Chapter 53 52
Professor Niu has not been out of the hospital yet, and the city government has issued his education director.Ruixuan felt a little more at ease when he heard the news.He thought that with Professor Niu's qualifications and knowledge, he would not be willing to surrender just for the position of director. Professor Niu's assassination, he thought, must have been done by the Japanese.Although the position of the Director of Education is not very high, he is actually in charge of dozens of elementary schools and twenty middle schools. The Japanese must strictly implement slavery education on primary and middle school students, so the responsibility of the Director of Education is not very high. Small, so they have to pull out a famous person to take up this important task.
Thinking about it this way, he eagerly waited for the news of Professor Niu's discharge from the hospital.If, he thought, Professor Niu refused to take up his post after leaving the hospital, the Japanese would have wasted all their efforts, and Professor Niu's innocence would be revealed to the world.Conversely, if Professor Niu is willing to take up the post, even if it is out of necessity, he will be laughed at by the world.For the sake of Professor Niu himself, and for the integrity of the nation, Ruixuan prayed day and night that Professor Niu would not take the wrong step lightly!
However, Professor Niu has not been discharged from the hospital, and the newspaper has published his talk: "For the sake of the friendship between China and Japan and the peace of East Asia, he is willing to take up the responsibility of education in Beiping; he will definitely take office when he recovers." Next to this news , and a picture - he is sitting on the hospital bed, shaking hands with the Japanese who came to comfort him; he has a smile on his face.
Ruixuan stared blankly at the photo in the newspaper.Professor Niu's face is round, neither fat nor thin; the eyebrows and eyes have no characteristics, so the round face is so flat and smooth, and even the smile has no definite expression.Yes, that's right, it's indeed Professor Niu.Professor Niu's face is enough to represent his personality, and his life will always be so ordinary, with no competition or disobedience from the world. "How could you be a traitor?" Ruixuan asked the photo like a half-lunatic.No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure out the reason for Professor Niu's obsession.On weekdays, although the neighbors made a little rumor about Professor Niu because he was not easy-going, Ruixuan had never heard of any major misdeeds of Professor Niu.Today, with Professor Niu's appearance and behavior, he definitely doesn't look like a greedy person.How could he be willing to go against it?
Things are by no means simple, Ruixuan thought.At the same time, he hoped that the photo, like the assassination of Professor Niu, was a trick played by the Japanese, and that Professor Niu would try to escape from Peiping after he recovered from his illness.
On the one hand, he was looking forward to this, and on the other hand, he asked everywhere about what kind of person Professor Niu was.On weekdays, he was the last person to ask questions; now, he has changed his attitude.This is not because he has any friendship with Professor Niu, but because he clearly sees that Professor Niu's obedience must have a great influence.Professor Niu's actions will make the Japanese publicize internationally, because he has an international reputation.He will also teach those who have poems to prove that they are traitors and say: "Look, what is so lofty, the old cow has gone into the sea! Noble? Shit!" He will even teach those young people to take risks. The spirit hides, and the "old man" rises up: "Even Professor Niu is willing to do this, let alone us?" Professor Niu's actions will not only destroy his own reputation, but also teach others to break their minds.Ruixuan was anxious about this.
Sure enough, he saw Guan Xiaohe, his wife and Zhaodi, carrying fruits and very expensive flowers (it was winter), to visit Professor Niu.
"Let's go see Professor Niu!" Xiaohe touched the otter collar on his coat, and said to Ruixuan, "That's right, our alley is such a treasure, and there's another bureau chief! I said, Ruixuan, the second child is here." As the section chief in the bureau, it seems that you should also go and say hello to the bureau chief, right?"
Ruixuan didn't say a word, and felt pain in his heart for a while, as if he had been stabbed by a bayonet.
Slowly, he inquired and understood: Professor Niu was indeed shot twice by "our" people, but unfortunately he was not killed.It is said that Professor Niu did not intend to be a traitor, but when the Japanese forced him into the water, he did not firmly refuse.He is a scientist.He has never cared about politics, he doesn't care about other people's well-being, and he doesn't want to get in touch with society.His brain is always thinking about scientific problems.Observing and judging extremely calmly, he does not allow vulgar things in the world to disturb his heart.He has only reason and no emotion.He doesn't smoke, don't eat alcohol, don't listen to operas, don't watch movies, but only grow some vegetables or irrigate flowers and plants when his mind is tired.Planting vegetables and watering flowers is just a sport, he does not appreciate the beauty and fragrance of flowers and plants.He has a wife and two boys; but he never thinks about the welfare of his wife and children.A wife is a wife, and the wife must give him three meals a day and some boiled water.When his wife brings the food, he eats it; he does not pick on the quality of the food, nor does he appreciate his wife's care and labor.As for the children, he only seemed to admit that they were the result of marriage, just like a big dog should have puppies, and an old cat should have kittens;The child, to him, is only a biological and physiological fact.He has indeed made great achievements in science; as a person, he is just such a flat face and such a not very tall body.He has learning, not common sense.He has a brain and a body, but no personality.
