汉族孩子们

喀吾图有十来个汉族小孩子，由于当地没有汉族学校的原因，一时都没有上学。

There are about ten Han children in Kewutu, and because there are no Han schools in the area, none of them are enrolled in school for the time being.

最大的八岁，最小的才两三岁。

The oldest is eight years old, and the youngest is only two or three.

成天伙成一群，呼啦啦——从这边全部往那边跑；再呼啦啦——又全部从那边再跑回来。

They group together all day long, running in a flurry from one side to the other; then in another flurry, they run back again.

边跑还边齐声呼喊着：“白娘子！！！——我来了——”

While running, they shout in unison: “White Lady!!! — I’m coming —”

真是莫名其妙。不知道家长们平时都教了些什么。

It’s really quite baffling. I have no idea what their parents usually teach them.

后来，年龄最大的高勇，在无路可走的情况下，只好上了哈萨克语小学。

Later, the oldest, Gao Yong, had no other choice but to enroll in a Kazakh language primary school.

不出两个礼拜，就能叽里呱啦地和同学们用哈语对答如流，丝毫不带磕巴。

Within less than two weeks, he could chatter away with his classmates in Kazakh without stuttering at all.

名字也变成了“高勇别克”（ “别克”是哈萨克族男性名字中一个常见的后缀）。

His name also changed to “Gao Yongbek” (“bek” is a common suffix in Kazakh male names).

最小的孩子孬蛋——呃，这名字不错——上面有三个姐姐。

The youngest kid, which sounds a bit derogatory, er, that’s a good name — has three older sisters.

一字排开就是七岁、五岁、四岁、两岁半。

In a row, they are seven, five, four, and two and a half years old.

四个小孩手牵手从容地走在马路中间，任过往的汽车把喇叭捺得惊天动地，也不为所动。

The four kids walked hand in hand casually in the middle of the road, unfazed by the blaring horns of passing cars.

陈家的三个孩子，老大叫“陈大”，老二就是“陈二”，老三是个丫头，叫个“陈三”不太秀气，就直唤“三三”。

The Chen family has three kids; the oldest is called "Chen Da," the second is "Chen Er," and the youngest, being a girl, has an unrefined name "Chen San," so they call her simply "San San."

这三个孩子则喜欢排着纵队走直线。

These three children like to line up in a single row.

为首的还举个小旗子。

The leader even carries a small flag.

刘家的俩孩子都七岁了，同年同月同日生，却不是双胞胎。

The Liu family has two kids who are both seven years old, born on the same day, yet they are not twins.

唤作“大妮”的丫头是抱养的，大了几个小时，便成了姐姐。

The girl, called "Da Ni," is adopted and is a few hours older, hence she is the older sister.

生得很美，高挑健康。而刘家自己生的儿子就差了一截，又矮又瘦，眉眼呆滞，实在不讨人喜欢。

She is very beautiful, tall, and healthy, while Liu family's biological son is a bit lacking, short and thin with vacant eyes, which really isn’t appealing.

而且还老说谎话，天天哭喊着大妮又打自己了，大妮又抢自己的饼干了。

Moreover, he constantly complains, crying out every day that Da Ni hit him again, or that Da Ni snatched his cookie.

这两个孩子动静最大了，远远地，人还没过来，“吧嗒哒！吧嗒哒！……”的声音就响成一片。

These two kids make the loudest noise; from far away, even before they get close, you can already hear the sound of their shoes clacking together.

因为小孩子穿鞋很费，他们的父亲便自己动手给他们做鞋。

Because children wear out shoes quickly, their father personally makes shoes for them.

两块小木板做鞋底子，上面横着钉一小块车轮内胎裁成的胶皮带子勒住脚背。

The soles are made from two small wooden boards, with a rubber strap cut from a tire attached across the top to secure the foot.

又简单又便宜，穿破几双都不可惜。他们管这叫“呱嗒板”，真形象。

It's simple and cheap; it’s not a pity if they wear out a few pairs. They call these “guada boards,” truly fitting.

王家的是俩丫头，老大比较文静，老二活泼。

The Wang family has two girls; the eldest is relatively quiet, while the second is lively.

挨起爸爸的打，两人一同鼻血长流，面对面号啕大哭。

After receiving a beating from their father, the two sit together with bloody noses, crying inconsolably face to face.

隔壁曾家和我家一样，也开着一个小商店。

The Zeng family next door, like my family, runs a small shop.

他家孩子叫玲子，七八岁模样。

Their child is called Lingzi, looking around seven or eight years old.

整天守柜台卖货，算账算得滴溜溜转。

She spends all day at the counter selling goods, counting the money with nimble fingers.

没事的时候就趴在窗台上，可怜兮兮地看着别的孩子在街上聚众滋事，呼呼啦啦玩耍。

When there’s nothing to do, she leans on the windowsill, watching other children congregating and playing on the street with a pitiful look.

