"Ah Q!" shouted the Hsiu-t'sai, who was finally obliged to call him directly by his name.
It was then that Ah Q stopped and, putting his head to one side, asked, "What is it?
"Venerable Q . . . at present . . . ," the Venerable Mr. Chao did not finish. "At present . . . are you doing well?"
"Am I doing well? Naturally . . . I do what pleases me . . ."
"Brother Q . . . you need not mind poor friends like us . . . ," added Chao Pai-jen embarrassed and as if feeling for information concerning the policies of the Revolutionary party.
"Poor friends? Why, you are much wealthier than I!" said Ah Q, walking away.
All concerned were disappointed and remained silent. The Venerable Mr. Chao and his son returned to their home and sat in consultation until the hour for lamp lighting. When Chao Pai-yen returned to his home, he took the purse from his waist and gave it to his wife to place at the bottom of a box.
Having soared on pinions of elation for some time, Ah Q returned to T'uku Temple; he had by this time already completely recovered from his intoxication. On this particular evening, the old man in charge of T'uku Temple was unusually benign and requested him to have some tea. Ah Q even asked him for two cakes and after eating
