章节五

润叶姐敏捷地一把从他手里夺过那两个黑馍，问：“哪个是你的碗？”

Runye sister quickly snatched the two black buns from his hand and asked, “Which is your bowl?”

他指了指自己的碗。

He pointed to his bowl.

她把馍放在他碗里，说：“走，跟我吃饭去！”

She placed the buns in his bowl and said, “Let’s go, come eat with me!”

“我……”

“I…”

润叶已经过来，扯着他的袖口拉他了。

Runye had already come over, tugging at his sleeve to pull him along.

现在没办法拒绝了，少平只好跟着润叶姐起身了。

Now there was no way to refuse; Shaoping had no choice but to stand up and follow Runye.

他一路相跟着和润叶姐进了县革委会的大门。进了大门后，他两只眼睛紧张地扫视着这个神圣的地方。

He followed her into the office of the county revolutionary committee. Once they entered, he scanned the sacred place nervously with his eyes.

县革委会一层层窑洞沿着一个小斜坡一行行排上去，最上面蹲着一座大礼堂，给人一种非常壮观的景象。

The county revolutionary committee’s cave dwellings were built in layers along a small slope, with a grand auditorium squatting at the top, presenting a spectacular sight.

在晚上，要是所有的窑洞都亮起灯火，简直就像一座宏伟的大厦。

At night, if all the cave dwellings were lit up, it would be like a magnificent building.

现在，少平看见最上面一排窑洞的砖墙边上，润生探出半截身子正看着他们往上走。

Now, Shaoping saw Runsheng leaning over half out of a cave dwelling on the top row, watching them walk up.

润生抽着纸烟，不老练地弹着烟灰。田福堂的这个宝贝儿子刚一进城，就把干部子弟的派势都学会了。

Runsheng was smoking a paper cigarette, clumsily flicking the ash. This treasured son of Tian Futang had already picked up the ways of the cadre's children as soon as he entered the city.

少平跟润叶进了她二爸家的院子，润生走过来对他说：“我到宿舍找了你两回，你到哪里去了？”

Shaoping entered Runye’s second uncle’s courtyard with her, and Runsheng walked over to him, saying, “I looked for you in the dormitory twice. Where have you been?”

少平有点不好意思，说：“我……去给学校还镢头去了。”

Shaoping felt a bit embarrassed and replied, “I... went to return a hoe to the school.”

他一边撒谎，一边瞥了一眼这家著名人物的院子：一共四孔窑洞，一个不大的独院；墙那边看来还住着另外几家领导，格局和这院子一模一样。

As he lied, he glanced at the courtyard of this notable figure: it had four cave dwellings and a small independent courtyard; it looked like several other leaders lived beyond the wall, arranged in the same pattern as this courtyard.

院子东边有个小房，旁边垒一堆炭块，显然是厨房。院子西边有个小坛，一位穿灰毛线衣的人正拿把铁锨翻土。

There was a small room on the east side with a pile of coal blocks next to it, clearly the kitchen. On the west side of the courtyard, there was a small mound of soil, where an old man wearing a gray wool sweater was turning over the earth with a shovel.

他以为这就是润叶她二爸。仔细一看，是位头发花白的老干部，他并没见过。

He thought that was Runye’s second uncle. Upon closer inspection, it was an old cadre with graying hair whom he had never seen before.

他心慌意乱地跟润叶进了边上的一孔窑洞。润生说他要去看电影，和他打了个照面就走了。

In a flurry, he followed Runye into one of the side cave dwellings. Runsheng said he was going to watch a movie and left after exchanging glances with him.

润叶让他坐在一个方桌前，接着就出去为他张罗饭去了。

Runye had him sit at a square table, and then she went out to prepare food for him.

现在他一个人坐在这陌生的地方，心还在咚咚地跳着。两只手似乎没个搁处，只好规规矩矩放在自己的腿膝盖上。

Now alone in this unfamiliar place, his heart was pounding. His hands seemed to have nowhere to rest and could only sit obediently on his knees.

还好，这屋子里没人。他环顾四周，发现这窑洞里不盘炕，放着一些箱子、柜子和其它杂物。

Fortunately, there was no one in this room. He looked around and found that this cave dwelling did not have an earthen bed; it contained some boxes, cabinets, and other miscellaneous items.

窑洞不小，留出很大一块空间。这张方桌的四周摆着一圈椅子、凳子，显然是专门吃饭的地方。

The cave dwelling was not small, leaving a large space. Surrounding the square table was a circle of chairs and stools, clearly a dining area.

