Chapter Ten: Playing Chess

The snow had started falling again!

From the early hours, snowflakes drifted down from the sky, swirling and settling, and by morning, the earth had donned a pristine white cloak once more.

I sighed. I’d hoped to take advantage of these days off to finally wash my mountain of dirty clothes, but it looked like those plans were ruined. Still, it didn’t matter much; in winter, I rarely change clothes anyway, so waiting a couple more days wouldn’t hurt.

My little sister was especially excited this morning. Ever since she got up, she’s been chattering nonstop about one thing: tonight is Xu Shu’s solo concert. I’m so thrilled! I’m so happy, I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to it so much...

To escape her relentless excitement and the barrage to my eardrums, I braved the heavy snow and stepped out to buy a pack of cigarettes. Of course, I had no intention of coming back for at least half a day.

The snow was thick and deep, and since it was Saturday, the streets were nearly deserted. I trudged through the snow, step by difficult step. After buying two packs at a small shop, I wondered where I could spend the next few hours. With the snow this heavy, I couldn’t think of anywhere to linger.

By chance, I noticed a sign across the street: Kobayashi Go Club.

Who was Kobayashi? Kobayashi Koichi?

I couldn’t help but laugh; at last, a place to while away some time. It had been ages since I last played Go! I remembered when I first entered university, I became obsessed with Go thanks to my roommate, Liu Hui. He’d begun professional Go training as a child, studied under renowned masters, and his skills were formidable. For reasons unknown, he abandoned the professional path and entered university. I figured he was at least at the professional first-dan level, and he once boasted about a lifelong achievement: by chance, he played a handicap game with national player Yu Bin, with a two-stone advantage, and won in the middle game. He could recite the game record from memory and had shown me the moves at least half a dozen times.

Under Liu Hui’s guidance, I studied Go diligently for a year. At first, he gave me a nine-stone handicap and still wiped the board with me, but over time, as he gave me two stones, I’d lose more than win; at three stones, he’d lose more than win. Considering I didn’t receive professional training, reaching that level in a year was respectable.

Liu Hui once said I was, at best, a Go prodigy—just that I started too late, and would never catch up to him. Indeed, after that, I made no progress. No matter how hard I tried, I remained at the level where he’d give me two or three stones. Eventually, seeing no improvement, I lost interest and gave up.

After graduating, I didn’t stop playing altogether, but I played very little. I estimated my skill at amateur second or third dan, which was common in city Go clubs, so I never bothered going to such places. And as work got busier, free time diminished, and Go faded from my life.

Today, with snow swirling and nothing to do, the sight of a Go club seemed almost fateful. I entered without hesitation.

The club was upstairs, heated, and cozy. The space was small, and only two pairs were playing, with no spectators.

A middle-aged man, bald and resembling the proprietor, greeted me with a smile. “Here to play? How many?”

“Just me,” I replied. “I’ll just watch for now.”

“Alright, I’ll make you some tea.”

I knew the tea meant he’d charge me, but since I planned to stay a while, I didn’t mind. I nodded and walked over to watch one of the games.

Both players were around fifty, deeply engrossed in the board. A black group was under siege by white, darting left and right but unable to escape the encirclement. I guessed in a few moves, the black dragon would be dead and the game over.

The owner brought me tea, handing it over with a smile. “Young man, do you play? Watching alone isn’t much fun—should I find you an opponent?”

I knew playing meant paying for the match. But since I was here to pass the time, a game wouldn’t hurt. I assumed he’d play me himself. “Sure, let’s play.”

He was delighted and called into a back room, “Xiaolin, come and play!”

There was no response. He smiled at me and called louder, “Xiaolin! Hurry up, don’t keep people waiting.”

A girl’s voice answered, “Coming, coming, stop rushing!” The door opened and a girl about sixteen or seventeen emerged, wearing a loose sweater and jeans—a fresh, innocent look. But as she approached, she looked skyward, utterly indifferent to those around her.

