Chapter 4 Chapter Four Tea Talk

Huang Lansheng finally waited for Zhou Hongdao to also sit in the opposite class of sedan chairs hired from the street sedan shop, and when two rather elderly bearers skillfully pulled the poles of the sedan chairs to their shoulders, they bowed towards the sedan chair as usual hand over.Zhou Hongdao forgot that he was wearing a suit and an oriental straw hat on his head, and he also raised his hands in the sedan chair in a panic.Still imitating the words of entertainment that Brother Tian and the others said: "Thank you for the banquet! Thank you for the banquet! Please go back! Please go back!"

Treating guests in the Huang Mansion is not uncommon, at least during the holidays, there are small birthdays for myself and my wife, and birthdays for deceased ancestors, and there are sometimes four or five tables at a time.In addition, it is more common to ask Xiao Wang or Lao Lan to cook a table of light meals or small table noodles exquisitely for relatives and friends on auspicious spring and autumn days.However, in a social gathering like today, neither playing cards nor punching and drinking, and talking about state affairs from beginning to end, seems to be the first time in recent years.

He turned around and walked into the ear door. He was already tired enough, and he called his Aunt Wan happily from afar: "My little tit! Come and change Daddy's shoes!" Noisy Titney agreed loudly in the upper room: "Mom said, come into the study!... Cousin Chu is here!" The study is the main room on the west side of the main room, which is the same size as the bedroom on the east side of the main room.Because the front and back partitions were replaced with floor-to-ceiling curtains carved with nanmu, it seemed larger than the bedroom.All the red sandalwood furniture was bought and shipped from Guangdong by the old man. They are wide and big, clumsy and heavy, but comfortable to use.In addition to eating and sleeping, the family loves to reunite here for a long time.Of course, there are also two large bookcases with glass doors on the skirt board.Because no one can see the lack of content at a glance, there is a lake-colored thin silk hanging deeply inside the glass door.

Huang Lansheng was sitting on a rattan-heart beauty couch, stretching out his feet for his daughter to pull out his blue satin thin-soled boots, and at the same time said to Chu Yong who was sitting opposite, "I knew you didn't have class this afternoon, I should have listened to you yesterday." For my cousin, I sent you a letter." Chu Yong took an interesting look at Mrs. Huang who was sitting diagonally opposite, and said, "Yesterday, I didn't know that today was going to be an experiment. Until this morning, the provost announced that he agreed to our request, to conduct an experiment in advance, and to have an early summer vacation. Today In one day, I took three tests, algebra and trigonometry in the morning, and English in the afternoon. The main homework was almost finished in one test. If you are so solid, you will get a letter from your cousin, and you will not be able to accompany the guest for your cousin.”

"Why do you want to ask for an early summer vacation?... Ha! Good girl, I took the wrong shoes!" Chrysanthemum said: "Should it be? I said you took it wrong, but I still don't believe it." "That's right." Wan Gu argued with her upper lip raised, "Daddy has to wear satin shoes after taking off his boots." Zhenbang turned his head and ran to the bedroom: "Daddy wants to wear leather slippers. I'll take them!" "You don't want to take it!" Wan Gu also chased after her. "Follow Chrysanthemum quickly, don't allow the two to turn against each other." Mrs. Huang ordered while smoking a hookah.

"Some students want to go back to hold a gay meeting, and some see that other schools have taken summer vacation early..." Sure enough, Wan Gu burst into tears in the bedroom.At the same time, Chrysanthemum was yelling: "Let go, young master! I'm going to sue you!" Zhenbang was also yelling: "Don't let go, I got it first!" "Madam, go and have a look." When he took the hookah, he looked into his wife's eyes with a smile as if pleading, and said, "Little baby, just scare it, don't beat it." Mrs. Huang turned around and left very uncomfortable, saying: "I'm so used to you that no one is afraid of you anymore, so don't tell me to fight!..."

When he heard the soles of his wife's civilized shoes from the square brick floor of the main room to the stepping stones of the bedroom, he turned to Chu Yong and shook his head, and said softly: "Your cousin and aunt are all good, but the mother's kindness is a little weak. .” Chu Yong was unceremonious, as if joking and criticizing him, and said: "It can't be all my cousin's fault. If he is as loving as my cousin, and the villain is not afraid at all, then that is not necessarily good. " "Then, do you approve of beating babies at every turn?" "No, I don't agree with beatings at every turn. What I mean is that the father should be stricter, and the mother should be more loving."

"It's not the corrupt tone of strict father and mother!..." Only Mrs. Huang yelled.Then came the sound of Zhenbang's little feet running on the floor, and Chrysanthemum's big heels walking towards the backyard. He seemed relieved.When the wife took Wangu to change the leather slippers, she took Wangu again and wiped away her tears with a towel.After a small turmoil subsided, we talked about the situation of today's treat. The wife then expressed her opinion: "It's a pity that there is a table of good food today! Xiao Wang has put in a lot of effort, and he went to talk about state affairs with Brother Hao and Brother Ge, so that everyone can't care about the food." Eating wine. The wine was wasted, and the food was also wasted. If I knew this, I asked Lao Zhang to cook a table of home-cooked meals and socialize."

"That's not the case! Do you think that they don't pay attention to the quality of the food and drink because they eat less? I know the temper of this group of people. If you entertain them with ordinary meals, it's no wonder that you don't get angry! Unless you cook the food yourself, That's different." "Strange talk! Can I still catch up with Xiao Wang?" "It can't be compared like this. Some home-cooked dishes, Xiao Wang is not as good as you. For example, no matter how rich the ingredients are, he will not use slow fire, let alone casserole. If today's dish is you If you make it, look, will Tian Boxing live alone and eat?"

One sentence made Mrs. Huang happy. "Look at my cousin's mouth!..." Chu Yong also grinned and said, "Biao Shu is not wrong?" So I went back to what Ge Huanzhong and Hao Dasan said at the banquet. Mrs. Huang said: "Second brother Ge seems to have a lot of knowledge. He always talks about people's inappropriateness and inappropriateness. What should we do? I still haven't said a reason." "It seems to have been said? After you left the table, everyone talked more in the small living room, and you didn't hear it." "I heard it. Did you silently push me out of the seat and take your ears with you?"

