Chapter 7 third chapter

Perhaps because there were too many dead in the war, the unspent vitality of the dead burst into spring business.That spring, the weather was particularly good.This agitation of spring makes people feel like the gums of a baby when its teeth are erupting, being itched by a kind of vitality.Shanghai is an explosive city, and there are no mountains, rivers, flowers and willows as a place to settle down in spring.The plants and trees in parks and residential gardens are like wild animals in iron cages in zoos, restrained and lonely, not enough to vent in spring.When spring comes, it can only be placed in people's body and mind, adding diseases and infections, adding cases of adultery, alcoholism and fighting, and adding pregnant women.The last one is a good sign, because the wartime population should be replenished.But according to Mrs. Zhou, most of the children born this year are ghosts who died in vain, and they rushed to reincarnate to find their age in the previous life.

For the past few days, Fang Hongjian had been drowsy during the day and sober at night.When I woke up in the morning, I heard the birds chirping in the trees outside the window. I was happy for no reason, and looked forward to it aimlessly. My heart seemed to lose weight and go straight up.But this joy is empty, like a balloon released by a child, it bursts into nothingness within a few feet up, leaving only the nameless and flickering melancholy.He was fidgeting and trying to move, but he was sluggish and unable to exert energy, just like a poplar flower fluttering in the spring breeze, but its body is light and weak, and it will not fly far.He felt that this kind of sleepy and confused state of mind was exactly like the situation of a boudoir hurting spring written in the lyrics.Now that women don't bother to hurt their youth, it's ridiculous that they can't get rid of such stereotyped emotions for being a man in vain!For example, a woman like Miss Bao has no time to hurt her youth, but what about Miss Su?She's hard to tell; she's a sentimental old-fashioned model.Let's say goodbye on the boat. I don't know how she is doing recently.I promised to go to see her, why not go once?Knowing that maybe there will be troubles from now on, but life is too boring, and there is too little ready-made girlfriends!It's like a person who can't sleep, he doesn't care about the harm of sleeping pills, and he wants to see the comfort first.

When Fang Hongjian arrived at Su's house, he imagined that Miss Su would rush into the living room, laughing and yelling, scolding himself for not going to see her sooner.The concierge served tea and said, "Miss will come out." The peach blossoms, pear blossoms, and lilacs in Su's home were in full bloom. Qingming spring.A window in the living room was open, and the scent of flowers baked by the sun was so strong that it stuffed the nose and was so warm that it made the mind dizzy.The scent of these flowers, like the smell of onion and garlic, is plant-like and meaty, as if it came out of the hair at a summer dance party.Among the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, there is a screen note written by Shen Zipei, recorded Huangshan Valley's poem, the first sentence of which is: "The scent of flowers smokes one's mind and makes one want to break Zen." Hung-chien read it and understood it not far away. This kind of flower fragrance has indeed violated the precepts, and it is almost the same as eating meat.He looked at the calligraphy, paintings and antiques in the living room three times, just thinking that Shen Zipei's feet, which were written with the word "人", looked like the little feet bound by an old mother in Peking, with thick and straight legs on the top, when there was a slight pause on the bottom, and it was over, and it was over. It is a foot!Miss Su just came out.Her indifferent smile was like a bleak day on a cold and snowy day. She shook hands and said, "Mr. Fang hasn't seen you for a long time. Why are you here today?" With cold-blooded shark fin.It was fine when we parted, but why did we become so awkward when we met again?At this time, his psychology was as if a student who was cramming for an exam had slept all night and found that the homework he thought he was familiar with was still raw, so he had to lie and say that he was in Shanghai for a few days and came to visit.Miss Su politely and thoughtfully thanked him for "coming", and asked him "where is he proud".He murmured that he hadn't looked for a job yet, and wanted to go to the mainland to temporarily help out in a bank organized by his relatives.Ms. Su glanced at him and said, "Is it the bank opened by Mr. Fang's Yue family? Mr. Fang, you are so mysterious! When did you have the wedding wine? We have been classmates for many years, and you still kept it secret. Did you get a doctorate?" Came back to get married? It’s really a gold medal, and the bridal chamber is a double happiness. We are not lucky enough to pay our respects to Mrs. Fang!"

Fang Hongjian was so ashamed that he couldn't bear it. Remembering the news in the "Shanghai News", he hurriedly said that it must be from the "Shanghai News".So he scolded the "Shanghai News" and described the reasons for the father-in-law and the fake doctor in a spring and autumn style. Buying a fake diploma is his own playfulness, and recognizing his relatives is his own way of following the common customs.He also said: "When I saw the news, I was the first to think of you, thinking that you would laugh at me and look down on me. I even got into a lot of trouble with my nominal father-in-law because of this."

Miss Su's expression gradually changed: "Then why bother! Those vulgar businessmen of course only know that they have to pay for the delivery, and they don't know that learning is not based on signs. What are you fussing about with them! Then After all, Mr. Zhou is your elder and treats you well enough. He has the right to publish that piece of news in the newspaper. Anyway, who will pay attention to that piece of news, and those who see it will forget it when they turn their backs. You are already cynical in a big place , turning to the subsections to be serious, the contradictions are too ridiculous."

Fang Hongjian sincerely admired Miss Su's beautiful speech, and replied: "I don't feel guilty after telling you this. I should have come to tell you earlier, you are so eloquent! You said that I can't understand the details. Open, these words are especially profound. The big things in the world seem to be handled casually, but the small things can't be excused at all. For example, corrupt officials take tens of millions in bribes, but they will never steal other people's pockets. My humorous attitude, Not completely." Miss Su wanted to say: "That's wrong. I don't steal money bags because they are not worth stealing; if there are tens of millions in the money bag, stealing them is as safe as taking bribes, and he will steal them too." But her Without saying a word, he only glanced at Hung-chien, then looked at the patterns on the carpet and said, "Thanks to your incomplete cynical attitude, otherwise people who make friends with you will feel chilled, and I'm afraid you'll just put off face. I was laughing at them in my heart."

Hung-chien hastily exaggerated his assurances, how much he valued friendship.Talking like this, Miss Su told him that her father had gone to Sichuan with the government, her brother had also gone to work in Hong Kong, and only her mother, sister-in-law and her were left at home in Shanghai, and she herself wanted to go to the mainland.Fang Hung-chien said that maybe the two of them could travel together again.Ms. Su talked about a cousin who studied at their alma mater in Peiping for a year, but the university was moved inland due to the war. She suspended her studies at home for half a year, and now she plans to return to school.This cousin happened to be visiting at Su's house today. Miss Su went in and asked her to come out. She met Hung-chien and would become her traveling companion in the future.

