Chapter 5 Chapter One

The Red Sea has passed by long ago, and the ship is sailing on the Indian Ocean, but the sun still sets late and rises early, occupying most of the night.The night is like paper soaked in oil and turned translucent; it is embraced by the sun, and it is impossible to tell where it is. Maybe it is intoxicated by the sun, so the night after the sunset glow fades is also blush.When Hongxiao woke up drunk, the sleepers in the cabin also woke up tired of sweat, took a shower and rushed to the deck to enjoy the sea breeze, and another day began.This is late July, which is the hottest time of the year.In China, it was even hotter than usual, and everyone said afterwards that it was a sign of war, because this was the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937).

The French liner Vicomte de Bragelonne is headed for China.At eight o'clock in the morning, the third-class deck was still wet after being washed, but it was already full of people, including French, Jews exiled from Germany, Indians, Annanites, and needless to say, Chinese.The sea breeze was already hot and dry, and the fat man's body was dried by the hot wind, covered with a layer of sweaty salt frost, as if he had just bathed in the Dead Sea in Palestine.After all, it is early in the morning, people's spirits have not been withered by the sun, they are lazy, and they are very active in talking and doing things.The few Frenchmen who were newly assigned to be policemen in Annan or the Chinese Concession were surrounding the young Jewish woman and flirting with them.Bismarck once said that the characteristic of French ministers and ambassadors is that they cannot speak a single foreign language; these few policemen do not understand German, but they actually conveyed their feelings and attracted Jewish women to giggle, much better than their diplomats.The woman's handsome husband was watching with pleasure, because he had been soaked in cigarettes, beer, and lemonade for the past few days.The Red Sea has passed, and there is no fear of being caught by extreme heat, so after a while, besides the scattered peels, pieces of paper, and corks on the deck, cigarette butts must be everywhere again.The French are famous for their clear thinking, and their articles are clear and clean, but their actions are all chaotic, dirty, and noisy, but look at the mess on this ship.Relying on human ingenuity, this boat is full of people's turmoil and hopes, and it is moving lively. Every minute, a small area of ​​water that has been polluted by people's popularity is returned to the ruthless, endless, and boundless sea.

As usual, a group of Chinese international students return to China every summer.There were also about ten people on this boat.Most of them are young people who have not yet found their jobs. They returned to China at the beginning of the summer vacation and can find work calmly.Those students who have nothing to worry about are not willing to leave until the cool autumn.Some of the people on board were studying in France, some were studying in the UK, Germany, Belgium, etc., and they went to Paris to gain experience in nightlife, so they also took the French ship.They met at the end of the world, hit it off right away, and when they talked about the motherland with foreign troubles and internal strife, they all wished to go back to serve it immediately.The boat was going so slowly, and everyone felt like a hometown, and they were worried that they had nowhere to rest. Suddenly, two sets of mahjong tiles appeared out of nowhere.Mahjong is of course a national game, and it is said that it is popular in the United States; playing cards not only has the flavor of the hometown, but also fits the world trend.It's wonderful, the number of people can make up two tables and there is more than enough, so apart from eating and sleeping, they gamble all day long for entertainment.Just after breakfast, the dining room below was already busy playing the first round of cards. On the deck, there were only two Chinese women and a child who was not a human being. Buy a ticket for him.The woman with the sunglasses and the novel on her body was dressed in a very refined manner.Among the orientals, the skin should be considered fair, but unfortunately this whiteness is not fresh, rather dry.She took off her black glasses, her features were pretty, but her lips were too thin, and her lipstick wasn't thick enough.If she had risen from the deck chair she would have looked thin, and perhaps the outlines had been too hard, drawn with a square-tipped pen.The age seems to be twenty-five or sixteen, but the age of modern-style women is like the age on old-fashioned women's marriage posts. It needs what scholars call external evidence to determine the authenticity, which cannot be seen by itself.The boy's mother was already in her thirties, wearing a half-worn black gauze cheongsam, her face was full of toil and sleepiness, and with her natural upside-down eyebrows, she felt even more miserable and pitiful.The child was less than two years old, with a flat nose, two oblique slits for the eyes, and high eyebrows, which were so far apart from the eyes that they were lovesick. They looked like the faces of Chinese people in newspaper caricatures.He had just learned how to walk, and he kept running around; his mother held a leash around him, and he was pulled back before he could run three or four steps.His mother was afraid of the heat, tired of pulling her hands, and worried about her husband's wins and losses down there, so she couldn't stop scolding the child for being annoying.The child couldn't run anywhere, so he changed his purpose and threw himself on the woman reading a book.The woman usually had a self-admired, out-of-this-world look--the look of a neglected guest at a big banquet or an unmarried girl at a wedding banquet-but now she showed disgust, which black glasses could not hide. .The child's mother felt a little bit apologetic, pulled the belt and said apologetically: "You naughty child, go and make trouble with Miss Su! Come back quickly.—Miss Su, you really work hard! You are so good at learning, and you read books all day long. Mr. Sun often tells me It is said that female students like Miss Su are considered to save face for China. They are beautiful and have a doctorate. Where can we find such a person? Like us, we came to a foreign country once for nothing, and we have never read a single book, and we have been housekeepers all our lives. When I was studying in China, I completely forgot about having a baby—scary! I hate it! I told you not to go, you will stain Miss Su’s clothes if you don’t do good deeds.”

Miss Su has always looked down on this poor Mrs. Sun, and she doesn't like children the most, but after hearing these words, she was happy and said with a kind smile: "Let him come, I like children the most." She took off her sunscreen He closed his glasses and was staring at the book in ecstasy. He carefully held the child's wrist so as not to rub it on his clothes, and asked him, "Where's Dad?" Boo! Boo!" spit, and the goldfish raised in the dining room blew bubbles.Miss Su let go of her hand in a panic, and took out her handkerchief to defend herself.His mother pulled him hard, yelling to slap him on the mouth, and sighed, "His father gambles down there, so what's the point! I don't understand why all men like to gamble. Look at the few of us on the same boat, there is no one who doesn't gamble." It's dark and dark. Win. Like our Mr. Sun, who lost a lot of money and still wants to gamble, I hate me to death!"