正在这时，他听见外面有个女的和润叶说话。听见润叶叫这人二妈，少平便知道这是田主任的爱人——听说她在县医院当大夫，动手术非常能行，老百姓到县医院治病，都抢着找徐大夫。

Just then, he heard a woman speaking with Runye outside. When he heard Runye call her “Second Mom,” he realized this was Director Tian's wife—he had heard that she worked as a doctor at the county hospital, highly skilled in surgeries; when people went to the county hospital for treatment, they all wanted to see Dr. Xu.

听见徐大夫声音很大地喊着说：“爸，你怎不穿棉衣？小心感冒！”

He heard Dr. Xu shouting loudly, “Dad, why aren’t you wearing your cotton jacket? Be careful not to catch a cold!”

又听见一个老人瓮声瓮气地回答说：“我不冷……”

An old man answered in a deep voice, “I’m not cold…”

少平估计这就是他刚才在院子花坛边看见的那个翻土的老头——原来这是田主任的老丈人。

Shaoping guessed this was the old man he had seen earlier turning the soil by the courtyard flower bed—so this was actually Director Tian's father-in-law.

不一会儿，润叶便端着一个大红油漆盘子进来了。

After a while, Runye came in carrying a large red-painted tray.

他赶忙站起来。润叶把盘子放在方桌上，然后把一大碗猪肉烩粉条放在他面前，接着又把一盘雪白的馒头也放在了桌子上。

He hurriedly stood up. Runye placed the tray on the square table and then set a large bowl of pork with vermicelli in front of him, followed by a plate of pure white steamed buns.

她亲切地用手碰了碰他的胳膊，说：“快坐下吃！我们已经吃过了，你吃你的，我出去刷一下碗筷。不要怕，好好吃，我知道你在学校吃不好……”她拿着木盘出去了。

She kindly touched his arm and said, “Sit down and eat! We’ve already eaten; you eat yours, and I’ll go wash the dishes. Don’t be afraid, eat well. I know you don’t eat well at school…” She took the wooden tray and went out.

孙少平的喉眼骨剧烈地耸动起来。肉菜和白馍的香味使他有些眩晕。

Sun Shaoping’s throat tightened significantly. The aroma of the meat and buns made him feel a bit dizzy.

他坐下来，拿起筷子，先长长地吐了一口气。他什么也不想了，闷着头大口大口地吃起来，感谢润叶姐把他一个人留在这里，否则他吃这顿好饭会有多别扭！

He sat down, picked up the chopsticks, and exhaled deeply. He didn’t think of anything else and simply focused on eating, grateful that Runye had left him alone here; otherwise, eating this good meal would have felt awkward!

他把一大碗猪肉粉条刨了个净光，而且还吞咽了五个馒头。

He polished off the large bowl of pork vermicelli and swallowed five buns.

他本来还可以吃两个馒头，但克制住了——这已经吃得不像话了！

He could have eaten two more buns, but he held back—he had already eaten way too much!

他放下碗筷，感到肚子隐隐地有些不舒服。他吃得太多太快了；他那消化高粱面馍的胃口，经不住这种意外的宠爱。

He set down the bowl and chopsticks, feeling a slight discomfort in his stomach. He had eaten too much too fast; his stomach, accustomed to digesting coarse cornbread, couldn't handle such unexpected indulgence.

他从凳子上立起身来，在脚地上走了两步。这时，润叶姐进来了，她后边还跟进来一个姑娘，对他笑了笑。

He stood up from the stool and took a couple of steps on the ground. At that moment, Runye came back in, followed by a girl who smiled at him.

润叶姐对他说：“这是晓霞，我二爸的女子。你不认识？她也是才上高中的。”

Runye said, “This is Xiaoxia, my second uncle’s girl. You don’t know her? She just entered high school.”

“你和润生是一个班的吧？”田晓霞大方地问他。

“You and Runsheng are in the same class, right?” Tian Xiaoxia asked him generously.

“嗯……”少平一下子感到脸像炭火一般发烫。他首先意识到的是他的一身烂脏衣服。

“Um…” Shaoping suddenly felt his face blazing like a coal fire. The first thing he realized was his shabby clothes.

他站在这个又洋又俊、穿戴漂亮的女同学面前，觉得自己就像一个叫化子到她家门上讨吃来了。

Standing before this elegant and beautifully dressed girl, he felt as out of place as a beggar at her door.

润叶收拾他的碗筷，晓霞热情地给他泡茶。

Runye was cleaning up his bowl and chopsticks, while Xiaoxia enthusiastically made him tea.

