Chapter 16 16 fat and thin

On the Nikolai Railway [Note: A railway between Moscow and Petersburg. 】On a train station, two friends met: one was fat and the other was thin.The fat man had just dined in the railway station restaurant, and his lips glistened with oil, like ripe cherries.He smelled of white wine and orange blossom.The thin man had just come off the train with suitcases, packages and cardboard boxes.He smelled of ham and coffee grounds.Behind him stood a thin woman with a long chin, who looked up from time to time to see his wife.There was also a tall middle school student with one eye squinting. That was his son.

Porfiry!The fat man saw the thin man and cried out, is it really you?my friend!How many winters, how many summers have not seen each other! oops!The thin man exclaimed in amazement, Misha!Childhood friend!Where are you from? The two friends hugged and kissed three times before looking at each other with tears in their eyes.Both were pleasantly surprised. my dear!After kissing the fat man, the thin man said, "I didn't expect that!"Simply overjoyed!Well, you should take a closer look at me!How about you, you are still as handsome as ever!Still such a romantic talent, still so particular about dressing!O God!um, how are you?Is it rich?Are you married yet?I've got a family, and here's my wife, Louise, née Wanzenbach, a Protestant, and here's my son, Naphner, a third-grader.Nafania [Note: Nafanir's nickname. ], this is my childhood friend!We went to high school together!

Naphner hesitated, and took off his hat. classmate!The thin man continued, do you remember how everyone made fun of you?They nicknamed you Herostratos temple. ], because you burned a hole in the textbook with cigarettes.They also nicknamed me Ephialtes. ], because I like to quietly go to the teacher to make small reports from my classmates.Haha we were all kids back then!Don't be afraid, Nafania!Come here, oh, this is my wife, a Protestant maiden name Wanzenbach. Naphner thought for a moment, and hid behind his father. Well, how are you doing, friend?The fat man asked, looking at his friend enthusiastically, where are you an official?How many officials have you achieved?

I'm in office, my dear!I have been a civil servant of the eighth rank for two years, and I have also received the Order of St. Stanislav.My salary is not much cough, fuck it!My wife teaches music lessons, and I privately make cigarette cases out of wood.What a beautiful cigarette case!I sell them for one ruble.If someone wants ten or more, you know, I give him a discount.We somehow got mixed up.You know, I used to be a section clerk in the Yamen, but now I am transferred to the same type of institution here as the section chief, and I have been working here since then.Well, how about you then?I'm afraid he has become a fifth-rank civil servant, right?ah?

No, my dear, you have to speak a little higher, the fat man said, I have already achieved two stars as a third-rank civil servant. The thin man suddenly turned pale and was stupefied, but soon his face was writhing around in a beaming smile, as if sparks were bursting from his face and eyes.He shrunk his body, stooped, and looked half shorter. His suitcases, parcels, and cardboard boxes shrunk as if they were wrinkling. Body, standing at attention, buttoning all the buttons of his uniform I, my lord, are very happy!You, so to speak, were my childhood friend, and now suddenly, you have risen to become such a high-ranking official, you are old!whee.

Hey, forget it!The fat man frowned and said, why bother to speak in such an accent?You and I were childhood friends, so there is no need for the flattery of the officialdom! Please God forgive me how can you say that, you old skinny man laughed and shrunk your body smaller and smaller, and received more compassionate attention from your lord. This one, my lord, is my son Naphanai Well, this is my wife, Louise, who is, in a way, a Protestant The fat man originally planned to refute him, but the thin man's face showed such a respectful, flattering, and humble look, which made the third-rank civil servant feel sick.He turned his face away from the thin man, and just held out a hand to him in farewell.

The thin man shook the three fingers of that hand, bent his whole body and bowed deeply, and laughed like a Chinese: hee hee hee.His wife smiled.Naphner put his heels together and stood at attention, dropping his hat on the ground.The family of three felt both surprised and happy.