It is said that "girlfriend" is the scientific name of "lover". It is more solemn to say it, just like rose is called "Rosaceae woody compound leaf plant" in biology, or the legal term for divorcing a wife is "divorce by agreement".Fang Hung-chien spent two days with Miss Su in Hong Kong before he realized that a girlfriend and a lover are completely different.Ms. Su is the most ideal girlfriend. She has brains, status, attitude and appearance can be regarded as a lady, and going to restaurants and theaters with her will not lose her face.Although the two of them are very close, Fang Hongjian is confident that his friendship with her ends here, just like two parallel straight lines, no matter how close they are or how long they are drawn, they will never come together to become one.Only when Jiulong saw her blushing shyly before going ashore, his heart suddenly softened and he had no strength to jump, and he never felt this way afterwards.He found that Miss Su had a lot of childish temper, she could be naughty and coquettish, which he never expected.But for some reason, he always felt that this kind of chick accent didn't go well with Miss Su.Not because she was old; she was not much older than Miss Bao, and every woman has the knack of rejuvenating herself in front of the man she loves.It can only be said to be inappropriate in character; for example, a kitten chasing its own tail is fun for us to watch, and a puppy also chases it and turns around to follow the short tail prong, which reduces the fun.Those students who were on the same boat all the way saw that Xiaofang had just gone to Miss Bao, and he had replaced Miss Su long ago, and they couldn't help but joke with him.
Miss Su was extremely generous; in the five or six days before the ship arrived in Shanghai, Miss Bao was not mentioned a word.She is also much gentler in dealing with people.Fang Hung-chien didn't make love to her, and he didn't hold her hand except to help her when he boarded and disembarked on the gangway.However, Miss Su's occasional actions seemed to have a more profound and long-term relationship with him than the proposal, engagement, and wedding.Her plainness makes Hung-chien even more suspicious, thinking that this is the super-warm and stable love, as if the waves of the ocean are calm after a hurricane, but there is always a turbulent power lurking underneath.After sailing from Hong Kong, he and Miss Su ate fruits bought in Hong Kong on the deck.He ate peaches, peeled them patiently, and said, "Why don't peaches look like bananas? It's so easy to peel! Or they're just like apples. You can eat them with the skin after you wipe them with a handkerchief." Ms. Su peeled some fresh lychees After eating, he will not eat any more. If he is willing to peel the peaches for him, he will not agree anyway.After eating the peaches, he covered his face and hands, and Miss Su looked at him and smiled.Afraid that the peach juice would stain his trousers, he only reached into the pocket with his little finger to hook the handkerchief. He hooked it twice, and finally pulled it out. While wiping his hands, Miss Su said with fear and disgust in her voice, "Ah! What's wrong with your handkerchief?" It’s so dirty! Thanks to you—kuai! This thing can’t wipe your mouth, take it from me, take it, don’t push it, I don’t like to push it.”
Fang Hongjian blushed, took Miss Su's handkerchief, wiped it from his mouth, and said, "I bought a dozen new handkerchiefs on board, and lost half of them to the laundry people on board. , They were slow to wash, so they had to wash it by themselves. I went ashore to play in the past two days, and I didn’t have time to wash it. All the handkerchiefs were dirty, so I washed them back. Let me wash your handkerchief and return it to you.”
Miss Su said: "Who wants you to wash it? You can't clean it! I don't think your handkerchief was cleaned at all. The greasy spots on it are probably the souvenirs left by you all the way to Marseilles. I don't know how you wash it. "When I said it, I giggled.
Wait a while, the two go down.Miss Su picked up a piece of her own handkerchief and said to Fang Hongjian: "You are using it for the time being, and I will wash your handkerchief." Fang Hongjian panicked and said, "There is no such reason!" I'm really upset! What's the big deal about this? Give it to me quickly." Hung-chien couldn't help it, so he went back to the cabin and took out a wrinkled handkerchief, begging for forgiveness, and said, "I can wash it myself! It's so dirty, you You'll be disgusted if you see it." Miss Su snatched it away, shook her head and said, "Why are you so sloppy? Would you just rub this thing into an apple and eat it?" Fang Hongjian was worried about this all day long, and asked Miss Su Thank you again and again, and instead say "mother-in-law" to her.Tomorrow, he moved the canvas chair for Miss Su, and with some force, two buttons came off his shirt. Miss Su laughed at him as a "little fat man" and told him to change the shirt and let her make the buttons.It was useless for him to protest, Miss Su wanted what she said, so he had no choice but to submit to her benevolent dictatorship.
Seeing that the general situation was not good, Fang Hongjian panicked.Washing handkerchiefs, mending socks, and sewing buttons are small duties that a wife owes her husband.Why do I enjoy these rights?Enjoying the rights of a husband is of course justified, it should be her husband, otherwise why would she be willing to fulfill these obligations?Could it be that his words and deeds could mistake her for her husband?Thinking of this, Fang Hongjian shuddered.If engagement rings are a sign of falling into a trap, buttons are also a harbinger of lingering.You have to pay attention to yourself!Fortunately, we will arrive in Shanghai tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, so there will be no chance of getting close like this in the future, so the danger can be reduced.But in the past two days, when he was with Miss Su, he was either worried that the socks would suddenly wear holes, or that the buttons would come off somewhere.He knew that Miss Su's services were not to be appreciated lightly; every button she nailed or a hole mended made his conscience feel more responsible to propose to her.
