Call to Arms: Four Stories: 明天

明天míng tiān

tomorrow

‘没有沒有méi yǒu声音聲音shēng yīn，——小xiǎo东西東西dōng xi怎zěn了liǎo？’

"No sound—what's happened to the little one?"

红紅hóng鼻子bí zi老lǎo拱手gǒng shǒu里裏lǐ擎qíng了liǎo一碗yì wǎn黄酒黃酒huáng jiǔ，说說shuō着zhe，向xiàng间壁間壁jiān bì努nǔ一yì努嘴nǔ zuǐ。

Old Gong, with his red nose, held up a bowl of yellow wine as he spoke, jerking his chin toward the house next door.

蓝藍lán皮pí阿ā五wǔ便biàn放下fàng xià酒jiǔ碗wǎn，在zài他tā脊梁脊樑jǐ liáng上shàng用yòng死sǐ劲勁jìn的de打dǎ了liǎo一掌yì zhǎng，含含糊糊hán hán hu hū嚷rǎng道dào：

Blue-Skinned Awu put down his wine bowl, gave him a tremendous slap on the back, and shouted indistinctly:

‘你nǐ……你nǐ你nǐ又在yòu zài想xiǎng心思xīn sī。……’

"You... you're thinking about it again..."

原来原來yuán lái鲁魯lǔ镇鎮zhèn是shì僻pì静靜jìng地方dì fang，还還hái有些yǒu xiē古风古風gǔ fēng：不上bú shàng一yī更gèng，大家dà jiā便biàn都dōu关门關門guān mén睡觉睡覺shuì jiào。

It so happened that Luzhen was a quiet, out-of-the-way place where some old customs still prevailed: before the first watch of the night, everyone had already shut their doors and gone to bed.

深更半夜shēn gēng bàn yè没有沒有méi yǒu睡的shuì de只有zhǐ yǒu两兩liǎng家jiā：一家yì jiā是shì咸鹹xián亨hēng酒店jiǔ diàn，几个幾個jǐ ge酒肉朋友jiǔ ròu péng you围圍wéi着zhe柜台櫃檯guì tái，吃喝喫喝chī hē得dé正zhèng高兴高興gāo xìng；一家yì jiā便是biàn shì间壁間壁jiān bì的de单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi，他tā自从自從zì cóng前年qián nián守shǒu了liǎo寡guǎ，便biàn须須xū专專zhuān靠kào着zhe自己zì jǐ的de一yì双手雙手shuāng shǒu纺紡fǎng出chū棉纱棉紗mián shā来來lái，养活養活yǎng huó他tā自己zì jǐ和hé他tā三sān岁歲suì的de儿子兒子ér zi，所以suǒ yǐ睡的shuì de也yě迟遲chí。

In the dead of night, there were only two households still awake. One was the Xianheng Tavern, where several drinking companions were gathered around the counter, merrily eating and drinking. The other was the house next door, belonging to Sister Shan. Since being widowed two years ago, she had had to rely entirely on her own hands to spin cotton yarn and support herself and her three-year-old son, so she stayed up late too.

这几天這幾天zhè jǐ tiān，确凿確鑿què záo没有沒有méi yǒu纺紡fǎng纱紗shā的de声音聲音shēng yīn了liǎo。

But for the past few days, there had certainly been no sound of spinning.

但dàn夜深yè shēn没有沒有méi yǒu睡的shuì de既然jì rán只有zhǐ yǒu两兩liǎng家jiā，这這zhè单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi家有jiā yǒu声音聲音shēng yīn，便biàn自然zì rán只有zhǐ yǒu老lǎo拱gǒng们們men听到聽到tīng dào，没有沒有méi yǒu声音聲音shēng yīn，也yě只有zhǐ yǒu老lǎo拱gǒng们們men听到聽到tīng dào。

But since there were only two households awake late at night, whether there was any sound from Sister Shan's house or not, naturally only Old Gong and his companions would notice.

老lǎo拱gǒng挨了捱了āi le打dǎ，仿佛彷彿fǎng fú很hěn舒服shū fu似的shì de喝了hē le一yī大口dà kǒu酒jiǔ，呜呜嗚嗚wū wū的de唱起chàng qǐ小曲xiǎo qǔ来來lái。

After taking the slap, Old Gong seemed to enjoy it. He took a big gulp of wine and began humming a little tune.

这這zhè时候時候shí hou，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi正zhèng抱bào着zhe他的tā de宝寶bǎo儿兒ér，坐在zuò zài床沿牀沿chuáng yán上shàng，纱紗shā车車chē静静靜靜jìng jìng的de立lì在zài地上dì shang。

At that moment, Sister Shan was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her precious Bao'er in her arms. The spinning wheel stood silently on the floor.

