Call to Arms: Four Stories: 药

药藥yào

medicine

秋天qiū tiān的de后後hòu半夜bàn yè，月亮yuè liang下去xià qù了liǎo，太阳太陽tài yáng还還hái没有沒有méi yǒu出chū，只剩下zhī shèng xià一片yí piàn乌蓝烏藍wū lán的de天tiān；除了chú le夜yè游遊yóu的de东西東西dōng xi，什么什麼shén me都dōu睡着shuì zháo。

In the latter half of an autumn night, the moon had set, but the sun had not yet risen. All that remained was a dark blue sky; everything was asleep except the creatures that prowled by night.

华華huá老lǎo栓shuān忽然hū rán坐zuò起身qǐ shēn。

Old Chuan Hua suddenly sat up.

擦cā着zhe火柴huǒ chái，点點diǎn上shàng遍身biàn shēn油yóu腻膩nì的de灯盏燈盞dēng zhǎn，茶馆茶館chá guǎn的de两兩liǎng间間jiān屋子里屋子裏wū zi lǐ，便biàn弥彌mí满了滿了mǎn le青qīng白bái的de光guāng。

He struck a match and lit the greasy oil lamp, filling the two rooms of the teahouse with its pale, bluish-white glow.

‘小xiǎo栓shuān的de爹diē，你nǐ就去jiù qù么麼me？’

"Father of Little Shuan, are you going now?"

是shì一个一個yí ge老lǎo女人nǚ rén的de声音聲音shēng yīn。

It was the voice of an old woman.

里边裏邊lǐ biān的de小xiǎo屋子里屋子裏wū zi lǐ，也yě发出發出fā chū一阵一陣yí zhèn咳嗽ké sou。

A fit of coughing came from the little room inside.

‘唔wú。’

"Mm."

老lǎo栓shuān一面yí miàn听聽tīng，一面yí miàn应應yìng，一面yí miàn扣上kòu shàng衣服yī fu；伸手shēn shǒu过去過去guò qù说說shuō，‘你nǐ给給gěi我wǒ罢罷bà。’

Old Chuan listened and answered as he fastened his clothes. Reaching out his hand, he said, "Give it to me."

华華huá大妈大媽dà mā在zài枕头枕頭zhěn tou底下dǐ xià掏tāo了liǎo半天bàn tiān，掏出tāo chū一包yì bāo洋钱洋錢yáng qián，交给交給jiāo gěi老lǎo栓shuān，老lǎo栓shuān接了jiē le，抖抖dǒu dǒu的de装入裝入zhuāng rù衣袋yī dài，又在yòu zài外面wài miàn按àn了liǎo两下兩下liǎng xià；便biàn点點diǎn上shàng灯笼燈籠dēng long，吹熄chuī xī灯盏燈盞dēng zhǎn，走向zǒu xiàng里裏lǐ屋子wū zi去了qù le。

Old Mrs. Hua fumbled beneath her pillow for quite some time before finding a packet of silver coins, which she handed to Old Chuan. He took them and, with trembling hands, slipped them into his pocket, then patted the pocket twice from the outside. He lit his lantern, blew out the oil lamp, and went into the inner room.

那nà屋子里屋子裏wū zi lǐ面miàn，正在zhèng zài窸xī窸窣xī sū窣sū的de响響xiǎng，接着jiē zhe便是biàn shì一通yì tōng咳嗽ké sou。

Inside, there was a rustling sound, followed by another fit of coughing.

老lǎo栓shuān候hòu他tā平静平靜píng jìng下去xià qù，才cái低低的dī dī de叫jiào道dào：

Old Chuan waited until the coughing had subsided before calling softly:

‘小xiǎo栓shuān……你nǐ不要bú yào起来起來qǐ lái。

"Little Shuan... don't get up.

……店diàn么麼me？

...The shop, is it?

你nǐ娘niáng会會huì安排ān pái的de。’

Your mother will take care of things."

老lǎo栓shuān听聽tīng得dé儿子兒子ér zi不再bú zài说话說話shuō huà，料liào他tā安心ān xīn睡了shuì le；便biàn出了chū le门門mén，走到zǒu dào街上jiē shang。

When Old Chuan heard that his son had fallen silent, he assumed the boy had settled back to sleep. He then went out and walked into the street.

街上jiē shang黑沈沈hēi shěn shěn的de一无所有一無所有yì wú suǒ yǒu，只有zhǐ yǒu一条一條yì tiáo灰白huī bái的de路lù，看得kàn de分明fēn míng。

The street was pitch-dark and utterly deserted. Only a grayish-white road lay clearly visible before him.

灯光燈光dēng guāng照zhào着zhe他的tā de两兩liǎng脚腳jiǎo，一前一后一前一後yì qián yí hòu的de走zǒu。

The lantern light fell upon his feet as he walked, one stepping ahead of the other.

有时有時yǒu shí也yě遇到yù dào几幾jǐ只zhī狗gǒu，可是kě shì一只一隻yì zhī也没有也沒有yě méi yǒu叫jiào。

Now and then he passed a few dogs, but not one of them barked.

