Chapter 11 Love in the Nine Homelands

Love in the Nine Homelands Give me back It was overcast on February 9th, and it had been more than 20 days since I lived in Xiaoyuetang Xiao Temple in Xiaoyatang, Pingxiang.There are fields on all sides, and mountains outside the fields. There are few people, and it is as quiet as ancient times.In addition, for more than 20 days, it has been cloudy and rainy every day, the walls of the room are empty, the things are depressed, and sitting opposite to my son is like a prisoner.The second daughter, Lin Xianxing, loves beauty the most and cares about clothing. When she was sitting idle, she held up the broken cotton sleeves to show me, and said, "Father, my cotton robe is so torn! I want to change it into a camel wool robe. But it’s in the home in the East Battlefield—in the outer cabinet upstairs in Yuanyuantang—I don’t know when we can get it. It’s so hard for us, each of us only has one set of clothes! Damn Japanese devils!” I Being deeply sympathized by her, I felt melancholy, followed by Yixiang's resentment.She slept on the bed opposite me last night and woke up with a smile in her dream.I asked her what joy she had.She said that she went back to Yuanyuan Hall in her dream and saw that everything in the hall was the same as before. A sad little poem:

My son's family lives near the ancient Qiantang, and there is also a powder wall with Zhu Lanying. Three and five good nights, happy reunion, and busy spring and autumn days. Qingping didn't know the suffering of being displaced, and the country was ruined when he was born as a child. Last night, Ke Chuang had a good dream, but he didn't know he was in Shuiping Township. I have never written a poem in my life, and recently I only have resentment but no sentimentality in my heart.This poem was forced out by circumstances.I hate this tune, but let it be when it comes. Hong En next door asked me to write correctly.Borrowed a broken pen.Holding the pen, I think of a Tawau pen in my home and a desk dedicated to writing.I wrote it right, I instinctively reached out to the coffee table behind to get a big seal, but I didn’t know that there was no coffee table behind, let alone a seal, but seeing many wooden owners in front of the Xiao’s ancestral hall, covered in dust, standing in the shrine, my heart was full. There was a burst of resentment.

In the evening, Zhang Gui came back with the mail from Pingxiang City, handed me a postcard, and said solemnly: "The new house is burned!" I think the postcard was sent by Shanghai Qiu Menghen on February 4th .A paragraph on the postcard said: "In early January, the Shanghai News reported that all the Yuanyuan Halls in Shimen Bay had been burned down. I don't know if your honor has learned about it"; I know." When this letter was sent, the ten members of the family and three relatives who had fled together gathered in one room to sue. Some regretted the many clothes in the closet, and some regretted the new tables and stools in the hall.A girl said: The big organ and typewriter are the most reluctant.A boy said: The swing set and the newly bought Jinji bicycle are the most painful.My wife only misses a box of tin ware and a box of china in her room.She said: "I knew this earlier, I regret that I dug a hole in the open space next to the swing and buried it in advance, and I can dig it in the future." While regretting, Bing Chao comforted him from the side: "Whether it is written on the postcard is true or not?" I know, so it may not necessarily be burned.” Probably seeing me silent, he guessed that I was sad, so he said these two sentences according to me.I listened but smiled wryly in my heart.I am grateful for his kindness.But his guess was completely wrong.One day after I left home, I heard on the way that Shimen Bay had been lost, so I ignored Yuanyuan Hall. Then I heard that this place was lost and lost. I imagined that it had become a piece of scorched earth, and I was thinking about the safety of many relatives and friends. , and have no time to cherish their own houses.What's more, I read newspapers along the way where thousands of people were killed in battle, and where the enemy tortured and killed hundreds of people. Compared with them, our family escaped from the war zone.Although I am old and weak, as long as I don't turn into the ditch, I can still fight against the violent enemy with my five-inch pen. There is still hope for my future. I will never feel sad when my house is burned. , In my reflexive lightness, this is like breaking the boat and cutting off the back road, so that I can move forward with one heart and be brave and diligent.Bingchao comforted me with empty words, and while I was grateful, I felt a little disgusted.

However, when I woke up at dusk and the lights were lonely, when I was lying on the bed, I couldn't help but think of Yuanyuantang in Shimen Bay.This hall was built in the 22nd year of the Republic of China, and it is not yet six years old.The form is simple, tall and spacious without carving.There are three rooms facing the south, and the center is paved with large square bricks, which is dedicated to "Theory of Great Wisdom·Ten Paraphrases" written by Master Hongyi. The west room is a study room with thousands of volumes of books on display.The east room is the dining room, and the three rooms in the inner-pass flat house are the kitchen, storage room, and the living room of the workers.The main bedroom on the front floor is the bedroom of me and my two children, and there are thousands of volumes of books.The west room is a Buddhist hall, and the walls are all scriptures.The east room and the back building are all family bedrooms.I have known the house very well for five years.Now as long as I close my eyes, I can see the furnishings in each room vividly, even what kind of books are on which book in a certain bookshelf, even a certain drawer (the children have counted, there are a total of 120 books in my family) Fifteen drawers) I remember clearly everything hidden in it.Now this house has been burned, and I will say goodbye forever!

I have bid farewell to my father, my mother, and my siblings, relatives and friends, and now I am farewell to my house. It is really not worth feeling sad.So what I thought in bed that night was not the sorrow of parting with the house forever, but the source of the fire that destroyed the house.In my hometown, on November 6th, 26th year of the Republic of China, 12 enemy bombs were eaten, 32 people were killed on the spot, and several houses were destroyed.Fortunately, no one died in my family, and my house was not destroyed.Then I lost my defense on November 23rd, lost and regained, gained and lost again, lost and recovered, gained and lost again, ... and went in and out, so the source of the fire that burned my house is uncertain; is it the artillery fire of the violent enemy invasion? , or the artillery fire of our army's war of resistance?Now I don't know.But it is not limited to these two sources.

So my thoughts reached a conclusion: Yuanyuantang has been destroyed.If it was destroyed by the artillery fire of our army's Anti-Japanese War, I would be very willing!If the hall knows, it must be very willing. It is expected that when it is destroyed, there will be no resentment or miserable sound.If it was destroyed by the artillery fire of the violent enemy invasion, then I would be very unwilling, and if Tang knew, I would definitely be even more unwilling.It is expected that when it is burned, it must make a muffled and squeaking sound: "This is where the holy site is, where Linfeng lives. You dogs and wolves dare to burn it wantonly! The crime of blasphemy will not be punished! You should hurry up Rebuild, return my old views, and come to subdue the Dharma again!"

