Chapter 48 my friend's mother

This spring, when I was suffering from influenza, K.'s mother, Mrs. K., came to see me. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, my high fever had not subsided, and I felt humbled that someone was standing in front of my bed. I struggled to open my eyes. Mrs. K, with a smile on her face, waved her hand and told me not to move. , she pulled a stool by herself, sat on the edge of the bed, opened a handkerchief bag, and said with a smile: "I heard K say that you have been ill for several days, and he took over several lessons for you. I ordered a piece of silk cake, which tastes delicious, and I brought it here for you to taste." She said, and she cut a plate of bright yellow silk cake with red dates embedded on it, and sent it to my pillow.I hurriedly got up and thanked him, and said, "It's rare for Auntie to bother."

At the same time, he called the workers to pour tea. Mrs. K stood up and said with a smile: "Don't be busy. When I came here just now, there was no one in the corridor. Everyone is in class at this time. If you fall ill and fall asleep again, they will all be lazy." Out? I can pour the tea myself!” She walked to the table, picked up the kettle, shook it, and said with a smile, “There’s no more boiling water. I just drank tea at home. I’m afraid you’re thirsty. I'll go out and find some water for you to drink." Before I could stop her, she had already gone out with the kettle.

I sat up quickly, tidied up the quilt pillow, and wanted to put on my clothes and get out of bed, but felt dizzy for a while, so I had to lie down again. Mrs. K had already come in again, poured a cup of hot tea, and put it on the stool in front of my bed. I thanked me with a smile: "It's really a sin, asking the old lady to serve me—" Mrs. K sat down, He also smiled and said: "Where is it, this is what I should do. You bachelors are really miserable. You can't even drink a cup of hot water when you are sick! You are not bad, look at how clean and tidy your house is, Not K., he needs someone to take care of him all his life, mother, sister, wife—” I said:

"K. has been a blessed man since he was a child—has there been a letter from his wife lately?" The old lady shook her head, looked at me suddenly and said, "Miss F has gone to join the army, I will send her off this morning..." Involuntarily I looked up at old Mrs. K. Mrs. K. smiled and sighed, spread the handkerchief on her lap, kept stroking it, then looked up at me and said: "You and K. are so close, you must know about it. Speaking of Ms. F, she is really a gentle woman, with a good personality and a good appearance, she is good at everything, playing chess, calligraphy and painting, and she is a natural match with K! ——But I feel sorry if they do that My daughter-in-law in Beiping and my three grandchildren."

I didn't speak, just looked at the old lady. The old lady's face became silent, "I know K will not hide anything from you, so I might as well talk to you in detail—if you're not too tired. K hasn't been very happy these two days, so please stand by when you're all right." Comfort him." I nodded hastily and said, "That's for sure. K is such a solid person, he doesn't take anything too lightly!" The old lady said: "That's not true! He used to be friends with a girl in France, and he didn't succeed. He was very sad. When he came back to China, he kept saying that he would not marry, so I persuaded him, and I said: 'Your father left you. I am gone, I have worked hard for half my life, and finally raised you and your sister. Now that you have completed your studies and returned to China, I hope that you will start a family and start a career. Not only I am happy to see you, but your father's spirit in heaven will also comfort you. For a woman of a foreign race, even the family is ignored, thanks to your filial piety! Marriage is not a matter of one person, and your wife is also the daughter-in-law of your parents and the mother of your child. You don’t want a daughter-in-law I want a grandson, and you're an only son!" He said, "Then choose one for me, as long as you like." So he was married, and you were here that day?"

