What we want to introduce is Xiangzi, not Camel, because "Camel" is just a nickname; then, let's talk about Xiangzi first

and casually compare Camel and Xiangzi. As long as the relationship is over, forget it.

There are many schools of rickshaw pullers in Peiping: those who are young, strong, and agile, who pay attention to renting beautiful cars, pulling "all day long", and love

When to set out and drive? You are free to collect the car; pull it out and put it at the fixed "car port" ① or at the house door, waiting for those who take the express train

Master; once you have it done, maybe you can get one or two at once It's cheap; if it happens, maybe the whole day will be wasted and I won't even get my "car", but I don't care. Guys in this group probably have two hopes: either to rent a car; or to buy a car of their own. Once you have your own car, it doesn't matter if you rent a car or rent a car. Anyway, it doesn't matter. The car is my own.

Those who are slightly older than this group, or who are unable to run as well due to physical reasons, or who dare not waste a day due to family reasons, will probably Most of the dealers sell 80% new cars; both the people and the cars are quite beautiful, so they can still maintain considerable dignity when asking for prices. The driver of this group may pull for "a whole day" or "for half a day". In the latter case, because

there is still considerable energy, it is always "late" no matter in winter or summer②. Of course, you need more attention and skills at night than during the day; you will naturally earn more money.

It may be difficult for those who are over forty and under twenty to have a position in the first two factions. Their cars were broken and they didn't dare to stay late, so they had to get out early, hoping that they could move from early morning to 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon and get out of the car late. /p>

My own chewing grain ①. Their cars are broken and they run slowly, so they walk more and ask for less money. They go to the melon market, fruit market, and vegetable market to haul goods. They have little money, but there is no need to run fast.

Here, people under the age of twenty - some have been doing this since they were eleven or twelve years old - rarely change into beautiful ones after the age of twenty.

The coachman's, because he was injured when he was young, it is difficult to become strong. They may have been pulling foreign cars all their lives, but they have never been in the limelight in their lives. Some of the people over forty have been pulling carts for ten or eight years. The deterioration of their muscles has made them content to stay behind. They gradually know that sooner or later they will die on the road. The way they pull the cart, the adaptability they use when bargaining, and the shortcuts and detours they take are enough to remind them of their past glory, and to fan those who come after them with their noses. But this little light

can't reduce the darkness of the future at all, so they themselves often sigh when wiping their sweat. However, comparing them to other rickshaw pullers in their forties, it seems that they have not suffered enough yet. These people had never thought that they could have anything to do with foreign cars

before, and they only picked up the handlebars when the line between life and death was no longer clear. The patrolman or school janitor who was dismissed, the hawker who ate up all his capital, or the unemployed craftsman, who had nothing to sell and no job left, gritted his teeth and with tears in his eyes, On

this road to death. These people have sold their best life, and now they are pouring their blood and sweat on the road. If you have no strength, no experience, and no friends, you will not get good cheer even among your peers. They pull the shabbiest carts, and the belts may deflate many times a day; while pulling people, they have to beg for forgiveness, even though fifteen coppers is enough. Sweet deal.

In addition, due to the unique environment and knowledge, some cart drivers formed another sect. Those born in Xiyuan and Haidian are naturally more convenient to go to Xishan, Yanjing, and Tsinghua; similarly, those who are outside Andingmen can go to Qinghe, Beiyuan; those who are outside Yongdingmen can go to Nanyuan. ...

This is a long trip, and I don’t want to take a single seat; because it is just a trip, and I don’t care to pay for three or five coppers. But they

are not as spirited as the rickshaw pullers in Dongjiaomin Lane, who specialize in foreign trade.

Being angry is not a big deal. Most of the reasons why ordinary coachmen cannot compete for this business are because these foreigners have some unique knowledge and they can speak foreign languages. The British soldiers and the French soldiers all knew about Longevity Mountain, Yonghe Temple, and the "Eight Hutongs". They have their own foreign language and do not teach it to others. Their running style is also special.

They take four or six steps, neither fast nor slow. They keep their heads down and don't look away. They walk close to the roadside, showing that they are indifferent to the world and have their own expertise. The

air. Because of the foreigners, they don't need to wear a hoodie, but they all wear long-sleeved white coats, white or black trousers, the legs are particularly fat, and there are thin straps on the ankles; On top are wide-faced blue cloth shoes with thousand-layer soles; they are clean, neat and elegant. Seeing such clothes

other drivers will no longer come over to compete for seats and race cars. They seem to belong to another industry.

