Chapter 73 first act

Characters introduced in the first act (according to the order of introduction) Mrs. Li in her forties (widowed): Miss Li Qiong Fourth Miss: Li Qiong's daughter Li Wenqi Meizhen: Li's girl is promoted: Servant Tang Yuanlan: The eldest lady who came back from abroad as an older international student: (from Li's ex-wife, Not Li Qiong female) Li Wenjuan Zhang Aizhu: Wenjuan's girlfriend Huang Zhongwei: a young man who studies history, Xuexi and painting Location: The study room shared by the third and fourth misses Time: During the recent winter vacation, the mothers of these three exquisite wing rooms have given the girls Make a study. (One of the three girls has already graduated from college, and the other two are still in the second grade.) Although all the utensils in this room are old from the study at home, they will be arranged for the children on the spot, but I don't know where on the desk, on the bookshelf, on the chair, on the couch, or even on the floor, all clearly reveal the atmosphere of the young girls' dormitory.Now there are only mother and Wen Qi in the room, (Wen Qi is usually called the "fourth child", the third sister Wen Xia and eldest sister Wen Juan are not at home) mother (Li Qiong) obviously does not belong to this room!She is so elegant and tidy, sitting upright on a straight-backed chair to read a letter, and a pair of dainty eyeglasses frame her face in her forties. "Fourth" Wen Qi is lying on the small sofa reading a book, that special curled up posture means that she is the real owner of this place without a doubt!She stared blankly at the book, naturally and sweetly composing a piece of youthful enjoyment with the surrounding air.It was one afternoon during the winter vacation, and there was still some sun in the room. There was a pot of daffodils, a stove, grapefruits, oranges, half-eaten ones and whole ones.

After reading the letter, the mother stood up and looked around, her eyes resting on the "fourth" lovingly. After a while, she walked over to another low couch and checked the various woven fabrics on it.The fourth child stared at the book in a daze, turned over a few pages, and then went back to read.I didn't notice my mother's actions at all. Joan: In the new year, you guys don't need to make such a mess in the house! (He lifts up the woven fabric on the low couch and puts it down again) Qi: (Half looked up from the sofa and lay down again) It belongs to the elder sister and the third sister, I can clean it up after a while.

Joan: (smiling lovingly) That's it.Fourth brother, I come in around dinner time, and you still lie down and read a book like this! Qi: (brutally) Maybe! (still reading) Joan: (still smiling resignedly, turning back after going out the door) Oh, I forgot, the second brother said in his letter that he would live in Tianjin for a day and be home the morning after tomorrow. (Pause) Are you going to treat us the night after tomorrow? Qi: The day after tomorrow?Oh, yes, the day after tomorrow, (suddenly closes the book on his chest and stands up slightly) What day did the second brother say?

Joan: He said the morning after tomorrow. Qi: That's fine—better.In fact, I said it was a treat for him, to make him happy. Second Brother Qiong said that after half a year of work, he has become a lot more popular, and he may think you are too crazy! (Secretly proud of my favorite son) Qi won't, I found many of his old classmates, and... also invited Cancan.Mom remembers that he likes Cancan a little bit? Joan, I don't know, who likes whom, who will tell mom about your affairs?Let me tell you, what do you want for a treat, tell me earlier, even if you are unreliable as a servant, Rongsheng is unreliable. Although you are childish, you should be anxious now.

Sister Qi said she took care of it. Joan: Big sister?She has never been able to take care of herself, and Tang Yuanlan has come back these few days, their affairs are really a bit... I can come if I can help. Qi: (jumping up from the sofa happily and gratefully, still sitting on the edge of the sofa and looking at Mom) real?Mother! (coquettishly) Mom, really? (throws the book aside) Joan: Why don't you believe me? Qi: Letter, letter, mom! (Get up and throw on mother's right shoulder, half push mother to walk a few steps): Joan: (simultaneously) Acting like a baby at such an age!

Qi: Mom, (in a begging tone again) Mom... Joan: (being pulled down by the fourth child, struggling to maintain balance) What's the matter?Say it well! Qi: Can we borrow your nice set of tablecloths? Joan: (hesitating) The one with the yellow border? Qi: The one Dad bought for you. Joan: (teasing the old four's face) Thank you for remembering!It's been five years since my father passed away, so the tablecloth is just a souvenir.Well, I'll lend it to you. (Sentimental to the fourth child) This year's father's birthday, you should buy another flower to honor your father.

Qi: (Naturally) Well, I’ll buy another box of candy for you, (in a funny tone) Don’t stick your teeth! Joan: (with a sad smile, going out and turning back) There is one more thing I want to tell you.Don't think that Mei is really a girl, that child is very promising, smart and capable, you ask her to help you more... You know that the uncle always picks on the child, and the elder sister often tortures her and fights with her , I really can't say... I sympathize with Mei Zhen very much, but because the elder sister was not born by me, I have a lot of troubles in many places! Qi: Mom, don't worry, Meizhen can't be more happy with me.

