While they were cating,someone called for the ferry

on the far bank.Cuicui rushed to the boat.When she got to the other shore,she saw that her passenger was the boatman sent by Flectmaster Shunshun to take their place.He looked at Cuicui and said,“No.2 wants you to come over when you finish eating.He's already in his dragon boat.”He said the same thing when he saw Grandpa.

Straining their ears,they could hear the faraway drum- beats picking up their pace,and from that they could picture the very slender boats dashing straight ahead across the Long Depths,their wakes leaving long and exquisitely beauriful

lines in the water.

Unwilling even to stop for tea,the newcomer took a posi- tion in the prow of the boat Cuicui and Grandpa had invited him in during their meal,but he shook his head.Grandpa said,

“Cuicui,I'm not going,why don't you and the little dog

go on without me?"

“If you don't go,I don't want to,eithet!”

“And ifI do?”

“I didn't really want to,but Id go with you.”

Grandpa smiled:“All right,Cuicui,you come with me,

keep me company!'

en

By the time Grandpa and Cuicui got to the big river in the

city,the banks had been crowded with spectators for some

time.The drizzle had stopped,but the ground was still wet.

Grandpa wanted Cuicui to go to the feetmaster's stilt house

on River Street to watch the races,but something seemed to

be weighing on her mind that made her afraid to go there;she

preferred to stand by the riverbank.Though the two stayed in

place there,it wasn't long before Shunshun sent someone to

invite them in.His house on stilts was already crowded.The

upper-clas country mother and daughter that had caught Cui-

cui's cye when she ferried them that morning occupied the two

best seats in the house,by the window.The daughter spotted

Cuicui and said:“Come here,over here!”Cuicui went over,a

little self-consciously,and sat on a bench behind them.Grandpa

sct off.

Instead of watching the dragon boats race,Grandpa let

an acquaintance lead him away to see the new grain mill and

its water-powered stone roller a quarter-mile upstream.The old ferryman happened to be intensely interested in that mill. In a tiny thatched hut nestled between the mountain and the river was the round millstone,fixed vertically on a hori- zontal axle and resting at a tilt on top of a circular pathway of crushed stone along which it would make its revolutions. When the sluice gate was pulled up,water rushed down upon a concealed underground wheel,and the round millstone up above few into action,rotating on its axle as it made its rounds over the circular pathway under it.The miller poured his unhusked rice into the groove of the stone circuit on the bottom.When the polished rice came out,he sifted away the powdery chaff in a rectangular bamboo sieve basket he kept

in the corner of the hut.The foor was covered in this dust from the chaff,and so were the miller's head and shoulders, from top to bottom,including the white cloth he wrapped around his head like a turban.In good weather he went out to the open spaces around the millhouse,where he planted tur- nips,cabbages,gatlic,and scallions.When the millrace got damaged,he took off his trousers and went into the river to pile up rocks so as to plug the leak.Once his dikes were firmly built,he could build a net of branches across the millrace, like a bridge.When the waters rose,fish would swim right over the dike into it,without the miller's having to lift a fin- ger!Compared to running a ferry,running a mill was a more multifaceted and interesting job;that was clear at a glance.

But it was wholly in vain for a ferryman to hope to have a mill

someday.Mills all belongcd to thelocal rich people.The old

ferryman's friend told him who the mill's owner was.The two

men looked over every corner of it as they chatted.

The ferryman's fiend kicked the new millstone and said:

“The peopleof Middle Stockade live up high in the moun-

tains,but they like to buy property down here by the river;

this mill belongs to Middle Stockade's Militia Captain Wang.

Cost him seven hundred strings of cash,a thousand coppers

to a string!”

The old ferryman rolled his small eyes and nodded,siz-

ing up everything enviously and appreciatively,even offering

fitting criticisms of every constiruent part.Then the two men

took a seat on a still-unfinished bench.The friend went on

about this mill's furure—it probably would be the dowry of

the militia captain's daughter.Then he thought of Cuicui,

and remembered something that Shunshun's No.I had asked

him to do for him.He inquired,

“Uncle,how old is Cuicui now?”