With this simple analysis, when we talk about Xiangzi's status, it is as accurate as saying - we hope - a certain kind of nails on a machine.

Before Xiangzi became associated with the nickname "Camel", he was a relatively free foreign rickshaw driver. This means that he was young and strong and had his own car: Your own car and your own life are all in your own hands, a high-class coachman. This is no easy task. One year, two years, at least three or four years; one drop of sweat, two drops of sweat, I don’t know how many thousands of drops of sweat, to earn that car. I earned that car through gritting my teeth in the wind and rain, and struggling with food and tea. That car was the total result and reward of all his struggles and hardships, like a badge of a warrior who had experienced many battles. When he

rented someone else's car, he would go from morning to night, from east to west, from south to north, like a top being spun by others; he had no freedom

Ji. But in this rotation, his eyes were not dazzled, and his mind was not confused. He was always thinking about a car in the distance that could make him free and independent, like his own hands and feet. So a car. With his own car, he no longer needs to be annoyed by the people tying the car, and he doesn't have to deal with others; he has his own strength and a foreign car, and he can have food when he opens his eyes.

He is not afraid of hardship, and he does not have the bad habits of ordinary rickshaw drivers that can be forgiven but not imitated. His intelligence and hard work are enough to make his wish a reality. If his environment was better, or he received more education, he would definitely not fall into the "rubber group"

①, and no matter what he does, he will never let down his opportunity. Unfortunately, he had to pull a rickshaw; well, in this camp he also proved his ability and intelligence. It was as if he could be a good ghost even in hell. He grew up in the countryside, lost his parents and several acres of thin farmland, and ran to the city when he was eighteen years old. With the strength and honesty of a country boy, he has done almost everything in which he can make a living by working hard. However, he soon realized that pulling a cart was an easier way to make money;

Doing other hard work, the income was limited; pulling a cart had many changes and opportunities, and he didn’t know when he would be with him. Locations will encounter

some rewards that are more than expected. Naturally, he also knew that such an opportunity was not entirely accidental, but that both the person and the car must be beautiful and energetic, and have goods to sell in order to meet someone who knows the goods. After thinking about it, he believed that he had the qualifications: he was strong and young; the only difference was that he had not yet run and did not dare to pull a beautiful car as soon as he got started.

But this is not an insurmountable difficulty. With

his body and strength as the basis, he only needs to test it for ten days and a half, and he will definitely be able to run well, and then rent a new car

p>

He might be able to get a chartered car soon, and then he would be able to save money for a year or two, or even three or four years, and he would definitely be able to get one himself

Car, what a beautiful car! Looking at the muscles of his youth, he thought that it was only a matter of time. This was a wish and goal that could be achieved. It was definitely not a dream!

His stature and muscles have developed in advance of his years; in his twenties, he is already very big and tall, although his limbs have not been molded by the years.

He has a certain pattern, but he already looks like an adult - an adult with an innocent and naughty look on his face

. Looking at the high-class coachman, he planned how to get into his waist so as to show off his iron fan-like chest and straight back; he turned to look at his shoulders. , how wide, how majestic! After killing the waist, put on white trousers with fat legs, and tie the trousers with chicken

Intestinal belts, revealing those "big" feet! Yes, he can undoubtedly become the best coachman; he laughed to himself like a fool. He had no appearance; what made him lovely was the spirit in his face. His head is not very big, with round eyes, a fleshy nose, two very short and thick eyebrows, and his head is always shaved brightly. There is no extra flesh on the cheeks, and the neck is almost as thick as one side of the head; the face is always flushed, and what is particularly bright is a large scar between the cheekbone and the right ear - when I was a child, Sleeping under a tree, he was chewed

by a donkey. He didn't pay much attention to his appearance. He loved his face as much as he loved his body, both of which were so strong and hard. He

seemed that his face was included in his limbs, as long as he was hard and hard. Yes, after arriving in the city, he could still stand upside down for a long time with his head down.

Standing like this, he felt that he was like a tree, with no part up and down that was not straight.