The relationship between China and Japan was getting worse day by day, and the radio reports on the ship worried them.On the afternoon of August 9th, the ship arrived in Shanghai. Fortunately, no battle happened.Miss Su gave Fang Hongjian the address and asked him to go play.He fully agreed, went back to his hometown to visit his parents, and would definitely come to Shanghai to visit her.Miss Su's elder brother came to pick him up on the boat, but Fang Hongjian couldn't avoid it, so Miss Su introduced him to her brother.Her brother looked at Hung-chien, held hands very politely, and said, "Long-awaited! Long-awaited!" Hung-chien thought to himself, this is too bad!Oops!This introduction will be approved by her family representative as an alternate son-in-law!At the same time, it was strange that her brother said "long admiration". It must be that Miss Su often talked about herself to her family in the past, and she was a little happy.He resigned from the Su brothers and sisters to check their luggage. After walking a few steps, he turned around and saw his brother smiling at his sister. The sister blushed, like liking, but also angry, knowing she was talking about herself.A moment of embarrassment.Suddenly, he ran into his brother Pengtu. It turned out that the second class was looking for him. Miss Su had an acquaintance at the customs, and his luggage was released without inspection.The Fang brothers were still waiting to be checked, so Ms. Su came here to hold hands with Hung-chien and bid "Farewell".Pengtu asked who it was, and Hung-chien said his surname was Su.Pengtu said, "Well, it's a doctor from France. I saw it in the newspaper." Hung-chien sneered, despising women's vanity.Hastily packed the checked boxes, called a car and prepared to stay overnight at Manager Zhou's house, and return home tomorrow.Pengtu worked as a clerk in some bank, and the news was not good these two days, and he was busy moving the warehouse, so he got off the car halfway.Hung-chien told him to send a telegram to his home, telling him which train to take tomorrow.Pengtu felt that the money was a waste of money, so he just made a long-distance call.
When his father-in-law and mother-in-law saw him, they were overjoyed.He gave his father-in-law an ivory-handled rattan cane bought in Ceylon, his mother-in-law who loves playing cards and believes in Buddhism, a French woman's handbag and two Ceylon bay leaves, and his fifteen or sixteen-year-old brother-in-law a bottle of German tap water Pen.The mother-in-law thought of her daughter who had been dead for five years, and cried sadly: "If Shuying is alive, you will come back today with a doctorate abroad. She will be happy!" Manager Zhou said with a choked voice that his wife is old and confused. talk.Hung-chien's face was serious and gloomy, but he was full of shame, because in the past four years he had never thought of his fiancée, and the big photo of his fiancée that his father-in-law took as a commemoration when he was abroad was also placed at the bottom of the box.He wanted to make amends. Anyway, he took the special express train at 11:30 tomorrow and had time to go to the Wan Guo Cemetery, so he said, "I wanted to see her grave tomorrow morning." Manager Zhou and his wife felt even better about Hung-chien.Mrs. Zhou took him to see the room where he slept tonight, which was Shuying's room when she was alive.Put two photos on the dressing table: one is Shuying's remains, and the other is her doctor's photo.Fang Hongjian stared in a daze, feeling that he and Shuying were both dead, depressed and gloomy, and he couldn't bear the feeling of returning to his soul after death.
During dinner, the father-in-law knew that Hung-chien would not find a job in the second half of the year, so he comforted him and said, "It's not a problem. I think you'd better find a job in Shanghai or Nanjing. The situation in Beiping is dangerous and you can't go there. You go home for two weeks." , come out and live with me. I have a name for you in the bank. You go around during the day and teach my son at night. Look for opportunities. Okay? You don’t have to take your luggage with you. The weather is so hot, so go home anyway. You have to wear Chinese clothes." Hung-chien was sincerely grateful and thanked his father-in-law.The mother-in-law mentioned his marriage and asked him if he had a girlfriend.He quickly said no.The father-in-law said: "I know you won't have one. Your old man has a good tutor, you behave well, and you won't have any free love. Free love doesn't have a good result."
The mother-in-law said, "Hung-chien is so honest, he can't find a woman. Let me be a matchmaker for him."
The father-in-law said: "You're here again! I'm afraid the old man and the old lady won't be able to make decisions. We don't care about it."
The mother-in-law said, "It's our money that Hung-chien spends abroad. Of course he can't leave our Zhou family behind when he marries a wife. Hung-chien, right? Your future new wife must be my goddaughter. I mean it in your ears." Here, don’t have a new relative, forget about the old one! I’ve seen many such heartless people.”
Hung-chien could only smile wryly, "Don't worry, I won't." He said to Miss Su's shadow in his heart, "Listen! Are you willing to ask this lady to be your godmother? Fortunately, I don't want to marry you." His brother-in-law seemed to follow his heart Fang Hongjian said, "Brother Hung-chien, there is a female student named Su, do you know her?" Fang Hung-chien was so horrified that he almost lost his job, thinking that American behavioral psychologists only proved that "thought is a silent language". What is the structure of this kid's protruding ears? How can he hear all the silent secret words in his heart!Before he answered, the father-in-law said, "Yes! I forgot—Xiao Cheng, you go and get that newspaper——I received your photo, so I asked Director Wang of the Documentary Department to make a news release and publish it in the newspaper. I I know you don't like to show off, but it's a matter of face, so don't hide it." The last few words were said because of Hung-chien's expression.
The mother-in-law said: "That's right. After losing so much capital, why don't you show some dignity!"