晓霞把茶杯放在他面前，说：“咱们是一个村的老乡！你以后没事就到我们家来玩。我长了十七岁，还没回过咱村呢！什么时间我跟你和润生一起回一次咱们双水村……我是高一（2）班的，听润生说过咱村还来了两个同学，都分在高一（1）班了，也没去认识你们。你看，我这个老乡真是太不像话了！”

Xiaoxia placed a teacup in front of him and said, “We are fellow villagers! You should come over to our house to play whenever you have time. I turned seventeen and haven’t gone back to our village yet! I’ll go back with you and Runsheng sometime… I’m in Class 1 (2), and I heard from Runsheng that two classmates from our village came to high school, both in Class 1 (1), but I haven’t met you. Look at me, this fellow villager, I’m really not doing my part!”

晓霞用一口标准的普通话连笑带说。她的性格很开朗，一看就知道人家是见过大世面的人！

Xiaoxia spoke with perfect Mandarin, laughing as she talked. Her cheerful personality made it clear she was someone who had seen the world!

少平同时发现，田晓霞外面的衫子竟然像男生一样披着，这使他感到无比惊讶。

At the same time, Shaoping noticed that Xiaoxia’s blouse was worn like a boy’s, which amazed him greatly.

他立在脚地上，仍然紧张得火烧火燎。等润叶把他的碗筷送到厨房重新返回来的时候，他赶快对她说：“姐，没什么事我就走呀……”

He stood there, still feeling nervous and flustered. When Runye returned after taking his bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen, he quickly said to her, “Sister, I’ll leave if there’s nothing else…”

润叶大概也看出了他的窘迫，笑着说：“我还没跟你说话呢！”

Runye probably sensed his awkwardness and laughed as she said, “I haven’t even talked to you yet!”

少平这才想起，润叶姐不光是叫他来吃饭的，她还有事要给他说哩！

Shaoping then remembered that Runye not only invited him to dinner, but she also had something to discuss with him!

润叶姐看来很理解他的难处，马上又说：“那好，我去送送你，咱们路上再说。”

Runye, understanding his predicament, quickly added, “Okay, I’ll walk you out; we can talk on the way.”

“喝点水再走吧！”晓霞把水杯往他面前挪了挪。

“Have some water before you leave!” Xiaoxia nudged the water cup closer to him.

“我不渴！”他像农民一样笨拙地说。

“I’m not thirsty!” he clumsily replied, sounding like a farmer.

晓霞露出两排白牙齿笑了，说：“那我这杯水算是给你白倒了！”

Xiaoxia flashed her white teeth in a smile, saying, “So, my cup of water is just wasted on you!”

少平立刻意识到这是一句略带揶揄意味的玩笑话。这种玩笑话实际上是一种亲切的表示。不过，这却使他更拘束了，竟然满脸通红，无言对答。

Shaoping immediately realized this was a slightly teasing remark, a warm gesture nonetheless. However, it made him feel even more awkward, and his face turned completely red, leaving him speechless.

晓霞看他这样难为情，赶忙笑着给他点了点头，就出去了。

Seeing him so embarrassed, Xiaoxia hurriedly smiled and nodded at him before going out.

他于是就和润叶姐相跟着起身回学校去。

Then he stood up and followed Runye out to go back to school.

当他们走到县革委会大门口的时候，迎面碰上了回家的田主任。少平认识润叶她二爸——他有时路过常回村子里来。

When they reached the entrance of the county revolutionary committee, they ran into Director Tian on his way home. Shaoping recognized Runye's second uncle—he occasionally passed by the village.

“你还没吃饭哩？”润叶问她二爸。

“Aren’t you going to eat yet?” Runye asked her second uncle.

“刚开完会……”这位县领导五官很像他哥田福堂，只是头发背梳着，脸面也比他哥和善多了。

“I just finished a meeting…” The county leader resembled his brother, Tian Futang, but his hair was slicked back and his face was much kinder.

“这是谁家的娃娃？”田主任指着他问润叶。

“Whose child is this?” Director Tian pointed at him and asked Runye.

“这就是咱村少安他弟弟嘛！也是今年才上的高中……”润叶说。

“This is just Shaoan’s brother from our village! He started high school this year too…” Runye replied.

“噢……孙玉厚的二小子！都长这么大了。和你爸一样，大个子！……是不是和晓霞一个班？”他扭头问润叶。

“Oh… Sun Yuhao’s second son! He’s all grown up. Just like your dad, a big one!... Is he in the same class as Xiaoxia?” He turned to ask Runye.

“和晓霞不一个班，和润生是一个班。”润叶回答他。

“He’s not in the same class as Xiaoxia, but he’s in the same class as Runsheng,” Runye answered.

“咱村里还有谁家的娃娃来上高中了？”田主任又问少平。

“Are there any other kids from our village who’ve come to high school?” Director Tian asked Shaoping.

