Chapter 7 -2

Nine I almost don't want to mention this matter anymore, but in order to make the scene, I have to raise the problem; put it here, there are plenty of people smarter than me, let them figure it out by themselves! How could there be a mutiny in the "political role"? If you intend to teach soldiers to rob, why did you need to patrol the police in the first place? What the hell do patrolmen do?Do they only care about urinating in the street, but not about robbing shops? If Anshan people know how to rob, why do the police go to pick up thieves? Are people willing to have police officers?Don't want to!Why do you call the police when you are about to fight, and take out "police donations" every month?do it!Why do I like the police to be indifferent: those who want to be robbed are easy to rob, and those who are robbed don't say a word?

Well, I only propose a few "looks" come on!There are many more problems!I can't solve it, so I can't talk about it anymore.These few "appearances" are really enough to make me confused, how can I think wrong, why can't figure out where is where, sometimes it has a beginning and an end, and sometimes it has no beginning and no end, I am not smart enough to think about such a big thing . I can only say such an old saying that the people, even the officials, soldiers, patrolmen, and good people who lead Anshan, are "not enough"!So, the emptiness in my heart is even bigger!Living among this group of "not enough" people is just a way to deal with it, don't pay attention to "real" things, I understand it.

There is also a good word, don't forget: "Tang Er Shi".If anyone is like me and can't think of a good way, it is best to use this word, which is ready-made and appropriate, and it will not confuse yourself. "Soup's thing" is over; if you still feel a little bald, add "really fucking", it will be quite appropriate. ten There is no need to make any further comments, probably anyone can see clearly what is going on with the people in our country.When it comes to the police from this point, it is only natural that they have half-sighted eyes, and it is not surprising at all.Take gambling as an example: in the early years, the gambling games were all backstage bosses with well-known figures; often happens.After rushing to the police, the gambling game is still open, dare to copy it?Anyone can understand this, I don't need to say it.However, if you don’t copy it, it’s too outrageous; what should we do?If you have an idea, let the honest ones handle a few cases, take some old men and old ladies, copy a few dozen cards, and fine them ten dollars and eight dollars.As for the policeman, it can be counted as handing in the job; as for the society, there are rumors about it, big or small, so that's fine.Take this incident as ten incidents. The police have been smearing mud since the beginning.It raises a group of people who make a living, and do some things that make a living.There is no need for real patrolmen in society, nor is it worthwhile for patrolmen to work their lives for six dollars.That's clear.

After this mutiny, our difficulties increased.The young lads grabbed a lot of things and finally made a fortune.Some wore two mandarin jackets, and some wore ten rings on ten fingers. They were all proudly swaying in the street, squinting at the policeman, and humming with choked breath in their noses.I had no choice but to lower my head. Originally, with such a large formation, we patrolmen didn't make a sound. Can we blame others for underestimating us afterwards?Gambling games are everywhere, and if you lose all the money you get for nothing, you won't lose your money!We dare not copy it, and we can’t copy it if we want to, because there are too many.We heard people shouting "Renjiu" and "Duozi" from outside the wall, but we just pretended not to hear them and walked over gently.Anyway, people are playing in the courtyard, and they don't have to come to the street.snort!People don't even save us this bit of face!The boys in the two mandarin jackets wanted to show that they were not afraid of the policeman at all—their grandfather and father had never been afraid of the policeman, nor had they seen one. Why should they be angry with the policeman all their lives? ——Shan wants to come to the street to gamble.You can open treasure with dice, and you can play with it when you squat on the ground.There is a pair of stone balls that can be kicked, two people can do it, five people can do it, "one dime a kick, kick or not? Okay! 'Back it back!'" Slap, the ball hits the ball, ten cents.Playing children is really not small, and you can pass several yuan in one hour.It's all under our noses, what do we care about?Let it go!Alone, only wearing a knife that can't even cut tofu evenly, and the gamblers are always a bunch of young lads.Ming people don't suffer from immediate losses, so the patrolmen have to walk around the road, regardless of what is right.However, unfortunately, when I met the inspector, "Are you blind and can't see them gambling?"Where can I complain about this grievance?

There are many such things!As far as I am concerned, if I were not wearing such a broken knife, but holding a pistol, I would dare to touch anyone, and the salary of six yuan would not be enough to work hard, but clay figurines also have a rustic nature, and they can't stand touching anyone. Get angry.But I couldn't touch the pistol, it was in the hands of bandits and soldiers.I clearly saw Da Bing take the car without paying, and beat the rickshaw driver with his belt, so I dared not persuade him to leave with a smile.He has a gun, if he dares to release it, what is it to kill a patrolman!One year, in the third-class kiln, three of our brothers were killed by soldiers, and we didn't even want to come out with the murderer.The three brothers died in vain, and none of them paid for it, not even one who suffered dozens of military sticks!They put their guns casually, we are unarmed, this is a civilized thing for us!

All in all, in such a society that prides itself on arrogance and unreasonableness, and honors its ancestors by disrupting order, the police are simply superfluous.After understanding this, plus the lack of food and energy we mentioned earlier, probably anyone can understand it.We don't smear mud, what should we do?I--I'm a cop--don't beg pardon, I'm just willing to say it, with a clear mind, so that everyone can have a sense of it. Let me just say the most frustrating thing: after a year or two of work, I am already a great figure among my brothers.When encountering official affairs, the officers always teach me to block my head for a while.The brethren do not envy me because of this, because I am not far behind in everyone's private affairs.In this way, whenever there is a vacancy for a platoon leader, everyone always murmurs to me: "This time you must fill the vacancy!" It seems that they really want me to be such a platoon leader.Although the platoon leader did not fall on me, everyone knew my talents.

My know-how is extracted from the previous pile of words.For example, if someone comes to report theft, the inspector and I will go and check it.Roughly glanced at the doors, windows, yard, and casually told us where we had a job, and how many patrols we had at night, all in detail and with gusto, as if we were more sophisticated than anyone else, and worked hard.Then, looking for a place where the doors and windows are not very tight, he started to counterattack softly but firmly: "This door is not very safe, you have to install a foreign lock? Let me tell you, the security lock needs to be installed downwards, and it is very difficult to slip over the threshold." Well, it’s not easy for thieves to find it. Keeping a small dog in the house is also a solution. No matter how small the dog is in the house, it will bark if there is any movement. It is more useful than three big dogs in the yard. Sir, look , let's pay more attention, and you have to pay attention to yourself. You can make do with it, and you can guarantee that you won't lose anything. Well, let's go back and send a few more people for the night; sir, rest!" This set , He relieved us of our responsibilities, and he quickly had to lock up the puppy; when he met a kind master, he promised to make us a pot of tea.That's what I do.How irresponsible, and don't teach people to see the mud, I will do whatever.You have to speak nicely, and push all the responsibilities aside with a sweet tongue, so as to ensure that you don't cause trouble or trouble.The brethren can do this, but their words and demeanor are not so good.There are so many ways to say a sentence, if you put the air in the right place, the words can be spoken and then pulled back, like a spring.In this regard, I am better than them, and they still can't learn it, this is a natural talent!

