Chapter 11 Chapter VII

The beard is usually two strokes, but Wang Chuhou's beard is only one stroke.He grew a beard twenty years ago. At that time, the upper lip of an official was full of hair, which was not enough to show his status, just like ancient Western philosophers must have long beards to show wisdom.He works as a secretary in the Governor's Office of the province, and the commander's beard with water chestnuts looks like it was transplanted from Rendan's advertisement, so mighty.He didn't dare to grow the same beard, for fear that the commander-in-chief would accuse him of arrogance; the commander-in-chief had a round beard with black water chestnut, and he only wanted to have a smaller beard with sharp horns of red water chestnut.Who knew that a man without a gun barrel would have a bad beard, thin and limp, hanging at the corners of his mouth, like a comma in a new style of punctuation, neither curled up nor curled enough.His two thick black eyebrows can compete with the eyebrows of the birthday star, as if he accidentally shaved off his eyebrows and beard when he first shaved, and put them on in a hurry, the beard and eyebrows changed places; The only ones are eyebrows, which will not grow at all, and the ones on the forehead are beards, so they are thriving.This kind of beard doesn't matter.He married this lady five years ago, just a good excuse to shave.But like all bureaucrats, robbers, gamblers, and profiteers, he believes in destiny.Astrologers say that he has the shape of "wood" and the "wood" shape. His hair and beard are like the branches and leaves of trees, and the lack of them means that the trees are withered.People in their forties, of course, have half-bald hair, and these few beards indicate that the old tree is blooming and full of vitality.But for the sake of the twenty-five-year-old new wife, she couldn't leave her hair alone, so she shaved off two strands, leaving a pinch in the middle, and because this pinch was not thick enough, she shaved it into a movie star-style strand.This incident can't guarantee that the feng shui on his face will not be broken, and unsatisfactory things come one after another.The new wife fell ill after entering the house, and Wang Chuhou himself was impeached by others, and the official could not do it.Fortunately, when an official stumbles, like a cat falling from a height, he can always land on all fours without being too embarrassed.He didn't rely on salary in the first place, he explained in this way.Moreover, he is an old-fashioned celebrity with the habits of the former Qing Dynasty. When he was an official, he was very elegant, and he could talk about learning after resigning. His wife's illness was always like this, and it didn't get worse.This may be the effect of the fringe of beard, luck is not bad in the end.

If the few beards left behind could save some of his luck, Wang Chuhou's good luck would not be mentioned when the beard was not shaved.For example, his original wife, who was a mess, died in a fun way, so he was asked to marry the beautiful second wife.Married for more than 20 years, and had a son who graduated from college, this wife should have died long ago.It is still the most economical thing to die a wife. Although the funeral requires a fee, is there no alimony for divorce?Don't two expenses for bigamy?Many people have damned wives, unlike Wang Chuhou who had the luck to die in time.Moreover, at least someone will give gifts when mourning the death. Divorce and bigamy do not even earn this little gift money, and they have to pay legal fees.What's more, although Wang Chuhou was an official, he was only a literati at heart, and literati like people to die most, so they can have a topic to write a mourning article.Coffin shops and funeral parlors only deal with the newly dead, and literati will send hair to the dead who have been dead for a year, a few years, decades, or even hundreds of years. "Death Anniversary" and "Three Hundred Years Ceremony" are both good titles.Dead Wife—or Dead Husband, because there are women writers—this is a particularly good title; no matter how talented others are, the wife or husband is yours, and it is a patented title.When Wang Chuhou wrote the poems "The Story of the Dead Wife" and "Mourning the Death" in the new funeral, he thought of the good saying of the ancients: "The bride and the new children are the second time in life." My child, let me write another poem about "the first family died on the day of death", and insert these two lines in a new way.This poem has not been done yet.The second Mrs. Wang passed through the door and did not have any children, only sick.She took care of her illness at home and supported the family with the illness, and refused to leave her, so she was very fragile all the year round, which made her half-old husband feel pity and fear.She once studied in university for a year, dropped out of school due to anemia and recuperated, and lived at home for four or five years. Whenever she was not dizzy or painful, and her body was not humming, she learned Chinese painting from her teacher and played the piano for entertainment.Chinese paintings and pianos are part of her dowry that represent culture, just like other women’s college diplomas (with ebony frame) and bachelor’s hat photos (16-inch color with gold lacquer ebony frame).Wang Chuhou didn't know Western music, so of course he thought his wife played the piano well; he should know a little Chinese painting, but the husband felt that his wife's paintings would never be broken.He always said to the guests: "She likes to make music and draw pictures so much. They are all things that take a lot of thought. How can she be in good health!" So I can't paint well, and I can't play the piano well." Since moving to this small village, Mrs. Wang was so lonely that she often quarreled with her husband.She has a delicate status, looks down on the wives of her husband's colleagues, and finds them poor and embarrassing.Her husband was worried that his single male colleagues often came to his house, thinking they were young.Gao Songnian knew that she was bored at home, so he was willing to invite her to work at school.Mrs. Wang is a smart person, so she refused.First of all, she knew that she was not well qualified, at most she could be a small employee, which would hurt her face.Secondly, she knows that this is a man's world. Countries with feminist rights like Britain and the United States only invite men to be gods, and they only say He, not She.When women come out to do things, no matter how high their status is, they are still used by men. As long as they don't come out and hide behind the scenes, they can use the qualifications of wives or mistresses to instruct and manipulate men.Ms. Fan, a female guide and a lecturer in the Department of Education, is her admirer, and they have quite contacts with each other.Liu Dongfang's younger sister was a student of Wang Chuhou's, and she would come to the teacher's wife's house to talk with her from time to time.Liu Dongfang once asked Mrs. Wang to be a matchmaker for his younger sister.Being a matchmaker and being a mother are the two basic desires of a woman. Mrs. Wang was bored at first, but she was entrusted with it, like an unemployed person finding a job.There is no danger in Wang Chuhou's desire to be a matchmaker, and it is absolutely impossible for the matchmaker himself to be a matchmaker.Mrs. Wang had planned long ago that she would marry Miss Fan to Zhao Hsin-mei and Miss Liu to Fang Hung-chien.Miss Fan is older and uglier than Miss Liu, but she is a lecturer, and her target should be a high-status department head.Miss Liu is a teaching assistant, marrying an associate professor is good enough.As for Miss Sun, she never visited Mrs. Wang; when Mrs. Wang went to see Miss Fan, she visited once or twice, and her impression was not very good.

Two days after Hung-chien and his wife returned from Guilin, they received a message from Wang Chuhou.The two had never been in contact with Wang Chuhou, and they had never met Mrs. Wang. After reading the post, they remembered what they said about being a matchmaker.Hung-chien said, "Old man Wang is an arrogant person. Only Gao Songnian and the three deans are qualified to go to his house for dinner, and of course there are people from the Chinese Literature Department. Maybe you deserve it. Why pull me in? What do you want to say? He is a matchmaker, there are no women here, what an old man!" Xinmei said, "It doesn't matter if you go to pay your respects to Mrs. Wang. Maybe Lao Wang has nieces, nieces or aunts—Mrs. I'll do it for you. Lao Wang told you, but didn't tell me, he was referring to you alone. You're embarrassed, forged an imperial decree, dragged me to accompany you, and even said to be a matchmaker for the two of us! I don't want anyone to be a matchmaker. After shouting for a while, it was decided to visit the Wangs and his wife first, and ask them clearly, so as not to take the joke seriously.

