Chapter 23 Twenty Two Hertens

I hope Celia.Langley will never see me again.Where is she now?Sipping fruit wine and fanning yourself in the sun?And my first morning in England, shivering with goosebumps the size of hills, fighting back chattering teeth and aching jaws.I never dreamed that Britain would be like this.So glum.I resolutely held my breath, but I still couldn't hear the birdsong.In the gray morning light, the room looked so miserable.Last night, I thought it was just tattered, but Daylight was more willing to reveal the dirty secrets in the room.The plaster on the walls had come off, and there were crooked cracks everywhere.One of the handles of the chest of drawers was missing.There is no basin in the sink.The white lace pattern of the window panes is frost.My teacher, Miss Morgan, told me that frost can be seen outside windows in England, but my curious fingers stuck to the thing.Condensed frost melting under my warm fingertips, right here in this room!The stove didn't help at all, and only when I was standing directly on top did it roar with intense heat.One inch, that's all.An inch further back, and the heat won't touch me.Two inches, I need a coat.Three inches, as cold as the street.Not this room.I can hear Celia.Langley laughed at me.Hortens, the Lord certainly moves in mysterious ways.She stated in a mocking tone.

But I don't think about her.I opened the suitcase, and the bright colors of the Caribbean jumped out of the suitcase. It was the blanket given to me by the old lady in Ouqi.Red and yellow, blue and green are intertwined, and the colors dance in the dull room.I took out the blanket that was thousands of miles away from home and spread it on the bed. Just then, I heard a miracle of birds chirping!So happy!Birds find color through the window and chirp spiritually.Don't laugh at me, Celia.Langley.Just watch it.I am determined to make this a place where I can live, if only temporarily, because England is my destiny.I start with the sink.The sink was cracked and yellowed like a map. I wiped it vigorously with soap until I had to wipe the sweat off my forehead with my hands.I pulled the fetid tin urinal from under the bed and told it: You're next.At this time, there was a knock on the door.

I stopped all movements, not even daring to beat my heart. Is anyone here?A voice came. I didn't answer, but my choked breath was ready to choke me.The knocking came again. Is anyone in there?It's the woman downstairs, the landlady who stared at me last night in a very disrespectful manner.Just want to say a word.Can I open a door?Due to politeness and good breeding, I had no choice but to open a small crack.Her face was smiling close to the opening.Just to see if everything is alright with you.Her blonde hair reminded me of Mrs. Ryder.Michel watched the woman drive by wearing a feather hat.But then I concentrated on thinking: I am in London, and that day is over.

The woman asked me: Did Gilbert go to work?She stretched her neck like a curious cat, moving left and right to get a better look at the room.I came downstairs.remember me?I let you in last night?Hortens, right? I didn't want to appear disrespectful to this woman on my first day in England, so I responded to her question with a slight nod. Has the cat taken your tongue?What cat did she say?Don't tell me there's another cat coming to live with us in this room.She went on: I am Mrs Bligh.You can call me Queenie if you like, everyone here calls me that.Does that look good to you?She talks to me like I'm an idiot.I am an educated man!

So I replied: Is your cat lost? The woman's eyes widened, as if I had asked this question several times.no.She spoke too eloquently, which in English means that you don't talk much.But is everything okay?I just thought I should come over and have a word with you. I don't want to sound ungrateful because this woman is clearly trying to show kindness even though she's confusing me with some shit.I opened the door a little more, lest she think I was being rude.I was just going to give us a little room to talk, but she walked right into the room before I even formally invited her!

Oh, you are cleaning.Oh man, well they just don't get it.She inspected it carefully, as if she was at home: sniffing into corners, walking around, as if inspecting the tasks she had given me.When she got to the sink, she said: It's kind of cracked, isn't it?But you still want to keep it clean.Well.Since she was the landlady and she was inspecting the sink, I took the opportunity to ask her.I said: Excuse me, do you happen to have a washbasin that I can use? What is there? washbasin.I repeat. Sorry, I don't understand. A washbasin that can be placed in the sink. put on what?what face?

washbasin. I'm sorry, but I really don't understand what you're saying. I wanted to say it slowly again, but then I remembered another term that might help: buckets. What?Here she is again. useless.Am I not speaking English?There was nothing I could do but point to the urinal.But she must have misunderstood.Who knows how far the misunderstanding can go.So I shut up. Where did you get that thing from?She pointed to the blanket and said, it's so bright.You have to wear sunglasses to see it.Clearly enjoying herself, she giggled.Did you bring it here?After looking at the blanket, she went to the fire to warm her hands.She bent closer to the fire.It's really chilly today.I bet you wish you hadn't left a warm tropical country?I didn't answer, she looked at me and said a few words with an exaggerated mouth shape: It's cold today.As if I were deaf.She continued: "When it's cold, we say it's chilly."Chilling is an idiom, just like a cat has your tongue.She turned around and continued to warm her hands, and at the same time told me: You will soon get used to our language.

