Chapter 5 Old Tragedy in a New Age-1

one "Old man!" Chen Lianbo knelt on the brocade cushion, his voice trembling, he wanted to raise his head to see his father, but he couldn't; he lowered his head, rested his hands on the corner of the cushion, half-closed his eyes, and continued: "Son again. I respect you for a small business!" After saying this, he calmed down a little, but he couldn't think of anything else, a kind of vague calm, like listening to the distant wind on an autumn night, helplessly Excitement, calm, emotion and emotional agitation all melt together in one place, and I don't know what to do.His arms seemed a little numb, and he could no longer kneel there blankly; he had no choice but to kowtow.After kowtowing three, maybe four times, he felt much more comfortable, as if he had regained all his strength, and he dared to look up at his father.

In his eyes, his father is a god, a god who is directly related to him; when he pays homage to Confucius, Master Guan, and other gods, he feels a kind of solemnity and awe, or a kind of perfunctory The mood of getting things done.Only when kowtowing to his father did he feel that awe and enthusiasm were united, and he must not be perfunctory.He seemed to feel that his father's blood was on him, making him as innocent as a newborn baby. At the same time, he felt that he had the ability to repay his father's kindness, to make the flesh and blood his father gave him more honorable, and to serve Chen. The future of the family will open up a smoother, more fragrant and hot blood path; he is the joint connecting the previous and the next, he is worthy of the ancestors, and will definitely be admired by the younger generations!

He glanced at his father, feeling a little more fulfilled in his heart. With a push of his right hand, he stood up briskly, and his whole body seemed to have gained some special strength.Mr. Chen——Chen Hongdao,—still sat on the mahogany chair, smiled and glanced at his son, and said nothing; the eyes of the father and son had already poured out everything in their hearts, so there was no need to say anything what.Mr. Chen is still sitting there, partly to reminisce about his son’s filial piety, and partly to wait for others to come in and congratulate him—every time Lianbo respectfully gives the old man a house, a piece of land, or—like this time ——For a business transaction, Lianbo always kowtows to his father in the main room first, and then the whole family comes in to congratulate him one by one.

Mr. Chen's face is red and spread out, his long eyebrows and beard are still very black, but his hair is a little white.Big eyes, because of old age, half-round meat pockets are loosely drawn under the eyelids; there are some gray-red horizontal stripes on the pockets, which are quite majestic.The nose is not high, but broad, with flared nostrils, and tall.The hands and feet are very large; sitting there with hands on the knees, the back is still straight, like a hill: solemn, tough, and proud. Lian Bo stood beside his father, with his mouth slightly open, staring blankly at his father's forbidding and lovely silhouette.He himself has only the stature of an old gentleman, but not that kind of bearing.He is slender, with a snake waist, and whenever he walks fast, he feels a little hairy.He also looked like the old man, but his face was not so red; although he was nearly forty years old, he didn't have much stubble on his face; he only envied his father's long beard.Standing next to his father, he vaguely felt the little fear that often attacked him.He is always afraid that his father will have a high mountain and a long river, and he will not be able to hold back his property and career.Judging from his demeanor and appearance, he seems to feel that the Chen family has reached his generation, as if the wine with the right water no longer has such a strong taste.In other respects, he may be stronger than his father, but he lacks the power and self-confidence.His father is his backbone, like a living fairy, who can secretly protect him.With his father alive, he seemed to dare to take risks, to arrest money whenever he saw it, to make enemies with people, and to commit murder.Whenever he encountered difficulties and hesitated, he would go home for a while.His father's red face and long beard gave him courage and determination; he didn't need to discuss anything with his father, just looking at his father's red face was enough.Now, he dedicates the property he just bought to his father, and his father's blessing can overwhelm everything; even if the origin of the property is somewhat unclear, it will be suppressed by his filial piety and his father's blessing.

The first one who came in to congratulate him was Lianbo's eldest son, Dacheng, an eleven-year-old boy with a big head and a loud voice, a bit silly because he took too much cold medicine when he was a child.When the old man saw his grandson coming in, he wanted to stand up and hold his little hand, but then he thought it was inconvenient for everyone to get out of the mahogany chair right away. "Dacheng," the old man called loudly, "what are you doing here?" Dacheng touched his nose and looked around: "Mom told me to come in, tell me, tell me..." The foolish boy lowered his head to look Brocade cushions on the floor.Immediately bent down to touch the velvet rope around the cushion, as if forgetting everything else.

Old Mr. Chen smiled slightly, glanced at Lian Bo, "Blessed are you idiots!" He nodded again and again.Lianbo also laughed along with him. Lian Zhong - the old man's second son - walked in gently.He was only in his twenties, he was very tall, with a red face and a fat face, he looked a lot like Mr. Chen, but his behavior was obviously clumsy, without the grandeur and status of the old man. Before the second son could open his mouth, the old gentleman put away the smile on his face.Called: "Lian Zhong!" Lian Zhong's fat face turned from red to purple, he didn't know what to do, he avoided Lian Bo with his eyes. "Lian Zhong!" The old man called out again. "A gentleman is not worried about poverty. You don't need to see your brother's filial piety. You don't feel uneasy. No need! The family of goodness has its own blessings. Your brother's success is not so much his ability, but our Chen family's past. The good fruits accumulated by generations. The inheritance is not easy to come by, but it is even more difficult to keep it. The news here,” the old man slowly shook his head, “it’s hard to say! I look forward to you; it is the way of humanity to become famous, to show off relatives and to be famous. Although blessings come from heaven, it is inconvenient to force them, but that husband is also my husband, and anyone who is capable can do so. I don’t ask you to develop like your brother, you Your talent is not as good as his, and you are spoiled by your mother; I only ask you to behave in a good manner and help your father and brother to keep their business, if you can’t create your own. Your brother has honored me with a little property today. It’s nothing, I don’t like it because of this—this bit of property—but I do like it, and what I like is his filial piety.” The old gentleman suddenly glanced at his grandson: “Dacheng, tell your sister to go!”

Lian Zhong's fat face was covered with sweat, and he didn't know what to do. While his father was talking to Da Cheng, he slowly turned behind the old man to look at a landscape painting hanging on the wall.Before Dacheng said whether he understood his grandfather's words, his mother had already brought his younger sister in.Women have no value in Mr. Chen's heart, and Mrs. Lianbo has probably already stood outside the door, waiting to be summoned. Mrs. Lianbo is about thirty-four or fifteen years old, and she looks pretty.Go back ten years, she must be a beautiful little daughter-in-law.It's not ugly now, her skin is very thin, but her white fat has buried her youth, she's just Futai, without the allure of beauty.In the midst of stability, she looked a little restless, her eyes secretly and unstoppably looking around.There is always a little smile on the fat face; it seems to be apologizing to someone, and it seems to be masturbating, just like a middle-aged housewife with a good temper and little ability.As soon as she entered the door, Mr. Chen stood up, as if the ceremony of hearing had come to an end.