Miss Su brought out a petite girl in her twenties, and introduced her, "This is my cousin Tang Xiaofu." Miss Tang's charming round face had two shallow dimples.It has the natural good complexion that ordinary women would spend money and time to imitate, it is so fresh that people forget their thirst and feel hungry after seeing it, just like a good fruit.Her eyes are not particularly big, but they are flexible and gentle, making many women's big eyes look like politicians' big words, big but useless.Classical scholars look at her good teeth when she talks and laughs, and they will wonder why ancient and modern Chinese and foreign poets are willing to become women's hairpins, belts around their waists, mats for their bodies to sleep on, and even shoes and socks trampled under their feet. as her toothbrush.Her hair is not permed, her eyebrows are not tweezed, and her lipstick is not applied. She seems to be content to abide by the limits of nature and not to make up for the defects of nature.All in all, Miss Tang was that rare thing in modern civilized society—a real girl.There are many urban girls who are already precocious women who are pretending to be women, and they are not considered children;Fang Hongjian immediately wanted to make a good impression on her heart.Miss Tang respectfully called him "classmate old senior", and he protested: "This is impossible! You call me 'senior', and I already feel like the remains of a prehistoric primitive man. Why do you add the word 'old'? We are unlucky I was born too early, so I am not blessed to be in the same class as you, this is a shame. You call me 'senior' again, just to remind me that I am the oldest and outdated person, it is too cruel!"

Miss Tang said: "Mr. Fang is really picky! I was wrong, and the word 'old' will be canceled first." Miss Su said lively at the same time: "Don't be ashamed! Do you want us to call you 'Xiao Fang' like the people on the boat? Xiaofu, ignore him. He is not favored, so just don't call him anything." When Fang Hongjian saw that Miss Tang was not smiling, there was still a smile on his face, like the lingering sound in the air after the music stopped.Many women can smile so sweetly, but their smiles are just soft facial muscles, as if a coach is shouting the password: "One!" Suddenly the face is full of smiles, "Two!" Suddenly the smile disappears, leaving only an empty face, Like the curtain before a movie opens.He found something to talk to her and asked her what department she entered.Miss Su didn't allow her to say, and said, "Let him guess."

Fang Hung-chien guessed wrong about literature, wrong about education, and wrong about chemistry and physics. Using Mr. Zhang Jimin's words, he said, "Search me! Did you study mathematics? That's too good!" When Ms. Tang said it, it turned out that it was very common for the Department of Politics.Miss Su commented: "This is the most important thing. She will be our ruler in the future, female officer." Fang Hung-chien said: "Women are born political animals. Falsehood and realism, retreating to advance, these political skills, women are born with all these political skills. Women who study politics are really the icing on the cake. I am in Europe. , I have listened to Mr. Ernst Bergmann's class. He said that men have creative thinking and women have social activity, so what men do in society should be left to women, so that men can hide at home and think calmly, invent new science, Create a new art. I think there is a lot of truth in this statement. Women don't need to learn politics, and today's politicians have to learn from women if they want to be successful. The drama on the political stage is all reversed."

Miss Su said: "This is your gentleman's pretentious theory, and you like that." Fang Hongjian said: "Miss Tang, your cousin really doesn't know how to flatter you, so please invite her woman to participate in politics, but she laughed at me for pretending to be weird! You can judge and see. As the old saying goes, if the family is in order, then the country can be governed and the world can be governed. Excuse me. How many men know how to manage housework? Housekeepers have to rely on women, and they brag that a man wants to rule the country and the world, and ignore the housework. He has to build a roof in the air like building a house. There are many advantages to handing over the country and society to women , at least it can reduce wars. Diplomacy may be more complicated and there are more secret clauses, but women are not good at fighting because of their bodies. Women are not as good at mechanical minds as men. Scratching skins and twisting flesh are little damage. In any case, modern women are reluctant to have more children. By then, they will be busy with state affairs and have no time to give birth. The population is sparse, and wars may not happen at all. produce." Miss Tang felt that Fang Hongjian said these words to draw her attention to him, she smiled secretly, and said, "I don't know whether Mr. Fang is insulting politics or women, at least they are not good words." Miss Su said: "Wow! I turned a corner and flattered him for a long time. Not only did he not appreciate it, he didn't understand at all! I advise you to keep your mouth shut." Ms. Tang said: "I am not ungrateful. I am very grateful. Mr. Fang is willing to show eloquence for me. If I am a math student, I think Mr. Fang must have another argument, saying that women are born calculation animals." Miss