Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

one The apartment they rented on the fifth floor had only two rooms, one for Flora and Roy and one for Mama and Eva, so Tom slept in the restaurant.Every night after eleven o'clock, when the last customer had gone and the restaurant had been cleaned, Tom took out his bedding and spread it on the easy bed. The whole family went upstairs, and he was the only one left, so he took out his book to read.Tom reads a wide range of subjects, from electrical and handicrafts to Chinese history, and reads as much as he likes.He still has no idea of ​​the teachings of Confucius.Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun were characters more than 4,000 years ago, while Confucius was born more than 2,000 years ago. For Tom, they are so far away. In comparison, the Bronx Zoo is more realistic .He reads both Chinese and English, but when he closes the book, he always thinks of Ai Si and what Ai Si said to him.

Ace was closer to him, and she lived just one block from the diner, a change that meant a lot to Tom.Now he can only use some weekend afternoons to take her out for a walk.And on Saturdays and Sundays the restaurant is always busy.So they changed their stroll to four o'clock in the afternoon on weekends, and they didn't go home until evening.Tom is free from 2:00 to 4:00 every afternoon, but Essie is not always free. It's a pleasure to see you.Tom said to Ace one day, but I really miss going out on Sundays together. If we can't go, let's not go.Ace didn't seem to have any regrets.

Don't you feel disappointed? If you really can't go, just don't go.Why should you be disappointed? Don't you like our walk at all?You don't seem to care at all? Tom!You are so American!Why do you have to be angry about things that are irreparable? How do you say it is too Americanized? You're always thinking about doing this and that, going to the beach, thinking about the Bronx, why can't you calm down?Always go, go, go, go.Do you remember the last time, you dragged me through the world in the rain.Cattelan Park until I had to hail a cab on Gunther Road. Wasn't that a great walk?

Yes, but the following Tuesday and Wednesday, I couldn't walk a step and my feet were covered in blisters. Didn't I tell you to wear flat shoes?Ace, I really like how you were at Van.A song sung by Cattelan Park.Come on, teach me to sing, will you? They started humming the song "Long Journey".This is a marching song, but the tone is very soft and slow. Ace hums the song softly: After a long night of waiting, Waiting for my dreams to come true; to be with you, Embark on the long journey of life. They sang and laughed together. As soon as I hear this song, I think of you walking in the forest with a stick in your hand that day.

Tom, you are so funny. Why? Do you remember last winter when you dragged me to Coney Island to see the ocean?Why are you always so energetic, as if you don't need to rest. Yes, he is always full of energy.No one, except Ace, said he was too American. I just love nature so much.I love walking in the rain, how do I explain it?I just said we can no longer use Sundays for a walk, and you talk like you don't give a damn. It's not that I don't care, I like going out with you too.Can we go out together someday? Sure. Then we'll go out together. Her words were always clear, short, and free from any emotion.

What if we simply can't find the time? Then we don't go out at all!Why such a fuss? Tom was shocked that Eva, who used to be somewhat resigned and composed, had changed, became lively and wanted to do something.And Ai Si came here all by herself, if she couldn't go out, she could stay at home safely. Ace, he said slowly, I think you are too Chinese. How to say? You never lose your temper about anything. Now it was Ace's turn to be surprised. She had always considered herself a modern woman.Doesn't she yell?Doesn't she laugh?But sitting still, waiting patiently, accepting the truth, etc. is also a natural thing, which is the smart way to deal with things.She doesn't know that this is Sinicization, aren't all Chinese people like this?

Now, Tom said, stop calling me an American.Shall we hang out one day next week?I can discuss it with my mother.Monday was better and everyone was back uptown. OK!Alice said.Tom watched her, saw her sweet expression, and he knew that Ace really wanted to go out with him. Tom has a new appreciation for the down-to-earth, reserved nature of Iss, a girl he's never seen before.Ace can endure any situation if necessary, but because of her endurance, what happens to her is less serious.His sister, Eva, was like a bouncing rubber ball by comparison.Tom thinks that it is because Ai Si has been influenced by China, and it may be because she has read too many Chinese literature books.

two On Monday of the second week, Tom waited for Ace at the restaurant, but she didn't come.He got impatient after waiting for half an hour, and ran to the school to find Ai Si. ace!He yelled downstairs. No one answered, he called again and again, still no answer, what happened? He hurried upstairs and knocked on her door. who?Tom could hear a tremor in Ace's voice. It's me, Tom.what happened?Are you coming? Come in!Tom, the door is unlocked. Ace lay on the bed with tears all over her face. are you sick? No, you come in and sit down. Ace, why are you crying? She sat up, leaning back on the pillow, but still didn't answer Ace always seemed so calm.

what happened?Tom asked again. My father passed away and this is a letter from my mother.She picked up the letter she was clutching tightly in her hands and began to cry again.Tom didn't know how to comfort her, and sat at the desk helplessly.After a while, Ai Si said: Come sit down, I have something to tell you. Although she was still in tears, she told Tom that the letter she had received this morning was from her mother in Chungking.Ai Si's parents moved along the Yangtze River to Hankou City in Hubei Province last winter, before the Japanese army occupied Nanjing.When they fled to Chongqing by boat from Hankou, Japanese planes strafed from the sky. Unfortunately, their father was shot and died, and their mother fled to Chongqing with injuries.