The black-brick semi-Western-style bungalow rented by the Wang family is the best building in the area outside the school building, and it is separated from the school building by a stream.In winter, the stream dries up, and the bottom of the stream is full of stones, like a nest of eggs, large and small, newly laid by the stream.When the water dries up, everyone crosses the stream by stepping on stones instead of the wooden bridge, which means that as long as there is no danger, everyone is willing to act outside the rules.The living room of the Wang family is very spacious, with mats on the brick floor and old-fashioned tables and chairs made of mahogany, which are generous and sturdy. They were bought by Wang Chuhou from an officer's house in the town.Wang Chuhou came out first, with a happy face, asked the two of them if it was cold in the living room, and then assigned the girl to carry the brazier.Both of them praised the house he lived in, which was more exquisitely furnished, and it was second to none among the houses they had seen in the past six months.Mr. Wang sighed proudly, "What is this? I have some things, but I lost them all this time. The two of you didn't see my house in Nanjing—the house was not burned down by the Japanese after all, and all the collections and furnishings inside are missing .Fortunately, I am a philosophical person, otherwise I would really die of grief.” Not only have they heard this kind of words, but they are also used to saying them themselves.Of course, this military disaster caused many rich and house-owning people to become poor. At the same time, it also gave an unknown number of poor people the opportunity to look back on themselves as rich people in the past.The Japanese burned many houses with castles in the air, occupied many Utopian industries, and destroyed many unrequited marriages.Arms like Lu Zixiao often revealed that before the war, two or three women rushed to marry him, "Of course we can't talk about it now!" Li Meiting suddenly built a bungalow in Zhabei, Shanghai, what about now?What a pity!The damned Japanese set it on fire, and the damage was simply incalculable.Fang Hongjian also magnified the old house in his occupied hometown several times. The trick is that the house expands without invading the land of the neighbors.Zhao Hsin-mei lived in the concession, and he couldn't play house tricks. He was confident and good-looking, so he didn't have to worry about how many women liked him in the past. He only said that if the war didn't happen, and the government office didn't retreat through negotiations, he could still be an official—no, he would. go up.Wang Chuhou’s ostentation before the war may not be as rich as he said, but his colleagues believe his bragging, because his daily life and food are indeed more comfortable than others, and everyone knows that he is a corrupt official who has been dismissed. I won’t hide it, but he’s already had his fill!” He pointed to the calligraphy and paintings of contemporary celebrities hanging on the wall and said, “Many of these were given by friends after I escaped from the disaster. I can't buy anything—those two paintings were painted by my wife." The two hurriedly stood up and looked at the two small vertical paintings of mountains and rivers.Fang Hung-chien said that he did not know that Mrs. Wang could paint, and it was accidental; Zhao Xinmei said that he had heard that Mrs. Wang was good at painting for a long time, and her name was well-deserved.These two expressions are opposite to each other. Mr. Wang stroked his beard happily and said, "It's a pity that my wife's health is not good. She is good at painting and music—" before finishing speaking, Mrs. Wang came out.The flesh and blood are even, not considered thin, but there is no blood on the face, and there is no rouge, only powder.But the lips were painted bright red, and the cheongsam was light purple, making that face cruelly white.Eyelashes are long, and the corners of the eyes are slanted upward.The hair was not permed, and it was combed into a bun, presumably because the local barber shop couldn't get a perm.Holding a leather hot water bottle in her hand, her nails are all red. Of course, it is definitely not the color she dyed when painting, because what she painted was a green landscape.

Mrs. Wang said that she had wanted to invite the two of them to play for a long time, but she was not healthy enough to delay until now.The two hurriedly asked her if she was in good health, and said that they had never dared to come to visit, so the meal was forgivable.Mrs. Wang said that she is healthier in spring and summer than in autumn and winter, so she must come for dinner.Mr. Wang said with a smile: "I didn't invite this meal for nothing. The matchmaker has to accept the Xie Yi, and the Xie Yi wine for the two of you will cost eighteen plus eighteen—thirty-six tables!"

Hung-chien said, "How can I afford it! Mr. Xie has no money, let alone getting married." Hsin-mei said: "In this day and age, who has spare money to get married? I can't even take care of myself! Mr. Wang, Mrs. Wang, eating and being a matchmaker, thank you wholeheartedly for two things, okay?" Mr. Wang said: "The world has changed! Why don't young people have any enthusiasm at all? No -- er -- 'romance' at all? They refuse to get married, and pretend to be poor! Well, let's not thank Yi, but for the two Bai An errand, Xian, isn't it?"

Mrs. Wang said: "Ah! You two play and sing. As for Mr. Fang, I don't know much about it, but for those of you who are studying abroad, your portable skills are inexhaustible wealth. Mr. Zhao's family background and future are all counted by us." , I'm afraid that the young lady won't be able to climb up—see if I'm not strong enough as a matchmaker?" Everyone laughed along with her. Hsin-mei said, "Someone is interested in me, I'm married long ago." Mrs. Wang said: "I'm afraid it's because your eyes are high. You pick and choose, but no one likes it. Your newly returned single overseas students are like freshly baked sesame cakes. Even if there are girls, they won't be able to grab them evenly. Scary! I The more I see, the richer young people are, the less willing they are to get married. They can be independent and don’t care about the dowry of their wives or the backing of their father-in-law. Marrying a wife is much more economical than promiscuous girlfriends. Your excuses are not valid."

The two were shocked when they heard this, and when they were about to answer, Wang Chuhou pretended to be serious and said: "I have a statement. I didn't marry you to save money. When I was young, I was a well-known well-behaved person who never messed around. You It's great that people misunderstood this!" As he said this, he winked mischievously at Hung-chien and Hsin-mei. Mrs. Wang snorted contemptuously: "When you were young? I—I didn't believe you were young." Wang Chuhou's face turned red.Hung-chien hurriedly said that the Wangs and his wife dared not disappoint such kindness, but they would like to know who they introduced.Mrs. Wang clapped her hands and said: "Okay, okay! Mr. Fang is willing. Who are these two ladies, the secret must not be leaked. Don't say it out!"