Hung-chien was already blushing with embarrassment and indignation, and when his brother-in-law brought the newspaper, he took a look and saw that the ears, neck, and back were red all the way down to his heels.That one was the "Shanghai News" in early July. There were two small photos printed in the education news column. The copper plate was blurred, very similar to the ghost photos taken on the altar.According to the news in the previous photo, Wen Wan, the daughter-in-law of Su Hongye, a counselor of the Government Affairs Council, has returned to China after receiving a doctorate from the University of Lyon.The number of words in the news in the latter photo is twice as many, saying that Zhou Houqing, the general manager of Dianjin Bank, a well-known local businessman, and his son-in-law Fang Hongjian, were sent by Zhou Junzi to study abroad, studying in London, Paris, France, and Berlin, Germany. Politics, economics, history, society and other subjects, all have excellent grades and are among the best. He was awarded a doctor of philosophy by Kleinden University in Germany. He will travel to various countries and return to China in autumn.Hung-chien wished he could tear the newspaper in half and strangle Director Wang by the throat, to see how many nasty formulas he could squeeze out for resumes.No wonder Ms. Su's elder brother would say "I have long admired you" when they met, and no wonder Pengtu knew that he was a doctor studying abroad when he heard that his surname was Su.I still laughed at her for being cliche!This piece of news like myself is the crowning vulgarity, and the stench makes readers want to hold their noses.Besides, he is a real doctor, so what is he?I never talked about the degree with Ms. Su on the ship, and when she saw the news, she would conclude that she was bragging and deceitful.Where is Kleinden University in Germany?When I wrote the letter, I vaguely said that I got a degree. My father-in-law saw that the letter was sent from Germany, and he arbitrarily concluded that it was a German university.I became a liar myself, and since then I have no face to see anyone!
Mrs. Zhou kept covering her face when she read Fang Hongjian's news, and said to her husband with a smile, "Look at how proud Hongjian is. He hasn't let go of that news after reading it several times."
Xiaocheng said mischievously: "Brother Hung-chien is carefully identifying that Su Wenwan, and wants to marry her to replace my sister."
Fang Hongjian couldn't help but said, "Don't talk nonsense!" With great difficulty, he restrained himself, didn't throw the newspaper on the ground, didn't let the shame and anger show on his face, but his throat was sore.
Seeing that Hung-chien had no smile at all, and his face turned pale, the Zhou couple looked a little strange, and suddenly they gave each other a wink, as if they understood Hung-chien's psychology, and cursed in unison, "You should be beaten, you child. Who wants you to intervene when adults are talking?" Brother Hung-chien just came back today, of course he thinks of your sister, and he feels unhappy. You have to have a sense of humor when you tell a joke, and you won’t be allowed to open it in the future——Hung-chien, we know you have a good nature, and children talk nonsense, so don’t pay attention to him Hung-chien's face flushed again, his lips parted, and he complained in his heart: "Don't make up fake clothes! You have the ability to never marry a wife for the rest of your life. I don't care for your pen, so I can take it back."
When Fang Hongjian went to sleep in his room, he found that Shuying's photo was no longer on the table. He thought that his mother-in-law had come to take it away because she was afraid that she would think about things and others, and would be sad and insomnia.It took only six or seven hours to disembark, but everything on board was like a lifetime ago.The excitement when I went ashore evaporated, and I felt cowardly and insignificant. It was not easy to find a job, and it was not easy to make love.Ideally, studying abroad and returning to China is like water on the ground, turning into gas and rising to the sky, and then turning into rain and returning to the ground. People all their lives are watching and talking.Now that I have returned to my hometown after thousands of miles, there is not a single bubble in the sea of people in the motherland—no, Director Cheng Na Wang boasted that he himself was blown into a big soap bubble, which was full of colors before it burst. .He peered out through the screened window.The stars in the sky are dense and busy, they are completely silent, and it seems that the sky is only lively.A combed moon is like a girl who has not yet grown up, but she is not shy when she sees people. The light and outline are fresh and clear, which can gradually complement the night scene.The bugs in the grass of the small garden chatted trivially at night.I don't know where the swarm of frogs shouted in unison, like a wave of sound boiled over a fire.A few fireflies swim to and fro, not like flying, but like floating in dense air. In the dark place where the moonlight cannot reach, a little firefly flickers, like a small greenish eye on a summer night.Hung-chien was used to seeing this scene before he went abroad, but when he saw it now, his heart suddenly constricted and his eyes were sore that he was about to shed tears.Only then did he appreciate the goodness of life and the joy of returning home, and the news in the "Shanghai News" was as indifferent as the buzzing of mosquitoes outside the screened window.Hung-chien sighed comfortably, then yawned again.
Fang Hung-chien got off the train at the county railway station. Mr. Fang, Hung-chien's third brother Feng Yi, seven or eight cousins, uncles, and Mr. Fang's friends all greeted him on the platform.He was very sorry, and came up to say hello one by one, saying, "I'm sorry on such a hot day!" Seeing that his father's beard had turned gray again, he said, "Daddy, why did you come?"
Fang Dunweng gave Hung-chien the folding fan in his hand and said, "You friends in suits don't need this antique, but it's better than fanning with straw hats." Seeing that his son was in a second-class car, he praised him, "This kid is not bad. He took the second-class boat back home, I thought he must take the first-class train, but he still took the second-class train, he is not ambitious, he has changed his character, he already understands the principles of being a human being.” Everyone echoed and praised for a while.Surrounded by crowds, they went out of the ticket gate, when suddenly a man wearing blue glasses and a suit grabbed Hung-chien and said, "Please don't move! Take a picture." Hung-chien was puzzled, and was about to ask him why, when he heard the camera There was a clicking sound, and the blue glasses let go of their hands. It turned out that there was another person facing him with the quick glasses facing him.Blue Glasses took out his business card and said, "Dr. Fang returned to the motherland yesterday?" The person with the quick mirror came and also took out a business card. Hung-chien—look, it's a reporter from two local daily newspapers in the county.The two reporters said: "Dr. Fang is exhausted today, and tomorrow morning I will go to the house to listen to lectures." Then they turned to compliment Mr. Fang and accompanied them all the way out of the station.Fengyi smiled at Hung-chien, "Brother, you are a famous person in this county." Although Hung-chien thought it was harsh for the two reporters to call him "Dr. , physically and mentally swollen, and his personality is much better.He just realized that living in a small place is cheap, and he regretted that he didn't change into a relatively new suit today, didn't carry a cane, and was waving a big folding fan in his hand. His face was covered with sweat, and he might not be able to take pictures well.