"Grandpa is overjoyed!" Mrs. Lianbo smiled unnaturally, she didn't dare to look at her father-in-law, but she didn't know what to look at. "What's exciting! What's exciting!" Mr. Chen didn't get angry, and there was no smile on his face, like a talking machine talking there, without emotion at all. Father-in-law must speak like this to his daughter-in-law, He seemed to be saying that. "It's a woman's responsibility to take care of her husband and raise her children well; just don't be lazy because of being rich, your mother's family is not very rich, hey, hey..." The old man seemed unwilling to get to the bottom of his words, so as not to make his daughter-in-law too Embarrassed.

Mrs. Lianbo's fat face was about to turn red, but she put on a boring smile again, and pulled her little daughter, meaning to tell her to go to her grandfather.The grandfather looked at his granddaughter out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't want to greet her.Daughters are all goods that accompany money. The old man doesn't want to favor his grandson, but he can't help but refuse to love his granddaughter more. The old man took a few steps in the room, and every step he put on the ground with extremely firm feet, striding forward.His whole body was cast in the full-length mirror, he paused for a while, and looked at himself.Then he turned around and smiled at the eldest son. "Old Feng Tangyi, Li Guang is hard to seal! Talent is hard, talent is hard; but it is especially hard to know people and cherish talents! I am over sixty..." The old man shook his head in the mirror for a long time. "Unrecognized talents, nothing can be achieved..." He twisted the tip of his beard and looked at his face in the mirror.

The old gentleman couldn't help loving his face.He is a literati, but has a military minister.He has the benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom that all literati should have, and the will to guard the Tao, but there are still some things that literati dare not expect. He compares himself to Yue Wumu.He is, as he described it himself, a literati with a red face and long beard who chanted "The Great River is Going East".He looked down on ordinary white-faced scholars.Only he, with both civil and military skills, can take up the responsibility of Yijiao to love the people.He is confident that his knowledge and physique are beyond human, he knows everything, and he knows the deepest and best.It's a pity that he is only an alternate magistrate and has never filled the real vacancy.Therefore, on the one hand, he thought that his lack of recognition for his talents was a great loss to the world; on the other hand, he really liked his eldest son—artistic economics. His own articles could undoubtedly be handed down to the world, but he had to leave the financial aspect to his son.

Lian Bo is now the Chief Detective, so he can get some money very well.Mr. Chen doesn't like "Detective Chief", but the Chief Detective has the hope of being promoted to the Chief of the Public Security Bureau. The Chief of Public Security is almost the original Nine-door Admiral Zhengtang, so the Chief Detective can be counted as... at least a third-rank military officer. .Since the revolution, official titles have often been unknown, so we have to admit that officials are officials. Although some are out of elegance, there is no way to correct them.What's more, officials are always "studied and become officials", and the name and title are different, but the truth is the same forever.The knowledge in the old man's heart is always associated with being an official, just as morality is always inseparable from interests.Since the son is an official, can make money, and is a dutiful son, the old man cannot be dissatisfied.Only when he thinks about his poor official luck, he is a little bit jealous of his son, but this kind of complaint just happens to be a good material for poetry, so writing one or two verses or quatrains is just sad but not sad. The old man walked around the house twice more, and his grief gradually dissipated. "Lianbo, who is coming to dinner tonight?" "Just a few close friends." Lian Bo replied with a smile. "I don't like people coming to congratulate me!" The old man frowned a little. "Our prosperity is the good fruit of father's kindness and son's filial piety; it is a good fruit, how can they understand..." "Acquainted friends, the chief of the police station, and Director Wang..." Lian Bo refused to name each one of them. He knew that the old man's temper was sometimes a little weird.The old man said nothing more.After a while: "Don't ask Chen Shou to prepare it. Order a few dishes outside, and then Chen Shou prepares a few. Obviously, it is not too ugly, but it tastes like a common meal." The old man's eyes lit up, showing Looking happy, this kind of hospitality plan, in his view, is also part of the "economy". "Then the old man can think of some dishes; would you like to have a drink with us?" "Okay, I'll tell Chen Shou; of course I will come out to accompany you; Lian Zhong, you should come back earlier!" two A slanting moon hangs on the ridge of the west room of Chen's house, and a gust of wind sends the sound of the courtyard and the scent of sweet-scented osmanthus far away.There were three cars at the gate, and the three wolf dogs of the Chen residence were all lying on their stomachs facing the big nose of the car. Even the cars and the dogs were silent, listening to the laughter in the courtyard.The courtyard