Mr. Wang was comforted by Mrs. Wang's close instructions, and said, "You will know when you come tomorrow. Don't take it too seriously, let's talk about it together. If the two of you are meaningless, what's the point of having a meal together?" The relationship, the other party will never use this as an excuse to sue in court, haha! I have a piece of advice. This war does not seem to be a year or two, so it must be dragged on. Wait until peace is achieved before getting married, the two of you My youth has been wasted. "Don't send the wedding to a later stage", this is very reasonable. The two of you are married, both public and private. Our school has a bright future, but it is not easy to recruit people at the moment, like the two The talented people—Xian, I often tell you about the two of them?—are willing to give in, and the school will never let you go. If you get married and start a family here, you will settle down. If you can’t leave, the school borrows a lot of money. What about my brother? ——Don’t say this—maybe in charge of the Faculty of Arts next semester. The Department of Education will be separated from the Faculty of Liberal Arts and become the Faculty of Teachers’ Education. Of course, Mr. Kong, the dean of the Department of Education, cannot be the dean of Liberal Arts. Brother is willing to do everything possible for his own sake Detain you. And the family members are also working in the school, the husband and wife have two incomes, and the burden of living does not increase—”

Mrs. Wang cut him off and said, "It's so shabby! It's really what you said just now, 'there's no romance at all'. What kind of calculations are there!" Mr. Wang said: "Look at how impatient you are! 'Romance' will come soon. Marriage is the happiest thing in life. My wife and I are both human beings. If marriage is not happy, we should persuade you two not to get married. Are you still willing to be a matchmaker? Me and her—" Mrs. Wang frowned and waved her hands: "Stop talking, you're disgusting!" She remembered that when she was visiting a monastery in Chengdu last year, she met a monk talking about reincarnation. You." Suddenly there was a burst of resentment in my heart.Hung-chien and Hsin-mei dutifully complimented each other, saying that a couple like them was one in a thousand.

On the way back to school, the two discussed Mrs. Wang carefully.Everyone thinks she is a character, but why marry a husband who is twenty years older than her?The two arbitrarily judged that her natal family was poor, and they envied Wang Chuhou as a magistrate.Her paintings are also passable, but the words on the inscriptions seem to be written by Lao Wang.Hung-chien pretended to be an expert and said, "Writing can't be traced, it can be changed no more than painting. Many women can paint a few freehand landscapes, but writing is killing them. Mrs. Wang's handwriting is afraid of making a fool of myself." Hung-chien went to the door of his bedroom, Just as he was taking out the key to unlock the lock, Xinmei suddenly said hesitatingly: "Have you noticed——Mrs. Wang's expression is a little bit like——like Su Wenwan." Before she could finish speaking, she hurried upstairs.Hung-chien watched him in amazement. After the guests left, Mr. Wang and his wife went back to the bedroom and asked, "Did I say something wrong today?"Mrs. Wang said: "No, I don't have the heart to remember it—but why do you tell them about the dean of literature! You always like to brag about it." Wang Chuhou was indeed regretful at this time, but he said firmly: "That doesn't matter. Yes, let them know that half of their jobs are in my hands. Why are you slapping me with face today—” Wang Chuhou remembered, and he was furious—“It’s about whether you are young or not.” He added this explanation, because The wife's expression was one of surprise.Mrs. Wang was facing the round mirror on the dressing table, critically examining her appearance, and said, "Oh, that's it. Look at your face in the mirror, it looks like a human being can eat it, how terrible! I don't want to see you !" Mrs. Wang didn't push away her husband who was standing behind her, she just took out the velvet powder pad from the powder box, and slapped Mr. Wang's ashen face in the mirror twice, making his face blurred. Liu Dongfang has been on his mind for the past few days.Both father and mother are dead, and the younger sister's life is the elder brother's responsibility.Last year in Kunming, someone kindly introduced her, but to no avail.Of course, with her in the family, Mrs. Liu has many helpers. For example, she knotted all the woolen clothes on the two children, and the eldest daughter slept with her.But if this goes on year after year, the brother and sister-in-law are deeply afraid that she will not be able to marry, and she will be a burden for the rest of her life.She fled to the mainland the year before last, and she was supposed to be in the fourth year of college, and the fourth-year students were not allowed to transfer to another school, and her sister-in-law was about to have a baby, so she couldn't find a servant for a while, and the family was in chaos, and her brother didn't