第七章 Feng the Miller

第七章Chapter Seven

磨房裡邊住著馮歪嘴子。Feng Waizuizi lived in the mill.

磨房里边住著冯歪嘴子。

馮歪嘴子打著梆子，半夜半夜的打，一夜一夜的打。Feng Waizuizi sounded the wooden clapper, beating it through the middle of the night, night after night.冬天還稍微好一點，夏天就更打得厲害。It was somewhat better in winter; in summer he beat it all the more relentlessly.

冯歪嘴子打著梆子，半夜半夜的打，一夜一夜的打。冬天还稍微好一点，夏天就更打得厉害。

那磨房的窗子臨著我家的後園。The mill’s window faced our back garden.我家的後園四周的牆根上，都種著倭瓜、西葫蘆或是黃瓜等類會爬蔓子的植物；All along the foot of the walls surrounding our back garden grew creeping plants—pumpkins, summer squash, cucumbers, and the like.倭瓜爬上牆頭了，在牆頭上開起花來了，有的竟越過了高牆爬到街上去，向著大街開了一朵火黃的黃花。The pumpkins climbed to the top of the wall and blossomed there; some even crossed the high wall and crept out toward the street, opening a fiery-yellow flower to the main road.

那磨房的窗子临著我家的后园。我家的后园四周的墙根上，都种著倭瓜、西葫芦或是黄瓜等类会爬蔓子的植物；倭瓜爬上墙头了，在墙头上开起花来了，有的竟越过了高墙爬到街上去，向著大街开了一朵火黄的黄花。

因此那磨房的窗子上，也就爬滿了那頂會爬蔓子的黃瓜了。And so the mill window, too, became covered with those wonderfully climbing cucumber vines.黃瓜的小細蔓，細得像銀絲似的，太陽一來了的時候，那小細蔓閃眼湛亮，那蔓梢乾淨得好像用黃蠟抽成的絲子，一棵黃瓜秧上伸出來無數的這樣的絲子。The cucumber’s slender tendrils were as fine as silver threads; when the sun came out, they glittered dazzlingly, and their tips were so clean and bright that they seemed like threads drawn from yellow wax—countless such threads reached out from every cucumber plant.絲蔓的尖頂每棵都是掉轉頭來向回捲曲著，好像是說它們雖然勇敢，大樹，野草，牆頭，窗櫺，到處的亂爬，但到底它們也懷著恐懼的心理。The tip of every tendril curled back upon itself, as if to say that although they were brave, scrambling wildly over trees, weeds, walls, and window lattices, they nevertheless harbored a certain fear.

因此那磨房的窗子上，也就爬满了那顶会爬蔓子的黄瓜了。黄瓜的小细蔓，细得像银丝似的，太阳一来了的时候，那小细蔓闪眼湛亮，那蔓梢干净得好像用黄蜡抽成的丝子，一棵黄瓜秧上伸出来无数的这样的丝子。丝蔓的尖顶每棵都是掉转头来向回卷曲著，好像是说它们虽然勇敢，大树，野草，墙头，窗櫺，到处的乱爬，但到底它们也怀著恐惧的心理。

太陽一出來了，那些在夜裡冷清清的絲蔓，一變而為溫暖了。When the sun came out, those tendrils that had been cold and forlorn in the night suddenly grew warm.於是它們向前發展的速率更快了，好像眼看著那絲蔓就長了，就向前跑去了。Then they advanced even faster, seeming to lengthen before one’s very eyes and race forward.因為種在磨房窗根下的黃瓜秧，一天爬上了窗台，兩天爬上了窗櫺，等到第三天就在窗櫺上開花了。The cucumber plants beneath the mill window climbed onto the sill the first day, reached the lattice the second, and by the third were flowering upon it.

太阳一出来了，那些在夜里冷清清的丝蔓，一变而为温暖了。于是它们向前发展的速率更快了，好像眼看著那丝蔓就长了，就向前跑去了。因为种在磨房窗根下的黄瓜秧，一天爬上了窗台，两天爬上了窗櫺，等到第三天就在窗櫺上开花了。

再過幾天，一不留心，那黃瓜梗經過了磨房的窗子，爬上房頂去了。A few days later, if no one was paying attention, their stems had crossed the mill window and climbed onto the roof.

再过几天，一不留心，那黄瓜梗经过了磨房的窗子，爬上房顶去了。

後來那黃瓜秧就像它們彼此招呼著似的，成群結隊的就都一齊把那磨房的窗給蒙住了。Later the cucumber plants seemed to call to one another, and in a great company they all joined together to cover the mill window.

后来那黄瓜秧就像它们彼此招呼著似的，成群结队的就都一齐把那磨房的窗给蒙住了。

從此那磨房裡邊的磨官就見不著天日了。From then on, the miller inside could no longer see the light of day.磨房就有一張窗子，而今被黃瓜掩遮得風雨不透。The mill had only one window, and now the cucumbers covered it so completely that neither wind nor rain could get through.從此那磨房裡黑沉沉的，園裡，園外，分成兩個世界了。From then on, the mill was dark and gloomy, and the garden and the world beyond it became two separate realms.馮歪嘴子就被分到花園以外去了。Feng Waizuizi was shut away in the world outside the garden.

从此那磨房里边的磨官就见不著天日了。磨房就有一张窗子，而今被黄瓜掩遮得风雨不透。从此那磨房里黑沉沉的，园里，园外，分成两个世界了。冯歪嘴子就被分到花园以外去了。

但是從外邊看起來，那窗子實在好看，開花的開花，結果的結果。But seen from outside, the window was truly lovely, some vines flowering and others bearing fruit.滿窗是黃瓜了。The whole window was covered in cucumbers.

但是从外边看起来，那窗子实在好看，开花的开花，结果的结果。满窗是黄瓜了。

還有一棵倭瓜秧，也順著磨房的窗子爬到房頂去了，就在房檐上結了一個大倭瓜。A pumpkin vine had also climbed along the mill window and onto the roof, where it bore a great pumpkin on the eaves.那倭瓜不像是從秧子上長出來的，好像是由人搬著坐在那屋瓦上曬太陽似的。The pumpkin did not look as if it had grown from a vine, but as if someone had carried it up and seated it on the roof tiles to bask in the sun.實在好看。It was truly lovely.

还有一棵倭瓜秧，也顺著磨房的窗子爬到房顶去了，就在房檐上结了一个大倭瓜。那倭瓜不像是从秧子上长出来的，好像是由人搬著坐在那屋瓦上晒太阳似的。实在好看。

夏天，我在後園裡玩的時候，馮歪嘴子就喊我，他向我要黃瓜。In summer, when I played in the back garden, Feng Waizuizi would call to me and ask me for a cucumber.

夏天，我在后园里玩的时候，冯歪嘴子就喊我，他向我要黄瓜。

我就摘了黃瓜，從窗子遞進去。I would pick one and pass it in through the window.那窗子被黃瓜秧封閉得嚴密得很，馮歪嘴子用手扒開那滿窗的葉子，從一條小縫中伸出手來把黃瓜拿進去。The window was sealed tight by cucumber vines, so Feng Waizuizi would part the mass of leaves with his hands and reach through a narrow crack to take the cucumber inside.

我就摘了黄瓜，从窗子递进去。那窗子被黄瓜秧封闭得严密得很，冯歪嘴子用手扒开那满窗的叶子，从一条小缝中伸出手来把黄瓜拿进去。

有時候，他停止了打他的梆子，他問我，黃瓜長了多大了？Sometimes he stopped beating his clapper and asked me how big the cucumbers had grown.西紅柿紅了沒有？Had the tomatoes turned red yet?他與這後園只隔了一張窗子，就像關著多遠似的。Only a single window separated him from the back garden, yet it was as though he were imprisoned far away.

有时候，他停止了打他的梆子，他问我，黄瓜长了多大了？西红柿红了没有？他与这后园只隔了一张窗子，就像关著多远似的。

祖父在園子裡的時候，他和祖父談話。When Grandfather was in the garden, Feng Waizuizi would talk with him.他說拉著磨的小驢，驢蹄子壞了，一走一瘸。He said the little donkey that turned the mill had injured its hoof and limped whenever it walked.祖父說請個獸醫給它看看。Grandfather told him to have a veterinarian look at it.馮歪嘴子說，看過了，也不見好。Feng Waizuizi said one had already seen it, but it was no better.祖父問那驢吃的什麼藥？Grandfather asked what medicine the donkey was taking.馮歪嘴子說是吃的黃瓜子拌高粱醋。Feng Waizuizi said it was taking cucumber seeds mixed with sorghum vinegar.

祖父在园子里的时候，他和祖父谈话。他说拉著磨的小驴，驴蹄子坏了，一走一瘸。祖父说请个兽医给它看看。冯歪嘴子说，看过了，也不见好。祖父问那驴吃的什么药？冯歪嘴子说是吃的黄瓜子拌高粱醋。

馮歪嘴子在窗裡，祖父在窗外，祖父看不見馮歪嘴子，馮歪嘴子看不見祖父。Feng Waizuizi was inside the window and Grandfather outside; Grandfather could not see Feng Waizuizi, and Feng Waizuizi could not see Grandfather.

冯歪嘴子在窗里，祖父在窗外，祖父看不见冯歪嘴子，冯歪嘴子看不见祖父。

有的時候，祖父走遠了，回屋去了，只剩下我一個人在磨房的牆根下邊坐著玩，我聽到了馮歪嘴子還說：Sometimes Grandfather had already walked away and gone back into the house, leaving me alone playing at the foot of the mill wall, when I would hear Feng Waizuizi go on saying:

有的时候，祖父走远了，回屋去了，只剩下我一个人在磨房的墙根下边坐著玩，我听到了冯歪嘴子还说：

「老太爺今年沒下鄉去看看哪！」“The Old Master hasn’t gone out to the countryside for a look this year, has he!”

「老太爷今年没下乡去看看哪！」

有的時候，我聽了這話，我故意的不出聲，聽聽他往下還說什麼。Sometimes, when I heard this, I deliberately kept silent to hear what else he would say.

有的时候，我听了这话，我故意的不出声，听听他往下还说什么。

有的時候，我心裡覺得可笑，忍也不能忍住，我就跳了起來了，用手敲打著窗子，笑得我把窗上掛著的黃瓜都敲打掉了。At other times I found it so funny that I could not contain myself; I would jump up and beat on the window with my hands, laughing so hard that I knocked down all the cucumbers hanging there.而後我一溜煙的跑進屋去，把這情形告訴了祖父。Then I would dash into the house and tell Grandfather what had happened.祖父也一樣和我似的，笑得不能停了，眼睛笑出眼淚來。Grandfather would laugh just as I did, unable to stop, until tears came to his eyes.但是總是說，不要笑啦，不要笑啦，看他聽見。But all the while he would say, “Stop laughing, stop laughing—mind he doesn’t hear you.”有的時候祖父竟把後門關起來再笑。Sometimes Grandfather even shut the back door before he laughed.祖父怕馮歪嘴子聽見了不好意思。He was afraid Feng Waizuizi would be embarrassed if he heard.

有的时候，我心里觉得可笑，忍也不能忍住，我就跳了起来了，用手敲打著窗子，笑得我把窗上挂著的黄瓜都敲打掉了。而后我一溜烟的跑进屋去，把这情形告诉了祖父。祖父也一样和我似的，笑得不能停了，眼睛笑出眼泪来。但是总是说，不要笑啦，不要笑啦，看他听见。有的时候祖父竟把后门关起来再笑。祖父怕冯歪嘴子听见了不好意思。

但是老廚子就不然了。The old cook, however, was quite different.有的時候，他和馮歪嘴子談天，故意談到一半他就溜掉了。Sometimes, while chatting with Feng Waizuizi, he would deliberately slip away in the middle of their conversation.因為馮歪嘴子隔著爬滿了黃瓜秧的窗子，看不見他走了，就自己獨自說了一大篇話，而後讓他故意得不到反響。Because Feng Waizuizi could not see him leave through the window overgrown with cucumber vines, he would go on talking at length all by himself, while the cook deliberately gave him no answer.

但是老厨子就不然了。有的时候，他和冯歪嘴子谈天，故意谈到一半他就溜掉了。因为冯歪嘴子隔著爬满了黄瓜秧的窗子，看不见他走了，就自己独自说了一大篇话，而后让他故意得不到反响。

老廚子提著筐子到後園去摘茄子，一邊摘著一邊就跟馮歪嘴子談話，正談到半路，老廚子躡手躡足的，提著筐子就溜了，回到屋裡去燒飯去了。The old cook would carry a basket into the back garden to pick eggplants, chatting with Feng Waizuizi as he picked; halfway through their conversation, he would tiptoe away with his basket and return indoors to cook.

老厨子提著筐子到后园去摘茄子，一边摘著一边就跟冯歪嘴子谈话，正谈到半路，老厨子蹑手蹑足的，提著筐子就溜了，回到屋里去烧饭去了。

這時馮歪嘴子還在磨房裡大聲的說：Feng Waizuizi would still be speaking loudly in the mill:

这时冯歪嘴子还在磨房里大声的说：

「西公園來了跑馬戲的，我還沒得空去看，你去看過了嗎？“A traveling circus has come to West Park. I haven’t had time to see it yet—have you been?老王。」Old Wang?”

「西公园来了跑马戏的，我还没得空去看，你去看过了吗？老王。」

其實後花園裡一個人也沒有了，蜻蜓，蝴蝶隨意的飛著，馮歪嘴子的話聲，空空的落到花園裡來，又空空的消失了。In fact there was no one left in the back garden; dragonflies and butterflies flew wherever they pleased, while Feng Waizuizi’s voice fell hollowly into the garden and hollowly faded away.

其实后花园里一个人也没有了，蜻蜓，蝴蝶随意的飞著，冯歪嘴子的话声，空空的落到花园里来，又空空的消失了。

煙消火滅了。It vanished like smoke and died like flame.

烟消火灭了。

等他發現了老王早已不在花園裡。Only then would he discover that Old Wang had long since left the garden.他這才又打起梆子來，看著小驢拉磨。He would take up his clapper again and watch the little donkey turn the mill.

等他发现了老王早已不在花园里。他这才又打起梆子来，看著小驴拉磨。

有二伯一和馮歪嘴子談話，可從來沒有偷著溜掉過，他問下雨天，磨房的房頂漏得厲害不厲害？Whenever You Erbo talked with Feng Waizuizi, he never once slipped away; he would ask whether the mill roof leaked badly on rainy days.磨房裡的耗子多不多？Were there many rats in the mill?

有二伯一和冯歪嘴子谈话，可从来没有偷著溜掉过，他问下雨天，磨房的房顶漏得厉害不厉害？磨房里的耗子多不多？

馮歪嘴子同時也問著有二伯，今年後園裡雨水大嗎？Feng Waizuizi, in turn, would ask You Erbo whether the back garden had received much rain that year.茄子、雲豆都快罷園了吧？The eggplants and kidney beans must nearly be finished for the season, weren’t they?

冯歪嘴子同时也问著有二伯，今年后园里雨水大吗？茄子、云豆都快罢园了吧？

他們兩個彼此說完了話，有二伯讓馮歪嘴子到後園裡來走走，馮歪嘴子讓有二伯到磨房去坐坐。When the two had finished talking, You Erbo invited Feng Waizuizi to come stroll in the back garden, and Feng Waizuizi invited You Erbo to come sit in the mill.

