Page 161 - I Live in the Slums: Stories (The Margellos World Republic of Letters)

“This is great,” she said, insincerely. “I’ve truly returned to my former home.
Is that my chopping knife? I cut lotus seeds with it in the processing plant. Zhu
Mei, you must have gone to a lot of trouble with all of this. I can’t believe my
eyes!”
A neighbor stood at the door and looked in. He recognized Zhou Yizhen.
“Mei, you have company. I’m here to collect for the electricity. I can come
back whenever it’s convenient.”

He didn’t greet Zhou Yizhen. She felt awkward and dispirited. Did this
neighbor think she had died? In the past, they’d seen each other every day.
“Yes, I have a guest. Don’t you recognize her?” Zhu Mei said.
“She seems a little familiar. No, I don’t know her.”
He left, looking a bit terrified. Zhou Yizhen suddenly felt tired. She struggled
to keep her eyes open. Zhu Mei’s figure looked distorted.
“You’re sleepy. Lie down. I’ll help you take your shoes off. Yes, that’s good.
I’m going out to buy some groceries. We’ll have dinner together tonight. What?
You say there’s a spider? Don’t be afraid. There’s one in this room, but it
doesn’t amount to anything . . .”
Before she fell asleep, Zhou Yizhen heard Zhu Mei close the door.

When Zhou Yizhen awakened, the sun had set. She had slept a long time. She
felt that her behavior was strange: Why had she come to another person’s home
and fallen asleep on another person’s bed? She had never done anything so out
of character. She heard Zhu Mei busying herself in the kitchen, and so she made
the bed and went to help right away.
Zhu Mei had cooked an appetizing meal. Zhou Yizhen thought she was very
good at taking care of herself.
As they ate, Zhou Yizhen said, “Look, I’m so embarrassed that—”
Zhu Mei interrupted her at once. “Don’t be. Please. This was your home in
the first place. You can do whatever you wish here. Anyhow, I’m the one who

invited you to come.”
After dinner, they tidied up the kitchen together. Zhou Yizhen was going to
go home. Zhu Mei said, “Didn’t you notice a bed made up in each bedroom?
This one is especially for you, even when you aren’t here. I sleep in the inner
bedroom.”
Zhou Yizhen was surprised.
“I haven’t discussed this with Xu. I don’t think he would agree.”
“Why not? I’m sure he would. Just phone him.”
So Zhou Yizhen sat down and phoned.
“That’s great,” Xu Sheng said. “Since she really wants you to stay, you may