When Ah Q reappeared in Wei shortly after the festival of the Harvest Moon, the villagers were first surprised and then began to wonder where he had been; for Ah Q had not told any one of his impending visit to the city, as he used to do with great pride and gusto, and no one had noticed his disappearance. He might have told the old attendant of the temple; but the latter had not taken the trouble to broadcast the information and the village had no way of knowing. In Wei it was considered an event only when Their Honors Chao and Chien and the licentiate went to the city; even the fake foreigner's visit went unnoticed, to say nothing of the absence of Ah Q.
The manner in which Ah Q returned was different from former times and truly merited astonishment and wonder. He appeared in the tavern at dusk, with sleepy eyes; he approached the counter, reached his hand around his waist, took out some copper and silver coins, slapped them on the counter, and shouted, "No credit, this time! Give me wine!" He wore a new, lined coat and hanging from his waist cord was a big wallet sagging from the weight of its contents. In Wei it was the general policy to honor anyone who appeared as though he might be somebody. Though they knew that this was only Ah Q, yet they realized that this was not the old Ah Q of the tattered coat, and they were reminded of the ancient saying that a man should be looked upon with different eyes though he has been away only three days. Consequently, the waiter, the proprietor, the patrons and the passers-by all manifested a deferential wonder. The proprietor nodded to him and engaged him in conversation.
"Back, eh, Ah Q?"