黑沈沈hēi shěn shěn的de灯光燈光dēng guāng，照zhào着zhe宝寶bǎo儿兒ér的de脸臉liǎn，绯緋fēi红紅hóng里裏lǐ带帶dài一点一點yì diǎn青qīng。

The dim lamplight fell upon Bao'er's face, which was flushed crimson with a faint bluish tinge.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi心里心裏xīn lǐ计算計算jì suàn：神shén签籤qiān也yě求qiú过過guò了liǎo，愿願yuàn心xīn也许也許yě xǔ过過guò了liǎo，单單dān方fāng也yě吃喫chī过過guò了liǎo，要是yào shi还還hái不bù见效見效jiàn xiào，怎么怎麼zěn me好hǎo？——那nà只有zhǐ yǒu去qù诊診zhěn何hé小xiǎo仙xiān了liǎo。

Sister Shan thought to herself: She had already drawn a fortune slip from the temple, made her vows, and tried folk remedies. If none of these worked, what was she to do? There was nothing left but to take him to see Doctor He Xiaoxian.

但dàn宝寶bǎo儿兒ér也许也許yě xǔ是shì日rì轻輕qīng夜yè重zhòng，到了dào le明天míng tiān，太阳太陽tài yáng一yī出chū，热熱rè也yě会會huì退tuì，气喘氣喘qì chuǎn也yě会會huì平píng的de：这這zhè实在實在shí zài是shì病人bìng rén常有cháng yǒu的de事shì。

But perhaps Bao'er's illness was simply worse at night and milder during the day. By tomorrow, once the sun came up, his fever might subside and his labored breathing might ease. Such things were quite common among the sick.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi是shì一个一個yí ge粗笨cū bèn女人nǚ rén，不bù明白míng bai这這zhè‘但dàn’字zì的de可怕kě pà：许多許多xǔ duō坏事壞事huài shì固然gù rán幸亏幸虧xìng kuī有了yǒu le他tā才cái变好變好biàn hǎo，许多許多xǔ duō好事hǎo shì却卻què也yě因为因爲yīn wèi有了yǒu le他tā都dōu弄糟nòng zāo。

Sister Shan was a simple, uneducated woman and did not understand the danger hidden in that word "but": although many bad things fortunately turned out well because of it, many good things were ruined by it as well.

夏天xià tiān夜yè短duǎn，老lǎo拱gǒng们們men呜呜嗚嗚wū wū的de唱chàng完了wán le不多bù duō时時shí，东方東方dōng fāng已经已經yǐ jīng发發fā白bái；不一bù yī会會huì，窗缝窗縫chuāng fèng里裏lǐ透进透進tòu jìn了le银銀yín白色bái sè的de曙光shǔ guāng。

Summer nights were short. Not long after Old Gong and his companions had finished humming their tunes, the eastern sky was already growing pale. Before long, silvery dawn light began to seep through the cracks in the window.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi等候děng hòu天明tiān míng，却卻què不像bú xiàng别人別人bié rén这样這樣zhè yàng容易róng yì，觉得覺得jué de非常fēi cháng之zhī慢màn，宝寶bǎo儿兒ér的de一yī呼吸hū xī，几乎幾乎jī hū长过長過cháng guò一年yì nián。

But waiting for daybreak was not so easy for Sister Shan as it was for other people. Time seemed to crawl unbearably slowly; each breath Bao'er took felt almost as long as a year.

现在現在xiàn zài居然jū rán明亮míng liàng了liǎo；天tiān的de明亮míng liàng，压倒壓倒yā dǎo了liǎo灯光燈光dēng guāng，——看见看見kàn jiàn宝寶bǎo儿兒ér的de鼻翼bí yì，已经已經yǐ jīng一yī放fàng一yī收shōu的de扇shàn动動dòng。

At last, it was growing light. The brightness of dawn overwhelmed the lamplight, and she could see Bao'er's nostrils flaring rhythmically with each breath.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi知道zhī dào不妙bú miào，暗àn暗叫一声暗叫一聲àn jiào yì shēng‘阿ā呀ya！’

Sister Shan sensed that something was terribly wrong and silently cried, "Oh, no!"

心里心裏xīn lǐ计算計算jì suàn：怎么怎麼zěn me好hǎo？

She thought to herself: What was she to do?

只有zhǐ yǒu去qù诊診zhěn何hé小xiǎo仙xiān这這zhè一条一條yì tiáo路lù了liǎo。

There was only one thing left to do: take him to Doctor He Xiaoxian.

