Call to Arms: Four Stories: 孔乙己

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ

Kong Yiji

鲁魯lǔ镇鎮zhèn的de酒店jiǔ diàn的de格局gé jú，是shì和hé别处別處bié chù不同bù tóng的de：都是dōu shì当當dāng街jiē一个一個yí ge曲尺qǔ chǐ形xíng的de大dà柜台櫃檯guì tái，柜櫃guì里面裏面lǐ miàn豫yù备備bèi着zhe热水熱水rè shuǐ，可以kě yǐ随时隨時suí shí温酒溫酒wēn jiǔ。

The taverns in Luzhen were laid out differently from those elsewhere. Each had a large, L-shaped counter facing the street, with hot water kept behind it for warming wine whenever needed.

做工zuò gōng的de人rén，傍午bàng wǔ傍bàng晚wǎn散sàn了liǎo工gōng，每每měi měi花huā四sì文wén铜銅tóng钱錢qián，买買mǎi一碗yì wǎn酒jiǔ——这這zhè是shì二十èr shí多duō年前nián qián的de事shì，现在現在xiàn zài每碗měi wǎn要yào涨漲zhǎng到dào十shí文wén，——靠kào柜櫃guì外wài站zhàn着zhe，热熱rè热熱rè的de喝了hē le休息xiū xi；倘tǎng肯kěn多花duō huā一文yì wén，便biàn可以kě yǐ买買mǎi一碟yì dié盐鹽yán煮zhǔ笋筍sǔn，或者huò zhě茴香huí xiāng豆dòu，做zuò下xià酒jiǔ物wù了liǎo，如果rú guǒ出chū到了dào le十shí几幾jǐ文wén，那就nà jiù能néng买買mǎi一样一樣yí yàng荤菜葷菜hūn cài，但dàn这些這些zhè xiē顾客顧客gù kè，多duō是shì短duǎn衣yī帮幫bāng，大抵dà dǐ没有沒有méi yǒu这样這樣zhè yàng阔绰闊綽kuò chuò。

The laborers, when they finished work around midday or in the evening, would often spend four copper coins on a bowl of wine—this was more than twenty years ago; nowadays, each bowl costs as much as ten coins—and stand outside the counter, drinking it hot before taking a rest. If they were willing to spend one more coin, they could buy a small dish of salted bamboo shoots or fennel beans to accompany their wine. If they spent a dozen or more coins, they could even afford a meat dish. But these customers were mostly workingmen in short jackets, and generally could not afford such extravagance.

只有zhǐ yǒu穿chuān长長cháng衫shān的de，才cái踱duó进進jìn店面diàn miàn隔壁gé bì的de房子fáng zi里裏lǐ，要yào酒jiǔ要yào菜cài，慢慢地màn màn de坐zuò喝hē。

Only those wearing long gowns would stroll into the room adjoining the tavern, order wine and dishes, and sit down to drink at their leisure.

我wǒ从從cóng十二岁十二歲shí èr suì起qǐ，便在biàn zài镇鎮zhèn口kǒu的de咸鹹xián亨hēng酒店jiǔ diàn里裏lǐ当當dāng伙计夥計huǒ jì，掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì说說shuō，样子樣子yàng zi太tài儍shǎ，怕pà侍候shì hòu不了bù liǎo长長cháng衫shān主顾主顧zhǔ gù，就在jiù zài外面wài miàn做zuò点點diǎn事shì罢罷bà。

From the age of twelve, I had worked as a waiter at the Xianheng Tavern at the entrance to the town. The proprietor said I looked too foolish and feared I would not be capable of serving the long-gowned customers, so he told me to do some work out front instead.

外面wài miàn的de短duǎn衣yī主顾主顧zhǔ gù，虽然雖然suī rán容易róng yì说话說話shuō huà，但dàn唠嘮lào唠叨嘮叨láo dao叨dao缠纏chán夹夾jiā不清bù qīng的de也yě很hěn不少bù shǎo。

The short-jacketed customers out front were easier to talk to, but quite a few of them were also tiresomely talkative and endlessly troublesome.

