Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

Li Nanquan was startled when he heard this prayer.Could it be that something went wrong in the Yuan family?Why did the mistress tell the sky in the middle of the night?This may be a kind of secret, don't see through other people's secrets, so I slowly backed away to the door of my own house.It was a catastrophe, and it was over, the cards in the room were gone, and three or four paper lanterns were lit in the room, and the ladies carried them separately.Because in addition to the people playing cards, there are also those who watch the cards and those who pick up people, the room is full.Mrs. Xia Jiang first carried the lantern and went out. Seeing Li Nanquan said "yo" and said, "I was shocked. There was a big black shadow standing at the door. It turned out that Mr. Li was guarding us. You really have that patience, yes." With such a lively scene, you don’t even come to watch a game.” Li Nanquan smiled and said, “You guys have your jobs, and I have mine too, right? The reception is very slow, I’m sorry.” Mrs. Xiajiang held the lantern in her hand, He raised his head higher than his own, looked at Mr. Li's face, and said with a smile: "I want to see if Mr. Li's words are sincere. If he makes a playful sarcasm about us, we will accept it. If it is true In other words, I think today is twenty-four points for face, as long as we entertain like this, we can come often." Mrs. Bai came out from behind, and said with a smile: "Don't be joking, you will piss Mr. Li to death." Li Nanquan said: " That's not the case. Because all the wives regard me as a target of fatigue bombing, that means they think highly of me. Mrs. Shi, what do you think?" Mrs. Shi Zhengshan walked last, but she was silent, so she deliberately nominated and asked She said so that she would not be left out in the cold.She said: "I can't disturb you anymore. Tomorrow, I will go to my house to open up a battlefield. I want to make money. Mr. Li, I have to let your wife join. Without her, this scene will not be exciting. "

Li Nanquan said with a smile: "That's very good. There will be a wheel fight in each of the thatched-roof mansions in our village. It will be enough to keep him entertained for ten days and a half months." Mrs. Shi walked all the way, laughing all the way: " I'm a new unit in the battle group, so I'm afraid I'm vulnerable. But I have made the greatest determination to enjoy myself in time, to make everyone happy, and I can't let others be happy alone. Playing mahjong is a family entertainment, which is justified Behavior, that’s a big difference from a person begging for a concubine who violates the criminal law.” When she said “begging for a concubine”, her voice was particularly raised.Of course, Mr. Li knew what she meant, so it was inconvenient to say anything at this time.But the neighbor next door, someone interrupted in the dark: "Okay, if you want, this is the way to do it, and I will join the battle group tomorrow." The voice was loud and sharp, and it was Mrs. Xi who came out to speak.Mrs. Shi was happy to hear that someone was helping, and stood on the footpath of Gaopo, holding up the white paper lantern.He laughed and said, "Old Xi, haven't you slept yet? Don't do this. We should eat enough, sleep well, and don't care. If it's bad, everyone is bad. If we want to do it well, we can naturally do it well. It must be like this, Only we can win." As he spoke, the raised paper lanterns swayed in the dark sky.Mrs. Xi laughed and said: "The road is slippery, don't turn off the lights and fall, we have to try to fight for our lives!" Hearing this, Li Nanquan felt that this was beyond words.Housework in other people's homes is other people's affairs. Even if you have housework, you should not confuse it with other people's affairs.That's exactly what she was thinking, but another person came out to talk to her, Mrs. Yuan uttered her voice at her back door.She said: "This is called a long-term war of resistance!"

Mrs. Xi smiled and said, "Mrs. Yuan, are you joining our Anti-Japanese War Group too? Welcome." After hearing this, Li Nanquan thought to himself, what is this talking about?The wife has dealt with the husband. Is this called a war of resistance?He thought it was outrageous.He retreated into the house.Mrs. Li saw that the room behind was still brightly lit, and there were traces of playing cards.So he ran to the back room quickly and blew out all the candles.Then he took out a pack of cigarettes, held it up high, and smiled at him: "There are still a few 'Little Daying'." Li Nanquan smiled and said: "This is a surplus of combat supplies. It should be sold at a reduced price. How much do you want?" What?" Then he reached into his pocket, took out a few change notes, and asked, "Is that enough? I only have this little money." Mrs. Li laughed and said, "You still feel so resentful , I didn’t lose money tonight.” Li Nanquan said: “I’m not here for your winning or losing.” Mrs. Li took out a cigarette, handed it to Mr. Li, took out a match, and stood in front of him, Light a cigarette for him.Li Nanquan said with a smile: "It seems that I have completely won. But the first two hours, I didn't feel very good." Mrs. Li smiled and said: "Come on, don't talk anymore. If you talk about it, you will be poor." Li Nanquan laughed "Then I don't care, at most you join Mrs. Shi and Mrs. Xi's anti-war group." Mrs. Li stood there for a while, her face seemed a little unhappy.He turned around and called out to Mrs. Wang.Mrs. Wang came, and she said with a smile, "It's too late tonight, don't tidy up the house, and tomorrow morning..." Mrs. Li said with a serious face, "Are you awkward with me too? I'm going to quit gambling. It’s not enough to get mad at playing bad cards, at least I’ll quit for a week, maybe three days is also good. Anyway, I won’t go to Shi’s house to play cards tomorrow.”

When Mr. Li saw this situation, his wife was ready to start the war of resistance immediately.It's late at night.When a couple starts a fire, the neighbors are the first to be affected.Without saying a word, he retreated to the back room and went to sleep.In Mrs. Li's first mental battle, Mr. Li was declared a failure, and she was also very proud.As soon as her spirit was relaxed, she felt tired and hungry, so she asked Mrs. Wang to find a pot of water and make a bowl of cold rice to eat.When Mrs. Wang asked her if she still wanted to eat, she smiled and said, "There is only a little pickle left over. What's the taste of making cold rice in boiling water? I won't be able to save the money if I win. Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the vegetable market to buy some." Let’s have some good food for a tooth sacrifice.” Mr. Li heard this on the bed, thinking in his heart, this is his wife’s victory in the war of resistance, and he will have triumphant wine tomorrow.Thinking of this, I found it interesting, so I laughed.Mrs. Li asked in the next room: "Why are you laughing on the bed?" Li Nanquan said: "I congratulate you on your victory. But I don't know if you will serve as a soldier tomorrow, will I be a prisoner?" Mrs. Li said: "You Going to sleep, why haven’t you left this matter behind?” Li Nanquan said: “You won the money, you buy meat, that’s your right. Let me ask if I have a share, that’s not necessarily the case. Is it just a slip of the tongue?" Mrs. Li sighed and said, "Stop making trouble. Let me declare again that I will not play this card of crime." Li Nanquan smiled and said, "That's great. There used to be people who quit gambling and put their fingers on it. Cut it off as a souvenir. But the finger is still wrapped in cloth, and I’m going to the casino again. Of course you won’t cut off half of your finger, but I advise you not to do it if you have any commemorative signs. According to my guess, from now on , you should refrain from gambling for twelve hours at most." Mrs. Li said: "I will try to refrain from gambling for at least thirteen hours." Li Nanquan said: "Thirteen is an unlucky number. Is it okay to extend it by another hour? ?”

