Chapter 3 The Language and Intonation of "Forever Yin Xueyan"

Among Bai Xianyong's complete works, the opening book "Forever Yin Xueyan" is the most "cold" one.Although the other chapters also use objective narratives and contain social criticism, readers can easily feel the author's sympathy for the characters in the story.Only in "Forever Yin Xueyan", the author seems to completely isolate himself, watching with a cold eye, adopting an omniscient narrative point of view, does not penetrate into the consciousness of any character, and is limited to specific and objective descriptions of the characters' appearance, words, deeds and plot development. "Forever Yin Xueyan" is the most ironic article in the book.This irony, consistently, is effectively conveyed to the reader by the "tone" of the text—that is, the tone of the "narrator."

First, I want to explain what a "narrator" is.We often mistakenly think that the narrator of a novel is the author of the novel; what the narrator says is what the author wants to say.Not really.Especially in satirical texts, the author sometimes deliberately makes the narrator say something completely contrary to his original intention; and the gap between the author and the narrator is the most striking and produces a mocking effect. In "Forever Yin Xueyan", Bai Xianyong used this kind of ironic technique to make the narrator say negative or crooked words.Examples are as follows:

Narrator's words: Yin Xueyan is never old... no matter how things change, Yin Xueyan will always be Yin Xueyan. The author's intention: Who is not old?Even if she looks like Yin Xueyan, her appearance doesn't seem to change, and everyone thinks "forever", but she is not deceiving herself or others. Narrator's words: Yin Xueyan's fame has grown, so it's inevitable that she will be jealous. Her sister Tao, who is traveling with her, is jealous and shouts everywhere: Yin Xueyan's horoscope has a heavy evil, and she has committed a white tiger. Those who get involved will lose the family if it is light, and die if it is serious.

The author's intention: Yin Xueyan's horoscope is indeed carrying heavy evil, which makes people lose their lives.This has nothing to do with her fame and taboo. Narrator's words: Director Hong... lost his position in one year and went bankrupt in two years... Yin Xueyan was quite conscientious when she left Director Hong. Apart from her own belongings, she only took a famous chef from Shanghai and two aunts from Suzhou with her. The author's intention: Yin Xueyan really has no conscience.After Director Hong went bankrupt, she not only abandoned him, but also took away all her belongings and servants.

Narrator's words: Yin Xueyan stood aside... looked at her group... the guests with compassionate eyes, killing and slaughtering each other frantically. The author's intention: Yin Xueyan showed no mercy and watched the guests slaughter each other. Another satirical technique of Bai Xianyong is the deliberate use of idioms, clichés and exaggerated language in the narrative.Idioms or clichés such as "Youth in Wuling", "Frost on the temples", "Nostalgic feelings", "Relish", "Full of friends", "Xanadu", "Stay like a wooden chicken", "Talking Heartfelt" and so on.Exaggerated metaphors and descriptions can be found everywhere, bringing a comic and ironic effect to the whole novel.Examples are as follows:

Looking at the moon and the bright stars in the sky, Wang Guisheng said that if he could use his gold bars to build a ladder to heaven, he would climb up to the sky to take out the crescent moon and stick it on Yin Xueyan's temple. String a chain of diamonds and put it around Yin Xueyan's neck, and lead her home. Director Hong divorced his ex-wife... and agreed to Yin Xueyan's ten conditions; so Yin Xueyan became Mrs. Hong. Even the corners of his eyes refused to wrinkle. Even the title that was abolished more than ten years ago, after Yin Xueyan's sweet and affectionate address, it is as if it has been borrowed, and a lot of psychological superiority has been restored.

Yin Xueyan's words are as awe-inspiring as an oracle. Yin Xueyan personally designed a revolving menu, turning out tables of exquisite banquets every day. Patrolling back and forth lightly, like a silver-white priestess. (When playing mahjong and lose fast) Scream Yin Xueyan for help, beg for mercy from Yin Xueyan This exaggerated, almost comical description is the mainstream of the ironic tone throughout the article, presenting readers with a vivid picture of social satire. In the article "Bai Xianyong's Novel World", when I discussed the theme of life and death, I discussed the implication of the novel "Forever Yin Xueyan".For convenience, I have transcribed the relevant paragraphs below:

