Chapter 15 Chapter fifteen

When the August 13th Anti-Japanese War began, it fought in Shanghai for three consecutive months, and many wealthy people panicked and fled to the interior.Manzhen's mother is in Suzhou, and people in Suzhou are also in panic.Although Mrs. Gu was not a rich person, she was also affected by their swarm. Everyone fled to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and she also fled to their hometown in Lu'an.By this time their old lady had passed away.Mrs. Gu's daughter-in-law has been in her fifties and sixties, and she usually has complaints behind her back, but the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have always endured hardships together, and there is a feeling of old companionship.The old lady died, and she was the only one left, and her children were not around. One girl was studying nursing in Suzhou, and the two younger ones were sponsored by their elder brother to go to university.Weimin is teaching in Shanghai, and he is also married.

Mrs. Gu returned to Lu'an. Their family had two tile-roofed houses outside the city. They used to live in the graveyard, but now they take it back for their own use.Not long after she came back, Mu Jin came to see her at her home. He wanted to ask her about Manzhen's recent situation. He wrote to Manzhen many times, but failed to deliver them and returned them.Because he knew about the entanglement between Manzhen and Zhu's family, he felt that Mrs. Gu was always begging for perfection. Even Manzhen was imprisoned by Zhu's family for a long time, and it seemed that she had agreed to it, no matter whether she had the heart to betray her daughter or not. Being fooled, Mu Jin was a little contemptuous of her anyway.After meeting, his expression was also very cold. When Mrs. Gu saw him for the first time, she was extremely affectionate like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.After talking for a while, Mu Jin asked, "Where is Manzhen now?" Mrs. Gu said, "She's still in Shanghai. She's married—oh, Manlu died, you know, Manzhen married Hongcai " Mrs. Gu said a few words very coquettishly, as if it was a natural thing for Manzhen to marry her brother-in-law. It is expected that Mu Jin may not know the hidden truth inside, but she is a little guilty about this matter, thinking that it is a family defect. , So I just mentioned it like this, and then I went off to talk about it elsewhere.

When Mu Jin heard the news, although it was not completely unexpected, it was still very exciting.He really felt pity for Manzhen.Mrs. Gu talked to him on her own, but he submissively and perfunctorily said a few words, then presumed that there was something else to do, and left.He's been here just once.I don’t come to pay New Year’s greetings during Chinese New Year, and I don’t come to visit during festivals.Mrs. Gu was very angry and thought to herself: "It's too unreasonable. I didn't expect him to be so snobbish. He didn't always live in our house when he came to Shanghai. Now that I'm poor, I don't even recognize my relatives."

Here comes the war.Mrs. Gu has been indecisive. She wants to go to Shanghai, and the road is difficult at this time. She is alone, she is getting old, and there is no one to take care of her along the way.Later, even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't. Shanghai had already fallen by this time.News of the fall of Lu'an was published in the newspapers. Lu'an was originally a small place, and the news was only published in a few lines in the newspapers, so it will not be mentioned again.Manzhen and Weimin Jiemin were naturally worried, wondering if Mrs. Gu would be safe there.Weimin received a letter from Mrs. Gu. In fact, this letter was sent before the Japanese Occupation, so I still don’t know her current situation, but I still passed the letter on to Jiemin, and asked him to read it. Send it to Manzhen.Jiemin is now working in a bank. He joined this bank after only one year of college.On this day when he came to Zhu's house, Rong Bao liked this little uncle the most, as soon as he came, he stood in front of him and refused to leave.The weather was hot, and Jiemin only wore a white shirt and a pair of yellow khaki shorts. Because of the war in the past two years, everyone dressed casually.As soon as he sat down, Rong Bao was snuggling next to Manzhen, and suddenly he turned around and called: "Mom." Manzhen responded: "Huh?" Rong Bao was silent again.After a while.Fangcai raised his face and said softly: "Mom, my little uncle has a scar on his leg." Manzhen looked at Jiemin's knee, and couldn't help laughing: "I remember that your scar was never this big before. People As he grows up, the scar also grows up." Jiemin lowered his head, touched his knee, and said with a smile, "It was back then when I was learning to ride a bicycle, and I fell down." Speaking of this, he suddenly felt like Think about it.Manzhen asked him if he was busy in the bank, he just responded casually, then suddenly he clenched his fist and thumped his leg, and said with a smile: "I said I have something to tell you! Just forget it when you see it. ——I met a person that day, guess who it is, I met Shen Shijun.” It’s also because Shijun taught him to ride a bicycle when he learned to ride a bicycle, so he remembered it when he said it.Seeing that Manzhen was in a daze, as if he didn't understand what he said, he said again: "Shen Shijun. He came to our bank to open an account, and he has been here twice." Manzhen smiled and said: "You I still know him." Jie Min said: "Otherwise I wouldn't have recognized him, I only remembered his name when I saw it. I didn't say hello to him, of course he didn't recognize me - he saw How old was I then?" Then he pointed to Rong Bao and said with a smile, "I'm just as old as him!" Manzhen also laughed.She really wanted to ask him what Shijun was like now, but before he could say a word, Jiemin leaned over, took out Mrs. Gu's letter from his trouser pocket, and handed it to her.He also talked about things in their business, saying that he might be transferred to Zhenjiang next month.After a few punctuation, it is difficult for Manzhen to bring up that matter again.In fact, there is nothing embarrassing about it, what's the point of asking, it was her lover many years ago, now she is in her thirties, the children are so old, especially in the eyes of her younger brother, she is already very old right?But just because of this, she was even more embarrassed to show that kind of affection in front of him.

She read her mother's letter, and there was nothing to say. They said a few words of comfort to each other, but everyone had this feeling in their hearts. He asked her to come to Shanghai.Of course Jiemin has no choice, he has no place to live, he lives in the bank dormitory.Weimin's place is also very crowded, there is a total of one side room, and there is a mother-in-law living with them, and his mother-in-law is just this one daughter. When they got married, they agreed to live with them, and they depended on life.Manzhen is different from him, she is not powerless to bring her mother.Since the Occupation, only businessmen can make money easily, so Hongcai's situation has improved in the past two years. He built a new house with two floors and two floors. It would be very convenient for Mrs. Gu to come and live, but Manzhen didn't want her to come .Manzhen usually rarely sees her two younger brothers. She doesn't interact with anyone, and she can't wait to hide herself in a black hole.There was always a sense of impurity in herself.

