Chapter 8 chapter eight

In an ordinary family, two or three o'clock in the afternoon is the quietest time of the day. The children are at school, the young people are working outside, and only the old, the weak and the disabled are left at home.This is the case in Manzhen's house, only her mother and grandmother are at home.One afternoon, a knife sharpener came to the alley, and Mrs. Gu heard him yelling, so she went downstairs with two kitchen knives.After a while, she came up again, and shouted loudly on the stairs: Mom, guess who is here?Yujin is here!The old lady Gu couldn't remember who Yujin was for a while, so she asked vaguely: "Well, who is it?"Mrs. Gu led the guest in.Mrs. Gu saw that it was Zhang Yujin, the son of her niece and daughter who had been engaged to her eldest granddaughter before.

Yujin smiled and called her aunt and grandma.The old lady Gu was overjoyed and said, "Why have you lost weight?"Yu Jin smiled and said: People from the countryside probably always look dark and thin.Old lady Gu said: How is your mother?Yu Jin paused, but before she could answer, Mrs. Gu said beside her: My cousin has passed away.The old lady Gu said in surprise: Huh?Mrs. Gu said: I saw his sleeves wrapped in black gauze just now, and I was shocked! Old Madam Gu stared blankly at Yujin, and said, "When did this happen?"Yujin said: It was March of this year.I didn't send an obituary either, I thought that when I came to Shanghai, I would tell my aunt and grandma myself.He briefly told the story of his mother's illness.The old lady Gu couldn't help but burst into tears, and said: "Where can I expect it."Old people like us will not die, but she will die when she is young!In fact, Yujin's mother is also in her fifties, but in the eyes of the old lady, her juniors will always be children.

Mrs. Gu sighed: Cousin is also lucky to have such a good son as Yu Jin.The old lady Gu nodded and said: That's true!Yujin, I heard that you have become the director of the hospital.It's amazing to be so young.Yujin smiled and said: That's nothing.People say that the country is number one, and the city is number seven.Mrs. Gu smiled and said: You are too modest.In the past, when your cousin was here, he would say hello, saying that you will be promising when you grow up.Mom, do you remember?At the beginning, it was because her husband admired Yu Jin very much that she betrothed Man Lu to him.

Mrs. Gu asked: Is there anything you want to do in Shanghai this time?Yu Jin said, "Because I need to add some things to the hospital, I came to Shanghai to have a look.Mrs. Gu asked him where he lived again, and he said he lived in a hotel, and Mrs. Gu said straight away: Then you can move here, it is not convenient to stay in a hotel.Mrs. Gu hurriedly echoed, Yu Jin hesitated for a moment, and said: That's too much trouble, right?Mrs. Gu smiled and said: "It's okay, I'm not being polite to you!"Didn't you live in our house before?Mrs. Gu said: What a coincidence, there just happened to be a vacant house, and a family downstairs just moved out.Mrs. Gu explained to Yujin: Man Lu got married at that time last year, and we rented out the two downstairs rooms because we had a small family.Until now, they have never mentioned Manlu.The old lady Gu then said: Man Lu is married, you know that?Yujin smiled and said: I heard about it.How is she?The old lady Gu said: She is finally lucky, she met this person and treated her well.Her uncle is very good at doing business, and now they built a house on Hongqiao Road by themselves.Mrs. Gu always thought it was a miracle that Man Lu married a wealthy son-in-law, and it could also be said to be the most proud thing in her later years, so it was a big deal when she said it.While listening, Yujin said: Oh.oh.That's fine.Mrs. Gu saw that his expression was a bit unnatural, as if he had never forgotten his love for Man Lu.If he hadn't known she was married, probably he would never have come here, for the sake of avoiding suspicion.

The knife sharpener was yelling outside the back door, saying that the knife had been sharpened. Mrs. Gu hurriedly got up and went downstairs, and Yu Jin took advantage of the situation to get up and say goodbye.The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law insisted on inviting him to stay again, Yu Jin smiled and said: "Okay, then I'll bring my luggage here tonight. I still have something to do now, so I need to go somewhere else."Mrs. Gu said: "Then come early and have dinner." That night, Yujin transported two pieces of luggage from the hotel to Gu's house. Mrs. Gu had already packed the downstairs room. She smiled and called her two sons: Weimin, Jiemin, come and help with the things .Yujin smiled and said: I will take it myself.He carried the suitcase into the room, and the two children followed in, watching from a distance.Mrs. Gu said: This is Brother Jin.Jiemin used to be too young, probably can't remember, Weimin, you should remember, when you were young, you liked Brother Jin the most, he left, you cried all day and night, and then you beat your father and he made you a fuss Can't sleep, fire up.Weimin is now a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old, and he is as tall as his mother. Hearing this, he couldn't help being a little embarrassed, blushing and remaining silent.

