Chapter 9 Novella Murloc-1
In other words, he washed clothes under the tap in the patio. The tap water in early spring was so cold that his hands were red from the cold, and his nose was dripping with clear snot.
"That's it, here comes the guest!" Moth poked his head out of the window and shouted, making a face.
After saying this, he put down his clothes, dried his hands on the smock, and walked into the house.
Hui Yuan, a peddler selling fire-roasted fish, was standing at his door, looking around coyly.Beside him, there was a large basket containing fire-baked fish, and there were several small piles of unsold fire-baked fish in it, all piled up on top of old newspapers.When Hui Yuan saw the sentence, he smiled awkwardly and lowered his eyes.
"What can I do for you?" After the sentence, he asked a little puzzled, and then a little annoyed, and opened the door to let Hui Yuan go in first.
Hui Yuan sat down silently, with his hands on his knees, his eyes staring at the big basket beside him in a trance.
He didn't intend to speak after finishing his sentence, put his frozen red hands in his trouser pockets, and looked at Hui Yuan impatiently.
"I'm asking you to borrow money." Hui Yuan finally said in a hoarse voice, as if he had become arrogant because of saying this, he took out a cigarette from his coat pocket, lit it, and smoked on his own.
After realizing the change of Hui Yuan's mood, he felt embarrassed, and quickly poured him a cup of tea, and handed him his cigarette.After a sentence, I can’t explain why I feel intimidated by this hawker whom I see almost every day. Isn’t he just an ordinary hawker, who walks up from the river every morning with bare feet and a big fishing net on his back? The smell of fish appeared in the corner of the vegetable market in the afternoon, and there was this big basket in front of it, which was filled with dried small fish.Over the years, Ju Liao's relationship with him was limited to meeting and saying hello on the street.Sometimes he also goes to buy his fire-baked fish.When weighing fish, Ju Liao was not used to the eyes of this dull guy. He didn't seem to look at the scale, and his eyes were fixed on him, as if he had many questions in his heart that he wanted to ask Ju Liao. It's not like this mouth.He does this every time.At the beginning, I hoped that he would take the initiative to speak out. After a while, I realized that he would not tell him anything. Afterwards, I got used to it and regarded him as a strange neighbor who bought fish. Sometimes I don't even bother to look at him.It is such a person, and now he suddenly proposes to borrow money from him, which is really unreasonable.First of all, he has no money; second, even if he has, he will not lend it to this person, because they have no friendship between them, they are just ordinary acquaintances, far from being able to borrow money from each other.After saying this, he wanted to reject Hui Yuan, but when he saw Hui Yuan smoking with his big and thin eyelids hanging down, he suddenly felt a suspicion rising from the bottom of his heart, so he became uneasy.
"How much to borrow?" After a few minutes of silence, he asked.
"Not much, three thousand."
"Three thousand! You are crazy! I have already retired, a lonely old man, how can I get three thousand yuan at once? You didn't think about it before you came to me! Besides, why? What is there between us? Friendship?" Ju Yue said angrily.
"I've thought about the matter between us a long time ago, you should think about it carefully." Hui Yuan stood up as he spoke, picked up the big basket at his feet and walked out.
When he reached the door, he turned around and said to each other:
"I'm still coming."
I kept thinking about this while drying the clothes, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I became, and I even forgot about the cold.He moved slowly because he was preoccupied, and stood in the cold wind for a long time. After entering the room, he found that his nose was tightly stuffed and he already had a cold.He quickly poured two packs of cold medicine with the boiling water in the thermos bottle.He didn't expect to be fooled at this age.But the peddler didn't seem to be fooling him, his expression was relatively flat, as if he was thinking deeply.He looked back at the haughty look of sitting on his feet at the table and smoking a cigarette, and the anger in his heart was born again.
When I got angry, I didn't bother to cook, so I filled a bowl of leftovers and ate.While eating, the moth from next door came in, dangling two braids, eyes rolling around.
"My mother said that the man's hands and feet were not clean just now. If you have money, you should hide it."
Her expression didn't look like she was worried about him at all, but rather like a kind of provocation, trying to get him to talk.
After ignoring her, she buried her head in eating, and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes after eating, leaving the moths in the room.After washing the dishes and returning to the room, I saw the moth still standing in the room, looking a little wistful.After saying that, he walked over, put a hand on the moth's shoulder, and said:
"Moth, you are a child, why do you care about my affairs? Hui Yuan is just a peddler here, selling fire-baked fish, and there is absolutely no need for you to care about him like this. Of course, I didn't expect him to come My family came, but even if he came, it’s not a particularly unusual thing. You think, he is our neighbor, and he can go to whoever’s house he thinks of, so why make a fuss?”
His last sentence seemed to be for himself, and he couldn't help being a little confused, afraid that moths would see the flaw.
Moth shook off his hand, jumped aside, and said in a mocking tone:
"It's not us who made a fuss, but you yourself. My mother and I knew that he was a thief. Only you kept in the dark and talked with him. After the conversation, you couldn't figure it out. Why didn't he go to us? Come home, why did you choose you, have you ever thought about it? My mother said that he will come often in the future, you just wait."
At the end of the sentence, he realized that although the moth was mocking him, the expression on his face was very worried, and he secretly marveled in his heart that this girl is really not simple. They have been neighbors for so many years, but he didn't realize it.In his impression, this girl was a bit gloomy and naive, so just now she poked her head out of the window to tell him that there was a visitor and made a funny face. He was a little surprised, but he didn't think much about it at the time.Now she came in to look for him again, talking about Hui Yuan as soon as she opened her mouth, he was even more surprised.He was very confused, he couldn't figure out what the moth's warning meant, and what the peddler's words meant just now, he just felt dizzy and his cold was getting worse.At this time, Moth's mother called her from outside the door, and she ran out quickly.
Moth's mother muttered to her in front of the door, and the voice spread into the room, and only three words "old bachelor" were heard after the sentence.Of course this meant him, he was a little ashamed and a little scared, and quickly closed the door tightly with a "bang".He poured a large glass of boiling water and drank it slowly. After drinking, he lay down on the bed, wrapped the quilt tightly around his body, and wanted to sweat a little.