[Li Qiong gets off, Wen Qi jumps back on the sofa and stretches, and stares blankly at the book again.The small door opened slightly, and Mei Zhen who came in was about nineteen to twenty-one years old. She was plump but not thin, not tall, and she was born delicate and innocent, with lively expressions on her face, especially her pair of bright eyes. People like it. 〕Mei: (Turns up the front of the long gown, and there is a bunch of peanuts inside, hurriedly) Fourth Miss!Fourth Miss! Qi: (flipping through the book, ignoring)... Mei: Li Wenqi! Qi: (turning her face) Mei Zhen!What's the fuss about?

Mei: I - I - (panting) I was playing cards at Mrs. Chen's place, and I won a lot of groundnuts and a few persimmons! (shakes the persimmon and puts it on the bookshelf) Qi: Okay, you are playing cards again, and when the eldest lady comes back later, I will "sue" you. Mei: (playfully holding the front of her skirt and going to the sofa) You smell so fragrant peanuts, you have to report, I will go back to the room and eat alone. (to go) Qi: Hey, don't go, don't go, sit here and peel it for me to eat. (still have to read the book) Mei: Nerds really enjoy themselves!You have to give me a little more money to gamble, and I want to roll the "dice" later. ... The old aunt of the Chen family is here, and the Chinese New Year is very lively.

Qi is a bad girl, you have to learn all the bad things to be happy, who is as old as the opposite Chen family... Mei: (laughing happily) Who is as uplifting as you ladies? (Pulls a small stool and sits down) Anyway, people think that there is no good girl. Didn't the old man call me bad at the dinner table yesterday?If I don't learn some bad things earlier, it will be inconvenient for others! (peeled peanuts) Qi: Mei Zhen, your mouth is too fast, no wonder Missy doesn't like you! (still reading) Mei: (hands peanuts to Wen Qi's mouth) Missy has been unhappy for the past two days, but it has worn me to death!I didn't dare to make a sound, because I was afraid that the eldest lady would tell the old man again if she heard it, and make your grandma embarrassing.

Qi: (puts down the book and sits up a little) By the way, my eldest sister is really unhappy these two days!Tell me, Mei Zhen, Brother Tang Jiayuan has a weird temper, isn't he weird? ...I see that the eldest sister seems to be very disappointed with him (stretches out her hand and asks Mei Zhen for peanuts)...Give me two and I will peel them myself...The eldest sister is a person with the greatest vanity...(Eating peanuts, Mei Zhen bows her head Also peeling peanuts) Brother Tang Jiayuan doesn't seem to care about anything... (eating peanuts again)... After all, I didn't figure out whether Brother Yuan and his eldest sister were already engaged at the time, and the two of them have been awkward for a while Go!I count that Brother Yuan has been abroad for six years, who knows if he has anyone! (Pause) You know about the eldest sister, her little Yan has been making a fuss for a while, and now Xiao Lu is chasing her all the time!I am so puzzled! Mei, I remember that the eldest lady and Mr. Tang didn't seem to be officially engaged, but it was about it. You know those methods were weird at the time... (eating peanuts) Oh, I remember, it was Mr. Tang's aunt at first —— Mrs. Aunt Liu—come to talk to the eldest lady. At that time, Mr. Tang left by himself.Aunt Liu said it was okay, she was the one to decide the matter, (playfully chewing peanuts) Later, Aunt Liu probably knew that she couldn’t make the decision, so she didn’t bring it up again, but your uncle’s temper, so he insisted this thing... Qi: Now I think they are really awkward, the eldest sister is not happy, Tang Jiayuan's quietness is even more confusing! Mei: Why do you worry about all these things? Qi: (amusingly) I'm not worried about my eldest sister, I just feel a little awkward! Mei: Anyway, marriage is always more or less awkward! Qi: Not necessarily. Mei: (Contemplating silently, still eating peanuts) I hope you don't feel awkward tomorrow. Qi: (Stands up to the stove and looks at the torch and throws the peanut skins into it) Look at the elder sister's good friend Zhang Aizhu. Mei: (Standing up with her skirt in her hands) Let her inquire!Her eyes are squinted and twisted! Qi: (raises the fire chopsticks and points to Mei Zhen) You are being naughty again! (Suddenly puts down the fire chopsticks and walks over to the small round table) Mei Zhen, I have something serious to discuss with you. Mei Ke is amazing, what's the matter?Don't be your lifelong event, right? (Pour the peanuts from the lapel on the table) Qi don’t make trouble, listen, (sitting on the edge of the chair and shaking her two dangling feet. Mei Zhen sits on a chair opposite and