他们两个彼此说完了话，有二伯让冯歪嘴子到后园里来走走，冯歪嘴子让有二伯到磨房去坐坐。

「有空到園子裡來走走。」“Come stroll in the garden when you have time.”

「有空到园子里来走走。」

「有空到磨房裡來坐坐。」“Come sit in the mill when you have time.”

「有空到磨房里来坐坐。」

有二伯於是也就告別走出園子來。Then You Erbo would take his leave and walk out of the garden.馮歪嘴子也就照舊打他的梆子。And Feng Waizuizi would go back to beating his clapper as usual.

有二伯于是也就告别走出园子来。冯歪嘴子也就照旧打他的梆子。

秋天，大榆樹的葉子黃了，牆頭上的狗尾草乾倒了，園裡一天一天的荒涼起來了。In autumn, the leaves of the great elm turned yellow, the foxtail grass atop the wall withered and fell over, and the garden grew more desolate day by day.

秋天，大榆树的叶子黄了，墙头上的狗尾草干倒了，园里一天一天的荒凉起来了。

這時候馮歪嘴子的窗子也露出來了。Then Feng Waizuizi’s window came into view again.因為那些糾糾纏纏的黃瓜秧也都蔫敗了，捨棄了窗櫺而脫落下來了。For the tangled cucumber vines had all withered, relinquishing their hold on the lattice and falling away.

这时候冯歪嘴子的窗子也露出来了。因为那些纠纠缠缠的黄瓜秧也都蔫败了，舍弃了窗櫺而脱落下来了。

於是站在後園裡就可看到馮歪嘴子，扒著窗子就可以看到在拉磨的小驢。Now, standing in the back garden, one could see Feng Waizuizi, and by leaning against the window one could see the little donkey turning the mill.那小驢豎著耳朵，戴著眼罩。The little donkey stood with its ears erect and wore blinders.走了三五步就響一次鼻子，每一抬腳那隻後腿就有點瘸，每一停下來，小驢就用三條腿站著。Every three or five steps it snorted; whenever it lifted a hoof, that hind leg limped a little, and whenever it stopped, it stood on three legs.

于是站在后园里就可看到冯歪嘴子，扒著窗子就可以看到在拉磨的小驴。那小驴竖著耳朵，戴著眼罩。走了三五步就响一次鼻子，每一抬脚那只后腿就有点瘸，每一停下来，小驴就用三条腿站著。

馮歪嘴子說小驢的一條腿壞了。Feng Waizuizi said one of the little donkey’s legs was injured.

冯歪嘴子说小驴的一条腿坏了。

這窗子上的黃瓜秧一乾掉了，磨房裡的馮歪嘴子就天天可以看到的。Once the cucumber vines on the window had dried up, Feng Waizuizi inside the mill could be seen every day.

这窗子上的黄瓜秧一干掉了，磨房里的冯歪嘴子就天天可以看到的。

馮歪嘴子喝酒了，馮歪嘴子睡覺了，馮歪嘴子打梆子，馮歪嘴子拉胡琴了，馮歪嘴子唱唱本了，馮歪嘴子搖風車了。Feng Waizuizi drinking, Feng Waizuizi sleeping, Feng Waizuizi beating his clapper, Feng Waizuizi playing the huqin, Feng Waizuizi singing from songbooks, Feng Waizuizi turning the winnowing fan.只要一扒著那窗台，就什麼都可以看見的。All one had to do was lean over the windowsill, and everything could be seen.

冯歪嘴子喝酒了，冯歪嘴子睡觉了，冯歪嘴子打梆子，冯歪嘴子拉胡琴了，冯歪嘴子唱唱本了，冯歪嘴子摇风车了。只要一扒著那窗台，就什么都可以看见的。

一到了秋天，新鮮黏米一下來的時候，馮歪嘴子就三天一拉磨，兩天一拉黏糕。As soon as autumn came and the fresh glutinous millet was harvested, Feng Waizuizi would turn the mill every few days and make sticky cakes every other day.黃米黏糕，撒上大雲豆。Yellow-millet sticky cakes, sprinkled with large kidney beans.一層黃，一層紅，黃的金黃，紅的通紅。One layer yellow, one layer red—the yellow gleaming gold, the red a vivid scarlet.三個銅板一條，兩個銅板一片的用刀切著賣。He cut them with a knife and sold them at three copper coins for a strip or two for a slice.願意加紅糖的有紅糖，願意加白糖的有白糖。Those who wanted brown sugar could have brown sugar; those who wanted white sugar could have white.加了糖不另要錢。There was no extra charge for sugar.

一到了秋天，新鲜黏米一下来的时候，冯歪嘴子就三天一拉磨，两天一拉黏糕。黄米黏糕，撒上大云豆。一层黄，一层红，黄的金黄，红的通红。三个铜板一条，两个铜板一片的用刀切著卖。愿意加红糖的有红糖，愿意加白糖的有白糖。加了糖不另要钱。

馮歪嘴子推著單輪車在街上一走，小孩子們就在後邊跟了一大幫，有的花錢買，有的圍著看。Whenever Feng Waizuizi pushed his wheelbarrow down the street, a great crowd of children followed behind; some spent money to buy, while others gathered around to watch.

冯歪嘴子推著单轮车在街上一走，小孩子们就在后边跟了一大帮，有的花钱买，有的围著看。

祖父最喜歡吃這黏糕，母親也喜歡，而我更喜歡。Grandfather liked these sticky cakes best, Mother liked them too, and I liked them even more.母親有時讓老廚子去買，有的時候讓我去買。Sometimes Mother sent the old cook to buy them, and sometimes she sent me.

祖父最喜欢吃这黏糕，母亲也喜欢，而我更喜欢。母亲有时让老厨子去买，有的时候让我去买。

不過買了來是有數的，一人只能吃手掌那麼大的一片，不准多吃，吃多了怕不能消化。But the amount bought was strictly counted out: each person could have only a palm-sized slice and no more, for fear that too much would be hard to digest.

不过买了来是有数的，一人只能吃手掌那么大的一片，不准多吃，吃多了怕不能消化。

祖父一邊吃著，一邊說夠了夠了，意思是怕我多吃。As Grandfather ate, he would say, “That’s enough, that’s enough,” meaning that he was afraid I would eat too much.母親吃完了也說夠了，意思是怕我還要去買。When Mother had finished hers, she too would say, “That’s enough,” meaning that she was afraid I would want to buy more.其實我真的覺得不夠，覺得再吃兩塊也還不多呢！In truth, I really did not think it was enough; I felt that even two more pieces would not have been too many!不過經別人這樣一說，我也就沒有什麼辦法了，也就不好意思喊著再去買，但是實在話是沒有吃夠的。But once the others had spoken so, there was nothing I could do, and I was too embarrassed to cry out for more to be bought; the truth was, however, that I had not had enough.

祖父一边吃著，一边说够了够了，意思是怕我多吃。母亲吃完了也说够了，意思是怕我还要去买。其实我真的觉得不够，觉得再吃两块也还不多呢！不过经别人这样一说，我也就没有什么办法了，也就不好意思喊著再去买，但是实在话是没有吃够的。

當我在大門外玩的時候，推著單輪車的馮歪嘴子總是在那塊大黏糕上切下一片來送給我吃，於是我就接受了。When I was playing outside the main gate, Feng Waizuizi, pushing his wheelbarrow, would always cut a slice from the great sticky cake and give it to me, and I would accept it.

当我在大门外玩的时候，推著单轮车的冯歪嘴子总是在那块大黏糕上切下一片来送给我吃，于是我就接受了。

當我在院子裡玩的時候，馮歪嘴子一喊著「黏糕」「黏糕」的從大牆外經過，我就爬上牆頭去了。When I was playing in the courtyard and Feng Waizuizi passed outside the high wall calling, “Sticky cakes! Sticky cakes!” I would climb to the top of the wall.

当我在院子里玩的时候，冯歪嘴子一喊著「黏糕」「黏糕」的从大墙外经过，我就爬上墙头去了。

因為西南角上的那段土牆，因為年久了出了一個豁，我就扒著那牆豁往外看著。The old earthen wall at the southwest corner had developed a gap, so I would cling to the opening and look outside.果然馮歪嘴子推著黏糕的單輪車由遠而近了。Sure enough, Feng Waizuizi would be approaching from afar, pushing his wheelbarrow of sticky cakes.來到我的旁邊，就問著：When he came alongside me, he would ask:

因为西南角上的那段土墙，因为年久了出了一个豁，我就扒著那墙豁往外看著。果然冯歪嘴子推著黏糕的单轮车由远而近了。来到我的旁边，就问著：

「要吃一片嗎？」“Would you like a slice?”

「要吃一片吗？」

而我也不說吃，也不說不吃。And I would neither say I wanted one nor say I did not.但我也不從牆頭上下來，還是若無其事的呆在那裡。But I would not climb down from the wall either; I simply stayed there as if nothing were happening.

而我也不说吃，也不说不吃。但我也不从墙头上下来，还是若无其事的呆在那里。

馮歪嘴子把車子一停，於是切好一片黏糕送上來了。Feng Waizuizi would stop his barrow, cut a slice of sticky cake, and pass it up to me.

冯歪嘴子把车子一停，于是切好一片黏糕送上来了。

一到了冬天，馮歪嘴子差不多天天出去賣一鍋黏糕的。Once winter came, Feng Waizuizi went out almost every day to sell a potful of sticky cake.

一到了冬天，冯歪嘴子差不多天天出去卖一锅黏糕的。

這黏糕在做的時候，需要很大的一口鍋，裡邊燒著開水，鍋口上坐著竹簾子。To make the sticky cake, he needed a very large pot, with boiling water in it and a bamboo screen set across its mouth.把碾碎了的黃米粉就撒在這竹簾子上，撒一層粉，撒一層豆。The ground yellow-millet flour was scattered over the bamboo screen, one layer of flour and then one layer of beans.馮歪嘴子就在磨房裡撒的，弄得滿屋熱氣蒸蒸。Feng Waizuizi did the scattering inside the mill, filling the whole room with billowing steam.進去買黏糕的時候，剛一開門，只聽屋裡火柴燒得劈啪的響，竟看不見人了。When one went in to buy sticky cake and had only just opened the door, one heard the firewood crackling inside, but could not see a soul.

这黏糕在做的时候，需要很大的一口锅，里边烧著开水，锅口上坐著竹帘子。把碾碎了的黄米粉就撒在这竹帘子上，撒一层粉，撒一层豆。冯歪嘴子就在磨房里撒的，弄得满屋热气蒸蒸。进去买黏糕的时候，刚一开门，只听屋里火柴烧得劈啪的响，竟看不见人了。

我去買黏糕的時候，我總是去得早一點，我在那邊等著，等著剛一出鍋，好買熱的。Whenever I went to buy sticky cake, I always went a little early and waited there, so that I could buy it hot the moment it came out of the pot.

我去买黏糕的时候，我总是去得早一点，我在那边等著，等著刚一出锅，好买热的。

那屋裡的蒸氣實在大，是看不見人的。The steam in that room was truly so thick that no one could be seen.每次我一開門，我就說：Every time I opened the door, I would say:

那屋里的蒸气实在大，是看不见人的。每次我一开门，我就说：

「我來了。」“I’m here.”

「我来了。」

馮歪嘴子一聽我的聲音就說：As soon as Feng Waizuizi heard my voice, he would say:

冯歪嘴子一听我的声音就说：

「這邊來，這邊來。」“Come this way, come this way.”

「这边来，这边来。」

有一次母親讓我去買黏糕，我略微的去得晚了一點，黏糕已經出鍋了。Once Mother sent me to buy sticky cake, and I went a little later than usual; the cake had already come out of the pot.我慌慌忙忙的買了就回來了。I bought it in a flurry and hurried home.回到家裡一看，不對了。When I got home and looked, something was wrong.母親讓我買的是加白糖的，而我買回來的是加紅糖的。Mother had told me to buy the kind with white sugar, but I had brought back the kind with brown sugar.當時我沒有留心，回到家裡一看，才知道錯了。I had not paid attention at the time; only when I looked at it at home did I realize my mistake.

有一次母亲让我去买黏糕，我略微的去得晚了一点，黏糕已经出锅了。我慌慌忙忙的买了就回来了。回到家里一看，不对了。母亲让我买的是加白糖的，而我买回来的是加红糖的。当时我没有留心，回到家里一看，才知道错了。

錯了，我又跑回去換。It was wrong, so I ran back to exchange it.馮歪嘴子又另外切了幾片，撒上白糖。Feng Waizuizi cut several fresh slices and sprinkled them with white sugar.

错了，我又跑回去换。冯歪嘴子又另外切了几片，撒上白糖。

接過黏糕來，我正想拿著走的時候，一回頭，看見了馮歪嘴子的那張小炕上掛著一張布帘。I took the sticky cake and was just about to leave when I turned around and saw a cloth curtain hanging over the little kang in Feng Waizuizi’s room.

接过黏糕来，我正想拿著走的时候，一回头，看见了冯歪嘴子的那张小炕上挂著一张布帘。

我想這是做什麼，我跑過去看一看。Wondering what it was for, I ran over to take a look.

我想这是做什么，我跑过去看一看。

我伸手就掀開布帘了，往裡邊一看，呀！I reached out, lifted the cloth curtain, and looked inside—oh!裡邊還有一個小孩呢！There's a baby inside too!

我伸手就掀开布帘了，往里边一看，呀！里边还有一个小孩呢！

我轉身就往家跑，跑到家裡就跟祖父講，說那馮歪嘴子的炕上不知誰家的女人睡在那裡，女人的被窩裡邊還有一個小孩，那小孩還露著小頭頂呢，那小孩頭還是通紅的呢！I turned and ran home, and when I got there I told grandfather that on Feng Waizuizi's kang, some woman from who-knows-where was lying there, and inside the woman's quilt there was even a baby, and the baby's little head was poking out, and the baby's head was bright red!

我转身就往家跑，跑到家里就跟祖父讲，说那冯歪嘴子的炕上不知谁家的女人睡在那里，女人的被窝里边还有一个小孩，那小孩还露著小头顶呢，那小孩头还是通红的呢！

祖父聽了一會覺得納悶，就說讓我快吃黏糕罷，一會冷了，不好吃了。Grandfather listened for a while, looking puzzled, and then just told me to hurry up and eat my sticky cake, since in a little while it would get cold and no longer taste good.

祖父听了一会觉得纳闷，就说让我快吃黏糕罢，一会冷了，不好吃了。

可是我那裡吃得下去。But I couldn't manage to eat it.覺得這事情真好玩，那磨房裡邊，不單有一個小驢，還有一個小孩呢。I thought this was really fun — that in the mill room there wasn't just a little donkey, there was a baby too.

可是我那里吃得下去。觉得这事情真好玩，那磨房里边，不单有一个小驴，还有一个小孩呢。

這一天早晨鬧得黏糕我也沒有吃，又戴起皮帽子來，跑去看了一次。That morning, in all the fuss, I never did eat my sticky cake, and I put on my fur cap again and ran off to take another look.

这一天早晨闹得黏糕我也没有吃，又戴起皮帽子来，跑去看了一次。

這一次，馮歪嘴子不在屋裡，不知他到那裡去了，黏糕大概也沒有去賣，推黏糕的車子還在磨盤的旁邊扔著。This time Feng Waizuizi wasn't in the room; I don't know where he had gone, and it seemed he hadn't gone off to sell his sticky cakes either, for the cart he used to push them was still lying there beside the millstone.