When I spend the night alone and meet a thief, guess what I will do?its me!Hold the saber in your hand so as not to make a sound; he climbs his wall, and I walk my way, without disturbing each other.Okay, if I really want to teach him to hate me, hide in the shadows and give me a brick, can I bear it?Then who, silly Wang Jiu, is blind in one eye?He is not for thieves!One day, he and Dong Zhihe forced people to cut their hair on the street. Each of them held a pair of scissors.snort!Teach others to remember.When the foolish Wangjiu left the order, he was spotted with a handful of limes in his eyes: "Let you cut my hair, x your mother's!" He was just blind in one eye.You said, if I do this job like I do, will I still be alive?Where the patrolmen think they should interfere, people think it is "dogs meddling with mice". What can be done?

I can't lose one eye for no reason like silly Wang Jiu, I still keep my eyes to see the world!Quietly dodging the thieves, my heart is not idle, I think about my two motherless children, I plan to chew grains for this month.Maybe some people have calculated everything and used foreign money as the unit?Me, I get one copper and one copper.If there are more coins, my heart will be more generous; if there are less, I will have to worry.Still taking thieves, who is not poor?If you are so poor that you have nowhere to go, anyone will steal it, and your stomach doesn't care what it means to be decent!

eleven After this mutiny, there was another big change: the Qing Dynasty was changed to the Republic of China.It is not easy to encounter a change of dynasty, but I don't think it is very interesting.To be honest, this rare event in a century is not as lively as a mutiny.It is said that once the Republic of China was reformed, everything would be in charge of the people; but I didn't see it.I am still a patrolman, my salary has not increased, and I still go in and out every day.I used to be angry with others, and now I am still angry; before the coachmen and servants of the high officials bullied us, now the people under the new officials are not kind. "Tang Er Shi" is still "Tang Er Shi", not because of the change of dynasty.Not to mention, there are more people cutting their hair on the street than before, so it must be considered a little progress.Pai Gow betting has gradually decreased, and rich and poor people are playing "Mahjong". We still dare not copy gambling, but the gambling equipment must be regarded as improved and more civilized.

The people of the Republic of China are not so good, but the officials and soldiers of the Republic of China are amazing!Like mushrooms after the rain, all these officers and soldiers came from no one knows where.Officials and soldiers should not be said together, but they do have some similarities.Yesterday, he had a foot of loess mud, but today he is an official or a soldier, and his eyes immediately stare; the more confused he is, the wider his eyes become, like a lamp of stupidity, shining brightly.These stupid bastards don't understand what is good or bad, no matter what you say; they always say it sideways.They are so stupid that people feel sorry for them, but they are very proud.Sometimes they taught me to think like this: I probably won’t be able to be a civil servant or a military officer in my life!Because I am not confused enough! Almost an official can ask a few patrolmen to watch the gate and guard the courtyard. We have become a kind of bodyguards, earning money from the public and working for private people.I was sent to the gate of the house.From a rational point of view, guarding a private house for an official is simply not an errand; from a practical point of view, all patrolmen are willing to be sent out in this way.As soon as I was sent out, I was promoted to "third-class policeman"; "recruiting policeman" was not qualified to be sent out yet!I didn't count "waiting" until then.Besides, things at the gate of the house are idle, there is nothing else to do except stand at the gate and watch the night; at least one pair of leather shoes can be saved a year.There are few things to do, and there is no danger in taking them out; if the master and wife in the house get into a fight, we don't need to persuade them, and naturally they won't beat us down and suffer some accidental injuries.Watching the night is just walking around the house twice, so you can't meet the thief; the wall is high and the dog is strong, the small thief can't come, and the big thief can't come. It will not cause severe punishment by officials; they will not provoke powerful incumbent officials.Here, not only do we not need to copy gambling, but we protect the masters and ladies playing mahjong.We are more at ease when we are entertaining guests to play cards in the house: there is a caravan outside the house, the house is bright as day, servants come and go, two or three tables of mahjong, four or five smoke lamps, the noise all night long, There will never be thieves, so we will sleep until dawn and when the game is over, we will come out to stand at the door to salute and cheer for the gentlemen.If we want to catch up with weddings and funerals in the house, we are more suitable: we sing operas on happy occasions, and we listen to the