I told this British woman: I can speak and understand English, thank you. Don't thank me.I don't mean to sound grateful!But she continued: I'm sure there are many things I can teach you if you want.She sat on a chair and invited me to sit with her.This is my home, I should be the one telling her where to sit, when to come in, and when to warm her hands!I thought to myself: I can definitely teach this woman some etiquette!But then I asked myself: Maybe that's how the British react in the UK.So I sat down. That's right, sit down.Does this woman think I don't understand the imperative to sit down?You don't talk much, do you?

I keep my mouth shut.Only patience can prevent situations where she doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. How long have you and Gilbert been married? I am amazed that such a blatant question is being asked blatantly.Does she want to know everything about me?I just watched her and waited.Before long, the Englishwoman must have noticed that she was speaking impolitely to me.But she asked again, speaking slowly, as if I couldn't understand her the first time.She is playing me.If the woman understands that I am an educated person, then of course I must answer her question.Tsk.

Let me say this carefully: Gilbert and I have been married for almost six months. six?six months? Yes, that is six months.I told her, lips pursed as round as puffed cheeks. What?total?You have only been married for six months?I nod.But Gilbert is here for almost five months.She tilted her head and looked at me playfully.Ah, then, you are newlyweds. I think so too. Did you just say I think so?She asked, getting excited.You don't sound very happy.But Gilbert said you've known each other for a long time. Oh, did he say that?That scoundrel really doesn't change his nature, and wants to spread our story to the whole of England.But I don't say anything.

She continued: "I met Gilbert during the war.Did he tell you?She probably wants to know everyone's business, but I've been taught to be respectful, especially when a man believes gold teeth are attractive.She changed her sitting position, and the chair creaked. I thought the chair had collapsed.But she obviously didn't care about her tattered furniture, crossed her arms once, opened them again, took a breath and groaned again, as if wailing in pain.Her cheeks and neck were beautifully patterned with patches of red blotches.I'm worried that she'll ask for a glass of water next because I'm not sure if there are any in the room.But she is not sad.She just pushed a lock of blond curls behind her ear and continued talking. So, he didn't say anything?she asked me.I didn't answer.I'm tired of this conversation, and I have things to do.Finally, the woman slowly got up from her seat.Well, if you want anything, I'm downstairs.Just shout down.I stood up politely and followed her to the door.Suddenly, she looked into my face with the eagerness of a child wanting someone else to join in the game.If you want, I can take you shopping.Let me show you where to go shopping. Pity made me soften.I said: thank you. But it got her excited again.No, no thanks.It's no trouble.It's nice to have a companion.I nodded and smiled like an idiot, and kept the door open so the woman would stop bothering me.Is there any video footage in your hometown?Why, does this woman think Gilbert poured me out of a bottle? Of course we have videos that are called movies.I told her. do you like it I have always liked Xiulan.Temple's film. She laughed so harshly, I swear the windows rattled too.Xiulan.Temple!I haven't seen one of her movies in a while.I didn't expect there to be Xiulan in your hometown.Temple! I still didn't answer.We can also go to the movies if you like.She surprised me once again.Is this woman trying to be nice, or is she trying to make friends?I'm confused.What class of white woman is she?Well, if you're going shopping or something, I can show you how to use the ration book.It's not difficult, but it takes some getting used to.Then she looked at me, confused.Can you understand what I'm saying? Of course I understand.I said quietly. good.Well, knock on my door and I'll let you know when I'm ready to go.She put her hand too close to my arm and said softly: It's okay.I don't mind people seeing me walking down the street with you.You'll see that I'm not like most people.I don't worry about people seeing me and Hei Zai going out together. Well, why should this woman worry about being seen walking down the street with me?After all, I'm a teacher and she's just renting out rooms for a living.If anyone could be ashamed, it should be me.Also, what is a black boy?I held the door for her very politely, and said thank you again, hoping to let her leave quickly. You don't have to keep thanking me. She misunderstood again.But then I remembered something urgent to ask.It's something that's been bothering me since Gilbert brought it to the door that morning.Now is my chance.But I waited for her to go outside, lest she change her mind and sit back in her chair.I said: Can I ask you something?Can you tell me I looked up, looked her in the eyes and asked: How do I get the fries?