Chapter 13 Chapter nine

Hung-chien praised his wife for her submissiveness in a letter home announcing their engagement.After Fang Dunweng read the letter, he screamed like a hen had laid an egg, and the whole family knew the news within a minute.After the old couple was surprised, they were annoyed.Mrs. Fang especially blamed her son for being reckless, why he got engaged without asking his parents first.Dun Weng said: "We have fulfilled our responsibilities as parents, and we have cuddled the Zhou family's daughter for him. This time he decides for himself, whether it is good or not, and if it is bad, we will not blame our parents in the future. Why do you bother?" They?" Mrs. Fang said: "I don't know what that Miss Sun looks like, Hung-chien is really confused, and he didn't even send a single photo!" Dun Weng asked the second daughter-in-law for a letter and said, "He wrote the letter. Say she has a 'subtle temperament'." Like all people with low education, Mrs. Fang is very superstitious about the black and white words written on white paper, but she has a human geography question: "Is she from a province? Her temper is always a bit savage, and we don't get along well." Second Mistress said: "Not from other provinces, but from other counties." Dun Weng said: "As long as Hung-chien thinks she is submissive, it will be fine. Alas, the current daughter-in-law , do you still hope that she will be filial to you? It won't happen anymore." The second and third wives winked at each other, and the happy expressions on their faces restrained at the same time.Old Madam Fang asked, "I don't know if the Sun family has any money?" Dun Weng laughed and said, "Her father works in the newspaper office, and the people in the newspaper office will cheat, so he should have money, ha ha! I think the eldest child is a lot of idiots." Fu. The Zhou family who got engaged for the first time was very rich. Later, I saw the daughter of Zhongsu Hongye, who was also a wealthy and powerful family. This time, the Sun family, I don’t think it will be too bad. Anyway, this lady is a college graduate , also working outside, seems to be able to stand on her own." These few words of Dun Weng unintentionally made two enemies for Roujia; the second and third grandmothers came from ordinary families, and they only studied in middle school.

Hung-chien wrote in Hong Kong to report his marriage and asked his father to send money.After Dun Weng saw it, he was shocked and angry, and immediately became very silent.He closed the door with Mrs. Fang and studied the letter for a long time.The old lady Fang blames Roujia for seducing her son, and Tuweng also expresses disrespectful opinions on free love and new-style women.But he is the head of the family, and he feels that anyone in the family loses face, that is, he loses face. The family ugliness can not only be shown outside, but also inside.He told Mrs. Fang not to mention this matter to his second and third daughters-in-law, and sighed: "The children are really evil debts, and I have to worry about them for the rest of my life. Mother, why are you angry? They still know they are going to get married, that's it." After dinner At that time, Dun Weng smiled quite naturally, and said: "The boss has a letter today, and they have arrived in Hong Kong. Among the few friends who are walking together, someone is going to get married in Hong Kong. The boss is jealous and wants to hold a wedding with Miss Sun at the same time." .Young people always do things like a swarm, and like to join in the fun. He also said in the letter that he would save my money and my troubles, which is considered his sympathy for us, mother, isn’t it?” When everyone finished admiring, he continued Said: "Pengtu Fengyi's wedding expenses are all borne by me. Now the wedding has to be as ostentatious as it used to be in my hometown, and I can't afford it. Hung-chien saves me from paying, so why not do it? But, Pengtu, you wire him a sum of money for me tomorrow, to show that I will treat you three brothers equally, so that the boss will not blame your parents for being unfair in the future." After dinner, when Dun Weng came out, he said, "His method is very good. .Whenever we get married, it doesn’t matter to the two parties, but others are busy for them. If he gets married in Shanghai, needless to say, my mother and I, even your husband and wife will be very busy. It’s convenient for everyone now.” He said these words confidently, Point out the pros and cons, and the sons and daughters-in-law will not be suspicious.He wrote in his diary that day: "Jian'er sent a letter from Hong Kong, saying that Yun Jiang will marry Ms. Sun Roujia in Hong Kong. Gai Zhen thought that the family would be ruined, so he saved money and trouble. The meaning is commendable, and the money should be sent to accomplish the task. "The third grandma was washing her face when she returned to her room. The second grandma came and said in a low voice, "Did you hear that? I think this is not a good thing. Can you wait three or four days from Hong Kong to Shanghai?" The third grandma didn't want to Losing to her, he said: "They suddenly got engaged in the mainland. I felt it was too abrupt at that time, and there was something wrong with it." Second Mistress said: "That's right! I thought the same way back then. How many months did they get engaged? "The two counted with their fingers, looked at each other and smiled.Feng Yi is an honest person, she was dumbfounded in fright, Second Mistress smiled and said: "Third Uncle, our sister-in-law is probably the one who broke the record among the Fang family's daughters-in-law."

A few days later, the wedding photos arrived.The face in Rou Jia's photo was almost the face she imagined herself to be. When Tun Weng liked it, Mrs. Fang put on her working glasses several times to take a closer look.Feng Yi said to his wife in private: "Sun Roujia is still beautiful, much better than the dead daughter of the Zhou family." The third grandma sneered: "The photos are unreliable, we have to meet each other to be sure. Some people will upload photos, and some will not. Photo, ugly people often take good pictures, don’t be fooled. Why only take a half-length photo? It must not be able to take a full-body photo. The veil and the flowers are covered. I bet you. Scary! Yes, it’s all bad luck to call this kind of woman ‘big sister-in-law’ now! I’m really not reconciled. You see, this is a college graduate!” The second grandmother expressed her thoughts on her husband as follows: “Have you noticed? She has a demonic air, she looks like an evil woman at first glance, so she would do such shameless things. Your father and mother are a pair of old fools, and they praise her! I'm not bragging, my sisters are more or less clean, let alone never have a boyfriend , Even if you are engaged, you are not allowed to communicate with your fiancé." Pengtu said: "Boss, this Yue family is probably not as good as Zhou's. Turns out, what a fool! I met Zhou Houqing’s son the day before yesterday. He used to study with the boss. He is seventeen or eighteen years old. He has already worked as an assistant in a gold bank and can drive a car. I want to make friends with his father and take the Zhou Fang family The relationship is restored, and you can invest in joint ventures in the future. Don't let this word out."