was very lively: three chauffeurs in the south room of the outer courtyard, the armed guard of the chief of public security, and Chen Lianbo's own detective were pushing Pai Gow.In the inner courtyard, we haven't finished dinner yet.Lian Bo did not invite guests formally, but casually invited the director of the Public Security Bureau, the Director of the Sanitation Department, the Secretary of the Municipal Government, and their wives to have fun; naturally, they all knew that Lian Bo had bought another property, but It only implied the meaning of congratulations, and did not give gifts, so I was embarrassed to ask for a formal treat.The dish was made by Chen Shou, and Mr. Chen ordered a few outside. The most proud one was the osmanthus wings - although it is an old dish, it is so in season.Chen Shou's cooking was good, and the guests were very satisfied with the meal; although Mr. Chen kept calling him an asshole.The old man's mouth can be very elegant or very wild, it depends on who he is talking to. The old man drank a lot of wine, and the meat bags under his eyelids were completely purple; every time he drank a cup, he slowly stroked his beard with his big hand, and looked at the guests as if he were reviewing an army. "The old man is huge!" Everyone couldn't stop praising. "Where is it!" The old man was very proud of himself, but tried not to show it.He seems to know that falsehood is another name for self-cultivation.But he is not exactly a weak scholar, he is both civil and military, so he has to express some boldness: "A few cups can be dealt with, haha! Please, please!" He drank another cup.Everyone seemed a little afraid of him.They may have richer or more famous fathers, but they couldn't help admiring Mr. Chen's grandeur and majesty.They could see that if their status were lower, Mr. Chen would definitely not come out to drink with them.They understand, and they often use, this false way of socializing, but they still can't help but admire the old man for using it vividly, and expressing all the sets that Confucianists, poets, celebrities, and generals should have, as if acting Lively and atmospheric. After the meal was removed, Chen Fulai set up the card table.Mr. Chen doesn't play cards, and he also opposes others playing cards.But Lian Bo had to entertain, so he couldn't interfere.Seeing that the card table was set up, he closed his eyes for a while, as if putting his eyeballs in a meat bag to rest.Then, he let out a long yawn.Lian Bo hurriedly asked with a smile, "If the old man—" Mr. Chen opened his eyes and shed a pair of big tears. He looked at everyone with a slight smile on his cheeks. "Don't the old man play two laps? Two laps?" the guests asked. "I'm old, I can't do anything!" The old man smiled and shook his head, as if full of emotion.After sitting for a while, he wiped his beard with his big hand, smacked his lips twice, and slowly stood up: "I won't accompany you anymore. Chen Fu, pour tea!" He bowed slightly to everyone, straightened up immediately, Pulling away the square steps, he walked out like a memorial archway. Men and women are divided into groups: the men are in the east room, and the women are in the west room.Lianbo and his younger brother fought together, and let the younger brother fight first. When the cards reached the eighth round, Chen Fu and Liu Ma went to the east and west houses to deliver snacks.Lian Bo let everyone eat, everyone looked at the cards and nodded to the front.After Lianbo gave way again, everyone touched the snacks with their hands, and their eyes were completely on the cards.The director of the health department forgot about hygiene, and the director of the secretary of the municipal government almost put a bargaining chip in his mouth.Lian Zhong didn't eat, his eyes were fixed on the useless white board in front of him that he didn't dare to type out, wishing he could use his eyesight to carve the white board into a cylinder or 40,000 pieces. Lian Zhong refused to let go of the whiteboard no matter what.The Chief of Public Security has such a pair of treasures in his hands.When Lianbo gave out snacks, he looked at everyone's cards and deliberately gave his younger brother a signal to let go of that valuable thing, because the chief of public security had already lost a lot.Telling the younger brother to win a few dollars less, but to please the director, it may not be worthwhile.However, what if the bureau chief got a card and got lucky?Gambling is gambling, there is no humility.He did not inform his brother.If it was just a matter of one card, he might not be so ruthless.Call the bureau chief to please the bureau chief, bureau chief, bureau chief, he refuses to accept this softness.Here, he is confident that he has learned some lessons from his father: entertainment is a means, and going forward is the spirit of the Chen family; he himself will not only be the chief of the public security bureau in the future, but now he can and should be the chief of the public security bureau.He couldn't back down, he didn't look at the bureau chief who had a pair of white boards in his hand, the card in his younger brother's hand couldn't be given as a gift. After only touching two hands, the director touched the whiteboard and made a deal.Lian Zhong pushed the cards away and smiled at his brother.Lianbo's eyes stared back at his younger brother's smile.Since the director took out the whiteboard and turned the limelight, he immediately had a gossip: "Director, I'll give