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Lu Xun: The story of AQ (1) there is even some uncertainty regarding his…

- - - - Again, when they fried large-headed fish in oil the Weichuang villagers all added shallot leaves sliced half an inch long, whereas the townspeople added finely shredded shallots, and he thought, "This is wrong too. How ridiculous!" But the Weichuang villagers were really ignorant rustics who had never seen fish fried in town!
      - for he refrained from using the word "ringworm" or any words that sounded anything like it. Later he improved on this, making "bright" and "light" forbidden words, while later still even "lamp" and "candle" were taboo.
        
        Whatever Ah Q thought he was sure to tell people later; thus almost all who made fun of Ah Q knew that he had this means of winning a psychological victory. So after this anyone who pulled or twisted his brown pigtail would forestall him by saying: "Ah Q, this is not a son beating his father, it is a man beating a beast. Let's hear you say it: A man bearing a beast!
        
        This is similar to when , bench" too; but the townspeople called it a "straight bench," and he thought, "This is wrong. How ridiculous!"
- - - - Please go over this scene. When Amah Wu, the only maidservant in the Chao household, had finished washing the dishes, she sat down on the long bench too and started chatting to Ah Q:
        "Our mistress hasn't eaten anything for two days, because the master wants to get a concubine. . . ."
        "Woman . . . Amah Wu . . . this little widow," thought Ah Q.
        "Our young mistress is going to have a baby in the eighth moon . ."
        "Woman . . ." thought Ah Q.
        He put down his pipe and stood up.
        "Our young mistress—" Amah Wu chattered on.
        "Sleep with me!" Ah Q suddenly rushed forward and threw himself at her feet.
        There was a moment of absolute silence.
        "Aiya!" Dumbfounded for an instant, Amah Wu suddenly began to tremble, then rushed out shrieking and could soon be heard sobbing.
        chase
        Ah Q kneeling opposite the wall was dumbfounded too. He grasped the empty bench with both hands and stood up slowly, dimly aware that something was wrong. In fact, by this time he was in rather a nervous state himself. In a flurry, he stuck his pipe into his belt and decided to go back to the rice. But—bang!—a heavy blow landed on his head, and he spun round to see the successful county candidate standing before him brandishing a big bamboo pole.
        
        Under this torrent of abuse Ah Q naturally had nothing to say. Finally, since it was night-time, Ah Q had to pay double and give the bailiff four hundred cash. Because he happened to have no ready money by him, he gave his felt hat as security, and agreed to the following five terms:
        
        The next morning Ah Q must take a pair of red candles, weighing one pound, and a bundle of incense sticks to the Chao family to atone for his misdeeds.
        
        Ah Q must pay for the Taoist priests whom the Chao family had called to exorcize evil spirits.
        
        Ah Q must never again set foot in the Chao household.
        
        If anything unfortunate should happen to Amah Wu, Ah Q must be held responsible.
        
        Ah Q must not go back for his wages or shirt.
        
        Ah Q naturally agreed to everything, but unfortunately he had no ready money. Luckily it was already spring, so it was possible to do without his padded quilt which he pawned for two thousand cash to comply with the terms stipulated.