Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve
When Mu Jin got married, she borrowed a club from someone else.A lot of people came that day, almost all of them were relatives and friends of the woman, and Mu Jin had relatively few acquaintances in Shanghai.Mrs. Gu went to congratulate her. She had agreed with Manzhen to meet there, so she kept looking around in the crowd, but she didn't see her coming until the wedding was over.Mrs. Gu thought: "This child is really strange. Even if she doesn't want to come, I told her like that yesterday, she should come today no matter what. Why wouldn't she come, unless her sister's illness is coming again?" She suddenly became ill, and she really has no way to go away?" Mrs. Gu immediately fidgeted, thinking that Man Lu might have entered a dying state.At this time, the bride and groom had already left the auditorium amidst the sound of music, and the guests were seated for refreshments. At a glance, they were all smiling faces and noisy laughter. Mrs. Gu felt even more confused when she was in the middle of it.Originally, I wanted to wait for the bride and groom to come back and tell them before leaving, but I couldn't wait, so I left first, and as soon as I went out, I hailed a rickshaw and went straight to Zhu's house on Hongqiao Road.
In fact, her imagination is far from the reality.Man Lu was actually well, not even sick at all, she was wearing a satin cotton dressing gown, sitting on the sofa, smoking a cigarette, talking to Hong Cai.On the other hand, Hongcai looked a bit like a sick man, with two sticking plasters slanted on his face, and bandages on his hands.He was still a little bit shocked until now, and said repeatedly: "I have never seen such a woman. She can bite people! She is like a wild beast!" But he did not expect that the adjective "beastly" is usually applied to him of.
Man Lu said indifferently: "That's not to blame her, you still think that people will treat you like a spendthrift, or what?" Hongcai said: "No, you didn't see her like that, it's just like hair Crazy! I knew she had this temper—" Man Lu cut off his words before he finished speaking: "It's because I know her temper that I always say it can't be done, can't be done. You You still thought I was jealous, because of this, I was like an enemy. At this time, I was really forced by you, and I finally came up with such an idea for you, but now you are afraid again, you Aren't you trying to anger me?" She pointed a cigarette directly at his face, almost scalding him.
Hongcai frowned and said: "Don't blame me all the time, you can tell me what to do." Man Lu said: "What should you do?" Hongcai said: "It's not a problem to keep her locked in the room, sooner or later you Mom wants to come and ask us for help." Man Lu said: "It's not that I'm afraid of her, my mother is the easiest to deal with, unless her fiancé comes out to talk." Hongcai stood up abruptly, paced back and forth, muttering Tunnel: "This matter is serious." Seeing his cowardly appearance, Man Lu was really angry in her heart, so she sneered and said, "What's the matter? Let her go quickly? People like you will be paid for nothing." Loss? How much money you spend is useless, and they are not in business, so they are not easy to spend." Hongcai said, "That's why I'm in a hurry." Manlu snorted again, and said with a smile, "Why are you in a hurry? It's time for her to be anxious. She has already had a relationship with you anyway, she can't be more cruel than this, give her two days to think carefully, and then I will persuade her, if she is a sensible person at that time, she will have no choice but to Go down when you see the steps'." Hongcai was still a little skeptical, because he lacked self-confidence in front of Manzhen.He said: "What if I persuade her not to listen?" Man Lu said: "Then we have to lock her up for a few more days to control her temper." Hongcai said: "I can't lock her up forever." Man Lu smiled and said: "I can still lock her up." Her whole life? One day she will raise a child, don't worry, she won't leave even if you drive her away, she will have to sue you for abandoning her!"
After hearing this, Hongcai turned his worries into joy.He was stunned for a while, still seemed a little worried, and said: "But according to her temper, do you think she is really willing to be a child?" Man Lu said coldly: "She won't let me let her, is it okay?" Hongcai realized that she was speaking out of anger, and hurriedly said with a smile: "What are you talking about? I won't agree to it from now on! I'm going to slowly repay you in the future. Where can I find a virtuous wife like you? I'm still filial and filial to you." Man Lu smiled and said: "Okay, don't coax me, just give me less anger." Hongcai smiled and said: "You are still angry with me!" He salivated and took her hand, and said again: "You see, don't you feel sorry for me being beaten up like this?" Man Lu pushed him hard and said, "You are only worthy of being treated like this. Whoever treats you like this My heart is all on you, it must make you angry and sad! Tell me if it is true, you can feel your conscience!" Hongcai laughed and said: "Yes, yes, don't fight with me again! I can't stand you The two sisters rubbing each other like this!" As she said that, she couldn't help but look pale, and Man Lu felt that he was already embracing her eyebrows.
She wished she could raise her hand immediately, and hit La La with two slaps, but this was just a momentary impulse.This time she made up her mind to use her sister to hold his heart, just like some old ladies in the past, because they were afraid that their son would be wandering outside and would be difficult to restrain, they deliberately taught him to smoke opium and made him Indulging in it is like holding a string on a kite in my hand, and I am no longer afraid that he will fly far away and never come back.
The husband and wife were having a secret conversation in the room, when Ah Bao came in a little panicked and said, "Miss, the madam is here." Man Lu threw the cigarette away and said to Hongcai, "Leave it to me, you can hide first." Hongcai hurriedly stood up, and Manlu said again: "You still stay in the room yesterday, listening to my letter. Don't run out again." Hongcai laughed: "You don't even look at me like this, How can I get out? Tell my friends not to laugh at me when they see it." Man Lu said: "Since when did you care about face again? People don't think you are a husband and wife fighting, and your nose and eyes are swollen." Hongcai laughed and said: "Then Not really, everyone knows that my wife is virtuous." Man Lu couldn't help but chuckled and said, "Let's go, let's just pretend that I love to wear high hats."
Hongcai hastily opened a door, went to the back room, and made a detour down the stairs from the back.Manlu also frantically loosened her hair first, rubbing it like a chicken coop, then picked up a cold towel, wiped her face indiscriminately, wiped off the makeup on her face, took off her dressing gown, and went to bed. Go to bed and lie down.Mrs. Gu has already entered here.Although Manlu pretended to be sick, Mrs. Gu was surprised when she saw her, and said with a smile, "Oh, you look much better today! It's almost the same as yesterday." Manlu sighed: "Cough, good What's the matter, I just got two booster shots." Mrs. Gu didn't quite understand her words, she just said happily: "You speak much louder! What happened yesterday really scared me!" Just now she Even though she waited for Manzhen not to come, and frightened herself, she thought it was Manlu who was in critical condition, so she came to visit immediately, so of course she skipped this episode.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, held Manlu's hand and said with a smile, "Where is your second sister?" Manlu said, "Mom, you don't even know, just because of her, I was so anxious that I passed out, if it wasn't for the doctor I received two booster shots, and I'm dead by now!" Mrs. Gu was stunned, and only said: "What's wrong?" Man Lu seemed to be in pain, turned her face to the bed, and said: "Mom, I don't even know how to tell you." Mrs. Gu said, "What happened to her? Where is she? Where did she go?" She stood up anxiously and looked around.Man Lu held her tightly and said, "Mom, sit down, I won't be so angry when I tell you - Hongcai hasn't been home for several days, but yesterday He came back at night, and I don't know why he was so drunk, he ran to the room where the second sister lived in a daze, I was so sick that I didn't know anything, and when I arrived, I knew I had caused trouble."