listens) The day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, aren’t we a treat? ...cough cough...bad? (jumps down and walks towards the desk) Have you sent out all the invitations for us?The day before yesterday I saw that there were quite a few invitations that hadn’t been sent, (flicking through the drawer in a panic) Oops, where have all the invitations gone? Mei: (leisurely) Didn't Missy say that I don't want to take care of it? Qi: (closes the drawer loudly) No, no, you should know that the young lady's words are not reliable!She said you don't want to take care of it, but she doesn't necessarily remember to take care of it herself! (Turns through another drawer) She said... Mei: (Secretly amused) Come on, come on, don't worry... We girls only think of this level, even if the eldest lady loses her temper, we can't let her affairs go wrong!It was sent out the night before.Many missing addresses have also been filled in. Do you think I am qualified enough to be a secretary? Qi: (returning to the sofa with a sigh of relief) Mei Zhen, you really can!If I am promising tomorrow, you will be my secretary! Mei: How can you be successful?I'll listen to you! Qi: I want to write a novel. Mei: (smiling) Maybe I'll write too! Qi: (also laughing) Maybe! (Suddenly becomes serious) But Mei Zhen, if you want to write, you need to study more and work harder now! Mei: You are right!I want to read more books, and I don't have the mood to do things. Do you think the eldest lady will agree to me? Qi: Tonight... Mei: Watch it tonight!it is good!Can you get up in the morning?We don't have any Saturdays or Sundays! ... Qi: I discussed with my mother to give you a holiday on Saturday and Sunday... Come on, May, when your sisters come home on Saturday and Sunday, and then invite four or five guests who can eat and make trouble, or if you are busy dressing up and going out, what holiday do I have?If you want to give it to me, just give me Monday, like Zhongyuan Company... Qi, well, I will speak for you tomorrow, and now I will ask you something serious... May good guy.Seriously, you haven't said it for a long time? Qi did not! ... You see, we have a treat the day after tomorrow, and we have nothing prepared! Mei "our" treat?I am not so lucky! Look at Qimei!You are good in everything, but sometimes the sourness is not good. Let me tell you, people should not be sour. If a good person is sour, it will be meaningless... I also know that you are embarrassed... As long as you know Mei, just let me be sour and stinky! Qi, but you can't be too courageous, you have to hope for the best, don't be discouraged.You know that acid means admitting failure on the one hand and resisting on the other hand, but resisting or not resisting... How boring do you think! May, well, I remember your wise words of the future novelist, but you forgot that there is another kind of acid in the world, which is originally a kind of jealousy fermented, such a smell—but I won’t say it ... Qi don't say it.look back... May is good.I won't say it, but now I will tell you the serious thing, I have already thought about the treat... Qi, I knew you must have some evil ideas... Mei, look at other people's kindness, you call it a ghost idea!In fact, I don't care about your business! Don't tell me again, what is a girl's job? Who cares?I seriously advise you to forget about this girl and not being a girl, (seeing Mei Zhen pursing her lips and sneering) you——you should just do it here...be a friend... May friend?whose friend? Qi helped... May helped?Why help? Qi's distant relative... a distant relative... Come on, Mei, don't come up with a nice name for me, and you'll crush your precious little head later!A girl is a girl, there is no way to deal with this unlucky thing, and no one can do anything with good intentions, unless...unless one day I will leave and not be at your house!Stop talking, let's talk about your treat. About Qi's treat, you made me forget all about the treat! Look, May, your sympathy doesn't go there either, does it?Just say a few words, even if you mess with your serious business, what a delicate lady! Qi, your mouth is like a sharp knife! May I'm sorry, I forgot your words again. What are you talking about? Don't you say, Mei, why don't you be so sour if you have the courage? [Rong Shengjin, Rong Sheng is a servant in the north who is about forty years old. Although his appearance is not particularly noticeable, he looks a little funny. 〕Miss Rong’s phone call...Mr. Huang Zhongwei, what kind of painting party did you call? Qi (laughs) Come on, I know, I know. (Turns around) Where are the earphones? Where did the earphones go? Mei ran away with headphones again!Anything that you forgot where you put it is considered to have escaped! The phone book and earphones all have such long legs? (Also got up and looked around) [Rong Sheng finds the earphones from the bookshelf next to the table and hands them to Miss Fourth, and goes out by himself. 