Whether it was destroyed by the artillery fire of our army in the Anti-Japanese War, or the artillery fire of the violent enemy's aggression, on the day of the final victory, I will definitely ask Japan to return my fate!In the East, West, and North battlefields, countless compatriots have suffered losses due to the aggression of the violent enemy. Let us estimate first, and we will settle accounts with him together in the future! 1938 Tell Yuan Yuantang to be in the spirit of heaven In mid-November last year, I was forced by the thugs to break up with you. I left Shimenwan, passed through Hangzhou, and went to Tonglu for a short stay.Later, when the tyrants forced Hangzhou, I left Tonglu to live in Pingxiang via Quzhou, Changshan, Shangrao, and Nanchang.I have not heard from you for more than two months, and I miss you very much.Until February 9th of this year, Qiu Menghen from Shanghai wrote a letter saying that it was published in the newspaper: Shimen Bay Yuanyuan Church was completely destroyed in early January.The sad news came, and the whole family mourns for you.I have written an article "Return My Yuan Yuantang" to avenge your grievances. (Post on "Literary Front") It has been a hundred days since I left your death anniversary, I think you must know after your death.Therefore, I have a fresh fragrance this morning, pray for you, and tell your spirit in heaven

You are originally a spirit being.In the fifteenth year of the Republic of China, Master Hongyi and I lived in a rented house in Yongyili, Jiangwan. One day, I wrote many words on small square paper that I liked and could be matched with each other. On the altar in front of the portrait of Sakyamuni, two lots were drawn, and the words "Yuan" were all picked up, so I named it "Yuan Yuan Tang" for you.Immediately ask master Hongyi to write a banner for you, pay Jiuhuatang to mount it, and hang it in the rented house in Jiangwan.This is the beginning of your spiritual existence.Later, when I moved to Jiaxing and then to Shanghai, you all followed me, like shadow and shadow, for eight years.

In the spring of the 22nd year of the Republic of China, I just gave you a shape. In Meisha Lane, Shimen Bay, my hometown, behind my old house, I built a tall building with three couplets, and you fell to the ground.The banner written by Master Hongyi is too small, so I ask Mr. Ma Yifu to inscribe it for you.Mr. Ma will write three big characters for you, and write a verse behind it: The painter sees this and realizes that there is no life, and builds a house to settle down and chat with each other. One color and one fragrance are all in the middle way, that is, this ×× is non-moving. May as well paint the void with colored pens, the magical effects all start from illusion.

The first sentence adds a very meaningful explanation to the unintentional naming I gave you. I am very happy, so I will decorate it for you: I will make a ginkgo board that is decades old, and ask the carver to engrave the words on it to make a plaque.On the day when the hall is completed, I will hang a colored ball on this plaque and hang it high in the center of you.At this time, I think you must be more happy than me.Later, I asked Master Hongyi to write "Great Wisdom Theory·Ten Metaphors and Praises" into a large screen, and asked Hangzhou Hanmolin to frame it, and hung it on both sides of you.Under the plaque, there is an old Mei Zhongtang painted by Wu Changshuo.Next to the middle hall, there is another big couplet written by Master Hongyi. The text is a sentence from the "Huayan Sutra": "If you want to be the book of all dharmas, your heart is like a painter." Next to the big couplet is a small couplet written by myself. , using Du's poem: "Stop counting the sons of flying crows for the time being, and frequently come to talk about swallows and make new nests." Natural and generous, it is in harmony with your personality.In the east room, there are Shen Zhipei's ink marks and a few ancient paintings hanging on them.The one on the west side is my south study room. In addition to the books on the four walls, there is a long pair of Master Hongyi hanging on the organ. Recently, there is a small pair written by me on the opposite side, using a poem written by Wang Jinggong's sister, Chang'an County Lord: "Confession and laughter in a hasty cup and plate, talk about life in a dim light." Because my house does not have electric lights, (because the electric lights are on at eleven o'clock) extinguished, and there is no fire meter) use a kerosene lamp.My relatives and old friends often come to my house to chat about their lives, besides tea, drink with them until the lights are on.The dim and peaceful luminosity of the oil lamp and the affinity of your building envelop the emotions of the occupants, making them very reassuring and talkative.So I think oil lamps are in harmony with you as a whole.In a word, I give you shape, and I pay great attention to your overall harmony, because you are in Shimen Bay, a small town with ancient style, so I will not dress you in western clothes, but the most reasonable Chinese clothes, so that you can be in harmony with The environment is harmonious.Because you don't wear western clothes, I don't arrange modern furniture for you, but draw patterns by myself, and ask carpenters to make the most reasonable Chinese-style furniture, so that you can completely reconcile the inside and outside.I remember one time, a friend in Shanghai wanted to buy me a wooden carved black man holding a tea tray, and asked me to put it next to the sofa chair in the room.I politely declined.Because I think this furniture is very inconsistent with your whole body, and it is even more opposed to your spirit.Your whole body is plain and solid; this thing is strange and light.Your spirit is peaceful and happy, this thing uses black slaves as figurines, cruel and not humane.Anything similar to this thing is not allowed in Yuanyuan Hall.Therefore, you are a work of art in which body and soul are fully reconciled!Although I have only been with you for five years, these five years of life are really enough to make me think:

In spring, two double-petaled peaches, with their heads full of flowers, stand guard in front of your door.The vermilion fence inside the door reflects the whitewashed walls, and the roses stand against the green leaves.The swing in the courtyard stands gracefully, and the iron Martin under the eaves sings.There are whispers of swallows in front of the hall, and the sound of scissors is heard from the window.I will never forget this peaceful and happy scene. In summer, the red cherries and green plantains form a strong contrast in front of the hall, implying the truth of "impermanence" to people.The new leaves on the grape shed reflect the figures in the room in blue, adding a layer of painting.Outside the curtain, you can see jagged figures, and there are often happy laughter on the swing frame.A load of "Xinshi peaches" was picked up in front of the door just now, and another load of "Tongxiang drunken plums" was picked up.The front of the hall shouted, "The watermelon is open!" Suddenly, many brothers and sisters came out from upstairs and downstairs.When a guest comes in the evening, seats for a drink are immediately set up under the shade of the plantain.This kind of joyful and carefree life, I will never forget it. In autumn, the grown leaves of plantains protrude above the wall, creating an overlapping green screen in front of the hall.Children are constantly climbing up and down the ladder under the grape shed.On the table in front of the window is a constant supply of local grapes.At night, the bright moon shines on the tall building, and the cement downstairs looks like a lake.The autumn insects on the four walls played in unison, which sounded like an orchestra playing on the pillow.It was a situation of ease and comfort that I will never forget. In winter, the tall buildings facing south are basking in the sun all day long.The tea soup is constantly frying in the warm charcoal stove.Our whole family sat in the sun and ate winter pounded rice. After eating, we all sweated and undressed.There are many sun-dried yams piled up under the corridor, two or three tanks of new rice wine are placed in the corner, and there are homemade stinky dried tofu and moldy sheets in the kitchen cabinet.On Saturday nights, the children accompanied me to write until late at night, and they often simmered some rice cakes in the stove and boiled some eggs on the foreign stove to satisfy the hunger of winter nights.This kind of warm and comfortable fun, I will never forget it. You are my resting place.You are where I belong.I am thinking of spending my old age in your arms, I am preparing to die in your bed.Who would have thought that you were less than six years old, and you were suddenly devastated by violent enemies, making me homeless, and I will never see you again! I still remember the last day I spent with you: it was November 6th last year, in the early winter afternoon, the plantains were not yet withered, and the long leaves were about to compete with the white wall, sending thick green shadows to the window.I am sitting in your west room facing Jiang Jianren's "History of Japanese Imperialist Invasion of China", reading and taking notes at the same time. The war of aggression -- written in cartoons one by one, compiled into a volume "History of Japan's Invasion of China in Cartoons", followed the method of "Husheng Painting Collection", sold everywhere at the lowest price, so that Chinese people who have little knowledge can read it Understand, so that uneducated illiterates can understand.Your little masters did not go to school because the schools in Hangzhou moved, so everyone gathered around the square table in front of the window to study geometry together.Your mistress and others are doing their sewing in the east room. At around two o'clock, suddenly two enemy planes appeared above you, flying very low, making a loud noise, coming and going, going and going, circling over Shimen Bay.I know the situation is not good, so I immediately got up and called my family to stand under your wall.Suddenly, with a bang, your hundreds of panes cry out in unison.This is clearly a bomb dropped on the city of Shimen Bay, but I still hesitate to believe it.I think there are only 400 to 500 families in this small town, all of them are innocent civilians, without any equipment for the war of resistance.Even if the enemy is as cruel as a beast, and the bombs are expensive, it is expected that they will not want to drop them indiscriminately. Unexpectedly, before he finished thinking, there were two louder bangs, boom!boom!All your walls tremble, all your floors jump, and the hot water bottles and hookahs on the table fall to the ground together.These two bombs were dropped a few feet away from your back door!At this time, ten members of my family are ready to die with you.Because you are very tall and eye-catching in the surrounding rooms, and you are the biggest target.We also want to leave you and escape to the wild.However, machine gunfire continued outside the window, so escaping must have committed suicide. Better to die with you than die in the wild, so we all stand still.Luckily no bombs ever fell on you.Dongshi and Nanshi continued to bang several times.The two enemy planes circled the city for two hours before leaving. Afterwards we went out to visit and found that Dongshi burned houses and killed more than ten people, and Zhongshi destroyed the arbor and also killed more than ten people.A few feet away from your back door, there are five of our neighbors lying, some of whom have already died with their brains bursting out.Some groaned and shouted, stretched out their hands and said to