After hearing the last few petty words, Ms. Su couldn't help but look down on Mrs. Sun again, and said coldly, "Mr. Fang doesn't gamble." Mrs. Sun turned her nostrils to the sky, and said coldly: "Mr. Fang! He also played cards when he got off the boat. Now he is busy pursuing Miss Bao, so of course he can't tell the time. The important thing in his life is much more important than gambling. I will I can't see that Ms. Bao is dark and thick. There is something beautiful about it. Mr. Fang will not be a second-class guest and change to a third-class cabin to suffer. I think the two of them are very good, and maybe they will get engaged when the ship arrives in Hong Kong. This is really a 'fate to meet thousands of miles away'."

When Miss Su heard this, her heart ached. She replied to Mrs. Sun and comforted herself: "That's absolutely impossible! Miss Bao has a fiancé, and she told me about it herself. Her fiancé paid for her study abroad." Mrs. Sun said: "Is it still so romantic to have a fiancé? We are old antiques, and finally learned something new this time. Ms. Su, let me tell you a joke. Mr. Fang and you are old classmates in China. Does he always speak casually?" Yesterday, Mr. Sun told him that gambling is bad luck, he still laughed. He said that Mr. Sun has been in France for many years, and he didn’t know the superstitions of the French: wife is unfaithful, steals people, husband is a turtle, buys lottery tickets If you win the first prize, you must win the gambling. Therefore, he said that a man should take comfort when he loses in gambling. Mr. Sun told me that I blamed him for not questioning Fang at the time. Ms. Fang’s fiancé will definitely win the first prize in the airline lottery; if she becomes Mrs. Fang, Mr. Fang must be lucky in gambling.” The viciousness of honest and honest people is like gravel in rice or unclean thorns in fish fillets. , will give people an unexpected pain.

Miss Su said: "Miss Bao doesn't behave like a female student, and her dress is embarrassing enough—" The child suddenly stretched out his hands to the back of their chair, laughing and jumping loudly.The two looked back and saw that it was Miss Bao who was walking here, holding a piece of candy in her hand, teasing the child from a distance.She was only wearing a scarlet tube top, navy blue skin-fitting shorts, and red-painted nails peeking out of her white leather shoes.Perhaps this is the most reasonable attire on a hot day in the tropics, and one or two foreign women on board are dressed in this way.But Ms. Su felt that Ms. Bao was naked, which hurt the Chinese national system.Those male students got angry when they saw it, and they were squabbling, talking and laughing behind Miss Bao's back.Some called her a "charcuterie" because only a charcuterie would display so much warm-colored meat in public; others called her "truth" because it was said that "truth is naked."Ms. Bao was not naked, so they revised it to "partial truth".

Miss Bao came and greeted the two of them, saying, "You guys got up really early. I like to be lazy on the bed in hot weather. I didn't even know Miss Su got up today. She slept like a log." Miss Bao wanted to say, "Sleep!" "Like a pig", then thought about saying "like a dead person", but finally felt that a dead person is not much better than a pig, so I borrowed that metaphor from English.She hastily explained: "This boat is really like a cradle, people just want to sleep in a daze because of it." "Then, you are the baby sleeping in the cradle. Look, how cute!" Miss Su said.

Miss Bao slapped her and said, "You! Su Dongpo's younger sister, a talented girl!"——"Su Xiaomei" is the nickname given to Miss Su by the male students on the same boat. The word "Dongpo" sounds like "tombeau" in French to Ms. Bao's Nanyang accent. Miss Su and Miss Bao share the same cabin, and they sleep in the lower berth, which is much more convenient than Miss Bao, as there is no need to climb up and down every day.But in the past few days, she hated Miss Bao, and felt that she hindered her in everything: she snored too loudly, making it difficult for her to sleep well, turning over was too heavy, and the upper bunk seemed to collapse.I gave Ms. Bao a slap, and she said, "Mrs. Sun, you judge me. Call her 'little baby' and get beaten! It's a blessing to be able to sleep. I know you love to sleep, so you never make a sound, lest you Wake you up. You tell me you're afraid of getting fat, but you're so sleepy on the boat, I think you'll put on a few more pounds."

The child clamored for candy, and bit it when he got it. His mother called him Xie Miss Bao, but he ignored him, so Mrs. Sun had to deal with Miss Bao herself.Ms. Su had seen this candy favor for a long time, it was the sugar cube used for breakfast and coffee on the ship.She despised Miss Bao's style of work, and she didn't want to talk to her any more, so she opened the book again, but she caught sight of Miss Bao pulling the two canvas chairs to an empty place far away from her eyes and scolding her for being shameless, while she herself I hate why I went to see her.At that time, Fang Hongjian also came up on the deck, walked in front of them, stopped to greet them, and said, "Hello, little brother."Mrs. Sun responded indifferently.Miss Su smiled and said, "Go quickly, aren't you afraid that people will be anxious about waiting?" Fang Hongjian blushed and smirked, then left Miss Su and walked away.Miss Su knew she couldn't keep him, but when he really went, she was disappointed.She didn't read a single word in the book, but she heard Miss Bao talking and laughing softly, so she couldn't help but read it.Fang Hung-chien was smoking when Miss Bao reached out to him. He took out the cigarette case and gave her one. Miss Bao held it in his mouth. His fingers were on the tinder box as if to light a cigarette for her. Suddenly she greeted her. He went up and put the end of his cigarette on top of the one he was smoking. When the cigarette was lit, Miss Bao exhaled proudly.Miss Su was so angry that her body turned cold, thinking that these two people are really shameless, that a large audience actually borrowed cigarettes to kiss.Couldn't look any more, stood up and said he wanted to go down.In fact, she knew that there was no place to go down below. Someone was playing cards in the dining room, and the cabin was too stuffy.Mrs. Sun also wanted to go down and ask the man how much he lost today, but she was afraid that if the man lost in a hurry, he would vent his anger on herself and would quarrel for a long time when she returned to the cabin; so she didn't dare to get up, and only asked the child if he wanted to go down. pee.