Hongcai was very disappointed in her.In the past, because she always seemed to be out of reach, I thought about her for several years, and even after I got it, I still felt in a trance, and never felt that he possessed her.Once she marries him, she will not be surprised after a long time. She even thinks that he has been cheated, like a bowl of vegetarian shrimp, but it is actually made of Yang Yam, which has no taste at all.He was still thinking, at least she is good on the field, and it is a very honorable thing to have a wife like her, so for a while he often forced her to go out to socialize together, but now she is simply not good enough, and the wives of his friends Compared with them, they are not necessarily outstanding at all.She doesn't care about grooming at all, her complexion is yellow, she always looks a little sick, and her clothes are out of fashion. Stupid look.Hongcai really felt resentful that she would be a different person when she was in his hands.So he always quarreled with her.No matter how loud the quarrel was, Manzhen never turned up with him, saying that she did not marry him voluntarily.She was also afraid of thinking about the past, and thinking about it would only make her sadder.If she didn't mention it, of course he would forget it.Originally, once you get married, the pre-marriage experience becomes insignificant. No matter who begs who, anyway, after you get married, whoever is unreasonable has the upper hand.It was always Hong Cai who provoked her all day long, Manzhen didn't argue with him very much, at all she felt that she was lying in the mud all by herself, and there was nothing else worth worrying about.Nothing really matters.

It has been more than ten days since Lu'an fell, and the exchange has not been processed yet, so the situation there must still be chaotic.Manzhen wanted to send some money to her mother, so she wanted to ask Jiemin if he had exchanged money. It was inconvenient to say these things on the phone, so she had to go there by herself, hand him the money, and remit it if he could. .They are a small branch, and the staff dormitory is just above the bank, and they can be accessed through the back door.That day Manzhen deliberately waited until after they got off work, because she heard Jiemin say last time that Shijun had been to their shop, and she was very afraid of meeting him.In fact, he was the one who was sorry for her at the beginning, but after all these years, she didn't think about that anymore, she just felt that she was sorry for herself in the life she was living now.Maybe she still hated him a little because she didn't want his mercy.

This is always the hot autumn tiger weather, but this evening it was cooler.Because Manzhen didn't go out often, although Hongcai had a tricycle of her own, she never took his.She took the tram to Jiemin's place, got off the tram, and walked on the road. The sky was light and dark, with gusts of cool wind blowing over her. It must have rained somewhere else.In the past two days, she often thought of Shijun.Thinking of him reminded her of her own youth.At that time, she went out to teach every night, and Shijun sent her there, just walking on the road like this.Those two people seem to be so close to her that they can be touched just by reaching out. Sometimes it feels like the wind is blowing their clothes, and they are blowing towards her. ——It seems to be next to her, but there is already a mountain in the middle.

The front door of Jiemin's bank faces the street, and the back door is in an alley.Manzhen remembered that it was Lane 509, she recognized the house number along the way, there was a shop near the entrance of the alley, and a red neon signboard stood tall, and the entrance of that alley was quietly bathed in red light.A person came out from the alley, and in the shadow of the red light, he couldn't see clearly, but Manzhen was taken aback.Maybe it's because the walking posture is a little familiar—but she and Shi Jun haven't seen each other for ten years, and if she wasn't thinking of him there, she would never have recognized him immediately. --It's him.She hurriedly turned her face away, facing the window.He probably didn't see her.Of course, he wouldn't pay much attention to a passing woman if he didn't know the possibility of running into her here.Manzhen did not expect that he would go to the bank at such a late hour.It was always because he was late, so he had to go in through the back door and ask the operator he knew well to accommodate him.This is Manzhen's thinking later, when she was in a mess, she just knew that he was the last person she wanted to see in the whole world.She turned around and walked west along the road.He also seemed to be heading west. She heard footsteps behind her and thought it might be him.Although she still believed that he didn't see her, she became even more panicked, but there was no tricycle, and there was a theater nearby, and all the tricycles rushed there.It was also because of the Sanxi that there were cars one after another on the street, and it was impossible to cross the road.The person behind walked faster and faster, and even started to run.Manzhen became confused all of a sudden, and saw a bus coming rumbling, and there was a stop ahead, so she also ran forward, wanting to get on that bus.After running for a few steps, he suddenly saw Shijun brushing past her and passing in front of her. It turned out that he was not chasing her, but the bus.

Manzhen stood still, and it seemed that the danger had passed, but she couldn't help but want to see if it was Shijun, because it was so dreamlike, she couldn't believe it.In this area, because there are two leather shoe shops with bright lights in the windows, the light is also very bright when it shines on the street, so you can see very clearly what clothes Shijun is wearing and what his face looks like.Although this is all in a flash, you can generally feel whether he is fat or thin, whether he is very rich or not very proud.But Manzhen didn't know why, he didn't have any impression at all, he just saw Shijun, his heart was shaking, his body seemed to be floating in the sea, and he didn't know where it was .