others, "Help me!" According to statistics from the Public Security Bureau, 32 people died that day, and more than 100 people died one after another.The surviving people in Shimen Bay frowned and said to each other: "Zhapu must have landed, and it will come tomorrow, let's escape!" It was evening, and the whole town was evacuated.Some went to the countryside on foot with their parcels on their backs, and some went to the countryside by boat with the help of the old and the young.Four to five hundred people's houses were strictly closed, and the whole town became a dead market.I was just asking for a boat, but the relatives of Nanshenbang, the Chiang brothers, arrived together and sent a boat.Our whole family of ten people, old and young, bid farewell to you in the gray twilight of this day, and hurried to the countryside.Everyone thinks that if they avoid their hometown for a while, they will have to come back in the future.Who knew this was our last day together? I still remember the last night of my farewell to you. It was November 15th, and I had been hiding in the countryside of Nanshenbang for nine days.During the nine days, enemy planes often attacked. We saw them flying from the sea in the countryside, reaching Shimen Bay city sky, flying down calmly, and blatantly dropping bombs.Fortunately the city was empty, and all their bombs were in vain. Therefore, we dare not go out of the market during the day.At night, everyone went out to fetch things.On this day, I went out to the market at night with your little master, Chen Bao, and went home to pick up books, and at the same time I bid farewell to you.When I walked into your door, I saw Basho standing alone, with more than twenty glass windows tightly closed, all silent and without a sound.The missing moon shines on you from between the plantains, making it look desolate.Before I stepped into the hall, I saw a hungry and thin yellow dog lying on the sofa chair. I shone it with a flashlight and got up suddenly, which shocked me.I walked up the stairs, and a hungry and thin old black cat turned out from the door of the building. It raised its head to stare at me, uttered several long and weak meows, and clung to Chen Bao's feet, refusing to leave. .We fed the cats and dogs with some leftovers from cold meals, and then started fetching books.I selected two baskets out of my favorite, recently useful, and expensive books, and ordered them to be sent to the country tomorrow.In order to fear the enemy planes will drop incendiary bombs again, destroying everything about you.But I tried my best to restrain this thought, so as not to let it obviously surface to my consciousness, because I can't bear to let you be destroyed, and I don't want to say goodbye to you forever!It was eleven o'clock after I loaded the two baskets, and I was a little hungry.Opening the cupboard door, I found a bag of peanuts and a half bottle of rose wine, and took them to Tangxi's study room and put them on the wine table next to the couplet of "Confession and laughter in a hasty cup and plate, talk about life in a dim light". People eat together.I serve wine with peanuts, and she eats peanuts to accompany her.I found that the voice of her chewing peanuts was very clear and loud, Gelong, Gelong, Gelong, Gelong... It was like the drums in the city's heart.When my wine glass was placed on the table, it also vibrated suddenly, and the whole room echoed.This made me feel the silence of the environment, the absolute silence, the silence of death, which I have never felt in my life.I picked up the flashlight and went out with Chen Bao to take a look at the unusual environment.We walked through the streets of Shimen Bay from east to west, from south to north, without seeing a single person or a single fire.But there were a few hungry and thin dogs lying at the entrance of the alley. When they saw us, they barely stood up and let out a few miserable and angry barks.Only upstairs in a shop in the Lower West Lane could there be the coughing of an elderly person. Against the backdrop of the silence of the environment, the sound was extremely clear and frightening.We'll be home soon.We slept half the night in your upstairs bedroom. At dawn, get up and go to the countryside, I am afraid that the enemy plane will come early in the morning.When I went out, I looked back and saw the whitewashed walls reflected by Zhulan, the cherries next to plantains, and more than twenty glass windows were tightly closed, reflecting the bleak brilliance in the dawn.I say goodbye to you in my heart: "Yuanyuantang, goodbye! We will see you in the future!" Who knows that this moment is our eternal farewell, we will never see each other again! I have said a lot of past events above, and it seems to be sad to look back, but it is not!I would like to tell your spirit in heaven that although we may not see each other again now, this is only temporary, and we will have a more glorious reunion in the future.Because you were destroyed by the aggressive artillery fire of the violent enemy, or burned by the counterattack artillery fire of our holy resistance.If it belongs to the former, your spirit in heaven must be as angry as I am, looking forward to the final victory to avenge you, and will never be sad or disappointed.If it belongs to the latter, your spirit in heaven must not mind it as much as I do; it is expected that when you are burned, you will suddenly become empty, and let the holy resistance army pass through safely to avenge you, and you will never be sad or disappointed. Not only will I not be sad and disappointed, but I also feel very honored.Because we are fighting for justice, fighting for justice, and fighting for humanity.In order to annihilate violent enemies and maintain the peace and happiness of mankind in the world, we spare no effort to scorched earth.What an honor you have been at the vanguard of the Scorched Earth