Peking had fallen, and he was not tempted.Nanjing fell, but he still worked as usual.He must set aside a few minutes every day to read the newsprint, but he only admits that the news in the newspaper is some objective facts and has nothing to do with him.When his friends talked about state affairs with him, he just listened with his plain face up, as if he was listening to ancient history.He has not expressed his opinion.If he also has a little worry, it is this: no matter who is at war with whom, he just hopes that no one will bother him, and that no one will trample on his flowers and plants, and mess up his books and laboratory.If this requirement can be met, he can bury his head in the books and instruments, even if whoever kills whoever is exterminated, he will not ask.
This attitude, if it is placed in a peaceful world, is not impossible.Unfortunately, he was born in troubled times.In troubled times, flowers and plants will not grow firmly, if you do not protect your garden; books and instruments will not be placed in an orderly manner, if you do not prevent robbers from breaking in.In troubled times, you not only have to give up the bathtub and sofa in your own home, but you should not require bathing and sitting at all.A scholar and a secretary, a lady and a maid, must be like this.In troubled times, the first task of every citizen is to sacrifice himself and resist the enemy.
However, Professor Niu only saw himself, and his books and instruments. He didn't see history, and he didn't want to read it.He seemed to have fallen from the sky suddenly, a bachelor without nation or society.He thought that as long as he had that knowledge, others would never bother him.At the same time, looking at it from his calm and objective point of view, he thought that the reason why the Japanese attacked China must be because the Chinese had a reason to be beaten; but he himself would not be beaten because he was not an ordinary Chinese; He is a world-renowned scholar, and the Japanese also know it, so the Japanese will not come to bully him.
The Japanese, in order to buy people's hearts and threaten the old traitors, want to create a new batch of traitors.The qualifications for a new traitor are those who have a relatively high status in society or academics, and at the same time are simple-minded.Professor Niu just has these two qualifications.They sent Japanese scholars over and over again to "persuade him", but Professor Niu neither agreed nor refused.He has no ambition to be an official, nor does he want to get rich.However, the visit of Japanese scholars made him feel important.So I thought, if on the one hand, I can keep my own books and equipment, continue to do research work, and on the other hand, be a leisurely official, that's all right.It is a fact that he is willing to do research, and it is also a fact that the Japanese need him to be an official.Then, combining the two facts into one place to solve them is to have both ways.He never thought of shame and integrity, nation and country.His scientific mind only focuses on observing facts and solving problems.His irreproachable attitude made the Japanese go one step further to urge him to nod with intimidation.They warned him that if he did not "cooperate," they would immediately raid his home.He was terrified, and he could hardly imagine how he could live without his books, instruments, garden, and flowers and trees.For him, going to the street to buy a pair of shoes or shave his head is a terrible thing, not to mention destroying his "base camp"?The way of life made him forget that there is a free China behind him, that he still has two legs, and that there are books and instruments elsewhere.His way of life made him a prisoner of life.He would rather lose his soul than have his head shaved elsewhere.
Many friends advised him, but he did not refute, and even issued a word.He is bored.Qian Moyin came to see him as an old neighbor, and he was even more bored.He felt that as long as he quickly agreed to the Japanese request and created a fait accompli, he might be able to calm down a little.
The pistol was placed in front of him, followed by the bullet hitting his shoulder. He was terrified, and because of his fear, he needed someone to protect him.He didn't know why he was shot, and why the boy who broke in beat him.His logic and scientific methods are useless, and at the same time he doesn't know what emotion is and what actions are motivated by emotion.The Japanese agreed to protect him, and sent gendarmes to stand guard at the gate of the hospital ward and outside his house.He began to feel safe with himself and the house.He agreed to be the director of education.
Ruixuan made inquires from various sources and obtained some of the information mentioned above.He refused to believe those words, and thought it was just everyone's guess.He couldn't believe that a scholar would be so confused.However, the news of Professor Niu's decision to take office was published in newspapers every day, which made him unable to distrust his own eyes.He wished he could break into the hospital and strangle Professor Niu to death with a rope.For those old traitors, he can use contempt and sneer to banish them to hell, but he can't let Professor Niu go so easily.Professor Niu's obedience is related to the ethos and integrity of the entire education circle in Peiping.However, he couldn't strangle Professor Niu to death.His difficulties and scruples forbade him to do anything heroic.Therefore, on the one hand, he hated Professor Niu, and on the other hand, he also hated himself.The second child, Ruifeng, is back.Ever since Ruixuan was arrested, the second child has never been here.Today, he came back suddenly, because his position was no longer stable, he had to come to ask his brother for help.His Xiaogan's face was not as bright as usual, nor did he have that boring smile.After entering the door, he circled around and called grandpa, mom, brother, and sister-in-law loudly, as if he knew the rules very well.After calling everyone, he lightly patted Xiao Shun'er and Niuzi's jet-black hair, then pulled his eldest brother aside, and said earnestly in a low voice:
"Brother! You have to help me! If you want to change the director, I'm afraid I'll blow up my business! You know,"
Ruixuan took the words over: "I don't know Professor Niu!"
