垃圾站的工作能找到也不容易，虽然只是垃圾分类处理，但还是层层筛选，要有力气有技巧 能分辨能整理，不怕辛苦不怕恶臭，不对环境挑三拣四。老刀的父亲靠强健的意志在汹涌的 人流中抓住机会的细草，待人湖退去，留在干潤的沙滩上，抓住工作机会，低头俯身，艰难 浸在人海和垃圾混合的酸朽气味中，一干就是二十年。他既是这座城市的建造者，也是城市 的居住者和分解者。 It had not been easy to get a job at the waste processing station.Although the work only involved sorting trash.so many applied that stringent selection criteria had to be imposed:The desired candidates had to be strong.skillful,discerning.organized,diligent,and unafraid of the stench or difficult environment.Strong-willed,Lao Dao's father had held fast onto the thin reed of opportunity as the tide of humanity surged and then receded around him,until he found himself a survivor on the dry beach.His father had then kept his head down and labored away in the acidic rotten fetor of garbage and crowding for twenty years.He had built this city:he was also a resident and a decomposer 老刀出生时，折叠城市才建好两年， 他从来没去过其他地方，也没想过要去其他地方。他 最后还是 他大 小时 空间和第 垃圾传 上 把带血的卫生巾后 执的 。他 这么 度换生命 以数量换取薄如 Const He fin chool,middle ool,and took the hre A he wo ked fo t to fo gether of the nds of s.he mechanically and au ted thr ugh the tras lable bits from th of life from Fir them into the day he faced the trask on the co him like a river and he scraned off the leftover food from plastie howls nicked out broken g hottles tore offthe clean thin hacking from hlood-stained sanitary nankins stuffing it into the recvclables can marked with green lines This was their lot to eke out a living by performing the repetitive drudgery as fast as possible,to toil hour after hour for rewards as thin as the wings of cicadas 第三空间有两千万垃圾工，他们是夜晚的主人。另三千万人靠贩卖衣服食物燃料和保险过活， 但绝大多数人心知肚明，垃圾工才是第三空间繁荣的支柱。每每在繁花似锦的宽虹灯下漫步 老刀就觉得头顶都是食物残渣构成的彩虹。这种感觉他没法和人交流，年轻一代不喜欢做垃 圾工，他们千方百计在舞厅里表现自己，希望能找到一个打碟或伴舞的工作。在服装店做 个店员也是好的选择，手指只拂过轻巧衣物，不必在泛酸味的腐烂物中寻找塑料和金属。 少年们已经不那么恐惧生存，他们更在意外表。 Twenty million waste workers lived in Third Space:they were the masters of the night.The other hirty million made a living by selling clothes,food,fuel,or insurance,but most people understood that the waste workers were the backbone of Third Space's prosperity.Each time he strolled through the neon-bedecked night streets,Lao Dao thought he w walking under rainbows made of ood scraps.He couldn't talk about this feeling with others s.The younger of the aste work They tried to sh off on the jobs as D seemed a better che be touching thin fabr nic instea scrabbling through
垃圾站的工作能找到也不容易，虽然只是垃圾分类处理，但还是层层筛选，要有力气有技巧， 能分辨能整理，不怕辛苦不怕恶臭，不对环境挑三拣四。老刀的父亲靠强健的意志在汹涌的 人流中抓住机会的细草，待人潮退去，留在干涸的沙滩上，抓住工作机会，低头俯身，艰难 浸在人海和垃圾混合的酸朽气味中，一干就是二十年。他既是这座城市的建造者，也是城市 的居住者和分解者。 It had not been easy to get a job at the waste processing station. Although the work only involved sorting trash, so many applied that stringent selection criteria had to be imposed: The desired candidates had to be strong, skillful, discerning, organized, diligent, and unafraid of the stench or difficult environment. Strong–willed, Lao Dao’s father had held fast onto the thin reed of opportunity as the tide of humanity surged and then receded around him, until he found himself a survivor on the dry beach. His father had then kept his head down and labored away in the acidic rotten fetor of garbage and crowding for twenty years. He had built this city; he was also a resident and a decomposer. 老刀出生时，折叠城市才建好两年，他从来没去过其他地方，也没想过要去其他地方。他上 了小学、中学。考了三年大学，没考上，最后还是做了垃圾工。他每天上五个小时班，从夜 晚十一点到清晨四点，在垃圾站和数万同事一起，快速而机械地用双手处理废物垃圾，将第 一空间和第二空间传来的生活碎屑转化为可利用的分类的材质，再丢入再处理的熔炉。他每 天面对垃圾传送带上如溪水涌出的残渣碎片，从塑料碗里抠去吃剩的菜叶，将破碎酒瓶拎出， 把带血的卫生巾后面未受污染的一层薄膜撕下，丢入可回收的带着绿色条纹的圆筒。