Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

Zhang Yufeng, a natural guest, was very surprised when he saw these actions.Because of this he walked very slowly and fell behind by a large distance.When Mrs. Xi was talking and laughing with Li Nanquan, he simply stood still and stopped coming.Mrs. Li saw him standing on the corner of Yuan's house, she smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang, why did you come to us all the way and leave without sitting down? Come in quickly, I'm just finishing boiling water... ..." Li Nanquan said with a smile: "Make my good tea. Come on, I still have a broken couch here, you can lie down and talk in my small room." Zhang Yufeng still walked over slowly, seeing All the men and women, smiling all the time, couldn't help but look at themselves.But I believed that there was nothing ridiculous, so I walked to Li's house calmly.Mrs. Xi also took a look around Zhang Yufeng, seeing that he looked like a rough man, there was nothing to observe and study, so she just stood in the corridor and never came in.But when she looked down and saw her bright clothes, standing still in the corridor, she buried herself too much.Therefore, I stood lost in thought for a while, pulled my clothes, and walked to the sidewalk at the foot of the opposite mountain.Mr. Zhang saw the girl in red from a long distance, so he started to pay attention.Even when he got close to her, there were some shallow wrinkles on the inside of the rouge powder, and he was a little shocked. Why did such an older person still dress up like a young girl?And looking at her situation, she is really familiar with the Lis and his wife, so I don't know what they mean by smiling at each other.I held back the smile, straightened my face, and walked towards their home.At this time, he sat down and looked at the woman in red who was walking through the window.Li Nanquan smiled and said: "What are you looking at? Let people see and see, this is one of the three things we have here! If you saw her today, it was a worthwhile trip."

Zhang Yufeng smiled and said: "This is one of the three uniques, and there are two other uniques. I don't know what kind of person they are? Is it a man or a woman?" Li Nanquan said: "Of course they are all women. If it is a man, we cannot give him such an emblem , we're going to call him..." At this point, he lowered his voice, walked two steps closer, and smiled at him: "In our place, there are three unique traits for women, and four evil traits for males." I've already learned the lesson, and it probably looks like this, but I don't know what kind of situation the four murderers are?" Li Nanquan smiled and said: "The four murderers, you have seen it too." Zhang Yufeng touched his cheek and said: "I also Have you seen it? This is wronged. I came to your place, and I didn’t see anyone except your virtuous couple. How do you say that, I saw the four murderers?” Li Nanquan pointed his nose and smiled Said: "Why are you asking this? Anyway, I am not one of the four murderers." Mrs. Li said: "These are all irrelevant matters, not worthy of debate." So she walked up to Mr. Li and said a few words softly.Li Nanquan spoke Sichuan dialect and said "I want it!" So he quickly went to the inner room, took some banknotes in his hand, came out, took Zhang Yufeng's hand and said: "Brother Zhang, listen to me and come with me Go down the mountain. If you have anything to discuss with me, I can tell you in detail and calmly when you get down the mountain." Zhang Yufeng nodded and smiled, "Although I don't have the wisdom of a teacher, I can understand the elegance by listening to the stringed songs." Li Nanquan laughed out loud, dragged his hand and left.As soon as the two of them arrived in the corridor, that virtuous neighbor, Mr. Yuan Siwei, came forward again, and said with a smile, "You can know the elegant meaning by hearing the stringed songs. How can you hear the riddles?" Li Nanquan said, "That's us. Talking about theatrical matters." As he spoke, he deliberately made a face at him, nodded repeatedly, and walked past him.That Mr. Yuan seemed to know what the article contained, and smiled at Mr. Li.Seeing this, Zhang Yufeng remembered that there seemed to be some subtlety in this question, and he doubted it but refused to let it go.

Li Nanquan saw that he always had a smile on his face, because he said: "You must have many things that you don't understand, and I'm afraid that it's inconvenient to ask, so I'll tell you the truth. In order to gather a large number of evacuated people from the lower river, all people are catered to." The consumables for Xiajiang people's stomachs followed. Xiajiang store, Xiajiang small restaurant, Peking opera troupe, there are all here. There are several Kunjiao in this Beijing opera troupe, who run to the small pier of the Yangtze River. In the city, it may not be surprising, if it is played in this place, it will be Yu Shuyan and Mei Lanfang. There is a Kunling named Yang Yanhua, who can read a few words. Compliment her a little, and say that she is striving for the top. I I don't know when and when, she called me teacher, and often visited my teacher's wife at my house. It's really a very common behavior for girls who run around the pier. But my wife doesn't care much about this matter. Don't worry. However, she is quite conflicted in her heart. Whenever Ms. Yang comes to visit her, she can't get rid of her sympathy. She is still very polite to Ms. Yang, even as affectionate as a sister. This brings me and Ms. Yang closer It’s inappropriate, and it’s not inappropriate to distance yourself from Ms. Yang.” Zhang Yufeng nodded with a smile and said, “I agree with this. Whenever my wife has a girlfriend, I feel great difficulty. I am the host, so I cannot help being attentive. If it's ladies, that's fine. If you are ladies, if you entertain them attentively, Madam can wait for guests to ask you what your intentions are." Li Nanquan shook his head and said: "You and I are not talking about the same thing. It doesn’t matter whether I entertain a female guest once or not? I’m talking about ordinary visits. This Miss Yang will pass by my window almost once a day, and when she passes by, she will always call Mr. Li or Teacher from afar. There is nothing wrong with his aboveboard actions. But..." He shook his head twice as he spoke.Stop talking.Because Mrs. Xiajiang, my wife's good friend, came in front of me.

Of course Mrs. Xiajiang heard what he said.When she came to the side, she stood still, stared blankly at Li Nanquan and smiled.Mr. Li nodded to her and said: "The weather is not too hot today." Mrs. Xia Jiang said with a smile: "That's right. Those who play cards can play cards, and those who listen to operas can listen to operas. What's the play tonight?" Li Nanquan smiled and said, "I haven't inquired about it yet. But if listening to operas becomes a routine, then it's not a show." Then Mrs. Xia Jiang smiled, nodded to him, and said nothing.Li Nanquan said "see you later" and led Zhang Yufeng away.He walked along and asked in a low voice: "Brother, your problem is quite serious. How can you control the neighbors and know that you are flattering?" Li Nanquan said: "It's just that everyone takes this Just kidding, it shows that I have no secrets at all." Zhang Yufeng said: "No matter what, this Miss Yang must be very beautiful, otherwise, I wouldn't make my brother so willing to take such a big shame." Li Nanquan laughed : "I can introduce you to meet her. Anyway, my wife will think about it." Saying this, Mr. Zhang was even more interested.The two walked to the street and entered a small restaurant in Xiajiang.As soon as Li Nanquan sat down, the waiter came over and asked with a smile: "Mr. Li still treats?" Zhang Yufeng said: "Oh! They are all acquaintances. He still wants to invite a guest. If you can guess that he still treats you Whichever one you want to invite, it will be considered that you really treat him as a familiar customer." The waiter put his hand on the edge of the table, looked at Li Nanquan and smiled.Li Nanquan said: "Go to Ms. Yang's house. You said that a Mr. Zhang came from the city. He is a good friend of mine. He wants to meet Ms. Yang. Just ask her to come." Considered, smiled and went.Zhang Yufeng shook his head and said with a smile: "In this case, there are clues that people can think about."

