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Kong Yiji by Lu Xun (story read in English)
I enter Luzhen hotel wearing my old worn long gown calling over the bartender I order two bowls of warm wine I pay nine coins for wine and a plate of fennel-flavored beans I chat with a stranger, but he just mocks and laughs at me Unable to control my anger, my face turns bright red How dare you insult me? I take a sip of my wine and argue Did the Rickshaw Boy1 "Xiangzi" really die of laziness? All of Lu Xun's2 writings are works of quackery Chen Sheng and Wu Guang3 lived bitter lives with unrealistic hope All the diners turn and stare at me They ask "Who the hell do you think you are?" Looking down at my long gown I declare: I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji His4 out-of-touch bullshit dares to ask if I agree You call me sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji I'd rather waste my whole life than sell it for cheap I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji You drive a Lamborghini, yet brand me lazy, I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji This rotten society is owed nothing from me! I wash my face every day, though my pockets are cleaner Guess I have to keep wearing my long gown and do endless paperwork for the boss I thought work was meant to be a breeze But after living the 996 life the cops took me away for "maliciously" demanding my pay Why is there no labor law in this rotten society? How can we let these predators trample our dignity? Does no one care about these insane stories? All the diners turn and stare at me They ask "Why ain't you afraid?" I laugh and declare: I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji The weak have long given up on the struggle You call me sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji "growth and experiences"5 have only left me with scars I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji Optimism is the mask that conceals my teary eyes6 I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji All I want to do is curse when you ask me if I'm happy The tavern buzzes as I say my piece, Their ridicule and laughter, I couldn't care less, Study is meant for the glory of China, not a food delivery service, The diners smirk presumptuously, except this idiot9 Sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, I'm the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji Tear through this crumbling wall, for a sliver of righteous light I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji We must embrace both praise and criticism I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji How much bad blood do the censored comments conceal? I'm sunny cheerful Kong Yiji, the sunny cheerful Kong Yiji I wanted to be Kong Ming7, but Shang Yang8 is my fate
*. Kong YiJi: main character in a short-story of the same name by Lu Xun, the founder of modern Chinese literature.
1. rickshaw boy: story of a guy who gives up on life after everyone he ever loved betrays him or dies
2. 19th century Chinese philosopher: admired and cited by Mao Zedong as a key inspiration for the revolution
3. Well-known peasant rebellion leaders, who ultimately failed (discontent peasants were no match for the military)
4. Reference to Lu Xun (25 September 1881 – 19 October 1936)
5. Idiom: People accumulate experience to become a productive member of society
6. wojak meme?
7. Zhuge Liang? Revered prime minister of the state of Shu Han during 3 Kingdoms period
8. = Wei Yang, Qin Dynasty Statesman(390–338, BC Warring States) Great reformer who spoke truth to power and was executed.
9. self-depreciating joke