The second child frowned a little: "Indirectly..."
"I can't go around in circles to plead favors with traitors!" Rui Xuan didn't raise his voice, but every word was filled with a little anger.
The second child took out the fake ivory cigarette holder, and instead of putting a cigarette on it, he just tapped the back of his hand lightly with it. "Brother! I'm really wrong about that! But, I have my own difficulties! You won't hold grudges against me, will you?"
"What's going on?" Ruixuan asked.
"That time, that time," the second child licked his lips, "the time when something happened to you." "I don't hold grudges against you, what is the past?"
"Oh!" The second child didn't expect his brother to be so magnanimous, and was slightly taken aback.At the same time, his little dry face softened a little with a smile.He thought that the boss didn't hold grudges, so if he said a few more good words, the boss would calm down and help him. "Brother, no matter what, you have to help me! It's not easy to find a position in this day and age! Let me tell you, brother, I'm so worried that I can't even eat for the past two days!"
"Second child," Ruixuan said patiently and softly, "Listen to me! If you really put things aside, it might not be a bad thing. You only have a wife and no children, why don't you run out and give the What about our real government doing something?" The second child laughed dryly. "Me, run out?"
"Why can't you? Look at the third child!" Ruixuan put on a straight face. "Third brother? Who knows whether the third child is alive or dead? Well, I'm not that stupid if I don't do anything comfortable here, but just go outside and touch me casually!" Ruixuan closed his mouth.
The second child changed from begging to threatening: "Brother, let me tell the truth, if unfortunately I lose my job, you have to support me! Who taught you to be a big brother?" Ruixuan smiled and didn't intend to say anything more.
The second son went to talk to his mother and sister-in-law for a long time, and he told them the same: "It's not that the eldest brother doesn't know people, but he deliberately watched me laughing! Well, he doesn't care about my business. Eat him to death! Anyway, younger brother eats older brother, and he can tell it anywhere!" After speaking, he confidently walked out with a fake ivory cigarette holder in his mouth.
The two women put pressure on Ruixuan.Ruixuan explained the matter in detail from the beginning to the end, and when they understood what he said, they all felt that Ruixuan should hate Professor Niu, and shouldn't plead for his second child.However, they still can't rest assured: "What if the second child really comes back and eats it?"
"Then," Ruixuan smiled helplessly, "then just wait and see, and we'll talk about it when the time comes!"
He knew that if the second child really came to kill him, it would be a serious problem.However, he was inconvenient to be discouraged by difficulties that may come or not come.He can't strangle Professor Niu to death, at least he has to brace himself and not plead with the traitor.Even if it is unfortunate that the second child loses his job, he still has a passive solution - to share half of his meal with his younger brother, and he himself will take more of his belt.This is not the best way, but at least it can teach him not to give up.He felt that, in a dead city, he must at least not lose his spirit, even if he couldn't do something to live up to his spirit.Within a week, Ruifeng really came back.Professor Niu is still in the hospital, and the new deputy director has taken over the Education Bureau.Ruifeng was busy day and night for four or five days.Cleared the account and was dismissed.
Professor Niu's usual friends are almost all scholars, and he doesn't know many people besides.Scholars refused to help him, and he knew very few people, so he only recommended one of his students to be the deputy director of the bureau, and he took care of everything for him;Ruifeng, even if he can't continue to be the section chief, he can always be reduced to a section member so that he won't lose his job.However, his popularity is too bad on weekdays, so everyone in the overall situation took advantage of the change of director to attack him unanimously.The new deputy director, therefore, recruited one of his own people and fired Ruifeng.
Ruifeng suddenly became the section chief, forgetting how high the sky is and how thick the earth is.Official airs, like speech and demeanor, need a long period of cultivation.Ruifeng has never been an official, but wants to put on an official air immediately, so his airs are not serious enough.For the boss, he fawned too much, but the fawning was not in the right place.This makes others look down on him, and also makes the five-backed six beasts who are being flattered feel sad.However, after he drank two cups of cat urine, he forgot how he was up and down. He dared to challenge his superiors with punches, and defeated them unceremoniously.For those who are lower than him, his face is always a hard brick, his eyes are a pair of small bullets, and his eyebrows always seem to be wrung out.However, when they confronted him hard, he suddenly softened up and even apologized to a worker.When he had nothing to do, he would hold a fake ivory cigarette holder in his office room, knock on the board with his fingers, humming Beijing opera; or laugh to himself, as if to tell everyone: "Look, I made it Chief, I didn't expect that!"
For comprador things, he will always do it himself, and will not give anyone in Corey the opportunity to earn two kickbacks.Everyone hates him.However, he himself did not dare to openly take kickbacks, but only knocked on the shopkeepers for a meal, or one or two theater tickets.In this way, he is often invited by shopkeepers to go to dinners and theaters, and after the event, he has to publicize to his colleagues: "Yesterday's play was very good! I went with shopkeeper Liu, that guy is so fat and interesting!" "Or: "It's not bad to dare to cook in Shanxi restaurants! Fan Laoxier asked me out, this is the first time for me to eat Shanxi cuisine!" He was very proud that he could eat and drink for free, and he didn't pay attention to his colleagues at all. How to stare at him.