天气天氣tiān qì比bǐ屋子里屋子裏wū zi lǐ冷得lěng de多duō了liǎo；老lǎo栓shuān倒dǎo觉覺jué爽快shuǎng kuài，仿佛彷彿fǎng fú一旦yí dàn变變biàn了liǎo少年shào nián，得了dé le神通shén tōng，有yǒu给人給人gěi rén生命shēng mìng的de本领本領běn lǐng似的shì de，跨步kuà bù格外gé wài高远高遠gāo yuǎn。

The air was much colder than it had been indoors, yet Old Chuan felt invigorated. It was as though he had suddenly become young again, acquired supernatural powers, and gained the ability to give life to others. His strides grew unusually long and confident.

而且ér qiě路lù也yě愈yù走zǒu愈yù分明fēn míng，天tiān也yě愈yù走zǒu愈yù亮了liàng le。

As he walked, the road grew clearer and the sky brighter.

老lǎo栓shuān正在zhèng zài专心專心zhuān xīn走路zǒu lù，忽然hū rán吃了喫了chī le一yī惊驚jīng，远远遠遠yuǎn yuǎn里裏lǐ看见看見kàn jiàn一条一條yì tiáo丁字dīng zì街jiē，明明白白míng míng bai bái横着橫着héng zhe。

Old Chuan was concentrating on his walk when suddenly he started in surprise. Far ahead, he saw a T-junction lying plainly across his path.

他tā便biàn退tuì了liǎo几幾jǐ步bù，寻尋xún到dào一家yì jiā关關guān着zhe门門mén的de铺鋪pù子zǐ，蹩bié进進jìn檐下yán xià，靠门靠門kào mén立lì住zhù了liǎo。

He stepped back a few paces, found a shop with its doors shut, slipped beneath its eaves, and stood leaning against the doorway.

好一hǎo yī会會huì，身上shēn shang觉得覺得jué de有些yǒu xiē发發fā冷lěng。

After standing there for quite a while, he began to feel a little cold.

‘哼hēng，老头老頭lǎo tóu子zǐ。’

"Hmph, you old fellow."

‘倒dǎo高兴高興gāo xìng。……’

"Quite pleased with yourself, aren't you..."

老lǎo栓shuān又yòu吃喫chī一yī惊驚jīng，睁眼睜眼zhēng yǎn看kàn时時shí，几个幾個jǐ ge人rén从從cóng他tā面前miàn qián过去過去guò qù了liǎo。

Old Chuan started again. When he opened his eyes, several people were passing in front of him.

一个一個yí ge还還hái回头回頭huí tóu看kàn他tā，样子樣子yàng zi不甚bú shèn分明fēn míng，但dàn很像hěn xiàng久jiǔ饿餓è的de人rén见了見了jiàn le食物shí wù一般yì bān，眼yǎn里裏lǐ闪出閃出shǎn chū一种一種yì zhǒng攫取jué qǔ的de光guāng。

One of them even turned to look back at him. His features were indistinct, but his eyes gleamed with a hungry, grasping light, like those of a starving man who has caught sight of food.

老lǎo栓shuān看看kàn kan灯笼燈籠dēng long，已经已經yǐ jīng熄了xī le。

Old Chuan glanced at his lantern. It had gone out.

按àn一yī按àn衣袋yī dài，硬硬yìng yìng的de还還hái在zài。

He pressed his pocket. The hard object was still there.

仰起yǎng qǐ头頭tóu两兩liǎng面miàn一望yí wàng，只zhī见見jiàn许多許多xǔ duō古怪gǔ guài的de人rén，三sān三sān两两兩兩liǎng liǎng，鬼guǐ似的shì de在zài那里那裏nà lǐ徘徊pái huái；定睛dìng jīng再看zài kàn，却卻què也yě看不出kàn bu chū什么什麼shén me别的別的bié de奇怪qí guài。

He raised his head and looked in both directions. He saw many strange people wandering about in twos and threes, like ghosts. But when he looked more closely, there was nothing particularly unusual about them.

没有沒有méi yǒu多久duō jiǔ，又yòu见見jiàn几个幾個jǐ ge兵bīng，在zài那边那邊nà biān走zǒu动動dòng；衣服yī fu前后前後qián hòu的de一个一個yí ge大白dà bái圆圓yuán圈quān，远遠yuǎn地dì里裏lǐ也yě看得kàn de清楚qīng chu，走过走過zǒu guò面前miàn qián的de，并且並且bìng qiě看出kàn chū号號hào衣yī上shàng暗红色暗紅色àn hóng sè的de镶鑲xiāng边邊biān。——一阵一陣yí zhèn脚步腳步jiǎo bù声响聲響shēng xiǎng，一眨眼yì zhǎ yǎn，已经已經yǐ jīng拥擁yōng过過guò了liǎo一大yí dà簇cù人rén。

Before long, he spotted several soldiers moving about over there. The large white circles on the fronts and backs of their uniforms were clearly visible even from a distance. As they passed in front of him, he could also make out the dark red trim on their jackets. Then came the sound of marching feet, and in the blink of an eye, a large crowd had surged past.

