Chapter 19 Sadly ended

Mrs. Tan did not sleep well last night, and the quarrel in the Wang residence disturbed her mind.She looked at her watch, it was half past three in the afternoon.She decided to go to her brother-in-law's house to see how things were going.She thought, it's time for Wang Qiyang to get up now.She never takes a nap, and Wang Zhai's nap habit annoys her.She waited for more than twenty minutes before leaving. She hoped that when she arrived at the palace, Wang Qiyang would have fully woken up. It was a misty afternoon, and everything seemed a little hazy.A foghorn beeped in the far bay.The sound of foghorns always oppressed Mrs. Tam, who liked the thunderous roar of jet planes no matter the time of day, although it was not very pleasant, at least it was an indicator of good weather.She couldn't understand why people made the sound of foghorns so melancholy. Bad weather was melancholy enough.

"Hello, Mrs. Tan!" As soon as she arrived at the palace, Mama Liu went up to greet her. "So-so," said Mrs. Tan. "Pour me some hot tea. Oh, it's so cold in the afternoon, it's disgusting." "Yes, ma'am." Mrs. Tan walked into the middle hall, and saw Wang Shan who was being punished to stand at first sight, which made her already depressed even more depressed.The child was standing sluggishly by a corner, facing the wall, obviously suffering from the torture of standing for a long time. "Hello," Mrs. Tan asked, frowning, "you can't recite the books of Confucius again?"

"No, Auntie." Wang Shan replied, dangling his legs uncomfortably. "Then why are you standing there? Doing gymnastics?" "No, aunt. The gilt clock is gone." Mrs. Tan instinctively glanced at the altar.When she saw that her sister's clock was no longer there, she felt like being scratched.She covered her mouth with her hands and walked up to Wang Shan, and asked Wang Shan: "You useless bastard, how can you steal your family's heirloom?" "I didn't steal." "Who else has the guts to touch that gilded clock. You're the only known thief in the family. Tell me where you sold it?"

"I didn't sell it." "You must have sold it to some greedy pawnbroker in Kearney Street. Listen, if you tell me the truth, I can make your father lessen your fine for a while." "I didn't steal it." Wang Shan said. "Wang Shan," Mrs. Tan said angrily, "I'm really ashamed, how my sister brought you into this world. You not only steal, but you also lie! You are really embarrassing to the Wang residence!" She opened her handbag, took out a five-dollar bill, and shook it in front of Wang Shan's face. "Look here, it's five dollars. If you tell the truth, it's yours; if you don't, it goes right back into my pocket. Even if your father makes you stand here for three For three days and nights, neither food nor drink will be given, and you don't expect me to say a word of love for you."

She looked at Wang Shan expectantly.Wang Shan looked at the banknotes and swallowed hard, apparently engaged in an ideological struggle.After a fierce ideological struggle, he finally successfully resisted the temptation of the devil. "I didn't steal it." Finished.Just turn your head away. Mrs. Tan threw the banknotes back into her handbag and closed the handbag with a "snap". "Incurable," she said. "Standing is too polite of you. If your mother were alive, she'd make you kneel on the washboard instead of standing on the floor." She said angrily Go to the kang and sit down.Mama Liu entered the central hall with a pot of hot tea. "Has Master gotten up yet?" Mrs. Tan asked Mama Liu.

"Master didn't take a nap today." Liu Ma answered while serving tea, "He was very upset because of the clock." "Tell me, when was the clock stolen?" "I don't know, ma'am." Liu Ma said, "I can't figure out who would dare to steal the clock. The master thinks it must be Wang Shan who did it, but I don't think so." "Why don't you think that way?" "There are so many people coming in and out. Who dares to say whose hands are clean and whose heart is not black?" She glanced at each door, approached Mrs. Tan and whispered: "Madam, you Do you know what Liu Long saw the day before yesterday? He saw two people whispering in the backyard, and then entered this central hall."

"Who are those two people?" "Liu Long said it was too dark, but one of them looked like an old man, and the other looked like a girl." She poured some more tea into Mrs. Tan's cup, and said, "But I don't think that's the case." Mrs. Tan picked up the tea, sipped it slowly, then nodded thoughtfully, "Well, well, it's very possible." "I told Liu Long," Liu Ma whispered excitedly, "they have enough to eat here, why bother to steal the clock? Liu Long said, maybe they are used to borrowing other people's things at night. He said A lot of people are like that, when they see something valuable, their hands start to itch."

