Camel Xiangzi - (Introduction to World Famous Literary Works)

Author: Lao She / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Chapter: Saving Money to Buy a Car
The opening line: "Xiangzi is a rickshaw puller. He rents others' rickshaws to pull, and it's extremely hard work. He has no freedom and earns very little. So, his greatest dream is to save money to buy a rickshaw of his own. He braves wind and rain, skimping on food and drink. In the end, did he buy a car?"
Before getting involved with the nickname "Camel," Xiangzi was a young, strong rickshaw puller. But he didn’t have enough money to buy his own rickshaw, so he had to rent others’. When renting a rickshaw, he worked from dawn till dusk, from east to west, from south to north, like a top spun by someone else’s hand, with no freedom at all. Yet amid this spinning, his eyes didn’t blur, and his mind didn’t get lost. He had his own aspirations and ideals: one day, owning a rickshaw of his own. With his own rickshaw, he wouldn’t have to endure the bullying of those who owned the rickshaws, nor would he have to pretend to be someone he wasn’t. With his own strength and the rickshaw, he could have food the moment he opened his eyes. This was no easy feat. A year, two years, at least three or four years; a drop of sweat, two drops of sweat, countless drops of sweat—how could he earn that rickshaw? Braving wind and rain, working day and night, enduring hardship, saving every penny from his meals and drinks—only then could he afford the rickshaw. He wasn’t afraid of hard work and didn’t have the vices common among other rickshaw pullers, which were forgivable but not worth learning. His intelligence and effort were enough to make his dream come true. If his situation had been better or if he had received more education, he wouldn’t have ended up as a rickshaw puller. But there was no other way—he couldn’t do anything else but pull rickshaws, so he had to. Fortunately, in this trade, he could prove his ability and cleverness in his own way. He was such a person; even in hell, he would have been a good ghost. He grew up in the countryside and later lost his parents and a few acres of thin farmland. At the age of 18, he ran to the city. He brought the typical simplicity and honesty of a country boy and did almost any job that paid with hard labor. But soon he realized that pulling rickshaws was a quicker way to earn money. Other hard labor jobs were inconsistent—three days of fishing, two days of drying nets—and didn’t earn much. Pulling rickshaws, however, held unexpected opportunities—sometimes and somewhere, he might meet someone willing to pay more than expected. After thinking it over, he decided the rickshaw-pulling trade was right for him: he had plenty of strength, and if he practiced for a few days or weeks, he could definitely perform well. Then he could rent a new rickshaw and maybe quickly find a regular employer for a monthly job. After saving and spending prudently for a year or two—even three or four years—he would surely buy a brand-new, beautiful rickshaw of his own! Though still in his early twenties, he was already tall and strong. Though his body was still growing and hadn’t fully developed, he looked like an adult—a grown man with an innocent and mischievous air. He watched the higher-class rickshaw pullers and planned how to break into their circle to show off his advantages. He didn’t have much appearance, but what made him charming was his spirit. His head wasn’t very big, with round eyes, a fleshy nose, and two short, thick eyebrows. His hair was always neatly shaven, making his head gleam. His cheeks had no extra fat, but his neck was almost as thick as his head. His face was always rosy, with a noticeable scar between his cheekbone and right ear—a result of being bitten by a donkey when he was sleeping under a tree as a child. He didn’t pay much attention to his looks. He loved his face as much as his body, both strong and sturdy. Among rickshaw pullers, personal grievances and difficulties were common talk. In parking areas, small teahouses, and big courtyards, everyone reported, described, or argued about their own stories, which then became public property, spreading like folk songs everywhere. Xiangzi was a countryman and had always been quiet, so he wasn’t as eloquent as city dwellers and didn’t want to learn their cunning and vulgarity. He thought his own matters were his own and didn’t like discussing them with others. Because his mouth was often idle, he had time to think deeply. His eyes seemed to always see his own heart. Once he made up his mind, he acted accordingly. If it didn’t work out, he could stay silent for a day or two, gritting his teeth as if biting his own heart! Once he decided to pull rickshaws, he did just that. He rented a broken rickshaw and started practicing his legs. The first day, he didn’t get any work. The next day, his business was good, but after resting for two days, his ankles swelled so much he couldn’t lift them. He endured it, no matter how much pain he felt. He knew it was unavoidable, a necessary step in becoming a rickshaw puller. After his feet healed, he could run. This made him feel very pleased, because there was nothing else to fear. In just two or three weeks, he had his legs in shape. He knew his running style was very good-looking. Running style was proof of a rickshaw puller’s skill and qualifications. His legs were long, so each step was large, but his waist was very steady, and his running was quiet with some flexibility. The handle didn’t move, making the passenger feel safe and comfortable. When told to stop, no matter how fast he was running, his big feet would lightly scuff the ground twice, and he could stop immediately. Soon, he switched to a new rickshaw. From the day he got the new rickshaw, he made up his mind: he had to buy a rickshaw of his own! He planned to look for a regular employer to pull a monthly job. If he met someone who had many social engagements and banquets, averaging more than ten meals a month, he could earn two or three extra yuan in food money. Plus, if he saved a few yuan—maybe three or five—each month, he could save fifty or sixty yuan in a year! This would bring him closer to his dream of buying a car. He didn’t smoke, drink, or gamble—he had no vices and no family burdens. As long as he was willing to work hard and persevere, nothing was impossible. He made a vow to himself: within a year and a half, he had to buy his own car!，。.，，.，.，，，.，.P1-3