operas with Bai, and we are guaranteed to be famous characters. You will never hear such a complete set in the theater.For funerals, although there is no drama to listen to, the dead cannot be carried out in half a day, at least they have to stop for thirty or forty days, and read several sutras; well, let's eat along with them;The fear is that the child will die, and I can't hang it, but I have to listen to everyone vomit and cry.The second is that we are afraid that the lady will sneak away, or that the concubine will be divorced due to some serious mistake. We will not be able to eat, drink and watch the theater, so we have to blame the old ladies! What makes me particularly happy is that being on this road errand makes it much easier to come and go, and I can often go home to see the children.In the "district" or "segment", it is not easy to take a vacation for a while, because whether it is in the "inside office" or "outside office", the work is rigidly arranged and it is not easy to change.At the gate of the house, I have nothing to do after I stand at the gate, and I can walk for half a day just by telling my brothers.This advantage often makes me afraid that I will be transferred back to the "area"; my children have no mothers, so why don't you teach them to look at their fathers? Even if I don't go out, there are still benefits.My body is never tired, and my mind doesn't have many things to do, so what do I do when I'm idle?Me, there are a lot of newspapers in the house, and I read from beginning to end when I am free.Big newspapers, tabloids, news editorials, understand it or not, I read it all, always read it.This helped me a lot. I learned a lot more things and learned a lot more words.There are many characters that I still can't pronounce, but I get used to them, and I can guess their meanings, just like the common people on the street, although they don't know their names, they are friendly to each other.In addition to newspapers, I also borrow free books all over the world to read.However, in comparison, reading newspapers is more beneficial. There are many things and complicated words, and it is fun to watch.It's just that there are many things and many words, so it takes a lot of effort; when I read something I can't understand, I have to pick up idle books again.Idle books are always the same way, if you read it last time, you can guess what it will be next time; because of this, you don't have to work hard, just watch it for fun.Newspapers are fun, books are relaxing, this is my little experience. There are also disadvantages of being in the door: eating is the first problem.In the "district" or "section", our food money is deducted from the salary, no matter what happens, we have food every day.There are three or five people sent to the gate of the house. They must not ask a cook to arrange meals. No cook is willing to arrange such a small business.We are not allowed to use the kitchen in the house; the gentlemen want to patrol the police, because they know that they can use a few people in uniform for nothing, and they don't care whether these people have stomachs or not.What shall we do?Start a stove by yourself, but you can't do it, buy a bunch of pots, pans, pans and spoons, and you will be transferred away when you know?Besides, it's decent and beautiful to have a policeman on the door of the house. Well, if we make the pots on the sky and the bowls on the ground, and the knives and spoons are noisy, how decent is it?I have no choice but to buy and eat. That's awkward enough.If you have money in your hands, needless to say, you are free to buy and eat, and you can call whatever you like. Wouldn't it be fun to order two cups of wine and two delicious dishes?Please don't forget, I only earn a total of 6 yuan a month!It's nothing to suffer, but it's really sad to think about it after a meal, and I'm going to cry when I think about it.I want to save money, and I have to change my appearance, so I can't keep eating dried steamed buns like stuffed ducks.Saving money and being delicious can never come together. Thinking about money, I will resign myself to my fate. Let’s get some dry sesame cakes and a piece of old pickled radish to deal with it;Think, the more you think about it, the more sad you become, the more you can't decide; you have been hungry until the sun has not eaten lunch!I still have children at home!If I eat less, they can eat more. Who doesn't love their children?I can't afford to pay less for the package meal; now that I can eat freely, why not save a little more for the children?Well, eight sesame seed cakes are enough for me, so I will eat six, drink two more bowls of boiled water, and be "full of water"!How can I not cry! Take a look inside the house, the master earns a lot of money!Yes, as long as you ask around, you can find out how much salary he gets, but people never point to the fixed income, let's just say, if he earns 800 yuan a month, how can he So rich?There must be articles here.This article is like this, if you earn six yuan a month, you earn that amount, and if you suddenly have an extra dollar in your pocket, someone will look at you sideways and create some rumors for you.If you could make five hundred dollars, you'd never die for it, and