“Thirteen,going on fourteen.”Having said this,the old

ferryman continued counting up the years and months to

himself

“What a clever gitl for a thirteen-year-old!Whoever gets

matched to her will be a lucky fellow!”

“How so?She doesn't have any such mill for a dowry.

She'll go empty-handed.”

“Don't call her that,she's a hard worker.Her two hands are worth more than five mills!Lu Ban built the bridge at Luoyang with his two hands!...”He went on,trying to refute the old ferryman,until he laughed at his own words.

The old ferryman laughed too,thinking to himself:“Cui- cui has two hands all right,but if she builta Luoyang Bridge,

that would be a first!”

The other man paused and then said:

“Young men here in Chadong have good eyes and they're very good at picking their wives.Uncle,if it wouldn't offend you,I'd like to tell you a funny little story."

“What funny story?”asked the old ferryman.

The other said,“Uncle,don't be upset with me,but you can take this one seriously,if you want.”

He went on to say how No.1 in Shunshun's family had praised Cuicui and sent him on an errand of inquiring about the old ferryman's opinion.Finally he related another conver- sation he'd had.“Iasked him,No.1,are you in earnest or are you playing with me?"He replied,Go sound out the old man for me,will you?I'm sweet on Cuicui,I long for her!I mean it?So I said,Tm very blunt in expressing myself and once l speak,I can't take it back—just suppose,what if the old man slaps me one?"He said,If you're afraid of his reaction,tell it first as something humorous.That ll save you from any beat- ing"So you see,Uncle,this funny story I told you is about something real.Think it over.When he comes to see me after

he returns from Eastern Sichuan on the ninth of the month,

what should I tell him?”

The old ferryman recalled what No.1 had said in his

own words during his last visit.He knew that No.I had spo-

ken frankly,and also that Shunshun liked Cuicui,so he was

elated.But local custom said that No.I would have to come

in person with gifts of cakes to Green Creek Hill and speak

for himself to prove his seriousness.The old ferryman said,

“When he gets home,you tell him that after hearing your

funny story,the old codger told one ofhis own—"In a game of

chess,the chariot-the rook-moves one way and the horse-

man-the knight—another.IfNo.I wants to make his move

directly like a chariot,his father ought to ask a go-between

and put the proposition to me in the proper way.If he wants

to move like a horseman,hurdling all obstacles,it's his play,

to stand on the bluffs across the creek from the ferry and sing

for Cuicui's heart until he's won her—for“three years and six

months,”if thats what it takes,as it says in the song. ’”

“Uncle,if singing to her for three years and six months

can move her heart,Ill start tomorrow and try to win her

myself!”

“If Cuicui were willing,do you think I could refuse?”

“That's not it.People think that if you make the decision,

Cuicui can't object.”

“Thats not right.This is about her!”

“Even if it is,the elder has to have the final say.People

will still think that singing three years and six months,be it under sunlight or moonlight,is less important than a good word from you!”

“In that case,let's do it this way.When he returns home from Sichuan,have him talk it over with Shunshun.Mean- while,Ill ask Cuicui.If she prefers to follow a man who's sung for her three years and six months,Ill have to ask you to persuade No.1 to choose that zigzag horseman's move.”

“Fine.When I see him,I'll say:‘No.1,I told him the words in jest.As to the words in truth,that will depend on your fate'And so it will be,but I know that his fate still lies tightly within your grasp,old fellow.”

“That's not true!If it were within my grasp to decide this matter,I'd agree right away!”

With that settled,the two went to see a new,three-cabin boat that Shunshun had just purchased.Meanwhile,things had been going on in Shunshun's stilt house along River

Street.

