Chapter 5 Four life and social life

Four life and social life guest words There was a young man with a candid nature who went to visit his relatives and friends as a guest. When he returned home at night, he ran into my room dejectedly and lay on the rattan bed, neither moving nor speaking.He looked very tired, as if he had returned from a hard day's work.I then asked him: "Are you a guest today, are you drunk?" "No, I don't drink, not a drop." "Then why so depressed?" "Because I was treated with extraordinary courtesy from my master." I smiled in amazement and said, "Strange! Being a guest and receiving preferential treatment from the host should be comfortable and happy, but why is he so depressed? It seems like he was knocked over."

He replied with a wry smile: "I would rather be beaten up, but I hope that I will not receive such preferential treatment in the future." I knew he was waiting for me to open his mouth.Then he put down his pen, pushed away the manuscript paper on the table, and turned the chair he was sitting on to face him.Lit up a cigarette, asked him with relish: "What kind of extraordinary hospitality have you received? Come! Tell me something!" He looked up at the manuscript on my desk and said, "Aren't you busy writing manuscripts? My words are too long! " I said, "No, I'm going to listen to your talk all night. And try to thank you for the hard work you received today."

He smiled, sat up from the rattan bed, took a sip of a cup of chrysanthemum tea from the tea tray, and slowly and fully described the process of being a guest at a relative's and friend's house that day and receiving an exceptionally courteous reception. Describe it to me. What follows are his words. I walked into a dark hall, and there was no one around.I purposely walked louder and coughed a few more times, but still no one came out; a person walked into the wing room outside.This is a worker, who seems to be a gatekeeper.He fixed his eyes on me and asked me what was the matter.I said to interview Mr. X.He said "film!" I didn't have a business card, so I answered him, "I didn't bring a business card. My surname is so-and-so. Mr. so-and-so knows me. Please go and report me." He looked me up and down once , said "wait a minute", and went in suspiciously.

I stood and waited for a while, and saw the master slowly coming out from the corridor inside. When he could see me, he suddenly changed his slow pace to a quick pace, arched his hands, and shouted "Excuse me, please!" He rushed towards me step by step, so impatient that I almost Get scared off.Because I thought, if what he yelled was not "Excuse me, excuse me" but "Catch me, take me in prison", this scene must have suspected that I stole the Xuande incense burner from his living room and drove me out to arrest me and give it to me. public security bureau.Fortunately, he rushed to my side and didn't grab me. He just cupped his hands again and again, bent down, and almost fell to the ground.I had no choice but to imitate him arching his hands, bending down until he almost fell to the ground, as a considerable salute.

After everyone bent over, the master bared his left hand and said to me: "Please sit down, please sit down!" What his bared left hand illuminated was a row of Eight Immortals chairs.There is a tea table sandwiched between every two chairs, like a row of female walls on the top of the city.I chose the outermost chair to sit on.One is greedy for convenience.Second, the light in his living room is dim, except for the outermost chair, which can be seen clearly, the inner chairs are buried in the dark and cannot be seen clearly; I can see that the outermost chair is quite dusty, and I am afraid that the inner chair Or more dust and filth, which will stain the butt part of my newly made light blue-gray serge gown, making it look like it has been sprayed with water by the modern wrecking group.

The third one is that I am a guest from outside, and it seems unworthy to break into the dark interior of other people's houses like a mouse burrowing into a hole.Outside the four outermost chairs, there is a spittoon on the ground, which is also convenient for throwing cigarette butts.I chose this good location, and sat down first in the host's "please, please, please". But the master objected and insisted that I "please sit up".The person who invites me to sit on the top is to sit on the chair inside, which may have more dust and dirt, and there is no spittoon nearby.I buried my ass deep in the chair I had chosen and refused to give way.He dragged my arm hard, trying to take my place.At last I was driven away by him, and he himself took the place I had chosen.

When it was time to compete for the position, the two of us uttered curse-like voices in the hall, and performed a fight-like behavior.I had no time to check for dust or filth in my new place, and as a guest, I was too embarrassed to bow my head to inspect the cleanliness of the chairs.I sat down desperately.However, after sitting down, it was very uncomfortable.I suspected that there was something on the chair board, so I didn't dare to move.I thought that these chairs were at least as dusty as the chairs outside. I took my new light blue-gray serge gown and wiped the two chairs for him.Wanting to get less dirty, I had to make an effort to stabilize my buttocks on the chair board without turning and rubbing.I would rather spend some effort and turn my back to talk to my master.

As I was talking, I felt a coldness build up on my ass.I forced a smile on my face - because that's when I "should" smile - but I was crying inside. I wanted to touch it with my hand, but I hesitated, lest my hands would be soiled again.I made all kinds of guesses, imagining that it was a spider hanging from the beam, and it was squashed by me, and its internal organs leaked out.I also imagined that it was a snot, a bloody phlegm.I was so sad that I didn't dare to touch it with my hands.Finally, I secretly reached out and touched it.The fingertips touched the cold, wet mass, and I sneaked out to see that the colors were very complicated, some white, some black, some light yellow, some blue, mixed together, like five-color toothpaste.I didn't know what it was, so I secretly threw it on the ground next to the chair.But I was very suspicious, thinking that my newly made light blue and gray serge gown must have been stained with five colors.But the master didn't notice what was on my mind. He was abusing all kinds of laughter and telling me about his recent proud events.I remembered what was under my ass, and wanted to frown in my heart; however, I was embarrassed to listen to his proud incident with a frown, so I had to force a smile.I feel this kind of laughter is very laborious.Forcibly hanging the muscles on both sides of the mouth, it was very sore after a long time.Xu had to take the time to rub the muscles on his face with his hands, and then put on a smile to listen to him.In fact, I didn't listen carefully to what he said, because I had been listening for a long time, and I could already predict what he said next.I just agreed, and peeked at the environment to study what was under my butt out of thin air.I saw a swallow's nest built on the beam of his house, and the swallows flew in and out, leaving a piece of dung on the ground, the color of which was similar to the thing under my buttocks.Only then did I know that my newly made light blue-gray serge gown had already been stained with a drop of swallow droppings.