the more money you had, the more people admired you.This article doesn't seem reasonable at all, but that's how it was made, believe it or not! Liberty is often advocated in newspapers and preaching houses; and when things are expected to be advocated, of course they are not.I didn't have freedom before; people advocated meeting children, and freedom hasn't come to me yet, but I saw it at the gate of the house.After all, the Republic of China is beneficial. Do you have freedom? Anyway, if you see it, you have to be regarded as an eye-opener. You see, in the Qing Dynasty, there was a standard for everything; those who should wear blue cloth coats had to wear blue cloth coats, even if they were rich.This should probably be called autocracy!Once you come to the Republic of China, you will have freedom in the house. As long as you have money, you can wear, eat, and wear whatever you like, and no one dares to control you.Therefore, in order to fight for freedom, one has to fight desperately to hold money; holding money is also free, because there is no censor in the Republic of China.If you haven't stayed at the gate of the mansion, you probably still don't believe me, so go and have a look.A small official now enjoys a little more blessing than the first-ranking official in the old age: food, transportation is convenient, and delicacies from mountains and seas can be eaten casually, as long as you have money.If you are tired of eating these, you can change your taste with western food and wine; the emperor of which dynasty probably never ate foreign food, right?Talk about what to wear, talk about wearing; talk about what to look at, listen to, and use; sitting in the house, you can enjoy the best things in the world.People who are enjoying the blessings these days are really called enjoying the blessings. Naturally, they are more free to hold money now than before.I don't dare to say anything else, but I must know where Paris came from for the fifty yuan a box of face powder that the concubine at the gate used to wear; where is Paris?I don't know, anyway, the powder from there is very expensive.My neighbor Li Si sold a fat boy and only got forty yuan, which shows how expensive this powder is, it must be thin and fragrant, it must be! Well, I won't say that any more; I'll be so mean-spirited as if I disapproved of liberty, and how dare I! Let me say a few more words from the other side. Although it is still a cliché, it has been somewhat changed so that it will not sound vulgar and boring.Just now I said how free and rich people are in their houses. Don't get me wrong. If you are a master, you just throw a lot of foreign money out all day. The masters are not so stupid!Yes, the concubine's face powder is more expensive than a child, but the concubine is the concubine, and the concubine has the fortune and skills of the concubine.People who are masters buy such expensive noodles for their aunts and wives precisely because they have a place to dig them out.Just put it this way, as if you are a master, I can tell you many secrets according to the rules of the house: your electric lights, running water, coal, telephone, toilet paper, carriages, ceilings, furniture, envelopes, flowers and plants, all It costs nothing; finally, you get a few patrolmen at your disposal.This is the rule. If you don't understand this, you are simply not worthy of being a master.Let me tell you the bottom line, a lord should come empty-handed and go full-filled, just like a bedbug just after the sting, when it comes there are two skins, but after a while it becomes big-bellied and round-chested. Pocket blood.This analogy is a little rough, but the meaning is good.Free to hold money, autocratic to save money, two clicks together, your concubine can wear Parisian face powder.This sentence may be too esoteric, whatever!Do you understand or not. This is about me.Ordinarily, the gate of the house has served us for nothing for a year or so, and when it’s the New Year’s Eve, there should be a heart, even if it’s a treat for us, it’s a big deal.snort!Don't think about it!What kind of goods are the policemen who keep all the money they earn as masters for their aunts and wives?When we are transferred away, if you ask the master to say something nice for me in the "district", we will all be grateful. You see, the order came down, and I was transferred elsewhere.I packed the bedding, and respectfully went to see the master of the house.Look, people's energy is getting stronger!I don't care about it, it's as if I stole something from him.I entrusted a few words: I beg the master to tell the "district" by the way that my job is not bad.He raised his eyelids slightly, not even bothering to fart.I had no choice but to back out, and they didn't even pay for the carriage; I had to carry it away by myself.This is a fucking errand, this is a fucking favor! twelve There are more and more dignitaries in offices and houses.We set up another guard team, with a total of 500 people, dedicated to the voluntary bodyguards.In order to show that we can really defend the gentlemen, each of us has a foreign gun and a few rows of bullets.Foreign guns—these foreign guns—I'm not interested at all: they're heavy, old, and broken, and I don't know where I got