Mrs. Gu stayed for a long while before saying: "How can this be done? Your second younger sister already has someone else, how could he do such nonsense, my aunt, this is killing me!" Man Lu said: "Mom, don't let me go!" Nao, when you make trouble, I feel even more confused." Mrs. Gu's eyes were straightened in anxiety, and she said: "What about Hongcai? I'll go and fight with him!" Man Lu said: "He has no face to see you. He himself I also knew that I had caused trouble, so I said to him, "Aren't you hurting her forever? Tell her how to marry in the future. You have to pay me back!" Mrs. Gu said: "Yes, what did he say?" Man Lu said: "He promised to formally marry Second Sister." After hearing this, Mrs. Gu was very unexpected, and said, "Officially married. What about you?" Man Lu said: "I will marry him." It's not formal." Mrs. Gu resolutely said: "That's not possible. There's no reason for that." Man Lu sighed and said, "Oh, Mom, look how long I can live, I still care about this!" Mrs. Gu couldn't help feeling sour, and said: "Stop talking nonsense." Man Lu said: "I won't die for a while, I'm so sick, how can I go out to socialize, I think everything will be fine in the future." Let her come forward so that outsiders will know that she is Mrs. Zhu Hongcai, I just need to eat at home, fortunately we are my sisters, are you afraid that she will treat me badly?"
Mrs. Gu was very miserable by what she said, because she said: "Although you say this, it is still not good. You are too wronged." Man Lu said: "Who told me that the man I married is so worthless! Besides, This time, if it wasn't for my illness, this incident wouldn't have happened. I'm really ashamed to see my mother." Speaking of this, she wiped away her tears.Mrs. Gu also cried.
Mrs. Gu felt sad at this time, and it was also because of Manzhen, she must have been unwilling to ask her to follow Zhu Hongcai, but at this point, she had no choice but to compromise.Although Mrs. Gu still felt that Manlu's suggestion was inappropriate, it was not a solution out of nowhere.
Mrs. Gu hesitated for a while, then stood up and said, "I'll go see her." Man Lu sat up abruptly, and said, "Don't go—" Then she lowered her voice, secretly She said, "You don't know, it's making a big fuss, and you're going to report it to the police." Mrs. Gu said in surprise, "Oh, this kid is just so ignorant, how can he make such a noise, he's ashamed What." Man Lu said in a low voice, "Yes, everyone is ashamed. Hongcai has some status in society now, and it's embarrassing for others to know about it." Mrs. Gu nodded and said, "I'll go and persuade him." Persuade her to go." Man Lu said: "Mom, I think it's better not to meet her at this time, you know her temper, how often does she hear what you say, and now she is on fire again." Mrs. Gu She couldn't help but also hesitated, and said: "Then you can't let her temperament make trouble." Man Lu said: "Yes, I was so anxious that I had no choice but to say that she was ill and had to rest, and no one was allowed to go to her room. Go in, and don't let her out." Hearing this, Mrs. Gu shivered suddenly for some reason, and felt something was wrong.
Seeing her dumbfounded and silent, Man Lu said: "Mom, don't worry, wait for two more days, when her anger subsides, then we will slowly persuade her, as long as she agrees, we will immediately send her to you." When it comes to the wedding, there is no problem with Hongcai, but now the problem lies with her, and the one named Shen—you said they are already engaged?" Mrs. Gu said: "Yes, what should I say at this time? Back home?" Man Lu said: "Is he in Shanghai now?" Mrs. Gu said: "He came to Shanghai yesterday morning." Man Lu said: "Does he know that she came here?" Mrs. Gu said: " I don't know, he just came here yesterday morning, but he hasn't been here since then." Man Lu pondered, "That's obviously strange, the two had a quarrel?" Mrs. Gu said, "Don't you say I I didn't expect that yesterday, I heard from the old lady that Manzhen dropped her engagement ring into the wastebasket. Didn't she throw it on purpose?" Man Lu said: "There must have been a quarrel. I don't know why? Isn't it because of Mu Jin again?" Mu Jin and Manzhen were very close for a time, and this episode of love is what Man Lu feels the most painful about, and she will never forget it.Mrs. Gu thought for a while, and said: "It can't be because of Mu Jin. Mu Jin came to our place yesterday, and Shijun left early at that time, and the two of them never met." Man Lu said: "Oh, Did Mu Jin come yesterday? What's the matter with him?" She was suddenly so jealous that she forgot everything else.
Mrs. Gu said: "He sent us a wedding invitation - you see, I didn't intend to tell you, but told me to miss it! I'm confused right now." Man Lu was stunned for a while. , said: "Oh, he's getting married?" Mrs. Gu said: "It's today." Man Lu smiled and said: "Yesterday you said you were going to have a wedding wine, but you meant to eat his wedding wine? Why are you hiding it from me?" Mrs. Gu said: "Your second sister said it, don't tell you first, your sick person can't stand stimulation."
But when Manlu heard these two sentences at this moment, she was deeply stimulated.Because she found that her younger sister was so considerate to her, in this way, among the many people in the family, only the second younger sister was her confidant, and what she had done was too sorry for others.She suddenly felt very ashamed. She might have wrongly blamed the second sister for the matter about Mu Jin in the past. There is no need to hate her so much. Now it is too late to repent, and she can only explain herself to herself. , I had no choice but to do it to the end.
Man Lu just thought deeply, holding the telephone cord in front of the bed and playing with it in her hand, and the round telephone cord was wrapped around her wrist like a small snake.Mrs. Gu suddenly said: "A good person, you can't just disappear like this. How can I tell them when I go back?" Man Lu said: "It's okay for the old lady, you can tell her the truth. I'm afraid she won't keep her mouth shut. Look Let's do it. Fortunately, younger brothers and the others are still young, so they don't know anything." Mrs. Gu frowned tightly and said, "You treat them as children, Weimin is fifteen years old." Man Lu said: "He If you ask, say that the second sister is sick and is recuperating at my place. Tell him that it is a tuberculosis, and you can't go out for treatment in the future, and the family has to save money in the future. Living in Shanghai is too expensive, and you have to move to the inland. " Mrs. Gu said blankly: "What are you doing?" Man Lu said in a low voice, "Let's avoid it for now, lest that person surnamed Shen come to her." Mrs. Gu remained silent.She had lived in Shanghai for many years, and she was a little bit reluctant to ask her to tear down this family all of a sudden, as if uprooting it.