I nodded again, thinking of many things about K. "Speaking of my daughter-in-law, although she is not a very outstanding person, she is still a teacher graduate. She is a quiet person who lives a life and takes care of the children. I am satisfied with her, not to mention that she still takes care of me. Have three white and fat grandchildren?" The old lady smiled, her face was full of kindness, and she seemed to see K's round-headed, round-faced children jumping around in her gaze. "K also really loves his children. After having children, he often talks and laughs with his wife. Do you remember our house on Jingshan Street in Beiping? Come back from get out of class, water the flowers, look at the fish, draw pictures, write, read books, hug the children, I am really proud. I watched from the side, and I was naturally happier. The lady was already his teaching assistant, and they didn't do much... "Later, a war broke out, and colleagues in the school all went south one after another, and some of them took their families with them.At that time, I was also blamed, I didn't want to leave, I couldn't leave the family in Peiping, and I didn't want them to leave, I couldn't bear those children.I said to K: "I think this battle will last for a year or two at most. You are a person of duty, so you can go away for a while. As for the children and their mothers, you might as well stay with me. Anyway, it is an old school." Young, the Japanese will not do anything to us. K didn't want to take his family with him at first, so he left in a hurry after hearing what I said, who knew that it would be eight years since he left.

"We closed the door, ignored the outside world, and just waited for K's letter all day long. After three or four years like this, we could still receive K's letters and money at first, but then not only did the letters become scarce, but even the funds were allocated. It was also very difficult. My daughter-in-law was able to control it, she still served me steadily and quietly, and watched the children live. I still have some savings in my hand, and I can handle the family. Three years ago, I got K. My brother-in-law sent a telegram from Hong Kong, saying that my daughter was seriously ill, and told me to go, so I left Peiping in a hurry. Who would have thought that my daughter would die in less than ten days from Hong Kong..."

The old lady's eyes were red, so she folded the handkerchief and pressed it lightly around her eyes, and I silently pushed the cup of tea in front of her. The old lady forced a smile, picked up the teacup, took a sip and put it down again. "Who knew that only ten days after my daughter's death, the Japanese occupied Hong Kong again, and my son-in-law was in a hurry to retreat to Chongqing. He asked me if I wanted to go back to Peiping? If I wanted to go back, he asked someone to take me I went to Shanghai. At that time, I was in disarray. My daughter died. I had no real news about my son for a long time. I only heard from people in the past that he lived in Chongqing very hard and often fell ill. Now that I have the possibility to meet, I can’t hold back I said to my son-in-law, "I'd better go with you. Although the rear is hard, we can be with K. In Peking, your sister-in-law can still do it, so it's okay to leave them behind for a year or two." From Shaoguan, Guilin, Guiyang, I trekked all the way here... "When I saw K, I almost cried, who knows that the past few years have tortured my son until he is haggard, and his clothes are also ragged!He was overjoyed when he saw me, and cried when he heard the news of his sister's death.I only asked about his children afterward, but I didn't mention his wife lightly, but I said a few words first.Asked about his life here, he said that like everyone else, food, clothing and housing are much more difficult than before, but psychologically he is happy.Speaking of this, he pointed to Miss F next to him and said, "You should thank Miss F, thanks to her for taking care of me these past few years." 'That's when I realized she had been standing next to us.

"Miss F is also thinner than before, and seems to be more handsome. She greeted me a little shyly and asked about her parents in Peiping. I said that when I was in Peiping, I used to hang out with them, and they were all old. After talking for a while, Miss F said to K: "May I have dinner with you, old lady?" K nodded and agreed, and we went to Miss F's residence together. "Before I found a house, I lived with Miss F. She lived in two rooms and had a maid. K. used to eat there and wash clothes there. When I was there, K. naturally They stayed with us all day long and only went back to the dormitory at night. I watched from the side and felt that they were very close and congenial. Tell me about how hard and dangerous it was for them to come out together; how they escaped the police together, and were almost killed several times in the bombing; It was never mentioned in K's letters home. When they talked about these experiences, they were obviously very excited and nervous, and K always looked at Miss F with grateful and tender eyes. Naturally, I also felt nervous and grateful. , and at the same time a feeling of indescribable uneasiness arose.

"After I moved out, many wives of K's colleagues came to visit me and asked me why K's wife didn't come out with me? I said that I only came to Hong Kong, so I didn't think of taking them with me. and these ladies say: It would be nice if the old lady was here now, otherwise it would be pitiful for Mr. K to be here alone—it’s not easy to be alone these days, life is too hard, and... besides, people love to gossip! ’ They asked again if Miss F was related to us?How is her background?I knew there was a reason for what I said, so I answered vaguely, saying that the F family and we are family friends, and Miss F has been K's teaching assistant since she graduated. She is really kind and enthusiastic.I am very grateful to her for taking care of K. and helping her.