〕Qi: (answering the phone) Hey, hey, (angrily) promoted!You hang up the phone!I can't hear you here!Hello, Zhongwei?What's up? Mei: Miss Si, let me go out so that you can make a call... Qi: (talking to the phone) Mei Zhen, Mei Zhen, don’t leave, it’s about a treat, (waving urgently) don't go!Hello, hello, what?Oh, oh, are you coming? ...I'm very busy here, you don't know!scare?I can't hear you, come on!scare?well…… [Mei Zhen returns to the table with a smile, takes a piece of paper and a pencil and sits on the chair, thinking and writing. 〕Qi: (Continues to call) Okay, see you later. (unplug the phone, take the earphones to the sofa and throw them away) Mei: (Looking at Miss Si) Wait a minute, the earphones are gone! (Look down and write again) Qi: Where did we talk just now? Mei: Speaking of... Let me think about it, oh, what is sour and stinky, and then a sweet...phone call? Qi: (laughs easily and innocently) Stop making trouble, let's talk about the treat. Mei: Oh, why do you never get to the topic? (hands the list to Wen Qi to read) I have written a list for you, do you like it?I calculated that there are fourteen candle tables in my house, and I also thought about tablecloths... Qi: Tablecloth, (looks at the list in hand) Fortunately, you also thought of it, I borrowed it a long time ago! Mei: Well, well, count yourself as a quick step!I asked you if you are eating enough? Qi: (happily) Enough, enough. (Looking at the list) Hey, this Black Song Porcelain Gall Vase is wonderful for plum blossoms, Mei Zhen, why do you think so? Mei: I am two years older than you, so I eat two more bowls of rice! (laughs) I think things in the living room need to be moved to leave more space for you to dance. You have to ask your wife to tell the old man that it is "inappropriate" for everyone. (Stands up and looks left and right) This room we dress up in a weird, modern, futuristic, (laughs) like in the movies for the guests to rest, smoke, talk or "make love" -, okay ? Qi: This bad girl! Mei: I think you can ask your good friend who can draw to help, draw some modern things and hang them up, he will be happy! Qi: Looking for him?Zhongwei?Ghost girl, you have a lot of ideas!I don't know that Zhongviken won't. May: Why wouldn't he? (Laughing and going to the table to re-peel peanuts to eat) Qi (follows her to eat peanuts, then suddenly leans over and looks up at Mei Zhen and asks) Brother Tang Jiayuan—Tang Yuanlan and Huang—Huang Zhongwei, who do you think is better? Mei (laughing provocatively) Fourth Miss, tell me yourself, why do you ask me? ! Qi (sorry) Damn it!I must beat you! (reaches out and hits Mei's back) [Mei Zhen yells, almost overturns the table, the table tilts, peanuts fall all over the floor, and the two chase after each other all over the room.Rong Sheng frowned silently when he opened the door, but dared not laugh. 〕Rong: Well, Miss Fourth, Mr. Tang is here. [Fourth Miss and Mei Zhen ignore it, and still chase after each other. 〕Rong (embarrassed, coughing) Eldest miss, third miss Guan Mo didn't come back, right? [Fourth Miss and Mei Zhen still ignore it. 〕Rong (letting Tang Yuanlan in, hesitating) Mr. Tang, sit down, the young lady hasn't come back yet. (back out) [Tang Yuanlan is about 30 years old, tall and thin, mature and prudent, but full of humor.He finds Wei Wei amused by everything, but wants to frown.The sharp corners of the mouth moved a little, then stopped; always seemed to have something to say, but didn't want to say it, just smiled and pulled it down.He was a thoughtful man, but he had a good temper, so he looked a little older than his years.The clothes on his body have a bit of "celebrity style", but they are not tattered or dirty.There are books and newspapers in the pocket, and when you put your hand in it, it seems that some pieces of paper will be brought out. Tang Yuanlan smiled and looked at Fourth Miss and Mei Zhen, who seemed to be about to talk but stopped. He took out a cigarette case from his pocket, started to smoke, and then stopped. 〕Qi (blushing, shaking her hair and looking at Tang) Brother Yuan, they are not at home, only me and Mei Zhen are left. Tang: (Looking at Mei Zhen and turning to Wen Qi) Wen Qi, why are you playing so lively? Qi: (smiles embarrassingly with Mei Zhen. Qi points to Mei Zhen) Ask her! Tang: Let me ask when will your second brother be home? [Mei Zhen leans over to buckle the shoes because the shoes fell off, then stands up and walks towards the door embarrassingly, and turns back to be busy after hearing the words. 