那nà三sān三sān两两兩兩liǎng liǎng的de人rén，也yě忽然hū rán合作hé zuò一堆yì duī，潮cháo一般yì bān向前xiàng qián赶趕gǎn；将將jiāng到dào丁字dīng zì街口jiē kǒu，便biàn突然tū rán立lì住zhù，簇cù成chéng一个一個yí ge半圆半圓bàn yuán。

The people who had been wandering about in twos and threes suddenly gathered into a crowd and surged forward like a tide. When they reached the T-junction, they abruptly stopped and clustered into a semicircle.

老lǎo栓shuān也向yě xiàng那边那邊nà biān看kàn，却卻què只zhī见見jiàn一堆yì duī人的rén de后後hòu背bèi；颈项頸項jǐng xiàng都dōu伸shēn得很de hěn长長cháng，仿佛彷彿fǎng fú许多許多xǔ duō鸭鴨yā，被bèi无形無形wú xíng的de手shǒu捏住niē zhù了liǎo的de，向上xiàng shàng提tí着zhe。

Old Chuan looked in that direction too, but all he could see was a mass of people's backs. Their necks were stretched out so far that they looked like a flock of ducks being lifted by their necks by some invisible hand.

静靜jìng了一liǎo yī会會huì，似乎sì hū有点有點yǒu diǎn声音聲音shēng yīn，便biàn又yòu动摇動搖dòng yáo起来起來qǐ lái，轰的一声轟的一聲hōng de yì shēng，都dōu向xiàng后退後退hòu tuì；一直yì zhí散sàn到dào老lǎo栓shuān立lì着zhe的de地方dì fang，几乎幾乎jī hū将將jiāng他tā挤擠jǐ倒了dǎo le。

For a moment, everything was still. Then, at what seemed to be some sound, the crowd began to stir again. With a sudden roar, everyone fell back, spreading all the way to where Old Chuan stood and almost knocking him over.

‘喂wèi！

"Hey!

一手yì shǒu交钱交錢jiāo qián，一手yì shǒu交货交貨jiāo huò！’

Money in one hand, goods in the other!"

一个一個yí ge浑身渾身hún shēn黑色hēi sè的de人rén，站在zhàn zài老lǎo栓shuān面前miàn qián，眼光yǎn guāng正像zhèng xiàng两把兩把liǎng bǎ刀dāo。

A man dressed entirely in black stood before Old Chuan, his gaze as sharp as two knives.

刺cì得dé老lǎo栓shuān缩小縮小suō xiǎo了liǎo一半yí bàn。

It cut into Old Chuan so deeply that he seemed to shrink to half his size.

那nà人rén一只一隻yì zhī大手dà shǒu，向xiàng他tā摊着攤着tān zhe；一只一隻yì zhī手shǒu却卻què撮cuō着zhe一个一個yí ge鲜鮮xiān红的紅的hóng de馒头饅頭mán tou，那nà红的紅的hóng de还是還是hái shì一点一點yì diǎn一点一點yì diǎn的de往下wǎng xià滴dī。

The man held out one large hand, palm up, while in the other he held a bright red steamed bun. The redness was still dripping from it, drop by drop.

老lǎo栓shuān慌忙huāng máng摸出mō chū洋钱洋錢yáng qián，扯chě抖dǒu的de想xiǎng交给交給jiāo gěi他tā，却卻què又yòu不敢bù gǎn去接qù jiē他的tā de东西東西dōng xi。

In a panic, Old Chuan fumbled for the silver coins and tremblingly tried to hand them over, yet he did not dare take what the man was offering.

那nà人rén便biàn焦急jiāo jí起来起來qǐ lái，嚷rǎng道dào，‘怕pà什么什麼shén me？

The man grew impatient and shouted, "What are you afraid of?

怎的zěn de不拿bù ná！’

Why don't you take it?"

老lǎo栓shuān还還hái踌躇躊躇chóu chú着zhe；黑hēi的de人rén便biàn抢过搶過qiǎng guò灯笼燈籠dēng long，一把yì bǎ扯下chě xià纸紙zhǐ罩zhào，裹了guǒ le馒头饅頭mán tou，塞sāi与與yǔ老lǎo栓shuān；一手yì shǒu抓zhuā过過guò洋钱洋錢yáng qián，捏一捏niē yi niē，转身轉身zhuǎn shēn去了qù le。

Old Chuan still hesitated. The man in black snatched the lantern, tore off its paper covering, wrapped the bun in it, and thrust it into Old Chuan's hands. Then he grabbed the silver coins, squeezed them to check them, and turned away.

嘴zuǐ里裏lǐ哼hēng着zhe说說shuō： ‘这這zhè老lǎo东西東西dōng xi……。’

As he went, he muttered, "That old fool..."

‘这這zhè给給gěi谁誰shuí治病zhì bìng的de呀ya？’

"Who's that supposed to cure?"