"Perhaps Liu Long is right." Mrs. Tan nodded. "Ma'am, do you know what else Liu Long saw? He saw that beggar girl hiding something this morning. Do you know what it is? It's the young master's foreign pen!" "What? Did Liu Long really see that pen in that girl's hand?" "Madam, don't look at Liu Long's ears are as deaf as a stone, but his eyes are as sharp as the eyes of an eagle." Mrs. Tan slammed the teacup on the table, "Yes, that girl must have stolen the clock!" "Ma'am," Liu Ma whispered, "don't tell anyone that Liu Long saw those things. In the ear of that crafty old man, God knows what kind of poison he will put in Liu Long's tea. I have already told Liu Long to hide our money, put another lock on the box, and don't talk nonsense."

"I have known for a long time that these people cannot be trusted." Mrs. Tan said, "but the master just won't listen to me." "While you're here, ma'am, you'd better look after your own valuables. I still think the old man has some black art. He can move things without touching them at all." "Nonsense, there is no such thing." Mrs. Tan said.However, she still moved her handbag from under the Kang table to her lap. "Mother Liu, check everything in the house to see if there are other things missing." "Yes. Ma'am. I'll check it right away. Liu Long said that the beggar girl hid her package under the bed and covered it with a blanket. One day I will check her package. Who knows if the clock is hidden In her package?"

"Go and invite the master here." "Yes, ma'am." After Mama Liu left, Mrs. Tan lit a cigarette and smoked heavily.Of all crimes, she hated stealing the most.She's determined to catch the thief and get her sister's clock back, even if it means hiring all of San Francisco's private detectives.She wasn't so sure that Li Mei stole the clock, she thought the smiling old man Li looked more like a thief.But in any case, she can't condemn anyone without proof.Wang Da's pen will be in Li Mei's hands, she thought, that's something worth studying.

Wang Qiyang coughed and entered the middle hall.Mrs. Tan omitted the usual polite words and expressed her grief directly, "Brother-in-law, I am shocked to hear that my sister's gilded clock has been stolen." "Being born to such an unfilial son as Wang Shan is God's punishment for me." Wang Qiyang said, sitting on the kang with a long sigh. "He can't memorize a single word of Confucius's book. He stole the fruit for the old birthday man, and now he has the audacity to steal a family heirloom." "Brother-in-law, it is an unforgivable mistake to punish the innocent or to reward the villain. I have just questioned the boy, and I found his answer so firm that he does not know where the clock has gone, so I suspect that the real thief is not he. " "For fifty years, not a single piece of straw in the palace has been stolen." Wang Qiyang said, sighing again, "Since having this unfilial son, things have often disappeared without a trace. .Who else would steal a clock but him?" "I'm going to tell you something, but your prejudice may make you not believe it," said Mrs. Tan solemnly, pointing her ivory cigarette holder at her brother-in-law, "but it's true. You hired The servant girl stole Wang Da's gold pen. Liu Long saw the gold pen. Although he was deaf, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He also noticed that the package that the girl hid under the bed was covered by a blanket. Brother-in-law, there will come a day when your house will be plundered by thieves, but you are still punishing your son for stealing!" She looked at Wang Shan and shook her head sadly. Wang Qiyang got up from the kang, went to the door and shouted: "Old man Li! Old man Li, Li Mei, please come here!" "I said brother-in-law," Mrs. Tan said, "you'd better call everyone. That's the proper way to interrogate a suspect." "Liu Ma, Liu Long, Lao Feng," Master Wang called, "you all come here!" "Didn't I warn you before?" said Mrs. Tam. "Now you see what's going on! One misfortune after another." "All these troubles were brought into the family by Wang Da." Master Wang said angrily, "Except for his unfilial son, there is no one to blame." When he returned to the kang, old man Li and Li Mei hurried From the backyard to the middle hall. "Did