them. No stuff.My bullets are always around my waist, never to be put in the gun; and when some catastrophe strikes, and the gentlemen run away, we attach bayonets. This does not mean that I can completely ignore the broken guy; although it is so broken, I have to give it orders.The inside and outside of the gun body, and even the bayonet, have to be polished every day; even if it can never be polished, my hands can't be idle.Heart to God!Besides, with a gun, there are more things on the body, belts, bayonet sheaths, and bullet bags, all of which must be neat and greasy, not as loose as Zhu Bajie's waist knife, and his legs must be wrapped! With all these extra things, the weight of seven or eight catties was added to my shoulders, and I earned an extra dollar; now I earn seven dollars a month, thank heaven and earth! Seven yuan, carrying a gun, wearing leg wraps, and standing at the door, I have worked for more than three years.From this house gate to that house gate, from this yamen to that yamen; when the masters come out, I salute; when the masters go in, I salute.That's my job.This kind of errand is what destroys people: you say you have nothing to do, and you have something to do; you say you have something to do, and you have nothing to do.It would be better to stand guard in the street.On the street, at least you have to take care of things and use your mind.In the gate of the house or the yamen, it is almost never a thought.When you rush to an idle yamen or Tang'er's house, you can even stand at the door casually, you can stand with your gun on your shoulders, or take a nap with your gun in your hand.Such an errand is exhausting, it wears you out.A servant can have hope, wherever things are sweet, he wants to go where he wants to go. We work in this job, knowing that there is no good reason at all, but we are so exhausted every day that we even look down on ourselves.Ordinarily, with such free time, one should eat well and be fat, which is considered decent.snort!We can't squat fat.We were always thinking about the seven yuan, and we were so poor that we were worried.If the heart is pulled, how can you gain weight?Let me tell you, my child is old enough to go to school, can I not teach him?Going to school has to cost money, ancient and modern, it’s not surprising, but where can I find this money?Those who are officials can take advantage of many things for nothing, and those who are policemen don't even have a place for their children to study for nothing.Let's go to a private school, tuition fees, books, pens and inks are all money.Let's go to school. Uniforms, handmade materials, and various notebooks are more expensive than going to private schools.Besides, when the children are at home, they can eat a piece of steamed corn bread when they are hungry; when they go to school, they have to pay for snacks.Children's faces are more likely to turn red. I just can't help it.Such a big living person will stare blankly at his children at home!I am hopeless in this life, should my children be even worse?Watching the young lady and the young master go to school, drink!The car picks up the car, and at the door, there are old ladies and maids who come to pick up the schoolbag and carry it in, holding oranges, apples, and fresh toys.Others' children are like this, and our children are like that; aren't all children future citizens?I really want to quit my job.I'm going to be a servant to get some change so that I can teach my children to school. But people just don't fall into the rut, and they will never be able to get out of it for a lifetime.I have been working for several years—even though it is such an errand—I have fallen into a rut in everything. There are friends here, talking and laughing, and experience. It doesn’t teach me to work hard, but I don’t seem to be able to leave cruelly. it.Besides, a person's vanity is often more powerful than money. When he is used to being poor, he always thinks that becoming a servant is a step down, although he can earn more money.It's ridiculous, it's ridiculous, but people are such a thing.When I tell my friends this, everyone shakes their heads.Some said, everyone is doing well, so why change careers?Some said, "One mountain looks higher than another, and we poor people can't make a fortune by doing anything, so let's bear with it!"Some people say that middle school graduates still work as "recruitment policemen". If we have this job, it is considered good; why bother?Even the inspector said to me: Let's just mess around, this is an errand; with your ability, there will always be a promotion in the future!After everyone said this, my heart became more alive, as if I would not be able to stand up to my friends if I became stubborn.Well, let's keep going.What about children studying?No text! Soon, I will have a good opportunity.There is Mr. Feng, who has a very high official position, and he needs twelve guards; four guards, four messengers, and four followers.These four followed so that they could ride horses.At that time, automobiles had not yet been born, and high officials all paid attention to riding in large carriages.In the former Qing Dynasty, when a high official sat in a sedan chair or a carriage, didn't he have a top horse in front and a