Chapter 8 chapter eight

In an ordinary family, two or three o'clock in the afternoon is the quietest time of the day. The children are at school, the young people are working outside, and only the old, the weak and the disabled are left at home.This is the case in Manzhen's house, only her mother and grandmother are at home.One afternoon, a knife sharpener came to the alley, and Mrs. Gu heard him yelling, so she went downstairs with two kitchen knives.After a while, she came up again, and shouted loudly on the stairs: "Mom, guess who is here? Mu Jin is here!" The old lady Gu couldn't remember who Mu Jin was for a moment, and vaguely Asked: "Well, who is it?" Mrs. Gu led the guest in and walked in.Mrs. Gu saw that it was Zhang Mujin, the son of her niece and daughter who had been engaged to her eldest granddaughter before.

Mu Jin smiled and called "Grandma".The old lady Gu was overjoyed, and said: "Why are you thin?" Mu Jin smiled and said: "Perhaps people from the countryside always look dark and thin." The old lady Gu said: "How is your mother?" Mu Jin paused After a pause, before he could answer, Mrs. Gu said beside him: "My cousin has passed away." The old lady Gu said in surprise: "Huh?" I was taken aback!" The old lady Gu stared blankly at Mu Jin, and said, "When did this happen?" Mu Jin said, "It was in March this year. I didn't send any obituaries. I thought that when I came to Shanghai, I'll tell my aunt myself." He briefly told the story of his mother's illness.The old lady Gu couldn't help crying, and said: "Where can I expect it. An old person like us won't die, but she will die when she is young!" In fact, Mu Jin's mother is also in her fifties, but under the old lady's In her eyes, her juniors will always be children.

Mrs. Gu sighed: "My cousin is still lucky to have such a good son as Mu Jin." The old lady Gu nodded and said: "That's true! Mu Jin, I heard that you have become the director of the hospital. At your age It's really light." Mu Jin smiled and said: "That's nothing. People say, 'No. When he was here, he said hello and said that you will be promising when you grow up. Mom, do you remember?" At the beginning, it was because her husband admired Mu Jin very much that she betrothed Man Lu to him. Mrs. Gu asked: "Is there anything you want to do when you come to Shanghai this time?" Mu Jin said: "Because I need to add some things in the hospital, I will come to Shanghai to have a look." Mrs. Gu asked him where he lived , He said he was staying in a hotel, and Mrs. Gu immediately said, "Then you can move here. It's not convenient to stay in a hotel." Mrs. Gu hurriedly echoed, Mu Jin hesitated, and said: " Isn't that too troublesome?" Mrs. Gu said with a smile: "It doesn't matter - I'm not being polite to you! Didn't you also live in our house before?" Mrs. Gu said: "What a coincidence, there just happened to be a vacant room. There is a family downstairs who just moved out." Mrs. Gu explained to Mu Jin: "Manlu got married last year, and we rented out the two downstairs rooms because of the small number of people in our family." Until now, they have never mentioned Manlu.The old lady Gu then said: "Man Lu is married, you know?" Mu Jin smiled and said: "I heard about her. How is she?" The old lady Gu said: "She is finally lucky. She is not bad. Her uncle is quite good at business, and now they have built their own house on Hongqiao Road." Mrs. Gu always thought it was a miracle that Man Lu married a wealthy son-in-law, and it could be said that it was her. One of the most proud things in my later years, so it's a big deal to talk about.While listening, Mu Jin said, "Oh.—Oh.—That's good." Mrs. Gu saw that his expression was a bit unnatural, as if he had never forgotten his love for Man Luling.If he hadn't known she was married, probably he would never have come here, for the sake of avoiding suspicion.

The knife sharpener was yelling outside the back door, saying that the knife was sharpened. Mrs. Gu hurriedly got up and went downstairs, and Mu Jin also stood up to say goodbye.Their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law insisted on inviting him to live again. Mu Jin smiled and said: "Okay, then I will bring my luggage here tonight. I still have something to do now, so I want to go somewhere else." Mrs. Gu said: "Then you should go early Come, come and eat." That night, Mu Jin transported two pieces of luggage from the hotel to Gu's house. Mrs. Gu had already packed the room downstairs. She smiled and called her two sons: "Weimin, Jiemin, come and help us with the luggage." Take something." Mu Jin smiled and said, "I'll take it myself." He carried the box into the room, and the two children followed, standing and watching from a distance.Mrs. Gu said: "This is Brother Jin. Jiemin was too young to remember, but you should remember Weimin. When you were young, you liked Brother Jin the most. When he left, you cried all day and all night. I gave Dad a good beating—he made you sleepless and angry." Weimin is now a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, who is as tall as his mother, and he can't help feeling embarrassed when he hears this. Yes, blushing and silent.

Mrs. Gu also came into the room at this time, and said with a smile: "I'll tidy things up later, let's go up to eat first." Mrs. Gu went to the kitchen to serve the dishes, and Mrs. Gu led Mu Jin upstairs together.Today they ate dinner very late because they were waiting for Mu Jin.Manzhen had to go out to teach after eating, so she couldn't wait, so she filled a bowl of rice and sat there to eat.Mu Jin walked in, and was stunned when she saw her.In the first moment, he still regarded it as Manlu—the Manlu of six or seven years ago.Manzhen put down the bowl and chopsticks, stood up and said with a smile: "Brother Jin doesn't know me, right?" Mu Jin said embarrassedly: It was because she knew her so well that she looked at her in a daze.She smiled and said, "It's the second sister, right? I'll see it elsewhere, I really don't know her." Mrs. Gu said, "So, when you saw her before, she wasn't as big as Wei Min."

