Chapter 6 Chapter Six

one When Tom was out of school, he would go to the store to help check pockets and register things.He's too young to be up to the job of ironing.Friday and Saturday are busier.Clothes come in baskets to be washed, some soaked until the next day, and others hung to dry on a line near the ceiling.And it's all due to the customer on Monday. Tom made it his job to answer the phone when he got to the store.When he received a call from a customer to pick up an order, he had to immediately find the sorted package. Tom was the most qualified person in the family for this job.Looking out the shop window, Tom could see the legs of men and women and children going up and down the sidewalk.He hopes that their laundry can be moved from the semi-basement to the ground.

When a large amount of clothes came in for washing, part of the ironing work was moved upstairs.Tom and Eva installed a hanging rope at the windows of the top floor and the basement. Just put the clothes in the basket and use the rope to pull them upstairs or hang them down, so that they don’t have to carry piles of clothes upstairs Run downstairs.They also hung a bell on a rope, and when they rang the rope, people downstairs knew they could go upstairs for lunch or dinner.Tom and Eva also use this rope to convey messages, such as Tom sending up a Coca-Cola bottle on the ground floor with a note inside.

Is sister-in-law back yet? The bell on the rope rings once, indicating that you have returned; twice, indicating that you have not yet. Ask Mom if we can go to the movies tonight? My mother said yes, and my sister-in-law said that if my elder brother wanted to go too, she would go with us. Eldest brother is very busy tonight, so he asked his elder sister to come with us.Tell mom that tonight's movie is starring William Bendis. Sometimes the bell rang and Eva sent down a question: Who Assassinated Lincoln? how could I know?Why don't you ask sister-in-law?Tom replied. She sent down the answer: a Chinese, Jamie.Wang Houwei.when will you come upstairs

Tom watched his father and his elder brother roll up their sleeves ironing shirts, underwear, towels, sheets, girls' dresses, workman's blue smocks, and women's silk trousers.It was fine in the winter nights, but in the summer nights it was stuffy and hot in the basement, and there was no fresh air at all.Tom watched as his father and brother were drenched in sweat. The dust from the street forced them to work with the windows closed, and the heat from the iron kept accumulating in the room to a certain point before opening the door to let the heat out. It was reported that he did not dare to smoke at work, for fear of getting soot on his half-dry clothes.Every hour, my father would temporarily put down his work, leaning on the railing or sitting on the steps, smoking his ancient pipe.

Their business is good, but they pay rent, food, and their children are growing up, so it is really difficult to save a little money.Mom knew all this when she first came here.But so many mouths to feed also meant so many hands to work, she figured.So she planned that every mouth should be supported by her own hands, and there should be no idle hands in the house, so the upstairs became Tom.A branch of Feng's hand laundromat where she and Flora do the ironing.This was originally a temporary measure when they were scheduled to go to Chinatown on Sunday and they had to get out the clothes that were due on Monday.

Mom expanded the business of this temporary branch, on the one hand, to take care of more business and deliver faster; on the other hand, to do some extra services to satisfy their customers.She has several principles of doing business.If they can have a good reputation for being fast and clean, the business will definitely be better, the only limit is the physical strength of the men and women in their family.Housewives who usually send clothes to their store are also influenced by an additional factor, Mrs. Feng, who mends clothes and buttons for them for free.For regular clients, if they request express delivery, Mrs. Feng is also willing to agree.As a result of her deliberate giving of Xiaohui, the business is getting better and better.

In June, some of the customers on Rexington Avenue left New York for the summer, and business slowed down considerably.Mrs. Feng said: We already have enough work. Anyway, it is not good to work too hard in summer. One should take a little rest, just like plants breathe at night. Don't you feel a little sad?Eva said. Mom smiled.More or less.She admitted that my Abba could read my heart. When autumn came, the business increased rapidly from the lowest point in August.Their topic would be excitedly discussing customers returning from summer vacation. The customers of Nine︱Fifty Park Avenue are back!Mom will cry with joy.She remembers the customer's address because the customer's name is too difficult for her.She knew Arabic numerals, so she had customers' addresses by heart, and she would sometimes announce that some of our customers lived as far away as Ninety Street.

