particular work was over, Ah Q himself had long been forgotten. So his doings are hardly worth mentioning.
It happened once that an old man said in laudatory tones, "Ah Q surely can work!" At that moment, Ah Q, in all his lanky leanness and bare to the waist, stood indolently before him. Outsiders were not sure whether this remark was sincerely meant or was just a sarcastic fling, but Ah Q, nevertheless, was highly delighted.
Ah Q had a very high opinion of himself and therefore held all the inhabitants of Weichuang in contempt, and those whom he held lowest were its two scholars whom he considered not worth the exertion of a smile. Scholars are likely to attain the rank of Hsiu-t'sai. The Venerable Mr. Chao and the Venerable Mr. Chin enjoyed the respect of the inhabitants not only because of their wealth but also because they were the fathers of scholars; but Ah Q, by the attitude he assumed, showed no special sign of respect for them. He thought to himself, "My sons will be greater than yours by a long shot!"
Besides, Ah Q had gone to the city a few times and naturally felt all the more satisfied with his own attainments. But he also heartily despised the city folk. For instance, a wooden bench, two feet by three inches, the Weichuangites called a long bench and so did he; while the city dwellers
