Chapter 10 Chapter 10: The Moon Sets in the West

That night, Donnie Yen crossed the river, and he was out of danger.Hire a sliding pole, go back to the countryside, talk to Li Nanquan under the moon, and tell this story.Li Nanquan said with a smile: "Mr. Zhen has endured the hardships of the past few days. Now that you are back, let's take a good rest for two days." For the first time, for four days and four nights, I neither washed my face nor rinsed my mouth." Li Nanquan laughed and said, "Did Mr. Zhen bring a toothbrush?"I can ask for this. So I went to the house, came out with a basin of water, put a glass cup of boiling water in it, put them all on the stepping stone, and said with a smile: "My face towel is clean, and there is no trachoma in anyone else." When he said this, Donnie Yen was embarrassed to say that he would not wash his face. He washed his face on the ground and rinsed his mouth with water. Then he raised his head, sighed a long time, and said with a smile: "Happy, happy, happy." My face is at least two catties lighter. Li Nanquan laughed and said, "So, you can just have fun." So he poured another cup of warm tea and handed it to Donnie Yen. He laughed and said, "I just realized what it means to be light-hearted without an official."If I hadn't been working as a little secretary, I would still live in the country, but I wouldn't be frightened these days. "At this moment, someone suddenly answered from the other side of the mountain stream: "Mr. Li, do you have any guests from the city?" Li Nanquan said: "It's not a guest, it's Mr. Zhen, our neighbor."Ms. Yang came here to inquire about news? " Following these words, Miss Yang Yanhua knocked a wooden stick on the Banqiao and smiled, asking: "Is there a dog?Are there any snakes?Look a little for me, teacher. "Yen Ziming saw a slender woman walking under the moonlight, and felt a little strange. How could Mr. Li have such a dissolute female student? When she came to him, Li Nanquan introduced him: "This is You Cheng. Mr. Zhen who came back inside.Miss Yang, if you want to know something, just ask.Zhun Baozhen knows everything. "

Yen Ziming, an old man, is always polite when people come to ask questions, so he nodded and said: "Miss, we people in the city also live in caves. If you are not responsible for protection, who would dare?" Walking on the street? From what we heard, the whole city of Chongqing is bombed everywhere. I came back from Linsen Road, and as far as I saw with my own eyes, this street was almost completely burnt and bombed.” Yang Yanhua He said: "I didn't ask so much. I don't know how many theaters in the city were blown up?" Mr. Zhen was very surprised when he heard her question, and asked, "Which theaters is Miss Yang thinking about?" Restaurant?" Li Nanquan interjected and said with a smile, "Let me explain that. Mr. Zhen doesn't know something, and Ms. Yang is a pedestrian in Liyuan. She is thinking about her future, and she is also thinking about her colleagues." Zhen Ziming first " Oh" uttered.Then he said with a smile: "I'm sorry, I don't know very well. However, several bustling streets in the city were completely destroyed. The theaters are all on the bustling streets, and I'm afraid they were all bombed too. Ms. Yang evacuated a long time ago Are you here from the countryside? It would be much better to have your teacher here to take care of you.” Li Nanquan smiled and said, “Mr. He is very kind." After listening to his explanation, Mr. Zhen knew his intentions, so he didn't need to ask any more questions, because he said, "Miss Yang, please sit down. Do you have any questions for me?" At this moment, The siren released a long beep, and Yang Yanhua said: "Teacher, I'll go pick up the teacher, mother and junior brother with you." She still took the wooden stick, knocked on the bridge, and walked over.The bridge plank is in the form of a horizontal grid, I don't care, the mouth of the stick is inserted into the horizontal space of the bridge plank grid, the stick does not move when the person walks, but trips her leg, the person falls forward and falls on the bridge .There was a sound of "booming" on the bridge.Under the moon, Li Nanquan saw that she had fallen, and immediately ran over, bending over to help her up.

Yang Yanhua laughed and said "Ouch".The person stood up, bent over, and rubbed his hands against his knees.Li Nanquan said: "Have you scratched the skin? I have some red potion at home. I'll put some on it for you." Yang Yanhua laughed, her voice trembling, she shook her head and said, "Oh! It's not broken, it's okay." He took Mr. Li's hand.He said, "Sit here with me for a while. I'm going to pick up the children." Then he helped her across the bridge and walked down the porch.At this time, Mrs. Li cried out on the sidewalk across the mountain stream.She said: "It's been lifted a long time ago, why didn't you light the lamp at home?" Yang Yanhua called out: "Ms. Madam, you just came back? I said to pick you up, but I fell on your bridge. The teacher is talking with you." I'm taking care of it." After a while, Mrs. Li came back with the children complaining all the way.She said: "You children are really annoying. After hiding from the alarm for a day, you still don't go home properly. Just go home and beat you up." Li Nanquan heard that the tone was not good, and immediately crossed the bridge Go forward.Seeing his wife holding Xiao Ling'er, she reached out to take it.She twisted her body and said: "We are all home, what do you want to pick up?" Li Nanquan couldn't say anything, so he had to quietly follow behind, all the way back to the corridor.Yang Yanhua bent over and opened the bottom of her gown, still looking at the scar on her thigh.Then he took over Xiao Ling'er to hold her, stroked her little boy's hair, and said, "little sister, are you hungry? I'll get you something to eat. Teacher, what do you want to eat, I can do it." You can find it on the street." Mrs. Li touched the matchbox, wiped one, and went into the house with the light on, and replied, "Miss Yang, you should rest too, aren't you tired?" Yang Yanhua hugged her. Looking at Xiao Ling'er, she walked into the room and said with a smile: "I didn't hide in a hole tonight." Li Nanquan asked outside the window: "Then, did you come out at home?"

Yang Yanhua said quickly: "I prepared a seat in a small cave in front of my house. In fact, I was setting up a dragon gate array with a few neighbors in the courtyard dam. It's late at night, I think I should be fine, so I came here to see my wife." Li The wife said with a smile: "That's not a dare. When you are hiding from the alarm, you still need to think about me." Yang Yanhua said: "I have one more thing, I asked the teacher, the teacher said that after getting to know the secretary Meng , is that true?" Mrs. Li lit up the vegetable oil lamp, patted Miss Yang on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Please sit down. Ling'er, come down, don't let Aunt Yang hold her. She is so delicate, it is difficult to hold her. Don't move you." Xiao Ling'er slipped to the ground, pulled Yang Yanhua's clothes and said, "Aunt Yang is very strong, I saw her fighting on the stage. When I grow up, I will fight like Aunt Yang." She said He stroked Xiao Ling'er's childish hair, and said with a smile: "Don't say that before it's too early, your father will beat you if you say it again. Aunt Yang on the stage can't learn it. No, even Aunt Yang off the stage You can’t learn it. You will go to university tomorrow, and after graduation, you will become a doctor.” Xiao Ling’er said: “Mom, what is a doctor?” Mrs. Li smiled and said: “A doctor? The one who will marry Aunt Yang in the future, right? ? Your Aunt Yang doesn’t want anything but uncle with a doctor’s degree.” Then she patted Yang Yanhua on the shoulder and said, “Do you think so? In this regard, you are a good boy, but you don’t want to be a high-ranking official. My wife." Yang Yanhua shook her head and said, "What does the doctor want us to do?" Mrs. Li said, "Ask your teacher, and he will be able to answer you. Chinese famous fighters all have such an outdated selfish thinking. A red sleeve adds fragrance. Anyone who can hum a few lines of old poems and write a few strokes wants to be like Bai Juyi to be a little man, and everyone wants to be Su Dongpo to have a morning cloud. In fact, the times are different, and it still doesn’t work.”