Miss Su called Fang Hongjian shameless, it was really wronged.At that time, he was so embarrassed that it seemed that everyone on the deck was paying attention to him. He blamed Miss Bao for being too showy, and wished he could say a few words about her.Although he is twenty-seven years old and has been engaged earlier, he has no love training.His father was a former Qing Ju, and he was a great gentleman in a small county in the south of the Yangtze River in his hometown.Nine out of ten people in their county who live in big cities work in three industries: blacksmithing, grinding tofu, and carrying sedan chairs.Clay dolls are the most famous works of art among local products; most young people study civil engineering when they go to university.The iron is hard, the tofu is bland, and the sedan chair has a small capacity and a rustic atmosphere. This is their folk custom.Even those who get rich and become officials owe generously.In this county, a man surnamed Zhou made his fortune by opening an iron shop in Shanghai, and organized a small bank with his fellow villagers called "Dianjin Bank", and he himself was appointed as the manager.He remembered the idiom of returning home with a cloth, and one year he went back to the county on the Ching Ming Festival to visit the temple and visit the tomb and get to know the local people.Fang Hongjian's father was a man of the town, and Manager Zhou rarely visited him, so he became friends, from friends to in-laws.Hung-chien was still studying in high school, and got engaged at the discretion of the family.The fiancée never met, only looked up at a half-length photo, and was indifferent.Two years later, I went to Peking to enter university and experienced the taste of male and female students for the first time.Watching people talk about love in pairs, I'm really jealous.Thinking of my fiancée who had studied in high school for a year, would not go to school, practice housework at home, and be a capable daughter-in-law when she married, she couldn't help hating her.Resenting fate and father in this way, he stayed in a daze for a few days, then suddenly came to his senses, and boldly wrote a letter to his family requesting termination of the contract.His Chinese language was once taught by Lao Tzu, and he passed the second place in the middle school examination, so this letter is very formal, and it is not wrong to use the words.What is said in the letter: "Recently, I feel sentimental, joyful and sorrowful, and I have a sense of autumn in my arms. Every time I look at myself in the mirror, my spirit is cold and my face is cut. I am afraid that if I don't read it, Ms. Zhou may be delayed. For life. I hope that my lord will lower your body and be kind to relieve the bell, so that you can’t bear it and become hatred forever." He thought that the letter was written in a sad and eloquent way, which could touch a heart of stone.Who knew that my father would send a letter to scold me: "I don't hesitate to spend a lot of money, and I ordered you to spend thousands of miles away. You have no time to study, and you have time to look in the mirror? You are not a woman, why do you need a mirror? Only the children of Liyuan, who are born Looking at the reflection in the mirror for the sake of a husband is despised by the world. I don’t think that Ru Fu has been infected with bad habits, which is deplorable and hateful! Besides, your parents are here, and you don’t talk about old age. Sad and unfilial, this is the extreme! When you are a male and female student in your school, you see the color and change your mind, and see the difference; Stop sending money, order you to suspend school and go home, and marry your younger brother at the same time next year. Think carefully about my words, and be careful!" Fang Hongjian was frightened and dwarfed, never expecting the old man to be so shrewd.I hurriedly wrote back to ask for forgiveness and explained, saying: the mirror belonged to a classmate in the same room, and he did not buy it; these days, he took American cod liver oil pills and German vitamin tablets, his body and spirit improved, and his face became plump, but the medicine was too expensive, so he couldn’t bear the money ;As for the wedding, it must be held after graduation. Firstly, it will hinder his studies, and secondly, he will not be able to support his family, which will burden his father and make him feel uneasy.When his father received this letter, it proved that his majesty was far away thousands of miles away, and he was very proud, so he sent a sum of money to his son to buy tonics.Since then, Fang Hung-chien gave up his mind and dared not think about it. He began to study Schopenhauer, and he often said to his classmates wisely: "How can there be love in the world? It is basically a reproductive impulse." In the blink of an eye, it was the fourth year of university, and he only waited for graduation and marriage next year.One day, my father sent an express letter, which said: "I received a telegram from your father-in-law, and I was shocked to learn that Shuying was ill with typhoid fever, which was misunderstood by Western medicine, so she passed away at 4:00 p.m. on the 13th of this month. It is a pity. The