On the fourteenth day of the ninth moon of the third year of the emperor Hsüan T'ung — on the same day that Ah Q had sold Chao Pai-yen the purse — after three strokes of the watchman's drum,11 a large dark-sailed ship reached the Chao household's landing place. Through the inky darkness, while the villagers slumbered and knew nothing, this boat came rowing in. Dawn had almost arrived when it left; and so few people saw it. But stealthy investigation resulted in the discovery that it was Chü-jen Lao-yeh's ship!
The ship caused a great deal of anxiety in Weichuang and it was not yet noon when the hearts of the whole village were disturbed. As for the ship's mission, that was kept very secret by the Chaos; but in the tea shops and in the wine shops, it was rumored that rebels were advancing upon the city and that Chü-jen Lao-yeh had come to their village to take refuge. Tsou Ch'i-sao, however, did not agree with this rumor and maintained that Chü-jen Lao-yeh wished to store a few battered clothes boxes, which the Venerable Mr. Chao had turned back. The truth
