Chapter 36: Pool of Clarity

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The atmosphere of the alleyways was thick and authentic; as he found himself immersed in them, Xiao Weiguo finally sensed the profound weight of the city, realizing that this was a place with a true and unique history. Emerging from the maze of alleyways onto the main road, he was met by a seething crowd—people of all kinds, moving in groups, intermingled with cyclists, their laughter and chatter blending together. What united them all was the genuine joy upon their faces; it was as if pressure did not exist, and their spirited, optimistic demeanor was something to be envied.

As Xiao Weiguo rode his bicycle, he observed the passersby, but in their eyes, he too became an object of curiosity. Many, especially the younger ones, gazed at his bicycle with longing and envy. This was not yet the late seventies or eighties, when people had begun to accumulate some savings. At this time, even purchasing one bicycle for an entire family was a considerable strain. It would only be in the seventies and eighties that China would naturally become a nation on two wheels.

Noting the envious glances, Xiao Weiguo felt a quiet pride—after all, possessing what others lacked was an intoxicating sensation.

Unconsciously, after asking several passersby for directions, Xiao Weiguo found himself at the Tsinghua Bathhouse on Hufang Road. There, an arched sign displayed the three characters for Tsinghua Bathhouse. The two-story building bustled with people of all kinds entering and exiting.

He approached the window to inquire about the price and was told it was twenty-six cents, plus a bath ticket. Fortunately, among the tickets he’d bought at the town’s pigeon market was one for a bath. After handing over the ticket and money, he received a bamboo token with the number 76 and made his way inside.

Steam rose thickly within the bathhouse. Xiao Weiguo showered first, then soaked in the pool, the comfort of which almost made him cry out with pleasure. After a while, he went on to experience a scrub, a steam room, and a pedicure—sampling each in turn. The pedicure, in particular, was exceptional; no wonder it had such a famous reputation and was so highly praised by the old man from the courtyard. Xiao Weiguo resolved to return if he ever had the time.

There was also a barber in the bathhouse, and Xiao Weiguo had his hair trimmed, emerging as a clean-cut, energetic young man. After one final shower, he was preparing to leave, when he suddenly noticed an old man not far off, half-submerged in the pool, his upper body exposed above the water, performing a set of movements with precise and flowing grace that seemed almost artistic.

Intrigued, Xiao Weiguo wondered what the old man was doing, practicing exercises in the bathhouse pool and apparently unconcerned about the water’s cleanliness; it was, after all, already afternoon and not as fresh as in the morning.

At that moment, a burly fellow in the pool stood up and shouted at the old man, “Are you here to bathe or to stir up the water? If you want trouble, just say so!” With that, he strode over, grabbed the old man’s arm with one hand, and tossed him out of the pool.

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The old man tumbled to the floor outside the pool, his expression unchanged as he muttered, “Still no good, still no good. How can I draw the energy into my body? My movements are clearly correct; I’ve tried in every setting, but it’s just not working…”

As the old man remained on the ground, no one dared approach, intimidated by the burly man. Xiao Weiguo, unable to stand by, quickly dried himself and, wearing a towel, hurried over and helped the old man up, escorting him to the rest area to recover.

“Sir, are you alright? Can you walk on your own?” Xiao Weiguo asked.

After a while, the old man regained his composure and replied, “Young man, I don’t think I can walk home by myself. Would you mind taking me back? When we arrive, I’ll give you a pound of meat as thanks.”

“Don’t worry about the meat, sir. I was just about to leave anyway. I’ll take you home—since you’re alone, I’m concerned for your safety,” Xiao Weiguo answered.

He certainly did not care about the reward; his concern was for the old man’s health. Xiao Weiguo, like many of his kind, was innately kind and good-natured. In later years, people would hesitate to help the elderly for fear of trouble, but in those days, with society still honest and sincere, people were happy to show their kindness and keep their hearts pure.

Once both were dressed, Xiao Weiguo took the old man on his bicycle to the address he’d given. It turned out to be not far from Nanluoguxiang, beside Chaoyang Gate. The old man’s home was a proper single-family courtyard house.

Xiao Weiguo was stunned by the sight. He hadn’t expected that his simple act of kindness would bring him into contact with someone of such stature. In that era, only families of substantial means could still occupy courtyard houses after the founding of the country.

The old man, noticing Xiao Weiguo’s awe, invited him inside. Xiao Weiguo, unable to refuse, followed him in.

The entrance opened onto a screen wall; turning left led to three side rooms, and beyond the ornate hanging gate lay the main courtyard. On either side were east and west wings, each with three rooms. In the courtyard grew a pomegranate tree and a vine-covered trellis beneath which stood a wicker chair and a tea table. A cage hung from the tree with a mynah bird inside.

In the main hall stood two huanghuali wood armchairs with a tea table between them, and two more pairs of armchairs below. Antique cabinets and shelves around the room displayed various treasures.

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What was most remarkable was that the old man lived there alone, making the entire courtyard feel empty and solitary.

In the main hall, Xiao Weiguo and the old man took their seats according to custom. The old man brewed a pot of tea and said, “Young man, thank you for your help today. Let me introduce myself: my name is Yang Moguang, but you may call me Old Yang. First, I must thank you for bringing me home. As for what happened at the bathhouse—pay it no mind. I was conducting an experiment and lost myself, making a fool of myself, but the fault was mine alone, not the young man’s. Do not let it trouble you. In our lives, what matters is cultivating the heart and contemplating the Huangting; we strive not to be disturbed by worldly affairs.”

“Old Yang, you are too kind. Respecting the elderly and cherishing the young is a principle we all live by. Anyone in my place would have helped; I just happened to be the first. I think even if I hadn’t, someone else would have stepped up,” Xiao Weiguo replied.

Recalling the old man’s unusual movements in the pool, Xiao Weiguo asked, “Old Yang, I saw you performing a beautiful and elegant set of movements in the pool. What was that?”

“That is the authentic Taoist Eightfold Longevity Exercise, passed down from the Quanzhen Dragon Gate tradition. I have since returned to lay life. My master once told us that when the Eightfold Longevity Exercise and the Eightfold Vajra Exercise can absorb the spiritual energy from the air, it will be the dawn of a great age for Taoism. So, though I am no longer a monk, whenever the thought arises, I practice, regardless of the place. Who would have thought I would embarrass myself in the bathhouse today?”

“The Eightfold Vajra Exercise and the Eightfold Longevity Exercise? They sound impressive. Old Yang, could I learn them?” Xiao Weiguo already had a deep fondness for native Taoism, and hearing of an authentic tradition, his interest was piqued. He asked directly.