他们他們tā men往往wǎng wǎng要yào亲親qīn眼看着yǎn kàn zhe黄酒黃酒huáng jiǔ从從cóng坛壇tán子zǐ里裏lǐ舀yǎo出chū，看kàn过過guò壶壺hú子zǐ底里底裏dǐ lǐ有yǒu水shuǐ没有沒有méi yǒu，又yòu亲親qīn看kàn将將jiāng壶壺hú子zǐ放在fàng zài热水熱水rè shuǐ里裏lǐ，然后然後rán hòu放心fàng xīn：在zài这這zhè严重嚴重yán zhòng监督監督jiān dū之下zhī xià，羼chàn水shuǐ也yě很hěn为难爲難wéi nán。

They often insisted on watching the rice wine being ladled out of the jar with their own eyes. They would check whether there was any water at the bottom of the pot, then watch it being placed in the hot water before they would feel satisfied. Under such close supervision, it was difficult even to dilute the wine with water.

所以suǒ yǐ过過guò了liǎo几天幾天jǐ tiān，掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì又yòu说說shuō我wǒ干幹gān不了bù liǎo这這zhè事shì。

So, after a few days, the proprietor said I was no good at that job either.

幸亏幸虧xìng kuī荐薦jiàn头頭tóu的de情qíng面miàn大dà，辞退辭退cí tuì不得bù de，便biàn改gǎi为爲wèi专專zhuān管guǎn温酒溫酒wēn jiǔ的de一种一種yì zhǒng无聊無聊wú liáo职务職務zhí wù了liǎo。

Fortunately, the man who had recommended me had considerable influence, so the proprietor could not dismiss me. Instead, he assigned me the tedious duty of warming the wine exclusively.

我wǒ从此從此cóng cǐ便biàn整天zhěng tiān的de站在zhàn zài柜台櫃檯guì tái里裏lǐ，专專zhuān管guǎn我的wǒ de职务職務zhí wù。

From then on, I stood behind the counter all day, attending solely to my assigned duties.

虽然雖然suī rán没有沒有méi yǒu什么什麼shén me失shī职職zhí，但dàn总總zǒng觉覺jué有些yǒu xiē单调單調dān diào，有些yǒu xiē无聊無聊wú liáo。

Although I never neglected my duties, I always found the work somewhat monotonous and dull.

掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì是shì一副yí fù凶兇xiōng脸孔臉孔liǎn kǒng，主顾主顧zhǔ gù也没有也沒有yě méi yǒu好hǎo声气聲氣shēng qì，教jiào人rén活泼活潑huó pō不得bù de；只有zhǐ yǒu孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ到dào店diàn，才可以纔可以cái kě yǐ笑xiào几声幾聲jǐ shēng，所以suǒ yǐ至今zhì jīn还還hái记得記得jì de。

The proprietor always wore a fierce expression, and the customers were hardly any more pleasant in their manner, leaving no room for cheerfulness. Only when Kong Yiji came to the tavern could we have a few laughs. That is why I still remember him to this day.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ是shì站zhàn着zhe喝酒hē jiǔ而ér穿chuān长長cháng衫shān的de唯一wéi yī的de人rén。

Kong Yiji was the only person who wore a long gown yet drank standing up.

他tā身材shēn cái很高hěn gāo大dà；青qīng白bái脸色臉色liǎn sè，皱纹皺紋zhòu wén间間jiān时常時常shí cháng夹些夾些jiā xiē伤痕傷痕shāng hén；一部yí bù乱蓬蓬亂蓬蓬luàn péng péng的de花白huā bái的de胡子鬍子hú zi。

He was a tall, imposing man, with a pale, sallow complexion, occasional scars nestled among the wrinkles on his face, and a wild, unkempt beard that was streaked with grey and white.

穿的chuān de虽然雖然suī rán是shì长長cháng衫shān，可是kě shì又yòu脏髒zāng又yòu破pò，似乎sì hū十多年shí duō nián没有沒有méi yǒu补補bǔ，也没有也沒有yě méi yǒu洗xǐ。

Although he wore a long gown, it was filthy and tattered, seemingly neither mended nor washed for more than ten years.

他tā对對duì人rén说话說話shuō huà，总是總是zǒng shì满滿mǎn口kǒu之乎者也zhī hū zhě yě，教jiào人rén半bàn懂dǒng不懂bù dǒng的de。

Whenever he spoke to people, his speech was always full of classical expressions and scholarly jargon, leaving listeners only half able to understand him.