After more than an hour, I sweated a little, and my nasal cavity felt better.He simply lay still on the bed.Through the wooden wall, I heard the mother and daughter still whispering something, and then the voice became quieter and disappeared.The door slammed, and the daughter went out.But the old woman sighed loudly in the room again, as if doing it to him.This old woman usually looks like a refreshing person, and doesn't like to talk and talk, so apart from some dealings with moths, the relationship with her has always been indifferent.It cannot be said, however, that she was indifferent to him; sometimes, by the way, she took care of him.She has a son who seldom comes back, and usually stays at home with her daughter.According to Ju Lie's observations, this old woman was much older than him, and seemed to be close to seventy years old.He and she often meet, in the hallway, by the public sink where laundry is done, the old woman's attitude towards people is neither reserved nor warm, just nodding and saying hello.After all, he also admired her attitude, he thought, a person should have such an attitude when they live to be seventy years old.What he never expected was that the old woman would have such an evaluation of him. After thinking about it, he was a little shocked.When Hui Yuan came to borrow money just now, why did he become hesitant?It was obviously a very simple matter, as long as he refused him, he was stupid enough to ask him how much money he wanted to borrow, and got angry because of the large amount, as if he really had money to lend him.By the way, there was indeed a strange, obsessive-compulsive emotion controlling him at that moment. At that moment, he was not sure about anything, and the thing he was most uncertain about was himself, so he was confused and involved in gray Yuan thought, and discussed with him about borrowing money.And once he got into Huiyuan's thoughts, he felt that he was trapped and couldn't break free.What kind of answer can he give him?It goes without saying that he shouldn't take it seriously at all.It's absurd enough for a peddler who nods his acquaintance to come to his door--a penniless retired old man--to borrow money.Even though he shouldn't, he still feels like he's waiting for him, hell.The most irritating thing is that the mother and daughter next door found out about this matter. Usually he suspects that the old woman despises him, but now maybe how they despise him.No wonder Mozi was so excited to inform him when he saw Hui Yuan coming in the morning. They probably knew about the loan in advance and were waiting to see him make a fool of himself.After thinking about today's strange things over and over again, the more I think about it, the more uneasy I become.He said to himself countless times: Isn't it just a hawker, what's the big deal?Every time he said it, the peddler's appearance became more distinct, and he became more uncertain in his heart.I don't know how long I thought about it, and finally fell into a deep sleep.
It was dark when he woke up, and he walked dazedly to the backyard to collect his clothes.Just as he was about to leave after putting away his clothes, he suddenly saw a black figure approaching him, his legs went limp, and he almost sat down on the ground.
"Didn't you drop anything?" said the shadow, and it turned out to be a moth.
"No. Why are you hiding here!" He took two steps back.
"I didn't hide, I was looking at the moon. You're not a thief, why are you so guilty!" Moth sneered at him, then turned around and ignored him.Her back is hazy, a bit like a bear.
After finishing the sentence, he folded the clothes and put them in the wardrobe, and this question came to his mind: "How can I raise three thousand yuan?" This question came up naturally, and after he realized what was going on, he went I was taken aback: Could it be that I have schizophrenia?At last he determined that it was only due to being weak from a cold, from being too long in bed.He added a coat and wanted to go outside for a walk.
There was a vegetable field outside the house, and a man bent over the vegetable field with a flashlight to take pictures. There was a simple toilet next to the vegetable field, which gave off bursts of stench in the evening wind. Smelling the stench, he felt overwhelmed It seems a little down-to-earth.Across the vegetable field is the newly built asphalt road. I heard that this road extends far, far, but I have never seen it at the end of the road.He had to walk close to the side of the road, otherwise the car horns would be very scary.There was an old cat on the hill in front of the right that kept barking all night long, and there was a trick in its barking, as if it had some evil intentions.Just as he was about to stop and listen to what happened, someone in the dark greeted him:
"Come out for a walk, okay, it's really leisurely." It was Qi Ye, a retired old man from the fishing ground, who spoke.
"It's not for a walk, it's just to buy a pack of cigarettes over there." He hurriedly passed Qiye and walked forward quickly.
He heard Master Qi coughing a few times behind him.After walking for a while, looking back, he saw Qi Ye still standing there, his white coat shone by the street lamp, making it dazzling white.He is watching where he is going.After saying this, she was angry and annoyed, so she simply turned around and walked back, facing Qi Ye under the street lamp.
"You must have something on your mind, right?" Qi Ye asked, looking intently at him, feeling that there was nowhere to hide.
"Yes, let me ask you, there is such a person, who is just an acquaintance of mine, and the relationship is usually very distant, but he suddenly came to my door and made unreasonable demands on me. His tone was as if he was my superior. , my leader is the same, and I, somehow, thought about his request in a daze. Now I regret it again, thinking that this matter is too absurd, I have nothing to do with that person, and I can completely refuse his request. How do you feel about this?"
Like a jingle, he immediately brought out his thoughts.
"This matter, I have to think it through slowly." Qi Ye squatted down, scratched the ground with a stick, and planned to make a long speech. "First of all, your acquaintances will not come to ask you for no reason, right? Since there will be no reason, let's imagine your relationship with him. In your heart, you are estranged from him; In his heart, what is the relationship between him and you? Have you thought about it? If that person, for example, is a very lonely person——we have such a person in our fishery, only with him. Fish talk, don't deal with people-never interact with people, and this person has a soft spot for you, but he doesn't know how to express his inner feelings, so you will never know. In the situation where you don't know Under the circumstances, he already regards you as a confidant in his heart, and has a strong interest in your every move. This situation is entirely possible. I have lived here for more than sixty years, and I have seen everything. The average person tends to not pay attention to the little things around them, and go about their days in a muddle. You may hate this assumption, and you may retort that since that guy has never expressed affection to you, or you have no idea, how can he be yours Friend? Let me ask you, how do you know that he has never expressed his feelings to you? The unreasonable request you mentioned just now, is that a way of expression? In your eyes, unreasonable things, It might have seemed natural to him. You must always think that something doesn't exist unless it's expressed to you, and that's a very bad dogma."
"Then Qi Ye, should I accept his request?" Ju Yao asked timidly.
"No one can answer this question. I saw you walking here in a trance just now, and I knew you had that kind of problem. At first you wanted to avoid me, so I stood here waiting for you, I knew You will come back and speak to me. You will soon learn that you ask questions that no one can answer."
Qi Ye stood up and stretched, put his hands behind his back, crossed the path, walked towards the fishing ground, and disappeared into the dark night in a blink of an eye.After the sentence, I looked up and saw a small fire in the distance. It was a few people working by the huge fish pond.After finishing the sentence, I thought to myself, Master Qi is really well-informed, but why has he never seen the kind of person he mentioned?Maybe it's because I'm too rough, even if I see it, I can't recognize it.Could it be that the peddler Hui Yuan is really the kind of person he mentioned?Is it another kind of arbitrariness to think so?Although he kept recalling the way the peddler looked at him in the past, he still didn't want to think that way, and he subconsciously resisted this idea.Besides, Qiye might not know what the peddler was thinking. He lived in the fishing ground, but the peddler lived on the street. He didn't go to the fishing ground every day, but went to the big river to catch fish. The two had nothing to do with each other.Of course he wouldn't know, and what he said was nothing more than an informed guesswork.