老lǎo栓shuān也yě似乎sì hū听聽tīng得dé有人yǒu rén问問wèn他tā，但dàn他tā并不並不bìng bù答应答應dā ying；他的tā de精神jīng shén，现在現在xiàn zài只在zhī zài一个一個yí ge包bāo上shàng，仿佛彷彿fǎng fú抱bào着zhe一个一個yí ge十世shí shì单传單傳dān chuán的de婴儿嬰兒yīng ér，别的別的bié de事情shì qíng，都dōu已yǐ置之度外zhì zhī dù wài了liǎo。

Old Chuan seemed to hear someone asking him a question, but he did not answer. All his attention was now fixed on the little bundle, which he held as tenderly as though it were the sole heir of a family for ten generations. Everything else had ceased to matter.

他tā现在現在xiàn zài要yào将將jiāng这這zhè包里包裏bāo lǐ的de新的xīn de生命shēng mìng，移植yí zhí到dào他tā家里家裏jiā lǐ，收获收穫shōu huò许多許多xǔ duō幸福xìng fú。

He was going to transplant the new life contained in that bundle into his home, where it would bring him a harvest of happiness.

太阳太陽tài yáng也yě出来出來chū lái了liǎo；在zài他tā面前miàn qián，显出顯出xiǎn chū一条一條yì tiáo大道dà dào，直到zhí dào他tā家中jiā zhōng，后面後面hòu miàn也yě照见照見zhào jiàn丁字dīng zì有yǒu头破頭破tóu pò匾biǎn上shàng‘古口gǔ kǒu亭tíng口kǒu’这這zhè四sì个個ge黯淡àn dàn的de金字jīn zì。

The sun had risen too. Before him stretched a broad road leading all the way home. Behind him, its light also fell upon a broken signboard at the head of the T-junction, revealing four faded gold characters: "Gukoutingkou."

老lǎo栓shuān走到zǒu dào家jiā，店面diàn miàn早zǎo经經jīng收拾干净收拾乾淨shōu shi gān jìng，一排yì pái一yì排pái的de茶chá桌zhuō，滑huá溜溜liū liū的de发光發光fā guāng。

When Old Chuan arrived home, the shop had already been cleaned. Rows of tea tables gleamed, their surfaces polished smooth.

但是dàn shì没有沒有méi yǒu客人kè rén；只有zhǐ yǒu小xiǎo栓shuān坐在zuò zài里裏lǐ排pái的de桌zhuō前qián吃饭喫飯chī fàn，大粒dà lì的de汗hàn，从從cóng额額é上shàng滚下滾下gǔn xià，夹夾jiā袄襖ǎo也yě贴貼tiē住zhù了liǎo脊jǐ心xīn，两兩liǎng块塊kuài肩胛骨jiān jiǎ gǔ高高gāo gāo凸出tū chū，印成yìn chéng一个一個yí ge阳陽yáng文wén的de‘八bā’字zì。

But there were no customers. Only Little Shuan sat eating at a table in the back row. Large drops of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his padded jacket clung to the center of his back. His shoulder blades jutted out prominently, forming a raised pattern like the character for eight.

老lǎo栓shuān见見jiàn这样這樣zhè yàng子zǐ，不免bù miǎn皱皺zhòu一yī皱皺zhòu展开展開zhǎn kāi的de眉心méi xīn。

Seeing him in this condition, Old Chuan could not help furrowing his brow.

他的tā de女人nǚ rén，从從cóng灶竈zào下xià急jí急jí走出zǒu chū，睁睜zhēng着zhe眼睛yǎn jīng，嘴唇嘴脣zuǐ chún有些yǒu xiē发抖發抖fā dǒu。

His wife hurried out from the kitchen, her eyes wide and her lips trembling slightly.

‘得了dé le么麼me？’

"Did you get it?"

‘得了dé le。’

"I did."

两兩liǎng个人個人gè rén一齐一齊yì qí走进走進zǒu jìn灶竈zào下xià，商量shāng liáng了一liǎo yī会會huì；华華huá大妈大媽dà mā便biàn出去chū qù了liǎo，不多bù duō时時shí，拿ná着zhe一片yí piàn老lǎo荷hé叶葉yè回来回來huí lái，摊攤tān在zài桌上zhuō shang。

The two of them went into the kitchen together and discussed something for a while. Then Mrs. Hua went out and soon returned with an old lotus leaf, which she spread out on the table.

老lǎo栓shuān也yě打开打開dǎ kāi灯燈dēng笼罩籠罩lǒng zhào，用yòng荷hé叶葉yè重新chóng xīn包bāo了liǎo那nà红的紅的hóng de馒头饅頭mán tou。

Old Chuan also opened the lantern's paper covering and used the lotus leaf to wrap the red bun again.

小xiǎo栓shuān也yě吃完喫完chī wán饭飯fàn，他的tā de母亲母親mǔ qīn慌忙huāng máng说說shuō：——‘小xiǎo栓shuān——你nǐ坐zuò着zhe，不要bú yào到dào这里這裏zhè lǐ来來lái。’

Little Shuan had finished eating too. His mother hurriedly said, "Little Shuan—stay where you are. Don't come over here."