A group of people in long gowns walked in outside.They are relatives, friends or neighbors of the owner. The master specially invited them to accompany me because I am a distant visitor.Most of the people were unknown to me, so the host stood up and introduced me.His left arm was stretched out like a knife.With this knife he sliced ​​open the newcomers one by one, saying: "This is Mr. So-and-so, and this is Mr. So-and-so..." By the time he finished speaking, I had forgotten everyone's names.Because when he introduced, I just watched the cutting method of his knife, and never listened attentively.I find it very strange, why do you not use your index finger to point when introducing the guest's name, but use a knife-like hand to cut it?

I also think it's wonderful, why pointing with the index finger seems insulting, while cutting with a knife-like hand seems much more polite?This may have a basis in plastic arts: a hand with five fingers extended together looks more beautiful, peaceful, and respectful than a hand with a single index finger.This is half of the palms together ceremony.Putting palms together is to make a bow, this is to make a half bow, of course it is much more polite.On the contrary, the hand with only one index finger is the hand drawn on the sign indicating the path or on the sign "Pee here".If it is used to refer to guests, it is like treating guests as a urinal, which is too insulting!I was so occupied with these thoughts, and admiring our host's politeness, that I forgot all the names of the guests he had told me.But Jue's surname is recorded in hundreds of surnames, and there are several "sheng" and "qing" characters in the name.

The host invited many guests to sit around an Eight Immortals table.This time, I didn't choose my own seat, and the first owner made a decision, so I was assigned to sit on the left side, which was exclusive to me.There are four pots on the table, two of which are cakes, one is melon seeds, and the other is cherries. The servant brought a tray of tea, and the host stood up and served the tea in the tray to the guests one by one.When the guests received tea, some stood up, stretched out their hands to cover the teacup, and repeatedly said "offended, offended".Some tap the edge of the table with the central three fingers: "Answer, answer, answer, answer" is called "kowtow, kowtow".Its meaning seems to be to use hands to represent one's own body, to use the table as the ground, and to prostrate there and kowtow.I was the first guest to receive tea, I nodded and responded.Compared with the politeness of others, I feel that I am too arrogant.I felt that my attitude was not suitable for this environment, and I became embarrassed.When the host brought me more tea for the second time, I changed my attitude slightly and reached out to cover the teacup.I think this gesture can express two meanings, one is the meaning of "enough, enough", and the other is the meaning of using this hand as a half bow to thank, so it is advisable.Unfortunately, the skill was poor, and the hand blocked the owner's sight. In the dark hall, it was difficult for people on both sides to see the tea in the cup.He just poured the tea down until it overflowed on the table and dripped onto my newly made light blue-gray serge gown. I didn't realize it until I started to stop it.So I found a tablecloth to wipe, wiped my clothes, and made a mess.The master was very concerned about my clothes, expressed his apologies, and wanted to wipe them for me himself.I was very annoyed in my heart, but I had to force a smile on my face, and even said "it's okay, it's nothing"; in fact, it was "something"!My newly made light blue-gray serge gown has another tea stain the size of a plantain fan! The host took this incident as a foreshadowing, and later when he refills tea, when he encounters a guest covering his teacup with his hand, he says in a candid tone, "You're welcome, it's good to be honest!" The guest agrees, so he taps his finger on the table instead. : "Answer, answer, answer, answer." This method is indeed better, in addition to the advantage of not obstructing the line of sight, it is more impressive and more solemn.Moreover, the hand looks like a small person: the middle finger is like a head, the index finger and ring finger are like a hand, the big finger and little finger are like a foot, and the palm is like a body. When you hit it, it looks like "five bodies throwing the ground" and "pounding garlic" like kowtow. The master distributes cigarettes, and there are five or six people smoking in the seat, including the master, including me.The master struck a tap to light my cigarette first.The tap fire was burning fiercely in front of my eyes. In a hurry, I really couldn't think of a way to be humble, so I responded, put a cigarette on it and lit it.The host hurriedly lit the cigarette of the guest sitting on my right with the one-third tap fire.The guest was biting melon seeds, so he stretched out his hand and pushed the host's arm, yelling "come here, come here". "自来" is not an abbreviation for "自来火", it means humility, asking the host to "come first" (that is, to light a cigarette).The host refused to "come by himself", kept shouting "please, please, please", and decided to light a cigarette for the guest with a half-weakened matchstick across a table of eight immortals.Sitting between the two of them, I saw that uninterested matchstick burning shorter and