Mrs. Li said: "Don't laugh at me, quit gambling or not, that's my freedom. You said that..." She didn't come to this conclusion, but she heard Mrs. Wang laughing in the next room: " Let’s put it aside, don’t quit even for an hour. This is a fun thing! If you have money and time, you can gamble, and if you don’t have money or time, you don’t gamble. Why do you quit?” Both Li and his wife laughed.Mr. Li knew that he was a complete failure in this debate, so he didn't need to say anything more.When I woke up, I saw outside the window, the sun was shining brightly, and the sky was fine.After waking up, I saw the surrounding green hills, washed by the heavy rain for 20 to 30 hours, and the sun shone brightly green.In the mountain stream in front of the door, the mountain torrents still left a stream of clear water, like a white cloth, flowing under the stream in a curved way, bumping into stones or long grass, making a sound of lingling and rippling.The clump of bamboo across the stream is extraordinarily straight, and the bamboo leaves are covered with no dust, shining brightly in the sun.There are a few small birds chirping in the bamboo leaves. Autumn in Chongqing is still as hot as summer.Even walking in autumn is more sun-drenched than summer.This morning, although the sky was clear, the southeast wind was blowing from the opposite bamboo grove, blowing on people's bodies and faces, but they felt chilly and very comfortable.He was suddenly refreshed, and as he paced back and forth in the corridor, he couldn't help but think of the birthday preface that was squeezed out of oil last night.He read the text silently in his heart, shook his head a few times, and immediately went to the small room, took the manuscript on the table, tore it into pieces in twos and threes, and squeezed it to the small room. Throw it in the wastebasket.Mrs. Li was stunned when she saw it, and asked, "You're still angry. What you're tearing up is the one hundred and fifty yuan check. Do you have any grudge against Qian?"

Li Nanquan said with a smile: "This is a check for one hundred and fifty yuan, of course I know it. But it doesn't matter if I tear it up. Can the real check fly away in your hand?" Mrs. Li said: "I can't be unreasonable like that. If you don't hand in the life note, I'll use the one hundred and fifty yuan. You want to fight me. It's not my job to live this poor life, you Those who make money are poor enough, but we who enjoy what we get, there is no reason why we can’t be poor. Here is the check, you can take it back and return it to others.” As he spoke, he took out the check on his body.Li Nanquan smiled and shook his hand twice and said: "Don't be suspicious, I must not intentionally make trouble with you and make myself suffer. If you take the money to buy food and drink, can I get a little bit of light? Although the manuscript is torn It’s gone. But I have plenty in stock here.” As he spoke, he patted his stomach twice.Mrs. Li said: "Are you going to write another article?" Mr. Li smiled, went back to the writing table, spread out the paper, pen, ink and inkstone, and immediately began to write the article. He lowered his head and kept on writing. Pen, just write down line by line.In about twenty minutes, he wrote most of the article on a piece of manuscript paper.Mrs. Li stood by the table, pressed the edge of the table with both hands, and just stared at the manuscript paper with both eyes, so she lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and put the cigarette in front of him, saying with a smile The word "Luo" was added.Mr. Li continued to smoke his cigarette, and Mrs. Li poured another cup of hot tea, put it in his hand, and said with a low laugh, "Take a break for two minutes, and drink a cup of tea first." Li Nanquan looked at her, with Smiling and nodding twice, he still picked up the pen and continued to write down. After about forty minutes, he finished writing this birthday preface.

Li Nanquan was in the rush of writing at this time, so he didn't take care of his wife's actions. After finishing writing the preface, he read it again from the beginning to the end, and then patted the table and said: "I earned one hundred and fifty yuan. It's reasonable." Mrs. Li took a step back and said with a smile, "You scared me." Li Nanquan waved his hand and said, "It's no problem to cash this check on the street." Mrs. Li said: " You don’t know good and bad. I see that you are too busy writing articles. You stand by the table and worry with you. Do you think I’m afraid that you won’t be able to write this article? This check is here, so you take it back if you don’t worry .” As he spoke, he took out the check from his pocket again.Li Nanquan said with a smile: "We have made it clear. Don't be angry. After lunch today, I will never interfere with the table of cards at Mrs. Shi's house. The reason is that Mrs. Shi is a newcomer to the battle group. Since we gathered at our house yesterday One kick, if you don't go to play cards at her house today, it's morally unjustifiable. This is the rule of playing cards, I know very well. You use the preemptive method to suppress my arrogance, so you don't need to ask for my consent Went to join the war. Don’t you think so?” Mrs. Li held the check in her hand and handed it to him, and put it in her pocket. She couldn’t help laughing, shaking her head and said, “You’re all…” She put Resisting this conclusion, she changed her mouth and said, "Anyway, I want to play cards, and no one can stop me. I can't afford to use these methods." After finishing speaking, she laughed again.Mrs. Wang came in from the outside and said with a smile: "It's getting late, didn't the wife say to go shopping? After lunch, you still have something to do." Mrs. Li said: "What's the matter? Mr. Wang is arguing with me." The sister-in-law said: "No relationship! After twelve o'clock, the thirteen-hour deadline has passed." Mrs. Li smiled and said, "You are talking nonsense."

At this moment, outside the window, someone called Mrs. Li.When I stretched my head to look, it was Mrs. Yuan who was diagonally opposite the door.Mr. Li didn't see Yuan Siwei yesterday because of the equity of the house. He should get the result today, so he greeted him and asked, "Is Mr. Yuan at home?" Before she agreed, a group of four or five of her children stood behind At the door, they replied in unison: "My father is not at home." Li Nanquan thought to himself, this is not a good thing.Yuan Siwei seemed to avoid it sincerely.I was about to follow up and ask, but when I saw Mrs. Yuan and her group of children, their expressions were abnormal, and each of them had a stick in their hand.Mrs. Li has never had a good impression of the Yuan family.But since he pointed at her by name, he couldn't ignore it, so he stood in the corridor and asked, "Is Mrs. Yuan going to the street? We can go all the way. I looked at her while talking, and saw that she changed her attire today." , two long braids at the back of her head, and a horizontal wishful bun on her head. She was originally a big belly, but when she wore long clothes, her big belly could be seen from a long distance. Her painstaking efforts really put this The shortcomings have been covered up a lot. She wears a little fatter clothes, and propped up her upper body first. After a week of hard work, she only eats half a bowl of rice every day, and fat is absolutely forbidden. Of course, she does not eat meat, her own food She didn't even let go of the vegetable oil: under the fierce pressure, the big belly shrunk in half. When I looked at it, it naturally changed a little. She was wearing a short knee-length calico gown, with both legs bare, and she was wearing a white leather shoes, and held a thick ebony cane in her hand. The children around her also held a stick in each hand. The youngest child, who was only five years old, also held a broken spatula in his hand. On. What this means is very suspicious.