因为因爲yīn wèi他姓tā xìng孔kǒng，别人別人bié rén便biàn从從cóng描红描紅miáo hóng纸紙zhǐ上shàng的de『上shàng大人dà rén孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ』这這zhè半bàn懂dǒng不懂bù dǒng的话的話de huà里裏lǐ，替tì他tā取qǔ下xià一个一個yí ge绰号綽號chuò hào，叫作jiào zuò孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ。

Since his surname was Kong, people took the half-understood phrase "Shang Da Ren Kong Yiji" from calligraphy practice sheets and gave him the nickname Kong Yiji.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ一yī到dào店diàn，所有suǒ yǒu喝酒hē jiǔ的de人rén便biàn都dōu看kàn着zhe他tā笑xiào，有yǒu的de叫jiào道dào：

As soon as Kong Yiji entered the tavern, everyone drinking there would look at him and laugh. Some would call out:

『孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ，你nǐ脸臉liǎn上shàng又yòu添上tiān shàng新xīn伤疤傷疤shāng bā了liǎo！』

"Kong Yiji, you've got another new scar on your face!"

他不tā bù回答huí dá，对對duì柜櫃guì里裏lǐ说說shuō： 『温溫wēn两碗兩碗liǎng wǎn酒jiǔ，要yào一碟yì dié茴香huí xiāng豆dòu。』

He paid no attention and said to the man behind the counter, "Warm two bowls of wine, and bring me a dish of fennel beans."

便biàn排出pái chū九jiǔ文wén大dà钱錢qián。

Then he lined up nine large copper coins on the counter.

他们他們tā men又yòu故意gù yì的de高声高聲gāo shēng嚷rǎng道dào： 『你nǐ一定yí dìng又yòu偸tōu了liǎo人家rén jiā的de东西東西dōng xi了liǎo！』

They deliberately shouted even louder, "You must have stolen something from someone again!"

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ睁睜zhēng大dà眼睛yǎn jīng说說shuō： 『你nǐ怎么怎麼zěn me这样這樣zhè yàng凭空憑空píng kōng污wū人rén清白qīng bái……』

Kong Yiji opened his eyes wide and said, "How can you just make up such accusations and slander an innocent man...?"

『什么什麼shén me清白qīng bái？我wǒ前qián天tiān亲眼親眼qīn yǎn见見jiàn你nǐ偸tōu了liǎo何hé家jiā的de书書shū，吊着diào zhe打dǎ。』

"Innocent? The day before yesterday, I saw you steal books from the He family with my own eyes. They hung you up and beat you for it."

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ便biàn涨红了脸漲紅了臉zhǎng hóng le liǎn，额額é上shàng的de青筋qīng jīn条条條條tiáo tiáo绽綻zhàn出chū，争辩爭辯zhēng biàn道dào：

Kong Yiji's face immediately turned crimson, and the veins on his forehead bulged as he protested:

『窃竊qiè书書shū不能bù néng算suàn偸tōu……窃竊qiè书書shū！……读书讀書dú shū人的rén de事shì，能néng算suàn偸tōu么麼me？』

"Stealing books can't really be called stealing... Stealing books! ... How can something a scholar does be called stealing?"

接连接連jiē lián便是biàn shì难懂難懂nán dǒng的话的話de huà，什么什麼shén me『君子jūn zǐ固gù穷窮qióng』，什么什麼shén me『者zhě乎hū』之类之類zhī lèi，引得yǐn de众人衆人zhòng rén都dōu哄笑鬨笑hōng xiào起来起來qǐ lái；店diàn内外內外nèi wài充满了充滿了chōng mǎn le快活kuài huó的de空气空氣kōng qì。

After that came a string of incomprehensible expressions, things like "A gentleman remains steadfast in poverty" and various classical particles and phrases. These made everyone burst into laughter, filling the tavern, inside and out, with a cheerful atmosphere.

听聽tīng人家rén jiā背bèi地dì里裏lǐ谈论談論tán lùn，孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ原来原來yuán lái也yě读讀dú过過guò书書shū，但dàn终于終於zhōng yú没有沒有méi yǒu进進jìn学學xué，又yòu不会不會bú huì营生營生yíng shēng；于是於是yú shì愈yù过過guò愈yù穷窮qióng，弄到nòng dào将要將要jiāng yào讨饭討飯tǎo fàn了liǎo。

From what I heard people saying behind his back, Kong Yiji had once studied, but had never succeeded in passing the imperial examination to become a licentiate, nor did he know how to make a living. As a result, he grew poorer and poorer until he was nearly reduced to begging.

