从市场后门出来，一转进了一个小巷。如果说刚才欣欣向荣的宠物市场可能给我们的“外宾”造成对一个国人，或者说北京人与我们所说的“玩物丧志”有关的任何印象的话，那么眼前的景象绝对是一个没有任何折扣的原汁原味到能感觉到脉搏的中国。正对面一个工薪阶层价位的饭馆里伙计们一边忙着把小笼包码进蒸笼一边招呼着顾客。摆在人行道上的简易煤炉上是满满的一大盆，咕嘟咕嘟地冒着热气的，乌黑的茶叶蛋--我想一定象中国在美国上市的股票一样是美味的却充满风险。于是自己心里暗自庆幸已经吃过了早饭，否则……按我抵御美食的能力很可能结果是还没开始的旅程就在这儿结束了。
饭馆的右手是个简易的修车铺。老板一早起来已经开始了一天的工作，蹲在地上静静地却自信给一个扭曲的瓦圈拿龙（写下这句话我惊讶于自己这么多年以后还居然记得如此不常用的专业词汇）--这么早就有这么大的活我想这个修车铺生意看来不错。这时候Ron又开始举着炮筒瞄准这个新的目标了。我忽然意识到Ron是机械工程师出身，现在受雇于美国三大汽车公司之一，负责在不同国家开发多种车型在一个底盘上实现的设计。他和眼前这个修车师傅，工作同是为社会交通便捷安全出力，真可以算的上是“革命分工不同”而已。
在他回到美国以后会如何向他的朋友和家人解释这张照片呢—这个人一天工资可能只有10块美元；这辆车总共也不过30美元；但他的投入，他脸上流露出的自信与满足和一个，比如说，无影灯下做开胸手术的心血管医生不相上下；他可以一蹲就是十几分钟一动不动；他仅凭手里一个小小的铁块在辐条的根部转来转去就可以把这个扭曲的金属环变圆，变直。不管是哪个，有一件事我几乎可以确信--他一定是怀着无比尊敬的心情来描述这张他遥远的同行的照片，并且很可能一边讲着一边把照片放大直至修车人的投入，自信和满足与脸上的灰尘一样清晰可见。一瞬间，一个美国人，确切地说一个高大的，梳洗整齐，金发碧眼的年收入相当于百万人民币的美国白人，和一个蹲在地上的，双手和全身沾满油污的收入只及他几十分之一的黑头发黑眼睛的中国人，在我这个旁观者眼里，竟是如此的相象。
Yo,
Obviously your blog has upset people back in China; way too many haters:) To be safe, (i) talk about Chinese FOOD and how much you miss it (even though it is just another way of cooking); (ii) talk a lot more about how RICH people in China are and how easy it is to live in China (btw, mentioning a lot of Chinese commuting in cars won't hurt); (iii) talk a lot lot more about your fantastic shopping experience in China (even though the quality really sucks).
Posted by: yo at December 21, 2005 10:01 PMThat's just an unfair comment mistakenly taking for granted that Chinese people only embrace writings singing praise of the economy development. Try to understand why the author is being criticized before leaving any stereotype comment, cause trying to be funny won't save you from sounding shallow.
Posted by: totheneighbourdownstairs at December 22, 2005 12:50 AMyo,
Thanks for your suggestions. I agree with some of them. I'm sorry to see when some people mis-interpreted, often intentionally, my intentions. It's sad that even in an environment as open as the web, one cannot openly discuss his feelings without being hammered.
totheneighbourdownstairs, I'd like to hear what you say about my blog.
Posted by: shamu at December 22, 2005 11:40 AM我喜欢你的博克：）。选择一个安静的时候，细细的读，是种享受哦，让我看到了另一个视角的中国了呢。
Posted by: 半窗 at December 22, 2005 07:21 PMI cannot comment on your blog as I am not a regular reader. As far as your series on the mainland trip is concerned, I think it offers an interesting perspective on how a mainlander observs his home town, or home country, after a long absence. It is same interesting as the observations made by foreigners who don't know China well. Personally, I believe you have a genuine respect for the bicycle guy and I think the others are just not into your writing style. The dude/dudette who leaves the first comment jumps to a conclusion out of misinterpretation.
Posted by: toshamu at December 22, 2005 10:15 PM还以为你写了什么大逆不道的东西，害的论坛里那么热闹。
看了一下你写的，更不明白了，就这个也至于这么大打出手的？这里还都不敢说中文了？
从文笔上来说，这篇比以前的好多了。:)
从内容上来说，令狐也太TMD心理脆弱了。看了这个就上纲上线的拉到国家人民的高度，只证明某些人的自卑到了什么程度，动不动就觉得是在映射什么。切。别理他不就得了？
shamu说的这句话也欠推敲：
It's sad that even in an environment as open as the web, one cannot openly discuss his feelings without being hammered.
就因为是open才会什么鸟儿都有啊，要是这个心理素质都没有，那就还是偷偷自己写着玩，别拿出来给人看了。要向琪子学习，人家骂，你给他骂回去啊！而且千万别动气，不值得的。:)
好了，看在那什么什么分上，出来说句“公道话”。
你接着写啊，现在的速度慢了点。:)
圣诞快乐！全家好。:)
Posted by: jean at December 23, 2005 01:55 AMi guess i didn't make myself clear.
when i said ur observations were same interesting as those foreigners who know nothing about china, i was putting u--not specifically u but all those who had their roots in china but live abroad for a comparatively longer time -- into a third category, besides foreigners and Chinese who have no abroad experience. It is always interesting to c how one news item, eg, is received and reacted differently by Chinese and foreign bloggers. If news is too serious, we can take the articles in english-language magazines like That's Beijing or Beijing Talk. I c how foreigners made a greate deal about sth we Chinese took for granted and realises the culture difference. ur posting is a third angle and i think that's intersting.
I agree nobody should jump to conclusion, that's why i was so upset by the first comment.
also, i guess u have realised people r more open-minded these days and have their own judgement. i don't need to go further on that.
merry x'mas
半窗, 谢谢你光临。
对不起开始没看到你的留言--夹在两个长一些的之间被我疏忽了。
欢迎你对我这个视角提你的看法。我也希望看到从国内来的不同的想法。