Chapter 12 12

15 It was already midnight when I returned to Mr. Fu's house.Mr. Fu has long since rested. When I entered the room, the mouse was still asleep. He was wearing a sweater and underwear, and sat on my bed with his legs crossed. bed.The mouse sat in the middle of his treasures, rummaging here and there, counting the stolen goods. "Gan Yiniang!" the mouse cursed to himself, "she must have stolen it." "Who are you yelling at?" I asked. "Rotten Taozi, who else?" The mouse suddenly raised his head, his left eye was black and swollen until there was only a slit left, and his right eye was wide open with a fierce look.His face was covered with Tian Qi medicine powder, which was colorful, and his lips were swollen and rolled up.

"What the hell happened? You little thief, why did you steal it instead?" "Ah Ching, do you still remember the person who manages Parker's five-one gold tubes?" "Is it the manager of the hotel in Kaohsiung?" "It's gone, it's gone!" cried the Mouse, his voice full of pain. "Didn't I tell you to pawn it back then, let's eat Wu Chaoshou, if you don't do it, isn't it just lost now?" I sat down on the edge of the bed. "I have to check every day. This morning I found that the lock of my box was picked. There is also a 'Bulova', some rings, and a chain. I am dizzy with anxiety. Don't It doesn't matter, my Parker 51, my Parker 51—" the mouse cried, almost crying.

"How do you know Rotten Taozi stole it?" "Not her, who else?" The mouse shouted angrily. "Although the crow is fierce, he won't steal. In my room, only Rotten Peach often goes there. I'll ask her, she will be the first to sue." , slapped me several times, ran to my room, lifted my box, and was about to throw it out the window. I beat her, kicked her, snatched the box from her—" The mouse suddenly raised his thin, smoldering arm, and shouted: "Anyone who dares to touch my treasure chest, I will fight him desperately—" "Hush—" I quickly stopped him, "Keep your voice down, the old man is asleep."

The mouse was panting with excitement, and said: "The crow thinks I'm still afraid of him, no! I'm not afraid of anyone anymore!" The mouse's head tilted, and its neck twitched. "He came to help Rotten Peach, too, to take my box! I bit him, took a piece of his skin off. The two of them beat me, beat me—" The mouse slapped itself on the head with one hand. "Even if they kill me, they won't be able to take away the box I'm holding!" The mouse giggled and looked very proud. "Later, the crow had nothing to do with me, so it had to drive me out."

"Okay, now you're homeless too!" "What are you afraid of?" The mouse suddenly became very fearless, "Aren't I going to starve to death?" "The master said that he wants you to move to Anle Township tomorrow, and stay there at night, guarding the shop with Wu Min." The mouse pondered for a while, then said: "Ah Qing, can you go and do something for me tomorrow?" "What's up?" "Go to the hardware store and buy me a lock. Make sure it's strong." "Are you going to lock your treasure chest? Will they take your whole chest away if they want to steal it?"

"So," the mouse looked up at me, with a begging look on its swollen and ugly face, "brother, I want to ask you, my precious box is here with you, please replace it with me." I'll keep it, okay? There are a lot of people in Anle Township, so I don't feel at ease when I bring it there!" "And what about my custody fee?" I laughed. "Then what's the problem?" the mouse said cunningly, parting his swollen lips, "brother, just tell me what you want, and I'll get the moon for you too." "Forget it," I laughed, "If you go stealing again and let the police catch you, you will really be sent to Huoshao Island."