He is indeed a bit like a tree, strong, silent, and alive. He has his own plans and some good intentions, but he is not good at telling others about them. Among foreign rickshaw pullers, personal grievances and difficulties are the public talk. At the "rickshaw entrance", in small teahouses, and in large courtyards, everyone reports, describes or makes noises about their own affairs. , and then these things became everyone's property, spreading from one place to another like a folk song. Xiangzi was from the country, and he could not speak as eloquently as people from the city. If eloquence was a gift, he was born not to talk much, so he had no desire to imitate the garrulous talkers from the city. tongue. He knows his stuff and doesn't like to discuss it with others. Because his mouth is always idle, he has time to think, and his eyes seem to be looking into his own heart. As long as he has made up his mind

he will follow the path opened in his heart; if it doesn't work, he can remain silent for a day or two and grit his teeth.

It’s like biting my own heart! He decided to pull the cart and did so. After renting a broken car, he practiced his legs first. I didn’t get any money on the first day.

Business was good the next day, but after lying down for two days, his ankles were swollen like two gourds and he could no longer lift them up. He endured the pain no matter what. He knew that this was inevitable and that this was a hurdle that he had to pass when pulling the cart.

He cannot run boldly until he passes this level.

After his feet healed, he dared to run. This made him very happy, because there was nothing else to be afraid of: he was familiar with the place names, and it didn't matter even if he took a long way sometimes, fortunately he had plenty of strength. The method of pulling a cart is not too difficult to understand based on his

experience of pushing, pulling, carrying, and picking. Besides, he has his own idea: pay more attention and compete less, and probably nothing will go wrong. As for bargaining for seats, he is too slow-talking and aggressive to get past those old guys. Knowing this shortcoming, he

simply did not go to the "car entrance"; he would put it wherever there was no car.

In this secluded place, he can calmly negotiate the price, and sometimes he refuses to ask for the price. He just says: "Sit down and see what you get!" His look is so honest, and his face He was so simple and cute, people seemed to have no choice but to trust him, not daring to think that this silly big man could knock people. Even if people are suspicious, they can only suspect that he is a country boy who has just come to the city. He probably doesn't know the way, so he can't tell the price. When people ask,

"Do you know him?" he pretends to be stupid or smiles in a playful way, making people wonder what to do.

Within two or three weeks, he slipped his leg out. He knows his running style looks good. Running technique is evidence of the driver's ability and

qualifications. The one with his feet splayed on the ground like a pair of cattail fans is undoubtedly a newcomer who has just come from the countryside. The head is lowered

very deep, the feet are rubbing against the ground, running and walking at about the same speed, and those who show signs of running are those over fifty years old

. Those who are experienced but have little strength have another method: they draw their chests inward, very deep, lift their legs very high, and poke their heads as they walk

In this way, they will run very hard. They look like they are, but in fact they are no faster than others; they rely on their "style" to maintain their dignity. Of course, Xiangzi would never adopt these postures. His legs are long and his stride is wide, and his waist is very stable. He runs without much noise, stretches and contracts with each step, and the handlebars do not move, making the seat feel safe and comfortable. When it comes to stopping,

no matter how fast he is running, he just rubs his big feet on the ground and stops; his strength seems to be able to reach every part of the car

. His back was slightly bent, and his hands were loosely clasped around the handlebars. He moved neatly and accurately; he ran very fast without any hint of haste, and fast without any danger. Even in a chartered car, it must be considered very expensive.

He bought a new car. From the day he changed the car, he understood that the car he rented - with a soft bow and pure copper, a large raincloth curtain, double lights, and a large copper horn with a thin neck - was worth a fortune. In the early 100s; if the painting and copper work is a bit neglected, a hundred yuan can be enough to stop it. Roughly speaking, as long as he has 100 yuan, he can buy a car. Suddenly I thought, if I can save even a dime a day, one hundred yuan would be a thousand days, a thousand days! Putting a thousand days together, he could hardly calculate how far it was. But

But, he made up his mind, no matter if it takes a thousand days or ten thousand days, he must buy a car! The first step he should take, he thought about it, is to get a chartered car.

If he meets a boss who has a lot of friends and has a lot of dinner parties, and there are an average of more than ten dinner parties in a month, he can save two or three yuan of money for transportation and meals.

In addition, he saves another eighty yuan every month, maybe three to five yuan, and he can have fifty or sixty yuan left in a year! In this way,

his hopes will be much closer. He doesn't smoke, drink, or gamble. He doesn't have any hobbies or family burdens. As long as he grits his teeth, everything will be fine. He swore to himself that in one and a half years, he - Xiangzi -

must turn it into his own car! It's a current one, don't see an old car like a new one.