一面yí miàn整顿整頓zhěng dùn了liǎo灶火竈火zào huǒ，老lǎo栓shuān便biàn把bǎ一个一個yí ge碧绿碧綠bì lǜ的de包bāo，一个一個yí ge红紅hóng红紅hóng白白bái bái的de破pò灯笼燈籠dēng long，一同yì tóng塞sāi在zài灶竈zào里裏lǐ，一阵一陣yí zhèn红紅hóng黑hēi的de火焰huǒ yàn过去過去guò qù时時shí，店屋diàn wū里裏lǐ散sàn满了滿了mǎn le一种一種yì zhǒng奇怪qí guài的de香味xiāng wèi。

While tending the stove, Old Chuan stuffed the emerald-green bundle and the torn red-and-white lantern into the fire. As a burst of reddish-black flames rose and died down, a strange fragrance filled the shop.

‘好hǎo香xiāng！

"What a lovely smell!

你们你們nǐ men吃喫chī什么什麼shén me点心點心diǎn xīn呀ya？’

What sort of snack are you having?"

这這zhè是shì驼駝tuó背bèi五wǔ少shǎo爷爺yé到了dào le。

It was Young Master Number Five, the hunchback.

这這zhè人rén每天měi tiān总總zǒng在zài茶馆茶館chá guǎn里裏lǐ过過guò日rì，来來lái得dé最早zuì zǎo，去qù得dé最zuì迟遲chí，此时此時cǐ shí恰恰qià qià蹩bié到dào临街臨街lín jiē的de壁bì角jiǎo的de桌zhuō边邊biān，便biàn坐下zuò xià问话問話wèn huà，然而rán ér没有沒有méi yǒu人rén答应答應dā ying他tā。

He spent practically every day in the teahouse, arriving earlier than anyone else and leaving later. Just then, he happened to shuffle over to the table in the corner by the street-facing wall. Sitting down, he asked his question, but nobody answered him.

"

炒chǎo米粥mǐ zhōu么麼me？’

Is it fried-rice porridge?"

仍然réng rán没有沒有méi yǒu人rén应應yìng。

Still, nobody replied.

老lǎo栓shuān匆匆cōng cōng走出zǒu chū，给給gěi他tā泡上pào shàng茶chá。

Old Chuan hurried out and made him some tea.

‘小xiǎo栓shuān进来進來jìn lái罢罷bà！’

"Little Shuan, come inside!"

华華huá大妈大媽dà mā叫jiào小xiǎo栓shuān进進jìn了liǎo里面裏面lǐ miàn的de屋子wū zi，中间中間zhōng jiān放fàng好hǎo一条一條yì tiáo凳dèng，小xiǎo栓shuān坐了zuò le。

Mrs. Hua called Little Shuan into the inner room and placed a stool in the middle. Little Shuan sat down.

他的tā de母亲母親mǔ qīn端duān过過guò一碟yì dié乌烏wū黑hēi的de圆圓yuán东西東西dōng xi，轻轻輕輕qīng qīng说說shuō：——

His mother brought over a plate of round, pitch-black things and said softly:

‘吃下去喫下去chī xià qù罢罷bà，——病bìng便biàn好了hǎo le。’

"Eat this, and your illness will be cured."

小xiǎo栓shuān撮cuō起qǐ这這zhè黑hēi东西東西dōng xi，看了kàn le一yī会會huì，似乎sì hū拿ná着zhe自己zì jǐ的de性命xìng mìng一般yì bān，心里心裏xīn lǐ说不出說不出shuō bu chū的de奇怪qí guài。

Little Shuan picked up one of the black things and examined it for a while. He held it as though his very life depended on it, feeling an indescribable sense of strangeness.

十分shí fēn小心xiǎo xīn的de拗ào开開kāi了liǎo，焦皮jiāo pí里面裏面lǐ miàn窜出竄出cuàn chū一道yí dào白bái气氣qì，白bái气氣qì散sàn了liǎo，是shì两兩liǎng半bàn个個ge白面白麪bái miàn的de馒头饅頭mán tou。——不多bù duō工夫gōng fū，已经已經yǐ jīng全quán在zài肚dù里裏lǐ了liǎo，却卻què全quán忘了wàng le什么什麼shén me味wèi；面前miàn qián只剩下zhī shèng xià一张一張yì zhāng空kōng盘盤pán。

Very carefully, he broke it open. A wisp of white steam escaped from beneath the scorched crust. When the steam cleared, there lay two halves of a white-flour steamed bun. In no time, he had eaten it all. He could not remember what it tasted like; only an empty plate remained before him.

他的tā de旁边旁邊páng biān，一面yí miàn立lì着zhe他的tā de父亲父親fù qīn，一面yí miàn立lì着zhe他的tā de母亲母親mǔ qīn，两兩liǎng人的rén de眼光yǎn guāng，都dōu仿佛彷彿fǎng fú要yào在zài他tā身shēn里裏lǐ注zhù进進jìn什么什麼shén me又要yòu yào取出qǔ chū什么什麼shén me似的shì de；便biàn禁不住jīn bú zhù心xīn跳起来跳起來tiào qǐ lái，按àn着zhe胸膛xiōng táng，又是yòu shì一阵一陣yí zhèn咳嗽ké sou。

His father stood beside him on one side, his mother on the other. Both stared at him as though they wished to pour something into his body and draw something out of it. His heart began to pound uncontrollably. Pressing a hand against his chest, he broke into another fit of coughing.