Zhang Yufeng was quite interested in this appointment, so he waited quietly with a smile on his face.The seat they picked was a latecomer in the restaurant.A railing outside is arranged along the banks of the mountains and rivers.On the river bank, some flowers and trees were also planted sporadically.The wind in the valley, blowing along the river, makes people feel cool all over.The waiter brought tea, he filled a cup of tea, held it in his hand, turned his body first, looked at the row of green hills in the opposite street market, he felt quite open-minded, and he was in a trance.Suddenly, someone behind him asked in a very rough voice: "Why are the tables outside still selling seats?" When I looked back, I saw a young man wearing a striped silk shirt and white serge shorts.The distribution on the head is combed oily.Although the long round face is still very young on the skin, but in the look and eyes, there is a bit of murderous look.Behind him were two middle-aged men, both in suits with shorts and shorts, but each had a pistol holster hanging on their belts.The man behind him also had a wolfhound on his hand.Zhang Yufeng, who works in the bank, knows all the big and small authorities in the financial world.Immediately he stood up, nodded deeply and said with a smile: "Master, come to the countryside to rest today? Please sit here, let's get out of the way." Said: "Who are you? I don't recognize you." Zhang Yufeng immediately took out a business card from his body, and handed it over respectfully with both hands. Throw it on the table next to it.He smiled lightly and said: "Manager Zhang, you don't want to lose your position, do you have time to come to the countryside?" Zhang Yufeng said: "I have something to discuss. Please sit here, sir. Let's get out of the way." He moved the teapot and teacups to the table in the hall.

Li Nanquan was very dissatisfied when he saw his style of work.He was also quite familiar with the "uncle" Zhang Yufeng called.After this investigation, it became clear.This is Fang Wanchang's eldest young master, Fang Nengkai.Like Miss Fang, he is proud, arrogant, extravagant and stingy, smart and stupid.It is said that the extravagant will not be stingy.Smart is not stupid.But luxury is for one's own enjoyment, and stinginess is for treating others.Smartness lies in their wealth. Although they are young, they can still make money.The stupid thing is that he planted a lot of hatred with his father because of his wealth and power.But on the whole, it is still ignorance.In an instant, his face changed several times.When Zhang Yufeng moved the teacup and teapot to the table in the back, Li Nanquan still sat on the table and did not move away.Fang Nengkai put his hands on his hips, then turned his eyes and stared at Li Nanquan.His usual actions are the same, as long as he expresses a little joy or anger on his face, the people he follows will immediately act on his behalf.This is the allusion to boss around.They are masters and servants, and they can work in harmony.But this time it was a bit unusual, when Young Master Fang was in such a trance, the two strong followers behind him didn't move much.He turned around and looked at them, and saw that their eyes and expressions flickered a little, which seemed to mean that Li Nanquan could not be coaxed away.Standing by the side, Zhang Yufeng immediately held Li Nanquan's hand forward and said, "Don't we still have guests? It would be better to sit here." This sentence reminded Li Nanquan up.For a lady like Yang Yanhua to be placed in front of Young Master Fang, it would be a very dangerous thing to put a lamb by the tiger's mouth.Not only did he have to move the table, but even eating in this restaurant was inappropriate, so he stood up and left.

Li Nanquan was pulled by him to sit on the table in the back, simply turned his back outward, and did not look at Fang Nengkai.Zhang Yufeng seemed a little restless, standing at the corner of the table, stretched his legs across the bench, and never sat down.Li Nanquan smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, my plan has changed a bit. I plan to invite you to another place for dinner." Zhang Yufeng first looked at the tables outside.Seeing that his original seat was occupied by two attendants of Young Master Fang, Young Master Fang occupied a table by himself.On the other hand, the wolfhound that followed didn't have any fear, it went straight to the table, put its two front legs on the chair, stretched its dog's head onto the table, and sniffed at the table with the tip of its nose. .Young Master Fang grinningly called the dog's foreign name, and stroked its head with his hand.Mr. Zhang expected that he would get the seat near the river, and he would have the upper hand, so there would be no more trouble, so he smiled at Li Nanquan, "Why change places? Which restaurant should I eat at? It must be you, Li Nanquan." Mister spends money. What's more, you invited another guest, and we walked away, wouldn't they come to make a fuss?" Li Nanquan stood up with his hand on the edge of the table, shook his head and said: "That doesn't matter, In this rural field, my face is a familiar signboard. Then just say hello to the counter in front, and visitors will find us, let’s go.” He said, and he walked in front first.Zhang Yufeng didn't want to sit with Young Master Fang at first, so he got up and followed.It happened that the young master Fang saw it, and he wanted to do more of this, so he rushed forward, grabbed Zhang Yufeng's hand, and said: "My surname is Zhang, where are you going? Is it because I'm sitting here?" , are you going to hide? That won’t work, that would be a great insult to me.” Zhang Yufeng turned his head and saw that there was a three-point smile on his face and three-point anger on his face, but he couldn’t figure out what he meant. Say, "How dare you dare!"

This time, Zhang Yufeng was in trouble.Admitting is to let him go, there is no such reason.If you don't admit to let him go, then you have to sit down, and what is the purpose of this movement?So he said with a smile: "Master, it's too serious. I came here from the city today to bother my friends. I will go wherever my friends invite me." Fang Nengkai nodded and said, "Then I understand, it's you My friends should avoid me. To be honest, I don’t need to eat or drink here. I’m going to the country, just try a little folk flavor. It’s okay, your friends don’t invite you, I invite you, you disturb my meal, How is it?" Zhang Yufeng smiled and said, "Thank you very much, I don't dare to take it." Fang Nengkai stared, the white eyes were more than the black eyes, and his neck was raised slightly, and he sneered: "Is it true that my surname is Fang? Is it not enough to be your friend?" When he said this, his face was very ugly.Zhang Yufeng laughed and said, "Serious words, serious words!" Fang Nengkai said: "You have to prove that you regard me as Mr. Fang Da. If I invite you to dinner, you should accept it. To be honest, no one dares to shirk when I invite someone to dinner. Hearing what he said, Zhang Yufeng felt as if someone had nailed a key in his heart, so he wanted to slap him in return.But he still had a smile on his face.He clasped his fists with both hands, arched it several times, and said with a smile: "Then I will accept it, but it's best not to spend too much." They dragged here, Li Nanquan walked into the living room in front, dodged behind the counter, Looking far behind.Seeing that Zhang Yufeng was left behind, he didn't dare not to stay, so he would have to save money for a dinner, so he quietly walked out. After walking a few steps, he saw Yang Yanhua wearing a light green dress. Wearing a long silk gown, waving a round-faced fan, she walked calmly, and she smiled when she was far away.