Manzhen picked up the chopsticks again, and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, I ate first, because I have to go out after eating." Mu Jin watched her put a bowl of white rice, and took two pieces of salted cabbage to eat there, Feel very sorry.When Mrs. Gu brought in bowls of dishes, Manzhen had already finished eating.Mu Jin quickly said, "Second Sister, eat some more." Manzhen smiled and said, "No, I'm already full. Mom, I'll let you sit." She stood up, poured herself a cup of tea, and leaned on her mother's chair Drinking slowly with her back on her back, she saw her mother put a chopstick of chili fried shredded pork into Mu Jin's bowl, and said, "Mom, you forgot, brother Jin doesn't eat spicy food." Mrs. Gu smiled and said: " Oh, really, I forgot." Old lady Gu said with a smile: "This child has a good memory." They never thought that the reason she remembered was because she hated Mu Jin for taking her sister away when she was young. Knowing that he doesn't eat spicy food, she rushed to serve him rice and put some hot sauce on the bottom of the bowl.He always knew it was her prank at the time, but he didn't take this kind of trivial matter to heart, and of course he has completely forgotten it now.He just thinks it's amazing that Manzhen still remembers what he doesn't like to eat after all these years.And her voice, smile, every posture and movement of her are so familiar to him, they are haunting in his soul and dreams all these years, and now they are all here.Fate is really cruel, but this kind of cruelty, apart from the pain, the sufferer does not feel that there is a little sweetness in it.

Manzhen finished his cup of tea and left.Mu Jin has always been a bit perplexed. In the past, he was a frequent visitor to Gu's house. They only used old-fashioned bone chopsticks with a round top and bottom for guests. The size is very long and heavy in the hand. He has always used it in their house. This kind of chopsticks is now eating at the same table with their family, only one Manlu is missing.He couldn't help feeling a sense of vicissitudes, under the dim yellow light. Mu Jin developed the habit of going to bed early in the countryside, and went to bed at half past nine.Mrs. Gu waited there for the door, and when Manzhen came back, Mrs. Gu did not fall asleep today. She just sat and talked with her daughter-in-law, talking about all kinds of things about her niece and daughter during her lifetime, and she shed tears while talking.Talking about Mu Jin again, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law said he was good in unison.Mrs. Gu said: "That's why Man Lu's father took a fancy to him in the past. Cough, we are also unlucky and shouldn't have such a good son-in-law." Mrs. Gu said: "This kind of thing is also predestined. Mrs. Gu said: "How old is Mu Jin this year? Is he the same age as Man Lu? I feel sorry for him not getting married until now." Mother is just such a son, who hasn't married in her early thirties, she must blame us, when she died, she didn't have a grandson to dress her in filial piety!" Mrs. Gu sighed: "Mu Jin is too infatuated. "

The two were silent for a while, and their thoughts all went in the same direction.It was Mrs. Gu who spoke quickly, and said first: "Actually, Manzhen and him are also a couple." Mrs. Gu laughed softly: "Yes, if you give Manzhen to him and repay his affection, That would be the best. It's a pity that Manzhen already has Mr. Shen." Mrs. Gu shook her head and said, "I don't think there is anything wrong with Mr. Shen. We have known each other for almost two years. Go on, don't waste him for nothing!" Although Mrs. Gu was also a little dissatisfied with Shijun's attitude, but after all, it was her daughter's boyfriend, she felt that she had to defend her daughter, so she sighed and said: "Shen Jun Sir, he is a good person, but he seems to have a bad temper." Mrs. Gu said, "I'm going to say something rude, that's 'occupied in the latrine and don't shit'!" She laughed cheerfully as she spoke.Mrs. Gu also smiled wryly.

On the third night when Mu Jin stayed at their house, Shi Jun came.It was already after dinner, and Mu Jin was in his own room.Manzhen told Shijun that there is such a person living with them now. He is a doctor and practices medicine in a small town in his hometown.She said: "How many doctors are willing to work in such a miserable place? I admire his spirit. Let's talk to him." She and Shijun came to Mu Jin's room together and asked many questions Come and ask him, about the country, about the town, she's interested in everything.Shijun couldn't help feeling an instinctive jealousy.He listened silently at the side, but he never spoke much in front of strangers, so Manzhen didn't think there was anything unusual about his attitude.

When he was about to leave, Manzhen sent him out, and then told him a history about Mu Jin and her sister, saying: "This was seven years ago, and he has never been married, presumably because he is still married." I can’t forget her.” Shijun laughed and said, “Oh, this person is so emotional, he is a passionate seed!” Manzhen laughed and said, “Yes, it seems a bit silly to say it, but I think it’s his. Good point. If a person is not a little stupid, he will not go to such a remote place to run a hospital and do such thankless things." Shijun didn't say anything.When he reached the entrance of the alley, he nodded to her, said briefly "see you tomorrow", turned around and left.