‘睡shuì一yī会會huì罢罷bà，——便biàn好了hǎo le。’

"Lie down and sleep for a while. You'll soon be better."

小xiǎo栓shuān依yī他tā母亲母親mǔ qīn的话的話de huà，咳hāi着zhe睡了shuì le。

Little Shuan did as his mother told him. Still coughing, he lay down and fell asleep.

华華huá大妈大媽dà mā候hòu他tā喘气喘氣chuǎn qì平静平靜píng jìng，才cái轻轻輕輕qīng qīng的de给給gěi他tā盖蓋gài上了shàng le满滿mǎn幅fú补钉補釘bǔ dīng的de夹夾jiā被bèi。

Auntie Hua waited until his breathing had calmed, then gently covered him with a lined quilt patched all over.

店diàn里裏lǐ坐zuò着zhe许多許多xǔ duō人rén，老lǎo栓shuān也yě忙máng了liǎo，提tí着zhe大dà铜銅tóng壶壺hú，一趟yí tàng一yí趟tàng的de给給gěi客人kè rén冲茶沖茶chōng chá；两兩liǎng个個ge眼眶yǎn kuàng，都dōu围圍wéi着zhe一圈yì quān黑hēi线線xiàn。

Many people were sitting in the shop, and Old Shuan was busy too, carrying the big copper kettle and going back and forth to pour tea for the customers; both of his eye sockets were ringed with dark lines.

‘老lǎo栓shuān，你nǐ有些yǒu xiē不bù舒服shū fu么麼me？——你nǐ生病shēng bìng么麼me？’

'Old Shuan, are you feeling a bit unwell?—Are you sick?'

一个一個yí ge花白huā bái胡子鬍子hú zi的de人rén说說shuō。

said a man with a grizzled beard.

‘没有沒有méi yǒu。’

'No.'

‘没有沒有méi yǒu？——我想wǒ xiǎng笑嘻嘻xiào xī xī的de，原yuán也不yě bù像xiàng……’花白huā bái胡子鬍子hú zi便biàn取消qǔ xiāo了liǎo自己zì jǐ的话的話de huà。

'No?—I thought with that smile, you didn't look like it anyway...' The grizzled-bearded man took back what he had said.

‘老lǎo栓shuān只是zhǐ shì忙máng。

'Old Shuan is just busy.

要是yào shi他的tā de儿子兒子ér zi……’驼駝tuó背bèi五wǔ少shǎo爷爺yé话話huà还還hái未完wèi wán，突然tū rán闯闖chuǎng进進jìn了liǎo一个一個yí ge满脸横肉滿臉橫肉mǎn liǎn héng ròu的de人rén，被bèi一件yí jiàn玄xuán色sè布衫bù shān，散sàn着zhe纽扣紐扣niǔ kòu，用yòng很hěn宽的寬的kuān de玄xuán色sè腰带腰帶yāo dài，胡乱胡亂hú luàn捆在kǔn zài腰yāo间間jiān。

If only his son...' Before the hunchback Fifth Young Master could finish, a man with a face full of brutish flesh suddenly burst in, wearing a black cloth jacket with the buttons undone, carelessly tied at the waist with a very wide black belt.

刚剛gāng进進jìn门門mén，便biàn对對duì老lǎo栓shuān嚷rǎng道dào：——

As soon as he came through the door, he shouted at Old Shuan:—

‘吃了喫了chī le么麼me？

'Have you eaten it?

好了hǎo le么麼me？

Are you better?

老lǎo栓shuān，就是jiù shì运气運氣yùn qì了liǎo你nǐ！

Old Shuan, you're in luck!

你nǐ运气運氣yùn qì，要yào不是bú shì我wǒ信息xìn xī灵靈líng。……’

You're lucky—if it weren't for me getting the word so quickly...'

老lǎo栓shuān一手yì shǒu提了tí le茶壶茶壺chá hú，一手yì shǒu恭恭敬敬gōng gōng jìng jìng的de垂着chuí zhe；笑嘻嘻xiào xī xī的de听聽tīng。

Old Shuan held the teapot in one hand and let the other hang respectfully at his side; he listened with a smile.

满座滿座mǎn zuò的de人rén，也yě都dōu恭恭敬敬gōng gōng jìng jìng的de听聽tīng。

Everyone in the shop was also listening respectfully.

华華huá大妈大媽dà mā也yě黑hēi着zhe眼眶yǎn kuàng，笑嘻嘻xiào xī xī的de送出sòng chū茶碗chá wǎn茶chá叶葉yè来來lái，加上jiā shàng一个一個yí ge橄榄橄欖gǎn lǎn，老lǎo栓shuān便去biàn qù冲衝chōng了liǎo水shuǐ。

Auntie Hua, also with dark rings around her eyes, came out smiling and brought the tea bowl and tea leaves, adding an olive; then Old Shuan went to pour in the hot water.

‘这這zhè是shì包bāo好hǎo！

'This is guaranteed to work!