you a sanitation card to eat!"However, after eight laps, everyone stood up. "Come on!" Lian Bo invited everyone to sit down, "It's very early!" The director of the health department wanted to go to sleep to pay attention to hygiene, but he also wanted to take revenge. The director's health cards made him breathless.What about going to bed early and going to bed late? Is the director of health not a human being, so he is not allowed to use some emotions?He convinced himself. The Secretary-General was being modest, purely for the sake of being modest, he didn't want to pick the leader to continue the fight, and it was inconvenient to call for an end to the game, but only said that he didn't play well. Just waiting for the director's order. "Okay, come again; Lianbo hasn't fought yet!" Everyone sat down belatedly, feeling quite anxious.Lian Zhong didn't dare to sit still, his eyes were fixed on his brother, his heart was beating.While keeping his eyes on his brother, he played with the dice, hoping that Lianbo would give it back to him—even if it was just another turn.Lian Bo decided to end, and Lian Zhong picked himself up very slowly like a camel that was forced to get up.No one even said "come from five families, dreaming,"!His face burned, and no one noticed.He hated this group of people, especially his brother.But he couldn't bear to go away.If you can't play cards, it's more or less fun to watch.He sat next to Liambo.After watching it twice, his eggplant color slowly faded, leaving only two small red and round plasters on the cheekbones, which is silly and beautiful. From the ninth lap onwards, everyone's voices and cards sounded twice as high as before.Manners, culture, status, education, all seem to no longer have anything to do with them, or have never had anything to do with them.The quieter the night and the less people there, the rougher they are, and they put all their attention on the adjustment of the cards.They demanded the smallest chip in the roughest of tones.They lost that gentle smile on their faces, and there was a glint in their eyes, looking at other people's hands to cover up their mood changes.Their lips were scorched by cigarettes, their noses were beaded with cold sweat, and their bodies reeked of dampness. In the west room, the voices of the ladies were not lower than those in the east room, and they were very sharp.But they played a bit slower, the ninth round of Dongjian started, and their eighth round was not finished yet.The fault was Mrs Limber.Obviously, the bureau chief's wives didn't like to fight with her very much, and she herself didn't seem very enthusiastic about coming.But without her, it would be impossible to win the game. Everyone can't, and she can't either.She typed slowly, calculated and slow, and she had to smile so apologetically, boredly, and helplessly every time she typed a sheet. Everyone only looked at her sheets, not her smile; Smelly: Those who can eat don't appreciate her, and those who can't eat blame her.She didn't dare to lose her temper, and she didn't lose her temper very much. She just felt very uncomfortable, and she murmured in her heart, lest her husband come to check on her——if she beat her badly, she would embarrass him.Those three are all brand oil.Mrs. Limber did not care much about their game of cards, but she envied them the favor of their husbands because of their game.The bureau chief's wife is the second wife, but she already has status by playing cards, and she openly despises Mrs. Lianbo. After eight laps, Mrs. Liambo breathed a sigh of relief, but dared not say that she did not want to suffer further.Liu Ma came in to serve tea, she suddenly remembered, and smiled fatly: "Liu Ma, where is Second Master?" The bureau chief's wives knew that Lian Zhong was powerful, but they had no objection to him taking the place of his sister-in-law; if they wanted to play, they could have fun, and they were a bit richer than men when they gambled.As soon as Lian Zhong sat down, it seemed to bring a spring breeze, and everyone was much happier.Everyone has become more energetic, but they are also uglier. No one cares about the degree of smudges on their faces; the most beautiful second wife of the bureau chief also has patches of yellow and white on her face, a bit like wallpaper on a cloudy day.There was a foul smell of dampness in the house. Mrs. Lianbo felt much better, but she couldn't escape immediately.She knew what her duty was, a duty so embarrassing, so unnatural, and unadmired and unappreciated.She was sitting next to the wife of the head of sanitation, with her hands on her knees, smiling at the corner of the table.She felt that she was nothing but Mrs. Lianbo, these four words bound her there. Lian Zhong is very proud. "Gambling" is where his genius lies. When it comes to playing cards, pushing Pai Gow, playing chess, and drawing lots, he is not only proficient, but also has some tricks in his hands.In addition, no matter how hard he learns, he can't learn it; gambling, he can understand it at a glance.This made him never get angry at home, but outside, many people looked up to him and regarded him as a leader.He hated Mr. Chen and Lianbo, especially when Mr. Chen said "it's your mother who spoiled you".He loves his mother, if his mother is still alive, he will never be bullied so much by them, he always thinks so.His mother is dead, so he can only get close to his sister-in-law. The older sister-in-law is better than his mother, and he respects and