Rou Jia didn't want to go to her in-law's house right after getting off the boat, she wanted to go back to her mother's house first.Hung-chien understood her fear of strangers, so he didn't force it.He knew that the family could not allocate a room for himself to live in. The room he lived in after leaving the Zhou family was dark and narrow, and could only accommodate a small bed.Roujia also stated that she would not be a daughter-in-law in a big family. For the time being, the two lived in their own homes while looking for a house.They went ashore, paid the road money to the police detectives who maintained law and order in the Shanghai Concession of the Greater French Republic, and redeemed their luggage.Hung-chien first sent his wife to the Sun's house; because the car was waiting and the money was counted every second, the etiquette for meeting the father-in-law and mother-in-law was extremely simple.When he went home alone, Fang Dunweng and his wife were very upset when they saw that the bride did not come with them, but at the same time they were relieved: the small room where Hung-chien lived was now sleeping for two old women, and the bride had really come. Not even a place to change clothes.The old couple asked their son many things, not only about the bride, but also about his career in the second half of the year.Hung-chien supported the situation by saying that the newspaper had asked him to be the director of the reference room.Dun Weng said: "Then, you will live in Shanghai for a long time. The house is very crowded, and I have to worry about finding a nearby apartment for you. Sigh!" Hung-chien was speechless without thanking his relatives.Tuanweng ordered his son to invite Roujia to lunch tomorrow at night, and at the same time asked his father-in-law and mother-in-law what day was convenient. He wanted to choose a restaurant to invite his in-laws.He was conceited that he was well versed in the world, laughed at the other old lady and said, "According to the old-fashioned way of getting married, the bride is carried in a sedan chair, regardless of whether she is afraid of life or not. Now it's not possible. I want to ask the second grandma or the third grandma to accompany the eldest to grandchildren." In this way, she can be more familiar." The third grandmother had a sullen face, and the second grandmother laughed and said, "Great! We are going to welcome sister-in-law. I can go with you tomorrow, brother .” Hung-chien hastily declined.After the people left, the third grandma said to the second grandma: "Sister, you are so good-tempered! What is Sun Roujia, who puts on airs and wants us to meet her! I don't want to." The second grandma said, "She won't come today Come, she won't come. I guess she is about to give birth, and she has no face to come to her husband's house. Today, tomorrow is postponed, and the day after tomorrow is postponed. Let's just wait for Double Happiness to come in. I know the boss will never let me go, you Look at how anxious he was at that time." The third grandma felt ashamed and said, "Although the eldest son is the eldest son, the eldest grandson of the Fang family is always you ugly. It is useless for Sun Roujia to give birth to a son quickly." The second grandma pointed at her and said : "Hey! The Fang family has something private that everyone can divide. Do you still talk about the eldest son and grandson these days? Ah Chou and your Ah Ji are not the same grandsons of the Fang family. The old man's money is almost gone, and the usual money from the field It’s all gone now. The eldest brother won’t support the family for three or four months, and I think the old man will support the family for him in the future.” The third grandma sighed and said: “Their parents’ hearts are all in the pockets of the limbs! The eldest is alone. He spent a lot of money after graduating from university, and now he has to use the old man’s money. I don’t understand, what’s the use of him staying abroad, not to mention not being as good as the second brother, even worse than our third.” The second grandmother said: "Let's see the female college students 'self-reliant'." The two of them let go of their old suspicions, and they were as close as sworn sisters (because the biological sisters are jealous of each other), Sun Roujia never dreamed that she would make peace between sisters-in-law messenger.

After lunch, Dun Weng took a nap, the old lady escorted two unwilling mothers to vacate the room, and the second and third wives accompanied the children to sleep.A-Chou and A-Ji had no one to take care of them, so they went to the living room to pester Hung-chien.Ah Chou asked his uncle to ask his aunt to see, and asked mischievously: "Uncle, who is Sun Roujia?" "You can't say 'Sun Roujia', you have to say 'aunt'. Uncle, I didn't say 'Sun Roujia'." Hung-chien said absent-mindedly, "Hello." Ah Chou asked for a wedding drink, and Hung-chien said, "Don't make noise, Tomorrow, grandpa will give you something to eat." Ah Chou said: "Then give me a piece of candy now." Hung-chien said: "You just had dinner, what kind of candy did you eat? You are not as good as Brother Ji." A-Jie pulled out his finger again Said: "I want to eat a piece of candy too." Hung-chien shook his head and said, "I hate it to death, there is no candy to eat." Ah Chou climbed onto the table by the window and looked at the passers-by on the street. He asked the uncle to carry him up, but Hung-chien was too busy to settle accounts and ignored him, so he cried and demanded to pee.Hung-chien had never been a father, so he had no choice but to put down his pencil and said, "You hold back. I'll help you upstairs to find Mama Zhang, but you're not allowed to come down again." A-Ji refused to go up, and pointed to the table. Hung-chien said to the spittoon next to him, "You can do whatever you want." Ah Chou turned around and said, "A man just passed by with a popsicle in one hand, and he had two popsicles, and he licked one. Lick another one. Uncle, he has two popsicles." A Ji forgot to urinate, and said, "I want to see that man too, let me go up and see." A Chou said triumphantly, "He went somewhere Go, you can’t see—uncle, have you ever eaten a popsicle?” A Ji said honestly: “I want to eat a popsicle.” A Chou hurriedly jumped off the table and said honestly: “I want to eat a popsicle.” Hung-chien said that when Mama Zhang or Mama Sun cleaned up the room and asked her to go buy it, no quarrel was allowed at this time, and anyone who quarreled would be fined for throwing away the ice.Ah Chou asked how long it would take to tidy up the room.Hung-chien said, wait at least half an hour.Ah Chou said: "I'm not arguing, I'll watch you write." Ah Ji had enough of his right index finger, so he changed his left ring finger to try something new.Hung-chien couldn't write ten characters, so A-Chou asked, "Uncle, is it half an hour?" Hung-chien said impatiently, "Nonsense, it's very early!" Uncle, this pencil of yours is very beautiful. Let me write something." Hung-chien knew that the pencil was in his hands, and he would be sentenced to death by beheading, so he refused to give it to him.Ah Chou searched around in the living room, and found a half-inch pencil, an old treat post, sucked the tip of the pencil in his mouth, penetrated the back of the paper, and wrote the characters "big" and "square", like matchsticks set up.Hung-chien said: "Okay, okay. Go up and see if Mama Zhang has cleaned up." Ah Chou went down and said she hadn't, and Hung-chien said, "You just have to wait a little longer." Uncle, the bride is here, does she live in that room?" Hung-chien said, "You don't have to worry about it." A-chou said, "Uncle, what is a 'relationship'?" Hung-chien didn't understand, so A-chou said: "Did you have a 'relationship' with the aunt in the school?" Hung-chien slapped the table and jumped up, "What are you talking about? Who taught you to say such things?" Ah Chou was so frightened that his face flushed redder than Hung-chien's. , said: "I——I heard what Mom said to Dad." Hung-chien said angrily, "Your mother is an asshole! You don't have ice to eat, so punish your ice!" Ah Chou looked at Hung-chien's seriousness and knew that the ice would never arrive. Zui, come to a mental victory, retreat to a safer distance, and say: "I don't want your ice, my mother will buy it for me. Uncle is the worst, bad uncle! Dead uncle!" Hung-chien put on a gesture: "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you." Ah Chou tilted his head and puffed his mouth, expressing his stubborn disobedience.Ah Ji approached the table and said, "Uncle, I'm good, I didn't say anything." Hung-chien said, "You have ice to eat. Don't be like him!" Ah Chou heard that Ah Ji still had ice to eat, so he came up to give him a hand. He took his arm, spread his palms, and said: "You lost my ball yesterday, pay me back quickly, I want my ball, and I want to shoot at this time." Aji panicked and asked the uncle to make a rescue.Hung-chien pulled Ah Chou, and Ah Chou slapped Ah Ji across the face, and Ah Ji cried loudly, urinating all over the floor.Hung-chien was scolding Ah Chou when the second grandma came down and scolded, "You woke up my little brother!" The third grandma also rushed down when she heard her son's cries.The two children were pulled up by their mother, and Ah Chou argued all the way, "Why does Uncle give him ice and not me?" Hung-chien wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and sighed.Think about how Roujia can get used to living in this kind of family.Unexpectedly, the younger sister and daughter-in-law abused people like this behind their backs. Of course, they still had a lot of unsavory things to say.I have always been accustomed to forgetting each other with my family, and I don't think it hides much hatred and despicableness. Now because of Rou Jia, I can observe from the standpoint of an outsider, and I suddenly understand the truth of the relationship between brothers, sisters-in-law and even father and son in the past few years. It's like being kept in the dark.