Su said: "Perhaps a person like you is willing to study mathematics, and he has never hated it since then. Anyway, it's all his words. I didn't know that he was so glib. This time I returned to China to learn. University When he was a classmate, his face would turn red when he saw us from afar, and the closer we got, the redder it became. We felt hot and sad when we looked at him. Behind our backs we called him 'cold and heat watch', because his face rose and fell suddenly, showing that How far away he is from the female students, it's really fun! I never imagined that I went to a foreign country and learned such a thick-skinned face, maybe I got it from training with girlfriends like Miss Bao." Fang Hongjian hurriedly said: "Don't talk nonsense! Why bring up those things? You female students are really disgusting! You are serious in front of your face, but you turn your back and sarcasm to the point of sarcasm. It's really wicked!" Seeing that he was in a hurry, Miss Su dissipated all the unhappiness because of his showing off to Miss Tang just now, and said with a smile: "Look at how anxious you are! I'm afraid you are not talking sweet words in front of you, but mean to others behind your back." At this time, a tall and imposing man, nearly thirty years old, came in.Miss Tang called him "Mr. Zhao," and Miss Su said, "Okay, here you are. Let me introduce you to Fang Hongjian and Zhao Xinmei." It seemed that Hung-chien was a kindergarten reader with big characters, and asked Miss Su, "Is that the one who returned to China on the same boat as you?" Hung-chien was amazed how this person surnamed Zhao knew about him, and suddenly thought that maybe this person had read the news in the "Shanghai News" and immediately felt embarrassed and uncomfortable.Zhao Hsin-mei was already very high-spirited, but when Miss Su said that Hung-chien was indeed returning to China on the same boat as her, his expression was as if Hung-chien had turned into thin air, and he was not in his eyes.If Miss Su didn't talk to him, Hung-chien would really feel that he was nothing, like a ghost when the rooster crows at five o'clock, or the Taoist truth of "you can't see it, you can't knead it".Ms. Su told Hung-chien that Zhao Hsin-mei and her family were family friends, an American student who had originally worked as a section chief at the Diplomatic Office, but had not moved in due to illness, and was now working as a political editor at the Huamei News Agency.But she didn't tell Zhao Xinmei about Hung-chien's experience, as if he already knew it, so there was no need to talk about it. Zhao Xinmei was lying on the sofa, smoking a pipe, looking up and asking the lamp hanging on the ceiling, "Where does Mr. Fang work?" Fang Hung-chien was a little angry, and it was impossible to ignore him. "Dianjin Bank" couldn't make a sound, so he said vaguely, "I'm working in a small bank for the time being." Zhao Xinmei appreciated the smoke rings coming out of his mouth and said, "It's a pity that you are overqualified, what a pity! What did Mr. Fang learn in foreign countries?" Hung-chien said angrily, "I didn't learn anything." Miss Su said, "Hung-chien, you have studied philosophy, haven't you?" Zhao Xinmei laughed dryly in his throat and said, "From the perspective of those of us who do practical work, studying philosophy is no different from studying nothing at all." "Then find an ophthalmologist as soon as possible and have your eyes tested; there must be something wrong with your eyes that can see things like this." Fang Hongjian deliberately laughed to cover up the traces of bickering.Zhao Xinmei thought he was smug with a witty remark, but couldn't think of an answer for a while, so he had to smoke desperately.Miss Su held back her laughter, feeling a little uneasy.Miss Tang smiled indifferently from a distance, as if watching the fight in the clouds.Hung-chien suddenly understood that this Zhao man was being rude to him out of jealousy, thinking that he was his rival in love.Miss Su suddenly changed her name from "Mr. Fang" to "Hongjian", as if she wanted Zhao to know how close she was to her.I think this is the most proud time for all women, watching two men fight for her.Why bother to be an enemy for nothing, let Zhao Xinmei fall in love with Miss Su!Miss Su didn't know Fang Hung-chien's plan; she liked the fight between Zhao and Fang, but she was worried that the battle would be too fierce and the winner would be decided in an instant, and there would be no excitement around her if there was only one of them left.She was more worried that it would be Fang Hongjian who was defeated; she wanted to use Zhao Xinmei to inspire Fang Hongjian's courage, but Fang Hongjian might, as the war news said in the newspapers these days, "maintain strength and make a strategic retreat." .” Zhao Xinmei's father and Su Wenwan's father used to be colleagues, and lived in a shared house in Beijing during the early Republic of China.Xinmei and Miss Su played together since childhood.Mrs. Zhao was pregnant with him, and people thought she was going to have twins.When he was four or five years old, his body grew to look like seven or eight years old. Every time the servant took him on the tram, he had to argue with the conductor about "free tickets for children under five years old".He is big in body but small in heart, like a hollow carrot.In elementary school, he was the target of jokes by his classmates, because with such a huge stack of arrows, there