Tom, I have to go home, my mother is so lonely by herself. This news was another bullet for Tom.Only now did he know how precious and important Ai Si was to him.Ace, I can't let you go, did your mother tell you to come home? No, she told me to stay here and continue studying, but I must go home, I must go home. Is there no one else in your family? I have a married sister.Her husband works in the Mainland, I never know where he works, they often move around. Tom wished he could comfort Ace. She showed Tom her mother's letter, and Tom read it a long time.She can write well.He said.

Almost everything I know about China is taught by her.My parents and I have always been very close, my sister is ten years older than me and married early.So I'm like an only child. Tom looked at Ace gravely.Your mother must have been a wonderful woman to raise a girl like you.Ace, you are a beautiful girl. No, she said quickly, my mother is beautiful!She was a great beauty when she was young.My father relied on my mother for help and support in many things.Really, it would be a worse tragedy if the mother died before the father.I can't imagine what it would be like without my mother in my father's life.Tell you, Tom, I met a Chinese woman here who was very similar to my mother. who? Mrs. Young.Tom, I've never been away from my mother before, and now she's all alone, and I'm going back to be with her. Tom reached out and grabbed Alice's hand.ace!do not leave Me.If your mother is like Mrs. Yang, she will have many friends.Ace, I know this news hits you hard.But why don't you wait a while and see how things go?Maybe your mother will be fine. I can't wait any longer. Ace, you are wrong!A few days ago you said that I was too Americanized and impatient. If you wait another month, you may have a different opinion. But Essie said she couldn't talk about it any more, and Tom went home.When he got home and told his family about it, Mrs. Feng, Eva and Flora came to see Aisi immediately. Poor kid, she's so lonely in New York City.Mrs. Feng said this when she came back. Tom went to see Ais early the next day. He knew that Ais must be very lonely and missed her family.They talked for a long time, and neither of them mentioned whether Ai Si would go back to China.Most of the time Ace talks about her father.Her father is a poor scholar who always thinks of others and doesn't like to argue with others. If it wasn't for his mother, he would suffer a lot!He always takes a step back in everything, doesn't like to have any disputes with others, and is easy to satisfy.He is used to letting mosquitos bite him. Ace said, I was bitten by mosquitoes when I was a child, and I often scratched my head and bled. My father would say to me: If you can overcome the itching, you can overcome mosquitoes.This is the father.He told me that itching is a feeling from the heart, if you can completely eliminate this feeling, you will not feel itching. Do you really believe this statement? I believe that my father was a great man who believed in Lao Tzu. Who do you worship? Lao Tzu, haven't you heard of him? Tom was embarrassed again. My father often quotes Lao Tzu. Who is Lao Tzu? Ai Si wrote the word Lao Tzu in Chinese. oh!I!Tom said suddenly in Cantonese. Then you have heard of him! I have heard of such a person. I can read his books with you, it's not hard at all. Has your calm, composure been affected by this book? Ace smiled.why would you say so?Didn't you see me crying so much yesterday?Now say that I am calm and composed.But it is also true that after reading this book, people will change. Is he better than Confucius?I really have no concept of Confucius at all. I'm much better.He can change your outlook on life with just a few words.Tom, I like the way you're being suave, don't ruin your delicacy for something you don't really want. If I go to serve you a bowl of noodle soup, do you have any opinion? I'm fine, Tom. No!Let me bring you a bowl of noodle soup. Tom went out feeling very excited.He learned a lot about Ais's family today, and Ais is a treasure that was born in this family.Tom felt that discovering Aiz was like discovering a vast new continent, and it was in this new continent that she was nurtured and cultivated her temperament. When he came back, he brought a bowl of noodle soup with shrimps and mushrooms on top.Ace was very grateful for Tom's carefulness, and she began to hesitate whether she should leave Tom and go back to her mother. During this period of Ace's distress, Tom visited her regularly.But after a few weeks Tom saw a distant look on her face again.When she was with him, sometimes she looked happy, and other times she was listless.He felt a barrier between them.Tom encouraged Ace to stay in the United States, where he said she would have the opportunity to learn English and receive a modern education.But he felt that Ace was torn between his love and her love for her mother.Whether to go or stay, she can't decide by herself. three Lao Tzu is like a shining light, and since Tom started reading his book, he often takes some time to re-evaluate himself.If you have read Lao Tzu and really understand him, then you will definitely change.In fact, everyone who reads this book first laughs at it, and when they get to know it laughs at themselves laughing at such things.So did Tom.Furthermore, he knew Ai Si better from the study of Lao Tzu. Ace knew the book very well, and the first time Tom looked at the thread-bound book with her, he sat down for an hour.It was probably the most exciting hour of Tom's time with her. Tom looked into Ace's eyes, and she seemed to pull him from the dark corner to face the bright world.She seemed to be a person who listened a lot, knew a lot, absorbed everything, but she never talked much.Tom felt again the great power of her reserve, a new, exhilarating, even a little frightening power. ace!You are so composed. What do you mean by that? You don't think like Eva, Flora, or any other girl I know.You are so easygoing. It's not a plausible theory to live with the situation, is it?Alice asked sweetly.She smiled suddenly, and then said: Let me tell you what my father often said. what did he say? He said that Lao Tzu was flexible and Confucius was rigid, understanding rigidity but dealing with it with flexibility was his favorite saying.I'll find some sentences to show you. Ais quickly flipped through the book and found the article: Here, look!Flexibility can overcome rigidity with composure. This is probably why women seem to be backing down when in fact they are winning. Ace laughed again.My father often told me that Laozi called Tao the mother of the earth, not the father of the earth.You take this book home, you know it's not hard, and I know you're going to love it.