The mouse jumped out of bed, carefully put all the treasures he had scattered on the bed back into his box, and stuffed the box under the bed.He breathed a sigh of relief, touched the bruise on his face, and said: "Master Fu's medicinal wine is very effective. It doesn't hurt anymore." 16 The eighteenth day of the ninth lunar month is Mr. Fu's 70th birthday. Master called us together to discuss how to celebrate Mr. Fu's birthday.After one month, the business in Anle Township has been booming, and there is quite a profit. The master prepares to close the door on the 18th day to celebrate Mr. Fu's birthday.But the master said that Mr. Fu must not be allowed to know beforehand, because he knows that Mr. Fu never celebrates birthdays. If he knows, he must not allow it.The master said, you don’t need to put on a show. On the 18th day, I cooked a few dishes in Anle Township, just take them over.The master persuaded Lu Siwu Lu Fatty from Cornucopia, and invited him to come over, cook himself, and cooked several Cornucopia's signature dishes: a snowflake chicken, a steamed duck with lotus leaves, and a big black ginseng embedded in meat.Lu Siwu also made a special occasional dish called Eight Immortals Shangshou. He collected ten dishes in total, and finally even steamed two baskets of birthday peaches.Xiaoyu put on the apron, rushing to be Lu Siwu's second-in-command. He recently learned a few dishes from culinary school and has been looking for opportunities to show off his skills.He begged Lu Siwu to let him cook a dish of squirrel and yellow croaker.We all gathered around to watch, Xiaoyu had gone to class for a few days, and she was actually wearing the air of a senior secretary, sometimes asking the mouse to cook the pot for him, sometimes asking Wu Min to cut ginger for him, and asking me to hand over the oil Take the salt and send the three of us around. The mouse was about to protest, but Xiaoyu stopped him and said:

"This is the rule in the kitchen. I'm in charge of the kitchen now. You guys are doing odd jobs. Who do you use if you don't need it?" Xiaoyu tossed with sugar and vinegar, and finally fried a yellow croaker. He waved a spatula and shouted: "Look, does my yellow crocodile look like a squirrel? It can still stand up!" We tidied up the dishes and put them in the carrying boxes.The master went out and bought a few handfuls of silver thread noodles for birthday noodles, and brought half a dozen Huadiao wine. The six of them took two taxis and went to Mr. Fu's house to pay homage to his birthday.Mr. Fu had been to Lingguang Nursery in Zhonghe Township for half a day, and he probably just came back. He was sitting in the living room alone, resting his eyes with his eyes closed, his pale head hanging low.On the confession table next to the wall in the living room, fresh white chrysanthemums were replaced, and a black pottery incense burner was added. Sandalwood was burned in the incense burner, and the lingering cigarette smoke was curling up to the two pictures of Mr. Fu on the wall. And the photos of Fu Wei and his father and son in military uniforms went up.A group of us rushed into the living room, waking up Mr. Fu. When he saw us, he was stunned. The master hurried forward to apologize to Mr. Fu, and explained our reason for coming.

"Old man, it's all about these children," the master turned around, pushing and pulling us up, "They know that today is a good day for the old man, and they all clamored to come to pay respects to the old man on his birthday. I can't stop it even if I want to." Mr. Fu was a little displeased at first, and blamed the master. Later, he saw us carrying boxes and wine in our hands. There was a smile on the face with overlapping freckles, and he sighed: "Yang Jinhai, you have too many things to do. You know I've never been into this kind of thing, but it's hard for these children."

"We are honored by the old man," Xiaoyu said with a smile, "if it weren't for the good old man, why would the master give us a holiday today?" "Okay," Mr. Fu said with a smile, "you have worked hard these days, let's have a meal and a glass of wine together tonight. Relax." After the master gave an order, several of us hurriedly started to arrange.I went to the kitchen, carried out a large round table that was leaning against the wall vertically, set up the table, and placed seven pairs of bowls and chopsticks.Xiaoyu was boiling water and noodles in the kitchen, and Wu Min warmed up the wine. Everyone was busy for a while, and they sat down at the table around eight o'clock.Mr. Fu sat down first, the master sat opposite, Wu Min and Xiaoyu sat on the left and right hands of Mr. Fu, A Xiongzai and I sat on both sides of the master, the mouse was sandwiched between me and Wu Min, and the bruise on his face disappeared. But the bruise has not gone away, there are black patches here and there, as if a plaster has been pasted on his face.Xiaoyu got up to get the pot, first poured the wine for Mr. Fu, and then came to fill the wine glasses in front of us one by one.The master took the lead, we all stood up, and made a toast to Mr. Fu.