The old lady Fang rummaged through the boxes and suitcases that night, looking for two pieces of jewelery left over from the robbery, as a gift for the eldest daughter-in-law tomorrow.Tuanweng laughed at her and said, "Do these new-style women still wear your old antiques? I'll forget it. 'Giving someone a car is better than giving someone a word'; tomorrow I will persuade her a few words." Fang The old lady had been married for more than thirty years, and she had long lost her curiosity about the book bag dropped by her husband. She only understood the last sentence, and hurriedly said: "You should be careful what you say tomorrow. Don't mention their past." Said: "Unless I'm as stupid as you! I've been doing things in the society for more than 30 years, don't you understand this?" Hung Chien went to pick up Roujia the next morning, and Roujia said, "Your family is better than ours. Old-fashioned, what is the etiquette when I go today? I don’t understand, so I won’t go.” Hung-chien said, “Today is to get to know each other, there is no etiquette, but what my father wants us to do is to pay respects to the Zongzong. Roujia said coquettishly: "Even if your Fang family has ancestors, we fell from the sky and have no ancestors! Why don't you salute the ancestors of our grandson's family? Tomorrow I will teach my father to punish you to kneel and kowtow three times for taking pictures of your grandparents." I want revenge!" Hearing her tone loosen, Hung-chien smiled and said, "Everything is on my side, I feel wronged." Rou-chia said, "It's not because of you. I really don't want to go today. I'm not a newcomer. Puppies and kittens, I need someone to take them to worship the stove!" When they arrived at Fang's house, the old lady was secretly disappointed when she saw that Roujia was not as beautiful in the photo, and felt that her clothes were not red enough to look like a bride, especially disapproving of the color on her feet Unlucky white leather shoes.The second grandma and the third grandma were dressed up to the fullest. They were sweating in the hot weather, like a half-melted cream cake.Seeing the appearance of the sister-in-law, they felt relieved, but they were not without disappointment about her figure.Although Joo Chia does not have the slender waist of Sarah Bemhardt when she was young, she would not swallow a quinine pill and feel pregnant, but her thinness cannot be denied. The prophecy of "Double Happiness Entering the Door" has not been fulfilled.Tuan Weng was overjoyed, asked questions, and said with a smile: "From now on, Hongjian and I won't be able to control him, and I will leave it to you—" Mrs. Fang interjected, "Yes! He didn't even know how to put on clothes at the age of seven. Now that he wears clothes, he doesn't know how warm or cold he is, and eats sweet and salty things. He is completely like a child. Young Mistress, you have to pay attention to him. Hung-chien, if you don't listen to me, marry him. You should listen to what she says.” Roujia said, “He doesn’t listen to me either—Hung-chien, do you hear that? From now on, if you don’t listen to me, I’ll tell my mother-in-law.” Hung-chien said giggle.Second Mistress and Third Mistress secretly gave contemptuous winks.When Dun Weng heard that Roujia was about to do something, he said, "I have something to advise you. It's good to do things, but when the couple are doing things outside together, 'the house has no owner, and the broom is upside down', it's a mess, and the family has no name. I I'm not a stubborn person. I always feel that a woman's responsibility is to be a housekeeper. Now I want you to be filial to us. I don't have this dream anymore. You must serve your husbands to their liking. It's a pity that I am fleeing here, the house It's crowded, you can't fit in, otherwise you can learn from your mother-in-law to be a housekeeper." Rou Jia reluctantly nodded.When saluting, a red carpet was spread in front of the sacrificial table, and it was obvious that Hung-chien and his wife were required to kneel down to the spirits of their ancestors in the air.Rou Jia stepped on the blanket straight, showing no tendency to bow down, and Hung-chien stood shoulder to shoulder with her and bowed three times to finish the job.The onlookers couldn't express the horror and objection in their hearts. Ah Chou spoke quickly and asked his parents, "Why don't uncles and aunts kneel down and worship?" This sentence was like a telephone ringing in an empty house, and no one answered.Hung-chien was so embarrassed that he couldn't bear it, but luckily Ah-chou and Ah-jii rushed to the red carpet to kneel down and fought dangerously, diverting everyone's attention.Old Madam Fang fully thought that after the two of them worshiped their ancestors, they would formally kneel down to herself and Dun Weng.Hung-chien was completely unaware of these etiquettes. He thought that once he entered the door, he had already met, so there was no need to worry about it.So the meal was not harmonious, A Chou insisted on sitting next to Roujia, and asked the aunt to serve this kind of food and that kind of dish, which was almost impossible.Halfway through the dishes, Roujia got impatient and perfunctory to this annoying nephew, so Ah Chou knelt on the chair, stretched his arms, and picked up the dishes by himself.Accidentally, he knocked Roujia's wine glass over, Roujia let out an "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"Dunweng and his wife scold Ah Chou, Rou Jia hurriedly says it doesn't matter.Pengtu and Second Mistress also scolded their son severely and forbade him to eat any more. Ah Chou was so distraught that he refused to get off the chair.They hoped that Hung-chien and his wife would say something nice and save face for their son.Who knew that Hung Chien only asked Rou Jia with concern: "Can the wine stains be washed off? Fortunately, the meatballs he caught didn't roll on your clothes. It's very dangerous!" It was too late for everyone to persuade me to go upstairs.Hearing Ah Chou halfway up the stairs, he screamed in pain, stern and long like the siren of an express train passing by a small station, and then wailed loudly.Hearing this, Pengtu was heartbroken, and said through gritted teeth, "This kid should be beaten, and I'll go up and beat him later."

Before Roujia left in the afternoon, Second Grandma still smiled and said, "Don't leave, just stay here today—Sister, let's detain her—Brother, only you will send her home! Why don't you keep her?" Ah Chou's eyes were swollen from crying, but no one paid any attention.Because her son and daughter-in-law didn't kowtow to her, and she didn't give them any jewelry, Mrs. Fang sent them out of the house and went back to her room to whisper to the old man.Dun Weng said: "Sun Roujia is not polite, it's no wonder. The people who come out of the school are all savages and don't know the rules. I don't know about her family either. It seems that there is no tutor." Mrs. Fang said: "I was pregnant in October. When he grows up, now that he is married to a daughter-in-law, shouldn't he accept both of them? Even if Sun Roujia is not polite, the boss should teach her. The more I think about it, the more angry I get." Dun Weng persuaded: "Don't be angry, turn around and the boss will come back. I will teach him a lesson. Hung-chien is really a fool, I think he will be afraid of his wife in the future. But Sun Roujia is still like a woman who understands reason, I just taught her not to go out to do things, you can see that she nodded and obeyed."

