Q had never observed in the past. As soon as he noticed these glances, he was made to feel as comfortable as one drinking ice water in July. And so he felt blithe and merry and kept shouting as he walked along:
"Good . . . I will do just as I please. I will like whom I please . . ."
"Tuck, tuck, clang, clang!
"I regret that I have . . . while drunken, hacked brother Cheng by mistake.
"I regret that I have . . . Ha, ha, ha.
"Tuck, tuck, clang, clang, tuck, chang, ling, chang!
"My hand will seize a metal whip to flog you."12
The two men of the Chao family, along with two other relatives, happened to be standing before the large door, discussing the Revolution.
Ah Q did not see them, but sailed past, head high and singing: "Tuck . . ."
"Venerable Q," nervously called the Venerable Mr. Chao in a low voice.
"Chang, clang," continued Ah Q, not dreaming that the word "venerable" could ever be connected with his own name, regarding it as an alien word that had nothing to do with himself. He merely kept singing,
"Tuck, chang, chang, ling, chang, chang!"
"Venerable Q."
"I regret that I have . . ."