Suddenly Wan Gu raised her head from his embrace and said, "I saw it, Mom was listening to the wall!" "Don't talk nonsense!" Daddy immediately put on a face, but no one could see that he did it on purpose. "That's great! I'm talking about it too!" Dad is explaining: "Remember, those underlings like Mrs. He, Juhua, Luo Sheng, and Lao Zhang sneaked outside the house to listen to the master's words, which is called listening to the wall. If you see it, you should come and tell me. Mom scolded them. If my mother and I listened to other people outside the house, it should be, that's not listening to the wall, that's..." "What's your name?" Wan Gu asked seriously. The mother scolded with a smile: "I hate it! The little baby just listens to what the adults say, and prefers to interrupt, and diverts everything the adults want to say." Huang Lansheng seemed to be rescued, and quickly grabbed the topic and said, "That's right, listen to what I asked your cousin Chu. ... Your school is on summer vacation, don't you want to rush back?" Chu Yong frowned, looked at his cousin and said, "That's why I came to discuss with my cousin." "Again, talk to me! You should talk to your cousin about these things. Your cousin, a man, talks about the world and keeps his mouth shut about the country, how clever! Let's take today's meeting as an example, repeatedly asking my hostess to go out to accompany the guests I have something to talk about with me, and I have prepared a bellyful of "Thousand Characters". I don't know that after a few words of entertainment, don't talk about railways, comrades, what kind of cabinet is it? , Postal transmission, it seems that I don’t know anything. Everyone talked so lively, and left me alone to pretend to be a fool. From the beginning to the end, no one paid attention to me. Originally, we women should talk about enlightenment and civilization After all, there are three strands of combed hair and two pieces of clothes. When it comes to the world, the country, and these things, women are superfluous. I am very regretful today. After listening to your cousin, I went out to be superfluous for a long time People. If you still come to discuss with me, don’t you mean to embarrass me on purpose?” "There are so many complaints!" Huang Lansheng smiled. "Complaints! That's not complaints! You men are really not good people. You just say that men and women are equal and respect women's rights, but you can't ask in your heart. Just take today's surname Gao as an example. Look, when he saw me, he It’s like seeing something dirty, and I’m afraid I’ll get my eyes dirty if I take another look. Huh! I guess he thinks I’m a wife in his heart. ..." "It's too heavy to say!..." "...That's why I'm so disdainful!...Don't just say that I have a weird temper, you have to think about your appearance at that time, how uncomfortable it is. To tell the truth, it is thanks to me that I endured it. It's the end. If you lose Mrs. Ge Er, or call my Yaomei to replace me, you will know that there are still some strong women among women, not all of them are as honest and docile as I am, and can stand your discrimination! " "Ah! This is the first time I have heard my cousin's high opinion! But I have never dared to discriminate against my cousin.... Cousin can testify for me. ... Is it true, cousin? ...I'm telling the truth, that's why I came here today to ask my cousin for advice..." "I don't like people who are young and learn to be glib!" In fact, she was already laughing from ear to ear. "I have been asking for advice for a long time, what is the big deal?" Mrs. Huang said: "He said that someone from the Comrades' Association came to talk to him and gave him dozens of dollars, asking him to return to Xinjin to do something for the Comrades' Association." "It's not uncommon. According to Hao Yousan, many students have been entrusted to go back to the county to preach about the comrades' meeting. You probably did it for that, too?" Chu Yong anxiously said: "It's easy to just publicize the comrades' association. Those corporations in our county are in touch with my father. They want me to persuade my grandfather to come out to run a militia, open a pier, It's not easy!" Huang Lansheng pondered for a while and said: "It really isn't easy. I know your grandfather has stopped for several years and is enjoying the blessings at home. How can you convince him? Besides, you are still a junior." "That's right. I told Mr. Cheng Bogao, and he always told me to do my best. I asked Wang Wenbing to evade it on my behalf, and Wang Wenbing scolded me as a cold-blooded animal. Cousin, what do you think I should do?" Do, promise, or not?" "Well! Ma'am, do you think you should agree? If you study according to what Hao Dasan and the others said today, you should do your best. Why?..." Mrs. Huang said bluntly: "I have advised him not to agree. Isn't it embarrassing if he can't do what he promised?..." "Then, don't promise to be honest." Mrs. Huang said with a smile: "That's up to you! What people thought was that if they don't agree, they have to make an excuse not to go back to Xinjin for the time being. However, Zicai School is on vacation and they can't live there. I told him to go back to Xinjin." Moved to our house. The guest room behind the small living room is reserved for him anyway. Just stay for ten days and a half months, and he will go back when the Comrade Association finds another person. Look, is this the right idea?" "That's