After doing this outside, the cold eased a lot. When I entered the room, I saw that the lights next door had been turned off, and the mother and daughter had gone to bed so early.After the sentence, I knew that I was facing another sleepless night.If I knew this was the case, I might as well go to the fishing ground with Master Qi, and chat to pass the time.That being said, he couldn't make up his mind.The fishing ground is so big that there is a vast ocean that cannot be seen at a glance. The workers are all weird and taciturn.Only Qi Ye is a little different. This old man likes to chat with people on the street, and he talks to everyone. Everyone knows him, but he has never had a deep friendship with people on the street. People's understanding of him is limited to superficial chats. .In other words, I felt that Qi Ye's conversation tonight was a bit abnormal, and it touched his heartstrings casually.Of course, this is not the point where he can rashly follow him to the fishing ground, not to mention that he has no intention of inviting him at all.Unknowingly, he forgot some kind of unhappiness, and his thoughts suddenly turned to Hui Yuan.Hui Yuan said that he would wait for his reply, which meant that he would come again in a few days.After connecting Qi Ye's words and thinking about it carefully, I feel that I really haven't put myself in Hui Yuan's perspective to analyze the relationship between the two.If Hui Yuan really regarded himself as a confidant, an only friend, then there would be a big difference in his relationship with him, and this difference existed long ago, but he didn't know it.If this is the case, I don't know what to do.In his life, he has never had a confidant, and no one has proposed to become a confidant with him. He has always been self-satisfied.Now that such a person suddenly appeared, a commonplace peddler, someone who had never attracted his attention, and had never spoken to each other more than two words before, how could he get used to having that kind of intimacy with him? ?Most importantly, he didn't mention their relationship at all. He came to his room to borrow money, showing an arrogant and unreasonable style, and contemptuous of him. His performance was not at all in line with Qiye's speculation .Is there really such emotion in the world, emotion that does not show at all?Not only do you not reveal it, but you try to arouse your resentment and disgust?Then again, this fishmonger, Hui Yuan, was known by everyone on the street as an orphan. He always went down the river alone to catch fish with his fishing gear on his back.On the surface, his brain seems to be a bit congenitally slow, and he can't even count banknotes.He never talked much, but always said two or three hard sentences, so the business was so-so.In other words, I always regarded him as an unconscious person before, but now it seems to be wrong, and dullness does not mean that I am not clear-headed.If a person holds the same idea for decades, the idea will take root and grow in his brain like a tree, and then the brain will gradually disappear and become this tree.Hui Yuan is obviously like him, not good at expressing his heart.Another possibility is that he can't express his heart at all, which is terrible, so there is a scene of borrowing money, as if he became angry from embarrassment.Such a lonely guy actually has such a trust in him, and this trust has never been shown, it only exists in assumptions, should he be happy, or afraid?Still not sure.Obviously, Hui Yuan has encountered financial difficulties, and he has come to ask for help, and his arrogance cannot change this fact.So do I have an obligation to help him?If the previous assumptions are true, I think there is a sentence.But so far, the assumption was based on the speculation of the well-informed Qi Ye.What is it like to be an orphan?In other words, he is not an orphan. He had a wife and a son before, and his parents died not too early. He left them all by himself. He remembered that time he walked far, far away. So I came to this town, entered a tannery, and worked until I retired.The peddler Hui Yuan, he had known him since he first came here, when he was still a child, he stayed by the river all day long, learning to fish from those old men.Once, he saw with his own eyes a few pranksters snatching small fish from his basket, and he stood there blankly, as if he didn't understand what happened.He walked up to him, took out two yuan from his body and put it in the child's pocket, then patted his expressionless face.I had forgotten about this incident long ago, but I suddenly remembered it this night, and after thinking about it, I regretted my rashness in the past, otherwise why would I be in today's predicament?The seeds sown inadvertently at that time bear fruit today, and he has no choice but to reap the fruits himself.Thinking of this incident, the hypothesis had a basis in reality, and he once again felt that Qi Ye was really well-informed.But this basis is still his wishful thinking, because perhaps Hui Yuan never took his help to him seriously, and he showed no gratitude at the time, but later he often stared at him, and the look in his eyes was not gratitude, but An unpleasant curiosity, as if to probe into the private life of his old bachelor.If it is because I gave him two yuan, the peddler has the right to disturb his inner peace, which is too bizarre, so it is also possible that there is really no connection between the two things.But who can tell the truth in the world?What if the peddler had kept the matter of the two yuan firmly in his heart for many years, and had a lot of weird ideas from it?Perhaps Hui Yuan is really in trouble now, or maybe he is just using this as an excuse to break into his private life and satisfy his perverted interests.No matter which of these two situations, Ju Liao felt that he was powerless.Isn't even Qiye unable to answer this question?During the day, when Hui Yuan said he wanted to borrow money, his attitude was condescending, and he looked down upon him a bit.It can be said that he has considered everything, or it can also be said that he has not considered anything, and he thinks that everything is logical.He came to his house and borrowed three thousand yuan from him. His mind was dull and he only thought of him, so he came. As for whether he has money, that is his business. He never thinks about it .The few words he said before he left could not be called a threat, but just the straightforwardness of a dull-minded person.In other words, I thought about the relationship between him and Hui Yuan scene by scene. I used to think that some things that were meaningless and ordinary were suddenly completely different now. Those ordinary scenes created new things in this sleepless night The connection in his mind jumped up, which shocked him a bit.Maybe it's due to the weakness of the body, everything will be clarified in the daytime, he said to himself.During the night, the electric light next door was turned on several times, and every time it was turned on, the mother and daughter would whisper for a while.
At first, I wanted to avoid Huiyuan, and every time I went to the vegetable market, I made a detour.After several days, Hui Yuan still didn't come to him.After a few more days, I felt uneasy after saying the sentence.He couldn't help but think about this matter from Hui Yuan's point of view, he thought, a person like Hui Yuan rarely interacts with people in his life, and his mind is relatively dull. If such a person comes to him, it must be the result of long-term deliberation. It shows that he has an extraordinary status in this person's mind.He plucked up the courage to come to him, but he gave him a refusal answer. He rejected him without even thinking about it. What could he think about? He couldn't come up with three thousand yuan at all.In doing so, he shattered the impression he had made many years ago.
When I got home, I saw Moth squatting on the stone steps at the gate to eat, holding a rice bowl in his hand, and a vegetable bowl on the ground, looking like a miserable widow.In other words, she recalled that she was married in the early years, but she returned to her natal family in a short period of time. In the days that followed, she looked as if she had never been married before, a little pretending to be naive, and a little bit clinging to her old age.In a word, she is estimated to be about twenty-five or six years old, but she never called "uncle" or anything, and always called him by his first name. She somehow regarded herself as his peer.