"However, my uneasiness never left me. I was always thinking about those children in Peking, and I always wanted to talk to K. So one day, when our female worker left, K suggested to me: "Mom, don't have to work hard on your own. Let's eat together with Miss F. Even if we find a female worker, we don't have to worry about food in the future. It's the most reasonable thing to eat together." I said, "I'm not afraid of trouble." , and I am old, and I have never used foul language, and I feel very tired, but I would rather work on my own, so as not to let people gossip about you when we are together!' K looked at me with wide eyes, and I tactfully said He told him about people's criticisms, and said: "I know that you two have nothing in your heart. The war of resistance brought you together, one more tribulation, and one more layer of emotion. You are a person with a family and children. It's over after we're gone. Ms. F is a woman of many talents, wouldn't she be delayed by you?" K lowered his head and didn't say anything. Since then, he has been silent for four or five days. "On the sixth night, I had already fallen asleep. He came in in the dark, sat on the edge of my bed, took my hand, and said: 'Mom, I have been thinking about it for four or five days. I can't waste it for nothing. People. I believe that we will never be happy if we are separated. I think——I want to divorce the one in Peiping...' I had no words, and he didn't continue. After a long time, he leaned down and shook me. , hurriedly said: "Why, mother, are you crying?" I couldn't help crying, and said: "I am crying to pity you poor people. You are suffering, and Miss F is also suffering. Finally It is your wife and three children in Peiping who are suffering. They have not done anything wrong to anyone. They have worked hard to guard in Peiping, waiting for the day of reunion. It is nothing if I am gone. , if you... I'd better go back and watch over them!' At this time K also cried, and squeezed my hand tightly, then turned and left." The old lady swallowed, and took out the handkerchief from the cuff, I quickly smiled and said: "I'm sorry, auntie, please give me a glass of water, this silk cake smells strange here, I want to eat a piece." Lei smiled and stood up, poured two cups of tea, we all picked up silk cakes and ate them, not speaking for a while. The old lady coughed, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said: "I thought about it all night, and the next morning, I went to see Miss F. She was about to go to class, and she saw me with a very surprised look on her face. I thought my expression must be very bad, I said: "I'm sorry, I want to delay your time for a long time, I want to talk to you about something." Her complexion suddenly turned pale, and she turned around and invited me into the inner room , closed the door, sat next to me, and waited quietly. I stopped for a long time, and couldn't help crying again. I said: "Miss F, I don't know how to talk around. I heard that K wanted to talk to you." Marriage?" Miss F blushed and was about to speak, but I pressed her hand and said, "Don't worry, this is naturally wishful thinking on the part of K. It's not that I am a mother praising my son. K and You are a natural couple, but it is a pity that he already has a wife and son...' Miss F didn't say anything, just looked at me. I said: "Of course, there are more divorces among married and sons now." Very, but, you know that K loves his children very much, and at the same time his wife has nothing to do with him." Miss F lowered her head, and I said: "Miss F, I have loved and admired you since I was a child." , if you were my own daughter, I would never want you to marry a divorced person. It is a blessing for him, but it is too unworthy for you.' I stroked her hand and said, 'Do you want to marry a divorced person? Thinking, when you were in Peking, you often came to our house? Did you have feelings for him? I must know that your ideal at that time was not like him. It was only because of the war that you all Come out, rescue each other in adversity, support each other in illness, this kind of emotional accumulation of sharing joys and sorrows and being grateful creates a very strong friendship - at the same time, everyone is homesick, everyone is lonely, and this lonely heart is easy to pull. At the same time, the war was extended to seven or eight years, and it seemed impossible to return home. Everything at home was blurred day by day, and everything in front of me was real day by day. Afterwards, everyone made fakes come true, and lived a peaceful and happy life in the clouds Days when the rain cleared, the sun cleared away the clouds, and under the shadow of the sun, everyone realized that they had lost their clear and normal selves in a daze!'"'Have you ever seen someone who took a long-distance train No?The world is small, the journey is long, and people who have never met before introduce themselves to each other graciously, talk affectionately, sing songs, play cards together, eat and drink together, as if they have had