他tā虽然雖然suī rán是shì粗笨cū bèn女人nǚ rén，心里心裏xīn lǐ却卻què有yǒu决決jué断斷duàn，便biàn站zhàn起身qǐ shēn，从從cóng木mù柜子櫃子guì zi里裏lǐ掏出tāo chū每天měi tiān节省節省jié shěng下来下來xià lái的de十三shí sān个個ge小xiǎo银元銀元yín yuán和hé一百yì bǎi八十bā shí铜銅tóng钱錢qián，都dōu装裝zhuāng在zài衣袋yī dài里裏lǐ，锁鎖suǒ上门上門shàng mén，抱bào着zhe宝寶bǎo儿兒ér直zhí向xiàng何hé家jiā奔bēn过去過去guò qù。

Though she was a simple woman, she was capable of making up her mind. She rose, took from the wooden cupboard the thirteen small silver coins and one hundred and eighty copper coins she had saved little by little each day, and stuffed them into her pocket. Then she locked the door, gathered Bao'er in her arms, and hurried straight to the He household.

天气天氣tiān qì还早還早hái zǎo，何hé家jiā已经已經yǐ jīng坐zuò着zhe四sì个個ge病人bìng rén了liǎo。

It was still early, but four patients were already seated at the He household.

他tā摸出mō chū四角sì jiǎo银元銀元yín yuán，买買mǎi了liǎo号號hào签籤qiān，第五dì wǔ个個ge便biàn轮到輪到lún dào宝寶bǎo儿兒ér。

She took out four jiao in silver, bought a numbered ticket, and Bao'er was fifth in line.

何hé小xiǎo仙xiān伸开伸開shēn kāi两兩liǎng个個ge指头指頭zhǐ tou按脉按脈àn mài，指甲zhǐ jiǎ足zú有yǒu四sì寸cùn多duō长長cháng，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi暗地àn dì纳納nà罕hǎn，心里心裏xīn lǐ计算計算jì suàn：宝寶bǎo儿兒ér该該gāi有yǒu活命huó mìng了liǎo。

He Xiaoxian extended two fingers to feel Bao'er's pulse. His fingernails were more than four inches long. Sister Shan marveled inwardly, thinking: Bao'er ought to have a chance of surviving now.

但dàn总總zǒng免不了miǎn bù liǎo着急zháo jí，忍不住rěn bú zhù要yào问問wèn，便biàn局jú局促侷促jú cù促cù的de说說shuō：——

Still, she could not help feeling anxious. Unable to restrain herself from asking, she spoke hesitantly and nervously:

‘先生xiān sheng，——我家wǒ jiā的de宝寶bǎo儿兒ér什么什麼shén me病bìng呀ya？’

'Sir—what is my Bao'er's illness?'

‘他tā中zhōng焦jiāo塞sāi着zhe。’

'His middle burner is blocked.'

‘不妨bù fáng事shì么麼me？

'Is it nothing serious?

他tā……’

He...'

‘先去xiān qù吃喫chī两兩liǎng帖tiē。’

'First go and take two doses.'

‘他tā喘chuǎn不过不過bú guò气来氣來qì lái，鼻翅bí chì子zǐ都dōu扇shàn着zhe呢ne。’

'He can't catch his breath; his nostrils are flaring.'

‘这這zhè是shì火huǒ克kè金jīn……’

'This is fire overcoming metal...'

何hé小xiǎo仙xiān说說shuō了liǎo半句bàn jù话話huà，便biàn闭上閉上bì shàng眼睛yǎn jīng；单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi也yě不好意思bù hǎo yì si再问再問zài wèn。

He Xiaoxian said half a sentence and then closed his eyes; Shan Si Saozi was too embarrassed to ask again.

在zài何hé小xiǎo仙xiān对面對面duì miàn坐zuò着zhe的de一个一個yí ge三sān十多岁十多歲shí duō suì的de人rén，此时此時cǐ shí已经已經yǐ jīng开開kāi好hǎo一张一張yì zhāng药方藥方yào fāng，指zhǐ着zhe纸紙zhǐ角jiǎo上shàng的de几个幾個jǐ ge字zì说道說道shuō dào：——

A man of over thirty seated opposite He Xiaoxian had by now finished writing out a prescription. Pointing to a few characters in the corner of the paper, he said:—

‘这這zhè第一dì yī味wèi保bǎo婴嬰yīng活命huó mìng丸wán，须須xū是shì贾賈jiǎ家jiā济濟jì世shì老店lǎo diàn才有纔有cái yǒu！’

'This first item, the Infant-Protecting Life-Saving Pill, can only be had at the Jia family's Ji Shi Old Shop!'

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi接jiē过過guò药方藥方yào fāng，一面yí miàn走zǒu，一面yí miàn想xiǎng。

Shan Si Saozi took the prescription and thought as she walked.

他tā虽雖suī是shì粗笨cū bèn女人nǚ rén，却卻què知道zhī dào何hé家jiā与與yǔ济濟jì世shì老店lǎo diàn与與yǔ自己zì jǐ的de家jiā，正是zhèng shì一个一個yí ge三角sān jiǎo点點diǎn；自然zì rán是shì买買mǎi了liǎo药藥yào回去huí qù便宜pián yi了liǎo。

Though she was a simple, clumsy woman, she knew that He's house, the Ji Shi Old Shop, and her own home formed a triangle; naturally it would be cheaper to buy the medicine and then go home.