marriage is about to happen, and things are going to be difficult." It’s all due to your lack of blessing.” After the letter, he added a few sentences: “If you lose your horse, you know it’s not a blessing, so if you get married three years ago, my family will spend a lot of money this time. If it ends early, your daughter-in-law may escape disaster and prolong her life. Marriage is predestined, so don't be too sad. But you should send a letter of condolence to your father-in-law." Hung-chien saw the happiness of a prisoner who was pardoned, but for the short-lived girl , also a little pity.Since I enjoy the joy of freedom, I would like others to reduce the sorrow, so I sent a long letter of condolence to the unmarried father-in-law.When Manager Zhou received the letter, he felt that the child was polite, so he assigned Director Wang of the clerical department of the bank to reply.When the director of the clerical department saw Yuanxin, he complimented his boss on the fact that this untrained young man was good at arts, calligraphy, and had a deep affection for the deceased.Manager Zhou was happy to hear that, and asked the director to write back, saying: Although the daughter has never been married, Weng’s son-in-law’s name will not be changed. He only has one daughter in his life. The interest earned from doing business totaled 20,000 yuan, which is equivalent to 1,300 pounds in foreign exchange, and was used as tuition for Fang Hongjian to study abroad after graduating next year.Fang Hongjian never dreamed of such good luck, and he was very grateful to his dead fiancée.He is a useless person, unable to study civil engineering. In college, he transferred from the Department of Sociology to the Department of Philosophy, and finally transferred to the Department of Chinese Literature to graduate.People who study Chinese go abroad for "advanced studies", which sounds a little funny.In fact, only those who study Chinese literature must study abroad.Because all other subjects such as mathematics, physics, philosophy, psychology, economics, law, etc. are instilled from foreign countries, and they have long been foreign-style; only Chinese is a local product, and they need foreign signs to maintain their status, just like Chinese officials. 1. The money exploited by businessmen in their own country must be exchanged for foreign exchange in order to maintain the original value of the national currency. When Fang Hongjian arrived in Europe, he neither copied the Dunhuang scrolls nor visited the "Yongle Dadian", nor searched for Taiping Heavenly Kingdom documents, nor did he study Mongolian, Tibetan or Sanskrit.In four years, I changed three universities, London, Paris, and Berlin; I listened to a few homework casually, had a lot of interests, had no experience, and lived a particularly lazy life.In the spring of the fourth year, he saw that there was only more than 400 pounds left in the bank, so he planned to return to China in the summer.Mr. Fang also wrote to ask him if he had obtained his Ph. D. and when he would return home.He wrote back and made a lot of comments, scolding the title of doctor as unrealistic.Old Mr. Fang didn't take it seriously, but his son was old enough to dare not threaten his father's dignity any more; he wrote in his letter that he knew that titles were useless and would never force his son, but Manager Zhou paid a lot of money, and finally got a job. There is an explanation for him.A few days later, Fang Hongjian received another letter from his father-in-law, saying: "A good son-in-law is highly educated and rich, and he is famous all over the world. There is no need to boast of a doctorate. However, your lord is a filial and honest man. It seems appropriate for a good son-in-law to go abroad." Scholars, a few grams of Shao Jiqiu, come from behind, stupid and honorable." Fang Hongjian was attacked by two sides, and only then did he realize the importance of a diploma for studying abroad.This diploma seems to have the function of the leaf on Adam and Eve's lower body, which can cover up the embarrassment; the small-square paper can cover up a person's emptiness, ignorance, and stupidity.I don't have a diploma, it seems that I am mentally naked and have no package.But if you want to get a degree now, no matter whether you do it yourself or hire a gunman to do the thesis for you, the time and economy are not enough.The PhD degree at the nearby University of Hamburg is the easiest to get, but it takes six months.Just lie to the family that he is a doctor, I'm afraid I can't fool my father and my father-in-law; my father is a candidate in the imperial examination, so I need to read the "newspaper", and my father-in-law is a businessman, so I need to look at the contract.He couldn't think of a way, and he was going to go home and say that he didn't get his degree.One day, he went to visit a German friend in the Chinese Book Cataloging Room of the Berlin Library, and saw on the floor a large pile of periodicals published in Shanghai in the early years of the Republic of China, such as "Oriental Magazine", "Novel Monthly", "Great China", "Women Magazine has it all.Flipping through an advertisement in both Chinese and English, it was posted by