Her walking posture seems to be a little dramatic.She had originally fanned the round face and slowly swayed it in front of her chest.When he saw Mr. Li, he raised the fan to his side and tapped him three times.Li Nanquan was afraid that she would come straight over, so he ran up to her and stood still in front of her. He smiled and said, "I'm really sorry, I have a friend who wants to meet you, so I invite you to come. I don't think we just sat down, the Fang family That baby also came with two attendants. He refused to take those seats and asked us to give them to him. Although this is a trivial matter, what right does he have to teach us to give them to him? But my friend is a person in the banking industry, and he didn’t want to offend him. If I taught him to give up his seat, he would give up his seat. This was really deceiving, and I couldn’t sit still, so I walked out. Let’s change to a small restaurant.” Yang Yanhua He smiled at him and said: "Mr. Li's move is very clever. If this evil spirit is there, I will not dare to sit down when I go, and it will be inconvenient to walk away. I am eating alone, so I am not afraid of him, and he is not afraid of him." Like Fei Degong, he would rob people during the day. But I ate there with the man, and if he took advantage of the problem, he could do anything. That would make it difficult for me. Your dear friend, where is it now? ?” As she spoke, she turned her head and looked around for a while.Although Li Nanquan didn't understand what she meant, he followed her movement and looked around.At this time, a lady came out from an oil and salt shop by the roadside. She was Mrs. Li's good friend in Zhucheng, Mrs. Bai. Said: "Miss Yang is elegant and very chic." Yang Yanhua often came and went in the village, and she was familiar with her, but she didn't know who it was, so she smiled and nodded a few times without replying a word.Mr. Li smiled and said nothing.

Li Nanquan felt very keenly that something was wrong with this matter.Because I met my wife and two girlfriends one after another, they all had smiles on their faces, which was not normal.Especially right now, there is a big difference between talking with Yang Yanhua alone here and inviting Zhang Yufeng to a small restaurant at home.Immediately came up with an idea in my heart, and said to Mrs. Bai: "Go home, please bring a message to my wife. The friend I invited, things have changed a bit, I am temporarily staying at Sishichun Restaurant If my wife is willing to go down the mountain, please tell her and she will come right away." Mrs. Bai said: "It doesn't matter. I will send you a letter when I go back." Puns, and when you say it, put a smile on your face.She said Bi also left.Yang Yanhua said: "I don't know this lady very well. What's your surname?" Li Nanquan said with a smile: "You should know this person. She is the eldest sister of the wives in this village. Ordinary wives use husband The surnames are Lao Zhang and Lao Li. Because Lao Bai and Lao Bo have the same connotation, everyone just calls her Big Sister Bai. She is very capable and can run through any cooperative, and it is not difficult to buy a bus ticket on the road. Because of this, she can Do a small hoarding business, and live a very frugal life. She has a slogan called "Trinity." This "Trinity" means one stove, one dish, and one lamp." Yang Yanhua laughed: "This' Trinity doctrine', I don't quite understand." Li Nanquan said with a smile: "Let's talk slowly in the four seasons of spring. You young girls should learn from this old lady, it will be beneficial to life." So they went to the small restaurant, picked a pair of seats and sat down.In order to reserve seats with his wife and Zhang Yufeng, Mr. Li sat across the table from Ms. Yang.She was very eager to know about the "Trinity Principle", so she smiled and said, "Don't make a fuss, just tell me. I will have a family in the future, and I can follow other people's methods." Li Nanquan looked at her and said: " You are about to have a family? Congratulations!"

Seeing the mischievous smile on his face, Yang Yanhua said, "It's nothing unusual, everyone has a family. Tell me about the 'Trinity' first." Li Nanquan said, "I'll tell you , you can only refer to it. If you really follow this method of housekeeping, it will hurt the harmony of heaven and earth. Let me first talk about the "one-stove doctrine". This means that only one stove is burned every day. Breakfast Eat later and eat earlier for dinner, so change the three meals into two meals. For breakfast, of course, eat hot food. For dinner, eat cold rice with hot water." Yang Yanhua said: " This is not 'one-stove doctrine'. Isn't boiling water a one-stove fire?" Li Nanquan said: "Of course the boiling water is boiled in the morning. There are some earthen pots and jars in their house, which are filled with boiling