War.The final victory is near!You will be resurrected soon!We shall be reunited soon, a more glorious reunion! Ciyuanyuantang① After walking through five provinces and passing hundreds of docks, I realized that my hometown, Shimen Bay, is really a good place.It is located in the great plain in the north of Zhejiang, between Hangzhou and Jiaxing, thirty miles away from the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway.There are small ships that can pass in these thirty miles.Every morning, I take a ship from Shimen Bay, walk up the canal for two hours, and arrive at Chang'an Station on the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway.Take a bus from here, travel south for one hour to Hangzhou; travel north for one hour to Jiaxing, and travel north for three hours to Shanghai.People who go to Jiaxing or Hangzhou, if they have leisure and enjoyment, can get rid of these modern means of transportation and hire passenger boats to take the canal.This canal reaches Hangzhou in the south, Jiaxing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing in the north, and ends in Hebei.When passing through our Shimen Bay, turn to Dawan.Shimen Bay got its name from this.Countless passenger ships with red lacquer railings and glass windows are gathered in this bay, waiting for you to hire.You can choose the one you like the most.One day to Jiaxing, one and a half days to Hangzhou, the boat price is only three to five yuan.If there are three or four people on the same boat, the travel expenses are not more expensive than those by boat or train.There are three things that are better than taking a boat or train: you can set the time for sailing, unlike boats and trains that require you to wait.One too.Luggage does not need to be bundled hard, check carefully, but quilts, mattresses, pillows, books, cigarette bags, teapots, hot water bottles, even wine jugs, dishes~}... to the cabin.The boatman will arrange it for you on the couch under the glass window and on the table of four immortals.It's like stepping into your own room when you step off the boat.Two also. ① This article is one of the author's "Five Records of Refuge". After passing the wharf, you can ask the boat owner to moor temporarily, and go ashore to watch or buy things.This is something that ships and trains cannot do.Three also.If you come to Hangzhou, you can spend a night in Tangqi, go ashore and buy some famous local products such as candied loquat and candied bergamot; then go to a small hotel by the river to find a quiet seat and order a few small pots: winter bamboo shoots, wild rice stems, Shepherd's purse, edamame, fresh water chestnuts, Liangxiang chestnuts, cooked water chestnuts... two bowls of Huadiao.As long as you think carefully, return to the boat to rest late.It doesn't matter if it rains, because Tangqi Street is full of pergolas, so it doesn't matter if it rains.In this way, I swam an extra pier halfway, and it was very easy and free.This kind of poetic travel is not easy for people near the train station, but only we Shimen Bay people can enjoy it freely.Because it is too convenient for people near the railway station to travel by car; even if there are other waterways available, no one is willing to go; therefore, there is no supply of passenger ships.Only in Shimen Bay, where the train never departs and the canal lies next to it, does this special way of travel exist.However, passenger ships are not designed to travel long distances.Traveling to and from small cities that are twenty or thirty miles away is his usual business.On both sides of the canal, there are many tributaries and intricate ports.If viewed from an airplane, these waterways look like a fishing net.Countless cities and towns are densely scattered beside the line of this fishing net, "a village within three miles, a city within five miles, a town within ten miles, and a county within twenty miles." It is by no means an exaggeration to use these words to describe the densely populated Jiangnan water town. of.Our Shimen Bay is a town in the center of this network.Therefore, the waterway extends in all directions, and the transportation is extremely convenient.We don't need to walk with our feet.Going to the countryside, going out of the market, seeing off guests, returning to Ning, praying to God, worshiping Buddha, even if the distance is three to five miles, I am happy to take a boat.If you want to go to Chongde City, which is 18 li (we call it 29), there are two ships every day, and there are various convenience boats, so you should never walk on your feet.Except for those who are extremely poor, frugal, and slack, if you "walk" to the city, others will be surprised, your family will be afraid that you will hurt your tendons, and you will also feel that you are struggling.well!My hometown is really a land of peace and happiness!Tell these words to the inland people who carry burdens and walk hundreds of miles of rugged mountain roads every day, I am afraid they will not believe it, understand it, or laugh at it as a myth!Mencius said: "Born in sorrow, died in peace." The unprecedented catastrophe in the south of the Yangtze River this time may be the retribution of this kind of peace! However, it is human nature to love leisure and hate work.Overcoming nature is the progress of civilization.Otherwise, why are the people in the interior trying to build roads, build railways, and reclaim land?Worry without progress may not lead to life; happiness without arrogance will never lead to death. So I always yearn for our peaceful hometown.What's more, the weather is better than its location!Shimen Bay is about 40 or 50 miles away from the sea, surrounded by a large plain, and the climate is of course oceanic.However, because the river channels are densely covered like a net, the adjustment of water and land is particularly uniform, so the change of cold weather is