Chapter 2 "Farmer" II

two When Olga went to church, she took Maria with her.They walked down the path towards the meadow.Both are in a good mood.Olga likes the vast countryside, and Maria finds this sister-in-law kind and amiable.The sun is up.A drowsy eagle hovered low over the pasture, the river was dark, and in some places there was morning mist.A strip of light stretched across the hill on the other side of the river, illuminating the church in golden light.In the garden of the landlord's house, a group of rooks croaked loudly. "It's nothing to the old man," said Maria, "the old lady is very strong, and she always quarrels with people. She only grows enough food for Maslenitsa, and she has to buy flour in a small shop, so she gets angry and says: You eat too much."

①The Orthodox Christian holiday, one week before Lent, is in the second ten days of February in the Russian lunar calendar, with the meaning of sending winter and welcoming spring. "Oh, forget it, dear ones, just bear with it. It is written in the Holy Book: "All who labor and are heavy-burdened may come to me." '②" ②See Chapter 11, Section 28 of the Gospel of Martha. Olga spoke steadily and melodiously, and walked like a pilgrim woman, quick and hasty.She must read the "Gospel" every day, reciting it aloud like a church chant. Although she does not understand many places, the sacred language always moves her to tears. Whenever she reads "if" and "until" As she spoke, her heart seemed to stop beating.She believed in God, she believed in Our Lady, and she believed in all who serve God.She believed that no one could be bullied; no ordinary person, no German, no Gypsy, no Jew, no one in the world could be bullied.She believes that sooner or later, anyone who shows no mercy to animals will suffer.She believed it was written in the Holy Book.So whenever she read the Bible, even if she couldn't read it, her face always showed pity, emotion and joy.

"Where are you from?" Maria asked. "I'm from Vladimir. It's just that I went to Moscow very early, when I was eight years old." They came to the river.On the other side of the river a woman was standing by the water, undressing. "That's our Fiocla," Maria recognized. "She's crossing the river to the landowner's estate. Find the butler there. She's a rogue and quarrelsome—what a hell!" Black-browed Fiokla, with loose hair, was young and strong like a girl.She jumped from the bank into the river, her legs slapping hard, and a wave of waves was thrown around her.

"She's messing around--what a mess!" repeated Maria. A rickety log bridge spanned the river.Under the bridge, in the clear and transparent river water, groups of big-headed crocodile swim to and fro.The green bushes were reflected in the water, and the dewdrops on the leaves glistened.It's warm and cozy all around, which makes people feel full of love.What a beautiful morning!If there were no poverty, no terrible, endless poverty, nowhere to escape, perhaps life on earth would be as beautiful as this morning!But one only needs to look back at the village to remember clearly what happened yesterday, and the intoxicating sense of happiness aroused by the surrounding scenery immediately disappears.

They come to church.Maria stood at the gate, not daring to go any further.Again she dared not sit down, even though the bell would not strike for Mass until after eight o'clock.She just stood like this. While reading the Gospel, the crowd suddenly moved to make way for the landlord's family.Two girls in white dresses and wide-brimmed hats came in, followed by a fat red boy in a sailor suit.Olga was greatly moved by their presence, and she saw at a glance that they were educated and noble people of the upper class.Maria frowned, looked at them sullenly, and looked at them in frustration, as if it was not a human being who came in, but a demon, and if she didn't get out of the way, they would be trampled to death.

Whenever the deacon's bass voice read the scriptures, Maria always seemed to hear "Ma-Maria" scolding, so she couldn't help trembling.