He really got a monthly subscription. However, the facts do not entirely help hope. Yes, he gritted his teeth, but after a year and a half, he still hadn't fulfilled his wish. The chartered car was indeed pulled up, and things were carefully watched; unfortunately, things in the world are not

one-sided. He takes care of himself, but the boss will not let him go because of this; it may be three or two months, or ten or eight days, blow

③! He had to find something else to do. Naturally, he had to look for things while looking for things to do, and he also had to go to work; he couldn't be idle while riding and looking for horses. At this time of year, he often made mistakes. He still worked hard not just to chew grain for a day, but also to continue saving money to buy a car. But it is never appropriate to force yourself to work hard: when he pulled up the car, he couldn't concentrate on running. He seemed to be thinking about something. The more he thought about it, the more frightened and angry he became. If this continues, when will I be able to buy a car? Why is this

? Could it be that I am not a strong person? While he was thinking so wildly, he forgot his usual caution.

The leather wheels were covered with broken metal

Magnetic chips were fired, so the car had to be put away. More seriously, I sometimes bumped into pedestrians, and once I even lost my axle cover in my rush to squeeze past. If he was pulling a chartered car, these mistakes would never have happened; as soon as he put things aside, he felt unhappy and

became a little stunned. If he crashes his car, he will naturally have to pay for it; this makes him even more anxious and adds fuel to the fire; for fear of causing greater trouble, he sometimes sleeps all day long. When he opened his eyes, he realized that the day had passed in vain, and he regretted and hated himself again. Also

In this period, the more anxious he is, the more he will suffer from himself, and the more irregular he will be in eating and drinking; he thinks that he is iron-clad, but if he dares to be touched, he will also get sick

. When he was sick, he was reluctant to spend money to buy medicine, so he held on. As a result, his illness became more and more serious, and he not only had to buy medicine, but also had to rest for several days at a stretch. These difficulties made him grit his teeth and work harder, but the money to buy a car did not speed up the process.

In three whole years, he collected one hundred yuan!

He couldn't wait any longer. The original plan was to buy the most complete, latest and most desirable car, but now I have to settle for a hundred dollars.

Can't wait any longer; if something happens, I'll lose a few more! It happened that there was a car that had just been ordered (one that was made to order but had no money to pick it up)

It was very similar to the car he expected; it was originally worth more than 100, but he gave up because of the deposit, and the car shop Be willing to ask for less. Xiangzi's face was red and his hands were trembling, and he paid for ninety-six yuan: "I want this car!" The shop owner planned to squeeze in a round number, but said no

How many words do you know, pulling his car out and in, setting up the shed and putting it down again, honking the horn, each action is accompanied by a string of the best adjectives

; in the end, he was still in the steel The wheels were kicked twice, "Listen to the sound, it's like a bell! Pull it out, and you'll just tear the car apart. If one of the steel bars becomes soft, you can take it back." , Throw it in my face! One hundred yuan, let’s blow!” Xiangzi counted the money again: “I want this car, ninety-six!” I met a thoughtful person,

Looked at the money, looked at Xiangzi, and sighed: "Make a friend, the car is yours; guarantee for six months: unless you smash the big box ,

I paid for the repair for free; take the insurance policy!”

Xiangzi’s hands trembled even more. He picked up the insurance policy and pulled up the car, almost crying. Pull it to a secluded place, take a closer look at your car, and try to shine your face on the paint board! The more I look at it, the cuter it becomes, even if it doesn’t quite meet my ideals, I can forgive it because it is already my own car. Seeing that he could take a break from looking at the car for the time being, he sat on the new feet of the dustpan and looked at the shiny brass horn on the handlebar. He suddenly remembered that he was twenty-two years old this year. Because

his parents died early, he forgot when his birthday was. Since coming to the city, he has not celebrated a birthday. Well, I bought a new car today

Even if it’s my birthday, what belongs to you is also the car’s, so it’s easy to remember, and since the car is your own hard work, there’s nothing you can’t do with it

A place counted together with the car.

How to live this "double life"? Xiangzi had an idea: the first transaction must be with a well-dressed person, definitely not a woman. It’s best to pull up to the front door, followed by Dongan Market. Now, he should have a meal at the best food stall, such as hot sesame seed cakes with fried mutton and the like. After eating, if there is a good deal, I will buy one or two more; if there is not, I will collect the car; it is my birthday!

Since he got this car, his life has become more and more exciting. Whether it's for a monthly basis or for free, he doesn't have to worry about his "car share" every day. No matter how much money he gets, it's all his own. When you feel comfortable in your heart, you will be more kind to others, and your business will go more smoothly.