you call us? Mr. Wang." Old man Li asked. "Yes." Wang Qiyang said, "Did you know that the late lady's gold-plated clock was stolen?" "Mother Liu told us." Old man Li said, "I feel sorry for the thief. He actually stole under the eyes of the old birthday man. Even if he can escape the punishment of the law, he will not escape the punishment of God." "When was the last time you saw the clock?" Master Wang asked. "Oh, it's hard for me to say exactly when the last time I saw the clock." Old man Li said, "You know, I never look at the clock. For me, the sun and the moon are enough. Besides, I I also don't recognize the strange symbol on the clock. Li Mei, when was the last time you saw it?" "I saw it the day before yesterday," Li Mei said, "and I also wound it." "Do you wind it every morning?" asked Mrs. Tam. "Didn't you notice the clock was missing yesterday?" "Found it. But I thought Master Wang took it away from here. It's not safe to put the gold-plated clock in the atrium..." "Mother Liu!" Mrs. Tan shouted towards the door, "What are you doing standing there? Master told you to come here, come here!" Mama Liu pushed her husband out from behind the door. "You coward!" She said while pushing Liu Long to the middle hall, "You are not a thief, why are you so afraid? Go in, go in!" "Where's the cook?" asked Mrs. Tan. "The cook is out shopping." Liu Ma replied. "Mother Liu," Master Wang asked, "when was the last time you saw the clock?" "It was there yesterday." After Liu Ma finished speaking, she hurriedly added, "Liu Long saw it too. Didn't you see it, Liu Long? He did. He said that the clock must have been stolen at night." "Brother-in-law," said Mrs. Tan, "if the clock was stolen at night, the thief could not have come from outside, for the doors were locked and the windows were not broken, and no one heard anything." "Did any of you hear anything at night?" Master Wang asked. For a long time, no one said anything. "I didn't hear anything." Old man Li said, "Li Mei, did you hear that?" "No." Li Mei replied. "I didn't hear that either." Mama Liu said hastily, "I always sleep like a dead dog, even Liu Long's snoring can't wake me up." "Wang Shan," Master Wang asked, "did you hear anything?" "No!" Wang Shan replied in English, but he immediately realized his mistake and quickly replied in Chinese, "No." "That's the only Chinese you can speak now, isn't it?" Wang Qiyang said angrily, "Now, get out!" Wang Shan's heart at this moment has already flown to the Chinese stadium on Sacramento Avenue, he is like He rushed out the door like a wild horse. "Brother-in-law, you don't need to say any more, the thief is definitely not from outside." "Mother Liu," Wang Qiyang said, "you have worked in my house for more than 20 years. Except for some fruits and pastries being stolen by mice, such a thing has never happened in Wang's house, so I believe you will not do it suddenly. What an ungrateful and embarrassing thing. And your husband Liu Long, deaf as a stone, has no ability to be a burglar. Now I want you to tell me who the thief is." "Liu Long said that last night he saw the figure of a girl talking to another person in the backyard." After Liu's mother finished speaking, she immediately added, "But I was sleeping at that time." "Li Mei, is that girl you?" Old man Li asked. "Yes." Li Mei said, "Dad, why did you forget? You are watching the moon in the backyard with me, and you are telling me about flowers..." "Mother Liu," said Mrs. Tan, "tell Master everything Liu Long saw." "Liu Long said that it was very dark last night and there was no moon at all. He said he saw two people whispering and then slipped into the middle hall." She turned and shouted to Liu Long: "Why are you so scared? No one would Give you poison!" "Ok……" "Oh, shut your mouth!" Mama Liu shouted. "Then, if he sees two people talking," Old Man Li said, "it's me and Li Mei. If he sees two people muttering, it must be someone else, because we never mutter." "Only people with evil intentions whisper," Li Mei said. "My dad and I have no evil intentions, so we always talk loudly." "You yellow-haired girl," said Mrs. Tan, "it's ridiculous to cover up your secret by talking so loudly and so frankly. Is it true that you have been seen to have