the "Clayton Law and Business School Correspondence Department" in New York, USA. It said that the school set up a special correspondence class for Chinese students who aspire to study abroad but have no chance. For bachelor's, master's or doctoral certificates, the charter letter is sent immediately, and the correspondence office is the number of the street in New York.Fang Hung-chien's heart moved, thinking that after more than 20 years, I don't know if this school exists, anyway, it doesn't cost much to write a letter to ask.The person who posted the advertisement was originally a liar, because the Chinese people would have died long ago if they hadn't come to be fooled, changed their careers and quit.The flat he lived in was rented to an Irishman, Irish irresponsible, Irish quick-witted, and Irish poor.According to legend, the real estate of the Irish (Irish fortune) is breasts and buttocks; this is a tall and thin man like Bernard Shaw, and the weight of those two properties has to be discounted.At that time, he got a letter from Hung-chien in the mailbox, thinking that the postman had sent it by mistake, but the address was clearly his own, so he opened it out of curiosity, and thought about it for a long time, and jumped up happily.I hurriedly borrowed a typewriter from the tabloid reporter in the next room, and typed a reply letter, saying that since my husband was studying at a European university, he must have a high degree, and there was no need to go through correspondence procedures, and he only needed to send a 10,000-word paper with a fee of US$500 for review. If you pass the test, you will send the doctor of philosophy diploma immediately, and you can send the letter to yourself, and you don't need to write the name of the school.Signed Patrick Mahoney, and later presented four or five doctorate titles.Fang Hongjian saw that the letter paper was for ordinary use, and the school name was not engraved on it. The content of the letter was clearly a hoax, so he ignored it.The Irishman waited impatiently, and wrote another letter, saying that if the price is too expensive, they can discuss it later. I have always loved China, and those who run education are especially unwilling to make profits.Fang Hongjian thought about it, thinking that the Irish were undoubtedly playing tricks. If he bought a fake diploma and went back to deceive others, wouldn't he also be a liar?But—remember, Fang Hongjian had studied in the philosophy department—it is not immoral to lie and cheat sometimes.Plato said that soldiers should deceive enemies, doctors should deceive patients, and officials should deceive people.Saints like Confucius pretended to be ill to coax away Confucianism, and Mencius even lied to King Qixuan to pretend to be ill.The father and the father-in-law wished they were Ph. Ds. Would the son and son-in-law dare to disappoint them?Buying a diploma to coax them is like donating money to an official in the Qing Dynasty, or a British colonial businessman paying tens of thousands of pounds to the imperial treasury in exchange for a knight title.Anyway, when I look for a job in the future, this degree will never be listed on my resume.Simply keep the price extremely low. If the Irish refuse, the matter will be blown up, and I will not be a liar.Then he wrote back and said: at most one hundred dollars, send thirty first, and then send the rest after the diploma is in hand; there are more than thirty Chinese students here, and they are all willing to contact your school in this way.The Irishman didn't want to agree at first, but after seeing Fang Hongjian's firm tone, and finding out that American doctorate titles are indeed fashionable in China, he gradually believed that there were more than 30 Chinese fools in Europe, and wanted to buy a diploma from him.He also has many peers who come out to do this kind of business, such as Eastern University, East American University, Intercollegiate University, Truth University, etc. The cheap ones can sell their master's degree for ten dollars, College of Divine Metaphysics (College of Divine Metaphysics) ) at a low price and give away three kinds of doctoral diplomas; these are all registered schools, and I am absolutely inferior.Therefore, with the aim of making a small profit and selling well, he made a deal with Hung-chien.He received thirty U.S. dollars, printed forty or fifty blank diplomas, filled out one, and sent it to Hung-chien with a letter urging him to pay and notify other students to contact him.Hung-chien replied that after a detailed investigation, there was no such school in the United States, and the diploma was worthless. If it was a first-time offender, he would not be held accountable. He hoped to repent and rehabilitate, and remit ten dollars to cover the cost of changing his career.Ireland was so angry that he cursed non-stop, got drunk, and wanted to fight with the Chinese with red eyes.This matter may be China's only victory since it started diplomacy or entered into a business agreement. Hung-chien first went to the photo studio, put on the uniform of a German university doctor, and took a four-inch photo.My father and my father-in-law each sent a letter, saying that I hated the title of "doctor" the most in my life, and this time I couldn't escape the vulgarity, which is not enough for outsiders.I went back to France for a few weeks and bought a second-class ticket to return home.After Marseille boarded the boat, he found that he was the only Chinese in the second class cabin. He was very lonely and boring. The third class Chinese students felt that he was also a student and sat in the second class. They were a little hostile to him.He found out that there was an empty berth in the third-class cabin for Annan, so he discussed with the steward on board, and voluntarily gave up his original cabin and moved down to sleep, while eating in the second-class cabin.Among the Chinese on the same boat, only Ms. Su is an old Chinese acquaintance. She studied French literature in Lyon and wrote a thesis on "Eighteen Chinese Poets in Vernacular". She was newly awarded a doctorate.When she was a college classmate, Fang Hongjian might not have been in her eyes.At that time, Ms. Su regarded her love as too precious and refused to give it casually.Now, it's like making good clothes, but I don't want to wear them, and lock them in the box. After a year or two, I suddenly find that the shape and color of the clothes are not fashionable, and I feel a little regretful.In the past, she wanted to study abroad wholeheartedly, and felt that those who pursued her had no future, most likely they were college graduates.Now, as a female doctor, she feels a lofty loneliness that no one dares to climb up to.She knew a little about Fang Hung-chien's family background, saw that he didn't dislike him, and seemed to have enough money, so she intended to use this voyage period to give him a chance to get close.Ms. Bao, who was not wary of her cabin class, rushed to go first.Ms. Bao grew up in Macau, and it is said that she has Portuguese blood in her body. The phrase "Portuguese blood" is equivalent to the Japanese saying that they have their own culture, or the author who adapted a foreign script privately declared that his revised version "has copyright and cannot be translated."Because the Portuguese have Chinese elements in their blood.And judging by Miss Bao's figure, her Portuguese mother may have also indirectly passed down Arab blood from Spain.Ms. Bao has a slender waist, which fits the beauty requirements praised by the Arab poets in (Arabian Nights): "The body is thin, the back is heavy, and the waist and limbs are sore when standing." Under the long eyelashes, a pair of sleepy Big, smiling, dreamy eyes, and a full upper lip that seems to be bulging with a lover.Her fiancé, Dr. Li, didn't know how to cherish it, and paid for her to study obstetrics in London alone.There is a Portuguese proverb that says: "If you are lucky enough to have a child, the first child must be a girl." Because a girl grows up, she can do odd jobs and take care of her younger siblings. Before she gets married, her parents can save the next female servant salary.Ms. Bao has been used to being summoned by her parents since she was a child. She has a sharp mind and understands that opportunities must be found by herself, and happiness must be found by herself.So she would rather get engaged to someone twelve years older than herself and have the opportunity to go abroad.The British are used to fair skin, and when they see her dark but not black color, fat and spicy attractiveness, they think she is an authentic oriental beauty.She was confident that she could seduce people, so she was seduced very quickly and easily.Fortunately, she was a medical student, so she didn't take it seriously, and nothing happened.She spent two years in the UK, and this time she went back to get married and listed with her husband.After boarding the ship, the Chinese students found out that the "Subject of Great Britain" passport issued by the Hong Kong government was not considered a Chinese nationality, so they seldom approached her.She couldn't speak French, and she didn't bother to chat with the third-class Cantonese waiter, she felt very bored.She saw Fang Hongjian as a second-class person, a passable person, and he could be regarded as a companion for recreation during travel.Miss Su's ideal self is: "as beautiful as peaches and plums, as cold as ice", which makes Fang Hongjian humblely admire and then succumbs to courtship.Who knows that although the climate is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day, this kind of sweet and cold ice cream style will not work at all.Miss Bao hooked Fang Hongjian with just one easy word.On the day Hung-chien moved to the third class, he went for a walk on the deck and happened to come across Miss Bao leaning against the railing of the ship blowing the wind, so he greeted her and started talking.After a few words, Ms. Bao laughed and said, "Mr. Fang, you remind me of my fiance. You look so much like him!" Fang Hongjian was shy and proud at the same time.When a lovely woman says you look like her fiancé, it means that you are entitled to her love if she is not engaged.The mean man might explain that she already has another fiancé, and you can enjoy the rights of her fiancé without the obligation to marry her.In any case, from then on their friendship grew like a