She just stared blankly there, but in fact the bus had already left, but Shijun was still standing there, because the bus was too crowded and she couldn't get on, so she had to wait for the next one.The next car was coming from the east, so he naturally turned around and looked east, which was Manzhen.She suddenly felt it.If you turned around and walked back immediately, it would seem too sudden, but it should attract attention.Thinking about it this way, before he had time to think about it, he hurriedly crossed the road and walked across the street.At this time, the long snake formation of the car loosened a bit, but suddenly a truck came, and it was already in front of the eyes, and the two headlights on the front of the car were dazzling white, and the front of the car was magnified infinitely. But no matter how big it was, there was a room as big as a dark room rushing towards her.She didn't know much about what happened next, only heard a prolonged scream of "Zhiyo", but the car stopped, and then she heard the driver yelling curses.Manzhen's legs trembled so much that she couldn't stand upright, but she quickly walked across the street. Fortunately, after walking a short distance, she met a tricycle and got on it. Still pounding and beating wildly. I don't know if it was hysteria after being frightened, but two lines of tears flowed like a fountain.If she was hit by a car and died, she really wanted to die.It started to rain, and the heavy raindrops hit her body, but she didn't ask the driver to stop and pull up the hood.When she got home, she went upstairs to the bedroom. Because of the rain, the windows were tightly closed. As soon as she walked in, she felt warm, and she didn't turn on the light, so she lay down on the bed.In that dark room, there was only a glimmer of light from a mirror on the wardrobe. Some of the furniture in the room were bought when she and Hongcai got married, and some were added later.In the gloomy air, these furniture seemed to be packed so close together that she felt that she couldn't breathe.This is the pit she dug herself to be buried alive.She fell on the bed, sobbing and crying. Suddenly, when the electric light came on, it was Hongcai who had returned, and Manzhen turned over and fell asleep.Hongcai came back very early today, it was rare for him to go home for dinner, and Manzhen never questioned him.She also knew that he was playing a lot outside again now, because it was raining today, he was too lazy to go out, so he came back earlier.He walked to the bed, sat down and took off his shoes and put on slippers. Yin asked casually, "Why are you lying here alone? Huh?" He put his hand on her knee and squeezed it.He didn't know why today, but he seemed to have a good impression of her again.When encountering this kind of situation, she needs such a lot of strength to suppress her hatred, and she has no strength left.She lay there motionless and silent.Hongcai thought it was hot in the room, so he put on slippers and went downstairs. There was a fan in the living room that could be turned on. Manzhen was lying on the bed, although the windows in the room were closed, one could still hear the radio of a family in the alley, Ding Ding Dong Dong was playing the pipa, and a middle-aged man was singing there, whispering with a bit of a woman's accent singing, but I can't hear it clearly.The sound of the pipa was originally like the sound of rain, but in this rainy weather, listening to it from a distance through the rainy night, it revealed a more desolate meaning. After this rain, the weather turned cold the next day.In order to remit money to her mother, Manzhen was going to call Jiemin and ask him to come to her place after get off work, but suddenly received a call from Weimin, saying that Mrs. Gu had come to Shanghai and was now in Shanghai. he there.After hearing this, Manzhen went to his house.Now mother and daughter meet.When Mrs. Gu came out this time, she had to suffer a lot on the way. She took a wheelbarrow, and Lav took the cart away. She walked a hundred miles on foot. Today the weather turned cold, and she froze again on the train, coughing, Throat is hoarse.But since arriving here, she has been talking non-stop, because Weimin hadn't come back when she first arrived, so she couldn't help telling her experience to her daughter-in-law and mother-in-law first. Weimin called Jiemin, and she told Jiemin again, and now she told Manzhen that it was the fourth time.It turned out that Lu'an was regained after the fall—naturally, the newspapers in the occupied area did not mention it.Mrs. Gu is in Lu'an, she used to live outside the city, but the house has been reduced to the ground after two wars.She stayed at the house of an older uncle in the city, and when the Japanese soldiers entered the city, they raped and plundered as usual. Fortunately, her uncle Gu Xiyao had only two old couples in his family, and he didn't have much