"Old man——" the master held the wine glass in both hands, and was about to speak, but Old Man Fu stopped him. "Yang Jinhai, stop talking nonsense, sit down and eat." "Old man," the master still insisted; "we don't dare to talk about it, we only have one sentence. Our Anle Township has survived today because of the blessing of the old man. Let me borrow this cup of birthday wine from the old man tonight to wish the old man a long and boundless life , Second, it is also to celebrate the prosperity of our Anle Township." The master drank the wine first as soon as he looked up, and we followed suit, and everyone drank a glass.Mr. Fu drank a glass of Shaoxing wine slowly. I have never seen Mr. Fu drink before, so he said with a smile: "The old man is good at drinking!" Mr. Fu also smiled and said: "I used to drink a few cups. On the mainland, I like to drink Fenjiu the most. I quit it after I got sick. I saw you guys today with such high interest. I also came to join in your fun." Xiaoyu hurriedly offered dishes to Mr. Fu. There were ten dishes on the table, red, red, green, and green. Xiaoyu's plate of yellow croaker shrank its head and arched its back, dragging its tail, which really looked like a squirrel crawling.Xiaoyu took a piece of fish, offered it to the old man, and said: "Old man, I made this with my own hands, please give me a taste." "I can't see that you still have this skill?" Mr. Fu smiled, took a bite of the yellow croaker, nodded and praised, and said to the master. "I often ask Ah Qing how your Anle Township is doing. He said that nine out of ten nights are full. It seems that your business can be maintained, and I am very happy for you." "To tell you the truth, old man," the master replied, "our tavern won the praise of your old man as soon as it came up, and the name is good. Secondly, to be honest, this month, it has been relying on these children to work hard. , even this idiot worked very hard and helped a lot.” Said the master, but slapped Ah Xiongzai on the thick back. "Dada, cheers!" Ah Xiongzai suddenly held up the wine glass with both hands and respected the master. The master was so surprised that he burst out laughing immediately. "What a good son! This is a rooster laying eggs, and there is a strange story! A fool will honor his father. Well, Dadasheng accepts your cup!" The master gulped down a full glass of wine until there was no drop left, heaved a long sigh of relief, looked at A Xiongzai, nodded and sighed: "Stupid, it's also thanks to you, Dada finally didn't hurt you in vain!" The master got up and tore off a duck leg from the dish of steamed duck with lotus leaf powder, and put it on Ah Xiongzai's plate. Ah Xiongzai lifted the duck leg high with his hand, grinned and read: "Duck Duck—Dada—" We all laughed, and Mr. Fu couldn't help coughing, arching his back even higher.Xiaoyu hurried over to beat old man Fu's back, and served a bowl of hot stewed chicken soup for old man Fu. "Yang Jinhai, at least you didn't recognize your godson in vain," Mr. Fu said after clearing his throat after drinking two ladles of soup. "Oh, old man," the master sighed with infinite emotion, "it's not easy to be a godfather! If you drag him down, I'm afraid his life span will be shortened by ten years." Mr. Fu wants us to drink freely and not be detained.Xiaoyu, Wu Min, and I and the mouse started guessing punches across the table.Mr. Fu put down his chopsticks, held the wine glass in one hand, and watched us yelling and having fun silently.After a few rounds, Xiaoyu and Wu Min were blushing. "Xiao Min," Xiaoyu shouted, "If you can't afford to lose, then don't play, and if you lose, you should obediently drink." "Three punches win two," Wu Min argued with a smile, "How can you be fined for drinking if you only lose one punch?" "Whoever beats your mother-in-law wins twice with three punches, one punch and a glass of wine, drink it for me!" Wu Min refused to drink, so Xiaoyu ran over, grabbed Wu Min by the collar and was about to drink it. Wu Min struggled to hide, spilling a glass of wine in Xiaoyu's hand. "Xiaoyu," Mr. Fu persuaded with a smile, "Wu Min probably doesn't have the capacity for alcohol, so you can just let him go." "Old man," Xiaoyu shouted unconvinced, "he's pretending to be dead, he's going to have a drink with his 'Scarred King Five', and he'll have a good time." "Who is the 'Scar King Five'?" Mr. Fu asked. "Is it the one who Xiao Min cut his hands for last time?" "Oh." Mr. Fu looked at Wu Min and replied. "Don't