Seeing that people here were paying attention to her, Mrs. Yuan also felt that it was not good for the children to be armed.Then she turned her head and said to them: "No matter what I do, I will be followed by groups. What do you mean? Get the hell out of here." She told the child, and then she replied to Mrs. Li: " I don't go to the street, I take the children to a friend's place, about ten miles back and forth. I have no one at home, so I have to lock the door, and I want to store the key with you, is that okay?" Mrs. Li said: "Yes Did all your servants follow?" Mrs. Yuan said, "If you want him to pick something, ask him to follow." Then, she asked an eight-year-old boy to deliver the key.Xiao Shan'er also stood in the corridor and asked: "What do you all use sticks for?" The child held a three-foot-long bamboo stick in his hand, shook it as if to whip him, and said in Sichuan language: "Miscellaneous!" Boy, hit someone." Xiao Shan'er said: "Which one to hit?" He said: "Hit a stinky woman." Mrs. Yuan shouted behind her: "You are talking nonsense again. I left you at home and don't want you to go .” The child was really afraid that he wouldn’t take him there.Throwing the key in Mrs. Li's hand, she turned around and left.Mrs. Yuan nodded this way, said "please take care of me", and called everyone to come out.Sure enough, their family all came out the back door.In addition to Mrs. Yuan and her six children, there is also a male servant. In addition, the couple who came to borrow from them all had things in their hands.Mrs. Yuan locked the back door, took a cane in her hand, and acted as the leader, leading the group of people along the main road.Her two boys danced wildly in the air with sticks in their hands, shouting: "Surrender or not? If you don't surrender, I will kill you!" Li Nanquan and his wife watched it in a daze, unable to figure out what was going on. .

Mrs. Yuan's team didn't seem to mind other people's attention, they walked along the road in a mighty way.But then I saw Mrs. Liu Baochang in the village, and quickly chased after her and ran to Mrs. Yuan, stood and said a few words, and then walked back with a smile on her face. Mrs. Long.But the Xiajiang people who took refuge in this village looked down on her.But she is also very powerful.For local affairs, you must find the chief security officer, and the chief security officer absolutely obeys her words.Because of this, the wives gave her another nickname in a joke, calling her "the chief security officer" and degrading her husband to a deputy.She is quite satisfied with this title.Mrs. Li called out: "Chief Bao, please come and talk, I have something to ask you." She said happily: "You inquire about Mrs. Yuan's affairs? You people who go down the river, it's easy to get rich, and it's easy to get abducted. They Don't you know about cheating at home? If Yuan Wanchang didn't get rich, he wouldn't cheat with his wife." She walked here as she spoke.Walking halfway, he suddenly yelled to the top of the mountain: "Which one is it? Get down quickly. If you move again, I'll send you to the police station." Someone on the mountain replied: "Speaking of which, this is a public servant from Ba County. The land is your family’s private mountain, and everyone can mow the weeds on the mountain!” The wife of the security chief scolded sharply: “Guier, you are still stubborn. I am the security chief, and the grass in front of the door can be cut. Can't you manage it?" She said, picking up a stone on the ground and throwing it up the mountain.Everyone looked at the opposite mountain, and there were two young men bending over with sickles, cutting the grass on the mountain.These chaotic grasses are more than three feet long, and the thatched huts built in the countryside are all made of this grass.Pick and sell, a hundred bundles of broom-sized grass can be sold for two liters of rice, so this is a kind of production.

Mrs. Liu Baochang's stone, of course, cannot hit the mower on the mountain.But she is so well trained that she has two dogs, and when she utters a sharp voice to curse, the two dogs will always run to her side and be at her disposal.She yelled at the mountain and threw stones up the mountain, and the two dogs knew what she was going for, barked, and ran straight to the top of the mountain.The two mowers were firstly afraid of Mr. Liu Baochang and him, and secondly afraid of the two dogs.I had no choice but to carry a shoulder pole, took a sickle, and left quietly.Mrs. Liu Baochang had a smile on her face.She held her head up and scolded up the mountain: "Gui'er, if you don't leave, no one is allowed to cut the grass at my door." She scolded, smiling triumphantly, and walked up to Mrs. Li.Mrs. Li said with a smile: "Chang Baozheng is really a bit dignified. Just now you talked to Mrs. Yuan, what business is it? You said that Mr. Yuan is cheating, what is he talking about?" Mrs. Liu Baochang looked around and said with a smile: "Yuan