Another simple one of hers: We're down to Ninety Street now.Their business also expanded south.Once a regular customer brought an apron in for washing, and Mrs. Fung found a hundred-dollar bill in her pocket and asked Tom to return it to her. My mother asked me to return the money to you and say hello to you.Tom said to the lady. She was shocked for a long time, and then volunteered to promote Feng's mother's laundry. It didn't take long for her neighbors and friends to become customers of Feng's family. Now we wash 277 and 279 on Seventy-ninth Street. After closing, Mama Feng put away the washed or unwashed clothes and played the role of a good wife and mother again.Roy and sister-in-law had to relax in the evening, they might go to a movie, but Tom never caught his mother looking tired.We all get together at dinner, but after dinner we split up and go to work.Only when the father and elder brother came upstairs after closing time did the family get together.Tom was getting used to his quarters too, and he liked it here.Windows, kitchens, dark stairs, patios, balconies, etc. are all familiar as if he had been born here.

two On Monday and Tuesday afternoons, Tom delivered the laundry to customers' homes after school.He didn't want Eva with him, although she could help with some clothes, but she walked too slowly.Only occasionally when Tom is busy, Eva will distribute clothes for him. This was a new experience for Tom, and Eva was usually in charge of delivering clothes to nearby customers; while Tom was in charge of more distant areas, such as near the East River, and a few customers on Ninety Street.Most of their business is still based on Rexington Avenue and Park Avenue.When Tom went to customers' homes, he always came into contact with the apartment guards, elevator boys, caretakers, maids, rich housewives, and some bachelorettes.Some of the housemaids and housewives, as soon as they saw Tom's bright eyes, would talk to him, ask his age, whether he went to school, etc., and tip him a quarter or a dime.There was a female painter who lived on the top floor of an apartment on Rexington Avenue. She often invited Tom in for some biscuits, and then asked him various questions about China.There was also a bachelorette who lived in a nice apartment on Seventy-ninth Street and who would answer the door in a long coat and say:

oh!Tom!come in! Her laundry was never ready in advance, and Tom would go into her bedroom and stuff the laundry in the bag for her.She would sometimes take off her clothes and give them to Tom, who never dared look up at her.Her room was beautifully furnished, but in a state of disarray and neglect.Papers, jewels, and other things were strewn about, and the bed was left unmade.Tom also saw the cigarette case on the glass table, the white lamp, and the thick carpet.One time Tom looked up after finishing the laundry and saw her walk into the bathroom barebacked, turn on the tap, and throw out some dirty towels.