listen to his nonsense, old man." Wu Min said anxiously. "I'm talking nonsense? What is this?" Xiaoyu grabbed Wu Min's left wrist and turned it outwards, revealing the scarlet knife mark on his wrist that was as long as a centipede. "You have the strength to cut your hands, why don't you even dare to drink a glass of wine?" Wu Min hurriedly broke free from Xiaoyu, and hid his injured left hand under the table. "Wu Min, let me see." Master Fu suddenly extended his hand to Wu Min. "No more, old man, it's ugly," Wu Min begged, looking at old man Fu with a flushed face. "It's okay, I'll take a look." Mr. Fu softened his voice. Wu Min was so helpless that he had to pull his hand out from under the table. Mr. Fu held Wu Min's cut wrist and looked at it for a long while. The knife mark on his wrist still glowed bright red under the lamp.Mr. Fu suddenly took off a watch he was wearing on his left wrist and put it on Wu Min's hand. "Old man——" Wu Min was probably a little stunned, his left hand was hanging in the air with the watch on, as if he didn't know what to do. "When you wear this watch, the scar on your hand will be invisible." Mr. Fu patted Wu Min on the shoulder and said, the stainless steel spring strap of the watch just covered the inch-long scar on his wrist. "Thank you, old man." Wu Min withdrew his hand, thanked in a low voice, and kept stroking the watch on his left wrist with his right hand. "This is an Omega. It's a bit old, but it's a good watch. I asked someone to bring it from Hong Kong—" Mr. Fu paused, "It was originally bought for my son Fu Wei. I didn’t even have a good watch when I was promoted to platoon commander. Later, I used it to wear it myself, and only repaired it once because of the water vapor. It must be very accurate.” Mr. Fu looked at Wu Min, but shook his head and sighed after a while: "What a confused child, is he able to do that kind of thing at such a young age?" "Wu Min," the master called across the table, "Go and kneel to the old man, if it weren't for the old man, your little life would have been gone long ago!" "Yang Jinhai," Mr. Fu hurriedly waved his hand to stop the master and said, "Don't interrupt." Then he turned to us and said, "You guys go eat, the food is cold." We were too busy punching and drinking just now, and we didn't have time to eat vegetables, so we just finished serving the birthday noodles, and everyone gave a toast to Mr. Fu, and then started to munch.Mr. Fu only scooped up a small bowl of Snowflake Chicken, tasted a couple of mouthfuls, and then put down the chopsticks. "Old man." I called softly from the side, old man Fu's gleaming white hair head was hanging lower and lower, his teary eyes were misty, as if he was about to fall asleep. "Huh?" Old Master Fu suddenly raised his head with a tired look on his face. "Is the old man tired?" I asked in a low voice. "Hey," Mr. Fu forced a smile, "after all, I'm getting old, and I can't stand it with just one glass of wine." Then he stood up. "I'm going to rest first, you just make trouble, it's okay." I also stood up, and wanted to help Mr. Fu, but he pushed him away. He turned around, and tremblingly, he walked back into the room step by step like a hill on his back. As soon as Mr. Fu left, Xiaoyu stretched out his bare left hand, sighed, and said: "After all, Xiao Min is better off than me, and the old man gave me a watch. I've thought about it all my life, but I haven't even gotten a watch yet!" "Didn't Boss Wu of Tianxing promise to give you a Seiko watch?" I asked with a smile. "The old man? Guess what he said to me that night, 'Do you want a show? Do you want a bird?'" 17 It rained heavily on Monday night. It was only six or seven o'clock, and the water in the alley rose to a height of three inches, making it difficult for cars to drive in.Since the opening of Anle Township, even if the number of guests is the least this night, at ten o'clock, there are only seven or eight regular customers who move every day.Because Yang Sanlang did not come and no one played the piano, the hotel seemed even more deserted.Captain Long was the only one at the bar, and Xiaoyu accompanied him to drink and chat.I had nothing to do, so I took out the last volume of "Daxiongling Enmity and Enmity" that Yu Hao lent me to police Zhuge and I wrote it. I saw Wanli Feipeng Ding Yunxiang being killed by his son Eshun who fell into the Qing army. In the tense moment of accidental injury and hemoptysis, I heard someone calling me in a low voice: "Ah