Yes, he eats and drinks for free.He never treats guests.All his money must be handed over to Fat Juzi, and Fat Juzi always said whenever he hinted that he should treat guests: "Your relationship with the director will ensure that you will be the section chief for the rest of your life. Why treat guests?" Dare to say anything more, but had to send a blank check to colleagues.He said to every colleague: "I will treat you in two days!" However, he never cashed in. "Chief Qi's treat, never expected!" was an allusion created by his colleagues.
Ruifeng is especially courteous to female colleagues.He thought that his dry face, parted hair that had been heavily oiled, and his clothes, shoes and hats that were so neat and tidy must be very attractive. As long as he showed a little intimacy, any woman would regard him as a lover .He often gave them some small things he brought from the shopkeeper Zhongbai, and said that he would invite them to watch a movie or go to dinner.He even boldly set a time and place with them.When the time came, they went, but they couldn't find him.When we meet the next day, he will apologize time and again, saying that his mother suddenly fell ill, or the director sent him to do some important business, so he missed the appointment.Gradually, everyone knew that his mother and the bureau chief would be sick and have important affairs when he had an appointment, so they stopped talking to him, and he said to his male colleagues with a straight face: "There is a wife at home, You'd better not look at the vases too much! It's troublesome enough to make trouble!" He felt that he was getting old.
After coming and going, everyone in the overall situation felt his style, and everyone was unanimously rude, and stared at him when they talked.Although he is heartless, he has hit too many nails, and he will get a scar or two no matter what.He began to think of ways to deal with it.He got acquainted with a lot of naughty crooked hair.Some of these guys are really spies, and some claim to be spies.With this group of friends, when the nails hurt too much, Ruifeng would gossip and protest: "Don't mess with me! I will teach you to go to see Lord Hades!"
As a matter of fact, he didn't make any money, and he was doing his business quite well.However, his superficiality, boredom, and wrong official airs ended his official career.
Fat Juzi stayed at her mother's house, but drove Ruifeng out.Her final instruction was: "Come back when you find the official; if you can't find it, don't see me again! It's the wife of the section chief, not the wife of the naked Qi Ruifeng!" She kept all the money and things, and Ruifeng was empty-handed. , came home with only the fake ivory cigarette holder.
Seeing his younger brother coming back, Ruixuan decided not to say anything.In any case, the younger brother is always the younger brother, and it is inconvenient for him to beat him up with a slap in the face.He should have advised his younger brother, but it would take a long time to persuade him, the days would still be long.
Old Man Qi liked it very much.If he had to put it aside in previous years, he would definitely be unhappy because of calculating the difficulties of living. The second grandson's unemployment came back.Now, he is old; so he only calculates how many years he can live, and forgets the price of oil, salt, sauce and vinegar.Before he dies, he wants his children and grandchildren to be in front of his eyes.
Mrs. Tianyou didn't say anything, her silence was almost of the same nature as Ruixuan's.
Yunmei is naturally not talkative.She knows what it means to add a mouthful of idlers in this day and age.However, she must hide her grievances and embarrassments in her heart, and not embarrass others.
Xiao Shun'er and Niu Zi gave Second Uncle a special welcome, and those who went in and out held his hand.They didn't know anything else, they only knew that when the second uncle came back, there was one more person playing with them.
Seeing how the whole family treated him, Ruifeng felt at ease.The next day, he got up early, took a broom, and swept the yard here and there.He'd never done anything like this; today, for the approval of his family, he gritted his teeth.He didn't clean the yard very well, but old man Qi saw his grandson's hard work, so he didn't want to criticize him much.
After sweeping the yard, he briskly, with a smile on his face, poured wash water for his mother, and scrambled to dress Xiao Shun'er.
After breakfast, he went to his brother's room to get a pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and declared that he "wanted to practice calligraphy. You see, brother, I have been a section chief and I have done everything well, but my handwriting is ugly! I have to practice. Practice! After practicing, you can write signs for shopkeepers, and you can eat!" Then, he warned the children: "When I am writing, I have to stay away, and I am not allowed to mess around!"
Old man Qi was out of school since he was a child, so he respects writing very much, and he also helped the children: "By the way, your second uncle writes, don't mess it up!"
After such "martial law", he sat in his room and began to concentrate on studying ink.After studying for a while, he thought of one thing: "Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! When you go out to the street, don't forget to bring a pack of cigarettes! Don't be too good, and don't be too bad, just the middle one."
"What brand is Zhongzhonger's?" The sister-in-law doesn't smoke, and she doesn't know the quality of cigarettes.