right! That's right! Everything my wife thought of is right! Then, I'll move in tomorrow." "You fainted from anxiety again. He still has three days to finish the experiment, how can you move here? Now let him think about it for you, what's the reason?" Gu Tiancheng is now in the city.He went to the city several times a year, and each time he had to delay for a few days before leaving.This time, because the local government recommended him to run a militia, he was very happy. He went to the city to play for a few days. After listening to a speech, he became overwhelmed. He found his wife Deng Yaogu's elder brother Deng Qianyuan, who worked as a second teacher in a foreign-wide grocery store. association.Luo Ziqing also asked him to know that he was a Jesuit who didn't go to church very often, so she praised him severely.He also said that in organizing a comrades' meeting, we must pay attention to local order, especially to protect foreigners, and not allow local bad people to make excuses.Therefore, it is said that if the regiment defense is to be powerful, it must have arms.When he heard that only a dozen open fire guns could be found, he unconsciously shook his big fat head and said, "No way! We must try to get some hard fire guns!" Delay for two days. On this day, I had breakfast at Uncle Yao Gu Huitang's house.There was nothing to do but to play cards, and the second young lady Gu who was going to continue the strings had no time to spare; as for Yaobo, since his wife died, he was more and more immersed in the opium smoke, and he hid in a very secret room during the day regardless of the cold or heat. living in a small room.He planned to take Gu Tianxiang to watch the show with him for a long time, but Gu Tianxiang wanted to sue a tenant in Tuqiao for three years in arrears of rent and grain in the Chengdu County Court. go. It's not fun to watch a play alone.Although the newly released Xiaodan characters, such as Rapeseed Moss and Bai Mudan, are no less than Deng Shaohuai, they are worth watching.If it was ten years ago, asking him to squeeze into the theater and take a dry shower, he would have nothing to say; let alone in the theater garden, sitting comfortably on a chair, holding a tea bowl, eating and watching?After all, I am getting older, and today is not what it used to be. I always feel that it is good to have a companion.So he ran to Dongdajie to find his brother-in-law Deng Qianyuan. Deng Qianyuan just came back from the discussion in the street office.Reporting from the Baolu Comrade Association, waving a piece of history paper with one hand, telling the apprentices in the shop about the joint establishment of the Baolu Comrade Association on the Fourth Street. "Mr. Luo is absolutely right. We business people are not only part of the business community, but also part of the nation. Everyone is clamoring for patriotism. Why don't we love it? If you love the country, you should protect Sichuan; if you protect Sichuan, you should protect road; to protect the road, a comrades association should be established. So, today we..." Seeing Gu Tiancheng coming, he hurriedly greeted him, asked his apprentice to pour tea and pass the water smoke, and grinned and said, "Have you left yet?...Our Fourth Street United Comrades Association was established, and everyone recommended me to be the vice president. Take me as a publicity officer, I'm practicing publicity." "Very good! I plan to go back tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and set up both regiment defense and comrades' association at once. The regiment defense has always existed, and everyone knows how to do it again. Comrades' association, I have also learned something, shout out , everyone slapped their hands, and pasted a fuckin' comrades' note at the gate of the Regiment Defense Bureau. There is only one annoying thing, Mr. Luo said, it needs to be publicized. Damn it! This will pass me the exam!...You It’s also good for publicity, let’s talk about it and listen to it, and wait for me to learn.” Deng Qianyuan took the report in his hand as a fan, slapped himself in the face and said, "You're an elf, learn from me, and who can I learn from?" "You stay in the city and deal with comrades every day. No matter what the reason is, you can get enough." "Hey! My brother, it's easy for you to say! Actually, aren't we separated like a mountain? You never thought that in all these major matters, we have been doing business since ancient times. How can we be on top? This time, thanks to Pu Mr. Luo, Mr. Luo, a group of scholars came out, regardless of each other, because we have our share. Every time we have a meeting, we have to post a post to invite us to go, go, we are equal, your brother and my brother are so affectionate. People’s hearts It’s made of meat. How can you not listen to someone who treats you like this? Fortunately, it doesn’t cost money to hold a gay meeting. When the big guys are together, you talk about yours and I talk about mine. In short, it’s that It’s a trick. As for the reasoning that must be said, only those who pretend to be brothers-in-law will understand!” Several fellow apprentices burst into laughter.A buddy who was the same teacher as Deng Qianyuan said with a smile: "Aren't you Gu Sangong's brother-in-law? Why pretend!" There was another burst of laughter. Deng Qianyuan raised the report in his hand and said: "If it's just for publicity, it's easy. They say that there are many articles in