幸而xìng ér写寫xiě得一dé yī笔筆bǐ好hǎo字zì，便biàn替tì人家rén jiā钞鈔chāo钞鈔chāo书書shū，换換huàn一yī碗饭碗飯wǎn fàn吃喫chī。

Fortunately, he had excellent handwriting, so he copied books for other people in exchange for a bowl of rice.

可惜kě xī他tā又有yòu yǒu一样一樣yí yàng坏壞huài脾气脾氣pí qì，便是biàn shì好喝hǎo hē懒做懶做lǎn zuò。

Unfortunately, he also had one bad habit: he loved drinking and hated working.

坐zuò不到bú dào几天幾天jǐ tiān，便biàn连連lián人rén和hé书籍書籍shū jí纸张紙張zhǐ zhāng笔砚筆硯bǐ yàn，一齐一齊yì qí失踪失蹤shī zōng。

He would not stay for more than a few days before he, along with the books, paper, brushes, and inkstones, would all disappear.

如是rú shì几次幾次jǐ cì，叫jiào他tā钞鈔chāo书書shū的de人rén也没有也沒有yě méi yǒu了liǎo。

After this happened several times, no one was willing to hire him to copy books anymore.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ没有沒有méi yǒu法fǎ，便biàn免不了miǎn bù liǎo偶然ǒu rán做zuò些xiē偸tōu窃竊qiè的de事shì。

With no other means of getting by, Kong Yiji inevitably resorted to stealing now and then.

但dàn他在tā zài我们我們wǒ men店diàn里裏lǐ，品行pǐn xíng却卻què比bǐ别人別人bié rén都好dōu hǎo，就是jiù shì从不從不cóng bù拖欠tuō qiàn；虽然雖然suī rán间間jiān或huò没有沒有méi yǒu现钱現錢xiàn qián，暂时暫時zàn shí记記jì在zài粉fěn板bǎn上shàng，但dàn不出bù chū一月yī yuè，定然dìng rán还清還清huán qīng，从從cóng粉fěn板bǎn上shàng拭去shì qù了liǎo孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ的de名字míng zì。

But in our tavern, his conduct was better than that of any other customer: he never failed to pay his debts. Although he sometimes had no cash on hand and had to have his bill temporarily recorded on the chalkboard, he would always settle it in full within a month, and his name would then be wiped off the board.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ喝hē过過guò半bàn碗wǎn酒jiǔ，涨红漲紅zhǎng hóng的de脸色臉色liǎn sè渐渐漸漸jiàn jiàn复復fù了liǎo原yuán，旁人páng rén便biàn又yòu问道問道wèn dào，

After Kong Yiji had drunk half a bowl of wine, the redness gradually faded from his face. Someone nearby then asked him again,

『孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ，你nǐ当當dāng真zhēn认识認識rèn shi字zì么麼me？』

"Kong Yiji, can you really read and write?"

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ看kàn着zhe问問wèn他的tā de人rén，显出顯出xiǎn chū不屑bú xiè置辩置辯zhì biàn的de神气神氣shén qì。

Kong Yiji looked at the person who had asked him, wearing an expression that suggested the question was beneath his dignity to answer.

他们他們tā men便biàn接着jiē zhe说道說道shuō dào： 『你nǐ怎的zěn de连連lián半bàn个個ge秀才xiù cái也yě捞撈lāo不到bú dào呢ne？』

They continued, "How come you couldn't even manage to become half a licentiate?"

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ立刻lì kè显出顯出xiǎn chū颓唐頹唐tuí táng不安bù ān模样模樣mú yàng，脸臉liǎn上shàng笼籠lóng上了shàng le一层一層yì céng灰色huī sè，嘴zuǐ里裏lǐ说說shuō些xiē话話huà；这這zhè回huí可是kě shì全是quán shì之乎者也zhī hū zhě yě之zhī类類lèi，一些yì xiē不懂bù dǒng了le。

Kong Yiji immediately looked dejected and uneasy. A grey pallor settled over his face, and he began muttering something under his breath. This time, however, it was all classical expressions and scholarly jargon, completely beyond anyone's understanding.

在zài这這zhè时候時候shí hou，众人衆人zhòng rén也yě都dōu哄笑鬨笑hōng xiào起来起來qǐ lái：店diàn内外內外nèi wài充满了充滿了chōng mǎn le快活kuài huó的de空气空氣kōng qì。

At this, everyone burst into laughter once again, filling the tavern, inside and out, with a cheerful atmosphere.