"Forget it, wait for a while, I'll go buy it myself." He continued to study ink, not as vigorously as before.Hearing the footsteps of his sister-in-law, he thought of another thing: "Sister-in-law, why don't you go to the street? Bring some wine! Being a section chief has nothing to do with it, only a little addiction to alcohol! Fortunately, I don't drink much. , and a few peanuts will do!" The words of the sister-in-law-you have to prepare cigarettes and alcohol for free? ——had reached his lips, and swallowed again.Not only did she call him four taels of wine, but she also bought a pack of cigarettes that she thought were "Zhongzhonger".
Until the sister-in-law came back from shopping, the second child wrote less than ten words in total.He couldn't settle down, couldn't sit still.His heart was like a nest of little mice, one came out and the other went in, there was never a moment of silence.Finally, he put down his pen and decided not to suffer anymore.He has no stamina, and thinks it foolish to try so hard.Life, he thought, was just fooling around, and fooling around had to go out and do some activities instead of just sitting in the house and writing all the time.Just go out and touch, he thought, even a blind cat can touch a dead mouse.He put his hands on the back of his head and thought carefully: If he goes to ask Lao Zhang for a while, maybe he can break into such a mechanism?If you talk to Lao Li, he might be able to get such a status...He thought of so many people coming, and no one seemed to be able to give him a job.He felt that he must be a popular and lovable person, so his friends would not turn him off because he was unemployed.He wished he could go to them right away, it was no use sitting in the house.However, he has no money in his hand!Asking a friend to find a job, he thought that he had to invest a little money: first give someone some gifts, or treat him to a meal, and then speak.As for friends, if they receive a gift, or have a meal, they will certainly be willing to work hard; gifts and food are more important than qualifications and experience.
Today, he just came back, and he seemed embarrassed to ask his elder brother for "capital" right away.Yes, he can't go out today.Wait for a while, wait for two days, and then he will explain the theory to his elder brother in detail, and then beg his elder brother to give him a sum of money.He thought that the eldest brother must be rich, otherwise, if he came back with bare hands, the eldest brother would not groan, and the sister-in-law would definitely provide him with cigarettes and alcohol?
He missed Fat Juzi very much.However, he had to hold on a bit, not to go to see her right away, to teach her to look down on her.As long as the eldest brother is willing to give him a sum of money for the treat, he will quickly find a job, and then the couple will reconcile.Fat Juzi's ruthlessness towards him made him feel a little sad.However, after thinking about it for a while, he began to feel that her ruthlessness was a good encouragement to him.In order to compete with her, he must spare no effort to run around.
After thinking about all these things, he gave up writing and sent back his pen and ink.He saw the light and was satisfied with his worldly knowledge.During lunch, he drank four liang of wine.After drinking, he blushed, became dizzy, and told his sister-in-law all the things he was proud of in his tenure as section chief, as if he was explaining the most beautiful poem.
In the evening, after Ruixuan came back, the second child couldn't bear it any longer, and immediately asked for money.Ruixuan's answer was very simple: "I don't have a lot of money. You must use money. I can try to borrow it, but I need to know what you are looking for! If you still look for such nonsense, I will I can't get you money!"
Ruifeng didn't understand what his brother's so-called nonsense was, so he slapped his nose and said, "Don't worry, brother, I must at least get a section member! What do you mean? I have been a section chief. We can’t just find a trivial matter and lose our face!” “The nonsensical things I’m talking about are the things like section chiefs and staff members. It’s better to set up a cigarette stand than to be a petty official under the hands of the Japanese or traitors.” it is good!"
Ruifeng couldn't understand what the elder brother meant at all.He was secretly anxious, could it be that his eldest brother has already suffered from a mental illness and cannot tell the good from the bad?He also didn't want to argue with his elder brother in a hurry, and hurt the harmony of the brothers.He only made one point, and begged his eldest brother to think about it: "Brother, you see, if I am a bachelor, I can set up a cigarette stand. I have a wife! She doesn't allow me to set up a cigarette stand! Unless I Get a pretty decent job, and she won't see me anymore!" Speaking of this, the second child was actually moved, his eyes were a little wet, and there was a possibility of falling a teardrop or two.
Ruixuan didn't say anything more.He is an authentic Chinese scholar, and he will never kill all the persecutors, even though he knows that persecution is sometimes necessary, and it is beneficial and not detrimental.
Seeing that the eldest brother stopped talking, the second child ran to have a heart-to-heart talk with his grandfather, in order to teach the old man to use a little pressure on the eldest brother.Old man Qi understood Ruixuan's intentions, but for the sake of the development and prosperity of the four generations living under one roof, he had to sympathize with his second grandson.It would be even more embarrassing if the grandson's daughter-in-law was lost because of his grandson's refusal to work for the Japanese.Yes, he really doesn't like Fat Chrysanthemum.However, since she is a member of the Qi family, she must be the ghost of the Qi family when she dies, so she can't break up halfway.The old man agreed to help the second child.