savings, so he didn't suffer much. .But on the third day, the Japanese appointed ten gentlemen from the local area to maintain law and order. Gu Xiyao was also on the list because he was a member of the Education Bureau.The rest are some famous squires, in fact, first-class local tyrants, who started their careers by exploiting the people. These people do not have any national ideas, but most rich people are afraid of getting into trouble. Once gone, they are deeply entrenched in this place and cannot escape.Of course, under the bayonet point, there is no way.Unexpectedly, within two days of the establishment of the maintenance association, the Kuomintang army counterattacked again, and the residents of the small town once again experienced the horror of the siege.Lu'an fell for only ten days before regaining it.As soon as the Kuomintang troops entered the city, they shot all the ten gentlemen. Gu Xiyao's old wife came back after collecting the corpse, crying until the sky was dark.After such a change in their family, Mrs. Gu really couldn't live anymore, so she was even more anxious to go to Shanghai.It just so happened that there were several people in the city who wanted to leave, so we found a guide who was familiar with the situation on the road, so Mrs. Gu went with them and arrived in Shanghai. She found Weimin's house, Weimin and the others only lived in one room, and another room was separated by a wooden wall, where Mrs. Tao, his mother-in-law, stayed.When Mrs. Tao saw Mrs. Gu, she felt a little ashamed, thinking that she was taken by Nestlé.She was very enthusiastic about entertaining her mother-in-law, even more enthusiastic than her daughter, but she had to be careful not to be too attentive, turning her hostess against the guest, or making the other party feel uncomfortable, so she was in a dilemma.Mrs. Gu just felt that her attitude was very unnatural, sometimes affectionate, and then indifferent.Weimin's wife's name is Wan Zhu. Although Wan Zhu has a good attitude on the surface, Mrs. Gu always feels that she is the only one left.Later Weimin came back, and the mother and son talked for a while.He originally thought that when his mother first arrived, he shouldn't cry for poverty immediately, but he couldn't help talking about it when he talked about it casually.The treatment of teachers has always been bitter, especially now that the price of goods is soaring, it is even more difficult to survive.Wan Zhu interjected and said that she also wanted to go out to work there and earn some money to support her family. Wei Min said: "In Shanghai today, it is really difficult to find a job, but it is easy to make a fortune, so there are so many nouveau riche." Mrs. Tao didn't say anything beside her.What Mrs. Tao meant was that her daughter was looking for trouble, and even if she found something, it would not save the poor.But Weimin, he should make up his mind.Since they have such a rich aunt, Zhu Hongcai can make money in business now, and they can take him along. They are all their own people, so why not support him.Mrs. Tao always thought this way, so every time she saw Manzhen, she always looked a little sour and unhappy.On this day, Manzhen came, and everyone sat down and had a conversation.Seeing Manzhen's expression, her mother and Mrs. Tao would never get along. There are two old ladies living together, each with their own unshakable living habits, so it is difficult to make it fit. The place here is really small. Manzhen Zhen had no choice but to say that she would take her mother to live with her.Wei Min said: "That's good, your place is more spacious, so that Mom can have a good rest." Mrs. Gu went back with Manzhen. When I arrived at Zhu's house, before Hongcai came back, Mrs. Gu asked Manzhen: "What kind of business is my uncle doing now? It's going well!" Manzhen said: "I really can't understand what they are doing now. It's either hoarding rice or hoarding medicine, it's all ignorant of conscience." Mrs. Gu didn't expect that she was still the same as before, and when she mentioned Hongcai, she would use an angry tone, so she had to apologize at the moment: "This is the time now, do you have any questions?" What way!" Manzhen remained silent.Mrs. Gu saw that she was always so listless, and her face had a pale yellow color, so she frowned and asked, "How are you? Cough, you used to do things. From morning to night, you worked hard. The body is exhausted! At that time, I was young enough to hold on, and I felt it when I was older." Manzhen didn't go to argue with her.When it comes to doing things, it is also a painful sore. She had agreed with Hongcai in advance that she would continue to work after marriage. Of course Hongcai was obedient at that time, but he always felt uneasy about her doing things outside.Later, she clamored for her resignation, and I didn't know how many times I quarreled over this matter.In the end she quit the job because of extreme fatigue. Mrs. Gu said: "At your younger brother's house just now, your sister-in-law said there that she wanted to find a job to supplement the family. They said that they didn't have enough money, and they all said those words to me—— The mother-in-law lives at home, don’t you want to spend money?