But Manlu didn't allow her to be half-hearted, so she picked up the phone and called Hongcai's office. They had a waiter named Xiao Tao, who was very alert and literate. He often ran errands for Manlu, Although there were errands in the family, there was no one as useful as him. She asked him to come here immediately.After hanging up the phone, she said to Mrs. Gu, "I'm going to ask him to go to Suzhou to find a house." Mrs. Gu said, "If you move to Suzhou, it's better to go back to the countryside. The old lady is always thinking about going back." Man Lu But he thinks there are too many acquaintances there, and Shijun also knows that it is their hometown, so it is easy to find out their whereabouts.She then said: "Suzhou is better, it's closer. Anyway, I won't live long, and as soon as there is a wedding here, I will have to pick up my mother and come back to celebrate the wedding. Of course, I will live in Shanghai in the future, and it will be more convenient for the children to go to school." Big Brother waits for him to graduate, don't rush to ask him to find a job, let him study for two more years, and ask Hongcai to send him to study abroad tomorrow. Mom has suffered so much for so many years, and she should enjoy the blessings. If you live with me in the future, I will not allow you to wash clothes and cook anymore. Mom is so old, she really shouldn’t do such heavy things anymore. She was tired yesterday and twisted her waist. You don’t even know, I I don't know how uncomfortable it is to hear it!" Mrs. Gu was confused by what she said, especially the bright future she described for her eldest brother.
The mother and daughter chatted and said that Xiaotao had already arrived, and Manlu told him to leave on the same day in front of her mother, to rent a house in Suzhou, and to move in a few days, and then call again temporarily Tell him so he can meet you at the station.He also asked Mrs. Gu to go back quickly to pack her things, ordered a car to take her back, and asked Xiaotao to take her car to go with her.Mrs. Gu wanted to meet Manzhen, but she had nothing to say in front of Xiaotao, so she just left with a sum of money from Manlu on her body.
Mrs. Gu went back in the car, feeling a little apprehensive all the time, thinking about how the old lady and the children would ask about Manzhen later, and how they should answer.At this time, they must have not returned from the wedding banquet.As soon as she rang the bell, it was the old lady of the Liu family who came to open the door. As soon as she opened the door, she said, "Mr. Shen is here. You have all gone out. He has been waiting here for a long time." She completely forgot what Manlu taught her, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and go in to meet Shijun.It turned out that Shijun had a falling out with Manzhen since yesterday, and since he left Gu's house, he has been walking around alone all the time, and only returned to Shuhui's house very late, and he didn't sleep all night.This afternoon he called Manzhen's office and asked, Manzhen didn't come today, he thought she must be sick, so he rushed to her house immediately, unexpectedly their whole family went out, the Liu family The old lady told him that Manzhen went to her sister's house yesterday, and her sister's house sent a car to pick her up, and she never came back.Because Shijun heard yesterday that her sister was sick, she must have gone to take care of her sister alternately with her mother, but I don't know if she will come back today.The old lady of the Liu family was very considerate and asked him to come in and sit. No one in the Gu family was home, so she locked all the upstairs doors except for the vacant room downstairs, so she brought a chair from her landlord's house. In the past, let Shijun sit there.That room was where Mu Jin lived before, and the old lady smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang who lived here before came here again yesterday." Shi Jun was slightly taken aback, and said with a smile, "Oh? He this time Come on, do you still live here?" The old lady said: "I don't know, I didn't live here yesterday." Just as he was talking, the wife of the Liu family shouted: "Gao Ma! Gao Ma!" She ran away out.This empty room has been closed for a long time, full of dust, and it is a bit suffocating to breathe.Shijun sat here alone, extremely bored, and stood in front of the window for a while, and there was a layer of floating dust on the window sill, so he casually wrote on the dust, and wiped off all the paintings, his mind was very confused, just thinking about it Thinking about how to explain to her when she saw Manzhen, and thinking about how Mu Jin came yesterday, whether she saw Manzhen or not, Mu Jin didn't know if she knew about the termination of the contract between him and Manzhen—whether she would tell him Bar?When she was angry and sad, it was a good opportunity for Mu Jin.Thinking of this, my heart burns even more, and I wish I could see Manzhen right away to make things right.
It was so hard to wait until the doorbell rang at the back door, and heard Gao Ma go to open the door, Shijun hurriedly followed out, and saw that it was Mrs. Gu.He went up to greet him and smiled, "Auntie is back." He came from Nanjing this time, and it was the first time he met Mrs. Gu. When Mrs. Gu saw him, she didn't say a word of greeting. It seems a little nervous.He thought about it again, she must have known that he and Manzhen had broken up, so she was angry.When he thought about it this way, he couldn't help being a little embarrassed, and he couldn't speak for a while.Mrs. Gu had a ghost in her heart, so she was afraid of seeing him, but when she saw him, she felt very excited and wanted to tell him right away.She was really anxious and angry, suffering from the fact that there was no one to discuss with, seeing Shijun was like meeting someone of her own, she almost shed tears.After all, it is inconvenient to speak downstairs, because she said: "Go upstairs and sit down." She led the way upstairs, the two rooms upstairs were locked, and she took the door key with her, so she reached into her pocket to get it, touched it, But he touched the large stack of banknotes that Manlu gave him.That kind of banknotes that are 80% old are soft to the touch, and they are so thick and square.Things like money do have a mysterious power, and Mrs. Gu couldn't help feeling that she was sorry for Manlu.Talked well with Manlu, if she is about to leak the news at this time and tell Shijun that young people are all impulsive, it is bound to startle the government and make trouble out of control.Besides, they are uncertain about the affairs of their young people, but seeing him and Manzhen, they can throw away their engagement rings over a trivial matter. If he knows about Manzhen's current situation, he will Can you say you don't care at all?At the end of the day, I don't know if they will still get married or not, but I first broke up the affairs of Hongcai, and instead the two ends fell through.Thinking about it this way, there seem to be many reasons.Human reason is not very reliable in the first place, and it often acts as the spokesperson for self-interest, but I don't feel it.
Mrs. Gu took out the key and went to open the door.In such a short time, she changed her mind two times in a row, causing her to be in a turmoil.I don't know if it was because of sweaty hands or tremors, but the key couldn't be turned back and forth, but it turned out that Shijun opened it for her.When the two walked into the room, Shijun struck up a conversation and asked, "The old lady has gone out too?" Mrs. Gu replied absently: "Uh-hmm." After a pause, he added: "My back hurts, I came back alone." She went to pour tea for Shijun, and Shijun hurriedly said: "Don't pour it, auntie, let's rest. Where has Manzhen been? Do you know when she will come back?" Mrs. Gu said with her back The body poured tea there, poured two cups, brought one over, Fang said: "Manzhen is ill, at her sister's house, I want to rest with her for a few days." Shijun said: "Ill? What is it?" Mrs. Gu said: "It's nothing important. Tell her to call you when she gets well in two days. How long do you still have to delay in Shanghai?" She was anxious to find out how many days he would stay in Shanghai, but Shijun She didn't answer her question, but said: "I want to go see her. What's the number on Hongqiao Road?" Mrs. Gu hesitated for a moment, because she said: "What number——I don't know. How confused, I only know the house, but not the house number." As he spoke, he forced a smile again.Seeing her appearance like that, Shijun was clearly concealing it intentionally, and felt very surprised.Unless it was Manzhen's own intention, her mother was not allowed to tell him the address and refused to meet him.But no matter what, the elderly always advocate reconciliation. Even if Mrs. Gu is very dissatisfied with him and blames him for being bad, she will at most be cold to him, and she will never get involved to prevent them from meeting.He suddenly remembered what Gao Ma said just now, that Mu Jin came here yesterday.Is it still for Mu Jin? ...