From then on, every time Shijun came to her house, Mu Jin was always present.Sometimes when Mujin was in his room, Manzhen would drag Shijun into his room, and the three of them would talk together.Manzhen actually has intentions.She recently felt that the two of them were always getting tired of being together, and the heat was rising day by day. One day they would desperately marry early, and she was unwilling to do so, so a third party was very welcome to be with them.She can be said to be well-intentioned, but of course Shijun doesn't understand.He was very unhappy. Now the rules in their office have been changed and lunch is provided. They used to go out to eat in a small restaurant together every day. Manzhen persuaded him to save two dollars, but they always ate in the factory, so there were fewer opportunities to talk.Manzhen thinks it's good to be like this, as long as they keep a little distance in appearance.She didn't know that things like feelings were difficult to deal with. She couldn't put them in the refrigerator and think that they could be stored for a long time without going bad. On Saturdays, Shijun would always come to her house as usual, but this Saturday he called and asked her out to play.It was Mrs. Gu who answered the call.She yelled to Manzhen: "It's Mr. Shen." They were eating, and Mrs. Gu returned to the dining table and put Manzhen's plate on the rice bowl, otherwise the rice would be cold.She knew that when the two of them called, they would talk for a long time. Sure enough, Manzhen ran out for a long time, but hadn't come in yet.Mu Jin was guessing there that she didn't know the extent of her friendship with her colleague surnamed Shen, but now she can know.He was a little bit relieved, and felt that he was really stupid. After only a few days of meeting, he allowed himself to think about it like this. In fact, he already had a lover. Jiemin always liked to talk about his school affairs at the dinner table, whether it was someone closing night school, or who was fighting with whom, he always told his mother a series of excited and frustrated.He said there today that they are going to play a play, and he will also play a role in this play, as an old doctor.Mrs. Gu said: "Okay, let's eat quickly." Jiemin took two mouthfuls of rice, and then said: "Mom, you must go to see it. Mr. said that this play is very meaningful. He picked this script for us. This script is excellent, it is famous all over the world!" Mrs. Gu ignored everything he said, she just looked at him and said, "You have a grain of rice stuck to the corner of your mouth." Jiemin felt very discouraged and very upset Unhappy, he lazily reached out and wiped the corner of his mouth.Mrs. Gu said: "It's still there." His elder brother Weimin said quickly: "He wants to keep it as a snack." Everyone at the table laughed, only Mu Jin, who was here in a daze, and they laughed so loudly that he was a little bit At a loss, I thought I might be behaving in a daze and do something ridiculous.He looked at their faces one by one, but couldn't understand. This afternoon, Mu Jin had something to contact, so he went out early and didn't come back for dinner.At the same time, Shijun and Manzhen also had dinner outside, and they just came back together, and Mu Jin came back not long ago.Shijun and Manzhen walked past the door of his room and heard laughter inside. It turned out that Jiemin was there forcing Mu Jin to show him how to play the role of the doctor.Mu Jin taught him how to use the receiver and measure his blood pressure.Manzhen and Shijun stood at the door of the room watching, Mu Jin couldn't do it anymore, and said with a smile: "I also know these two tricks, and I taught you both." Jiemin just tortured him.Children always like to change things. When Shijun taught them to ride a bicycle, they were very close to Shijun. Now that they have Mu Jin, they are much colder towards him.In normal times, Shijun might not feel it, but now he is very sensitive, even he is a little jealous of the children's love for Mu Jin. Mu Jin was off guard and yawned.Manzhen said: "Jiemin, let's go upstairs, Brother Jin is going to sleep." Mu Jin smiled and said: "No, it's still early. I didn't sleep well these two days--now it's almost become I'm a countryman, and I can't sleep because of the noise of cars and trams." Manzhen said: "There is also the radio next door, it's really annoying, it runs all day long." Mu Jin smiled and said: "I'm also not used to it. The reason. I want to find two books to read, but I can’t sleep, and I fall asleep after reading the books.” Manzhen said: “I have