——It’s really boring to think about raising a son.” As he spoke, he couldn’t help but sighed. Rong Bao came back from school. As soon as Mrs. Gu saw him, she pulled him and asked, "Do you know me? Who am I?" Then she smiled at Manzhen: "Who do you think he looks like? The longer he grows, the better he looks." It looks like his grandfather." Manzhen said a little blankly: "Like Dad?" Her father in her memory was a thin face with a mustache, but in her mother's memory, he was probably very different, or His appearance when he was young, and it is easy to see his shadow in all the lovely faces.Manzhen couldn't help smiling. Manzhen asked the maid to buy some snacks, Mrs. Gu said: "You don't need to bother me, I don't want to eat anything, I just want to lie down for a while." Manzhen said: "But are you tired on the road?" Mrs. Gu said: "Well. At this time, I feel very uncomfortable." The bed upstairs was ready, so Manzhen went upstairs with her.Mrs. Gu lay down on the bed, and Manzhen sat beside the bed and talked with her, because she talked about her experience in the dangerous city again.She never mentioned Mu Jin, but Manzhen was always thinking about him, because she said: "I heard that I had hit Lu'an a few days ago, and I was really anxious. I thought that my mother was there alone, and then I thought of Mu Jin. It's there too, maybe I can take care of it." Mrs. Gu snorted and said, "Don't mention Mu Jin, I've been to Lu'an, and he's only been here once." Speaking of this, she suddenly remembered that she was busy with He propped up half of his body on the pillow, and said softly: "Hey, you know, he was arrested." Manzhen was startled, and said, "Ah, why? Who was he arrested for?" Mrs. Gu wanted to start all over again. Speaking of which, I first narrated the story of her and Mu Jin's anger in detail, which made Manzhen feel anxious to death.She went on in an orderly manner, saying that she would not go to him unless he came.He said again: "Just now at your brother's place, I didn't mention this. The Tao family and the others heard it. It seems that even our relatives here look down on us.——I don't want to talk about it. When there is a war, the wind will get louder It's getting tighter and tighter. I live alone outside the city, and he doesn't even come to ask. Well, the Japanese came in later. Didn't they hold a maintenance meeting? They were assigned to the ten people. I heard that there was Mu Jin in the first place. Yes, he hid, and Xiyao just filled his vacancy. It was really wronged, so later the Kuomintang shot Xiyao, and Mrs. Xiyao hated Mu Jin to death. Later, Mu Jin was arrested, and Mrs. Xiyao I'm glad to hear that." Manzhen frowned deeply, and asked patiently, "Mom didn't say anything after talking for a long time, how did she get arrested?" Mrs. Gu leaned forward again. Together, he said quietly: "I've heard people say this, but I don't know if it's reliable or not: when the Japanese were there, Mu Jin had been hiding in the house of a widow Peng, saying that the widow had a son." I was studying business in a paper shop, and I suffered from tuberculosis in a boy, and I couldn't cure it. It was Mu Jin who didn't want money to look after him, so the family was grateful to him. He lived there, even if he was the brother of Widow Peng's natal family. He escaped from the countryside. After escaping for a few days, the Kuomintang came back, so he showed his face again and went back to the hospital. Who knows that he was arrested by the Kuomintang within a few days after returning." Manzhen said in astonishment: " Then why, what crime is he charged with?" Mrs. Gu said in a low voice: "There are always people who hate him! He also said that someone took a fancy to his hospital, and the house is not bad, neat and tidy, square and square like a seal. Seems like. People in small places have shallow eyelids, maybe it’s because of the house—well, I was shocked when I heard this, after all, I watched him grow up! I wanted to go and see him Young Mistress, I asked what was going on, and I thought about it again, this nephew and niece and daughter-in-law have never been in touch. They don’t have my poor cousin and aunt in their eyes. Xi Yao and the others died again, and I was about to leave here again, and the city was in total chaos, so I didn't go there. I don't know what's going on with him now." Manzhen stayed there for a long while before quietly saying: "Tomorrow I will go to Mujin's husband's house and ask, maybe they will know better." Mrs. Gu said: "His husband's family? I seem to have heard him say that his father-in-law's family They all went to the mainland. It