When Roujia went out, she said, "It's a good piece of clothing, even if it's ruined, I don't know if it can be washed or not. I've never seen such an undisciplined child." Hung-chien said, "I really hate it too. Fortunately, they won't live together in the future. I know that today's meal has spoiled your appetite. When it comes to children, I think about it. It seems that you should give them the meeting money, and there are two servants Reward money." Rou Jia paused and said, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? My family doesn't have this kind of practice. I just left school myself, so I don't know about these grandma scriptures. I'm in trouble! I'm not happy to be your Fang family's daughter-in-law It's done!" Hung-chien comforted, "It doesn't matter, I'll buy some red envelopes and give them to them for you." Rou-chia said, "It's up to you, I won't please your family anyway. Both sisters and daughters-in-law are difficult to deal with. What your father said is also strange; I, Sun Roujia, a college graduate, came to your Fang family to be an unpaid mother! Hmph! Your family is not that rich." Hung-chien couldn't help but reply. The guard said: "He didn't ask you to be an old lady, he just advised you not to go out to work." Roujia said: "Who would not like to enjoy the blessings at home? I don't like to go out to work! Let me ask you, how much do you earn?" How much money can you provide me at home for a month? Or does your Fang family have ancestral property? Your own career in the second half of the year has not been seen yet! I earn my money, isn’t it good? You’re talking sarcastic! Hung-chien said angrily, "That's another matter. What he said made sense." Rou Jia sneered, "Your and your father's minds are both antiques from thousands of years ago. Fortunately, you are still a foreign student." Jian Ye sneered and said, "What do you know about antiques? Let me tell you, my father's opinions are very fashionable in foreign countries. The only disadvantage you have is that you haven't studied there. I was in Germany, so I know German women's Three K Movement: Church, kitchen, nursery—” Joo Chia said, “I don’t want to listen, you can talk as you please. But I just found out today that you are a dutiful son, and you obey your father’s words like this—” The quarrel did not become serious because You can't go to Sun's house to quarrel, you can't go back to Fang's house to quarrel, and it's not appropriate to quarrel on the road, so there is no use for swords and guns.Being homeless is sometimes a blessing.

The two parents met each other, invited each other, visited each other, and exchanged contempt in their hearts, and no one was satisfied with the other.The Fang family hates the Sun's family for its simplicity, the Sun family hates the Fang family's obscenity, and both sides think that the other is not rich behind their backs.One day, Dun Weng heard his wife criticize his mother-in-law, and suddenly got inspiration.A wonderful entry was added to the diary, saying that he only now understands why the two marriages are called "the marriage of Qin and Jin": "In the Spring and Autumn Period, Qin and Jin were two countries, and the world established marriage, and the world sought war. For Lie, the name is Qin Jin, and it is also suitable." After writing, I am very proud, and I only wish I could give it to my relative Mr. Weng Sun for appreciation.Hung-chien and Rou-chia were in a dilemma, and exhausted, they could only vent their anger on each other.Hung-chien was angry because of his wife, and at the same time he found it convenient to have a wife.When I was angry in the past, I had to be stuffy in my heart, and I couldn't vent it at will. No one is my punching bag.It's different now; you can't get mad at anyone as well as you can with your wife.Needless to say, parents and brothers, friends want to break up friendships, employers want to go on strike, and only wives are like the leather bag of Fengshen in Homer's epic, with the greatest capacity for anger. Divorce is not easy after all.Joo Chia also found that she doesn't have to have the same scruples about her husband as she does about her parents.But she was more reserved than Hung-chien, and whenever Hung-chien got angry, she stopped talking.She seemed to be grabbing a rope with Hung-chien, pulling each end as hard as she could. When the rope was about to break, she took a few steps closer, and the rope slackened again.Although quarreling is the quickest way to get angry, when the quarrel is over, they all feel tired and empty, like the psychology after a play or after waking up.The quarrels before returning to Shanghai, go with the quarrel, just like the meals of a rich family, never stay overnight.The grudges that gradually quarreled will disappear every other day, or even let it go, and talk without making peace.After a quarrel, Roujia said half-seriously and half-jokingly: "You lose your temper like a wild animal biting people. Not only is it unreasonable, but also has no affection. Although you are the eldest son, I think your parents are not serious. How do you spoil you, why are you so capricious?" Hung-chien smiled apologetically.He won the scolding just now, and the victory made him lenient, and he didn't have to return the respect: "The father-in-law and the mother-in-law are patriarchal, and they don't treasure you, but you are difficult enough to serve."

After he had been to Sun's house twice, he could see that Roujia used to say "Father, Mother" all the time, while Mr. Sun and Mrs. Sun were so indifferent to their daughter's affairs that it was almost laissez-faire.Mr. Sun is a so-called good guy in an evil sense—a useless guy who works as an accounting director in a newspaper and has no influence.Mrs. Sun had a son when she was old, and the Sun family was a single heir for three generations, and the raising of the son was regarded as a religion.They have done their duty by providing for their daughter to graduate from college, and they have no intention of taking care of her affairs.If the son-in-law is rich, perhaps their interest in Joo Chia will increase.The person closest to Roujia is her aunt, an American student studying abroad, the kind of female student who calls other children "your Baby" and his wife "your Mrs".This aunt, Joo Chia of course called her Auntie.She was in the limelight when she was young, and she can't forget it until now, and she was very harsh on the rising female students.Rou Jia likes to listen to her memories the most, so she is loved and loved alone.Mr. Sun and his wife are very afraid of this aunt, and they ask her to take care of most of the family affairs.Her husband, Mr. Lu, has an unforgivably smug expression on his face, and he is easy to talk about current affairs.Because he was slightly deaf in both ears, people didn't have the strength to argue with him, and he only heard his own voice in his heart, making it even more unreasonable.The husband and wife hold important positions in a large spinning mill. The husband is the chief engineer and the wife is the head of the personnel department.So Rou Jia also found a position in the personnel department.The aunt thought that her niece was a wrong match, and frankly looked down on Hung-chien's ability and qualifications.Every time Hung-chien saw her, his inferiority complex was like a wartime price hike.My aunt has no children. She raises a little pug named Bobby as her life.The dog would bite Hung-chien when it saw it; what its mistress often said: "Dogs are the smartest, they can tell the good from the bad." It made him even more angry after hearing it.Helplessly, a dog is valued by its master, just as a husband is valued by his wife, or a wife is valued by his husband, so he dare not beat it.Roujia wanted her aunt to like her husband, and she often taught Hung-chien to lead Mrs. Lu's dog out to urinate and defecate, but this did not improve Hung-chien's feelings for the dog.