When I got home, I met my mother and two younger brothers and daughters-in-law, and gave away the gifts they brought back.My mother laughed and said, "I'm going to go abroad. If I learn so well, I can buy things for women."
Father said: "Pengtu mentioned a Miss Su on the phone yesterday, what happened?"
Fang Hongjian said angrily, "It's nothing but sitting in the same boat. Mr. Pengtu - he likes to talk too much." He wanted to scold Pengtu so that he could tell the truth, but he didn't speak out in front of Mrs. Pengtu. .
The father said: "Your marriage should be worked hard. The two brothers have already married their wives and have children. There have been several cases of matchmakers, but now you don't need old idiots like us to make decisions for you. Su Hongye Well, he has a bit of a reputation, and he seems to have been a few official officials in the past—" Hung-chien thought to himself, why do all the cute girls have fathers?She is lonely and can hide her tenderness in her heart, and she drags her father, uncle, brother, etc. in a muddy way. This girl is not smart and easy, and it is inconvenient to harbor her in her heart, and her cuteness is mixed with dross.Many people talk about marriage as if they are homosexual love. They are not looking at the girl herself, but envious of her father or her brother.
The mother said: "I don't agree! Miss Guan is not allowed to marry. If you want to serve her, she will not serve you. And to marry a daughter-in-law, it is good to be from the same country. People from other counties have a bit of a bad temper. It is not acceptable for you to marry. This Ms. Su is an overseas student, so I'm afraid she's not too young." Her two daughter-in-laws who didn't graduate from middle school and grew up in this county all had approving expressions.
Father said: "She not only studies abroad, but also has a Ph.D. So I'm afraid that Hung-chien won't be able to handle her."——It seems that Miss Su is a hard thing like bricks and stones, which cannot be digested by the stomach of an ostrich or a turkey.
The mother was not convinced: "Our Hung-chien is also a Ph.D. If we don't lose to her, why can't we match her?"
The father twirled his beard and smiled, "Hung-chien, your mother won't understand this truth--women are the most difficult to control after a few books. Men must be higher than her, so they can't match her equally. Marry a middle school girl, and an overseas student marry a college girl. A woman who has a Ph. A woman must not be like my family', a reason."
The mother said: "The second daughter of the Xu family is the best among the matchmakers. I'll show you the photo later."
Fang Hongjian thought the matter was serious.I hate modern girls in small cities the most in my life. Outdated fashion and rustic urbanization, just like the first suit imitated by Chinese tailors, patched on both sides of the foreigner's old clothes in the same way, and also on the sleeves And pants are done on.There is no need to protest now, and I will flee to Shanghai in a few days.Old Mr. Fang also said that there were a lot of people meeting the wind, and the weather was too hot, so he told Hung-chien to be careful not to be greedy. He had to visit the homes of the elders who were close to him, and let him sit in his chartered car. When the weather cooled down, he would personally take him to his grandfather. Salute on the grave.Mrs. Fang said that tomorrow she would ask a tailor to make his silk gown and underwear. Fengyi had two gowns, and she borrowed one for the time being to wear it when she went out to visit visitors.For dinner, Mrs. Fang made fried shredded eel, chicken wings in sauce, stewed chicken with watermelon, and boiled shrimp in wine.Mrs. Fang picked out the food and put it on his rice bowl, saying: "I think you are so pitiful in foreign countries for four years. You have nothing to eat!" Everyone laughed and said that she came again. If you don't eat in a foreign country, you will be hungry. die.She said: "I don't understand how foreign devils live! I don't want to eat any bread or milk given to me." Hung-chien suddenly felt that in this kind of family atmosphere, war is unbelievable, just like there is nothing in broad daylight. People think of ghosts.The plans and hopes of parents and mothers leave no room for accidents.Seeing them governing the future in such a stable way, I also became courageous, thinking that the situation in Shanghai might be eased, the war would not happen, and if it did happen, it could be ignored.
Fang Hung-chien won't get up until tomorrow, and the two reporters will open the door in the morning.Hung-chien saw that in the newspaper they brought, there was news about Dr. Fang's return to his hometown, embedded with the full-body portrait taken yesterday, and he was so terrified that he felt ashamed of himself.The hand that was pulling his right arm through the blue glasses was also clearly reflected in it, coupled with the astonished expression on his side face, it was like a photo of a thief being caught.That blue glasses is a well-informed man, and he said that he has heard that Clayton University is the most famous university in the world, and its status is like Tsinghua University.The reporter with the camera on his back asked Hung-chien what his observations were about the general situation in the world, and whether the Sino-Japanese war would break out.Fang Hung-chien sent them away with great difficulty, and even wrote two words of gift for the newspaper of Blue Glasses: "Mouthpiece for the People" and "Straightforward Talk" for the newspaper of Camera.Just about to go out to visit visitors, my father’s old friend Lu, the principal of the county’s provincial middle school, came to invite the three of Fang’s father and son to have breakfast at the teahouse in the morning. its review".Hung-chien was most afraid of giving speeches, so he had to make excuses to decline, but his father agreed on his behalf.He had no choice but to swallow his breath in private, thinking that in such a hot day, wearing a robe, talking nonsense, and sweating stinky, what is it not to suffer?The psychology of educators is really different from others!Mr. Fang hoped that people would praise his son's "family origin", so he dug out a few thread-bound books in the box, such as "Wen Zi Tang Ji", "Guiji Lei Manuscript", "Seven Classics Lou Ji", "Tan Ying Lu" and so on. " and the like, and ordered Hung-chien to read carefully and collect speech materials.Hung-chien watched it with relish all afternoon, and learned a lot, and understood that the Chinese people are square in character, so they say the earth is square, and the foreigners are smooth in character, so they think the earth is round; Left: Opium imported from the West is poisonous and must be banned. China's land is peaceful, and the opium produced will not be addictive if smoked; syphilis is smallpox, which comes from the West and so on.It's a pity that although these facts are interesting, they are not used in speeches, and they should be studied elsewhere.So when he came back from dinner at his uncle's house that day, his eyes were drunk, he flipped through three or five history textbooks, filled up a speech of more than a thousand words, and inserted two jokes.This kind of preparation did not take a lot of effort, and the blood was lost because there were so many mosquitoes.