Wanchang got a woman and rented a house to live in. The woman’s boss is a gatekeeper in the school. Yuan Wanchang eats breakfast at her house every day, and spends most of the day there. It’s either pork or beef. It's a lot of trouble with that woman. Mrs. Yuan's inquiry is true, and she took the whole family to catch the adulterer." Li Nanquan ran out of the room and asked, "Is this true? It's not true, right? Mr. Yuan smokes a cigarette. If he wants to cut it into two halves and share it twice, is he willing to waste it like this?" Mrs. Liu Baochang said: "He has nothing to do with me, why should I talk about him? Mrs. Yuan asked me to inquire about this matter, I Tian Tian saw Yuan Wanchang go to that woman with his own eyes. She has something to eat and clothes, this woman is so comfortable. Guier, you messed with me last year, now let her know how powerful I am!" Li Nanquan said with a smile: "So you were taking revenge on that woman, but you didn't think that Mr. Yuan would be implicated by this matter. You should know that Mr. Yuan has done a long story, and he will do it again in the future. This time You have offended him, next time you have something to do and ask him for help, you will hit his nails." Mrs. Liu Baochang turned her head and said: "Could it be that Yuan Wanchang doesn't listen to his mother-in-law? Mrs. Yuan told me to do this , I should do this. Women always help women." Li Nanquan nodded and smiled: "Yes, I can listen to this." So he said to Mrs. Li: "She can also join your group Of course, there must be a security chief among you." The security chief's wife puffed up her chest and said, "Of course. Ladies, what's the matter..." Before she could finish her sentence, she turned around, He ran quickly and yelled, "Which one is it? I'm hunting pigweed here, Guier, will you go? If you don't go, I will tear your back." It turns out that people in Sichuan raise pigs , in addition to feeding it grains, a large number of food materials are plants that grow in the mountains, which are probably not poisonous, and plants with thicker leaves are available.The old and the weak of the peasant family, regardless of gender, carry a large bamboo sling on their backs every day, hold a sickle in their hands, and look for this plant everywhere.These wild things don't have owners, so those who kill hogweed don't need to ask for permission.At this time, there were three boys and two girls who were cutting pigweed along the sidewalk and passing through the village. Although Mrs. Baochang was here, they never minded.Liu Baochang's house was in the center of the village, so it was inevitable that the grass would be mowed to the door of his house. This Mrs. Liu Baochang thought that this situation was a violation of the prohibition. She ran over in a gust of wind, and her feet and the stone slabs on the sidewalk were in sync. You hunted pigweed and came to Lao Tzu’s door, don’t you recognize me as Liu Baochang?” Among the children who hunted pigweed, there was a dysentery, a newborn calf, who stiffened his neck and said, “Where is there Female security chief? You are the security chief, and I’m not afraid. You didn’t keep the pigweed, but you own the pigweed? It’s not like sending money to kill pigweed, so you can’t control it.” Mrs. Baochang rushed forward, first He kicked the back rope that put him on the ground, rolled down the hillside, and rolled into the ravine, cursing: "Turtle son, you blind your dog eyes, don't you recognize me? If you hit you, you will I recognize Lao Tzu." As he said that, he stretched out his palm and was about to slap him across the face.A few children who were beating hogweed ran away first, and this mangy man, who was lonely, could only run and roll to hide in the ditch like the sling.Mrs. Liu Baochang put her hands on her hips and said, "Turtle son, you don't recognize me, do you recognize me now? I recognize you as the son of Lao Jiang who carried the slippery pole. I will send two of your wives to build the road the next day. You are dead!" Dysentery can’t escape Lao Tzu’s hand. If you argue with Lao Tzu, you will have a mutual cause, that’s a strange thing!” When the people in the village heard the scolding, they all ran out to wait and see. A little dissatisfied.Mr. Wu Chunpu slapped the cattail fan on his thigh, walked slowly in the corridor, and said with a smile: "Being the security chief has such a great prestige, and I will return to my hometown in Shandong to be the security chief. How can there be a security chief in teaching?" What about this authority? Who can keep the weeds in front of the house from being touched?" Li Nanquan said with a smile: "Things are not that simple. For example, you saw how hard Liu Baozhang went to Fang Wanchang's mansion to serve errands. After you saw it once, you didn't want to be the Baozhang anymore." Wu Chunpu said: " Of course, the obligation is equal to the right. If he is not guilty of that crime, where does his wife get such