Hung-chien once said maliciously to Rou-chia, "Your aunt loves dogs more than you." Rou-chia said, "Don't mess around!"—and added another meaningless sentence—"That's just her temper." Jiandao: "She likes dogs as companions so much, which means she is not worthy of being with people." Rou Jia stared and said: "I think dogs are better than people sometimes, at least Bobby is better than you, he is very affectionate, no Biting people indiscriminately. When you meet someone like you, you should bite." Hung-chien said, "You will be like your aunt in the future, and you will also have a dog. Well, for someone as unlucky as me, you should have a dog. Relatives look down on me, no friends, ma'am - uh - ma'am is easy to get angry and ignore people, a dog wags its tail at me, there is one thing in the world who is inferior to me and wants to please me. Your aunt is in the factory There are male and female employees who are courteous to her, not to mention the others in the family, but the niece and daughter are so obedient to her! She should be satisfied, and she will have a lackey who wags her head and tail at her! It can be seen that there is no limit to a person's ability to be flattered." Jiaguan restrained his voice and said, "Please don't say a word, okay? There can't be three days of quietness. Just after a few days of recovery, I'm looking for trouble again." Hung-chien laughed nonsense, "It's so fierce." How fierce!" Hung-chien's sentiments about pugs were half true.Just as he regretted going to the mainland last year, now he regrets returning to Shanghai after listening to Rou Jia.When he was in a small town, he was afraid of being ostracized, but when he arrived in a big city, he hated the indifference of others, but he felt that being ostracized still made him look down on him.It is a microbe, and I am complacent, hoping that someone will put it under a microscope to magnify it.The loneliness amid the crowds, and the desolation amidst the bustle, made him like many people living on this isolated island, and his soul was like an isolated island without a shore.Shanghai this year is very different from last year.The situation in Europe took a turn for the worse, and the Japanese became more and more presumptuous day by day in the two major concessions.The United Kingdom and the United States, which later "fighted side by side" with China, only wanted to be neutral at that time; Give it up to the Japanese. "John Bull" is bragging; "Uncle Sam" turned out to be Uncle Sham, not Tarzan; and as for "Gallic cock", it does have the instincts of a rooster ——Calling out to face the east, it's a pity that I mistook the sun flag for the real sun.Shiploads of scrap iron from the United States were transported to Japan. Britain was considering blocking the Burma Road. Although France had not cut off the Yunnan-Vietnam border, it had detained a batch of Chinese munitions.Prices are like a kite whose string has been blown off, or like a celestial being, rising from the ground.Public utility workers went on strike again and again, and trams and automobiles were only expected to be as full as theaters and hotels.All the copper dollars and nickel coins have been looted, and the stamps have a new use, and they are temporarily used as secondary coins. Unfortunately, people cannot send them as letters, otherwise the difficulty of crowding traffic can be avoided.The struggle for survival gradually takes off its decorations and masks, revealing its original viciousness.Shame is not shameful, and many cannot afford to maintain it.The number of people who make a fortune and go bankrupt increases at the same time, and they do not interfere with each other: because the poor only beg in the busy streets, they will not go to the secluded residential areas of the rich; Can't keep up.The slums are