them there. Jiemin, you go up and get them, get two more.” Jiemin walked in carrying a large stack of books, all of which were on her bookshelf, and two of them were given to her by Shijun.She inspected the books, handed them to Mu Jin, and said with a smile: "I don't know if you have read them?" Have time to read." He stood under the electric light and flipped through the pages, Manzhen said: "Oh, this light bulb is not bright enough, you need to change it to a bigger one." Although Mu Jin tried her best to stop him, Manzhen went upstairs to get the light bulb up.Shijun couldn't sit still at this time, and he was a little unwilling to leave when he thought about it.He casually picked up a book and flipped through it.Jiemin was there again babbling about his play and telling Mu Jin the plot. Manzhen brought a light bulb and said with a smile: "Shijun, help me lift the table." Mu Jin rushed to carry the table with Shijun and put it under the light. Manzhen crawled quickly On the table, Mu Jin hurriedly said: "Let me do it." Manzhen smiled and said: "It's okay, I can do it." She stood on the table, twisted the light bulb on the electric light, and took it off. Suddenly plunged into darkness.At the moment before the darkness came, Mu Jin was noticing Manzhen's ankle, he was standing by the table, there was no way not to see it.Her ankles were slender and strong, just as she was.In the past two days, her mother often talked with Mu Jin about the family affairs. Mu Jin knew that the seven members of their family depended on Manzhen now. He felt that it was rare for her to be able to act as if nothing had happened and not complain at all.He found that her interests were different from those of ordinary people.She is really full of vitality.Now he even had the feeling that compared with her, her sister was just a dreamy and beautiful shadow. The lamp came on again, and the light was in her hand, shining on her face.Manzhen squatted down, jumped off the table, and said with a smile: "Is that enough? But you are going to lie on the bed and read, I'm afraid it's not enough." Mu Jin said: "It's okay, it's the same. Don't bother!" Manzhen smiled and said: "I'll just be a good person and do it to the end." She ran upstairs again and brought a desk lamp.Shijun recognized that desk lamp, it was the one in front of Manzhen's bed. Mu Jin sat on the edge of the bed, reading a book by the desk lamp.Does he also feel that the light is particularly warm?Shijun wanted to leave a long time ago, but he didn't want to look angry because Manzhen would definitely laugh at him.Intellectually, too, he found his jealousy unfounded.After they got married in the future, he would never object to her hospitality to his friends in the same way—he might not be so old-headed and have such a small mind.But rationality is rationality, he still finds it unbearable. What was especially unbearable was that when he was leaving, he walked to the dark street alone, but they were still reunited under the light like a family. Mrs. Gu had always looked at Manzhen and Mu Jin coldly, and felt that they were very reasonable, so she kept some hope in her heart, and she was even more secretly happy when she saw that Shijun was coming soon, thinking that Manzhen must be cold him. It was another Saturday afternoon, after lunch, Mrs. Gu spread two newspapers on the table, spread a few liters of rice on the newspapers, and slowly sorted out the weeds and sand.Mu Jin sat across from her and chatted with her.He said he was going back the day after tomorrow, and Mrs. Gu felt very sorry, because she said: "We want to go back too. There are still a few acres of land and two houses in the country. Our old lady is always thinking about going back. I often Talking to the old lady, talking about your mother, I said that we will go to the countryside, we can get some food when we have time, and pick her up to play small cards, and our old sisters get together. I don’t know if I can’t see it!" As he spoke, he sighed again.He said again: "It's a pity that there are no good schools in the countryside, and it is not convenient for children to go to school. In the future, when they are older, they can live and study. One day, Manzhen will also get married, and I will really go to the countryside with our old lady! " Mu Jin listened to her tone, as if Manzhen's marriage was a very uncertain matter in the distant future, so she asked with a smile: "Is the second sister not engaged?" Mrs. Gu laughed softly: "No. She doesn't have any friends, but Mr. Shen often comes here, but Manzhen may not be willing to do this kind of person