于是於是yú shì又yòu径徑jìng向xiàng济濟jì世shì老店lǎo diàn奔bēn过去過去guò qù。

So she headed straight for the Ji Shi Old Shop.

店diàn伙夥huǒ也yě翘了翹了qiào le长長cháng指甲zhǐ jiǎ慢慢màn màn的de看kàn方fāng，慢慢màn màn的de包bāo药藥yào。

The shop assistant, too, with his long nail sticking up, slowly read the prescription and slowly wrapped the medicine.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi抱bào了liǎo宝寶bǎo儿兒ér等着děng zhe；宝寶bǎo儿兒ér忽然hū rán擎qíng起qǐ小手xiǎo shǒu来來lái，用力yòng lì拔bá他tā散乱散亂sǎn luàn着zhe的de一yī绺綹liǔ头发頭髮tóu fa，这這zhè是shì从来没有從來沒有cóng lái méi yǒu的de举动舉動jǔ dòng，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi怕得pà de发怔發怔fā zhēng。

Shan Si Saozi held Bao'er and waited; suddenly Bao'er raised his little hand and tugged hard at a loose strand of her disheveled hair. This was something he had never done before, and Shan Si Saozi was so frightened that she froze.

太阳太陽tài yáng早zǎo出了chū le。

The sun was already up.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi抱bào了liǎo孩子hái zi，带帶dài着zhe药包藥包yào bāo，越yuè走zǒu觉得覺得jué de越yuè重zhòng；孩子hái zi又yòu不住bú zhù的de挣扎掙扎zhēng zhá，路lù也yě觉得覺得jué de越yuè长長cháng。

Shan Si Saozi carried the child and the packet of medicine, and the further she walked the heavier it felt; the child kept struggling, and the road seemed to grow longer and longer.

没奈何沒奈何mò nài hé坐在zuò zài路lù旁páng一家yì jiā公馆公館gōng guǎn的de门槛門檻mén kǎn上shàng，休息xiū xi了一liǎo yī会會huì，衣服yī fu渐渐漸漸jiàn jiàn的de冰bīng着zhe肌jī肤膚fū，才cái知道zhī dào自己zì jǐ出了chū le一身yì shēn汗hàn；宝寶bǎo儿兒ér却卻què仿佛彷彿fǎng fú睡着了shuì zháo le。

Helpless, she sat down on the threshold of a large residence by the road and rested a while. Her clothes gradually grew cold against her skin, and only then did she realize she was drenched in sweat; Bao'er, however, seemed to have fallen asleep.

他tā再zài起来起來qǐ lái慢慢地màn màn de走zǒu，仍然réng rán支撑支撐zhī chēng不得bù de，耳朵ěr duo边邊biān忽然hū rán听聽tīng得de人rén说說shuō：——

She got up again and walked slowly, but still could not hold out. Suddenly she heard someone say by her ear:—

‘单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi我wǒ替tì你nǐ抱bào勃bó啰囉luō！’

'Shan Si Saozi, let me carry him for you!'

似乎是sì hū shì蓝藍lán皮pí阿ā五wǔ的de声音聲音shēng yīn。

It seemed to be the voice of Blue-Skinned A-Wu.

他tā抬头抬頭tái tóu看kàn时時shí，正是zhèng shì蓝藍lán皮pí阿ā五wǔ，睡眼shuì yǎn朦胧朦朧méng lóng的de跟着gēn zhe他tā走zǒu。

When she looked up, it was indeed Blue-Skinned A-Wu, following her with sleepy, bleary eyes.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi在zài这這zhè时候時候shí hou，虽然雖然suī rán很hěn希望xī wàng降下jiàng xià一yī员員yuán天tiān将將jiāng，助zhù他tā一臂之力yí bì zhī lì，却卻què不愿不願bú yuàn是shì阿ā五wǔ。

At that moment, though Shan Si Saozi dearly wished a heavenly general would descend to lend her a hand, she did not want it to be A-Wu.

但dàn阿ā五wǔ有点有點yǒu diǎn侠气俠氣xiá qì，无论無論wú lùn如何rú hé，总是總是zǒng shì偏要piān yào帮忙幫忙bāng máng，所以suǒ yǐ推tuī让讓ràng了一liǎo yī会會huì，终于終於zhōng yú得了dé le许可許可xǔ kě了liǎo。

But A-Wu had a bit of a chivalrous streak and was determined to help no matter what, so after declining for a while, she finally gave in.