As soon as the second child was proud, he went to talk to his mother about it.Without a smile on her face, the mother told him: "Second brother, you have to think for your brother, don't embarrass him too much! If you can understand him, you can be as promising as him! A mother loves her children equally, and hopes that you will all be equally successful! Your brother, no matter what you do, thinks of it in all directions; and you, you only care about yourself! When I say this about you, don’t think I blame you for losing your job and coming to the house for nothing. To be honest, when you are busy, no one in the family has benefited from a penny of yours! I mean, if you are looking for something now, you should listen to you Brother, don't teach him to frown again; this whole family depends on him, you know!"
The second child didn't quite agree with his mother's words, but he didn't dare to say anything more.He accosted and came out, and said to himself: "Mom is leaning towards the boss, what can I do?" The next day, he forgot to practice calligraphy, and secretly borrowed some change from his sister-in-law to go out to see relatives and friends . "Since I became a section chief, I have been so busy that even my relatives and friends have no time to visit. Take these two days to take a look at them!" He said with a smile.
As soon as he went out, he rushed to No. 3 very naturally.As soon as he entered the door of No. 3, his heart floated briskly like a fish in the warm spring.Everyone in the Guan family is at home, but everyone's face seems to be covered with a layer of ice.Xiaohe greeted him very plainly, Da Chibao and Zhaodi didn't even look at him.He thought the Guan family was arguing again, so he sat down and struck up a conversation.After sitting for two or three minutes, no one spoke.Instead of quarreling, they refused to answer him.His face was hot, and his palms were sweating coldly.He stood up suddenly, walked out very quickly without making a sound.He was really angry.The fall of Peiping, the killing of Xiao Cui, and the arrest of his eldest brother, he was not even bothered.Today, the greatest shame he feels is even more embarrassing than losing Beiping and massacring the people.Because it hurt his own dignity.He himself is more important than the Republic of China.Exiting the gate of No. 3, looking around for no one, he gritted his teeth and said to the street gate: "You wait, the second grandfather must get another section chief to teach you! If you become the section chief again, I will I will reward you with a cup of ice cream in the same way!" He made up his mind to become section chief again.He straightened his chest, stomped his heels vigorously, and walked angrily.
He was so angry that he didn't know where to go, so he believed in random bumps.After walking for a mile or two, his anger almost completely disappeared, and he immediately thought of a relative nearby, so he rushed there.When he reached the door, he lightly wiped the dust off his shoes with a handkerchief, and after he collected himself, he walked in slowly.He couldn't teach people to tell from the dirt on his shoes that he didn't come in a car.Seeing the third aunt and the sixth aunt, he first declared: "I'm busy, I'm very busy, so I haven't been able to see you all! Today, I took a day off and came here to say hello!" Humiliated again.Everyone believed his words, so they asked Yan and Tea to entertain him and left him for dinner.He was not too polite, talking and laughing, and ate the meal.
In this way, he transferred three or four.Everywhere he first declared that he had asked for leave to see them, and everywhere he got tea and respect.His mouth is very active, and he is always talking and laughing everywhere, so that his small dry lips are a little numb.In the past, most of his words centered on his family's short stories; now, he always talks about his experience and trivial matters in being an official and doing things, which makes everyone surprised and admires that he has seen the world.Only when everyone mentioned the issue of China and Japan did he become less enthusiastic, and the words were not very happy.In his petty eyes, he really didn't want the Japanese to leave Peiping, because only when Peiping was in the hands of the Japanese would he have any hope of becoming section chief again.However, it is inconvenient to express this kind of intention clearly. He knows that everyone hates the Japanese.In this kind of season, he would always babble and perfunctory a few sentences, and then somehow divert the conversation elsewhere, and everyone followed him in another direction.He was very satisfied with his little ability, and attributed it to "after all, I have been an official for a few days and learned how to mobilize words!"
It was already very dark before he came home.He felt a little tired and empty.After a few boring yawns, he went to his sister-in-law and reported to her the situation of his relatives and friends in detail.For the sake of the family's food, drink, and washing, it is difficult for her to spare some time to find relatives and friends, so she is interested in the second child's report.As old man Qi gets older, he doesn't think about new things in his mind, but always cares about his old relatives and friends; as long as his relatives and friends are safe, his world will still follow the old rules, and there will be no drastic changes.Therefore, he also came to listen to Ruifeng's report, making Ruifeng forget his fatigue and emptiness, and feel his own importance.
I have almost visited all my relatives, and everyone already knows that he has lost his job and is going around talking about cheating food, so they no longer entertain him politely.If everyone continued to entertain him, he could just ask his sister-in-law for a little change every day to visit Nine Cities.It seemed to him that it was something to do with the unfettered ease.But when everyone no longer respected him and entertained him with hot tea and rice, he thought of looking for work again.Yes, he has to find something right away, so that he can quickly "recover" Fat Chrysanthemum, so that he can replace—for whom? — Do something.Whatever it is, it doesn't matter who you work for anyway, as long as you are willing to do things yourself, you have a heart.He thinks he is great. "Sister-in-law!" he called loudly. "Sister-in-law! From tomorrow onwards, I won't go for walks anymore. I have to find something! Can you give me more money? Looking for something, instead of visiting relatives; Wow!"