〕Second Brother Qi didn’t arrive until the day after tomorrow because he stopped in Tianjin for a day. (Xiang Mei) That bad girl!What are you stunned for? Mei: You said that the second young master will not come back until the day after tomorrow? ...I think... I'll pour tea for Mr. Tang first. Tang: You're welcome, I don't drink much tea. (frowns and sees the peanuts on the ground) Oh, where did this come from? (Bending over to pick up the peanuts on the ground, peeling them and putting them in his mouth) Mei (with a silly smile) Look, Mr. Tang is hungry, I'll make some snacks for you! (turn back) Miss Si, what do you eat? Qi: Whatever you want, you can give it!Oh, bring the cake you made, (seeing that Mei is about to come out and calling her back) wait, Mei Zhen, (reaching into the drawer and taking out a few dime tickets for Mei) Oh, take it away, I forgot later , you should bet again. Mei: (laughing happily and mischievously) My dear lady, my memory is not bad. If I fail to gamble in New Year’s Eve, I might hang myself. How unfair it is! Tang: (watching Mei go out) You guys are so lively! Qi: Mei is really naughty, she can do anything! Tang: Are there smart people who are not naughty?Wen Qi, I don't know why your family doesn't send her to school now? Qi: I don't really know. Anyway, she was not sent to school a long time ago.When grandma was around, she used to say that mom used to her, but now the uncles and uncles and even the elder sister don't like her, saying that she has gone to school, can't get in, can't get in, don't know what it is!Didn't we go to elementary school together at that time?In a school, the eldest sister always felt that it was inappropriate... Tang: Everyone in the school knows that she is... Qi naturally knew, which made everyone very awkward.Later, my mother sent her to another middle school, and most of them stopped going after the second year of junior high... Tang: Why? Qi: She felt too offended. Once she was a little bit wronged——a stimulus, (pause) stop talking, (look back) who came in later, it’s hard to hear. (Pause)...Brother Yuan, do you think the eldest sister has changed from before? Tang: I have changed a lot... In fact, everyone has changed a lot. In the past six years, everything has changed... Everyone - very modernized. Qi: Especially the eldest sister, don’t look at the muddleheaded third sister, she’s actually more modern, a bit pro-style, but very contradictory, she said so herself, (laughs) and mother, Brother Yuan, do you think your mother is A real modern guy? (speaking urgently) Strictly speaking, my eldest sister is not modern, I mean, her thinking... Tang: (Interrupting Wen Qi with a wry smile) Let me smoke a cigarette, okay? (takes out the cigarette) Qi: Of course——you’ve done it! [Tang Yuanlan lights a match, and walks to the window with a cigarette in his mouth, hands behind his back. 〕Qi (sit down on the sofa habitually, bend her legs up, boredly) I——can I smoke a cigarette too? Don (turning around and smiling) Of course—you're done! Qi: I don't have a cigarette! Don: Sorry. (Amusedly, he took out the cigarette case from his bag, opened it and walked over to hand it to Wen Qi, letting her take the cigarettes by herself) Qi (takes a cigarette and asks Tang to light it) Brother Yuan, shouldn't all writers know how to smoke? Tang (to tease the fourth child) Of course!To really become a literary giant, you have to learn how to smoke cigars! Qi (learning to blow smoke rings) Brother Yuan, are you a little awkward with your elder sister?You are not good with her, are you? Tang (laughs without answering, picks up the novel on the sofa to read, surprised) Are you reading this? (satisfied) Do you like it?nice, isn't it? Qi is great! (reaches out to take the book back) Brother Yuan, it turns out that when you were enthusiastic, at first I thought you were not enthusiastic about anything, that you didn’t love anything in the world! Tang: Why am I not enthusiastic?(speaking slowly) beautiful things in the world...beautiful books...beautiful people...I also know how to love!Why do you make me look like a dead man! Qi: No, I think it's weird that you talk so little, (again hastily) Mei Zhen and I often say you're weird! Tang: (Voice is different than before, but very low) You and Mei Zhen?Mei Zhen also said I was strange? Qi: No, no, we’re just saying—I can’t understand your temper... (Extremely embarrassed, flipping through the novel and showing Tang) You read this book or you sent it to your elder sister. If your elder sister doesn’t like it, I’ll pick it up and read it... … Tang: Big sister doesn't like novels, does she?I didn't plan that she would watch it, I thought maybe someone else would like to watch it! Qi: (honestly) Who? (guessing