他们就 这么干着，以速度换生命，以数量换取薄如蝉翼的仅有的奖金。 Construction of the folding city had been completed two years before Lao Dao’s birth. He had never been anywhere else, and had never harbored the desire to go anywhere else. He finished elementary school, middle school, high school, and took the annual college entrance examination three times—failing each time. In the end, he became a waste worker, too. At the waste processing station, he worked for five hours each shift, from eleven at night to four in the morning. Together with tens of thousands of co–workers, he mechanically and quickly sorted through the trash, picking out recyclable bits from the scraps of life from First Space and Second Space and tossing them into the processing furnace. Every day, he faced the trash on the conveyer belt flowing past him like a river, and he scraped off the leftover food from plastic bowls, picked out broken glass bottles, tore off the clean, thin backing from blood–stained sanitary napkins, stuffing it into the recyclables can marked with green lines. This was their lot: to eke out a living by performing the repetitive drudgery as fast as possible, to toil hour after hour for rewards as thin as the wings of cicadas. 第三空间有两千万垃圾工，他们是夜晚的主人。另三千万人靠贩卖衣服食物燃料和保险过活， 但绝大多数人心知肚明，垃圾工才是第三空间繁荣的支柱。每每在繁花似锦的霓虹灯下漫步， 老刀就觉得头顶都是食物残渣构成的彩虹。这种感觉他没法和人交流，年轻一代不喜欢做垃 圾工，他们千方百计在舞厅里表现自己，希望能找到一个打碟或伴舞的工作。在服装店做一 个店员也是好的选择，手指只拂过轻巧衣物，不必在泛着酸味的腐烂物中寻找塑料和金属。 少年们已经不那么恐惧生存，他们更在意外表。 Twenty million waste workers lived in Third Space; they were the masters of the night. The other thirty million made a living by selling clothes, food, fuel, or insurance, but most people understood that the waste workers were the backbone of Third Space’s prosperity. Each time he strolled through the neon–bedecked night streets, Lao Dao thought he was walking under rainbows made of food scraps. He couldn’t talk about this feeling with others. The younger generation looked down on the profession of the waste worker. They tried to show off on the dance floors of nightclubs, hoping to find jobs as DJs or dancers. Even working at a clothing store seemed a better choice: their fingers would be touching thin fabric instead of scrabbling through
rotting garbage for plastic or metal.The young were no longer so terrified about survival;they cared far more about appearances. 老刀并不推弃自己的工作，但他去第一间的时候，非常害怕被人嫌弃。 Lao Dao didn't despise his work.But when he had gone to Second Space,he had been terrified of being despised. 那是前一天清晨的事。他捏着小纸条，偷偷从垃圾道里爬出，按地址找到写纸条的人。第 空间和第三空间的距离没那么远，它们都在大地的同一面，只是不同时间出没。转换时， 个空间高楼折起，收回地面，另一个空间高楼从地面中节节升高，踩着前一个空间的楼顶作 为地面。唯一的差别是楼的密度。他在 立圾道里躲了一昼夜才等到空间散开。他第一次到第 二空间，并不紧张，唯一担心的是身上腐坏的气味。 The previous morning.Lao Dao had snuck his way out of the trash chute with a slip of paper and tried to find the author of the slip based on the address written on it.Second Space wasn't far from Third Space.They were located on the same side of the ground,though they were divided in time At the Change,the buildings of one space folded and retracted into the ground as the buildings of another space extended into the air,segment by segment,using the tops of the buildings of the on.The only difference between the spaces was the density of buildings o had to wa a full day and night insi de the tras y to emerge a oug this was the anxious. 智容大度的人。也许他早已想到自己将招来什么样的人，当小纸条成 他就知道自己将面对的是谁 Qin Tian n was a generous s soul Per thaps he ha d bee epared for what moment he put that slip of paper inside the bottl 眼就明白老刀前来的目的，将他拉入房中，给他热水洗澡，还给他一件浴袍 秦天说 Qin Tian was very kind.He knew at a gla come.He pulled him inside his a hot batl nd gave h ofhis Tian said. 