follower in the back?This Mr. Feng is willing to restore this bit of official authority, and there must be four guards with guns behind the carriage.People who can ride horses are hard to find, and after searching all over the guard, they only found three; the three legs were not like words, and even the inspector was so anxious that he scratched his head.I can see that it is cheap: riding a horse, of course you have to have food and money!For the sake of my children's education, I have to take a risk. If I can get some 80 cents from the horse food money, the children can at least go to private school.Ordinarily, this kind of heart is not very good, but I am doing my best, I don't know how to ride a horse!I told the inspector I would like to go.He asked if I could ride a horse?I didn't say I would, and I didn't say I wouldn't; as for him, he couldn't find anyone else anyway, so he couldn't find out. If you have the courage, nothing is difficult in the world.When I met the horse for the first time, I made up my mind: If you fall to your death, the children will go to an orphanage, which is not necessarily worse than being at home; if you don’t fall to your death, well, the children can go to school.In this way, I will not be afraid of horses.I am not afraid of it, it has to be afraid of me, isn't everything in the world like this?Besides, I have sharp legs and quick feet, and I have a good heart. After chatting with the three horsemen who know how to ride horses for a while, I already know a lot of tricks on horseback.I found an honest one, and I tried it. My palms were sweating, but I insisted that I was sure.In the first few days, my crime was really not small. I felt like I was falling apart, and I saw blood on my buttocks.I gritted my teeth.When the injury was healed, I became more courageous and felt the joy of riding.Run, run, how fast the car is, how fast I am, I have subdued an animal!I subdued Ma Zhi, but I didn't bring the food and grass money, so I took the risk in vain.Master Feng has more than a dozen horses at home, and there are special horse watchers, so I have nothing to do.I'm almost sick with anger.But, soon I was happy again: Mr. Feng has such a big official position, so many, he hardly has time to go home for dinner.We followed him out and ran for a day.Of course he has food everywhere, what about us?The four of us discussed it and decided to negotiate with him. Where he eats, we must be there.Mr. Feng has a good heart. He loves horses, saves face, and his subordinates.We told him about it, and he immediately agreed.This one is cheap.Don't say much about it.If we can eat half a month's food outside for free every month, wouldn't we save half a month's food money?I am happy! Lord Feng, I said, loves face very much.When we went to see him to negotiate meals, he took a good look at us.After watching for a long time, he shook his head and said to himself: "This is not allowed!" I thought he meant that the four of us couldn't do it, but I dare not.He immediately asked for pen and ink, and wrote a note: "Take this to the captain, and teach him to do it within three days!" We took the note down, and we looked at it. It turned out that the captain changed our uniforms: our usual uniforms It's made of twill, Master Feng is now teaching you to change it into woolen cloth; the cuffs, trouser seams, and cap hoops all have to be affixed with gold ribbons.The boots are also changed, and riding boots that are over the knee are required.The gun needs to be replaced with a carbine, and a pistol is also given to each person.After reading this note, even we ourselves felt that it was inappropriate: officers can only wear woolen clothes with gold braids, and the four of us are patrolmen, how can we wear this outfit for no reason?Naturally, we can't teach Mr. Feng to take back the note, but we are also embarrassed to see the captain.If the captain did not dare to disobey Mr. Feng, he could lose his temper with the four of us! guess what?The captain read the note, and he followed the instructions without even venting his anger, and he did everything.Just tell me how powerful Mr. Feng is!drink!The four of us trembled, really fine black cloth uniforms, trimmed with yellow gold braids, black leather boots over the knee, with white spurs on the back of the boots, horse guns on the back, pistols at the side, guns There are long apricot yellow tassels on the outside of the box.It can be said that the prestige of the patrol police in the whole city was taken away by the four of us.When we were walking on the street, all the patrolmen on guard saluted us, thinking that we were high officials! When I was a paper maker, I always had to paste a big horse with chrysanthemum flowers on it if I was a little more particular about burning.Now that I was wearing such a shaky uniform, I went to the stables and picked out a chrysanthemum-green horse, which was very rough and would chew and kick when I saw people; My horse, now I have to ride a live one; Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum, how beautiful it is!This horse is fussy, but it makes a real face when it runs, with its head lowered, white foam spit from the corner of its mouth, its long mane is like a ridge of spring wheat blown by the