again) Tang (silently, just smoking a cigarette and walking to the low couch, ready to sit down comfortably, suddenly touched the woolen fabric, jumped up, turned around and removed many needles and threads) Good guy, there are so many creations here! Qi: (Startled, laughing, getting up and walking over) I'm sorry, I'm sorry, these are all sisters' creations, and they were thrown here!Let me tidy it up for you. (Tang takes off the half-knit sweater from his hand and lifts it up high.) Look, it belongs to the third sister. She knits it and wears it for skating. Even though she is an ordinary person, she still has to wear the sweater. ! (Comparing to himself) Look, this color can't be considered too "bourgeois", can it? (naughty and happy) [Tang Yuanlan picks up another big red velvet thing. 〕Qi: (grabbing it in her hand) This is my elder sister’s treasure, something that is in the limelight, look, (wearing a red dress on her shoulders, spinning in the room) Let me look in the mirror... [Miss Wenjuan and Zhang Aizhu walk in together lively.Wenjuan is a beautiful young lady, tall and tall, very good-looking when she walks, with neat eyebrows, but for some reason, she always seems to be impatient with someone, so she is used to locking the tip of her eyebrows, making people a little afraid of her, and I don't know when I offended her, it's so sad. Zhang Aizhu has a lot of attention in her squinted eyes, she can laugh very much, but she always laughs so unnecessarily, now she is obviously laughing lively, chattering some happy things in her voice. 〕Juan: (silently, looking at Wen Qi coldly) What is this for? Qi: (smiling indifferently) Who told you to let go of all your work and leave?Brother Yuan has no place to sit, so I came to clean up for you. Mr. Zhu. Don’t be in a hurry, don’t blame Wenjuan, it’s all my fault... (goes to the window to brush her hair and wipe her lips) Don (embarrassed) I just got here too. (to warm the fire) Juan (looks coldly again) Just here? (looks at the peanuts on the ground and is slightly angry) Who made the peanuts all over the ground like this? ! (to the fourth child) The house is messy, why don't you ask Mei Zhen to clean it up?You have spoiled her even more! Qi (smiling with a good temper) Don't get angry, don't get angry, I'll be a girl. (Pick up the bits and pieces) Juan, who lost her temper again?Not to mention you being a girl! (rings the bell) Aizhu, I'm sorry, the house is such a mess! Zhu, you really like to be refreshing, and you want to look good. She likes to look good in everything. (Smiling to Don) Yes or no? [Mei Zhen enters. 〕Mei: Missy is back? Juan: If you come back, you won't come back. You can also clean up the house!Do you see what this house looks like? Mei: (surreptitiously making faces with the fourth child, who covers his mouth with his laughing hands) I just came here, and when I saw Mr. Tang coming, I was in a hurry to get some snacks. Juan: When I say cleaning the house is cleaning the house, don't bring it to the snacks. Mei: (pouring) Yes, yes. (stretches forward) Can you take off your coat?If you want to take it off, just give it to me, so I can hang it up, and it’s not refreshing to pile it up on the chair, isn’t it? Juan: (takes off her coat angrily and hands in) Take it, have some snacks! Mei: (walking in front of Aizhu without paying attention) Miss Zhang, take off yours too, so I can hang them up together. [Zhang Aizhu takes off her coat and hands over the plum. 〕Mei: (to the fourth child half-playfully) Fourth Miss, you are tired, let me pick it up later. (Winks with the fourth child again, then goes out with a pile of coats) Tang: (comes from the stove and rubs his hands and laughs loudly) This girl is amazing! Juan: (angrily) How do you say that! Tang: I didn't say much, I just said that she is amazing. Juan: What's so funny about this?Originally, it was the good look that the fourth sister was used to, but when guests came, Mei Zhen still behaved like this. Tang: Don’t blame the fourth sister, let alone Mei Zhen. It’s a bit embarrassing. In this day and age, people are still called maids, and it’s embarrassing to be the master. Since you have let her go to school and get a good education since she was a child, you can’t treat her like The people below are like mothers! Juan: (shame and anger) Who treats her like an old lady?Since she is a girl, even if she has entered school and studied a little, she should still do something at home, and her mother has already paid her a monthly fee. Tang: The problem is not in doing things, she will definitely do things, the problem is in how you tell her to do things... tone, attitude, how do you make her not... don't feel... Zhu: (to Wenjuan with amused voice) Mr. Tang is full of complaints