Tomorrow morning, after eating the fourth dish of noodle soup as usual dim sum at the teahouse, Headmaster Lu paid the bill, urged Hung-chien to get up, each hurriedly took their long gowns from the waiter, put them on, and left, while Feng Yi drank tea with Mr. Fang.The school auditorium was full of students, more than 200 men and women. Fang Hongjian was accompanied by Headmaster Lu to the podium. He felt numb and itchy all over his body staring at him, and it was difficult for him to walk.When I sat down on the stage, the wet mist in front of my eyes dissipated, only to see that the people sitting in the first row looked like teachers from our school, and on the recording bench next to the podium was a female student with newly permed hair that looked like it was painted.Everyone in the auditorium was whispering to each other, judging themselves curiously.He silently divided his cheeks and said: "Don't burn the plate! Don't blush!" He regretted that he shouldn't take off his sunglasses when he entered the door. The two pieces of black glass in front of his eyes seemed to be hidden in the thick shade psychologically, so don't be shy.Principal Lu was already giving an introduction, and Hung-chien hurriedly reached into the pocket of his coat to fumble for the speech manuscript, but found nothing, and was covered in a cold sweat.Think bad!Oops!How can you lose something important?When I came out from home, it was clearly in the bag of my coat.Except for the first few sentences, the rest is completely forgotten.Reminiscing desperately is like using a sieve to hold water.When you are in a hurry, you will not be able to concentrate, and the threads of your thoughts will become knotted and loose.There are vague shadows of facts, but it's like waiting for someone in a busy place, glancing at the crowd who looks like him, walking up to look for him, but disappearing again.Playing hide-and-seek in his heart, President Lu bowed and asked him to give a speech, and the audience applauded.As soon as he stood up, he saw Fengyi rushing into the auditorium in a panic. Seeing that the speech had already started, he desperately found an empty seat to sit down.Hung-chien suddenly realized that when he left the teahouse, he had accidentally worn Fengyi's clothes. The two coats belonged to Fengyi, with the same color and material.
The applause stopped.Fang Hongjian forced a smile and said: "Principal Lu, gentlemen and classmates: Although your applause is out of good intentions, it is actually the most unreasonable. Because applauding means that you are satisfied with the speech, and now I haven't spoken yet, you are already satisfied." I have to applaud, why do I need to say anything else? You should listen to the speech first, and then applaud a few times at will, so that I will have the face to step down. Now I applaud first, and I can’t afford such enthusiastic applause for my speech. The fear of not being able to deliver the goods after receiving the money.” The audience laughed, and the girl who recorded it also smiled, writing like a fly.Fang Hongjian hesitated, what should we say next?I still remember some of the arguments and facts in the thread-bound book, but the history textbook I read after dinner is gone.Damn textbooks, when I was a student, I was so lucky that I knew how to take the exam!Yes, yes!It's better than nothing to say: "You can find the influence of Western culture in Chinese history in any history textbook, so I don't need to repeat it. You all know that European thought officially came into contact with China in the middle of the Ming Dynasty. That’s why Catholics often say that it was China’s Renaissance at that time. However, the science brought by the Catholics of the Ming Dynasty is now out of date, and the religion they brought has never been out of date. For hundreds of years in Haitong, only two Western things have been in the market. It will last forever in the entire Chinese society. One is opium, the other is syphilis, both of which are Western civilizations absorbed by the Ming Dynasty." Most of the audience laughed, while a few opened their mouths in horror; a few teachers frowned, The girl who wrote the record blushed and stopped writing, as if after hearing Hung-chien's last sentence, the virgin's ears had lost her virginity in public; Principal Lu coughed warningly behind Hung-chien's back.At that time Fang Hongjian was like a person who wakes up in the middle of the winter, trying his best to jump out of the bed, only to get out of bed in the cold, and there is no reason to shrink back. "Originally, opium was also called foreign cigarettes—" Hung-chien saw an old man who seemed to be teaching Chinese among the teachers, shaking his head while fanning a fan, and hurriedly said, "The 'foreign' of course refers to the 'Western' in 'Sanbao Eunuch's voyage to the West'." , because according to the "Da Ming Hui Dian", opium was a tribute from Siam and Java. But in Homer's epic "Ten Years Return" Odyssey, the earliest literary work in Europe-"The old man's bald head can't be suppressed by this foreign word Dare to shake—"It is said that there is such a thing. As for syphilis—" Principal Lu coughed repeatedly—"It is undoubtedly an imported foreign product. Schopenhauer said earlier that the characteristics of modern European civilization, the first is bayberry sore. If you don’t have a chance It is very easy to see the original foreign books. Just read the French novel "Candide" translated by Mr. Xu Zhimo, and you can get a little idea of the origin of syphilis. After Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty, this disease was brought by foreigners. These two things Of course, the poison is endless, but it cannot be completely erased. Opium has inspired many literary works. Ancient poets found inspiration in wine, and modern European and American poets have been inspired by opium. Syphilis is genetically produced. Stimulate geniuses. For example——" Principal Lu's throat was broken at this time, and when Hung-chien finished speaking, the audience clapped their hands vigorously. Principal Lu sucked his thanks and said: "Today, Dr. Chengfang taught us a lot. We are very interested in the novel discussion. Dr. Fang is my nephew. I grew up watching him, and I know he likes to tell jokes. The weather is very hot today, so he deliberately said some humorous words. I hope to have the opportunity to listen to him in the future But I would like to tell Dr. Fang: our school library is full of the spirit of new life, and there is absolutely no French novel—” he said while tapping the air with his hand.Hung-chien was too ashamed to look down from the stage.