No matter what the reason was, since Mrs. Gu had such an attitude, he really had nothing to say to her, so he could only stand up and say goodbye.After walking out, I went to a shop to borrow the phone book and looked through the phone book. There was only one Zhu Mansion on Hongqiao Road, and of course it was Manzhen's sister's house.He found out the house number, and immediately hired a car. When he got there, it was just a big house with a brick wall.Shijun went to ring the bell, a small square hole in the iron gate opened, and a male servant showed half his face, Shijun said, "Is this the Zhu mansion? I'm here to see the second lady of the Gu family." The man said, "What's your surname?" " Shi Jun said: "My surname is Shen." The man opened the door, and then heard footsteps on the coal dust road inside, gradually going away, thinking that he went in to announce.But when Shijun waited outside for a long time, no one came to open the door.He wanted to ring the doorbell again, but held back.There are no neighbors to this house. There are wastelands and vegetable gardens in front and behind, and the weather is freezing, and there is no sound in the surroundings.In the afternoon, the sky was yellow and overcast, when a gust of wind suddenly blew up, and there seemed to be a woman's cry faintly in the air, and the wind passed by, and it could not be heard again.Shijun thought: "Where does this sound come from, it can't be in the house? This place must be very close to Hongqiao Cemetery, maybe it's the cry from the new grave in the cemetery." I can't hear it anymore, I just feel miserable in my heart.At this moment, the door on the iron gate opened again, and it was the male servant just now who said to him, "Second Miss of the Gu family is not here." Shijun was stunned for a moment, and said, "Why? I just came from the Gu family. Madam said that Miss Er is here." The male servant said, "I asked, but she is not here." As he said that, he closed the door again with a clatter.Shijun thought: "She is so unfeeling, she refuses to see me." He stood there in a daze for a while, then raised his hand and knocked on the door, and the manservant opened the door again, Shijun said: "Hey, you guys Is your wife at home?" He thought that he had met Man Lu before, and if he could meet her, he might ask her to turn things around.But the male servant replied: "Madam is not feeling well, she is lying down." Shijun had nothing to say.The rickshaw that dragged him came back after a detour because the area was deserted and there was no business. Seeing that Shijun was still standing there, he asked him if he wanted to take him back.The manservant watched him get into the car and leave before he closed the door.
A Bao had been standing inside the door, but she didn't show up. Man Lu was worried and sent her here, fearing that the male servant might not handle it well.At this time, she quietly asked: "Have you left?" The male servant said: "Let's go!" Ah Bao said: "Madam told you all to go in, I have something to take care of you." She sent several male and female servants They called them in together, and Man Lu said to them: "In the future, if anyone comes to look for Second Miss, they will always answer that he is not here. Second Miss is recuperating at our place. You take care of her carefully, and I will never make you busy. Her illness Sometimes she understands, sometimes she is confused, anyway, we can't let her go out, our old lady entrusted her to me, and I have to ask you if she runs away. But don't talk nonsense outside, do you understand?" Everyone murmured.Man Lu gave them the annual rewards earlier, doubling the previous years.The servants all left, only A Bao was left alone. Seeing that the matter had passed the clear road, A Bao whispered to Man Lu: "Eldest Miss, I will deliver food to Second Miss later, ask Mama Zhang to go. Mama Zhang is very strong. When I went in just now, she almost rushed out, and I couldn't even hold her back." Speaking of this, she lowered her voice again, and said quietly: "But I see her like that. She seems to be sick, and she can’t even stand upright.” Man Lu frowned and said, “Why are you sick?” Ah Bao said softly, “It must be cold——break that window for her, pour wind into it, In this cold weather, it blows continuously for a day and a night, why don't you get sick from the cold." Man Lu pondered for a while, then said: "I have to move her to a room. I'll go and have a look." Ah Bao said: "You can go in. Be careful."
Manlu went to see Manzhen with a bottle of cold medicine. The two empty rooms in the back building had a lock on the inside and a lock on the outside. First, she opened the door outside and asked Abao and Mama Zhang to follow in. The door of the inner room is guarded, and then go to open that door.Through the door, I suddenly heard a rattling sound inside, and I couldn't help being surprised. In fact, it was the smashed glass window, which opened and closed by itself in the cold wind. Glasses fell downstairs one after another, clattering and falling to the ground.Manzhen smashed the glass window because no one heard her screaming at night, and she also cut her hand, which was wrapped in a handkerchief.She lay on the bed, motionless.Manlu opened the door and went in, and she fixed her eyes on Manlu.Her sister was so sick yesterday that she looked like she was going to die, but today she is up and walking around, which can be seen as a fake illness—in this way, her sister is actually an accomplice.When she thought of this, she felt cold and hot all over her body, but felt the hot air rushed to her head like a blaze, her face flushed red, and her eyes turned black in bursts.
Man Lu also felt guilty, she forced a smile and said, "Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?" Manzhen didn't answer.Manlu walked over step by step, a chair fell on the ground blocking the way, she leaned over to help the chair up.The wind blew the broken glass window, and when it was opened and closed, it made a loud noise, which was not only harsh but also shocking.
Manzhen sat up suddenly, and said: "I want to go back. If you let me go back immediately, I'll forget it, for example, if I was bitten by a mad dog." Manlu said: "Second sister, this is not a matter of anger. I am also angry , Why am I not angry? I made a big fuss with him, but what's the use of making a fuss, what can I really do to him? It's really hateful to say that he is a person, but he is sincere to you, I know that , for two years, before we got married, he envied you very much when he saw you. But he has always respected you very much. If he was not drunk yesterday, he would never dare to do this again. As long as you forgive him, he will always Repay you well, anyway, he will never change his mind about you." Manzhen picked up a bowl on the table and threw it on the ground, it was the meal brought in by A Bao just now, the soup dripped all over the floor, and the bowl was also gone. If it was broken, she picked up a sharp piece of porcelain and said, "Go and tell Zhu Hongcai, he must be careful when he comes again, I have a knife here."