from scholars...she doesn't know how embarrassing people are, you Meizhen is really angry sometimes...Mr. Tang, you just came back from a foreign country and you have a lot of complaints Thoughts are too ideal, and they cannot be matched in China. Juan: (after a long silence, then coldly) Is it not good that people are enthusiastic about the oppressed people in society? ...But I really don't know who can oppress Meizhen?It's cheap for us not to be bullied and oppressed by her, that guy... just uses her status to impress the sympathy of many people!Meeting Wen Xia, our enthusiastic third lady, is even more incredible... Zhu: In fact, the girl is still a girl with a temper. Now she has reached the age-they used to say that the girl has reached the age of getting married, and she is very difficult to control. It turns out that there is something like that!My mom said... (chuckles) Qi (interrupting suddenly from the side) Don't be wicked! Juan, how strange it is for you to see, Fourth Sister is so protective of the girl! [When the door opens, Huang Zhongwei enters with a large tray of refreshments with a smile, Mei Zhen follows behind helplessly. Huang is young, lively and mischievous, dressed in a foreign suit lined with a flowered sweater, healthy as an athlete, but with a little more fluffy hair, a pair of particularly sensitive eyes, and the active expression on his face shows that he is not completely good-tempered and in a bad mood Sometimes you can lose your temper, and you can regret it after you lose your temper. Because of this, many girls who could fall in love with him are a little afraid of him, and this also protects him from becoming a model lover.At this moment, he happily romped into the small study that he was quite familiar with. 〕Huang: Here comes some snacks for you! (looks around) Eldest Miss, Fourth Miss, Miss Zhang, Mr. Tang, how are you all? (Ask Mei Zhen with a cross-examination in his hands) Where do you put this? Mei: Look, I don't know how to do things but I want to rush to do them! (pointing to the small round table) Oh, put it here! Juan: (frowned at Mei) Mei Zhen behaved, okay? Mei: (puckering lips, disapprovingly) Mr. Huang is willing to take it, so what's the point of playing around? Zhu (acting as if she hates Meizhen, turns to Huang) Zhongwei, what a coincidence you came, we are discussing the issue of improving society and liberating maidservants. What is Huang talking about? (puts down the tea tray) What's the problem? Zhu liberates the handmaid problem. Mei (as if being stabbed to ask Zhang) Miss Zhang, wait a moment, such a good topic, let's discuss it after I leave, I am here, I will hinder your thinking later! (Turns around quickly) [Tang Yuanlan coughs and wants to speak but doesn't. 〕Huang: (disturbed, frowning) Mei Zhen is angry. Qi: Can you blame her? Juan: Angry, let her be angry. Zhu: What does it matter what I say, "the issue of liberating the maidservant", so what if the maidservant heard it?Don't we still say "liberate women"?Should we as women be angry when we hear this? Qi: (ignores Zhang) Let's eat dim sum!Zhongwei, it's all your fault, causing trouble for no reason! Huang: I'm so sorry! (looks at Missy, angrily) Who would have thought that you have such strict rules here? !I see, I see, (anxiously) Mei Zhen is really... down... Qi: (holding Huang's words) Don't talk about it, of course it's bad luck to be a girl! Huang: Then, don't you want her to be a girl? Qi: Don't talk childishly—let's have some snacks! Juan: (sneeringly) You decide! Huang: (ignoring the eldest lady, Xiang Wenqi) Why are you talking like a child? Tang: (adjusting her voice, in a low voice) What Wen Qi means is: it's not a question of letting her be a girl.The problem is that as long as Mei Zhen is in their house, even if she is not treated as a girl, she is still a girl, because in name and in reality, she is nothing else!Not a lady, not a guest, not a relative... Qi: (looks at Yuan Lan in amazement, remembering what she said to Mei) Brother Yuan, since you know so clearly, what do you think Mei Zhen can do? Tang: Is there any way? (Pause.) Maybe there's only one way, let her go, get out of your house, forget about you, go to school, get her to do something else—you'll help her a little at most—anything, just go. Juan: Another one who will make the decision—there is no other way for this meeting. I think you can simply entrust Meizhen to your care. Yuan Lan, you can also ask her to set up a social service department for your newspaper. Qi: Let's have some snacks, don't be ridiculous! (Pouring tea) Zhongwei, give this cup to Aizhu, and this cup to Eldest Sister. [Everyone eats snacks. 