have the heart to think of a way for her.After a delay, she didn't graduate from college.For this matter, Liu Dongfang felt very sorry, so he could only mock and say that there are many women who have graduated from college, and how many of them can really make a living on their own.Mrs. Liu blamed her husband for teaching his younger sister to go to a women's university. If she had entered a coeducational school, the marriage would have been settled long ago.Liu Dongfang was in a hurry, and said: "Miss Fan graduated from a school with co-educational students, why didn't she marry?" Mrs. Liu said, "You are here again, she is much better than Miss Fan—" Speaking of girls, she is still a good sister-in-law.Liu Dongfang sighed and said, "It may be destined. My mother often said that when my sister was born with her face down and her back up, she was going to die in her natal family. When my sister was young, we often joked with her. Now It seems that she is really going to be an old maid." Mrs. Liu hurriedly said: "How can it be okay to be an old maid? It's really old, and it's good to marry someone to fill the house. Isn't it good to be like Mrs. Wang?" There is a great intention to restore the destiny by manpower.Last year, Liu Dongfang solved Fang Hongjian's problems, and suddenly thought that it would not be bad for this man to be his brother-in-law: he is the one he protects, and he should be grateful for the kindness. With this kind of marriage with him, his position can be strengthened; Such a good opportunity must be missed, unless this person is a standard fool.Mrs. Liu also praised her husband's quick thinking, but she was only worried that Fang Hongjian's skills were too bad, so she asked her brother-in-law to secure his job for him.Later, when she heard her husband say that he was a smart man, she felt relieved. She had already planned that after they got married, the new couple would live in their own house. Anyway, one room was vacant, but a formal lease had to be signed, otherwise the families would not be separated. , Fang's family raised a child and wanted to take away the luck and intelligence of the Liu family's child.When Mrs. Wang agreed to be a matchmaker, the couple were so happy that they broke the news to Miss Liu, expecting that she would be shyly happy.Who knew that she only blushed and said nothing.Mrs. Liu spoke quickly, and said, "Have you seen this Fang? Your brother said he was better than Kunming—" Her husband was so anxious that he kicked her legs fiercely under the dining table.Miss Liu talked, and she talked a lot.Let me start with: she doesn't want to marry, who taught Mrs. Wang to be a matchmaker?Besides: women are so cheap!What "matchmaking" and "introduction" sounds so nice!Isn't it like selling chickens and ducks in the market, and let the men choose the clothes after dressing up?Not to their liking, after a meal, there is nothing to say, what a shame!He also said: She didn't take advantage of her elder brother and sister-in-law in vain. What she did at home was worth a servant, so why should she be kicked out?The more he talked, the more angry he became, and even the matter of not graduating from university was brought out.Afterwards, Mr. Liu blamed his wife for not mentioning Kunming as a matchmaker, which aroused her full of resentment.Mrs. Liu said angrily: "You Liu family's dead temper! Whoever marries her is also unlucky!" Early tomorrow morning, the older girl who slept with Miss Liu came to report to her parents that her aunt had been crying for half the night.Ms. Liu didn't eat breakfast or lunch that day, and walked up and down by the river behind the house by herself.The Lius were terrified, thinking that she had committed suicide in the Qingliu, even if she didn't die, it would be bad if the whole school knew it, so they hurriedly sent the older girls to follow her.Fortunately, she came back for dinner and ate two bowls.This matter has never been mentioned again.When the Wang family post came, she continued silently.Brother and sister-in-law didn't dare to probe her; they discussed privately, and when there was no movement on the morning of the meal, they went to ask Mrs. Wang to persuade her to come.That morning, Miss Liu asked the old lady to prepare a charcoal iron and said that she wanted to iron clothes.Brother and sister-in-law looked at each other and laughed. Miss Fan found out that there was a secret in her heart, and it was as itchy as a cough in her throat.It is the vanity of human nature to want people to know that they have a secret, but not to let them know what it is until they ask and ask them to guess.Miss Fan lacked such a whispering interrogator.She and Ms. Sun are in the same room, so they won't get along as usual. She lives alone in a big room and gives Ms. Sun half of it.If Miss Sun was beautiful and wealthy, maybe she could be forgiven, but she is just such an ordinary girl.Even if he is from Shanghai, except for the shorter cheongsam, he can't see anything more fashionable than himself.So although the two of them often go shopping together, they don't have a heart-to-heart relationship.Since Mrs. Wang said that she would introduce Zhao