"Have you gone to find that thief? Look at your flustered look." She said as she shoveled rice into her mouth, "That kind of person will not let you go easily. You have to be vigilant and keep the house Those valuable "∥Charm汁谩?
She picked up the vegetable bowl under her feet, stood up and wanted to go back to the house, just at this time her mother came out, the old woman saw the sentence, was taken aback for a moment, and then scolded her daughter very unhappy.
"You have to go to the door to eat. You are so concerned about other people's private affairs. It's no good at all. It's just annoys others and sees you as a stumbling block. What good is it?"
At the end of the sentence, standing there was very uneasy, and said rashly:
"Your judgment is wrong. Hui Yuan and I have been acquaintances for so many years, how could they be thieves? Even if you want to steal, you can't steal from me."
"Did you hear that?" The old woman didn't even read a sentence, she just spoke to her daughter, "This is a rare thing, he still has friendship with the baked fish seller! Moth, you really don't need to worry, you shouldn't Don't worry, this kind of eccentric old man won't listen to anyone, I expected it a long time ago."
As soon as she said that, the moth spit out a mouthful of rice with a "Bah!", as if it had eaten a fly.Then the mother and daughter squeezed past him and went home.
After returning to the room for a while, I heard the mother and daughter discussing this matter next door.He vaguely heard them discussing in a low voice, it seemed that the daughter expressed a certain point of view, but the mother disagreed, trying to persuade her; it seemed that the mother did not want to oppose her daughter, but had a more comprehensive plan.During the conversation, the names of Ju and the peddler Hui Yuan were mentioned many times, and every time I mentioned a sentence, I was shocked, but I couldn't hear what it said exactly.After hearing it, I felt hot all over, so I simply stopped listening. I planned in my mind that if one day they all went out, they would drive some holes in the board wall with nails, so that it would be convenient to eavesdrop.In other words, I remembered that I hadn’t looked at this old woman carefully for a long time. Today she squeezed past him, and he looked at her a few times, and found that she was much thinner, wearing a large black cloth shirt and walking unsteadily, like a gust of wind. It can blow her to the sky.If a gust of wind blows such an old woman in black into the air, it must be a ridiculous sight.Before this incident, Ju Liao had never cared about the mother and daughter. On the surface, although they lived together, the relationship had always been estranged.
The night fell again, so I sat in the room and smoked a cigarette, feeling very stuffy.Recalling what happened a week ago, I suddenly wanted to go to the fishing ground.Not only did he not want to hide from Qi Ye now, but he had to see him.He took the big flashlight and headed out.
After getting off the road, he walked on a dark path.Because it rained during the day, the weeds on the path were wet, and his shoe uppers were wet, and the socks stuck to his feet, which was cold.With a flashlight, the fish pond is boundless and dead silent.There were no workers on the night shift tonight, and it was pitch black, only the rustling wind could be heard.After walking on this small road between the two fish ponds for about twenty minutes, I saw two faint lights ahead, which were the dormitories of the fishery workers, and Lord Qi lived there.In other words, he walked in a daze, trying to find excuses for his presumptuousness, as if two people were arguing in their hearts, the voices became louder and louder, but they were confused about what they were arguing about.The two points of light became bigger and bigger, and the outline of the house gradually appeared. It was a long row of low tile-roofed houses, like a simple shed.After that, I felt the wet socks on my feet were extremely uncomfortable, and my sciatic nerve felt a little painful.Imagine Qi Ye living in this damp depression all his life, and he felt comforted in his heart, after all, he has a house on the street, which is much better than this wind-swept fish pond.When I approached the dormitory, the lights in several houses were turned on.Could it be that he made too much noise in this quiet place?Or fish farm workers have particularly sensitive ears?Now that I have made up my mind, because the sciatic nerve pain is getting worse, I must go into the house and have a rest, preferably by a fire.
"Seventh Lord! Seventh Lord!" he shouted loudly.
The small door on his right was opened, Qi Ye stood in the room, did not turn on the light, but a coal fire was lit in his room, which illuminated the corner of the house red, and he was overjoyed.
"I saw your flashlight dangling when you were still on the road over there. I thought, who else but you?"
As he spoke, he let him into the room and told him to sit on the only chair by the stove, while he sat next to the narrow single bed.After saying a word, he sat down and felt comfortable immediately. He took off his wet shoes and socks and put them on the fire, stepping on Qiye's old shoes.It was all like a dream, but the coal fire was real, and his chest and knees immediately warmed up.
Qi Ye didn't warm up by the fire, but sat on the bed and smoked a cigarette.After saying this, he wondered, did he burn the fire in the room just for him to cook?After thinking about it like this, I felt that I was too self-indulgent.
There were constant prying eyes at the window and knocking on the door.In other words, I knew it was those workers, they were too lonely, maybe they wanted to come in and have a chat, but Qiye ignored them.
"Your matter, I have always kept it in my heart. Do you have a new view on that unreasonable request now? Don't distract your attention, and make your relationship with him clear." In vain. You must have seen that I am also a very attentive person. For example, these boys outside, they always want to come in, but I am not interested in them, I know them too well, what can they do if they come to me? But After a tiring day, there is still excess energy to vent. As soon as you come in, you will spit everywhere, making the room very dirty, and then you will scream. Working in the fishing ground, many people do not speak for a long time, and they will no longer be good. Talked. I didn't let them in because I was thinking about something on my mind and I didn't want to be disturbed by them. Your matter can also be counted as one of my thoughts."
When Qi Ye said this, someone outside could not bear to push the door open, stuck his head in and looked around.Since the light was not turned on, the appearance of that person could not be seen clearly, it seemed that he was not too young.
"Shitou, go back and have a good rest if you have nothing to do." Master Qi said solemnly.
"I can't sleep, try to sleep instead, the wind is screaming like it wants to kill people. Can you let me come in and warm up for a while?" His voice was as shrill as a child's.
"No. Don't you see any guests?"
The man retracted his head with a sigh and closed the door.Qi Ye sat motionless by the bed like a statue.There are still a few figures in front of the window, all of which have their faces stuck to the glass.In other words, I believe they can't see anything, but they want to see, and their curiosity is amazing.
"Qiye, I came here to ask you to tell me about that man. You tell me that he only talks to fish and doesn't deal with people. I think there must be a story in it, can you tell me about it? ? Looking back carefully, I have long been interested in this kind of people, especially about their upbringing. Since young, that was a long time ago..."