Ching." "Ah." I suddenly raised my head and couldn't help screaming. A tall man was standing in front of the bar. He was wearing a white raincoat and a low white one-inch hat. The water dripped onto the bar, and his thin cheeks were blue and white under the amber light. "Mr. Wang." I called. "I just heard that you work here—I never knew about it," said Wang Kuilong, who was still standing there, drenched in water.I suddenly remembered that night, that night when the typhoon came, in the park, Wang Kuilong was probably wearing this white raincoat. "Would Mr. Wang have a glass of wine?" I also stood up and asked. "Okay—" he hesitated, "then give me a glass of brandy." He took off his rain hat, and his black shaggy hair was also wet, and the locks overlapped on his head, making it thicker.I went to pour a glass of three-star brandy, saw him still standing, and asked: "Would Mr. Wang sit at the bar or at the table?" "Go over there." He pointed to the innermost corner, an empty table. I served the wine and a pack of three 5 cigarettes, and followed him. He took off his raincoat, took out a handkerchief and wiped the raindrops off his forehead and face before sitting down. "Sit down too," he pointed to the seat opposite him, and I put the wine glass in front of him and sat down too. "How are you lately, Ah Qing?" He looked at me and asked. "I'm fine, Mr. Wang," I replied. He picked up the glass in his bony hands, took a sip of the brandy, smacked his lips, and breathed a sigh of relief. "I've been thinking about you all the time, and I found out that you work in Anle Township after asking people, so I came to see you tonight." "Thank you Mr. Wang." "This bar is not bad, how is the business?" He raised his head and looked around. "It was always full every night, but it rained heavily tonight and no one came." I opened a cigarette, offered him one, lit the fire for him, and lit one myself. "It's interesting to be a bartender, isn't it?" He looked at me and smiled. "You can meet many strange people." I took a puff of smoke and said with a smile. "Ah Qing, I also worked as a bartender in a bar in New York for two years," Wang Kuilong said, "My bar is called 'Happy Valley', which is on Seventy-second Street in Manhattan, not far from Central Park. It was a well-known but nasty bar, attended by blacks, Puerto Ricans, whites of all kinds, and a few Orientals." "Are there bars like ours in the United States?" I couldn't help but wonder, I know there are many in Tokyo, and it was Xiaoyu who told me. "Too many, too many, too many to count," Wang Kuilong sighed with a smile, "There may be hundreds of them in New York City, some of them are very particular, and they all go to the rich and the upper class, doctors, Lawyers, you have to wear a suit and tie when you go in. Some are near the school, where college students gather, and there are some strange bars, where all the people who go there wear leather jackets and ride motorcycles. They are called SM." "What does SM mean?" "It means sadistic masochist." "Oh——" I want to tell him that we also have them here, and I have seen mice before, and a few smoke bubbles burned on my arms. "However, our 'Happy Valley' is quite special. Most of the people who go there are homeless, and many of them are children who have run away from home. 'Happy Valley' is a place for them to rest temporarily, a shelter. Most of those children are infected drug addiction or venereal disease. I'm going to work as a bartender to make some pocket money, and I like to hide in that deep, deep cellar and hang out with the bums-but I earned Most of the two dollars are posted on those children, because they always have no money to see a doctor, and they can’t quit the drug——” Wang Kuilong shook his head, with a helpless smile floating on his pale face, he raised the wine glass in his hand, silently sucking the brandy in the glass. "Mr. Wang——" I asked, "Where's little Jinbao?" Huazai, a little girl from Sanshui Street who often comes to Anle Township, told me that more than a week ago, he ran into Wang Kuilong walking on the street with little Jinbao in Ximending. Wang Kuilong was tall and thin, and little Jinbao was small and lame. Walking in front of Wang Kuilong, turning every step and jumping every step, like a happy little pug.There are rumors in the circle of Xiao Moer in Sanshui Street that after the typhoon night king Kuilong brought Xiao Jinbao back, he adopted him.Hua Zigen said enviously and jealously: "Long Zi bought a lot of new