秦天是研究生，住学生公寓。一个公官四个房间，四个人一人一间，一个用房两个园所。老 刀从来沿在这么大的所洗漫。他很相多 将身上气味好好冲 冲，但又相心 澡盆弄脏，不敢用力搓动。墙上喷出泡沫的时候他吓了一跳，热蒸汽烘干也让他不适应。洗 完澡，他拿起秦天递过来的浴袍，犹豫了很久才穿上。他把自己的衣服洗了，又洗了厕所盆 里随意扔若的几件衣服。生意是生意，他不想欠人情。 Qin was a graduate student living in a university-owned apartment.He had three roommates,and besides the four bedrooms,the a nent had a kitchen and two hathrooms i ao Dao had never takena bath in such a spacious bathroom.and he really wanted to soak for a while and get rid of the smell on his body but he was also afraid of getting the hathtub dirty and didn't dare to rub his skin too hard with the washcloth.The jets of bubbles coming out of the bathtub walls startled him, and being dried by hot jets of air made him uncomfortable.After the bath,he picked up the bathrobe from Qin Tian and only put it on after hesitating for a while.He laundered his own clothes,as well as a few other shirts casually left in a basin.Business was business,and he didn't want to owe anvone any favors
rotting garbage for plastic or metal. The young were no longer so terrified about survival; they cared far more about appearances. 老刀并不嫌弃自己的工作，但他去第二空间的时候，非常害怕被人嫌弃。 Lao Dao didn’t despise his work. But when he had gone to Second Space, he had been terrified of being despised. 那是前一天清晨的事。他捏着小纸条，偷偷从垃圾道里爬出，按地址找到写纸条的人。第二 空间和第三空间的距离没那么远，它们都在大地的同一面，只是不同时间出没。转换时，一 个空间高楼折起，收回地面，另一个空间高楼从地面中节节升高，踩着前一个空间的楼顶作 为地面。唯一的差别是楼的密度。他在垃圾道里躲了一昼夜才等到空间敞开。他第一次到第 二空间，并不紧张，唯一担心的是身上腐坏的气味。 The previous morning, Lao Dao had snuck his way out of the trash chute with a slip of paper and tried to find the author of the slip based on the address written on it. Second Space wasn’t far from Third Space. They were located on the same side of the ground, though they were divided in time. At the Change, the buildings of one space folded and retracted into the ground as the buildings of another space extended into the air, segment by segment, using the tops of the buildings of the other space as its foundation. The only difference between the spaces was the density of buildings. Lao Dao had to wait a full day and night inside the trash chute for the opportunity to emerge as Second Space unfolded. Although this was the first time he had been to Second Space, he wasn’t anxious. He only worried about the rotting smell on him. 所幸秦天是宽容大度的人。也许他早已想到自己将招来什么样的人，当小纸条放入瓶中的时 候，他就知道自己将面对的是谁。 Luckily, Qin Tian was a generous soul. Perhaps he had been prepared for what sort of person would show up since the moment he put that slip of paper inside the bottle. 秦天很和气，一眼就明白老刀前来的目的，将他拉入房中，给他热水洗澡，还给他一件浴袍 换上。“我只有依靠你了。”秦天说。 Qin Tian was very kind. He knew at a glance why Lao Dao had come. He pulled him inside his home, offered him a hot bath, and gave him one of his own bathrobes to wear. “I have to count on you,” Qin Tian said. 秦天是研究生，住学生公寓。一个公寓四个房间，四个人一人一间，一个厨房两个厕所。老 刀从来没在这么大的厕所洗过澡。他很想多洗一会儿，将身上气味好好冲一冲，但又担心将 澡盆弄脏，不敢用力搓动。墙上喷出泡沫的时候他吓了一跳，热蒸汽烘干也让他不适应。洗 完澡，他拿起秦天递过来的浴袍，犹豫了很久才穿上。他把自己的衣服洗了，又洗了厕所盆 里随意扔着的几件衣服。生意是生意，他不想欠人情。 Qin was a graduate student living in a university–owned apartment. He had three roommates, and besides the four bedrooms, the apartment had a kitchen and two bathrooms. Lao Dao had never taken a bath in such a spacious bathroom, and he really wanted to soak for a while and get rid of the smell on his body. But he was also afraid of getting the bathtub dirty and didn’t dare to rub his skin too hard with the washcloth. The jets of bubbles coming out of the bathtub walls startled him, and being dried by hot jets of air made him uncomfortable. After the bath, he picked up the bathrobe from Qin Tian and only put it on after hesitating for a while. He laundered his own clothes, as well as a few other shirts casually left in a basin. Business was business, and he didn’t want to owe anyone any favors