他tā便biàn伸开伸開shēn kāi臂膊bì bó，从從cóng单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi的de乳房rǔ fáng和hé孩子hái zi中间中間zhōng jiān，直zhí伸shēn下去xià qù，抱bào去了qù le孩子hái zi。

He stretched out his arms, reached straight down between Shan Si Saozi's breasts and the child, and took the child away.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi便biàn觉覺jué乳房rǔ fáng上shàng发發fā了liǎo一条一條yì tiáo热熱rè，刹剎chà时间時間shí jiān直zhí热熱rè到dào脸臉liǎn上shàng和hé耳根ěr gēn。

Shan Si Saozi felt a streak of heat on her breast, and in an instant it rushed up to her face and the roots of her ears.

他们他們tā men两兩liǎng人rén离开離開lí kāi了liǎo二èr尺chǐ五wǔ寸cùn多duō地dì，一同yì tóng走zǒu着zhe。

The two of them walked along, keeping a distance of more than two chi five cun between them.

阿ā五wǔ说說shuō些xiē话話huà，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi却卻què大半dà bàn没有沒有méi yǒu答dá。走了zǒu le不多bù duō时候時候shí hou，阿ā五wǔ又yòu将將jiāng孩子hái zi还给還給hái gěi他tā，说說shuō是shì昨天zuó tiān与與yǔ朋友péng you约定約定yuē dìng的de吃饭喫飯chī fàn时候時候shí hou到了dào le；单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi便biàn接了jiē le孩子hái zi。

A-Wu said a few things, but Shan Si Saozi mostly did not answer. After they had walked a short while, A-Wu gave the child back to her, saying that the time he had agreed to meet a friend for a meal the day before had come; so Shan Si Saozi took the child.

幸而xìng ér不bù远遠yuǎn便是biàn shì家jiā，早zǎo看见看見kàn jiàn对门對門duì mén的de王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā在zài街jiē边邊biān坐zuò着zhe，远远遠遠yuǎn yuǎn地dì说话說話shuō huà：

Fortunately her home was not far off, and she soon saw Old Mrs. Wang from across the street sitting by the roadside, speaking from a distance:

‘单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi，孩子hái zi怎zěn了liǎo？——看kàn过過guò先生xiān sheng了liǎo么麼me？’

'Shan Si Saozi, how is the child?—Have you seen a doctor?'

‘看kàn是shì看了kàn le。——王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā，你有nǐ yǒu年纪年紀nián jì，见見jiàn的de多duō，不如bù rú请請qǐng你老nǐ lǎo法眼fǎ yǎn看一看kàn yi kàn，怎样怎樣zěn yàng……’

'We have seen one.—Old Mrs. Wang, you are advanced in years and have seen much; why not lend your experienced eyes a look, how about...'

‘唔wú……’

'Hmm...'

‘怎样怎樣zěn yàng……？’

'How is he...?'

‘唔wú……’王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā端详端詳duān xiáng了liǎo一番yì fān，把头把頭bǎ tóu点了點了diǎn le两兩liǎng点點diǎn，摇了搖了yáo le两兩liǎng摇搖yáo。

'Hmm...' Old Mrs. Wang examined him for a while, nodded her head twice, and shook it twice.

宝寶bǎo儿兒ér吃下喫下chī xià药藥yào，已经已經yǐ jīng是shì午后午後wǔ hòu了liǎo。

By the time Bao'er took the medicine, it was already afternoon.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi留心liú xīn看kàn他tā神情shén qíng，似乎sì hū仿佛彷彿fǎng fú平稳平穩píng wěn了liǎo不少bù shǎo；到dào得dé下午xià wǔ，忽然hū rán睁开睜開zhēng kāi眼yǎn叫jiào一声一聲yì shēng‘妈媽mā！’

Shan Si Saozi watched his expression carefully, and he seemed to have grown somewhat steadier; by afternoon, he suddenly opened his eyes and called out, 'Ma!'

又yòu仍然réng rán合hé上shàng眼yǎn，像是xiàng shì睡去shuì qù了liǎo。

Then he closed his eyes again, as if he had fallen asleep.

他tā睡了shuì le一刻yí kè，额額é上shàng鼻尖bí jiān都dōu沁qìn出chū一粒yí lì一粒yí lì的de汗珠hàn zhū，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi轻轻輕輕qīng qīng一摸yì mō，胶水膠水jiāo shuǐ般bān黏nián着手zhuó shǒu；慌忙huāng máng去qù摸mō胸口xiōng kǒu，便biàn禁不住jīn bú zhù呜咽嗚咽wū yàn起来起來qǐ lái。

He slept for a quarter of an hour, and beads of sweat seeped out on his forehead and the tip of his nose. Shan Si Saozi touched them lightly, and they stuck to her hand like glue; hastily she felt for his chest, and could not keep from sobbing.

宝寶bǎo儿兒ér的de呼吸hū xī从從cóng平稳平穩píng wěn变到變到biàn dào没有沒有méi yǒu，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi的de声音聲音shēng yīn也就yě jiù从從cóng呜咽嗚咽wū yàn变成變成biàn chéng号號hào咷táo。

Bao'er's breathing went from steady to nothing, and Shan Si Saozi's voice went from sobbing to wailing.