After reading it carefully, I feel that the Buddhist thought of "everything is empty" is hidden at the bottom.Bai Xianyong listed "Forever Yin Xueyan" as the first article, and I don't think it is accidental.Although this novel can also be interpreted as a mockery of all beings in society, I think the meaning of "symbol" far exceeds "realism".Yin Xueyan, interpreted in symbolic meaning, is not a person, but a demon.She is a ghost, a god of death.She transcends the boundaries of time: "Yin Xueyan will never grow old"; she also transcends the boundaries of space: "She will never affect her balance due to changes in the outside world."She is "evergreen"; she has "her own melody... her own beat".Bai Xianyong repeatedly uses the imagery of "wind" to imply that she is a ghost: "floating with the wind", "like a March breeze", "as if being intoxicated by this wind", "walking like the wind", " A gust of wind flashed in", and she was "like a silver priestess all over her body", "dressed in white, with her hands folded in front of her chest, like a statue of Avalokitesvara", "walking out of bliss with her wind-like steps" "Funeral parlor" and so on, similes and metaphors, countless.Coupled with the objective fact that anyone who combines with her will inevitably perish, the author's intention to compare her to a ghost is obvious.

The reason why I emphasize that Bai Xianyong deliberately compared Yin Xueyan to a ghost, that is, to prove that there is indeed a hidden thought of "everything is empty" in the bottom layer to prove.Because Yin Xueyan is both a demon and a ghost, her words and actions surpass the words and actions of a real person, and become a kind of "prophecy" of a prophet, that is, a high-ranking author's comment on life .Its function is a bit like the "chorus" in Greek classical drama, and it is also similar to the witch in Shakespeare's "Macbeth". So, when Yin Xueyan said:

"Sister Song, 'A person is not happy for a thousand days, and a flower is not red for a hundred days', who can enjoy glory and wealth for a lifetime?" This is also Bai Xianyong's comment on the world.And when "Yin Xueyan stood aside, three nines with a golden mouth in her mouth, slowly puffing out smoke rings, she looked at her group of proud, frustrated, old, middle-aged, once powerful, and once with compassionate eyes. The magnificent guests are fanatically killing each other [superficial meaning refers to playing mahjong] and slaughtering each other." We seem to vaguely hear Bai Xianyong's sigh from behind the dark tomb: "Oh, poor, truly poor human beings! Such obsessed ! But I don’t know that it will end in death!” Everyone is bound to die.The god of death, just like Yin Xueyan, patiently, smilingly, condescendingly, overlooking all living beings, watching them fight and slaughter each other.Then, impartial and unselfish, she took them one by one into her cold embrace.

