11 - Old men mustn’t gossip this much

The thief was turned over to the transit police. From start to finish, Wu Fengrong didn’t want to know his name. He simply let the transit police lead him away along with the stolen black suitcase. Even though it would be for the best to locate the suitcase’s owner, Wu Fengrong didn’t think it was likely to happen.

He returned to the conductor’s office to keep Zhou Yanling company and to put medicine on his ear. The wound wasn’t serious. The blood-flow made it look worse than it really was. Zhou Yanling made more tea and, together, they lay down. The two curled up at the head of the bed, listening to the sound of the wind. After a while, Wu Fengrong fell asleep, but Zhou Yanling could not. He gazed at Wu Fengrong, spellbound. At that time, when the car had rounded that curve, he had staved off his fear. When the cars collided, his body had been jolted. It had felt like his soul had been beaten with a rod. If Wu Fengrong hadn’t grabbed the waist of his trousers, his body and soul really would have been extinguished. However, Wu Fengrong had appeared to be even more afraid than he.

If I had really fallen, he would mourn greatly, ba? Zhou Yanling thought. For this grief, it was worth continuing to live.

He had only slept for 20 minutes in this man’s embrace when his internal alarm forced him to open his eyes. Wu Fengrong’s eyes were hazy with sleep when he noticed someone’s hand fiddling with his bangs. He vaguely saw Zhou Yanling smiling. Even his smile was that of an old lady-killer.

“The tea’s cooled. You still haven’t left?” Wu Fengrong lifted his head to ask for a kiss. His mouth was moistened with the taste of cigarette smoke and sleep.

Zhou Yanling only then noticed the cold cup of tea in his hand. He hadn’t even thought to take a sip. The sight of this tea seemed to have completely sobered him.

He joked: “You’re in a hurry for me to leave?”

Wu Fengrong shifted his position, worried about touching Zhou Yanling’s wound. Their feet pressed together as he wrapped the quilt closely around the two of them. The soles of their feet grew sweaty, and he rubbed the tips of his toes against the soles of Zhou Yanling’s feet. Although Zhou Yanling’s heart was scratched by the tickling, his face remained motionless. He didn’t know when he had begun to pretend to be a saint. Actually, he unexpectedly didn’t want to move. Wu Fengrong was so vivacious and bright, like the sunrise on a spring day, resembling the dew from a warm rain pooling inside his innermost feelings, like a moist pool on a mountain top, enlivening him.

“You’re really an interesting man,” said Wu Fengrong: “First you seduced me as part of your well-thought out step-by-step plan. And now you believe that I’m driving you away. How will I know when Mr. Zhou’s interest has waned and I’m no longer needed?”

Now that this topic was broached, it was clear that he was still angry over his attempt to solicit his help by soliciting him. Zhou Yanling could not argue the point with him. He wasn’t being accused unjustly. This mouth was too despotic, but if it wasn’t despotic then he wouldn’t be Wu Fengrong. At this moment, Zhou Yanling’s heart was full of tender feelings and he was in an affectionate mood. He kissed Wu Fengrong’s forehead, his ear, his nose, his chin. Along his neck, he carefully left gentle bites densely clustered together. Finally, he stopped at his collarbone and didn’t move further down. Wu Fengrong’s heart was racing, helter-skelter, similarly to the way it had raced when they were at the car door. Zhou Yanling didn’t expose this but thought to himself, a sharp-tongue is a sharp-tongue.

“Yes, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have used you. It really made things too difficult for you.” Zhou Yanling said. He didn’t care about anything else only that Wu Fengrong must not believe that the two of them were merely using each other.

Wu Fengrong’s expression was wan: “You think too much. I’m not some teenager. This is work. I’m clear about the difference.” Meaning that, since he was the conductor of this train, he would’ve helped even if it was someone else. If someone boarded his train, that someone was his passenger. If a passenger needed something from the conductor, Wu Fengrong had no reason to refuse to help.

Zhou Yanling was unhappy: “If you’re like this, it’s not good. You’re far too naïve.”

“What does it matter to you what I believe?”

The conductor tread upon his leg and turned over to get out of bed. His foot hadn’t even touched the floor when he was pulled back. The man behind him let out a happy sound as he once again cuddled him close. He snorted lightly but still didn’t want to be held by another person. As a result, the two sat facing one another.

Zhou Yanling had no other choice but to beg for forgiveness: “Would you please talk to me a little?”

Wu Fengrong squinted: “What do you want to hear?” After saying this, he also became aware that he’d spoken with a coaxing tone of voice. He smacked his lips twice, then impatiently and angrily grabbed his pillow and threw it at him: “Your not very smart, ma? What are you pretending to be confused about now? That I just casually followed some random guy into the bathroom to do that? If I didn’t, then what would you have done? Or do you think that I’m a virgin fearful about losing my reputation and integrity? I’m an almost 40 year old man. Do you need me to dumb it down for you to understand?”