这一次，冯歪嘴子不在屋里，不知他到那里去了，黏糕大概也没有去卖，推黏糕的车子还在磨盘的旁边扔著。

我一開門進去，風就把那些蓋上的白布帘吹開了，那女人仍舊躺著不動，那小孩也一聲不哭，我往屋子的四邊觀查一下，屋子的邊處沒有什麼變動，只是磨盤上放著一個黃銅盆，銅盆裡泡著一點破布，盆裡的水已經結冰了，其餘的沒有什麼變動。As soon as I opened the door and went in, the wind blew open the white cloth curtain that covered them; the woman was still lying there without moving, and the baby wasn't crying either. I looked around the room on all sides — nothing along the edges of the room had changed, except that on the millstone sat a brass basin, with a bit of torn cloth soaking in it, and the water in the basin had already frozen; everything else was unchanged.

我一开门进去，风就把那些盖上的白布帘吹开了，那女人仍旧躺著不动，那小孩也一声不哭，我往屋子的四边观查一下，屋子的边处没有什么变动，只是磨盘上放著一个黄铜盆，铜盆里泡著一点破布，盆里的水已经结冰了，其余的没有什么变动。

小驢一到冬天就住在磨房的屋裡，那小驢還是照舊的站在那裡，並且還是安安敦敦的和每天一樣的抹搭著眼睛。Once winter came the little donkey lived in the mill room, and it was still standing there just as always, calm and placid, blinking its eyes just the same as every day.其餘的磨房裡的風車子、羅櫃、磨盤，都是照舊的在那裡呆著，就是牆根下的那些耗子也出來和往日一樣的亂跑，耗子一邊跑著還一邊吱吱喳喳的叫著。The rest of the things in the mill room — the winnowing fan, the sifting cabinets, the millstone — all sat there just as before; even the rats at the base of the wall came out and scurried about as usual, and as they ran they squeaked and chattered.

小驴一到冬天就住在磨房的屋里，那小驴还是照旧的站在那里，并且还是安安敦敦的和每天一样的抹搭著眼睛。其余的磨房里的风车子、罗柜、磨盘，都是照旧的在那里呆著，就是墙根下的那些耗子也出来和往日一样的乱跑，耗子一边跑著还一边吱吱喳喳的叫著。

我看了一會，看不出所以然來，覺得十分無趣。I looked around for a while, couldn't make heads or tails of it, and found it altogether boring.正想轉身出來的時候，被我發現了一個瓦盆，就在炕沿上已經像小冰山似的凍得鼓鼓的了。Just as I was about to turn and go out, I noticed an earthenware basin on the edge of the kang, already frozen into a bulging shape like a little iceberg.於是我想起這屋的冷來了，立刻覺得要打寒顫，冷得不能站腳了。At that I suddenly noticed how cold the room was, and at once felt a shiver coming on — it was too cold to keep standing there.我一細看那扇通到後園去的窗子也通著大洞，瓦房的房蓋也透著青天。Looking closely, I saw that the window opening onto the back garden had a great hole clean through it too, and through the roof of the tile house you could see the blue sky.

我看了一会，看不出所以然来，觉得十分无趣。正想转身出来的时候，被我发现了一个瓦盆，就在炕沿上已经像小冰山似的冻得鼓鼓的了。于是我想起这屋的冷来了，立刻觉得要打寒颤，冷得不能站脚了。我一细看那扇通到后园去的窗子也通著大洞，瓦房的房盖也透著青天。

我開門就跑了，一跑到家裡，家裡的火爐正燒得通紅，一進門就熱氣撲臉。I opened the door and ran off, and by the time I reached home, the stove there was burning red-hot, and the moment I stepped in, the heat hit me full in the face.

我开门就跑了，一跑到家里，家里的火炉正烧得通红，一进门就热气扑脸。

我正想要問祖父，那磨房裡是誰家的小孩。I was just about to ask grandfather whose child that was in the mill room.這時馮歪嘴子從外邊來了。Just then Feng Waizuizi came in from outside.

我正想要问祖父，那磨房里是谁家的小孩。这时冯歪嘴子从外边来了。

戴著他的四耳帽子，他未曾說話先笑一笑的樣子，一看就是馮歪嘴子。Wearing his four-flap cap, with that look of smiling before he even spoke — you could tell at a glance it was Feng Waizuizi.

戴著他的四耳帽子，他未曾说话先笑一笑的样子，一看就是冯歪嘴子。

他進了屋來，他坐在祖父旁邊的太師椅上，那太師椅墊著紅毛嗶嘰的厚墊子。He came into the room and sat down in the armchair beside grandfather, the one cushioned with a thick pad of red wool serge.

他进了屋来，他坐在祖父旁边的太师椅上，那太师椅垫著红毛哔叽的厚垫子。

馮歪嘴子坐在那裡，似乎有話說不出來。Feng Waizuizi sat there as if he had something to say but couldn't get it out.右手不住的摸擦著椅墊子，左手不住的拉著他的左耳朵。His right hand kept rubbing at the chair cushion, and his left hand kept tugging at his left ear.他未曾說話先笑的樣子，笑了好幾陣也沒說出話來。With that look of smiling before he spoke, he smiled for a good long while without getting a word out.

冯歪嘴子坐在那里，似乎有话说不出来。右手不住的摸擦著椅垫子，左手不住的拉著他的左耳朵。他未曾说话先笑的样子，笑了好几阵也没说出话来。

我們家裡的火爐太熱，把他的臉烤得通紅的了。The stove in our house was so hot it baked his face bright red.他說：He said:

我们家里的火炉太热，把他的脸烤得通红的了。他说：

「老太爺，我攤了點事。……」"Old Master, I've landed myself in a bit of trouble..."

「老太爷，我摊了点事。……」

祖父就問他攤了什麼事呢？Grandfather asked him what sort of trouble he'd landed in.

祖父就问他摊了什么事呢？

馮歪嘴子坐在太師椅上扭扭曲曲的，摘下他那狗皮帽子來，手裡玩弄著那皮帽子。Feng Waizuizi sat twisting and turning in the armchair, took off his dogskin cap, and fidgeted with it in his hands.未曾說話他先笑了，笑了好一陣工夫，他才說出一句話來：He smiled before he spoke, smiled for a good while, and only then got out a sentence:

冯歪嘴子坐在太师椅上扭扭曲曲的，摘下他那狗皮帽子来，手里玩弄著那皮帽子。未曾说话他先笑了，笑了好一阵工夫，他才说出一句话来：

「我成了家啦。」"I've started a family."

說著馮歪嘴子的眼睛就流出眼淚來，他說：As he said this, tears began to spill from Feng Waizuizi's eyes, and he said:

说著冯歪嘴子的眼睛就流出眼泪来，他说：

「請老太爺幫幫忙，現下她們就在磨房裡呢！"Please, Old Master, help me out — right now they're staying in the mill room!她們沒有地方住。」They have nowhere else to live."

「请老太爷帮帮忙，现下她们就在磨房里呢！她们没有地方住。」

我聽到了這裡，就趕快搶住了，向祖父說：When I heard this, I quickly jumped in and said to grandfather:

我听到了这里，就赶快抢住了，向祖父说：

「爺爺，那磨房裡冷呵！"Grandfather, it's freezing in that mill room!炕沿上的瓦盆都凍裂了。」The earthenware basin on the edge of the kang has even cracked from the cold."

「爷爷，那磨房里冷呵！炕沿上的瓦盆都冻裂了。」

祖父往一邊推著我，似乎他在思索的樣子。Grandfather pushed me aside, as if he were lost in thought.我又說：I said again:

祖父往一边推著我，似乎他在思索的样子。我又说：

「那炕上還睡著一個小孩呢！」"There's even a baby sleeping on that kang!"

「那炕上还睡著一个小孩呢！」

祖父答應了讓他搬到磨房南頭那個裝草的房子裡去暫住。Grandfather agreed to let him move temporarily into the shed at the south end of the mill room where the straw was kept.

祖父答应了让他搬到磨房南头那个装草的房子里去暂住。

馮歪嘴子一聽，連忙就站起來了，說：As soon as Feng Waizuizi heard this, he quickly stood up and said:

冯歪嘴子一听，连忙就站起来了，说：

「道謝，道謝。」"Much obliged, much obliged."

「道谢，道谢。」

一邊說著，他的眼睛又一邊來了眼淚，而後戴起狗皮帽子來，眼淚汪汪的就走了。Even as he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes again, and then he put his dogskin cap back on and left, his eyes brimming with tears.

一边说著，他的眼睛又一边来了眼泪，而后戴起狗皮帽子来，眼泪汪汪的就走了。

馮歪嘴子剛一走出屋去，祖父回頭就跟我說：The moment Feng Waizuizi walked out of the room, grandfather turned to me and said:

冯歪嘴子刚一走出屋去，祖父回头就跟我说：

「你這孩子當人面不好多說話的。」"A child like you shouldn't say so much in front of others."

「你这孩子当人面不好多说话的。」

我那時也不過六七歲，不懂這是甚麼意思，我問著祖父：I was only six or seven then and didn't understand what this meant, so I asked grandfather:

我那时也不过六七岁，不懂这是甚么意思，我问著祖父：

「為什麼不准說，為什麼不准說？」"Why can't I say it, why can't I say it?"

「为什么不准说，为什么不准说？」

祖父說：Grandfather said:

祖父说：

「你沒看馮歪嘴子的眼淚都要掉下來了嗎？"Didn't you see that Feng Waizuizi's tears were about to fall?馮歪嘴子難為情了。」Feng Waizuizi was embarrassed."

「你没看冯歪嘴子的眼泪都要掉下来了吗？冯歪嘴子难为情了。」

我想可有什麼難為情的，我不明白。I thought, what was there to be embarrassed about — I didn't understand it at all.

我想可有什么难为情的，我不明白。

晌午，馮歪嘴子那磨房裡就吵起來了。At noon, a quarrel broke out in Feng Waizuizi's mill room.

晌午，冯歪嘴子那磨房里就吵起来了。

馮歪嘴子一聲不響的站在磨盤的旁邊，他的掌櫃的拿著煙袋在他的眼前罵著，掌櫃的太太一邊罵著，一邊拍著風車子，她說：Feng Waizuizi stood silently beside the millstone while his landlord stood in front of him, pipe in hand, cursing him, and the landlord's wife cursed too, all the while slapping at the winnowing fan, saying:

冯歪嘴子一声不响的站在磨盘的旁边，他的掌柜的拿著烟袋在他的眼前骂著，掌柜的太太一边骂著，一边拍著风车子，她说：

「破了風水了，我這碾磨房，豈是你那不乾不淨的野老婆住的地方！」"You've ruined the feng shui! This mill room of mine — how could it be a place for that filthy wild woman of yours to live in!"

「破了风水了，我这碾磨房，岂是你那不干不净的野老婆住的地方！」

「青龍白虎也是女人可以沖的嗎！」"Do you think the Green Dragon and White Tiger spirits can just be defiled by any woman!"

「青龙白虎也是女人可以冲的吗！」

「馮歪嘴子，從此我不發財，我就跟你算帳；"Feng Waizuizi, from now on if I don't prosper, I'll settle accounts with you;你是什麼東西，你還算個人嗎？what kind of thing are you, are you even a person?你沒有臉，你若有臉你還能把個野老婆弄到大面上來，弄到人的眼皮下邊來……You have no shame — if you had any shame, could you have brought a wild woman out into the open like this, right under people's eyes...你趕快給我滾蛋……」Get out of here this instant..."

「冯歪嘴子，从此我不发财，我就跟你算帐；你是什么东西，你还算个人吗？你没有脸，你若有脸你还能把个野老婆弄到大面上来，弄到人的眼皮下边来……你赶快给我滚蛋……」

馮歪嘴子說：Feng Waizuizi said:

冯歪嘴子说：

「我就要叫她們搬的，就搬……」"I'll have them move right away, right away..."

「我就要叫她们搬的，就搬……」

掌櫃的太太說：The landlord's wife said:

掌柜的太太说：

「叫她們搬，她們是什麼東西，我不知道。"Have them move — what sort of creatures they are, I don't want to know.我是叫你滾蛋的，你可把人糟蹋苦了……」I'm telling you to get out — you've made a wreck of me..."

「叫她们搬，她们是什么东西，我不知道。我是叫你滚蛋的，你可把人糟蹋苦了……」

說著，她往炕上一看：So saying, she glanced over at the kang:

说著，她往炕上一看：

「唉呀！"Oh no!麵口袋也是你那野老婆蓋得的！Even the flour sacks — that wild woman of yours has been covering herself with them!趕快給我拿下來。Get them off this instant.我說馮歪嘴子，你可把我糟蹋苦了。I tell you, Feng Waizuizi, you've made a wreck of me.你可把我糟蹋苦了。」You've made a wreck of me."

「唉呀！面口袋也是你那野老婆盖得的！赶快给我拿下来。我说冯歪嘴子，你可把我糟蹋苦了。你可把我糟蹋苦了。」

那個剛生下來的小孩是蓋著盛麵口袋在睡覺的，一齊蓋著四五張，厚敦敦的壓著小臉。That newborn baby had been sleeping covered with flour sacks, four or five of them piled together, pressing thick and heavy on its little face.

那个刚生下来的小孩是盖著盛面口袋在睡觉的，一齐盖著四五张，厚敦敦的压著小脸。

掌櫃的太太在旁邊喊著：The landlord's wife shouted from the side:

掌柜的太太在旁边喊著：

「給我拿下來，快給我拿下來！」"Get them off for me, get them off this instant!"

「给我拿下来，快给我拿下来！」

馮歪嘴子過去把麵口袋拿下來了，立刻就露出孩子通紅的小手來，而且那小手還伸伸縮縮的搖動著，搖動了幾下就哭起來了。Feng Waizuizi went over and pulled the flour sacks off, and at once the baby's little red hands were exposed, and those little hands stretched and curled, waving about, and after waving a few times the baby began to cry.

冯歪嘴子过去把面口袋拿下来了，立刻就露出孩子通红的小手来，而且那小手还伸伸缩缩的摇动著，摇动了几下就哭起来了。

那孩子一哭，從孩子的嘴裡冒著雪白的白氣。The moment the baby cried, a puff of white breath came steaming out of its mouth.

那孩子一哭，从孩子的嘴里冒著雪白的白气。

那掌櫃的太太把麵口袋接到手裡說：The landlord's wife took the flour sacks in her hands and said:

那掌柜的太太把面口袋接到手里说：

「可凍死我了，你趕快搬罷，我可沒工夫跟你吵了……」"You've about frozen me to death — hurry up and move out, I haven't got time to quarrel with you any longer..."

「可冻死我了，你赶快搬罢，我可没工夫跟你吵了……」

說著開了門縮著肩膀就跑回上屋去了。So saying, she opened the door, hunched her shoulders, and ran back to the main house.

说著开了门缩著肩膀就跑回上屋去了。

王四掌櫃的，就是馮歪嘴子的東家，他請祖父到上屋去喝茶。Landlord Wang the Fourth, that is, Feng Waizuizi's landlord, invited grandfather into the main house for tea.

王四掌柜的，就是冯歪嘴子的东家，他请祖父到上屋去喝茶。

我們坐在上屋的炕上，一邊烤著炭火盆，一邊聽到磨房裡的那小孩的哭聲。We sat on the kang in the main house, warming ourselves by the charcoal brazier, and all the while we could hear the baby crying in the mill room.