The owner introduced her with a smile, “This is my niece, Xiaolin. She’s quite good. You two play and see how it goes.”

Miss Xiaolin sat down at a board, so I sat opposite. Seeing she was just a young girl, I couldn’t help but underestimate her, though Go is often a young person’s game.

But the real surprise came next. Xiaolin calmly took the white stones to her right, then, with her nose in the air, asked, “What’s your level? How many should I give you?”

I was genuinely astonished. People can be deceiving. This young, pure-looking girl—was she a Go master?

I immediately shed any condescension, straightened up, and replied respectfully, “I’m roughly amateur first dan. How many stones do you think I should get?” I hadn’t played in a long time, so I intentionally underestimated myself to avoid embarrassment.

Xiaolin said, “First dan? Then take three stones.”

I was even more surprised. To give three stones to an amateur first dan meant she was either top amateur, seventh dan, or low-level professional. At her age, and as a female, it was almost unbelievable.

I honestly placed three black stones on the star points and awaited her move.

Xiaolin took a white stone and suddenly said, “By the way, let me make something clear. In handicap games, if I win, the game fee is a hundred; if I lose, it’s fifty. Any problem with that?”

Since graduating, I hadn’t played a strong opponent. Though fifty or a hundred was a bit steep, it was worth it. I nodded, “No problem.”

She saw I agreed, and said no more. With a flourish, she slapped a white stone onto the lower left corner—approach move!

After thirty or so moves, I could tell she was about Liu Hui’s level. During university, I played over two hundred handicap games with Liu Hui and developed a knack for them. Later, when he gave me three stones, he’d lose eight out of ten, often resigning in the middle game. So, in this match, her attacks in the lower left were fruitless and she lost the initiative. I seized the opportunity and claimed the remaining corner, holding all four star points—my advantage was clear.

Xiaolin glanced at me. “You’re pretty good—more than just first dan, right?” She straightened up, growing serious.

More people trickled into the club, likely regulars. Seeing Xiaolin playing, they gathered around to watch. With the advantage, I was feeling good and pulled out my new cigarettes, intending to smoke one.

Across from me, Xiaolin tapped the table with a white stone, pointing to a note on the wall. “Please be considerate; no smoking in the club. If you want to smoke, go outside and come back after.”

Sure enough, the note forbade smoking. I smiled wryly—my craving had struck, and though it was colder outside, I had to have a cigarette.

For the sake of civility, I said, “Sorry!” and went outside, lighting up and exhaling clouds.

Barely two puffs in, my phone rang. I checked the screen—the number belonged to Qiu Jieqin. I sighed and answered, “Hello?”

“It’s me.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Nothing really. I just missed you. What are you doing?”

“Playing Go.”

“Go? Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, you play Go? That’s great. My dad’s a Go fanatic—now you two have something in common… Heh, am I saying this too soon?”

“…”

“Don’t be upset, I didn’t mean anything else.”

“No worries. Anything else? I’m halfway through a game.”

“There is. Tonight… you’re really not going to the concert?”

“No, I don’t have a ticket.”

“If you’re not going, then I won’t go either. Tonight, let’s find a quiet place to sit together. I… really want to see you.”

“…”

“Don’t overthink it—I’m not pushing you to decide anything. We’re old classmates, can’t we just catch up and talk? Besides… I really want to see you.”

Suddenly, I felt I couldn’t refuse her. She always managed to strike the right chord in my heart, making it impossible for me to turn her down, nor did I have the heart to. Who could deny such a small, gentle request from a woman who cared for you so deeply?

I said into the phone, “Alright, wait for my call tonight. If nothing comes up, I’ll go sit with you.”

Qiu Jieqin was delighted. “Really? Promise?”

“Don’t worry! That’s settled. I’m hanging up now.”

I hung up, took a few more deep drags of my cigarette, and returned to the club.

Impatiently waiting, Xiaolin frowned slightly when she saw me come back, picked up a white stone, and, with a crisp slap, launched an attack on my black stones in the lower right corner.