Mrs. Gu also walked into the room at this time, and said with a smile: I will tidy things up later, let's go up to eat first.Mrs. Gu went to the kitchen to serve the dishes by herself, and Mrs. Gu led Yujin upstairs together.Today they ate dinner very late because they were waiting for Yujin.Manzhen had to go out to teach after eating, so she couldn't wait, so she filled a bowl of rice and sat there to eat.Yu Jin walked in, and was stunned when she saw her.In the first moment, he still regarded Manlu as Manlu from six or seven years ago.Manzhen put down the bowl and chopsticks, stood up and said with a smile: Brother Jin doesn't know me, right?Yu Jin said embarrassedly: It is precisely because I know her so well that I stare at her in a daze.He smiled and said: Is it the second sister?If I saw it elsewhere, I really don't know it.The old lady Gu said: "Originally, when you saw her in the past, she was not as big as Wei Min."

Manzhen picked up the chopsticks again, and said with a smile: I'm sorry, I ate first, because I have to go out after eating.Yu Jin saw that she filled a bowl of rice and ate two pieces of salty cabbage there, and felt very uncomfortable.When Mrs. Gu brought in bowls of dishes, Manzhen had already finished eating.Yujin said casually, "Second sister eat a little more."Manzhen smiled and said: Don't eat, I'm already full.Mom, I let you sit.She stood up, poured a cup of tea by herself, leaned on the back of her mother's chair and drank it slowly, saw her mother picked up a chopstick of chili fried shredded pork and sent it to Yujin's bowl, and said, "Mom, you forgot, Brother Jin doesn't eat spicy food.Mrs. Gu smiled and said: Oh, really, I forgot.The old lady Gu smiled and said: This child has a good memory.They never imagined that the reason she remembered it was because she hated Yujin for taking her sister away when she was a child. She knew he didn't eat spicy food, so she rushed to serve him rice and put some hot sauce on the bottom of the bowl.He always knew it was her prank at the time, but he didn't take this kind of trivial matter to heart, and of course he has completely forgotten it now.He just thinks it's amazing that Manzhen still remembers what he doesn't like to eat after all these years.And her voice, smile, every posture and movement of her are so familiar to him, they are haunting in his soul and dreams all these years, and now they are all here.Fate is really cruel, but this kind of cruelty, apart from the pain, the sufferer does not feel that there is a little sweetness in it.

Manzhen finished his cup of tea and left.Yu Jin, however, has always been a little perplexed. In the past, he was a frequent visitor to Gu's house. They only used old-fashioned bone chopsticks with a round top and bottom for guests. The size was very long and heavy in the hand. Growing chopsticks, and now eating at the same table with their family, only one Manlu is missing.He couldn't help feeling a sense of vicissitudes, under the dim yellow light. Yujin developed the habit of going to bed early in the countryside, and went to bed at half past nine.Mrs. Gu waited there for the door, and when Manzhen came back, Mrs. Gu did not fall asleep today. She just sat and talked with her daughter-in-law, talking about all kinds of things about her niece and daughter during her lifetime, and she shed tears while talking.When it came to Yujin, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law said he was good in unison.Mrs. Gu said: That's why Man Lu's father liked him in the past.Cough, we are also unlucky, we shouldn't have such a good son-in-law.The old lady Gu said: This kind of thing is also predestined.Mrs. Gu said: "How old is Yujin this year?"He is the same age as Manlu, right?He has delayed until now and hasn't gotten married yet, and I feel bad when I think about it.The old lady Gu nodded and said, "Isn't it!His mother only has such a son, and she hasn't married yet in her early thirties. She must blame us. When she died, she didn't have a grandson to dress her in filial piety!Mrs. Gu sighed: This child Yujin is too infatuated.

The two were silent for a while, and their thoughts all went in the same direction.It was Mrs. Gu who spoke quickly and said first: Actually, Manzhen and him are also a couple. Mrs. Gu laughed softly: Yes, if I gave Manzhen to him to repay his kindness, it would be the best.It's a pity that Manzhen already has Mr. Shen.The old lady Gu shook her head, and said: I don't think there is anything wrong with Mr. Shen's matter.We've known each other for almost two years, if we continue like this, we won't waste his time!Although Mrs. Gu was a little dissatisfied with Shijun's attitude, but after all, it was her daughter's boyfriend. She felt that she had to defend her daughter, so she sighed and said, "Mr. Shen is a good person, but he seems to have a bit of a temper." Not happy.The old lady Gu said: Let me say something rude, it means occupying the latrine and not shitting!As she spoke, she laughed out loud.Mrs. Gu also smiled wryly.