water and put aside in the morning. , When it’s time to eat, everyone is soaking water in the rice bowl and drinking it slowly.” Yang Yanhua said: “Of course it’s okay in summer. In winter, what should we do?” Li Nanquan said: “Of course it’s still a meal Stove fire. It just consumes a little more charcoal fire. Her method is like this. When lighting the fire, put two knots of charcoal in the stove. Pile up some charcoal ashes on the corner of the room, put a few pieces of wood sticks in the stove Put charcoal on it and use hot fire to build it up, and the fire can last for a whole day. Not only will the boiled water in the morning not be cold when put on the fire, but you can also put the cold water in the earthen jar in the hot ashes Let it simmer, although the water is not drinkable, it is good to wash your face." Yang Yanhua nodded and smiled, "So, I have heard that there is a lady in your village who is good at living, boils a large tank of water, drinks it Two weeks. I thought it was a myth, and it really happened." Li Nanquan said: "There is such a thing, but it is another person. If you want to ask about this lady's story, I have it too." , he patted his stomach twice. Yang Yanhua said: "Leave my question aside for the time being. There is also 'one dish, one lamp doctrine', what is the explanation?" Li Nanquan said: "'One dish doctrine', there is no need to explain it, that is, eat only one dish for each meal, and It is still limited to one bowl. The "one lamp doctrine" is commendable. That is, at night, the whole family only lights one vegetable oil lamp."Yang Yanhua said: "This is impossible, no matter how simple it is, there are always two or three rooms in a family, including the kitchen, how can this light shine through?" Li Nanquan said: "The beauty is that Here it is. Although they have two or three vegetable oil lamps in their house, they don’t usually use them. They use a special saving lamp. The base of the lamp is a paper cigarette tube, nailed to the door frame. Eighty percent of the oil is added to the lamp. , put half a lamp grass." Yang Yanhua shook his head and laughed, "This is a bit of an exaggeration. Regardless of the length of the lamp grass, one foot is one, and two inches is one. How is this half a lamp grass counted?" Li Nanquan He said: "Of course there is a way to calculate it. If the length of the lamp grass is enough for the diameter of the lamp, it is one. If it is only enough for the radius of the lamp, it is half a lamp." Yang Yanhua smiled and said: "It is right. What about the future What about it?" Li Nanquan said: "In the future, it will be placed on the cigarette tube. Only when it is placed firmly on the cigarette tube, their house will light the lamp. The lamp is on the door frame, so it can naturally illuminate the two rooms inside and outside. In the house, the oil leaks from the lamps, and it also leaks in the cigarette tube. Tell me, can this be considered saving light? As for the kitchen, it’s not a problem. They don’t cook at night at all, and they don’t use lights. Look at this Madam. Will she live? But there is one thing that we onlookers can’t understand. She likes to play mahjong. And she rarely wins. How do I know that she rarely wins? After she wins money as usual , there must be a time to eat twice-cooked pork, and the whole family has a tooth festival. In the past two or three months, I haven't seen her eat twice-cooked pork. So I know she has never won." Yang Yanhua smiled and said: "You are being too sarcastic. It is common for people not to eat meat once in two or three months, but every time they eat meat, it must be twice-cooked meat, which is not necessarily true." Li Nanquan Said: "Miss, you are separated from the society by a small distance, and you don't know the real situation of the people. Eating twice-cooked pork is different from eating other meat. Twice-cooked pork is cooked in water. The meat is taken out of the pot and cut up." , as long as you put some ginger, onion, and bean paste, there are no accessories. The water for cooking meat can be used as soup, radish, and cabbage. ?" Yang Yanhua nodded with a smile and said, "Twice-cooked meat and tooth sacrifice, and these articles. Learn from it." As she spoke, she pressed her hands on the edge of the table and jerked her body a few times.This was obviously a mischievous look, Mr. Li looked at her, so he could only smile slightly.At this moment, Mrs. Xiajiang took a note in her left hand and a wine jug in her right, and went straight to the counter.When Li Nanquan saw it, he couldn't ignore it, so he got up and greeted him with a smile: "How about it? Sit down. I'll be a little Dong." Mrs. Xiajiang shook the note in her hand twice in the wind, He smiled and said: "I'm also treating guests at home. I'm here to order food. I welcome you and Ms. Yang to come and have a meal