这时這時zhè shí聚集jù jí了liǎo几幾jǐ堆duī人rén：门門mén内內nèi是shì王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā、蓝藍lán皮pí阿ā五wǔ之类之類zhī lèi，门外門外mén wài是shì咸鹹xián亨hēng的de掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì和hé红紅hóng鼻子bí zi老lǎo拱gǒng之类之類zhī lèi。

By then several groups of people had gathered: inside the door were Old Mrs. Wang, Blue-Skinned A-Wu, and the like; outside the door were the manager of Xianheng and Red-Nosed Old Gong and the like.

王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā便biàn发發fā命令mìng lìng，烧了燒了shāo le一串yí chuàn纸紙zhǐ钱錢qián；又yòu将將jiāng两兩liǎng条條tiáo板bǎn橙chéng和hé五件wǔ jiàn衣服yī fu作zuò抵dǐ，替tì单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi借了jiè le两兩liǎng块塊kuài洋钱洋錢yáng qián，给給gěi帮忙幫忙bāng máng的de人rén备備bèi饭飯fàn。

Old Mrs. Wang gave orders and burned a string of paper money; then, using two benches and five pieces of clothing as security, she borrowed two silver dollars on Shan Si Saozi's behalf to prepare a meal for the helpers.

第dì一个一個yí ge问题問題wèn tí是shì棺木guān mù。

The first problem was the coffin.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi还有還有hái yǒu一副yí fù银銀yín耳环耳環ěr huán和hé一支yì zhī裹guǒ金jīn的de银銀yín簪zān，都dōu交给交給jiāo gěi了liǎo咸鹹xián亨hēng的de掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì，托託tuō他tā作zuò一个一個yí ge保bǎo，半bàn现現xiàn半bàn赊賒shē的de买買mǎi一具yí jù棺木guān mù。

Shan Si Saozi still had a pair of silver earrings and a silver hairpin wrapped in gold, and she handed them all to the manager of Xianheng, asking him to act as guarantor and buy a coffin, half in cash and half on credit.

蓝藍lán皮pí阿ā五wǔ也yě伸出shēn chū手shǒu来來lái，很hěn愿意願意yuàn yì自告奋勇自告奮勇zì gào fèn yǒng：王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā却卻què不许不許bù xǔ他tā，只准zhī zhǔn他tā明天míng tiān抬tái棺材guān cái的de差chà使shǐ，阿ā五wǔ骂了罵了mà le一声一聲yì shēng‘老lǎo畜生chù sheng’，怏怏yàng yàng的de努nǔ了le嘴zuǐ站zhàn着zhe。

Blue-Skinned A-Wu also stretched out his hand, quite willing to volunteer; but Old Mrs. Wang would not allow it, and only permitted him the job of carrying the coffin the next day. A-Wu cursed, 'Old beast,' and stood there sulking with his lips pursed.

掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì便biàn自zì去了qù le；晚上wǎn shang回来回來huí lái，说說shuō棺木guān mù须須xū得dé现現xiàn做zuò，后後hòu半夜bàn yè才cái成功chéng gōng。

The manager then went off by himself; when he came back that evening, he said the coffin had to be made on the spot and would not be finished until after midnight.

掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì回来回來huí lái的de时候時候shí hou，帮忙幫忙bāng máng的de人rén早zǎo吃喫chī过過guò饭飯fàn；因为因爲yīn wèi鲁魯lǔ镇鎮zhèn还還hái有些yǒu xiē古风古風gǔ fēng，所以suǒ yǐ不上bú shàng一yī更gèng，便biàn都dōu回家huí jiā睡觉睡覺shuì jiào了liǎo。

By the time the manager returned, the helpers had long since eaten; because Luzhen still retained some old customs, they all went home to sleep before the first watch was over.

只有zhǐ yǒu阿ā五wǔ还還hái靠kào着zhe咸鹹xián亨hēng的de柜台櫃檯guì tái喝酒hē jiǔ，老lǎo拱gǒng也yě呜呜嗚嗚wū wū的de唱chàng。

Only A-Wu still leaned against the Xianheng counter drinking, while Old Gong hummed and sang.

这這zhè时候時候shí hou，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi坐在zuò zài床沿牀沿chuáng yán上shàng哭kū着zhe，宝寶bǎo儿兒ér在zài床上牀上chuáng shàng躺tǎng着zhe，纺车紡車fǎng chē静静靜靜jìng jìng的de在zài地上dì shang立lì着zhe。

At this time Shan Si Saozi sat on the edge of the bed weeping, Bao'er lay on the bed, and the spinning wheel stood quietly on the floor.