loves her very much.Therefore, Mr. Chen didn't like him even more. All the men in the Chen family looked down on women, with the exception of Lian Zhong, who was worthless. Every time he plays a playful card, he must look at his sister-in-law, just like a child playing tricks and asking adults to praise him.Sometimes he even invites his sister-in-law to look at his cards, although he knows that his sister-in-law doesn't know much about cards.Doing this made him feel at ease. The sister-in-law's smile clearly showed that she respected the second master's skills and abilities. In the eyes of the sister-in-law, he was the "second master", not the Chen family's "tired". three It's almost dawn.The cool wind blows briskly under the clouds that cannot see a certain color, blowing away the cinnamon in the courtyard and bringing the sound of dogs in the distance.Although the wind is cool, the air is somewhat damp, and the grass blades are covered with pearls that have not yet shined.The sound of insects can be heard everywhere under the wall, urgent and sad.The Chen family's game of cards was over, and everyone wiped the greasy face with hot towels sprayed with perfume, and then lit cigarettes again, burning their numb tongues, as if to drive away the soreness inside.Everyone was reluctant to leave the poker table.But he no longer talked about the process of playing cards, but casually talked about gossip, and he talked very politely, as if he had restored a lot of manners and culture; Mrs. Lianbo's status suddenly increased at dawn, and everyone thought of it. her child, and diligently inquired.Both Chen Fu and Liu Ma brought chicken soup noodles into the room with red eyes. Everyone was polite, and then swallowed with their eyes closed. The mouth was moving, but the head was heavy, and everyone stopped talking.The second time a hot towel was handed over, everyone stretched the muscles on their faces, gritted their teeth and yawned back. "Is the chief tired?" Lian Bo shook off the confusion in his heart with great strength. "Wow! How tired!" The chief covered his neck with a hot towel. "Mrs. Chen, it's time to take a rest, we are too impolite!" The chief of health's palms were a little hot, and he was vaguely planning to go home and take some medicine.Mrs. Limber smiled without saying anything. The director stood up, and everyone started to move, all ready to say "thank you".The director said; followed by "thank you" like a string of beads.Chen Fu ran out quickly, the horns of the car outside the door blared, three wolf dogs were biting happily, and all the wild dogs and dogs on the street responded unanimously.Everyone is still very polite, passing through a door once, talking a lot and with a loud voice.The host must have asked Chen Fu to find a sweater, and he must have said that the weather was very cold; the guests must have said it was not cold, but they were all shivering slightly.The sweater was still not brought, the door of the car was locked, and there was another blast of horns, and the butts of red cigarettes in everyone's hands were bouncing up and down, "Thank you!"Chen Fu shouted "dog" at the top of his voice.The door was shut like thunder and bolted.There were a few long and feeble yawns in the courtyard, a burst of sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance, and few stars left in the sky. The water droplets on the blades of grass had just turned white when Mr. Chen got up.Going to bed early and getting up early, working hard and thrift to build a family, he followed the old way.The surrounding area is very quiet, only his own voice can be heard far away, he slams the door, coughs, scolds the dog, recites poems... the quieter the surrounding area is, the more he loves to listen to his own voice, he is the morning bell to warn the world. Mr. Chen's poems were almost read, and Dacheng—because he didn't eat a good dinner—was up and complained that he was hungry.The old man cared most about the child, and called Chen Shou loudly, trying to cure Dacheng's hunger first.Chen Shou hadn't slept all night, but when he heard the old master calling him, he didn't dare to delay for another second.He stayed up all night, but he got the "boss's money"; he knew that this sentence was waiting for him on the lips of the old master, so he didn't have to feel uncomfortable.He was dazed to prepare food for the little master, and pretended not to be sleepy, walked very fast, and also very confused. Hearing that his grandson stopped yelling, the old gentleman continued to read poems with peace of mind.There is nothing better in the world than the sound of children crying and laughing and reading. The Chen family always has these two sounds, and the old man can't help but feel happy. After Chen Shou fed the little master, he still didn't dare to go to sleep, and walked back and forth outside the old master's house without making a sound!He was afraid that it would be difficult to open his eyes again once he lay down.Hearing the voice of the old master's poem change, he brought in the fragrant tea and snacks.When he came out, he hand-fed the dog, then ran gently into his own room, and closed his eyes. Mr. Chen had snacks and went to the courtyard to look at the flowers and plants.He doesn't like flowers, but whenever he encounters them, he can't help but look at them, and sooner or later he must look for them in his own home, because the poems often describe flowers, plants, frost and dew, he can't love flowers, but he can't