tropical plant.The other Chinese male students joked with Fang Hongjian and forced him to treat everyone to iced coffee and beer. At that time Fang Hung-chien felt excited even though he blamed Miss Bao for her disorderly behavior.Looking back, I saw Miss Su and Mrs. Sun's two empty chairs. Fortunately, the incident of smoking just now did not fall into their eyes.That night, there was a sea breeze and the boat was a little bumpy.After ten o'clock, there were only three or five couples on the deck, all hiding in the shadows that the lights couldn't reach, talking about love.Fang Hongjian and Miss Bao walked side by side without speaking.A big wave shook the boat violently, and Miss Bao couldn't stand still. Fang Hung-chien wrapped his arms around her waist, stayed close to the railing, and kissed her greedily.Miss Bao's lips hinted, and her body obeyed. This hasty, rough kiss gradually stabilized, and the length was perfect and perfect.Miss Bao deftly pushed away Fang Hongjian's arm, took a deep breath, and said, "I'm suffocating to death! I'm suffering from a cold, and I can't breathe through my nose—it's too cheap for you, you haven't begged for my love yet." you!" "I'll make it up to you now, okay?" Like all men who have never been in love, Fang Hongjian regards the word "love" as too noble and serious, and refuses to apply it to women casually; he only thinks he wants Miss Bao. , I don't love her, so I falter in this way. "Anyway, I have nothing good to say, so I can't escape those old-fashioned words." "Put your mouth together, and I'll tell you, the words will penetrate into your heart, saving you from having to go a long way, turning a corner and going in through your ears." "I'm not going to be fooled by you! Say it politely. Today is enough, if you don't mess around with me, tomorrow..." Fang Hongjian ignored it.He hooked her waist again.The ship suddenly sideways, he didn't hold on to the railing, and almost caused Miss Bao to fall.At the same time, the other women in the shadow also screamed: "Ah!" Miss Bao took advantage of the situation to escape and said, "I feel cold, so I'll go down first. See you tomorrow." Leaving Fang Xiang on the deck.Dark clouds rose in the sky early, a few stars leaked out, the wind and waves sounded like gluttons devouring, and the vast ocean during the day was completely digested in the wider night at this time.Against this background, the agitation of a person's body and mind is also reduced to nothing, only the hope of tomorrow in his heart has not yet fallen into ambiguity, and in the depths of the vast and surging darkness, a little firefly shines on itself. From that day on, Fang Hongjian often ate at the third class.Miss Su's attitude towards him was remarkably indifferent.He asked Ms. Bao privately why Ms. Su had been so indifferent to her recently.Miss Bao laughed at him as a fool, and said: "I can guess why, but I won't tell you, so as not to make you proud." Fang Hung-chien said that she was nervous, but after meeting Miss Su, she felt more and more embarrassed.The ship passed Ceylon and Singapore, and arrived in Saigon in a few days. This was the first colony of the country that the French ship could boast along the way.The Frenchman on the boat saw his home like a dog, his imposing manner grew, and his actions and voice became higher-pitched.The boat docked in the afternoon and had to moor for two nights.Ms. Su has relatives who work at the Chinese Consulate here, and they sent a car to the pier to pick her up for dinner. Under everyone's envious eyes, she disembarked first.The rest of the students decided to have dinner at a Chinese restaurant.Fang Hongjian wanted to go to dinner with Miss Bao, but he was too embarrassed to say it in front of everyone, so he had to let them go.After dinner, the Sun couple took the children back to the boat first.The rest sat in the coffee shop, and Miss Bao suggested going to the dance hall.Although Fang Hung-chien spent money to learn two dance lessons in France, his skills were not up to par.I danced with Miss Bao once, so I had to sit awkwardly and watch her dance with others.After twelve o'clock, everyone went back to the boat to sleep.Get off at the pier, Fang Hongjian and Miss Bao lag behind.Miss Bao said: "Miss Su is not coming back today." "The Annan man in my cabin has also gone ashore. I heard that his berth has been sold to a Chinese businessman who is going from Saigon to Hong Kong." "We both sleep alone today." Miss Bao said casually. Fang Hongjian's mind flashed like a flash of lightning, and suddenly it shone through, but his eyes were so wide that he didn't dare to look directly at him, the blood all over his body rose to his face.Just as he was about to speak, the companion walking in front turned around and shouted: "Why can't you stop talking! You are walking slowly, afraid we will hear you, aren't you?" Good night" and dispersed.Fang Hung-chien took a shower, returned to the cabin, lay down and sat up again, dispelling the thoughts he had already had, as if he were as uncomfortable as a woman who is pregnant and about to have an abortion.Maybe Miss Bao's words were meaningless, and she went to make fun of herself; the deck was loading, and there were