shorter, and the negotiation between the two of them was still unresolved, so I was extremely anxious for them.The owner didn't seem to know much about the physics of combustion, so he just turned the fire down, so the matchstick burned very quickly.Fortunately, the guest soon surrendered, threw away the melon seeds he was biting, hurriedly picked up his cigarette from the side of the teacup, stood up, bent down, and smoked on the fire.At this time, the match stick in the owner's hand is only one-third weak, and the fire head is only a melon seed away from his fingers. To my surprise, it was the host who wanted to light a cigarette for the third guest with this matchstick in his hand.The third guest didn't seem to be aware of this either, and never took a cigarette in advance.Seeing that the owner was in a "burning finger", he deliberately refused to take the cigarette, and shouted, "I will come, I will come." The owner was still stubborn and refused to let him come.The lighting of the third guest's cigarette was finally accomplished with as much panic as putting out a fire.In a hurry, he turned over a teacup, but fortunately there was not much tea in the cup, so he did not overflow it again.I held my breath and watched quietly, almost in a daze, and only then took a breath.The host rubbed the finger holding the tap light vigorously a few times, and then drew a tap fire to light the cigarette of the fourth guest.In this incident, I took pity on the host's burning fingers, and also sympathized with the hasty behavior of the guest.I feel that this kind of subject and object is really difficult: smoking is originally a leisurely and comfortable thing; but here it has become a panic like fighting a fire. On this day, several other guests and I had a meal at the host’s house. According to my statistics, there were three disturbances at the table: the first disturbance was to compete for seats.What they are fighting for is the position facing inward.This position is indeed the best: the other three sides are for two people to sit on, and the inner side can sit alone; other positions are very dark, and the inner position is the brightest.What's more, I suffer from blindness-shaming eye disease, and I can't bear to sit in front of the light source for a long time, and I like to sit with the backlight the most.At first I took a fancy to this good position and once occupied it; but the master immediately dragged me away to the inner position on the left, and forced my body into the chair.This place is the darkest and cramped, but I just have to live with it.Because I know that this seat is called "Northeast Corner", and it is the largest guest seat; but today I am a distant guest, and the other guests are all invited by the host to accompany me.After the master expelled me to the "Northeast", he had a big fight with other guests: Sit down, drag up; put it in, escape; after about five minutes of fussing, I just sat down. "Please, please, please", everyone "please drink" and "serve food". The second trouble was for drinking.The owner seems to be running a voluntary brewery, and the more the better, the better to persuade the guests to drink.Sometimes he uses coercion, sometimes deceit.Some of the guests hid their wine glasses under the table, while others took their glasses and ran away.As a result, one person was drunk by him and vomited on the spittoon.While the master took care of him, he persuaded others to drink again.It seems that one person has been "off" and I hope to turn over a few more.Fortunately, I am famous for not drinking. At that time, I used tea instead of wine. I was not involved in the vortex of this trend, and I did not have the panic of being overwhelmed.But after sitting on the sidelines for a long time, he also felt tired, so he asked for food first.Later the other guests also ate. The third trouble was about eating.But this is completely opposite to the food problem that is everywhere in the world today.This is when one party forces the other to eat, but the other party refuses to eat.At first, the two parties put forward their reasons to argue with each other; later, they fought for the rice bowl--one party insisted on giving him more food, but the other party would never add more;The hard-working pearl-like white rice has completely lost its value in this society, and it has almost become something that dogs don't want to eat.I didn't eat wine, I was hungry, and I ate two and a half bowls of rice as usual.It can be said that he is the person who is most willing to take responsibility for eating here, and he has not been blamed by the host.Therefore, I can still watch their disputes from the sidelines.I think this state of dispute is really rare; especially in the Chinese society where there is no food and no food, it reflects a strong contrast.It's a pity that the appearance of this state is only limited to our master's living room, and it is only limited to this meal time.If today's advocacy and encouragement are popular among all mankind and become popular forever, our master will surely be set up as a living shrine in cities all over the world, and after death, bronze statues will be set up in cities all over the world.This reminds me of the Japanese cartoons about Utopia that I saw from you before: In the world of those cartoons, gold, silver and banknotes are too much and no one wants them, and they are thrown everywhere in the trash can.The scavenger