is no reason to miss the arrow.He and Miss Su's brothers and sisters played the game "officials fight and catch thieves". Being a "thief" has to resist being arrested, only he is a good "thief" who can be "beaten" obediently.Playing the story of Red Riding Hood, he was always a wolf; when he ate Miss Su and sisters, he just hugged them and opened their eyes and opened their mouths to make a strange appearance. Picking his stomach, once really cut his clothes with scissors.Although he has a good temper, his mind is not bad because of it.His father believed in fortune-telling. When he was 13 or 14 years old, he took him to see a famous female fortune teller. The fortune teller praised him: "Mars is square, the soil is thick, the sound of wood is high, bull's eyes, lion nose, pawn ears , four-character mouth, exactly in line with the "Mai Xiangfa" said that the southern noble eunuch will have an extraordinary reputation in the future, far above Lao Tzu." From then on, he considered himself a statesman.He secretly liked Miss Su when he was a child, and one year Miss Su was seriously ill, he heard his father say: "Wen Wan's illness will definitely recover, she is the wife of an official, she should have twenty-five years to 'help her husband luck'. "He arbitrarily judged that the husband that Miss Su should help in his life was himself, because the female fortune teller said that he would be an official. This time, when Miss Su returned to China, he wanted to rekindle his childhood friendship and propose to her when the time was right.When Ms. Su first arrived home, she always talked about Fang Hung-chien, but she suddenly stopped talking about it after the fifth day. The reason was that she found the old "Shanghai Newspaper".The long-term acquaintance between her and Xinmei will not turn into love over time, just like the weather every day in winter, you can't add today's temperature to yesterday's, so that tomorrow will accumulate into a warm spring day.He is best at making speeches in foreign languages. His loud and fluent American words are like thunder in the sky. After oiling and waxing, he slips half the sky.However, the speech is to stand on the stage, condescending; the marriage proposal is to be short and half-length, and beg on the back.Miss Su was not an audience, and Zhao Hsin-mei couldn't use her skills. Although Zhao Xinmei was jealous of Fang Hongjian, he didn't have any life-and-death hatred.His arrogance and rudeness are like the attitude of Mussolini and Hitler when they received diplomatic representatives from small countries to start negotiations.He wanted to overwhelm and frighten Hung-chien with his dictatorial prestige.As a compliment to Hung-chien, he doesn't look like the Italian leader slapping the table and yelling, or the German head of state throwing his fists in protest.Fortunately, he knew the secrets of diplomats, so he couldn't answer for a while, and used the cigarette he was smoking as a smoke screen to cover up.Miss Su hurriedly asked him how the war was going, and he recited an editorial he had just finished. He still didn't see Fang Hung-chien in his eyes, but he was wary of him, just like the attitude of a person who condolences someone suffering from an infectious disease towards germs.Hung-chien was not interested in listening and wanted to chat with Miss Tang, but Miss Tang listened with great interest.Hung-chien was about to wait for Miss Tang to leave, so he got up himself and asked her where she lived when he went out.After Xinmei finished talking about the current situation, he looked at his watch and said, "It's almost five o'clock now. I'll go to the newspaper office for a while, and then I'll pick you up for dinner at Emeichun. You want to eat Sichuan cuisine. This is the best Sichuan restaurant, and the waiters know each other well." I—Miss Tang, please do yourself a favor—Mr. Fang may as well join in the fun if you are interested, you are very welcome." Before Miss Su answered, both Miss Tang and Fang Hung-chien said that it was getting late and it was time to go home, thanking Hsin-mei for their kindness, they appreciated the dinner.Miss Su said, "Hung-chien, sit down for a while, I still have a few words to say to you--Xinmei, I'm going out with my mother tonight for a social gathering, let's go to a restaurant another day, okay? Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. , please come to drink tea and accompany the newly returned Mr. Shen and Mrs. Shen, and everyone can talk." Seeing Miss Su keep Fang Hongjian, Zhao Hsin-mei rushed out.Fang Hung-chien stood up and wanted to hold hands with him, so he sat down again. "This Mr. Zhao is really weird! It seems that I offended him somewhere, and he hates me so much." "Don't you hate him too?" Miss Tang said with a sly smile.Miss Su blushed and scolded her, "You are the worst person!" Hearing this, Fang Hongjian dared not deny that he hated Zhao Hsin-mei, so he said, "Miss Su, thank you for the tea party tomorrow. I don't want to come. " Miss Tang didn't wait for Miss Su to speak, she said, "That's not possible! We theatergoers don't have to come; you are a stage performer, why can't you come?" Miss Su said: "Xiaofu! If you keep talking nonsense, I will ignore you from now on. Both of you have to come tomorrow!" Miss Tang left in the Su family's car.Hung-chien faced Miss Su, trying his best to dilute the words and clear the suffocating atmosphere of intimacy: "Your cousin is very eloquent, and she seems