Before tomorrow, many people will know that the Fang family's son who has returned from overseas has openly advocated smoking and prostitution.This word reached Mr. Fang's ears. He didn't know that this was the result of teaching his son to turn and bind books.Following the news of the battle in Songhu on August 13, no one brought up Fang Hongjian's jokes.But those who have daughters who want to marry him will never forget his speech; guessing that he is spending time and drinking in foreign countries, if they go to the West Lake Yuexia Old People's Temple to ask for a lottery for their daughter to marry him, it is hard to guarantee that it will not be the fourth lottery: There is a disease!" This kind of young man can't be a son-in-law, so he successively asked Fang's family for his daughter's photo and Geng Tie under the excuse that the current situation is not stable and the marriage is postponed.Old Madam Fang was very depressed, she couldn't forget Miss Xu's second daughter, but Hung-chien acted nonchalantly.The war has started, Mr. Fang is a big squire, busy with local public security affairs.Residents in the county remembered that they were not bombed by enemy planes on "January 28", and they thought nothing happened this time, and they were not very panicked.Fang Hongjian stayed at home for a week, and felt that the four years of going abroad were like water pouring down on a lotus leaf, leaving no trace of his hometown.When I came back, I met those same people four years ago, and those people still did what they did four years ago, and said what they said four years ago.None of the people I knew died; only my wet nurse, who used to say she would come to hold the baby when she got married and raised a son, was now too sick to get out of bed.The past four years in my hometown will be considered in vain, and I will not win a tear or a sigh from the returning wanderer.On the sixth day after the start of the war, Japanese planes dropped bombs for the first time and destroyed the railway station. Only then did everyone realize that the war was really coming, and some people moved to the countryside to seek refuge.From then on, the planes came back one after another, with the demeanor of a peerless beauty who visits the whole city and then the country.Manager Zhou sent a telegram telling Hung-chien to come to Shanghai quickly, otherwise the traffic would be cut off and he would be stuck at home.Mr. Fang also felt that in this situation, his son should go out and look for opportunities, so he let Hung-chien go.What happened in the next four months, from the retreat of Shanghai to the fall of Nanjing, history should be as Fr. von Logan said, using the sharpened bayonet as a pen, dipping in blood as ink, and writing on the enemy's skin as paper.Fang Hongjian was in a daze, reading more than a dozen kinds of newspapers a day, listening to more than a dozen radio reports, exhausted and desperate to find a resting place in the gaps in the news.He and Pengtu guessed that their home had been destroyed, and the whereabouts of their family members were unknown.It was not until the end of the lunar calendar that they found out their whereabouts. Mr. Fang's relatives and friends in Shanghai tried to spend money to pick them up and rent a house in the concession for them.The family sighed and wept when they met.Mr. Fang and Fengyi clamored to buy shoes and socks; when they came by boat, they met two rout soldiers on the road, who robbed Mr. Fang of his purse, and forced Fang and his son to put wool socks and cotton-padded shoes on their feet before leaving. Take it off and exchange it with their stinky cloth socks and broken canvas shoes.The whole Fang family left empty-handed, only Mrs. Fang had two or three thousand yuan bills sewn into her padded jacket, which the two soldiers did not touch.A businessman from his hometown in Shanghai has always admired the name of Mr. Fang, and he has donated a lot of money, so the door can be supported again.Fang Hongjian saw that there were many people in his family and the house was small, so he still lived in Zhou's house, and would visit his parents every day or two to say hello.Every time I went home, I always listened to them talking about their horrible and ridiculous experiences when they fled; their art of describing and describing seemed to improve each time, but Hung-chien's attention and sympathy diminished a little each time.Because Mr. Fang refused the temptation of the traitors in the county, he couldn't return to his family, and the government didn't give him any name. He felt that he was patriotic but the country didn't love him.Hung-chien was very bored in the Dianjin Bank, and there were not many opportunities in Shanghai, so he went to the interior if he wanted to.