Xinmei for her, she became more wary of Miss Sun, because Miss Sun often said that she would visit Xinmei in the professor's dormitory.Of course, Ms. Sun told her that she always called Xin Mei "Uncle Zhao", but it's easy for girls these days to forget the distinction between superiority and inferiority.She kept secret about Wang's post.She usually has a hobby, like watching dramas, especially tragedies.The local theater here does not perform dramas, so she buys as many famous plays as possible by modern domestic playwrights and reads them carefully.The sentences in the dialogue are like: "Let's be brave! Be brave! Be brave!" Pencil heavy bars, silent or aloud, as if the mystery of life has been answered.Only when you are not happy, for example, the good moon arouses a sense of family background, or performs the duty of "girl guide", but the girl is not guided, and she mutters: "The big deal is that you are a college graduate, what qualifications do you have to guide us?" Take care of the old lady, distribute the toilet paper in the toilet!"——At this time, she realized that these philosophical epigrams were not helpful.It is true that life is not pleasant, and death is not easy; the night seems to be deep enough, and the light is still invisible.Most of the love affairs in tragedies are sublime romances, and she also felt that there must be great spiritual twists and turns before marriage.There is one thing she will never let go of.She heard that the more experience a woman has in love, the more magical she is to a man; she also heard that a man is only willing to marry a woman whose heart is pure and pure.If Zhao Xinmei courted him, where would he go between the two?The day before the dinner, she was so lucky that she came up with a double-sided attitude, saying that many people loved her madly, but she had never loved anyone, so this time it was her first love.It just so happened that she went shopping that day, and the female shopkeeper in the store asked her: "Miss, are you studying in school?" This question relieved her psychological burden of age. spring.When I went back to school and told Ms. Sun about this, Ms. Sun said: "I will ask the same question, you are like a student." Ms. Fan scolded her for being dishonest. Miss Fan's eyes are slightly short-sighted.She doesn't know the famous American saying -- Men never make passes At girls wearing glasses—— But she doesn't wear glasses.When she was a student, she had to wear glasses to copy from the blackboard in class; because none of the male classmates she knew were close enough to borrow notes to copy.The female students who have the help of male students will never easily lend the original or complete notebooks of this kind of concerted efforts, additions and corrections; as for those female students who do not have the help of male students, hum!Although Ms. Fan is a woman herself, her recording skills for homosexuals are probably not too high.Like all studious and beauty-loving women, she wears rimless glasses with platinum feet; the rimless glasses seem to have no edge, and they more or less melt into her face. Once she wears them, she doesn't feel like she's wearing them. It's no different from rimmed glasses, with a clear boundary. The signboard of a female pedant.This pair of glasses, she now only has to use when watching a play.In addition, if you want to go to a grand event today: not only do you need it for hair and make-up, but you can observe it carefully;She thought her eyes were dull, it was because she was too excited last night and didn't sleep well.Mrs. Wang has eyelash ointment, so she might as well borrow it early to set off a smoky and dreamy expression in her eyes.You can also ask her to criticize the clothes around you and correct them as soon as possible-Ms. Fan is a "girl guide", and she regards Mrs. Wang as the guide of "girl guide".She arrived at Wang's house just after five o'clock, saying that she could help if she came earlier.Mr. Wang said that there were not many customers today, and the dishes were ordered from the first restaurant in the town, and no help was needed.Mrs. Wang said: "Trust her! She didn't come here to help, she came today to show off her skills and let Zhao Xinmei know that she is not only knowledgeable, good-looking, but also a housekeeper." Miss Fan forbade her to speak nonsense and asked her to criticize in a low voice. Own.Mrs. Wang thought she wasn't rouge enough, so she said she should add some joy, so she took her to the room and put on rouge for her.As a result, the color Miss Fan wiped at the banquet today was as triumphantly red as the color used by the American Indians on the battlefield.She asked Mrs. Wang to borrow mascara, and declared that she was not suffering from Shasha, and there was absolutely no risk of infection.Wang Chuhou could only hear endless laughter outside; it was really "where there are chickens and ducks, there is a lot of manure; where there are young women, there is a lot of laughter." Miss Liu was the last to arrive.With a frank and amiable face and a plump body, her clothes are so tight that they ripple when she moves.Hsin-mei and Hung-chien laughed when they saw these