I wondered if he was bald or playing some mystery or just being cool. As I wondered in silence, a large hotpot of lamb spines arrived along with plates of vegetables. And the noises waved; one fell, another rose. The distinctive accents of characteristic southerners and northerners, buzzed around. Still Guo’s subjects were inconsequential, and there was nothing personal. Unlike Guo, Nan was passively subservient. It seemed as if she was also manipulating the art of planning something mysterious, so as not to be as reserved as Mr Bao, but to wait and see. Running out of patience and almost getting bored, with a boiling interest in Mr Bao, I fi nally began a conversation in favor of a change of scenery.