Cuicui had gone to sit near the daughter of the rich folk from the countryside.Her location was spectacular;everything out on the river was clearly visible from the window,but Cuicui felt a little ill at ease.The people who crowded around the other windows to see the excitement all seemed frequently to divert their gaze from the river to Cuicui and her company.Some even pretended to have some reason for passing by,when in fact they were just interested in sizing up these people Cuicui was

sitting with.Cuicui felt uneasy.She just wanted an excuse to

run away.Soon a cannon sounded out on the river and several

boats that had assembled on the farther shore rowed straight

toward them.Four boats took the lead in close formation,like

four arrows shooting evenly through the water.Halfway across,

two had already gone ahead of the others,and a little later,one

of those pulled into the lead.As the spectators saw it reach

the customs house,another cannon shot announced the vic-

tory.One could begin to make out that the winning boat was

the one belonging to River Street.Congratulatory firecrackers

were heard all around.The victors rowed past the stilt houses of

River Street,their drum pounding as crowds along the streets

and in the dangling foot houses shouted out joyous congratula-

tions.Cuicui noticed that the red-turbaned young man stand-

ing firmly in the prow,brandishing the little Hag that gave the

crew directions,was none other than No.2—the one who had

returned the gourd of wine to Green Creek Hill.Her mind

Hashed back to events two years earlier.“A big fish might eat

you!”“Whether it eats me or not,it's no concern of yours!”

“All right,I won't worry about it!"“Hey,dog,save your barks

for those who are worth it!"At that,Cuicui remembered the

yellow dog that had come with her.She'd long since lost him,

so she got up from her place and searched all over the house,

completely forgetting the young man in the prow of the boat.

As she looked for her dog in the crowd,she overheard

Some conversations

A woman with a broad face asked,“Whose family is she from,to get that prime seat in front ofa window at Shunshun's

house?”

Another woman responded,“She's the daughter of the country gentleman Wang up in one of the stockades.They say they came to see the boats,but really they'te here to look over people—and be looked at!They must be something,to merit such a good place!”

“Who's come to look at whom?”

“Goodness,don't you know—that country gentleman

wants his daughter to marry into Shunshun's family.”

“Who might they want to betroth to her?No.I or No.2?”

“No.2.Just wait,and we'll see this Yue Yun come up and

pay respects to his future mother-in-law!”

Another woman cut in:“The match is made,and it's a good one!The girl brings as dowry a brand-new mill by the

river,which can do the work of ten hired laborers.”

Someone asked,“What docs No.2 think about that?”

Yet another person whispered,“No.2 said,I don't need

to look at her.To start with,I don't want to be a miller!"”

“Did you hear Yue Yun say that?”

“That's what someone told me.They also said that No.2

likes that girl at the ferry.”

“He's no dummy;if he doesn't want to be a miller,would

he really want to be a ferryman?”

“Who knows?Anyway,as the saying goes,'People cat

what they like,even beef with chives.'A ferryboat needn't be

any worse than a grain mill!"

They were all looking at the river as they gossiped,so no

one noticed that Cuicui was right behind them

Cuicui went away,her face burning with embarrassment,

only to hear another pair of women talking about these same

things.“Everything is settled.They're just waiting for No

2 to give the word.”And,“Just from the spirit that No.2

showed in todays race,you could almost guess that he got it

from a young maiden watching him from onshore!"

Who was this young maiden who so moved No.2?

Cuicui was too short to see over the people and take in

the river scenes now.It was only from the swelling of tho

drumbeats as they drew nearer and more frantic,and the rise

in hubbub from the crowd onshore,that she realized that

No.2s boat had rowed up to the house.People upstairs in

the house were cheering,too,and calling out No.2s name;

over by the rich lady from the countryside,they were set-

ting off strings of hundred-pop firecrackers.Suddenly there

arose other shouts,of astonishment and dismay,as a crowd

of people went out the door to go down to the river.Not

knowing what had gone wrong,Cuicui felt a little confused.