two being introduced.They've met each other, but haven't spoken to each other.Miss Fan seemed to have drawn an invisible circle, surrounding herself and Hsin-mei in it, and the conversation was so intimate that no water could penetrate it.Xinmei first said that it was very stuffy here, and there was no place to play.Miss Fan said: "Isn't it? I also think that there are very few people to talk to, so it's really boring to stay here!" Xin-mei asked her how she spent her time, she said she liked to watch dramas, and asked Xin-mei if she liked to watch them.Hsin-mei said: "I like drama very much, but unfortunately I haven't seen—er—many." Miss Fan asked Cao Yu how it was.Hsin-mei guessed, "I think he's the most—er—the greatest dramatist." Miss Fan clapped her hands happily and said, "Mr. Zhao, I'm so glad that your opinion is exactly the same as mine. What do you think What play is he best at?" Xinmei didn't expect that after the graduation exam, there would be an exam like this one, after more than ten years of small exams and big exams, he had trained a set of answering skills that were both false and real, and ambiguous. : "Did he ever write a—er—'this is just'—" Miss Fan's horrified expression prevented him from saying whether it was "spring", "summer", "autumn" or "winter".Horror is like a mouth brace used by a dentist, teaching her to open her mouth, and the upper and lower jaws cannot be closed for a while.If the husband is so ignorant and ignorant, wouldn't he be so angry!Fortunately, we are still far away from marriage and have time to teach him.With her naturally horrified expression, she immediately put some art on it.Hsin-mei admitted to being ignorant and nonsense, and she explained to him that "Li Jianwu" was not a pseudonym used by Cao Yu, but that there was a real person, and that Hsin-mei wanted to read the script, and she had it there.Hsin-mei hurriedly thanked her.She suddenly laughed and said, "I can't lend you my script. If you want to read it, I'll find another way to get it for you." Hsin-mei asked why she couldn't.Miss Fan said that several of her scripts were given by the author, and Xinmei guaranteed that such precious things would not be damaged or lost.Miss Fan said coquettishly: "That's not true. Those playwrights are so boring, they wrote some nonsense in the book they gave me, and I can't show it to you—of course, it doesn't matter if I show it to you." So For one thing, it was Hsin-mei's responsibility to say that he had to see it. Ms. Liu didn't talk much, and Hung-chien came here for dinner today, so he only had a few words for socializing.Mrs. Wang, on the other hand, was very eloquent and asked Miss Liu about her problems.Wang Chuhou went inside for a while, then came out and said to his wife, "I've checked." Hung-chien asked him what he was looking for.Mr. Wang said with a smile: "It's a joke. I use two maids. I have used this girl as soon as I came here, and it has been more than half a year. The other old lady has been changed several times, but she is still not satisfied. The first one I used is Tiantian. I have to ask for leave to go home for the night. After dinner, I can’t find her, and the rice bowls are piled up and not washed. I wonder how this is possible. I changed it and it was very quiet. I have been here for more than ten days and have not returned home. Me and I My wife was happy, ha, one night, at midnight, the door was knocked down. This woman used to have a concubine who often sneaked to my place for trysts, so she didn't go back. Her husband got wind of it, so he came to catch the adulterer, really I was so angry that I was dying. In the end, I changed to the current one. She is still smart. I taught her to cook a few rough dishes, and it was passable. Sometimes the dishes she cooked seemed to be too small. I thought, maybe she deducted money when buying vegetables. Those who are greedy for petty profit; 'Don't be stupid or deaf, don't be a family member', forget it. It's troublesome to change people frequently! I can finish the job with my wife. Once, Principal Gao's friend brought him 30 dogs from afar. Hehuaque, the principal asked me to cook it for him, and he came to have dinner—you know, the principal likes to come to the dormitory for dinner. My wife said that the Hehuaque is tasteless after being fried, according to the method of her hometown, Stuff the minced meat into the stomach of the Hehuaque, and then braise it in brown sauce. There were not many people at dinner that day, Principal Gao, our husband and wife, and Mr. Wang from the Department of Mathematics—this person is very interesting. Mr. Gao and Mr. Wang all said that Hehuaque This is the best cooking method. After eating, Mr. Wang suddenly asked if there were 30 sparrows in total. We thought he hadn’t eaten enough, but he said no. According to his calculations, everyone only ate twenty—Xian, twenty How many?