Page 297 - updated on July

Yu Jihui: “A Stinking Old Ninth – A Tale of the Coal Capital” (updated on July 2020)

The watchman stopped her. She became angry

and shouted at top of her voice, “Soapy, you have

hugged me. Alive, my body belongs to you; dead,

I’m your ghost!” With that, she went away.

The watchman was more than 50 years old and

had worked in the coal mine for more than 30 years.

He couldn’t do hard labour, so he had been

transferred to the dormitory to watch the building. He

was going to retire. He looked at me. He seemed as if

he were in deep thought. “Have you hugged her?” he

asked.

“No, I haven’t!”

“I know this woman. She does not know what

shame is. Once she locks on to you, it’s hard to get

rid of her!” He shook his head.

A few days later, while I was having lunch in the

office, Great Smoker came. I was startled. I hated her.

I was disgusted by her. The moment I saw her I

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