When Li Nanquan heard this remark, he felt quite bad.The wife directly shot an arrow at herself, and was trying to find an appropriate answer when Yang Yanhua quickly answered in the room, and she said: "It is true that some people think like this, but Teacher Li is not like that. People. And with such a congenial teacher and wife who have shared adversity, she will not have that kind of outdated thinking. On the contrary, the secretary Meng mentioned by the teacher has the thinking of a beautiful person. Does the teacher really know him?" Li Nanquan walked into The room came and asked with a smile: "Do you know he is a talented man?" Yang Yanhua said: "The teacher said something about Secretary Meng at Lao Liu's house that night. I didn't pay attention at the time. I went home from the air-raid shelter this afternoon. Then Adjutant Liu I came to ask me specifically, what is the relationship between the teacher and Secretary Meng? I said that I have known Teacher Li not long ago, so how could I know the friend of the teacher? Old Liu told me the same thing. He said that if the teacher and Secretary Meng are friends If it was very thick, he asked the teacher to introduce him to Secretary Meng. He also said that Secretary Meng's piano, chess, calligraphy and painting are all good. He specially wrote articles for entertainment with Wanchang. After saying this, I remembered it. I met Secretary Meng. He even gave me a poem. The Secretary Meng that the teacher recognizes must be this person." Li Nanquan said: "How do you know it is this person?" Yang Yanhua heard this , refused to say, pursed his lips and smiled.Li Nanquan smiled and said: "Then you must have a new evidence." Yang Yanhua said: "He is a friend of Teacher Li. I am afraid that I will offend the teacher when I mention it. That evidence is ridiculous." Li Nanquan said: "Don't Hesitating, it makes me feel even more uncomfortable if you talk like this." Yang Yanhua didn't say anything, but first burst out laughing, and then said: "Fortunately, teacher and wife are not outsiders, so it doesn't matter if you say it. That person is short-sighted, right?" Li Nanquan said: "That's right. This is not a ridiculous thing." Yang Yanhua raised her head and thought for a while, then she smiled more and more.

When Mrs. Li saw it, she was also stunned, because she asked, "What's going on? Is there anything special about it?" Yang Yanhua suppressed a smile, nodded and said, "Indeed, this person is a bit strange. He's not short-sighted. Eyes? He used to wear glasses all the time. When he saw a woman, he took off the pair of glasses he was wearing, took out another pair of glasses in his arms, and put them on. I met him once at a banquet. , I didn’t pay much attention to his changing glasses at first. Because he put on the glasses he put on for a while, but still took them off. It seems that the glasses are not good for seeing up close. Then there is another woman, who is naturally an actress , he took out the glasses in his pocket and changed them again. This proved to me that he specially changed the glasses to watch the girls we sing. In fact, we are not afraid of people watching, and the more you like watching, the better. You If you don't like to watch it, we won't be able to eat this drama. But it's not good to use this attitude towards other women." Li Nanquan smiled and said: "You are right, our friend, There is such a problem. You don’t mind him reading it, of course he is happy, no wonder he wants to give you a poem. Was the poem written at the banquet? It must be very good. Do you remember?” Yang Yanhua said: “I know How many big characters? How can you understand poetry? But the last two lines of his poem don’t have a deep meaning, but I can recall that he said: ‘One piece of pipa with two lines of tears, the same people who go down the river in front of the bottle’.” Mrs. Li laughed Said: "Secretary Meng, I sympathize with you so much. What happened next?" Yang Yanhua said: "I saw it that time, but I never came here. If he really came here, I would like to see him." Him. Teacher, you always understand that for poor children like us, if such a person talks to us, we can save a lot of trouble in socializing." At this point, she lowered her voice and continued: "At least, his identity can overwhelm someone surnamed Liu, so I'm willing to lend him some credit." Li Nanquan nodded and said, "I understand, I have a solution for this."

The mention of Adjutant Liu aroused Mrs. Li's sense of justice.She said to Mr. Li: "By the way, Mr. Meng is here. You can have a few words with him. He takes acting as a career, and a large family relies on her for food. When he is officially acting, he can Don't confuse people." Li Nanquan said: "Then I will definitely do it. But the other day I told Lao Liu that Secretary Meng would come, that was just a casual remark, there is no such thing." Yang Yanhua said with a smile: " It doesn't matter what the teacher said casually, but that person surnamed Liu is stubborn, but he thinks it is absolutely true. He just stares at me to find out the truth. He wants me to write back to him tomorrow!" Li Nanquan raised his head. After thinking for a while, he said with a smile, "I have a way to let him come, Lao Meng." As he spoke, he shook his head twice, and smiled again: "It's not worth letting him come." Mrs. Li said, "What does this mean? "Li Nanquan said: "Lao Meng is a man, and the turban is the most angry. There is no comparison between the emperor who is not a minister, and the princes who are not friends. If he is not willing, you kowtow to him, and he will ignore it. But when there are women , as long as there is something to get involved with, he will definitely not recruit. I will write a letter to him now, saying that the people from Xiajiang you mentioned are evacuated to seek refuge in the countryside. If you can come, you are very welcome. Then I will definitely come." Mrs. Li said: "You are using a beauty trick." Yang Yanhua half-bowed to her, and said with a smile, "I dare not take what you say." Mrs. Li smiled and patted Patting her on the shoulder, he said, "Don't underestimate yourself. Ever since your leading troupe came here to sing, how many people have been turned upside down by you." Yang Yanhua smiled and said, "Master, you can't say such things to me, I'm a poor My child. I still have to rely on my wife and teacher to support me." She said this, took two steps closer, and stood next to Mrs. Li, leaning slightly on Mrs. Li's shoulders, pretending to be coquettish, Also twisted twice.

Although Mrs. Li knew that she was making a gesture, but her words were so weak that it was difficult for people to refuse her request.Just as he was about to say something to comfort her, a woman outside shouted loudly: "Yanhua, you are here, let us find it easier." Li Nanquan heard that voice, it was another actor, Hu Yuhua.When I went out to see it, there were three or four people standing on the bridge head and under the moon.Then he replied: "Miss Hu, she is here. What's the matter?" Hu Yuhua laughed and said, "Their family is going to publish a newspaper to search for her. Everyone from her family has come." Yang Yanhua quickly jumped out of the room She came out and shouted: "Mom, I'm here." Her mother, Mrs. Yang, staggered over on the wooden bridge, and when she reached the corridor, she took her daughter's hand and whispered: "I'm still here!" When the alarm was not lifted, Adjutant Liu walked back and forth several times in front of my house with two servants and a big flashlight. You left quietly again. How can I rest assured? We Four or five people have searched for several places." Yang Yanhua said: "You are trying to startle the snake. Mr. Li's family has escaped the alarm and has not rested yet. Let's not disturb others, let's go." After she finished speaking, first of all He walked ahead and took away the visitor.Only Hu Yuhua followed at the end. After crossing the bridge over the stream, she walked back quietly.Li Nanquan was still lost in thought under the eaves, thinking about Yang Yanhua's sudden arrival, what kind of mess they were having.Under the moonlight, I saw the shadow of a woman walking back, thinking that Ms. Yang had something to say, so she took two steps forward and said in a low voice, "If you have anything to discuss, it's best to do it in front of your teacher... ..." Before he finished speaking, he saw clearly that it was Hu Yuhua who came, so he held back.She knew that Mr. Li had misunderstood, so she didn't pursue it.He said with a smile, "I have a small matter to tell Mr. Li, it has nothing to do with Yanhua, so don't laugh if you tell me."