particularly gentle.From summer to winter, and from winter to summer, it gradually passes without people noticing it.People above the middle class have six sets of clothes: summer clothes, unlined clothes, jackets, padded jackets (made of wood cotton), small cotton jackets (thin silk cotton), and large cotton jackets (thick silk cotton).The six sets of clothes are gradually changed, and the cold comes and goes, and the cycle becomes old.And every time I look back, I feel that two months ago, the weather was very different and the situation was very different.Gai's personality in the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter is very obvious.Therefore, the beauty of nature is the most abundant; poetic and picturesque, you can find it everywhere.After I went into exile, I passed through many places.Some climate changes are too simple, half a year in summer and half a year in winter, taking off single clothes and changing cotton clothes.Some climates change so violently that there are winter and summer in one day, so we eat watermelon over the stove.This is not the way of peace and righteousness, I am not used to it.Only then did I know the timing of my hometown.Under such weather conditions, there is not a piece of wasteland in the great plains outside of our country, it is all crops.In addition to rice and wheat, there are endless vegetables and fruits in four seasons, with different flavors.Taste the taste of a thing, you can think of the scenery of a season, and you can dream of the past.In previous years, when I was in Gongde Forest in Shanghai, I ate new broad beans in winter. For a while, the sights of Qingming games in my hometown, tomb sweeping, outings, tree planting, silk shirts, caps, wine flags, and opera drums were all in my eyes, as if I was in it. territory.Of course, this situation also exists in foreign countries, but they are particularly sensitive to the products of their hometown.If I meet mulberry trees and silk cotton, it will make me feel nostalgic in my heart.Because this is a unique product in our hometown; it is especially common in Shimen Bay.Except for urban people who get something for nothing, rural people, rich or poor, raise silkworms in spring, which is called "watching babies". Their food depends on the fields, and their clothes depend on their babies.So silk floss is a very common clothing material in my hometown.The ancients had to be fifty years old to acquire silk; our countrymen, young and old, wear silk.People from other places paid a lot of money to buy the exported products from our hometown, and they were specially made by experts in "reversing silk cotton", which were regarded as valuables such as fox fur; in my hometown, everyone can rummaging, and beggars also wear silk floss. "Food and clothing are really difficult things in life", but the people in my hometown are blessed by nature, so we must be grateful, ashamed and encouraged!What I have said above is not intended to boast, but to express gratitude, shame, and encouragement.If there are fellow readers from my hometown, they may feel the same way. Yuanyuantang was built in this poetic and picturesque environment.Where the canal makes a big turn, a tributary branches out.About two or three hundred steps away from the canal, there is a dyeing shop on the bank of a tributary.The name is Feng Tongyu.There is an old house in the store, named Dundetang.Inside Dunde Hall is Yuanyuan Hall.Behind Yuanyuan Hall is Shisao.There are mulberry and hemp everywhere in the back of the city, with small bridges, flowing water, big trees and long pavilions dotted in the middle, which is my fishing place.After Red Sheep, there is this dye shop and old house.This is the place where my father and grandparents have gathered together for three generations.We didn't leave the embrace of this old house until the fateful marriage in the 22nd year of the Republic of China.So the shadow and impression it gave me is much deeper than that of Yuanyuantang.Although its height is only half of that of Yuanyuan Hall, its size is only one-fifth of that of Yuanyuan Hall, and its humbleness is worse than that of Yuanyuan Hall's firewood, but after the ashes, I mourn it more deeply than Yuanyuan Hall .Because this is like the root of an old tree, and Yuanyuantang is like the branches and leaves on the tree.Although the branches and leaves are larger and more beautiful than the root, they all grow from the root.After going into exile, every time I read news about Shimen Bay in the newspapers, I would dream about the past events in my homeland at night.And the background of the dream is mostly this century-old house.I dreamed about my childhood: on summer evenings, my grandmother was wearing a bamboo cloth, sitting by the railing on the river bank in front of the dyeing workshop and eating crab wine. Grandma is a person who is good at enjoying herself, and she is very happy in all seasons.But because the house was too narrow and we had so many siblings, our grandmother was squeezed out on the river bank.I dreamed about the scene of my father's middle school examination: the old house several square meters in size was crowded with countless people, and it was too crowded. I sat high on the shoulders of the store clerk, Qi Guan, among the crowd, watching my father pay respects to Bei Que.I also dreamed about my father having an evening drink: everyone had dinner before my father got up from the opium couch on the floor and went to the living room for an evening drink.As usual, on the table are a pot of wine, a bowl of hot dried tofu, a pot of sesame soy sauce, and an old cat.While reading a book, my father served wine with dried bean curd. From time to time, he picked off a piece of dried tofu to feed the old cat. At that time, we had to play around in the floor.In front of the window between the floors is a small patio, in which there are turtles, we