to be very smart." "Although this child is small, she is very capable. She is grabbing a handful of her boyfriend and playing with her!" - Hung-chien couldn't hide the disappointment on Miss Su's heart - "Don't think that she Naive, she's the one who's full of ideas! I always thought that girls who fall in love right after entering college would have no future. You think, if you hang out with boys, you won't have time to study. Let's Huang Bi and Jiang Mengti in the same class, don’t you remember? I don’t know where they are now!” Fang Hongjian hurriedly said that he remembered: "You were very popular back then, but you had that kind of noble demeanor, and we only dared to admire you from afar. I really never dreamed that I would be so familiar with you today." Miss Su felt comfortable again.Talking about old school affairs, Hung-chien saw that she had nothing important to say to him, so he said, "I should go, you have to go out with your aunt tonight." Miss Su said: "I didn't entertain, that was an excuse, because Xinmei was too rude to you, I don't want to make him proud." Hung-chien panicked, "You are too kind to me!" Miss Su glanced at him and lowered her head, "Sometimes I really shouldn't be that kind to you." At this moment, the love words he should say were squirming in the air, and they all rushed to his mouth to ask him to say.He is unwilling to speak, and he cannot be silent.Seeing Miss Su's hand resting on the edge of the sofa, he reached out and patted the back of her hand.Miss Su withdrew her hand, and said softly, "Go ahead. Come early tomorrow afternoon." Miss Su walked to the door of the living room, and Hung-chien stepped down. She smiled and said, "It's nothing. I'm here to see you, why are you running straight ahead without looking back? Haha, I'm such an unreasonable woman, I want you to have eyes in your back—come early tomorrow." When Fang Hongjian left the Su family, he felt that he had become a part of Chunchun, and he was not a layman in Chunchun two hours ago.When walking, the body is so light that it seems that the ground is floating.There are only two small things that I can't digest in my heart.First, I shouldn't have touched Miss Su's hand at that time, and I should have pretended not to understand what she meant. I was always too soft-hearted, and I often pandered to women and didn't want to offend them.Second, Miss Tang has many boyfriends, and maybe she already has a lover.Hung-chien was so angry that he brutally hit the nearby tree with his cane.Why don't you give up as soon as possible, and get dumped by an underage girl, how embarrassing it would be!So bewildered and unwilling to jump on the tram, I saw a young man and woman sitting next to each other talking about love.The boys had a pile of middle school textbooks on them, and the girls' books were all wrapped in book wrapping paper with pictures of movie stars.The girl was only sixteen or seventeen years old, and her face was made up like a mask made by rubbing oil, powder, and rouge.Hung-chien thought that Shanghai deserved to be a place of advanced civilization, and the girls in middle school had already painted the facade to attract men, which was rare in foreign countries.But this girl's face is fake, because no one would believe that the makeup pancake on her face would be her real face.He suddenly thought that Miss Tang was not very prettified.A girl who deliberately dresses up, or has a boyfriend, has a new interest in her body, discovers new value, or needs a boyfriend, puts on a bright guise, so that it will be eye-catching, so that men will not ignore it.Miss Tang didn't intend to make up, which shows that she doesn't have a man in her heart.Hung-chien thought that this conclusion had profound psychological basis, combined with rigorous logical reasoning, and could criticize QED behind the scenes.He was too happy to sit still.When the tram arrived at the stop, he jumped off before the train stopped, and almost fell, but he had to support his cane, and pushed his left hand on the pole wood to stop the momentum of falling to the ground.Breaking out in a cold sweat, he wiped off a layer of oily skin on the palm of his left hand, and gave a few words to the tram driver.When he returned home, he applied red potion on the palm of his hand. He thought it was Tang Xiaofu who harmed him, and he would settle accounts with her carefully in the future. A smile floated to his face like a foam from his heart, and he forgot about the pain.He didn't want to wipe off the skin because it was the retribution of this hand that pressed Miss Su's just now. When he arrives at Su's house tomorrow, Miss Tang has arrived first.Before he could sit down, Zhao Xinmei also came. After greeting him, he said, "Mr. Fang, I was late yesterday, but I came early today. I think it's a good habit I developed when I went to the bank. I admire you for your hard work!" "Thank you, thank you!" Fang Hongjian originally wanted to say that Xinmei left early yesterday and was late today, and that he was sent by his superior in the school yamen, but he changed his mind, held back, and smiled kindly at Xinmei.Hsin-mei never thought that he would be so helpless, and panicked that he would punch nothing.Miss Tang couldn't hide the surprise on her face.Miss Su also felt strange, but suddenly realized that this was the generosity of the victor. Hung-chien knew that he was the one he loved, so he stopped haggling with Hsin-mei.The Shen couple also came.While