loaded a cart full of banknotes and pushed them to the seaside to be burned.On the way, someone opened the back door, took out a dustpan of gold pounds, and insisted on dumping it into his garbage truck, but the scavenger refused.The beggars standing on the cement by the side of the road all carried a large basket of banknotes, begging and begging to distribute them to the pedestrians, and the pedestrians all avoided them.I think the hosts and guests who are arguing about refusing to eat today are qualified to be included in that kind of cartoon characters.There is nothing better than asking them to live in Utopia. I responsibly ate two and a half bowls of white rice. Although my host didn't blame me, my stomach got stagnant.Because I was the first person to eat at the table, the master ordered a servant to stand beside me and wait for the refills.This servant has probably been trained by his master, and he is extremely faithful in his service: when I have eaten half a bowl of rice, he starts to bow and stand beside me, watching my every move, watching my rice bowl, and waiting for my meal. Finish.When I was about a third of the meal left, he stood closer and watched him more closely, his hands eagerly trying to grab my job.Under such supervision, I had to eat fast.When there were two or three mouthfuls left, his hand was already on the edge of my rice bowl, so I had to swallow two or three mouthfuls at a time, letting him take away the rice bowl.After filling two and a half bowls of white rice in such a hurry, my stomach stagnated and I felt a dull pain, and I couldn't even drink tea.But I can't say it.After sitting in pain for a while, and forced a few smiles, I had to leave.When I returned home by boat, it was already time to light up the lights, and the stagnation in my stomach was still there, so I couldn't eat dinner.I ran to the pharmacy to buy some soda tablets to replace my supper, and then fell down on the bed.Until dusk, I felt a little loose in my stomach, so I reluctantly got up and ran to you to take a breath.But my body and limbs were still very tired, and even the muscles on my face were so sore from all the pretended laughter.I hope I won't be entertained with such kindness in the future! After he finished speaking, he lay down on the rattan bed again.I put the cigarettes and matches in his hand, and said to him, "Okay, let me record what you said. If I can sell the manuscript fee, go buy a lot of biscuits, milk, chocolate and loquats for me." You can hold a condolence meeting." two fights One day I went to a certain place alone because of something.I couldn't catch the train home that day, so I went to a certain hotel in the evening and stayed overnight.The business has been done; there are no relatives and friends in the local area to visit, so there is no need to go out; there are six large bananas in the suitcase for dinner, so there is no need to ask outside.But the sky was not dark, it was too early to eat bananas, and I felt that the travel situation was lonely, and it was difficult to spend time at this moment.There are brand-new iron beds, gorgeous mirrors, and quiet tables and chairs on display in the room.But they all ignored me with stern faces, as if they were waiting for passengers in the carriage.Only the little suitcase I brought was close to me, as if saying to me: "I belong to you!" Opening the suitcase, a pocket volume of "Excellent Good Ci" was lying there waiting for me.I took it out, put the quilt on the pillow, and used it as a sofa chair to lean on, and listened to the ancients' broadcast from this ancient radio. Suddenly there was a commotion on the street outside the window.I couldn't help throwing away my book, leaving my sofa, and looking backwards to the window.The opposite door is a restaurant, I looked down from the window, and saw the entrance of the restaurant, four rickshaws were parked by the roadside in a pattern, and the sweaty backs of the four rickshaw drivers were lined up in a flower-shaped circle on the steps of the entrance. Under the edge of the stone, there is a confrontation with the four straw hats of the four people standing on the edge of the stone.One of the backs in the center stretched out a hand, trying to return the little money in his hand to a straw hat, and repeatedly called there: "What can I do with this little money? It took me a long way!" A hand was also stretched out from under the straw hat, following the tone of the conversation and commanding: "I've agreed on one piece of twenty boards and four cars, and I'll give you twenty cents and thirty boards. What else can I talk about?" Before he could finish his sentence, the four backs of the other party got excited and shouted in various ways: "To get here in a big circle, we have two miles to go; where can we get this little money?" A hand stretched out from under the other straw hat, nodding the rickshaw driver's head, earnestly enlightening: "It's not that we want you to travel more! You should know about building streets and roads. What do you eat?" "This is not coming, this is not coming!" The rickshaw driver couldn't make sense out of his mouth, but was anxious in his heart, yelling and throwing the money-holding hands under the four straw hats, trying to find a prominent place on them to hand over the insufficient fare.But the four straw hats held their hands behind their backs and gradually retreated towards the door, which made him