"It's a pity," Qi Ye interrupted him, "it's a pity that there is no story here at all, that person is worthless. What kind of story would he have? He is an idiot who feeds the fish with grass all day long. If he falls, he will sit Weeping on the ground. He was dead, that was seven years ago, but he was kind of interesting, but he didn't have the kind of story you want to hear."
He sat there, speechless for a while, and Qi Ye didn't speak either.It was very quiet everywhere, and probably the wind stopped.In other words, it is absolutely impossible to have such complete silence on the street.The faces on the windowpane were still stuck there without making any noise.In other words, I don't understand the curiosity of these people outside the window. What are they doing there in such a cold day?For a moment, the loneliness in the fishing ground seemed to penetrate his bone marrow.After an unknown amount of time, he finally said softly:
"I gotta go."
After he said this, Qi Ye remained silent, but there was commotion outside the window. When he looked up, those faces had disappeared.He said wait, and wanted to wait for Qiye to speak before leaving, but Qiye seemed to have entered an unfamiliar mood, the fire shone on his face, which was as rough as a tree stump, and all expressions were shrunk inward. After entering, only a vague shell remained.The fire in the stove gradually dimmed, and even Qiye couldn't see clearly.After saying that, he put on his shoes and socks in the dark, then stood up and said goodbye.Before leaving, he took another look at the humble house with a flashlight and found a lot of straws hanging on the wall. He wanted to ask Master Qi what those straws were for, but he couldn't hold back the question after thinking about it again.
Until he went out Qi Ye still sat there without moving.After walking a long way, I looked back and saw that the row of houses were all lit up with electric lights, like stars floating in the dark.The wind picked up and blew across the pond until he nearly fell over.Dry shoes and socks are wet again.What time is it, maybe it is already midnight?He quickened his pace, fighting against the wind and rushing home.He met a man on the path, that man was a fish farm worker on night shift, and he was on night shift to prevent others from stealing fish.The man hurried past without saying hello, smelling like fish.
In other words, on the road, I saw the vegetable farmer still busy in the vegetable field, and a lantern was raised high. I don't know what he is looking at.In other words, go down the road and walk towards the vegetable farmers.
"Spring is here, and the vegetables are growing well." He said to the man.
"Oh, these days, there are too many things to worry about. Isn't it the same for you, you must be worrying about running around the fishing ground in the middle of the night."
The man's words stopped him.what happened?He and him are just familiar faces, how could he say such words, and the tone seems to be blaming him.
