19+張愛玲經(jīng)典《金鎖記》英文版

THEGOLDENCANGUETranslatedbyEileenChangSHANGHAIthirtyyearsagoonamoonlitnight...maybewedidnotgettoseethemoonofthirtyyearsago.Toyoungpeoplethemoonofthirtyyearsagoshouldbeareddish-yellowwetstainthesizeofacoppercoin,likeateardroponletterpaperbyTo-yünHsüan'wornandblurred.Inoldpeople'smemorythemoonofthirtyyearsagowasgay,larger,rounder,andwhiterthanthemoonnow.Butlookedbackonafterthirtyyearsonaroughroad,thebestofmoonsisapttobetingedwithsadness.ThemoonlightreachedthesideofFeng-hsiaopillow.Shewasaslavegirlbroughtbythebride,thenewThirdMistressoftheChiangs.Sheopenedhereyestotakealookandsawherownblue-whitehandonthehalf-wornblanketfacedwithquiltedKoreansilk."Isitmoonlight?"shesaidtoherself.Shesleptonapalletonthefloorunderthewindow.Thelastcoupleofyearshadbeenbusywiththechangingofdynasties.TheChiangscomingtoShanghaiasrefugeesdidnothaveroom,sotheservants'quarterswerecriss-crossedwithpeoplesleeping.Feng-hsiaoseemedtoheararustlebehindthebigbedandguessedthatsomebodyhadgotuptousethechamberpot.Sheturnedoverand,justasshethought,theclothcurtainwasthrustasideandablackshadowemerged,shufflinginslipperstroddendownintheback.ItwasprobablyLittleShuang,thepersonalmaidofSecondMistress,andsoshecalledoutsoftly,"LittleSisterShuang."LittleShuangcame,smiling,andgaveakicktothepallet."Iwokeyou."Sheputbothhandsunderheroldlinedjacketofdarkvioletsilk,wornoverbrightoil-greentrousers.Feng-hsiaoputoutahandtofeelthetrouserlegandsaid,smiling:2"Colorfulclothesarenotwornsomuchnow.Withthepeopledownriver,'thefashionsareallfornocolor."LittleShuangsaid,smiling,"Youdon'tknow,inthishousewecan'tkeepupwithotherpeople.OurOldMistressisstrict,eventheyoungmistressescan'thavetheirownway,nottosayusslavegirls.Wewearwhat'sgivendressedlikepeas-ants."ShesquatteddowntositonthepalletandpickedupalittlejacketatFeng-hsiao'sfeet."Wasthisnewlymadeforyourlady'swedding?"Feng-hsiaoshookherhead."Ofmywardrobeforthesea-son,onlythefewpiecesonviewarenew.Therestisjustmadeupofdiscards.""Thisweddinghappenedtorunintotherevolution,reallyhardonyourlady."Feng-hsiaosighed."Don'tgointothatnow.Intimeslikethis,oneshouldeconomize,buttherewasstillalimit!Thatweddingreallylackedstyle.Thatoneofoursdidn'tsayany-thing,buthowcouldshenotbeangry?""Ishouldn'twonderThirdMistressisstillunhappyaboutit.Onyoursidethetrousseauwaspassable,theweddingprepara-tionswemadewerereallytoodismal.EventhatyearwetookourSecondMistressitwasbetterthanthis."Feng-hsiaowastakenaback."How?YourSecondMistress..."LittleShuangtookoffhershoesandsteppedbarefootacrossFeng-hsiaotothewindow."Getupandlookatthemoon,"shesaid.Feng-hsiaoscrambledquicklytoherfeet."Iwasgoingtoaskallalong,yourSecondMistress..."LittleShuangbentdowntopickupthelittlejacketandputitoverhershoulders."Becarefulyoudon'tcatchcold."Feng-hsiaosaid,smiling,asshebuttoneditup,"No,you'vegottotellme.""Myfault,Ishouldn'thaveletitout,"LittleShuangsaid,smiling."Wearelikesistersnow.Whytreatmelikeanoutsider?""IfItellyou,don'tyoutellyourladythough.OurSecondMistress'sfamilyownsasesameoilshop.""Oh!"Feng-hsiaowassurprised.'Asesameoilshop!Howonearthcouldtheystoopsolow!NowyourEldestMistressisfromatitledfamily;ourscan'tcomparewithEldestMistress,butshealsocamefromarespectablefamily.""Ofcoursetherewasareason.You'veseenourSecondMaster,he'scrippled.Whatmandarinfamilywouldgivehimadaughterforwife?OldMistressdidn'tknowwhattodo,Firstwasgoingtogethimaconcubine,andthematchmakerfoundthisoneoftheTs'aofamily,calledCh'i-ch'iao4becauseshewasbornintheseventhmonth.""Oh,aconcubine,"saidFeng-hsiao."Wastobeaconcubine.ThenOldMistressthought,sinceSecondMasterwasnotgoingtotakeawife,itwouldn'tdoei-therforthesecondbranchtobewithoutitspropermistress.JustaswelltohaveherforawifesoshewouldfaithfullylookafterSecondMaster."Feng-hsiaoleanedherhandsonthewindowsill,musing."Nowonder.AlthoughI'mnewhere,I'veguessedsomeofittoo.""Dragonsbreeddragons,phoenixesbreedphoenixes—asthesayinggoes.Youhaven'theardherconversation!Eveninfrontoftheunmarriedyoungladiesshesaysanythingshelikes.Luckythatinourhousenotawordgoesoutfrominside,norcomesinfromoutside,sotheyoungladiesdon'tunderstandathing.Eventhentheygetsoembarrassedtheydon'tknowwheretohide."Feng-hsiaotittered."Really?Wherecouldshehavepickedupthisvulgarlanguage?Evenusslavegirls-"LittleShuangsaid,holdingherownelbows,"Why,shewasthebigattractionatthesesameoilshop,standingatthecounter,anddealingwithallkindsofcustomers.Whathavewegottocomparewithher?""Didyoucomewitbherwheushewasmarried?"LittleShuangsneered."Howcouldsheaffordme!IusedtowaitonOldMistress,butSecondMastertookmedicinealldayandhadtobehelpedaroundalltherime,andsiucetheywereshortofhands,Iwassentoverthere.Why,areyoucold?"Feng-hsiaoshookherhead.."Lookatyou,thewayyoupulledinyourneck,socuddlesome!"ShehadhardlyfinishedspeakingwhenFeng-hsiaosneezed.RightawayLittleShuanggaveherapush."Gotobed,gotobed.Warmyourself"Feng-hsiaokneltdowntotakeherjacketoff"It'snotwin-ter,youdon'tcatchcoldjustlikethat.""Thewindowmaybeclosedbutthewindsqueaksinthrough.thecrevices."Theybothlaydown.Feng-hsiaoaskedinawhisper,"Beenmarriedforfour,fiveyearsnow?""Who?""Whoelse?""Oh,she.That'sright,it'sbeenfiveyears.""Hadchildrentoo,andgavepeoplenothingtotalkabout?""Astothat—!Plentytotalkabout.TheyearbeforelastOldMistresstookeverybodyinthehouseonapilgrimagetoMountP'u-t'o.Shedidn'tgobecauseitwasjustafterherlying-in,soshewasleftathometolookafterthehouse.Master-in-law5calledabittoooftenandabatchofthingswaslost."Feng-hsiaowasstartled."Andtheynevergottothebottomofit?""Whatwouldhavecomeofthat?Itwouldhavebeenembar-rassingforeverybody.Anyway,thejewelrywouldhavegonetoEldestMaster,SecondMaster,andThirdMasteroneday.EldestMasterandEldestMistresscouldn'tverywellsayany-thingonaccountofSecondMaster.ThirdMasterwasinnopositiouto,hehimselfwasspendingmoneylikewaterandhadborrowedalotfromthefamilyaccounts."Thetwoofthemtalkedacrosstenfeet.Despitetheirefforttolowertheirvoices,aloudersentenceortwowokeupoldMrs.Chaoonthebigbed.Shecalledout,"LittleShuang."LittleShuangdidnotdareanswer.OldMrs.Chaosaid,"LittleShuang,ifyoutalkmorenonsenseandletpeoplehearyou,becarefulyoudon'tgetskinnedtomorrow!"LittleShuangkeptstill."Don'tthinkyou'restillinthedeephallsandbigcourt-yardswelivedinbefore,whereyouhadroomtotalkcrazyandactsilly.Hereit'scheekbyjowl,nothingcanbekeptfromotherpeople.Betterstoptalkingifyouwanttoavoidabeating."Immediatelytheroombecamesilent.OldMrs.Chao,whohadinflamedeyes,hadstuffedherpillowwithchrysanthemumleaves,saidtomakeeyesclearandcool.Shenowraisedherheadtopressdownthesilverhairpintuckedacrossherbunandthechrysanthemumleavesrustledwiththeslightstir.Sheturnedover,herwholeframepulledintomotion,allherbonessqueaking.Shesighed,"Youpeople—!Whatdoyouknow?"LittleShuangandFeng-hsiaostilldarednotreply.Foralongtimenobodyspoke,andonebyonetheydriftedofftosleep.Itwasalmostdawn.Theflatwaningmoongotlower,lowerandlarger,andbythetimeitsank,itwaslikearedgoldbasin.Theskywasacoldbleakcrab-shellblue.Thehouseswereonlyacoupleofstorieshigh,pitch-darkunderthesky,soitwaspossibletoseefar.Atthehorizonthemorningcolorswerealayerofgreen,alayerofyellow,andalayerofredlikeawatermeloncutopen-thesunwascomingup.Graduallywheelbarrowsandbigpushcartsbeganrattlingalongtheroad,andhorsecarriagespassed,hoofstapping.Thebeancurdsoupvenderwiththeflatpoleonhisshoulderhawkedhiswaresslowly,swingingly.Oulythelong-drawnlastsyllablecarried,"Haw...0!Haw...0!"Fartheroff,itbecame"Aw...0!Aw...0!"Inthehousetheslavegirlsandamahshadalsogotup,inaflurrytoopentheroomdoors,fetchhotwater,foldupbed-ding,hookupthebed-curtains,anddothehair.Feng-hsiaohelpedThirdMistressLan-hsiengetdressed.Lan-hsienleanedclosetothemirrorforacarefullook,pulledoutfromunderherarmpitapalegreenblossom-fleckedhandkerchief,rubbedsomepowderoffthewingsofhernose,andsaidwithherbacktoThirdMasteronthebed."I'dbettergofirsttopaymyrespectstoOldMistress.I'dbelateifIwaitedforyou."Asshewasspeaking,EldestMistressTai-chencameandstoodonthedoorstep,sayingwithasmile,"ThirdSister,let'sgotogether."Lan-hsienhurrieduptoher."IwasjustgettingworriedI'dbelate—soEldestSister-in-lawhasn'tgoneupyet.WhataboutSecondSister-in-law?""She'llstillbeawhile.""GettingSecondBrotherhismedicine?"Tai-chenlookedaroundtomakesuretherewasnooneaboutbeforeshesaid,smiling,"It'snotsomuchtakingmedi-cineas—"Sheputherthumbtoherlips,madeafistwiththethreemiddlefingers,stickingoutthelittlefinger,andshushedsoftlyacoupleoftimes.Lan-hsiensaid,surprised,"Theybothsmokethis?"Tai-chennodded."WithyourSecondBrotherit'soutintheopen,withherit'skeptfromOldMistress,whichmakesthingsdifficultforus,caughtinbetween-havetocoverupforher.ActuallyOldMistressknowsverywell.Purposelypretendsshedoesn't,ordersheraroundandtorturesherinlittleways,justsothatshecan'tsmokeherfill.Actually,tothinkofit,awomanandsoyoung,whatgreatworriescouldshehave,toneedtosmokethistotakehermindoffthings?"Tai-chenandLan-hsienwentupstairshandinhand,eachfollowedbytheslavegirlclosesttoher,tothesmallanteroomnextdoortoOldMistress'sbedroom.TheslavegirlLiu-hsicameouttothemwhispering,"Notawakeyet."Tai-chenglancedupatthegrandfatherclockandsaid,smil-ing,"OldMistressisalsolatetoday.""Saidshedidn'tsleepwellthelastcoupleofdays,toomuchnoiseonthestreet,"Liu-hsisaid."Probablyusedtoitnow,makingupforittoday."BesidethelittleroundpedestaltableofpurpleelmcoveredwithastripofscarletfeltsatYun-tse,theseconddaughterofthehouse,crackingwalnutswithalittlenutcracker.Sheputitdownandgotuptogreetthem.Tai-chenlaidahandonhershoulder."SisterYün,youarereallyfilial.OldMistresshap-penedtobeinthemoodyesterdaytowantsomesugaredwal-nutsmade,andyouremembered."Lan-hsienandTai-chensatdownaroundthetableandhelpedtopeelthewalnutskin.Yun-tse'shandsgottiredandLan-hsientookthenutcrackerthatsheputdown."Becarefulofthosenailsofyours,asslenderasscallions.Itwouldbeapitytobreakthemwhenyou'vegrownthemsolong,"saidTai-chen."Havesomebodygoandgetyourgoldnailsheath,"Yun-tsesaid."Somuchbother,wemightaswellhavethemshelledinthekitchen,"saidLan-hsien.Astheyweretalkingandlaughinginundertones,Liu-hsiraisedthecurtainwithastick,announcing,"Second.Mistressishere."Lan-hsienandYun-tserosetoaskhertositdownbutTs'aoCh'i-ch'iaowouldnotbeseatedasyet.Withonehandonthedoorwayandtheotheronherwaist,shefirstlookedaround.Onherthinfacewereavermilionmouth,triangulareyes,andeyebrowscurvedlikelittlehills.Sheworeapalepinkblouseoveruarrowmauvetrouserswithaflickeringbluescrolldesignandgreenish-whiteincense-stickbinding.'Alavendersilkcrepehandkerchiefwashalftuckedaroundthewristinonenarrowblousesleeve.Shesmiled,showinghersmallfineteeth,andsaid,"Everybody'shere.IsupposeI'mlateagaintoday.HowcanIhelpit,doingmyhairinthedark?Whogavemeawindowfac-ingthebackyard?I'mtheonlyonetogetaroomlikethat.Thatoneofoursisevidentlynotgoingtolivelonganyway,we'rejustwaitingtobewidowandorphans-whomtobully,ifnotus?"Tai-chenblandlysaidnothing.Lan-hsiensaid,smiling,"SecondSister-in-lawisusedtothehousesinPeking,nowon-dershefindsittoocrampedhere."Yun-tsesaid,"EldestBrothershouldhavegotalargeronewhenhewashouse-hunting,butI'mafraidthiscountsasabrightandairyhouseforShanghai."Lan-hsiensaid,"Thatisso.It'strueit'sabitcrowded,really,somanypeopleinthehouse-"Ch'i-ch'iaorolleduphersleeveandtuckedthehandkerchiefinhergreenjadebracelet,glancedsidewaysatLan-hsien,andsaid,smiling,"SoThirdSisterfeelsthere'retoomanypeople.Ifit'stoocrowdedforus,whohavebeenmarriedforyears,natu-rallyit'stoocrowdedfornewlywedslikeyou."BeforeLan-hsiencouldsayanything,Tai-chenblushed,say-ing,"Jestingisjesting,butthere'salimit.ThirdSisterhasjustcomehere,whatwillshethinkofus?"Ch'i-ch'iaopulledupacornerofherhandkerchieftocoverhermouth."Iknowyou'reallyoungladiesfromrespectablehomes.Justtryandchangeplaceswithme,I'mafraidyoucouldn'tputupwithitforevenonenight."Tai-chenmadeaspittingnoise."Thisistoomuch.Themoreyoutalk,themoreimpertinentyouget."AtthisCh'i-ch'iaowentupandtookTai-chenbyhersleeve."Icanswear—Icanswearforthelastthreeyears.Doyoudareswear?Youdareswear?"EvenTai-chencouldnothelpatitter,andthenshemut-tered,"Howisitthatyouevengottwochildren?"Chl-ch'iaosaid,"Really,evenIdon'tknowhowthechildrengotborn.Themore1thinkaboutitthemoreIcan'tunder-stand."Tai-chenheldupherrighthandandwaveditfromsidetoside."Enoughtalkinthisvein.GrantedthatyoutakeThirdSisterasoneofourown,andfeelfreetosayanythingyoulike,stillSisterYen'shere.IfshetellsOldMistresslater,you'llgetmorethanyouwant."Yun-tsehadwalkedofflongago,andwasstandingontheverandawithherhandsbehindherback,whistlingatthecanarytomakeitsing.TheChiangslivedinamodernforeign-stylehouseofanearlyperiod,tallarchessupportedbythickpillarsofredbrickwithafloralcapital,buttheupstairsverandahadawoodenfloor.Behindtherailingsofwillowwoodwasarowoflargebasketsofbamboosplits,inwhichdriedbambooshootswerebeingaired.Thewornsunlightpervadedtheairlikegolddust,slightlychokinganddizzyingwhenrubbedintheeyes.Farawayinthestreetapeddlershookarattle-drumwhosesleepybeat,bulungdung...bulungdung,heldthememoryofmanychildrennowgrownold.Theprivaterickshastinkledastheyranpastandanoccasionalcarhornwentbaba.BecauseCh'i-ch'iaoknewthateverybodyinthishouselookeddownonher,shewasespeciallywarmtothenewcomer.LeaningonthebackofLan-hsien'schair,sheaskedherthisandthatandspokeadmiringlyofherfingernailsaftergivingherhandathoroughinspection.Thensheadded,"Igrewoneonmylittlefingerlastyearfullyhalfaninchlongerthanthis,andbrokeitpickingflowers."Lan-hsienhadalreadyseenthrough.Ch'i-ch'iaoandunder-stoodherpositionattheChiangs'.Shekeptsmilingbuthardlyanswered.Ch'i-ch'iaofelttheslight.Amblingovertotheve-randa,shepickedupYun-tse'spigtailandshookit,makingconversation,"Yo!Howcomeyourhairissothin?Onlylastyearyouhadsuchaheadofglossyblackhair-musthavelostalot?"Yun-tseturnedasidetoprotectherpigtail,sayingwithasmile,"1can'tevenloseafewhairswithoutyourpermission?"Ch'i-ch'iaowentonscrutinizingherandcalledout,"EldestSister-in-law,comeandtakealook.SisterWinhasreallygrownmuchthinner.Coulditbethattheyoungladyhassomethingonhermind?"WithmarkedannoyanceYun-tseslapped.Ch'i-ch'iao'shandtogetitoffherperson."You'vereallygonecrazytoday.Asifyou'renotenoughofanuisanceordinarily."Ch'i-ch'iaotuckedherhandsinhersleeves."Whatatempertheyoungladyhas,"shesaid,smiling.Tai-chenputherheadout,saying,"SisterYun,OldMistressisup."Eachofthemstraightenedherblousehastily,smoothedherhairinfrontofherears,liftedthecurtaintogointothenextroom,curtsied,andwaitedonOldMistressatbreakfast.Theoldwomenholdingtrayswentinthroughthelivingroom;thetowaitintheouterroom.Itwasquietinside,scarcelyanybodysayinganything;theonlysoundwastherustleofthethinsilverchainaquiveratthetopofapairofsilverchopsticks.OldMistressbelievedinBuddhaandmadeitaruletowor-shipfortwohoursafterbreakfast.Comingoutwiththeothers,Yun-tsemanagedtoaskTai-chenwithoutbeingoverheard,"Isn'tSecond.Sister-in-lawinahurrytogoforhersmoke?Whyisshestillhangingaroundinside?"Tai-chensaid,"Isupposeshehasafewwordstosayinprivate."Yun-tsecouldnothelplaughiug."AsifOldMistresswouldlistentoanythingshehadtosay!"Tai-chenlaughedcynically."Thatyoucan'ttell.Oldpeoplearealwayschangingtheirminds.Whenit'sdinnedintoyourearsalldaylong,it'sjustpossibleyou'llbelieveonesentenceoutoften."AsLan-hsiensatcrackingwalnuts,Tai-chenandYun-tsewenttotheveranda,thoughnotpurposelytoeavesdropontheconversationinthemainchamber.OldMistress,beingofad-vancedage,wasalittledeaf,sohervoicewasespeciallyloud.Intentionallyornot,thepeopleontheveraudaheardmuchofthetalk.Yun-tseturnedwhitewithanger;shefirstheldherfiststight,thenflickedherhandsforciblyandrantowardtheotherendoftheveranda.Afteracoupleofrunningstepsshestoodstillandbentforwardwithherfaceinherhands,sobbing.Tai-chenhurrieduptoholdher."Sister,don'tbelikethis!Stopitquick.It'snotworthyourwhiletoheedthelikesofher.Whotakesherwordsseriously?"Yun-tsestruggledfreeandranstraighttoherownroom.Tai-chencamebacktothelivingroomandclappedherhandsonce."Thedamageisdone."Lan-hsienhastenedtoask,"Whathappened?""YourSecondSister-in-lawwasjusttellingOldMistress,'Agrowngirlwon'tkeep,'andOldMistressistowritetotheP'engstocomeforthebridequick.Look,whatkindoftalkisthis?"Lan-hsien,alsostunned,said,"Wouldn'titbeslappingone'sownface,forthegirl'sfamilytosayathinglikethis?""TheChiangswillonlylosefacetemporarily,butnotSisterYün.Howaretheytorespectherovertherewhenshegetsmar-ried?Shestillhasherlifetolive.""OldMistressisunderstanding,she'snotlikelytosharethatperson'sviews.""OfcourseOldMistressdidn'tlikeitatfirst,sayingadaughterofourhousewouldneverhavesuchideas.Soshesaid,Yo!youdon'tknowthegirlsnowadays.Howcantheycomparewiththegirlswhenyouwereagirl?Timeshavechanged,andpeoplealsochange,otherwisewhyistheretroubleallovertheworld?'Youknow,oldpeopleliketohearthissortofthing.OldMistressisnotsosureanymore."Lan-hsiensighed,saying,"Howonearthdidshehavethegalltomakeupsuchstories?"Tai-chenrestedbothelbowsonthetableandstrokedaneye-browwithalittlefinger.Afteramomentofreflectionshesnickered,"Shethinksshe'sbeingspeciallythoughtfultowardSisterYun!Sparemeherthoughtfulness."Lan-hsiengrabbedholdofher."Listen—thatcan'tbeSisterYun?"Thereseemedtobeloudweepinginabackroomandtherattleofbrassbedpostsbeingkickedandahubbubofvoicestryingtosootheandreasontonoavail.Tai-chenstoodup."I'llgoandsee.Thisyoungladymaybegood-tempered,butshecanfightbackifcornered."Tai-chenwasgonewhenThirdMasterChiangcameinyawning.Arobustyouth,tendingtowardplumpness,ChiangChi-tsesporteddownhisneckabigshinythree-strandpigtaillooselyplaited.Hehadtheclassicdomedforeheadandsquar-ishlowerface,chubbybrightredcheeks,glisteningdarkeye-brows,andmoistblackeyeswheresomeimpatiencealwaysshowedthrough.Overanarrow-sleevedgownofbamboo-rootgreenheworealittlesleevelessjacketthecolorofsesame-dotted,purplish-brownsoypaste,buttonedacrosswithpearlsfromshouldertoshoulder.HeaskedLan-hsien,"Who'stalkingawaytoOldMistressinsidethere?""SecondSister-in-law."Chi-tsepressedhislipstightandshookhishead."You'vehadenoughofher,too?"Lan-hsiensaid,smiling.Chi-tsesaidnothing,justpulledachairover,pusheditsbackagainstthetable,threwthehemofhisgownuphighandsatdownastridethechair,hischinonthechairback,andpickedupandateonepieceofwalnutafteranother.Lan-hsiengavehimalookfromthecornersofhereyes."Peoplepeelingthemthewholemorning,wasitallforyoursake?"JustthenCh'i-ch'iaoliftedthecurtainandcameout.TheminuteshesawChi-tsesheinvoluntarilycircledovertothebackofLan-hsien'schair,putbothhandsaroundLan-hsien'sneckandbentherheaddown,sayingwithasmirk,"Whataravishingbride!ThirdBrother,youhaven'tthankedmeyet.IfIhadn'thurriedthemtogetthisdoneforyouearly,youmighthavehadtowaiteightortenyearsforthewartobeover.You'dhavediedofimpatience."Lan-hsien'sgreatestregretwasthatherweddinghadhap-penedinaperiodofnationalemergencyandlackedpompandstyle.Assoonassheheardthesejarringwords,hernarrowlittlefacefelltoitsfulllengthlikeascroll.Chi-tseglancedatherandsaid,smiling,"SecondSister-in-law,agoodheartdoesnotgetrewards,asofold.Nobodyfeelsobligedtoyou.""That'sallrightwithme,I'musedtoit,"saidCh'i-ch'iao,"EversinceIsteppedinsidetheChianghouse,justnursingyourSecondBrotheralltheseyears,watchingoverthesickbeddayandnight,justforthataloneyou'dthinkI'vedonesomegoodandnothingwrong,butwho'severgratefultome?Whoeverdidmehalfagoodturn?"Chi-tsesaid,smiling,"You'refullofgrievancestheminuteyouopenyourmouth."Withalong-drawn-outgroanshekeptfingeringthegoldtriad'andkeychainbuttonedonLan-hsien'slapel.Afteralongpauseshesuddenlysaid,"Atleastyouhaven'tfooledaroundoutsideforamonthorso.Thankstothebride,shemadeyoustayhome.Anybodyelsecouldbegyouonbentkneesandyouwouldn't.""Isthatso?Sister-in-lawneveraskedme,howdoyouknowIwon't?"hesaid,smiling,andsignaledLan-hsienwithhiseyes.Ch'i-ch'iaodoubleduplaughing."Whydon'tyoudosome-thingabouthim,ThirdSister?Thelittlemonkey,Isawhimgrowup,andnowhe'sjokingatmyexpense!"Whiletalkingandlaughingshefeltbothered;herrestlesshandssqueezedandkneadedLan-hsien,beatingandknockinglightlywithafistasifshewishedtosquashheroutofshape.NomatterhowpatientLan-hsienwas,shecouldnothelpget-tingannoyed.Withhertemperrising,sheappliedmorestrength.thansheshouldusingthenutcracker,andbrokethetwo-inchfingernailcleanoffatthequick."Yo!"Ch'i-ch'iaocried."Quick,getscissorsandtrimit.Ire-membertherewasapairoflittlescissorsinthisroom.LittleShuang!"shecalledout."Liu-hsi!Come,somebody!"Lan-hsienrose."Nevermind,SecondSister-in-law,I'llgoandcutitinmyroom."Shewent.Ch'i-ch'iaosatdowninLan-hsien'schair.Leaninghercheekonherhandandliftinghereyebrows,shegazedsidewaysatChi-tse."Issheangrywithme?""Whyshouldshebe?"hesaid,smiling."Iwasjustgoingtoaskthat.CouldIhavesaidanythingwrong?What'swrongwithkeepingyouathome?She'dratherhaveyougoout?"Hesaid,smiling,"ThewholefamilyfromEldestBrotherandEldestSister-in-lawdown,allwanttodisciplineme,justforfearthatI'llspendthemoneyinthegeneralaccounts.""ByBuddha,Ican'tvouchfortheothersbutIdon'tthinklikethat.Evenifyougetintodebtandmortgagehousesandsellland,ifIsomuchasfrownI'mnotyourSecondSister-in-law.Aren'twetheclosestkin?Ijustwantyoutotakecareofyourhealth."Hecouldnotsuppressatitter."Whyareyousoworriedaboutmyhealth?"Hervoicetrembled."Healthisthemostimportantthingforanybody.LookatyourSecondBrother,thewayhegets,ishestillaperson?Canyoustilltreathimasone?"Chi-tselookedserious."SecondBrotherisnotlikeme,hewasbornlikethis.It'snotthatheruinedhishealth.He'sapiti-fulman,it'suptoSecondSister-in-lawtotakecareofhim."Ch'i-ch'iaostoodupstiffly,holdingontothetablewithbothhands,hereyelidsdownandthelowerhalfofherfacequiveringasifsheheldscaldinghotmeltedcandlewaxinhermouth.Sheforcedouttwosentencesinasmallhighvoice,"GositnexttoyourSecondBrother.GositnexttoyourSecondBrother."ShetriedtositbesideChi-tseandonlygotontoacornerofhischairandputherhandonhisleg."Haveyoutouchedhisflesh?It'ssoftandbeavy,feelslikeyourfeetwhentheygetnumb..."Chi-tsehadchangedcolortoo.Stillhegaveafrivolouslittlelaughandbentdowntopinchherfoot,"Let'sseeiftheyarenumb.""Heavens,you'venevertouchedhim,youdon'tknowhowgooditisnottobesick...howgood..."Shesliddownfromthechairandsquattedonthefloor,weepinginaudiblywithherfacepillowedonhersleeve;thediamondonherhairpinflashedasitjerkedbackandforth.Againstthediamond'sflameshonethesolidknotofpinksilkthreadbindingalittlebunchofhairattheheartofthebun.Herbackconvulsedasitsanklowerandlower.Sheseemedtobenotsomuchweepingasvomiting,churningandpumpingoutherbowels.Alittlestunnedatfirst,Chi-tsegotup."I'mgoing,ifthat'sallrightwithyou.Ifyou'renotafraidofbeingseen,Iam.HavetosavesomefaceforSecondBrother."Holdingontothechairtogetup,shesaid,sobbing,"I'llleave."Shepulledoutahandkerchieffromhersleevetodabatherfaceandsuddenlysmiledslightly."You'resoprotectiveofyourSecondBrother."Chi-tselaughed."IfIdon'tprotecthim,whowill?"Ch'i-ch'iaosaid,walkingtowardthedoor,"You'reagoodonetotalk.Don'ttrytoactthehy