express himself Do not understand poetry.The rising sun in autumn illuminated the dewy leaves with golden beads. He felt that he should compose a poem to vent his grievances.But in his heart, in fact, he was very comfortable and happy, and he was thinking about the newly bought shop.There is no way to start a poem.Complaints cannot be removed, whether there is poetry or not.One cannot be considered a Confucian scholar, poet, or celebrity without complaints.Yes, he felt that his 60s were wasted, full of articles, without any use. "If you don't know the master and give up!" I can't remember the whole sentence.Old Du, Xiangshan, Dongpo...all served as officials; Rao was so complaining and depressed when he was an official, besides, Mr. Chen was ashamed and empty.He remembered the deal.His son honored the property that was given to him. It was real, and it had to be managed with care. He decided to go to the shop to have a look.He despises business, but he has to take care of it for his son. Besides, "Tao" exists everywhere.Zigong is also a sage!Books must be read alive, not a bookworm.He starts changing clothes.Just after changing his shoes, Feng Youcai, Lianbo's own detective and the concierge of the Chen family, came in to ask for instructions: "Old sir," Feng Youcai - in his forties, with a mouth like a catfish - said in a low voice, "Well, they Here, what, two envelopes." "Why did you tell me?" The old man's eyes widened. "It's not that, is Mr. Da still sleeping?" Catfish mouth tried to smile: "I'm not good, I dare not disturb him, so—" Mr. Chen was embarrassed to think about it, but he came up with a proper idea: "They won't leave until dawn, I know!" He took a breath. "You can accept it first, and turn it over to the uncle: I don't care, I don't care!" Walked over, took the poem in his hand, and didn't look at Feng Youcai. Feng Youcai seemed to have slipped through the holes in the fishing net, and walked away without wiping the ground.The old gentleman put down the poem again, and glanced at it: "When the cool wind blows and the end of the day, what is the meaning of a gentleman?!" Passing through the county magistrate, I dare not even accept a letter; Feng Youcai, bastard, must laugh at me!Sending seals has existed since ancient times, but when should it be sent?Shouldn't we just say "send the letter" directly like the postman?Can't tell, ashamed!The article is economical, I am inexperienced, empty-"What do you mean!" I looked in the mirror and said: "When you raise a clumsy sword, you are full of elk!" Take a closer look at the old eyes in the mirror. Is there any teardrops? Temperament, there are those who cannot be reached!After changing his clothes, the old man was about to go to the shop when Feng Youcai came in again: "Old man, what, I forgot to reply just now: Chairman Qian sent someone to deliver a message, please go over and talk about it today." "when?" "The sooner the better." The old gentleman closed his big eyes, and Feng Youcai withdrew.The old man turned his eyes and recollected the divine power of closing his eyes just now, and he began to feel that life is not empty, and closing his eyes is also effective; if he is an "important minister", how much value should this closing of his eyes have?It's a pity that it's only used on that bastard Feng Youcai; useless!After all, life is still not fulfilling, Confucianism has no king in three months... He decided to visit Chairman Qian first.I didn't take a car, so I moved my legs and feet.The breeze slanted the long beard, and when it touched some sunlight, golden flowers shone on the tip of the beard.He put up the airs, and gradually forgot that it was his own body walking on the street, but a huge and extremely beautiful mirror frame, driven by some kind of spirit and Taoism, demonstrating for everyone on the street——mirror frame Among them is a living sage.As he walked, he felt a little uncomfortable: Do you know if the two letters contained a check or cash?Leave it to that bastard Feng Youcai to keep it... No, maybe not... But, if there is a lot of money, who can keep him from absconding with it!The hearts of the world!He wanted to go back, but he was embarrassed, his status and etiquette did not allow him to go back.However, this is by no means too much worry, you should go back!The more self-cultivated you are, the less reliable others are, of course, it's not an overthinking.Why don't you go back?no way! Four There are two people sitting in the flower hall, Chairman Qian and General Wu.Chairman Qian used to be the vice-minister of education and a salt transport envoy, but now he prefers to be called the chairman, the chairman of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.General Wu is a retired warrior. Since he retired, he doesn't look like a warrior at all. He looks like a wealthy businessman with a fat head and big ears. He likes to read a lot these days. Mr. Chen and them were not old friends, and he had only been in touch with them since his son was promoted to detective chief.He has a lot of respect for President Qian Zimei Qian, firstly because of his status as the president, secondly because the president has researched Confucian classics, and thirdly because the president is taciturn and good at financial management - article economy.To General Wu, Mr. Chen treats him very generously as a friend, because General Wu doesn't know anything, so he can ask the old man for advice. The three of them greeted each other, and Chairman Qian kept