——Twenty-five, there should be five left. I asked if I had hit one hand, and Principal Gao also said it was unreasonable. My wife went to the kitchen to ask carefully, and sure enough, I saw half a bowl of juice, four—not five Only—a sparrow! You know what the old lady said? She said she was saving it for me to eat next morning. We were angry and laughing. None of the four extra sparrows would eat—" "It's a pity! Why didn't you give it to me to eat!" Hsin-mei seemed like someone about to suffocate, suddenly rushed out of the envelop of the gas, took a breath of fresh air, and inserted this sentence horizontally. Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "Who told you not to come then? In the end, I gave it to Principal Gao." Hung-chien said, "In this way, you servant girl is a foolish and loyal person. Although you act carelessly, you have a good heart." Mr. Wang stroked his mustache and laughed, and Mrs. Wang said, "'Stupid loyalty'? Mr. said: 'It's not chicken soup, it's just like chicken bathed in it once.' He misheard me and thought I said 'chicken washed their feet in this water' and he was joking with me saying 'Rao You are as evil as a ghost, you drank the water to wash your feet'—"Everyone laughed, and Mr. Wang happily understood his witticism—"I asked her to ask, and she blamed her. Later, I coaxed and frightened this girl to trick I understand. This old lady has a son. Whenever I treat guests here, she invites him to come and pick out good ones for him to hide in the rice room. I asked this girl why she didn’t tell me earlier, and she also had a part in cheating. She refused to say it, and only leaked it when the time came. They can’t be used any longer, and I have a chance to replace them.” The guests spoke at the same time.Hsin-mei Hung-chien said: "Employing people is really a problem." Miss Fan said: "I heard that I was afraid of death, but luckily I am alone, so I don't need to employ people." Miss Liu said: "The old lady in our family often makes troubles." Mrs. Wang smiled and said to Miss Fan: "You will soon be alone—Miss Liu, your brother and sister-in-law really owe you." When the servants served the food, everyone rushed to sit down.The host said that there is no distinction between the seats at the round table, but there should be no confusion.I also advise everyone to eat more vegetables, because there are not many dishes.Of course, the guests said that the dishes are too rich, and there are only a few people, and they are afraid that they will not be able to eat a lot.Mr. Wang said: "Eh, I forgot to find Miss Sun who is Miss Fan's roommate today, she has never been here before." Miss Fan squinted at Xinmei who was beside her.When Hung-chien heard about Miss Sun, his heart pounded, his face became hot, and he felt ridiculous. What did Miss Sun have to do with him?Mrs. Wang said: "At first Mr. Zhao brought such a young lady here, we all guessed that she was Mr. Zhao's lover, but later we found out that it was irrelevant." Hsin-mei smiled at Hung-chien, "Look how scary the rumors are!"小姐道：“孙小姐现在有情人了——这可不是谣言，我跟她同房，知道得很清楚。”辛楣问谁，鸿渐满以为要说到自己，强作安详。范小姐道：“我不能漏泄她的秘密。”鸿渐慌得拼命吃菜，不让脸部肌肉平定下来有正确的表情。辛楣掠了鸿渐一眼，微笑说：“也许我知道是谁，不用你说。”鸿渐含着一口菜，险的说出来：“别胡闹。”范小姐误会辛楣的微笑，心安理得地说：“你也知道了？消息好灵通！陆子潇追求她还是这次寒假里的事呢，天天通信，要好得很。你们那时候在桂林，怎么会知道？” 鸿渐情感像个漩涡。You can rest assured that you didn't get it yourself.But hearing that Ms. Sun is friendly with others, it hurts my heart.自己并未爱上孙小姐，何以不愿她跟陆子潇要好？孙小姐有她的可爱，不过她妩媚得不稳固，妩媚得勉强，不是真实的美丽。脾气当然讨人喜欢——这全是辛楣不好，开玩笑开得自己心里种了根。像陆子潇那样人，她决不会看中的。可是范小姐说他们天天通信，也决不会凭空撒谎。忽然减了兴致。 汪氏夫妇和刘小姐听了都惊奇。辛楣采取大政治家听取情报的态度，仿佛早有所知似的，沉着脸回答：“我有我的报道。陆子潇曾经请方先生替他介绍孙小姐，我不赞成。子潇年纪太大——” 汪太太道：“你少管闲事罢。你又不是她真的'叔叔'，就是真'叔叔'又怎么样——早知如此，咱们今天倒没有请他们那一对也来。不过子潇有点小鬼样子，我不大喜欢。” 汪先生摇头道：“那不行。历史系的人，少来往为妙。子潇是历史系的台柱教授，当然不算小鬼。可是他比小鬼都坏，他是个小人，哈哈！他这个人爱搬嘴。韩学愈多心得很，你请他手下人吃饭而不请他，他就疑心你有阴谋要勾结人。学校里已经什么'粤派'，'少壮派'，'留日派'闹得乌烟瘴气了。赵先生，方先生，你们两位在我这儿吃饭，不怕人家说你们是'汪派'么？刘小姐的哥哥已经有人说他是'汪派'了。” 辛楣道：“我知道同事里有好几个小组织，常常聚餐，我跟鸿渐一个都不参加，随他们编派我们什么。” 汪先生道：“你们是高校长嫡系里的'从龙派'——高先生的亲戚或者门生故交。方先生当然跟高先生原来不认识，可是因为赵先生间接的关系，算'从龙派'的外围或者龙身上的蜻蜓，呵呵！方先生，我和你开玩笑——我知道这全是捕风捉影，否则我决不敢请二位到舍间来玩儿了。” 范小姐对学校派别毫无兴趣，只觉得对孙小姐还有攻击的义务：“学校里闹党派，真没有意思。孙小姐人是顶好的，就是太邋遢，满房间都是她的东西——呃，赵先生，对不住，我忘掉她是你的'侄女儿'。”羞缩无以自容地笑。 辛楣道：“那有什么关系。可是，鸿渐，咱们同路来并不觉得她邋遢。” 鸿渐因为人家说他是“从龙派”外围，又惊又气，给辛媚一问，随口说声“是”。汪太太道：“听说方先生很能说话，为什么今天不讲话。”方鸿渐忙说，菜太好了，吃菜连舌头都吃下去了。 吃到一半，又谈起没法消遣。汪太太说，她有一副牌，可是家跟学校住得近——汪先生没让她说完，插嘴说：“内人神经衰弱，打牌的声音太闹，所以不打——这时候打门，有谁会来？” “哈，汪太太，请客为什么不请我？汪先生，我是闻着香味寻来的。”高松年一路说着话进来。 大家肃然起立，出位恭接，只有汪太太懒洋洋扶着椅背，半起半坐道：“吃过晚饭没有？还来吃一点。”一壁叫用人添椅子碗筷。辛楣忙把自己坐的首位让出来，和范小姐不再连席。高校长虚让一下，泰然坐下，正拿起筷，眼睛绕桌一转，嚷道：“这位子不成！你们这座位有意思的，我真糊涂！怎么把你们俩拆开了：辛楣，你来坐。”辛楣不肯。高校长让范小姐，范小姐只是笑，身子像一条饧糖粘在椅子里。校长没法，说：“好，好！天下大势，合久必分，分久必合。”呵呵大笑，又恭维范小姐漂亮，喝了一口酒，刮得光滑的黄脸发亮像擦过油的黄皮鞋。 鸿渐为了副教授的事，心里对高松年老不痛快，因此接触极少，没想到他这样的和易近人。高松年研究生物学，知道“适者生存”是天经地义。他自负最能适应环境，对什么人，在什么场合，说什么话。旧小说里提起“二十万禁军教头”，总说他“十八般武艺，件件都精”；高松年身为校长，对学校里三院十系的学问，样样都通——这个“通”就像“火车畅通”，“肠胃通顺”的“通”，几句门面话从耳朵里进去直通到嘴里出来，一点不在脑子里停留。今天政治学会开成立会，恭请演讲，他会畅论国际关系，把法西斯主义跟共产主义比较，归根结底是中国现行的政制最好。明天文学研究会举行联欢会，他训话里除掉说诗歌是“民族的灵魂”，文学是“心理建设的工具”以外，还要勉励在坐诸位做“印度的泰戈尔，英国的莎士比亚，法国的——呃——法国的——罗素（声音又像'噜苏'，意思是卢梭），德国的歌德，美国的——美国的文学家太多了。”后天物理学会迎新会上，他那时候没有原子弹可讲，只可以呼唤几声相对论，害得隔了大海洋的爱因斯坦右耳朵发烧，连打喷嚏。此外他还会跟军事教官闲谈，说一两个“他妈的！”那教官惊喜得刮目相看，引为同道。今天是几个熟人吃便饭，并且有女人，他当然谑浪笑傲，另有适应。汪太太说：“我们正在怪你，为什么办学校挑这个鬼地方，人都闷得死的。” “闷死了我可偿不起命哪！偿旁人的命，我勉强可以。汪太太的命，宝贵得很，我偿不起。汪先生，是不是？”上司如此幽默，大家奉公尽职，敬笑两声或一声不等。 赵辛楣道：“有无线电听听就好了。”范小姐也说她喜欢听无线电。 汪处厚道：“地方僻陋也有好处。大家没法消遣，只能彼此来往，关系就亲密了。朋友是这样结交起来的，也许从朋友而更进一层——赵先生，方先生，两位小姐，唔？” 高校长用唱党歌、校歌、带头喊口号的声音叫“好！”敬大家一杯。 鸿渐道：“刚才汪太太说打牌消遣——” 校长斩截地说：“谁打牌？” 汪太太道：“我们那副牌不是王先生借去天天打么？”