我们坐在上屋的炕上，一边烤著炭火盆，一边听到磨房里的那小孩的哭声。

祖父問我的手烤暖了沒有？Grandfather asked whether my hands had warmed up yet.我說還沒烤暖，祖父說：I said not yet, and grandfather said:

祖父问我的手烤暖了没有？我说还没烤暖，祖父说：

「烤暖了，回家罷。」"Once they're warm, we'll head home."

「烤暖了，回家罢。」

從王四掌櫃的家裡出來，我還說要到磨房裡去看看。Coming out of Landlord Wang the Fourth's house, I still said I wanted to go to the mill room to have a look.祖父說，沒有什麼的，要看回家暖過來再看。Grandfather said there was nothing to see, and that if I wanted to look, I should wait until I'd warmed up at home and then look.

从王四掌柜的家里出来，我还说要到磨房里去看看。祖父说，没有什么的，要看回家暖过来再看。

磨房裡沒有寒暑表，我家裡是有的。There was no thermometer in the mill room, but we had one at home.我問祖父：I asked grandfather:

磨房里没有寒暑表，我家里是有的。我问祖父：

「爺爺，你說磨房的溫度在多少度上？」"Grandfather, what do you think the temperature in the mill room is?"

「爷爷，你说磨房的温度在多少度上？」

祖父說在零度以下。Grandfather said it was below zero.

祖父说在零度以下。

我問：I asked:

我问：

「在零度以下多少？」"How far below zero?"

祖父說：Grandfather said:

祖父说：

「沒有寒暑表，那兒知道呵！」"There's no thermometer there, how would anyone know!"

「没有寒暑表，那儿知道呵！」

我說：I said:

我说：

「到底在零度以下多少？」"But how far below zero exactly?"

祖父看一看天色就說：Grandfather looked up at the sky for a moment and said:

祖父看一看天色就说：

「在零下七八度。」"About seven or eight degrees below zero."

我高興起來了，我說：I grew delighted, and said:

我高兴起来了，我说：

「噯呀，好冷呵！"Oh my, how cold!那不和室外溫度一樣了嗎？」Isn't that the same as being out in the open air?"

「嗳呀，好冷呵！那不和室外温度一样了吗？」

我抬腳就往家裡跑，井台，井台旁邊的水槽子，井台旁邊的大石頭碾子，房戶老周家的大玻璃窗子，我家的大高煙筒，在我一溜煙的跑起來的時候，我看它們都移移動動的了，它們都像往後退著。I took off running for home, and the well platform, the trough beside the well platform, the big stone roller beside the well platform, our neighbor old Zhou's big glass window, our own tall chimney — as I ran along in a blur, I saw them all shifting and moving, all of them seeming to fall back behind me.我越跑越快，好像不是我在跑，而像房子和大煙筒在跑似的。The faster I ran, the more it seemed it wasn't me running, but the houses and the great chimney running instead.

我抬脚就往家里跑，井台，井台旁边的水槽子，井台旁边的大石头碾子，房户老周家的大玻璃窗子，我家的大高烟筒，在我一溜烟的跑起来的时候，我看它们都移移动动的了，它们都像往后退著。我越跑越快，好像不是我在跑，而像房子和大烟筒在跑似的。

我自己煊惑得我跑得和風一般快。I dazzled myself into believing I was running as fast as the wind.

我自己煊惑得我跑得和风一般快。

我想那磨房的溫度在零度以下，豈不是等於露天地了嗎？I thought, if the temperature in the mill room was below zero, wasn't that just the same as being out in the open?這真笑話，房子和露天地一樣。This was truly funny — a house being just the same as the open air.我越想越可笑，也就越高興。The more I thought about it the funnier it seemed, and the funnier it seemed the happier I got.

我想那磨房的温度在零度以下，岂不是等于露天地了吗？这真笑话，房子和露天地一样。我越想越可笑，也就越高兴。

於是連喊帶叫的也就跑到家了。And so, shouting and hollering the whole way, I ran home.

于是连喊带叫的也就跑到家了。

下半天馮歪嘴子就把小孩搬到磨房南頭那草棚子裡去了。In the afternoon, Feng Waizuizi moved the baby to the straw shed at the south end of the mill room.

下半天冯歪嘴子就把小孩搬到磨房南头那草棚子里去了。

那小孩哭的聲音很大，好像他並不是剛剛出生，好像他已經長大了的樣子。The baby cried very loudly, as if it hadn't just been born at all, as if it had already grown up.

那小孩哭的声音很大，好像他并不是刚刚出生，好像他已经长大了的样子。

那草房裡吵得不得了，我又想去看看。There was such a commotion in that straw hut that I wanted to go have a look again.

那草房里吵得不得了，我又想去看看。

這回那女人坐起來了，身上披著被子，很長的大辮子垂在背後，面朝裡，坐在一堆草上不知在幹什麼，她一聽門響，她一回頭。This time the woman was sitting up, a quilt draped over her, her long thick braid hanging down her back, her face turned inward, sitting on a pile of straw doing something or other; when she heard the door, she turned her head.我看出來了，她就是我們同院住著的老王家的大姑娘，我們都叫她王大姐的。I recognized her — she was the eldest daughter of the Wang family who lived in our same compound, the one we all called Big Sister Wang.

这回那女人坐起来了，身上披著被子，很长的大辫子垂在背后，面朝里，坐在一堆草上不知在干什么，她一听门响，她一回头。我看出来了，她就是我们同院住著的老王家的大姑娘，我们都叫她王大姐的。

這可奇怪，怎麼就是她呢？This was strange indeed — how could it be her?她一回頭幾乎是把我嚇了一跳。When she turned her head it very nearly gave me a fright.

这可奇怪，怎么就是她呢？她一回头几乎是把我吓了一跳。

我轉身就想往家裡跑。I turned and wanted to run straight home.跑到家裡好趕快的告訴祖父，這到底是怎麼回事？I wanted to get home quickly and tell grandfather — what on earth was going on here?

我转身就想往家里跑。跑到家里好赶快的告诉祖父，这到底是怎么回事？

她看是我，她就先向我一笑，她長的是很大的臉孔，很尖的鼻子，每笑的時候，她的鼻梁上就皺了一堆的褶。When she saw it was me, she smiled at me first; she had a very broad face and a very sharp nose, and whenever she smiled, a cluster of wrinkles gathered on the bridge of her nose.今天她的笑法還是和從前的一樣，鼻梁處堆滿了皺褶。Today her way of smiling was just the same as before, with the wrinkles piling up on the bridge of her nose.

她看是我，她就先向我一笑，她长的是很大的脸孔，很尖的鼻子，每笑的时候，她的鼻梁上就皱了一堆的褶。今天她的笑法还是和从前的一样，鼻梁处堆满了皱褶。

平常我們後園裡的菜吃不了的時候，她就提著筐到我們後園來摘些茄子、黃瓜之類回家去。Ordinarily, whenever we had more vegetables in our back garden than we could eat, she would come over with a basket to pick some eggplants, cucumbers, and the like to take home.她是很能說能笑的人，她是很響亮的人，她和別人相見之下，她問別人：She was a person who talked and laughed a great deal, a person with a loud, ringing voice; whenever she met someone, she would ask them:

平常我们后园里的菜吃不了的时候，她就提著筐到我们后园来摘些茄子、黄瓜之类回家去。她是很能说能笑的人，她是很响亮的人，她和别人相见之下，她问别人：

「你吃飯了嗎？」"Have you eaten yet?"

「你吃饭了吗？」

那聲音才大呢，好像房頂上落了鵲雀似的。What a tremendous noise it was, as though magpies had landed on the roof.

那声音才大呢，好像房顶上落了鹊雀似的。

她的父親是趕車的，她牽著馬到井上去飲水，她打起水來，比她父親打的更快，三繞兩繞就是一桶。Her father was a cart driver; she would lead the horse to the well for water, and when she drew water she was even faster than he was—two or three turns of the windlass and up came a full bucket.別人看了都說：Everyone who saw her would say:

她的父亲是赶车的，她牵著马到井上去饮水，她打起水来，比她父亲打的更快，三绕两绕就是一桶。别人看了都说：

「這姑娘將來是個興家立業好手！」“That girl will be a fine hand at building up a prosperous household someday!”

「这姑娘将来是个兴家立业好手！」

她在我家後園裡摘菜，摘完臨走的時候，常常就折一朵馬蛇菜花戴在頭上。She used to pick vegetables in our back garden, and when she had finished and was about to leave, she would often break off a purslane blossom and wear it in her hair.

她在我家后园里摘菜，摘完临走的时候，常常就折一朵马蛇菜花戴在头上。

她那辮子梳得才光呢，紅辮根，綠辮梢，乾乾淨淨，又加上一朵馬蛇菜花戴在鬢角上，非常好看。How sleekly her braid was combed, tied with red at the root and green at the tip, all neat and clean; with a purslane blossom tucked at her temple besides, she looked exceedingly pretty.她提著筐子前邊走了，後邊的人就都指指畫畫的說她的好處。As she walked ahead carrying her basket, the people behind her would point and gesture, praising her many virtues.

她那辫子梳得才光呢，红辫根，绿辫梢，干干净净，又加上一朵马蛇菜花戴在鬓角上，非常好看。她提著筐子前边走了，后边的人就都指指画画的说她的好处。

老廚子說她大頭子大眼睛長得怪好的。The old cook said she had a fine big head and big eyes, and was remarkably good-looking.

老厨子说她大头子大眼睛长得怪好的。

有二伯說她膀大腰圓的帶點福相。Second Uncle You said her broad shoulders and sturdy waist gave her a rather prosperous look.

有二伯说她膀大腰圆的带点福相。

母親說她：Mother said of her:

母亲说她：

「我沒有這麼大的兒子，有兒子我娶她，這姑娘真響亮。」“I haven’t a son old enough; if I had, I’d take her for his wife. What a splendid, hearty girl she is.”

「我没有这么大的儿子，有儿子我娶她，这姑娘真响亮。」

同院住的老周家三奶奶則說：Old Mrs. Zhou, Third Mistress of the Zhou family who lived in our compound, would say:

同院住的老周家三奶奶则说：

「喲喲，這姑娘真是一棵大葵花，又高又大，你今年十幾啦？」“My, my! This girl is a great sunflower, tall and big. How old are you this year?”

「哟哟，这姑娘真是一棵大葵花，又高又大，你今年十几啦？」

周三奶奶一看到王大姐就問她十幾歲？Whenever Third Mistress Zhou saw Sister Wang, she asked how old she was.已經問了不知幾遍了，好像一看見就必得這麼問，若不問就好像沒有話說似的。She had asked it countless times already, as though she simply had to ask whenever she saw her, and would have nothing to say otherwise.

周三奶奶一看到王大姐就问她十几岁？已经问了不知几遍了，好像一看见就必得这么问，若不问就好像没有话说似的。

每逢一問，王大姐也總是說：Every time she was asked, Sister Wang would invariably answer:

每逢一问，王大姐也总是说：

「二十了。」“Twenty.”

「二十了，可得給說一個媒了。」再不然就是，「看誰家有這麼大的福氣，看吧，將來看吧。」“Twenty—you must have a match arranged for you now.” Or else it was, “Let us see what family will be blessed with such good fortune. Just wait and see what the future brings.”

「二十了，可得给说一个媒了。」再不然就是，「看谁家有这么大的福气，看吧，将来看吧。」

隔院的楊家的老太太，扒著牆頭一看見王大姐就說：The old lady of the Yang family in the neighboring compound would peer over the wall and say whenever she saw Sister Wang:

隔院的杨家的老太太，扒著墙头一看见王大姐就说：

「這姑娘的臉紅得像一盆火似的。」“That girl’s face is as red as a basinful of fire.”

「这姑娘的脸红得像一盆火似的。」

現在王大姐一笑還是一皺鼻子，不過她的臉有一點清瘦，顏色發白了許多。Now Sister Wang still wrinkled her nose when she smiled, but her face had grown a little thin, and much paler.

现在王大姐一笑还是一皱鼻子，不过她的脸有一点清瘦，颜色发白了许多。

她懷裡抱著小孩。She was holding a baby in her arms.我看一看她，她也不好意思了，我也不好意思了。I looked at her; she grew embarrassed, and so did I.我的不好意思是因為好久不見的緣故，我想她也許是和我一樣吧。I was embarrassed because we had not seen each other for so long, and I thought perhaps she felt the same way.我想要走，又不好意思立刻就走開。I wanted to leave, yet felt awkward walking away at once.想要多呆一會又沒有什麼話好說的。I wanted to stay a little longer, but had nothing to say.

她怀里抱著小孩。我看一看她，她也不好意思了，我也不好意思了。我的不好意思是因为好久不见的缘故，我想她也许是和我一样吧。我想要走，又不好意思立刻就走开。想要多呆一会又没有什么话好说的。

我就站在那裡靜靜的站了一會，我看她用草把小孩蓋了起來，把小孩放到炕上去。So I stood there quietly for a while and watched her cover the baby with straw, then lay it on the kang.其實也看不見什麼是炕，烏七八糟的都是草，地上是草，炕上也是草，草綑子堆得房樑上去了。In fact, you could hardly tell where the kang was: straw lay everywhere in a dreadful jumble, on the floor and on the kang, while bundles of it were piled right up to the rafters.那小炕本來不大，又都叫草綑子給佔滿了。The little kang was not large to begin with, and the bundles of straw had taken up nearly all of it.那小孩也就在草中偎了個草窩，鋪著草蓋著草的就睡著了。There among the straw, the baby had nestled out a little straw den and fallen asleep, with straw beneath it and straw over it.

我就站在那里静静的站了一会，我看她用草把小孩盖了起来，把小孩放到炕上去。其实也看不见什么是炕，乌七八糟的都是草，地上是草，炕上也是草，草捆子堆得房梁上去了。那小炕本来不大，又都叫草捆子给占满了。那小孩也就在草中偎了个草窝，铺著草盖著草的就睡著了。

我越看越覺得好玩，好像小孩睡在鵲雀窩裡了似的。The longer I looked, the more amusing it seemed, as though the baby were sleeping in a magpie’s nest.

我越看越觉得好玩，好像小孩睡在鹊雀窝里了似的。

到了晚上，我又把全套我所見的告訴了祖父。That evening, I again told Grandfather the whole story of everything I had seen.

到了晚上，我又把全套我所见的告诉了祖父。

祖父什麼也不說。Grandfather said nothing.但我看出來祖父曉得的比我曉得的多的樣子。But I could tell that Grandfather seemed to know more than I did.我說：I said:

祖父什么也不说。但我看出来祖父晓得的比我晓得的多的样子。我说：

「那小孩還蓋著草呢！」“The baby was even covered with straw!”

「那小孩还盖著草呢！」

祖父說：Grandfather said:

祖父说：

「嗯！」“Mm!”

我說：I said:

我说：

「那不是王大姐嗎？」“Wasn’t that Sister Wang?”

「那不是王大姐吗？」

祖父說：Grandfather said:

祖父说：

「嗯。」“Mm.”

祖父是什麼也不問，什麼也不聽的樣子。Grandfather acted as though he would neither ask nor listen to anything.