wind, and its small ears stand like two small ladles; I just need to recognize the stirrups , it is about to fly.In my whole life, I have never had any real proud things; riding on this big chrysanthemum and blue horse, I must say, I feel proud and proud! Ordinarily, the errand this time is finally passable, isn't it worth having fun with that horse with that suit of clothes?snort!The new uniform had not been worn for three months, Mr. Feng blew the stage, and the guard was disbanded; I went back to be a third-class policeman. Thirteen The guard disbanded.Why?I have no idea.I was transferred to the General Administration as an errand, and received a bronze medal, as if to say that I had done something in the house.In the General Administration, I was sometimes in charge of the account books, sometimes in charge of the account books donated by shops, sometimes guarding the gate on duty, and sometimes in charge of the armory.After two or three years of work, I have a general understanding of everything in the bureau.In addition to my previous experience on the street, in the gate of the yamen and in the gate of the house, I can be regarded as a know-it-all, there is nothing inside and out that I don't know.When it comes to policing, I am an expert in the field.But it wasn't until this time, after ten years of posting, that I was promoted to the first class policeman, earning nine dollars a month. The big guy may think that the policemen are all on the street, and the young are meddling in their own business.In fact, we still have a large group of people hiding in the district bureau.If there is a general inspection one day, you can see some strange patrol police: hunchbacked, short-sighted, missing teeth, lame, you name it.These monsters are really the salt of the police, they are all qualified and experienced, they can read and write, all the official documents, all the know-how of doing things are in their hands.If it were not for them, the patrolmen in the streets would be in disarray.These people will never rise to the top; they always do things for everyone, and there is no improvement at all, and they have never even shown their dignity once in their lives.They worked hard and worked hard until they were too old to move, and they were always first-class policemen, earning nine dollars.How many times have you seen him on the street: wearing a clean gray coat, but still wearing patrol shoes under his feet, walking slowly with his heels, as if he could not move the shoes, then it must be this road patrol .Sometimes they also go to the big "wine vat" and drink a "bowl of wine" with a dozen or so peanuts. They are quite regular, sighing while swallowing the spicy water.头发已经有些白的了，嘴巴儿可还刮得很光，猛看很象个太监。他们很规则，和蔼，会作事，他们连休息的时候还得穿着那双不得人心的鞋！ 跟这群人在一处办事，我长了不少的知识。可是，我也有点害怕：莫非我也就这样下去了吗？他们够多么可爱，又多么可怜呢！看着他们，我心中时常忽然凉那么一下，教我半天说不上话来。不错，我比他们都年岁小，也不见得比他们不精明，可是我有希望没有呢？年岁小？我也三十六了！ 这几年在局子里可也有一样好处，我没受什么惊险。这几年，正是年年春秋准打仗的时期，旁人受的罪我先不说，单说巡警们就真够瞧的。一打仗，兵们就成了阎王爷，而巡警头朝了下！要粮，要车，要马，要人，要钱，全交派给巡警，慢一点送上去都不行。一说要烙饼一万斤，得，巡警就得挨着家去到切面铺和烙烧饼的地方给要大饼；饼烙得，还得押着清道夫给送到营里去；说不定还挨几个嘴巴回来！ 要单是这么伺候着兵老爷们，也还好；不，兵老爷们还横反呢。凡是有巡警的地方，他们非捣乱不可，巡警们管吧不好，不管吧也不好，活受气。世上有糊涂人，我晓得；但是兵们的糊涂令我不解。他们只为逞一时的字号，完全不讲情理；不讲情理也罢，反正得自己别吃亏呀；不，他们连自己吃亏不吃亏都看不出来，你说天下哪里再找这么糊涂的人呢。就说我的表弟吧，他已当过十多年的兵，后来几年还老是排长，按说总该明白点事儿了。snort!那年打仗，他押着十几名俘虏往营里送。drink!他得意非常的在前面领着，仿佛是个皇上似的。他手下的弟兄都看出来，为什么不先解除了俘虏的武装呢？他可就是不这么办，拍着胸膛说一点错儿没有。走到半路上，后面响了枪，他登时就死在了街上。他是我的表弟，我还能盼着他死吗？可是这股子糊涂劲儿，教我也没法抱怨开枪打他的人。有这样一个例子，你也就能明白一点兵们是怎样的难对付了。你要是告诉他，汽车别往墙上开，好啦，他就非去碰碰不可，把他自己碰死倒可以，他就是不能听你的话。 在总局里几年，没别的好处，我算是躲开了战时的危险与受气。自然罗！一打仗，煤米柴炭都涨价儿，巡警们也随着大家一同受罪，不过我可以安坐在公事房里，不必出去对付大兵们，我就得知足。 可是，在局里我又怕一辈子就窝在那里，永没有出头之日，有人情，可以升腾起来；没人情而能在外边拿贼办案，也是个路子，我既没人情，又不到街面上去，打哪儿升高一步呢？我越想越发愁。 fourteen 到我四十岁那年，大运亨通，我补了巡长！我顾不得想已经当了多少年的差，卖了多少力气，和巡长才挣多少钱；都顾不得想了。我只觉得我的运气来了！ 小孩子拾个破东西，就能高兴的玩耍半天，所以小孩子能够快乐。大人们也得这样，或者才能对付着活下去。细细一想，事情就全糟。我升了巡长，说真的，巡长比巡警才多挣几块钱呢？挣钱不多，责任可有多么大呢！往上说，对上司们事事得说出个谱儿来；往下说，对弟兄们得及精明又热诚；对内说，差事得交得过去；对外说，得能不软不硬的办了事。这，比作知县难多了。县长就是一个地方的皇上，巡长没那个身分，他得认真办事，又得敷衍事，真真假假，虚虚实实，哪一点没想到就出蘑菇。出了蘑菇还是真糟，往上升腾不易呀，往下降可不难呢。当过了巡长再降下来，派到哪里去也不吃香：弟兄们咬吃，喝！你这作过巡长的，……这个那个的扯一堆。长官呢，看你是刺儿头，故意的给你小鞋穿，你怎么忍也忍不下去。What to do?snort!由巡长而降为巡警，顶好干脆卷铺盖家去，这碗饭不必再吃了。可是，以我说吧，四十岁才升上巡长，真要是卷了铺盖，我干吗去呢？ 真要是这么一想，我登时就得白了头发。幸而我当时没这么想，只顾了高兴，把坏事儿全放在了一旁。我当时倒这么想：四十作上巡长，五十——哪怕是五十呢！——再作上巡官，也就算不白当了差。咱们非学校出身，又没有大人情，能作到巡官还算小吗？这么一想，我简直的拚了命，精神百倍的看着我的事，好象看着颗夜明珠似的！ 作了二年的巡长，我的头上真见了白头发。我并没细想过一切，可是天天揪着心，唯恐哪件事办错了，担了处分。白天，我老喜笑颜开的打着精神办公；夜间，我睡不实在，忽然想起一件事，我就受了一惊似的，翻来覆去的思索；未必能想出办法来，我的困意可也就不再回来了。 公事而外，我为我的儿女发愁：儿子已经二十了，姑娘十八。福海——我的儿子——上过几天私塾，几天贫儿学校，几天公立小学。字吗，凑在一块儿他大概能念下来第二册国文；坏招儿，他可学会了不少，私塾的，贫儿学校的，公立小学的，他都学来了，到处准能考一百分，假若学校里考坏招数的话。本来吗，自幼失了娘，我又终年在外边瞎混，他可不是爱怎么反就怎么反啵。我不恨铁不成钢去责备他，也不抱怨任何人，我只恨我的时运低，发不了财，不能好好的教育他。我不算对不起他们，我一辈子没给他们弄个后娘，给他们气受。至于我的时运不济，只能当巡警，那并非是我的错儿，人还能大过天去吗？ 福海的个子可不小，所以很能吃呀！一顿胡搂三大碗芝麻酱拌面，有时候还说不很饱呢！就凭他这个吃法，他再有我这么两份儿爸爸也不中用！我供给不起他上中学，他那点“秀气”也没法考上。我得给他找事作。snort!他会作什么呢？从老早，我心里就这么嘀咕：我的儿子楞可去拉洋车，也不去当巡警；我这辈子当够了巡警，不必世袭这份差事了！在福海十二三岁的时候，我教他去学手艺，他哭着喊着的一百个不去。不去就不去吧，等他长两岁再说；对个没娘的孩子不就得格外心疼吗？到了十五岁，我给他找好了地方去学徒，他不说不去，可是我一转脸，他就会跑回家来。几次我送他走，几次他偷跑回来。于是只好等他再大一点吧，等他心眼转变过来也许就行了。snort!从十五到二十，他就愣荒荒过来，能吃能喝，就是不爱干活儿。赶到教我给逼急了：“你到底愿意干什么呢？你说！”他低着脑袋，说他愿意挑巡警！他觉得穿上制服，在街上走，既能挣钱，又能就手儿散心，不象学徒那样永远圈在屋里。我没说什么，心里可刺着痛。我给打了个招呼，他挑上了巡警。我心里痛不痛的，反正他有事作，总比死吃我一口强啊。父是英雄儿好汉，爸爸巡警儿子还是巡警，而且他这个巡警还必定跟不上我。我到四十岁才熬上巡长，他到四十岁，哼！不教人家开革出来就是好事！没盼望！我没续娶过，因为我咬得住牙。他呢，赶明儿个难道不给他成家吗？拿什么养着呢？ 