Wang Xiaoshou had never been a model student. When the teacher droned on, he nodded off right in the front row…
Wang Xiaoshou had never been a model student.
When the teacher droned on, he nodded off right in the front row and was hauled to the back to "reflect." However, standing made no difference. He could sleep just fine on his feet.
Except for that one day. That day, he stayed awake. Outside the window, the old fellow next door and the one upstairs had unfolded a chessboard and started a game.
Wang Xiaoshou stretched his neck toward it, eyes shining, as if a hidden world had cracked open. He watched until the lesson ground to a halt, until his classmates packed up and left. Then, without thinking twice, he scrambled out the window and plopped himself down by the board.
Learning chess was dull too, but it beat books and lectures by a mile. After skipping class for a while, he finally thought of going back, only to find the master hoisting his bags. The school was closing.
Silver from the returned tuition weighed in Wang Xiaoshou's hand. He had no idea where to go.
It felt like the only place left for him was that chessboard.