acting on his own authority, who bestowed this honor on her. After he won the debate over who had taken the initiative, he acquired more authority every day. Everything he said became a decree. Ordinary people esteemed him: no matter what important thing occurred on Five Spice Street, when a ruling was needed, everyone said, ‘‘Let’s get Dr. A.’’ Without him, the people were lambs that had lost their way. Now, one word from him, one glance, determined the people’s destiny. All day long, his head was filled with grave problems; it was nearly bursting with them. Recently, X’s problem had become the core issue: with one sentence, he made her eminent. He did so because he was determined to reform her. She should know that a lot of people had worked hard their whole lives without getting this opportunity. Some even knelt before him and implored! He thought her behavior just now inconceivable. How could she not repay him for his kindness (he had never wished for repayment from those whom he had benefited; he was a person with lofty thoughts and didn’t want cheap praise)? What’s more, she’d even stepped on his foot and his toes were still numb. Her behavior made him wonder whether it had been a mistake to confer these laurels on her so lightly. Just think of all the good words he’d said about her to the delegation. How could he take them back? But he was committed to his original intention of cooperating with her. He asked Madam X to consider it carefully. She shouldn’t be indiscreet. After all, she was still young and would live several more decades on Five Spice Street. As long as she lived here, she couldn’t get away from his governance. If she was driven to offend him, her future would again be problematic. He would give her no further opportunities. Not only would she not be the representative, the people wouldn’t even mention her name again. Many historians and artists on Five Spice Street were close friends who would die for him. He had to look over all their articles. If she rejected public opinion, who would concern himself with her innovations and unconventional behavior? She would never have a chance to appear in public again. If she recognized this now, he could still forgive her for stepping on his foot. He was a magnanimous, well-bred scholar. When others hurt him, he never much minded. He just hoped she would change her mind at once.

Madam X crossed her eyes, and didn’t look at the two people who were standing against the wall. She busied herself in the room. After a little while, her new brother-in-law came in. She grabbed him and complained loudly:

‘‘Two others came in just now. They’ll seize any opportunity! Take a look outside for me. I suspect I’m surrounded.’’

A lot of people were outside, he told her, but it didn’t matter. They weren’t organized. Some were cracking melon seeds; others were climbing trees. Some were heading home. By noon, not a single person would remain; they didn’t have much patience. If she didn’t go out, they would soon forget their purpose. He whispered that two shady characters were leaning against the wall in the house. Did she want him to get rid of them?

‘‘Ah, never mind!’’ she said. ‘‘Now I know you’re hiding inside. I already said I’m not the least bit interested in being the representative. Why can’t you give up? Hiding won’t help you at all.’’ She added that if they had nothing better to do, they could help with the work. She would greatly appreciate it.

She heard that one of the two was a Ph.D.; she didn’t think much of Ph.D.’s. Selling peanuts was a lot better. A Ph.D. was just a boasting cheat. If conditions allowed, each Ph.D. should be sent to the snack shop to be reeducated and break the habit of lying. All her life she had hated them. If this Ph.D. became the representative- fine. But if one hid out in her home, she’d go nuts and might hit him. So speaking, she lifted a large steelyard. They were so frightened they ran away.

‘‘All Ph.D.’s are traitors,’’ she said to her brother-in-law. Then she blinked teasingly and said, ‘‘Is my sister still remembering to set up a household?’’

Her brother-in-law answered that she was. He enjoyed it, but it was a lot of trouble to carry the chamber pot up and down every day. If they had a baby-hey, he didn’t dare imagine.

‘‘The smell of human excrement would surely damage the baby’s brain. The environment is scary.’’ He was a little dejected.

‘‘Why don’t you both come to my shop and help out here? Sitting in the loft all day will paralyze her legs. How can a person not move all day?’’

‘‘That won’t work,’’ he said. ‘‘She’s already fallen apart. You can’t imagine what her nerves are like now. She takes precautions day and night. We’re both weak. Sorry.’’

‘‘I want to teach her how to use the javelin.’’

‘‘It’s too late, dear sister. She spends the whole day squatting under the table because someone is making a disturbance on the roof. I want to engage a good doctor, but no one will climb our rope ladder. Whenever I suggest unblocking the staircase, she threatens to jump out the window.’’

The matter of Madam X’s becoming the representative didn’t end here. Everyone knew that one or two arguments wouldn’t work, considering past events; and without being able to talk with her, there was nothing to do but go ahead with the election. The young coal worker and others loyal to her saw her sitting on the windowsill, truly both deaf and blind. They pleaded with her, but left in disappointment. Later, the election took place in the dark room. As expected, Madam X won. She got nearly all the votes. She officially became a representative. Only a few ambitious people who wanted to be representatives overestimated their abilities and voted against her. After their hopes were dashed, they hatched a plot, but a shout from Madam X’s husband’s good friend scared them so much that they scattered. Among them were Madam X’s female colleague, Ms. B, and others. Only now did the people realize that Ms. B didn’t really want Madam X to be the representative. Her objective in going to the snack shop was to wreck this possibility! She was the one responsible for Madam X’s insistence on not being elected! Furious, Madam X’s husband’s good friend picked up a shovel: he wanted to split Ms. B’s head ‘‘in half.’’

‘‘So many people,’’ he roared indignantly, ‘‘so many people have assembled here to see Madam X. Now they can’t see even a shadow. Weren’t all of my years of effort and all my hopes just for today? When I think of those hurtful past events, my heart aches. I thought that the hard days were over. Who knew there would be a day like this! I’m telling you: a person like you has no excuse to go on living. You not only slapped me, but you also smashed my friend the young coal worker’s ideals. Look at him (he was picking his nose with a grieved expression). Ever since he became my neighbor, we’ve gone through so many trials and tribulations together! You-ugly crow! Go straight to hell!’’