祖父是什么也不问，什么也不听的样子。

等到了晚上在煤油燈的下邊，我家全體的人都聚集了的時候，那才熱鬧呢！But that evening, when our whole household had gathered beneath the kerosene lamp—what a commotion there was!連說帶講的。Everyone talked and expounded at once.這個說，王大姑娘這麼的。One said Miss Wang had done this.那個說王大姑娘那麼著……Another said Miss Wang had done that...說來說去，說得不成樣子了。They went on and on until their talk became utterly outrageous.

等到了晚上在煤油灯的下边，我家全体的人都聚集了的时候，那才热闹呢！连说带讲的。这个说，王大姑娘这么的。那个说王大姑娘那么著……说来说去，说得不成样子了。

說王大姑娘這樣壞，那樣壞，一看就知道不是好東西。They said Miss Wang was bad in this way and bad in that, and that one look was enough to know she was no decent woman.

说王大姑娘这样坏，那样坏，一看就知道不是好东西。

說她說話的聲音那麼大，一定不是好東西。They said that because her voice was so loud, she could not possibly be decent.那有姑娘家家的，大說大講的。What respectable girl ever talked so loudly and freely?

说她说话的声音那么大，一定不是好东西。那有姑娘家家的，大说大讲的。

有二伯說：Second Uncle You said:

有二伯说：

「好好的一個姑娘，看上了一個磨房的磨官，介個年頭是啥年頭！」“A perfectly good girl, and she went and took a fancy to a mill hand! What kind of times are these?”

「好好的一个姑娘，看上了一个磨房的磨官，介个年头是啥年头！」

老廚子說：The old cook said:

老厨子说：

「男子要長個粗壯，女子要長個秀氣。“A man ought to be big and sturdy, and a woman delicate and refined.沒見過一個姑娘長得和一個扛大個的（扛工）似的。」I’ve never seen a girl built like a porter.”

「男子要长个粗壮，女子要长个秀气。没见过一个姑娘长得和一个扛大个的（扛工）似的。」

有二伯也就接著說：Second Uncle You immediately chimed in:

有二伯也就接著说：

「對呀！“Exactly!老爺像老爺，娘娘像娘娘，你沒四月十八去逛過廟嗎？A lord should look like a lord, and a lady like a lady. Haven’t you ever gone to the temple fair on the eighteenth of the fourth month?那老爺廟上的老爺，威風八面，娘娘廟上的娘娘，溫柔典雅。」The lord in the Lord’s Temple is majestic in every direction, while the lady in the Lady’s Temple is gentle and graceful.”

「对呀！老爷像老爷，娘娘像娘娘，你没四月十八去逛过庙吗？那老爷庙上的老爷，威风八面，娘娘庙上的娘娘，温柔典雅。」

老廚子又說：The old cook went on:

老厨子又说：

「那有的勾當，姑娘家家的，打起水來，比個男子大丈夫還有力氣。“Who ever heard of such a thing—a girl drawing water with more strength than a full-grown man?沒見過，姑娘家家的那麼大的力氣。」I’ve never seen a girl with such enormous strength.”

「那有的勾当，姑娘家家的，打起水来，比个男子大丈夫还有力气。没见过，姑娘家家的那么大的力气。」

有二伯說：Second Uncle You said:

有二伯说：

「那算完，長的是一身窮骨頭窮肉，那穿綢穿緞的她不去看，她看上了個灰禿禿的磨官。“And that’s not all. She’s made of nothing but poor bones and poor flesh: she pays no heed to men dressed in silk and satin, but fixes on a drab, dusty mill hand.真是武大郎玩鴨子，啥人玩啥鳥。」It’s just Wu Dalang playing with ducks—each man plays with the bird that suits him.”

「那算完，长的是一身穷骨头穷肉，那穿绸穿缎的她不去看，她看上了个灰秃秃的磨官。真是武大郎玩鸭子，啥人玩啥鸟。」

第二天，左鄰右舍的都曉得王大姑娘生了小孩了。By the next day, all the neighbors knew that Miss Wang had given birth to a baby.

第二天，左邻右舍的都晓得王大姑娘生了小孩了。

周三奶奶跑到我家來探聽了一番，母親說就在那草棚子裡，讓她去看。Third Mistress Zhou came running to our house to make inquiries; Mother said Miss Wang was in the straw shed and told her to go and see.她說：She said:

周三奶奶跑到我家来探听了一番，母亲说就在那草棚子里，让她去看。她说：

「喲喲！“My, my!我可沒那麼大的工夫去看的，什麼好勾當。」I haven’t that much time to waste looking at such a disgraceful business.”

「哟哟！我可没那么大的工夫去看的，什么好勾当。」

西院的楊老太太聽了風也來了。When Old Mrs. Yang from the western compound caught wind of it, she came too.穿了一身漿得閃光發亮的藍大布衫，頭上扣著銀扁方，手上戴著白銅的戒指。She wore a blue coarse-cloth gown starched until it gleamed, a flat silver hair ornament on her head, and white-copper rings on her fingers.

西院的杨老太太听了风也来了。穿了一身浆得闪光发亮的蓝大布衫，头上扣著银扁方，手上戴著白铜的戒指。

一進屋，母親就告訴她馮歪嘴子得了兒子了。The moment she entered, Mother told her that Feng Waizuizi had had a son.楊老太太連忙就說：Old Mrs. Yang hastily replied:

一进屋，母亲就告诉她冯歪嘴子得了儿子了。杨老太太连忙就说：

「我可不是來探聽他們那些貓三狗四的，我是來問問那廣和銀號的利息到底是大加一呢，還是八成？“I certainly didn’t come to pry into the sordid affairs of such riffraff. I came to ask whether the interest at the Guanghe Bank is actually ten percent or eight.因為昨天西荒上的二小子打信來說，他老丈人要給一個親戚十幾萬吊錢。」Yesterday Er Xiaozi out on the western wasteland sent word that his father-in-law wanted to lend a relative more than a hundred thousand strings of cash.”

「我可不是来探听他们那些猫三狗四的，我是来问问那广和银号的利息到底是大加一呢，还是八成？因为昨天西荒上的二小子打信来说，他老丈人要给一个亲戚十几万吊钱。」

說完了，她莊莊嚴嚴的坐在那裡。Having said this, she seated herself with great solemnity.

说完了，她庄庄严严的坐在那里。

我家的屋子太熱，楊老太太一進屋來就把臉熱的通紅。Our room was very hot, and as soon as Old Mrs. Yang entered, the heat flushed her face bright red.母親連忙打開了北邊的那通氣窗。Mother quickly opened the ventilating window on the north side.

我家的屋子太热，杨老太太一进屋来就把脸热的通红。母亲连忙打开了北边的那通气窗。

通氣窗一開，那草棚子裡的小孩的哭聲就聽見了，那哭聲特別吵鬧。As soon as the window opened, the baby’s cries could be heard from the straw shed, particularly loud and clamorous.

通气窗一开，那草棚子里的小孩的哭声就听见了，那哭声特别吵闹。

「聽聽啦，」母親說，「這就是馮歪嘴子的兒子。」“Just listen,” Mother said. “That is Feng Waizuizi’s son.”

「听听啦，」母亲说，「这就是冯歪嘴子的儿子。」

「怎麼的啦？“What of it?那王大姑娘我看就不是個好東西，我就說，那姑娘將來好不了。」楊老太太說，「前些日子那姑娘忽然不見了，我就問她媽，『你們大姑娘那兒去啦？』她媽說，『上她姥姥家去了。』一去去了這麼久沒回來，我就有點覺警。」I could tell Miss Wang was no decent woman. I always said that girl would come to no good,” said Old Mrs. Yang. “Some time ago she suddenly disappeared, so I asked her mother, ‘Where has your eldest girl gone?’ Her mother said, ‘She’s gone to her maternal grandmother’s.’ When she stayed away so long without coming back, I began to suspect something.”

「怎么的啦？那王大姑娘我看就不是个好东西，我就说，那姑娘将来好不了。」杨老太太说，「前些日子那姑娘忽然不见了，我就问她妈，『你们大姑娘那儿去啦？』她妈说，『上她姥姥家去了。』一去去了这么久没回来，我就有点觉警。」

母親說：Mother said:

母亲说：

「王大姑娘夏天的時候常常哭，把眼圈都哭紅了，她媽說她脾氣大，跟她媽吵架氣的。」“Miss Wang often cried during the summer until her eyes were red. Her mother said she had a fierce temper and had become upset after quarreling with her.”

「王大姑娘夏天的时候常常哭，把眼圈都哭红了，她妈说她脾气大，跟她妈吵架气的。」

楊老太太把肩膀一抱說：Old Mrs. Yang folded her arms and said:

杨老太太把肩膀一抱说：

「氣的，好大的氣性，到今天都丟了人啦，怎麼沒氣死呢。“Upset, was she? What a mighty temper! Now she’s disgraced herself—why didn’t she get so angry she died?那姑娘不是好東西，你看她那雙眼睛，多麼大！That girl is no good. Just look how big her eyes are!我早就說過，這姑娘好不了。」I said long ago that she would come to no good.”

「气的，好大的气性，到今天都丢了人啦，怎么没气死呢。那姑娘不是好东西，你看她那双眼睛，多么大！我早就说过，这姑娘好不了。」

而後在母親的耳朵上嘁嘁喳喳了一陣，又說又笑的走了。Then she whispered and chattered in Mother’s ear for a while before leaving, talking and laughing.

而后在母亲的耳朵上嘁嘁喳喳了一阵，又说又笑的走了。

把她那原來到我家裡來的原意，大概也忘了。By then she had probably forgotten her original purpose in coming to our house.她來是為了廣和銀號利息的問題，可是一直到走也沒有再提起那廣和銀號來。She had come to ask about the interest at the Guanghe Bank, but by the time she left she had never mentioned the Guanghe Bank again.

把她那原来到我家里来的原意，大概也忘了。她来是为了广和银号利息的问题，可是一直到走也没有再提起那广和银号来。

楊老太太，周三奶奶，還有同院住的那些粉房裡的人，沒有一個不說王大姑娘壞的。Old Mrs. Yang, Third Mistress Zhou, and all the people from the starch-making workshop in our compound—every one of them said Miss Wang was bad.

杨老太太，周三奶奶，还有同院住的那些粉房里的人，没有一个不说王大姑娘坏的。

說王大姑娘的眼睛長得不好，說王大姑娘的力氣太大，說王大姑娘的辮子長得也太長。They said Miss Wang’s eyes were badly formed, that Miss Wang was too strong, and that even Miss Wang’s braid was too long.

说王大姑娘的眼睛长得不好，说王大姑娘的力气太大，说王大姑娘的辫子长得也太长。

這事情一發，全院子的人給王大姑娘做論的做論，做傳的做傳，還有給她做日記的。Once the affair came to light, everyone in the compound set to work: some composed commentaries on Miss Wang, some biographies, and some even diaries.

这事情一发，全院子的人给王大姑娘做论的做论，做传的做传，还有给她做日记的。

做傳的說，她從小就在外祖母家裡養著，一天盡和男孩子在一塊，沒男沒女。Her biographers said that she had been raised from childhood in her maternal grandmother’s home, where she spent all day with boys, with no regard for the distinction between male and female.有一天她竟拿著燒火的叉子把她的表弟給打傷了。One day she had even injured her cousin with a fire-tending fork.又是一天刮大風，她把外祖母的二十多個鴨蛋一次給偷著吃光了。Another day, when a great wind was blowing, she secretly ate all twenty-odd of her maternal grandmother’s duck eggs in one sitting.又是一天她在河溝子裡邊採菱角，她自己採的少，她就把別人的菱角倒在她的筐裡了，就說是她採的。On yet another day, while gathering water caltrops in a stream, she gathered few herself, so she emptied other people’s caltrops into her own basket and claimed she had gathered them.說她強橫得不得了，沒有人敢去和她分辯，一分辯，她開口就罵，舉手就打。They said she was unbelievably overbearing and that no one dared argue with her: if anyone did, she would open her mouth and curse them, then raise her hand and strike.

做传的说，她从小就在外祖母家里养著，一天尽和男孩子在一块，没男没女。有一天她竟拿著烧火的叉子把她的表弟给打伤了。又是一天刮大风，她把外祖母的二十多个鸭蛋一次给偷著吃光了。又是一天她在河沟子里边采菱角，她自己采的少，她就把别人的菱角倒在她的筐里了，就说是她采的。说她强横得不得了，没有人敢去和她分辩，一分辩，她开口就骂，举手就打。

那給她做傳的人，說著就好像看見過似的，說臘月二十三，過小年的那天，王大姑娘因為外祖母少給了她一塊肉吃，她就跟外祖母打了一仗，就跑回家裡來了。The person composing her biography spoke as though she had witnessed it herself, saying that on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the day of the Little New Year, Miss Wang fought with her maternal grandmother because she had been given one piece of meat too few, and then ran home.

那给她做传的人，说著就好像看见过似的，说腊月二十三，过小年的那天，王大姑娘因为外祖母少给了她一块肉吃，她就跟外祖母打了一仗，就跑回家里来了。

「你看看吧，她的嘴該多饞。」“Just think how greedy she must have been.”

「你看看吧，她的嘴该多馋。」

於是四邊聽著的人，沒有不笑的。At this, everyone listening around her laughed.

于是四边听著的人，没有不笑的。

那給王大姑娘做傳的人，材料的確搜集得不少。The person composing Miss Wang’s biography had indeed gathered a great deal of material.

那给王大姑娘做传的人，材料的确搜集得不少。

自從團圓媳婦死了，院子裡似乎寂寞了很長的一個時期，現在雖然不能說十分熱鬧，但大家都總要盡力的鼓吹一番。Ever since the child-bride Tuanyuan had died, the compound had seemed lonely for a long while; now, though it could not be called altogether lively, everyone was determined to stir up as much excitement as possible.雖然不跳神打鼓，但也總應該給大家多少開一開心。Though there were no spirit-dancers or beating drums, the affair ought at least to provide everyone with a little amusement.

自从团圆媳妇死了，院子里似乎寂寞了很长的一个时期，现在虽然不能说十分热闹，但大家都总要尽力的鼓吹一番。虽然不跳神打鼓，但也总应该给大家多少开一开心。

於是吹風的，把眼的，跑線的，絕對的不辭辛苦，在飄著白白的大雪的夜裡，也就戴著皮帽子，穿著大氈靴，站在馮歪嘴子的窗戶外邊，在那裡守候著，為的是偷聽一點什麼消息。And so the rumor-mongers, lookouts, and go-betweens spared themselves no trouble at all: even on nights when white snow swirled through the air, they put on fur hats and tall felt boots and stood outside Feng Waizuizi’s window, waiting there in hopes of overhearing some bit of news.若能聽到一點點，那怕針孔那麼大一點，也總沒有白挨凍，好做為第二天宣傳的材料。If they managed to hear even the tiniest thing, no bigger than a needle’s eye, then their freezing vigil had not been in vain, for it would furnish material to spread the next day.

于是吹风的，把眼的，跑线的，绝对的不辞辛苦，在飘著白白的大雪的夜里，也就戴著皮帽子，穿著大毡靴，站在冯歪嘴子的窗户外边，在那里守候著，为的是偷听一点什么消息。若能听到一点点，那怕针孔那么大一点，也总没有白挨冻，好做为第二天宣传的材料。

所以馮歪嘴子那門下在開初的幾天，竟站著不少的探訪員。Thus, during the first few days, quite a number of investigators actually stood outside Feng Waizuizi’s door.

