nodded slightly in approval and began to pace back and forth with his arms crossed behind him. Presently the only potted plant—a ten-thousand-year green—became lost in the darkness, a few stars twinkled through the fleecy clouds, and night began its reign. Ssu-ming became more vigorous and acted as if he was about to do great things, to declare war against the corrupt students and the evil influences of society. The braver and more vigorous he felt, the longer grew his strides and the louder sounded his footsteps, until the hens and chickens, which had been roosting peacefully in their cages, became frightened and started to cluck and twit.
The appearance of lamplight in the hall served as a beacon summoning the family to supper and all flocked to the table placed in the center of the room. At the head of the table was Ssu-ming, who was fat and round faced like Hsueh-cheng but had a thin moustache. Sitting alone on one side of the table and seen through the cloud of vapor from the hot soup, he looked very much like the god of wealth across the altar in his temple. On the left sat Mrs. Ssu and Chao-erh; on the right Hsueh-cheng and Hsiu-erh. The chopsticks clattered on the dishes and bowls like raindrops, and made supper a very lively affair, though no one spoke.
Chao-erh upset her bowl, spilling its contents over half the table. Ssu-ming glared at her with a fixed stare and did not relent until she was about to cry. Thereupon he turned to pick up a piece of tender vegetable which he had previously spotted in the communal bowl. But it had disappeared. He looked around the table and caught Hsueh-cheng in the act of stuffing the prized morsel into his wide-open mouth. There was nothing for him to do but to content himself with a chopstickful of vegetable leaves.