This made the corners of Zhou Yanling’s mouth rise, pleased with himself. Wu Fengrong was embarrassed to look at him. He felt around for his cigarette case, but Zhou Yanling’s hand instead seized the small case and tossed it to the side, placed his hand on the side of his mouth, and kissed him again and again. Wu Fengrong wanted to pull back but, seeing his injured ear, he was shaken and ignored that he had wanted to withdraw. With a fierce face, he decided that he wanted to show the dignified bearing of a conductor–

“Now I want to ask you something, and you’re going to answer honestly, got it?”

Zhou Yanling only wanted to curry his favor: “Yes. Ask.”

Wu Fengrong put his thoughts in order: “Didn’t you tell me that you’ve fought before?”

Zhou Yanling smiled politely and amiably: “I’m afraid to say that I’m not really that talented. If I say that I am, people will mock me.”

“Where did you learn it?”

“After I graduated, I was in the army for a few years. After I was discharged, it wasn’t something I could use to sell insurance.”

“You didn’t study business management?”

“I studied national defense and graduated from the military academy. I was then assigned to the southern district of the People’s Armed Police 1 . In 2003 I was assigned to the Thai-Myanmar border. At that time, because of the border clashes, the People’s Armed Police was transferred to the military regiment deployed at that border. I was injured during the course of a mission, and when I returned I was discharged from service.”

Wu Fengrong was flabbergasted. He sized up that lean musculature under Zhou Yanling’s sweater and thought to himself, my God! This was a real armed police officer. Even armed with a knife, it was no wonder that thief couldn’t stop him. Could anyone compete with a member of the armed police, ma? It was already a miracle that he didn’t break the thief in two.

Zhou Yanling appeared to know what he was thinking. Smiling, he said: “You mustn’t look at me like that. How can I not know my own abilities 2 ? Those skills that I learned all those years ago are now nothing but an empty frame. If you’d like to see me fight, I wouldn’t mind losing face for your amusement. But climbing up a moving train in order to eliminate a thief, that’s not something I can manage anymore.”

With a wooden expression, Wu Fengrong spoke: “What type of injury did you receive to cause you to be discharged? How is selling insurance better than staying in the army.”

“My knee was injured and now it can’t be completed straightened.” Zhou Yanling showed him that, even trying his best, his left leg could only attempt to straighten. When performing daily activities, such as walking, one wouldn’t be able to tell that there was an abnormality. Only when deliberately trying to straighten the crooked knee would it be discovered: “War, after all, is a cruel business. Returning from the border, my mind was also a little affected. Talking it over with the upper brass, we still decided that it would be better to retire on disability. It wasn’t that I couldn’t transfer to a different post, only that it wasn’t considered necessary. This way the country wouldn’t be hindered.”

“No regrets, ma?”

“None.”

Wu Fengrong signed: “You have a stubborn temper similar to my own.”

Before he hadn’t noticed that Zhou Yanling was such an unyielding man. He would rather slave away at an insurance company and exchange his principled air for an oily mien than to have people mock him for being “useless”. Wu Fengrong thought, he must have looked awfully heroic and unrestrained when he wore a military uniform.

“Our temperaments indicate that the two of us are destined to be together. It’s good.” Zhou Yanling only thought that Wu Fengrong was coaxing him, trying to make him happy: “I still haven’t asked you. for years you’ve been away for days and nights at a time. Doesn’t your family complain?”

Wu Fengrong said absentmindedly: “I would need to have a family first, ba.”

“You haven’t found someone yet? You’re not young.”

“I had dated someone for a while when I first started working. We were introduced to each other by the old conductor, but I was unlucky.”

He only recounted up to there then didn’t continue. Zhou Yanling’s heart itched just listening to half of this. He wanted to ask him to continue, lifting his eyes with a teasing expression. But when he opened his mouth, no words came out. Wu Fengrong asked: “What is it? I’ve neither bought insurance nor plan to buy insurance.”

He was very vigilant. Zhou Yanling wasn’t sure if he just didn’t want to talk about it or if he was trying to change the topic to something that might interest him.

He answered sincerely: “I just want to get to know you more.”

Wu Fengrong thought he was acting, waffling before at last getting to the point. It had actually been a failed blind date. The old conductor had introduced him to a cheerful young woman, educated and well-mannered, and whose family worked for the railroad. Her father was the Secretary of the the HR department, which would help Wu Fengrong rise through the ranks. The two got along well, but Wu Fengrong’s personality was too wild for her to enjoy and instead made her worry that he was being unfaithful. Ultimately, it didn’t work out. After they separated, the family began to complain. Wu Fengrong knew his own shortcomings, but he wouldn’t change. He only apologized to the old conductor, whose first matchmaking attempt was so disastrous that the Secretary was almost offended.