秦天要送礼物给他相好的女孩子。他们在工作中认识，当时秦天有机会去第一空间实习，联 合国经济司，她也在那边实习。只可惜只有一个月，回来就没法再去了。他说她生在第一空 间，家教严格，父亲不让她交往第二空间的男孩，所以不敢用官方通道寄给她。他对未来充 满乐观，等他毕业就去申请联合国新青年项目，如果能入选，就也能去第一空间工作。他现 在研一，还有一年毕业。他心急如焚，想她想得发疯。他给她做了一个项链坠，能发光的材 质，透明的，玫瑰花造型，作为他的求婚信物。 Qin Tian wanted to send a gift to a woman he liked.They had gotten to know each other from work when Qin Tian had been given the opportunity to go to First Space for an internship with the UN Economic Office,where she was also working.The internship had lasted only a month.Qin told Lao Dao that the young woman was bom and bred in First Space,with very strict parents.Her father wouldn't allow her to date a boy from Second Space,and that was why he couldn't contact her through regular channels.Qin was optimistic about the future:he was going to apply to the UN's New Youth Project after graduation,and ifhe were to be chosen,he would be able to go to work in First Space.He still had nother ye of sch ol left before he would get his degree e,but h was going crazy pining for her.He had made a ros naped locket for her that glowed in the dark This was the gift he would use to ask for her hand in marriage. 我当时是在一个专题 过来又击过 我 我压 没追过姑娘，特别 了之 我 不过我 秦天也笑 有点不好意思 是直的 你不信 是 mposium.you kno the one that di sed the UN's debt situation?You her.Shave hea rd of nd I was like h! talk to ms he ing the to their s eats,and I didn't kno oI just followed her und.Finally.】 nded thet I had to find int ne.and her and so lwas uner nervous i ater after we started dating i brought un how we met .Why are you laughing? Yes we dated.No.I don't think we quite got to that kind of relationship.but. vell we kissed Qin Tian laughed as well,a bit embarrassed."I'm telling the truth!Don't you believe me?Yes,I guess sometimes even I can't believe it.Do you think she really likes me? “我不知道啊。”老刀说，“我又没见过她。” "Ihave no idea,"Lao Dao said."I've never met her." 这时，秦天同屋的一个男生凑过来，笑道：“大叔，您这么认真干吗？这家伙哪是问你，他 就是想听人说你这么帅，她当然会点欢你”。 One of Qin Tian's roommates came over,and smiling.said,"Uncle,why are you taking his question so seriously?That's not a real question.He just wants to hear you say,'Of course she loves you!You're so handsome." “她很漂亮吧？ "She must be beautiful" “我跟你说也不怕你笑话。”秦天在屋里走来走去，“你见到她就知道什么叫清雅绝伦
秦天要送礼物给他相好的女孩子。他们在工作中认识，当时秦天有机会去第一空间实习，联 合国经济司，她也在那边实习。只可惜只有一个月，回来就没法再去了。他说她生在第一空 间，家教严格，父亲不让她交往第二空间的男孩，所以不敢用官方通道寄给她。他对未来充 满乐观，等他毕业就去申请联合国新青年项目，如果能入选，就也能去第一空间工作。他现 在研一，还有一年毕业。他心急如焚，想她想得发疯。他给她做了一个项链坠，能发光的材 质，透明的，玫瑰花造型，作为他的求婚信物。 Qin Tian wanted to send a gift to a woman he liked. They had gotten to know each other from work when Qin Tian had been given the opportunity to go to First Space for an internship with the UN Economic Office, where she was also working. The internship had lasted only a month. Qin told Lao Dao that the young woman was born and bred in First Space, with very strict parents. Her father wouldn’t allow her to date a boy from Second Space, and that was why he couldn’t contact her through regular channels. Qin was optimistic about the future; he was going to apply to the UN’s New Youth Project after graduation, and if he were to be chosen, he would be able to go to work in First Space. He still had another year of school left before he would get his degree, but he was going crazy pining for her. He had made a rose–shaped locket for her that glowed in the dark: This was the gift he would use to ask for her hand in marriage. “我当时是在一个专题研讨会，就是上回讨论联合国国债那个会，你应该听说过吧？