After working for half a year, his hope became even greater: if he continued like this, he would be able to buy another car, one or two, if he worked for two years at most.

A car... He can also drive a factory car!

However, most hopes are in vain, and Xiangzi's is no exception.

Two

Because he was happy, he became bolder; since he bought a car, Xiangzi ran faster.

Of course he was very careful about his car, but when he looked at himself and then at his car, he felt that something was amiss, if he didn't run quickly.

He himself has grown more than an inch since he came to the city. He felt that he still had to grow taller. Yes

Yes, his skin and appearance are firmer and firmer, and he already has a small beard on his upper lip; but he thinks he should still

grow taller Some. When he came to a small house door or a street door and had to lower his head to get in, although he didn't say anything, he secretly liked it because he was already so tall and felt that he was still growing. , he seems to be both an adult and a child, which is very interesting.

For such a big man to pull into such a beautiful car, the bow of his own car was so soft that even the handlebars moved slightly

; It's so bright, the mats are so white, and the horn is so loud; if you can't run fast, how can you be worthy of yourself? How can you be worthy of that car? This is not vanity, but seems to be a responsibility. Unless you run fast or fly, you will not be able to give full play to your own strength and the beauty of the car. That car is really cute. After driving it for half a year, it seems to have consciousness and emotion everywhere. When Xiangzi twists his waist, squats down, or straightens his back, it immediately responds. He co-authored it and gave Xiangzi the most satisfactory help. There was no estrangement between him and it. When he arrived at a place with few people on the ground, Xiangzi could hold the handle with one hand, and the slightly squeaking leather wheel urged him to run quickly and steadily like a sharp breeze. . When they got to the spot, Xiangzi's clothes were sweating so much that they were sweating, as if they had just been fished out of a basin. He felt tired, but it was very pleasant and something to be proud of, a kind of fatigue, just like riding a famous horse for dozens of miles. If being bold doesn't mean being careless, Xiangzi was not careless when he ran boldly.

If you don't run quickly, you will be sorry for others; if you run quickly and damage the car, you will be sorry for yourself. The car is his life, and he knows how to be petty. Putting caution and boldness together, he became more and more confident. He was convinced that both he and the car were made of iron.

Therefore, not only did he dare to run boldly, he also didn't think much about when to get out of the car. He felt that pulling a cart to earn a living was the most courageous thing in the world; if he was willing to go out, no one could stop him. He didn't pay much attention to the rumors outside. There were soldiers coming to Xiyuan again, there was another war in Changxindian, there was another case being pulled outside Xizhimen, and Qihuamen was closed. For half a day, he didn't pay much attention. Naturally, all the shops on the street had opened their doors, and the road was full of armed police and security teams. He couldn't deliberately make himself feel uncomfortable, so he hurriedly collected the car like others. However, he didn't believe the rumors. He knows how to be cautious,

Especially because the car is his own, but he is a country boy after all, and he is not like the city people who hear wind and rain. Besides, his body

makes him believe that even if he unfortunately gets to the "point", he will definitely have a way to avoid suffering a big loss; he is not easily bullied

Insulting, such a big man, such broad shoulders!

News and rumors of war grow with the spring wheat almost every year. Wheat ears and bayonets can be regarded as symbols of hope

and fear of northerners. When Xiangzi's new car was just half a year old, it was the time when wheat needed spring rain. The spring rain may not fall in accordance with the people's expectations, but war will always come regardless of whether people hope for it or not. Rumor or truth, Xiangzi seems to have forgotten

He once worked as a farmer; he didn't care much about how the war destroyed the fields, nor did he pay much attention to the presence or absence of spring rain. He only cares about his

car, which can produce pancakes and all kinds of food. It is a versatile field that follows him docilely, a living land,

Treasure land. Because of the lack of rain and the news of the war, the price of food has increased; Xiangzi knows this. But like the people in the city, he can only complain about the price of food, but has no idea at all; food is expensive, it is expensive, who can make it cheap? This attitude made him

only care about his own life and put all disasters and disasters behind him.

If the people in the city are helpless about everything, they may make up rumors-sometimes completely out of thin air, sometimes making a 100% truth out of

the truth--in order to show off their evil intentions. They are not stupid and idle. They are like small fishes. When they are idle, they put their mouths on the water surface and spit out a few completely useless bubbles. Among the rumors, the most interesting ones are about war. Other kinds of rumors

Rumors are often always rumors, just like talking about ghosts and foxes, and they will not really see ghosts as they talk. About war