这這zhè是shì与众不同與衆不同yǔ zhòng bù tóng的de。

This is different from anything else.

你想nǐ xiǎng，趁热趁熱chèn rè的de拿来拿來ná lái，趁热趁熱chèn rè吃下喫下chī xià。’

Think about it—brought over while hot, eaten while hot.'

横肉橫肉héng ròu的de人rén只是zhǐ shì嚷rǎng。

The brutish-faced man just kept shouting.

‘真的zhēn de呢ne，要yào没有沒有méi yǒu康kāng大叔dà shū照顾照顧zhào gù，怎么怎麼zěn me会會huì这样這樣zhè yàng……’华華huá大妈大媽dà mā也yě很hěn感激gǎn jī的de谢謝xiè他tā。

'Really, if Uncle Kang hadn't looked after us, how could it have turned out like this...' Auntie Hua also thanked him gratefully.

‘包bāo好hǎo，包bāo好hǎo！

'Guaranteed to work, guaranteed to work!

这样這樣zhè yàng的de趁热趁熱chèn rè吃下喫下chī xià。

Eaten hot like this.

这样這樣zhè yàng的de人rén血xuè馒头饅頭mán tou，什么什麼shén me痨癆láo病bìng都dōu包bāo好hǎo！’

A steamed bun dipped in human blood like this will cure any case of consumption!'

华華huá大妈大媽dà mā听到聽到tīng dào‘痨癆láo病bìng’这這zhè两兩liǎng个個ge字zì，变變biàn了liǎo一点一點yì diǎn脸色臉色liǎn sè，似乎sì hū有些yǒu xiē不bù高兴高興gāo xìng；但dàn又yòu立刻lì kè堆上duī shàng笑xiào，搭dā赸shàn着zhe走开走開zǒu kāi了liǎo。

When Auntie Hua heard the two words 'consumption,' her expression changed slightly, and she seemed a little displeased; but she immediately put on a smile again and walked away, making awkward conversation.

这這zhè康kāng大叔dà shū却没有卻沒有què méi yǒu觉察覺察jué chá，仍然réng rán提高tí gāo了liǎo喉咙喉嚨hóu lóng只是zhǐ shì嚷rǎng，嚷rǎng得dé里面裏面lǐ miàn睡着shuì zháo的de小xiǎo栓shuān也yě合伙合夥hé huǒ咳嗽ké sou起来起來qǐ lái。

But Uncle Kang did not notice this, and still raised his voice and kept shouting, shouting so loudly that little Shuan, sleeping inside, joined in with a fit of coughing.

‘原来原來yuán lái你nǐ家jiā小xiǎo栓shuān碰到pèng dào了liǎo这样這樣zhè yàng的de好hǎo运气運氣yùn qì了liǎo。

'So your little Shuan has run into such good luck after all.

这這zhè病bìng自然zì rán一定yí dìng全quán好hǎo；怪不得guài bù de老lǎo栓shuān整天zhěng tiān的de笑xiào着zhe呢ne。’

This illness will certainly be cured completely; no wonder Old Shuan has been smiling all day.'

花白huā bái胡子鬍子hú zi一面yí miàn说說shuō，一面yí miàn走到zǒu dào康kāng大叔dà shū面前miàn qián，低dī声聲shēng下xià气氣qì的de问道問道wèn dào，‘康kāng大叔dà shū——听说聽說tīng shuō今天jīn tiān结果結果jié guǒ的de一个一個yí ge犯人fàn rén，便是biàn shì夏xià家jiā的de孩子hái zi，那是nà shì谁誰shuí的de孩子hái zi？

As the grizzled-bearded man spoke, he walked up to Uncle Kang and asked in a humble, deferential tone, 'Uncle Kang—I hear that one of the prisoners executed today was a child of the Xia family. Whose child was that?

究竟是jiū jìng shì什么什麼shén me事shì？’

What exactly was the matter?'

‘谁誰shuí的de？

'Whose?

不bù就是jiù shì夏xià四sì奶奶nǎi nai的de儿子兒子ér zi么麼me？

Wasn't it the son of Old Mrs. Xia the Fourth?

那个那個nà ge小xiǎo家伙傢伙jiā huo！’

That little fellow!'

康kāng大叔dà shū见見jiàn众人衆人zhòng rén都dōu耸聳sǒng起qǐ耳朵ěr duo听聽tīng他tā，便biàn格外gé wài高兴高興gāo xìng，横肉橫肉héng ròu块塊kuài块塊kuài饱飽bǎo绽綻zhàn，越yuè发發fā大声大聲dà shēng说說shuō，‘这這zhè小xiǎo东西東西dōng xi不要bú yào命mìng，不要bú yào就是jiù shì了liǎo。

Seeing everyone pricking up their ears to listen, Uncle Kang was especially pleased; the brutish flesh on his face bulged in lumps, and he spoke even more loudly: 'That little creature didn't want his life—well, if he didn't want it, that's that.

