Life has never deceived you

Author: He Chengwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features:
Who tricked you? Old Zhang really wanted to take a hot bath, so he went to the bathroom. Old Zhang was familiar with the bathroom situation—it had nine faucets. However, they were often broken, with no water coming out. How was it today? Were all the faucets working? He peered inside. Coincidentally, there were nine people bathing, and the place was full. But these nine people didn’t each use a separate faucet. Instead, two people were squeezed under the eighth faucet, rubbing each other’s backs and laughing. The ninth faucet was empty and not working, just standing idle. The ninth faucet was broken! Thinking this, he sat down on the long bench in the changing room, lit a cigarette, and let the smoke ring drift slowly.
Old Wang also came to take a bath. He looked inside, glanced at Old Zhang, and asked, “Is that faucet broken?”
“It wouldn’t be empty if it weren’t broken,” Old Zhang replied.
So, Old Wang sat down next to Old Zhang.
Old Li also came to take a bath. He looked inside, glanced at Old Zhang and Old Wang, said nothing, and sat down next to Old Wang.
Subsequently, Old Liu, Old Ma, Old Qian, and Old Lin followed one after another, each taking turns to sit on the long bench. Everyone waited quietly, showing great patience and confidence.
Little Zhang also came. Little Zhang was ten years old and Old Zhang’s son. Old Zhang said to Little Zhang, “There’s no space inside, just wait here.” Little Zhang ignored Old Zhang and walked straight into the bathroom, never to come out.
Old Zhang found it strange and peered inside. Little Zhang was bathing under the ninth faucet, looking very happy. The water under the ninth faucet rose with white mist, and the “gush-gush” sound of the water seemed like “ha-ha” laughter. Suddenly, Little Zhang poked his head out from behind the water curtain and asked, “Dad, what’s wrong with you today?”
The people waiting outside rushed in. Seeing Little Zhang’s smug expression, they all shouted that Old Zhang had tricked them!
Old Zhang thought, Who tricked me now?
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