a gold pen?" "It's true, it was given to me by Mr. Wang." "Mrs. Tan," Old Man Li said, "please let me interject. Li Mei and I are both honest country people. Although we are poor, even if there is a gold brick on the side of the road, we will not take a second look. Even if we starved to death, we would not touch a grain of rice in someone else's rice bowl..." "Old man," said Mrs. Tan, "I have never wronged a person in my life. Punishing evil and promoting good is always my creed. If you are innocent, you have nothing to fear. Brother-in-law, I suggest we check them package. That's the only way to tell." "You can't check our packages!" Li Mei protested. "Mrs. Tan," said old man Li, "my daughter and I came here, and Mr. Wang invited us in. We are not here to steal. It is a great insult to check a person's package. We are poor , but we have dignity, and we value our dignity far more than you love your heirlooms, so you cannot inspect our packages." "Did you see that?" Mrs. Tan nodded meaningfully to her brother-in-law, "They refuse you to check their packages." "You have no right to check our packages!" Li Mei shouted, "None of you have the right to check our packages!" "Young girl," said Mrs. Tan sharply, "no one can speak so freely in this house!" "Li Mei, calm down." Old man Li patted Li Mei's shoulder and said, "Calm down." "Old man Li," Wang Qiyang said, "you and your daughter look like honest people. I have always believed in you and treated you well. But, in the end, you are strangers brought back from the street by my son. I don't know anything about your background or past, so it is reasonable for us to suspect you. If you are as innocent as you appear, you should not shy away from inspection. Now, here is a good opportunity to prove your innocence. Put you bring us the package from , and let us have a look. If we don't find anything that doesn't belong to you, I'll give you twenty dollars as compensation, and I won't let anyone say another word about it, so you won't lose yours dignity……" At this time, Wang Da returned home.He was a little surprised by this unexpected gathering in the atrium, but he was glad because he had something to say and wanted everyone to hear it, especially his father.He went directly to Li Mei, took her hand and said, "Li Mei, Pastor Han of the Presbyterian Church has agreed to witness our marriage, and I will lead you to apply for marriage registration." The news was so shocking that everyone in the hall was stunned. For a while, no one could speak. Finally, it was Mrs. Tan who spoke first, and she said, "Are you sick?" , Wang Da?" "Auntie," Wang Da said to Mrs. Tan in a polite tone, "I have already decided to marry Li Mei. From now on, please don't bother me about finding a wife..." "Madman," his aunt interrupted angrily, "you don't know what's going on here?" Wang Da glanced at everyone, "What happened?" "Your mother's gilded clock has been stolen. We are trying to find the thief." "Big," Li Mei said, "they suspect that my father and I stole the clock because someone saw me using your pen." "Father, this is really ridiculous." Wang said angrily, "That pen was a gift I gave her two weeks ago..." "Have you seen it?" Old man Li said triumphantly, "Did my daughter steal the pen? Did she steal it? Mr. Wang, now they want to search our package and find the clock inside!" "Father, how could you frame someone as a thief without evidence!" "We are trying to find evidence." Wang Qiyang interrupted him sternly, "I am the head of the family! I want to check their packages, and no one can stop me! Liu Ma, go and get their packages here !" "Wang Da," said Mrs. Tan, "why can't you respect your father like a well-bred son? Your mother always believed in traditional virtues, especially filial piety..." "Li Mei," Wang Da said, "I'm sure you didn't steal the clock. So what if you let them check your package. My package has been checked by customs officials more than ten times. No matter where I go Where, they always suspected that I was a smuggler..." "Mother Liu," Wang Qiyang shouted, "Did you hear what I said? Go and get their packages!" Mama Liu turned to old man Li and said, "Old man, you'd better go with me. I never touch other people's things when no one else is