Mr. Li said: "Just tell me, if you have anything to ask me, as long as I can do it, I will do it." Hu Yuhua smiled and said: "Mr. Li has a fellow villager, Mr. Wang, who will come to see you tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Li Nanquan thought for a while, and said: "Wang is the most common surname. There should be quite a few Mr. Wang in the same village." Hu Yuhua said: "This is because I am speaking in a general way. This Wang Mr., in his twenties, with a rectangular face, sometimes wears a pair of flat glasses." Li Nanquan smiled and said, "It's still very ordinary, you'd better tell me what his name is, and when he comes to me, there will be What problem involves you." Hu Yuhua smiled and said: "I don't know his name, but when he wrote to me, he called himself Wang Xiaojin, and I think it's awkward to pronounce this name." Li Nanquan nodded and said: " Yes, I know such a person. Please tell me why you mentioned him to me?" Hu Yuhua giggled in her throat, and said with a smile: "It's nothing, but Mr. Wang's age It's too light, if he comes, it's best for Mr. Li to persuade him." Li Nanquan smiled and said, "You're talking, I really don't know what to do. You want me to persuade him, what kind of thing do you want to persuade him? " Hu Yuhua pondered for a while, and said with a smile: "You can persuade him to work hard and not waste money." Li Nanquan said: "Does he have a deep friendship with Miss Hu? You care about him so much. Hu Yuhua debated again and again: "No, no, I have no friendship with him at all. Do you think, if I have a friendship, don't I know his name?" Li Nanquan scratched his head and said: "It's strange You have no friendship with him, and you care about him so much. Miss, what do you mean, just tell me." Hu Yuhua said: "There is no need to say more, just tell him that I asked Mr. Li to persuade him .Young people should try to make progress. Girls who sing opera are different. Some of them have a sense of justice. I'm just a professional woman, and I can't talk about anything else. He will understand when he says it this way."

Li Nanquan understood the hesitant words in this article, and said with a smile: "My lady, this matter is very simple, why do you go through such detours to talk about it. What you mean is to tell Mr. Wang not to come here in the future." Hold the horn, right?" Hu Yuhua said: "Yes, let me just say it frankly, if we want someone to hold the horn now, we must look for the businessman who made the country rich, or someone in the ranks of important people. Like this The two-month salary of a small civil servant is not enough to make us an outfit. The person who is playing the role really fits that sentence, and it is thankless." Li Nanquan said: "Okay, I completely understand. Not only In this way, I can also tell him about your wonderful performance at Lao Liu’s house, so that he can have a new understanding of you.” Hu Yuhua said: “You can say whatever you want, anyway, if I let him spend less money, it’s always Good intentions. Excuse me, see you tomorrow." Saying that, she walked by herself.Standing under the eaves, Li Nanquan was a little lost in thought, thinking to himself, does a female actress ever persuade others not to sing a role?The problem is probably not that simple.He stood there in a daze, but a symposium was going on at Mr. Zhen's house next door.Mr. Zhen talked about the air raids in the city in the past few days.The neighbors, Mrs. Xi, Mrs. Shi, and Mr. Wu Chunpu were all sitting on bamboo chairs outside the door and listening.Mr. Zhen sighed with a smile and said, "I'm very satisfied if I escape with my life." Mrs. Shi said: "The alarm has been going on for days and nights, it's really annoying. I was thinking of crossing the river to Go to Qingmuguan. You can’t take a long-distance bus with an alarm like this.” Mr. Zhen sat on a bamboo recliner with half of a cigarette in his mouth, and was about to recover some of his past fatigue in this enjoyment. He smiled and said, "That's where the Ministry of Education is located." Mrs. Shi said, "Mr. Zhen, do you believe that I want to become a principal?"

