Rickshaw Boy: A Novel by She Lao

be related to the old man. But even more of them assumed that the old man had his eye on Xiangzi as a possible groom for Huniu and a replacement son for him. While this assumption was clearly informed by a measure of envy, if one day it turned out to be true, then when Fourth Master Liu died, Harmony Shed would pass on to Xiangzi. For the moment, however, this was just idle gossip and not something anyone dared to bring up in Xiangzi’s presence. What they didn’t know was that Fourth Master had other reasons for treating Xiangzi differently. He saw him as being capable of sticking to the old ways in new surroundings. If he were to join the army, he wouldn’t start acting stupid just so he could bully people when he put on the feared uniform. He kept busy when he was in the yard, and once he stopped sweating, he looked for something to do: cleaning rickshaws, pumping up the tires, airing out the rain hoods, oiling the moving parts…no one had to ask him to do these things, he did them on his own and was happy to do so; it was his favorite form of entertainment. Twenty or so men bunked in Harmony Shed, and when they brought their rickshaws in, they either sat around shooting the breeze or slept. All but Xiangzi, the only one who was never idle. At first, the others thought he was sucking up to Fourth Master Liu. But it took only a few days for them to realize that that was the furthest thing from his mind. He was sincere, he was artless, and he had nothing to say to anyone. Old Man Liu never uttered a word of praise or ever gave him a special look. But he had things worked out in his head. He was well aware that Xiangzi was a good worker, which is why he was willing to let him stay there even when he wasn’t renting one of Liu’s rickshaws. With Xiangzi around, the yard and gate were always swept clean, to give but one example. And Huniu was fond of this foolish big fellow. Xiangzi always stopped to listen to what she had to say, and he never quarreled with her. The other men, plagued by suffering, often talked back to her. She was not afraid of these men, and she usually ignored them, saving whatever she wanted to say for Xiangzi. So when he found a monthly hire, Fourth Master and his daughter felt as if they’d lost a friend. Then the next time he returned, even when Fourth Master was yelling at one of the men, he didn’t seem so angry—almost kindly.
    Xiangzi walked into Harmony Shed clutching his two boxes of matches. Night had not yet fallen, and Fourth Master and his daughter were having dinner. Huniu put down her chopsticks the minute she saw him.
    “Xiangzi!” she shouted. “Did you get taken off by a wolf? Or maybe you went gold prospecting in Africa!”
    “Hmm” was all Xiangzi said.
    Fourth Master ran his eyes over Xiangzi but said nothing. Still wearing his new straw hat, Xiangzi sat down across from them. “Join us if you haven’t eaten,” Huniu said, as if welcoming a close friend.
    Xiangzi did not budge, but a warm, hard-to-describe feeling flooded over him. Harmony Shed had always been home to him. He’d have a series of monthly hires, and then he’d be out on the street again for a while. And all that time he had a place to stay, right here in Harmony Shed, and someone to talk to. After barely escaping with his life, he was back among friends, people who invited him to join them at the table, and he’d have been forgiven for thinking that this was all a cruel trick. But, no, he was nearly in tears.
    “I had two bowls of bean curd a while ago,” he said politely.
    “Where have you been?” Fourth Master Liu asked, his eyes still fixed on Xiangzi. “Where’s your rickshaw?”
    “Rickshaw?” Xiangzi spat in anguish.
    “Come eat first,” Huniu said as she pulled him up to the table, like an affectionate elder sister.
    “We won’t poison you, and two bowls of bean curd hardly make a meal.”
    Instead of picking up a bowl, Xiangzi took out his money. “Fourth Master,” he said,