在zài这些這些zhè xiē时候時候shí hou，我wǒ可以kě yǐ附和fù hè着zhe笑xiào，掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì是shì决不決不jué bù责备責備zé bèi的de。

On such occasions, I was free to join in the laughter, and the proprietor never reproached me for it.

而且ér qiě掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì见了見了jiàn le孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ，也yě每每měi měi这样這樣zhè yàng问問wèn他tā，引yǐn人rén发發fā笑xiào。

In fact, whenever the proprietor saw Kong Yiji, he would often ask him the same sort of questions, provoking laughter from everyone.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ自己zì jǐ知道zhī dào不能bù néng和hé他们他們tā men谈天談天tán tiān，便biàn只好zhǐ hǎo向xiàng孩子hái zi说话說話shuō huà。

Kong Yiji knew perfectly well that he could not hold a conversation with those people, so he had no choice but to talk to the children instead.

有yǒu一回yì huí对對duì我wǒ说道說道shuō dào，

Once, he said to me,

『你nǐ读讀dú过過guò书書shū么麼me？』

"Have you ever studied?"

我wǒ略略lüè lüè点點diǎn一yī点头點頭diǎn tóu。

I gave a slight nod.

他tā说說shuō，

He said,

『读讀dú过過guò书書shū，……我wǒ便biàn考kǎo你nǐ一考yì kǎo。茴香huí xiāng豆dòu的de茴huí字zì，怎样怎樣zěn yàng写的寫的xiě de？』

"So you've studied... Well, let me test you. How do you write the character hui in fennel beans?"

我想wǒ xiǎng，讨饭討飯tǎo fàn一样一樣yí yàng的de人rén，也yě配pèi考kǎo我wǒ么麼me？

I thought to myself, how dare a beggar like him presume to test me?

便biàn回过回過huí guò脸臉liǎn去qù，不再bú zài理会理會lǐ huì。

So I turned my face away and paid him no further attention.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ等děng了liǎo许許xǔ久jiǔ，很hěn恳切懇切kěn qiē的de说道說道shuō dào：

After waiting for quite some time, Kong Yiji said earnestly:

『不能bù néng写寫xiě罢罷bà？……我wǒ教jiào给給gěi你nǐ，记記jì着zhe！这些這些zhè xiē字zì应该應該yīng gāi记記jì着zhe。将来將來jiāng lái做zuò掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì的de时候時候shí hou，写寫xiě帐帳zhàng要用yào yòng。』

"You can't write it, can you? ... I'll teach you. Remember! You ought to remember these characters. You'll need them when you become a shopkeeper and have to keep the accounts."

我wǒ暗想àn xiǎng我wǒ和hé掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì的de等级等級děng jí还還hái很hěn远遠yuǎn呢ne，而且ér qiě我们我們wǒ men掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì也yě从不從不cóng bù将將jiāng茴香huí xiāng豆dòu上shàng帐帳zhàng；又yòu好笑hǎo xiào，又yòu不耐烦不耐煩bú nài fán，懒懶lǎn懒懶lǎn的de答dá他tā道dào：

I thought to myself that becoming a shopkeeper was still a long way off for me, and besides, our proprietor never put fennel beans on the account anyway. Finding him both amusing and irritating, I answered lazily:

『谁誰shuí要yào你nǐ教jiào，不是bú shì草cǎo头頭tóu底下dǐ xià一个一個yí ge来回來回lái huí的de回huí字zì么麼me？』

"Who needs you to teach me? Isn't it just the character hui, with a grass radical on top?"

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ显出顯出xiǎn chū极極jí高兴高興gāo xìng的de样子樣子yàng zi，将將jiāng两兩liǎng个個ge指头指頭zhǐ tou的de长長cháng指甲zhǐ jiǎ敲qiāo着zhe柜台櫃檯guì tái，点头點頭diǎn tóu说說shuō：

Kong Yiji looked delighted. Tapping the counter with the long nails on two of his fingers, he nodded and said:

『对對duì呀ya对對duì呀ya！……回huí字zì有yǒu四样四樣sì yàng写法寫法xiě fǎ，你nǐ知道zhī dào么麼me？』

"Exactly, exactly! ... There are four different ways to write the character hui. Did you know that?"