call it "stinky patio".Next to the smelly courtyard is the kitchen.Water from rice and feet often flew out of the kitchen to feed the tortoises in the smelly courtyard.Therefore, smoke, fishy smell, and bad smell can be heard in the floor room from time to time.However, this is the most quintessential part of the old house.When the father is in the room, we children dare not go in easily.After my father won Juren, he was Ding Jian.After Ding's hardship, the imperial examination was abolished. He has a clean and quiet personality, and has been living in the old house. He suffered from lung disease at the age of forty-two and died in this floor room.I was an orphan in this old house when I was nine years old.After Yuanyuan Hall was completed, I often thought: If a room like the firewood room or mill room in Yuanyuan Hall was used to support my father, maybe he would not die early due to lung disease in middle age.But I can't support him!Every time I think about this, I feel that the construction of Yuanyuan Hall is meaningless, and life is also meaningless!I also dreamed about my mother taking a six-foot rod to measure the land: my mother bought a piece of land behind the old house (the base of Yuanyuantang) in her early years, and she seemed to predict that one day a new house would be built in the future.I was married when I was twenty-one. After getting married, I got "child troubles" and gave birth to a child almost every year.Leading his wife to live in all directions, the income is too much to take care of.My mother took my second daughter to live in the old house. Although the dyeing shop and the tens of acres of Susukida can provide for it, there is no room for it.So the idea of ​​building a house has always been suppressed at the bottom of my mind.When I was thirty, I sent my wife home to serve my mother.The old house has raised three generations of us, and stayed with my mother for ten years. At this time, it was very decayed, the door collapsed, and it gradually expressed its inability to shelter many of us.Fortunately, my life has gradually become more prosperous, and a few stacks of banknotes are handed over to my mother every year.The idea of ​​building a house sneaked up from the bottom of my mother's heart one day. The neighbor was asking a carpenter to repair the doors and windows. My mother borrowed his six-foot rod and we went to the open space behind to measure and discuss. .When I came back, I whispered to me: "Don't tell others!" At that time, I was young, and I said to my mother bluntly: "We are determined to build! I have the money!" I told her the budget of income.This is the style of young people, the failure of career is often caused by this; the quick success of career is also often caused by this.However, the elderly are down-to-earth, how can they be willing to take risks?The six-foot rod was returned to the carpenter.The idea of ​​building a house still settled in the bottom of my mother's heart.It no longer floats.It was not until two years later that my mother handed over this idea to us and died forever.It took another three years before it took form and was realized on earth.This is Yuanyuantang. I still remember that a few days before the completion of the hall, the whole family gathered in the old house and waited for the housewarming.Two generations of aunts brought children and servants, and they also crowded in the old house to cheer.Twenty or thirty people were crowded in the small, dilapidated old house, shoulder to shoulder, kicking and stumbling, making the noise like a theater.Everyone knows that future happiness is just behind, so they deliberately push back.The old man was almost pushed down by the children, laughing and cursing.The little feet were hurt by the big feet, and they laughed and complained.At this time, we feel that pain is more happy than joy.The low and dilapidated old houses are more glorious than Qionglou Yuyu!The joy and happiness we live in a new house is actually the ultimate!After moving in, it's only mere; and soon after, other desires and attempts will take the place of your happiness, and the vicissitudes of the world will hinder your happiness!Only the happiness in hope is the purest, most thorough and complete happiness.That is the happiness that our whole family has experienced.Only the person who first bought the base, set his mind to build it, and first measured the land with a six-foot rod, slept quietly under the long pines and withered grass five miles away, and did not come to join our joy.It seems that they know that there will be violence to destroy this happiness soon, so they seem to disdain to participate. The structure of Yuanyuan Hall adopts Chinese style, whichever is firm and frank, and the form adopts modern style, whichever is simple and bright.一切因袭、奢侈、烦琐、无谓的布置与装饰，一概不入。全体正直。 （为了这点，工事中我曾费数百圆拆造过，全镇传为奇谈）高大、轩敞、明爽，具有深沉朴素之美。正南向的三间，中央铺大方砖，正中悬挂马一浮先生写的堂额。 壁间常悬的是弘一法师写的《大智度论·十喻赞》和"欲为诸法本，心如工画师"的对联。西室是我的书斋，四壁陈列图书数千卷，风琴上常挂弘一法师写的"真观清净观，广大智慧观；梵音海潮音，胜彼世间音"的长联。东室为食堂，内联走廊、厨房、平屋。四壁悬的都是沈寐叟的墨迹。堂前大天井中种着芭蕉、樱桃和蔷薇。门外种着桃花。后堂三间小室，窗子临着院落，院内有葡萄棚、秋千架、冬青和桂树。楼上设走廊，廊内六扇门，通入六个独立的房间，便是我们的寝室。秋千院落的后面，是平屋、阁楼、厨房和工人的房间。--所谓缘缘堂者，如此而已矣。读者或将见笑：这样简陋的屋子，我却在这里扬眉瞬目，自鸣得意，所见与井底之蛙何异？我要借王禹的话作答："彼齐坡湫牵高则高矣。 井干丽谯，华则华矣。止于贮妓女，藏歌舞，非骚人之事，吾所不取。"我不是骚人，但确信环境支配文化。我认为这样光明正大的环境，适合我的胸怀，可以涵养孩子们的好真、乐善、爱美的天性。我只费六千金的建筑费，但倘秦始皇要拿阿房宫来同我交换，石季伦愿把金谷园来和我对掉，我决不同意。自民国二十二年春日落成，以至二十六年残冬被毁，我们在缘缘堂的怀抱里的日子约有五年。现在回想这五年间的生活，处处足使我憧憬：春天，两株重瓣桃戴了满头的花，在门前站岗。门内朱楼映着粉墙，蔷薇衬着绿叶。院中秋千亭亭地立着，檐下铁马丁东地响着。堂前燕子呢喃，窗内有"小语春风弄剪刀"的声音。这和平幸福的光景，使我难忘。 夏天，红了樱桃，绿了芭蕉，在堂前作成强烈的对比，向人暗示"无常"的幻相。葡萄棚上的新叶，把室中人物映成绿色的统调，添上一种画意。垂帘外时见参差人影，秋千架上时闻笑语。门外刚挑过一担"新市水蜜桃"，又来了一担"桐乡醉李"。喊一声"开西瓜了"，忽然从楼上楼下引出许多兄弟姊妹。傍晚来一位客人，芭蕉荫下立刻摆起小酌的座位。这畅适的生活也使我难忘。秋天，芭蕉的叶子高出墙外，又在堂前盖造一个天然的绿幕。葡萄棚上果实累累，时有儿童在棚下的梯子上爬上爬下。夜来明月照高楼，楼下的水门汀映成一片湖光。各处房栊里有人挑灯夜读，伴着秋虫的合奏。这清幽的情况又使我难忘。冬天，屋子里一天到晚晒着太阳，炭炉上时闻普洱茶香。坐在太阳旁边吃冬舂米饭，吃到后来都要出汗解衣服。廊下晒着一堆芋头，屋角里藏着两瓮新米酒，菜橱里还有自制的臭豆腐干和霉千张。星期六的晚上，儿童们伴着坐到深夜，大家在火炉上烘年糕，煨白果，直到北斗星转向。