gradually spreading, like a ringworm on the city, and political terrorist incidents occur almost every day. People with lofty ideals are gradually oppressed like the traffic routes of Western metropolises, developing underground. Ambiguous humanoid reptiles cling to them to increase their value.Newspapers advocating "Sino-Japanese peace" publish a list of newly joined comrades every day, and these "peace traitors" often declare "no politics" in other newspapers at the same time. On the fifth day after Hung-chien returned home, he went to the Huamei News Agency to meet the editor-in-chief, and Hsin-mei made an appointment for him in the Hong Kong morning newsletter.He didn't want to ask his father-in-law to guide him, so he went to the building where the newspaper was located alone.The newspaper office is on the third floor, and the sign hanging outside the elevator states that it does not stop until the fourth floor.Although he knew the good poem of the Tang Dynasty "If you want to see a thousand miles, go to a higher level", he didn't take the elevator. After walking up two floors, he was already discouraged. He hoped that adding a few more stairs could delay some time.Push the swing door, and a long counter separates the insiders from the outsiders; if copper bars are installed on this counter, the scene is the same as that of a bank, pawn shop, or post office.The newspaper office is divided into two rooms, the inside and the outside. In the outside room, by the desk facing the door, a young woman is sitting, raising her ring finger wearing a diamond ring, and doing red nails.Someone opened the door and walked in, but she didn't even look up.In normal times, Hung-chien might have wondered why the fingers in the office were not stained with ink, but his fingernails were stained with red oil, but in his haste and carelessness, he took off his hat to ask questions.She raised her head with a solemn and inviolable look on her face, as if she had suffered from a man in her previous life and was still wary in this life.She looked at him, pointed red lips tilted to the left, and lowered her head to trim her nails.Hung-chien followed her instructions, and saw a small square hole like a railway station ticket-buying place, with "Convey" written on it, and went to have a look. Inside, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy was sorting letters.He called his attention and said, "I'm sorry, I want to find the editor-in-chief, Mr. Wang." The child only managed his letters, and replied casually, "He didn't come." He said these four words with the most economical mouth muscle movement. This word was just enough for Hung-chien to hear it and stop without moving a nerve, and using a little more voice.Hung-chien was so flustered that his legs went limp, and he said, "Hey, why didn't he come! Why not? Please go in and have a look." The child had been a messenger for two years, and he was sophisticated enough to understand that there were two types of visitors: those who made low-pitched requests. "I'm sorry, what can I do?" The little guest ordered in a rough voice, "My child, this is my movie, look for so-and-so".Today this person belongs to the former category. I am busy at this time and have no time to pay attention to him.Hung-chien thought to himself, if this is done, he must find a way to get rid of the brat, and then said bravely, "Mr. Wang asked me to come here at this time." After hearing this, the child asked the woman: "Miss Jiang, is Mr. Wang here?" She shook her head impatiently and said, "Who knows him!" The child sighed, stood up lazily, and asked Hung-chien for a film.Hung-chien didn't have any films, so he only gave his surname Fang.The child was about to fulfill his duty of conveyance, when he came alone, the child asked by the way: "Is Mr. Wang here?" He clasped his hands to show that he couldn't change Mr. Wang.Hung-chien suddenly saw his father-in-law working at a desk far away from the window, like meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land.Immediately accompanied by my father-in-law, I met Mr. Wang and had a very congenial conversation.