Sister-in-law is in trouble.She knows that money is good, and she also knows that the second child is a person who will take other people's money and not treat it as money.If she gave him casually, she would feel sorry for her husband and the old people.Look, even the grandfather refuses to eat and drink, and the second child asks for cigarettes and wine every day.This is already a bit wrong, not to mention that besides tobacco and alcohol, there is also a communication fee.Besides, she really doesn't have a lot of money.But, don't give it to him, because if he gets angry, it will make the whole family uneasy.Although the members of the Qi family are very kind to her, they are all flesh and blood after all, and she is a foreigner.Then, it's okay for everyone to be calm, but when they get angry, they will probably take her as the culprit.
Of course she couldn't talk about this difficulty.She only pretended to laugh, so as to delay for a while and think of a good idea.Her idea came fairly quickly—the housewife of a large Chinese family, though illiterate, and the greatest statesman in the world. "Second brother, let me secretly pawn a ticket for you, shall I?" Pawning something obviously shows that she has no money in hand.从祁老人的治家的规条来看呢，出入典当铺是不体面的事；老二假若也还有人心的话，他必会拦阻大嫂进当铺。假若老二没心没肺的赞同此意呢，她也会只去此一遭，下不为例。
老二向来不替别人想什么，他马上点了头："也好！"
大嫂的怒气象山洪似的忽然冲下来。但是，她的控制自己的力量比山洪还更厉害。把怒气压回去，她反倒笑了一笑。"不过，现在什么东西也当不出多少钱来！大家伙儿都去当，没多少人往外赎啊！"
"大嫂你多拿点东西！你看，没有应酬，我很难找到事！得，大嫂，我给你行个洋礼吧！"老二没皮没脸的把右手放在眉旁，给大嫂敬礼。
凑了一点东西，她才当回两块二毛钱来。老二心里不甚满意，可是没表示出来。他接过钱去，又磨着大嫂给添了八毛，凑足三块。
拿起钱，他就出去了。他找到了那群歪毛儿淘气儿，鬼混了一整天。晚间回来，他向大嫂报告事情大有希望，为是好再骗她的钱。他留着心，没对大嫂说他都和谁鬼混了一天，因为他知道大嫂的嘴虽然很严密，向来不爱拉舌头扯簸箕，可是假若她晓得他去交结歪毛淘气儿，她也会告诉大哥，而大哥会又教训他的。
就是这样，他天天出去，天天说事情有希望。而大嫂须天天给他买酒买烟，和预备交际费。她的手越来越紧，老二也就越来越会将就，三毛五毛，甚至几个铜板，他也接着。在十分困难的时候，他不惜偷盗家中一件小东西，拿出去变卖。有时候，大嫂太忙，他便献殷勤，张罗着上街去买东西。他买来的油盐酱醋等等，不是短着分量，便是忽然的又涨了价钱。