Man Lu was silent for a while, bent down and wiped the oil stains on her feet with a handkerchief, and finally said: "Don't worry, let's not talk about this now, let's talk about it after you recover from your illness." Manzhen said: "You are Let me go back and not let me go back?" As she said that, she supported the table, stood up and walked out, but Man Lu grabbed her tightly, and the two of them were already twisted into a ball in an instant.Manzhen was still holding the half of the broken bowl, which was as sharp as a blade, and Manlu was also a little scared, and murmured: "What are you doing, are you crazy?" During the struggle, the broken bowl fell out of his hand and shattered, Manzhen gasped and said: "You are crazy, what are you doing, you colluded with others to harm me, are you still human?" Manlu shouted: "I colluded to harm you? I've been wronged to death, I don't know how much I've suffered because of you—" Manzhen said: "You're still cheating! You're still cheating!" She really hated her so much, she slapped Manlu across the ear with a slap.This blow was not light, even Manzhen felt shaken and dizzy.She was stunned, and Man Lu was also stunned. Man Lu instinctively raised her hand, trying to touch her cheek, but that hand stopped in midair.Half of her face was red, and she just stood there blankly. When Manzhen saw it, somehow, she remembered her past benefits. She has helped her for many years in the past, and she has never told her Words of gratitude.Although my family members can't talk about giving and repaying kindness, it is also because there is an instinctive shyness among close relatives, and many words seem to be inconvenient to say.In Man Lu, she just felt that her sister had always looked down on her.After the slap just now, both of them thought about the previous debt at the same time. Manlu thought about it and felt that she was really wronged. She was both angry and sad, especially the one who hated Manzhen's fierce female face.She sneered and said, "Hmph, I never expected that such a strong woman would come out of our family, huh? If I had been a strong woman at that time, our whole family would have starved to death! I was a dancer and a prostitute, and I was bullied by others." , where do I go to act like a baby? I am also the same person as you, two sisters, why should I be so cheap and you are so noble?" The more she spoke, the louder her voice was, and when she said this, she unconsciously Yes, tears flowed down his face.Ah Bao and Zhang Ma stood guard outside the door. At first they heard the sound of scuffling in the room, they were startled, they pushed open the door and wanted to come in to persuade them, but then they heard Man Lu talk about being a dancer or a prostitute. He didn't want people to hear him, so Ah Bao hurriedly winked at Mama Zhang, and was about to leave, but still closed the door, but Manzhen took this opportunity to rush forward, and rushed out sideways.Manlu didn't have time to stop her, she only grabbed her arm, and the two struggled again, Manzhen yelled: "You still won't let me go? This is against the law, do you know? You can still imprison me forever Can you kill me?" Manlu didn't answer, but threw her away violently. After all, Manzhen was hot, and her body was fluttering. When Manlu threw her, she took two steps back. Then as soon as he fell far, he sat on the ground, pressing one hand on the fragment of the broken bowl, and couldn't help but groan.Man Lu had already creaked and ran out stepping on the broken porcelain, closed the door, and locked it again from the outside with a click of the key.