The Lunar New Year is here.The apartments in the Shanghai Concession have had enough of worrying about the country. Now that the country is not dead, there is no need to be widows, so it is lively again as usual.One day, Mrs. Zhou told Hung-chien that someone was a matchmaker for him, that is, one time Hung-chien and Manager Zhou went out for a dinner party, and they sat with a daughter named Zhang.According to Mrs. Zhou, Zhang's family is going to take his horoscope, and ask a fortune teller to sort it out, and it will be "a match made in heaven, good luck" with their lady's fate.Hung-chien laughed and said, "In an open place like Shanghai, do you still ask fortune-tellers to arrange marriages?" Mrs. Zhou said that fate is undeniable, and Mr. Zhang invited him to have a casual dinner. It's no harm to know that lady.Hung-chien was a little like a scholar before the war. He remembered that the man surnamed Zhang worked as a comprador in an American foreign firm, and he didn't want to deal with such vulgar things. ?Anyway, it's okay to go once, whether you get married or not depends on whether you like the girl or not, others are reluctant to come, so you agree to go for dinner.This Mr. Zhang is from the coast of Zhejiang Province. His name is Jimin, but he likes to be called Jimmy.He has worked in the American Citigroup for more than 20 years, from "writing" (little secretary) to comprador, and he really has money in his hand.She only had one daughter, and she spared no expense in cultivating her locally. There are all kinds of foreign skills and habits that can be taught and nurtured in church schools, and foreign styles and postures that can be created in beauty salons and barber shops.This daughter is just 18 years old and has not yet graduated from middle school, but Mr. Zhang and his wife maintain the traditional thinking of their hometown, thinking that a girl will be old when she is 20 years old. up.Mrs. Zhang is very strict in choosing a husband. Although there are many relatives, they are not successful.There was a son of a wealthy businessman who was also an overseas student. Mrs. Zhang appreciated it quite a bit, and the marriage was promising, but she didn't mention it after a meal.吃饭时大家谈到那几天因战事关系，租界封锁，蔬菜来源困难，张太太便对那富商儿子说：“府上人多，每天伙食账不会小罢？”那人说自己不清楚，想来是多少钱一天。张太太说：“那么府上的厨子一定又老实，又能干！像我们人数不到府上一半，每天厨房开销也要那个数目呢！”那人听着得意，张太太等他饭毕走了，便说：“这种人家排场太小了！只吃那么多钱一天的菜！我女儿舒服惯的，过去吃不来苦！”婚事从此作罢。夫妇俩磋商几次，觉得宝贝女儿嫁到人家去，总不放心，不如招一个女婿到自己家里来。那天张先生跟鸿渐同席，回家说起，认为颇合资格：家世头衔都不错，并且现在没真做到女婿已住在挂名丈人家里，将来招赘入门，易如反掌。更妙是方家经这番战事，摆不起乡绅人家臭架子，这女婿可以服服帖帖地养在张府上。结果张太太要鸿渐来家相他一下。