who doesn't know the details." Mu Jin could also hear her tone, and she obviously belonged to him.But what about Manzhen himself?Is Mr. Shen completely unrequited love for her?Mu Jin was somewhat skeptical.However, everyone has this temper, and it is always easy to believe anything he is willing to believe.Mu Jin is no exception.There was some activity in his mind again. This time, the depression in his heart was no less than that of Shijun. Shijun didn't come today, nor did he call.Manzhen suspected that he might be sick, but maybe there was something wrong, so he came late.She has been in her room, leaning on the window sill and looking down.After watching for a long time, he walked to the next room without emotion.When her mother saw her, she smiled and said, "Why don't you go to the movies today? Brother Jin is leaving the day after tomorrow, please invite him." Mu Jin smiled and said, "I invite, I invite. I'm coming to Shanghai These days, I haven’t even watched a movie!” Manzhen laughed and said, “I remember you used to love watching movies, why don’t you seem to be interested now?” Mu Jin smiled and said, “Watching movies is also addictive. Yes. The more you watch, the more you want to watch. Because there is nothing to watch in the mainland, I quit after two years." Manzhen said: "There is a movie that you can't help but watch. ——But I don't know if it's still there. Is it playing there?" She immediately looked for the newspaper, and searched for it, but the one with the movie advertisement was missing.She leaned on the table and picked up a corner of the newspaper her mother had spread to pick rice, and Mrs. Gu said, "I have these old newspapers." Manzhen smiled and said, "Well, isn't this from today?" The bottom newspaper was pulled out, and Mrs. Gu smiled and said: "Okay, I'll let you. I also have to go to rest. This time the rice is not good, and there is a lot of sand, which made me dizzy." .” She packed up and went out. Manzhen found the advertisement for the movie in the newspaper, and said to Mu Jin: "It's the last day. I advise you to watch it no matter what." Mu Jin smiled and said, "You go too." Manzhen said: "I I’ve already seen it.” Mu Jin laughed and said, “If it’s as good as you said, it’s worth watching it again.” Manzhen laughed and said, “You’re screwing me! No, I’m really tired today. I don't want to go out anymore, and I don't even plan to watch my brother perform on stage today." Mu Jin smiled and said, "Then he must be very disappointed." Mu Jin was holding a book she lent him in his hand. He read a paragraph every day before going to bed, rolled and folded the book, and the cover had fallen off.He laughed and said, "Look, I see your book like this!" Manzhen laughed and said, "What's the point of such a broken book. Brother Jin, you're leaving the day after tomorrow?" Mu Jin said: " Hey. I've stayed here for an extra week." He didn't say, "It's all for you." He had planned to wait until the day before he left to say these words to Manzhen. It must be very painful to still live in her house after the rejection and see each other every day.But now he thinks again, it's rare to have such an opportunity, and no one is around. He hesitated for a while, then said: "I really want to invite my aunt and aunt to go to the countryside to play. When Weimin and the others are on spring break, we can go together and stay for a few more days. You can live in our hospital. It’s cleaner. You probably don’t have holidays?” Manzhen shook his head and said with a smile: “It’s rare for us to have a few days off in a year.” Mu Jin said: “Can you ask for a few days off?” Manzhen said with a smile: “I’m afraid No, we don't have such rules there." Mu Jin showed a very disappointed look, and said: "I really hope you can go to play, the scenery in that place is not bad, on the one hand, you can also get to know me better .” Manzhen suddenly realized that if he continued talking, he would have a tendency to propose to her.Something happened unexpectedly, she thought, stop him quickly.Don't let him say this sentence no matter what, it will leave a mark in vain.But even though she thought this way, her heart was beating suddenly, she just lowered her head, and slowly pushed some rice grains left on the table to the front, and piled them into a small pile. Mu Jin said: "You must think that I am too reckless. Why did I say these things when I first met you? I really have to - I can't come to Shanghai often, and there will be very few opportunities to meet in the future. .” Manzhen thought: "It's all my fault. When he came this time, as soon as I saw