It was while he was taking off his coat that he heard a very loud clamor from without. It was Ah Q's habit to take in exciting events and so he accordingly ran out in the direction of the voices. Following their sound, he gradually made his way to the inner part of the Chao house. Although it was dusk, it was possible to distinguish many people; the whole Chao household, including the mistress, "who had not touched rice for two days," was among them, as well as their neighbor, Tsou Ch'i-sao, and the real relatives, Chao Pai-yen and Chao Szu-ch'ên.
At this juncture, the young daughter-in-law of the house was dragging Amah Wu from one of the rooms in the servants' quarters, saying all the while, "Come out — there is no need to conceal yourself in your room and brood."
Tsou Ch'i-sao added on the side, "Who doesn't know that you are a good woman — under no circumstance think of suicide!"
Amah Wu merely wept, letting out a few unintelligible words.
Ah Q thought to himself: "Eh, how interesting! I wonder what trifler has been flirting with the youthful widow!"
He wished to inquire and moved over to Chao Szu-ch'ên's side. At that moment, he espied the eldest son of the Chao family, dashing toward him and holding in his hand the stout bamboo pole.