Tom, she said from the bathroom door, take these and the pajamas on the bed and close the door when you go out. Tom's face was flushed, and he rushed out of the bedroom and left here, his heart beating wildly.He was still excited to get home, and he didn't mention it to anyone.He didn't know anything about American girls, and they didn't seem to care one bit about being seen naked.It was the first time he'd seen a woman wear so little, and it was nothing like watching a movie.He felt a vague need churning deep inside him.It was his greatest secret that he longed to see that woman again. Eva has slept with her mother since she was thirteen years old, and she has never thought about the mysterious question of how people are born.One of the strangest things she found was that children of ten or twelve years old in this country still don't know how people come into this world.Tom listened to his playmates talk about the relationship between the songbird and the cabbage, and the birth of a child. It sounded like some savages explaining the cause of rain and measles. Naive statement.How can we deny the role of the father?What are American parents hiding?How can it be possible for American children to see only the earth and not the sky?If they don't know that their life comes from their parents, how can they be filial to their parents?China's filial piety points out very clearly: the body, hair and skin are the parents.In China, children know this very early on.This is of course a question about sex, which is more or less amusing, but no Chinese child is disturbed by this question.That's just one of the fun things about growing up.There are no dark secrets in this.I was with your father, and I conceived and gave birth to you.This is the question of the origin of life. Mom, there is a superstition among American children. They believe that children pop out of cabbages, and some people believe that children come from Macy's House.One day Papa and Mama and Flora and Eva were all there, Tom told his mother so. It was the strangest thing he had ever discovered in learning about America.One day after two years in the United States, he suddenly noticed that he had never seen an American mother breastfeeding her baby openly, but in China this kind of situation can often be seen, whether it is in the living room of the family, or In the street, it is not a shame for a mother to breastfeed her young child.America is the most ridiculous nation.You can see men and women kissing intimately in bed on the screen, but you don't see a mother breastfeeding her baby.So where does a mother hide when she wants to nurse her baby?Are they going to lock themselves in the room as if they were doing something obscene?In fact, this is the expression of the most natural, innocent and beautiful motherhood.Americans flaunt, flaunt and make money off of their sexual pleasure, they paint women's breasts on everything, but they are ashamed to see mothers nursing their babies.Public display of a woman's naked body is not considered obscene, but mothers nursing young children are considered shameful.Tom's conclusion: Americans are not ashamed of sex, but of the birth of a baby. three One afternoon, as Tom was passing a street with a big clothes-sack, he saw a group of boys playing Indian games.He walked through the group of boys.But a kid suddenly shoots water into Tom's face with a water gun.Tom ignored him, and when he noticed that the wrapping paper on the laundry was wet, he took out his handkerchief and wiped it. Hello!You're a laundryman, aren't you? Tom didn't say a word.The boys laughed, and he scurried away and stopped at the corner to check the water marks on the package, hoping it wasn't too wet.He walked over to the apartment, which was the home of the client he was going to. Mrs. Rangel, he said to the woman who opened the door, I'm so sorry.I think the clothes are a little wet.I walked across the street and some kids got it wet playing with water guns.You open it up and have a look, and if it gets too bad, I can take it back and rewash it. Oh I won't do that!Those kids are like savages, let me see how wet they are. She opened the package, only the top piece of clothing, with a few water spots. It doesn't matter!Mrs. Lankey said, you answered the phone when I called!May I have your name? Tom!I am Tom.Feng's child. very good!Tom you are such a good boy!You gotta stop those rogue brats from squirting on you again. The following week he encountered the group of boys again, led by a rough boy of about thirteen or fourteen in a red and black checked jacket.They gathered in a group and talked in low voices, they didn't know what kind of plan they were planning, and their smug laughter was heard from time to time.Tom didn't know what to do, maybe he didn't run away so much last week. Hi!Chinaman!What kind of dirt is in your package?The chief said, you are under arrest. The other boys gathered around. please!Inside was just some laundry. clothing!ah?So you are a laundryman! What's wrong with this? You are a chink.He gripped Tom's arm tightly.Now Tom is really angry.He wanted to defend, but he had to protect his package. let me go!He wanted to push those around him away. Not so fast, you're under arrest. You're not a cop, and this is a free country, isn't it?Tom quoted a line he had often heard. This street is ours.Let's not let the tinker pass through here.Tom didn't care what happened, and rushed outside with every step.This gave them a signal to attack, and some of the boys started dragging his package away, trying to tear it open.Tom held the bundle close to his chest, so he had nothing but the spanking.Then a boy tried to pull on Tom's leg, and Tom fell down and dropped the bundle.The boys ripped open the package and shook the contents to the ground.Tom picked it up with tears in his eyes, and when the wild boys kicked it at him, they said: That's clothes, eh?You are released, but remember not to pass this way again. let's go!Don't wait for the police to come later. Those people scattered.The clothes were all soiled, and Tom picked them up and carried them back to the shop with bruises and mud on his face. what's going on?his father asked him. Tom told his father everything, and he flew into a rage. That