许多許多xǔ duō工夫gōng fū，单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi的de眼泪眼淚yǎn lèi宣告xuān gào完结完結wán jié了liǎo，眼睛yǎn jīng张張zhāng得很de hěn大dà，看看kàn kan四面sì miàn的de情形qíng xíng，觉得覺得jué de奇怪qí guài：所有suǒ yǒu的de都是dōu shì不会有不會有bú huì yǒu的de事shì。

After a long while, Shan Si Saozi's tears declared themselves exhausted. Her eyes opened very wide, and looking at the scene around her, she felt strange: all of it was something that could not be happening.

他tā心里心裏xīn lǐ计算計算jì suàn：不过不過bú guò是shì梦夢mèng罢了罷了bà le，这些這些zhè xiē事shì都是dōu shì梦夢mèng。

She calculated in her heart: it is only a dream, all these things are a dream.

明天míng tiān醒xǐng过来過來guò lái，自己zì jǐ好好hǎo hǎo的de睡在shuì zài床上牀上chuáng shàng，宝寶bǎo儿兒ér也yě好好hǎo hǎo的de睡在shuì zài自己zì jǐ身边身邊shēn biān。

Tomorrow she would wake up, sleeping soundly in her bed, and Bao'er would be sleeping soundly beside her.

他tā也yě醒xǐng过来過來guò lái，叫jiào一声一聲yì shēng‘妈媽mā’，生shēng龙龍lóng活huó虎hǔ似的shì de跳tiào去qù玩了wán le。

He too would wake up, call out 'Ma,' and leap up lively as a dragon or tiger to go play.

老lǎo拱gǒng的de歌声歌聲gē shēng早zǎo经經jīng寂静寂靜jì jìng，咸鹹xián亨hēng也yě熄了xī le灯燈dēng。

Old Gong's singing had long since fallen silent, and the lights at Xianheng were out too.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi张張zhāng着眼zhuó yǎn，总總zǒng不信bú xìn所有suǒ yǒu的de事shì。——鸡雞jī也yě叫了jiào le；东方東方dōng fāng渐渐漸漸jiàn jiàn发發fā白bái，窗缝窗縫chuāng fèng里裏lǐ透进透進tòu jìn了le银銀yín白色bái sè的de曙光shǔ guāng。

Shan Si Saozi kept her eyes wide open, unable to believe any of it.—The roosters had crowed; the east was gradually turning white, and silvery dawn light seeped through the cracks in the window.

银白銀白yín bái的de曙光shǔ guāng又yòu渐渐漸漸jiàn jiàn显出顯出xiǎn chū绯緋fēi红紅hóng，太tài阳光陽光yáng guāng接着jiē zhe照到zhào dào屋脊wū jǐ。

The silvery dawn gradually took on a crimson hue, and then sunlight fell upon the roof ridge.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi张張zhāng着眼zhuó yǎn，呆呆dāi dāi坐zuò着zhuó；听聽tīng得dé打dǎ门門mén声音聲音shēng yīn，才cái吃了喫了chī le一yī吓嚇xià，跑出去pǎo chū qù开门開門kāi mén。

Shan Si Saozi sat blankly with her eyes wide open; only when she heard a knocking at the door did she give a start and run out to open it.

门外門外mén wài一个一個yí ge不bù认识認識rèn shi的de人rén，背bèi了liǎo一件yí jiàn东西東西dōng xi；后面後面hòu miàn站zhàn着zhe王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā。

Outside the door was an unfamiliar man carrying something on his back; behind him stood Old Mrs. Wang.

哦ò，他们他們tā men背bèi了liǎo棺材guān cái来來lái了liǎo。

Oh, they had brought the coffin on their backs.

下xià半天bàn tiān，棺木guān mù才cái合hé上shàng盖蓋gài：因为因爲yīn wèi单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi哭kū一回yì huí，看kàn一回yì huí，总總zǒng不肯bù kěn死心塌地sǐ xīn tā dì的de盖蓋gài上shàng；幸亏幸虧xìng kuī王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā等děng得dé不耐烦不耐煩bú nài fán，气愤愤氣憤憤qì fèn fèn的de跑pǎo上前shàng qián，一把yì bǎ拖开拖開tuō kāi他tā，才cái七qī手shǒu八脚八腳bā jiǎo的de盖蓋gài上了shàng le。

It was not until the latter half of the day that the coffin lid was closed: for Shan Si Saozi wept a while and looked a while, and would never resign herself to letting it be covered; fortunately Old Mrs. Wang grew impatient with waiting, ran up angrily, and dragged her away in one pull, and only then did they clumsily and hurriedly shut it.

但dàn单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi待dài他的tā de宝寶bǎo儿兒ér，实在實在shí zài已经已經yǐ jīng尽盡jìn了liǎo心xīn，再zài没有沒有méi yǒu什么什麼shén me缺陷quē xiàn。

But Shan Si Saozi had truly done all she could for her Bao'er; there was nothing more left undone.