Wu Chunpu said with a smile: "Going to Qingmuguan is not to go to the Ministry of Education, at least it is to visit friends who work in the Ministry of Education. The temperature is around 100 degrees amidst the sound of sirens. Who would go so far for a summer vacation trip?" Mrs. Shi laughed. "You can't guess. I'm just going on a summer trip." Mrs. Xi answered, "We don't have to be too self-effacing. If we run a middle school, it won't be bad. Just be a' Carrots match flowers' and nothing can't fill it." Donnie Yen has been studying in missionary schools since he was a child.His English can be said to be from a professional background.Hearing Mrs. Xi's words, which were supposed to be in English, he said, "'Carrots match flowers'? This, this, this..." He took a cigarette in his mouth, took a puff and puffed it, and looked up at her.Mrs. Xi smiled at Wu Chunpu: "University professor, what do you study in English?" Mr. Wu stood beside the pillar in the corridor with a banana fan in his hand, bent over, and fanned the mosquitoes beside his legs, and said with a smile: "I used to I studied German, and after graduation, I didn’t let me bring it, so I returned it to my husband.” Standing at the door of his house, Li Nanquan said from a distance: “I remember this word, isn’t it pronounced professor? Mrs. Xi The pronunciation of the pronunciation is completely correct, but the pronunciation of the pronunciation is slightly reversed. For example, "professor of the university", although it is pronounced as "professor of teaching", anyway..." Before he finished speaking, Mrs. Li had already run out and pulled him. Li Nanquan said with a smile: "This guy is really exaggerating." Mrs. Li said: "Take advantage of the moon rising tonight." Night, rest for a while. The sky is full of stars, and the alarm may not be lifted tomorrow, go to sleep." Li Nanquan ignored his wife's words, lit a cigarette, sat on the bamboo chair, tilted his head, and just Listening to Mr. Zhen's conversation, those who listened to the story dispersed separately, and Mrs. Shi was the last to leave.Yen Ziming said a word of admiration, because these two wives are brave and enthusiastic. After hearing this criticism, Li Nanquan thought to himself: What is Mrs. Shi doing bravely?She is very good at calculating, so she has no time to act bravely with others.Just thinking about it, I heard someone shouting and cursing loudly on the sidewalk on the other side of the stream.That was Mrs. Shi's voice, and she said: "There is an alarm every day, there is no problem with eating and dressing, and you still have to talk about enjoyment. I am more than 30 years older, and I have never smoked a cigarette, and I have not lost a cigarette." What’s the big deal? On such a beautiful moon, you still come out in a cage to find cigarettes? Candles don’t cost money?” Then Professor Shi Zhengshan said: “I also get two achievements, and I brought a lantern with me. I'll pick you up and finish smoking these few packs of cigarettes, and I'll quit cigarettes." The voice of the voice went further and further away, and then it couldn't be heard anymore.Li Nanquan went out of the house to take a look, and saw a yellow lantern shaking in the shadow of trees in front of the path, the quarreling sound continued.He also thought in his heart that this should be a strong irony of righteousness.But thinking about tomorrow morning, when the alarm will come, and before the alarm, some friends need to be interviewed, so let's rest and go to bed early.I made up my mind, and when the fish-white color appeared on the paper window, I got up immediately, rinsed myself with some cold water, took a walking stick, and went out immediately.At this time, the sun had not yet risen, and on the top of the eastern mountain, there were only a few golden clouds floating. The bamboo forest on the bank of the stream was blown by the cool morning wind, and the leaves swayed, making some rustling noises.After the rustling sound passed, dozens of small birds chirped on the bamboo branches.The cool air infiltrated the body, and felt that the pores were a little shrunk.This is a relief that is not available in the tense situation of many days, and I feel a little happy in my heart. In this happy situation, he took his cane and walked slowly, and met Mrs. Shi head-on on the mountain road.She nodded and said with a smile: "Mr. Li, you are early." Li Nanquan said: "Mrs. Shi should be earlier than me. I walked out of the door after getting out of bed." As she spoke, she looked around her. He had already put on a floral linen gown without the slightest wrinkle, his hair was combed smoothly, and there was a thin double-ring braid on the back of his head, and there was no stray hair in that braid.Although there is no rouge powder on the face, it has been washed very white.She already knew the purpose of people's inspection of her face, so she smiled and said: "I have always learned from your celebrity school, and I don't know what makeup is. Today I am going on a short trip, so I have to change clothes." Li Nanquan said: "Are you going to Qingmu Pass? Chongqing is not an easy pass. Even if you don't encounter an alarm in the city, you can't avoid it on the way. It is not easy for