puffing on the hookah, with his two small eyes focused on the hookah, without making a sound.General Wu wanted to talk, but he didn't know what to say. He was always a little awkward in front of literati.Mr. Chen was also inconvenient to speak in order to maintain his dignity. After sitting for ten minutes, the piles of soot in front of Chairman Qian's feet already looked like a small model of a funeral cemetery.He put down the pipe, and gently scraped his head with the long nail of the ring finger of his right hand.The small eyes showed a little smile from the heart, like a small spring bud sprouting from a seed buried in the depths.Pick the ring finger of the right hand with the nail of the little finger of the left hand, watch the contact of the two nails with small eyes, and smile: "Mr. Chen, General Wu wants to read "Spring and Autumn"; how? I think it is more fundamental to read "Shangshu" first." Some; of course, "Spring and Autumn" is also good!" "In general, the "Thirteen Classics" is a circle." Mr. Chen put his hands on his knees, looked at his heart, and listened to his own voice: "Where do you come from?" From where it starts, to where it ends, there is nothing wrong with it! Zi Mei Weng?" General Wu looked at the two old gentlemen and thought their words were very interesting, but he didn't quite understand them.He couldn't talk, so he had to listen attentively, telling himself in his heart: "This is interesting, very deep!" "Yes, yes!" The president picked up the hookah again, rubbed the shredded tobacco, and did not put it on the chimney for the time being.After thinking about it for a long time: "Hongdaoweng, those who used oracle bone inscriptions to testify to the "Shangshu" recently, are there any merits. The day before yesterday——" "That--" The president nodded.Mr. Chen felt that he was almost calm, so he had no choice but to continue: "Well, it's just a departure from the scriptures. The scriptures are preached, preached! There are differences in the depth of the Tao, but there are different annotations, and there is no harm to the scriptures; the scriptures are used as tools. What a cloud! Hahahaha!" "Zuojian!" Gulu Gulu. "The day before yesterday, a young man came to see me and mentioned this matter. I said the same thing. It coincided with that." General Wu waited to hear the result, whether he should read "Spring and Autumn" or "Book of Books", the two old gentlemen were silent, like two old chickens who had just fought for a while, rested for a while, and then fought again. Mr. Chen was very proud that he actually defeated Chairman Qian.My status and experience are far inferior to Qian Zimei, but when it comes to learning, I am not weak, not weak at all.It can be seen that knowledge and experience may not necessarily be related to each other?Or the so-called knowledge is all in the mouth, the more knowledge the more empty the heart?He didn't dare to make a decision, and his complacency gradually dissipated. He hoped that President Qian, even General Wu, would say something else.General Wu suddenly remembered: "President, is it better to be from the south or from the north?" Mr. Chen's ear seemed to be stabbed sharply by something. General Wu smirked, his neck shrank into one piece, and many layers of flesh were broken. President Qian's mouth was on the hookah, his small eyes were squeezed, and he smiled. "General Wu, let's talk, you talk about women, you are good at revenge!" General Wu raised his face instead: "Don't make a fuss, I really want to know. You guys are older than me and have more experience, girls, who doesn't love girls?" "This has become a problem!" The president laughed out loud. Mr. Chen was speechless and looked at Qian Zimei.He really didn't like to listen to this kind of talk, but he didn't dare to offend them; there was nothing he could do about his superior status. "Mr. Chen?" General Wu made a fuss when he made mistakes. "General Wu is naive, naive! Food and sex, but—" Mr. Chen pretended to smile. "Wait, General Wu, I'll tell you when we have a few more cups; you have to memorize "Spring and Autumn" first!" The president laughed, but there was still not much sound, like a dog panting. 陈老先生陪着笑起来。讲什么他也不弱于会长，他心里说，学问、手段……不过，他也的确觉到他是跟会长学了一招儿。文人所以能驾驭武人者在此，手段。 可是他自己知道，他笑得很不自然。他也想到：假若他不在这里，或者钱会长和武将军就会谈起妇女来。他得把话扯到别处去，不要大家楞着，越楞着越会使会长感到不安。 “那个，子美翁，有事商量吗？我还有点别的……”“可就是。”钱会长想起来：“别人都起不了这么早，所以我只约了你们二位来。水灾的事，马上需要巨款，咱先凑一些发出去，刻不容缓。以后再和大家商议。” “很好！”武将军把话都听明白，而且非常愿意拿钱办善事。“会长分派吧，该拿多少！” “昨天晚上遇见吟老，他拿一千。大家量力而为吧。”钱会长慢慢的说。 “那么，算我两千吧。”武将军把腿伸出好远，闭上眼养神，仿佛没了他的事。 陈老先生为了难。当仁不让，不能当场丢人。可是书生，没作过官的书生，哪能和盐运使与将军比呢。不错，他现在有些财产，可是他没觉到富裕，他总以为自己还是个穷读书的；因为感觉到自己穷，才能作出诗来。再说呢，那点财产都是儿子挣来的，不容易；老子随便挥霍——即使是为行善——岂不是慷他人之慨？父慈子孝，这是两方面的。为儿子才拉拢这些人！可是没拉拢出来什么，而先倒出一笔钱去，儿子的，怎对得起儿子？自然，也许出一笔钱，引起会长的敬意。对儿子不无好处；但是希望与拿现钱是两回事。引起他们的敬意，就不能少拿，而且还得快说，会长在那儿等着呢！乐天下之乐，忧天下之忧，常这么说；可谁叫自己连个知县也没补上过呢！陈老先生的难堪甚于顾虑，他恨自己。他捋了把胡子，手微有一点颤。 “寒士，不过呢，当仁不让，我也拿吟老那个数儿吧。唯赈无量不及破产！哈哈！”他自己听得出哈哈中有点颤音。 他痛快了些，象把苦药吞下去那样，不感觉舒服，而是减少了迟疑与苦闷。 武将军两千，陈老先生一千，不算很小的一个数儿。可是会长连头也没抬，依然咕噜着他的水烟。陈老先生一方面羡慕会长的气度，一方面想知道到底会长拿多少呢。“为算算钱数，会长，会长拿多少？” 会长似乎没有听见。待了半天，仍然没抬头：“我昨天就汇出去了，五千；你们诸公的几千，今天晌午可以汇了走；大家还方便吧？若是不方便的话，我先打个电报去报告个数目，一半天再汇款。” “容我们一半天的工夫也好。”陈老先生用眼睛问武将军，武将军点点头。 大家又没的可说了。 武将军又忽然想起来：“宏老，走，上我那儿吃饭去！会长去不去？” “我不陪了，还得找几位朋友去，急赈！”会长立起来，“不忙，天还早。” 陈老先生愿意离开这里，可是不十分热心到武宅去吃饭。他可没思索便答应了武将军，他知道自己心中是有点乱，有个地方去也好。他惭愧，为一千块钱而心中发乱；毛病都在他没作过盐运使与军长；他不能不原谅自己。到底心中还是发乱。 坐上将军的汽车，一会儿就到了武宅。 武将军的书房很高很大，好象个风雨操场似的，可是墙上挂满了字画，到处是桌椅，桌上挤满了摆设。字画和摆设都是很贵买来的，而几乎全是假古董。懂眼的人不好意思当着他的面说是假的，可是即使说了，将军也不在乎；遇到阴天下雨没事可作的时候，他不看那些东西，而一件件的算价钱：加到一块统计若干，而后分类，字画值多钱，铜器值若干，玉器……来回一算，他可以很高兴的过一早晨，或一后半天。 