him, I remembered how naughty I was when I was a child. He was with my sister, and I always messed with them. Now I think about it. I'm sorry, so I'm sorry. He is especially better. I didn't expect that because of the apology, I would feel more guilty now." Mu Jin smiled and said: "Over the years, I have been busy all day long and immersed in work, but I don't feel that I am getting old. Since I saw you this time, I feel that I am old. Maybe I It's too late to know you—is it too late?" Manzhen was silent for a while, then smiled and said: "It's too late, but it's not the reason you think." Mu Jin paused and said: " Is it because of Shen Shijun?" Manzhen just smiled and didn't answer, she acquiesced.She said this on purpose, to show that she fell in love with someone else first, so she had to feel sorry for him, and she felt that this would not hurt his self-esteem.In fact, even if she met him first and then Shijun, she believed that she still liked Shijun. Now she suddenly understands why Xiang Shijun's attitude is so strange and why he doesn't come here anymore.It turned out that it was because of Mu Jin that he had a misunderstanding.Manzhen felt very angry—he didn't trust her so much, and thought she would change her mind so easily.Even if she changed her mind, didn't Shijun promise her before, he said: "I will take you back no matter what." Didn't what he said under the moonlight that night count?He still has the usual passive style, as soon as a third party appeared, he immediately walked away quietly without saying a word.This person is too hateful! The more Manzhen thought about it, the more angry she became. At this moment, her heart had already flown to Shijun, and she almost forgot the existence of Mu Jin.Mu Jin also had mixed feelings at this time. He sat silently across from her, and after a long while, he finally stood up and said, "I have to go out for a while. See you later." When he left, Manzhen felt sad again.She happily took the book she had lent him.The cover is torn.She rolled the book into a cylinder, held it tightly in her hand, and tapped on it. It was almost dusk, and it seemed that Shijun would not come today.This man is really hateful, she wanted to go out in a fit of anger, so as not to worry about him all the time at home, and wait for him not to come again. She went to the next room. Her grandmother was lying on the bed because of "cloudy weather" and a little pain in her muscles and bones.Her mother worked there wearing glasses.Manzhen said: "Jiemin is acting today. Mom, will you go to see it?" Mrs. Gu said: "I won't go, I'm just like grandma, it's cloudy and my back hurts." Manzhen said: "Then I Go, don't go alone, let him down too much." Her grandmother said: "Where is Brother Jin? You ask Brother Jin to accompany you." Manzhen said: "Brother Jin is out." Her grandmother turned her face Looking up, her mother was always indifferent, without saying a word.Manzhen also somewhat guessed what the two old ladies were thinking, so she didn't say anything, just packed up and went to her brother's school to watch a play. Not long after she had left, the phone rang. Mrs. Gu went to answer the phone, but it was Mu Jin who called, saying, "I won't be coming back for dinner, don't wait for me, my cousin. I'm at a friend's house. I won't come back." Listening to his voice, although there was a smile, the smile was very forced.Mrs. Gu knew very well that Manzhen must have bumped into him just now, and he felt embarrassed, so he moved to live elsewhere. Mrs. Gu was already sad enough, but the old lady kept asking long and short questions: "I'm staying at a friend's house? What's the matter, Manzhen ran out alone. The two little people didn't quarrel, did they? Just now It's okay, I see they are talking and laughing." Mrs. Gu sighed and said, "Who knows what's going on! Manzhen's temper is frustrating, anyway, I won't care about her business anymore. !" She made up her mind to ignore Manzhen's affairs, but suddenly she thought of her eldest daughter, Manlu, as if she had nowhere to place her feelings.The last time Manlu went back to her natal home, she cried and told her about the quarrel between her husband and wife. She didn't know what happened recently, but she didn't hear from her for quite a while, so she was very worried. She called Manlu and asked how she was doing.Manlu heard her mother's tone as if she wanted to see her, since that time when her younger sister came to visit and caused trouble, now she has made up her mind to try to avoid her mother's family from coming to her, and would rather go by herself.She said: "I was going