"I'm just looking for someone over there," he said.
"Let's find Lord Qi," said the man, walking over and holding up a lantern to shine on his face, "I tell you, it won't be of any use. I know Lord Qi, he will only add to your troubles. Do you want to He lives in such a place where the wind blows like howling ghosts and howling wolves. What kind of temperament can such a person have? Such a person knows everything about the street. What is this for? I saw you go out at night. He's been there for so long."
句了猛地打了几个喷嚏，这才记起自己的湿鞋袜，于是赶紧回家。
一觉醒来，已是第二天中午。洗漱完毕，就到灶屋里去做饭。灶屋是和蛾子家共用的，此刻那老婆子正在炒辣椒，弄得满屋子呛人的烟。句了捅开煤火，将米饭放到灶上，就坐下来择菜。蛾子的妈已做完了饭，这时走到走廊上，用一条毛巾扑打着身上的灰尘，还大声咳嗽了一阵。句了看见她黑着脸，憔悴不堪的样子，不过也许只是他的感觉，也许她从来就是那副样子，句了以前确实没有认真打量过这老婆子。他在水槽里洗菜时，蛾子过来了，她来端走她母亲放在灶台上的饭菜。她手里端着碗，却没有立刻迈步，眼睛发直，盯着正在切菜的句了。
"你在外面逛得那么晚才回来，这并不好。你一个老头子，怎么还会有那么大的兴趣。那卖火焙鱼的昨天夜里来了，你不在，他就坐在我们家和母亲聊天，聊了很久。我倒是十分留心的，我始终注意着不要让他偷走什么东西。"
"你瞎说吧，他才不会聊天呢，他连话都说不好，怎么会上你家聊天。我从未见过他聊天什么的，想一想都别扭。这家伙独来独往，他那天是来找我借钱的。"他一失口就讲出了秘密，马上又后悔不迭。
蛾子先是吃惊地看着他，后来忽然埋下头窃笑着往房里去了。
句了总是这样，做过了的事又后悔。他觉得不该告诉蛾子小贩来借钱的事，这下她掌握了他和灰元之间的秘密了。虽然没什么大不了的，心里还是不畅快。尤其是那老婆子，今后更会让他不知所措。假如他真有钱又不同了，要是她们都知道他拿不出钱，心里不知道要如何耻笑呢。成了笑料当然也没关系，可是怎么面对老婆子呢？老婆子看他的目光似乎是要搞清他撒谎的原因。可能灰元是真的上她们家去了，但也有可能他是来找他，而他不在家，于是这母女俩就故意将他拖进她们房里去盘问，而灰元并没有告诉她们关于借钱的事，蛾子说"聊了很久"纯粹是吹牛。不管怎样他是做了傻瓜了。
句了吃完饭，收拾了餐具，就提个篮子去菜市场。
远远地看见灰元垂着头坐在那里，他有点觉得亲切，又有点惭愧。他不该将借钱的事说出去，要是灰元知道了，会怎么想？再说自己根本没钱，这种举动就更卑鄙了。也许还是去与他说说吧。
"灰元，你好！"他打过招呼就连忙低下头去看他篮子里的小鱼，用手指头翻来翻去的，假装在挑选。"给我称四两。"
灰元没有动，只是缓缓地抬了头，问他：
"您已经想好了？"
"好了，"他顺口说，"称鱼吧。"
灰元就往秤盘里放小鱼，句了注意到他的手患类风湿关节炎，每个关节凸起，指头歪歪扭扭的；而他的脸，是那种说不出年龄的脸，可以说是三十岁，也可以说是五十多，脸上的皱纹并不多，只是奇瘦，一个陡峭的鹰勾鼻，其他部位看不到一点肉，一层焦黄的皮肤下面就是骨头，嘴唇往里面深深地缩进去，就好像是没有嘴唇一样。句了注意过他的牙齿，那两排牙齿倒是又细又密，而且白亮，与这张脸一点也不相称。句了设想着他咬东西的情景，不由得打了个冷噤。
灰元包好鱼，交给句了，又垂下了头。
句了想走，又觉得不能就这样走了，要对他说点什么才好。他想了想说：
"你去过蛾子家了呀？你一定是去找我的，你不要不好意思嘛。"说到这里他忽然有点进攻的得意，"那家人家呀，非常厉害，总想从我们口里了解点什么去，我知道你什么也不会告诉她们的，是吗？干吗要告诉她们呢？"
灰元抬起头看着他，"啊"了一声，又恢复了那种愚钝的样子。他好像什么也没明白，整个事情好像是句了在自作聪明。
句了羞愧地提了篮子走开了，在灰元面前，他颇有点像"以小人之心，度君子之腹。"又因了这感觉而分外的气愤，恨不得与这小贩一刀两断才好。他走到别的摊点上，买了两样蔬菜就准备回家，他扭头又看了一眼灰元，看见他似乎已经睡着了。
他在回家的路上碰见蛾子，蛾子也来买菜，兴冲冲的。
"句了，一块去走走，和那灰元问问清楚。"蛾子在市场上大声地说。
"不、不！我得马上回家。"他逃跑似的加快脚步。
蛾子走过来一把从背后揪住他，还摇晃了几下，说：
"干吗要跑，他不就是有点小偷小摸吗？也用不着这样害怕啊。"
蛾子又看了看他，忽然她的目光散了，眼里透出无限的忧愁，然后松开手，叹了口气走了。
大约又过了一星期左右，灰元再一次来到句了家里，这一回他没有提篮子，空着手。
句了递给他一根烟，目光与他对视了一下，然后呆呆地坐下了。他看出在灰元的眼光里有种熟悉的东西。并不是说灰元的目光有什么变化，那目光仍然同以往一样，迟钝而冷淡，只是这一次，在他们目光交叉的一刹那，句了从那里面瞟见一种奇怪的东西，这种东西他从另一个人的目光中也见到过，只是一时记不起是谁了。是的，这小贩的目光里透出深深的忧郁，甚至还有对他的怜悯。可是他为什么还要坐在这里呢？他不是为借钱的事来的吗？到底是谁值得怜悯啊。
"逼债逼得越来越紧了，我真是走投无路了啊。"他收回目光，垂着头瓮声瓮气地说，"您有弹子吗？"
"弹子？没有。"句了吓了一跳，"干什么呀？"
句了的眼圈潮湿起来，他站起身，自己也不知怎么了，开始滔滔地说起来：
"灰元啊，为什么你还要玩这些小孩子的游戏呢？你已经是一个成年人，各种艰辛全尝过了，严寒酷暑损害着你的健康，每天还得为生计发愁，因为你太不精明，不适合于做小生意。你一声不响地熬到了今天，却反而欠了一大笔债。现在你无路可走了，你来找我帮忙，可是我根本没钱。起先你以为我在撒谎，现在你看出来了，于是你就要逃避现实了，现实怎么逃避得了呢？我不想把我自己装成多么有同情心，我不会陪你打弹子，这对我来说太奇怪了，也超出了我的能力。我倒宁愿一声不响地和你坐在这里，虽然对你没有什么大的帮助，可我也只能这样了。"
"您是个懦夫。"灰元心平气和地说。