Xigu Daily, Popular News, Vernacular News, and the Business Daily run by our chamber of commerce. , whatever you want. I haven’t bought it because I don’t understand it very well. Only this report—the report of Comrade Baolu’s Association, is sold for a small penny a day. Money is a trivial matter, and the articles written are very shallow. People who have been there can understand it. There are so many things posted, look, there is also news about Yang Sulan’s donation of land.” "It's not unusual. I heard it in the tea shop the day I entered the city." "Do you want something special? Yes, this is it...Look, a man named Guo Lieshi jumped into a well and died." Several fellow apprentices shouted in response: "It's really a strange thing!" Gu Tiancheng still said indifferently: "What's so strange? In the current world, when will there not be a few people who wipe their throats and jump into the well?" "Just jumping into a well is not uncommon. Martyr Guo did it out of patriotism. You see, the report clearly stated that he only jumped into the well because he was angry with Sheng Xuanhuai, a traitorous official." Gu Tiancheng took the report and looked at the place Deng Qianyuan was pointing at. Sure enough, there were a few sentences: "Guo Jun heard that Sheng Xuanhuai was selling roads, and he was very sick. On the twenty-eighth night, he went out of the hall to cry and shouted: We are in an era of subjugation. Fortunately, our comrades in Shu are enthusiastic and strive to break the contract to protect the road! Die first to strengthen the ambitions of all comrades!" He opened his eyes and was about to say something.Because those fellow apprentices had heard people read it before, and had studied it carefully, they all started discussing it.A guy with a tall figure and a pockmarked face openly said: "I didn't pay attention to these things about patriotism and love for Sichuan. We are businessmen, we only know that doing business is our priority. Nowadays, after reading Lieshi Guo, I changed my mind. Don’t even give up your life, why don’t we even say a nice word? So now I’m all in favor of the Second Division Deng’s appointment as the vice-chairman. Come on, get our business world up, and everyone is calling for road protection and abolition of the contract, are you afraid that he, Guier Sheng Xuanhuai, won't give way?" Deng Qianyuan said solemnly: "Hey! Another enthusiastic person! Really, the establishment of our Fourth Street United Comrades Association today is really thanks to Martyr Guo who jumped into the well. Otherwise, what would happen if Mr. Luo and the others just rely on their mouths? ! Brother Tiancheng, if you want to do publicity, I advise you to buy a report from the Comrades Association, which will give you more than ten mouths." "Mom! Then buy him a copy!... There is no post office in our field, and the letters can't be delivered. The comrades will report that they bought it. How can we send it?" It's really difficult, and everyone can't think of a way for him. Later, he thought of it again: "It's the regimental defense bureau and the comrades' association. How can we not use a few regiment members to run official business? Send a few people to buy reports every day, and the round trip is dozens of miles, which is not too far. Remember me In the past, I ran into the city early in the morning to watch Jiang Chunlan's whole play, and one day I didn't just go there until the city gate was closed, or I didn't wait until the third watch to get together." He then talked about having nothing to do today and being alone.I want to go to Pastor Jiang again, and I am afraid of being dragged into talking about the Bible, and I have to discuss the establishment of a gospel church in the countryside.I want to watch a play, but I don't have a companion.Going to the first floor to drink distilled water tea is also boring. Deng Qianyuan said: "To be honest, when you come to the city this time, I haven't played with you because I am busy with other things. Today is just free, and I will accompany you to Lequn Park. ——It's just outside the west gate Next to the temple, one hundred acres of temple property was set aside, and everyone collected shares to build it. We also recognized a share on our account, and it was 50 yuan. Because our big shopkeeper is also in favor of people. Everyone said, let’s go Ma Mazi from Street Ma Changxing is very expert in judging people, so I asked him to make samples and supervise the repair. I heard that a large pond was dug, which is more than ten times larger than his lotus boat in Shuangxiao Temple. There are also teahouses, taverns, and refreshments. It’s very lively. There are many tourists, but I haven’t been there yet.” Gu Tiancheng slapped his thigh fiercely and said, "Hi! If you don't mention it, I'd forget it. When I go to the city this time, I can watch big plays and lantern and shadow shows comfortably. Quanyechang is running every day, and there are only two places that don't Go. One is Xinhua Street. It’s not that I’m being prudish, it’s because I can’t muster the energy. Damn it, if it’s ten years ago, ha, ha! … There’s another place, and that’s Shaocheng Park. Mr. I have long heard people say that General Yu spent thousands of dollars to build that big garden, with pavilions, pavilions, green branches and green leaves. It sounds like a fucking West Lake view...Brother, instead of holding on The hot sun is rushing to the Caotang Temple, it is