night, there was a lively discussion at the dinner table. I fear this will happen again in the future.Mama said those wild kids would play robbery with guns all day long and no one would take care of them. The second brother came back suddenly, and after hearing about it, he asked in English: How old are those children? Not very big, about the same height as me. The only way is to fight them.Let me tell you that Americans like aggressive people.They won't respect you if you don't fight back. I don't like fighting, what's the good?This is stupid behavior. But you can't avoid them, don't go down that street.Roy said so.Flora listened intently. He didn't have to walk that street.Mom said in Chinese, I don't want people to see my children fighting on the street.This is not an honorable thing to do. But here it is, you have to protect yourself.The second brother also refuted his mother's opinion in Chinese. The mother said to the second brother very sternly: What do you hope Tom will become when he grows up?Robber or soldier? Mom, you don't understand this country.Haven't you seen the movie?American parents teach a child to take off his coat and fight his bully. We Chinese are not like this.My Tom is going to be a scholar when he grows up, not a hooligan!Mother said firmly. Father said: Why do you make such a fuss about it?If it's a bad street, just don't go there.Isn't it simple?Americans have American methods, and we Chinese also have Chinese methods.This is the way we live, and it is also the way we Chinese treat others.Back when we were on the West Coast, we were even worse off. Dad, I heard they kill, rob, steal, beat Chinese workers for nothing.Tom said. yes!It's a sad day.But I made it through, didn't I?If we were unlucky, we would have been killed long ago, but we are all still alive. Father's voice was calm, and he liked to tell stories about his past.I escaped at night through the fence in the back garden, and hid in the leaves during the day, making my way by night.I ran away, but old Doug was caught with me, and they found him hiding in a corner of a hut with a blanket over him.They dragged him out and set fire to the cabin.Thirty or forty of them stood facing each other in two rows, with him in the middle, and each of them kicked him in turn. After they had punched and kicked him for a while, they threw him into the river and wanted him to drown himself.But he is not dead, he is still alive. where is he?What is this old man's name? Old Doug.He's in New York, in Chinatown.I'll see when I can take you to see him, he's about seventy years old now. The story grabs everyone's attention and forgets about their original discussion of Tom's troubles.The conclusion of that matter was what my father said: If that street is not good, just don’t go there.That's the end of this matter. From then on, when Tom delivered packages from Mrs. Rangel's house, he always took a detour. Four Among the railroad workers who came to the United States and are still alive in the world, Old Doug is probably the oldest.His story is like a myth in Chinatown, and everyone knows it.But now few people can see him, and he only goes out once or twice a year.The Na family clan association to which Old Duge belonged had many members, and they shouldered the duty of taking care of Old Duge.Old Doug had no children, but the members of the Na family were all his relatives, and everyone called him uncle. I heard that he has been to Alaska, Vancouver, Portland and other places.He also led a group of railroad workers across Wyoming, hiding and fighting, and by the time they reached Illinois, only half of them remained, they settled down south of Chicago.He arrived in New York when he was about fifty-eight years old.He has always been known for his extraordinary courage, but when he arrived in New York, he had become a shrewd and wise old man, and it looked as if he had experienced three thousand years of Chinese history.It is said that he began to study ancient Chinese literature at the age of thirty-five; he met Mr. Sun Yat-sen in Chicago; after the success of the Chinese Revolution in 1911, Mr. Sun Yat-sen sent a letter inviting him to serve in a Chinese government agency, but he refused.The launching committees of various charitable activities will seek his support; those outstanding Chinese lawyers often listen to his opinions; the police in New York City also praise his spirit of cooperation; , he is the best candidate for mediation.Some say he made Chinatown a clean place during Prohibition, and Bowery's street was full of speakeasies.However, Old Duge did not allow this situation to exist. After he took action, even the police had to feel sorry for themselves.He is an indispensable guest at the wedding, full of Cantonese witty words, making the guests and hosts happy.Despite wearing a glass bead prosthetic eye, he is Chinatown's most popular leading figure.But when old Doug got old, he stopped working, and he distributed his money to those who needed it.He has been retired for several years, and it is rare for people to meet him again. Tom insisted that his father take him to see old Doug. His father led him up a dark staircase to a temple on the second floor.On the wall in front of the temple, there are lattice-shaped windows, and the light from outside is projected in, making it look eerie.On the old, faded red divine table, there are a few burning incense sticks in the porcelain incense burner.The god statue on the god case is the queen mother in the middle, the god of war and justice on the right, and the god of medicine on the left.In front of the statue, there was a red banner with Chinese patterns embroidered with golden silk thread and black thread.There are silk tassels at the bottom of the banner, covering half of the faces of these solemn gods. Tom was startled when he heard a cat meowing from nowhere. Dad, where's old Doug? Don't call him Old Doug, you should call him Uncle Doug.I think I should show you the temple first, where he lives.He stayed in bed all winter.Father pointed to the red hanging curtain. Tom pictured a one-eyed old man sticking his head out of the idol's alcove.The cat meowed again, and Tom noticed that the sound was not very far away from him. Dad, I don't want to see