不管高松年警告的眼色。 鸿渐道：“反正辛楣和我对麻将牌不感兴趣。想买副纸牌来打bridge，找遍了镇上没有，结果买了一副象棋。辛楣输了就把棋子拍桌子，木头做的棋子经不起他的气力，迸碎了好几个，这两天棋都下不成了。”范小姐隔着高校长向辛楣笑，说想不到他这样孩子气。刘小姐请辛楣讲鸿渐输了棋的情状。高校长道：“下象棋很好。纸牌幸亏没买到，总是一种赌具，虽然没有声音，给学生知道了不大好。李梅亭禁止学生玩纸牌，照师生共同生活的原则——” 鸿渐想高松年像个人不到几分钟，怎么又变成校长面目了，恨不能说：“把王家的麻将公开，请学生也去赌，这就是共同生活了。”汪太太不耐烦地打断高校长道：“我听了'共同生活'这四个字就头痛。都是李梅亭的花样，反正他自己家不在这儿，苦的是有家的人。我本来的确因为怕闹，所以不打牌，现在偏要打。校长你要办我就办得了，轮不到李梅亭来管。” 高校长看汪太太请自己办她，大有恃宠撒娇之意，心颤身热，说：“哪里的话！不过办学校有办学校的困难——你只要问汪先生——同事之间应当相忍相安。” 汪太太冷笑道：“我又不是李梅亭的同事。校长，你什么时候雇我到贵校当——当老妈子来了？当教员是没有资格的——”高松年喉间连作抚慰的声音——“今天星期三，星期六晚上我把牌要回来打它个通宵，看李梅亭又怎么样。赵先生，方先生，你们有没有胆量来？” 高松年叹气说：“我本来是不说的。汪太太，你这么一来，我只能告诉各位了。我今天闯席做不速之客，就为了李梅亭的事，要来跟汪先生商量，不知道你们在请客。” 客人都说：“校长来得好，请都请不来呢。”汪先生镇静地问：“李梅亭什么事？”汪太太满脸厌倦不爱听的表情。 校长道：“我一下办公室，他就来，问我下星期一纪念周找谁演讲，我说我还没有想到人呢。他说他愿意在'训导长报告'里，顺便谈谈抗战时期大学师生的正当娱乐——”汪太太“哼”了一声——“我说很好。他说假如他讲了之后，学生问他像王先生家的打牌赌钱算不算正当娱乐，他应当怎样回答——”大家恍然大悟地说“哦”——“我当然替你们掩饰，说不会有这种事。他说：'同事们全知道了，只瞒你校长一个人'——”辛楣和鸿渐道：“胡说！我们就不知道。”——“他说他调查得很清楚，输赢很大，这副牌就是你的，常打的是什么几个人，也有你汪先生——”汪先生的脸开始发红，客人都局促地注视各自的碗筷。好几秒钟，屋子里静寂得应该听见蚂蚁在地下爬，可是当时没有蚂蚁。 校长不自然地笑，继续说：“还有笑话，汪太太，你听了准笑。他不知道什么地方听来的，说你们这副牌是美国货，橡皮做的，打起来没有声音——”哄堂大笑，解除适才的紧张。鸿渐问汪太太是不是真没有声音，汪太太笑他和李梅亭一样都是乡下人，还说：“李瞎子怎么变成聋子了，哪里有美国货的无声麻将！”高校长深不以这种轻薄为然，紧闭着嘴不笑，聊示反对。 汪先生道：“他想怎么办呢？向学生宣布？” 汪太太道：“索性闹穿了，大家正大光明地打牌，免得鬼鬼祟祟，桌子上盖毯子，毯子上盖漆布——”范小姐聪明地注解：“这就是'无声麻将'了！”——“我待得腻了，让李梅亭去闹，学生撵你走，高校长停你职，离开这地方，真是求之不得。”校长一连声tut!tut!tut! 汪先生道：“他无非为了做不到中国文学系主任，跟我过不去。我倒真不想当这个差使，向校长辞了好几次，高先生，是不是？不过，我辞职是自动的，谁要逼我走，那可不行，我偏不走。李梅亭，他看错了人。他的所作所为，哼！我也知道，譬如在镇上嫖土娼。” 汪先生富于戏剧性地收住，余人惊奇得叫起来，辛楣鸿渐立刻想到王美玉。高校长顿一顿说：“那不至于罢？”鸿渐见校长这样偏袒，按不下愤怒，说：“我想汪先生所讲的话很可能，李先生跟我们同路来，闹了许多笑话，不信只要问辛楣。”校长满脸透着不然道：“君子隐恶而扬善。这种男女间的私事，最好别管！”范小姐正要问辛楣什么笑话，吓得拿匙舀口鸡汤和着这问题咽了下去。高校长省悟自己说的话要得罪汪处厚，忙补充说：“鸿渐兄，你不要误会。梅亭和我是老同事，他的为人，我当然知道。不过，汪先生犯不着和他计较。回头我有办法劝他。” 汪太太宽宏大量地说：“总而言之，是我不好。处厚倒很想敷衍他，我看见他的脸就讨厌，从没请他上我们这儿来。我们不像韩学愈和他的洋太太，对历史系的先生和学生，三日一小宴、五日一大宴地款待；而且妙得很，请学生吃饭，请同事只喝茶——”鸿渐想起那位一夜泻肚子四五次的历史系学生——“破费还是小事，我就没有那个精神，也不像那位洋太太能干。人家是洋派，什么交际、招待、联络，都有工夫，还会唱歌儿呢。咱们是中国乡下婆婆，就安了分罢，别出丑啦。我常说：有本领来当教授，没有本领就滚蛋，别教家里的丑婆娘做学生和同事的女招待——”鸿渐忍不住叫“痛快”！汪处厚明知太太并非说自己，可是通身发热——“高先生不用劝李梅亭，处厚也不必跟他拼，只要想个方法引诱他到王家也去打一次牌，这不就完了么？” “汪太太，你真——真聪明！”高校长钦佩地拍桌子，因为不能拍汪太太的头或肩背，“这计策只有你想得出来！你怎么知道李梅亭爱打牌的？” 汪太太那句话是说着玩儿的，给校长当了真，便神出鬼没地说：“我知道。”汪先生也摸着胡子，反复援引苏东坡的名言道：“'想当然耳'，'想当然耳'哦！”赵辛楣的眼光像胶在汪太太的脸上。刘小姐冷落在一边，满肚子的气愤，恨汪太太，恨哥嫂，鄙视范小姐，懊悔自己今天的来，又上了当，忽见辛楣的表情，眼稍微瞥范小姐，心里冷笑一声，舒服了好些。范小姐也注意到了，唤醒辛楣道：“赵先生，汪太太真利害呀！”辛楣脸一红，喃喃道：“真利害！”眼睛躲避着范小姐。鸿渐说：“这办法好得很。不过李梅亭最贪小利，只能让他赢；他输了还要闹的。”同桌全笑了。高松年想这年轻人多嘴，好不知趣，只说：“今天所讲的话，希望各位严守秘密。” 吃完饭，主人请宽坐。女人涂脂抹粉的脸，经不起酒饭蒸出来的汗汽，和咬嚼运动的震掀，不免像黄梅时节的墙壁。范小姐虽然斯文，精致得恨不能吃肉都吐渣，但多喝了半杯酒，脸上没涂胭脂的地方都作粉红色，仿佛外国肉庄里陈列的小牛肉。汪太太问女客人：“要不要到我房里去洗手？”两位小姐跟她去了。高松年汪处厚两人低声密谈。辛楣对鸿渐道：“等一会咱们同走，记牢。”鸿渐笑道：“也许我愿意一个人送刘小姐回去呢？”辛楣严肃地说：“无论如何，这一次让我陪着你送她——汪太太不是存心跟我们开玩笑么？”鸿渐道：“其实谁也不必送谁，咱们俩走咱们的路，她们走她们的路。”辛楣道：“这倒做不出。咱们是留学生，好像这一点社交礼节总应该知道。”两人慨叹不幸身为青年未婚留学生的麻烦。 刘小姐勉强再坐一会，说要回家。辛楣忙站起来说：“鸿渐，咱们也该走了，顺便送她们两位小姐回去。”刘小姐说她一个人回去，不必人送。辛楣连声说：“不，不，不！先送范小姐到女生宿舍，然后送你回家，我还没有到你府上去过呢。”鸿渐暗笑辛楣要撇开范小姐，所以跟刘小姐亲热，难保不引起另一种误会。汪太太在咬着范小姐耳朵说话，范小姐含笑带怒推开她。汪先生说：“好了，好了。'出门不管'，两位小姐的安全要你们负责了。”高校长说他还要坐一会，同时表示非常艳羡：因为天气这样好，正是散步的春宵，他们四个人又年轻，正是春宵散步的好伴侣。 四人并肩而行，范刘在中间，赵方各靠一边。走近板桥，范小姐说这桥只容两个人走，她愿意走河底。鸿渐和刘小姐走到桥心，忽听范小姐尖声叫：“啊呀！”忙借机止步，问怎么一回事。范小姐又笑了，辛楣含着谴责，劝她还是上桥走，河底石子滑得很。才知道范小姐险的摔一跤，亏辛楣扶住了。刘小姐早过桥，不耐烦地等着他们，鸿渐等范小姐也过了岸，殷勤问扭了筋没有。范小姐谢他，说没有扭筋——扭了一点儿——可是没有关系，就会好的——不过走路不能快，请刘小姐不必等。刘小姐鼻子里应一声，鸿渐说刘小姐和自己都愿意慢慢地走。走不上十几步，范小姐第二次叫：“啊呀！”手提袋不知何处去了。大家问她是不是摔跤的时候，失手掉在溪底。她说也许。辛楣道：“这时候不会给人捡去，先回宿舍，拿了手电来照。”范小姐记起来了，手提袋忘在汪太太家里，自骂糊涂，要赶回去取，说：“怎么好意思叫你们等呢？你们先走罢，反正有赵先生陪我——赵先生，你要骂我了。”女人出门，照例忘掉东西，所以一次出门事实上等于两次。安娜说：“啊呀，糟糕！我忘掉带手帕！”这么一说，同走的玛丽也想起没有带口红，裘丽叶给两人提醒，说：“我更糊涂！没有带钱——”于是三人笑得仿佛这是天地间最幽默的事，手搀手回去取手帕、口红和钱。可是这遗忘东西的传染病并没有上刘小姐的身，急得赵辛楣心里直怨：“难道今天是命里注定的？”忽然鸿渐摸着头问：“辛楣，我今天戴帽子来没有？”辛楣愣了愣，恍有所悟：“好像你戴了来的，我记不清了——是的，你戴帽子来的，我——我没有戴。”鸿渐说范小姐找手提袋，使他想到自己的帽子；范小姐既然走路不便，反正他要回汪家取帽子，替她把手提袋带来得了，“我快得很，你们在这儿等我一等。”说着，三脚两步跑去。他回来，手里只有手提袋，头上并无帽子，说：“我是没有戴帽子，辛楣，上了你的当。”辛楣气愤道：“刘小姐，范小姐，你们瞧这个人真不讲理。自己糊涂，倒好像我应该替他管帽子的！”黑暗中感激地紧拉鸿渐的手。刘小姐的笑短得刺耳。范小姐对鸿渐的道谢冷淡得不应该，直到女宿舍，也再没有多话。 不管刘小姐的拒绝，鸿渐和辛楣送她到家。她当然请他们进去坐一下。跟她同睡的大侄女还坐在饭桌边，要等她回来才肯去睡，呵欠连连，两只小手握着拳头擦眼睛。这女孩子看见姑母带了客人来，跳进去一路嚷：“爸爸！妈妈！”把生下来才百日的兄弟都吵醒了。刘东方忙出来招待，刘太太跟着也抱了小孩子出来。鸿渐和辛楣照例说这小孩子长得好，养得胖，讨论他像父亲还是像母亲。这些话在父母的耳朵里是听不厌的。鸿渐凑近他脸捺指作声，这是他惟一娱乐孩子的本领。刘太太道：“咱们跟方——呃——伯伯亲热，叫方伯伯抱——”她恨不能说“方姑夫”——“咱们刚换了尿布，不会出乱子。”鸿渐无可奈何，苦笑接过来。那小孩子正在吃自己的手，换了一个人抱，四肢乱动，手上的腻唾沫，抹了鸿渐一鼻子半脸，鸿渐蒙刘太太托孤，只好心里厌恶。辛楣因为摆脱了范小姐，分外高兴，瞧小孩子露出的一方大腿还干净，嘴凑上去吻了一吻，看得刘家老小四个人莫不欢笑，以为这赵先生真好。鸿渐气不过他这样做面子，问他要不要抱。刘太太看小孩子给鸿渐抱得不舒服，想辛楣地位高，又是生客，不能亵渎他，便伸手说：“咱们重得很，方伯伯抱得累了。”鸿渐把孩子交还，乘人不注意，掏手帕擦脸上已干的唾沫。辛楣道：“这孩子真好，他不怕生。”刘太太一连串地赞美这孩子如何懂事，如何乖，如何一觉睡到天亮。孩子的大姊姊因为没人理自己，圆睁眼睛，听得不耐烦，插口道：“他也哭，晚上把我都哭醒了。”刘小姐道：“不知道谁会哭！谁长得这么大了，抢东西吃，打不过二弟，就直着嗓子哭，羞不羞！”女孩子发急，指着刘小姐道：“姑姑是大人，姑姑也哭，我知道，那天——”父母喝住她，骂她这时候还不睡。刘小姐把她拉进去了，自信没给客人瞧见脸色。以后的谈话，只像用人工呼吸来救淹死的人，挽回不来生气。刘小姐也没再露脸。辞别出了门，辛楣道：“孩子们真可怕，他们嘴里全说得出。刘小姐表面上很平静快乐，谁想到她会哭，真是各有各的苦处，唉！”鸿渐道：“你跟范小姐是无所谓的。我承刘东方帮过忙，可是我无意在此地结婚。汪太太真是多此一举，将来为了这件事，刘东方准对我误会。”辛楣轻描淡写道：“那不至于。”接着就问鸿渐对汪太太的印象，要他帮自己推测她年龄有多少。 孙小姐和陆子潇通信这一件事，在鸿渐心里，仿佛在复壁里咬东西的老鼠，扰乱了一晚上，赶也赶不出去。他险的写信给孙小姐，以朋友的立场忠告她交友审慎。最后算把自己劝相信了，让她去跟陆子潇好，自己并没爱上她，吃什么隔壁醋，多管人家闲事？全是赵辛楣不好，开玩笑开得自己心里有了鬼，仿佛在催眠中的人受了暗示。这种事大半是旁人说笑话，说到当局者认真恋爱起来，自己见得多了，决不至于这样傻。虽然如此，总觉得吃了亏似的，恨孙小姐而且鄙视她。不料下午打门进来的就是她，鸿渐见了她面，心里的怨气像宿雾见了朝阳，消散净尽。她来过好几次，从未能使他像这次的欢喜。鸿渐说，桂林回来以后，还没见过面呢，问她怎样消遣这寒假的。她说，承鸿渐和辛楣送桂林带回的东西，早想过来谢，可是自己发了两次烧，今天是陪范小姐送书来的。鸿渐笑问是不是送剧本给辛楣，孙小姐笑答是。鸿渐道：“你上去见到赵叔叔没有？” 孙小姐道：“我才不讨人厌呢！我根本没上楼。她要来看赵先生，问我他住的是楼上楼下，第几号房间，又不要我做向导。我跟她讲好，我决不陪她上楼，我也有事到这儿来。” “辛楣未必感谢你这位向导。” “那太难了！”孙小姐说话