present." "You don't need to touch it," said old man Li, "we'll bring it here ourselves. You just follow along and keep your eyes open for us. Li Mei, Mr. Wang is right, let them check So what, shh! Our old ancestors said it well, don't do anything wrong, don't be afraid of ghosts calling your door. Let's go, Li Mei." He walked upstairs, and Li Mei followed behind him.Mama Liu turned around and followed them.But suddenly I remembered my husband. "Liu Long, follow me." "Ok……" "Follow me, you lazybones!" She roared, pushing Liu Long upstairs. "Father," Wang Da said, "the act of wronging the innocent is worse than stealing. This is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened in our house." "This is my decision." Wang Qiyang said, "I suspect them, so I want to check their packages, that's all!" "I really don't understand you, Dad. You like them, you treat them well, and now you suddenly think they're thieves, and ruin the good intentions and friendships you've built." "Don't use the word 'friendship.' I never intended to have a friendship with them, and I don't need any friendship between them and me." "Wang Da," Mrs. Tan scolded, "if your mother is still alive and sees you like this, she really wouldn't believe that she gave birth to such a disobedient son. How did you become like this? I really don't know understand why." "Maybe I've gotten wiser because I can't stand all this banal..." "Listen, listen." Mrs. Tan interrupted him, "Your father and I have lived more than thirty years longer than you, no matter how rigid we are, our judgment and wisdom are still much stronger than yours. Take choosing a daughter-in-law as an example, you have no experience living with women at all, how could you find a better girl than us?" "That's your opinion, Auntie." Wang Da said, turning away from Auntie. "Listen to me!" Mrs. Tan said angrily, "Your father and I will find you a good girl that you will never find yourself, but you don't believe us and refuse this marriage by yourself, throwing away your future and happiness Throw it into the mire. Now you are going to marry a maid you picked up from the street and ruin your life..." "Enough, Auntie," Wang Da said, "can you stop finding a good wife for me, I can arrange my life perfectly. You and my dad have arranged the first part of my life for me, now I don't understand , why don't I have the right to arrange the second part of my life for myself..." "We don't have time to discuss your life right now," his father interrupted. "We're busy looking for your mother's gilded clock, which is far more precious than your worthless life!" Until old man Li and Li Mei returned to the central hall with their packages, none of them spoke again.Liu Ma and Liu Long closely followed Old Man Li and the others.Old man Li threw his broken travel bag in front of Wang Qiyang and said: "All my belongings are in this bag. I haven't moved a single thing. Liu Long can be a witness for me. If you are not afraid of getting dirty If it’s your hand, please check it.” "Liu Long," Master Wang said, "take out everything in the bag." "Ok?" "Master told you to pour out everything in that broken bag." Liu Ma shouted into her husband's ear. "Oh." After hearing this, he picked up the package and threw it on the ground.Old man Li's gong, leather whip, fake beard and a few ragged clothes fell on the floor.Mrs. Tan fiddled with her feet to check the contents of the bag. "Look at my pocket again." Old man Li said.Rummaging hastily in his pockets, he produced a handkerchief, an old wallet, his flagon, and a few trifles of value.He put them on the floor and searched himself again. "This is my top, and there's nothing hidden in it." He took off his top, shook it a few times like a magician, then threw it on the floor, and began to fumble for his shirt and pants again. "I have nothing hidden in my shirt, nothing in my trousers, nothing in my shoes..." "That's enough." Master Wang said, "Mother Liu, take out the things in that girl's bag." Liu Ma turned to Li Mei and said, "Before I touch your bag, please tell the master that I haven't touched your things. Don't wait until after the inspection, tell me that something in your bag is missing." "Please don't worry." Li Mei shot back at