There was a big gash on Manzhen's hand, and blood dripped down.She picked up her hand to have a look, and when she looked, she saw the ruby ring on her hand first.Of course, her concept of chastity is somewhat different from the women in the past, and she doesn't feel that she has anything to be ashamed of Shijun, but when she saw the ring on her finger, she felt like a needle pricked her heart.
Shijun—is he still in Shanghai?Would he come here to find her?Didn't her mother come here?It is useless to expect my mother to rescue me. Even if my mother knew the truth, she would never report it to the police station. Once the family is ugly, she must not let it out, and her mother believes in "one thing and one end". Talented.My sister puts a little more pressure on this aspect, and my mother is a person who has no ideas. The only hope is that my mother will tell Shijun the truth about this matter and discuss it with Shijun.But is Shijun still in Shanghai?
She supported the window sill to get up, and the broken glass on the window lattice became zigzag, like a mountain of sharp knives.窗外是花园，冬天的草皮地光秃秃的，特别显得辽阔。四面围着高墙，她从来没注意到那围墙有这样高。花园里有一棵紫荆花，枯藤似的枝干在寒风中摇摆着。她忽然想起小时候听见人家说，紫荆花底下有鬼的。不知道为什么这样说，但是，也许就因为有这样一句话，总觉得紫荆花看上去有一种阴森之感。她要是死在这里，这紫荆花下一定有她的鬼魂吧？反正不能糊里糊涂地死在这里，死也不服这口气。房间里只要有一盒火柴，她真会放火，趁乱里也许可以逃出去。
忽然听见外面房间里有人声，有一个木匠在那里敲敲打打工作着。是预备在外房的房门上开一扇小门，可以从小门里面送饭，可是曼桢并不知道他们是干什么，猜着也许是把房门钉死了，把她当一个疯子那样关起来。那钉锤一声一声敲下来，听着简直锥心，就像是钉棺材板似的。
又听见阿宝的声音，在那里和木匠说话，那木匠一口浦东话，声音有一点苍老。对于曼桢，那是外面广大的世界里来的声音，她心里突然颤栗着，充满了希望，她扑在门上大声喊叫起来了，叫他给她家里送信，把家里的地址告诉他，又把世钧的地址告诉他，她说她被人陷害，把她关起来了，还说了许许多多的话，自己都不知道说了些什么，连那尖锐的声音听着也不像自己的声音。这样大哭大喊，砰砰砰捶着门，不简直像个疯子了吗？
她突然停止了。外面显得异样的寂静。阿宝当然已经解释过了，里面禁闭着一个有疯病的小姐，而她自己也疑惑，她已经在疯狂的边缘上了。
木匠又工作起来了。阿宝守在旁边和他攀谈着。那木匠的语气依旧很和平，他说他们今天来叫他，要是来迟一步，他就已经下乡去了，回家去过年了。阿宝问他家里有几个儿女。听他们说话，曼桢仿佛在大风雪的夜里远远看见人家窗户里的灯光红红的，更觉得一阵凄惶。她靠在门上，无力地啜泣起来了。
她忽然觉得身体实在支持不住了，只得踉踉跄跄回到床上去。刚一躺下，倒是软洋洋的，舒服极了，但是没有一会儿工夫，就觉得浑身骨节酸痛，这样睡也不合适，那样睡也不合适，只管翻来覆去，鼻管里的呼吸像火烧似的。她自己也知道是感冒症，可是没想到这样厉害。浑身的毛孔里都像是分泌出一种粘液，说不出来的难受。天色黑了，房间里一点一点地暗了下来，始终也没有开灯。也不知道过了多少时候，方才昏昏睡去，但是因为手上的伤口痛得火辣辣的，也睡不沉，半夜里醒了过来，忽然看见房门底下露出一线灯光，不觉吃了一惊。同时就听见门上的钥匙嗒的一响，但是这一响之后，却又寂然无声。她本来是时刻戒备着的，和衣躺着，连鞋也没脱，便把被窝一掀，坐了起来，但是一坐起来便觉得天旋地转，差点没栽倒在地上。定睛看时，门缝里那一线灯光倒已经没有了。等了许久，也没有一点响动，只听见自己的一颗心嘭通嘭通跳着。她想着一定又是祝鸿才。她也不知道哪儿来的一股子力气，立刻跑去把灯一开，抢着站在窗口，大约心里有这样一个模糊的意念，真要是没有办法，还可以跳楼，跳楼也要拉他一同跳。但是隔了半晌，始终一点动静也没有，紧张着的神经渐渐松弛下来，这才觉得她正站在风口里，西北风呼呼地吹进来，那冷风吹到发烧的身体上，却有一种异样的感觉，又是寒飕飕的，又是热烘烘干呼呼的，非常难受。
她走到门口，把门钮一旋，门就开了，她的心倒又狂跳起来，难道有人帮忙，私自放她逃走么？外面那间堆东西的房间黑洞洞的，她走去把灯开了，一个人也没有。她一看见门上新装了一扇小门，小门里面安着个窗台，上面搁着一只漆盘，托着一壶茶，一只茶杯，一碟干点心。她突然明白过来了，哪里是放她逃走，不过是把里外两间打通了，以后可以经常地由这扇小门里送饭。这样看来，竟是一种天长地久的打算了。她这样一想，身子就像掉到冰窖里一样。把门钮试了一试，果然是锁着。那小门也锁着。摸摸那壶茶，还是热的，她用颤抖的手倒了一杯喝着，正是口渴得厉害，但是第一口喝进去，就觉得味道不对。其实是自己嘴里没味儿，可是她不能不疑心，茶里也许下了药。再喝了一口，简直难吃，实在有点犯疑心，就搁下了。她实在不愿意回到里面房里那张床上去，就在外面沙发上躺下了，在那旧报纸包裹着的沙发上睡了一宿，电灯也没有关。
第二天早上，大概是阿宝送饭的时候，从那扇小门里看见她那呻吟呓语的样子，她因为热度太高，神志已经不很清楚了，仿佛有点知道有人开了锁进来，把她抬到里面床上去，后来就不断地有人送茶送水。这样昏昏沉沉的，也不知过了多少时候，有一天忽然清醒了许多，见阿宝坐在旁边织绒线，嘴里哼哼唧唧唱着十二月花名的小调。她恍惚觉得这还是从前，阿宝在她们家帮佣的时候。她想她一定是病得很厉害，要不然阿宝怎么不在楼下做事，却到楼上来守着病人。母亲怎么倒不在跟前？她又惦记着办公室的抽屉钥匙，应当给叔惠送去，有许多文件被她锁在抽屉里，他要拿也拿不到。她想到这里，不禁着急起来，便喃喃说道：“杰民呢？叫他把钥匙送到许家去。”阿宝先还当她是说胡话，也没听清楚，只听见“钥匙”两个字，以为她是说房门钥匙，总是还在那儿闹着要出去，便道：“二小姐，你不要着急，你好好地保重身体吧，把病养好了，什么话都好说。”曼桢见她答非所问，心里觉得很奇怪。这房间里光线很暗，半边窗户因为砸破了玻璃，用一块木板挡住了。曼桢四面一看，也就渐渐地记起来了，那许多疯狂的事情，本来以为是高热度下的乱梦，竟不是梦，不是梦……