clothes for the little lame man, and he dressed in that suit, but no matter how he wore it, his lame foot couldn't fit a shoe—he had to dance all over the street barefoot!" "Little Jinbao? I went to see him just now—he's in the hospital." Wang Kuilong's eyes suddenly lit up. "Is he ill?" "Xiao Jinbao had an operation at National Taiwan University Hospital yesterday morning. It was performed by one of the most famous surgeons in National Taiwan University. The operation went well, but it was hard work—you know that his right foot was born with a deformity. I had to use the back of my foot—" I remember how little Jinbao struggled when he climbed the steps of the lotus pond in the park.He usually doesn't dare to show his face in the park. He always waits until the night gets darker and darker, and there are only two or three wandering spirits left by the lotus pond. like a deer. "Will his foot get better after surgery?" I asked, and I only really saw Xiao Jinbao's deformed right foot once, because he couldn't wear shoes, and the instep was covered with a layer of maroon calluses. "I discussed it in detail with the doctor. Several doctors from National Taiwan University consulted. According to their diagnosis, there is 60% hope. I asked Xiao Jinbao himself, and he agreed. We decided to prescribe it—it was difficult for him. Well, the little guy is very brave, after the anesthesia wore off, he broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, but he didn't make a sound." Wang Kuilong sighed and said: "His deformed right foot, I don't know how much he has suffered. He told me that the gang of Sanshui Street pranks, sometimes surrounded him and asked him to walk in circles with the back of his foot. They clapped their hands. Laughing—you know, little Jinbao grew up in the dark alleys of Sanshui Street. His mother was a prostitute in Sanshui Street. Little Jinbao said that when he was young, his mother was picking up guests at home, and he stood He kept watch for his mother at the entrance of the alley. He remembered that his mother had a few old customers, and he just called them Dad. I asked him: "Little Jinbao, where is your own father?" He shook his head and grinned. Said: 'I don't remember.'—” "Ah Qing—" Wang Kuilong's voice trembled a little, "When I was stroking his scarred and lame leg, my heart was aching, and I always hoped to heal him. Although the operation is not yet certain, To be sure, but there is at least 60% to 70% hope. I promised him that after leaving the hospital, the first thing I would do would be to take him to a raw leather shoe store to order a pair of soft-soled leather shoes for him. It is a pity that he has never worn leather shoes in his life! Today I went to the National Taiwan University Hospital to see him, and the pain eased a little, but the whole leg was swollen. The wound was probably a little inflamed. He was lying on the bed and could not move at all, and he had to be attended to. Do you know how nasty the nurses at National Taiwan University are? I don't care about people at all. So I stayed with him in the hospital for a day. When I came out, I didn't expect it to rain so hard outside. Somehow, I suddenly thought of you tonight, so I came to talk to you chat." "Mr. Wang, do you want a glass of brandy?" I saw Wang Kuilong drank the glass of brandy in his hand and there was nothing left.An empty glass was still held tightly in his hand. "Okay," Wang Kuilong thought for a while, then smiled, "I was probably tired all day, and my head hurt just now, so I drank a glass of brandy and it blew up." I went to the bar again and poured a glass of brandy for Wang Kuilong. "Ah Qing, how are you doing now? Do you need anything else?" Wang Kuilong stared at me fixedly, "You know, I have always cared about you." "I'm living a good life now, Mr. Wang," I replied, avoiding his eyes. I don't know why, as soon as I felt Wang Kuilong approaching me, I started to want to run away. I remember that night I came from his father's old room The official residence hastily climbed through the iron gate and cut his legs. "Really, Mr. Wang, my life is very stable now. Our master opened this Anle Township, which really gave us a 'shelter' as you said. When our business is good, the tip is not bad. And Now I have moved to Mr. Fu's house again, Fu Chongshan Mr. Fu is our great benefactor, he treats me very well, and there is no money for food and lodging at his place." "Fu Chongshan—who are you talking about?" Wang Kuilong suddenly