a countryman to find an air-raid shelter in the city." Mrs. Shi smiled and said, "No one will be negligent when it comes to the safety of their own lives. I have already found another route to cross the river, avoiding Chongqing, and completely go to the countryside. It doesn't matter, for the sake of my friends, I have to go." Li Nanquan asked: "Is your friend sick?" Mrs. Shi stood on the road and smiled at him, because she said: "Mr. Li may not approve of this matter. A wife from my hometown suffers from it." Her husband’s oppression has caused problems in her life. Her husband is living with a bad woman. Our girlfriends are fighting against this wife and we must solve this problem.” Li Nanquan laughed and said: “This is naturally what should be done in the feminist movement. There are things." Mrs. Shi smiled and said: "Of course, you have to advocate justice." After finishing speaking, she walked away with her head held high.Seeing her complacency, Li Nanquan was quite an act of courage.But in the case of fatigue bombing, is she worth such a long journey?In terms of curiosity, a researchable thing happened. He went down the mountain and had a quick look at the two friends. The sun had risen several feet above the mountain, and the alarm followed.Fuquan thought about taking care of the children at home, so he hurried home, and met Shi Zhengshan again on the way.He was very calm, stopped on the road and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, isn't the enemy tired and bombing? We can rest and wait for work, the plane is not coming, we will work as usual, and he will do nothing to me." Li Nanquan shook his head and said: " No, my wife can't be compared with your wife, she's much less timid." When Mrs. Shi was mentioned, Mr. Shi seemed very excited, and smiled at him: "She has too strong a personality, and I can't help it. Just now you met Is she talking about going to Qingmu Pass?" Li Nanquan said: "Why don't you stop her, it is very dangerous to go down after the bombing. She told me that it was because of a sex case at a friend's house. Is now the time to do this kind of thing?" Shi Zhengshan said: "She is really unnecessary. During the period of the war of resistance, both men and women are somewhat psychotic. If it is harmless and there is a sexual case, the wife can just ask." As he spoke, he raised his eyebrows, smiled, and asked, "What do you think, brother?" At this point, the siren blared out an emergency siren that pierced the eardrums, and Li Nanquan turned around and wanted to leave again. .Shi Zhengshan stretched his hand horizontally, blocked the way, and said with a smile: "I'm not busy, I don't hide at all. When my wife asked Mr. Zhen for news last night, what did she say?" Comparing people's words, I feel that there are quite a lot of articles in it. Considering Mrs. Shi's temper, it is better not to have too many things.Then he laughed and said: "Mr. Zhen's house was full of guests last night, I couldn't squeeze in to talk. I have to go home and have a look, then we can talk." He ignored Mr. Shi's obstruction, and rushed past him.But when we got home, the door of the house was locked, and the whole family left.He stood and hesitated for a while, but when he looked up, he saw Mrs. Xi standing in the corridor of her house, waving in mid-air with her right hand raised, and nodded, "Come, come, come!" Then he laughed and said, "Mrs. Xi, I admire your courage, in such a tired situation, don't you plan to hide?" Mrs. Xi supported the pillar in the corridor with one hand, and raised the other hand to beckon, nodded and smiled: "Anyway, you still come to my place to talk. Isn't there a ready-made small hole behind your house? In case of enemy planes approaching, we can take shelter in that hole. Come on, I have something to talk to you Let's talk." Although Li Nanquan hated this lady very much, he couldn't refuse her invitation.Looking up at the sky, there has been a change. The scales of clouds are covered in a layer, and the sun and the blue sky cannot be seen.I stood and pondered for a while.Mrs. Xi smiled and nodded her head, "Come on, it doesn't matter, I'll insure you." Li Nanquan walked to the pillar at the corner of his porch and looked across the open space between the two houses.Mrs. Xi also came over accommodatingly, stood on the corner of her porch and said with a smile: "Mr. Li, I told you a good material for writing a script. How can you thank me?" Mr. Li smiled, but did not reply.She didn't have time to wait for a reply, and said again: "There was a bureau chief who went whoring women outside. His wife knew about it and ignored him, but used an excellent method to subdue him. She said