better to get closer and go into the city." "Alright. Let's have a bowl of tea in Shaocheng Park first, and then go to Zhenjiang Tower next to the Nanmen Bridge for a drink. I'll treat you as a farewell." From the west entrance of Xiyu Street, when he entered the small east gate of the city, which was neither too high nor too big, Gu Tiancheng couldn't help being greatly surprised.First of all, the dilapidated city tower that was about to fall down a long time ago has been painted and painted to look brand new; there is a newly made gold plaque with blue background hanging under the eaves, and the four big characters are "beautiful and revered".The Lama Hutong dirt road stretching out in front of it not only rewrites the name "Ancestral Hall Street" on the street sign, but also many tall and tall old trees on both sides of the dirt road are gone.That place turned into two rows of short and small shophouses that can only be seen in rural areas. There are wine shops, roast meat shops, tea shops, grocery shops, and a tea and food shop with double doors. On the front of the building, the gold-lettered signboard is Suzhou Laodaoxiang Village. "Hey! It's changed!" Gu Tiancheng yelled obsessively regardless of whether there was anyone around him or not. walk over again.Isn't that Guandi Temple?Isn't that the lotus pond?Isn't that the golden river of flowing water and soup?Although surrounded by a short earthen wall, the situation is still there.What's more, the Kuixing Pavilion towering several feet high outside the gate of Wenchang Temple on the opposite side is still the same.It turns out that today's Shaocheng Park is the year of the Gengzi year, when Yihe fists and red lights were used to kill big boys and two boys. He, Gu Tiancheng, wanted to avenge his hatred, and he was blindly converted to Jesus, and he was terrified every day. , Don't know what to do, often hide in the place where the whole city comes to sleep in the wild!Counting with fingers: "Ah yes! It's been twelve years!" No wonder there were people everywhere in front of my eyes where I couldn't see footprints before. Where there were only trees and weeds before, there are many scattered houses in front of my eyes! On the open space outside the park gate, a theater is being built.The opera has not yet opened, and the signboard has been molded with lime on the forehead, which is the Wanchun Tea Garden. "Chengdu Province has one more opera garden, Lianyuelai Tea Garden and Keyuan, and there are three gardens in total. It's really lively!" At the gate of the park, I saw Deng Qianyuan took out four ten copper coins and bought two tickets.Gu Tiancheng felt strange again and said: "Why, does it cost money to visit the park?" "We are selling tickets. Adults get 20 cents each, and minors ten cents. General Yu said that this money is used to support the poor bannermen who have no food rations. Therefore, Manbaer no longer Sahao made trouble, and the Han people in Dacheng came here boldly." "It takes a lot of people to buy tickets a day to feed those poor people?" "How many people there are? Only the ticket sellers can understand. But every time I come back, there are always hundreds or two hundred people, and several tea shops are full. On average, there may not be three hundred people a day." "Then, the total counts as two hundred and fifty adult votes. Two-two gets four, twenty-five gets ten, five slings a day, fifty slings in ten days, three to five hundred and fifty slings, and one hundred and fifty slings a month." Hanging, 1,500 hangings for ten months, plus 300 hangings, ah! 1,800 hangings a year, synthetic silver coins, a total of more than 2,100 yuan, bought at Chongyi Bridge to buy rice in the market, three Twelve catties of old scales and a bucket, just buy three hundred tans!... Hey! The accumulation of a small amount makes a lot, it is a sum! Damn it, it only cost a thousand taels of silver. In a year, even the money Lidu took it back, this business is really good!" Deng Qianyuan nodded and said with a smile: "If you don't see the huge interest, which brother-in-law is willing to spend money to open Lequn Park." The two of them had already bypassed the vermilion pergola, from a lush oleander field to the shady cypress bushes in front of the Jingguan Building.A few steps away, there are more than a dozen old elm trees, which grow in strange shapes. It seems that they have existed for more than a hundred years. Gu Tiancheng immediately took off a large Jiading silk gown that had been dyed with two waters and was still very thick, put it on his left arm, and fanned an old-fashioned black paper fan with a length of two feet, saying: : "Brother Deng, it's much cooler here than Dacheng." Deng Qianyuan was also fanning a fashionable small folding fan, which was as small as a palm.He nodded and said, "Why don't you say it. There is no place in the big city where there are so many and such big trees." "Yes, I went to the forest pan of Wenshu Monastery yesterday, and there are more and bigger trees than here." "Where are these pavilions? Where are these rivers and ponds?" Yes, really not, although the forest pan of Wenshu Monastery is bigger than this Shaocheng Park. Gu Tiancheng raised his eyes and looked around. Not far to the south of the Jingguan Building, there was a lonely hall called Canglang Pavilion.To the south, there is another building, which is a fake western-style building with mud walls, all painted in brick gray, including