The tavern keeper did not pursue his questions, but went on slowly making up his accounts After the Mid-Autumn Festival the wind grew colder every day, as winter came on. Even though I spent all my time by the stove, I had to wear my padded acket. One afternoon, when the shop was empty, I was sitting with my eyes closed when heard a voice Warm a bowl of wine The voice was very low, yet familiar. But when I looked up, there was no one in sight. I stood up and looked towards the door, and there, facing the threshold beneath the counter, sat Kung I-chi. His face was haggard and lean, and he looked in a terrible condition. He had on a ragged lined jacket, and was sitting cross-legged on a mat which was attached to his shoulders by a straw rope When he saw me, he repeated Warm a bowl of wine At this point my employer leaned over the counter and said: "Is that Kung I-chi? You still owe nineteen coppers
The tavern keeper did not pursue his questions, but went on slowly making up his accounts. After the Mid-Autumn Festival the wind grew colder every day, as winter came on. Even though I spent all my time by the stove, I had to wear my padded jacket. One afternoon, when the shop was empty, I was sitting with my eyes closed when I heard a voice: "Warm a bowl of wine." The voice was very low, yet familiar. But when I looked up, there was no one in sight. I stood up and looked towards the door, and there, facing the threshold, beneath the counter, sat Kung I-chi. His face was haggard and lean, and he looked in a terrible condition. He had on a ragged lined jacket, and was sitting cross-legged on a mat which was attached to his shoulders by a straw rope. When he saw me, he repeated: "Warm a bowl of wine." At this point my employer leaned over the counter and said: "Is that Kung I-chi? You still owe nineteen coppers!
That. I'lI settle next time, " replied Kung, looking up disconsolately. " Here's ready money, the wine must be good The tavern keeper, just as in the past, chuckled and said Kung I-chi, you've been stealing again But instead of protesting vigorously, the other simply said You like your joke Joke? If you didn 't steal, why did they break your legs? I fell, said Kung in a low voice. " I broke them in a fall. "His eyes pleaded with the tavern keeper to let the matter drop. By now several people had gathered round, and they all laughed. I warmed the wine, carried it over, and set it on the threshold. He produced four coppers from his ragged coat pocket, and placed them in my hand. As he did so I saw that his hands were covered with mud--he must have crawled here on them. Presently he finished the wine and, amid the laughter and comments of the others slowly dragged himself off by his hands
"That . I'll settle next time," replied Kung, looking up disconsolately. "Here's ready money; the wine must be good." The tavern keeper, just as in the past, chuckled and said: "Kung I-chi, you've been stealing again!" But instead of protesting vigorously, the other simply said: "You like your joke." "Joke? If you didn't steal, why did they break your legs?" "I fell," said Kung in a low voice. "I broke them in a fall." His eyes pleaded with the tavern keeper to let the matter drop. By now several people had gathered round, and they all laughed. I warmed the wine, carried it over, and set it on the threshold. He produced four coppers from his ragged coat pocket, and placed them in my hand. As he did so I saw that his hands were covered with mud--he must have crawled here on them. Presently he finished the wine and, amid the laughter and comments of the others, slowly dragged himself off by his hands
A long time went by after that without our seeing Kung again At the end of the year, when the tavern keeper took down the board, he said, Kung I-chi still owes nineteen coppers At the Dragon Boat Festival the next year, he said the same thing again. But when the Mid-Autumn Festival came, he did not mention it. And another New year came round without our seeing any more of hi Nor have I ever seen him since--probably Kung I-chi is really dead [Note: classics] From The Analects of Confucius March 1919
A long time went by after that without our seeing Kung again. At the end of the year, when the tavern keeper took down the board, he said, "Kung I-chi still owes nineteen coppers!" At the Dragon Boat Festival the next year, he said the same thing again. But when the Mid-Autumn Festival came, he did not mention it. And another New Year came round without our seeing any more of him. Nor have I ever seen him since--probably Kung I-chi is really dead. ______ [Note: classics] From The Analects of Confucius. March 1919