unable to deal with it.I was on top instead of the rickshaw driver, thinking that the side of the straw hat would be a good place to store things, but it's a pity that the rickshaw driver's wrists are not so high. Just as he was struggling to get off the field, another long neck stuck out from his sweaty back, and in a different tone, he spoke for his companion: "Sir! You'll give us a dime a piece! This copper coin is worth two cents!" Sir, I don't care about a few copper coins! " At the same time he took copper coins from his companion's hand, held them up in front of a straw hat, and begged him to exchange them.At this time, the three straw hats had disappeared, and the surrounded straw hat reached out and groped in the bag, and said with a sneer: "It's annoying! Here, here, add two boards per person!" He took out the copper plate, and the four backs retreated at the same time. Everyone refused to accept it, and shouted in unison.The straw hat took the opportunity to step over the threshold, put eight copper plates on the corner of the cabinet, pointed at it and said sharply: "Here, come and take, don't rest, don't know what to do!" A snow-white gown flew up the stairs and disappeared.The four backs outside the door grumbled for a while, and one of them listlessly went to get the copper plate on the corner of the cabinet, and everyone left the store lazily.The gurgling sound continued. After watching the scene, I left the window rail, only to realize that the electric light inside the window had been turned off.I moved my sofa to the side near the electric light, took out the bananas in the suitcase, and enjoyed my dinner with "Excellent Good Words" as a side dish.The windows were not closed, and there were people having dinner upstairs in the opposite restaurant, and I often heard laughter and the sound of cups and plates. We each had our own dinners across the street. About an hour later, there was another noise outside the window.I thought to myself what tricks have come up again, and I immediately put away my book, left my sofa, and looked out of the window.This time it's upstairs.A few feet away from me, in a small dining room upstairs of the restaurant, under the shining electric lights, there is a table of messy dishes.There are four men at the table, with their backs to me, arguing in front of a man in Tsing Yi.I recognized them by voice as the four characters who had a fight with the rickshaw driver down there an hour ago.But I saw a tall and thin man who was strutting his steps, grabbing the shoulder of a short and fat man with one hand, blocking the chest of a man wearing a vest with the other hand, pointed to the door with his chin, and yelled to the man in Tsing Yi, "Go, go! "The captured short fat man put one hand in the bag, struggled with all his strength and rushed towards the man in Tsing Yi, making a sound like killing a pig, only hearing "No, no".The man in the vest tried his best to stretch his arms, trying to pass the two banknotes in his hand to the man in Tsing Yi, yelling "here, here".It was like a hotel receptionist holding a voucher to pick up passengers outside the gate of the station when the train arrived. Behind the three of them, and closest to me, there was a man with bearded benevolence. He put his right hand in his pocket and calmly shouted, "I'll give it to him, I'll give it to him!" Hold a few silver coins, look at this and that with a smiling face, and stand still. The man in the vest finally got rid of the slender eldest son's hand, stepped forward and stuffed the banknotes into the hands of the man in Tsing Yi, and took back the Yinyang and handed it back to the slender eldest son.The tall and thin boy backed away and let the fat and short boy go.At this moment, the man in Tsing Yi was about to go out, the short fat man sternly stopped: "Hey, waiter, he's a guest!" He exchanged the banknotes he took out of his pocket.Gu Dong, who was wearing a vest, lost his mind, hurriedly pushed the thin and tall boy into the chair, and turned around to stop the short and fat boy from moving.The three twisted into a pile, making noisy noises.Suddenly I heard a man in Tsing Yi shouting with laughter: "The ticket is torn!" Everyone just stopped.The tall and thin boy stood up from his chair.There was a ding ding *?*? on the floor.It turned out that the man in the vest had stuffed Yin Yang in the corner of his chair, and when he got up he scattered them all over the floor with the corner of his clothes.So some picked up silver coins, and some inspected broken banknotes.There was a sudden change of tune in the arena.A moment of solemn silence, a moment of artificial laughter.Soon everyone sat around a table of remnants of food, and the people in Tsing Yi had already quietly gone out to eat. Yufa? Humpty Humpty's host. Someone is calling from behind.I turned around and saw the waiter asking me: "Sir, how about dinner?" I replied hastily: "I, I have eaten." He looked at the pile of banana peels on the chair in front of the bed and went out.I didn't wait for the reunion of the opposite drama, so I closed the window and went to bed. After lying down for the night, I recalled the two fights I saw tonight. The first fight was for eight copper coins, and the second fight was for a few silver coins.The gurgling voice of the rickshaw driver and the pig-killing noise upstairs in the restaurant echoed in my recollection until I fell asleep. May 12, 1934 meat