所以冯歪嘴子那门下在开初的几天，竟站著不少的探访员。

這些探訪員往往沒有受過教育，他們最喜歡造謠生事。These investigators had generally received no education, and nothing delighted them more than spreading rumors and stirring up trouble.

这些探访员往往没有受过教育，他们最喜欢造谣生事。

比方我家的老廚子出去探訪了一陣，回家報告說：For example, after our old cook had gone out investigating for a while, he returned home and reported:

比方我家的老厨子出去探访了一阵，回家报告说：

「那草棚子才冷呢！“That straw shed is bitterly cold!五風樓似的，那小孩一聲不響了，大概是凍死了，快去看熱鬧吧！」It’s as drafty as a five-wind tower. The baby has gone completely silent—it’s probably frozen to death. Hurry and go watch the excitement!”

「那草棚子才冷呢！五风楼似的，那小孩一声不响了，大概是冻死了，快去看热闹吧！」

老廚子舉手舞腳的，他高興得不得了。The old cook waved his arms and stamped his feet, beside himself with delight.

老厨子举手舞脚的，他高兴得不得了。

不一會他又戴上了狗皮帽子，他又去探訪了一陣，這一回他報告說：Before long, he put on his dogskin hat again and went off to investigate once more. This time he reported:

不一会他又戴上了狗皮帽子，他又去探访了一阵，这一回他报告说：

「他媽的，沒有死，那小孩還沒凍死呢！“Damn it, it isn’t dead. That baby hasn’t frozen to death after all!還在娘懷裡吃奶呢。」It’s still nursing in its mother’s arms.”

「他妈的，没有死，那小孩还没冻死呢！还在娘怀里吃奶呢。」

這新聞發生的地點。The scene of this sensational news離我家也不過五十步遠，可是一經探訪員們這一探訪，事情本來的面目可就大大的兩樣了。was no more than fifty paces from our house; yet once the investigators had finished investigating, the affair bore very little resemblance to what had actually happened.

这新闻发生的地点。离我家也不过五十步远，可是一经探访员们这一探访，事情本来的面目可就大大的两样了。

有的看了馮歪嘴子的炕上有一段繩頭，於是就傳說著馮歪嘴子要上吊。Some, seeing a length of rope-end on Feng Waizuizi's kang, spread the rumor that Feng Waizuizi was going to hang himself.

有的看了冯歪嘴子的炕上有一段绳头，于是就传说著冯歪嘴子要上吊。

這「上吊」的刺激，給人們的力量真是不小。This stimulus of "hanging oneself" really gave people no small amount of energy.女的戴上風帽，男的穿上氈靴，要來這裡參觀的，或是準備著來參觀的人不知多少。The women put on their hoods, the men put on their felt boots — there was no telling how many people were coming, or preparing to come, to see the sight.

这「上吊」的刺激，给人们的力量真是不小。女的戴上风帽，男的穿上毡靴，要来这里参观的，或是准备著来参观的人不知多少。

西院老楊家就有三十多口人，小孩不算在內，若算在內也有四十口了。The Yang family in the west courtyard alone had more than thirty people, not counting the children; counting them, it would come to forty.就單說這三十多人若都來看上吊的馮歪嘴子，豈不把我家的那小草棚擠翻了嗎！Just to speak of these thirty-odd people alone — if they all came to see Feng Waizuizi hang himself, wouldn't they crush our little thatched shed flat!就說他家那些人中有的老的病的，不能夠來，就說最低限度來上十個人吧。Say that among that family's people some were old or sick and couldn't come — say, at the very least, ten of them would come.那麼西院老楊家來十個，同院的老周家來三個──周三奶奶，周四嬸子，周老嬸子──外加周四嬸子懷抱著一個孩子，周老嬸子手裡牽著個孩子──她們是有這樣的習慣的──那麼一共周家老少三輩總算五口了。Then ten would come from the Yang family in the west courtyard, and three from the Zhou family in the same courtyard — Third Sister-in-law Zhou, Fourth Aunt Zhou, Old Aunt Zhou — plus Fourth Aunt Zhou carrying a child in her arms and Old Aunt Zhou leading a child by the hand — they had this habit — so altogether, three generations of the Zhou family, old and young, would total five.

西院老杨家就有三十多口人，小孩不算在内，若算在内也有四十口了。就单说这三十多人若都来看上吊的冯歪嘴子，岂不把我家的那小草棚挤翻了吗！就说他家那些人中有的老的病的，不能够来，就说最低限度来上十个人吧。那么西院老杨家来十个，同院的老周家来三个──周三奶奶，周四婶子，周老婶子──外加周四婶子怀抱著一个孩子，周老婶子手里牵著个孩子──她们是有这样的习惯的──那么一共周家老少三辈总算五口了。

還有磨房裡的漏粉匠，燒火的，跑街送貨的等等，一時也數不清是幾多人，總之這全院好看熱鬧的人也不下二三十。Then there were the noodle-maker in the mill, the one who tended the fire, the delivery boy, and so on — for the moment there was no telling exactly how many — but in any case, the whole courtyard's lovers of excitement numbered no fewer than twenty or thirty.還有前後街上的，一聽了消息也少不了來了不少的。And then there were those on the streets front and back, who, once they heard the news, could not fail to come in no small numbers.

还有磨房里的漏粉匠，烧火的，跑街送货的等等，一时也数不清是几多人，总之这全院好看热闹的人也不下二三十。还有前后街上的，一听了消息也少不了来了不少的。

「上吊。」為啥一個好好人，活著不願意活，而願意「上吊」呢？"Hanging himself." Why would a perfectly fine, healthy person, unwilling to go on living, choose to "hang himself" instead?大家快去看看吧，其中必是趣味無窮，大家快去看看吧。Everyone, hurry and go see, there's bound to be endless interest in it — everyone, hurry and go see.

「上吊。」为啥一个好好人，活著不愿意活，而愿意「上吊」呢？大家快去看看吧，其中必是趣味无穷，大家快去看看吧。

再說開開眼也是好的，反正也不是去看跑馬戲的，又要花錢，又要買票。Besides, it would do one good to broaden one's eyes a bit — after all, it wasn't like going to see a circus, where you'd have to spend money and buy a ticket.

再说开开眼也是好的，反正也不是去看跑马戏的，又要花钱，又要买票。

所以呼蘭河城裡凡是一有跳井投河的，或是上吊的，那看熱鬧的人就特別多，我不知道中國別的地方是否這樣，但在我的家鄉確是這樣的。So in the town of Hulan River, whenever anyone jumped into a well or a river, or hanged themselves, the crowds who came to watch the excitement were especially large. I don't know whether it's the same in other parts of China, but in my hometown it certainly was.

所以呼兰河城里凡是一有跳井投河的，或是上吊的，那看热闹的人就特别多，我不知道中国别的地方是否这样，但在我的家乡确是这样的。

投了河的女人，被打撈上來了，也不趕快的埋，也不趕快的葬，擺在那裡一兩天，讓大家圍著觀看。A woman who had thrown herself into the river, once fished out, would not be quickly buried, not quickly interred — she would be laid out there for a day or two, so that everyone could gather round and look.

投了河的女人，被打捞上来了，也不赶快的埋，也不赶快的葬，摆在那里一两天，让大家围著观看。

跳了井的女人，從井裡撈出來，也不趕快的埋，也不趕快的葬，好像國貨展覽會似的，熱鬧得車水馬龍了。A woman who had jumped into a well, once hauled up out of it, would likewise not be quickly buried, not quickly interred — as if it were a national-goods exhibition, bustling with a stream of carts and horses.

跳了井的女人，从井里捞出来，也不赶快的埋，也不赶快的葬，好像国货展览会似的，热闹得车水马龙了。

其實那沒有什麼好看的，假若馮歪嘴子上了吊，那豈不是看了很害怕嗎！Actually there was nothing much worth seeing in it — if Feng Waizuizi had really hanged himself, wouldn't the sight have been terrifying!

其实那没有什么好看的，假若冯歪嘴子上了吊，那岂不是看了很害怕吗！

有一些膽小的女人，看了投河的，跳井的，三天五夜的不能睡覺。Some faint-hearted women, after seeing one who had drowned herself or jumped into a well, could not sleep for three days and five nights.但是下次，一有這樣的冤魂，她仍舊是去看的，看了回來就覺得那惡劣的印象就在眼前，於是又是睡覺不安，吃飯也不香。But the next time such a wronged soul appeared, she would still go and look; and having looked, on returning home she would feel that dreadful image right before her eyes, so that once again she could not sleep soundly, and her food lost its savor.但是不去看，是不行的，第三次仍舊去看，那怕去看了之後，心裡覺得恐怖，而後再買一匹黃錢紙，一紮線香到十字路口上去燒了，向著那東西南北的大道磕上三個頭，同時嘴裡說：But not going to look simply would not do — the third time, she would still go and look, even though, having looked, she would feel terror in her heart; afterward she would buy a sheet of yellow spirit-money and a bundle of incense sticks, go burn them at the crossroads, kowtow three times toward the great roads running east, west, south, and north, and say at the same time:

有一些胆小的女人，看了投河的，跳井的，三天五夜的不能睡觉。但是下次，一有这样的冤魂，她仍旧是去看的，看了回来就觉得那恶劣的印象就在眼前，于是又是睡觉不安，吃饭也不香。但是不去看，是不行的，第三次仍旧去看，那怕去看了之后，心里觉得恐怖，而后再买一匹黄钱纸，一扎线香到十字路口上去烧了，向著那东西南北的大道磕上三个头，同时嘴里说：

「邪魔野鬼可不要上我的身哪，我這裡香紙的也都打發過你們了。」"Evil demons and wild ghosts, do not attach yourselves to me — I have already sent you off properly with incense and paper money."

「邪魔野鬼可不要上我的身哪，我这里香纸的也都打发过你们了。」

有的誰家的姑娘，為了去看上吊的，回來嚇死了。Some girl or other, from whatever family, went to see someone who had hanged herself, and came home frightened to death.聽說不但看上吊的，就是看跳井的，也有被嚇死的。It's said that not only from watching a hanging, but even from watching someone who had jumped into a well, there were those frightened to death.嚇出一場病來，千醫百治的治不好，後來死了。Frightened into a sickness, treated by a thousand doctors and a hundred remedies without recovering, she later died.

有的谁家的姑娘，为了去看上吊的，回来吓死了。听说不但看上吊的，就是看跳井的，也有被吓死的。吓出一场病来，千医百治的治不好，后来死了。

但是人們還是願意看，男人也許特別膽子大，不害怕。But people were still willing to go and look; men, perhaps, had especially large courage and were not afraid.女人卻都是膽小的多，都是乍著膽子看。Women, on the other hand, were mostly faint of heart, and all watched with their courage forced up.

但是人们还是愿意看，男人也许特别胆子大，不害怕。女人却都是胆小的多，都是乍著胆子看。

還有小孩，女人也把他們帶來看，他們還沒有長成為一個人，母親就早把他們帶來了，也許在這熱鬧的世界裡，還是提早的演習著一點的好，免得將來對於跳井上吊太外行了。There were also the children — the women brought them along to watch too; before they had even grown into full persons, their mothers had already brought them along early — perhaps in this bustling world it was better to get in a bit of early practice, lest in the future they be too inexperienced when it came to jumping into wells or hanging oneself.

还有小孩，女人也把他们带来看，他们还没有长成为一个人，母亲就早把他们带来了，也许在这热闹的世界里，还是提早的演习著一点的好，免得将来对于跳井上吊太外行了。

有的探訪員曉得了馮歪嘴子從街上買來了一把家常用的切菜的刀，於是就大放馮歪嘴子要自刎的空氣。Some inquisitive person, learning that Feng Waizuizi had bought an ordinary kitchen vegetable-cutting knife from the street, at once spread far and wide the rumor that Feng Waizuizi was going to cut his own throat.

有的探访员晓得了冯歪嘴子从街上买来了一把家常用的切菜的刀，于是就大放冯歪嘴子要自刎的空气。

馮歪嘴子，沒有上吊，沒有自刎，還是好好的活著。Feng Waizuizi did not hang himself, did not cut his own throat — he went on living perfectly well.過了一年，他的孩子長大了。A year passed, and his child grew up.

冯歪嘴子，没有上吊，没有自刎，还是好好的活著。过了一年，他的孩子长大了。

過年我家殺豬的時候，馮歪嘴子還到我家裡來幫忙的，幫著刮豬毛。When the New Year came and my family slaughtered a pig, Feng Waizuizi came to our house to help, helping to scrape the pig's bristles.到了晚上他吃了飯，喝了酒之後，臨回去的時候，祖父說，讓他帶了幾個大饅頭去，他把饅頭挾在腰裡就走了。In the evening, after he had eaten and had some wine, when it came time for him to go home, my grandfather said he should take a few large steamed buns with him, and he tucked the buns into his waistband and left.

过年我家杀猪的时候，冯歪嘴子还到我家里来帮忙的，帮著刮猪毛。到了晚上他吃了饭，喝了酒之后，临回去的时候，祖父说，让他带了几个大馒头去，他把馒头挟在腰里就走了。

人們都取笑著馮歪嘴子，說：People all teased Feng Waizuizi, saying:

人们都取笑著冯歪嘴子，说：

「馮歪嘴子有了大少爺了。」"Feng Waizuizi has got himself a young master now."

「冯歪嘴子有了大少爷了。」

馮歪嘴子平常給我家做一點小事，磨半斗豆子做小豆腐，或是推二斗上好的紅黏穀，做黏糕吃，祖父都是招呼他到我家裡來吃飯的。Feng Waizuizi usually did small jobs for our family — grinding half a dou of beans to make bean curd, or grinding two dou of fine glutinous red millet to make sticky cakes — and my grandfather would always invite him to come eat at our house.就在飯桌上，當著眾人，老廚子就說：Right there at the dinner table, in front of everyone, the old cook would say:

冯歪嘴子平常给我家做一点小事，磨半斗豆子做小豆腐，或是推二斗上好的红黏谷，做黏糕吃，祖父都是招呼他到我家里来吃饭的。就在饭桌上，当著众人，老厨子就说：

「馮歪嘴子少吃兩個饅頭吧，留著饅頭帶給大少爺去吧……」"Feng Waizuizi, eat two fewer buns, why don't you, and save them to take to the young master..."

「冯歪嘴子少吃两个馒头吧，留著馒头带给大少爷去吧……」

馮歪嘴子聽了也並不難為情，也不覺得這是嘲笑他的話，他很莊嚴的說：Hearing this, Feng Waizuizi felt no embarrassment at all, nor did he take it as mockery; he said very solemnly:

冯歪嘴子听了也并不难为情，也不觉得这是嘲笑他的话，他很庄严的说：

「他在家裡有吃的，他在家裡有吃的。」"He has food at home, he has food at home."

「他在家里有吃的，他在家里有吃的。」

等吃完了，祖父說：When the meal was finished, my grandfather said:

等吃完了，祖父说：

「還是帶上幾個吧！」"Better take a few along after all!"

「还是带上几个吧！」

馮歪嘴子拿起幾個饅頭來，往那兒放呢？Feng Waizuizi picked up a few buns — but where to put them?放在腰裡，饅頭太熱。Put them in his waistband — the buns were too hot.放在袖筒裡怕掉了。Put them in his sleeve — he was afraid they'd fall out.