是的，儿子当了差，我心中反倒堵上个大疙疸！再看女儿呀，也十八九了，紧自搁在家里算怎回事呢？当然，早早撮出去的为是，越早越好。给谁呢？巡警，巡警，还得是巡警？一个人当巡警，子孙万代全得当巡警，仿佛掉在了巡警阵里似的。可是，不给巡警还真不行呢：论模样，她没什么模样；论教育，她自幼没娘，只认识几个大字；论赔送，我至多能给她作两件洋布大衫；论本事，她只能受苦，没别的好处。巡警的女儿天生来的得嫁给巡警，八字造定，谁也改不了！ well!给了就给了啵！撮出她去，我无论怎说也可以心净一会儿。并非是我心狠哪，想想看，把她撂到二十多岁，还许就剩在家里呢。我对谁都想对得起，可是谁又对得起我来着！我并不想唠里唠叨的发牢骚，不过我愿把事情都撂平了，谁是谁非，让大家看。 当她出嫁的那一天，我真想坐在那里痛哭一场。我可是没有哭；这也不是一半天的事了，我的眼泪只会在眼里转两转，简直的不会往下流！ fifteen 儿子有了事作，姑娘出了阁，我心里说：这我可能远走高飞了！假若外边有个机会，我楞把巡长搁下，也出去见识见识。什么发财不发财的，我不能就窝囊这么一辈子。 机会还真来了。记得那位冯大人呀，他放了外任官。我不是爱看报吗？得到这个消息，就找他去了，求他带我出去。他还记得我，而且愿意这么办。他教我去再约上三个好手，一共四个人随他上任。我留了个心眼，请他自己向局里要四名，作为是拨遣。我是这么想：假若日后事情不见佳呢，既省得朋友们抱怨我，而且还可以回来交差，有个退身步。他看我的办法不错，就指名向局里调了四个人。 这一喜可非同小喜。就凭我这点经验知识，管保说，到哪儿我也可以作个很好的警察局局长，一点不是瞎吹！一条狗还有得意的那一天呢，何况是个人？我也该抖两天了，四十多岁还没露过一回脸呢！ 果然，命令下来，我是卫队长；我乐得要跳起来。 snort!也不是咱的命不好，还是冯大人的运不济；还没到任呢，又撤了差。猫咬尿泡，瞎欢喜一场！幸而我们四个人是调用，不是辞差；冯大人又把我们送回局里去了。我的心里既为这件事难过，又为回局里能否还当巡长发愁，我脸上瘦了一圈。 幸而还好，我被派到防疫处作守卫，一共有六位弟兄，由我带领。这是个不错的差事，事情不多，而由防疫处开我们的饭钱。我不确实的知道，大概这是冯大人给我说了句好话。 在这里，饭钱既不必由自己出，我开始攒钱，为是给福海娶亲——只剩了这么一档子该办的事了，爽性早些办了吧！ 在我四十五岁上，我娶了儿媳妇——她的娘家父亲与哥哥都是巡警。可倒好，我这一家子，老少里外，全是巡警，凑吧凑吧，就可以成立个警察分所！ 人的行动有时候莫名其妙。娶了儿媳妇以后，也不知怎么我以为应当留下胡子，才够作公公的样子。我没细想自己是干什么的，直入公堂的就留下胡子了。小黑胡子在我嘴上，我捻上一袋关东烟，觉得挺够味儿。本来吗，姑娘聘出去了，儿子成了家，我自己的事又挺顺当，怎能觉得不是味儿呢？ snort!我的胡子惹下了祸。总局局长忽然换了人，新局长到任就检阅全城的巡警。这位老爷是军人出身，只懂得立正看齐，不懂得别的。在前面我已经说过，局里区里都有许多老人们，长相不体面，可是办事多年，最有经验。我就是和局里这群老手儿排在一处的，因为防疫处的守卫不属于任何警区，所以检阅的时候便随着局里的人立在一块儿。 当我们站好了队，等着检阅的时候，我和那群老人们还有说有笑，自自然然的。我们心里都觉得，重要的事情都归我们办，提哪一项事情我们都知道，我们没升腾起来已经算很委屈了，谁还能把我们踢出去吗？上了几岁年纪，诚然，可是我们并没少作事儿呀！即使说老朽不中用了，反正我们都至少当过十五六年的差，我们年轻力壮的时候是把精神血汗耗费在公家的差事上，冲着这点，难道还不留个情面吗？谁能够看狗老了就一脚踢出去呢？我们心中都这么想，所以满没把这回事放在心里，以为新局长从远处瞭我们一眼也就算了。 局长到了，大个子胸前挂满了徽章，又是喊，又是蹦，活象个机器人。我心里打开了鼓。他不按着次序看，一眼看到我们这一排，他猛虎扑食似的就跑过来了。岔开脚，手握在背后，他向我们点了点头。然后忽然他一个箭步跳到我们跟前，抓起一个老书记生的腰带，象摔跤似的往前一拉，几乎把老书记生拉倒；抓着腰带，他前后摇晃了老书记生几把，然后猛一撒手，老书记生摔了个屁股墩。局长对准了他就是两口唾沫，“你也当巡警！连腰带都系不紧？来！拉出去毙了！” 我们都知道，凭他是谁，也不能枪毙人。可是我们的脸都白了，不是怕，是气的。那个老书记生坐在地上，哆嗦成了一团。 局长又看了看我们，然后用手指划了条长线，“你们全滚出去，别再教我看见你们！你们这群东西也配当巡警！”说完这个，仿佛还不解气，又跑到前面，扯着脖子喊：“是有胡子的全脱了制服，马上走！” 有胡子的不止我一个，还都是巡长巡官，要不然我也不敢留下这几根惹祸的毛。 二十年来的服务，我就是这么被刷下来了。其实呢，我虽四十多岁，我可是一点也不显着老苍，谁教我留下了胡子呢！这就是说，当你年轻力壮的时候，你把命卖上，一月就是那六七块钱。你的儿子，因为你当巡警，不能读书受教育；你的女儿，因为你当巡警，也嫁个穷汉去吃窝窝头。你自己呢，一长胡子，就算完事，一个铜子的恤金养老金也没有，服务二十年后，你教人家一脚踢出来，象踢开一块碍事的砖头似的。五十以前，你没挣下什么，有三顿饭吃就算不错；五十以后，你该想主意了，是投河呢，还是上吊呢？这就是当巡警的下场头。 二十年来的差事，没作过什么错事，但我就这样卷了铺盖。 弟兄们有含着泪把我送出来的，我还是笑着；世界上不平的事可多了，我还留着我的泪呢！ sixteen 穷人的命——并不象那些施舍稀粥的慈善家所想的——不是几碗粥所能救活了的；有粥吃，不过多受几天罪罢了，早晚还是死。我的履历就跟这样的粥差不多，它只能帮助我找上个小事，教我多受几天罪；我还得去当巡警。除了说我当巡警，我还真没法介绍自己呢！它就象颗不体面的痣或瘤子，永远跟着我。我懒得说当过巡警，懒得再去当巡警，可是不说不当，还真连碗饭也吃不上，多么可恶呢！ 歇了没有好久，我由冯大人的介绍，到一座煤矿上去作卫生处主任，后来又升为矿村的警察分所所长；这总算运气不坏。在这里我很施展了些我的才干与学问：对村里的工人，我以二十年服务的经验，管理得真叫不错。他们聚赌，斗殴，罢工，闹事，醉酒，就凭我的一张嘴，就事论事，干脆了当，我能把他们说得心服口服。对弟兄们呢，我得亲自去训练。他们之中有的是由别处调来的，有的是由我约来帮忙的，都当过巡警；这可就不容易训练，因为他们懂得一些警察的事儿，而想看我一手儿。我不怕，我当过各样的巡警，里里外外我全晓得；凭着这点经验，我算是没被他们给撅了。对内对外，我全有办法，这一点也不瞎吹。 假若我能在这里混上几年，我敢保说至少我可以积攒下个棺材本儿，因为我的饷银差不多等于一个巡官的，而到年底还可以拿一笔奖金。可是，我刚作到半年，把一切都布置得有个大概了，哼！我被人家顶下来了。我的罪过是年老与过于认真办事。弟兄们满可以拿些私钱，假若我肯睁着一只闭着一只眼的话。我的两眼都睁着，种下了毒。对外也是如此，我明白警察的一切，所以我要本着良心把此地的警务办得完完全全，真象个样儿。还是那句话，人民要不是真正的人民，办警察是多此一举，越办得好越招人怨恨。自然，容我办上几年，大家也许能看出它的好处来。可是，人家不等办好，已经把我踢开了。 在这个社会中办事，现在才明白过来，就得象发给巡警们皮鞋似的。大点，活该！小点，挤脚？deserve it!什么事都能办通了，你打算合大家的适，他们要不把鞋打在你脸上才怪。这次的失败，因为我忘了那三个宝贝字——“汤儿事”，因此我又卷了铺盖。 这回，一闲就是半年多。从我学徒时候起，我无事也忙，永不懂得偷闲。现在，虽然是奔五十的人了，我的精神气力并不比那个年轻小伙子差多少。生让我闲着，我怎么受呢？由早晨起来到日落，我没有正经事作，没有希望，跟太阳一样，就那么由东而西的转过去；不过，太阳能照亮了世界，我呢，心中老是黑糊糊的。闲得起急，闲得要躁，闲得讨厌自己，可就是摸不着点儿事作。想起过去的劳力与经验，并不能自慰，因为劳力与经验没给我积攒下养老的钱，而我眼看着就是挨饿。我不愿人家养着我，我有自己的精神与本事，愿意自食其力的去挣饭吃。我的耳目好象作贼的那么尖，只要有个消息，便赶上前去，可是老空着手回来，把头低得无可再低，真想一跤摔死，倒也爽快！还没到死的时候，社会象要把我活埋了！晴天大日头的，我觉得身子慢慢往土里陷；什么缺德的事也没作过，可是受这么大的罪。一天到晚我叼着那根烟袋，里边并没有烟，只是那么叼着，算个“意思”而已。我活着也不过是那么个“意思”，好象专为给大家当笑话看呢！好容易，我弄到个事：到河南去当盐务缉私队的队兵。队兵就队兵吧，有饭吃就行呀！借了钱，打点行李，我把胡子剃得光光的上了“任”。 半年的工夫，我把债还清，而且升为排长。别人花俩，我花一个，好还债。别人走一步，我走两步，所以升了排长。委屈并挡不住我的努力，我怕失业。一次失业，就多老上三年，不饿死，也憋闷死了。至于努力挡得住失业挡不住，那就难说了。 我想——哼！我又想了！——我既能当上排长，就能当上队长，不又是个希望吗？这回我留了神，看人家怎作，我也怎作。人家要私钱，我也要，我别再为良心而坏了事；良心在这年月并不值钱。假若我在队上混个队长，连公带私，有几年的工夫，我不是又可以剩下个棺材本儿吗？我简直的没了大志向，只求腿脚能动便去劳动；多咱动不了窝，好，能有个棺材把我装上，不至于教野狗们把我嚼了。我一眼看着天，一眼看着地。我对得起天，再求我能静静的躺在地下。并非我倚老卖老，我才五十来岁；不过，过去的努力既是那么白干一场，我怎能不把眼睛放低一些，只看着我将来的坟头呢！我心里是这么想，我的志愿既这么小，难道老天爷还不睁开点眼吗？ 来家信，说我得了孙子。我要说我不喜欢，那简直不近人情。可是，我也必得说出来：喜欢完了，我心里凉了那么一下，不由的自言自语的嘀咕：“哼！又来个小巡警吧！”一个作祖父的，按说，哪有给孙子说丧气话的，可是谁要是看过我前边所说的一大片，大概谁也会原谅我吧？有钱人家的儿女是希望，没钱人家的儿女是累赘；自己的肚中空虚，还能顾得子孙万代，和什么“忠厚传家久，诗书继世长”吗？ 我的小烟袋锅儿里又有了烟叶，叼着烟袋，我咂摸着将来的事儿。有了孙子，我的责任还不止于剩个棺材本儿了；儿子还是三等警，怎能养家呢？我不管他们夫妇，还不管孙子吗？这教我心中忽然非常的乱，自己一年比一年的老，而家中的嘴越来越多，哪个嘴不得用窝窝头填上呢！我深深的打了几个嗝儿，胸中仿佛横着一口气。算了吧，我还是少思索吧，没头儿，说不尽！个人的寿数是有限的，困难可是世袭的呢！子子孙孙，万年永实用，窝窝头！ 风雨要是都按着天气预测那么来，就无所谓狂风暴雨了。困难若是都按着咱们心中所思虑的一步一步慢慢的来，也就没有把人急疯了这一说了。我正盘算着孙子的事儿，我的儿子死了！ 他还并没死在家里呀！我还得去运灵。 福海，自从成家以后，很知道要强。虽然他的本事有限，可是他懂得了怎样尽自己的力量去作事。我到盐务缉私队上来的时候，他很愿意和我一同来，相信在外边可以多一些发展的机会。我拦住了他，因为怕事情不稳，一下子再教父子同时失业，如何得了。可是，我前脚离开了家，他紧随着也上了威海卫。他在那里多挣两块钱。独自在外，多挣两块就和不多挣一样，可是穷人想要强，就往往只看见了钱，而不多合计合计。到那里，他就病了；舍不得吃药。及至他躺下了，药可也就没了用。 把灵运回来，我手中连一个钱也没有了。儿媳妇成了年轻的寡妇，带着个吃奶的小孩，我怎么办呢？我没法再出外去作事，在家乡我又连个三等巡警也当不上，我才五十岁，已走到了绝路。我羡慕福海，早早的死了，一闭眼三不知；假若他活到我这个岁数，至好也不过和我一样，多一半还许不如我呢！儿媳妇哭，哭得死去活来，我没有泪，哭不出来，我只能满屋里打转，偶尔的冷笑一声。 以前的力气都白卖了。现在我还得拿出全套的本事，去给小孩子找点粥吃。我去看守空房；我去帮着人家卖菜；我去作泥水匠的小工子活；我去给人家搬家……除了拉洋车，我什么都作过了。无论作什么，我还都卖着最大的力气，留着十分的小心。五十多了，我出的是二十岁的小伙子的力气，肚子里可是只有点稀粥与窝窝头，身上到冬天没有一件厚实的棉袄，我不求人白给点什么，还讲仗着力气与本事挣饭吃，豪横了一辈子，到死我还不能输这口气。时常我挨一天的饿，时常我没有煤上火，时常我找不到一撮儿烟叶，可是我决不说什么；我给公家卖过力气了，我对得住一切的人，我心里没毛病，还说什么呢？我等着饿死，死后必定没有棺材，儿媳妇和孙子也得跟着饿死，那只好就这样吧！谁教我是巡警呢！我的眼前时常发黑，我仿佛已摸到了死，哼！我还笑，笑我这一辈的聪明本事，笑这出奇不公平的世界，希望等我笑到末一声，这世界就换个样儿吧！