我wǒ可是kě shì这這zhè一回yì huí一yì点點diǎn没有沒有méi yǒu得到dé dào好处好處hǎo chù；连連lián剥剝bāo下来下來xià lái的de衣服yī fu，都dōu给給gěi管guǎn牢láo的de红紅hóng眼睛yǎn jīng阿义阿義ā yì拿去ná qù了liǎo。——第一dì yī要yào算suàn我们我們wǒ men栓shuān叔shū运气運氣yùn qì；第二dì èr是shì夏xià三爷三爺sān yé赏賞shǎng了liǎo二十èr shí五两五兩wǔ liǎng雪白xuě bái的de银子銀子yín zi，独自獨自dú zì落luò腰包yāo bāo，一文yì wén不bù花huā。’

But this time I didn't get the slightest benefit; even the clothes stripped off him were taken by Red-Eye Ah Yi, the jailer.—First, our Uncle Shuan here must count as lucky; second, Third Master Xia rewarded him with twenty-five taels of snow-white silver, which he pocketed all by himself without spending a single copper.'

小xiǎo栓shuān慢慢màn màn的de从小從小cóng xiǎo屋子wū zi走出zǒu chū，两手兩手liǎng shǒu按àn了liǎo胸口xiōng kǒu，不住bú zhù的de咳嗽ké sou；走到zǒu dào灶竈zào下xià，盛shèng出chū一碗yì wǎn冷lěng饭飯fàn，泡上pào shàng热水熱水rè shuǐ，坐下zuò xià便biàn吃喫chī。

Little Shuan slowly came out of the small room, both hands pressed to his chest, coughing without stopping; he walked to the stove, filled a bowl with cold rice, poured hot water over it, and sat down to eat.

华華huá大妈大媽dà mā跟着gēn zhe他tā走zǒu，轻轻輕輕qīng qīng的de问道問道wèn dào，‘小xiǎo栓shuān你nǐ好些hǎo xiē么麼me？——你nǐ仍旧仍舊réng jiù只是zhǐ shì肚dù饿餓è？……’

Auntie Hua followed him and asked softly, 'Little Shuan, are you any better?—Are you still just hungry?...'

‘包bāo好hǎo，包bāo好hǎo！’

'Guaranteed to work, guaranteed to work!'

康kāng大叔dà shū瞥piē了liǎo小xiǎo栓shuān一眼yì yǎn，仍然réng rán回过回過huí guò脸臉liǎn，对對duì众人衆人zhòng rén说說shuō，‘夏xià三爷三爺sān yé真是zhēn shì乖guāi角jiǎo儿兒ér，要是yào shi他不tā bù先xiān告gào官guān，连連lián他tā满滿mǎn门門mén抄chāo斩斬zhǎn。

Uncle Kang glanced at Little Shuan, then turned his face back and said to everyone, 'Third Master Xia is a clever one, all right. If he hadn't reported it to the authorities first, his whole family would have been executed.

现在現在xiàn zài怎样怎樣zěn yàng？

And now?

银子銀子yín zi！——这這zhè小xiǎo东西東西dōng xi也yě真zhēn不成bù chéng东西東西dōng xi！

Silver!—And that little creature really was no good at all!

关關guān在zài牢láo里裏lǐ，还還hái要yào劝勸quàn牢头牢頭láo tóu造反zào fǎn。’

Locked up in prison, and he still had to urge the jailer to rebel.'

‘阿ā呀ya，那nà还還hái了liǎo得dé。’

'Aiya, that's going too far.'

坐在zuò zài后排後排hòu pái的de一个一個yí ge二èr十多岁十多歲shí duō suì的de人rén，很hěn现現xiàn出chū气愤氣憤qì fèn模样模樣mú yàng。

A man in his twenties sitting in the back row looked very indignant.

‘你要nǐ yào晓得曉得xiǎo de红紅hóng眼睛yǎn jīng阿义阿義ā yì是shì去qù盘盤pán盘盤pán底dǐ细細xì的de，他tā却卻què和hé他tā攀pān谈談tán了liǎo。

'You should know that Red-Eye Ah Yi went to sound him out, but he struck up a conversation with him instead.

他tā说說shuō：这這zhè大清dà qīng的de天下tiān xià是shì我们我們wǒ men大家dà jiā的de。

He said: This Great Qing empire belongs to all of us.

你想nǐ xiǎng：这這zhè是shì人rén话話huà么麼me？

Just think: is that human speech?

红紅hóng眼睛yǎn jīng原yuán知道zhī dào他tā家里家裏jiā lǐ只有zhǐ yǒu一个一個yí ge老娘老孃lǎo niáng，可是kě shì没有沒有méi yǒu料liào到dào他tā竟jìng会會huì那么那麼nà me穷窮qióng，榨zhà不出bù chū一点一點yì diǎn油水yóu shuǐ，已经已經yǐ jīng气氣qì破pò肚皮dù pí了liǎo。

Red-Eye had known that there was only an old mother at home, but he never expected him to be so poor that not a drop of oil could be squeezed out of him; he was already bursting with anger.

他tā还還hái要yào老虎lǎo hǔ头頭tóu上shàng搔痒搔癢sāo yǎng，便biàn给給gěi他tā两兩liǎng个個ge嘴巴zuǐ ba！’