冯歪嘴子拿起几个馒头来，往那儿放呢？放在腰里，馒头太热。放在袖筒里怕掉了。

於是老廚子說：So the old cook said:

于是老厨子说：

「你放在帽兜子裡啊！」"Put them in the hood of your cap!"

「你放在帽兜子里啊！」

於是馮歪嘴子用帽兜著饅頭回家去了。So Feng Waizuizi carried the buns home in the hood of his cap.

于是冯歪嘴子用帽兜著馒头回家去了。

東鄰西舍誰家若是辦了紅白喜事，馮歪嘴子若也在席上的話，肉丸子一上來，別人就說：Whenever a neighboring family, east or west, held a wedding or funeral feast, if Feng Waizuizi happened to be at the table, as soon as the meatballs were brought out, someone would say:

东邻西舍谁家若是办了红白喜事，冯歪嘴子若也在席上的话，肉丸子一上来，别人就说：

「馮歪嘴子，這肉丸子你不能吃，你家裡有大少爺的是不是？」"Feng Waizuizi, you mustn't eat these meatballs — you've got a young master at home, haven't you?"

「冯歪嘴子，这肉丸子你不能吃，你家里有大少爷的是不是？」

於是人們說著，就把馮歪嘴子應得的那一分的兩個肉丸子，用筷子夾出來，放在馮歪嘴子旁邊的小碟裡。And so saying, people would pick out with their chopsticks the two meatballs that were Feng Waizuizi's rightful share, and set them on the small dish beside him.來了紅燒肉，也是這麼照辦，來了乾果碟，也是這麼照辦。When braised pork came, the same was done; when a dish of dried fruits and nuts came, the same was done.

于是人们说著，就把冯歪嘴子应得的那一分的两个肉丸子，用筷子夹出来，放在冯歪嘴子旁边的小碟里。来了红烧肉，也是这么照办，来了干果碟，也是这么照办。

馮歪嘴子一點也感不到羞恥，等席散之後，用手巾包著，帶回家來，給他的兒子吃了。Feng Waizuizi felt not the slightest shame at this; when the feast broke up, he would wrap the food in a cloth, carry it home, and give it to his son to eat.

冯歪嘴子一点也感不到羞耻，等席散之后，用手巾包著，带回家来，给他的儿子吃了。

他的兒子也和普通的小孩一樣，七個月出牙，八個月會爬，一年會走，兩年會跑了。His son was just like any ordinary child — cutting teeth at seven months, crawling at eight months, walking at a year, running by two years.

他的儿子也和普通的小孩一样，七个月出牙，八个月会爬，一年会走，两年会跑了。

夏天，那孩子渾身不穿衣裳，只帶著一個花兜肚，在門前的水坑裡捉小蛤蟆。In summer, that child, wearing nothing at all on his body except a flowered belly-band, would catch little toads in the puddle in front of the door.他的母親坐在門前給他繡著花兜肚子。His mother sat in front of the door embroidering flowered belly-bands for him.

夏天，那孩子浑身不穿衣裳，只带著一个花兜肚，在门前的水坑里捉小蛤蟆。他的母亲坐在门前给他绣著花兜肚子。

他的父親在磨房打著梆子，看管著小驢拉著磨。His father, in the mill, beat the wooden clapper, watching over the little donkey as it turned the millstone.

他的父亲在磨房打著梆子，看管著小驴拉著磨。

又過了兩三年，馮歪嘴子的第二個孩子又要出生了。After another two or three years had passed, Feng Waizuizi's second child was about to be born.馮歪嘴子歡喜得不得了，嘴都閉不上了。Feng Waizuizi was overjoyed beyond measure, his mouth unable to close for smiling.

又过了两三年，冯歪嘴子的第二个孩子又要出生了。冯歪嘴子欢喜得不得了，嘴都闭不上了。

在外邊，有人問他：Out and about, someone would ask him:

在外边，有人问他：

「馮歪嘴子又要得兒子了？」"Feng Waizuizi, going to get another son, are you?"

「冯歪嘴子又要得儿子了？」

他呵呵呵。He would just go, heh heh heh.他故意的平靜著自己。He deliberately kept himself calm.

他呵呵呵。他故意的平静著自己。

他在家裡邊，他一看見他的女人端一個大盆，他就說：At home, the moment he saw his woman carrying a large basin, he would say:

他在家里边，他一看见他的女人端一个大盆，他就说：

「你這是幹什麼，你讓我來拿不好麼！」"What are you doing that for — wouldn't it be better to let me carry it!"

「你这是干什么，你让我来拿不好么！」

他看見他的女人抱一綑柴火，他也這樣阻止著她：When he saw his woman carrying a bundle of firewood, he would likewise stop her, saying:

他看见他的女人抱一捆柴火，他也这样阻止著她：

「你讓我來拿不好麼！」"Wouldn't it be better to let me carry it!"

「你让我来拿不好么！」

可是那王大姐，卻一天比一天瘦，一天比一天蒼白，她的眼睛更大了，她的鼻子也更尖了似的。But that Big Sister Wang grew thinner day by day, paler day by day; her eyes seemed to grow larger, and her nose seemed to grow sharper too.馮歪嘴子說，過後多吃幾個雞蛋，好好養養就身子好起來了。Feng Waizuizi said that afterward, if she ate a few more eggs and rested up properly, her health would recover.

可是那王大姐，却一天比一天瘦，一天比一天苍白，她的眼睛更大了，她的鼻子也更尖了似的。冯歪嘴子说，过后多吃几个鸡蛋，好好养养就身子好起来了。

他家是快樂的，馮歪嘴子把窗子上掛了一張窗帘。His household was a happy one — Feng Waizuizi hung a curtain up on the window.這張白布是新從鋪子裡買來的。This piece of white cloth had just been bought new from a shop.馮歪嘴子的窗子，三五年也沒有掛過帘子，這是第一次。For three or five years, Feng Waizuizi's window had never had a curtain hung on it — this was the first time.

他家是快乐的，冯歪嘴子把窗子上挂了一张窗帘。这张白布是新从铺子里买来的。冯歪嘴子的窗子，三五年也没有挂过帘子，这是第一次。

馮歪嘴子買了二斤新棉花，買了好幾尺花洋布，買了二三十個上好的雞蛋。Feng Waizuizi bought two catties of new cotton, bought several feet of flowered foreign cloth, bought twenty or thirty fine eggs.

冯歪嘴子买了二斤新棉花，买了好几尺花洋布，买了二三十个上好的鸡蛋。

馮歪嘴子還是照舊的拉磨，王大姐就剪裁著花洋布做成小小的衣裳。Feng Waizuizi still turned the millstone as usual, while Big Sister Wang cut and sewed the flowered foreign cloth into little garments.

冯歪嘴子还是照旧的拉磨，王大姐就剪裁著花洋布做成小小的衣裳。

二三十個雞蛋，用小筐裝著，掛在二樑上。The twenty or thirty eggs were put in a small basket and hung from the second beam.每一開門開窗的，那小筐就在高處遊蕩著。Every time the door or window was opened, that little basket would sway to and fro up there.

二三十个鸡蛋，用小筐装著，挂在二梁上。每一开门开窗的，那小筐就在高处游荡著。

門口來一擔挑賣雞蛋的，馮歪嘴子就說，「你身子不好，我看還應該多吃幾個雞蛋。」When an egg-seller came by the door with his carrying-pole, Feng Waizuizi would say, "Your health isn't good — I think you ought to eat a few more eggs."

门口来一担挑卖鸡蛋的，冯歪嘴子就说，「你身子不好，我看还应该多吃几个鸡蛋。」

馮歪嘴子每次都想再買一些，但都被孩子的母親阻止了，馮歪嘴子說：Every time, Feng Waizuizi wanted to buy a few more, but was always stopped by the child's mother. Feng Waizuizi said:

冯歪嘴子每次都想再买一些，但都被孩子的母亲阻止了，冯歪嘴子说：

「你從生了這小孩以來，身子就一直沒養過來。"Ever since you gave birth to this child, your body still hasn't recovered.多吃幾個雞蛋算什麼呢！What does it matter if you eat a few more eggs!我多賣幾斤黏糕就有了。」I'll just sell a few more catties of sticky cake and we'll have the money."

「你从生了这小孩以来，身子就一直没养过来。多吃几个鸡蛋算什么呢！我多卖几斤黏糕就有了。」

祖父一到他家裡去串門。Whenever my grandfather went over to his house for a visit,馮歪嘴子就把這一套話告訴了祖父。Feng Waizuizi would tell my grandfather this whole story.他說：He said:

祖父一到他家里去串门。冯歪嘴子就把这一套话告诉了祖父。他说：

「那個人才儉省呢，過日子連一根柴草也不肯多燒。"That person is so thrifty — in running the household she won't even burn one extra stick of firewood.要生小孩子，多吃一個雞蛋也不肯。Even about to give birth, she won't consent to eat even one extra egg.看著吧，將來會發家的……」Just you watch, we'll prosper in the future..."

「那个人才俭省呢，过日子连一根柴草也不肯多烧。要生小孩子，多吃一个鸡蛋也不肯。看著吧，将来会发家的……」

馮歪嘴子說完了，是很得意的。When Feng Waizuizi finished speaking, he looked very pleased with himself.

冯歪嘴子说完了，是很得意的。

七月一過去，八月烏鴉就來了。Once the seventh month had passed, the crows came in the eighth month.

七月一过去，八月乌鸦就来了。

其實烏鴉七月裡已經來了，不過沒有八月那樣多就是了。Actually the crows had already come in the seventh month, only not in such numbers as in the eighth.

其实乌鸦七月里已经来了，不过没有八月那样多就是了。

七月的晚霞，紅得像火似的，奇奇怪怪的，老虎、大獅子、馬頭、狗群。The evening clouds of the seventh month, red as fire, took on the strangest shapes — tigers, great lions, horses' heads, packs of dogs.這一些雲彩，一到了八月，就都沒有。But once the eighth month came, all these clouds vanished.那滿天紅洞洞的，那滿天金黃的，滿天絳紫的，滿天朱砂色的雲彩，一齊都沒有了，無論早晨或黃昏，天空就再也沒有它們了，就再也看不見它們了。That sky full of glowing red, that sky full of golden yellow, that sky full of deep purple, that sky full of cinnabar-colored clouds — all of them vanished together; whether morning or dusk, the sky no longer held them, they could no longer be seen at all.

七月的晚霞，红得像火似的，奇奇怪怪的，老虎、大狮子、马头、狗群。这一些云彩，一到了八月，就都没有。那满天红洞洞的，那满天金黄的，满天绛紫的，满天朱砂色的云彩，一齐都没有了，无论早晨或黄昏，天空就再也没有它们了，就再也看不见它们了。

八月的天空是靜悄悄的，一絲不掛。The sky of the eighth month was utterly quiet, bare of even a single thread.六月的黑雲，七月的紅雲，都沒有了。The black clouds of the sixth month, the red clouds of the seventh — all were gone.一進了八月雨也沒有了，風也沒有了。Once the eighth month arrived, there was no more rain, no more wind.白天就是黃金的太陽，夜裡就是雪白的月亮。By day there was only the golden sun, by night only the snow-white moon.

八月的天空是静悄悄的，一丝不挂。六月的黑云，七月的红云，都没有了。一进了八月雨也没有了，风也没有了。白天就是黄金的太阳，夜里就是雪白的月亮。

天氣有些寒了，人們都穿起夾衣來。The weather had turned somewhat cold, and people all put on their lined jackets.

天气有些寒了，人们都穿起夹衣来。

晚飯之後，乘涼的人沒有了。After the evening meal, there was no longer anyone out enjoying the cool evening air.院子裡顯得冷清寂寞了許多。The courtyard seemed a great deal more desolate and lonely.

晚饭之后，乘凉的人没有了。院子里显得冷清寂寞了许多。

雞鴨都上架去了，豬也進了豬欄，狗也進了狗窩。The chickens and ducks had gone up to roost, the pigs had gone into their pen, the dogs into their kennels.院子裡的蒿草，因為沒有風，就都一動不動的站著，因為沒有雲，大昴星一出來就亮得和一盞小燈似的了。The wormwood grass in the courtyard, since there was no wind, stood all perfectly still; and since there were no clouds, the great Pleiades star, once it came out, shone as bright as a little lamp.

鸡鸭都上架去了，猪也进了猪栏，狗也进了狗窝。院子里的蒿草，因为没有风，就都一动不动的站著，因为没有云，大昴星一出来就亮得和一盏小灯似的了。

在這樣的一個夜裡，馮歪嘴子的女人死了。On just such a night, Feng Waizuizi's woman died.第二天早晨，正遇著烏鴉的時候，就給馮歪嘴子的女人送殯了。The next morning, just as the crows were passing over, Feng Waizuizi's woman was carried out for burial.

在这样的一个夜里，冯歪嘴子的女人死了。第二天早晨，正遇著乌鸦的时候，就给冯歪嘴子的女人送殡了。

烏鴉是黃昏的時候，或黎明的時候才飛過。The crows only flew over at dusk, or at dawn.不知道這烏鴉從什麼地方來，飛到什麼地方去，但這一大群遮天蔽瓦的，吵著叫著，好像一大片黑雲似的從遠處來了，來到頭上，不一會又過去了。No one knew where these crows came from, or where they flew to, but this huge flock, blotting out sky and rooftops, screeching and cawing, came from afar like a great mass of black cloud, arrived overhead, and before long had passed on again.終究過到什麼地方去，也許大人知道，孩子們是不知道的，我也不知道。Where they finally went to, perhaps the grown-ups knew — the children didn't know, and I didn't know either.

乌鸦是黄昏的时候，或黎明的时候才飞过。不知道这乌鸦从什么地方来，飞到什么地方去，但这一大群遮天蔽瓦的，吵著叫著，好像一大片黑云似的从远处来了，来到头上，不一会又过去了。终究过到什么地方去，也许大人知道，孩子们是不知道的，我也不知道。

聽說那些烏鴉就過到呼蘭河南岸那柳條林裡去的，過到那柳條林裡去做什麼，所以我不大相信。I heard that those crows went over to the willow grove on the south bank of the Hulan River, but as to what they would go do in that willow grove, I didn't quite believe it.不過那柳條林，烏煙瘴氣的，不知那裡有些什麼，或者是過了那柳條林，柳條林的那邊更是些個什麼。Still, that willow grove, shrouded in murky, foul-looking mist, who knew what was in there, or perhaps beyond that willow grove, on the far side of it, there was something else again.站在呼蘭河的這邊，只見那烏煙瘴氣的，有好幾里路遠的柳條林上，飛著白白的大鳥，除了那白白的大鳥之外，究竟還有什麼，那就不得而知了。Standing on this side of the Hulan River, one could only see that murky mist, and over the willow grove several li away, white, large birds flying; beyond those white large birds, what else there might be was simply unknowable.

听说那些乌鸦就过到呼兰河南岸那柳条林里去的，过到那柳条林里去做什么，所以我不大相信。不过那柳条林，乌烟瘴气的，不知那里有些什么，或者是过了那柳条林，柳条林的那边更是些个什么。站在呼兰河的这边，只见那乌烟瘴气的，有好几里路远的柳条林上，飞著白白的大鸟，除了那白白的大鸟之外，究竟还有什么，那就不得而知了。

據說烏鴉就往那邊過，烏鴉過到那邊又怎樣，又從那邊究竟飛到什麼地方去，這個人們不大知道了。It's said the crows just flew over that way; what became of them once they got there, and from there where exactly they flew off to, this people did not really know.