everyone was introducing and exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Xinmei sat down on the sofa closest to Ms. Su, the Shens and his wife shared a long sofa, Miss Tang sat on an embroidered cushion between Miss Su and Mr. Shen, and Hung Chien approached Shen alone. The wife sat down.As soon as he sat down, he regretted it very much, because Mrs. Shen had a smell. The elegant name in classical Chinese and the ancient Roman idiom are both borrowed from sheep to describe it: "sultriness." This warm smell, mixed with the fragrance of powder and flowers, smoked Fang Hung-chien found out that he wanted to have a stomachache, but he was ashamed to smoke to get rid of his filth.I thought to myself that this is really a new woman who came back from France, and she brought all the "smelly symphony" of the Paris Grand Vegetable Market to China.I have never met her in Paris, and I can't avoid her today, which shows that Paris is big but the world is small.Mrs. Shen has a weird face and a seductive dress.There are two black bags under her eyes, like a round-shell marching thermos, presumably filled with passionate tears, and the thick rouge on her lips was brought into her mouth by saliva, staining her dark yellow and rugged teeth with red marks, bloody like a detective novel The clues to the murders in the movie often include "Tiens!"She moved her body, and the smell added a new wave.Hung-chien wished he could tell her that it was enough to speak with his mouth, and be careful not to twist his body twice.Mr. Shen's lower lip is plump and drooping. It is clear at a glance that he is a person who talks a lot and seems to have diarrhea in his mouth.He was talking about how he made war propaganda to the French, and how he won the sympathy of many people for China: "After Nanjing retreated, they all said that China was finished. I said to them: 'During the European war, didn't your government also move the capital and leave? Paris? But you are the final victors.' They have nothing to say, alas, they have nothing to say." Hung-chien thought the government could move the capital, but he himself could not change his seat. Zhao Xinmei said like an expert, "Good answer! Why don't you write an article?" "Wei Lei recorded this paragraph of my words in the foreign newsletter published in the "Shanghai News". Didn't Mr. Zhao see it?" Mr. Shen asked slightly disappointed. Mrs. Shen twisted her body and made a gesture of waving to her husband, and said with a coquettish smile, "Why are you mentioning my thing? Who will notice!" Xinmei hurriedly said, "I see, I see! I admire it very much. I remembered that there was a passage about moving the capital in the newsletter—" Hung-chien said, "I didn't see it. What's the title?" Hsin-mei said: "You philosophers study the problem beyond time, of course you don't read newspapers. The title is--eh, it's just on my lips, why can't I remember it for a while?" He didn't read the newsletter at all, but he didn't I am willing to give up this opportunity to sweep Hongjian's face. Miss Su said: "You can't blame him. He might have fled and hid in the countryside at that time, and he couldn't see the newspapers. Hung-chien, right? The title is easy to remember: "Letters to the Sisters of the Motherland", front There is also a big headline, which seems to be: "European Qingdao in the Blue Blood of Asia". Mrs. Shen, am I not mistaken?" Xinmei patted his thigh and said, "Yes, yes, yes! "Letters to the Sisters of the Motherland" and "Qingdao in Europe in the Blue Blood of Asia", the titles are extremely beautiful! Wen Wan, you have a really good memory!" Mrs. Shen said: "It's your fault that you remember such shameful things. No wonder everyone you know thinks you are a genius." Miss Su said: "You don't need to remember good things, they will leave a deep impression." Miss Tang said to Hung-chien: "Mrs. Shen wrote it for our women. You are 'brothers of the motherland'. You can forgive me for not noticing it." Mrs. Shen is not young, and she is not writing this letter to "" The nieces, nieces, and grandnieces of the motherland", Ms. Tang went to see it, and climbed up to her sister instead. In order to make up for the forgetfulness at that time, Hsin-mei complimented Mrs. Shen, and also said that the Huamei News Agency was going to publish a women's magazine and asked her for help.The Shens and his wife became more and more intimate with Hsin-mei.The servant drew back the curtain separating the dining room from the living room, Miss Su invited everyone in to have some refreshments, Hung-chien was pardoned like a sinner.After eating, he went back to the living room and almost sat down next to Miss Tang. Mrs. Shen and Zhao Xinmei were inseparable from each other;Mr. Shen asked Su Xiaoda about his problems, and wanted "Uncle Su" to find a place for him in Hong Kong.Fang Hung-chien felt that his luck had turned better today, and he asked Ms. Tang in a low voice, "You didn't eat anything just now, and you seemed to be feeling unwell. Are you feeling better now?" Miss Tang said: "I ate a lot, and I'm not feeling sick!" "I'm not the host, so you don't need to be courteous to me. I frowned when I saw you took a sip of the soup, so I frown and fiddled with the spoon, and didn't eat any more." "What's so good about eating? I keep looking at people, are you sorry? I don't want to show you, so I don't eat. This is your fault-haha, Mr. Fang, don't take it seriously, I didn't know you were watching Others