有时候也会把头伸出窗外跟着大喊一声：“白娘子！！我在这里呢……”

Sometimes she would stretch her head out the window and shout, “White Lady!! I’m over here…”

这些孩子都是做生意的汉族人家的孩子，每人家里都开有大商店的。

These kids are all from Han families who run businesses, each with larger shops at home.

但最喜欢做的事情却是到别人家商店买东西。

Yet their favorite activity is to go to other people's shops to buy things.

一人攥一把毛票，成群结队一家店一家店地转，最后买到的东西也许不过是最常见的一毛钱一支的棒棒糖。

Each of them clutches a handful of small change, flocking together from one shop to another, in the end, buying maybe just the most common one-dime lollipop.

而这种糖自家店里也有，批发价才两分钱。

And this type of candy is also available in their own shop, wholesale for only two cents.

不知为什么，大家最喜欢去玲子家商店。

For some reason, everyone loves to go to Lingzi’s shop.

当然不是为了友谊，因为他们一进去，就要和玲子吵架。

Of course, it’s not for friendship, because once they enter, they always end up arguing with Lingzi.

哪一方嗓门大算哪一方赢。

Whoever shouts the loudest wins.

玲子够能干的了，可玲子妈还是死活不放心，一回家，第一件事就是对账。

Lingzi is quite capable, yet Lingzi’s mother still worries endlessly; the first thing she does when she comes home is settle the accounts.

“刚才又卖了啥？”

“What did you sell just now?”

“水果糖。一毛钱五个，卖了两毛钱的。共十个。”

“Fruit candies. Five for a dime; we sold two dimes' worth. That’s ten in total.”

“哪一种？”

“Which kind?”

“就那里的——”

“Those over there—”

“噫嘻！那种是一毛钱三个！”

“Yikes! Those are three for a dime!”

玲子不吭声。

Lingzi is silent.

“噫嘻！整天尽胡卖八卖，都不知亏多少了！这死妮子！谁家来买的？”

“Yikes! Selling haphazardly all day, you don’t even know how much you lose! This kid! Who came to buy?”

“大妮和她弟。”玲子手一指，那俩小家伙正靠在玻璃柜台上吮糖，一人鼻子底下拖一截鼻涕。

“Da Ni and her brother.” Lingzi points, and the two little ones are leaning against the glass counter, sucking on candy, each with a trail of snot under their noses.

“噫嘻！还不赶快要回来——”

“Yikes! Hurry and get it back—”

于是玲子就说：“听到没？俺妈说那糖是一毛钱三个，不是一毛钱五个。快点，一人退我两颗糖。”

So Lingzi says, “Did you hear? My mom said that candy is three for a dime, not five for a dime. Quickly, each of you return two pieces of candy to me.”

大妮姊弟俩对望一眼，每人缓缓从口袋里摸出两颗糖交出去。

Da Ni and her brother exchange glances, and each slowly takes two pieces of candy from their pockets and hands them over.

然后继续靠着柜台吮糖，小声商量要不要把剩下的糖退掉折成钱。

Then they continue leaning against the counter, sucking on candy, quietly discussing whether to return the remaining candy for money.

但终于没有退，吮着糖趿着呱嗒板牵手走了。

But in the end, they don’t return it and walk away, holding hands while sucking on the candy.

我妈最会骗小孩了，而这群小孩又最喜欢被我妈骗了，三天两头往我家跑。

My mom is the best at tricking kids, and this group of kids loves being tricked by my mom, coming to our house every few days.

他们叫我妈“裁缝奶奶”，又扭过头来叫我“娟娟姐姐”。

They call my mom “Tailor Granny” and turn around to call me “Sister Juan Juan.”

我妈若是心情好就怂恿他们做坏事，心烦的时候就教他们使用礼貌用语。

If my mom is in a good mood, she encourages them to do bad things; when she is annoyed, she teaches them to use polite expressions.

若是哈族小孩，她一般会热情地教人家怎样用汉语骂人。

If it’s Kazakh kids, she usually warmly teaches them how to curse in Chinese.

使得我们这里七岁以下的哈族小孩在说话前都要先来一句“他妈的”。

As a result, children under seven years of age here among Kazakh kids have to start their speech with “His mother’s…”

有时天气很好，又不太忙的时候，我会率领孩子们到乡政府院子里去玩。

Sometimes when the weather is good and I’m not too busy, I lead the children to play in the courtyard of the township government.

那里有一大片树林，草丛深密，鸟儿很多。

There’s a large grove there, thick with grass and many birds.

我教他们认识薄荷草，并让他们挨个儿去闻那种不起眼的小草散发出来的香气——

I teach them to recognize mint plants and have them each smell the fragrance emanating from the inconspicuous little plant—

“是不是和泡泡糖的味道一样呀？”

“Does it smell like bubble gum?”