这安逸的滋味也使我难忘。现在飘泊四方，已经两年。有时住旅馆，有时住船，有时住村舍、茅屋、祠堂、牛棚。但凡我身所在的地方，只要一闭眼睛，就看见无处不是缘缘堂。 平生不善守钱。余剩的钞票超过了定数，就坐立不安，非想法使尽它不可。缘缘堂落成后一年，这种钞票作怪，我就在杭州租了一所房子，请两名工人留守，以代替我游杭的旅馆。这仿佛是缘缘堂的支部。旁人则戏称它为我的"行宫"。 他们怪我不在杭州赚钱，而无端去作寓公。但我自以为是。古人有言："不为无益之事，何以遣有涯之生？"我相信这句话，而且想借庄子的论调来加个注解：益就是利。"吾生也有涯，而利也无涯，以有涯遣无涯，殆已！已而为利者，殆而已矣！" 所以要遣有涯之生，须为无利之事，杭州之所以能给我尽美的印象者，就为了我对它无利害关系，所见的常是它的艺术方面的原故。那时我春秋居杭州，冬夏居缘缘堂，书笔之余，恣情盘桓，饱尝了两地的风味：西湖好景，尽在于春秋二季。 春日浓妆，秋季淡抹，一样相宜。我最喜于无名的地方，游众所不会到的地方，玩赏其胜景。我把三潭印月、岳庙等大名鼎鼎的地方让给别人游。人弃我取，人取我与。这是范蠡致富的秘诀，移用在欣赏上，也大得其宜。西湖春秋佳日的真相，我都欣赏过了。苏东坡说："毕竟西湖六月中，风光不与四时同。"①某雅人说："晴湖不及雨湖，雨湖不及雪湖。"言之或有其理；但我不敢附和。因为我怕热怕冷。我到夏天必须返缘缘堂。石门湾到处有河水调剂，即使天热，也热得缓和而气爽，不致闷人。缘缘堂南向而高敞，西瓜、凉粉常备，远胜于电风扇、冰淇凌。冬天大家过年，贺岁，饮酴酥酒更非回乡参与不可。我常常往返于石门湾与杭州之间，被别人视为无事忙。那时我读书并不抛废，笔墨也相当地忙；而如此忙里偷闲地热心于游玩与欣赏，今日思之，并非偶然；我似乎预知江南浩劫之将至，故乡不可以久留，所以尽量欣赏，不遗余力的。 ①此诗出自杨万里《晓出净慈寺》一诗。 "八一三"事起，我们全家在缘缘堂，杭州有空袭，特派人把留守的女工叫了回来，把"行宫"关闭了。城站被炸，杭州人纷纷逃乡，我又派人把"行宫"取消，把其中的书籍、器具装船载回石门湾。两处的器物集中在一处，异常热闹。我们费了好几天的工夫，整理书籍，布置家具。把缘缘堂装潢得面目一新。邻家的妇孺没有坐过沙发，特地来坐坐杭州搬来的沙发。（我不喜欢沙发，因为它不抵抗。这些都是友朋赠送的。）店里的伙计没有见过开关热水壶，当它是个宝鼎。上海南市已成火海了，我们躲在石门湾里自得其乐。今日思之，太不识时务。最初，汉口的朋友写信来，说浙江非安全之地，劝我早日率眷赴汉口。四川的朋友也写信来，说战事必致扩大，劝我早日携眷入川。我想起了白居易的《问友》诗："种兰不种艾，兰生艾亦生。根悄相交长，茎叶相附荣。香茎与臭叶，日夜俱长大。锄艾恐伤兰，溉兰恐滋艾。兰亦未能溉，艾亦未能除。沉吟意不决，问君合如何？"铲除暴徒，以雪百年来浸润之耻，谁曰不愿，糜烂土地，荼毒生灵，去父母之邦，岂人之所乐哉？因此沉吟意不决者累日。终于在方寸中决定了"移兰"之策。种兰而艾生于其旁，而且很近，甚至根悄相交，茎叶相附，可见种兰的地方选得不好。兰既不得其所，用不着锄或溉，只有迁地为良。其法：把兰好好地掘起，慎勿伤根折叶。然后郑重地移到名山胜境，去种在杜衡芳芷所生的地方。然后拿起锄头来，狠命地锄，把那臭叶连根铲尽。或者不必用锄，但须放一把火，烧成一片焦土。将来再种兰时，灰肥倒有用处。这"移兰锄艾"之策，乃不易之论。香山居士死而有知，一定在地下点头。 然而这兰的根，深固得很，一时很不容易掘起！况且近来根上又壅培了许多壤土，使它更加稳固繁荣了。第一：杭州搬回来的家具，把缘缘堂装点得富丽堂皇，个个房间里有明窗净几，屏条对画。古圣人弃天下如弃敝屣；我们真惭愧，一时大家舍不得抛弃这些赘累之物。第二：上海、松江、嘉兴、杭州各地迁来了许多人家。石门湾本地人就误认这是桃源。谈论时局，大家都说这地方远离铁路公路，不会遭兵火。 况且镇小得很，全无设防，空袭也决不会来。听的人附和地说道："真的！炸弹很贵。石门湾即使请他来炸，他也不肯来的！"另一人根据了他的军事眼光而发表预言："他们打到了松江、嘉兴，一定向北走苏嘉路，与沪宁路夹攻南京。嘉兴以南，他们不会打过来。杭州不过是风景地点，取得了没有用。所以我们这里是不要紧的。"又有人附和："杭州每年香火无量，西湖底里全是香灰！这佛地是决不会遭殃的。只要杭州无事，我们这里就安。"我虽决定了移兰之策，然而众口铄金，况且谁高兴逃难？于是存了百分之一的幸免之心。第三：我家世居石门湾，亲戚故旧甚多。外面打仗，我家全部迁回了，戚友往来更密。一则要探听一点消息，二则要得到相互的慰藉。讲起逃难，大家都说："要逃我们总得一起走。" 但下文总是紧接着一句："我们这里总是不要紧的。"后来我流亡各地，才知道每一地方的人，都是这样自慰的。Alas! "民之秉夷，好是懿德。"普天之下，凡有血气，莫不爱好和平，厌恶战争。我们忍痛抗战，是不得已的。而世间竟有以侵略为事，以杀人为业的暴徒，我很想剖开他们的心来看看，是虎的，还是狼的？ 阴历九月二十六日，是我四十岁的生辰。这时松江已经失守，嘉兴已经炸得不成样子。我家还是做寿。糕桃寿面，陈列了两桌；远近亲朋，坐满了一堂。堂上高烧红烛，室内开设素筵。屋里充满了祥瑞之色和祝贺之意。而宾朋的谈话异乎寻常：有一人是从上海南站搭火车逃回来的。他说：火车顶上坐满了人，还没有开，忽听得飞机声，火车突然飞奔。顶上的人纷纷坠下，有的坠在轨道旁，手脚被轮子碾断，惊呼嚎啕之声淹没了火车的开动声！又有一人怕乘火车，是由龙华走水道逃回来的。他说上海南市变成火海。无数难民无家可归，聚立在民国路法租界的紧闭的铁栅门边，日夜站着。落雨还是小事，没有吃真残惨！法租界里的同胞拿面包隔铁栅抛过去，无数饿人乱抢。有的面包落在地上的大小便中，他们管自挣得去吃！我们一个本家从嘉兴逃回来，他说有一次轰炸，他躲在东门的铁路桥下，看见一个妇人抱着一个婴孩，躲在墙脚边喂奶。忽然车站附近落下一个炸弹。弹片飞来，恰好把那妇人的头削去。在削去后的一瞬间中，这无头的妇人依旧抱着婴孩危坐着，并不倒下；婴孩也依旧吃奶。我听了他的话，想起了一个动人的故事，就讲给人听：从前有一个猎人入山打猎，远远看见一只大熊坐在涧水边，他就对准要害发出一枪。大熊危坐不动。他连发数枪，均中要害，大熊老是危坐不动。他走近去察看，看见大熊两眼已闭，血水从颈中流下，确已命中。但是它两只前脚抱住一块大石头，危坐涧水边，一动也不动。猎人再走近去细看，才看见大石头底下的涧水中，有三匹小熊正在饮水。大熊中弹之后，倘倒下了，那大石头落下去，势必压死她的三个小宝贝。她被这至诚的热爱所感，死了也不倒。直待猎人掇去了她手中的石头，她方才倒下。猎人从此改业。（我写到这里，忽把"它"改写为"她"，把"前足"改写为"手"。排字人请勿排错，读者请勿谓我写错。因为我看见这熊其实非兽，已经变人。而有些人反变了禽兽！）呜呼！禽兽尚且如此，何况于人。我讲了这故事，上述的惨剧被显得更惨，满座为之叹息。然而堂前的红烛得了这种惨剧的衬托，显得更加光明，仿佛在对人说："四座且勿悲，有我在这里！炸弹杀人，我祝人寿。除了极少数的暴徒以外，世界上没有一个人不厌恶惨死而欢喜长寿，没有一个人不好仁而恶暴。仁能克暴，可知我比炸弹力强得多。目前虽有炸弹猖獗，最后胜利一定是我的！"坐客似乎都听见了这番话，大家欣然地散去了。这便是缘缘堂最后一次的聚会。祝寿后一星期，那些炸弹就猖獗到石门湾，促成了我的移兰之计。 民国二十六年十一月六日，即旧历十月初四日，是无辜的石门湾被宣告死刑的日子。古人叹人生之无常，夸张地说： "朝为媚少年，夕暮成丑老。"石门湾在那一天，朝晨依旧是喧阗扰攘，安居乐业，晚快忽然水流云散，阒其无人。真可谓"朝为繁华街，夕暮成死市"。这"朝夕"二字并非夸张，却是写实。那一天我早上起来，并不觉得甚么异常。依旧洗脸，吃粥。上午照例坐在书斋里工作，我正在画一册《漫画日本侵华史》，根据了蒋坚忍著的《日本帝国主义侵略中国史》而作的。我想把每个事件描写为图画，加以简单的说明。 一页说明与一页图画相对照，形似《护生画集》。希望文盲也看得懂。再照《护生画集》的办法，照印本贱卖，使小学生都有购买力。这计划是"八一三"以后决定的，这时候正在起稿，尚未完成。我的子女中，陈宝、林先、宁馨、华瞻四人向在杭州各中学肄业，这学期不得上学，都在家自修。上午规定是用功时间。还有二人，元草与一吟，正在本地小学肄业，一早就上学去。所以上午家里很静。只听得玻璃窗震响。我以为是有人在窗棂上碰了一下之故，并不介意。后来又是震响，一连数次。我觉得响声很特别：轻微而普遍。楼上楼下几百块窗玻璃，仿佛同时一齐震动，发出远钟似的声音。心知不妙，出门探问，邻居也都在惊奇。大家猜想，大约是附近的城市被轰炸了。响声停止了以后，就有人说："我们这小地方，没有设防，决不会来炸的。"别的人又附和说： "请他来炸也不肯来的！"大家照旧安居乐业。后来才知道这天上午崇德被炸。 正午，我们全家十个人围着圆桌正在吃午饭的时候，听见飞机声。不久一架双翼侦察机低低地飞过。我在食桌上通过玻璃窗望去，可以看得清人影。石门湾没有警报设备。以前飞机常常过境，也辨不出是敌机还是自己的。大家跑出去，站在门口或桥上，仰起了头观赏，如同春天看纸鸢，秋天看月亮一样。"请他来炸也不肯来的"这一句话，大约是这种经验所养成的。这一天大家依旧出来观赏。那侦察机果然兜一个圈子给他们看，随后就飞去了。我们并不出去观赏，但也不逃，照常办事。我上午听见震响，这时又看见这侦察机低飞，心知不妙。但犹冀望它是来侦察有无设防。倘发见没有军队驻扎，就不会来轰炸。谁知他们正要选择不设防城市来轰炸，可以放心地投炸弹，可以多杀些人。这侦察机盘旋一周，看见毫无一个军人，纯是民众妇孺，而且都站在门外，非常满意，立刻回去报告，当即派轰炸机来屠杀。 下午二时，我们正在继续工作，又听到飞机声。我本能地立起身，招呼坐在窗下的孩子们都走进来，立在屋的里面。 就听见砰的一声，很近。窗门都震动。继续又是砰的一声。家里的人都集拢来，站在东室的扶梯下，相对无言。但听得墙外奔走呼号之声。我本能地说："不要紧！"说过之后，才觉得这句话完全虚空。在平常，生活中遇到问题，我以父亲、家主、保护者的资格说这句话，是很有力的，很可以慰人的。但在这时候，我这保护者已经失却了说这句话的资格，地面上无论哪一个人的生死之权都操在空中的刽子手手里了！忽然一阵冰雹似的声音在附近的屋瓦上响过，接着沉重地一声震响。墙壁摆动，桌椅跳跃，热水瓶、水烟袋翻落地上，玻璃窗齐声大叫。我们这一群人集紧一步，挤成一推，默然不语，但听见墙外奔走呼号之声比前更急。忽想起了上学的两个孩子没有回家，生死不明，大家耽心得很。然而飞机还在盘旋，炸弹、机关枪还在远近各处爆响。我们是否可以免死，尚未可知，也顾不得许多了。忽然九岁的一吟哭着逃进门来。大家问她"阿哥呢？"她不知道，但说学校近旁落了一个炸弹，响得很，学校里的人都逃光，阿哥也不知去向。她独自逃回来，将近后门，离身不远之处，又是一个炸弹，一阵机关枪。 她在路旁的屋宇下躲了一下，幸未中弹，等到飞机过了，才哭着逃回家来。这时候飞机声远了些，紧张渐渐过去。我看见自己跟一群人站在扶梯底下，头上共戴一条丝绵被（不知是何时何人拿来的），好似元宵节迎龙灯模样，觉得好笑；又觉得这不过骗骗自己而已，不是安全的办法。定神一想，知道刚才的大震响，是落在后门外的炸弹所发。一吟在路上遇见的也就是这个炸弹。推想这炸弹大约是以我家为目标而投的。因为在这环境中，我们的房子最高大，最触目，犹如鹤立鸡群。那刽子手意欲毁坏它；可惜手段欠高明。但飞机还没离去，大有再来的可能，非预防不可。于是有人提议，钻进桌子底下，而把丝绵被覆在桌上。立刻实行。我在三十余年前的幼童时代，曾经作此游戏。以后永没有钻过桌底。现在年已过半，却效儿戏；又看见七十岁的老太太也效儿戏。这情状实在可笑。且男女老幼共钻桌底，大类穴居野处的禽兽生活，这行为又实在可耻。这可说是二十世纪物质文明时代特有的盛况！ 我们在桌子底下坐了约一小时，飞机声始息。时钟已指四时。在学的孩子元草，这时候方始回来。他跟了人逃出学校，奔向野外，幸未被难。邻居友朋都来慰问，我也出去调查损失。才知道这两小时内共投炸弹大小十余枚，机关枪无算。东市炸毁一屋，全家四人压死在内。医生魏达三躲在晒着的稻穗下面，被弹片切去右臂，立刻殒命。我家后门外五六丈之处，有五人躺在地上，有的已死，脑浆迸出。有的还在喊"扶我起来！"（但我不忍去看，听人说如此。）其余各处都有死伤。后来始知当场炸死三十余人，伤无算。数日内陆续死去又三十余人。犹记那天我调查了回家的时候，途中被一个邻妇拉住。她告诉我，她的丈夫和儿子都被难。"小的不中用了，大的还可救。请你进去看。"她说时脸孔苍白，语调异常，分明神经已是错乱了。我不懂医法，又不忍看这惨状，终于没有进去看。也没有给她任何帮助。只是劝她赶快请医生，就匆匆回家。两年以来，我每念此事，总觉得异常抱歉。 悔不当时代她去请医生，或送她医药费。她丈夫是做小贩的，家里未必藏有医药费，以待炸弹的来杀伤。我虽受了惊吓，未被伤害，终是不幸中之幸者。 我的妹夫蒋茂春家住在三四里外的村子--南沈浜--里。听见炸弹声，立刻同他的弟弟继春摇一只船来，邀我们迁乡。我们收拾衣物，于傍晚的细雨中匆匆辞别缘缘堂，登舟入乡。沿河但见家家闭户，处处锁门。石门湾顿成死市，河中船行如织，都是迁乡去的。我们此行，大家以为是暂避，将来总有一日仍回缘缘堂的。谁知其中只有四人再来取物一二次，其余的人都在这潇潇暮雨之中与堂永诀，而开始流离的生活了。 舟抵南沈浜，天已黑，雨未止。雪雪（我妹）擎了一盏洋油灯，一双小脚踮着湿地，到河岸上来迎接。我们十个人--岳老太太（此时适在我家作客，不料从此加入流亡团体，一直同到广西）、满哥（我姊）、我们夫妇，以及陈宝、林先、宁馨、华瞻、元草、一吟--闯入她家，这一回寒暄，真是有声有色。吾母生雪雪后患大病，不能抚育；雪雪从小归蒋家。虽是至戚，近在咫尺，我自雪雪结婚时来此"吊烟囱" （吾乡俗称阿舅望三朝为吊烟囱）之后，一直没有再访。一则为了茂春和雪雪常来吾家，二则为了我历年糊口四方，归家就懒于走动。这一天穷无所归，而暮夜投奔，我初见雪雪时脸上着实有些忸怩。这农家一门忠厚，一味殷勤招待，实