to come out tomorrow, and I will come to see my mother tomorrow." Mrs. Gu was taken aback for a moment, remembering that Mu Jin is now living in their house, it might not be convenient for Man Lu to come.Although Mu Jin lives outside today, she may be coming back tomorrow, so I happened to meet her.She hesitated for a while, then said: "It's not very good for you to come tomorrow, so why don't you come back in a few days." Man Lu felt very surprised, and asked: "Why?" He replied calmly: "Let's talk about it when we meet." The more she hesitated, the more curious Man Lu felt. She thought it was very boring to stay alone at home, so she drove to her mother's house by car that night to see what was going on.That night, the children of the family were having a funfair at the school, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a quiet dinner and sat opposite each other under the lights to pick rice.When Manlu came suddenly, Mrs. Gu was taken aback. She thought she had a falling out with her son-in-law and ran out in a fit of anger. She just looked at her face, but she didn't see any tears. She was still a little puzzled, and asked "What's the matter?" Man Lu smiled and said, "It's nothing. I've always wanted to come, but I didn't call tomorrow, so I'm here today." Before she could sit still, Mrs. Gu rushed to tell her: "Mu Jin has come to Shanghai, did your mother tell you that he lives with us now? He came to tell us that this kid, whom we haven’t seen for a few years, is more capable than before. This time, he came to Shanghai to buy an X-ray machine for their hospital. He became the director of the hospital just over 30 years old, and his mother is miserable. , died within a few years of blessings, I was really sad to hear that, among the nieces and daughters, she was the most affectionate to me—how could I expect her to walk ahead of me!" As she spoke, she burst into tears again Bark up. Man Lu only heard the first two sentences, saying that Mu Jin came to Shanghai and lived with them.As soon as I heard these two words, there was a buzzing in my ears, and I couldn't hear the words below.After being stunned for a long time, as if she didn't trust her grandmother very much, she turned her face away and asked her mother: "Mu Jin lives with us?" Mrs. Gu nodded and said: "He went out today and stayed overnight at a friend's house. I'm not coming back." Man Lu listened, and just breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Just now you told me not to come tomorrow on the phone, is that why?!" Mrs. Gu smiled wryly, "Yes, I miss you It's coming, should we meet or not? It's weird." Man Lu said: "That's okay." Mrs. Gu said: "Accordingly, it's okay, it's been all these years, and we were originally relatives , and I’m not afraid of what people will say—” Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly heard the doorbell ring.Sitting on the chair, Man Lu couldn't help but bowed her body, took a picture in the full-length mirror on the opposite side, and brushed her hair, deeply regretting that she came out in such a hurry that she didn't even change a piece of clothes. Mrs. Gu said: "But Mu Jin is back." Mrs. Gu said: "No way, he said he won't be back tonight." Mrs. Gu said: "It can't be Manzhen and the others, it's only after eight o'clock They are not so fast." Man Lu felt that the air upstairs and downstairs was tense, as if a play was about to start, and as the heroine, she was not prepared at all, and she couldn't remember a single line, and everything in her mind It's all very vague and vague. Mrs. Gu pushed open the window and yelled, "Who is it?" As soon as the window was opened, two or three drops of cold rain fell on her face.It's raining.The old lady of the tenant also yelled at the back door: "Who is it?—Oh, it's Mr. Shen!" When Mrs. Gu heard that it was Shijun, she became angry and turned around and said to Manlu, "Let's go Go sit in the room over there, I don’t want to see him. It’s the one named Shen. I’m really angry, if it wasn’t for him—” At this point, he sighed again, and then he wrote the whole story Tell her daughter one by one.When Mu Jin came to Shanghai this time, because he was not yet married, his grandmother said behind his back that it would be a good idea to marry Manzhen to him, to repay him for not being married for seven years.It seems that he is also very interesting to Manzhen, and Manzhen is also very kind to him, but just because there is this person named Shen here first—— Shijun didn't plan to come today, but it has become a habit to come to Manzhen on Saturdays.I held back for a day during the day, but I didn't come, but I still came at night.The stairs are dark, and Manzhen turns on the lights on the stairs when he usually walks here. Today, no one turned on the lights for him, so he guessed that Manzhen might not be at home.I walked up in the dark, and when I got to the corner, I suddenly felt hot on my shins. It turned out that there was a briquette stove on the ground, and a pot of things was cooking on it. It was no fun to kick it over.He was taken aback, and became more careful.Walking upstairs, I saw Mrs. Gu sitting alone under the lamp, with a few old newspapers spread out in front of her, picking rice there.When Shi Jun saw her, he felt a little uncomfortable.