at my place too. Okay?" Yang Yanhua didn't know her well, so she only talked to Li Nanquan. She listened with a dazed face, but now that she formally proposed to invite guests, it was not good to ignore her, so she stood up and smiled at her and said, "Don't dare to do it, let's visit the mansion another day." Mrs. Xiajiang laughed and said, "We are following the favor , but if Ms. Yang is really willing to go, she will be radiant. Mr. Li, don't you think my words are too exaggerated?" She said, smiling at Li Nanquan.He had nothing to say, all he could do was nod to her and smile slightly. After explaining the treat, she negotiated the dishes with the shop owner on the counter with the note.Listening to her talking, she changed three dishes.Then, she will have more dishes.Li Nanquan was also thinking in his mind, what kind of festive event would Mrs. Xiajiang have at home, and would like to have such a big banquet.At this moment, Zhang Yufeng walked in with his fists arched at the door of the store, saying repeatedly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Li Nanquan walked forward, shook hands with him, and pulled him to the seat. Introduced to Yang Yanhua and said with a smile: "This is the Ms. Yang I am talking about. You don't need to watch her perform on stage. Look at her like this, isn't she just a good-looking talent?" Yang Yanhua smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang, please give me some advice Teacher Li, of course, must say that his students are good in front of his friends. If the students are not good, then don’t you also say that the teacher is not good?” Zhang Yufeng saw her stretching out two eyebrows, and two small dimples on her oval face Come on, this is very charming.There was only a little powder applied on her face, matched with the light clothes, and under the black hair, there were a few small butterflies woven from fresh jasmine flowers, which was really gorgeous with a bit of bookishness.Especially the small round fan in her hand, with small ink bamboos painted on it, every time she smiles, she holds up the fan to half cover her face, which is very interesting.Mr. Zhang sat down opposite her and nodded repeatedly: "As soon as I saw it, I knew that I was deeply influenced by Brother Li. Don't be afraid to offend Ms. Yang's words. I have seen people who sing old operas Ladies, there are northern models in the north, and southern models in the south. You look like this, and you are clearly a lady from a scholarly family for generations. This is the first time I have seen it." Li Nanquan took the chopsticks just brought by the staff, and put them on the table. He knocked down heavily and said with a smile, "Twenty-four points of criticism are appropriate." Of course, these conversations made Yang Yanhua very happy to listen.She happily stayed with Zhang and Li and had this meal together.During the conversation, he mentioned the scene where he met Fang Nengkai just now.Zhang Yufeng was not like Li Nanquan and Yang Yanhua.He said: "This Mr. Fang is completely a young master. He is smart and well-learned, but he lacks a little social experience. If he has two seasoned and sophisticated people working with him, then His future is limitless." Li Nanquan said with a smile: "You mean, you think that the official he will become in the future will have a higher status than his father?" Yang Yanhua lowered his head to eat while holding the chopsticks bowl, but raised his eyelids He looked at the two of them, and then smiled slightly.Although Zhang Yufeng knew they didn't think so, he didn't change his tone.Yin said with a smile: "It's not because he invited me to a meal that I said good things about him. You only look at people around the age of 20. Apart from being proficient in Chinese and English, they are also good at economics." The answer is fluent. If he..." At this point, Mr. Zhang looked at Yang and Li, but suddenly stopped talking.Following these words, he also smiled slightly.Li Nanquan knew that he had a preliminary understanding with Young Master Fang, and it was a little inconvenient to keep asking, so he smiled and said, "Miss Yang's play is very good tonight, do you have time to watch it? I can Please accompany me." Zhang Yufeng looked at her and said with a smile, "What play is it tonight?" She smiled and said, "I am (Fu Yingjie Lie) tonight. If Mr. Zhang thinks this play is not right, please change it, I will obey." Zhang Yufeng He said with a smile: "I'm a 100% layman, as long as it's lively. I don't know opera. I can't even hear the big voice of the old man; I can't understand the small voice of Tsing Yi." Li Nanquan drummed She clapped her hands and said with a smile: "The play she sang tonight is completely to your liking." Yang Yanhua said with a smile: "We are going down the river. We are just a theater troupe on the