By Yi Zhongtian

Quandary

By Yi Zhongtian

W hile I was in Sichuan Province, I once came across a man sighing earnestly as he prayed to the Wenchang Bodhisattva. Then, out of the blue, he sighed, and said in rustic Sichuanese, “I don’t know if I’m praying right.”

I understand the Sichuan dialect so I asked him, “What are you praying for?”

“My kid is going to take part in the College Entrance Exam. I’m praying that the Wenchang Bodhisattva helps him get a high score.” He said.

“Good call, the Wenchang Bodhisattva is the god in charge of the College Entrance Exam.” I told him.

“No, no! You don’t get it. My kid is testing to get into Stanford, he has to pass the English part of the test with flying colors, or else, he’s sunk! But I don’t know if the Wenchang Bodhisattva understands English. If not, how can he help my kid pass?”

I suggested, “You’d better go pray to the Virgin Mary then. Her English is pretty good.”

But he just sat there con fl icted, sighed again and said in his Sichuanese twang, “I know, I know, but the Virgin Mary can’t understand Sichuanese!”

(From Blogger World, Issue 25, 2016. Translation: Chase Coulson)