a prestige." Li Nanquan said: "But this is the same thing. The right enjoyed by the wife of the chief security officer today is not I didn’t pay any price. I was the best proportion, lit a vegetable oil lamp, searched my brains, and wrote tomb-like words there. But the lights in this room are brilliant...” Mrs. Li was carrying a vegetable basket, and from the kitchen Come out and go to the street to buy vegetables.Then he threw the empty basket he was carrying, and the basket rolled several times on the ground.She said calmly, "You are here again." She stood and looked at Mr. Li.stare.Li Nanquan smiled and bowed: "This is my mistake, and I will not take it as an example. Fortunately, if I have offended you, you can always forgive me before I say it." Then, he bent down and picked up the vegetable basket on the ground , and handed it over to Mrs. Li.Of course, Mrs. Li was embarrassed to lose her temper again, her complexion calmed down, and she said in a low voice: "Aren't you intentional?" There was no reply to this sentence, and there was a very sharp voice from the neighbor's house next door, calling out: " Got it!" At the same time, he clapped his hands several times.It turned out that it was Mrs. Xi standing under the eaves of her house with a smile on her face, looking here.She is wearing a new outfit today.The upper body is wearing a blue leaked gauze gown.There is nothing unusual about being held up by a white petticoat.It's just that there is a big flower ball hanging on her chest, with a diameter of eight or nine inches.The ball was made of white jasmine flowers, and in the center of the flower, several red flowers were used to make a heart.She held a small floral paper fan with blue fur edges on it, and she opened it and waved it in her hand. After Mrs. Xi had a family problem, she changed her clothes every three days. Everyone thought her behavior was normal and they were not surprised.But such a bouquet hanging in front of the chest is a miracle.Because although there is a market at the foot of the mountain, it is just two small streets, after all, it has a rural atmosphere.It is rare to buy flower balls once or twice a week, and they are just little butterflies of jasmine flowers and small flower rows of two or three white orchids.Flower balls as big as plates are temporarily unavailable except for wedding ceremonies where the bride is custom-made.So Mrs. Li beckoned to her and said, "Come here and let me have a look, it's such a big flower ball." Mrs. Xi laughed and said, "This is made by our shop. Do you like it?" She said, shaking the flower ball. Folding fans with flower handles come slowly.In front of her, she saw two blue fake gemstone earrings hanging on her ears.She wore blue leather shoes.It was the hand-cranked flower fan, with blue feathers around the side of the fan.Then he said with a smile: "Old Xi is too modern. I remember that one or two years before the war, Beijing and Shanghai Zuoxing had such an outfit, from head to toe, all in the same color. If you don't want such an outfit, you still keep it." Mrs. Xi With a proud look on her face, she shook her head slightly and said: "Others fleeing, they don't even want their sons and daughters. I have useful things, and I don't lose them at all. I brought them all together." to the front.This made Mrs. Li see clearly.The bouquet hanging on her chest was not made of jasmine.It is the bathing flower that grows in the courtyard of the people in this village.Northerners call it grass jasmine.In some places, it is called small morning glory.This flower is the cheapest, every day is at dusk, and it blooms for two or three hours, it is something that no one wears at all. Mrs. Li said with a smile: "You know how to innovate, but you actually made use of this bath flower." Mrs. Xi laughed and said, "It's not that I innovate. I see that the color of this flower is beautiful and fragrant, it's just a time to thank you Shorter. It is despised by everyone, it is too wronged. No matter what, someone has to advocate it before it can be noticed. For example, Tao Yuanming loves chrysanthemums, and chrysanthemums are famous. Of course I am nothing. If it is from this time At the beginning, everyone played jasmine with singing and singing. Isn’t it an elegant thing? When I wore this outfit in Nanjing, I always hung a big jasmine ball on the front of my chest. If I didn’t hang a white flower Ball, this blue dress can't stand out. How can I meet a flower seller on this street by chance? I picked a hundred jasmine flowers at the foot of my wall and used thin bamboo slivers. Instead of steel wires, weave these newly bloomed flowers into circles and weave them one by one to form a flower ball." Mrs. Li said: "This small bamboo wire is not easy to find, where do you find it?" This kind of treasure came here? Could it be that it was torn off from the pot brush?" Mrs. Xi blushed and said with a smile: "Then why?" Li Nanquan laughed and said: "Don't look at