wharf. What's so great about it? When we arrive in Sichuan, none of the famous actors come, so we have no tigers in the mountains, and monkeys are kings. Mr. Zhang will go up tonight to enjoy the honor. You are welcome, but don't laugh your teeth out." Zhang Yufeng smiled and said, "Your teachers are full of praise in person. I am a 100% layman, what else can I say? No matter how busy I am tonight, I will I'm going to the theater. Brother Li, I entrust you to buy theater tickets for me." As he spoke, he stood up and cupped his fists, and reached into his pocket to take out the money.Li Nanquan said: "If you have something to do, just ask for it, and don't worry about the rest. I will wait for you in the third row of seats in the theater. My thatched hut has an empty room, and I will lay a cool bed for you If you are looking for a hotel here, you will be asked to feed the bedbugs, so you don’t have to.” Zhang Yufeng thanked him repeatedly, pumped his fists a few times, got up and left.Yang Yanhua watched him hurrying away and said with a smile: "This Mr. Zhang seems to be very busy. A thank you includes three things. Invite him to dinner, listen to a play, and let him stay in the room. Maybe he said 'thank you' , declined the other two things." Li Nanquan said: "Although he is a banker, his style of work is different from other bankers. He came from a poor background, and he does everything by himself. He jumped at the opportunity immediately. He came to the country to build a house to hide from the air raids. He was not nervous at first, but now that he met Young Master Fang, it was also an opportunity to change money. How could he let it go? So again Get busy." Yang Yanhua looked outside the store, then looked at the left and right seats, and then said with a low laugh: "If you find a way to find money in the hands of Young Master Fang, don't you go to the tiger's mouth to eat meat? Li Nanquan laughed and said, "Maybe what he wants is not meat, but the meat and bones spit out by tigers. There are people in the world who are afraid of tigers, and there are also people who take advantage of tigers. Miss, you are performing the drama of life on the stage Man, you don't know wow." Mr. Li spoke happily, but Yang Yanhua smiled and said nothing.Standing up and nodding his head, he said, "Thank you, teacher. If you come to the play later, please send me a letter to my teacher, asking her to come too." Li Nanquan said, "Maybe she won't come." Yang Yanhua When he was talking, he always kept his eyes out of the store, so he pushed his mouth out first, and then laughed in a low voice: "Just now, this Mrs. Bai looked at the door two or three times. I'm afraid there is something to ask." You go, I'll go first." Li Nanquan smiled and let her go.After the dinner bill, he came out of the restaurant and saw Mrs. Bai holding two paper bags, standing under the eaves of a shop talking to someone.I thought in my heart, this lady said to go home, why is she wandering in the street again, and keeps watching my actions, is this entrusted by my wife?So he walked up to her slowly and said with a smile: "You have time to come to the street at this time. I know that Mrs. Jiang's house has an appointment tonight. Are you there?" Mrs. Bai smiled and said: " Not only was I included, but I also helped her. Don't look at this." He said, holding up the paper bag in his hand.Li Nanquan said: "Is someone in her family having a birthday today?" Mrs. Bai said: "I don't know about it. Anyway, is there something to celebrate? But she doesn't invite male guests. She said that during the meal, she would announce, Anyway, there is no need to give gifts. Your wife is also invited. But I asked her, and she said she would not attend. The reason is that she doesn’t know what Mrs. Xia Jiang’s purpose is for this banquet tonight. Some people guess that she is an invitation, that’s wrong. It is much more convenient than ours. Some people also guess that she is holding some kind of commemoration." Li Nanquan said: "What kind of commemoration, unless it is their wedding commemoration." Mrs. Bai said: "Your wife said, in order to avoid this entertainment, I hope you pick her up Come to the street to listen to the play. Your wife, she also likes Miss Yang very much." Saying this, he laughed and left with the paper bag. Thinking about these situations, Mr. Li hesitated for a while standing on the street.In the end, he felt that today's invitation probably aroused his wife's doubts.In order to avoid my wife's doubts, it is better to explain it to her.So I stopped buying theater tickets for the time being, and walked home slowly, leaning on my cane.At this time, it was already dark.There was already a dim light in the window of the thatched cottage.Looking from the side of the mountain stream to the other side of the mountain stream, the outline of the