that men and women are equal, men You can go whoring, and of course women can also go whoring, guess how she proceeds in this principle?" Li Nanquan shook his head with a smile. Mrs. Xi didn't care what Li Nanquan thought, and then smiled: "This method is very effective. She told the director that if you go out whoring, I will go out whoring too. If you don't come back for three days, I will also go out." You won’t come back for three days. You won’t come back for seven days, and I won’t come back for seven days. How could the director take this to heart. He still stayed out for the night. The lady was too late that day. On the second night, she went out. In the best hotel, I opened the best room, and said to the waiter, find me a hairdresser. I will give it to you regardless of the salary. Just find the youngest and most beautiful Of course the waiter didn't understand what she meant, so he just found the most skilled barber in a high-end barber shop. When she met her, she was a barber in her forties, and she cursed loudly, "I told you to find a barber." Young and beautiful, why did you find such an old one? This one doesn’t work, so find another one. If you don’t believe me, come to me and get a sum of money first. She said she could do it, so she gave the waiter a pile of banknotes. The waiter also I saw something was going on, and I found a little barber under the age of 20 for her. The lady nodded and smiled, and said yes. I left the little barber to cut hair in the bathroom. From morning to night, she did not let him go, she did everything, and she continued on the next day. Seeing that his wife did not go home all day and night, the bureau chief searched everywhere in Hankou City, and found him in the hotel. He brought his wife back I don’t dare to go whoring anymore.” Li Nanquan couldn’t help shaking his head when he heard this, and said in a low voice, “It’s unreasonable.” Mrs. Xi laughed and said, “Why is it unreasonable? Are you talking about this lady or this Director?" Li Nanquan said: "The two are a pair of bastards. The thing you said happened in Hankou, so it must have happened before the war. Otherwise, it would be a disgrace to the capital of the war." Mrs. Xi laughed and said: "How could it be the embarrassment of the war capital? Do you think that such things will not happen in Chongqing? I often tell this story to Xi Jingping. After hearing this story, I expect him to be cold." The second half." Li Nanquan originally wanted to say that the wife of the bureau chief was obscene, but Mrs. Xi showed an attitude of doing her part, which made it difficult for him to say anything, so he glanced at her quickly.Mrs. Xi said: "What do you think? Isn't this style bad? In terms of equality between men and women, this is beyond reproach." Li Nanquan smiled and nodded twice.Mrs. Xi said: "The script material I'm talking about is not this, it's an introduction. I'm talking about our girlfriend. One of our friends, Mrs. Liu, also married her husband in free love. In the early days of the Anti-Japanese War, Mr. Liu came to Chongqing with the agency. Mrs. Liu took her three children with her through untold hardships, from Jiangxi to Hunan and then to Sichuan through Guangxi and Guizhou, and continued to endure hardships with Mr. Liu. Mr. Liu fell ill, and Mrs. Liu went to middle school to teach He took on the responsibility of supporting his family. He asked for help everywhere, and raised money to send Mr. Liu to the hospital for treatment. Unexpectedly, Mr. Liu avenged his kindness and fell in love with a female nurse in the hospital. After leaving the hospital, he took the The female nurse fled to Lanzhou. This Mrs. Liu didn't care about it. She took three children and left Chongqing! To teach in Kunming, she used a trick, changed her name and surname, and told her relatives that she was returning to the enemy-occupied area. Mr. Liu got the news, believed it was true, and returned to Chongqing, and he also changed his name and surname, and became a hoarder to make a fortune. Mrs. Liu entrusted some of our confidantes and girlfriends to be her detectives..." Li Nanquan smiled and said: "Needless to say, I know everything. This girlfriend includes Mrs. Shi and Mrs. Xi, so she found out the news and reported it to Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu returned to Chongqing. Now I am tired here. Under the bombing, give that Mr. Liu another blow!" Mrs. Xi immediately stopped her and said, "How can you give him a blow? Isn't this what should be done?" Li Nanquan said with a smile: "Yes, maybe the friendship has arrived When it is extremely deep, it is possible to live and die together. I'm sorry, I want to..." Mrs. Xi