王先生因为他第一次来，坚持要送他出柜台。那女人不修指甲了，忙着运用中文打字机呢，依然翘着戴钻戒的无名指。王先生教鸿渐上四层楼乘电梯下去，明天来办公也乘电梯到四层楼再下来，这样省走一层楼梯。鸿渐学了乖，甚为高兴，觉得已经是报馆老内行了。当夜写信给辛楣，感谢他介绍之恩，附笔开玩笑说，据自己今天在传达处的经验，恐怕本报其他报道和消息都不会准确。 房子比职业更难找。满街是屋，可是轮不到他们住。上海仿佛希望每个新来的人都像只戴壳的蜗牛，随身带着宿舍。他们俩为找房子，心灰力竭，还赔上无谓的口舌。最后，靠遯翁的面子，在亲戚家里租到两间小房，没出小费。这亲戚一部分眷属要回乡去，因为方家的大宅子空着没被占领，愿意借住，遯翁提议，把这两间房作为交换条件。这事一说就成，遯翁有理由向儿子媳妇表功。儿子当然服帖，媳妇回娘家一说，孙太太道：“笑话！他早该给你房子住了。为什么鸿渐的弟妇好好的有房子住？你嫁到方家去，方家就应该给你房子。方家没有房子，害你们新婚夫妇拆散，他们对你不住，现在算找到两间房，有什么大了不得！我常说，结婚不能太冒昧的，譬如这个人家里有没有住宅，就应该打听打听。”幸而柔嘉不把这些话跟丈夫说，否则准有一场吵。她发现鸿渐虽然很不喜欢他的家，决不让旁人对它有何批评。为了买家具，两人也争执过。鸿渐认为只要向老家里借些来用用，将就得过就算了。柔嘉道地是个女人，对于自己管辖的领土比他看得重，要挣点家私。鸿渐陪她上木器店，看见一张桌子就想买，柔嘉只问了价钱，把桌子周身内外看个仔细，记在心里。要另外走好几家木器店，比较货色和价钱。鸿渐不耐烦，一次以后，不再肯陪她，她也不要他陪，自去请教她的姑母。 家具粗备，陆先生夫妇来看侄女婿的新居。陆先生说楼梯太黑，该教房东装盏电灯。陆太太嫌两间房都太小，说鸿渐父亲当初该要求至少两间里有一间大房。陆先生听太太的话，耳朵不聋，也说：“这话很对。鸿渐，我想你府上那所房子不会很大。否则，他们租你的大房子，你租他们的小房间，这太吃亏了，呵呵。”他一笑，Bobby也跟着叫。他又问鸿渐这两天报馆里有什么新闻。鸿渐道：“没有什么消息。”他没有听清，问：“什么？”鸿渐凑近他耳朵高声说：“没有什么——”他跳起来皱眉搓耳道：“吓，你嘴里的气直钻进我的耳朵，痒得我要死！”陆太太送了侄女一房家具，而瞧侄女婿对自己丈夫的态度并不逊顺，便说：“他们的《华美新闻》，我从来不看，销路好不好？我中文报不看的，只看英文报。”鸿渐道：“这两天，波兰完了，德国和俄国声势利害得很，英国压下去了，将来也许大家没有英文报看，姑母还是学学俄文和德文罢。”陆太太动了气，说她不要学什么德文，杂货铺子里的伙计都懂俄文的。陆先生明白了争点，也大发议论，说有美国，怕些什么，英国本来不算数。他们去了，柔嘉埋怨鸿渐。鸿渐道：“这是我的房子，我不欢迎他们来。”柔嘉道：“你这时候坐的椅子，就是他们送的礼。”鸿渐忙站起来，四望椅子沙发全是陆太太送的，就坐在床上，说：“谁教他们送的？退还他们得了。我宁可坐在地板上的。”柔嘉又气又笑道：“这种蛮不讲礼的话，只可以小孩子说，你讲了并不有趣。”男人或女人听异性以“小孩子”相称，无不驯服；柔嘉并非这样称呼鸿渐，可是这三个字的效力已经够了。 遯翁夫妇一天上午也来看布置好的房间。柔嘉到办公室去了，鸿渐常常饭后才上报馆。他母亲先上楼，说：“爸爸在门口，他带给你一件东西，你快下去搬上来——别差女用人，粗手大脚，也许要碰碎玻璃的。”鸿渐忙下去迎接父亲，捧了一只挂在壁上的老式自鸣钟到房里。遯翁问他记得这个钟么，鸿渐摇头。遯翁慨然道：“要你们这一代保护祖物，世传下去，真是梦想了！这只钟不是爷爷买的、挂在老家后厅里的么？”鸿渐记起来了。这是去年春天老二老三回家乡收拾劫余，雇夜航船搬出来的东西之一。遯翁道：“你小的时候，喜欢听这只钟打的声音，爷爷说，等你大了给你——唉，你全不记得了！我上礼拜花钱叫钟表店修理一下，机器全没有坏；东西是从前的结实，现在的钟表哪里有这样经用！”方老太太也说：“我看柔嘉戴的表，那样小，里面的机器都不会全的。”鸿渐笑道：“娘又说外行话了。'麻雀虽小，五脏倶全'；机器当然应有尽有，就是不大牢。”他母亲道：“我是说它不牢。”遯翁挑好挂钟的地点，分付女用人向房东家借梯，看鸿渐上去挂，替钟捏一把汗。梯子搬掉，他端详着壁上的钟，踌躇满志，对儿子说：“其实还可以高一点——让它去罢，别再动它了。这只钟走得非常准，我昨天试过的，每点钟只走慢七分，记好，要走慢七分。”方老太太看了家具说：“这种木器都不牢，家具是要红木的好。多少钱买的？”她听说是柔嘉姑丈送的，便问：“柔嘉家里给她东西没有？”鸿渐撒谎道：“那一间客室兼饭室的器具是她父母买的——”看母亲脸上并不表示满足——“还有灶下的一切用品也是丈人家办的。”方老太太的表情依然不满足，可是鸿渐一时想不起贵重的东西来替丈人家挣面子。方老太太指铁床道：“这明明是你们自己买的，不是她姑母送的。”鸿渐不耐烦道：“床总不能教人家送。”方老太太忽然想起布置新房一半也是婆家的责任，便不说了。遯翁夫妇又问柔嘉每天什么时候回来，平常吃些什么菜，女用人做菜好不好，要多少开销一天，一月要用几担煤球等等。鸿渐大半不能回答，遯翁摇头，老太太说：“全家托一个用人，太粗心大意了。这个李妈靠得住靠不住？”鸿渐道：“她是柔嘉的奶妈，很忠实，不会揩油。”遯翁“哼”一声道：“你这糊涂人，知道什么？”老太太道：“家里没有个女主人总不行的。我要劝柔嘉别去做事了。她一个月会赚多少钱！管管家事，这几个钱从柴米油盐上全省下来了。”鸿渐忍不住说老实话：“她厂里酬报好，赚的钱比我多一倍呢！”二老敌意地静默，老太太觉得儿子偏袒媳妇，老先生觉得儿子坍尽了天下丈夫的台。回家之后，遯翁道：“老大准怕老婆，怎么可以让女人赚的钱比他多！这种丈夫还能振作乾纲么？”方老太太道：“我就不信柔嘉有什么本领，咱们老大留了洋倒不如她！她应当把厂里的事让给老大去做。”遯翁长叹道：“儿子没出息，让他去罢！” 柔嘉回家，刚进房，那只钟表示欢迎，发条唏哩呼噜转了一会，当当打五下。她诧异道：“这是什么地方来的？呀，不对！我表上快六点钟了。”李妈一一报告。柔嘉问：“老太太到灶下去看看没有？”李妈说没有。柔嘉又问她今天买的什么菜，释然道：“这些菜很好，倒没请老太太看看，别以为咱们饿瘦了她的儿子。”李妈道：“我只煎了一块排骨给姑爷吃，留下好几块生的浸在酱油酒里，等一会煎了给你吃晚饭。”柔嘉笑道：“我屡次教你别这样，你改不好的。我怎吃得下那么许多！你应当尽量给姑爷吃，他们男人吃量大，嘴又馋，吃不饱要发脾气的。”李妈道：“可不是么？我的男人老李也——”柔嘉没想到她会把鸿渐跟老李相比，忙截住道：“我知道，从小就听见你讲，端午吃粽子，他把有赤豆的粽子尖儿全吃了，给你吃粽子跟儿，对不对？”李妈补充道：“粽子跟儿大，没煎熟，我吃了生米，肚子胀了好几天呢！”晚上鸿渐回来，说明钟的历史，柔嘉说：“真是方府三代传家之宝——咦，怎么还是七点钟？”鸿渐告诉她每点钟走慢七分钟的事实。柔嘉笑道：“照这样说，恐怕它短针指的七点钟，还是昨天甚至前天的七点钟，要它有什么用？”她又说鸿渐生气的时候，拉长了脸，跟这只钟的轮廓很相像。鸿渐这两天伤风，嗓子给痰塞了，柔嘉拍手道：“我发现你说话以前嗓子里唏哩呼噜，跟它打的时候发条转动的声音非常之像。你是这只钟变出来的妖精。”两人有说有笑，仿佛世界上没有夫妇反目这一回事。 一个星期六下午，二奶奶三奶奶同来作首次拜访。鸿渐在报馆里没回来，柔嘉忙做茶买点心款待，还说：“为什么两个孩子不带来？回头带点糖果回去给他们吃。”三奶奶道：“阿凶吵着要跟我来，我怕他来闯祸，没带他。”二奶奶道：“我对阿凶说，大娘的房子干净，不比在家里可以随地撒尿，大伯伯要打的。”柔嘉不诚实道：“哪里的话！很好带他来。”三奶奶觉得儿子失了面子，报复说：“我们的阿凶是没有灵性的，阿丑比他大不了几岁，就很有心思，别以为他是个孩子！譬如他那一次弄脏了你的衣服，吃了一顿打，从此他记在心里，不敢跟你胡闹。”两人为了儿子暂时分裂，顷刻又合起来，同声羡慕柔嘉小家庭的舒服，说她好福气。三奶奶怨慕地说：“不知道何年何月我们也能够分出来独立门户呢！当然现在住在一起，我也沾了二姐姐不少光。”二奶奶道：“他们方家只有一所房子跟人家交换，我们是轮不到的。”柔嘉忙说：“我也很愿意住在大家庭里，事省，开销省。自开门户有自开门户的麻烦，柴米油盐啦，水电啦，全要自己管。鸿渐又没有二弟三弟能干。”二奶奶道：“对了！我不像三妹，我知道自己是个饭桶，要自开门户开不起来，还是混在大家庭里过糊涂日子罢。