houses is already blurred.But there were some dark clouds in the sky, which buried the stars.This shows that the night in Sichuan is so dark that you can hardly see the familiar road three feet away.He explored the ground with his cane, and followed the cane step by step.Such a person walks slowly and his footsteps are soft.On the contrary, the voices of the people in the room can be heard clearly outside.What caught my ear the most was Mrs. Xi's voice.She was criticizing the man and said: "No matter what kind of man, if the wife has been away for a long time, it is always unreliable. If Lao Xi is by my side, if he looks at other women more, I can break his dog with a stick." Legs. It’s because I’m not accommodating at all, and he’s very well-behaved. But if he leaves me, I can’t control him. Mr. Li’s attitude is open. But if he leaves you, it’s hard to say. It’s best你现在就管制得紧一点。”李南泉听说，不由站住了脚，暗中叫声“岂有此理”。可是李太太并没有答复，只是嘿嘿地笑了两声。接着就听到石正山夫人说：“只要女人不作男子的寄生虫，理直气壮的，要男子一样同守贞操，有什么过分？所以我就向来不用化妆品。先生也不化妆给太太看。太太为什么化妆给先生看呢？若是男人擦胭脂，我也就擦胭脂。” 这一通话，颇是给了李先生一个不小的刺激。向来不敢得罪此两位女客，听她们的口音，颇有教唆李太太管理丈夫之意。在这时候，冲进家去，倒是不甚妥当。这就隔了山溪叫道：“黑得很，家里拿出一盏灯来罢”。王嫂由厨房里举出一块烧着的木柴，问道：“先生消了夜没得？我们吃过了咯。”他答道：“我请客，吃过了。我在街上还等着太太呢。大概托白太太带的那个口信，还没有送到。”他这话自然是故意让太太听见的。然而太太没有答话，答话的是那位煎干鱼头待客的袁先生。他站在他家溪沿的走廊上，将手电放出一道白光，射在木桥上，大声道：“李先生，小心走，桥板不稳得很。”李南泉倒乐得借了他这亮光走回家去，站在走廊上连声道谢。袁四维并不让他进家，接着道：“李兄，你那位朋友，为人十分爽直，而且很慷慨，我就喜欢和这路人物结交。他和方家好像很熟吧？”李南泉道：“不，他虽是银行家，他是另外一条路线。”袁四维道：“不然，我刚才看到方大爷请他吃饭，而且，他走出饭馆子，方大爷还送了出来。这是不小的一个面子。我在路上碰到方完长的时候，因为他是我们的政治首长，我们为了国家，也应当敬重他，所以总是站在路边，脱帽致敬。方先生认为我彬彬有礼，坐在轿子上，总是和我微笑点头。我想，他脑筋里对我一定有很深的印象。张玉峰先生若是能够把这层意思向方大爷提提，为之先融一下，我们找个机会去向方完长致敬致敬，老兄以为如何？” 李南泉听了他这番话，不觉得由心要笑了出来。便道：“袁兄既是认得方完长，那就直接去拜见得了，何必还要经过他少爷那道手续呢？”袁四维兀自把电筒向这边射着白光笑道：“那当然有些原因。我们隔着这进小溪说话，怪不方便，一会儿我到府上来细谈罢。”这句话，李先生非常之不欢迎，不敢答话，“哦哦”了两声，就走到屋子里去了。这时，奚、石二位太太还在屋子里坐着。看到李先生进了屋子，两人的脸上，都带了一分俏皮的微笑。尤其是奚太太眼睛斜着看人，嘴角不住闪动。李太太脸上，也是带着笑容的。但她并不望着进门来的丈夫，拿起桌上的烟卷盒子，抽出一支烟卷，送到嘴里抿着，然后擦了火柴点着烟，偏过头去将烟吸着。火柴盒“啪”的一声，扔在桌上响着。李南泉看这情形，不大妥当，这就向石太太道：“今晚上怎么有工夫到舍下来谈谈？”她是手扶了茶几，在椅子上端坐着的，这就偏着头对李先生周身上下，看了一看，笑道：“天下事，无非是物以类聚。你愿意找谈得来的人谈谈，我们也是一样呀。”李南泉听这话音还是不对，便笑嘻嘻地向里面屋子里走去，也来个王顾左右而言他。他在屋子里很耽搁了一会子，听到外面屋子两位女宾，并没有言走，干脆就横倒在床上躺下。但心里可在想着，杨艳华该上戏馆子了，倘若她在门帘子缝里张望一下，那就看不到老师在座，她不会是说故意失约吗？李太太在隔壁屋子里，偏道：“二位不忙走，我再泡壶好茶喝，买点瓜子、花生，作个长夜之谈罢。” 他料到这是太太故作惊人之笔，反正把今天的戏耽误了，那也没有什么关系。且躺在床上，不作任何反应。约莫是五分钟听到一阵脚步响，向门外走去，依然是没有声息。他很坦然地躺在床上，约莫是十分钟，李太太却在隔壁屋子说话了，问道：“是真睡着了，还是假睡着了。人家走了，可以出来。”李南泉道：“没有睡着，休息休息。”李太太道：“起来罢，人家张先生到戏园子里去，你若是还没有到，岂不要人家买票？”李南泉由里面屋子里走出来，手急急地乱抚摸着头发，因道：“我本是回来，邀你同去的。因为看到两位女杰在这里，我就懒得说话。这种人物……”说着，探头向屋子外看看，有个油纸捻儿，在夜空里照耀着。见石太太抬了一只手，正在溪岸那边走着。这就低声道：“你何必和她们一样。她们满口男女平权，事实上是要太太独霸。尤其是石太太，她说妇女解放，她家里现养着一个丫头，她真要平权，先把那丫头和她平起来。”李太太道：“我有我的主张，我为什么听人家的？你有正当的应酬，那我当然不干涉。无须假惺惺，你去听你的戏。”李南泉望了她笑道：“下江太太家里，今天晚上有个盛大的宴会。”太太不等他说完，乱摇着头道：“我不去，邀我我也不去。”李南泉道：“你们是好牌友呀，为什么不去？”李太太将手连挥了两下，皱着眉道：“你去罢。不要管我的事。”李先生颇觉得太太脸上有些不悦之色，料着下江太太的宴会，还有什么小小的问题，这就不敢多说话，摸索着了手杖，悄悄地就溜出了大门。 李先生是这样地走了。当他走回家来的时候，那已是夜中。他打着一个折纸灯笼，照着山路上前后丈来宽的光芒。张玉峰先生跟着在后面光圈内走。他从容着低声道：“李兄，这位杨小姐的确不错。她在台下，看着她娇小玲珑而已。美中不足的，脸上还有几个雀斑。可是她一上了台，化过妆，更穿上那美丽衣服，那真是画中美人。”李南泉笑道：“老兄，你外行。看戏不是专看角儿的长相的。你在我太太面前，可别说杨艳华长得好看。”张玉峰对这话话还没有答复，身后面却有人嘻嘻地笑了一声。他回头看时，那人也是提着一只灯笼，彼此灯光照耀，只是个人影，倒看不清是谁。那人笑道：“南泉兄，你我同病相怜呀。”这听出他的声言来了，那正是石正山教授。因笑道：“虽然我们患同病，可是起病的原因不一样。我是外感风邪，吃点发散药病也就好了。老兄只是身体弱，并不招外感。”石正山快走了两步，到了身边，低声笑道：“惟其是我并没有外感，我就觉得内阁方面对于我压迫得过于严重一点。在物理学上，是压力越重，反抗力也越大的。”李南泉道：“难道你老兄打算造反？”石正山跟在身后，只是一笑。李先生这就想起前两三小时前石太太在家里的那番谈话了。因问道：“石兄，你是赞成女人化妆的，还是反对的？”他笑道：“这话问得奇怪。哪个男子不喜欢女人漂亮？你不是刚才看戏来吗？你愿意戏台上的人，都丑陋不堪？”李南泉道：“那末，你是愿意太太用胭脂粉的了，也不反对太太烫发的了？” 石正山倒还没了解他的用意，因道：“太太长得不漂亮，是不能驾驭先生的。讨老婆，谁都愿意老婆漂亮吧？那末，为什么不愿意太太擦胭脂粉呢？老实说，太太不化妆，那是一种失策，这很可能让先生失望，而……”他那句话没有说完，已走近他的家门。他的家就是在人行路边上，窗户里放出来的灯光，老远就可以看见。而且夜深了，那里面说话，外面也听得很清楚，这就听到石太太叫道：“小青，熄灯睡觉吧，不用等了。知道你爸爸这夜游神游到哪里去了？不管他，再晚些回来，门也不用开了。”石正山老远地大声答应着道：“我回来了，我回来了！”说着，直奔了家门口去，对于李、张二人，并没有加以理会。张玉峰直走了百步以外，方才回过头来看了看，见石公馆已鸦雀无声了，这就向李南泉低声道：“我看这位石先生，是最守家教的一位吧？”李南泉笑道：“那是我们作丈夫的模范分子。不过他在朋友面前，不肯承认这种事实。刚才他还不是说压力越重，抵抗力越强吗？”说到这里，突然把话停住，改口说着两个字“到了”。跟着“到了”这两个字，下面就寂然无语。手上提着那个纸灯笼，高高举起。到了自己家门口，首先报告着“张先生来了”。张玉峰看到石正山刚才的一幕，也就知道这冒夜叫门，在家规第几条上，可能是有处分明文的，这就叫道：“李太太，我又来吵闹你来了。”但出来开门的是王嫂，屋子里并没有什么反应。主人引着客人到空屋子里去安歇，他自己也是默然地走回卧室去。 李先生料着太太心里，总还有点疙瘩，干脆不去惊动，自向小竹床睡下。这已是夏夜的十二点半钟了，其实也可以安睡。但睡了一小觉这后，却听到后墙的窗户，有人轻轻敲着。那敲窗人似乎也知道这是孟浪的，就先行说话了，她道：“王嫂，你叫一声你太太起来，我姓白呀。”李南泉听出这是白太太的声音，自也感到奇怪，只是装睡着不作声。李太太惊醒了，因道：“白大姐，为什么起得这样早哇？到哪里去赶场？”白太太在外面笑道：“根本没有天亮，不过是两点多钟。你起来，到下江太太家里去一趟。”李太太道：“有什么要紧的事？”白太太笑道：“我们还有什么要紧的事，无非是三差一。”李太太说着话，就在黑暗中摇着火柴盒响。接着擦了火柴将桌上的菜油灯点亮。她睡觉的时候，当然是穿着小汗衫和短裤衩，这就在床栏杆上把长衫抓起来穿着，因道：“这是怎么回事？你们天不黑就搭上了桌子，到这个时候，怎么又变成三差一了呢？”白太太在外面轻轻地敲着窗户板，笑道：“你别废话了，不怕先生，你就开了门让我进来，把原因告诉你。你若是怕先生，你就熄灯睡觉罢，明天见面，可不许嘴硬。”李行生听到了这个激将法，心里想着，这半夜邀赌角的人，倒也有半夜邀角的办法。且不作声，看她们怎么样。李太太就道：“笑话！什么时候打牌，我也不受拘束。开门就开门，你是一位太太，我怕什么！”于是举了菜油灯到前面屋子里去，果然开门了。 白太太走进前面屋子首先低声问道：“李先生是醒的吧？”李太太道：“你不管他了，有话就说罢。”白太太道：“下江太太，也是太多事一点，打了一桌不够，又打第二桌，第二桌有一位人家不大舒服，打完了十二圈，就下场了。主人家非凑足两桌不可。她也不用费神作第二步想法，就派我来找你。她说，若不如此，人家垫的伙食费都找补不出来了。”李太太道：“那位是赢了呢，是输了呢？可别让我去作替死鬼呀。”白太太道：“我不在那一桌，我不知道那桌的情形。反正各凭各人的本事，各凭各人的手气，你管他前手怎么样？走罢走罢。”李太太道：“我也得洗把脸漱一漱口吧，我起来了就不再睡了。”白太太道：“你带着钱就得了。洗脸漱口，我会给你找地方。走走。”李先生听那声音，好像是白太太已把他太太拖着向外走。