raised her hand high and made two more moves without waiting for him to turn around.At the same time, he stamped his feet and said, "Don't go, don't go, I have something important to tell you." He saw that she was in a hurry, so he had to stop again.She smiled and said: "Why are you so timid, don't I have a life? Everyone in the village went to hide from the alarm. It was very quiet. We just set up a dragon gate array." Li Nanquan said: "No, as soon as I see When the plane was approaching, I panicked, and I had to go to the back of the mountain while there was no sound of planes in the sky." Mrs. Xi leaned against the pillar of the corridor, hanging a bare foot in a slipper, trembling了一阵，笑道：“你这个人说你名士派很重，可又头巾气很重；说你头巾气很重，可是你好像又有几分革命性。”李南泉道：“对了，我就是这样矛盾地生活着。你借了今天无人的机会，批评我一下吗？” 奚太太望了他，欠着嘴角，微微地笑了，因道：“也许是吧？你是个为人师表的人，我怎能在大庭广众之下批评你的错误？”李南泉离开了那走廊的柱子，面向了奚公馆的廊子站着，而且是垂直了两只袖子，深深地一鞠躬，笑道：“谨领教。”说毕，扭了身就走，他这回是再不受她的拘束了。总算他走得见机，只走出了向一方的村口，飞机马达声，已轰轰而至。抬头看那天空，鱼鳞片的云彩，已一扫而空，半天里现出了毫无遮盖的蔚蓝色。抬头向有声音的东北角天空看去，一大群麻雀似的小黑影子，向西南飞来，那个方向，虽然还是正对了重庆市，可是为慎重起见，还是躲避的好。于是提快了步伐，顺着石板铺的小路就跑。正在这时，山脚草丛里伸出半截人身来，向他连连地招了几下手。他认得这人是同村子吴旅长。他是个东北荣誉军人，上海之役，腿部受了重伤，现在是退役家居了。这是个可钦佩的人，向来就对他表示好感。他既招手，自不能不迎将过去。吴旅长穿了身黑色的旧短衣，坐在一个深五六尺的干沟底上。他还是招着手，叫道：“快跳下来罢！快跳下来罢！”李南泉因为他是个军人，对于空袭的经验，当然比老百姓丰富，也不再加考虑，就向沟里一跳。这是一个微弯的所在，成了个桌面的圆坑。他跳下来，吴旅长立刻伸手将他搀住，让他在对面坐下，笑道：“这里相当安全，我们摆摆龙门阵罢。这些行为，都是人生可纪念的事。” 两个人说着话，以为地位很安全，也就没有理会到空袭。忽然一阵马达声逼近，抬头看时，有五架敌机，由西向东，隔了西面一列山峰，对着头上飞来。李南泉道：“这一小股敌机，对于我们所在地，路线是如此准确，我们留神点。”吴旅长也没答话，将头伸出沟沿，目不斜视，对了敌机望着。飞机越近，他的头是越昂起来。直到脸子要仰起来了，他笑道：“不要紧，飞机已过了掷弹线了。由高空向下投弹，是斜的，不是垂直的。”李先生本也有这点常识，经军人这一解释，更觉无事。他也就伸出头来望着。看那飞机，五架列着前二后三，已快到头顶上，忽然嘘嘘嘘一阵怪叫，一声“不好”两个字，还不曾喊出，早看到两个长圆形的大黑点，在飞机尾巴上下坠，跟着飞机的速率，斜向地面落来。不用猜，那是炸弹。李南泉赶快将身子向下一缩，吴旅长已偏着身体，卧到沟的西壁脚下。这是避弹的绝好地点，被人家占据了，只好卧到沟的东壁下去。在敞地里看到炸弹落下来，这还是第一次。人伏在地上，却不免心里扑扑乱跳。接着听到轰轰两下巨响，炸弹已经落地。但炸弹虽已落地，可是这沟的前边，并没有什么震动，料想弹着点还相距有些路。静静地躺着，不敢移动。约莫是三四分钟，那半空的马达声，已渐渐地消失。吴旅长首先一个挺起腰杆子来向四周看了看，摇摇头，又笑道：“李兄，请坐起来罢。没事了。”李南泉站起来看时，一阵浓密的白雾，由西边山顶上涌将过来。 在这白雾中，夹着很浓厚的硫磺味，一阵阵地向鼻子袭来。顷刻之间，面前四山夹着的一个小谷，完全让白色弥漫了。吴旅长伸手和他握着，摇撼了几下，笑道：“我们这也是置之死地而后生，可算是患难之交了。”李南泉道：“这里有了炸弹的烟焰，是老大的目标。第二批敌机再来，可能给我们这里再补上一弹。若是扔到山这边，那就不会这样舒服了。”吴旅长笑道：“那没有什么不可能。我们走罢。”于是他跛着一条腿，慢慢地顺着石板路走。李南泉当然是跟了军人走，也就离开了这里。约莫走了两里路，忽然一阵马蹄声，“得得”地迎面而来。蹄声响得非常猛烈，像是有骑兵队冲锋似的冲来。他心想，莫非是有敌人的伞兵落下，我们的骑兵，特意冲来解围，这算赶上一阵热闹了。路边上有一块大石头，且把身子向石头后面一闪，探看来人是何形势。还不到三分钟，先有两匹高头大马由山口上冲出来。马上骑着两个壮汉，头戴盔式夏帽，上穿灰绸衬衫，下套草绿色斜纹布短裤衩，并不是军人。这两人后面，又来了四匹马。骑马的人，是三男一女。那三个男子和头里两上男子装束一样，年岁也差不多。那个女子，可就特别，上穿一件蓝色长袖短衣，翻着领子，外飘一根大红领带。下面穿着白帆布裤子，套着两只长筒黑马靴。披了满头长发，约束着一根花带子。一只盆大的软式草帽子，将绳子挂在颈脖子后面。手里拿了根皮马鞭，兜了个缰绳，兜着马昂起脖子直跑。 李南泉没想到是这么一队人物，那倒是多此一躲了。于是缓缓由石头后面走了出来。但凭他的经验，知道这个疏建区，除了鼎鼎大名的方二小姐，并无别个。这位小姐，比一个军阀还凶，以避开她为妙。于是回身向山脚上的深草小径上走着，脸也不对那石板人行路看。可是这位小姐倒偏要惹他，却坐在马背上将皮鞭子一指，叫道：“吠！那个穿灰布长衫的人，我问你话，不要走。”李南泉站定了脚，向她呆望着，没有作声。心里想着，这丫头好生无礼，怎么这样说话？可是看她前呼后拥地有五个壮汉陪伴着，料着不能和她对抗，也就没说什么。那女子将皮鞭子再向路前一指，因道：“那里一堆白烟，是不是被炸了？”李南泉道：“是炸了。”女子道：“炸的地方是街上是乡下？”李南泉道：“炸弹落的地方，和我躲警报的地方，隔了一排山，看不清楚。”那女子道：“这等于没有问一样，阿木林。”原来这女子虽说的普通话，却带了很浓重的上海音。到了最后一句，她索性说出上海话来了。李南泉心想，她那般无礼问话，我一点不生气，她倒当面骂人，那就忍不住气了，便道：“你这位女士，怎么开口就骂人？我好意答话，还有什么不对吗？我不是公务员，我也不吃银行饭，大概你还管不着我呢。”那女子喝道：“你过来！”说着，将皮鞭子举着，在空中晃了两晃。李南泉道：“过来怎么着，倚恃你们人多，还敢打我不成？”这形势是很僵的了，在女人后面的一个壮汉，将马赶了两步，和她的马并排地站着，偏过头去，轻轻说了两句话。 那方二小姐，听了那壮汉的报告，脸上骄傲的颜色，略微减少了几分，这就回转脸来，再对李南泉看了一看。将马鞭子指了他道：“你认得我？”李南泉摇摇头道：“我不认得你。不过我从你这行动上，我猜得出你是方家二小姐。我们读书的人，不侵犯哪个，也不愿人家对我们加以污辱。”那二小姐昂起头来哈哈大笑，将马鞭子在手上摇晃着道：“侮辱，哈哈，侮辱又怎么样？演讲骂我，在报上写文章骂我？谅你们也不敢！走！不要和这种穷酸说话。”说着，她两腿一夹马腹，兜动缰绳首先一马冲走了。这其间有个壮汉单独留后，其余的四个男人都跟着走了。这个留后的男子，由马鞍上跳下来，跑到李南泉面前，点了头道：“李先生，你不要介意，我们二小姐就是这种小孩子脾气。”这个人就是刚才在马背上和二小姐说话的人，倒有点面熟。李南泉笑道：“不介意？介意又能够怎么样，人家有钱有势，身上还带了手枪吧？我若不识相一点，炸弹不炸死，手枪会把我打死。不过要打死了我，决不会像二小姐的汽车撞死一个小贩子那样简单。当然我犯不上去碰人家的手枪，可是我料着她也不能对我胡乱开枪。重庆总还是战时首都所在地，不能那样没有国法。”那人听了这话，脸色也不免紧张了一阵，先冷笑了一声。然后笑道：“李先生，我完全是好意。你对我大概还没有什么认识，不信，你问问刘副官，我是到处和人家了事的。二小姐真要办什么事，她是没有什么顾忌的。大概你也有所闻吧？” 在这说话的期间，由口音里，李南泉认出这个人来了，是那天在刘副官家里碰胡玉花钉子的黄副官，便笑道：“哦！黄副官，不必刘副官，我也有相当认识的。我知道二小姐不好惹，但我不怕她。我不是汉奸，我也不是反动分子，无法把什么罪名加到我头上。可是人家若以为我好惹，就在大路上拦着我加以辱骂，我没法子报复，至少我可以不接受。二小姐不是说不怕演讲，不怕登报吗！对不起，我算唯一的武器就是这一点。这回我吃了亏，受着突袭，来不及回击。若是再要给我难堪，我就用二小姐不怕的那武器抵抗一阵。我就是那样说了，你老兄是不是转告二小姐，那就听你的便了。”说着，他抱着拳头，拱了两拱手，再说声再见，径自走了。黄副官站在路边倒发了呆。李南泉是越想越生气，也不去顾虑会发生什么后果，走了一段路，遇到一棵大树，就在树荫下石头上乘凉，也不再找躲飞机的地方了。坐了约莫是半小时，有一个背着箩筐的壮汉，撑了把纸伞挨身而过。走了几步，他又回转身来望了李南泉道：“你不是李先生？”他答道：“是的，你认得我？”那人道：“我是宋工程师的管事。给他们送饭到洞子里去。李先生何以一个人坐在这里，到我们那洞子里去，和唐先生一块儿拉拉胡琴唱唱戏不好吗？”李南泉道：“听你说话，是北方人。贵处在哪里？”他昂着头叹了口气道：“唉，远了，我是黑龙江人。”李南泉道：“黑龙江人会到四川这山缝子里来？你大概是军人吧？” 那人笑道：“不是军人，怎么会到四川来？”李南泉道：“那末，老兄是抗战军人了。”他被人家这样称呼了一声，很觉得荣耀，这就放下了雨伞和箩筐，站在李南泉面前，笑道：“说起来惭愧，我还是上尉呢。汀泗桥那一仗，没有阵亡，就算捡了便宜，还有什么话说？”李南泉道：“你老兄是退役了，还是……”那人道：“我们这样老远地由关外走到扬子江流域来，还不是为了想抗战到底？可是我们的长官都闲下来了。我这么一个小小的军官，有什么办法？再说，衣服可以不穿，饭是要吃的。我放下了枪杆，哪里找饭吃去呢？没法子，给人当一个听差罢。还算这位宋工程师给我们抗战军人一点面子，没有叫我听差，叫我当管事。要都像宋工程师这样，流亡就流亡罢，凑合着还可以活下去。若是像刚才过去的方二小姐，骑着高头大马冲了过来，几乎没有把我踏死。当时我在窄窄的石板路上，向地下一倒，所幸我还有点内行，赶快在地上一滚，滚到田沟里去。我知道二小姐的威风，还敢跟她计较什么。自己爬了起来，捡起地下的箩筐，也就打算走开了。你猜怎么着？跟着她的那几位副官，倒嫌我躲得不快，大家全停住了马，有的乱骂，有的向我吐唾沫，我什么也不敢回答，背起箩筐就走了。