Now, Liu Qing came out of the west wing and called in a loud voice, “Is everything ready in the east wing — the charcoal, the candles, the tea and water, the wine and food?” A servant was heard to answer, “All of it is ready.” “Then all of you keep out of the way,” said Liu Qing, “and nobody is to go in or out without good reason.” Then came a woman’s voice: “You old women and maids, keep your wits about you! Tonight we have a thief shut up in the house, and who knows if it’s only hairpins he steals — he may go for the jewellery too.” A quick-tongued maid spoke up at once: “Don’t you worry, madam. I’ve even put away the ties of my trouser legs; there’s not a thing left lying about outside.” “Hold your tongue, you chattering girl,” the woman said crossly. “Come inside, and no more of your nonsense.” The speaker was Liu Qing’s wife. Jiang Ping heard every word and knew perfectly well it was meant for him, but he acted as if he had heard nothing.

By now it was already the second watch. Liu Qing went into the east wing and grumbled, “Of all the things to happen! A perfectly good bed, and I can’t get any rest in it. And now, of all times, the charcoal in this brazier has burned low and the tea has gone cold, and I’ll have to see to it all myself. Who knows when he means to do his stealing? It’s enough to wear a man’s patience out.” All at once there came a shuffle, shuffle from outside, the door curtain stirred, and in came Jiang Ping. “Don’t grumble, worthy brother,” he said. “Just think: here in your room you have a brazier and tea and water, and the walls are papered tight and everything neatly laid out. Now look at my room: cold as an ice cellar, wind blowing in on every side, and not so much as a mat to lie on. I lay down for a bit just now and it was really miserable. I’ll just warm myself up in here a while.” Hearing this, Liu Qing looked Jiang Ping over again: he had only his hairnet1 on his head and no headcloth, and he was shuffling along with his shoes trodden down at the heel, as if he had just been lying down. “If you’re complaining of the cold,” said Liu Qing, “why haven’t you even put your cap on?” “There’s nothing whatever in that room,” said Jiang Ping. “I took off my headcloth just now to use as a pillow, and then I was so cold I thought of nothing but getting over here and forgot to put it on.” “Sit a moment, then,” said Liu Qing, “but you ought to go back. You have your own business to see to; the sooner it’s done, the sooner I can get some rest.” “Worthy brother,” said Jiang Ping, “you really have given up talking about friendship and points of honour. When you came to our Xiankong Island that time, think how we treated you. Now I’ve come here, and never mind your not entertaining me, but not even a cup of tea?” Liu Qing laughed. “What a ridiculous thing to say. You came here today to rob me. Since you’ve come to rob me, why would I lay on tea for you? Have you ever heard of anyone in the world getting everything ready for a thief and then sitting and waiting for him to come and rob him?” Jiang Ping laughed too. “There’s something in what you say, worthy brother. But just one thing: have you ever heard of anyone in the world sitting under bright lamps and candles waiting for a thief to rob him? This isn’t ‘opening the door and bowing the robber in2’ — it’s ‘questioning the thief face to face’!” Liu Qing glared at him. “Jiang, don’t try to talk your way round me. However well you talk, you can’t talk my hairpin off my head. You’d better make your plans, and the sooner the better.” “As for stealing the hairpin,” said Jiang Ping, “that’s no hard matter in itself. My only fear is that you won’t wear it on your head, and then it would be hard.”

Liu Qing flared up at once. “Would a true man stoop to that?” he said. And he took off his headcloth, pulled out the hairpin and tossed it on the table. “Isn’t that the hairpin? Do you think I’d lie to you? If you have the skill, take it.” Jiang Ping, bold as brass, reached out, picked it up and tucked it into the breast of his robe. “Thank you kindly, worthy brother,” he said, and stood up to go. Liu Qing gave a faint, cold sneer. “So this is the famous River Rat, Jiang Ping! I took you for a man of deep schemes and far-reaching plans, and all you know how to do is cheat! What a joke, what a joke!” At that Jiang Ping glared with his little eyes and his thin face flushed red. “Liu, don’t talk such rubbish. I, Jiang Ping, am a man through and through. What would I want to cheat for?” He reached back, took out the hairpin and tossed it on the table as well. “Be on your guard,” he said, “and I’ll come and steal from you.” With that he turned and went back to the west wing.