In this way, "Forever Yin Xueyan", in addition to constituting a picture of "all beings in society" on the surface, also has a deep meaning, which is the author's invisible "opening remarks". It is worth noting that once we adopt the symbolic meaning of this article and regard Yin Xueyan as the incarnation of death, there will be a little bit of humor contained in the article; if it is completely lost, the whole novel will immediately become "dead serious" (dead serious). ).Many metaphors and descriptions that were exaggerated and almost comical suddenly became not exaggerated, not funny, and completely serious.Yin Xueyan has really become "forever" and is no longer the negative words of the author.Her words were truly "oracles."She is really a "silver priestess".In front of her, people would really "cry for help" and "cry for mercy".These words, which were originally inspired by exaggeration and deliberate affectation, suddenly outlined the relationship between human beings and death.Poor human beings, limited by the "limitation" of life, can't fight against death no matter how great their ambitions are.His helpless and incompetent situation is exactly what Manager Wu sang with his desolate and hoarse voice: I'm like a shallow water dragon stuck in the sand. Yin Xueyan's mansion is a "Xanadu", which gives people a "comfortable feeling of not wanting to leave", sitting on the sofa, leaning on the soft silk pillow, "when one sits down, one sinks in half", "it makes people refuse to sit down". leave".Everyone is talking about "old sayings", "they all have a nostalgic feeling", "it seems that Yin Xueyan is the eternal symbol of Shanghai Paramount era, and the evidence of the prosperity of Beijing and Shanghai".Manager Wu, who was so old that the circles under his eyes had begun to fester, actually listened to the words Yin Xueyan coaxed him, "Godfathers are the ones who are old and strong", so "I felt relieved and regained a lot of self-confidence."In this description, the author's criticism and allusion to the society and the state are obvious and need no explanation.However, the intention of "self-deception" in it can also be applied to the fundamental situation of human beings in the author's vision.Really, don't we, the ones, also avoid facing the cruel reality of "mortal death"?Aren't we also blindly and self-deceitfully greedy for the emptiness of life, falling into temporary comfort and joy, and refusing to leave?The Beijing-Shanghai side dishes that Yin Xueyan entertains guests are called gold and silver legs, imperial concubine chicken, shrimp grabbing, and drunk crabs, which obviously all have implied meanings, alluding to the ignorance and ignorance of human beings, their greed for wealth, and their obsession with wealth. Many characters in the game like to play mahjong.Playing mahjong, in the world, generally insinuates insensitivity, escape from reality, forgetting pain, and narcissism.In "Forever Yin Xueyan", in addition to these more obvious allusions, with the extension of the theme meaning, the "mahjong table" further becomes the epitome of the whole life.In Yin Xueyan's mansion, "the mahjong rooms, mahjong tables, and mahjong lights with special equipment for playing mahjong are all exquisitely designed."Friends surrounding Yin Xueyan's mahjong table "killing each other and slaughtering each other" are actually human beings trapped in the quagmire of life and rolling in vain.As for Yin Xueyan, the stern and selfless god of death, of course she didn't end up on her own, she just watched from the sidelines.She always put in a lot of work in advance, arranging the game for the guests, and making perfect preparations, in order to be able to watch the helpless struggle of human beings and entertain herself.No one can be the winner, because "at the mahjong table, one's fate is often out of control".Really, with the existence of "death", who can control their own destiny?Just like Yin Xueyan turning the menu to choose dishes, who knows that the god of death will choose you or me next time? Once we understand the theme of death lurking under the satirical picture of society, and then read this novel carefully from the beginning, we will be surprised to find how carefully and painstakingly the author chooses precise words, creates vivid and appropriate images, and fully Utilize and develop the suggestive potential that only Chinese characters have. In order to insinuate that Yin Xueyan is a "demon", the author repeatedly uses the image of "wind"; from a realistic point of view, it is a metaphor for her light posture, and in a moral sense, of course, it symbolizes her "no substance". Yin Xueyan is indeed a person without substance. Monster: "There is no root under your feet", "Lightly patrolling back and forth", waiting for an opportunity to grab the next sacrifice.She "has a faint smile hanging from the corner of her mouth".The word "flow" in this sentence is like a finishing touch, fully expressing Yin Xueyan's elusiveness.Yin Xueyan is a "spirit formed from ice and snow", her heart is as hard as iron, and her nature is as cold as ice. No wonder what she offers is "in the ice", "a cup of Tieguanyin", and "a bowl of frozen almond tofu".Yin Xueyan exudes "musk" all over her body, "too... people... to enter a half-drunk state", and the "sweet and greasy tuberose" in her living room is a deadly evil spirit. When a person is smoked and drunk, he has been poisoned and is on the verge of death. It is not difficult to notice that when Bai Xianyong described Yin Xueyan, he repeatedly used words and imagery related to witchcraft and temple characters to imply her "supernatural" nature.Such as "silver priestess", "prayer and sacrifice", "slowly blowing smoke rings", "oracle", "like a Guanyin".She invited Xu Zhuangtu to study the "Mahjong Classic" together.The tuberose in her living room, "in the middle of the night, spit out a puff of strong fragrance".She caused Mrs. Xu, "the cheeks are getting thinner day by day, and the eyes are sunken into two deep pits." In addition, in the plot structure of this novel, Bai Xianyong included a large section about the origin and words and deeds of the mage Wu's grandma.I think one of the purposes of Bai Xianyong's choice of this role is to use the mouth of this Taoist to express the metaphysical theory that he obviously believes that "monsters come out of troubled times" or "monsters create troubled times". (Refer to the article "Bai Xianyong's Novel World", discussing Bai Xianyong's "view of injustice".) This reminds us of Li, because the arrogant and stubborn Hong Taiwei during