我wǒ愈yù不耐烦不耐煩bú nài fán了liǎo，努着嘴nǔ zhe zuǐ走zǒu远遠yuǎn。

I grew even more impatient, pursed my lips, and walked away.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ刚剛gāng用yòng指甲zhǐ jiǎ蘸zhàn了liǎo酒jiǔ，想在xiǎng zài柜上櫃上guì shàng写字寫字xiě zì，见見jiàn我wǒ毫不háo bù热心熱心rè xīn，便biàn又yòu叹一口气嘆一口氣tàn yì kǒu qì，显出顯出xiǎn chū极極jí惋惜wǎn xī的de样子樣子yàng zi。

Kong Yiji had just dipped his fingernail into the wine and was about to write the characters on the counter. Seeing how uninterested I was, he sighed again and looked deeply disappointed.

有yǒu几幾jǐ回huí，邻鄰lín舍shè孩子hái zi听聽tīng得dé笑声笑聲xiào shēng，也yě赶趕gǎn热闹熱鬧rè nao，围住圍住wéi zhù了liǎo孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ。

On several occasions, the neighborhood children, hearing the laughter, came running to join the fun and gathered around Kong Yiji.

他tā便biàn给給gěi他们他們tā men茴香huí xiāng豆dòu吃喫chī，一人yì rén一yì颗顆kē。

He would give them fennel beans, one for each child.

孩子hái zi吃完喫完chī wán豆dòu，仍然réng rán不散bú sàn，眼睛yǎn jīng都dōu望wàng着zhe碟子dié zi。

After eating their beans, the children still refused to leave, all staring at the dish.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ着zhe了liǎo慌huāng，伸开伸開shēn kāi五指wǔ zhǐ将將jiāng碟子dié zi罩住zhào zhù，弯腰彎腰wān yāo下去xià qù说道說道shuō dào：

Kong Yiji grew flustered, spread his five fingers over the dish to shield it, and bent down to say:

『不多bù duō了liǎo，我wǒ已经已經yǐ jīng不多bù duō了liǎo。』

"There aren't many left. I don't have many left."

直zhí起身qǐ shēn又yòu看一看kàn yi kàn豆dòu，自己zì jǐ摇搖yáo头頭tóu说說shuō：

Straightening up, he looked at the beans again and shook his head, saying to himself:

『不多bù duō不bù多duō！多duō乎hū哉zāi？不多bù duō也yě。』

"Not many, not many! Are there many? No, not at all."

于是於是yú shì这這zhè一群一羣yì qún孩子hái zi都在dōu zài笑声笑聲xiào shēng里裏lǐ走散zǒu sàn了liǎo。

And so the group of children dispersed amid laughter.

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ是shì这样這樣zhè yàng的de使shǐ人rén快活kuài huó，可是kě shì没有沒有méi yǒu他tā，别人別人bié rén也yě便biàn这么這麼zhè me过過guò。

Kong Yiji was someone who brought people such amusement, yet life went on just the same when he was not around.

有yǒu一天yì tiān，大约是大約是dà yuē shì中秋zhōng qiū前qián的de两兩liǎng三天sān tiān，掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì正在zhèng zài慢慢màn màn的de结帐結帳jié zhàng，取qǔ下xià粉fěn板bǎn，忽然hū rán说說shuō：

One day, perhaps two or three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the proprietor was slowly settling the accounts. Taking down the chalkboard, he suddenly remarked:

『孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ长久長久cháng jiǔ没有沒有méi yǒu来來lái了liǎo。还還hái欠qiàn十九shí jiǔ个個ge钱錢qián呢ne！』

"Kong Yiji hasn't been here for a long time. He still owes nineteen coins!"

我wǒ才cái也yě觉得覺得jué de他tā的确的確dí què长久長久cháng jiǔ没有沒有méi yǒu来來lái了liǎo。

Only then did I realize that he really had not been around for a long time.

一个一個yí ge喝酒hē jiǔ的de人rén说道說道shuō dào，

One of the customers drinking there said,

『他tā怎么怎麼zěn me会會huì来來lái？……他tā打折dǎ zhé了liǎo腿tuǐ了liǎo。』

"How could he come here? ... His legs have been broken."

掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì说說shuō： 『哦ò！』

The proprietor said, "Oh!"

『他tā总總zǒng仍旧仍舊réng jiù是shì偸tōu。这這zhè一回yì huí，是shì自己zì jǐ发發fā昏hūn，竟jìng偸tōu到dào丁dīng举人舉人jǔ rén家里家裏jiā lǐ去了qù le。他家tā jiā的de东西東西dōng xi，偸tōu得dé的de么麼me？』

"He was still stealing, as always. This time, the fool actually went and stole from the home of Candidate Ding. As if anyone could get away with stealing from that man's household!"