“呀，真的一样的！”

“Ah, it really does!”

他们没完没了地闻，又辨认出更多的薄荷草，一人拔了一大把回家。

They can’t get enough of smelling it and recognize even more mint plants, each pulling a large handful home.

大妮突然问：“娟娟姐姐，泡泡糖是不是就从这上面长出来的？”

Da Ni suddenly asks, “Sister Juan Juan, does bubble gum grow from this?”

大妮喜欢在路上一边走一边不成调地放声歌唱：“回家看看！啊——给妈妈洗洗碗——回家看看！啊——给妈妈洗洗碗……”

Da Ni likes to sing tunelessly while walking on the road: “Let’s go home and take a look! Ah—wash the dishes for mom—let’s go home and take a look! Ah—wash the dishes for mom…”

左右看看，若是没人，便大喊一声：“啊！白娘子！！……”

Looking around, if no one is nearby, she shouts, “Ah! White Lady!!…”

大妮土豆皮削得极好，速度飞快。

Da Ni peels potatoes extremely well and very quickly.

削下来的皮又匀又薄，特省料。

The peels she removes are thin and even, saving material.

大妮家除了开商店，还开着饭店。

Da Ni's family not only runs a shop but also a restaurant.

大妮除了削土豆皮，还得削胡萝卜皮。

In addition to peeling potatoes, Da Ni also has to peel carrots.

我在旁边看她削皮。

I watch her peeling from the side.

细细小小的手指紧攥着土豆，迅速地挪动位置。

Her tiny fingers grip the potato tightly, quickly changing positions.

小刀飞转，薄薄的土豆皮轻飘飘地散落。

The small knife spins, and the thin potato peels flutter down.

遇到节疤和虫眼，刀尖轻松地一挑一拨，转眼就消失得干干净净。

When she encounters knobs or wormholes, the tip of the knife nimbly pokes and prods, and soon they disappear completely.

实在太专业了。

She’s incredibly professional.

能熟练准确地控制自己的双手做生活所需的事情，便是劳动了。

To be able to skillfully and accurately control her hands to do necessary tasks is truly labor.

能够劳动的孩子，又美又招人疼。

Children who can labor are both beautiful and endearing.

高勇别克家有车，因此他七岁时就会开车，而且还是那种东风大卡车。

Gao Yongbek's family has a car, so he can drive at the age of seven, and it’s even a Dongfeng truck.

倒车的时候，这个小人儿打开车门，右手扶着方向盘，左手握着门把手，踮着脚尖站起来，半个身子探出驾驶室往后看。

When backing up, this little child opens the car door, with his right hand on the steering wheel, his left hand gripping the door handle, standing on tiptoe to peek out of the driver’s cabin, looking back.

一边察看路面情况，一边打方向盘。

He checks the road conditions while turning the steering wheel.

煞有介事。

Quite serious about it.

要是遇到别人倒车，他就赶紧跑上去帮忙，车前车后跟着跑，极专业地大声指令：“再退，再退！……好，好……继续退，没问题，还可以退，放心地退……好！好，退退……好——停！往左打一把方向盘！”

If he sees someone else backing up, he quickly runs up to help, running alongside both in front and behind the car, directing professionally with a loud voice: “Go back, go back! ... Good, good... Keep going back, no problem, feel free to keep going back... Good! Good, back... Good—stop! Turn the steering wheel to the left!”

最有意思的是拖依（哈萨克节日宴席）上的情景。

The most amusing scenes happen at the Tohi (a Kazakh festive banquet).

孩子们都喜欢坐首席，因为首席上好吃的东西摆得最多。

The children all love to sit in the principal seat because that’s where the best food is served.

主人家一席一席地挨着敬酒，敬到这边，总是会大吃一惊。

As the hosts go around pouring drinks for each table, they often express great surprise when reaching this side.

拖依上的桌子不是汉族人常用的方桌或者圆桌，而是长条桌，一桌能坐二十多个人。

The tables at a Tohi are not the square or round dining tables commonly used by the Han, but rather long tables, which can seat more than twenty people.

刚好能坐满全村的汉族小孩。

Just enough to accommodate all the Han children in the village.

于是每次都把他们编排成一桌。

So each time, they gather all of them at one table.

现场秩序再混乱，孩子们也不会坐乱的。

No matter how chaotic the scene is, the children will not sit in disorder.

全是自家挨自家的，一个也不会给插开。

They all sit close together, with not a single one able to squeeze in from the side.

大家一边吃一边大把大把地将盘子里的东西抓了往口袋里塞。

While eating, they stuff large amounts of food from their plates into their pockets.

因此参加拖依的孩子都会穿有大口袋的外套。

Thus, the kids attending Tohi all wear jackets with large pockets.

做这种事情通常孬蛋四姊弟最厉害。

Usually, it’s the “naughty” siblings who excel at doing such things.