She didn't know whether to go back to her original seat or

keep standing in back of the spectators.But just then a tray

full of zongzi and fine cakes was set before the rich country

lady and her litdle miss,so Cuicui felt uncomfortable going

back there.She decided to squeeze out the door and see what was going on by the river.A passageway next to a salt com- pany led from River Street down to the water,under over- hanging beams and rafters.She emerged head-on into a crowd of people swarming around No.2 in his red turban. He had slipped and fallen into the water,but made his way out on his own.Cuicui dodged to get out of the way,but the path was so narrow that she still found herself elbow-to-elbow with the oncoming surge of people.No.2 spotted Cuicui and said,

“Cuicui,you came!Did your grandfather come,too?”

Her face fushed crimson,Cuicui was too embarrassed to speak.She thought to herself,“Where has my yellow dog run

off to?”

No.2 continued:

“Why not go up to my house to watch the proceedings?I told them to save you a good seat.”

Cuicui thought to herself:“A mill for a dowry-how fine

is that?”

No.2 couldn't persuade Cuicui to go back,so they went their separate ways.When she got to the river,her young heart was filled with feelings she could not understand.Was she annoyed?No!Worried?Not that,either.Happy,then? No,what would she be happy about?Angry,perhaps.Yes, that was it,she seemed to be angry at someone,and also at herself.It was so crowded there by the river.In the shallow

waters by the docks,in the rigging and on the awnings of the

boats,even among the support columns of the stilt houses,

people were everywhere.Cuicui mumbled to herself:“Why

all the commortion?Did somebody find a threelegged cat?”

She had hoped to find her grandfather on one of the boats,

but afrer checking them all,she found no sign of him.She

jostled her way down to the riverbank and spoted the yellow

dog enjoying the excitement with one of Shunshun's laborers

in an empty boat a few yards from shore.Cuicui called him

twice in a shrill voice.The yellow dog pricked up his ears

and head,looking all around,before bounding into the river

and swimming to Cuicui.Soaked by the time he got to her,

he shook himself and jumped up and down without cease,

until Cuicui shouted,“Enough!What is this craziness,dog?

Your boat didn't turn over.Who asked you to jump into the

water?"

Cuicui and the yellow dog looked for Grandpa every-

where.They ran into him in front of a lumber store on River

Street.

The old ferryman said,“Cuicui,Ive just seen a first-rate

grain mill!The millstone is new and so is the waterwheel

even the roof thatching is fresh!The dam releases water in

such a raging torrent that when the sluice gate is pulled up,it

gets the waterwheel to spinning like a top.”

“Whose mill is it?”Cuicui asked,a little affectedly.

“Whose mill?Why,Squire Wang's,who lives up in the

mountains at Middle Stockade,the militia captain.I ve heard tell that it will be his daughter's dowry.Now that's extrava- gance for you.Building it cost them seven hundred strings of cash,not including the windmill or the furnishingt!”

“Who's going to marry his daughter?”

Grandpa looked at Cuicui and forced a smile.“A big fish

s going to bite you.He'll bite you.”

Precisely because she knew a thing or two about this matter,Cuicui pretended not to understand.She pressed Grandpa:“Grandfather,who will get that mil!?”

“No.2,Yue Yun!”Grandpa said,also muttering to him- self.“Some people envy No.2 for getting the mill;others envy the mill for getting No.2!”

“Who's envious,Grandfather?”

“Tm envious,”Grandpa said,with a smile.

Cuicui said,“Grandfather,youre drunk.”

“But No.2 says you're very pretty.

Cuicui:“Grandfather,you're crazy.”

Grandpa said,“Your grandfather is not drunk and he's not crazy.Come on,let's go down to the river and see them. release the ducks.Too bad I'm too old to dive in and catch one to bring home and cook in a pot with ginger.”He wanted to add:“IfNo.2 catches a duck,he'll give it to us.”But before he could say it,up came No.2.He stood before Cuicui and

smiled.Cuicui smiled back.

The three of them went back up to the house on stilts.