wasn’t because of the war in Shanghai that time, many people left.” Manzhen was speechless again for a long time.Mu Jin is the only one who cares about her, he may not be alive anymore.If he died in the hands of the Japanese, there is still something to say, but if he died in the hands of the Chinese in a daze, that would be too hateful!It turned out that Lu'an after "recovery" was such a crazy world.She grew up under the rule of the Kuomintang. She is very used to the heavy oppression and exploitation. In her opinion, kind people will always suffer, and the burden of sorrow seems to be inherent in life. , so there is only patience.This is the first time for her to feel that there is a wrong and a debt, and her chest is full of grief and indignation.She couldn't help but think of Shuhui.Shuhui is doing well.But she always had this bleak view, and just because the Communist Party was good, she didn't believe they would win.Justice will not conquer the world, it has always been and it will be. She was sitting there in a daze, when Mrs. Gu suddenly came up, reached out and touched her forehead, then touched her own forehead, frowned and lay down again without saying anything.Manzhen said: "What's the matter, Mom? Is it a little fever?" Mrs. Gu responded with a hum.Manzhen said: "Do you want to ask a doctor to see it?" Mrs. Gu said: "No, I just caught a cold on the way, maybe it will be better after eating a pack of afternoon tea." Manzhen found out the afternoon tea , asked the maid to cook, and told Rong Bao to go downstairs to play, so as not to disturb grandma.Rong Bao was playing origami airplanes by himself in the living room. Jiemin taught him that day, and when he threw it, he could fly very far.He threw it out, then galloped after it, panting and laughing, squatting on the ground to pick it up and throw it again.It happened that Hongcai came back, Rong Bao called "Dad", stood up and walked back.Hongcai couldn't help feeling angry, and said, "Run away when you see me! Don't leave!" He really felt sad, thinking: "This child is really hateful. Since his mother came, he has only been affectionate with his mother, and treats me a little bit." I have no feelings." The child huddled behind the sofa, and was carried out by Hongcai, and shouted, "Why do you look like a kid when you see me! Tell me! Tell me!" Rong Bao burst into tears, Hongcai scolded, "Why are you crying? I didn't hit you! Make me angry and I'll hit you!" Manzhen heard the child crying upstairs, so she hurried downstairs, saw that Hongcai was beating the child as soon as he came back, and stepped forward to pull him, saying, "What are you doing? For no reason?" Hongcai turned his nose upright He yelled: "If it's my son, I can fight! Is he my son?" Manzhen was furious for a while, and was so angry that he was shaking, but he didn't bother to talk to him, and he just pulled the boy hard. After passing by, Hongcai rushed him to beat him a few times, and said bitterly: "I don't know who taught him, but seeing me is like an enemy!" A maid ran in to persuade him, and took Rong Bao away. Rong Bao was still crying, so the maid coaxed him: "Don't make trouble, don't make trouble, take you to grandma!" After hearing this, Hongcai was startled, and said, "What did she say? His grandma Are you here?" Because Manzhen looked at Manzhen, Manzhen was just cold, without making a sound, and went upstairs.The maid said from the outside: "The old lady is here, upstairs." When Hongcai heard that a visitor from afar had arrived, it was inconvenient to lose her temper again, because she adjusted her clothes and rolled up her clothes. The sleeves were put down, and then he stepped up the stairs.He heard Mrs. Gu coughing, so he went into the back room, and seeing Mrs. Gu lying there alone, he called out: "Mom." Mrs. Gu hurriedly sat up from the bed. The process of this escape.She asked about Hongcai's recent situation, and Hongcai lamented to her, saying that the standard of living is so high now that he can't make ends meet.But he has always had this temper. After complaining about his hardships for a while, he was afraid that people would think he was really poor, so he hurriedly ostentatiously said that he had dinner with a few friends at a restaurant with a Chinese prefix, five of them, and they ate whatever they wanted. Eat up an astonishingly large sum of money. Manzhen never came in.The maid brought in a bowl of afternoon tea, and Hongcai asked Mrs. Gu that she was not feeling well, so she said, "Mom will rest for a few more days, and when Mom gets well, I will invite Mom to the theater, now Shanghai is more lively than before. "The maid came to invite them to dinner. Today, the meal was served upstairs, so that Mrs. Gu would not have to go upstairs and downstairs. She also prepared porridge for her, but Mrs. Gu said she couldn't eat any, so it was still the two of them in their own family. Individuals eat with their