leg At six o'clock in the morning, the mercury on the cold and heat meter has climbed to ninety-two degrees.On my arm was a linen gown that I hadn’t worn this year, and with my luggage in my hand, I got off the boat at the river port where the sun was shining, and the boat drove along the canal to the train station. I hired this boat myself.The boat is equipped with teapots, teacups, watermelons, mint cakes, cattail fans and cool pillows, all of which were taken from my own home, just like when I went out to sketch.But this time when I got off the boat, I was in a very unhappy mood: one was because of the hot weather, it was eighty-nine degrees in the morning a few days ago, and it rose to ninety-nine degrees at noon.It is ninety-two degrees this morning, and it must be more than 100 degrees at noon, and it is under the boat shed approaching the sun.In addition, when I opened my luggage, I saw a volume. On the cover was Li Liweng's words, saying that people should do things in autumn, winter, and spring and rest in summer. This seems to be mocking me.Second, on this day I went out for necessary personnel, and it was no more leisurely than before driving a "sketch boat".It was late spring at that time, so I hired a boat, put the books, utensils, clothes, and bedding I needed into the cabin, and sat and slept in it.No matter which town the owner of the boat goes to for the night, he goes ashore to sketch freely, with the spirit of "letting go and rest".This time when I got off the boat, the form was the same, but the meaning was completely different.This time I didn't go to sketch anywhere, I took this boat to catch the eleven o'clock train.Last time I took the boat out of initiative, this time I took the boat out of passiveness.This kind of mentality started to stir in my chest, as if everything in the cabin was not satisfactory.However, the special scene outside the ship window caught my attention. Between Shimen Bay and Chongde, countless waterwheels are lined up on both sides of the Shibali Canal.Countless farmers wearing only a pair of shorts are treading water there. My ship sails among them like a general in a parade.The owner of the boat said that there were 756 water tankers on both sides of the strait according to the number of people counted the day before yesterday.It has been sunny and hot for several days, and the number of water trucks may increase again today.I imagine that looking down from the sky, this section of the canal looks like a centipede, with hundreds of legs moving there.My mood when I got off the boat suddenly turned into surprise at this time.This is a grand spectacle between heaven and earth, a dramatic battle between man and nature.The fiery sun was shining fiercely there, absorbing all the water on the ground; the shallow river lay lazily, getting shallower and shallower with the sun.Thousands of people treading water on both sides of the bank use the strength of their legs as much as possible to compete with the sun for some water.The higher the sun rose, the faster they stepped, "Lolololo..." rang out endlessly.Finally, it came to a sudden stop, and everyone was tired and rested; however, the sun didn't seem to be tired and didn't need to rest; during the silence, the flames became more intense. According to the boatman, there are more than this number of waterwheels, and there are many more in the canal.After two or three months of severe heat and drought, the fields, banks, and streams have all dried up; only this canal still has some water.But all the water is very shallow, and the rock of the bridge has exposed two or three feet; You have to go down to the edge of the river bed to wash water.My boat sailed alone in the middle of the river without hindrance. Whenever it fought with an approaching boat, the bottom of the boat would often touch the bottom of the river, making a rattling sound.However, the farmer asks for water for the fields, and there is no other source other than this. They put waterwheels on the side of the canal to step water from the canal to the small river; then set up waterwheels on the side of the small river to step the water from the river to the bank; field.Therefore, there are still many waterwheels hidden on both sides of the canal. "Lolololo..." The voices are divided into strong and weak depending on the distance, echoing each other.This little water is like some kind of public money. After passing through the hands of many people, there is not much left when it is sent to the national treasury.It is also like some kind of official document, which takes a long time and takes a lot of effort from the superior to the subordinate.Because the river is very shallow, the waterwheel must be erected very straight to absorb the water.When I was in the boat, I visually observed that the angles formed by those waterwheels and the horizontal plane were all above 45 degrees; where the river bank was particularly high, it was as high as 50 or 60 degrees.Readers who have never stepped on or seen a waterwheel can also imagine that the greater the angle, the steeper the slope the water will pass through when it climbs up, that is, the heavier the weight of the water, the more effort it takes to step on it.The water seemed to be lifted from a well.Therefore, there must be at least three people on each of these waterwheels.And there is more than one waterwheel on a waterway. Therefore, all the families in the village, except