句了始终没有弄懂灰元眼里的那种怜悯，他想或许这个大脑迟钝的家伙在异想天开。他一个孤老头，有饭吃，有衣穿，又不欠别人的债，莫非反过来需要他的同情？他与这小贩是几十年的老街坊了，是不是他在长期的观察中预感到了某种征兆？某种句了自己毫无察觉的征兆？还是自己真的有什么秘密掌握在他手里？现在这个人就坐在自己面前，蜡纸一样薄的眼皮勉强遮住巨大的眼球，好像要睡着了似的，只有那些畸形的指头在膝盖上不停地扭动着。句了觉得自己心里的同情已被嫌弃冲淡了，他嫌弃这个人的脸、鼻子，嫌弃这个人的手，看一眼这个人都使他头痛。
"我生活得很好，虽然没有多余的钱，饭还是有得吃的。我这种人，又不惹是生非，天一黑就把门关得紧紧的，所以倒也平安无事。"
他说这些时，灰元连眼皮都没有抬一抬。句了想，自己到底要说什么呢？想到这里，他就神思恍惚起来，仿佛眼前坐的不是灰元，而是另一个人，一个说不出名字的人，这个人他也许见过，也许没见过，有一点是肯定的，这个人不会与他无关。至于他的债务，以及他向他借钱的事，这都是表面的，而且他的模样也完全不像有求于他，他似乎只是在与他谈及某种虚构的困境。他的态度也不是倾向于要找到解决的办法，他只是消极地讲出他的困境，然后就等待句了的反应；也可能他等都没等，只不过是坐在那里发呆。句了此时的这种感觉是如此的真切，连他自己都惊骇起来：这个小贩，这个成年累月在河边捞小鱼维持生活的家伙，他到底怎么回事？难道他和他之间有一种他从未认识到的，如同血缘一样的关系吗？句了自己父母已经死了，既无兄弟也无姐妹，而老婆儿子也在多年前就离开了他，是不是这一切反倒注定了他和这个人之间要发生一种特殊的、无法言说的联系？他为什么要怜悯自己？听街坊们说，灰元从来不知道自己的父母是谁，也没有任何亲人。而自己，却是有过，后来又失去了。失去了不就等于没有过一样吗？所以现在他和他平等了。现在他明白灰元那句话的意思了，他在人生的战场上败了下来，躲在这里了此残生，所以他是个懦夫。但是他的理解也许完全错了，灰元并不知道他的身世，所以那句话完全可以理解成是指他不敢与他去打弹子。句了被这些念头搅得心里七上八下的，而灰元，垂在胸前的脑袋微微起伏，竟然轻轻地响起了鼾声。
"要把家里的小东小西全收好了呀。"蛾子从门外探进她的脑袋，注意地看了句了一下。
句了猛然想起她的目光与灰元的一模一样。他们为什么要怜悯自己呢？仅仅只是某种妄想在作怪吗？
"这个人，到了这种时候还睡觉，真够冷酷的啊。天下竟有这种稀奇事，找到你家来打瞌睡。你可要小心，趁你不注意……"
她话没说完就走掉了，因为她母亲在叫她，那叫声不像她平时的声音，里头夹着些凄厉的味道。
老婆子这一叫，倒把灰元叫醒了，他站起身来要走，句了默默地将他送到门口，然后突然说了一句自己也不太理解的话：
"渔场里的七爷你知道吗？我见过他了，在他家里。"
灰元抬起眼来看他，那目光寒气逼人。
"那种地方，少去。"
灰元走了。他是来干什么的呢？似乎是来借钱的，又似乎不是，他坐在桌边打了一阵瞌睡就离开了，并没有提借钱的事，倒是他自己说了一通这方面的事，而他擞植灰晕弧?他好像要将他的注意力从借钱这件事情上岔开，那么他要把自己的注意力转移到什么事情上面去呢？于是又想起他目光中的那种怜悯。在那种目光后面，也许有种他永远也无法接近的东西，句了不知道那究竟是什么，正因为不知道，也就无法深究了。有的事，用一辈子的时间都搞不清。
隔壁的母女俩又开始叽叽咕咕地议论他了，讲些什么却听不清。前几天他在木板壁上凿了两个洞，到夜里又发现被她们从对面堵死了，所以他在枉费心机。她们总是议论他，提到他的名字，而且不怀好意。至于议论的具体细节，句了从未听清楚过，这大概也是他始终保持好奇心的原因。前天中午他将剩饭炒了来吃，蛾子说他的剩饭被老鼠爬过了，应该倒掉，句了舍不得倒，说在火上多煮些时间就消毒了。当时那老婆子就在旁边插嘴说，今后说不定剩饭都吃不上了呢。句了觉得这老婆子特别可恶，从来不安好心。后面的事是句了没料到的，蛾子愣了一愣，就窜了过来，端起他放在灶上的锅子朝外泼去，将半锅饭全泼到了外面的沟里。一大群鸡跑了过来，很快就将米饭啄食完毕。由于饭被泼掉，句了也懒得重新煮了，于是饿了一餐肚子。由此他更讨厌老太婆了。句了认为蛾子的行为全是她教唆的。近来她们俩总是在小题大作，竟然发展到了干涉他的行动。在这以前他和这家人家的关系完全不是这样，到底是他变了还是别人变了呢？
傍晚时分那家人家的儿子回来了，这可是件稀罕事，因为句了已经有一年多没见过他了。他的稀疏的胡子留得很长，身上瘦得皮包骨头，还散发出一股异味，像患了绝症的人身上常有的那种味道。他在走廊上与句了相遇，竟然伸出手来，句了只好轻轻地握了一下他的手，那只手像冰一样冷。那天夜里他们家就像过节一样，蛾子做了好多菜，一家三口闹腾到很晚，句了皱着眉，在隔壁暗暗冷笑。果然第二天一早那家伙就不见了。
"你哥哥走了？"他装作无意似的问蛾子。
"去国外了，和一个开发公司走的。"蛾子高傲地说。
"你撒谎，他已经病入膏肓了。"
"有一段时间了，我和妈妈注意到你总是不安，为什么呢？是因为那个人来过了吗？你还往渔场里跑，搞到半夜都不回来，进屋时又毛手毛脚弄得很响，像小伙子一样。"
句了听出她在转移话题，避免谈她哥哥，看来她家里有见不得人的事，遮遮掩掩的。从蛾子脸上一点也看不出有什么凄惨，然而这种盛气凌人是不是要掩盖什么呢？
"妈妈对你的事不放心，总是吩咐我注意你的行踪。你又不是一个小孩，我怎么能时时刻刻跟着你。我们两家在一起住了这么多年了，从来就是各顾各的，现在忽然一下这么热乎起来，旁人要是看见了会起疑心的。我这样说到我们之间的关系，是从外人的观点来看问题，我们本身不是这样看的，至少妈妈不是，妈妈一直是为你操心，你当然不知道。现在人家起疑心，就算我们问心无愧，人家也是决不会理解的。我和妈妈在这条街上住了几十年了，当然不愿意被别人议论，被别人议论的那种滋味，你也是不会知道的，那就好比成群的蚂蚁在咬你的脚板心，而你一动也不能动。"
她的这些话使句了听了心里感到好笑，要说被人议论，他本人不是天天被她们俩议论来议论去吗？但他一点都没感到她所说的那种严重的后果，他只不过是有点好奇心罢了，所以才在墙上打洞，奇怪的是这蛾子，现在说起她妈妈来是这么动情，她的神情好像在告诉他，他的行动已经影响到她母亲了，可是她不想让她母亲出面来解决这种事，她要与他私下里了结，免得母亲过分操心。根据句了的观察，这蛾子以往对她母亲并不那么尊重，她我行我素，自己想干什么就干什么。她随随便便就嫁了人，后来又随随便便离了婚回到母亲身边来。她刚回来时她们家连生活都成问题，因为蛾子出走后丢了工作。后来她们找到一种糊纸盒的零工，母女俩成天呆在家中糊纸盒，糊好了就拿到院子里晒干，送到商店去。当时那老婆子对蛾子有很大的怒气，因为她搅乱了她老年的平静生活（她是个退休工人）。有好几次，句了看见老婆子站在天井那里骂蛾子，骂她"流里流气"，"不守信用"等等。
"我妈妈最不喜欢动荡不安的生活了，尤其是内心方面的，这会使她生病的。难道你就不能为她想一想吗？她虽然一贯体质强健，那正是得益于她保持了内心的平衡呀。"蛾子还在说，言语里谴责的味道已经很浓了。
"你是说我不该和灰元来往，不该去渔场里，我的这些行动扰乱了你妈妈内心的平静，影响了她的健康，对吗？"句了问。