children.Rong Bao had already had his face wiped by Manzhen, and his eyelids were still red and swollen.The dining table was too quiet, and the sound of chewing seemed strangely loud.The three of them sat around a square table, as if a dark cloud was hanging over their heads, as if they were holding an umbrella above their heads. Hongcai suddenly said: "This cook is not good at all. What does this dish look like!" Manzhen didn't say a word.After a while, Hongcai said angrily again: "There is almost no edible food!" Manzhen still ignored him.There was a bowl of crucian carp soup placed far away, Rong Bao couldn't reach it, so he stood up and stretched his arms to grab it, but Hongcai stretched out his chopsticks and hit his chopsticks on the waist, cursing: "Look at you!" There is no manners for eating! There are no rules at all!" With a bang, Rong Bao's chopsticks fell on the table, and his tears also fell on the tablecloth.Manzhen knew that Hongcai was trying to find trouble. He didn't think he wanted to break her heart, so he had to start with the child.She still ate her meal indifferently, without saying a word.Rong Bao was also used to this, sobbing, he picked up the chopsticks and the rice bowl, and took two mouthfuls of rice.But there was a large piece of fish, from the belly of the fish, without any thorns, and it was brought to his bowl, which was given to him by Manzheng.He had stopped crying, but for some reason, the tears flowed down again. Manzhen thought to himself, if things go on like this, the child will definitely suffer from indigestion.It's like this almost every day when I eat.It was simply unbearable.But Hongcai couldn't stand the oppression of the atmosphere, and wanted to leave this table as soon as possible.He had less than half a bowl of rice left, so he wanted to finish it in one sitting.He raised his head, lifted the rice bowl, almost covered one rice bowl on his face, and impatiently picked up the rice again and again, the chopsticks knocked on the bowl like a torrential rain.He always does this when he is about to finish his meal.He has several small habitual movements. For example, when he blows his nose, he always presses the wing of his nose with one finger, and hums down with the other nostril, a short snort.In fact, this is nothing.It cannot be said that it is a bad habit.On the contrary, Manzhen has developed a very bad habit now, that is, every time she sees his small movements, her face immediately has a convulsion of disgust, and she can feel the muscles under her eyes being pulled upwards, A wrinkle.She couldn't stop herself. Hongcai's chopsticks were still knocking on the bottom of the bowl, while Manzhen had already put down the bowl and stood up, walking to the back room.Seeing her walk in, Mrs. Gu pretended to be fast asleep.Of course, Mrs. Gu heard very clearly what was said in the room outside. Although she didn't say a few words, all she heard was the cold silence, but it can also be known that the anger between the two of them did not happen overnight.照这样一天到晚吵架，到他们家里来做客的人实在是很难处置自己的。顾太太便想着，鸿才刚才虽然是对她很表示欢迎，可是亲戚向来是“远香近臭”，住长了恐怕又是一回事了。这样看起来，还是住到儿子那儿去吧，虽然他们弄了个丈母娘在那里，大家面和心不和的，非常讨厌，但是无论如何，自己住在那边是名正言顺的，到底心里还痛快些。 于是顾太太就决定了，等她病一好就回到伟民那里去。偏偏她这病老不见好，一连躺了一个多礼拜。曼桢这里是没有一天不闹口舌的，顾太太也不敢夹在里面劝解，只好装作不闻不问。要想在背后劝劝曼桢，但是她虽然是一肚子的妈妈经与驭夫术，在曼桢面前却感觉到很难进言。她自己也知道，曼桢现在对她的感情也有限，剩下的只是一点责任心罢了。 顾太太的病算是好了，已经能够起来走动，但是胃口一直不大好，身上老是啾啾唧唧地不大舒服，曼桢说应当找个医生去验验。顾太太先不肯，说为这么点事不值得去找医生，后来听曼桢说有个魏医生，鸿才跟他很熟的，顾太太觉得熟识的医生总比较可靠，看得也仔细些，那天下午就由曼桢陪着她一同去了。这魏医生的诊所设在一个大厦里，门口停着好些三轮车，许多三轮车夫在那里闲站着，曼桢一眼看见她自己家里的车夫春元也站在那里，他看见曼桢，却仿佛怔了一怔，没有立刻和她打招呼。曼桢觉得有点奇怪，心里想他或者是背地里在外面载客赚外快，把一个不相干的人踏到这里来了，所以他自己心虚。她当时也没有理会，自和她母亲走进门去，乘电梯上楼。 魏医生这里生意很好，候诊室里坐满了人。曼桢挂了号之后，替她母亲找了一个位子，在靠窗的一张椅子上坐下，她自己就在窗口站着。对面一张沙发上倒是只坐着两个人，一个男子和一个小女孩，沙发上还有很多的空余，但是按照一般的习惯，一个女子还是不会跑去坐在他们中间的。那小姑娘约有十一二岁模样，长长的脸蛋，黄白皮色，似乎身体很孱弱。她坐在那里十分无聊，把一个男子的呢帽抱在胸前缓缓地旋转着，却露出一种温柔的神气。想必总是她父亲的帽子。坐在她旁边看报的那个人总是她父亲了。曼桢不由得向他们多看了两眼，觉得这一个画面很有一种家庭意味。 那看报的人被报纸遮着，只看见他的袍裤和鞋袜，仿佛都很眼熟。曼桢不觉呆了一呆。鸿才早上就是穿着这套衣裳出去的。——他到这儿来是看病还是找魏医生有什么事情？可能是带这小孩来看病。难道是他自己的小孩？怪不得刚才在大门口碰见春元，春元看见她好像见了鬼似的。她和她母亲走进来的时候，鸿才一定已经看见她们了，所以一直捧着这张报纸不放手，不敢露面。曼桢倒也不想当场戳穿他。当着这许多人闹上那么一出，算什么呢，而且又有她母亲在场，她很不愿意叫她母亲夹在里面，更添上许多麻烦。 从这大厦的窗口望下去，可以望得很远，曼桢便指点着说道：“妈，你来看，喏，那就是我们从前住的地方，就是那教堂的尖顶背后。看见吧。”顾太太站到她旁边来，一同凭窗俯眺，曼桢口里说着话，眼梢里好像看见那看报的男子已经立起身来要往外走。她猛一回头，那人急忙背过身去，反剪着手望着壁上挂的医生证书。分明是鸿才的背影。 鸿才只管昂着头望着那配了镜框的医生证书，那镜框的玻璃暗沉沉的倒是正映出了窗口两个人的动态。曼桢又别过身去了，和顾太太一同伏在窗口，眺望着下面的街道。鸿才在镜框里看见了，连忙拔步就走。谁知正在这时候，顾太太却又掉过身来，把眼睛闭了一闭，笑道：“呦，看着这底下简直头晕！”她离开了窗口，依旧在她原来的座位上坐下，正好看见鸿才的背影匆匆地往外走，但是也并没有加以注意。倒是那小女孩喊了起来道：“爸爸你到哪儿去？”她这一叫唤，候诊室里枯坐着的一班病人本来就感觉到百无聊赖，这就不约而同地都向鸿才注视着。顾太太便咦了一声，向曼桢道：“那可是鸿才？”鸿才知道溜不掉了，只得掉过身来笑道：“咦，你们也在这儿！”顾太太因为刚才听见那小女孩喊他爸爸，觉得非常奇怪，一时就怔住了说不出话来。曼桢也不言语。鸿才也僵住了，隔了一会方才笑道：“这是我的干女儿，是老何的女孩子。”又望着曼桢笑道：“哦，我告诉你没呀？这是老何一定要跟我认干亲。”一房间人都眼睁睁向他们望着，那小女孩也在内。鸿才又道：“他们晓得我认识这魏医生，一定要叫我带她来看看，这孩子闹肚子。——嗳，你们怎么来的？是不是陪妈来的？”他自己又点了点头，郑重地说：“嗳，妈是应当找魏医生看看，他看病非常细心。”他心里有点发慌，话就特别多。顾太太只有气无力地说了一声：“曼桢一定要我来看看，其实我也好了。” 医生的房门开了，走出一个病人，一个看护妇跟在后面走了出来，叫道：“祝先生。”轮到鸿才了。他笑道：“那我先进去了。”