〕Tang: (Still talking to Juan calmly) She can't make decisions for you, anyway, sooner or later you still have to do that, you still have to let her go, she can't stay with you all the time. Juan: Of course not! Qi: Brother Yuan, you know that Mei Zhen thinks the same way herself, and so do I... Juan: Fourth, did Mei Zhen tell you that she was leaving? Qi: It's not that she wants to leave, but after talking, she thinks she should leave. Juan: I knew she had no conscience. We treated her really well. She lived and dressed like us when she was young. Still get paid!Yuan Lan doesn't know about these situations at all... Yuan Lan, you can ask your Aunt Liu, and you still ask her. When grandma was here, Mei Zhen made the old lady angry a lot, and Aunt Liu knew. Tang: These are irrelevant. A person always has the pride of being a human being.Who wants to do it, do it... Oh, the "handmaid" that Aizhu mentioned just now!No matter how much you pay! Zhu: (picking up the unfinished sweater, standing up without speaking) Wenjuan, stop arguing, let me ask you, where is the fabric from yesterday?Go and show it to me, okay? Juan: Okay, after I finish drinking this tea, you come to my room to compare, I really want to replace it. Zhu: (smiling with squinted eyes again) Don’t change it, if it’s too late to do it, Lu will invite you to dance next week, won’t you?Don't change it. Juan: You don't know, it's just a little short of being unfashionable and out of the ordinary.Xiao Lu's eyes were extremely sharp. Huang: (Sitting on the sofa and reading a magazine after eating, interrupted suddenly) What is fashionable and not fashionable, how is it right, how is it not right? [Tang Yuanlan looked at Wenjuan and was speechless. Hearing what Huang said, he became interested. He put down his cup and listened. He picked up a piece of cake and went to the corner to lean on the bookshelf. 〕Zhu: You are an artist, don't you know? Qi: (Teasing Huang softly and affectionately) Did you get a bad nose? [Tang Yuanlan walks by boredly, leans over and picks up a peanut from the ground to eat. 〕Huang (seeing) This is not bad, there is food all over the ground! (Also leans over to pick up one) Why, what I picked up was just an empty shell. (bends down to pick it up again) Qi: Do you know where the peanuts come from? Huang: I don't know. Qi: (close to Huang Er) Mei Zhen gambled! 娟：（收拾椅上活计东西要走，听见回头问）哪儿来的？ 〔唐、黄同文琪都笑着不敢答应。〕黄：（忽然顽皮地）有人赌来的！ 娟：什么？ 琪：（急）没有什么，别听他的，（向黄）再闹我生气了。 娟：（无聊地起来）爱珠，上我屋来，我给你那料子看吧。（向大家）对不起呀，我们去一会就来，反正看电影时间还早呢，老三也没有回来。 珠：（提着毛织物，咕咕呱呱地）你看这件花样顶难织了，我…… （随娟出） 〔文娟同爱珠同下。〕唐：哎呀，我都忘了约好今天看电影，还好我来了！我是以为二弟今天回来，我来找他有事！（无聊地坐下看报） 黄：（直爽地）我没有被请呀，糟糕，我走吧！（眼望着文琪） 琪：别走，别走，我们还有事托你呢，我们要找你画点新派的画来点缀这个屋子。 黄：（莫名其妙地）什么？ 琪：我们后天晚上请客，要把这屋子腾出来作休息室，梅真出个好主意，她说把它变成未来派的味儿，给人抽烟、说话用。我们要你帮忙。 〔唐在旁听得很有兴趣，放报纸在膝上。〕黄：（抓头）后天晚上，好家伙！ 〔门忽然开了，李琼走了进来。〕琼：（妈妈的颜色不同平常那样温和，声音也急促点）老四你在这儿，我问你，你们干吗又同梅真过不去呀？大年下的！ 琪：我没有…… 唐：表姑。 黄：（同时地）伯母。 琼：来了一会吧，对不起，我要问老四两句话。 琪：妈，妈别问我，妈知道大姊的脾气的，今天可是张爱珠成心同梅真过不去！梅真实在有点儿太难。 琼：（坐下叹口气）我真不知怎么办好！梅真真是聪明，岁数也大了，现在我们这儿又不能按老规矩办事，现在叫她上哪儿去好，送她到哪儿去我也不放心，老实说也有点舍不得。你们姊儿们偏常闹到人家哭哭啼啼的，叫我没有主意！ 琪：不要紧，妈别着急，我去劝劝她去好不好？ 黄：对了，你去劝劝她，刚才都是我不好。 琼：她赌气到对门陈家去了，我看那个陈太太对她很有点不怀好意。 琪：（张大了眼）怎么样不怀好意，妈？ 琼：不是她那抽大烟的兄弟！那陈先生也是鬼头鬼脑的……得了，你们小孩子哪里懂这些事？梅真那么聪明人，也还不懂得那些人的用心。 唐：那老陈不是吞过公款被人控告过的么？ 琼可不是？可是后来，找个律师花点钱，事情马马虎虎也就压下来了；近来又莫名其妙地很活动，谁知道又在那里活动些什么。一个顶年轻的少奶奶，人倒顶好，所以梅真也就常去找她玩，不过，我总觉得不妥当，所以她一到那边我就叫人叫她回来，我也没告诉过梅真那些复杂情形（稍停，向文琪）……老四你现在就过去一趟，好说坏说把梅真劝回来罢！ 琪：（望黄）好吧，我，我就去。 黄：我送你过去。 〔文琪取壁上外衣，黄替她穿上。〕琪：妈，我走啦。元哥一会儿见。 黄：（向唐招呼地摆摆手）好，再见。 〔两人下。〕唐：（取烟盒递给李琼）表姑抽烟不？ 琼：（摇摇头）不是我偏心，老四这孩子顶厚道。 唐：我知道，表姑，文琪是个好孩子。（自己取烟点上俯倚对面椅背上） 琼：元澜，我是很疼娟娟的，可是老实说，她自小就有脾气。你知道，她既不是我生的，有时使我很为难……小的时候，说她有时她不听，打她太难为情，尤其是她的祖母很多心，所以我也就有点惯了她。 现在你回来了…… 〔唐元澜忽起立，将烟在火炉边打下烟灰，要说话又停下。〕琼：（犹疑地）你们的事快了吧？ 唐：（抬头很为难地说）我觉得我们这事…… 琼：我希望你劝劝娟娟，想个什么法子弄得她对生活感觉满足…… 我知道她近来有点脾气，不过她很佩服你，你的话她很肯听的，你得知道她自己总觉得没有嬷有点委屈。 唐：我真不知道怎样对表姑说才好，我也不知道应该不应该这样说。我——我觉得这事真有点叫人难为情。当初那种办法我本人就没有赞成，都是刘姨嬷一个人弄的。后来我在外国写许多信，告诉他们同表姑说，从前办法太滑稽，不能正式算什么，更不能因此束缚住娟娟的婚姻。我根本不知道，原来刘姨嬷就一字没有提过，反倒使亲亲戚戚都以为我们已经正式订了婚。 琼：我全明白你的意思，当时我也疑心是你刘姨嬷弄的事。你也得知道我所处地位难，你是我的表侄，娟娟却又不是我亲生的，娟娟的伯父又守旧，在他眼里连你在外国的期间的长短好像我都应该干涉，更不要说其他！当时我就知道你们没有正式订婚，我也不能说。 唐：所以现在真是为难！我老实说，我根本对娟娟没有求婚的意思。如果当时，我常来这里，那是因为……（改过语气）表姑也知道那本不应该就认为有什么特殊的意义。我们是表兄妹，当时我就请娟娟一块出去玩几趟又能算什么？ 琼：都是你那刘姨嬷慌慌张张地跑去同娟娟的伯嬷讲了一堆，我当时也就觉得那样不妥当——这种事当然不能勉强的。不过我也要告诉你，我觉得娟娟很见得你好，这次你回来，我知道她很开心，你们再在一起玩玩熟了，也许就更知道对方的好处。 唐：（急）表姑不知道，这事当初就是我太不注意了，让刘姨嬷弄出那么一个误会的局面，现在我不能不早点表白我的态度，不然我更对娟娟不起了。 琼：（一惊）你对娟娟已说过了什么话么？ 唐：还没有！我觉着困难，所以始终还没有打开窗子说亮话。为了这个事，我真很着急，我希望二弟快回来，也就是为着这个缘故。我老实说，我是来找梅真的，我喜欢梅真…… 琼：梅真？你说你…… 琪：（推门入）妈妈，我把梅真找了回来，现在仲维要请我同梅真看电影去，我们也不回来吃饭了！（向唐）元哥，我不同你们一块看电影了，你们提另去吧，劳驾你告诉大姊一声。 〔琪匆匆下。唐失望地怔着。〕琼：（看文琪微笑）这年龄时期最快活不过，我喜欢孩子们天真烂漫，混沌一点…… 娟：（进房向里来）妈妈在这儿说话呀？老四呢？仲维呢？ 琼：（温和的）他们疯疯颠颠跑出去玩去了。 娟：爱珠也走了，现在老三回来了没有？ 琼：老三今早说今天有会，到晚上才能回来的。 娟：（向唐半嘲的口吻）那么只剩了我们俩了，你还看不看电影？ 琼：（焦虑地望着唐希望他肯去）今天电影还不错呢，你们去吧。 唐：表姑也去看么？我，我倒…… 琼：我有头痛不去了，（着重地）你们去吧，别管我，我还有许多事呢，（急起到门边）元澜，回头还回来这里吃晚饭吧。 〔琼下。文娟直立房中间睨唐，唐、娟无可奈何地对望着。〕娟怎样？ 唐怎样？