On seeing this bamboo, he suddenly realized that he had been beaten by it and that this excitement appeared to have some connection with himself. He turned about and ran, hoping to escape to the rice-pounding room, but, contrary to his expectation, the bamboo closed his avenue of retreat; he therefore faced about and ran. Naturally and smoothly he ran out of the rear door and without much effort entered T'uku Temple.
After Ah Q had sat for a while, the skin about his capillary roots puffed up into little mounds; he felt cold. Although it was springtime, the weather was quite cool in the evenings and it was not yet the proper time for going bare to the waist. He then recalled that his coat had been left at the Chao household, but he greatly feared to go and get it, for he might encounter the Hsiu-t'sai's bamboo.
The ti-pao finally arrived, saying: "Ah Q, you bad fellow, you even make light of the servants of the Chao household and are, without the least particle of doubt, a gross violator of the law. You have made me lose a whole night's sleep, you rascal!"
In this fashion he reprimanded Ah Q, who naturally said nothing. Finally, because it was night, Ah Q felt that he ought to reward the ti-pao for his trouble by presenting him with a double amount, four hundred cash, for wine money; but