这一向顾老太太因为觉得他是慕瑾的敌人，她护着自己的侄孙，对世钧的态度就跟从前大不相同了。世钧是有生以来从来没有被人家这样冷遇过的，他勉强笑着叫了声：“老太太。”她抬起头来笑笑，嘴里嗡隆了一声作为招呼，依旧拣她的米。世钧道：“曼桢出去了吗？”顾老太太道：“嗳，她出去了。”世钧道：“她上哪儿去了？”顾老太太道：“我也不大清楚。看戏去了吧？”世钧这就想起来，刚才在楼下，在慕瑾的房门口经过，里面没有灯。慕瑾也出去了，大概一块儿看戏去了。 椅子背上搭着一件女式大衣，桌上又搁着一只皮包，好像有客在这里。是曼桢的姊姊吧？刚才没注意，后门口仿佛停着一辆汽车。 世钧本来马上就要走了，但是听见外面的雨越下越大，他出来也没有带雨衣，走出去还许叫不到车子。正踌躇着，那玻璃窗没关严，就把两扇窗户哗啦啦吹开了。顾老太太忙去关窗户，通到隔壁房间的一扇门也给风吹开了，顾太太在那边说话，一句句听得很清楚：“要不然，她嫁给慕瑾多好哇，你想！那她也用不着这样累了。老太太一直想回家乡去的，老太太也称心了。我们两家并一家，好在本来是老亲，也不能说我们是靠上去。”另一个女人的声音不知说了一句什么，大概是叫她轻点声，以后便嘁嘁喳喳，听不见了。 顾老太太插上窗户，回过身来，面不改色地，那神气好像是没听见什么，也不知耳朵有点聋呢还是假装不听见。世钧向她点了个头，含糊地说了声：“我走了。”不要说下雨，就是下锥子他也要走了。 然而无论怎样心急如火，走到那漆黑的楼梯上，还是得一步步试探着，把人的心都急碎了，要想气烘烘地冲下楼去，那是绝对不可能的。世钧在黑暗中想道：“也不怪她母亲势利——本来吗，慕瑾的事业可以说已经成功了，在社会上也有相当地位了，不像我是刚出来做事，将来是什么样，一点把握也没有。曼桢呢，她对他是非常佩服的，不过因为她跟我虽然没有正式订婚，已经有了一种默契，她又不愿意反悔。她和慕瑾有点相见恨晚吧？——好，反正我决不叫她为难。” 他把心一横，立下这样一个决心。下了楼，楼下那房客的老妈子还在厨房里搓洗抹布，看见他就说：“雨下得这样大，沈先生你没问他们借把伞？这儿有把破伞，要不要撑了去？”倒是这不相干的老妈子，还有这种人情上的温暖，相形之下，世钧心里更觉得一阵凄凉。他朝她笑了笑，便推开后门，向潇潇夜雨中走去。 楼上，他一走，顾老太太便到隔壁房间里去报告：“走了。——雨下得这样大，曼桢他们回来要淋得像落汤鸡了。”老太太一进来，顾太太便不言语了，祖孙三代默然对坐着，只听见雨声潺潺。 顾太太刚才对曼璐诉说，把慕瑾和曼桢的事情一五一十说给她听，一点顾忌也没有，因为曼璐自己已经嫁了人，而且嫁得这样好，飞黄腾达的，而慕瑾为了她一直没有结婚——叫自己妹妹去安慰安慰他，岂不好吗？她母亲以为她一定也赞成的。其实她是又惊又气，最气的就是她母亲那种口吻，就好像是长辈与长辈之间，在那里讨论下一代的婚事。好像她完全是个局外人，这桩事情完全与她无关，她完全没有妒忌的权利了。她母亲也真是多事，怎么想起来的，又要替她妹妹和慕瑾撮合，二妹不是已经有了朋友吗，又让慕瑾多一回刺激。她知道的，慕瑾如果真是爱上了她妹妹，也是因为她的缘故——因为她妹妹有几分像她。他到现在还在那里追逐着一个影子呀！ 她心里非常感动，她要见他一面，劝劝他，劝他不要这样痴心。她对自己说，她没有别的目的，不过是要见见他，规谏他一番。但是谁知道呢，也许她还是抱着一种非分的希望的，尤其因为现在鸿才对她这样坏，她的处境这样痛苦。 当着她祖母，也不便说什么，曼璐随即站起身来，说要走了，她母亲送她下楼，走到慕瑾房门口，曼璐顺手就把电灯捻开了，笑道：“我看看。”那是她从前的卧房，不过家具全换过了，现在临时布置起来的，疏疏落落放着一张床，一张桌子，两把椅子。房间显得很空。慕瑾的洗脸毛巾晾在椅背上，慕瑾的帽子搁在桌上，桌上还有他的自来水笔和一把梳子。换下来的衬衣，她母亲给他洗干净了，叠得齐齐整整的，放在他床上。枕边还有一本书。曼璐在灯光下呆呆地望着这一切。几年不见，他也变成一个陌生的人了。这房间是她住过好几年的，也显得这样陌生，她心里恍恍惚惚的，好像做梦一样。 顾太太道：“他后天就要动身了，老太太说我们做两样菜，给他饯行，也不知道他明天回来不回来。”曼璐道：“他的东西都在这里，明天不回来，后天也要来拿东西的。他来的时候你打个电话告诉我。我要见见他，有两句话跟他说。”顾太太倒怔了一怔，道：“你想再见面好吗？待会儿让姑爷知道了，不大好吧？”曼璐道：“我光明正大的，怕什么？”顾太太道：“其实当然没有什么，不过让姑爷知道了，他又要找岔子跟你闹了！”曼璐不耐烦地道：“你放心好了，反正不会带累你的！”也不知道为什么，曼璐每次和她母亲说话，尽管双方都是好意，说到后来总要惹得曼璐发脾气为止。 第二天，慕瑾没有回来。第三天午后，他临上火车，方才回来搬行李。曼璐没等她母亲打电话给她，一早就来了，午饭也是在娘家吃的。顾太太这一天担足心事，深恐他们这一见面，便旧情复炽，女儿女婿的感情本来已经有了裂痕，这样一来，说不定就要决裂了。女儿的脾气向来是这样，不听人劝的，哪里拦得住她。待要跟在她后面。不让她和慕瑾单独会面，又好像是加以监视，做得太明显了。 慕瑾来了，正在他房里整理行李，一抬头，却看见一个穿着紫色丝绒旗袍的瘦削的妇人，也不知道她什么时候进来的，倚在床栏杆上微笑地望着他。慕瑾吃了一惊，然后他忽然发现，这女人就是曼璐——他又吃了一惊。他简直说不出话来，望着她，一颗心只往下沉。 他终于微笑着向她微微一点头。但是他实在不知道说什么好，再也找不出一句话来，脑子里空得像洗过了一样，两人默默相对，只觉得那似水流年在那里滔滔地流着。 还是曼璐先开口。她说：“你马上就要走了？”慕瑾道：“就是两点钟的车。”曼璐道：“一定要走了？”慕瑾道：“我已经在这儿住了半个多月了。”曼璐抱着胳膊，两肘撑在床栏杆上，她低着眼皮，抚摸着自己的手臂，幽幽地道：“其实你不该上这儿来的。难得到上海来一趟，应当高高兴兴地玩玩。——我真希望你把我这人忘了。” 她这一席话，慕瑾倒觉得很难置答。她以为他还在那里迷恋着她呢。他也无法辩白。他顿了一顿，便道：“从前那些话还提它干吗？曼璐，我听见说你得到了很好的归宿，我非常安慰。”曼璐淡淡地笑了一笑道：“哦，你听见他们说的。他们只看见表面，他们哪儿知道我心里的滋味。” 慕瑾不敢接口，他怕曼璐再说下去，就要细诉衷情，成为更进一步的深谈了。于是又有一段较长的沉默。慕瑾极力制止自己，没有看手表。他注意到她的衣服，她今天穿这件紫色的衣服，不知道是不是偶然的。从前她有件深紫色的绸旗袍，他很喜欢她那件衣裳。冰心有一部小说里说到一个“紫衣的姊姊”，慕瑾有一个时期写信给她，就称她为“紫衣的姊姊”。她和他同年，比他大两个月。 曼璐微笑地打量着他道：“你倒还是那样子。你看我变了吧？”慕瑾微笑道：“人总是要变的，我也变了。我现在脾气也跟从前两样了，也不知是否年纪的关系，想想从前的事，非常幼稚可笑。” 他把从前的一切都否定了。她所珍惜的一些回忆，他已经羞于承认了。曼璐身上穿着那件紫色的衣服，顿时觉得芒刺在背。浑身就像火烧似的。她恨不得把那件衣服撕成破布条子。 也幸而她母亲不迟不早，正在这时候走了进来，拎着一只提篮盒，笑道：“慕瑾你昨天不回来，姑外婆说给你饯行，做了两样菜，后来你没回来，就给你留着，你带到火车上吃。”慕瑾客气了一番。顾太太又笑道：“我叫刘家的老妈子给你雇车去。”慕瑾忙道：“我自己去雇。”顾太太帮他拎着箱子，他匆匆和曼璐道别，顾太太送他出去，一直送到弄堂口。 曼璐一个人在房里，眼泪便像抛沙似的落了下来。这房间跟她前天来的时候并没有什么两样，他用过的毛巾依旧晾在椅背上，不过桌上少了他的帽子。昨天晚上她在灯下看到这一切，那种温暖而亲切的心情，现在想起来，却已经恍如隔世了。 他枕边那本书还在那里，掀到某一页。她昨天没注意到，桌上还有好几本小说，原来都是她妹妹的书，她认识的，还有那只台灯，也是她妹妹的东西。——二妹对慕瑾倒真体贴，借小说书给他看，还要拿一只台灯来，好让他躺在床上舒舒服服地看，那一份殷勤，可想而知。她母亲还不是也鼓励她，故意支使她送茶送水，一天到晚借故跑到他房里来，像个二房东的女儿似的，老在他面前转来转去，卖弄风情。只因为她是一个年青的女孩子，她无论怎样卖弄风情，人家也还是以为她是天真无邪，以为她的动机是纯洁的。曼璐真恨她，恨她恨入骨髓。她年纪这样轻，她是有前途的，不像曼璐的一生已经完了，所剩下的只有她从前和慕瑾的一些事迹，虽然凄楚，可是很有回味的。但是给她妹妹这样一来，这一点回忆已经给糟蹋掉了，变成一堆刺心的东西，碰都不能碰，一想起来就觉得刺心。 连这一点如梦的回忆都不能给她留下。为什么这样残酷呢？曼桢自己另外有爱人的。听母亲说，那人已经在旁边吃醋了。也许曼桢的目的就是要他吃醋。不为什么，就为了要她的男朋友吃醋。 曼璐想道：“我没有待错她呀，她这样恩将仇报。不想想从前，我都是为了谁，出卖了我的青春。要不是为了他们，我早和慕瑾结婚了。我真傻。真傻。” 她唯有痛哭。 顾太太回来的时候，看见她伏在桌上，哭得两只肩膀一耸一耸的。顾太太悄然站在她身边，半晌方道：“你看，我劝你你不信，见了面有什么好处，不是徒然伤心吗！” 太阳光黄黄地晒在地板上，屋子里刚走掉一个赶火车的人，总显得有些零乱。有两张包东西的旧报纸抛在地下，顾太太一一拾了起来，又道：“别难过了。还是这样好！刚才你不知道，我真担心，我想你刚巧这一向心里不痛快，老是跟姑爷怄气，不要一看见慕瑾，心里就活动起来。还好，你倒还明白！” 曼璐也不答理。只听见她那一阵一阵，摧毁了肺肝的啜泣。