two patrolling waiters in the corridor to prevent idlers from mingling, so it was impossible for them to see.I can't make up my mind, and I don't want to give up.Suddenly, I heard brisk footsteps, as if they were coming from Miss Bao's cabin.Hung-chien's heart beat up, and he held back his footsteps, as if he was stepping on his heart step by step. The footsteps stopped halfway, and his heart was restrained by it, not daring to move. The footsteps continued to come closer and faster.Hung-chien no longer had any doubts, couldn't hold back his heart anymore, screamed with joy, jumped out of the bunk, opened the door curtain without putting on his slippers, and first smelled the scent of Miss Bao's usual talcum powder. Fang Hongjian woke up tomorrow morning, the sun was filling the window, and it was past nine o'clock on the watch.他想这一晚睡的好甜，充实得梦都没做，无怪睡叫“黑甜乡”，又想到鲍小姐皮肤暗，笑起来甜甜的，等会见面可叫她“黑甜”，又联想到黑而甜的朱古力糖，只可惜法国出品的朱古力糖不好，天气又热，不宜吃这个东西，否则买一匣请她。正懒在床上胡想，鲍小姐外面弹舱壁，骂他“懒虫”，叫他快起来，同上岸去玩。方鸿渐梳洗完毕，到鲍小姐舱外等了半天，她才打扮好。餐室里早点早开过，另花钱叫了两客早餐。那伺候他们这一桌的侍者就是管方鸿渐房舱的阿刘。两人吃完想走，阿刘不先收拾桌子上东西，笑喀喀看着他们俩，伸出手来，手心里三只女人夹头发的钗，打广东官话拖泥带水地说：“方先生，这是我刚才铺你的床捡到的。” 鲍小姐脸飞红，大眼睛像要撑破眼眶。方鸿渐急得暗骂自己糊涂，起身时没检点一下，同时掏出三百法郎对阿刘道：“拿去！那东西还给我。”阿刘道谢，还说他这人最靠得住，决不乱讲。鲍小姐眼望别处，只做不知道。出了餐室，方鸿渐抱着歉把发钗还给鲍小姐，鲍小姐生气地掷在地下，说：“谁还要这东西！经过了那家伙的脏手！” 这事把他们整天的运气毁了，什么事都别扭。坐洋车拉错了地方，买东西错付了钱，两人都没好运气。方鸿渐还想到昨晚那中国馆子吃午饭，鲍小姐定要吃西菜，说不愿意碰见同船的熟人，便找到一家门面还像样的西菜馆。谁知道从冷盘到咖啡，没有一样东西可口：上来的汤是凉的，冰淇淋倒是热的；鱼像海军陆战队，已登陆了好几天；肉像潜水艇士兵，会长时期伏在水里；除醋以外，面包、牛油、红酒无一不酸。两人吃得倒尽胃口，谈话也不投机。方鸿渐要博鲍小姐欢心，便把“黑甜”、“朱古力小姐”那些亲昵的称呼告诉她。鲍小姐怫然道：“我就那样黑么？”方鸿渐固执地申辩道：“我就爱你这颜色。我今年在西班牙，看见一个有名的美人跳舞，她皮肤只比外国熏火腿的颜色淡一点儿。” 鲍小姐的回答毫不合逻辑：“也许你喜欢苏小姐死鱼肚那样的白。你自己就是扫烟囱的小黑炭，不照照镜子！”说着胜利地笑。 方鸿渐给鲍小姐喷了一身黑，不好再讲。侍者上了鸡，碟子里一块像礼拜堂定风针上铁公鸡施舍下来的肉，鲍小姐用力割不动，放下刀叉道：“我没牙齿咬这东西，这馆子糟透了。” 方鸿渐再接再厉地斗鸡，咬着牙说：“你不听我话，要吃西菜。” “我要吃西菜，没叫你上这个倒霉馆子呀！做错了事，事后怪人，你们男人的脾气全这样！”鲍小姐说时，好像全世界每个男人的性格都经她试验过的。 过一会，不知怎样鲍小姐又讲起她未婚夫李医生，说他也是虔诚的基督教徒。方鸿渐正满肚子委屈，听到这话，心里作恶，想信教在鲍小姐的行为上全没影响，只好借李医生来讽刺，便说：“信基督教的人，怎样做医生？” 鲍小姐不明白这话，睁眼看着他。 鸿渐替鲍小姐面前搀焦豆皮的咖啡里，加上冲米泔水的牛奶，说：“基瞥教十诫里一条是'别杀人'，可是医生除掉职业化的杀人以外，还干什么？” 鲍小姐毫无幽默地生气道：“胡说！医生是救人生命的。” 鸿渐看她怒得可爱，有意撩拨她道：“救人生命也不能信教。医学要人活，救人的肉体；宗教救人的灵魂，要人不怕死。所以病人怕死，就得请大夫，吃药；医药无效，逃不了一死，就找牧师和神父来送终。学医而兼信教，那等于说：假如我不能教病人好好地活，至少我还能教他好好地死，反正他请我不会错，这仿佛药房掌柜带开棺材铺子，太便宜了！” 鲍小姐动了真气：“瞧你一辈子不生病，不要请教医生。你只靠一张油嘴，胡说八道。我也是学医的，你凭空为什么损人？” 方鸿渐慌得道歉，鲍小姐嚷头痛，要回船休息。鸿渐一路上赔小心，鲍小姐只无精打采。送她回舱后，鸿渐也睡了两个钟点。一起身就去鲍小姐舱外弹壁唤她名字，问她好了没有。想不到门帘开处，苏小姐出来，说鲍小姐病了，吐过两次，刚睡着呢。鸿渐又羞又窘，敷衍一句，急忙逃走。晚饭时，大家见桌上没鲍小姐，向方鸿渐打趣要人。鸿渐含含糊糊说：“她累了，身子不大舒服。”苏小姐面有得色道：“她跟方先生吃饭回来害肚子，这时候什么都吃不进。我只担心她别生了痢疾呢！”那些全无心肝的男学生哈哈大笑，七嘴八舌道： “谁教她背了我们跟小方两口儿吃饭？” “小方真丢人哪！请女朋友吃饭为什么不挑干净馆子？” “馆子不会错，也许鲍小姐太高兴，贪嘴吃得消化不了。小方，对不对？” “小方，你倒没生病？哦，我明白了！鲍小姐秀色可餐，你看饱了不用吃饭了。” “只怕餐的不是秀色，是——”那人本要说“熟肉”，忽想当了苏小姐，这话讲出来不雅，也许会传给鲍小姐知道，便摘块面包塞在自己嘴里嚼着。 方鸿渐午饭本来没吃饱，这时候受不住大家的玩笑，不等菜上齐就跑了，余人笑得更利害。他立起来转身，看见背后站着侍候的阿刘，对自己心照不宣似的眨眼。 鲍小姐睡了一天多才起床，虽和方鸿渐在一起玩，不像以前那样的脱略形骸，也许因为不日到香港，先得把身心收拾整洁，作为见未婚夫的准备。孙氏一家和其他三四个学生也要在九龙下船，搭粤汉铁路的车；分别在即，拼命赌钱，只恨晚上十二点后餐室里不许开电灯。到香港前一天下午，大家回国后的通信地址都交换过了，彼此再会的话也反复说了好几遍，仿佛这同舟之谊永远忘不掉似的。鸿渐正要上甲板找鲍小姐，阿刘鬼鬼祟祟地叫“方先生”。鸿渐自从那天给他三百法郎以后，看见这家伙就心慌，板着脸问他有什么事。阿刘说他管的房舱，有一间没客人，问鸿渐今晚要不要，只讨六百法郎。鸿渐挥手道：“我要它干吗？”三脚两步上楼梯去，只听得阿刘在背后冷笑。他忽然省悟阿刘的用意，脸都羞热了。上去吞吞吐吐把这事告诉鲍小姐，还骂阿刘浑蛋。她哼一声，没讲别的。旁人来了，不便再谈。吃晚饭的时候，孙先生道：“今天临别纪念，咱们得痛痛快快打个通宵。阿刘有个空舱，我已经二百法郎定下来了。” 鲍小姐对鸿渐轻藐地瞧了一眼，立刻又注视碟子喝汤。 孙太太把匙儿喂小孩子，懦怯地说：“明天要下船啦，不怕累么？” 孙先生道：“明天找个旅馆，睡它个几天几晚不醒，船上的机器闹得很，我睡不舒服。” 方鸿渐给鲍小姐一眼看得自尊心像泄尽气的橡皮车胎。晚饭后，鲍小姐和苏小姐异常亲热，勾着手寸步不离。他全无志气，跟上甲板，看她们有说有笑，不容许自己插口，把话压扁了都挤不进去；自觉没趣丢脸，像赶在洋车后面的叫化子，跑了好些路，没讨到手一个小钱，要停下来却又不甘心。鲍小姐看手表道：“我要下去睡了。明天天不亮船就靠岸，早晨不能好好地睡。今天不早睡，明天上岸的时候人萎靡没有精神，难看死了。”苏小姐道：“你这人就这样爱美，怕李先生还会不爱你！带几分憔悴，更教人疼呢！” 鲍小姐道：“那是你经验之谈罢？——好了，明天到家了！我兴奋得很，只怕下去睡不熟。苏小姐，咱们下去罢，到舱里舒舒服服地躺着讲话。” 对鸿渐一点头，两人下去了。鸿渐气得心头火直冒，仿佛会把嘴里香烟衔着的一头都烧红了。他想不出为什么鲍小姐突然改变态度。他们的关系就算这样了结了么？他在柏林大学，听过名闻日本的斯泼朗格教授（Ed Spranger）的爱情（Eros）演讲，明白爱情跟性欲一胞双生，类而不同，性欲并非爱情的基本，爱情也不是性欲的升华。他也看过爱情指南那一类的书，知道有什么肉的相爱、心的相爱种种分别。鲍小姐谈不上心和灵魂。她不是变心，因为她没有心；只能算日子久了，肉会变味。反正自己并没吃亏，也许还占了便宜，没得什么可怨。方鸿渐把这种巧妙的词句和精密的计算来抚慰自己，可是失望、遭欺骗的情欲、被损伤的骄傲，都不肯平伏，像不倒翁，捺下去又竖起来，反而摇摆得利害。 明天东方才白，船的速度减低，机器的声音也换了节奏。方鸿渐同舱的客人早收拾好东西，鸿渐还躺着，想跟鲍小姐后会无期，无论如何，要礼貌周到地送行。阿刘忽然进来，哭丧着脸向他讨小费。鸿渐生气道：“为什么这时候就要钱？到上海还有好几天呢。”阿刘哑声告诉，姓孙的那几个人打牌，声音太闹，给法国管事查到了，大吵其架，自己的饭碗也碰破了，等会就得卷铺盖下船。鸿渐听着，暗唤侥幸，便打发了他。吃早饭时，今天下船的那几位都垂头丧气。孙太太眼睛红肿，眼眶似乎饱和着眼泪，像夏天早晨花瓣上的露水，手指那么轻轻一碰就会掉下来。鲍小姐瞧见伺候吃饭的换了人，问阿刘哪里去了，没人回答她。方鸿渐问鲍小姐：“你行李多，要不要我送你下船？” 鲍小姐疏远地说：“谢谢你！不用劳你驾，李先生会上船来接我。” 苏小姐道：“你可以把方先生跟李先生介绍介绍。” 方鸿渐恨不得把苏小姐瘦身体里每根骨头都捏为石灰粉。鲍小姐也没理她，喝了一杯牛奶，匆匆起身，说东西还投收拾完。方鸿渐顾不得人家笑话，放下杯子跟出去。鲍小姐头也不回，方鸿渐唤她，她不耐烦地说：“我忙着呢，没工夫跟你说话。” 方鸿渐正不知怎样发脾气才好，阿刘鬼魂似地出现了，向鲍小姐要酒钱。鲍小姐眼迸火星道：“伺候吃饭的赏钱，昨天早给了。你还要什么赏？我房舱又不是你管的。” 阿刘不讲话，手向口袋里半天掏出来一只发钗，就是那天鲍小姐掷掉的，他擦地板，三只只捡到一只。鸿渐本想骂阿刘，但看见他郑重其事地拿出这么一件法宝，忍不住大笑。鲍小姐恨道：“你还乐？你乐，你给他钱，我半个子儿没有！”回身走了。 鸿渐防阿刘不甘心，见了李医生胡说，自认晦气，又给他些钱。一个人上甲板，闷闷地看船靠傍九龙码头。下船的中外乘客也来了，鸿渐躲得老远，不愿意见鲍小姐。码头上警察、脚夫、旅馆的接客扰嚷着，还有一群人向船上挥手巾，做手势。鸿渐想准有李医生在内，倒要仔细认认。好容易，扶梯靠岸，进港手续完毕，接客的冲上船来。鲍小姐扑向一个半秃顶，戴大眼镜的黑胖子怀里。这就是她所说跟自己相像的未婚夫！自己就像他？吓，真是侮辱！现在全明白了，她那句话根本是引诱。一向还自鸣得意，以为她有点看中自己，谁知道由她摆布玩弄了，还要给她暗笑。除掉那句古老得长白胡子、陈腐得发霉的话：“女人是最可怕的！”还有什么可说！鸿渐在凭栏发呆，料不到背后苏小姐柔声道：“方先生不下船，在想心思？人家撇了方先生去啦！没人陪啦。” 鸿渐回身，看见苏小姐装扮得袅袅婷婷，不知道什么鬼指使自己说：“要奉陪你，就怕没福气呀，没资格呀！” 他说这冒昧话，准备碰个软钉子。苏小姐双颊涂的淡胭脂下面忽然晕出红来，像纸上沁的油渍，顷刻布到满脸，腼腆得迷人。她眼皮有些抬不起似地说：“我们没有那么大的面子呀！” 鸿渐摊手道：“我原说，人家不肯赏脸呀！” 苏小姐道：“我要找家剃头店洗头发去，你肯陪么？” 鸿渐道：“妙极了！我正要去理发。咱们理完发，摆渡到香港上山瞧瞧，下了山我请你吃饭，饭后到浅水湾喝茶，晚上看电影，好不好？” 苏小姐笑道：“方先生，你想得真周到！一天的事全计划好了。”她不知道方鸿渐只在出国时船过香港一次，现在方向都记不得了。 二十分钟后，阿刘带了衣包在餐室里等法国总管来查过好上岸，舱洞口瞥见方鸿渐在苏小姐后面，手傍着她腰走下扶梯，不禁又诧异，又佩服，又瞧不起，无法表示这种复杂的情绪，便“啐”的一声向痰盂里射出一口浓浓的唾沫。