the railings on the upper floor.The two buildings are facing each other from a distance, both are selling tea, and there are people on every tea table.In the north, a row of tile-roofed bungalows was built on the bank of the Jin River, which looked like a water pavilion or a promenade, and the forehead was Yangxinxuan.A dike to the north of the Jinhe River is the lotus pond. Blocked by an earthen wall, the pond seems small and meaningless.Although the pond is full of lotus flowers, it is impossible to go to the edge of the pond.Only the real waterside pavilion in the side garden of Guandi Temple, with a row of flying chairs facing the lotus pond, is a good place.But there is a police station all over the city, which is separated from the park.Downstream of Yangxinxuan, on the south bank of the Jin River facing the garden of Guandi Temple, there is really a boat house, which looks very ugly.In addition, there is a thatched-roofed pavilion and a rather large courtyard with a main hatchback and a double door, much like the Temple of the God of Wealth. Deng Qianyuan said: "Brother Tiancheng, how do you think the garden is built?" "Well! It's okay! It's just... I can't say it... I always feel a little bit less interesting than when I used to sleep here in the wild." "Then how can it be compared? Now there are resting places, tea shops, and restaurants." "There are also restaurants?" "Isn't that Jufeng Garden? The famous South Pavilion also sells big meals, and it's in that yard." Gu Tiancheng looked up at the Temple of the God of Wealth, and on the green brick door archway, there were indeed three small characters carved with vermilion lime: Jufeng Garden. "Ah! It's a restaurant! Then why should we go to Zhenjianglou?" After thinking about it, he made some calculations and concluded that his brother-in-law would not spend too much money to be the host.He really wants to taste the taste of a big meal, and he is willing to pay for it.But Deng Qianyuan had already said that he would give him a farewell party, and now he turned over and asked him to be a guest, so he killed him, and he was not willing to lose face. "Oh! It's Chengduer's temper after all!" They circled slowly in the garden and came to the real boathouse.Deng Qianyuan pointed to the sharp masonry prow and a wrist-thick pig iron chain coiled on the stone pile, and said seriously: "It is really a steamer boat! Last Mid-Autumn Festival, I saw our Chuanhe head in Yichang. The steamer Shutong is not much bigger than this one, and its style is similar....Look! There are masts and chimneys on the roof!..." There are only masts and chimneys, and there is even a small plaque hanging on the front of the building, with pink characters on a green background, and the inscription "Changfeng Wanli". The upstairs and downstairs of the boat house are also selling tea, and seeing people eating noodles and steamed buns, they must also be selling dim sum. The two were discussing whether to drink tea here when they suddenly heard someone talking not far behind. "It's such a vulgar thing, it's really disgusting! Every time I see it, I can't help feeling sick." "Why don't you imitate Chinese building boats instead of foreign boats? It's not like that. I've seen photos of foreign boats. The roof is flat and there are iron railings. How could it be a herringbone roof covered with water? And Covered with tiles! I don’t know who’s handwriting?” "Of course it's that illiterate Man Ba'er." "Then don't be surprised. I heard that there is a stone ship built in the Summer Palace. The master can do it, and the slave can just learn it." Deng Qianyuan felt that the more he said these words, the less pleasant they were, so he turned sideways on purpose to take a look. It turned out that they were some young students.Looking again, the short-sighted person in the middle with a pair of nickel-rimmed short-sighted glasses hanging on the bridge of his nose looks very familiar.After thinking about it carefully, I remembered that there was a student surnamed Wang whom I often met at the railway company in recent days. The student surnamed Wang also saw the two of them, so he came over with a smile and said, "Is it Director Deng?" After greeting each other, the student said to Gu Tiancheng: "Is this Mr. Gu Tuan?...I saw you in the General Affairs Department of the Comrade Association....My name is Wang Wenbing, and I am also a shareholder representative." He also introduced the three people who came on the same road.One was Peng Jiaqi, who was in his middle school class; the oldest, about twenty-six or seventeen years old, was Cheng Hongjun, a student of higher education; Yi, this man is tall and thin, and he also wears a pair of myopia glasses. The corners of his mouth hang down, and his face is not friendly. He is probably the one who said the words "master and slave". The four students were about to turn around and leave, when Gu Tiancheng blocked them with both hands: "Since we are lucky enough to meet you, let me offer you some tea money! Brother, I am a country bumpkin, and my words are not deep. Mr. Luo told me to go back and set up a comrade's club. I just don't know what to do!" Deng Qianyuan also helped to invite a few words.The six people then turned to Yangxinxuan, and found a low square table and a few low bamboo chairs by the side of the bamboo railing inside.Deng Qianyuan rushed to pay the tea money first. Wang Ziyi was holding a tea bowl, and while drinking