eat. Let me ask you, when you were sitting next to Mrs. Shen, why did you turn your face away and shut your mouth tightly, as if you were suffering?" "So you have the same reasoning!" Fang Hongjian and Miss Tang smiled intimately, and the two had become friends in need. Miss Tang said: "Mr. Fang, I'm a little disappointed that I came today—" "Disappointed! What did you expect? Isn't the taste strong enough?" "It's not that. I thought you and Mr. Zhao must be having a lot of fun, who knows nothing." "I'm sorry, but I don't have a good show for you. Mr. Zhao misunderstood my relationship with your cousin-maybe you have the same misunderstanding-so I asked him to challenge today, avoid fighting back, and let him know that I have a relationship with your cousin. He has no conflict of interest." "Is this true? As long as my cousin makes a statement, won't the misunderstanding be cleared up?" "Perhaps your cousin has her own thoughts. It is better to send generals than aggressive ones. Unless there is a big enemy in front of you, Mr. Zhao will not show his abilities. It's a pity that we old and weak soldiers have never been beaten, and we don't want to fight—" "Why not be a volunteer?" "No, it's just a recruiter." As he spoke, Fang Hongjian felt annoyed at the same time that the words were too frivolous, and it was hard for Miss Tang not to tell Miss Su. "However, the defeated often get more sympathy from others—" Miss Tang felt that this would cause misunderstanding, and blushed—"I mean, my cousin may be sponsoring the weak and small nations." Hung-chien was so happy that his heart skipped a beat: "Then I don't care about it. Miss Tang, I would like to invite you to have dinner with your cousin tomorrow, at Emeichun. Would you like to do me a favor?" Miss Tang hesitated but did not agree. Hung-chien continued, "I know I'm very bold and presumptuous. Your cousin said you have many friends and I'm not worthy of being high-ranking, but I really want to make a fortune among your friends." "I don't have any friends, and my cousin is talking nonsense—what did she tell you?" "She didn't say anything, she just said that you are sociable and know a lot of people." "That's very strange! I'm the ignorant country girl." "You're welcome, I beg you to come tomorrow. I want to eat, but I have no good excuses for myself. In the name of the two of you, let's enjoy it by myself. Just be considerate and agree!" Miss Tang smiled and said, "Mr. Fang, what you say is full of articles. If so, I will come. What time will it be tomorrow night?" Hung-chien told her the time, feeling at ease physically and mentally, only to hear Mrs. Shen say loudly: "I attended the World Women's Conference this time, and I observed a general trend: women all over the world are now tending towards men—" Hung-chien was startled again. Laughing again, thinking that this is a truth that has been around since ancient times, Mrs. Shen shouldn’t have learned it until she attended the Women’s Conference—”In the past, women would do all the occupations that men did, such as members of Congress, lawyers, newspaper reporters, pilots, etc. Do it, and do it as well as men. A Yugoslavian female sociologist gave a speech at the conference, saying that except for some women who are willing to be good wives and mothers, other professional women can be called "third sex". Women's liberation It is still a recent fact, but it has achieved such remarkable results. I dare say that in the near future, the distinction between men and women will become a term in history." Zhao Xinmei said: "Mrs. Shen, you are right. Women nowadays are really Capable! Wen Wan is like Miss Xu Baoqiong, Miss Xu, Mrs. Shen knows her? She helps her father run the dairy farm. She handles all the big and small things by herself, and she has a gentle and weak appearance, so you can't tell it!" Hung Chien跟唐小姐说句话，唐小姐忍不住笑出声来。苏小姐本在说：“宝琼比她父亲还精明，简直就是牛奶场不出面的经理——”看不入眼鸿渐和唐小姐的密切，因说：“晓芙，有什么事那样高兴？” 唐小姐摇头只是笑。苏小姐道：“鸿渐，有笑话讲出来大家听听。” 鸿渐也摇头不说，这更显得他跟唐小姐两口儿平分着一个秘密，苏小姐十分不快。赵辛楣做出他最成功的轻鄙表情道：“也许方大哲学家在讲解人生哲学里的乐观主义，所以唐小姐听得那么乐。对不对，唐小姐？” 方鸿渐不理他，直接对苏小姐说：“我听赵先生讲，他从外表上看不出那位徐小姐是管理牛奶场的，我说，也许赵先生认为她应该头上长两只牛角，那就一望而知是什么人了。否则，外表上无论如何看不出来的。” 赵辛楣道：“这笑话讲得不通，头上长角，本身就变成牛了，怎会表示出是牛奶场的管理人！”说完，四顾大笑。他以为方鸿渐又给自己说倒，想今天得再接再厉，决不先退，盘桓到那姓方的走了才起身，所以他身子向沙发上坐得更深陷些。方鸿渐目的已达，不愿逗留，要乘人多，跟苏小姐告别容易些。苏小姐因为鸿渐今天没跟自己亲近，特送他到走廊里，心理好比冷天出门，临走还要向火炉前烤烤手。 鸿渐道：“苏小姐，今天没机会多跟你讲话。明天晚上你有空么？我想请你吃晚饭，就在峨嵋春，我不希罕赵辛楣请！只恨我比不上他是老主顾，菜也许不如他会点。” 苏小姐听他还跟赵辛楣在怄气，心里宽舒，笑说：“好！就咱们两个人么？”问了有些害羞，觉得这无需问得。 方鸿渐讷讷道：“不，还有你表妹。” “哦，有她。你请她了没有？” “请过她了，她答应来——来陪你。” “好罢，再见。” 苏小姐临别时的态度，冷缩了方鸿渐的高兴。他想这事势难两全，只求做得光滑干净，让苏小姐的爱情好好地无疾善终。他叹口气，怜悯苏小姐。自己不爱她，而偏为她弄得心软，这太不公道！她太取巧了！她不应当这样容易受伤，她该熬住不叫痛。为什么爱情会减少一个人心灵的抵抗力，使人变得软弱，被摆布呢？假如上帝真是爱人类的，他决无力量做得起主宰。方鸿渐这思想若给赵辛楣知道，又该挨骂“哲学家闹玄虚”了。他那天晚上的睡眠，宛如粳米粉的线条，没有粘性，拉不长。他的快乐从睡梦里冒出来，使他醒了四五次，每醒来，就像唐晓芙的脸在自己眼前，声音在自己耳朵里。他把今天和她谈话时一字一句、一举一动都将心熨贴着，迷迷糊糊地睡去，一会儿又惊醒，觉得这快乐给睡埋没了，忍住不睡，重新温一遍白天的景象。最后醒来，起身一看，是个嫩阴天。他想这请客日子拣得不安全，恨不能用吸墨水纸压干了天空淡淡的水云。今天星期一是银行里照例的忙日子，他要到下午六点多钟，才下办公室，没工夫回家换了衣服再上馆子，所以早上出门前就打扮好了。设想自己是唐小姐，用她的眼睛来审定着衣镜里自己的仪表。回国不到一年，额上添了许多皱纹，昨天没睡好，脸色眼神都萎靡黯淡。他这两天有了意中人以后，对自己外表上的缺点，知道得不宽假地详尽，仿佛只有一套出客衣服的穷人知道上面每一个斑渍和补钉。其实旁人看来，他脸色照常，但他自以为今天特别难看，花领带补得脸黄里泛绿，换了三次领带才下去吃早饭。周先生每天这时候还不起床，只有他跟周太太、效成三人吃着。将要吃完，楼上电话铃响，这电话就装在他卧室外面，他在家时休想耳根清净。他常听到心烦，以为他那未婚妻就给这电话的“盗魂铃”送了性命。这时候，女用人下来说：“方少爷电话，姓苏，是个女人。”女用人说着，她和周太太、效成三人眼睛里来往的消息，忙碌得能在空气里起春水的縠纹。鸿渐想不到苏小姐会来电话，周太太定要问长问短了，三脚两步上去接，只听效成大声道：“我猜就是那苏文纨。”这孩子前天在本国史班上，把清朝国姓“爱新觉罗”错记作“亲爱保罗”，给教师痛骂一顿，气得今天赖学在家，偏是苏小姐的名字他倒过目不忘。 鸿渐拿起听筒，觉得整个周家都在屏息旁听，轻声道：“苏小姐哪？我是鸿渐。” “鸿渐，我想这时候你还不会出门，打个电话给你。我今天身体不舒服，晚上峨嵋春不能去了，抱歉得很！