『后来後來hòu lái怎么怎麼zěn me样樣yàng？』

"What happened after that?"

『怎么怎麼zěn me样樣yàng？先xiān写寫xiě服fú辩辯biàn，后来後來hòu lái是shì打dǎ，打dǎ了liǎo大dà半夜bàn yè，再zài打折dǎ zhé了liǎo腿tuǐ。』

"What happened? First, they made him write a confession. Then they beat him. They beat him for most of the night, and finally broke his legs."

『后来後來hòu lái呢ne？』

"And then?"

『后来後來hòu lái打折dǎ zhé了liǎo腿tuǐ了liǎo。』

"Then they broke his legs."

『打折dǎ zhé了liǎo怎样怎樣zěn yàng呢ne？』

"And what happened after they broke his legs?"

『怎样怎樣zěn yàng？……谁誰shuí晓得曉得xiǎo de？许是許是xǔ shì死了sǐ le。』

"What happened? ... Who knows? Perhaps he's dead."

掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì也不yě bù再问再問zài wèn，仍然réng rán慢慢màn màn的de算suàn他的tā de帐帳zhàng。

The proprietor asked no more questions and continued slowly calculating his accounts.

中秋zhōng qiū过后過後guò hòu，秋qiū风風fēng是shì一天yì tiān凉涼liáng比bǐ一天yì tiān，看看kàn kan将近將近jiāng jìn初冬chū dōng；我wǒ整天zhěng tiān的de靠kào着火zháo huǒ，也yě须須xū穿上chuān shàng棉袄棉襖mián ǎo了liǎo。

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the autumn wind grew colder with each passing day, and before long it was nearly the beginning of winter. I spent all day leaning by the fire and had to wear a padded cotton jacket myself.

一天yì tiān的de下xià半天bàn tiān，没有沒有méi yǒu一个一個yí ge顾客顧客gù kè，我wǒ正zhèng合hé了liǎo眼yǎn坐zuò着zhe。

One afternoon, with not a single customer in the tavern, I was sitting with my eyes closed.

忽然hū rán间間jiān听聽tīng得dé一个一個yí ge声音聲音shēng yīn，

Suddenly, I heard a voice:

『温溫wēn一碗yì wǎn酒jiǔ。』

"Warm a bowl of wine."

这這zhè声音聲音shēng yīn虽然雖然suī rán极極jí低dī，却卻què很hěn耳熟ěr shú。

Although the voice was extremely faint, it sounded very familiar.

看kàn时時shí又yòu全quán没有沒有méi yǒu人rén。

When I looked, there was no one to be seen.

站起来站起來zhàn qǐ lái向外xiàng wài一望yí wàng，那nà孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ便在biàn zài柜台櫃檯guì tái下xià对對duì了liǎo门槛門檻mén kǎn坐zuò着zhe。

I stood up and looked outside. There was Kong Yiji, sitting on the ground beneath the counter, facing the doorway.

他tā脸臉liǎn上shàng黑hēi而且ér qiě瘦shòu，已经已經yǐ jīng不成bù chéng样子樣子yàng zi；穿chuān一件yí jiàn破pò夹夾jiā袄襖ǎo，盘盤pán着zhe两兩liǎng腿tuǐ，下面xià miàn垫墊diàn一个一個yí ge蒲pú包bāo，用yòng草cǎo绳繩shéng在zài肩上jiān shàng挂住掛住guà zhù；见了見了jiàn le我wǒ，又yòu说道說道shuō dào，

His face was dark and gaunt, and he was scarcely recognizable. He wore a tattered padded jacket and sat with his legs folded beneath him, resting on a straw sack that was slung over his shoulders with a length of straw rope. When he saw me, he said again:

『温溫wēn一碗yì wǎn酒jiǔ。』

"Warm a bowl of wine."

掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì也yě伸出shēn chū头頭tóu去qù，一面yí miàn说說shuō：

The proprietor also stuck his head out and said:

『孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ么麼me？你nǐ还還hái欠qiàn十九shí jiǔ个個ge钱錢qián呢ne！』

"Kong Yiji, is that you? You still owe nineteen coins!"