他们也不想想，要是没有我们这般丘八在前方抵住日本人的路，他们还想骑高头大马吗？可是谁敢和他们说这一套。敢说，也没有机会给他们说。” 李南泉笑道：“你也碰了二小姐的钉子了。老兄我们同病相怜，你是方家副官骂了，我是二小姐亲自骂了。将来我们死后发讣闻，可以带上一笔，曾于某年某月某日，被方二小姐马踏一次。老兄，这年头儿有什么办法，对有钱有势力的人，我们只好让他一着了。今天算了，明天若是再有警报，我一定到你们那洞子里去消磨一天。这年头儿，也只有看破一点，过一天是一天，躲防空洞的人，等着你的接济呢，你把粮食给宋工程师送去罢。改日我们约个机会再谈。我欢迎你到我茅庐里畅谈一次。”说着，伸出手来和他握了一握。那人受了这份礼貌，非常的高兴，笑道：“李先生，你还不知道我姓甚名谁吧？”这么一问，倒让李南泉透着有点难为情，这就很尴尬地笑道：“常在村子里遇着，倒是很熟。”那人道：“我叫赵兴国。原先是人家叫赵连长，赵副营长。不干军队了，人家叫赵兴国，近来，人家叫老赵了。李先生就叫老赵罢。千万别告诉人，我当过副营长，再见罢。”说着，他背起箩筐走了。李南泉一人坐着发了一阵呆，觉得半小时内，先后遇到方二小姐和赵兴国，这是一个绝好的对照。情绪上特别受到一种刺激，反是对于空袭减少精神上的威胁。静坐了两三小时，也不见有飞机从头上过，看看太阳，已经有些偏西，这就不管是否解除了警报，冒着危险，就向村子里走回家去。 那条像懒蛇一样的石板人行路，还是平静地躺在山脚下。人在路上走着，什么声音都没有听到。李南泉拿了手杖，戳着石板，一步一步地低头走着，这让他继续有些新奇发现，便是这石板上，不断地散铺着美丽的小纸片。他联想到敌机当年在半空里撒传单，摇动人心，这应该又是一种新花样，故意用红绿好看的花纸撒下来，引起地面上人的注意。他这样想着，就弯腰下去，把那小纸片捡起一张来看。见纸薄薄的，作阴绿色，只有一二寸见方。正中横列了一行英文，乃是巧克力糖，香港皇家糖果公司制。将纸片送到鼻子尖上去嗅嗅，有一阵浓厚的香气。这原来是包巧克力糖的纸衣，不要说是这山缝里，就是重庆市区，大糖果店，也找不着这真正的西洋巧克力糖。谁这样大方，沿路撒着这东西，他想着走着，沿路又捡起了两张纸片看看。其中一片，还有个半月形的红印，这是女人口上的胭脂了。这就不用再费思索，可以想到是方二小姐在马背上吃着糖果过去的。他拿了纸片在手上，不免摇摇头。这条人行路是要经过自己家门口的，直到门外隔溪的人行路上，那糖衣纸还继续发现，他又不免弯腰捡了一张。正当他拿起来的时候，却听到溪岸那边，咯咯地发了一阵笑声。回头看去，又是那奚太太，手叉了走廊的柱子，对了这里望着。还不曾开口呢，她笑道：“李先生，你这回可让我捉住了，你是个假道学呀？哈哈！” 李南泉笑道：“我怎么会是假道学呢？青天白日地在路上行走，并没有做什么坏事呀。”奚太太笑着向他招招手，点了头道：“你下坡来，我同你说。”他实在也要回家去弄点吃喝，这就将带着的钥匙，打开了屋门，在大瓦壶里，找了点冷开水，先倒着喝了两碗。正想打第二个主意找吃的，却听到走廊上一阵踢踏踢踏的拖鞋响声。明知道是奚太太来了，却故意不理会，随手在桌上拿起一张旧报纸，两手捧了，靠在椅子上看着，报纸张开，正挡了上半身。奚太太步进屋子来笑道：“今天受惊了吗？”李南泉只好放下报站将起来。见她左手端了个碟子，里面有四五条咸萝卜，右手托了半个咸鸭蛋。在这上面还表示她的卫生习惯。在蛋的横截面上，盖了张小纸，便笑道：“这是送我假道学的吗？”奚太太笑道：“谈不上送，你拿开水淘饭吃，少不了要吃咸的，这可以开开你的口味。”李南泉点了个头道：“谢谢。”双手将东西接过放在桌上，他把萝卜条看得更真切，还不如小拇指粗细，共是三条半。那半片鸭蛋，并不是平分秋色，如一叶之扁舟，送的是小半边。奚太太道：“你要不要热开水？我家瓶子里有。”李南泉笑道：“这已深蒙厚惠。”奚太太道：“不管是不是厚惠，反正物轻人情重。这是我吃午饭的那一份，我转让给你了。”说着，当门而立，又抬起那只光手臂撑住了门框。李南泉心想，我最怕看她这个姿态，真是让人啼笑皆非。他心里如此想着，口里也不觉将最后一句话说出来。 奚太太见李先生要对自己望着，又不敢对自己望着，便笑道：“你我都是中年人了，怕什么的，有什么话都可以说。”李南泉笑着摇头道：“不，奚太太还是青春少妇。”她一阵欢喜涌上了眉梢，将那镰刀型的眼睛，向主人瞟了一眼，笑道：“假如我是个青春少妇的话，我就不能这样大马关刀地单独和男子们谈话了。男子们居心都是可怕的。我记得当年在南京举行防空演习的时候，家里正来了客，我在客厅里陪着他谈话。忽然电灯熄了，这位客人大胆包天，竟是抓着我的手，kiss了我几下。他是奚先生的好友，我不便翻脸。我只有大叫女用人拿洋烛了。从那以后，吓得我几个月不敢见那人。若是现在，那我不客气，我得正式提出质问。”李南泉笑道：“你没告诉奚先生吗？”奚太太道：“我也不能那样傻瓜。告诉了他，除了他会和朋友翻脸而外，势必还要疑心到我身上来，那不是自找麻烦吗？”李南泉笑道：“你现在告诉了我，我就可以转告奚先生的。”奚太太举着两手，打个呵欠，伸了个懒腰，笑道：“这是过去多年的事了，他也许已知道了，告诉他也没有关系。不过我的秘密，你怎么会知道呢？这不是你自己找麻烦吗？”她说着话，由屋门口走到屋子里来。李南泉道：“我们不要很大意的，只管谈心，也当留心敌机是不是会猛可地来了。”说着，他走出了屋门，站在廊檐下，抬头向天空上张望一下。天上虽有几片白云，可是阳光很大，山川草木，在阳光下没有一点遮隐，因道：“天气这样好，今天下午还是很危险的。” 奚太太道：“李先生，你进来，我有话问你。”李南泉被她叫着，不能不走进来，因笑道：“还有什么比较严重的问题要质问我的吗？”他说着，坐在自己写字竹椅子上，面对了窗子外。逃警报的人，照例是须将门窗一齐关着的。他看了看，正待伸手去推开木板窗户。奚太太坐在旁边，笑道：“你还惦记着天空里的飞机呢。等你在窗户里看到，那就是逃跑也来不及了。我就只问你一句有趣的话，你要走，你只管走。”李南泉道：“你就问罢。我知无不言，言无不尽。”奚太太弯着镰刀眼睛角，先笑了一笑，然后问道：“你在路上捡那包糖果的纸，是不是犯了贾宝玉的毛病，要吃女人嘴上的胭脂？”李南泉不由得昂起头来哈哈大笑道：“妙哉问！你以为方二小姐吃了糖果纸，一定有胭脂印？我就无聊地去吃那胭脂印？那算什么意思？真难为你想得到。”说着又哈哈大笑。奚太太在旁边椅子上，两手环抱在胸前，架起腿来颤动着，只望了李南泉发呆。他笑道：“这问题的确有趣，不过我这种书呆子，还不会巧妙地这样去设想。我又得反问你一句了。你问我这个问题。是什么意思，要打算在我太太面前举发吗？”奚太太这倒有点难为情，将架了的腿颤动着道：“我不过是好奇心理罢了。我先在走廊上坐着，看到方二小姐在马鞍上吃着糖果过去，后来又看到你一路走来，一路在地上捡糖纸，我稀奇得很。我总不能说你是馋得捡糖纸吧？”李南泉低头想了一想，这也对。自己本也是好奇。在旁人看来，沿路捡糖纸，这是不可理解的事。 他这就笑起来道：“的确，这是一件有趣味的事。但这件有趣味的事，现在我不愿发表，将来可以作为一种文献的材料。”奚太太道：“这种人还要写上历史哪？”李南泉笑道：“你不要看轻了这种人，她几乎是和中华民国的国运有关的。明朝的天下，不就葬送在一个乳妈手上吗？方二小姐的身份，不比乳妈高明得多吗？”奚太太道：“哦！我晓得。那乳妈是张献忠的母亲。”李南泉笑道：“奚太太看过廿四史吗？”她笑道： “廿四史？我看过廿八史。”李南泉想不笑已不可能，只有张开口哈哈大笑。她走来之后'接连碰着李先生两次哈哈大笑，便是用那唾面自干的办法来接受着，也觉这话不好向下说。站起来伸了半个懒腰，瞟了他一眼道：“你今天有点装疯，我不和你向下谈了。你也应该进午餐了。”说着，她走向了房门口。身子已经出门了，手挽了门框，却又反着回转身来，向李先生一笑，说声“回头见”，方才走了。李南泉心想，这位太太今天两次约着谈话，必有所为。尤其是这三条半萝卜干，小半片咸鸭蛋，是作邻居以来第一次的恩惠，绝不能无故。坐着想了一想，还是感到了肚子饿，在厨房里找了些冷饭，淘着冷开水吃了。为了避开奚太太的纠缠，正打算出门，山溪那岸的人行路上，却有人大声叫着李先生，正是心里还不能忘却的方府家将——刘副官，便走到廊檐下向对面点了个头。刘副官道：“今天大可不躲，敌机袭成都，都由重庆北方飞过去了。你一个人在家？”他很自在地站在路上说闲话。 李南泉道：“多谢多谢，不是你通知一声，我又要出去躲警报了。下坡来坐坐如何？”这本是他一句应酬话，并没有真心请他来坐，可是刘副官倒并不谦逊，随着话就下来了。走到屋子里，他笑着代开了窗户，摇摇头道：“没关系，今天敌机不会来袭重庆，我们的情报，并不会错的。放心在家里摆龙门阵罢。”说着，他在身上掏出一盒烟卷，倒反而来敬着主人。李南泉道：“真是抱歉之至。”他正想说客来了，反是要客敬烟。可是刘副官插嘴道：“没有什么关系。二小姐就是这个脾气，她自小娇养惯了，没有碰过什么钉子。她以为天下的人，都像我们一样是小公务员，随便地说人，人家都得受着。我想李先生也没有什么不知道的。”说着，就在旁边椅子上坐下。李南泉见他误会了道歉的意思，脸子先就沉下来了，一摇头道：“不，这事我不放在心上，不平的事情多了，何止我个人碰着一个大钉子，希望你不要提这件事了。老兄，我是说我没有好烟敬客，深为抱歉。不过我得多问一句，这件事你怎么知道的？”刘副官道：“老黄回去，他告诉了我，我倒觉得这事太不妥当。李先生住在这里，完长都知道的。完长是个为国爱才的人。”李南泉不等他说完，哈哈大笑。因道：“老兄，我今天哈哈大笑好几次。你这话让我受宠若惊。”刘副官坐着吸了两口烟，沉默了三四分钟，然后喷出一口烟来，笑道：“这事可不要写信告诉新闻记者。重庆正在闹几天几夜的疲劳轰炸，闹这些闲事，也没什么意思。” 李南泉笑道：“刘兄，我知道你的来意，你不来这一趟，也许我会写一段材料，供给各报社。可是你来了，我就不敢写这材料了。因为你们已经疑心到我头上，不是我供给的材料，也是我供给的材料。我还在这里住家呢，我敢得罪二小姐吗？二小姐一生气，兴许骑着一匹怒马冲到我这茅屋里来。好汉不吃眼前亏，我会这样干吗？”刘副官笑道：“我心里要说的话，全都让你说了，我还说什么。”说着，伸出手来，和主人握了一握，笑道：“诸事均请原谅。”李南泉笑道：“可是我有一个声明，我只保险我遇到的事，报上不会披露。至于以后还有什么事情发生，报上再登出来，我可不负责任。”刘副官本已走出走廊了，听到了这个话尾巴，又走了回来，笑道：“诸事都请关照。自然方二小姐不怕报上攻击她，可是我们这些当副官的，一定要受完长指摘。换一句话说，还和我们的饭碗有关。”说着，他却装出滑稽的样子，举手行了个军礼。站着迟疑了一会子，微笑道：“我还有一句话想问。你说的那位孟秘书和杨艳华也认识吗？”李南泉道：“岂但是认识，她是孟秘书的得意门生。我原来也是不知道，是前两天老孟写了一封信来，让我关照关照她。我一个穷书生，有什么力量关照她呢。我正想给他回信，说是有一班副官捧她，请孟秘书放心。”刘副官“哦”了一声，立刻走了回来，两手乱摇着道：“来不得！来不得！我们和小杨是朋友罢了，说不上捧。” 李南泉笑道：“其实是不要紧，自己的徒弟，还不愿意人家把她捧得红起来吗？就以我而论，杨艳华也是叫我做老师的，我就愿意有人把她捧得红起来。假如你老兄……