sat up straight, a little excited. "Mr. Wang, does Mr. Fu Chongshan know Mr. Fu?" I asked, "Mr. Fu is from Shandong. Wang Kuilong stretched out his big bony hand and clasped my wrist tightly, pinching my hand a little ache. His deeper eyes shone brightly, and he said to me urgently and solemnly: : "Ah Qing, you go back and tell Mr. Fu Chongshan: Wang Kuilong has returned from the United States. Anyway, I hope to see Mr. Fu. Please ask him to wait for me at home at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon." 18 The next day after I went back, I told Mr. Fu about Wang Kuilong's message. Mr. Fu was not surprised and pondered for a moment.But sighed: "I've heard that he's back a long time ago, so I figured it's time for him to come and see me." "The old man also knows Wang Kuilong?" I asked curiously. "I was an old friend with his father, Wang Shangde. During the Anti-Japanese War, we were both in the Fifth War Zone, which was regarded as a robe. But I retired early, and Wang Shangde was promoted. He was a big official. In Nanjing, we used to live in Dabei Lane, the past was very dense, and it was only after arriving in Taiwan that they gradually became estranged. Kui Long—I watched him grow up.” Mr. Fu originally planned to go to Lingguang Nursery in Zhonghe Township in the afternoon, but he gave up because of this. He changed into a white bamboo cloth Tang suit that he usually wears at home, sat in the living room, waited for Wang Kuilong, and ordered me to boil water and make tea.Wang Kuilong was supposed to arrive at two o'clock in the afternoon. He was wearing a black suit and even a black tie, which made his face paler. Comb neatly.I led him into the living room, and when he saw Mr. Fu, he called out in a trembling voice: "Uncle Fu." "Kuilong," Old Master Fu also stood up tremblingly, stretched out a hand, and called out to meet Wang Kuilong. They stared at each other for a long time, hesitant to speak, and finally Mr. Fu asked Wang Kuilong to take a seat.I went to brew a pot of Tieguanyin, brought it to the living room on a tea tray, and poured tea for both of them.Mr. Fu picked up his teacup, blew away the floating tea leaves, and took a sip.Wang Kuilong also raised his cup and drank tea silently. "Uncle Fu, I wanted to come to you as soon as I came back." Wang Kuilong finally said. "I know," Mr. Fu nodded and replied, "I'm waiting for you too." "I've always wanted to come back." "These years, being outside is enough for you." Mr. Fu looked at Wang Kuilong and sighed. "Mother passed away four years ago. I sent a telegram to my father. I wanted to come back for the funeral, but my father refused." "Kuilong." Old Master Fu raised his hand and called out, but fell silent again. "Your father—" After a while, Mr. Fu said, "He is also very embarrassed." "I know," Wang Kuilong said with a miserable smile, "it's unfortunate for our Wang family to have such a monster as me, which has dragged down my father's first life's fame." "You have to understand that your father is no different than ordinary people. He has made great contributions to the country," Mr. Fu persuaded. "He has a high social status, so of course he has many scruples. You should also think about him." "Uncle Fu, I kept my name and identity in the United States and wandered for ten years, just because of what my father said." Wang Kuilong's voice was full of resentment, "Before I left, my father said to me: 'You go now. You are not allowed to come back as long as I am alive.' He said that very decisively. I understand that I am the shame and shame of his life. We have many relatives in New York. I never go to them, and I will never let them They knew that it was just to avoid adding trouble to daddy. But Uncle Fu, this time when daddy passed away, he didn't let me come back to see him at the end of his life, and he didn't even want me to attend the funeral. My uncle told me that it was daddy who told me that he The body was buried before the telegram was sent to me." "I went there on the day of the funeral," Mr. Fu's voice became a little hoarse. "It's a state funeral ceremony, and the mourning behind your father is very beautiful. There are all related people that day, and there are many relatives and friends in your family. You There are indeed many inconveniences at the scene." "Of course," Wang Kuilong said with a wry smile, "my uncle said the same thing. I had already humiliated my father before I was alive. Do I want to embarrass him on the big day of his