a lifelong friendship.When the destination was about to arrive, everyone stood up one after another, packed their boxes, and leaned against the window to wait for their relatives and friends to pick them up. As soon as the car pulled into the station, they waved and cheered to the people on the platform, and jumped into the car before the car stopped. down.Those who can remember to turn their heads to greet you, even if they are polite people, almost all walk away without looking back.Although the war is long, there will be a day of peace. One day, victory comes, and surprises hit everyone's heart. At that time, it was really "the birds fled to the forest", and all that was left was a vast expanse of white land—"' If you succeed, will you go back or not? What if you go back? You are an only daughter and cannot see your parents. K may not be able to see his wife, but he is reluctant to let go of those children. You are still living in the former environment. I don’t believe you can feel at ease, be happy, and be natural. After people get married, they either live alone on an isolated island, or on an isolated island. After a few days, months, or years, You will also be bored and bored, and long for everything outside the isolated island. You know K better than I do. He is like his father, sentimental, changeable, and always prone to melancholy. He is never fully satisfied and happy, always He is pursuing something. In his dissatisfied and melancholy situation, he is really the happiest. You may not understand what I am saying, because you have never lived with such a person. "'So I think for you, for your happiness, I advise you to separate from K. "out of sight is out of sight", you are young, well-mannered, well-educated, and your future is really bright—— Before I left Peiping, your mother came to me and said that communication between Hong Kong and Chongqing was easy, and she asked me to write to you for her, saying that they are old, and this war will end at some point, and they don’t know if they will see you in the future, They have nothing else to ask but to ask you to be careful and entrust your life to someone who will love you and be virtuous. I mention this to remind you that K. And never know how to love others, in other words, he has his own way to love! I’ve said everything, you should think about it yourself.” At this time, Miss F was crying like tears..."I I was trying to comfort her when I suddenly heard K calling me from outside. I quickly closed the door behind me and walked home when K followed me back without saying a word. "After that I never mentioned this matter, but K's mood stabilized. I don't know if he talked to Miss F again, but I just waited for their decision. Finally, the night before last, K told me that Miss F She decided to join the army and leave tomorrow. She hoped that I could see her off. K. said that she didn't show any particular sadness, but I felt sad. This girl is really smart and decisive! It's not that I'm hard-hearted, I believe in the army The environment and training are good for her. At least she has a healthy and noble outlet for her accumulated loneliness and sorrow. I went to see her off this morning, and she did not shed a single tear. She held her head up and her chest up, and went to the hospital. Get in the car... Cough, it's the war that made people mess up..." The old lady stopped.I was sad and terrified when I heard this story, so I laughed and said, "Aunt, don't be sad anymore. This matter is finally over. I think they will be grateful to you in the future. Aunt! I really admire you, no wonder my friend Everyone praises you for your knowledge of the present and the past, and when you talk about literary and philosophical terms, you always use strings of strings!" The old lady smiled and said: "Don't make you young people laugh, when I was young, I also entered it for a few days. I have almost forgotten all my English, but I can still understand K's Chinese magazines and books—I think I should go, you are tired, and I have been out for a long time. What do you want to eat? , just send someone to tell me, and I'll do it and deliver it." She stood up as she spoke to leave. I got up and said, "I'm sorry, I can't deliver it. You came to say this, and I feel a lot clearer. If you don't think there is no tea and water in the bachelor's room, please come and sit often." The old man The wife stopped, and said with a smile: "Really, I heard that someone mentioned Miss F to you before, why didn't you agree, it would be great if you agreed, and save a lot of trouble." I laughed and said: "It's not that I didn't agree, I I dare not agree, she is too versatile, I am not worthy!" The old lady smiled and shook her head and said: "Where is it, you are too high-sighted, I didn't say you, 'the more you pick, the more dazzling you become'—" The old lady's footsteps gradually disappeared in the corridor.I stared at the roof, chewing over and over again the phrase "every bird in the forest"! At this time, the twilight outside the window has already pressed into the house!