No doubt about it. These kids were like thousands of others I had met, born and raised on construction sites. The workers liked to name their children after the projects where they were born. Cheng-yu probably had first seen the light of day on the railway project between Chengtu and Chung king, also known as Yu. His baby sister Pao-cheng very likely had been born right here at the site of the future Paoki-Chengtu Railway.
I sat by the stove, smoking and rubbing the drying mud from my hands. Cheng-Yu crawled on to my lap and looked into my eyes, "Is it going to snow tomorrow, uncle?"
I pressed his icy red little nose. "As soon as we get our telephone line connected up with heaven, I'll ask for you......
Angrily, he leaped down and stood a meter away, scowling at me. "Quit your kidding! You've got a newspaper in your pocket. Why don't you look at the weather report?"
He resumed his seat in the doorway, clamped his elbows on his knees, rested his face in his hands, and peered out through the rent in the curtain. When I asked him where the kettle was, he ignored me. I certainly was sorry I had offended my small host!
Question 1: How are the children typically named, and where are Cheng-yu and Pao-cheng likely named after?
Answer: Children are typically named after the construction projects where they were born. Cheng-yu might be named after the Chengtu-Chungking railway, and Pao-cheng after the future Paoki-Chengtu Railway.
Question 2: Describe the conversation about the weather between the narrator and Cheng-yu?
Answer: Cheng-yu asks about the weather, and the narrator jokes about connecting a telephone line to heaven. Cheng-yu gets upset and tells the narrator to check the weather report in the newspaper.
Question 3: How does Cheng-yu react to the narrator's joke, and what does it reveal about their relationship?
Answer: Cheng-yu becomes angry and distances himself, showing that their relationship is familiar but sensitive to disrespect.
Question 4: What does Cheng-yu do after the interaction, and how does the narrator feel about it?
Answer: Cheng-yu resumes his seat and ignores the narrator's question, making the narrator feel sorry for offending him.
Question 5: How does the interaction reveal Cheng-yu's character?
Answer: It shows that Cheng-yu is assertive and sensitive to disrespect, displaying maturity despite his young age.
Question 6: What does the interaction suggest about the relationship between the narrator and Cheng-yu?
Answer: It suggests a familiar relationship, but one where boundaries are important, and disrespect is not tolerated.