The Troubleshooters,' by Wang Shuo

56 CHINESE EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
MAN: Just think about it! A restaurant that can seat ten thousand people. Man,
wouldn’t that be exciting? It’s gonna be constructed in the vast, ancient land of
China. Don’t assume that the foreign moon is brighter than it is here, for we also
have things of wonder right here. I’ll quit my job. I’ll do anything to see this
project materialize. Are we really gonna do it? If we are, we don’t have to spend
our money. Remember that when the Great Wall was under construction the
treasury was drained, but how about now? We all depend on it to attract tourists.
MA QING: Well, fine, but how are you going to coax so many tourists to come
here?
MAN: That’s not the problem, believe me. What do you think foreigners are
doing every single day? They’re coming to China to have a giant feast!
YANG ZHONG begins to shout and pound on the glass with his hand when he
notices Yu GUAN walking by, clad in his wrinkled jacket.
YANG ZHONG: Yu Gum!
Yu GUAN turns in response to hearing his name. He leaves the crowded
sidewalk when he ident#es YANG ZHONG and MA QING as the people waving at
him from inside the restaurant, much like caged simians. YU GUAN enters the
restaurant and slowly approaches his friends table.
YANG ZHONG: We were looking for you. Instead of going back to the office,
why don’t you stay here with us? We’re going to have a luncheon here.
Yu GUAN: Who’s the host?
Yu GUAN sits at the table, sips some of YANG ZHONG’S leftover cofSee and
then replaces the cup on the table.
YANG ZHONG: We were invited by Bao Kang. Ding Xiaolu called us and told us
to be sure you made it here.
Yu GUAN: Why did Bao Kang decide to sponsor a luncheon?
YANG ZHONG: He called Ding Xiaolu and told her to bring Lin Pei. Understand
now?
YANG ZHONG winks at Yu GUAN.
Yu GUAN: Have you guys been hanging out here all morning?