Song Renzong's time insisted on ordering people to open the "Palace of Subduing Demons" , Unexpectedly escaped from the demon locked in the town of Master Dongxuan, the ancestor Tianshi, which led to years of robbery and chaos. However, the greatest function of the character of the Wu family grandma is to add to the already lingering religious (or cult) mysterious atmosphere throughout the novel.Bai Xianyong went on to describe in detail the Xu Zhuang Turing Hall located in the Bliss Funeral Parlor, where Taoist priests cleared their karma, monks and nuns chanted sutras, and prayed for great compassion.These, in addition to adding to the atmosphere of religious mystery, also highlight the theme of "death" in this novel. No matter how terrible death is, it also has a puzzling power, just like Yin Xueyan in silver, who can "arrest people to you". (The word "ju" here has a deep meaning!) When Yin Xueyan broke into the mourning hall of Xu's family, "everyone was dumbfounded. Some looked surprised, some were angry, and some were full of bewilderment, but everyone seemed to be I was overwhelmed by a wave of potential, and didn't dare to act rashly."These few descriptions, I think, are also very applicable to the various reactions or stages that human beings generally go through when facing death. Bai Xianyong's intentions in choosing words can be seen everywhere, and there are countless examples.Now let's examine how he uses color to imply that Yin Xueyan is a god of death, a monster that kills people. White is the color of death; when the author describes Yin Xueyan, the word "white" is almost inseparable: "plain white cheongsam", "silver body", "snow-white skin", "offended by a white tiger", "snow white... In the ice of ...", "a silver-white priestess", "moon-white... cheongsam", "moon-white... embroidered shoes", "a white dress", "a plain white dress".Such repeated hints should not be overlooked by even the most careless reader.And when Yin Xueyan chose Xu Zhuang's picture at the 60th birthday celebration reception for Manager Wu ("Celebration"! What an irony!), on top of the white symbolizing death, red symbolizing blood was suddenly added.Yin Xueyan, wearing a moon white cheongsam and moon white embroidered shoes, "made an exception and put a big blood-red tulip in a wine glass on the right temple hairpin", "the blood-red tulip trembled tremblingly".Even the food she presented to Xu Zhuangtu was red and white: "a bowl of frozen almond tofu... but there are two bright red cherries on it".Red and white, bloodshed and death—here, already foreshadowed the unavoidable misfortune of Xu Zhuangtu.But "The Omen" doesn't stop there.We carefully read Yin Xueyan's dress and decorations that day, and found that the author chose some words that can remind people of murder weapons: "There is a blood-red tulip on the hairpin", "A pair of inch-long tulips are hanging on the ears. "Silver pendant" and "tuberose that was hinged after all the cases were replaced".These all vaguely indicated that Xu Zhuangtu would be stabbed to death by a worker with a flat drill in the near future.In fact, Xu Zhuangtu's fate was already doomed when he stepped into Yin Xueyan's mansion and "smelled a burst of sweet fragrance".The "wine glass big" blood-red tulip on Yin Xueyan's temples is exactly the big glass of Xu Zhuangtu's blood that the demon is waiting to drink. For Xu Zhuangtu, the former Wang Guisheng, and even Director Hong, Yin Xueyan didn't spend much time, and ended them in a short period of time.But for Manager Wu, the means she used was even more ruthless "Ling Chi".Manager Wu is Yin Xueyan's godfather, an old acquaintance from the Shanghai Paramount era until today.Careful readers will definitely notice that Manager Wu suffers from two chronic diseases, rheumatism and trachoma.The symbolic meaning is not difficult to understand.In fact, Bai Xianyong reminded readers of the gradual corrosion of Manager Wu's physical body not only once, but repeatedly: Manager Wu's hair is indeed all white, and he suffers from severe rheumatism. He walks very staggeringly, and his eyes suffer from trachoma, with inverted eye hairs and tears all the year round. The eye sockets have begun to fester, revealing pink flesh. ...Blinking his presbyopic eyes with rotten eyelashes...a desolate and hoarse voice... Every time he was defeated, Manager Wu blinked his eyes with rotten eyelashes, and wailed to Yin Xueyan for help. Yin Xueyan put the black silk chair cushion on Manager Wu's rheumatism back... Because of the constant rush and rheumatism, when he walked in and out of the Bliss Funeral Parlor, he staggered on crutches all the way. In the last scene of the novel, everyone is playing cards around Yin Xueyan's mahjong table.Manager Wu's luck turned out to be a miracle, a series of wins and slams. "He kept laughing and screaming, and tears dripped from his blood-red eye circles with rotten eyelashes."On the twelfth lap, he suddenly waved his hands and shouted: A Yuan, come here!Come on! "Four joys come to the door"!This is really a strange card that is rarely seen in a century!East, south, west, north - all in one place, take away your own hands!People say that the big four is happy, and the omen is ominous.I've been unlucky all my life, and I won't be very happy after I draw this strange card.A Yuan, A Yuan, let me see if this deck of cards is cute or not?Interesting or not? This passage, in addition to implying the author's allusion to the social and national situation, implies Manager Wu's blindness and ignorance.He was already half-dead (really "passing in and out" in the Bliss Funeral Parlor), his body was almost festered, but he was still delusional about "whether he will come to Bliss from now on." (But of course, we can also distort the explanation and say that ending the life of "unlucky life" with death is the real "no good luck".) At the end of the novel, Yin Xueyan "gently pressed Manager Wu's shoulder" and smiled. said: Godfather, cheer up and play two sets.Looking back, I won the money from Manager Yu and Chairman Zhou, and I will eat your red! What a "I'll eat your red"!This pun really hits the nail on the head.Poor Manager Wu, he was only one step away from death, and the god of death was pressing on his shoulder, waiting to suck up his life serum.But he was still laughing and screaming, unknowingly. "Forever Yin Xueyan", although it is the most "cold" article in the novel, (how can it not be "cold" when writing about death?) We can still vaguely feel the author's regret for human ignorance from the narrator's consistent mocking tone and sigh.