her. "Even if you steal all my things, I don't care. You can steal what you want, as you like. But you can't steal my conscience!" "We don't have time to listen to your bickering." Wang Qiyang said, "Mother Liu, pour out the contents of the bag." "Yes, master." Liu Ma picked up Li Mei's bag, turned it upside down and shook it vigorously.First, a few small objects were shaken out - a few combs, a hand mirror, a few bottles of perfume, shoes and towels, then her flower drum, her clothes, and finally a clock, rolling on the ground, falling At the feet of Master Wang.Mrs. Tan immediately jumped off the kang to pick up the clock. "Look, brother-in-law!" she cried. "Look, everybody! What's this? Who in the house didn't see the clock fall out of this girl's bag?" Wang Da was astonished. He quickly glanced at Li Mei who was staring blankly at the clock in Mrs. Tan's hand. "No, no!" Li Mei shouted suddenly, "I didn't steal..." "Girl," Master Wang said solemnly, "you stole the clock, what else can cover up your crime now!" "I swear I didn't steal it!" Li Mei said, "Someone else stole it! Someone else stole it and put it in my bag!" "You're talking nonsense!" Mama Liu said, "Could it be that the thief stole the valuable gold-plated clock and gave it to you? How can there be such a fool? Master, no wonder she won't let us check her package!" "I didn't steal! I swear to God I didn't steal..." "Well," said Mrs. Tam, "if you insist that you didn't steal, we'll call the police and they'll question you. You can prove your innocence to them..." "Ma'am, ma'am," the terrified old man Li said hastily, "do whatever you want, don't call foreign police! We don't speak foreign languages, they won't understand us, and they will deport us! Li Mei, no matter what crime people put on you, it is only a few dirty clothes on your body, and a pure conscience is the most important." He turned to Wang Qiyang and said: "Mr. Wang, Mr. For heaven's sake, God has eyes. My daughter never touches anything that doesn't belong to her. Her heart is as clear as dew on a lotus leaf. Now that you found the clock in her package, you can use the tip of a knife Pointing to her throat. For a helpless girl, there's nothing she can do but surrender herself to your kindness." After a bow, he began to collect his own things scattered on the floor, Pack them in your bag.Li Mei covered her face with her hands and sobbed. "I said brother-in-law," Mrs. Tan said, "stealing is a crime that cannot be tolerated." "Father," Wang Da said, "we are all from mainland China. Please be reasonable. You don't have to force them to be deported because of a dilapidated old clock." "Shut up!" Master Wang said angrily, "You still have the face to defend them? You caused me all these troubles! Old man Li, you and your daughter are ungrateful and entrapped the master. I can call the foreign police Come on, deport you, but I'm not that hard-hearted. Now, pack your bags and go, stay away from Chinatown." "Mr. Wang," said old man Li, "we will never approach this city again, even if you invite us to come with a sedan chair and firecrackers, we will not come, boo!" The daughter said, "Li Mei, let's go. Let's go back to Los Angeles." Li Mei whimpered and put her things back into her bag.After she tied up her package, she took out a pen from her chest, "Mr. Wang, this is your pen, I will return it to you." "Take it and use it," Wang Da said. Li Mei stared at Wang Da, her lips were trembling.Tears welled up in his eyes again.Suddenly, she rushed to the table, threw the pen on the table, grabbed her package, and ran out of the room crying. "Mr. Wang," old man Li said to Wang Da, "thank you for inviting us to live with you, but it will take at least a few months for the insult we have received in this house to fade away, and my daughter It may take years for your broken hearts to heal." He threw his bag over his shoulder and staggered out of the room. Panting heavily, Liu Long watched Old Man Li go out, and then turned to Wang Qiyang to say something, but his tongue seemed to be tied.So he gave up trying to speak and rushed out the front door. "What's the matter with him?" Mrs. Tan asked in bewilderment. "Leave him alone, ma'am," Liu Ma said, "he's bewitched by that old man." "I