据说乌鸦就往那边过，乌鸦过到那边又怎样，又从那边究竟飞到什么地方去，这个人们不大知道了。

馮歪嘴子的女人是產後死的，傳說上這樣的女人死了，大廟不收，小廟不留，是將要成為遊魂的。Feng Waizuizi's woman had died in childbirth; according to legend, when a woman dies this way, the great temples will not take her in, the small temples will not keep her, and she is bound to become a wandering ghost.

冯歪嘴子的女人是产后死的，传说上这样的女人死了，大庙不收，小庙不留，是将要成为游魂的。

我要到草棚子去看，祖父不讓我去看。I wanted to go to the thatched shed to look, but my grandfather would not let me go and look.

我要到草棚子去看，祖父不让我去看。

我在大門口等著。I waited at the front gate.

我在大门口等著。

我看見了馮歪嘴子的兒子，打著靈頭幡送他的母親。I saw Feng Waizuizi's son, carrying the spirit-banner, seeing his mother off.

我看见了冯歪嘴子的儿子，打著灵头幡送他的母亲。

靈頭幡在前，棺材在後，馮歪嘴子在最前邊，他在最前邊領著路向東大橋那邊走去了。The spirit-banner went in front, the coffin behind, and Feng Waizuizi was at the very front, leading the way, walking off toward the East Great Bridge.

灵头幡在前，棺材在后，冯歪嘴子在最前边，他在最前边领著路向东大桥那边走去了。

那靈頭幡是用白紙剪的，剪成絡絡網，剪成葫椒眼，剪成不少的輕飄飄的繐子，用一根杆子挑著，扛在那孩子的肩上。That spirit-banner was cut from white paper, cut into a netlike mesh, cut into little gourd-and-pepper-seed shapes, cut into a good many light, fluttering tassels, hoisted on a pole and carried on the child's shoulder.

那灵头幡是用白纸剪的，剪成络络网，剪成葫椒眼，剪成不少的轻飘飘的繐子，用一根杆子挑著，扛在那孩子的肩上。

那孩子也不哭，也不表示什麼，只好像他扛不動那靈頭幡，使他扛得非常吃力似的。The child neither cried nor showed any expression at all — only it seemed as though he could hardly bear the weight of that spirit-banner, as if carrying it were a great strain on him.

那孩子也不哭，也不表示什么，只好像他扛不动那灵头幡，使他扛得非常吃力似的。

他往東邊越走越遠了。He walked farther and farther away toward the east.我在大門外看著，一直看著他走過了東大橋，幾乎是看不見了，我還在那裡看著。I watched from outside the gate, watching all the while as he walked across the East Great Bridge, until he was almost out of sight — and still I stood there watching.

他往东边越走越远了。我在大门外看著，一直看著他走过了东大桥，几乎是看不见了，我还在那里看著。

烏鴉在頭上呱呱的叫著。Overhead the crows cawed and cawed.

乌鸦在头上呱呱的叫著。

過了一群，又一群，等我們回到了家裡，那烏鴉還在天空裡叫著。One flock passed, then another, and by the time we had returned home, those crows were still cawing away in the sky.

过了一群，又一群，等我们回到了家里，那乌鸦还在天空里叫著。

馮歪嘴子的女人一死，大家覺得這回馮歪嘴子算完了。Once Feng Waizuizi's wife died, everyone felt that this time Feng Waizuizi was truly finished.扔下了兩個孩子，一個四五歲，一個剛生下來。She left behind two children, one four or five years old, the other just born.

冯歪嘴子的女人一死，大家觉得这回冯歪嘴子算完了。扔下了两个孩子，一个四五岁，一个刚生下来。

看吧，看他可怎樣辦！Just watch, see what on earth he could do!

看吧，看他可怎样办！

老廚子說：The old cook said:

老厨子说：

「看熱鬧吧，馮歪嘴子又該喝酒了，又該坐在磨盤上哭了。」"Watch and see the fun—Feng Waizuizi will be drinking again, and sitting on the millstone crying again."

「看热闹吧，冯歪嘴子又该喝酒了，又该坐在磨盘上哭了。」

東家西舍的也都說馮歪嘴子這回可非完不可了。The neighbors on all sides also said that this time Feng Waizuizi was bound to be finished.那些好看熱鬧的人，都在準備著看馮歪嘴子的熱鬧。Those who loved a spectacle were all getting ready to watch Feng Waizuizi's misfortune play out.

东家西舍的也都说冯歪嘴子这回可非完不可了。那些好看热闹的人，都在准备著看冯歪嘴子的热闹。

可是馮歪嘴子自己，並不像旁觀者眼中的那樣的絕望，好像他活著還很有把握的樣子似的，他不但沒有感到絕望已經洞穿了他。But Feng Waizuizi himself was not as despairing as he appeared in the onlookers' eyes; it was as if he still had firm confidence in living on—far from feeling that despair had already pierced right through him.因為他看見了他的兩個孩子，他反而鎮定下來。Because when he looked at his two children, he grew calm instead.他覺得在這世界上，他一定要生根的。He felt that in this world, he was bound to put down roots.要長得牢牢的。He had to grow firm and strong.他不管他自己有這分能力沒有，他看看別人也都是這樣做的，他覺得他也應該這樣做。Regardless of whether he himself had the ability to do so, he saw that everyone else did the same, and he felt that he too ought to do it.

可是冯歪嘴子自己，并不像旁观者眼中的那样的绝望，好像他活著还很有把握的样子似的，他不但没有感到绝望已经洞穿了他。因为他看见了他的两个孩子，他反而镇定下来。他觉得在这世界上，他一定要生根的。要长得牢牢的。他不管他自己有这分能力没有，他看看别人也都是这样做的，他觉得他也应该这样做。

於是他照常的活在世界上，他照常的負著他那分責任。So he went on living in the world as usual, carrying his share of responsibility as usual.

于是他照常的活在世界上，他照常的负著他那分责任。

於是他自己動手餵他那剛出生的孩子，他用筷子餵他，他不吃，他用調匙餵他。So he set to feeding his newborn child with his own hands—he fed him with chopsticks, and when he wouldn't eat, he fed him with a spoon.

于是他自己动手喂他那刚出生的孩子，他用筷子喂他，他不吃，他用调匙喂他。

餵著小的，帶著大的，他該擔水，擔水，該拉磨，拉磨。Feeding the little one, minding the older one, when he had to carry water, he carried water, when he had to turn the millstone, he turned the millstone.

喂著小的，带著大的，他该担水，担水，该拉磨，拉磨。

早晨一起來，一開門，看見鄰人到井口去打水的時候，他總說一聲：In the morning as soon as he got up and opened the door, when he saw a neighbor going to the well to fetch water, he would always call out:

早晨一起来，一开门，看见邻人到井口去打水的时候，他总说一声：

「去挑水嗎！」"Off to fetch water, are you!"

「去挑水吗！」

若遇見了賣豆腐的，他也說一聲：If he happened to meet the tofu seller, he would likewise call out:

若遇见了卖豆腐的，他也说一声：

「豆腐這麼早出鍋啦！」"Tofu out of the pot so early!"

「豆腐这么早出锅啦！」

他在這世界上他不知道人們都用絕望的眼光來看他，他不知道他已經處在了怎樣的一種艱難的境地。He had no idea that people in this world all looked at him with eyes of despair; he had no idea what a difficult plight he was already in.他不知道他自己已經完了。He did not know that he himself was already finished.他沒有想過。He had never thought about it.

他在这世界上他不知道人们都用绝望的眼光来看他，他不知道他已经处在了怎样的一种艰难的境地。他不知道他自己已经完了。他没有想过。

他雖然也有悲哀，他雖然也常常滿滿含著眼淚，但是他一看見他的大兒子會拉著小驢飲水了，他就立刻把那含著眼淚的眼睛笑了起來。Though he too knew sorrow, though his eyes were often brimming with tears, the moment he saw his elder son able to lead the little donkey to drink water, those tear-filled eyes would break at once into laughter.

他虽然也有悲哀，他虽然也常常满满含著眼泪，但是他一看见他的大儿子会拉著小驴饮水了，他就立刻把那含著眼泪的眼睛笑了起来。

他說：He would say:

他说：

「慢慢的就中用了。」"Slowly but surely he's becoming useful."

他的小兒子，一天一天的餵著，越餵眼睛越大，胳臂，腿，越來越瘦。As for his little son, day after day he fed him, and the more he fed him, the bigger the child's eyes grew, while his arms and legs grew ever thinner.

他的小儿子，一天一天的喂著，越喂眼睛越大，胳臂，腿，越来越瘦。

在別人的眼裡，這孩子非死不可。In other people's eyes, this child was bound to die.這孩子一直不死，大家都覺得驚奇。Yet the child never died, and everyone found it astonishing.

在别人的眼里，这孩子非死不可。这孩子一直不死，大家都觉得惊奇。

到後來大家簡直都莫名其妙了，對於馮歪嘴子的這孩子的不死，別人都起了恐懼的心理，覺得，這是可能的嗎？In the end people were simply mystified; at the fact that Feng Waizuizi's child would not die, others even felt a kind of dread, wondering—could this really be possible?這是世界上應該有的嗎？Could such a thing rightly exist in this world?

到后来大家简直都莫名其妙了，对于冯歪嘴子的这孩子的不死，别人都起了恐惧的心理，觉得，这是可能的吗？这是世界上应该有的吗？

但是馮歪嘴子，一休息下來就抱著他的孩子。But Feng Waizuizi, the moment he had a rest, would hold his child in his arms.天太冷了，他就烘了一堆火給他烤著。When the weather turned too cold, he would build up a fire to warm him by.那孩子剛一咧嘴笑，那笑得才難看呢，因為又像笑，又像哭。The instant the child's mouth curved into a smile, it was truly an unsightly sight, for it looked at once like laughing and like crying.其實又不像笑，又不像哭，而是介乎兩者之間的那麼一咧嘴。In truth it was neither quite a laugh nor quite a cry, but a kind of grimace somewhere between the two.

但是冯歪嘴子，一休息下来就抱著他的孩子。天太冷了，他就烘了一堆火给他烤著。那孩子刚一咧嘴笑，那笑得才难看呢，因为又像笑，又像哭。其实又不像笑，又不像哭，而是介乎两者之间的那么一咧嘴。

但是馮歪嘴子卻歡得不得了了。But Feng Waizuizi was overjoyed beyond measure.

但是冯歪嘴子却欢得不得了了。

他說：He would say:

他说：

「這小東西會哄人了。」"This little thing can charm people now."

「这小东西会哄人了。」

或是：Or:

「這小東西懂人事了。」"This little thing understands things now."

「这小东西懂人事了。」

那孩子到了七八個月才會拍一拍掌，其實別人家的孩子到七八個月，都會爬了，會坐著了，要學著說話了。Not until the child was seven or eight months old could he clap his little hands, whereas other families' children, by seven or eight months, could already crawl, could sit up, and were starting to learn to talk.馮歪嘴子的孩子都不會，只會拍一拍掌，別的都不會。Feng Waizuizi's child could do none of this—he could only clap his hands, and nothing else.

那孩子到了七八个月才会拍一拍掌，其实别人家的孩子到七八个月，都会爬了，会坐著了，要学著说话了。冯歪嘴子的孩子都不会，只会拍一拍掌，别的都不会。

馮歪嘴子一看見他的孩子拍掌，他就眉開眼笑的。Whenever Feng Waizuizi saw his child clapping, his brows would lift and his eyes would light up with joy.

冯歪嘴子一看见他的孩子拍掌，他就眉开眼笑的。

他說：He would say:

他说：

「這孩子眼看著就大了。」"This child is growing up right before my eyes."

「这孩子眼看著就大了。」

那孩子在別人的眼睛裡看來，並沒有大，似乎一天更比一天小似的。In other people's eyes, though, the child had not grown bigger at all—if anything he seemed to grow smaller with each passing day.因為越瘦那孩子的眼睛就越大；For the thinner he became, the bigger his eyes grew;只見眼睛大，不見身子大，看起來好像那孩子始終也沒有長一般地。one saw only the eyes growing bigger, never the body growing bigger, so that it looked as if the child had never grown at all.那孩子好像是泥做的，而不是孩子了，兩個月之後，和兩個月之前，完全一樣。The child seemed made of clay rather than flesh—two months later he was exactly the same as two months before.兩個月之前看見過那孩子，兩個月之後再看見，也絕不會使人驚訝，時間是快的，大人雖不見老，孩子卻一天一天的不同。If one had seen the child two months before and saw him again two months later, it would never come as a surprise—time passes quickly, and though grown-ups do not visibly age, children change day by day.

那孩子在别人的眼睛里看来，并没有大，似乎一天更比一天小似的。因为越瘦那孩子的眼睛就越大；只见眼睛大，不见身子大，看起来好像那孩子始终也没有长一般地。那孩子好像是泥做的，而不是孩子了，两个月之后，和两个月之前，完全一样。两个月之前看见过那孩子，两个月之后再看见，也绝不会使人惊讶，时间是快的，大人虽不见老，孩子却一天一天的不同。

看了馮歪嘴子的兒子，絕不會給人以時間上的觀感。But looking at Feng Waizuizi's son would never give one any sense of time passing at all.大人總喜歡在孩子的身上去觸到時間。Grown-ups always like to touch the passage of time through the growth of a child.但是馮歪嘴子的兒子是不能給人這個滿足的。But Feng Waizuizi's son could not give anyone that satisfaction.因為兩個月前看見過他那麼大，兩個月後看見他還是那麼大，還不如去看後花園裡的黃瓜，那黃瓜三月裡下種，四月裏爬蔓，五月裏開花，五月末就吃大黃瓜。Because if you had seen him that size two months before, you would see him just that same size two months after—one might as well go and look at the cucumbers in the back garden instead: sown in the third month, they send out vines in the fourth month, blossom in the fifth month, and by the end of the fifth month there are full-grown cucumbers to eat.

看了冯歪嘴子的儿子，绝不会给人以时间上的观感。大人总喜欢在孩子的身上去触到时间。但是冯歪嘴子的儿子是不能给人这个满足的。因为两个月前看见过他那么大，两个月后看见他还是那么大，还不如去看后花园里的黄瓜，那黄瓜三月里下种，四月里爬蔓，五月里开花，五月末就吃大黄瓜。

但是馮歪嘴子卻不這樣的看法，他看他的孩子是一天比一天大。But Feng Waizuizi did not see it that way at all—to him, his child grew bigger with every passing day.

但是冯歪嘴子却不这样的看法，他看他的孩子是一天比一天大。

大的孩子會拉著小驢到井邊上去飲水了。The elder child could now lead the little donkey to the well to drink water.小的會笑了，會拍手了，會搖頭了。The younger one could laugh now, could clap his hands, could shake his head.給他東西吃，他會伸手來拿。If you gave him something to eat, he would reach out his hand to take it.而且小牙也長出來了。And his little teeth had come in too.

大的孩子会拉著小驴到井边上去饮水了。小的会笑了，会拍手了，会摇头了。给他东西吃，他会伸手来拿。而且小牙也长出来了。

微微的一咧嘴笑，那小白牙就露出來了。With just the faintest curve of a smile, those little white teeth would show.

微微的一咧嘴笑，那小白牙就露出来了。