After this incident, there were very few people who tried to set Wu Fengrong up on blind date. In the event that he wanted someone by his side, it was unlikely that he wouldn’t find someone. The conductor was good-looking, interesting and fun, and was willing to spend money. Or, at least that was Zhao Xintao’s impression. No one he had ever spent time with had ever left a poor review. Yet, also no one wanted to stay at his side. All knew he was a rake, wanting to have a good time but not willing to commit for long. Occasionally, a few close friends would ask him out and Wu Fengrong would date them for a while. From an outsider’s perspective, he savored his single life.

Zhou Yanling pursed his lips and didn’t speak for a while, looking at him with a complaining expression. Zhou Yanling looked at Wu Fengrong like he was a hidden danger, as though he had unfaithfully turned his back on Zhou Yanling: “Why are you looking at me? You, who could just drag someone to the toilet, have the nerve to judge me?”

Those words almost made Zhou Yanling laugh.

“If you want to know who else I may have pulled into toilets, I can tell you. You just have to ask.”

“I don’t gossip like that.”

Zhou Yanling leaned against his body and stroked his knee with impure intentions: “I can’t say about other places, but the train was a first time for me. I’ve always been open to new experiences. Not only was it a first, but it was also a very pleasurable experience. Not only was it not absurd, but it also wasn’t the type of experience that I’d want to cheapen by talking about it with others. Originally, I hadn’t been in the mood because, unfortunately, it was a matter of life or death. Still, it seems like God took pity on me.” It was only natural that there were many preposterous situations under the sun. But, sensuality aside, that situation had been ridiculous 3 . Wu Fengrong was also a man. There was no need for Zhou Yanling to explain further, he could imagine it.

However, contrary to Zhou Yanling’s wishes, Wu Fenrgong was interested in hearing about it. Without any other option, Zhou Yanling had to explain. He had never before recounted his romantic history. While speaking, he also had to respond to Wu Fengrong’s torturous questions for details. Even when he had enlisted, he hadn’t been the subject of such a careful examination.

And then, after he had finished speaking, Wu Fengrong didn’t like what he’d had to say, which wasn’t pleasant: “You wanted to say that that wasn’t fun, but I didn’t force you to say anything.” Actually, Zhou Yanling’s initiative to confess made his heart happy, so much so that it pleased him.

“Precisely so.”

“When did you realize that you like men?”

“When I was a teenager. When I was in school, I would often play truant to sing KTV and, sometimes, to have affairs.”

“What’s your type?”

“Someone with a good-looking face, clear skin and a perky ass.”

“Then, is my ass not perky enough?”

Out of the corner of his eyes, the conductor gazed at him, looking both cold and august, half-flirtatious and half-demanding. Zhou Yanling squinted his eyes and lit a cigarette. He looked unenthusiastic and didn’t speak immediately. Wu Fengrong thought that if he questioned too forcefully, Zhou Yanling would really launch an attack which he would be unable to withstand. He discouragingly thought, since I was 18 I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve been groped, but it’s out of the question for you to praise my ass.

After smoking the cigarette, only then did Zhou Yanling speak, deadpan: “Elder men mustn’t gossip this much. Why are you so attentively asking after your own butt? Having asked, can’t you see that you must not let other think that you’re always looking at your ass in the mirror?”

Wu Fengrong was stupefied. No one had ever dared to speak to him like this. He got out of bed, panting in rage. Gnashing his teeth, he put on his shoes and slammed the door. His cursing could be heard through the door–

“You must believe that laozi would die without you!”

The author has something to say

Sorry it’s late today. The conductor and Mr. Zhou are slowly getting to know each other.

T/N:

People’s Armed Police:

“Established in 1982, the People’s Armed Police (PAP) is the paramilitary wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with a primary responsibility for maintaining domestic stability and a secondary role in providing rear area support for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during wartime. The PAP—with a strength of up to a million personnel—also fills a variety of other important roles and missions, such as responding to natural disasters, guarding government compounds, and participating in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations around the world. For most of its existence, the PAP was under the dual leadership of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the State Council, with provincial and local officials granted significant latitude over PAP deployments in the event of emergencies. Some efforts to centralize authority were made during the 1990s and 2000s, but the basic character of the PAP went unchanged for three decades.”

Reference: Wuthnow, Joel. (2019). China’s other army: the people’s armed police in an era of reform (Phillip C. Saunders, Ed). China Strategic Perspectives (14). Report prepared for the Institute for National Strategic Studies. Washington DC: National Defense University Press. https://inss.ndu.edu/Portals/82/China%20SP%2014%20Final%20for%20Web.pdf 2. Thank you to @SweetDreamsPanda for help translating this! Thank you to @luminyta and @Daed for help translating this!