就是那 个.anyway，我当时一看，啊.立刻跑过去跟她说话，她给嘉宾引导座位，我也不知 道应该说点什么，就在她身后走过来又走过去。最后我假装要找同传，让她带我去找。她特 温柔，说话细声细气的。我压根就没追过姑娘，特别紧张，.后来我们俩好了之后有一次 说起这件事.你笑什么？.对，我们是好了。.还没到那种关系，就是.不过我亲 过她了。”秦天也笑了，有点不好意思，“是真的。你不信吗？是。连我自己也不信。你说她 会喜欢我吗？” “I was attending a symposium, you know, the one that discussed the UN’s debt situation? You must have heard of it. anyway, I saw her, and I was like, Ah! I went over right away to talk to her. She was helping the VIPs to their seats, and I didn’t know what to say, so I just followed her around. Finally, I pretended that I had to find interpreters, and I asked her to help me. She was so gentle, and her voice was really soft. I had never really asked a girl out, you understand, so I was super nervous. Later, after we started dating, I brought up how we met. Why are you laughing? Yes, we dated. No, I don’t think we quite got to that kind of relationship, but. well, we kissed.” Qin Tian laughed as well, a bit embarrassed. “I’m telling the truth! Don’t you believe me? Yes, I guess sometimes even I can’t believe it. Do you think she really likes me?” “我不知道啊。”老刀说，“我又没见过她。” “I have no idea,” Lao Dao said. “I’ve never met her.” 这时，秦天同屋的一个男生凑过来，笑道：“大叔，您这么认真干吗？这家伙哪是问你，他 就是想听人说‘你这么帅，她当然会喜欢你’。” One of Qin Tian’s roommates came over, and smiling, said, “Uncle, why are you taking his question so seriously? That’s not a real question. He just wants to hear you say, ‘Of course she loves you! You’re so handsome.’” “她很漂亮吧？” “She must be beautiful.” “我跟你说也不怕你笑话。”秦天在屋里走来走去，“你见到她就知道什么叫清雅绝伦
"I'm not afraid that you'll laugh at me."Qin Tian paced back and forth in front of Lao Dao. "When you see her.you'll understand the meaning of 'peerless elegance. 秦天突然顿住了，不说了，陷入回忆。他想起依言的嘴，他最喜欢的就是她的嘴，那么小小 的，莹润的，下嘴唇饱满，带着天然的粉红色，让人看着看着就忍不住想咬一口。她的脖子 也让他动心，虽然有时瘦得露出筋，但线条是纤直而好看的，皮肤又白又细致，从脖子一直 延伸到衬衫里，让人的视线忍不住停在村衫的第二个扣子那里。他第一次轻吻她一下，她躲 开，他又吻，最后她退无可退，就把眼睛闭上了，像任人宰割的囚犯，引他一阵怜惜。她的 唇很软，他用手反复感受她髅和臀部的曲线。从那天开始，他就居住在思念中。她是他夜晚 的梦境，是他抖动自己时看到的光芒。 Qin Tian stopped,sinking into a reverie.He was thinking of Yi Yan's mouth.Her mouth was perhaps his favorite part of her:So tiny.so smooth,with a full bottom lip that glowed with a natural,healthy pink xing him ant to give it a lo ing bite Her neck also aroused him thin tha es were ight and pretty.The kin was that h ntil she gave in,c ng ne ing the 30 nds had car e ha as his dream at night,an also the light he saw when h 秦天的同学叫张显，和老刀开始聊天，聊得很欢 ommate was called Zhang Xian,who seemed to relish the opportunity to converse 又说他白己也相去第二空间住一。他听人说如果将 空间的管于 空间做管理者，然后才升到第一空间，若是停留在第二空间，就 辈子级别也高不了。他将来想要进政府，己经想好了路。 不计他说仙在相生 挣两年钱再说，去银行来钱快。他见老刀的反应很迟钝，几平不置可否，以为老刀厌恶这条 路，就忙不迭地又加了几句解释。 Zhang xian asked lao dao about life in Third Space.and mentioned that he actually wanted to live in Third Space for a while he had bee n given the advice that if he wanted to climb up the ladder of government administration,some managerial experience in Third Space would be very helpful.Several prominent officials had all started their careers as Third Space administrators before being promoted to First Space.If they had stayed in Second Space.they wouldn't have gone anywhere and would have spent the rest of their careers as low-level administrative cadres Zhang Xian's ambition was to eventually enter government service,and he was certain he knew the right path.Still,he wanted to go work at a bank for a couple of years first and earn some quick money.Since Lao Dao seemed noncommittal about his plans,Zhang Xian thought Lao Dao disapproved of his careerism. “现在政府太混沌了，做事太慢，僵化，体系也改不动 ”他说，“等我将来有了机会，我就 推快速工作作风改革。