随后李太太走进屋子来，在枕头下面摸索了一阵。然后她走到小竹床面前来，两手撑了床沿，低声问道：“你是真睡着了，还是假睡着了？”李先生侧了身子睡的，并没有作声。李太太道：“你再不作声，我就拿蚊香烧你了。”说着，两手将他连推了几下。李先生一个翻身坐了起来，笑道：“你要走你就走罢，你又何必把我叫了起来呢？”李太太道：“这还是半夜里呢。我走了你不要起来关门哪？”李先生也不分辩，随着她到前面屋子里来，见白太太站在屋子中间，手里兀自提着一只纸灯笼。她眯了眼睛笑道：“对不起，扰了你的清梦了。”李南泉笑道：“可不是，我正梦着和清一条龙。” 白太太笑道：“你不是在梦着看玉堂春？”李南泉笑道：“看了《玉堂春》，回来还梦着看玉堂春吗？我并没有对你来邀角稍有违抗呀，你还要加紧我的压力吗？”李太太接过白太太手上的白纸灯笼，挽了她的手道：“不要和他多说话。走罢。”但她并不就走，站在屋子里停了一停。等李太太走出门去了，她向后退了两步，回到李南泉身边，向他作了一个鬼脸，然后微笑着低声道：“我虽然在街上遇到了你三次，可是对你太太，并没有说半句话。”她说着话，竟是男人和男人开玩笑的态度一样，伸着手拍了两拍李南泉的肩膀。李南泉还打算说什么话时，她就走了。他对于白太太这种作风，心里十分不痛快，跟着走出门来，在走廊上站着。他看着那两位太太共着一只白纸灯笼，晃荡着在人行道上远去。这已夜深了，很远的说话声。也可以听到，有一句最明白。白太太说：“你说，那副牌，为什么不和五八条呢？”她们低声笑语地在那灯笼光下，走进了前面那座灯光四射的村屋。李先生背了两手在身后徘徊着，自言自语地道：“殊属不成事体。”他一叹气，将头抬起来，这就看见对面邻居袁先生家里，突然在窗户里一冒灯光，窗子打开了。接着是袁先生一片咳嗽声。随后是袁太太的问话声：“现在是什么时候了？”袁先生说：“可以起来了，天快亮了。不起来也不行，我睡不着。我们把问题来谈谈罢。”这边走廊，和那个打开的窗户只相隔了一道山溪，那边的话，这里是听得很清楚的。他心里很是奇怪，有什么重要问题，要他夫妻双双半夜里起来商量呢？ 李南泉并没有打听人家秘密的意思。可是这一溪之隔，又是夜深，那边人说话，无论怎样不经意，也是听得很清楚的。却听到袁太太道：“我也是睡不着，倒愿意起来和你谈谈。那个姓张的，人倒是个老实样子。不过人家是干银行的，什么事没有个盘算？他能够毫无条件，就拿出一笔款子来人股吗？”袁四维道：“我也这样想。可是我们所要的这数目，在银行家眼里看来，那是渺乎小矣的事，他不会有什么考虑的。”李南泉一想，“好哇，你们夫妇，半夜里起来，倒商量这样一件不相干的事。”索性在走廊上来回地走，听他们的下文。袁四维轻轻地说了几声，接着大声道：“老实说，出几个钱，自己就舒舒服服地住现成房子，我也愿意办。”袁太太道：“他就是愿意办，还有那介绍人从中作梗，这事就不好办了。”接着，袁四维又嘀咕了一阵子，然后大声道：“我有一个办法。他那个人，究竟是个书呆子，把面子拘了他，他也就没有办法。我们明天单独请他吃一顿饭。”袁太太道：“一点消息没有，我们又得花钱，可不要偷鸡不着蚀把米。”袁四维道：“我有办法，昨天那碟子干鱼，不是还保留着吗？今天表弟家里送来的那五个咸鸭蛋我们切它三个，每个蛋切八块，就是两个碟子。回头我起个早到菜市里去买十二两肥肉，大概有个半把斤，配上一点辣椒豆腐干，可以炒一碟；四两肥肉炼出油来，作一碗汤，这碗汤我也有办法了，那陈屠户老早说了，送我们一块猪心，作一碗汤还有富余呢。” 李南泉听到，不由得要笑起来。心想，倒没有料着半夜里起来，发现有人算计我。而算计我又不是恶意的，乃是请我吃干鱼头，和三个咸鸭蛋一碗猪心汤。再向下听，袁太太的答复，却是默然。袁先生又说道：“那个猪心，我们不作汤也可以。拿回来用点盐腌起来，然后再拿出来炒辣椒，我们可以少买四两肉。好在陈屠户和我很好，和他讨点猪血，在山上拔点野葱，也可以作一碗汤。”袁太太这就开言了，还是带了笑音的，她道：“买几根葱也要不了多少钱，何必到山上去拔野葱呢？”袁四维道：“这里面我是有理由的，山上的野葱，比家葱香。猪血不免有点血腥气，加上野葱，那汤里不会有气味了。”袁太太道：“不用计算了，就照着你那个计划行事罢。可是不要像昨日一样，办好了饭菜，人家不赏光。”袁四维道：“已经拒绝我一次了，我菜里又没有毒药，他好意思再拒绝我们吗？我们现在非有一笔款子，放在手边不可。乡下人马上要割谷子了，收成到家，他怎能不变成现钱卖了。那个时候，米总要便宜些，我们有一担的钱囤一担，有一斗的钱囤一斗，乡下人现在来借钱，就可借给他。说明要他还谷子。”袁太太道：“这个道理哪个不知道。但是你的算盘打得太精了，就会失败。你起初以为我们把房客轰走了，就可以把房子卖掉。现在空了两个月的房子，还没有卖掉，这吃了多大的亏。”袁四维道：“还等三天罢。三天没有人给定钱，我就把房子再分租出去。我已经预备好了一张招租帖子，我可以念给你听。” 李南泉听到这种地方，虽然觉得新奇，也不愿意向下听了。他转身向屋子里走，却待掩上屋门，这就听到袁四维开着他们的屋子后门响。心里想着，莫非他知道有人偷听？于是，也不掩房门了，就在门里边一张帆布椅子上睡下。好在屋子里的菜油灯焰，已经是熄下去了，他也看不到这边。这就看到袁四维举着一个纸灯笼，高过了头顶，在后门外四面张望着。随着，袁太太也就出来了，她道：“我听到有鸡叫，一定是黄鼠狼拖着的。”随着这话，袁家的少爷小姐，全体动员，都蜂拥到后门口来了。火把，纸油灯捻，菜油灯，灯笼，他们家后门口，那块斜坡上，几点大小的灯火，照着许多摇摇的身影。大的笑着，小的叫着，闹成了一片。李先生为了避免窃听他夫妻私语的嫌疑，兀自不敢露面。只是用两耳听着，随后听到他们家孩子叫道：“找着了，找着了，鸡在窗户眼里夹着，没有拖着走。”于是那群灯火，都拥到他们家后门口厨房的窗户下去。听到有人叫道：“只是把鸡头拖走了，鸡身子还在这里。”又有人道：“这一地的鸡毛和一地的鸡血。”又有人道：“我们明天有鸡吃了。”这才听到袁太太喝骂着道：“你们嘴馋怎么不变黄鼠狼呢？变了黄鼠狼，就可以天天有的吃了。”最后有一个女孩子的声音，结束了这些话，她道：“你们不用吵，我已经听到了。爸爸明天要请客，商量了半夜，还没有把菜决定。现在有了鸡，又多一样菜了。不止多一样菜，煮一碗汤，红烧一碗，这就两样了。”袁太太笑骂着道：“小姐们，好厉害的嘴。” 李南泉心里想着，这很有趣味，他们袁府上，打算在那无人过问的干鱼头之外，又要把这黄鼠狼没拖走的鸡待我。这就禁不住笑了起来。门外有人问道：“李兄，还没有睡吗？你倒是能摸黑地坐着。”这是张玉峰的声音，李南泉站起来，把桌上的菜油灯挑亮了，见他已是把那套灰色中山服穿得齐整。便笑问道：“难道你让机械化部队把你吵醒了。我是知道的，那张竹床，绝对没有臭虫，铺盖也是干净的。除非蚊香不够防御，蚊子有些咬人。在乡下住家，什么都好。我觉得这大自然给我的安慰不少。唯一的困难，就是这蚊子无法对付。”张玉峰道：“不是不是，我是一条劳碌命，吃得饱，睡得着。我今日得早起会个人。”李南泉道：“现在是两点多钟，就算夏季天亮得早，也是四点多钟五点钟天亮。你这样半夜，到哪里去会人？”张玉峰道：“夏天的夜里，有什么早晚？这位朋友，天亮就要进城，我需要在他动身以前和他谈几句话，还是在那里等着罢。”李南泉听他这话，就知道他是去会方大少爷的。也不便多问。笑道：“现在夏季时间，起得特别早。也不但是你。我们邻居，有这时候邀角去打牌的，也有起来谈家常话的，你到我们这里来，可以说入乡随俗了。反正还早，我烧壶开水，泡碗好茶你喝。我保证我的好茶，里面没有米粒。”张玉峰想起袁四维待客的事，他也笑了。他也感到这时去会人太早，就依了主人的话，夜坐喝茶。遥远的，在半夜空中有尖锐的声音送了过来。 夜深闻远语的情况下，只能听那低声慢语，若是尖锐的声音，那是加倍的刺激人的。因之张李二人，对着桌上一盏孤灯，各人托着粗茶杯子，偏头细听，都有些愕然。那尖锐的声音，也就听出来了，有人道：“你不要管我的事。天亮的时候，叫小青到菜市上去接我。女孩子家，还是不要她半夜里出来，我有几个人在一处走，怕什么的？”李南泉笑道：“没有什么，这是那位石正山的太太，赶什么利市去了。”张玉峰笑道：“你说这俏皮话，石先生听到了，可不依你。”李南泉道：“我绝不是开玩笑。这位石太太，是赶上了时代的妇女。她手上有一张钞票，都变成物资，由人吃人用的，到鸡吃猪吃的，她随时都要。她并不要向男子那样，跑码头，跑比期，她就是住在这村子里，跑附近两三个乡场，她每月所得的利润，超过她丈夫薪水的两倍。例如我们现在吃的菜油，已是四五元一斤，而她家所用的菜油，还不曾超出一元钱。这一点，令人实在佩服。”张玉峰道：“这也算是妇女运动里的一课吗？”李南泉道：“那无可非议。不过她也有得不偿失之处。就是倚恃着自己会挣钱，压迫丈夫过甚。而压迫丈夫过甚，又有大意的地方，毛病就出来了。这样鸡鸣而起，孳孳为利，那是个漏洞。”李南泉说得很高兴，只管往下说。忘记了对这位来宾，也是鸡鸣而起，孳孳为利的，及至说完了，总觉得不妥。便停止了话，向窗外侧耳听着。正好是村鸡凑趣，就在夜空里拉长了“喔喔”声浪，送进窗户里。随着鸡声，隔溪那丛竹子，抖擞叶子，有些瑟瑟之声相和。 张玉峰笑道：“还是乡间住得有意思。我们整年住在城里的人，简直听不到鸡叫。重庆是上海化了，很难有什么人家，有空地养养鸡鸭。”李南泉道：“有钟表，要昕鸡声干什么？”张玉峰笑道：“但是大自然的趣味没有了，世界进到了机械化，诗情画意就一概消失。到了战后，无须为生活而奔走了，我一定回到农村去。”正说着呢，夜空里又送来了一片凄惨而又尖锐的哀号声，乃是猪叫。呜呀呀的，十分刺耳。李南泉笑道：“这也是大自然的声音了，你觉得怎么样？”张玉峰伸了个懒腰，站起来笑道：“你休息着罢，趁着太阳还没有出山，你还可以好好睡上一觉。我走了。屠户已在宰猪，分明是去天亮不远。”说着，人向门外走。李南泉道：“接二连三的，都是鸡鸣而起的人，我也不能再睡了。我送你几步。”他走出屋子来，随手将门带上。抬头看看天空，夏季的薄雾，罩不了光明的星点。七八点疏星，在头顶上亮着。尤其是半夜而起的那钩残月，像银镰刀似的横挂在对面的山峰上，由薄雾里穿出来，带着金黄的颜色，因之面前的物，已不是那样黑暗，石板铺的人行小道，像一条灰线在地面上画着。山和草木人家，都有个黑色的轮廓，在清淡的夜光里摆布着。半空里并没有风，但人在空气里穿过去，自然有那凉飕飕的意味，拂到人身上和脸上。杀猪声已是停止了，这空气感到平和与安定。倒是鸡声来得紧急，由远而近，彼起此落，互相呼应。两个人的脚，踏在石板路上，每一下清楚入耳。 张玉峰笑道：“你家里还没有关大门，你就不必再送了。”李南泉道：“不要紧，我们左右邻居，都起来了。虽然住在乡下，大家的生活，还是那样紧张。”张玉峰道：''不见得，你听，还有人唱歌呢。 ”于是二人停住了脚，静听下去。这时，山谷的人行道上，没有一点人影活动，只是偶然来阵晨风，拂动了山麓上的长草，其声瑟瑟，而且也是很细微的。所以张先生说的歌声，却也是听得见。细察那声音的所在，是路旁人家一个窗户里。路在山坡上，屋在山坡下，所以他们对于这歌声，却是俯听。这个窗户，就是石正山先生之家。他们家并没有灯火，整幢房子，在半钩残月昏黄的光线里，向下蹲着。这半钩残月和月亮边的几点疏星，可能由这山峰上射到那窗子里面去。这就听到那歌声，轻轻儿地由窗户里透出来。两人静静昕着，那歌词也听出来了。乃是饫涯歌女》的一段：“人生谁不惜青春，小妹妹似线郎似针，郎呀，咱们穿起来久不离分。 ”那歌声是越唱越细微，最后是一阵嘻嘻的笑声，把歌子结束了。张玉峰有事，没再听下去，继续向前走。看看离那屋子远了，他赞叹着道：“哎呀！此时此地，这种艳福，令人难于消受。你说，这个屋里的主人翁，他的生活还会紧张吗？ ”李南泉笑道：“我这位芳邻，