said,justassheapologizedforherdaughtersmonopolizingthebathroom:"Youknowhowyounggirlsare."
Iwastheretoseeagreatpacking.Thelandladyhadarelativegoingback--awomaninherseventies--whocouldtakethingsinforthem.Thelandlady'shusbandwrestledwithloadsandropesalloverthekitchenfloor.Shebakedacakeandmadestewedpork.
"Theycanusethepottoo,"shesaid.
"HowisonetocarryapotofstewedporkallthewaytoShanghai?"
"Itwillbefrozenthetrainisarefrigerator."
Shegotupatdawntoseetheoldladyoff,andshehadtogoalonetohelpcarrytheluggagepasttheinspectionsattheLohuborder.Thenextdayshecriedoutwhenshecameuponme:"Ha-ya,MissChang!Ialmostdidn'tcomeback."
"Butwhathappened?"
"Huh-yee-ya!Tobeginwith,therewerealtogethertoomanythings.Theoldlady'sfault,too---shehadsomanythingsofherown.Oildrums,cratesofsaltedfish,wholecartonsofcans.Clothes,bedding,potsandpans,enoughtofurnishahouse.Thecustomsmanwaslosinghistemper.Thenhecameuponsomechangeinherpurse,twenty,thirtycentsofJenMingPiaoshehadwithherwhenshecameoutlasttimeandforgottogetridof.You'renotsupposedtotakeCommunistmoneyin,soallhellbrokeloose.'Wheredidthiscomefrom?Ha?'And'Whatdoyoumeanbythis?Ha?'Turnedonmenow:'Whoareyou?AH?'"Mylandladyscrewedupherslant-eyedbabefacetoroaroutthe"Ahs"and"Has"."Ai-ya?aIsaidIknewnothingaboutthis,Ijustcametoseeheroff,butallthetimeIwasworriedtodeath."Shefrownedandcluckedwithannoyanceanddroppedhervoicetoawhisper."Thisoldladyhaddozensofnylonstockingssewninsideherthickpaddedgown."
"Tosell?"Iasked.
"No,justtogiveaspresentswomenweartheminsidetheirslacks."
"Butwhy?Whentheycan'tevenbeseen?"Andwithallthehungerweheardwasaround,Ithought.
"Notfull-lengthones."Thelandladygesturedtowardhercalves."Forthewivesofofficials.Shelikestobringeverybodysomething.Verycapableoldlady.SheimportsmoviesmadeinHongKong.Whatdoesshewantsomuchmoneyfor?Ha?Seventyandnochildren?Ha?"
Irememberedcomingouttenyearsago,walkingthelaststretchacrosstheLohuBridgewithitsroughwoodflo