tea, he asked Wang Wenbing, "You probably know, do you want a guest speaker at the conference the day after tomorrow?" "Are you going to cry out again and sow the seeds of revolution again?" It was Cheng Hongjun who asked back. Wang Wenbing scratched his scalp and said, "I don't know, I just heard that representative Liu Shengyuan was sent to Beijing to petition..." Peng Jiaqi rushed to say: "Not only to see him off alone, but also to representatives from Guangdong and Hubei." "Now to welcome the representatives, we must invite people to speak." Peng Jiaqi also asked him: "Are you really going to talk about revolutionary bloodshed? Are you afraid that people will interfere with you again?" "Freedom of speech now! Natural human rights! Who dares to interfere with me!" Wang Ziyi almost shouted. Cheng Hongjun looked around, and then said: "Do you have a loud voice? Don't hear me. What do you look like?" Peng Jiaqi said with a smile: "Let him shout! There is no such thing as a sparrow that screams. I have also seen a real revolutionary party. People don't shout, they just bury their heads and work hard!" Wang Ziyi knew that he was talking about a member of his clan, so he rolled his eyes and pursed his lips. Because Wang Wenbing drank hot tea, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel and said, "It's fine to give a speech, I'm afraid I don't have so much time. I heard that Guo Huanwen will be mourned..." Deng Qianyuan hurriedly said: "Ah! But it is Guo Lieshi? It has been published in the newspaper today." Wang Ziyi opened his eyes wide and asked, "Is Guo Huanwen dead?" Wang Ziyi is also from Ziyang County, and he knew Guo Huanwen, because the smell didn't suit him, and he was busy reviewing textbooks for the past half month, trying to get the best grade in the summer exam. I even seldom read Minli Daily and Shenzhou Daily, so naturally I don’t know anything about my fellow countrymen. Cheng Hongjun said: "If you don't die, if you don't die tragically, you are not enough to be called a martyr! Haven't you read today's newspaper?...It's a pity, this is a good material for you to use....Would you like to listen? Ask Wang Wenbing to tell You. The news in the newspaper today and the memorial service the day after tomorrow are all driven by him." It turned out that since Guo Huanwen returned to his apartment on Dongyuhe Street, his mental illness became more and more serious. No matter day or night, he always talked to his fellow countrymen who lived with him.What I said was the same: Sheng Xuanhuai was a traitorous minister who betrayed the country, Zhou Shanpei was a traitor who betrayed Sichuan, and the two traitors colluded only to harm him and Guo Huanwen.Even contacting him in the county to recommend him to the judge training institute was a plan that Zhou Shanpei had already arranged. Otherwise, why would Zhou Shanpei be promoted to be a law envoy suddenly when he came to Chengdu, and Sheng Xuanhuai also suddenly betrayed Chuan? Han Railway?Besides, it's a coincidence, it won't be like this!At first, the fellow villagers were still explaining to him, advising him not to get suspicious and make more preparations so that we can go to the exam together on the 29th.If he passes the screening, of course it’s good, but if he doesn’t, everyone will find a way for him, or he will go back to the county to teach elementary school, or he will live in the Law and Politics School in Chengdu.There are countless private legal and political schools at present, which are almost the same as public primary schools six or seven years ago. As long as you are willing to sign up and pay the fee, you can enter at any time. If you have a graduation qualification, you can be a judge or a lawyer in the future. lawyer?At worst, when you return to the county, you can squeeze into some kind of corporation to be a director or a member of some kind.But based on what the fellow countrymen said, he always couldn't hear it.A few days later, everyone was impatient and kept talking and persuading him, and let him talk and cry, and cry and talk; even because everyone was focused on preparing for each other's fame and career, no one thought of finding a doctor for him. He treats.On Sunday, Wang Wenbing and Cheng Hongjun visited him once, but they couldn't come up with a good solution. 到五月二十八日，郭焕文已经是两三天没吃过东西，两三夜没上床睡过觉，两只鼓出眼眶外的眼球红得像家兔的眼睛，并且神光散漫，只管在看人，好像已经把人认不清了。因为第二天就是考试日子，周提法使的这次考试，据说得到咨议局议长蒲伯英的赞成，很为认真，只要稍有差错，一个法官前程便有除脱之虞。功名要紧，前程要紧，因此在这么紧要关头的前夕，大家自更要凝精聚神，磨砺以需的了。偏偏郭焕文在这一夜闹得格外厉害，从黄昏起，差不多把每个同乡的房间都跑遍了，口里不断吵着：“大祸已经临头了，你们还要活下去吗？唉！可恨已极！朝廷上一个盛宣怀，四川省一个周善培，国也卖了，省也亡了，还说啥子铁路！……没一个人活得了，你们为啥还不感觉？真是怪事！……唉！完了，完了，只有死！死了才快活！……哈，哈，到那时节，凭你周秃子再歪，你能把我吃得了？……吃不了的！好不快活，啊，哈哈！……” 大家不理睬他。有几个人还咒骂着把他推出去，将房门紧紧关上。郭焕文遂独自一人在那间宽敞的大厅上闹一会，哭一会，说一会，笑一会。一直闹到三更以后，才不再听见他的声音。 第二天清晨，大家起来忙着吃早饭，吃了饭又忙着到法官养成所去考试，都没有看见郭焕文。认为他闹了几天几夜，定然疲倦睡熟了。没有人敢去看他，生怕把他搅醒了，再闹。 下午，大家考罢回寓，依然没见郭焕文的踪影。有人也疑心出了什么事故。但又认为他或者出街去了，或者因为他疯疯癫癫闯了什么乱子，着警察挡到局里去了。夜里，大家还商量一会儿，要是明天再不回来，只好分头出去寻找了。 不料第二天，就是六月初一这天，绝早，给大家做饭的伙房老安到侧院井里去取水，竹竿挽着水桶放下去时，怎么，桶底碰着的不是水，却是一件东西。弯着腰，趴在井栏上向下一看，朦朦胧胧不大看得清楚，只见乌黑一团。再用长竹竿一拄，啊也！才是一个人，拱在水面上的是人的背！ 老安一叫喊：“有人跳了井啰！” 大家立刻警觉：“不是那个疯子，才怪哩！” 王文炳在学堂里得到消息，跑到东御河街，郭焕文的尸体已被打捞起来，摆在大厅内一张门板上。在水里泡了一天两夜，简直不成形了。大厅上全是人，全是人声，有左邻右舍，有房主庄老爷，有街坊上的街正，有警察局的巡员，更有资阳县的同乡人。 大众研究、讨论、查询的结果，一致断定郭焕文的跳井，委系出于自杀而非被人谋害。自杀根源，由于久病之后，神经失常所致。只要不是凶杀命案，巡员和街正自然脱了干系。巡员当场填发了死亡证，并慎重地说：“天气太热了，死人该早点棺殓。三天之内，若不运走，便该抬上官山埋葬，这是局里订的章程。”街正和房主并做了有力证明。 有一两个在甄别考试中自己觉得没有把握的同乡人，在大家忙着凑钱买衣衾棺材时，忽然有所主张地说：“郭焕文这条命债，准定是周秃子拉的。这倒不能含含糊糊地抹稀泥。为啥这样说呢？