me, I usually don't say humorous words Speaking of humorous words, it's really interesting." Mrs. Li felt even more embarrassed after he added this, so she took Mrs. Xi's hand and said, "Come on, let's go all the way to the street. You wear She is so beautiful, if you don’t go to Lulu on the street, you will be too wronged with this outfit.” Mrs. Xi laughed and said, “Do you still want to humor me?” Mrs. Li said, “I didn’t humor you. I really feel that way .I think we should let the people behind the Anti-Japanese War know about our costumes when we go down the river. Don’t they have fashion exhibitions in foreign countries?” She said, took Mrs. Xi on her arm and left. Wu Chunpu just smiled, and when Mrs. Xi was far away, he sighed and said: "The country is about to perish, and there must be evildoers." Li Nanquan smiled and said: "My brother is also unforgiving. From her current standpoint, as long as you To win back the husband's favor, to defeat the other's woman, any method can be used, and there is no need to choose. Look at the performance of our Mrs. Yuan, isn't that more straightforward?" Another neighbor, Mr. Zhen Ziming, was on the shelf at this time. Presbyopic glasses, holding an English newspaper, sitting under the eaves of the corridor to read, then raised his head and smiled: "The current situation is so tense, life is so persecuted, and some romantic news to embellish it can also make people feel happy." Take a breath, please?" Wu Chunpu said: "Where did Mr. Zhen find the English newspaper?" Yen Ziming said: "This is the Hong Kong newspaper brought by the foreign devils. Although it has been a week, there are many things in it that we can't see News. Especially the snow-white newspapers, which are so pleasant to the eyes. The newspapers in Chongqing these days are even more outrageous. The paper printed on them is like a god-respecting yellow watch. Advertisements on the back, through the news on the front. The newspaper is not allowed to be folded in the hand, and once folded, there is no way to unfold it. Reading the newspaper means reading the headlines, right? So the more I read this foreign newspaper I've even read all the advertisements." Li Nanquan said: "Is there any news?" He said: "The news is not new, there is a comment on it, he said that China's war of resistance against Japan, at least It will take five years. Only when the U.S. has to fight against Japan will there be hope.” Wu Chunpu shook his head and said, “We have to wait another five years? I can't stand it, today's cheap rice is only enough for one meal." These three neighbors are always like this. When they meet, they have to chat.No matter what the topic of the chat is, it will definitely talk about war, talk about war, that is, talk about life, talk about war, and I have mixed feelings, but there is always the hope that the final victory will belong to me.When it comes to talking about life issues, no one has any ideas, just worrying.As a result, the conversation broke up badly.At this time, Mr. Wu mentioned that the cheap rice was about to run out, and everyone was very distressed by the monthly price increase of rice, so the discussion continued.At this time, on the sidewalk across the river, a few people carrying baskets passed by.Someone sighed and said: "Thousands and tens of thousands of people from Xiajiang came to Sichuan, and the rice is so expensive." Another said: "What's the point? Millions of strong men from Sichuan went to the feet and fought the national war for several years. We just cooperated I read the words in the slogan, "If you have money, you will contribute your money, if you are capable, you will contribute your strength." That's fair. Ge Laozi, people who have no money will pay for their efforts. Rich people neither pay nor contribute. The original man said: "That's the way it is. A man who is a gentry receives hundreds of dans of millet a year, and no one in his family is an official, so no one dares to provoke him. The millet is sold for money, and the man puts on his leather shoes. They wear western clothes, women wear cheongsam, their hair is permed, and their modern reds are rubbed up, they are more modern than the people from Xiajiang who came from Shanghai, and fighting national wars is none of their business." The three men were talking slowly. Walking away slowly, the three professors were fascinated.Wu Chunpu nodded and said: "This statement is very fair and realistic, beyond reproach." The three continued to look at them.But there was something new, they moved their target away, and Mrs. Yuan came back with her family.The child still danced the stick and sang "March of the Volunteers": "Fighting the enemy's artillery fire, go forward, go forward!" Mr. Zhen laughed and said: "What's going on here? They seem to have won a fight and returned to the court?" Li Nanquan said: "That's true. According to the report by Mrs. Liu Baochang just now, this is also a romantic incident. Madam Yuan went straight to the incense nest and returned. "Yen Ziming said: "What? Mr. Yuan, who is so frugal, has sex incidents happen?" Li Nanquan said: "Then it is related to economic issues." Everyone was discussing, Mrs. Yuan had arrived at the door, and Li Nanquan put the The key she deposited was sent over.Looking at her face, it was very natural.And she also showed a very calm look, nodded to Li Nanquan and said: "The weather is still this hot. Mr. Li, get ready. I passed by the street just now, and I got a call from Chongqing, and there is news again." The so-called news back then , It has nothing to do with everything, that is, the enemy's plane has a report flying to Sichuan. In any city with convenient transportation, first you see the citizens busy whispering, and then the whole street people run for a while, that is a sign of news.Later, there was a system of hanging the warning ball, and there was no need for the agency to disclose the news of the enemy plane, and the red ball was simply hung for warning.But before the red ball was hung, there were also cases of enemy planes sneaking in, but it was more difficult to prove that the enemy planes had an attempt to attack Chongqing.Citizens have a long time of experience, and they don't run away if they don't see the red ball, but the word "we have news" must be passed on to acquaintances when they see it.Otherwise, it is the most unfriendly attitude not to tell others when there is news.李南泉笑道：“才晴了半天，敌机就来捣乱。这倒是和米价一样的逼人。”袁太太接了钥匙，已是走向她家的后门去开锁，听了这话，她就回过头来笑道：“李先生，你说的话，也不尽然吧？这社会上是什么样子情形的人都有。有人就在米价大涨的时候反是荒唐起来。米价和空袭都逼不到他的。” 李南泉听她的话音，就知道她是攻击她丈夫的。在这村子里，她和袁先生是一对功利主义的信徒。非常能合作。作邻居两三年并没有看到夫妻俩冲突过。不想她随在奚太太、石太太之后，也突然地变了。这牵涉到人家的家事，当然也就不好跟着说什么。只是微笑着点了点头。约莫是两小时，李先生把作的那篇寿序誊清了一张。正在校阅着笔误，却听到袁太太在窗子外叫了一声。抬头看去，不由得吓了一跳，原来她在很快的时间，已经变了一个人了。首先是她身上穿了一件花绸长衫。乃是红底小白花点子，虽然那衣服不是完全新式样，可是那两只袖子完全去掉了，长衫等于一件长背心。她本来是梳两条辫子以外，并没有在头上另翻花样。现在却是把头顶心里那片黑发，微微地烫了许多层波浪。而在额顶前面，还来了一弯刘海发。本来中年以上的妇人，头上还梳辫子，这是有点过分的装束。但是可这样解释，热天长发披在脑后，很是不舒服，打了辫子把头发规束起来，可以凉快些。至于前额梳刘海发，这可不能那样解释了。而且那件红衫，在这村子里，平常也很少人这样穿起来。警报期间，只有灰绿色是可以随便穿的。白的和红的，绝对为人家所禁止。刚才她说“有了消息”，虽然警报球没有挂起，可能随时都会挂起来，她穿了这样一件颜色鲜明的衣服，那不是有心捣乱？同时，她那向不带颜色的胖脸，这时也抹上了两大片胭脂晕，眉毛画得长长的，像两只爱情之箭，插入了刘海发里面。 李南泉对于袁太太，还不十分熟识。虽然看到她这分奇异的装束，却不敢和她开玩笑，便起身相迎道：“有什么事见教吗？请屋里坐罢。”袁太太在她那木桶似的衣襟胁下，抽出一方紫色的手绢来，在脸腮上轻轻拂拭了两下，将手绢掩了嘴笑道：“没有别的事，还不是那房子。我们干亲家来信，他们不打算搬到这里来住了，让我们把房子转租别人。那么，我们也不能要李先生介绍的那位张玉峰先生久等。他若愿意搬来，就随便哪天搬来罢。房子就是这样算完工了。张先生若是不愿意搬来，我们也不能掐住人家的资本，张先生所付的那笔资本，我们愿原物奉还。”李南泉听到，心想，这是什么意思？人家房子不但没有住而且连什么样子也都没有看见过。现在毫无缘故的，要人家退股，这情理未免欠通。他心里这样想，口里可就是没有把缘故说出来，只是微笑着。所幸李太太和奚太太已一路走了回来。李太太手上提着菜篮子，另一只手拿了手绢擦着额头上的汗。到了走廊上，袁太太道：“李太太自己买菜回来？自己买的菜好，做出来是合口味的。”她先放下了手上的篮子，然后向袁太太注视着，笑道：“我以为是我家又来了贵客了。”奚太太将手上带毛的扇子，远远地指点了袁太太笑道：“好漂亮的衣服，老远就看到这草屋檐下红了半边天。”袁太太提了手绢头，将手绢在空中使劲一摔，表示着不然的意思，笑道：“什么呀！这不过是战前的旧衣服翻出来试试罢了。不穿，放在箱子里也就变坏了。” 奚太太对于这个说法，非常之赞同。她拍了手道：“我就是这个见解。陈丝如烂草。我们这些衣服，老放在箱子里，不但是样子不入时，而且过久了，衣服也会烂了，再说，我们一年比一年老，等到抗战结束了，这些衣服，也许我们不能穿了。”李太太站在走廊中间，向两人看看，一位是红得像个红皮萝卜。一个周身蓝色，像只涂蓝油漆的自来水管子。便笑道：“你们还怕一年比一年老吗？我看起来如花似玉，还正在争奇斗艳的日子呢。你就看我们这位芳邻胸面前挂的花球罢。”说着，他向奚太太身上一指。原来草茉莉这种花，寿命非常之短。就是长在原枝上，它也只能维持一晚和一个早晨，现在把它摘下来，又用锅刷子上的竹丝给它穿编起更是不经事。奚太太要在街上表现这一身衣服，和李太太上了一趟菜市，在大太阳里一晒，花是萎了，颜色是退了，挂在胸前，像只旧了的胭脂扑儿，又像带红色的棉絮团子。这一指，把奚太太提醒了，低头看时，这花球实在不成样子，立刻把它扯着，丢到山沟里去。李太太笑道：“你这就不对了。凡是美人，都应该爱花。贾宝玉把花瓣送到清水沟里去。林黛玉都嫌他不仔细，得亲自把花埋了。你自己亲自佩戴的花球，又是亲手做的，你为什么扔了它？若是选举我们这村子里的皇后，就得在选票上扣你五分。美人的作风……”奚太太捏了个拳头，举将起来，笑道：“老李，你再把话幽默我，我就要揍你了。”袁太太从中叹了口气道：“其实，我们都不爱美。” 李太太笑道：“我这话并不冤枉的。哪个女人都愿意自己作个美人。袁太太为什么发感慨？”她笑道：“说句现成的话，我们这是未能免俗。假如环境可以让我们不俗，我们也落得高雅些。”李太太因为要送菜篮子到厨房里去，却没有追问她环境为什么要她未能免俗。奚太太却引她为新同志，笑道：“袁太太，到我们家坐一会吗？我上次曾请教袁先生，供给我许多法律知识。我也希望你指示我一些法律上的问题。”袁太太一扭头道：“你不要听我们袁先生的话。他自然有一肚子法律知识。可是他这套法律，只能编成讲义，到学校里去教学生。你要他实际引用，那是一团糟。他自己就常常落到法律条文的圈子里去。”李南泉望了她道：“这话怎样解释？”袁太太顿了一顿，笑道：“我也没有法子解释。”她似乎觉得自己失言，拉了奚太太一只手道：“你到我们家去坐坐罢。我有话和你说。”奚太太很欢迎她这个约会。于是一胖一瘦，一红一蓝，两个典型式的太太携手而去。这时，袁家的孩子们，又在开留声机，而且还是那张唯一可听得出来的片子，《洋人大笑》。隔着山溪，发出那带沙沙的笑声，哈哈呵呵，闹成一片。这象征着孩子们必在高兴头上。于是走到廊子的尽头，向那边张望了去。见孩子们手—匕，有的拿着糯米糖，有的拿了把花生米，口里不停地咀嚼着。那个五岁的孩子向一个大孩子道：“我们明天还去打那个女人吗？打了回来，妈妈还给吃的。” 李南泉看了那孩子，将手招招，意思是想他们走了过来，好问他们是什么事高兴。那个吃米糖的孩子，将糖举了起来，向他撅了嘴道：“你想吃我的糖吗？我可不来。”李南泉笑道：“你不来就不来吧。你们到哪里去了？买了这些吃的回来。”那孩子道：“妈妈带我们去打那个骚女人。打赢了回来，我妈妈劳军。”李南泉道：“你们怎样打的？”小孩子笑道：“硬是打得热闹。我们把那屋子里的家私都打烂了，那个骚女人和爸爸都逃了。我拿了棍子，打烂桌上两只碗。我看到那桌上有几只碗，拿了棍子一扫。”说着，他将拿米糖的手，在栏杆上作个扫的姿势。这一下不小心，把手上的米糖，落到山沟里去了。他见这东西丢掉了，“哇”的一声哭了起来。袁太太在屋子里叫道：“你这是怎么回事？”说着，跑了出来。这时，她已不穿红绸衣服了，上身穿了件白布背心，下身穿了绿短裤衩。这在最热的天气，闲居家里的太太，这样的装束，也是常事，倒并没有什么奇怪。令人触目惊心的，却是她将两张纸，贴在胸前背后，上面写着“重庆”，并有三个阿拉伯数码——264。这分明是个运动员上运动场的姿势，为什么这样，这也是未能免俗吗？他正注意着，袁太太一抬头看到了隔溪有人，红了脸笑道：“奚太太高兴起来，要我跟她练运动，索性连运动衣都穿起来了。她说学什么就要像什么。” 李南泉笑道：“我知道，袁太太是减肥运动。我当年为了长得胖的时候，也曾打过太极拳。为了精神贯注，穿起运动衣来，那是非常之对的。”他虽然是这样说了，袁太太究竟不好意思。红着脸进屋子去了。李南泉站在走廊上，为这事出了一会神。这时那丛竹子上，有只秋蝉，正“吱喳吱喳”不断地叫。竹子下有只大雄鸡，雪白的毛，不带一点杂色。头上戴个红冠子，正好相配。偏了头，把一只眼睛向竹子上望着。它那意思，好像是说，你是什么小东西，敢在我头上叫着？于是有几只母鸡，围绕在身边来。那白公鸡斜着身子，弹了两只腿，向母鸡身边靠着。它口里“叽咕叽咕”叫着。那样子，正是它对秋蝉的背面，要对母鸡，卖弄它一身白毛，和那个鲜红的冠子。他又想到，人家说秋蝉的声音是凄惨的，殊不知它也是正在得意。它正是弹了它的翅膀，向雌虫去求爱。世界上只有人和一切动物相反。是女人要美丽去求男人的爱。女人若不美丽。就没有法子控制男人。男人算是和一切动物报复了，他是要女人向他表现美丽的。不像那只大雄鸡去和母鸡表示美丽。假如男人也像大雄鸡一样，必然是人人都得装成戏台上的梅兰芳，那倒是太有趣味了。他想到这有趣的地方，禁不住“哧哧”笑了起来。李太太在屋子里看到，叫道：“你怎么了？一个人对了竹子发笑。” 李南泉笑道：“我为什么笑？我笑这宇宙之间，说什么就有什么。俗语说的返老还童，那倒是真有其事。”