said brother-in-law," said Mrs. Tan, "now you see how dangerous it is to bring strangers into your home. I hope this incident can teach you a lesson." "Ma'am." Liu Ma said, "I have long seen that they look like thieves. Didn't I tell you before? Their sneaky appearance and whispering demeanor have long made me feel that they are planning to steal. I told you, sir, that no one could take a speck of dust from this house if I were to keep watch." "The clock is back." Wang Qiyang said, "this unpleasant incident is over. From now on, no one should mention this incident to me again. Wang Da, I want to tell you clearly that this is My home, no one can invite others to live here without my permission..." Before he finished speaking, Liu Long came back in a hurry.He looked more relaxed than before, he walked towards Wang Qiyang, but his tongue seemed to be tied again, and he didn't make a sound for a long time. "Liu Long," Mrs. Tan said, "do you have anything to say?" "What do you want?" Liu Ma shouted, "Hey, you lazy bastard, get out and find a job!" She pushed Liu Long to the kitchen while shouting, "Get out!" "Master...Old...Master!" Liu Long said, "That girl didn't...she didn't..." "Get out! Get out!" Mama Liu shouted angrily, pushing him away. Wang Da immediately stood between them. "Mother Liu, let him stay here! Liu Long, what did you say just now?" "She didn't steal the clock." Liu Long said with a trembling voice, "Mother Liu stole it. She stole it and put it in..." "Shut up!" Mama Liu yelled, "You ungrateful old bastard, are you sick?" "Let him finish!" Wang Da said sternly. "She stole it." Liu Long said, "She asked me to put it in old man Li's bag, but I didn't. She..." Liu Ma grabbed him and slapped him. "Shut up, you old bastard! Oh, sir, the deaf old tortoise is sick, he must be fascinated by that old man..." "Master...Master," Liu Long said desperately, "She put the clock in the girl's package. She did it! She did it!" "Get out! You old bastard!" Mama Liu shouted while slapping him, "Get out!" At this time, Wang Da took out a bamboo stick from the back of the kang.He handed the bamboo stick into Liu Long's hand and said, "Liu Long, give your wife a good beat! Beat her!" Liu Long grabbed the bamboo stick, and a ferocious expression suddenly appeared on his face.Liu Ma backed away from him. "What do you want to do? I think you dare to touch me, I think you dare..." Liu Long stepped forward and beat his wife with a bamboo stick.At first Liu Ma tried to fight back, but Liu Long beat him so violently that she finally retreated towards the door, screaming and cursing.Liu Long chased her and beat her to the backyard. After a while, only the sound of whipping could be heard. "Wang Da," Mrs. Tan said, "hurry over there, don't let that bastard beat his wife again." "To stop him? No!" Wang Da said, "This is the first time that bamboo stick has been used properly." After speaking, he hurriedly left the central hall. Liu Long's slapping and Liu's mother's screaming continued.Mrs. Tan got up from the kang and went to the ground, pacing up and down in the middle hall nervously. "I said brother-in-law, this is the scariest thing I've ever seen. Watching a man beat his wife like a wild dog..." Master Wang poured himself a cup of tea, and said slowly: "This is his own privilege, and I have no reason to interfere with him." "This is your home," said Mrs. Tan. "Such a scandal will spread throughout Chinatown in two days. Think about your reputation, my brother-in-law." "I have always valued my reputation above all else." Wang Qiyang said seriously, "but today, I began to feel that my reputation is like an artificial flower. I am wondering if it is so worth it care." "What made you so pessimistic? Why did you suddenly change everything?" "My wife and sister," Wang Qiyang said with a long sigh, "you are my closest relative, let me tell you straight. I have done many wrong things in my life, but I can always try to make up for them. Come here. Many people believe that I am a perfect gentleman, no matter in thought or behavior. However, some words that old man Li said today reminded me. Wife and sister, if a person can be like old man Li, May be happier, wearing sacks but having a pure conscience." "Oh," said