在外边呢，他虽然因为口袋里寒伧，没能和那些歪毛淘气儿成为莫逆之交，可是他也有他的一些本领，教他们无法不和他交往。第一，他会没皮没脸的死腻，对他们的讥诮与难听的话，他都作为没听见。第二，他的教育程度比他们的高，字也认识得多，对他们也不无用处。这样，不管他们待他怎样。他可是认定了他是他们的真朋友和"参谋"。于是，他们听戏——自然是永远不打票——他必定跟着。他们敲诈来了酒肉，他便跟着吃。他甚至于随着那真作特务的去捕人。这些，都使他感到兴奋与满意。他是走进了一个新的世界，看见了新的东西，学来了新的办法。他们永远不讲理，而只讲力；他们永远不考虑别人怎样，而只管自己合适不合适；他们永远不说瑞宣口中的话，而只说那夸大得使自己都吓一跳的言语。瑞丰喜欢这些办法。跟他们混了些日子，他也把帽子歪戴起来，并且把一条大毛巾塞在屁股上，假装藏着手枪。他的五官似乎都离了原位：嘴角老想越过耳朵去；鼻孔要朝天，象一双高射炮炮口；眼珠儿一刻不停的在转动，好象要飞出来，看看自己的后脑勺儿。在说话与举动上，他也学会了张嘴就横着来，说话就瞪眼，可是等到对方比他更强硬，他会忽然变成羊羔一般的温柔。在起初，他只在随着他们的时候，才敢狐假虎威的这样作。慢慢的，他独自也敢对人示威，而北平人又恰好是最爱和平，宁看拉屎，不看打架的，所以他的蛮横居然成功了几次。这越发使他得意，增加了自信。他以为不久他就会成为跺跺脚便山摇地动的大瓢把子的。
不过，每逢看见了家门，他便赶紧把帽子拉正，把五官都复原。他的家教比他那点拿文凭混毕业的学校教育更有效一点，更保持得长远一点：他还不敢向家里的人瞪眼撇嘴。家，在中国，是礼教的堡垒。
有一天，可是，他喝多了酒，忘了这座堡垒。两眼离离光光的，身子东倒西歪的，嘴中唱唱咧咧的，他闯入了家门。一进门，他就骂了几声，因为门垛子碰了他的帽子。他的帽子不仅是歪戴着，而是在头上乱转呢。拐过了影壁，他又象哭又象笑的喊大嫂：
"大嫂！哈哈！给我沏茶哟！"
大嫂没应声。
他扶着墙骂开了："怎么，没人理我？行！我×你妈！""什么？"大嫂的声音都变了。她什么苦都能吃，只是不能受人家的侮辱。
天佑正在家里，他头一个跑了出来。"你说什么？"他问了一句。这个黑胡子老头儿不会打人，连自己的儿子也不会去打。
祁老人和瑞宣也出来看。
老二又骂了一句。
瑞宣的脸白了，但是当着祖父与父亲，他不便先表示什么。
祁老人过去细看了看孙子。老人是最讲规矩的，看明白瑞丰的样子，他的白胡子抖起来。老人是最爱和平的，可是他自幼是寒苦出身，到必要时，他并不怕打架。他现在已经老了，可还有一把子力气。他一把抓住了瑞丰的肩头，瑞丰的一只脚已离了地。
"你怎样？"瑞丰撇着嘴问祖父。
老人一声没出，左右开弓的给瑞丰两个嘴巴。瑞丰的嘴里出了血。
天佑和瑞宣都跑过来，拉住了老人。
"骂人，撒野，就凭你！"老人的手颤着，而话说得很有力。是的，假若瑞丰单单是吃醉了，老人大概是不会动气的。瑞丰骂了人，而且骂的是大嫂，老人不能再宽容。不错，老人的确喜欢瑞丰在家里，尽管他是白吃饭不干活。可是，这么些日子了，老人的眼睛也并不完全视而不见的睁着，他看出来瑞丰的行动是怎样的越来越下贱。他爱孙子，他可是也必须管教孙子。对于一个没出息的后辈，他也知道恨恶。"拿棍子来！"老人的小眼睛盯着瑞丰，而向天佑下命令："你给我打他！打死了，有我抵偿！"
天佑很沉静，用沉静压制着为难。他并不心疼儿子，可是非常的怕家中吵闹。同时，他又怕气坏了老父亲。他只紧紧的扶着父亲，说不出话来。
"瑞宣！拿棍子去！"老人把命令移交给长孙。
瑞宣真厌恶老二，可是对于责打弟弟并不十分热心。他和父亲一样的不会打人。
"算了吧！"瑞宣低声的说："何必跟他动真气呢，爷爷！把自己气坏了，还了得！"
"不行！我不能饶了他！他敢骂嫂子，瞪祖父，好吗！难道他是日本人？日本人欺侮到我头上来，我照样会拚命！"老人现在浑身都哆嗦着。
韵梅轻轻的走到南屋去，对婆婆说："你老人家去劝劝吧！"虽然挨老二的骂的是她，她可是更关心祖父。祖父，今天在她眼中，并不只是个老人，而是维持这一家子规矩与秩序的权威。祖父向来不大爱发脾气，可是一发起脾气来就会教全家的人，与一切邪魔外道，都感到警戒与恐惧。天佑太太正搂着两个孩子，怕他们吓着。听到儿媳的话，她把孩子交过去，轻轻的走出来。走到瑞丰的跟前，她极坚决的说："给爷爷跪下！跪下！"
瑞丰挨了两个嘴巴，酒已醒了一大半，好象无可奈何，又象莫名其妙的，倚着墙呆呆的立着，倒仿佛是看什么热闹呢。听到母亲的话，他翻了翻眼珠，身子晃了两晃，而后跪在了地上。
"爷爷，这儿冷，进屋里去吧！"天佑太太的手颤着，而脸上赔着笑说。
老人又数唠了一大阵，才勉强的回到屋中去。
瑞丰还在那里跪着。大家都不再给他讲情，都以为他是罪有应得。
在南屋里，婆媳相对无言。天佑太太觉得自己养出这样的儿子，实在没脸再说什么。韵梅晓得发牢骚和劝慰婆母是同样的使婆母难过，所以闭上了嘴。两个孩子不知道为了什么，而只知道出了乱子，全眨巴着小眼不敢出声，每逢眼光遇到了大人的，他们搭讪着无声的笑一下。
北屋里，爷儿三个谈得很好。祁老人责打过了孙子，心中觉得痛快，所以对儿子与长孙特别的亲热。天佑呢，为博得老父亲的欢心，只拣老人爱听的话说。瑞宣看两位老人都已有说有笑，也把笑容挂在自己的脸上。说了一会儿话，他向两位老人指出来："假若日本人老在这里，好人会变坏，坏人会变得更坏！"这个话使老人们沉思了一会儿，而后都叹了口气。乘着这个机会，他给瑞丰说情："爷爷，饶了老二吧！天冷，把他冻坏了也麻烦！"
老人无可如何的点了头。