像你这样粗粗细细、内内外外全行，又有靠得住的用人，大哥又会赚钱，我们要跟你比，差得太远了。”柔嘉怕她们回去搬嘴，不敢太针锋相对。她们把两间房里的器具细看，问了价钱，同声推尊柔嘉能干精明，会买东西，不过时时穿插说：“我在什么地方也看见这样一张桌子（或椅子），价钱好像便宜些，可惜我没有买。”三奶奶问柔嘉道：“你有没有搁箱子的房间？”柔嘉道：“没有。我的箱子不多，全搁在卧室里。”二奶奶道：“上海的弄堂房子太小，就有搁箱子的房间，也搁不下多少箱子。我嫁到方家的时候新房背后算有个后房，我陪嫁的箱子啦、盆啦、桶啦、桌面啦，怎么也放不下，弄得新房里都搁满了，看了真不痛快。”三奶奶道：“我还不是跟你一样？死日本人把我们这些东西全抢光，想起来真伤心！现在要一件没一件，都要重新买。我的皮衣服就七八套呢，从珍珠皮旗袍到灰背外套都全的，现在自己倒没得穿！”二奶奶也开了自己嫁妆的虚账，还说：“倒是大姐姐这样好。外国在打仗啦，上海还不知道怎样呢！说不定咱们再逃一次难。东西多了，到时候带又带不走，丢了又舍不得。三妹，你还有点东西，我是什么都没有，走个光身，倒也干脆，哈哈！咱们该回去了。”柔嘉才明白她们俩来调查自己陪嫁的，气愤得晚饭都没胃口吃。 鸿渐回家，瞧她爱理不理，打趣她道：“今天在办公室碰了姑母的钉子，是不是？”她翻脸道：“我正发火呢，开什么玩笑！我家里一切人对我好好的，只有你们家里的人上门来给我气受。”鸿渐发慌，想莫非母亲来教训她一顿，上次母亲讲的话，自己都瞒她的，忙说：“谁呢？”柔嘉道：“还有谁！你那两位宝贝弟媳妇。”鸿渐连说“讨厌！”放了心。柔嘉道：“这是你的房子，你家的人当然可以直出直进，我一点主权没有的。我又不是你家里的人，没撵走就算运气了。”鸿渐拍她头道：“旧话别再提了。那句话算我说错。你告诉我，她们怎样欺负你。我看你也利害得很，是不是一个人打不过她们两个人？”柔嘉道：“我利害？没有你方家的人利害！全是三头六臂，比人家多个心，心里多几个窍，肠子都打结的。我睡着做梦给她们杀了，煮了，吃了，我梦还不醒呢。”鸿渐笑道：“何至于此！不过你睡得是死，我报馆回来迟一点，叫你都叫不醒的。”柔嘉板脸道：“你扯淡，我就不理你。”鸿渐道歉，问清楚了缘故，发狠道：“假如我那时候在家，我真要不客气揭破她们。她们有什么东西陪过来，对你吹牛！”柔嘉道：“这倒不能冤枉她们，她们嫁过来，你已经出洋了，你又没瞧见她们的排场。”鸿渐道：“我虽然当时不在场，她们的家境我很熟悉。老二的丈人家尤其穷，我在大学的时候，就想送女儿过门，倒是父亲反对早婚，这事谈了一阵，又一搁好几年。”柔嘉叹气道：“也算我倒霉！现在逼得和她们这种人姐妹相称，还要受她们的作践。她们看了家具，话里隐隐然咱们买贵了；她们一对能干奶奶，又对我关切，为什么不早来帮我买呀！”鸿渐急问：“那一间的器具你也说是买的没有？”柔嘉道：“我说了，为什么？”鸿渐拍自己的后脑道：“糟糕！糟透了！我懊悔那天没告诉你。”就把方老太太问丈人家送些什么的事说出来。柔嘉也跳脚道：“你为什么不早说？我还有脸到你家去做人么！她们回去准一五一十搬嘴对是非，连姑母送的家具都以为是咱们自己买的。你这人太糊涂，撒了谎当然也应该跟我打个招呼。从结婚那一回事起，你总喜欢自作聪明，结果无不弄巧成拙。”鸿渐自知理屈，又不服骂，申辩说：“我撒这个谎也出于好意。我后来没告诉你，是怕你知道了生气。”柔嘉道：“不错，我知道了很生气。谢谢你一片好意，撒谎替我娘家挣面子。你应当老实对你妈说，这是我预支了厂里的薪水买的。我们孙家穷，嫁女儿没有什么东西给她；你们方家为儿子娶媳妇花了聘金没有？给了儿子媳妇东西没有？吓，这两间房子，还是咱们出租金的——哦，我忘了，还有这只钟——”她瞧鸿渐的脸拉长，给他一面镜子——“你自己瞧瞧，不像钟么？我一点没有说错。”鸿渐忍不住笑了。 这许多不如意的小事使柔嘉怕到婆家去。她常慨叹说：“咱们还没跟他们住在一起，已经惹了多少口舌。要过大家庭生活，需要训练的。只要看你两位弟妇训练得多少头尖、眼快——嘴利，我真斗不过她们，也没有心思跟她们斗，让她们去做孝顺媳妇罢。我只奇怪，你是在大家庭里长大的，怎么家里这种诡计暗算，全不知道？”鸿渐道：“这些事没结婚的男人不会知道，要结了婚，眼睛才张开。我有时想，家里真跟三闾大学一样是个是非窝，假使我结了婚几年然后到三闾大学去，也许训练有素，感觉灵敏些，不至于给人家暗算了。”柔嘉忙说：“这些话说它干吗？假如你早结了婚，我也不会嫁给你了——除非你娶了我懊悔。”鸿渐心境不好，没情绪来迎合柔嘉，只自言自语道：“School for scandal，全是School for scandal，家庭罢，学校罢，彼此彼此。” 他们俩虽然把家里当作“造谣学校”，逃学可不容易。遯翁那天带钟来，交给儿子一张祖先忌辰单，表示这几天家祭，儿子媳妇都该回去参加行礼。柔嘉看见了就撅嘴。亏得她有办公做借口，中饭时不能赶回来。可是有几天忌辰刚是星期日，她要想故意忘掉，遯翁会分付二奶奶或三奶奶打电话到房东家里来请。尤其可厌的是，方家每来个亲戚，偶尔说起没看见过大奶奶，遯翁夫妇就立刻打电话招柔嘉去，不论是下午六点钟她刚从办公室回家，或者星期六她要出去玩儿，或者星期天她要到姑母家或娘家去。死祖宗加上活亲戚，弄得柔嘉疲于奔命，常怨鸿渐说：“你们方家真是世家，有那许多祖宗！为什么不连皇帝的生日死日都算在里面？”“你们方家真是大家！有了这许多亲戚有什么用？”她敷衍过几次以后，顾不得了，叫李妈去接电话，说她不在家。不肯去了四五回，渐渐内怯不敢去，怕看他们的嘴脸。鸿渐同情太太，而又不敢得罪父母，只好一个人回家。不过家里人的神情，仿佛怪他不“女起解”似的押了柔嘉来。他交不出人，也推三托四，不肯常回家。 假使“中心为忠”那句唐宋相传的定义没有错，李妈忠得不忠，因为她偏心。鸿渐叫她做的事，她常要先请柔嘉核准。譬如鸿渐叫她买青菜，她就说：“小姐爱吃菠菜的，我要先问问她。”柔嘉当然分付她照鸿渐的意思去办。鸿渐对她说：“天气冷了，我的夹衣服不会再穿了。今天太阳好，你替我拿出去晒一晒，回头给小姐收起来。”她坚持说，柔嘉的夹衣服还没有收起来，他不必急，天气会回暖的，等柔嘉晒衣服时一起晒。柔嘉已经出门，他没法使李妈了解年轻女人穿衣服跟男人不同，只要外套换厚的，夹衣服可以穿入冬季。李妈反说：“姑爷，晒衣服是娘儿们的事，您不用管。小姐大清早就出去办事了，您为什么不出去？这时候出去，晚上早点回来，不好么？”诸如此类，使他又好气又好笑。笑时称她为“李老太太”或者“Her Majesty”，气时恨不能请她走。夫妇俩吵架，给她听见了，脸便绷得跟两位主人一样紧，正眼不瞧鸿渐，给他东西也只是一搡。他事后对柔嘉叽咕道：“这不像话！你们一主一仆连结起来，会把我虐待死的。”柔嘉笑道：“我劝过她好几次了，她要帮我，我有什么办法？她说女人全吃丈夫的亏，她自己吃老李的亏——吃生米粽子。不过，我在你家里孤掌难鸣，现在也教你尝尝味道。” 柔嘉的父亲跟女婿客气得疏远，她兄弟发现姐夫武不能踢足球、打网球，文不能修无线电、开汽车，也觉得姐姐嫁错了人。鸿渐勉尽半子之职，偶到孙家一去。幸而柔嘉不常回娘家，只三天两天到姑母家去玩。搬进新居一个多月以后，鸿渐夫妇上陆家吃饭。两人吃完临走，陆太太生硬地笑道：“鸿渐，我要讨你厌，劝你一句话，你以后不许欺负柔嘉——”仿佛本国话力量不够，她订外交条约似的，来个华洋两份——“你再bully她，我不答应的。”鸿渐先听她有“讨厌话”相劝，早像箭猪碰见仇敌，毛根根竖直，到她说完，倒不明白她的意思，正想发问，柔嘉忙说：“Auntie，他对我很好，谁说他欺负我，我也不是好欺的。”陆太太道：“鸿渐，你听听柔嘉多好，她还回护你呢！”鸿渐气冲冲道：“你怎么知道我欺负她？我——”柔嘉拉他道：“快走！快走！时间不早，电影要开场了。Auntie跟你说着玩儿的。”鸿渐出了门，说：“我没有心思看电影，你一个人去罢。”柔嘉道：“咦！我又没有得罪你。你总相信我不会告诉她什么话。”鸿渐炸了：“我所以不愿意跟你到陆家去。在自己家里吃了亏不够，还要挨上门去受人家教训！我欺负你！哼，我不给你什么姑母奶妈欺负死，就算长寿了！倒说我方家的人难说话呢！你们孙家的人从上到下全像那只混帐王八蛋的哈巴狗。我名气反正坏透了，今天索性欺负你一下，我走我的路，你去你的，看电影也好，回娘家也好！”把柔嘉勾住的手都推脱了。柔嘉本来不看电影无所谓，但丈夫言动粗鲁，甚至不顾生物学上的可能性，把狗作为甲壳类来比自己家里的人，她也生气了；在街上不好吵，便说：“我一个人去看电影，有什么不好？不希罕你陪。”头一扭，撇下丈夫，独自过街到电车站去了。鸿渐一人站着，怅然若失，望柔嘉的背影在隔街人丛里出没，异常纤弱，不知哪儿来的怜惜和保护之心，也就赶过去。柔嘉正走，肩上有人一拍，吓得直跳，回头瞧是鸿渐，惊喜交集，说：“你怎么也来了？”鸿渐道：“我怕你跟人跑了，所以来监视你。”柔嘉笑道：“照你这样会吵，总有一天吵得我跑了，可是我决不跟人跑，受了你的气不够么？还要找男人，我真傻死了。”鸿渐道：“今天我不认错的，是你姑母冤枉我。”柔嘉道：“好，算我家里的人冤屈了你，我向你赔罪。今天电影我请客。”鸿渐两手到外套背心和裤子的大小口袋里去掏钱，柔嘉笑他道：“电车快来了，你别在街上捉虱。有了皮夹