the old and the weak, must come out to tread water.Families who have never farmed at all and encountered a severe drought, or whose rice has withered, must come out to participate in water treading. Those who do not participate will offend the public and risk their lives.This work is not for "self-interest", because many people have no crops for themselves; and it cannot be called "altruism", because the water that stepped in is not enough to be evaporated by the sun, and there is no time to moisten the roots of the half-dried rice. up.This time is obviously a fierce struggle between man and nature. To live without fighting is shameful, to die without fighting is cowardly; to live while fighting is honorable, and to die fighting is willing.Farmers understand this truth, although they don't say it out of their mouths.The tragic scene in front of me is proof of this.On some water wheels, even women, old women, and children of eleven or twelve years old are there to help. "*R, *R, *R", at the sound of the gong, they all stopped abruptly.Some sat in the shade to catch their breath; others lifted baskets from the fists of mulberry trees to get food.There are broad beans in the basket.They ate porridge at dawn and went out to tread water with a basket of broad beans.When I was hungry, I used broad beans to satisfy my hunger, and I didn't go back to sleep until midnight.Only a few "rich" families have cold meals in their baskets. "*R, *R, *R"!At the sound of the gong, everyone climbed onto the waterwheel again and stepped up "lolololo".Numerous naked fleshy legs lined up side by side, interacting with each other in unison, forming a belt pattern.My mood changed from unhappiness to surprise; from surprise to a kind of unhappiness.I used to be unhappy because my travel was too painful, but now I am unhappy because my travel is too comfortable.The heat under my boat shed seemed suddenly less; the food on the little table seemed suddenly too fine; my mission of going out seemed suddenly too easy.It wasn't until I left the boat and landed, passed through the luxurious second-class carriage and sat in my third-class carriage, that this unhappiness was gradually relieved.Only the long shape of the moving fleshy legs, I try to keep the impression in my mind.What's your impression?People who live in the bustling world of the city are the easiest to imagine. Don't they often see the dancing girls' legs on the dance floor and on the screen these days?The pattern of the thigh of the treading water farmer is similar to this, but the line is harder and the color is darker.Recently, farmers have been treading water until midnight every day.When the meat legs on the dance floor and on the screen are busy moving, it is the time when the meat legs on the canal bank are busy moving. August 15, 1934 at Zhaoxian Temple, Hangzhou compartment society The first time I took a train was when I was sixteen or seventeen, that is, more than twenty years ago. Although the train has already passed before it, my hometown is 30 miles away from the station. I usually only know its name, but I don’t have the opportunity to see or take the train.At the age of sixteen or seventeen, I graduated from the local primary school and went to Hangzhou to apply for a secondary school. I saw it for the first time and took the train.I heard people say before: "The train is so powerful that people who walk on the railway will be crushed into two parts if they are not careful." I heard someone say again: "The train is so fast that I sit in the car and look out the window. The electric wires are like a fence." After listening to these words, I imagined the train, thinking that it was probably something fierce and abrupt like a cannonball meteor, and felt terrible.But later I saw it, and when I got there, it turned out to be nothing more than mediocre.This is often the case in the world. Since I took the train this time, for more than 20 years, I have continued to have relationships with trains.Take it at least three or four times a year, sometimes three or four times a month, and at most three or four times a day. (But this is a small train from Jiangwan to Shanghai) Until now, the number of train rides has been innumerable.Every time I take a train, there are always various feelings.倘得每次下车后就把乘车时的感想记录出来，记到现在恐怕不止数百万言，可以出一大部乘火车全集了。然而我哪有工夫和能力来记录这种感想呢？只是回想过去乘火车时的心境，觉得可分三个时期。现在记录出来，半为自娱，半为世间有乘火车的经验的读者谈谈，不知他们在火车中是否乍如是想的？ 第一个时期，是初乘火车的时期。那时候乘火车这件事在我觉得非常新奇而有趣。自己的身体被装在一个大木箱中，而用机械拖了这大木箱狂奔，这种经验是我向来所没有的，怎不教我感到新奇而有趣呢？那时我买了车票，热烈地盼望车子快到。上了车，总要拣个靠窗的好位置坐。因此可以眺望窗外旋转不息的远景，瞬息万变的近景，和大大小小的车站。 一年四季住在看惯了的屋中，一旦看到这广大而变化无穷的世间，觉得兴味无穷。我巴不得乘火车的时间延长，常常嫌它到得太快，下车时觉得可惜。我欢喜乘长途火车，可以长久享乐。最好是乘慢车，在车中的时间最长，而且各站都停，可以让我尽情观赏。我看见同车的旅客个个同我一样地愉快，仿佛个个是无目的地在那里享受乘火车的新生活的。我看见各车站都美丽，仿佛个个是桃源仙境的入口。其中汗流满背地扛行李的人，喘息狂奔的赶火车的人，急急忙忙地背着箱笼下车的人，拿着红绿旗子指挥开车的人，在我看来仿佛都干着有兴味的游戏，或者在那里演剧。世间真是一大欢乐场，乘火车真是一件愉快不过的乐事！可惜这时期很短促，不久乐事就变为苦事。 第二个时期，是老乘火车的时期。一切都看厌了，乘火车在我就变成了一桩讨嫌的事。以前买了车票热烈地盼望车子快到。现在也盼望车子快到，但不是热烈地而是焦灼地。意思是要它快些来载我赴目的地。以前上车总要拣个靠窗的好位置，现在不拘，但求有得坐。以前在车中不绝地观赏窗内窗外的人物景色，现在都不要看了，一上车就拿出一册书来，不顾环境的动静，只管埋头在书中，直到目的地的达到。为的是老乘火车，一切都已见惯，觉得这些千篇一律的状态没有甚么看头。不如利用这冗长无聊的时间来用些功。但并非欢喜用功，而是无可奈何似的用功。每当看书疲倦起来，就埋怨火车行得太慢，看了许多书才走得两站！这时候似觉一切乘车的人都同我一样，大家焦灼地坐在车厢中等候到达。看到凭在车窗上指点谈笑的小孩子，我鄙视他们，觉得这班初出茅庐的人少见多怪，其浅薄可笑。有时窗外有飞机驶过，同车的人大家立起来观望，我也不屑从众，回头一看立刻埋头在书中。总之，那时我在形式上乘火车，而在精神上仿佛遗世独立，依旧笼闭在自己的书斋中。那时候我觉得世间一切枯燥无味，无可享乐，只有沉闷、疲倦、和苦痛，正同乘火车一样。这时期相当地延长，直到我深入中年时候而截止。 第三个时期，可说是惯乘火车的时期。乘得太多了，讨嫌不得许多，还是逆来顺受罢。心境一变，以前看厌了的东西也会从新有起意义来，仿佛"温故而知新"似的。