便拉着那孩子往里走，那孩子对于看医生却有些害怕，她愣磕磕地捧着鸿才的帽子，一只手被鸿才牵着，才走了没有两步，突然回过头来向旁边的一个女人大声叫道：“姆妈，姆妈也来！”那女人坐在他们隔壁的一张沙发椅上，一直在那儿埋头看画报，被她这样一叫，却不能不放下画报，站起身来。鸿才显得很尴尬，当时也没来得及解释，就讪讪地和这女人和孩子一同进去了。 顾太太轻轻地在喉咙管里咳了一声嗽，向曼桢看了一眼。那沙发现在空着了，曼桢便走过去坐了下来，并且向顾太太招手笑道：“妈到这边来吧。”顾太太一语不发地跟了过来，和她并排坐下。曼桢顺手拿起一张报纸来看。她也并不是故作镇静。发现鸿才外面另有女人，她并不觉得怎样刺激——已经没有什么东西能够刺激她的感情了，她对于他们整个的痛苦的关系只觉得彻骨的疲倦。她只是想着，他要是有这样一个女儿在外面，或者还有儿子。他要是不止荣宝这一个儿子，那么假使离婚的话，或者荣宝可以归她抚养，离婚的意念，她是久已有了的。 顾太太手里拿着那门诊的铜牌，尽自盘弄着，不时地偷眼望望曼桢，又轻轻地咳一声嗽。曼桢心里想着，今天等一会先把她母亲送回去，有机会就到杨家去一趟。她这些年来因为不愿意和人来往，把朋友都断尽了，只有她从前教书的那个杨家，那两个孩子倒是一直和她很好。两个孩子一男一女，男的现在已经大学毕业了，在一个律师那里做帮办。她想托他介绍，和他们那律师谈谈。有熟人介绍总好些，不至于太敲竹杠。 通到医生的房间那一扇小白门关得紧紧的，那几个人进去了老不出来了。那魏医生大概看在鸿才的交情份上，看得格外仔细，又和鸿才东拉西扯谈天，尽让外面的病人等着。半晌，方才开了门，里面三个人鱼贯而出。这次顾太太和曼桢看得十分真切，那女人年纪总有三十开外了，一张枣核脸，妖媚的小眼睛，嫣红的胭脂直涂到鬓角里去，穿着件黑呢氅衣，脚上却是一双窄窄的黑绣花鞋，白缎滚口，鞋头绣着一朵白蟹爪菊。鸿才跟在她后面出来，便抢先一步，上前介绍道：“这是何太太。这是我岳母。这是我太太。”那何太太并没有走过来，只远远地朝这边带笑点了个头，又和鸿才点点头笑笑，便带着孩子走了。鸿才自走过来在顾太太身边坐下，有一搭没一搭逗着顾太太闲谈，一直陪着她们，一同进去看了医生出来，又一同回去。他自己心虚，其实今天这桩事情，他不怕别的，就怕曼桢当场发作，既然并没有，那是最好了，以后就是闹穿了，也不怕她怎样。但是他对于曼桢，也说不上来是一种什么心理，有时候尽量地侮辱她，有时候却又微微地感觉到一种莫名其妙的恐惧。 他把自备三轮车让给顾太太和曼桢坐，自己另雇了一辆车。顾太太坐三轮车总觉得害怕，所以春元踏得特别慢，渐渐落在后面。顾太太在路上就想和曼桢谈论刚才那女人的事，只是碍着春元，怕给他听见了不好。曼桢又叫春元弯到一个药房里，照医生开的方子买了两样药，然后回家。 鸿才已经到家了，坐在客厅里看晚报。顾太太出去了这么一趟，倒又累着了，想躺一会，便到楼上去和衣睡下，又把那丸药拿出来吃，因见曼桢在门外走过，便叫道：“嗳，你来，你给我看看这仿单上说些什么。”曼桢走了进来，把那丸药的仿单拿起来看，顾太太却从枕上翘起头来，见四面无人，便望着她笑道：“刚才那女人也不知是怎么回事。”曼桢淡淡地笑了一笑，道：“是呀，看见他们那鬼鬼祟祟的样子，一定是他的外家。”顾太太叹道：“我说呢，鸿才现在在家里这么找岔子，是外头有人了吧？姑娘，不是我说，也怪你不好，你把一颗心整个的放在孩子身上了，对鸿才也太不拿他当桩事了！他的脾气你还不知道吗？你也得稍微笼络着他一点。”曼桢只是低着头看仿单。顾太太见她老是不作声，心里想曼桢也奇怪，平常为一点小事也会和鸿才争吵起来，真是碰见这种事情，倒是不能轻轻放过他的，她倒又好像很有容让似的。这孩子怎么这样糊涂。照说我这做丈母娘的，只有从中排解，没有反而在中间挑唆的道理，可是实在叫人看着着急。 曼桢还有在银钱上面，也太没有心眼了，一点也不想着积攒几个私房。根本她对于鸿才的钱就嫌它来路不正，简直不愿过问。顾太太觉得这是非常不明智的。她默然片刻，遂又开口说道：“我知道说了你又不爱听，我这回在你这儿住了这些日子，我在旁边看着，早就想劝劝你了。别的不说，趁着他现在手头还宽裕，你应该自己攒几个钱。看你们这样一天到晚地吵，万一真闹僵了，家用钱他不拿出来，自己手里有几个钱总好些。我也不晓得你肚子里打的什么主意。”她说到这里，不禁有一种寂寞之感，儿女们有什么话是从来不肯告诉她的。 她又叹了口气，道：“嗐！我看你们成天的吵吵闹闹的，真揪心！”曼桢把眼珠一转，便微笑道：“是真的，我也知道妈嫌烦，过两天等妈好了，还不如到伟民那儿去住几天，还清静点。”顾太太万想不到她女儿会下逐客令，倒怔了一怔，便道：“那倒也好。”转念一想，一定是曼桢下了决心要和鸿才大闹，要他和那女人断绝关系；这次一定有一场剧烈的争吵，所以要她避一避开，免得她在旁边碍事。顾太太忖量了一会，倒又有点不放心起来，便又叮嘱道：“我可憋不住，还又要说啊：你要跟他闹，也不要太决裂了，还得给他留点地步。你看刚才那孩子已经有那么大了，那个人横是也不止一年了，算起来还许在你跟他结婚之前呢。这样长久了，叫她走恐怕难呢。” 曼桢略点了点头。顾太太还待要说下去，忽然有个女子的声音在楼梯口高叫了一声：“二姊！”顾太太一时懵住了，忙轻声问曼桢：“谁？”曼桢一时也想不起来，原来是她弟媳妇琬珠，已经笑着走了进来。曼桢忙招呼她坐下，琬珠笑道：“伟民也来了。妈好了点没有？”正说着，鸿才也陪着伟民上楼来了。鸿才今天对伟民夫妇也特别敷衍，说：“你们二位难得来的，把杰民也找来，我们热闹热闹。”立逼着伟民去打电话，又吩咐仆人到馆子里去叫菜。又笑道：“妈不是爱打麻将吗？今天正好打几圈。”顾太太虽然没心肠取乐，但是看曼桢始终不动声色，她本人这样有涵养，顾太太当然也只好随和些。女佣马上把麻将桌布置起来，伟民夫妇和鸿才就陪着顾太太打了起来。不久杰民也来了，曼桢和他坐在一边说话，杰民便问：“荣宝呢？”把荣宝找了来，但是荣宝因为鸿才在这里，就像避猫鼠似的，站得远远的，杰民和他说话，他也不大搭茬。顾太太便回过头来笑道：“今天怎么了，不喜欢小舅舅啦？”一个眼不见，荣宝倒已经溜了。 杰民踱过去站在顾太太身后看牌。那牌桌上的强烈的灯光照着他们一个个的脸庞，从曼桢坐的地方望过去，却有一种奇异的感觉，仿佛这灯光下坐着立着的一圈人已经离她很远很远了，连那笑语声听上去也觉得异常渺茫。 她心里筹划着这件事情，她娘家这么些人，就没有一个可商量的。她母亲是不用说了，绝对不能给她知道，知道了不但要惊慌万分，而且要竭力阻挠了。至于伟民和杰民，他们虽然对鸿才一向没有好感，当初她嫁他的时候，他们原是不赞成的，但是现在既然已经结了婚六七年了，这时候再闹离婚，他们一定还是不赞成的。本来像她这个情形，一个女人年纪已经到了中年，只要丈夫对她不是绝对虐待，或是完全不予赡养，即使他外面另外弄了个人，既然并不是明目张胆的，也就算是顾面子的了，要是为她打算的话，随便去问什么人也不会认为她有离婚的理由。曼桢可以想象伟民的丈母娘听见这话，一定要说她发疯了。她以后进行离婚，也说不定有一个时期需要住在伟民家里，只好和她母亲和陶太太那两位老太太挤一挤了。她想到这里，却微笑起来。 鸿才一面打着牌，留神看看曼桢的脸色，觉得她今天倒好像很高兴似的，至少脸上活泛了一点，不像平常那样死气沉沉的。他心里就想着，她刚才未必疑心到什么，即使有些疑心，大概也预备含混过去，不打算揭穿了。他心里一块石头落了地，便说起他今天晚上还有一个饭局，得要出去一趟。他逼着杰民坐下来替他打，自己就坐着三轮车出去了。曼桢心里便忖了一忖，他要是真有人请吃饭，春元等一会一定要回来吃饭的。向例是这样，主人在外面吃馆子，车夫虽然拿到一份饭钱，往往还是踏着车子回到家里来吃，把那份钱省下来。曼桢便和女佣说了一声：“春元要是回来吃饭，你叫他来，我有话关照他。我要叫他去买点东西。” 馆子里叫的菜已经送来了，他们打完了这一圈，也就吃饭了，饭后又继续打牌。曼桢独自到楼上去，拿钥匙把柜门开了。她手边也没有多少钱，她拿出来正在数着，春元上楼来了，他站在房门口，曼桢叫他进来，便把一卷钞票递到他手里，笑道：“这是刚才老太太给你的。”春元见是很厚的一叠，而且全是大票子，从来人家给钱，没有给得这样多的，倒看不出这外老太太貌不惊人，像个乡下人似的，出手倒这样大。他不由得满面笑容，说了声：“呵哟，谢谢老太太！”他心里也有点数，想着这钱一定是太太拿出来的，还不是因为今天在医生那里看见老爷和那女人在一起，形迹可疑，向来老爷们的行动，只有车夫是最清楚的，所以要向他打听。果然他猜得不错，曼桢走到门外去看了看，她也知道女佣都在楼下吃饭，但还是很谨慎地把门关了，接着就盘问他，她只作为她已经完全知道了，就只要打听那女人住在哪里。春元起初推不知道，说他也就是今天才看见那女人，想必她是到号子里去找老爷的，他从号子里把他们踏到医生那里去，后来就看见她一个人带着孩子先出来，另外叫车子走了。曼桢听他赖得干干净净，便笑道：“一定是老爷叫你不要讲的。不要紧，你告诉我我不会叫你为难的。”又许了他一些好处。她平常对佣人总是很客气，但是真要是得罪了她，当然也有被解雇的危险。而且春元也知道，她向来说话算话，决不会让老爷知道是他泄露的秘密，当下他也就松了口，不但把那女人的住址据实说了出来，连她的来历都和盘托出。原来那女人是鸿才的一个朋友何剑如的下堂妾，鸿才介绍她的时候说是何太太，倒也是实话。那何剑如和她拆开的时候，挽出鸿才来替他讲条件，鸿才因此就和她认识了，终至于同居。这是前年春天的事。春元又道：“这女人还有个拖油瓶女儿，就是今天去看病的那个。”这一点，曼桢却觉得非常意外，原来那孩子并不是鸿才的。那小女孩抱着鸿才的帽子盘弄着，那一个姿态不知道为什么，倒给她很深的印象。那孩子对鸿才显得那样亲切，那好像是一种父爱的反映。想必鸿才平日对她总是很疼爱的了。他在自己家里也是很痛苦的吧，倒还是和别人的孩子在一起，也许他能够尝到一点家庭之乐。曼桢这样想着的时候，唇边浮上一个淡淡的苦笑。她觉得这是命运对于她的一种讽刺。 这些年来她固然是痛苦的，他也没有能够得到幸福。要说是为了孩子吧，孩子也被带累着受罪。当初她想着牺牲她自己，本来是带着一种自杀的心情。要是真的自杀，死了倒也就完了，生命却是比死更可怕的，生命可以无限制地发展下去，变得更坏，更坏，比当初想象中最不堪的境界还要不堪。 她一个人倚在桌子角上呆呆地想着，春元已经下楼去了。隐隐的可以听见楼下清脆的洗牌声。房间里静极了，只有那青白色的日光灯发出那微细的咝咝的响声。 眼前最大的难题还是在孩子身上。尽管鸿才现在对荣宝那样成天地打他骂他，也还是决不肯让曼桢把他带走的。不要说他就是这么一个儿子，哪怕他再有三个四个，照他们那种人的心理，也还是想着不能够让自己的一点亲骨血流落到外边。固然鸿才现在是有把柄落在曼桢手里，他和那个女人的事，要是给她抓到真凭实据，她可以控告他，法律上应当准许她离婚，并且孩子应当判给她的。但是他要是尽量拿出钱来运动，胜负正在未定之间。所以还是钱的问题。她手里拿着刚才束钞票的一条橡皮筋，不住地绷在手上弹着，一下子弹得太重了，打在手上非常痛。 现在这时候出去找事，时机可以说是不能再坏了，一切正当的营业都在停顿状态中，各处只有裁人，决没有添人的。而且她已经不是那么年青了，她还有那种精神，能够在没有路中间打出一条路来吗？ 以后的生活问题总还比较容易解决，她这一点自信心还有。但是眼前这一笔费用到哪里去设法——打官司是需要钱的。——真到没有办法的时候，她甚至于可以带着孩子逃出沦陷区。或者应当事先就把荣宝藏匿起来，免得鸿才到那时候又使出惫赖的手段，把孩子劫了去不放。 她忽然想起蔡金芳来，把孩子寄存在他们那里，照理是再妥当也没有了。鸿才根本不知道她有这样一个知己的朋友。她和金芳已经多年没见面了，不知道他们还住在那儿吗？自从她嫁给鸿才，她就没有到他们家去过，因为她从前在金芳面前曾经那样慷慨激昂过的，竟自出尔反尔，她实在没有面目再去把她的婚事通知金芳。现在想起来，她真是恨自己做错了事情。从前的事，那是鸿才不对，后来她不该嫁给他。——是她错了。