him anymore. Hush!He can hear your voice!Remember, he was one of Dad's old friends.We traveled from Alaska to Vancouver together. is it you?Tom.Feng?The voice of the old man came from behind the statue. I was right.Dad answered. Why not come in? I let my son see the temple first.He has come to pay your respects. where is he?Tom whispered, clutching his father's arm tightly.Behind the statue Tom heard a tap on a plank, and saw the red hangings shake. follow me!Dad said. He led Tom into the room at the back of the temple through the door near the landing.It was as if they had stepped into a hermit's chamber.A dim light came in from the only half-closed window in the room.An old man was sitting on the bed, his lower body was covered with a quilt, he was wearing a Chinese jacket, he had a gray beard, and his eyes were closed.Tom waited for him to open his eyes and look at his glass eyes, but when he opened them Tom couldn't tell which was glass and which was real. go!To shake hands with uncle.This is my son Tom.Tom moved closer, looking straight at him. Come here a little bit and let me see you. Old Doug was wrinkled, and his torso showed that he had been quite large in his youth.Tom couldn't be sure if the old man saw him or not.His eyelids opened wider, and he watched Tom coldly. Old Douglas held Tom's hand and smiled amidst his gray beard. very good!I'm glad you came to see Uncle.Tom, your father and I are very good friends. Tom meekly sat down on the edge of the bed. How are you doing recently?asked the father. as usual.Old Doug said weakly.The cat that had been dozing on his chest suddenly squirmed.He strokes it.He's a good beast, and he keeps me warm. When the old man said it was business as usual, he sounded as if he had lived too long. Uncle!What do you usually do? What do I do?Children, I am thinking and remembering. Uncle, are you not lonely?Are you afraid of living here alone? What's there to be afraid of?This place is nice.He raised his hand and tapped on the board beside the bed.It is rare for me to be so close to heaven, the Queen Mother is here, and Guan Gong is beside her.Guan Gong was a military role model in Chinese history, who became the god of war after his death, protecting the righteous and condemning those who were cruel and dishonest.When Old Duge gave away all his money to others, he only wished to live here because he admired Guan Gong so much. I heard that you brought a team of workers from the west to the east. Is this true?Tom was no longer afraid of him. It's true, that was when I was young. Wow!It's true!But wouldn't that be a journey of thousands of miles? child!At that time the Pacific Railroad system had already been established.We get a free ride. The old man's spirit suddenly lifted, and he smiled cheerfully. You guys get a free ride? That's right.Those who bought and sold with money and those who didn't, hitchhiked at the same time.What fun those days were when we slept on the hay and poked our heads out from under the horses' bellies at night and looked at the starry sky. Do you sleep with horses?Uncle, are you not afraid that the horse will step on you? Will not.Horses are also good animals.They are human's friends, and they don't sleep.When you want to make the space bigger, you just need to push its legs, and it will spread the legs a little.When I sleep, I hold the horse's knee with one hand, and they don't move for fear of hurting you.Horses are good friends and children of human beings.Yes, that was a great day! Tom's heart was filled with his reverence for the old man. Old Duge began to ask Feng Erer about his family. My biggest regret is not having a son.This is all because I was not married when I was young!When you light a flame, if you want it to keep burning, you must light another flame before it goes out.Feng Er Er, you are so lucky to have such a smart son. He turned to Tom again and said: Son, be filial to your father and pass on the incense of the Feng family.This is a great country, and you, me, and your father are only guests in this country.Do you like this country? Of course I do, I see so many different things. Yes, this is a great country, and you are lucky to be here and to study and study here. Tom was surprised to hear this.Uncle!Do you really think so?Didn't they beat you and nearly kill you? yes!But they can't kill me, can they?Old Doug said with a smile, look!You are still young, child, you will not understand this.I sit here all day long thinking that there are no bad people in this world. Even those who want to kill you, aren't they bad people? There are black sheep in every country, but these black sheep are not really bad people.There are no bad people in the world, no one is bad, all people are alike, only some are slightly worse and some are better.Just like some people are richer and some people are poorer, but their essence is similar.People are born, grow up, get married, and after living for fifty or sixty years, they have to go again.do you know!I'm as rich as Rockefeller: I have everything I want.You will not understand these. Why do you say this is a great country, Uncle? I've lived here most of my life, so I know.I came to San Francisco when I was eighteen, and I've been watching this country grow and thrive.They had no motorcycles, no movies, no radios, no railroads, they just built the Pacific Main Line, no electric lights, nothing but land and men in cotton jackets.The west was full of men in padded jackets and guns on horseback.There were very few women in those days.Men fought like dogs and were killed like dogs, and the stronger ones won.But I watched them change.They have laws now, and as long as you obey the laws, no one can do anything to you.You can get an education for free, and you can do what you want.You don't have to be afraid of others, but you have to motivate yourself.child!Let your father be proud of you, and you will honor your name. Tom was so excited when he left, he saw the light on his father's face, like he was really proud of him.Tom asked his father: who takes care of the uncle.His father said that the family upstairs was entrusted by the Na clan's clan association, and they often went to see what old Duge needed, and they didn't need old Duge to worry about anything.