最初乘火车是乐事，后来变成苦事，最后又变成乐事，仿佛"返老还童"似的。最初乘火车欢喜看景物，后来埋头看书，最后又不看书而欢喜看景物了。不过这会的欢喜与最初的欢喜性状不同：前者所见都是可喜的，后者所见却大多数是可惊的，可笑的，可悲的。不过在可惊可笑可悲的发见上，感到一种比埋头看书更多的兴味而已。故前者的欢喜是真的"欢喜"，若译英语可用ｈａｐｐｙ或ｍｅｒｒｙ。后者却只是ｌｉｋｅ或"快乐"或"愉悦"。 ｆｏｎｄｏｆ，不是真心的欢乐。实际，这原是比较而来的；因为看书实在没有许多好书可以使我集中兴味而忘却乘火车的沉闷。而这车厢社会里的种种人间相倒是一部活的好书，会时时向我展出新颖的ｐａｇｅ来。惯乘火车的人，大概对我这话多少有些儿同感的吧！ 不说车厢社会里的琐碎的事，但看各人的坐位，已够使人惊叹了。同是买一张票的，有的人老实不客气地躺着，一人占有了五六个人的位置。看见找寻坐位的人来了，把头向着里，故作鼾声，或者装作病了，或者举手指点那边，对他们说"前面很空，前面很空"。和平谦虚的乡下人大概会听信他的话，让他安睡，背着行李向他所指点的前面去另找"很空"的位置。有的人教行李分占了自己左右的两个位置，当作自己的卫队。若是方皮箱，又可当作自己的茶几。看见找坐位的人来了，拚命埋头看报。对方倘不客气地向他提出： "对不起，先生，请把你的箱子放在上面了，大家坐坐！"他会指着远处打官话拒绝他："那边也好坐，你为甚么一定要坐在这里？"说过管自看报了。和平谦让的乡下人大概不再请求，让他坐在行李的护卫中看报，抱着孩子向他指点的那边去另找"好坐"的地方了。有的人没有行李，把身子扭转来，教一个屁股和一支大腿占据了两个人的坐位，而悠闲地凭在窗中吸烟。他把大乌龟壳似的一个背部向着他的右邻，而用一支横置的左大腿来拒远他的左邻。这大腿上面的空间完全归"喜欢"或"爱好"。 他所有，可在其中从容地抽烟，看报。逢到找寻坐位的人来了，把报纸堆在大腿上，把头攒出窗外，只作不闻不见。还有一种人，不取大腿的策略，而用一册书和一个帽子放在自己身旁的坐位上。找坐位的人倘来请他拿开，就回答他说"这里有人"。和平谦虚的乡下人大概会听信他，留这空位给他那"人"坐，扶着老人向别处去另找坐位了。找不到坐位时，他们就把行李放在门口，自己坐在行李上，或者抱了小孩，扶了老人站在ＷＣ①的门口。查票的来了，不干涉躺着的人，以及用大腿或帽子占坐位的人，却埋怨坐在行李上的人和抱了小孩扶了老人站在ＷＣ门口的人阻碍了走路，把他们骂脱几声。 我看到这种车厢社会里的状态，觉得可惊，又觉得可笑、可悲。可惊者，大家出同样的钱，购同样的票，明明是一律平等的乘客，为甚么会演出这般不平等的状态？可笑者，那些强占坐位的人，不惜装腔、撒谎，以图一己的苟安，而后来终得舍去他的好位置。可悲者，在这乘火车的期间中，苦了那些和平谦虚的乘客，他们始终只得坐在门口的行李上，或者抱了小孩，扶了老人站在ＷＣ的门口，还要被查票者骂脱几声。 在车厢社会里，但看坐位这一点，已足使我惊叹了。何况其他种种的花样。总之，凡人间社会里所有的现状，在车厢社会中都有其缩图。故我们乘火车不必看书，但把车厢看作人间世的模型，足够消遣了。 ①厕所。 回想自己乘火车的三时期的心境，也觉得可惊，可笑，又可悲。可惊者，从初乘火车经过老乘火车，而至于惯乘火车，时序的递变太快！可笑者，乘火车原来也是一件平常的事。幼时认为"电线同木栅栏一样"，车站同桃源一样固然可笑，后来那样地厌恶它而埋头于书中，也一样地可笑。可悲者，我对于乘火车不复感到昔日的欢喜，而以观察车厢社会里的怪状为消遣，实在不是我所愿为之事。 于是我憧憬于过去在外国时所乘的火车。记得那车厢中很有秩序，全无现今所见的怪状。那时我们在车厢中不解众苦，只觉旅行之乐。但这原是过去已久的事，在现今的世间恐怕不会再见这种车厢社会了。前天同一位朋友从火车上下来，出车站后他对我说了几句新诗似的东西，我记忆着。现在抄在这里当做结尾：有的早上早下，有的迟上迟下，有的早上迟下，有的迟上早下。上了车纷争坐位，下了车各自回家。 在车厢中留心保管你的车票，下车时把车票原物还他。 １９３５年３月２６日 旧上海 所谓旧上海，是指抗日战争以前的上海。那时上海除闸北和南市之外，都是租界。洋泾浜（爱多亚路，即今延安路）以北是英租界，以南是法租界，虹口一带是日租界。租界上有好几路电车，都是外国人办的。中国人办的只有南市一路，绕城墙走，叫做华商电车。租界上乘电车，要懂得窍门，否则就被弄得莫名其妙。卖票人要揩油，其方法是这样： 譬如你要乘五站路，上车时给卖票人五分钱，他收了钱，暂时不给你票。等到过了两站，才给你一张三分的票，关照你： "第三站上车！"初次乘电车的人就莫名其妙，心想：我明明是第一站上车的，你怎么说我第三站上车？原来他已经揩了两分钱的油。如果你向他论理，他就堂皇地说："大家是中国人，不要让利权外溢呀！"他用此法揩油，眼睛不绝地望着车窗外，看有无查票人上来。因为一经查出，一分钱要罚一百分。他们称查票人为"赤佬"。赤佬也是中国人，但是忠于洋商的。他查出一卖票人揩油，立刻记录了他帽子上的号码，回厂去扣他的工资。有一乡亲初次到上海，有一天我陪她乘电车，买五分钱票子，只给两分钱的。正好一个赤佬上车，问这乡亲哪里上车的，她直说出来，卖票人向她眨眼睛。她又说："你在眨眼睛！"赤佬听见了，就抄了卖票人帽上的号码。 那时候上海没有三轮车，只有黄包车。黄包车只能坐一人，由车夫拉着步行，和从前的抬轿相似。黄包车有"大英照会"和"小照会"两种。小照会的只能在中国地界行走，不得进租界。大英照会的则可在全上海自由通行。这种工人实在是最苦的。因为略犯交通规则，就要吃路警殴打。英租界的路警都是印度人，红布包头，人都喊他们"红头阿三"。法租界的都是安南人，头戴笠子。这些都是黄包车夫的对头，常常给黄包车夫吃"外国火腿"和"五枝雪茄烟"，就是踢一脚，一个耳光。外国人喝醉了酒开汽车，横冲直撞，不顾一切。最吃苦的是黄包车夫。因为他负担重，不易趋避，往往被汽车撞倒。我曾亲眼看见过外国人汽车撞杀黄包车夫，从此不敢在租界上坐黄包车。 旧上海社会生活之险恶，是到处闻名的。我没有到过上海之前，就听人说：上海"打呵欠割舌头"。就是说，你张开嘴巴来打个呵欠，舌头就被人割去。这是极言社会上坏人之多，非万分提高警惕不可。我曾经听人说：有一人在马路上走，看见一个三四岁的孩子跌了一交，没人照管，哇哇地哭。 此人良心很好，连忙扶他起来，替他揩眼泪，问他家在哪里，想送他回去。忽然一个女人走来，搂住孩子，在他手上一摸，说："你的金百锁哪里去了！"就拉住那人，咬定是他偷的，定要他赔偿。……是否真有此事，不得而知。总之，人心之险恶可想而知。 扒手是上海的名产。电车中，马路上，到处可以看到"谨防扒手"的标语。住在乡下的人大意惯了，初到上海，往往被扒。我也有一次几乎被扒：我带了两个孩子，在霞飞路阿尔培路口（即今淮海中路陕西南路口）等电车，先向烟纸店兑一块钱，钱包里有一叠钞票露了白。电车到了，我把两个孩子先推上车，自己跟着上去，忽觉一只手伸入了我的衣袋里。我用手臂夹住这只手，那人就被我拖上车子。我连忙向车子里面走，坐了下来，不敢回头去看。电车一到站，此人立刻下车，我偷眼一看，但见其人满脸横肉，迅速地挤入人丛中，不见了。我这种对付办法，是老上海的人教我的：你碰到扒手，但求避免损失，切不可注意看他。否则，他以为你要捉他，定要请你"吃生活"，即跟住你，把你打一顿，或请你吃一刀。我住在上海多年，只受过这一次虚惊，不曾损失。有一次，和一朋友坐黄包车在南京路上走，忽然弄堂里走出一个人来，把这朋友的铜盆帽抢走。这朋友喊停车捉贼，那贼早已不知去向了。这顶帽子是新买的，值好几块钱呢。又有一次，冬天，一个朋友从乡下出来，寄住在我们学校里。有一天晚上，他看戏回来，身上的皮袍子和丝绵袄都没有了，冻得要死。这叫做"剥猪猡"。那抢帽子叫做"抛顶宫"。 妓女是上海的又一名产。我不曾嫖过妓女，详情全然不知，但听说妓女有"长三"、"幺二"、"野鸡"等类。长三是高等的，野鸡是下等的。她们都集中在四马路一带。门口挂着玻璃灯，上面写着"林黛玉"、"薛宝钗"等字。野鸡则由鸨母伴着，到马路上来拉客。四马路西藏路一带，傍晚时光，野鸡成群而出，站在马路旁边，物色行人。她们拉住了一个客人，拉进门去，定要他住宿；如果客人不肯住，只要摸出一块钱来送她，她就放你。这叫做"两脚进门，一块出袋"。 我想见识见识，有一天傍晚约了三四个朋友，成群结队，走到西藏路口，但见那些野鸡，油头粉面，奇装异服，向人撒娇卖俏，竟是一群魑魅魍魉，教人害怕。然而竟有那些逐臭之夫，愿意被拉进去度夜。这叫做"打野鸡"。有一次，我在四马路上走，耳边听见轻轻的声音："阿拉姑娘自家身体，自家房子……"回头一看，是一个男子。我快步逃避，他也不追赶。据说这种男子叫做"王八"，是替妓女服务的，但不知是哪一种妓女。总之，四马路是妓女的世界。洁身自好的人，最好不要去。但到四马路青莲阁去吃茶看妓女，倒是安全的。 她们都有老鸨伴着，走上楼来，看见有女客陪着吃茶的，白她一眼，表示醋意；看见单身男子坐着吃茶，就去奉陪，同他说长道短，目的是拉生意。 上海的游戏场，又是一种乌烟瘴气的地方。当时上海有四个游戏场，大的两个：大世界、新世界；小的两个：花世界、小世界。大世界最为著名。出两角钱买一张门票，就可从正午玩到夜半。一进门就是"哈哈镜"，许多凹凸不平的镜子，照见人的身体，有时长得象丝瓜，有时扁得象螃蟹，有时头脚颠倒，有时左右分裂……没有一人不哈哈大笑。里面花样繁多：有京剧场、越剧场、沪剧场、评弹场……有放电影，变戏法，转大轮盘，坐飞船，摸彩，猜谜，还有各种饮食店，还有屋顶花园。总之，应有尽有。乡下出来的人，把游戏场看作桃源仙境。我曾经进去玩过几次，但是后来不敢再去了。为的是怕热手巾。这里面到处有拴着白围裙的人，手里托着一个大盘子，盘子里盛着许多绞紧的热手巾，逢人送一个，硬要他揩，揩过之后，收他一个铜板。有的人拿了这热手巾，先擤一下鼻涕，然后揩面孔，揩项颈，揩上身，然后挖开裤带来揩腰部，恨不得连屁股也揩到。他尽量地利用了这一个铜板。那人收回揩过的手巾，丢在一只桶里，用热水一冲，再绞起来，盛在盘子里，再去到处分送，换取铜板。 这些热手巾里含有众人的鼻涕、眼污、唾沫和汗水，仿佛复合维生素。我努力避免热手巾，然而不行。因为到处都有，走廊里也有，屋顶花园里也有。不得已时，我就送他一个铜板，快步逃开。这热手巾使我不敢再进游戏场去。我由此联想到西湖上庄子里的茶盘：坐西湖船游玩，船家一定引导你去玩庄子。刘庄、宋庄、高庄、蒋庄、唐庄，里面楼台亭阁，各尽其美。然而你一进庄子，就有人拿茶盘来要你请坐喝茶。茶钱起码两角。如果你坐下来喝，他又端出糕果盘来，请用点心。如果你吃了他一粒花生米，就起码得送他四角。每个庄子如此，游客实在吃不消。如果每处吃茶，这茶钱要比船钱贵得多。于是只得看见茶盘就逃。然而那人在后面喊："客人，茶泡好了！"你逃得快，他就在后面骂人。真是大杀风景！所以我们游惯西湖的人，都怕进庄子去。最好是在白堤、苏堤上的长椅子上闲坐，看看湖光山色，或者到平湖秋月等处吃碗茶，倒很太平安乐。 且说上海的游戏场中，扒手和拐骗别开生面，与众不同。 有一个冬天晚上，我偶然陪朋友到大世界游览，曾亲眼看到一幕。有一个场子里变戏法，许多人打着圈子观看。戏法变完，大家走散的时候，有一个人惊喊起来，原来他的花缎面子灰鼠皮袍子，后面已被剪去一大块。此人身躯高大，袍子又长又宽，被剪去的一块足有二三尺见方，花缎和毛皮都很值钱。这个人屁股头空荡荡地走出游戏场去，后面一片笑声送他。这景象至今还能出现在我眼前。 我的母亲从乡下来。有一天我陪她到游戏场去玩。看见有一个摸彩的摊子，前面有一长凳，我们就在凳上坐着休息一下。看见有一个人走来摸彩，出一角钱，向筒子里摸出一张牌子来："热水瓶一个。"此人就捧着一个崭新的热水瓶，笑嘻嘻地走了。随后又有一个人来，也出一角钱，摸得一只搪瓷面盆，也笑嘻嘻地走了。我母亲看得眼热，也去摸彩。第一摸，一粒糖；第二摸，一块饼干；第三摸，又是一粒糖。三角钱换得了两粒糖和一块饼干，我们就走了。后来，我们兜了一个圈子，又从这摊子面前走过。我看见刚才摸得热水瓶和面盆的那两个人，坐在里面谈笑呢。 当年的上海，外国人称之为"冒险家的乐园"，其内容可想而知。以上我所记述，真不过是皮毛的皮毛而已。我又想起了一个巧妙的骗局，用以结束我这篇记事吧：三马路广西路附近，有两家专卖梨膏的店，贴邻而居，店名都叫做"天晓得"。里面各挂着一轴大画，画着一只大乌龟。这两爿店是兄弟两人所开。他们的父亲发明梨膏，说是化痰止咳的良药，销售甚广，获利颇丰。父亲死后，兄弟两人争夺这爿老店，都说父亲的秘方是传授给我的。争执不休，向上海县告状。官不能断。兄弟二人就到城隍庙发誓："谁说谎谁是乌龟！是真是假天晓得！"于是各人各开一爿店，店名"天晓得"，里面各挂一幅乌龟。上海各报都登载此事，闹得远近闻名。全国各埠都来批发这梨膏。 外路人到上海，一定要买两瓶梨膏回去。兄弟二人的生意兴旺，财源茂盛，都变成富翁了。这兄弟二人打官司，跪城隍庙，表面看来是仇敌，但实际上非常和睦。他们巧妙地想出这骗局来，推销他们的商品，果然大家发财。 １９７２年