Mrs. Tan, fanning herself quickly with a handkerchief, "now you can't wait to be in that old man's situation. You really have changed!" Suddenly, she saw Wang Da carrying his suitcase and coat Walk down the stairs. "What? Where are you going?" Wang Da walked into the middle hall and said, "Father, I have to go." "Don't be stupid, Wang Da," said Mrs. Tan. "I've made up my mind that it's better for me to live independently." Wang Da said, "Please don't try to stop me." "Where are you going?" Wang Qiyang asked with a cough. "I'm going to find old man Li Mei and join them. I'm going to tell them that we are the real thieves who stole their happiness. I'm going to beg their forgiveness and ask Li Mei if she will still考虑嫁给我……” “噢，不要再讲这些疯话了。”谭太太说，“我简直受不了你的这种胡说八道！” “姨妈，你用不着再忍受了，因为我再也不会见到你了。坦白地说，我讨厌这个家，讨厌这里的每一个人！” “滚出去！”王老爷气愤地说。 “最后奉劝你一句，爸爸。不论是在待人处世或是生理上你都'病'了，如果你仍然坚持己见，你将……” “我不要听你的劝告，”他父亲吼道，“你去挨饿吧！我很高兴你能让我在这里享受几年清静日子！你永远不要再回来了，你这忘恩负义的逆子！” 王大急急忙忙冲出房间，“砰”的一声把前门关上。当王戚扬的咳嗽减弱的时候，他马上转身痛哭着对小姨子说：“妻妹，你去找找，看看他到哪儿去了。” “他哪儿也不会去。”谭太太说，“如果他不想回到这里来，他就会和我住在一起。”她抓起手袋就走了。 王老爷喃喃自语地呻吟了一阵儿，喝了一口茶水，平息了一下仍然发痒的喉咙，然后在炕上安静地坐了一会儿。蓦然间，一种难以忍受的孤独袭上他的心头。他觉得自己正独自坐在汪洋里的一只小船上，视野里看不见一块土地，一团团浓密的乌云压顶而来。他不知道，因为李老头、李梅和王大一走，家里竟然会这么空荡和凄凉，就像没有尽头的海洋一样令人恐怖。他打了一个冷战，赶紧从炕上下来，走回自己的房间。 他不知道为什么自己的卧室现在看上去也像荒漠一样。以前它一直充满惬意和温暖，使他在那里备感安全和舒适，可是现在它就像另一片孤独的海洋，屋里的每一件东西都提醒他自己是多么的凄凉。在他这把年纪，他应该生活在儿孙满堂的大家庭里。不是他喜欢有许多饶舌的亲戚来他这里喋喋不休，也不是他喜欢一拨拨的孩子在自己的屋里踉踉跄跄地出出进进，而是他需要感觉到自己并不孤独，需要一种置身于亲骨肉绕膝之中的感觉。隔壁房间婴儿的啼哭声，十几岁的女儿的朗朗笑声，妻子的责骂声，甚至两个儿媳妇的吵架声，都可以给一个家庭增添生气和温暖的气氛，这种氛围对他这样年纪的男人来说更为必要。 有好一阵儿，他坐在桌旁，让这种可怕的孤独啃啮着自己。当他感到实在不能再忍受的时候，他就拿出毛笔和宣纸，练习起书法来。如果还是不起作用。他就试图去照料盆景，但这种排遣方式仍然只能加重他的忧郁。他必须采取一些积极的措施，把自己从这种压抑中释放出来。 他再次走出卧室的时候，正碰上谭太太回到家中。“他走了。”谭太太一边用手帕给自己扇着，一边上气不接下气地说，“他想和一位朋友一起去做杂货生意。他简直和你一模一样，也是那么固执。你要出去吗，姐夫？” “是的。”王戚扬一边往头上戴帽子一边回答，“我要到他提起过的那个外国教堂去见韩牧师。” “见他干什么？” “你以为那个神经病能够挣钱养活一个老人和一位女孩？如果我不想些办法把这个给他，没几个星期他们都会被饿死。”他给小姨子看了看他刚才签好的一张支票。 “什么？五千美元？”谭太太皱着眉头说，“他会把它扔到阴沟里去。哦，姐夫，他不是要你的钱。他不是说过自己想要独立吗？他就是要做杂货生意。你最好把这张支票撕掉，免得它落在别人手中。” “也许你是对的。”过了一会儿，王戚扬一边撕支票一边说，“他似乎对我的钱充满仇恨。但我应该给韩牧师留些钱，以备他们结婚时用。我不想让他们的婚礼显得太寒酸。” “唉，王大会自己照顾自己。也许他根本不会再去见韩牧师。他正急着去和洛杉矶的一个朋友一起去做杂货生意呢。”她停下手中正在扇着的手帕，一本正经地问道：“你真的同意这桩亲事吗？” “坦率地对你说，妻妹。”王戚扬说，“当那个逆子说他要去问李梅是否还愿意嫁给他时，我真有点高兴。” “噢，你真是脱胎换骨了，我的姐夫。”谭太太叹道。现在她意识到，她最喜欢的外甥王大已经发誓永远不再回来，她在精神上感受到一种极度的折磨。尽管他说从现在起拒绝与她有任何往来，但她还是非常惦记着他。这种惦记的感觉以前从来没有这么强烈过。她感觉到有一种强烈的欲望，要去做姐夫刚刚打算去做的事情——以某种婉转的方式给那孩子送些钱去。那臭小子命运不济，竟然爱上一个穷得叮当响的丫头，她还有一个身无分文，名下只有一把酒壶的老父亲。假如自己不关照他们一下，他们或许真会被饿死。“好吧，”她接着说，“这孩子执意要娶那个女孩。我们也毫无办法。他就像一头骡子一样倔强。唔，唔，杂货生意。也许是一种值得去做的生意。”她努力克制着，免得暴露出自己内心的欲望，决定不再多说一句话，马上抓起钱包向门口走去。 “你这么急着要走吗？” “是的，我有急事。”谭太太说着，急急忙忙走出房间，连头都没回。 王老爷在中厅站了一会儿，感觉到自己非常衰老和疲惫。在他这一辈子中，他的固执一直是他最坚固的堡垒，这还是它第一次开始坍塌。他拿起帽子，穿上缎子外套，走出家门。他想到唐人街上看看，让那熟悉的招牌和气氛唤醒他对湖南家乡的回忆。他实在不能忍受这种孤独和在异国他乡被遗弃的感觉。他向往亲昵和亲近的感觉，向往仍然处身于家乡人之中的感觉。 他走在通往格兰大道的人行道上，思索着自己的余生之年，很高兴自己能够看清自己在并不十分遥远的未来中人生旅途的终点。或许再有十年自己就会离开人世，一切都会烟消云散。他现在意识到，这个世界是年轻一代的世界，自己在这个世界中最好应该像一个礼貌的客人一样生活，能得到什么就享受什么，随遇而安。此刻，有一种微弱的担心在他心中油然而起，他担心眼下这些不服管教、具有叛逆精神、缺乏孝敬精神的年轻一代会毁掉这个世界。他为自己不能活到那天，看到那种情形而感到高兴。他在王大这件事情上尽量安慰自己，也许年轻一代作为一个整体都是这样，自己都有一种良好而又坦荡的感觉，就像方才王大表现出来的那样。王大对李梅和她父亲的爱恋，决定追随他们而去，要向他们道歉并要和他们生活在一起，对他自己而言，似乎都是他义不容辞的事情。也许这是他从罪恶感——错怪无辜的最不舒服的感觉中解脱出来的唯一行动。 唐人街的居民们和往常一样在安详地劳作。面条作坊的面条师傅正在摇着轧面条机；裁缝铺里每天要干十四个小时的女裁缝正在踩着缝纫机，她的孩子在她的脚边玩耍；理发店里的剃头匠正在给一位顾客修面，为他刮胡子剪鼻毛；杂货商正在拨拉着算盘，耐心地看着一位家庭主妇挑选咸鱼、松花蛋、芋头和干海带；退休的老人坐在自己什么东西都不卖的店铺里，一版一版地看着报纸，或许这已经是第三遍了，他会一直看到下午新报纸送来的时候；餐馆里并不拥挤，只有几个食客在那里一边啜着茶水，一边剔牙。 格兰大道上的汽车，像一支没有尽头的游行队伍一样蠕动着。这里倒有一种中国式的安宁和耐心，没有一个人显得那么匆匆忙忙，而且即便有人想要匆忙也没有办法，卖中药的商人坐在洁净的柜台后面，双手揣在袖子里，面无表情地望着大街。王老爷路过中药店的时候，琢磨着那位中医到底在店里面干什么。或许他正在读一本古老的医书，或许他在练习书法，或许他正在为一位病人把脉诊病，也许他正严肃地坐在他的书桌后面在为人说媒。他是唯一一个王老爷在唐人街上一眼就能认出来的人。他是老古董，饱读诗书，讲究书法和文法的漂亮。他也是一个痛恨变化的人，总是梦想着叶落归根，回到中国的乡村老家，死在中国，能够被埋葬在一个上等的棺材里，每年春天有数不清的儿孙去给他上坟，给他上供烧香。 王老爷路过中药店的时候，还琢磨着中医是否和他一样有同样的难题。他克制着自己进去拜访一下中医的强烈欲望。他认为，通过进一步的交往使他们的老思想得到进一步加固，没有什么意义。他加快脚步，拐到杰克逊街上，感觉到自己就像刚刚背叛了最好的朋友一样。他为自己刚才所见所想感到非常悲伤。也许五十年后，唐人街上这些熟悉的景象和气氛，绝大部分会消失得无影无踪，也许再也听不到紧闭的门后面传出的麻将洗牌声，再也听不到锣鼓伴奏的唱戏声，再也没有面条作坊，再也没有提供传统服务项目的理发店，再也没有读中文报纸的退休老人，再也没有打算盘的杂货商，再也没有松花蛋、芋头和干海带……因为这是年轻一代的世界，一切事物都在变化之中，虽然进程缓慢，却是不可逆转的。甚至连他自己这样的老古董，现在都抛弃了中医——他在唐人街上唯一能够愉快相处的最好的朋友。 在杰克逊街和斯托顿街交界的拐角处，王老爷看到了那座宏伟的建筑。他曾经在这座七层高的大楼前路过无数次，但他从来没有抬头仔细看过一眼。他一直把这座大楼看做是一不祥之物，路过这里时总是不由自主地加快脚步。此刻，他停在大楼的面前，端详了好长时间。他看到这样几个红漆大字：东华医院。那是给人印象极深的几个大字，悬挂在红瓦楼顶之下。这些大字，尽管笔画有些缺乏劲道，写得还是相当不错，总的来说，应该是出自一位练习过多年宋体书法的人之手。然后，他又看了看转门，鼓励了一下自己，深深吸了一口气，爬上大理石台阶，向大楼里面走去。