阿宝道：“二小姐，你不想吃什么吗？”曼桢没有回答，半晌，方在枕上微微摇了摇头。因道：“阿宝，你想想看，我从前待你也不错。”阿宝略顿了一顿，方才微笑道：“是的呀，二小姐待人最好了。”曼桢道：“你现在要是肯帮我一个忙，我以后决不会忘记的。”阿宝织着绒线，把竹针倒过来搔了搔头发，露出那踌躇的样子，微笑道：“二小姐，我们吃人家饭的人，只能东家叫怎么就怎么，二小姐是明白人。”曼桢道：“我知道，我也不想找你别的，只想你给我送个信。我虽然没有大小姐有钱，我总无论如何要想法子，不能叫你吃亏。”阿宝笑道：“二小姐，不是这个话，你不知道他们防备得多紧，我要是出去他们要疑心的。”曼桢见她一味推托，只恨自己身边没有多带钱，这时候无论许她多少钱，也是空口说白话，如何能够取信于人。心里十分焦急，不知不觉把两只手都握着拳头，握得紧紧的，她因为怕看见那只戒指，所以一直反戴着，把那块红宝石转到后面去了。一捏拳头，就觉得那块宝石硬梆梆地在那儿。她忽然心里一动，想道：“女人都是喜欢首饰的，把这戒指给她，也许可以打动她的心。她要是嫌不好，就算是抵押品，将来我再拿钱去赎。”随即把戒指褪了下来，她现在虽然怕看见它，也觉得很舍不得。她递给阿宝，低声道：“我也知道你是为难。你先把这个拿着，这个虽然不值钱，我是很宝贵它的，将来我一定要拿钱跟你换回来。”阿宝起初一定不肯接。曼桢道：“你拿着，你不拿你就是不肯帮我忙。”阿宝半推半就的，也就收下了。
曼桢便道：“你想法子给我拿一支笔一张纸，下次你来的时候带出去。”她想她写封信叫阿宝送到叔惠家里去，如果世钧已经回南京去了，可以叫叔惠转寄。阿宝当时就问：“二小姐要写信给家里呀？”曼桢在枕头上摇了摇头，默然了一会，方道：“写给沈先生。那沈先生你看见过的。”她一提到世钧，已是顺着脸滚下泪来，因把头别了过去。阿宝又劝了她几句，无非是叫她不要着急，然后就起身出去，依旧把门从外面锁上了，随即来到曼璐房中。
曼璐正在那里打电话，听她那焦躁的声音，一定是和她母亲说话，这两天她天天打电话去，催他们快动身。阿宝把地下的香烟头和报纸都拾起来，又把梳妆台上的东西整理了一下，敞开的雪花膏缸一只一只都盖好，又把刷子上粘缠着的一根根头发都拣掉。等曼璐打完了电话，阿宝先去把门关了，方才含着神秘的微笑，从口袋里掏出那只戒指来，送到曼璐跟前，笑道：“刚才二小姐一定要把这个挜给我，又答应给我钱，叫我给她送信。”曼璐道：“哦？送信给谁？”阿宝笑道：“给那个沈先生。”曼璐把戒指拿在手里看了看，她早听她母亲说过，曼桢有这样一只红宝石戒指，是那姓沈的送她，大概算是订婚戒指。因笑道：“这东西一个钱也不值，你给我吧。我当然不能白拿你的。”说着，便拿钥匙开抽屉，拿出一沓子钞票，阿宝偷眼看着，是那种十张一叠的十元钞票，约有五六叠之多。从前曼璐潦倒的时候，也常常把首饰拿去卖或是当，所以阿宝对于这些事也有相当经验，像这种戒指她也想着是卖不出多少钱的，还不如拿去交给曼璐，还上算些。果然不出她所料，竟是发了一笔小财。当下不免假意推辞了一下。曼璐噗的一声把那一沓子钞票丢在桌上，道：“你拿着吧。总算你还有良心！”阿宝也就谢了一声，拿起来揣在身上，因笑道：“二小姐还等着我拿纸同笔给她呢。”曼璐想了一想，便道：“那你以后就不要进去了，让张妈去好了。”说着，她又想起一桩事来。便打发阿宝到她娘家去，只说他们人手不够，派阿宝来帮他们理东西，名为帮忙，也就是督促的意思，要他们尽快地离开上海。
顾太太再也没想到，今年要到苏州去过年。一来曼璐那边催逼得厉害，二来顾太太也相信那句话，“正月里不搬家”，所以要搬只好在年前搬。她赶着在年前洗出来的褥单，想不到全都做了包袱，打了许多大包裹。她整理东西，这样也舍不得丢，那样也舍不得丢。要是全部带去，在火车上打行李票也嫌太糜费了。而且都是历年积下的破烂，一旦暴露在光天化日之下，仅只是运出大门陈列在弄堂里，堆在推车上，都有点见不得人。阿宝见她为难，就答应把这些东西全都运到公馆里去，好在那边有的是闲房。其实等顾太太一走，阿宝马上叫了个收旧货的来，把这些东西统统卖了。
顾太太临走的时候，心里本来就十分怆惶，觉得就像充军似的。想想曼璐说的话也恐怕不一定可靠，但是以后一切的希望都着落在她身上了，就也不愿意把她往坏处想。世钧有一封信给曼桢，顾太太收到了，也不敢给谁看，所以并不知道里面说些什么。一直揣在身上，揣了好些时候，临走那天还是拿了出来交给阿宝，叫她带去给曼璐看。
世钧的信是从南京寄出的。那天他到祝家去找曼桢，没见到她，他还当是她存心不出来见他，心里十分难过。回到家里，许太太告诉他说，他舅舅那里派人来找过他。他想着也不知出了什么事情，赶了去一问，原来并没有什么，他有一个小舅舅，是老姨太太生的，老姨太太一直住在南京，小舅舅在上海读书，现在放寒假了，要回去过年，舅舅不放心他一个人走，要世钧和他一同回去。一同回去，当然不成问题，但是世钧在上海还有几天耽搁，他舅舅却执意要他马上动身，说他母亲的意思也盼望他早点回去，年底结帐还有一番忙碌，他不在那里，他父亲又不放心别人，势必又要自己来管，这一劳碌，恐怕于他的病休有碍。世钧听他舅舅的话音，好像沈太太曾经在他们动身前嘱托过他，叫他务必催世钧快快回来，而沈太太对他说的话一定还不止这些，恐怕把她心底里的忧虑全都告诉了他了，不然他也不会这样固执，左说右说，一定要世钧马上明天就走。世钧见他那样子简直有点急赤白脸的，觉得很不值得为这点事情跟舅舅闹翻脸，也就同意了。他本来也是心绪非常紊乱，他觉得他和曼桢两个人都需要冷静一下，回到南京之后再给她写信，这样也好，写起信来总比较理智些。
他回到南京就写了一封信，按连写过两封，也没有得到回信。过年了，今年过年特别热闹，家里人来人往，他父亲过了一个年，又累着了，病势突然沉重起来。这一次来势汹汹，本来替他诊治着的那医生也感觉到棘手，后来世钧就陪他父亲到上海来就医。
到了上海，他父亲就进了医院，起初一两天情形很严重，世钧简直走不开，也住在医院里日夜陪伴着。叔惠听到这消息，到医院里来探看，那一天世钧的父亲倒好了一点，谈了一会，世钧问叔惠：“你这一向看见曼桢没有？”叔惠道：“我好久没看见她了。她不知道你来？”世钧有点尴尬地说：“我这两天忙得也没有工夫打电话给她。”说到这里，世钧见他父亲似乎对他们很注意，就掉转话锋说到别处去了。
他们用的一个特别看护，一直在旁边，是一个朱小姐，人很活泼，把她的小白帽子俏皮地坐在脑后，他们来了没两天，她已经和他们相当熟了。世钧的父亲叫他拿出他们自己带的茶叶给叔惠泡杯茶，朱小姐早已注意到他们是讲究喝茶的人，便笑道：“你们喝不喝六安茶？有个杨小姐，也是此地的看护，她现在在六安一个医院里工作，托人带了十斤茶叶来，叫我替她卖，价钱倒是真便宜。”世钧一听见说六安，便有一种异样的感触，那是曼桢的故乡。他笑道：“六安——你说的那个医院，是不是一个张医生办的？”朱小姐笑道：“是呀，你认识张医生呀？他人很和气的，这次他到上海来结婚，这茶叶就是托他带来的。”世钧一听见这话，不知道为什么就呆住了。叔惠跟他说话他也没听见，后来忽然觉察，叔惠是问他“哪一个张医生？”他连忙带笑答道：“张慕瑾。你不认识的。”又向朱小姐笑道：“哦，他结婚了？新娘姓什么你可知道？”朱小姐笑道：“我倒也不大清楚，只晓得新娘子家在上海，不过他们结了婚就一块回去了。”世钧就是再问下去，料想多问也问不出所以然来，而且当着他父亲和叔惠，他们也许要奇怪，他对这位张医生的结婚经过这样感到兴趣。朱小姐见他默默无言，还当他是无意购买茶叶，又不好意思拒绝，她自命是个最识趣的人，立刻看了看她腕上的手表，就忙着去拿体温表替啸桐试热度。