funeral? I haven't gone to replace my father all these days. Going to the grave, I didn’t go to the six plows with my uncle, aunt, and others until the day of the seventh year. Dad’s grave has not been wrapped yet, and a black oilcloth is covered on the pile of loess. I stood in front of the pile of loess, Not a single tear. I saw my uncle's face full of anger, and I knew he must be cursing me secretly: 'This bastard didn't shed tears when he came to his father's grave'—" Wang Kuilong sneered twice, and suddenly he raised his head, his deep-set eyes sparkled, his pale cheeks turned red, and he shouted excitedly: "Uncle Fu, Uncle Fu, how could he know what I was thinking in my heart at that moment? At that moment, I wished I could pounce forward, uncover the black tarpaulin, scrape away the pile of soil, jump into the pit, and hug my father's chest." Dead body, weeping bitterly for three days and three nights, bleeding from crying, look at the resentment in father's heart whether he can wash it or not - he hates me so much! He doesn't even want me to see his remains for the last time. I I have been waiting for ten years, and I am waiting for his pardon. His words, like a spell, have been branded on my body, and I carry his deportation order like an exile. Under the skyscrapers, running around. Ten years, I escaped for ten years, his spell is on my back, burning every day, only he, only he can lift it. But he didn’t leave a word, just It’s buried in the ground. He’s cursing me, cursing me that I’ll never be reborn—” Wang Kuilong's voice seemed to be shaking with pain. "Kuilong," Mr. Fu also became agitated, his shoulder blades raised high, his hunchback pressed him as if he couldn't bear it, and his iron-grey eyebrows frowned, "you say so Your father is so unfair!" "Isn't it? Isn't it?" Wang Kuilong shouted, "Uncle Fu, I came this time to ask you that you must have seen Daddy before he passed away." "When he was seriously ill, I visited him once or twice in the Veterans General Hospital." "What did he tell you?" "We talked some old things, he was not in good spirits, and I didn't stay much." "I know, he won't mention me anymore. He has absolutely no love for me." Wang Kuilong shook his head desperately. "Kuilong, you only care about your father. Have you ever thought about how much your father suffered for you?" Mr. Fu seemed a little angry. "Why haven't I thought about it?" Wang Kuilong said helplessly, "I just hope he can give me a chance, and I will try to make up for some of the pain he has suffered for me." "It's so easy for you to say!" Mr. Fu also trembled, "Do you think you can make up for the pain of your father? That's right, Kuilong, your father never mentioned you to me, and I have been very sad all these years. Stay away from your father. But I know that his suffering will never be inferior to yours. I believe you must have suffered a lot these years outside, but do you think your suffering is only yours? Your father is also here to share with you! The more you hurt, the more your father will suffer!" "But—Uncle Fu——" Wang Kuilong stretched out his bony hand to grab the back of Mr. Fu's hand, and asked sadly, "Why doesn't he even want to see me for the last time?" Mr. Fu looked at Wang Kuilong, his freckled face was full of pity, and murmured: "He can't bear to see you—he can't bear to see you with his eyes closed." 19 After Wang Kuilong left, Mr. Fu was already exhausted, with a tired expression on his face, his back was even more bent, and he began to feel colic in his heart again.I hurriedly took medicine for him and helped him into the room to lie down and rest.傅老爷子不想吃晚饭，我自己一个人胡乱添了一碗剩饭，将中午吃剩的一碟芹菜炒牛肉拿来送饭。我告诉傅老爷子冰箱里还有半锅火腿冬瓜汤，要是饿了，随时热来吃。本来我打算向师傅告假一晚，留在家中陪伴傅老爷子，可他不肯，坚持道： “你只管去上班，不要紧的，我休息一下，松散松散就好了。” 我在安乐乡，心里一直悬挂着，怕傅老爷子病发。我跟师傅说明，师傅要我提早下班，不到十点钟，我就回到傅老爷子家。傅老爷子倒起来了，他披了一件外衣，坐在客厅里，独自出神。客厅里的供桌上又点上了檀香，静静散着一股浓郁的香味。 “老爷子好点了？心还疼么？”我问道。 “我睡了一觉，好多了。”傅老爷子微笑道，脸上仍有一丝倦意，“这么早就回来了？” “师傅要我早点回来，怕老爷子有什么使唤。” “难为你挂心。” “老爷子饿了没有？” “我刚才把汤热了，喝了一碗，心里很受用。” “还要不要我去下碗面条来呢？” “不必了，”傅老爷子挥手阻止道，“阿青，你去沏壶茶来，陪我坐坐，我还有话要跟你说。” 我到厨房里去烧开水，泡了壶龙井，端到客厅，替傅老爷子斟上茶，在他脚下一张矮圆凳上坐下。傅老爷子捧起茶杯，啜了两口龙井，惋惜叹道： “王夔龙，没料到他竟变成了这付模样，我都认不出来了——” “听说他从前长得很好的呢。”我插嘴道。 “不错，那个时候，他确实仪表堂堂，书又念得好。他父亲王尚德，对他期望很高，希望他能进外交界，创一番事业，本来打算送他出国深造的，连手续都办好了。他却偏偏闯下那滔天大祸，害人害已，也害苦了他父亲—一” “我听说他那个案子很轰动，报纸天天登。” “他害得他父亲，无法做人，有好一阵子，他父亲人也不见，他又怎能怨他父亲绝情啊！” 傅老爷子定定地望着我，铁灰的眉毛蹩在一起。 “你们这些孩子，哪里能够体谅得到父亲内心的沉痛呢？”他伸出了一只手，压在我的肩上，郑重地说道：“阿青，你在我这里住了这些日子，我已经把你当做自己人一样了。你也有父亲，我敢说你父亲这一刻也正在为你受苦呢。我也有过儿子，我那个儿子，也象王夔龙一样，曾经叫他父亲心碎。今天晚上我就要讲给你听，讲给你听一个父亲的故事——”