你不要骂我。” “唐小姐去不去呢？”鸿渐话出口就后悔。 斩截地：“那可不知道。”又幽远地：“她自然去呀！” “你害的什么病，严重不严重？”鸿渐知道已经问得迟了。 “没有什么，就觉得累，懒出门。”这含意是显然了。 “我放了心了。你好好休养罢，我明天一定来看你。你爱吃什么东西？” “谢谢你，我不要什么——”顿一顿——“那么明天见。” 苏小姐那面电活挂上，鸿渐才想起他在礼貌上该取消今天的晚饭，改期请客的。要不要跟苏小姐再通个电话，托她告诉唐小姐晚饭改期？可是心里实在不愿意。正考虑着，效成带跳带跑，尖了嗓子一路叫上来道：“亲爱的蜜斯苏小姐，生的是不是相思病呀？'你爱吃什么东西？''我爱吃大饼、油条、五香豆、鼻涕干、臭咸鲞'——”鸿渐大喝一声拖住，截断了他代开的食单，吓得他讨饶。鸿渐轻打一拳，放他走了，下去继续吃早饭。周太太果然等着他，盘问个仔细，还说：“别忘了要拜我做干娘。”鸿渐忙道：“我在等你收干女儿呢。多收几个有挑选些。这苏小姐不过是我的老同学，并无什么关系，你放着心。” 天气渐转晴朗，而方鸿渐因为早晨那电话，兴致大减，觉得这样好日子撑负不起，仿佛篷帐要坍下来。苏小姐无疑地在捣乱，她不来更好，只剩自己跟唐小姐两人。可是没有第三者，唐小姐肯来么？昨天没向她要住址和电话号数，无法问她知道不知道苏小姐今晚不来。苏小姐准会通知她，假使她就托苏小姐转告也不来呢？那就糟透了！他在银行里帮王主任管文书，今天满腹心事，拟的信稿子里出了几处毛病，王主任动笔替他改了，呵呵笑说：“鸿渐兄，咱们老公事的眼光不错呀！”到六点多钟，唐小姐毫无音信，他慌起来了，又不敢打电话问苏小姐。七点左右，一个人怏怏地踱到峨嵋春，要了间房间，预备等它一个半钟头，到时唐小姐还不来，只好独吃。他虽然耐心等着，早已不敢希望。点了一支烟，又捺灭了；晚上凉不好大开窗子，怕满屋烟味，唐小姐不爱闻。他把带到银行里偷空看的书翻开，每个字都认识，没一句有意义。听见外面跑堂招呼客人的声音，心就直提上来。约她们是七点半，看表才七点四十分，决不会这时候到——忽然门帘揭开，跑堂站在一旁，进来了唐小姐。鸿渐心里，不是快乐，而是感激，招呼后道：“扫兴得很，苏小姐今天不能来。” “我知道。我也险的不来，跟你打电话没打通。” “我感谢电话公司，希望它营业发达，电线忙得这种临时变卦的电话都打不通。你是不是打到银行里去的？” “不，打到你府上去的。是这么一回事。一清早表姐就来电话说她今天不来吃晚饭，已经通知你了。我说那么我也不来，她要我自己跟你讲，把你的电话号数告诉了我。我摇通电话，问：'是不是方公馆？'那面一个女人声音，打着你们家乡话说——唉，我学都学不来——说：'我们这儿是周公馆，只有一个姓方的住在这儿。你是不是苏小姐，要找方鸿渐？鸿渐出门啦，等他回来，我叫他打电话给你。苏小姐，有空到舍间来玩儿啊，鸿渐常讲起你是才貌双全——'―口气讲下去，我要分辩也插不进嘴。我想这迷汤灌错了耳朵，便不客气把听简挂上了。这一位是谁？” “这就是我亲戚周太太，敝银行的总经理夫人。你表姐在我出门前刚来过电话，所以周太太以为又是她打的。” “啊哟，不得了！她一定要错怪我表姐无礼了。我听筒挂上不到五分钟，表姐又来电话，问我跟你讲了没有，我说你不在家，她就把你银行里的电话号数又告诉我。我想你那时候也许还在路上，索性等一会再打。谁知道十五分钟以后，表姐第三次来电话，我有点生气了。她知道我还没有跟你通话，催我快打电话，说趁早你还没有定座，我说定了座就去吃，有什么大关系。她说不好，叫我上她家去吃晚饭。我回她说，我也不舒服，什么地方都不去。后来想想，表姐太可笑了！我偏来吃你的饭，所以电话没有打。” 鸿渐道：“唐小姐，你今天简直是救苦救难，不但赏面子。我做主人的感恩不尽，以后要好好的多请几次。请的客一个都不来，就无异主人在社交生活上被判死刑。今天险透了！” 方鸿渐点了五六个人吃的菜。唐小姐问有旁的客人没有，两个人怎吃得下这许多东西。方鸿渐说菜并不多。唐小姐道：“你昨天看我没吃点心，是不是今天要试验我吃不吃东西？” 鸿渐知道她不是装娇样的女人，在宴会上把嘴收束得像眼药水瓶口那样的小，回答说：“我吃这馆子是第一次，拿不稳什么菜最配胃口。多点两样，尝试的范围广些，这样不好吃，还有那一样，不致饿了你。” “这不是吃菜，这像神农尝百草了。不太浪费么？也许一切男人都喜欢在陌生的女人面前浪费。” “也许，可是并不在一切陌生的女人面前。” “只在傻女人面前，是不是？” “这话我不懂。” “女人不傻决不因为男人浪费摆阔而对他有好印象——可是，你放心，女人全是傻的，恰好是男人所希望的那样傻，不多不少。” 鸿渐不知道这些话是出于她的天真直率，还是她表姐所谓手段老辣。到菜上了，两人吃着，鸿渐向她要住址，请她写在自己带着看的那本书后空页上，因为他从来不爱带记事小册子。他看她写了电话号数，便说：“我决不跟你通电话。我最恨朋友间通电话，宁可写信。” 唐小姐：“对了，我也有这一样感觉。做了朋友应当彼此爱见面；通个电话算接触过了，可是面没有见，所说的话又不能像信那样留着反复看几遍。电话是偷懒人的拜访，吝啬人的通信，最不够朋友！并且，你注意到么？一个人的声音往往在电话里变得认不出，变得难听。” “唐小姐，你说得痛快。我住在周家，房门口就是一架电话，每天吵得头痛。常常最不合理的时候，像半夜清早，还有电话来，真讨厌！亏得'电视'没普遍利用，否则更不得了，你在澡盆里、被窝里都有人来窥看了。教育愈普遍，而写信的人愈少；并非商业上的要务，大家还是怕写信，宁可打电话。我想这因为写信容易出丑，地位很高，讲话很体面的人往往笔动不来。可是，电话可以省掉面目可憎者的拜访，文理不通者的写信，也算是个功德无量的发明。” 方鸿渐谈得高兴，又要劝唐小姐吃，自己反吃得很少。到吃完水果，才九点钟，唐小姐要走，鸿渐不敢留她，算过账，分付跑堂打电话到汽车行放辆车来，让唐小姐坐了回家。他告诉她自己答应苏小姐明天去望病，问她去不去。她说她也许去，可是她不信苏小姐真害病。鸿渐道：“咱们的吃饭要不要告诉她？” “为什么不告诉她？——不，不，我刚才发脾气，对她讲过今天什么地方都不去的。好，随你斟酌罢。反正你要下银行办公室才去，我去得更迟一点。” “我后天想到府上来拜访，不挡驾吗？” “非常欢迎，就只舍间局促得很，不比表姐家的大花园洋房。你不嫌简陋，尽管来。” 鸿渐说：“老伯可以见见么？” 唐小姐笑道：“你除非有法律问题要请教他，并且他常在他那法律事务所里，到老晚才回来。爸爸妈妈对我姐妹们绝对信任，从不干涉，不检定我们的朋友。” 说着，汽车来了，鸿渐送她上车。在回家的洋车里，想今天真是意外的圆满，可是唐小姐临了“我们的朋友”那一句，又使他作酸泼醋的理想里，隐隐有一大群大男孩子围绕着唐小姐。 唐小姐到家里，她父母都打趣她说：“交际明星回来了！”她回房间正换衣服，女用人来说苏小姐来电话。唐小姐下去接，到半楼梯，念头一转，不下去了，分付用人去回话道：“小姐不舒服，早睡了。”唐小姐气愤地想，这准是表姐来查探自己是否在家。她太欺负人了！方鸿渐又不是她的，要她这样看管着？表姐愈这样干预，自己偏让他亲近。自己决不会爱方鸿渐，爱是又曲折又伟大的情感，决非那么轻易简单。假使这样就会爱上一个人，那么，爱情容易得使自己不相信，容易得使自己不心服了。 明天下午，鸿渐买了些花和水果到苏家来。一见苏小姐，他先声夺人地嚷道：“昨天是怎么一回事？你也病，她也病，这病是传染的？还是怕我请客菜里下毒药？真气得我半死！我一个人去吃了，你们不来，我满不在乎。好了，好了，总算认识了你们这两位大架子小姐，以后不敢碰钉子了。” 苏小姐抱歉道：“我真病了，到下半天才好，不敢打电话给你，怕你怪我跟你开玩笑，一会儿这样，一会儿那样。我昨天通知晓芙的时候，并没有叫她不去。让我现在打电话请她过来。这次都是我不好，下次我做主人。”便打电话问唐小姐病好了没有，请她就来，说鸿渐也在这里。苏小姐打完电话，捧了鸿渐送的花嗅着，叫用人去插在卧室中瓶里，回头问鸿渐道：“你在英国，认识有一位曹元朗么？”鸿渐摇头。“——他在剑桥念文学，是位新诗人，新近回国。他家跟我们世交，他昨天来看我，今天还要来。” 鸿渐道：“好哇！怪不得昨天不赏面子了，原来跟人谈诗去了，我们是俗物呀！根本就不配认识你。那位曹先生堂堂剑桥出身，我们在后起大学里挂个名，怎会有资格结交他？我问你，你的《十八家白话诗人》里好像没讲起他，是不是准备再版时补他进去？” 苏小姐似嗔似笑，左手食指在空中向他一点道：“你这人就爱吃醋，吃不相干的醋。”她的表情和含意吓得方鸿渐不敢开口，只懊悔自己气愤装得太像了。一会儿，唐小姐来了。苏小姐道：“好架子！昨天晚上我打电话问候你，你今天也没回电话。这时候又要我请了才来。方先生在问起你呢。” 唐小姐道：“我们配有架子么？我们是听人家叫来唤去的。就算是请了才来，那有什么希奇？要请了还不肯去，才够得上伟大呢！” 苏小姐怕她讲出昨天打三次电话的事来，忙勾了她腰，抚慰她道：“瞧你这孩子，讲句笑话，就要认真。”便剥个鸿渐送的桔子，跟她同吃。门房领了个滚圆脸的人进来，说“曹先生”。鸿渐吓了一跳，想去年同船回国那位孙太太的孩子怎长得这样大了，险的叫他“孙世兄”。天下竟有如此相像的脸！做诗的人似乎不宜肥头胖耳，诗怕不会好。忽然记起唐朝有名的寒瘦诗人贾岛也是圆脸肥短身材，曹元朗未可貌相。介绍寒暄已毕，曹元朗从公事皮包里拿出一本红木夹板的法帖，郑重递给苏小姐道：“今天特带来请教。”鸿渐才知道不是法帖，是荣宝斋精制蓑衣裱的宣纸手册。苏小姐接过来，翻了翻，说：“曹先生，让我留着细看，下星期奉还，好不好？——鸿渐，你没读过曹先生的大作罢？” 鸿渐正想，什么好诗，要录在这样讲究的本子上。便恭敬地捧过来，打开看见毛笔写的端端正正宋体字，第一首十四行诗的题目是《拼盘姘伴》，下面小注个“一”字。仔细研究，他才发现第二页有作者自注，这“一”“二”“三”“四”等等是自注的次序。自注“一”是：“Melange abultere”。这诗一起道： 昨夜星辰今夜摇漾于飘至明夜之风中（二） 圆满肥白的孕妇肚子颤巍巍贴在天上（三） 这守活寡的逃妇几时新有了个老公？ (Four) Jug!Jug!（五）污泥里——E fango e il mondo!（六）——夜莺歌唱（七）…… 鸿渐忙跳看最后一眹： 雨后的夏夜，灌饱洗净，大地肥而新的， 最小的一棵草参加无声的呐喊：“Wir sind!”（三十） 诗后细注着字句的出处，什么李义山、爱利恶德（TSEliot）、拷背延耳（Tristan Corbere）、来屋拜地（Leopanii）、肥儿飞儿（Franz Werfel）的诗篇都有。鸿渐只注意到“孕妇的肚子”指满月，“逃妇”指嫦娥，“泥里的夜莺”指蛙。他没脾胃更看下去，便把诗稿搁在茶几上，说：“真是无字无来历，跟做旧诗的人所谓'学人之诗'差不多了。这作风是不是新古典主义？” 曹元朗点头，说“新古典的”那个英文字。苏小姐问是什么一首，便看《拼盘姘伴》一遍，看完说：“这题目就够巧妙了。一结尤其好；'无声的呐喊'五个字真把夏天蠢动怒发的生机全传达出来了。Tout y fouimille de vie，亏曹先生体会得出。”诗人听了，欢喜得圆如太极的肥脸上泛出黄油。鸿渐忽然有个可怕的怀疑，苏小姐是大笨蛋，还是撒谎精。唐小姐也把那诗看了，说：“曹先生，你对我们这种没有学问的读者太残忍了。诗里的外国字，我一个都不认识。” 曹元朗道：“我这首诗的风格，不认识外国字的人愈能欣赏。题目是杂拌儿、十八扯的意思，你只要看忽而用这个人的诗句，忽而用那个人的诗句，中文里夹了西文，自然有一种杂凑乌合的印象。唐小姐，你领略到这个拉杂错综的印象，是不是？”唐小姐只好点头。曹元朗脸上一圈圈的笑痕，像投了石子的水面，说：“那就是捉摸到这诗的精华了，不必去求诗的意义。诗有意义是诗的不幸！” 苏小姐道：“对不住，你们坐一会，我去拿件东西来给你们看。”苏小姐转了背，鸿渐道：“曹先生，苏小姐那本《十八家白话诗人》再版的时候，准会添进了你算十九家了。” 曹元朗道：“那决不会，我跟他们那些人太不同了，合不起来。昨天苏小姐就对我说，她为了得学位写那本书，其实她并不瞧得起那些人的诗。” "Really?" “方先生，你看过那本书没有？” “看过忘了。”鸿渐承苏小姐送了一本，只略翻一下，看十八家是些什么人。 “她序上明明引着Jules Tellie的比喻，说有个生脱发病的人去理发，那剃头的对他说不用剪发，等不了几天，头毛压根儿全掉光了；大部分现代文学也同样的不值批评。这比喻还算俏皮。” 鸿渐只好说：“我倒没有留心到。”想亏得自己不要娶苏小姐，否则该也把苏小姐的书这样熟读。可惜赵辛楣法文程度不够看书，他要像曹元朗那样，准会得苏小姐欢心。 唐小姐道：“表姐书里讲的诗人是十八根脱下的头发，将来曹先生就像一毛不拔的守财奴的那根毛。” 大家笑着，苏小姐拿了一只紫檀扇匣进来，对唐小姐做个眼色，唐小姐微笑点头。苏小姐抽开匣盖，取出一把雕花沉香骨的女用折扇，递给曹元朗道：“这上面有首诗，请你看看。” 元朗摊开扇子，高声念了一遍，音调又像和尚施食，又像戏子说白。鸿渐一字没听出来，因为人哼诗跟临死呓语，二者都用乡音。元朗朗诵以后，又猫儿念经似的，嘴唇翻拍着默诵一遍，说：“好，好！素朴真挚，有古代民歌的风味。” 苏小姐似有