你们想嘛，若不是周秃子无中生有要闹一个甄别考试，郭焕文何至于弄到昏头昏脑误了点名时刻。若不是周秃子在他翻爬墙缺时，说出那样不成体统的刻薄话，郭焕文也不至于一下子就着急疯了。如此看来，我们怎能让郭焕文白死。我们最好成群结队去找周秃子算账。” 另几个人考虑到这笔账怎么算呢？郭焕文自己并没说过是周臬台逼他去死，也没写过一篇含有这样口气的东西，找不出证据，光凭旁边人的揣测在法律上站不住脚的。虽说无诬不成词，要赖他也未尝不可，但是结果如何呢？难道叫周臬台给郭焕文当孝子吗？抑或叫周臬台自行检举，丢了纱帽不戴？何况周臬台现正官运亨通，百凡如意时候，拿这种不容易动公愤的案子去攀他，不但攀不倒他，要是他动了怒，还出一手来，谁招架得住？ “那么，郭焕文硬是白死了！” 王文炳灵机一动，又想了想，才说：“不会吧？我想这么来一下，既要使郭焕文死得有价值，又可以把周善培捎上，就说他横施压制，郭焕文因为不能伸志爱国，所以才赍志殉路。而今正当风潮汹涌时节，这件事一传开去，哪个不怜惜郭焕文？哪个不憎恨周善培？一旦造成舆论，我们也算给郭焕文报了仇了，我们也不至于遭到啥子祸患。” 大家一致赞成。王文炳不及亲视含殓，便被众人催着向铁路公司跑去。 但是王文炳划的策，却被几位记事主任和编辑主任拿去同会长罗梓青磋商之下，仅只采用了一半。就是全称肯定了郭焕文的神经失常，完全由于五月二十一那天，他来参加保路同志会成立时候，听了演说，看见朱云石的手指划破流血，大受感动，加之体弱久病，自知爱国无力，所以才用自杀来鼓励大家，力争破约保路，不达目的不止。 至于后半段之不被采纳，解释是：“周大人正在扶持我们，我们怎好得罪他呢？” 王文炳晓得办不到，自然不便坚持，结果还答应照编辑主任的意思，替郭焕文写一篇遗嘱；并答应找同乡人多写几篇哀悼文章。 罗先生说：“这事情比杨素兰捐田产还能怂动人心。我们要好好地表扬一番。光是几篇文章在报上登几天，不够，不够，我们要热烈地给他开个追悼大会，叫全川同胞都能闻风兴起，郭烈士庶几死而瞑目！” 这时候，王文炳告诉汪子宜的话，当然不是这样有底有面。有些渲染了一下，有些便为死者讳了。他不是有意要欺诳同乡，因为还有邓乾元、顾天成两个生人在座，他是一片好心，生怕损害了他们对于同志会宣传的信心啊！ 程洪钧懂得王文炳的用意，等他说完，还从而为之修饰充实了一番。把报上登出的那篇冠冕堂皇的遗嘱，硬说成是棺殓了死人之后两天，才在他床上的草荐底下找了出来。 王文炳一面喝茶，一面向程洪钧说：“你答应写的郭焕文传，明天可能交卷不？” “写是写起了，却不怎么好，也太短，看起来有点像王安石的《读孟尝君传》。打算改长一点，但又没有好多事迹可叙。” “老汪也写一篇，好不好？” “赞扬郭焕文吗？赞扬他死得好，如你所说的死得有价值吗？”汪子宜还咬着牙齿，从牙缝中挤出了一句，“我才不呢，莫找我！” 程洪钧瞅着他道：“难道不可以借这个题目写一篇激烈文章吗？”“题目就不是啥子好题目，无论如何说法，总之是自杀，是轻于鸿毛的死，这能引申出啥子好意义，我不写！” 彭家骐笑说：“你们真是老火呀！你们难道还不明白他的宗旨吗？他根本就不赞成同志会的。” 顾天成、邓乾元吃了许久的闷茶，老早便想插嘴说几句话了。这下子有了机会，两个人不约而同地一齐说道：“！不赞成同志会？……” 邓乾元的脑筋毕竟灵活一些，还接着说了下去：“莫非同志会办得不对头？或者……” 这倒出乎汪子宜的意外。因为一走进养心轩，他已把这两个人估量定了：一个是土粮户，一个是生意人，都是无知识的愚民。愚民是不足与言天下事的，自然更不懂啥子叫革命真谛，若是同这般人讲论道理，不唯拴住太阳讲不清，还会犯孔夫子的戒律：不可与言而与之言，失言也。因此，他只用眼珠在眼镜后面转了转，仍然面向彭家骐说话。 “你了解我的宗旨，我不赞成同志会，是瞧不起他们这伙人光晓得喊大人饶命，光晓得痛哭流涕。现在除了取激烈手段，那班东西能好好生生地让你吗？” 顾天成懵懵懂懂地问道：“啥子叫激烈手段？” “嘿，嘿，流血！”汪子宜头也不掉一下地说了两个字。 又一个学生模样的年轻人，又高又壮，一只手拿了把广东蒲葵扇遮着太阳影子，正从静观楼那面走来。彭家骐霍地站起来喊道：“楚用！楚用！到这里来！” 楚用满脸是笑地旋走来旋说：“王文炳才在这里吃茶！……啊！还是你们一伙！” 介绍之后，堂倌泡上茶来，又冲了一遍开水。 楚用接着说：“把我好找！跑到铁路公司，说你没去。跑到东御河街，说你还在学堂没搬去。跑到学堂，只剩一个小工高金山还在，说你和彭家骐一道出来，多半转公园来了。” 程洪钧道：“算你运气好。要不是我把老汪抓来，在半边桥和他两个碰见时，他两个已到皇城去了。” 王文炳道：“我以为你回新津去了呢？原来还没走？” 彭家骐把鼻子一耸，笑道：“表叔家里住安逸了，吃得好，喝得好，又可以睡懒觉，看骚书，还想回去？” “打胡乱说！”楚用红着脸，扇着扇子说道：“设若不是接到家里来信，叫给姐姐办一些要紧妆奁，我前天就走了。你想嘛，天理人情，在省里住了半年，还有不想家的？哪像你二十里远近，随时一伸脚就回去了。” “哦！原来要当舅老倌，坐上八位了！这义务该尽的。好在还没讨老婆。你看罗启先便不同啦，试验刚完，连半天都不留。” 王文炳道：“这却冤枉了鸡公。是我催他走的。因为总务部的二十块钱路费一发下，文牍部就限了他的期，十天里头就得把同志会搞起来。你算一算，由省城到泸州，光走路便要七天，不立刻走，行吗？” 楚用偏过头去，凑着王文炳耳边说道：“有件要紧事同你商量。我们出去谈一谈。” 两个人便起身告辞。 彭家骐说：“我也要回簇桥去了。隔几天再进城来找你们。” 程洪钧、汪子宜也说，要到资属中学去找人。 邓乾元本想邀约大家都去枕江楼大吃一台的，不知怎么又忘记了。及至众人都走了才想起。 黄家距离少城公园不过一条长街，两个年轻人的脚步都快，这时节街上行人正少，没咂完一支纸烟，已来到大门外。 王文炳靠在门枋外面的右边一只石狮子上，舒了一口气道：“可以说了吧？到底是啥子要紧事，这么秘密。” “已经到了，就进去坐下细谈，不好吗？” 王文炳走在前头。刚从大厅耳门进去，就迎面看见婉姑笑着闹着，从庭院的小径飞跑到大厅后面檐阶上，一转身，又跑到短廊边，翻爬过尺许高的字栏杆，一下扑在楚用身上，喊道：“快抱我起来，哥哥拿刀杀我来了！” 一眨眼的时间，振邦果然两手挥舞着两把尺许长、贴着锡箔的木刀——还是楚用今年在年假时，给他在城守科甲巷买的，也从石山旁边循着花径追了过来。口里吆喝着：“死丫头向哪里逃跑！……本大王杀死你！……” 王文炳跨出字栏杆，弓着腰，两臂一伸拦住他，道：“看在我面上，饶了你妹妹吧！” 楚用也笑说：“老邦太不对，光欺负小妹妹。” 菊花从上房的山花过道上走来道：“邦少爷不听话，太太说，拉进去打屁股。哦！客来了！” 王文炳站了起来道：“来过几回的了，还算客吗？” “怎么不是？连楚表少爷也是客哩！” 振邦仰着脸，把两只大眼睛一挤道：“是客，是客，是棒客！” All laughed. 菊花呸了一口道：“就这么胡说！看我告不告诉太太！” 婉姑从楚用手臂上挣下，一抹头便朝上房跑去，还一路喊着：“我去告他！我去告他！” 振邦鼓起眼睛，装作不怕的样子：“不怕你告。” 顺手一木刀，啪！打在菊花的大腿上。 “哎哟！你还打人！” “哪个叫你说是要告我哩！” 王文炳连忙把他两只手腕抓住道：“这就不文明了。现在小学生都要学大国民的举动才对。打人骂人，要不得的。” 何嫂已从上房走来，手上一面卤漆茶盘，托着两只五彩瓷茶杯。一面递茶给王文炳、楚用，一面马起一张宽皮大脸向菊花说道：“太太问你，为啥不把邦少爷弄进去，等他在客面前没规没矩的。” “弄进去？他还打人哩！”菊花嘟起嘴地抱怨。 “我偏不进去，哪个敢拉我？”振邦刚抡起他的双刀，已着何嫂、菊花一边一个抓住两臂，连刀带人，半拖半攘地架了进去。 两个人都笑着走进小客厅。 楚用把茶杯向中间小圆桌上一放道：“抓进去后，定有一顿好打的。男娃儿到底要烦些。” “他们的家庭教育很严吗？” “跟普通人家差不多。不过有点异样，当父亲的太慈了，管娃儿的事全靠妈妈。” “你的这位表婶娘，好像是个精明强干的女人？” 楚用擦燃洋火，一面咂纸烟，一面说：“倒还不止于精明强干……” “一个女人，精明强干也够了。还不止，那么……” 楚用只是笑，两边脸皮慢慢红晕起来，嘘了两口烟，才嗫嗫嚅嚅地说道：“不是那样的。……我说，女人家值得凑合的地方，不止是精明强干，还有……呃！……若仅只精明强干的话，那又不像女人家了。……所以说……” “所以说女人家值得凑合的地方，还应当人才美貌、性情温柔、言谈有趣、体态风流。对不对？” 王文炳看见楚用的窘态，更是大声笑道：“你把我从公园找来，原来只是为了研究女人啦！” “绝对不是的，”楚用急得摇着一双大手道，“听我说……” 楚用有个堂外公，是南河一带赫赫有名的袍哥大爷侯保斋。虽然岁数已大，收手退休，但是从新津直到邛州、蒲江、大邑、彭山、眉州的各处码头，只要一提到他，还无人不知，无人不跷起大拇指来称赞一声：“侯大爷吗？对的！” 楚用在学堂里常常谈到他这位豪杰外公。有时还把他夸张得好似及时雨宋公明。同志会决定要向各府州县去扩展声光时，王文炳无意之间向干事会和几个负责人说到了南路的侯保斋，以及楚用和他的关系。有一天，王文炳受命找着楚用到同志会去谈了一阵，当天下午，他便被正式委托回新津去发动同志协会，同时洽商侯保斋出山来领头号召。除照例路费外，并发给联络手续费三十元。 楚用向王文炳说的是，他原本安排放了暑假走的，想不到在那天便接到父亲专人带了封信并一笔款子来，叫他会同黄家表婶给姐姐赶办一批妆奁。姐姐原订出阁的佳期大概提前了。因此，每天不能不劳烦表婶，陪着他走劝业场，走暑袜街，走东大街，走半边街，走大科甲巷。别的现成东西都好置办，只需他和表婶同意了就行。唯有照家里开来尺寸定做的衣裳，那就颇打麻烦了。比如选料子，选颜色，选花样，他就不懂；这上面还又有本省货色，下路货色，甚至东洋货色，西洋货色等等的区别，只好由表婶一个人去费心思。表婶是有家务的，虽然热心帮忙，也得要她方便，几天来，还有好多料子没买；买好了，才请裁缝来做。目前高手裁缝也不好找，常在黄家来做活路的那两个人又忙病了，到底什么时候才能把这几套嫁时衣做好，简直没把握。 这么样的牵累着，他怎能走呢？ “难道就不能先跑回去一趟，把你外公那里的头接洽好了，再回省来？新津并不算远，一百二十里，起个早，这么长的天气，跑拢才下午哩。” 楚用很是为难地说：“要是能够抽身，还待你讲！眼前料子没买齐，表婶就不让走。她说，我只管外行，到底是舍间的负责人，不在一路，她便做不了主。……唉！女人家的脾气真难将就！……麻烦死了，真想丢下不管！” “空话少说，你的意思到底怎么样呢？” “我想请你代我转达一下，好不好另外找个人去。委托书和钱也请你一总代缴了吧。” “你同程伯皋他们谈过没有？” “去了两趟，没找着人。碰见郝又三先生，他不赞成。” “我也不赞成。你只想想，目前是啥子时候？又是啥子情况？联络侯保斋这桩事，经干事会通过的，岂能儿戏？你负的啥子责任？怎么可以中途变卦？” 楚用把第二支纸烟点燃，深深嘘了两口；仰着头把口一张，一个烟圈便颤悠悠地扬到空中。吐到第五个圈。 王文炳把眼镜向鼻粱上耸了耸，很不自在地说：“莫光搞这些无聊举动！说嘛！是不是可以抽空回去一趟？” “老实说吧，即使我回去，也不中用，我外公脾气不好，差不多的人和他说话，不到三句就得挨训。像我这下了两代的小辈，更没资格和他攀谈……” 他又抽起纸烟来。王文炳口已张开，但又忍住了，让他说下去。 “还有哩，外公老了，时常都在闹病，就是家里事情，他已不耐烦过问。像保路同志会和他毫不相干的事，责任又这么大，要说动他出山，真得一个角色，我却不行。” “那么，罗先生、程先生、彭先生他们当面委托你时，为啥又不把这些困难说清，等到事情定了局，大家等着你的好消息，你才来这么一手。你现在倒说得出口，我这介绍人却没法启齿。唉！我真不明白你到底为了啥？” 楚用的脸又绯红了，头也越发勾了下去。但他仍然在分辩：“那时候，大家说得那么展劲，似乎有点不容易推脱的样子，自然只好答应下来。那时若果就走，事情未必办得好，不过不会有现在这番话罢了。因为一时走不动，才有心思把前前后后一思量，因而才感觉到那时候答应得确是太冒失了些。……好在现在还不算迟……” 猛然听见耳门一响，一阵靴声接着从短廊上走来。两个人连忙半抬屁股，从玻璃窗上望去。原来黄澜生从他当差事的地方下班回府。罗升汗流浃背地拿着护书、皮衣包、水烟袋、洗脸盆等物，跟在后面。 黄澜生走到小客厅门前，掀开湘妃竹帘朝里一看，便一声哈哈，走了进来。打了招呼后，接着说道：“好热的天气！” 一面脱纱马褂，一面向窗子外面吆喝：“洗脸水！茶！水烟袋，拿家里那根干净的！便衣！便鞋！” 及至把右手大指上套着的那只碧绿透水的玉扳指取下，从而再挥起朝扇时，又慨然说道：“还是你们当学生的好。过年时有年假，天热了有暑假。唯有我们做官人，没一天空闲。天气越热，事情越多。就像我们局子，在平时本来是个冷衙门，而今为了赵制军快出来接印，总办说不定有更动，照例的移交公事不能不准备。这一下，要告个假休息几天，也不能了。” “噢！赵尔丰要出来了！大约在啥时候，就这六月内吗？”王文炳很注意地问。 “听说本月内由打箭炉起马。到底啥时候抵省，还