少平拘束地抠着手指头，说：“还有金波。”

Feeling awkward, Shaoping picked at his fingers and said, “There’s also Jinbo.”

“金波？他的娃娃……”

“Jinbo? His child…”

少平头“轰”地响了一声，知道他回答问题不准确。

Shaoping’s head rang as he realized he hadn’t answered the question accurately.

润叶嘿嘿笑了，赶忙对二爸说：“金波是金俊海的小子。”

Runye chuckled and quickly told her second uncle, “Jinbo is the child of Jin Junhai.”

田主任也笑了，说：“噢噢，俊海在地区运输公司开车……天这么黑了，到家里吃饭去嘛！”他招呼少平说。

Director Tian also laughed, saying, “Oh, oh, Junhai drives at the district transportation company… It’s dark already; why not come home for dinner!” He invited Shaoping.

润叶说：“已经吃过了。我去送送他！”

Runye said, “He already ate. I’ll walk him back!”

“那好。常来啊……”田主任竟然伸出了手要和少平握手。

“Alright then. Come by often…” Director Tian surprisingly extended his hand to shake Shaoping’s.

少平慌得赶紧把手伸了出去。田主任握了握他的手，笑着点点头，就背抄起胳膊转身回家去了。

Shaoping hurriedly reached out his hand. Director Tian shook his hand, smiled, and nodded before turning back home with his hands behind his back.

少平在衣服襟子上把右手冒出的汗水揩了揩，就跟润叶来到通往中学的石坡路上。

Shaoping wiped the sweat from his right hand on the front of his shirt as he walked with Runye to the stone path leading to the school.

走了一段路以后，润叶突然问他：“你这个星期六回不回家去？”

After walking for a while, Runye suddenly asked him, “Are you going home this Saturday?”

“回。”他回答说。

“Yeah,” he replied.

“你回去以后，给你哥说，让他最近抽个空，到我这里来一下……”她说话的时候，也不看他，头低着，用脚把一颗碎石块踢得老远。

“When you get back, tell your brother to find some time to come visit me…” She said without looking at him, her head down as she kicked a small stone far away with her foot.

少平一时想不开她叫他哥来做什么。既然润叶姐不明说，他也不好问。

Shaoping was puzzled as to why she wanted him to bring his brother here. Since Runye didn’t say it outright, he felt it inappropriate to ask.

他只是随便说：“家里一烂包，怕他抽不开身……”

He just casually said, “He's always busy, afraid he won’t have the time…”

“不管怎样，无论如何叫他最近来一次！一定把这话给他捎到！叫他到城里后，直接到小学来找我！”她态度坚决地对他说。

“Anyway, no matter what, tell him to come at least once! Make sure to pass the message! When he’s in the city, he should come find me directly at the elementary school!” She insisted firmly.

少平知道，他哥看来非来不行了，就认真地对润叶姐说：“我一定把你的话捎给他！”

Shaoping knew that it seemed his brother had to come, so he earnestly replied to Runye, “I’ll definitely pass your message to him!”

“这就好……”她亲切地看了他一眼。

“Good…” She looked at him kindly.

天开始模模糊糊地黑起来了。城市的四面八方，灯火已经闪闪烁烁。

The sky began to dim. In all directions of the city, the lights were already twinkling.

风温和地抚摸着人的脸颊。隐隐地可以嗅到一种泥土和青草芽的新鲜味道。多么好呀，春夜！

The wind gently caressed their faces. There was a faint scent of earth and fresh grass. What a beautiful spring night!

现在，润叶姐把他送到了学校的大门口。她站定，说：“你快回去……”

Now, Runye had brought him to the gate of the school. She stopped and said, “You better head back…”

说完这话后，便从自己的衣袋里摸出个什么东西，一把塞进他的衣袋，旋即就转过身走了。走了几步她才又回过头说：“那点粮票你去换点细粮吧……”

After saying this, she pulled something out of her pocket and stuffed it into his pocket before turning around to leave. After walking a few steps, she turned back and said, “You can exchange that grain ticket for some fine grain…”

少平还没有反应过来这是怎么一回事，润叶姐就已经消失在坡下的拐弯处了。

Shaoping hadn’t quite grasped what was happening, and Runye had already disappeared around the bend below.

他呆呆地立在黑暗中，把手伸进自己的衣袋，紧紧地捏住了那个小纸包。

He stood there in the darkness, reached into his pocket, and tightly held that small paper package.

他鼻子一酸，眼睛顿时被泪水模糊了……

His nose felt sour, and his eyes instantly blurred with tears…