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ很hěn颓唐頹唐tuí táng的de仰面yǎng miàn答dá道dào，

Kong Yiji raised his face and answered dejectedly:

『这這zhè……下回xià huí还清還清huán qīng罢罷bà。这這zhè一回yì huí是shì现钱現錢xiàn qián，酒jiǔ要好yào hǎo。』

"Well... I'll pay it all off next time. This time I'm paying cash, so make sure the wine is good."

掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì仍然réng rán同tóng平常píng cháng一样一樣yí yàng，笑xiào着zhe对對duì他tā说說shuō，

Just as usual, the proprietor smiled and said to him:

『孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ，你nǐ又yòu偸tōu了liǎo东西東西dōng xi了liǎo！』

"Kong Yiji, you've been stealing things again!"

但dàn他tā这這zhè回huí却卻què不十分bù shí fēn分fēn辩辯biàn，单單dān说說shuō了liǎo一句yí jù

But this time he did not put up much of an argument. He merely said:

『不要bú yào取qǔ笑xiào！』

"Don't make fun of me!"

『取qǔ笑xiào？要是yào shi不bù偸tōu，怎么怎麼zěn me会會huì打dǎ断腿斷腿duàn tuǐ？』

"Make fun of you? If you hadn't stolen anything, how would your legs have been broken?"

孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ低dī声聲shēng说道說道shuō dào： 『跌diē断斷duàn，跌diē，跌diē……』

Kong Yiji said in a low voice, "I fell and broke them. Fell, fell..."

他的tā de眼色yǎn sè，很像hěn xiàng恳求懇求kěn qiú掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì，不要bú yào再zài提tí。

The look in his eyes seemed to beg the proprietor not to mention it again.

此时此時cǐ shí已经已經yǐ jīng聚集jù jí了liǎo几个幾個jǐ ge人rén，便biàn和hé掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì都dōu笑了xiào le。

By this time, several people had gathered around, and they all laughed along with the proprietor.

我wǒ温溫wēn了liǎo酒jiǔ，端duān出去chū qù，放在fàng zài门槛門檻mén kǎn上shàng。

I warmed the wine, carried it outside, and placed it on the doorstep.

他tā从從cóng破pò衣袋yī dài里裏lǐ摸出mō chū四sì文wén大dà钱錢qián，放在fàng zài我wǒ手里手裏shǒu lǐ，见見jiàn他tā满手滿手mǎn shǒu是shì泥ní，原来原來yuán lái他tā便biàn用yòng这這zhè手shǒu走zǒu来來lái的de。

He fumbled in his ragged pocket, took out four large copper coins, and placed them in my hand. I noticed that both his hands were covered in mud. It turned out that he had used them to crawl here.

不一bù yī会會huì，他tā喝完hē wán酒jiǔ，便biàn又在yòu zài旁人páng rén的de说說shuō笑声笑聲xiào shēng中zhōng，坐zuò着用zhe yòng这這zhè手shǒu慢慢màn màn走去zǒu qù了liǎo。

Before long, he had finished his wine. Amid the laughter and chatter of the others, he once again sat on the ground and slowly crawled away on his hands.

自此以后自此以後zì cǐ yǐ hòu，又yòu长久長久cháng jiǔ没有沒有méi yǒu看见看見kàn jiàn孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ。

After that, Kong Yiji was not seen again for a long time.

到了dào le年关年關nián guān，掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì取qǔ下xià粉fěn板bǎn说說shuō：

When the end of the year came, the proprietor took down the chalkboard and said:

『孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ还還hái欠qiàn十九shí jiǔ个個ge钱錢qián呢ne！』

"Kong Yiji still owes nineteen coins!"

到dào第二dì èr年nián的de端午duān wǔ，又yòu说說shuō： 『孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ还還hái欠qiàn十九shí jiǔ个個ge钱錢qián呢ne！』

At the Dragon Boat Festival the following year, he said again, "Kong Yiji still owes nineteen coins!"

到dào中秋zhōng qiū可是kě shì没有沒有méi yǒu说說shuō，再到zài dào年关年關nián guān也没有也沒有yě méi yǒu看见看見kàn jiàn他tā。

But at the Mid-Autumn Festival, he said nothing. And when the end of the year came again, Kong Yiji still had not appeared.

我到wǒ dào现在現在xiàn zài终于終於zhōng yú没有沒有méi yǒu见見jiàn——大约大約dà yuē孔kǒng乙yǐ己jǐ的确的確dí què死了sǐ le。

I have never seen him again since. Perhaps Kong Yiji really is dead.