方鸿渐因为张先生请他早到谈谈，下午银行办公完毕就去。马路上经过一家外国皮货铺子看见獭绒西装外套，新年廉价，只卖四百元。鸿渐常想有这样一件外套，留学时不敢买。臀如在伦敦，男人穿皮外套而没有私人汽车，假使不像放印子钱的犹太人或打拳的黑人，人家就疑心是马戏班的演员，再不然就是开窑子的乌龟；只有在维也纳，穿皮外套是常事，并且有现成的皮里子卖给旅客衬在外套里。他回国后，看穿的人很多，现在更给那店窗里的陈列撩得心动。可是盘算一下，只好叹口气。银行里薪水一百块钱已算不薄，零用尽够。丈人家供吃供住，一个钱不必贴，怎好向周经理要钱买奢侈品？回国所余六十多镑，这次孝敬父亲四十镑添买些家具，剩下不过折合四百余元。东凑西挪，一股脑儿花在这件外套上面，不大合算。国难时期，万事节约，何况天气不久回暖，就省了罢。到了张家，张先生热闹地欢迎道：“Hello!Doctor方，好久不见！”张先生跟外国人来往惯了，说话有个特征——也许在洋行、青年会、扶轮社等圏子里，这并没有什么奇特——喜欢中国话里夹无谓的英文字。他并无中文难达的新意，需要借英文来讲；所以他说话里嵌的英文字，还比不得嘴里嵌的金牙，因为金牙不仅妆点，尚可使用，只好比牙缝里嵌的肉屑，表示饭菜吃得好，此外全无用处。他仿美国人读音，惟妙惟肖，也许鼻音学得太过火了，不像美国人，而像伤风塞鼻子的中国人。他说“very well”二字，声音活像小洋狗在咕噜——“vurry wul”。可惜罗马人无此耳福，否则决不单说R是鼻音的狗字母。当时张先生跟鸿渐拉手，问他是不是天天“go downtown”。鸿渐寒暄已毕，瞧玻璃橱里都是碗、瓶、碟子，便说：“张先生喜欢收藏磁器？”
“Sure!have a look see!”张先生打开橱门，请鸿渐赏鉴。鸿渐拿了几件，看都是“成化”、“宣德”、“康熙”，也不识真假，只好说：“这东西很值钱罢？”
“Sure!值不少钱呢，Plenty of dough。并且这东西不比书画。买书画买了假的，一文不值，只等于waste paper。磁器假的，至少还可以盛菜盛饭。我有时请外国friends吃饭，就用那个康熙窑'油底蓝五彩'大盘做salad dish，他们都觉得古色古香，菜的味道也有点old-time。”
方鸿渐道：“张先生眼光一定好，不会买假东西。”
张先生大笑道：“我不懂什么年代花纹，事情忙，也没工夫翻书研究。可是我有hunch；看见一件东西，忽然what d'you call灵机一动，买来准OK。他们古董掮客都佩服我，我常对他们说：'不用拿假货来fool我。O yeah，我姓张的不是sucker，休想骗我！'”关上橱门，又说：“咦，headache——”便捺电铃叫用人。
鸿渐不懂，忙问道：“张先生不舒服，是不是？”
张先生惊奇地望着鸿渐道：“谁不舒服？你？我？我很好呀！”
鸿渐道：“张先生不是说'头痛'么？”
张先生呵呵大笑，一面分付进来的女佣说：“快去跟太太小姐说，客人来了，请她们出来。make it snappy!”说时右手大拇指从中指弹在食指上“啪”的一响。他回过来对鸿渐笑道：“headache是美国话，指'太太'而说，不是'头痛'！你没到States去过罢！”
方鸿渐正自惭寡陋，张太太张小姐出来了，张先生为鸿渐介绍。张太太是位四十多岁的胖女人，外国名字是小巧玲珑的Tessie。张小姐是十八岁的高大女孩子，着色鲜明，穿衣紧俏，身材将来准会跟她老太爷那洋行的资本一样雄厚。鸿渐没听清她名字，声音好像“我你他”，想来不是Anita，就是Juanita，她父母只缩短叫她Nita。张太太上海话比丈夫讲得好，可是时时流露本乡土音，仿佛罩褂太小，遮不了里面的袍子。张太太信佛，自说天天念十遍“白衣观世音咒”，求菩萨保佑中国军队打胜；又说这观音咒灵验得很，上海打仗最紧急时，张先生到外滩行里去办公，自己在家里念咒，果然张先生从没遭到流弹。鸿渐暗想，享受了最新的西洋科学设备，而竟抱这种信仰，坐在热水管烘暖的客堂里念佛，可见“西学为用，中学为体”并非难事。他和张小姐没有多少可谈，只好问她爱看什么电影。跟着两个客人来了，都是张先生的结义弟兄。一个叫陈士屏，是欧美烟草公司的高等职员，大家唤他ZB，仿佛德文里“有例为证”的缩写。一个叫丁讷生，外国名字倒不是诗人Tennyson而是海军大将Nelson，也在什么英国轮船公司做事。张太太说，人数凑得起一桌麻将，何妨打八圏牌再吃晚饭。方鸿渐赌术极幼稚，身边带钱又不多，不愿参加，宁可陪张小姐闲谈。经不起张太太再三怂恿，只好入局。没料到四圈之后，自己独赢一百余元，心中一动，想假如这手运继续不变，那獭绒大衣便有指望了。这时候，他全忘了在船上跟孙先生讲的法国迷信，只要赢钱。八圈打毕，方鸿渐赢了近三百块钱。同局的三位，张太太、“有例为证”和“海军大将”一个子儿不付，一字不提，都站起来准备吃饭。鸿渐唤醒一句道：“我今天运气太好了！从来没赢过这许多钱。”
张太太如梦初醒道：“咱们真糊涂了！还没跟方先生清账呢。陈先生，丁先生，让我一个人来付他，咱们回头再算得了。”便打开钱袋把钞票一五一十点交给鸿渐。
吃的是西菜。 “海军大将”信基督教，坐下以前，还向天花板眨白眼，感谢上帝赏饭。方鸿渐因为赢了钱，有说有笑。饭后散坐抽烟喝咖啡，他瞧见沙发旁一个小书架，猜来都是张小姐的读物。一大堆《西风》、原文《读者文摘》之外，有原文小字白文《莎士比亚全集》、《新旧约全书》、《家庭布置学》、翻版的《居里夫人传》、《照相自修法》、《我国与我民》等不朽大著，以及电影小说十几种，里面不用说有。一本小蓝书，背上金字标题道：《怎样去获得丈夫而且守住他》（How to gain a Husband and keep him）。鸿渐忍不住抽出一翻，只见一节道：“对男人该温柔甜蜜，才能在他心的深处留下好印象。女孩子们，别忘了脸上常带光明的笑容。”看到这里，这笑容从书上移到鸿渐脸上了。再看书面作者是个女人，不知出嫁没有，该写明“某某夫人”，这书便见得切身阅历之谈，想着笑容更廓大了。抬头忽见张小姐注意自己，忙把书放好，收敛笑容。 “有例为证”要张小姐弹钢琴，大家同声附和。张小姐弹完，鸿渐要补救这令她误解的笑容，抢先第一个称“好”，求她再弹一曲。他又坐一会，才告辞出门。洋车到半路，他想起那书名，不禁失笑。丈夫是女人的职业，没有丈夫就等于失业，所以该牢牢捧住这饭碗。snort!我偏不愿意女人读了那本书当我是饭碗，我宁可他们瞧不起我，骂我饭桶。 “我你他”小姐，咱们没有“举碗齐眉”的缘分，希望另有好运气的人来爱上您。想到这里，鸿渐顿足大笑，把天空月亮当作张小姐，向她挥手作别。洋车夫疑心他醉了，回头叫他别动，车不好拉。
客人全散了，张太太道：“这姓方的不合式，气量太小，把钱看得太重，给我一试就露出本相。他那时候好像怕我们赖账不还的，可笑不可笑？”
张先生道：“德国货总比不上美国货呀。什么博士！还算在英国留过学，我说的英文，他好多听不懂。欧战以后，德国落伍了。汽车、飞机、打字机、照相机，哪一件不是美国花样顶新！我不爱欧洲留学生。”
张太太道：“Nita，你看这姓方的怎么样？”
张小姐不能饶恕方鸿渐看书时的微笑，干脆说：“这人讨厌！你看他吃相多坏！全不像在外国住过的。他喝汤的时候，把面包去蘸！他吃铁排鸡，不用刀叉，把手拈了鸡腿起来咬！我全看在眼睛里。吓！这算什么礼貌？我们学校里教社交礼节的Miss Prym瞧见了准会骂他猪猡相piggy wiggy!”
当时张家这婚事一场没结果，周太太颇为扫兴。可是方鸿渐小时是看、《水浒》、那些不合教育原理的儿童读物的；他生得太早，还没福气捧读《白雪公主》、这一类好书。他记得里的名言：“妻子如衣服”，当然衣服也就等于妻子；他现在新添了皮外套，损失个把老婆才不放在心上呢。
Notes: 即的电影译名。
Notes: 即的电影译名。