世钧只盼望叔惠快走。幸而不多一会，叔惠就站起来告辞了。世钧道：“我跟你一块出去，我要去买点东西。”两人一同走出医院。世钧道：“你现在上哪儿去？”叔惠看了看手表，道：“我还得上厂里去一趟。今天没等到下班就溜出来了，怕你们这儿过了探望的时间就不准进来。”
他匆匆回厂里去了，世钧便走进一家店铺去借打电话，他计算着这时候曼桢应当还在办公室里，就拨了办公室的号码。和她同处一室的那个男职员来接电话，世钧先和他寒暄了两句，方才叫他请顾小姐听电话。那人说：“她现在不在这儿了。怎么，你不知道吗？”世钧怔了一怔道：“不在这几了——她辞职了？”那职员说：“不知道后来有没有补一封辞职信来，我就知道她接连好几天没来，这儿派人上她家去找她，说全家都搬走了。”说到这里，因为世钧那边寂然无声，他就又说下去，道：“也不知搬哪儿去了。你不知道啊？”世钧勉强笑道：“我一点也不知道，我刚从南京来，我也有好久没看见她了。”他居然还又跟那人客套了两句，才挂上电话。然后就到柜台上去再买了一只打电话的银角子，再打一个电话到曼桢家里去。当然那人所说的话绝对不会是假的，可是他总有点不能相信。铃声响了又响，响了又响，显然是在一所空屋里面。当然是搬走了。世钧就像一个人才离开家不到两个钟头，打电话回去，倒说是已经搬走了。使人觉得震恐而又迷茫。简直好像遇见了鬼一样。
他挂上电话，又在电话机旁边站了半天。走出这家店铺，在马路上茫然地走着，淡淡的斜阳照在地上，他觉得世界之大，他竟没有一个地方可去似的。
当然还是应当到她从前住的地方去问问，看弄堂的也许知道他们搬到哪里去了，他们楼下还有一家三房客，想必也已经迁出了，如果有地址留下来，从那里也许可以打听到一些什么。曼桢的家离这里很远，他坐黄包车去，在路上忽然想到，他们最后一次见面的时候，他不是叫她搬家吗？或者她这次搬走，还是因为听从他的主张？搬是搬了，因为负气的缘故，却迟迟的没有写信给他，是不是有这可能？也许他离开南京这两天，她的信早已寄到了。还有一个可能，也许她早就写信来了，被他母亲藏了起来，没有交给他。——但是她突然辞了职却又是为什么呢？这就把以上的假定完全推翻了。
黄包车在弄口停下。这地方他不知道来过多少回了，但是这一次来，一走进弄堂就感到一种异样的生疏，也许因为他晓得已经人去楼空了，马上这里的房屋就显得湫隘破败灰暗，好像连上面的天也低了许多。
他记得他第一次来的时候，因为曼桢的家始终带一点神秘性，所以踏进这弄堂就有点莫名其妙的慄慄自危的感觉，当然也不是没有喜悦的成分在内。在那种心情下，看见一些女佣大姐在公共的自来水龙头下淘米洗衣裳，也觉得是一个新鲜明快的画面。而现在是寒冷的冬天，弄堂里没有什么人。弄口有一个小木栅，看弄堂人就住在那里，却有一个女佣立在他的窗外和他谈心。她一身棉袄裤，裤腰部分特别臃肿，把肚子顶得高高的，把她的白围裙支出去老远。她伏在窗口和里面的人脸对脸谈着。世钧见这情形，就没有和看弄堂的人说话。先走进去看看再说。
但是并没有什么可看的，只是门窗紧闭的一幢空屋，玻璃窗上罩着昏雾似的灰尘。世钧在门外站了一会，又慢慢地向弄口走了出来。这次那看弄堂的却看见了他，就从小屋里迎了出来，向世钧点点头笑笑。世钧从前常常给他钱的，因为常常在顾家谈到很晚才走，弄堂口的铁门已经拉上了，要惊动看弄堂的替他开铁门。现在这看弄堂的和他点头招呼，世钧便带笑问道：“顾家他们搬走了？”看弄堂的笑道：“还是去年年底搬的。我这儿有他们两封信，要晓得他们地址就给他们转去了，沈先生你可有地方打听？”说着，便从窗外探手进去，在桌上摸索着寻找那两封信。刚才和他谈天的那个女佣始终立在窗外，在窗口斜倚着，她连忙一偏身让开了。向来人家家里的事情都是靠佣人替他们传播出去的，顾家就是因为没有用佣人，所以看弄堂的尽管消息灵通，对于弄内每一家人家都是一本清帐，独有顾家的事情他却不大熟悉，而且因为曼璐过去的历史，好像他们家的事情总有些神秘性似的，他们不说，人家就也不便多问。
世钧道：“住在他们楼下的还有一个刘家呢，搬到什么地方去了，你可知道？”看弄堂的喃喃地道：“刘家——好像说搬到虹口去了吧。顾家是不在上海了，我听见拉塌车的说，说上北火车站嘛。”世钧心里怦的一跳，想道：“北火车站。曼桢当然是嫁了慕瑾，一同回去了，一家子都跟了去，靠上了慕瑾了。曼桢的祖母和母亲的梦想终于成为事实了。”
他早就知道，曼桢的祖母和母亲一直有这个意思，而且他觉得这并不是两位老太太一厢情愿的想法。慕瑾对曼桢很有好感的，至于他对她有没有更进一步的表示，曼桢没有说，可是世钧直觉地知道她没有把全部事实告诉他。并不是他多疑，实在是两个人要好到一个程度，中间稍微有点隔阂就不能不感觉到。她对慕瑾非常佩服，这一点她是并不讳言的，她对他简直有点英雄崇拜的心理，虽然他是默默地工作着，准备以一个乡村医生终老的。世钧想道：“是的，我拿什么去跟人家比，我的事业才开始倒已经中断了，她认为我对家庭投降了，对我非常失望。不过因为我们已经有两三年的历史，所以她对我也不无眷恋。但是两三年间，我们从来没有争吵过，而慕瑾来过不久，我们就大吵，这该不是偶然的事情。当然她绝对不是借故和我争吵，只是因为感情上先有了症结在那里，所以一触即发了。”
看弄堂的把两封信递给他，一封是曼桢的弟弟的学校里寄来的，大约是成绩报告单。还有一封是他写给曼桢的，他一看见自己的字迹便震了一震。信封上除了邮戳之外还有一个圆圈形的酱油渍，想必看弄堂的曾经把菜碗放在上面。他把两封信拿在手里看了一看，便向看弄堂的微笑着点了个头，说：“好，我——想法子给他们转寄去。”就拿着走了。
走出弄堂，街灯已经亮了。他把他写给曼桢的那封信拿出来辨认了一下。是第二封信。第一封她想必收到了。其实第一封信已经把话说尽说绝了，第二封根本就是多余的。他立刻把它撕成一片片。
卖蘑菇豆腐干的人远远吆喝着。那人又来了。每天差不多这时候，他总是到这一带来叫卖，大街小巷都串遍，一个瘦长身材的老头挽着个篮子，曼桢住的弄堂里，他每天一定要到一到的。世钧一听见那声音，就想起他在曼桢家里消磨过的无数的黄昏。“豆——干！五香蘑菇豆——干！”沉着而苍凉的呼声，渐渐叫到这边来了，叫得人心里发空。
于是他又想着，还可以到她姊姊家里去问问，她姊姊家他上回去过一次，门牌号数也还记得，只是那地方很远，到了那儿恐怕太晚了。他就多走了几步路，到附近一家汽车行叫了一辆汽车，走到虹桥路，天色倒还没有黑透。下了车一揿铃，依旧在铁门上开了一个方洞，一个仆人露出半边脸来，似乎还是上次那个人。世钧道：“我要见你们太太。我姓沈，我叫沈世钧。”那人顿了一顿，方道：“太太恐怕出去了，我瞧瞧去。”说着，便把方洞关上了。世钧也知道这是阔人家的仆役应付来客的一种惯伎，因为不确定主人见与不见，所以先说着活动话。可是他心里还是很着急，想着曼桢的姊姊也许倒是刚巧出去了。其实她姊夫要是在家，见她姊夫也是一样，刚才忘问一声。
在门外等着，他也早料到的，一等就等了许久。终于听见里面拨去门闩，开了一扇侧门，那仆人闪在一边，说了声：“请进来。”他等世钧走进来，依旧把门闩上了，然后在前面引路，沿着一条煤屑铺的汽车道走进去，两旁都是厚厚的冬青墙。在这傍晚的时候，园子里已经昏黑了，天上倒还很亮，和白天差不多。映着那淡淡的天色，有一钩淡金色的蛾眉月。
世钧在楼窗下经过，曼桢在楼上听见那脚步声，皮鞋践踏在煤屑路上，这本来也没有什么特异之点，但是这里上上下下就没有一个人穿疲鞋的，仆人们都穿布鞋，曼璐平常总穿绣花鞋，祝鸿才穿的是那种粉底直贡呢鞋子。他们家也很少来客。这却是什么人呢？曼桢躺在床上，竭力撑起半身，很注意地向窗外看着，虽然什么也看不见，只看见那一片空明的天，和天上细细的一钩淡金色的月亮。她想，也许是世钧来了。但是立刻又想着，我真是疯了，一天到晚盼望世钧来救我，听见脚步声音就以为是世钧。那皮鞋声越来越近，渐渐地又由近而远。曼桢心里急得什