昨天zuó tiān烧燒shāo过過guò一串yí chuàn纸紙zhǐ钱錢qián，上午shàng wǔ又yòu烧了燒了shāo le四十九sì shí jiǔ卷juàn大悲咒dà bēi zhòu；收shōu敛斂liǎn的de时候時候shí hou，给給gěi他tā穿上chuān shàng顶頂dǐng新的xīn de衣裳yī shang，平日píng rì喜欢喜歡xǐ huan的de玩意儿玩意兒wán yì er，——一个一個yí ge泥人ní rén，两兩liǎng个個ge小xiǎo木碗mù wǎn，两兩liǎng个個ge玻璃瓶bō lí píng，——都dōu放在fàng zài枕头枕頭zhěn tou旁边旁邊páng biān。

The day before she had burned a string of paper money, and that morning she had burned forty-nine scrolls of the Great Compassion Mantra; when he was laid out, he was dressed in his newest clothes, and the playthings he had loved in ordinary days—a clay figure, two little wooden bowls, two glass bottles—were all placed beside his pillow.

后来後來hòu lái王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā掐着qiā zhe指头指頭zhǐ tou仔细仔細zǐ xì推敲tuī qiāo，也yě终于終於zhōng yú想不出xiǎng bu chū一些yì xiē什么什麼shén me缺陷quē xiàn。

Afterward Old Mrs. Wang counted on her fingers and pondered carefully, but in the end she too could think of nothing that had been left undone.

这這zhè一日yí rì里裏lǐ，蓝藍lán皮pí阿ā五wǔ简直簡直jiǎn zhí整天zhěng tiān没有沒有méi yǒu到dào；咸鹹xián亨hēng掌柜掌櫃zhǎng guì便biàn替tì单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi雇僱gù了liǎo两兩liǎng名míng脚腳jiǎo夫fū，每名měi míng二百èr bǎi另lìng十shí个個ge大dà钱錢qián，抬tái棺木guān mù到dào义義yì冢zhǒng地上dì shang安放ān fàng。

That day Blue-Skinned A-Wu simply did not show up at all; so the manager of Xianheng hired two bearers for Shan Si Saozi, at two hundred and ten large coppers each, to carry the coffin to the public burial ground and set it down there.

王wáng九jiǔ妈媽mā又yòu帮幫bāng他tā煮zhǔ了liǎo饭飯fàn，凡是fán shì动動dòng过過guò手shǒu开開kāi过過guò口kǒu的de人rén都dōu吃了饭喫了飯chī le fàn。

Old Mrs. Wang also helped her cook rice, and everyone who had lifted a hand or opened a mouth ate.

太阳太陽tài yáng渐渐漸漸jiàn jiàn显出顯出xiǎn chū要yào落luò山shān的de颜色顏色yán sè；吃喫chī过過guò饭飯fàn的de人rén也yě不觉不覺bù jué都dōu显出顯出xiǎn chū要yào回家huí jiā的de颜色顏色yán sè，——于是於是yú shì他们他們tā men终于終於zhōng yú都dōu回huí了liǎo家jiā。

The sun gradually took on the look of wanting to set; and those who had eaten also unconsciously took on the look of wanting to go home,—and so at last they all went home.

单單dān四sì嫂子sǎo zi很hěn觉得覺得jué de头頭tóu眩xuàn，歇息xiē xī了一liǎo yī会會huì，倒dǎo居然有jū rán yǒu点點diǎn平稳平穩píng wěn了liǎo。

Shan Si Saozi felt very dizzy; after resting a while, she actually grew somewhat steadier.

但dàn他tā接连接連jiē lián着zhe便biàn觉得很覺得很jué de hěn异異yì样樣yàng：遇到yù dào了liǎo平生píng shēng没有沒有méi yǒu遇到yù dào过的過的guò de事shì，不像bú xiàng会會huì有yǒu的de事shì，然而rán ér的确的確dí què出现出現chū xiàn了liǎo。

But then she immediately felt something very strange: she had encountered something she had never met in all her life, something that did not seem as though it could happen, and yet it had indeed appeared.

他tā越yuè想xiǎng越yuè奇qí，又yòu感到gǎn dào一件yí jiàn异異yì样樣yàng的de事shì：——这這zhè屋子wū zi忽然hū rán太tài静靜jìng了liǎo。

The more she thought, the stranger it seemed, and she felt something else strange as well:—the room had suddenly become too quiet.

他tā站zhàn起身qǐ shēn，点點diǎn上shàng灯火燈火dēng huǒ，屋子wū zi越yuè显得顯得xiǎn de静靜jìng。

She stood up and lit the lamp, and the room seemed all the quieter.

他tā昏昏hūn hūn的de走去zǒu qù关關guān上门上門shàng mén，回来回來huí lái坐在zuò zài床沿牀沿chuáng yán上shàng，纺车紡車fǎng chē静静靜靜jìng jìng的de立lì在zài地上dì shang。