It was at a scenic spot called Baiyunshan, about fifteen minutes away from Guangzhou City by bus where I happened to meet him. I was visiting there to collect some news for my report when he spoke to me using the textbook phrase, "What can I do for you?" which I have never actually heard used in the English-speaking world.

He was a tall young Chinese man in a red sweater who was riding in the same bus as me. Since it was nearly evening time, we were the only two getting off at the station, and he came to talk to me while I was pulling a map and notebook out and looking around.

Judging from his clumsy English, I thought that he was not from Hong Kong, even though he was quite well dressed. Then I found out that he was originally from Guangzhou but working for the Hong Kong branch of a company headquartered in Guangzhou, and was back home on vacation. He then added that he was a son of a Chinese government official, and offered to take me on a tour of the town the next day in his chauffered Mercedes-Benz.

The following morning I was waiting for him at the appointed time, but he did not show up. Just as I was about to leave by myself, he appeared, out of breath.

"I'm sorry. When we were almost leaving, the driver suddenly complained of a stomach ache and had to take the day off. And, because I dashed out in great haste, I left my wallet at homeÉ."

Oh well, that was terrible. See, no matter how you look at it, it was nothing but the typical technique of a swindler. He has a Mercedes-Benz with a chauffeur? He is a son of a Chinese government official? Give me a break. What nonsense telling me that the driver had developed a sudden stomach ache, particularly on this day of all days.

Despite all that, I still went out with him. It was because that I thought he would be useful as an interpreter since he spoke Chinese, and more than anything else, I wanted a conversation partner since I had not talked to anyone at that time.

Since he had left his wallet at home I paid for everything that day. Yet my report went well, and he gave me all sorts of the latest information, especially local ones, about Guangzhou. And though I paid for everything, it was only for meals that cost a little extra and I actually enjoyed being able to have more variety of food than usual when ordering for two people as it was Chinese food, and there was no problem after all. In addition, he never even tried to make advances at me at all (I'm not complaining or anything. He was not my type anyway), and the day passed with absolutely no problem. Moreover, we actually went out together again the following day, and this time he said, "I'll pay for everything today," and he actually did.

Who is this man really? What in the world does he want?

Although I didn't ask him to, he told me a lot of things about him. He said that his father is a general in the People's Liberation Army in charge of the Guangzhou region, one of the ten highest positions in the army. There is an area within Guangzhou City where, like Beverly Hills, only people of privileged classes live, and the whole area is enclosed with a fence and security guards at the gate. He lives in a four-storied house with dozens of servants such as cooks, housekeepers, driver, secretary, and doctor as well as nurses, and they are all living in the same house together. Children of high-ranking officials easily get and drive around in popular motorcycles, which are almost impossible for the general public to get hold of, not to mention a Mercedes-Benz. There are many private resorts with beautiful scenery and fine climate for the privileged classes in the country where travelers are not allowed, and he gets to go there quite often. And there were more and more stories like that.

In the end, he said that he received a great number of super luxury gifts everyday at his house as much as there is no more place to put them, and so he was willing to give me one.

The day I was leaving Guangzhou, just as he had promised, he brought the gift.

"This is from the Ming period. It originally came with an extremely elaborative case, but because I thought that'd be too bulky and troubling, I didn't bring it. In China at present, we are allowed to buy and sell goods only from the period of Qing and after, and we are prohibited from taking anything older than that abroad. I was afraid if I wrap it up neatly, it'd be too eye-catching, and so I made it look filthy on purpose. You should wrap it in cloth before putting it in a bag because it'd be confiscated if detected at the customs."

He informed me so as if it were true, and gave me earthenware that looked like a pot wrapped up carefully in toilet paper.

That's all about the incident I was picked up in China.

Though not perfect, he was nice for the most part, and saying "Just think of me as your big brother" or something, he behaved like a gentleman. There was no actual harm in terms of money, and I didn't have any unpleasant experience either, but his story sounded fake at every point. Yet, whether it was true or not, he actually came all the way to bring the gift to someone whom he had no reason to feel obligated to, and if his story was all lies, I wonder how come he took the trouble to tell me such a long story. It still remains a mystery.

Then, what's been left with me in the end is the pot. To be exact, it's a strange octagonal container that looks like the one used for heating sake. Yet, since I just couldn't believe that the earthenware was from the Ming period, it's been left carelessly in a corner of a cupboard for quite a while.

But, you know, if I send the pot to "Family Treasure Appraisers," which is a TV program where experts look at anything to estimate its value, it may possibly be authenticated and considered as the biggest discovery ever in history of the program.... In the back of my mind, I also have the kind of feeling very similar to having expectations to winning the first prize of the big year-end lottery.

Translated by Maiko Noda