干得不行就滚蛋。”他看老刀还是没说话，又说，“选拔也要放开。也 向第三空间放开。 "The current government is too inefficient and ossified,"he added quickly,"slow to respond to challenges,and I don't see much hope for systematic reform.When I get my opportunity.I'll push for rapid reforms:Anyone who's incompetent will be fired."Since Lao Dao still didn't seem to
“I’m not afraid that you’ll laugh at me.” Qin Tian paced back and forth in front of Lao Dao. “When you see her, you’ll understand the meaning of ‘peerless elegance.’” 秦天突然顿住了，不说了，陷入回忆。他想起依言的嘴，他最喜欢的就是她的嘴，那么小小 的，莹润的，下嘴唇饱满，带着天然的粉红色，让人看着看着就忍不住想咬一口。她的脖子 也让他动心，虽然有时瘦得露出筋，但线条是纤直而好看的，皮肤又白又细致，从脖子一直 延伸到衬衫里，让人的视线忍不住停在衬衫的第二个扣子那里。他第一次轻吻她一下，她躲 开，他又吻，最后她退无可退，就把眼睛闭上了，像任人宰割的囚犯，引他一阵怜惜。她的 唇很软，他用手反复感受她腰和臀部的曲线。从那天开始，他就居住在思念中。她是他夜晚 的梦境，是他抖动自己时看到的光芒。 Qin Tian stopped, sinking into a reverie. He was thinking of Yi Yan’s mouth. Her mouth was perhaps his favorite part of her: So tiny, so smooth, with a full bottom lip that glowed with a natural, healthy pink, making him want to give it a loving bite. Her neck also aroused him. Sometimes it appeared so thin that the tendons showed, but the lines were straight and pretty. The skin was fair and smooth, extending down into the collar of her blouse so that his gaze lingered on her second button. The first time he tried to kiss her, she had moved her lips away shyly. He had persisted until she gave in, closing her eyes and returning the kiss. Her lips had felt so soft, and his hands had caressed the curve of her waist and backside, again and again. From that day on, he had lived in the country of longing. She was his dream at night, and also the light he saw when he trembled in his own hand. 秦天的同学叫张显，和老刀开始聊天，聊得很欢。 Qin Tian’s roommate was called Zhang Xian, who seemed to relish the opportunity to converse with Lao Dao. 张显问老刀第三空间的生活如何，又说他自己也想去第三空间住一段。他听人说，如果将来 想往上爬，有过第三空间的管理经验是很有用的。现在几个当红的人物，当初都是先到第三 空间做管理者，然后才升到第一空间，若是停留在第二空间，就什么前途都没有，就算当个 行政干部，一辈子级别也高不了。他将来想要进政府，已经想好了路。不过他说他现在想先 挣两年钱再说，去银行来钱快。他见老刀的反应很迟钝，几乎不置可否，以为老刀厌恶这条 路，就忙不迭地又加了几句解释。 Zhang Xian asked Lao Dao about life in Third Space, and mentioned that he actually wanted to live in Third Space for a while. He had been given the advice that if he wanted to climb up the ladder of government administration, some managerial experience in Third Space would be very helpful. Several prominent officials had all started their careers as Third Space administrators before being promoted to First Space. If they had stayed in Second Space, they wouldn’t have gone anywhere and would have spent the rest of their careers as low–level administrative cadres. Zhang Xian’s ambition was to eventually enter government service, and he was certain he knew the right path. Still, he wanted to go work at a bank for a couple of years first and earn some quick money. Since Lao Dao seemed noncommittal about his plans, Zhang Xian thought Lao Dao disapproved of his careerism. “现在政府太混沌了，做事太慢，僵化，体系也改不动。”他说，“等我将来有了机会，我就 推快速工作作风改革。干得不行就滚蛋。”他看老刀还是没说话，又说，“选拔也要放开。也 向第三空间放开。” “The current government is too inefficient and ossified,” he added quickly, “slow to respond to challenges, and I don’t see much hope for systematic reform. When I get my opportunity, I’ll push for rapid reforms: Anyone who’s incompetent will be fired.” Since Lao Dao still didn’t seem to