陈老先生不便说那些东西“都”是假的，也不便说“都”是真的，他指出几件不地道，而嘱咐将军：“以后再买东西，找我来；或是讲明了，付过了钱哪时要退就可以退，”他可惜那些钱。 “正好，我就去请你，买不买的，说会子话儿！”武将军马上想起话来。这所房子值五万；家里现在只剩了四个娘们，原先本是九个来着，裁去了五个，保养身体，修道。他有朝一日再掌兵权也不再多杀人，太缺德……陈老先生搭不上话，可是这么想：假若自己是宰相，还能不和将军们来往么？自己太褊狭，因为没作过官；一个儒者，书生的全部经验是由作官而来。他把心放开了些，慢慢的觉到武将军也有可爱之处，就拿将军的大方说，会长刚一提赈灾，他就认两千，无论怎说，这是有益于人民的……至少他不能得罪了将军，儿子的前途——文王的大德，武王的功绩，相辅而成，相辅而成！ 仆人拿进一封信来。武将军接过来，随手放在福建漆的小桌上。仆人还等着。将军看了信封一眼：“怎回事？”“要将军的片子，要紧的信！” “找张名片去，请王先生来！”王先生是将军的秘书。“王先生吃饭去了，大概得待一会儿……” 将军撕开了信封。抽出信纸，顺手儿递给了陈老先生：“老先生给看一眼，就是不喜欢念信！那谁，抽屉里有名片。” 陈老先生从袋中摸出大眼镜，极有气势的看信：“武将军仁兄阁下敬启者恭维起居纳福金体康宁为盼舍侄之事前曾面托是幸今闻钱子美次长与 将军仁兄交情甚厚次长与秦军长交情亦甚厚如蒙鼎助与次长书通一声则薄酬六千二位平分可也次长常至军长家中顺便一说定奏成功无任感激心照不宣祇祝钧安如小弟马应龙顿首” 陈老先生的胡子挡不住他的笑了。文人的身分，正如文人的笑的资料，最显然的是来自文字。陈老先生永远忘不了这封信。 “怎回事？”武将军问。 老先生为了难；这样的信能高声朗诵的给将军念一过吗？他们俩并没有多大交情；他想用自己的话翻译给将军，可是六千元等语是没法翻得很典雅的；况且太文雅了，将军是否能听得明白，也是个问题。他用白话儿告诉了将军，深恐将军感到不安；将军听明白了，只说了声：“就是别拜把子，麻烦！”态度非常的自然。 陈老先生明白了许多的事。 Fives 廉伯太太正在灯下给傻小子织毛袜子，嘴张着点，时时低声的数数针数。廉伯进来。她看了丈夫一眼，似笑非笑的低下头去照旧作活。廉伯心中觉得不合适，仿佛不大认识她了。结婚时的她忽然极清楚浮现在心中，而面前的她倒似乎渺茫不真了。他无聊的，慢慢的，坐在椅子上。不肯承认已经厌恶了太太，可也无从再爱她。她现在只是一堆肉，一堆讨厌的肉，对她没有可说的，没有可作的。 “孩子们睡了？”他不愿呆呆的坐着。 “刚睡，”她用编物针向西指了指，孩子们是由刘妈带着在西套间睡。说完，她继续的编手中的小袜子。似用着心，又似打着玩，嘴唇轻动，记着针数；有点傻气。 廉伯点上枝香烟，觉到自己正象个烟筒，细长，空空的，只会冒着点烟。吸到半枝上，他受不住了，想出去，他有地方去。可是他没动，已经忙了一天，不愿再出去。他试着找她的美点，刚找到便又不见了。不想再看。说点什么，完全拿她当个“太太”看，谈些家长里短。她一声不出，连咳嗽都是在嗓子里微微一响，恐怕使他听见似的。 “嗨！”他叫了声，低，可是非常的硬，“哑巴！” “哟！”她将针线按在心口上，“你吓我一跳！” 廉伯的气不由的撞上来，把烟卷用力的摔在地上，蹦起一些火花。 "awkward!" “怎啦？”她慌忙把东西放下，要立起来。 他没言语；可是见她害了怕，心中痛快了些，用脚把地上的烟蹂灭。 她呆呆的看着他，象被惊醒的鸡似的，不知怎样才好。“说点什么，”他半恼半笑的说，“老编那个鸡巴东西！离冬天还远着呢，忙什么！” 她找回点笑容来：“说冷可就也快；说吧。” 他本来没的可说，临时也想不出。这要是搁在新婚的时候，本来无须再说什么，有许多的事可以代替说话。现在，他必得说些什么，他与她只是一种关系；别的都死了。只剩下这点关系；假若他不愿断绝这点关系的话，他得天天回来，而且得设法找话对她说！ “二爷呢？”他随便把兄弟拾了起来。 “没回来吧；我不知道。”她觉出还有多说点的必要：“没回来吃饭，横是又凑上了。” “得给他定亲了，省得老不着家。”廉伯痛快了些，躺在床上，手枕在脑后。“你那次说的是谁来着？”“张家的三姑娘，长得仙女似的！” “啊，美不美没多大关系。” 她心中有点刺的慌。她娘家没有陈家阔，而自己在作姑娘的时候也很俊。 廉伯没注意她。深感觉到廉仲婚事的困难。弟弟自己没本事，全仗着哥哥，而哥哥的地位还没达到理想的高度。说亲就很难：高不成，低不就。可是即使哥哥的地位再高起许多，还不是弟弟跟着白占便宜？廉伯心中有点不自在：以陈家全体而言，弟弟应当娶个有身分的女子，以弟弟而言，痴人有个傻造化，苦了哥哥！慢慢再说吧！ 把弟弟的婚事这么放下，紧跟着想起自己的事。一想起来，立刻觉得屋中有点闭气，他想出去。可是……“说，把小凤接来好不好？你也好有个伴儿。” 廉伯太太还是笑着，一种代替哭的笑：“随便。”“别随便，你说愿意。”廉伯坐起来。“不都为我，你也好有个帮手；她不坏。” 她没话可说，转来转去还是把心中的难过笑了出来。 “说话呀，”他紧了一板：“愿意就完了，省事！”“那么不等二弟先结婚啦？” 他觉出她的厉害。她不哭不闹，而拿弟弟来支应，厉害！设若她吵闹，好办；父亲一定向着儿子，父亲不能劝告儿子纳妾，可是一定希望再有个孙子，大成有点傻，而太太不易再生养。不等弟弟先结婚了？多么冠冕堂皇！弟弟算什么东西！十几年的夫妇，跟我掏鲇坏！他立起来，找帽子，不能再在这屋里多停一分钟。 “上哪儿？这早晚！” no answer. six 微微的月光下，那个小门象图画上的，门楼上有些树影。轻轻的拍门，他口中有点发干，恨不能一步迈进屋里去。小凤的母亲来开，他希望的是小凤自己。老妈妈问了他一句什么，他只哼了一声，一直奔了北屋去。屋中很小，很干净，还摆着盆桂花。她从东里间出来：“你，哟？” 老妈妈没敢跟进来，到厨房去泡茶。他想搂住小凤。可是看了她一眼，心中凉了些，闻到桂花的香味。她没打扮着，脸黄黄的，眼圈有点发红，好似忽然老了好几岁。廉伯坐在椅上，想不起说什么好。 “我去擦把脸，就来！”她微微一笑，又进了东里间。 老妈妈拿进茶来，又闲扯了几句，廉伯没心听。老妈妈的白发在电灯下显着很松很多，蓬散开个白的光圈。他呆呆的看着这团白光，心中空虚。 不大一会儿，小凤回来了。脸上擦了点粉，换了件衣裳，年轻了些，淡绿的长袍，印着些小碎花。廉伯爱这件袍儿，可是刚才的红眼圈与黄脸仍然在心中，他觉得是受了骗。同时，他又舍不得走，她到底还有点吸力。无论如何，他不能马上又折回家去，他不能输给太太。老妈妈又躲出去。 小凤就是没擦粉，也不算难看；擦了粉，也不妖媚。高高的细条身子，长脸，没有多少血，白净。鼻眼都很清秀，牙非常的光白好看。她不健康，不妖艳，但是可爱。她身上有点什么天然带来的韵味，象春雾，象秋水，淡淡的笼罩着全身，没有什么特别的美点，而处处轻巧自然，一举一动都温柔秀气；衣服在她身上象遮月的薄云，明洁飘洒。她不爱笑，但偶尔一笑，露出一些好看的牙，是她最美的时候，可是仅仅那么一会儿，转眼即逝，使人追味，如同看着花草，忽然一个白蝶飞来，又飘然飞过了墙头。 “怎这么晚？”她递给他一枝烟，扔给他一盒洋火。“忙！”廉伯舒服了许多。看着蓝烟往上升，他定了定神，为什么单单爱这个贫血的女人？奇怪，自从有了这个女人，把寻花问柳的事完全当作应酬，心上只有她一个人，为什么从烟中透过一点浓而不厌的桂香，对，她的味儿长远！“眼圈又红了，为什么？” “没什么，”她笑得很小，只在眼角与鼻翅上轻轻一逗，可是表现出许多心事：“有点头疼，吃完饭也没洗脸。”“又吵了架？一定！” “不愿意告诉你，弟弟又回来了！”她皱了一下眉。 “他在哪儿呢？”他喝了一大口茶，很关切的样子。“走了，妈妈和我拿你吓噱他来着。” “别遇上我，有他个苦子吃！”廉伯说得极大气。 “又把妈妈的钱……”她仿佛后悔了，轻轻叹了口气。 “我还得把他赶跑！”廉伯很坚决，自信有这个把握。“也别太急了，他——” “他还能怎样了陈廉伯？” “不是，我没那么想；他也有好处。” "he?" “要不是他，咱俩还到不了一块，不是吗？” 陈廉伯哈哈的笑起来：“没见过这样的红娘！”“我简直没办法。”她又皱上了眉。“妈妈就有这么一个儿子，恨他，可是到底还疼他，作妈妈的大概都这样。只苦了我，向着妈妈不好，向着弟弟不好！” “算了吧，说点别的，反正我有法儿治他！”廉伯其实很愿听她这么诉苦，这使他感到他的势力与身分，至少也比在家里跟夫人对楞着强；他想起夫人来：“我说，今儿个我可不回家了。” “你们也又吵了嘴，为我？”她要笑，没能笑出来。“为你；可并没吵架。我有我的自由，我爱上这儿来别人管不着我！不过，我不愿意这么着；你是我的人，我得把你接到家中去；这么着别扭！” “我看还是这么着好。”她低着头说。 “什么？”他看准了她的眼问。 她的眼光极软，可是也对准他的：“还是这么着好。”“怎么？”他的嘴唇并得很紧。 “你还不知道？”她还看着他，似乎没理会到他的要怒的神气。 “我不知道！”他笑了，笑得很冷。“我知道女人们别扭。吃着男人，喝着男人，吃饱喝足了成心气男人。她不愿意你去，你不愿意见她，我晓得。可是你们也要晓得，我的话才算话！”他挺了挺他的水蛇腰。 She said nothing more. 因为没有光明的将来，所以她不愿想那黑暗的过去。她只求混过今天。可是躺在陈廉伯的旁边，她睡不着，过去的图画一片片的来去，她没法赶走它们。它们引逗她的泪，可是只有哭仿佛是件容易作的事。 她并不叫“小凤”，宋凤贞才是她；“小凤”是廉伯送给她的，为是听着象个“外家”。她是师范毕业生，在小学校里教书，养活她的母亲。她不肯出嫁，因为弟弟龙云不肯负起养活老母的责任。妈妈为他们姐弟吃过很大的苦处，龙云既不肯为老人想一想，凤贞仿佛一点不能推脱奉养妈妈的义务，或者是一种权利，假如把“孝”字想到了的话。为这个，她把出嫁的许多机会让过去。 她在小学里很有人缘，她有种引人爱的态度与心路，所以大家也就喜欢她。校长是位四十多岁的老姑娘，已办了十几年的学，非常的糊涂，非常的任性，而且有一头假头发。她有钱，要办学，没人敢拦着她。连她也没挑出凤贞什么毛病来，可是她的弟弟说凤贞不好，所以她也以为凤贞可恶。凤贞怕失业，她到校长那里去说：校长的弟弟常常跟随着她，而且给她写信，她不肯答理他。校长常常辞退教员，多半是因为教员有了爱人。校长自己是老姑娘，不许手下的教员讲恋爱；因为这个，社会上对于校长是十二分尊敬的；大家好象是这样想：假若所有的校长都能这样，国家即使再弱上十倍，也会睡醒一觉就梦似的强起来。凤贞晓得这个，所以觉得跟校长说明一声，校长必会管教她的兄弟。 可是校长很简单的告诉凤贞：“不准诬赖好人，也不准再勾引男子，再有这种事，哼……” 凤贞的泪全咽在肚子里。打算辞职，可是得等找到了别的事，不敢冒险。 慢慢的，这件事被大家知道了，都为凤贞不平。校长听到了一些，她心中更冒了火。有一天朝会的时候，她教训了大家一顿，话很不好听，有个暴性子的大学生喊了句：“管教管教你弟弟好不好！”校长哈哈的笑起来：“不用管教我弟弟，我得先管教教员！”她从袋中摸出个纸条来：“看！收了我弟弟五百块钱，反说我兄弟不好。宋凤贞！我待你不错，这就是你待朋友的法儿，是不是？你给我滚！” 凤贞只剩了哆嗦。学生们马上转变过来，有的向她呸呸的啐。她不晓得怎样走回了家。到了家中，她还不敢哭；她知道那五百块钱是被弟弟使了，不能告诉妈妈；她失了业，也不能告诉妈妈。她只说不太舒服，请了两天假；她希望能快快的在别处找个事。 找了几个朋友，托给找事，人家都不大高兴理她。龙云回来了，很恳切的告诉姐姐：“姐，我知道你能原谅我。我有我的事业，我需要钱。我的手段也许不好，我的目的没有错儿。只有你能帮助我，正象只有你能养着母亲。为帮助母亲与我，姐，你须舍掉你自己，好象你根本没有生在世间过似的。校长弟弟的五百元，你得替我还上；但是我不希望你跟他去。侦探长在我的背后，你能拿住了侦探长，侦探长就拿不住了我，明白，姐？你得到他，他就会还那五百元的账，他就会给你找到事，他就会替你养活着母亲。得到他，替我遮掩着，假如不能替我探听什么。我得走了，他就在我背后呢！再见，姐，原谅我不能听听你的意见！记住，姐姐，你好象根本没有生在世间过！” 她明白弟弟的话。明白了别人，为别人作点什么，只有舍去自己。 弟弟的话都应验了，除了一句——他就会给你找到事。他没给凤贞找事，他要她陪着睡。凤贞没再出过街门一次，好似根本没有生在世间过。对于弟弟，她只能遮掩，说他不孝、糊涂、无赖；为弟弟探听，她不会作，也不想作，她只求混过今天，不希望什么。 seven 陈老先生明白了许多的事。有本领的人使别人多懂些事，没有本事的人跟着别人学，惭愧！自己跟着别人学！但是不能不学，一事不知，君子之耻，活到老学到老！谁叫自己没补上知县呢！作官方能知道一切。自己的祖父作过道台，自己的父亲可是只作到了“坊里德表”，连个功名也没得到！父亲在族谱上不算个数，自己也差不多；可是自己的儿子……不，不能全靠着儿子，自己应当老当益壮，假若功名无望，至少得帮助儿子成全了伟大事业。自己不能作官，还不会去结交官员吗？打算帮助儿子非此不可！他看出来，作官的永远有利益，盐运使，将军，退了职还有大宗的入款。官