A confluence of Wangs
Confusion reigns when four strangers—all with Taiwan’s sixth-most-common surname—meet for the same purpose at the same place and time…
Part I: The first two Mr Wangs
After nearly three years in my apartment, I’ve been looking for somewhere new—preferably closer to the MRT and with off-street scooter parking.
My partner, surnamed Wang (it rhymes with sung, not sang), has been helping me navigate Chinese-language rental websites and negotiate with landlords who, in some cases, are hesitant to rent to foreigners. (As frustrating and discriminatory as this obviously is, I do understand their concerns about language and cultural complications—plus their fear of people fleeing the country with rent in arrears.)
Anyway, at 4pm yesterday we were scheduled to meet an apartment rental agent also named Mr Wang. This is nothing unusual: 4% of Taiwanese are Wangs.
We arrived at the apartment building and saw a guy in his 30s waiting outside.
“Are you Mr Wang?” my partner asked in Chinese.
“Yes,” the man said, also speaking Chinese.
“Mr Wang?” he asked in return.
“Yes,” my partner answered, nodding in response.
The other Mr Wang ignored me except for a quizzical look as I followed them into the building.
They walked past reception and tentatively turned towards the elevator lobby, pausing before stepping inside.
Neither was taking the lead.
“It’s here,” said the other Mr Wang.
“This way?” my partner asked.
“Wait… are you showing me the apartment, or am I showing you the apartment?” the other Mr Wang asked.
“Huh? Aren’t you Mr Wang the agent?” my partner replied—at which time they both started laughing really hard… They were each there as potential tenants, scheduled to meet a third Mr Wang—the apartment rental agent—at 4pm.
The two Mr Wangs walked back outside. The other Mr Wang had been wondering why his agent had a random foreigner tagging along.
We laughed together as we waited for Mr Wang the agent to arrive.
Part II: The third Mr Wang
A few minutes past 4pm, Mr Wang the agent appeared.
“Are either of you Mr Wang?” he asked the other two—correctly surmising that I have a different surname.
“I’m Mr Wang, and this is another Mr Wang”, the other Mr Wang said as he stepped forward.
“Are you Mr Wang the agent?”
“I am,” said Mr Wang the agent. “Are you both looking at the apartment?”
“I’m here to see an apartment on the 15th floor,” said the other Mr Wang.
“Come with me,” said Mr Wang the agent—leading the other Mr Wang inside, and leaving us waiting on the sidewalk.
“Isn’t he also our agent?” I asked my partner.
“I don’t know,” my partner replied. “I’ll try phoning.”
My partner called Mr Wang the agent, who answered the phone and said “I’m already inside, I’ll come down to get you.”
Part III: The fourth Mr Wang
We waited for Mr Wang the agent to re-appear.
But a couple of minutes later, an unfamiliar guy walked up to us.
“Are you Mr Wang?” he asked my partner.
“Yes,” my partner replied.
“I’m Mr Wang the agent,” said the fourth Mr Wang (and second Mr Wang the agent).
“For the fifth floor apartment?” my partner asked.
“Yes,” said the fourth Mr Wang—confused as to why this confirmation was needed. Because obviously he was there for a 4pm apartment viewing.
Just like all the other Mr Wangs.
Epilogue
Mr Wang’s apartment was okay. But later in a different building, we found one that was better. After a few hours of negotiations with the landlord (via phone calls and LINE messages), we reached an agreement late last night.
I’ve just signed the contract, and will move in on January 15.
With just the one Mr Wang.