"我并没有这样说，你总要歪曲我的意思。实际上，我只是告诉你，我妈妈的情况很不妙，那原因在你身上，其他就什么也没有了。我既没说你该怎么样，也没说你不该怎么样，那不是我的权力范围的事，你也不要凭你的兴趣来推测。"
蛾子气愤地涨红了脸，眼里射出凶光，句了不由得有点害怕了。
"那么被人议论的事怎么办呢？"句了畏缩地问。
"还能怎么办？你说怎么办？我们被人议论了！妈妈因此生病了！呸！我要走了，我的声音这么大，万一被妈妈听见可就糟了。她虽躺在床上，仍然在想着这事，一刻也不放松，我知道她就是这种性格。"
她走了，关门时是用脚踢的，踢得厨房门上面落下很多泥灰。
过了没多久蛾子又来敲门，原来老婆子是真的生病了，蛾子不知怎么办才好，就来喊句了去看看。
老婆子上半身倚在床头，很精神的样子，头发梳得溜溜光，在脑后挽一个髻。只是她的脸的确比往常要苍白得多，像那种大病初愈的人。她朝句了挥了挥手，说：
"你把光线挡住了。"
句了连忙让到一旁。老婆子并不理会他，用手支着下巴在那里沉思。句了想，蛾子叫他来干什么呢？这会儿她恭顺地坐在老婆子床边，帮她掖好被子，用崇拜的眼神看着她，不时轻轻地唤一声"妈妈"。
"我要走了。"句了说。
"你不能走，妈妈有话要对你说呢。可是你不要着急，她现在正在回忆她要讲的事，这是很痛苦的，不过她总会想起来的。妈妈总是这样辛苦操劳，弄坏了身子，而你，成天无所事事，竟然还往渔场里跑。现在错误已经是无法挽回了。"
句了又在房里站了好久，老婆子连正眼也没看他一下。他终于沉不住气了，提起脚来要走。蛾子一下子站起来。发狠地说：
"你走吧，到渔场里去找那老怪物吧，把灰元叫到你家里来吧，我们并没有阻止你。你站在这里一心只想着你自己，妈妈却在受苦，为了什么？为了你这样一个一钱不值的小人，一个决不为别人牺牲丝毫利益的市侩！"
"我们不要管他。"老婆子硬邦邦地丢出一句话，又继续她的沉思。
厨房里冷冷清清的，灶里的煤火已经黑了。句了一边生火一边想，老婆子的病明明与他毫无关系，为什么蛾子非要扯上他不可呢？这老婆子，肯定是为她儿子的事才生的病，那个浪荡子才是她的心病。蛾子拼命想要抹杀这个事实，才扯了他去胡说八道一通，真是煞费苦心啊。有一点是句了不曾料到的，那就是蛾子居然对他的一举一动，包括他那些模糊的念头都了如指掌，而且显然是不赞成他的。如果她们母女俩对他了解得如此透彻，那么蛾子讲的那些话也是有道理的：这两个人果真在日夜为他操心。句了虽不相信蛾子说的她妈妈是为了他而生的病，可怎么也想不透她们为了什么而这样关心他，难道说她们关心他就是为了要反对他？她们自己的事还忙不够，怎么会有这么多时间来管他的事呢？火苗窜上来了，句了将水壶放在灶上，开始细想那天夜里渔场里发生的事。与七爷有关的一切全是模糊不清的，寂静的鱼塘，黑暗中的点点灯光，野草上的雨水，烧得通红的煤火，紧贴窗玻璃的人面，回来时在菜地里遇见的那个人……想着这些模模糊糊的事，句了总感到某种快意，那渔场，真是个令人神往的处所啊。这里的人为什么都对七爷充满了戒心呢？难道他们是害怕他？老婆子一定不怕七爷，句了看见她穿着黑布衫飘来飘去的，就知道她是什么都不怕的。这几十年里，他一直呆在街上，原先没有这条大马路，到渔场去要经过弯弯的小道。后来大马路修好了，鱼塘就在马路旁边，每次他从马路上走过都可以欣赏那些明镜般的水塘，还有塘那边那些甲虫似的小屋。渔场里的工人走路低着头，步伐机械，他们那黑色的背影总是引起他无穷的遐想。他们当中有一个很惹眼，那人头部很大，动作迟缓，每当听到背后有什么异常的声音就停住脚步，歪着大头，口中念念有词，却并不转过身来。他的那双赤脚很大，肉很多，这是和别的工人不同的地方。有时走着走着，他会忽然一屁股坐在泥地上抽起烟来，将烟雾吐向辽阔的天空。句了观察他已有很久了，别的工人都很粗鲁，惟独这个人一点都不粗鲁，不如说他的一举一动都像儿童，所以句了每次看见他都有种很心疼的感觉。至于七爷，句了认为他与这些工人是不同的，他深不可测。七爷并不是那种沉默寡言的类型，有时还叫叫嚷嚷，但不知怎么的，他在这些人当中地位很高，是的，这个退了休的老头一直是所有工人的首领。他似乎对于自己的环境很满意，或者说他喜欢周围这些粗鲁的工人，他有种酋长的风度。直到那天夜里去了七爷家，句了才知道这些工人不完全是少言寡语的，他们在夜里也和街上的小伙子一样调皮捣蛋，只是在白天的阳光中和天空下，他们的身影才是那样的寂寞，仿佛要融化，要消失似的。连句了自己也觉得奇怪，这么多年了，他怎么就从来没有想到过要进渔场里面去看一看呢？为什么他总是身不由己地从外面观察呢？他又想起这条街上的人也和他一样，从来不去渔场里走，大家似乎遵守着一条无形的界限，所以那天夜里的事才引起老婆子这么大的不安吧。难道真是所有的人都从未去过吗？在漫长的岁月中从不曾有过一次破例吗？句了不知道要怎样来看待那天夜里的事。也许多年来他就在作这方面的准备，只不过自己没有觉察罢了。比如那个大头的工人，由于无数次的观察，他早就对他十分熟悉了，哪怕隔得远远的，他也能分辨出他那笨拙的身姿，还有一个驼背，虽然他从未和他讲过话，那是无论在什么地方也不会认错的。渔场工人到了街上就像影子一样游来游去，句了甚至猜想街上的人看不见他们。不管怎么回忆，他也记不起他是从哪一天起对渔场的事发生兴趣的了，也许是大马路修好之后，也许在那之前。这样看起来，那天夜里去七爷家就不是忽发奇想，而是长期酝酿的结果。七爷没有大惊小怪，他说他这辈子什么都见过了嘛，说不定他早就在家里等他去呢，这种事完全可能。现在一连串的麻烦接踵而来，他无形中又触犯了隔壁的老婆子，虽然她没有命令他什么，可是她不断用自己的生病来埋怨自己，真使人受不了啊。句了活了六十多年，还从来没想过自己也有被人牵制的一天，他早就逐步地砍断了各种各样的牵挂，他已经不习惯于这种牵制了。是不是他该对蛾子和她母亲大喊大叫，说她们的事与他无关呢？一来他不习惯于大喊大叫，二来他的邻居是极其顽固的女人，他已经领教了几十年之久了。
句了把开水灌到热水瓶里，封好了火，正打算回房里去，蛾子又来了。
"妈妈要你过去，现在她已经从回忆中摆脱出来了。"
老婆子已经躺下了，在那张脸上神色全都消失了，像一条正要蜕皮的蚕。她从被子里伸出手，示意句了到她面前来，句了连忙找了一张板凳坐在她床边。房间里只有她和他两个人，蛾子没有跟着进来。一瞬间句了的脑际掠过这个念头：别人会不会认为他与这老婆子之间有暧昧关系呢？这几十年他们之间都是互不相干的，现在忽然越过界限，就像一家人似的来往起来，这未免太荒唐了吧。
"七爷年岬氖焙虼永床缓腿私不埃煌晾锏挠氵脒陡霾煌！?老婆子盯着句了的脸。
"我并不是有意要惹您生气。"句了垂着头，打量着自己那些开裂的手指甲。
"当然，那是我自己的事。你不要听蛾子的，她因为担心我的病，就在你面前夸大起事实来，她总是心里害怕。打个比方说吧，一个人得了晚期癌症，在最后的关头他又受到了精神的折磨，能说这种折磨是他致死的原因吗？他总会死的，不是今天就是明天。但是我举的这个例子有点过分了。我想听你谈谈渔场里的见闻，你兴冲冲地往那里跑，不会没有见闻吧，只是觉得与我这种快死的老