李太太道：“你又看见什么了？发这妙论。”李南泉走到家里，悄悄地把所看到的事说了一遍。李太太笑道：“真是事情出乎意料。要说老奚这个人，有点半神经，可以弄成现在这副形像。石太太自负是个妇运健将，就不应当突然摩登起来。至于袁太太那样腰大十围，怎样美得起来？”李南泉笑道：“有志者事竞成，她那大肚囊子，被她一饿二运动，至少是小了一半。”李太太笑道：“还有第三，你不知道呢，她那肚子是把带子活勒小的。我真不懂，为什么那样要美？美了又怎么样？”李南泉道：“你要到了那种境遇，你就知道人为什么要美了。”李太太道：“我决不要美。”她只交待了这几个字。有人叫道：“老李呀，到我家里去吃午饭罢。我家来了女客，请你作陪。”李南泉向外看时，是那位石正山太太。今天换了一件黑拷绸长衫，不是花的了。不过这件黑拷绸长衫，黑得发亮，像是上面抹了一层蜡。这是当年重庆市上最摩登的夏装了。穿这种衣服的人，以白皮肤的人最为适宜。衣服没有袖子，露出两只光膀子。下襟短短的，露出两条光腿。石太太就是这样做的。而且为了黑白分明一点，她赤脚穿了双白皮鞋。李太太笑道：“呵！真美。我忙了一上午，你等我洗把脸，拢拢头发罢。”说着，望了李先生笑道：“我这可不是要美。” 李南泉笑道：“哪个男人，也希望他太太长得美一点。我对此事，并无拖你后腿之意。”他们说着话，石太太也就走近了。她听到李先生的话，就在门口笑道：“谁来拖谁的后腿？”李太太笑道：“我说石太太近来美丽极了。真是那话，'女大十八变'。”石太太伸起手来，遥遥地要作打人的样子，笑道：“作兴这样骂人的吗？”李太太笑道：“你不要忙，让我解释这句话，我以为南泉一定会问我，我为什么就不变呢？”说着，牵着石太太的拷绸长衫下襟，弯着腰看着，笑道：“这实在不错。是新买的料子了。”她笑道：“我钱在手，为什么不花一点呢？以前我是错误，养了一个贼在家里害我。我家的石正山，简直是无法批评的人，说他的中国书，在家乡读过私塾。说他的外国书。在外洋多年。你看，他会在家里做出这种丑事来。”李南泉笑道：“石太太，你又何必看得这样重大。石先生也不过是未能免俗而已。”石太太一摇头道：“不行，这个俗，一定要免。”她那大圆脸，本来是浓浓地抹了两腮的胭脂，这时，却是红上加红，那是有点生气了，李南泉就没有跟着说下去，抬头望了窗子外道：“今日天气很好，恐怕有警报吧？”说着，就搭讪着走到廊子下面去了。石太太在那里看守着李太太化过妆，换过衣服，手拉着手就走出去。她们经过走廊下的时候，并未和李先生打招呼，嘻嘻哈哈，笑着走去，李先生看了这两个人的后影，只是摇头微笑。 李南泉站着出了一会神，自有许多感慨。回到屋子里，见书桌上纸笔还是展开着，于是提起笔来，在白纸上写了一首打油诗：“放眼谁民主？邻家比自由，夫人争试验，聚赌又抽头。”写完了，高声朗诵了两遍，廊子外有人接嘴道：“李先生，你怎么谈这样的新鲜字眼，也不怕犯禁律？”看时，是那位刘副官来了。他左手提着一只酒瓶子，又是一只大荷叶包。看那荷叶上油汁淋淋的，可想里面装的是油鸡卤肉之类的下酒菜。右手拿了根云南藤的手杖。他今天的打扮也不同：穿了一套灰色拍力司的西装，戴着白色的盔形帽，真有点绅士派头。李南泉立刻起身相迎道：“我是久候台光了。这篇序文'昨夜就已经做完。因为自己看着不大如意，今日早起，又重新作了一篇。怕老兄来了，交不出卷子，那可是笑话，因之我花了些本钱，将文字赶起来。”刘副官道：“你花什么本钱呢？”李南泉道：“香烟和茶叶，这都是提神的。”说着，在抽屉里将那张誊清了的寿序稿子交给他。刘副官看到是李先生亲笔写的字，首先点头说了两个“好”字，把稿子向西服口袋里一揣。看到书桌上行书写的那首打油诗，字大如钱。就摇摇头道：“老夫子，你怎么也谈民主？这是摩登字眼，也是骗人的字眼。他妈的，干脆，我只要挣钱发财，管它什么主义不主义！” 李南泉笑道：“你又不做官，你怕什么民主不民主？”刘副官道：“我虽然不做官，我们完长是个大官。口里乱说民主的人，就反对我们完长。老实说，反对我们完长，那就是打碎我们的饭碗。”李南泉道：“老兄一趟昆明，就赚钱无数。你当这个副官，根本是挂个名，你为什么放在心上？我有个朋友，在省政府里当秘书，他就写信问我，为什么不到昆明去玩玩？”刘副官把手上的东西，全都放在茶几上，然后拍着两手，大叫一声道：“这是好机会。”这还不算，他又将帽子揭了下来，笑道：“李先生没事吗？我得和你谈谈。来支好烟。”说着，在衣袋里掏出烟盒子来，反向主人敬烟。他吸着烟，使劲喷出烟来，烟在半空里射出几尺长的箭头子，笑道：“若是云南省府有熟人，那是天字第一号的发财机会。得着一封八行，不但过关过卡，可以省了许多钱，省了许多手续，而且要在昆明买什么东西，都可以找到路子。由重庆带了东西到昆明去，也可以免掉许多地方的检查。你若是愿意去，我陪你走一次，川资不成问题，我和你筹划。你愿坐飞机或者走公路车子，我全可以买到票。”李南泉笑道：“要说对我们这条路线，感到兴趣，或者有之。你完长手下的副官，有中央来人的身份，还要借重地方政府吗？”他笑道：“云南的局面，你还有不知道吗？你真是个书呆子，有朋友在云南政府当秘书，你不去昆明，你在这里穷耗着，可惜可惜！” 李南泉笑道：“不会作生意的人，那总是不会作生意的。现在慢说让我去昆明，我没有办法，你就是让我去黄金岛，见了满地的金，我照样发愁。因为我实在不明白怎样去利用它。”刘副官对主人看看，又对这主人的屋子四周看看，笑道：“唉！你老夫子，实在可以说是安贫乐道。既是这样想法，那就没法子和你说什么了。你不是提到黄金吗？这也就是生意。昆明的黄金，现在比重庆的价钱高，由重庆带了金子到昆明去卖掉，这就大赚其钱。昆明的卢比，比重庆的便宜，你把赚的钱，在昆明买了卢比回来，到了重庆，又可以赚他一笔。带这类东西，还不用你吃力，揣在身上就行。”李南泉笑道：“你说得这样简单，在重庆，到哪里去买金子？在昆明，哪里买卢比，我也全不知道。难道满街去问人吗？”刘副官昂起头长长叹了口气道：“中国就是你们这些念书的人没有办法。”说着，把帽子戴起来，提起酒瓶和荷叶包，就要走去，可是他忽然想起一件事来，然后又把东西放下，向主人笑道：“大概在两个星期以后，我又要到昆明去一趟，你能不能够写一封介绍信，让我认识认识那位秘书？”李南泉道：“朋友介绍朋友，这没有什么不可以。不过在信上，我不便介绍你是作生意的。”刘副官笑道：“那是当然，我不是完长公馆里一名副官吗？我也不能挂出作生意的幌子。我到了昆朝，还是见机行事。”说着，伸出手来，紧紧地握着主人的手，连连摇撼了一阵，笑道：“我拜你作老师，我拜你作老师！”说着，还再三邀李南泉到他家去细谈。 李南泉笑道：“你拜我作老师，你跟我学什么呢？学着我假如有黄金在手上的话，我不知道到哪里去卖？”刘副官点点头笑道：“可不就是这样。因为我太会买会卖了，反是感到许多不方便。”李南泉笑道：“奇谈！会买会卖，反有许多不方便？”刘副官已是把帽子戴起来，将东西提着，作个要走的样子。这就回转身来向他笑道：“这当然是很奇怪。可是说破了，就一点也不奇怪。因为我们总是在外面跑，不发财也带上一种发财的样子，很是让人注意。我们养成了一个坏习惯，有钱在手，就是胡用胡花，你让我们装成那穷样子，可装不出来。没有穷样子，在这抗战期间，那不是好现象。我们住家，又住在这山窝子里，仔细人家吃大户。”李南泉笑道：“你说教人有好本领，我不会。教人作书呆子，我有这点长处，保证作到。”他说着话，将客送到走廊外。刘副官已是走上过山溪的木桥了。他突然又跑回来，低声笑道：“你那位女学生，接受了你的劝告没有？你也是教她作书呆子吗？”李南泉道：“哪个女学生？”刘副官周围看了一看笑道：“你又装傻了。听说杨艳华红鸾星照命，婚姻动了。她和她母亲闹着别扭，不肯嫁。那个茶叶公司的小伙子，风雨无阻，天天向她们家跑。她母亲不是还要你劝劝她吗？”李南泉笑道：“事诚有之。可是人家婚姻大事，我一个事外之人，劝她作什么？”刘副官将酒瓶提起来，高举过了肩膀，笑道：“来，到我家去喝几杯，我和你谈谈这件事。我比什么人都明白。你不劝她，我非常的赞成。” 李南泉看他这副情形，就知道他是什么用意。虽然向他点两点头，当然没有打算去赴约。过了十来分钟，刘副官就派了个小孩子来请，而且还拿了他一张名片来。在名字上面，添着“后学”两个字。在抗战的大后方，纸张已是宝贵的东西。像印名片的洋纸，那价值很是可观的。许多提倡节约的人，收了人家的名片，总是给人家退回去，让人家再用第二次。李先生也有这个习惯。但这张名片，上面已另添了两个字，退回去也已无用。拿了名片，在手上想了一想，于是将名片的反面，楷书了自己的名字，也在名字头上，附添了“愚弟”二字。这就交给那孩子道：“对刘副官说，我在家里等城里来的一个朋友，商量门口这所房子的事情。这事情刘副官也晓得的，你一提他就明白了。”那小孩子举着那张名片向回家路上走，正好邻居吴先生缓缓地走回来。他后面跟着两个孩子，将一根竹棍子，抬了一只斗大的木桶。吴先生左右两手，提着两只大瓦壶。他走在门外桥头上，等后面抬小桶的两个孩子，把瓦壶就放在地上。正好一弯腰，看到那张名片，便笑着“咦”了一声，在小孩子手上接过名片看了一看。因见李南泉站在走廊上，点个头笑道：“老兄想入非非，节约更进一步，许多人利用朋友来信的信封，翻个面写了再寄出去，这已经够程度了。你竟利用到了朋友的名片。”李南泉笑道：“你看，那样好的东西，背面是空白，岂不可惜。” 吴春圃道：“本来这种卡片是多余的。在抗战期间，我们还要什么排场？试用一张草纸，写着自己的名字，人家也不会见笑。”李南泉道：“我连草纸也不用。到什么地方，我也不用名片。”吴春圃笑道：“你节约得不彻底。我是任什么要报门而进的地方，我都不去。朋友介绍的地方，我的口就是名片。自我介绍，报告姓名，我就说口天吴，春夏秋冬的春，花圃的圃。山东济南府历城县人氏。”说着，他来了句戏词：“家住山东历城县。”李南泉笑道：“吴先生真是乐天派。”这时，吴家两个孩子，已经抬了那只木桶过去，原来里面装的是水。他就指着木桶道：“学校里的校工，这两个月又在怠工，不肯送水了。若是临时抓人送水，这价钱是可观的。为了和平抵抗，我就采取了甘地的精神，自己带了孩子们去舀水。除了孩子们的一小桶，我还自己提上两小壶。这样，我一天有三四次跑，就连煮饭和洗衣服的水都有了。这也可以说斯文扫地之一。”李南泉笑道：“老兄，你这精神是够伟大，我非常之佩服。不过身体是太苦了。我们耍笔杆儿的，根本就没有力气可言，再加上营养不够。这条身子，就有点支持不住，若是再找些柴米油盐的事，加重我们这条身子的疲劳负担，来个竭泽而渔的手腕，把这条身子弄得油干火净，将来抗战结束，连回家的一条穷命都没有了，这是不是合算，也很可考虑吧？” 吴先生笑道：“人身是贱骨头，越磨炼他就越结实。水呢，倒不要紧，这两天的校米没有发下来，我全是在朋友家里借米来吃。谁家有富余的米？老借人家的米，这也不是办法。”说着，他家的两个孩子，全走了过来，每个人提着一瓦壶水走了。吴先生也不拦他们，继续向李南泉说话。他笑道：“我不怕饿，不怕渴，更不怕累，我就是不愿精神受痛苦。现在社会把我们当先生的人，看成什么材料了？什么都不给也罢了。瞧着我们穿了这一身破烂，好像我们身上有传染病，远远地离着我们。掏出钱来买东西，多还一声价钱，他脸上那分难看，就不能形容了。”说着，又唱了一句摇板：“好汉无钱到处难。”他唱时，还摇着脑袋。李南泉笑道：“吴先生今天和《卖马》干上了。”他笑道：“我现在还不是被困天堂县的秦叔宝吗？我正打算把我一套测量仪器卖了它。可是拿出来看看，我觉得仪器上画的每一个度数，都有我的心血在里面，实在舍不得……”他正要向下说，吴太太在身后插言道：“俺说，伲又拉呱拉上了。那一小桶带两壶水，够作什么用的，伲还去掮两桶水来是正理。站在这里念穷经，天上会掉下馅儿饼来咱过日子？”说时，她正用一只大竹筛子，端了平价米出来。米是黄黄的，谷子占有百分之二十的成分，掺杂在米里。她将两足青布褂子的袖口，卷得高高的，正是有个筛米的样子。 李南泉道：“吴太太还有这份能耐。”她两手端了筛子，站在廊沿下，伸手将筛子播弄着。那米在筛子里打着旋转，