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Acclaimed Shanghai writer Wang Anyi narrates a sketch about a mysterious white horse (and its equally mysterious master) that periodically visits a particular longtang (network of lanes) in central Shanghai (the old French Concession). Weaving history and memory, Wang describes a particular moment in the life of the city while also relating stories about the city's past. Wang's tale suggests that the history of the city, like the relationship between the longtang dwellers and the visiting horse and man (who are clearly originally from somewhere else) is, to no small extent, the history of the relationship between native Shanghai people and non-Chinese "others." While the true origins and pedigree of man and horse remain an open question, this epistemological exploration allows Wang to ponder Shanghai's complex history.
Long ago, there was a white horse that was often seen around the longtang. Most of the city people didn't have much experience with livestock and couldn't tell what type of horse it was or how old it was-all they knew was that it was a mare, because the reason it came to the longtang was to sell its milk. From the outside, the horse looked to be tall and sturdy; or at least she appeared that way to the children, and she did seem hardy. But the children also got their ideas from comic books and war movies. In that sense, the mare was a classic white horse. People referred to the mare as white, but she wasn't a snowy white-her coat had an aged, yellowish tinge, like some sort of dried grass; although to tell the truth, the townspeople didn't have much first-hand experience with grass either. When all was said and done, it wasn't as dazzling as it sounds- the mare was rather dingy. Still, she counted as a real horse. You have to understand that this was a longtang neighborhood-indoors or out, there was nothing but streets and buildings wherever you went, with people and vehicles rushing back and forth. A white horse was something magical.
The horse didn't come at fixed times. Within a given month, or week, or day, at some point or other, the sound of a bell would announce her arrival with a ding, ding. That was the bell...