On the third night of Yujin's stay at their house, Shijun came.It was already after dinner, and Yu Jin was in his own room.Manzhen told Shijun that there is such a person living with them now. He is a doctor and practices medicine in a small town in his hometown.She said: How many doctors are willing to work in such a miserable place?I admire his spirit.Let's go talk to him.She and Shijun came to Yujin's room together and asked him many questions. She was interested in everything about the situation in the countryside and the town.Shijun couldn't help feeling an instinctive jealousy.He listened silently at the side, but he never spoke much in front of strangers, so Manzhen didn't think there was anything unusual about his attitude.

When he was about to leave, Manzhen sent him out, and then told him a history about Yujin and her sister, saying: This was seven years ago, and he has never been married, presumably because he is not yet married. able to forget her.Shijun smiled and said: Oh, this person is still so emotional, he is simply a passionate seed!Manzhen smiled and said: Yes, it seems a bit silly to say it, but I think it is his benefit.If a person is not a bit stupid, he will not run to such a remote place to run a hospital and do such thankless things. Shijun didn't say anything.Walking to the entrance of the alley, he nodded to her, made a brief statement, turned around and left. From then on, every time Shijun came to her house, Yujin was always present.Sometimes when Yujin was in her room, Manzhen would drag Shijun into his room, and the three of them would talk together.Manzhen actually has intentions.She recently felt that the two of them were always getting tired of being together, and the heat was rising day by day. One day they would desperately marry early, and she was unwilling to do so, so a third party was very welcome to be with them.She can be said to be well-intentioned, but of course Shijun doesn't understand.He was very unhappy. Now the rules in their office have been changed and lunch is provided. They used to go out to eat in a small restaurant together every day. Manzhen persuaded him to save two dollars, but they always ate in the factory, so there were fewer opportunities to talk.Manzhen thinks it's good to be like this, as long as they keep a little distance in appearance.She didn't know that things like feelings were difficult to deal with. She couldn't put them in the refrigerator and think that they could be stored for a long time without going bad. On Saturdays, Shijun would always come to her house as usual, but this Saturday he called and asked her out to play.It was Mrs. Gu who answered the call.She shouted to Manzhen: It's Mr. Shen.They were eating when Mrs. Gu came back to the dining table and put Manzhen's plate on top of the rice bowl, otherwise the rice would be cold.She knew that when the two of them called, they would talk for a long time. Sure enough, Manzhen ran out for a long time, but hadn't come in yet.Yu Jin was guessing there that she didn't know how far her friendship with her colleague surnamed Shen was, but now she can know.He was a little bit relieved, and felt that he was really stupid. After only a few days of meeting, he allowed himself to think about it like this. In fact, he already had a lover. Jiemin always liked to talk about his school affairs at the dinner table, whether it was someone closing night school, or who was fighting with whom, he always told his mother a series of excited and frustrated.He said there today that they are going to play a play, and he will also play a role in this play, as an old doctor.Mrs. Gu said, "Okay, let's eat quickly."Jiemin took two mouthfuls of rice and said, "Mom, you must go see it."The husband said that this play is very meaningful, and he chose this script for us. This script is very good, and it is famous all over the world!Mrs. Gu ignored everything he said, she just looked at his face and said: There is a grain of rice sticking to the corner of your mouth.Jiemin felt very discouraged and unhappy, so he lazily reached out and wiped the corner of his mouth.Mrs. Gu said: "It's still there."His elder brother Weimin said, "He wants to keep it as a snack."Everyone at the table laughed, only Yujin, who was in a daze here, he was a little at a loss when they laughed like this, thinking that he might have lost his behavior and did something ridiculous.He looked at their faces one by one, but couldn't understand. This afternoon, Yujin had something to discuss, so he went out early and didn't come back for dinner.At the same time, Shijun and Manzhen also had dinner outside, and they just came back together, and Yujin just came back not too long ago.Shijun and Manzhen walked past the door of his room and heard laughter inside. It turned out that Jiemin was there forcing Yujin to show him how to play the role of the doctor.Yujin taught him how to use the receiver and measure his blood pressure.Manzhen and Shijun stood at the door of the room watching, Yujin couldn't do it anymore, and said with a smile: I also know these two tricks and taught you both.Jaymin just grinds him down.Children always like to change things up. When Shijun taught them how to ride a bicycle, they were very close to Shijun. Now that they have Yujin, they are much colder towards him.In normal times, Shijun might not have noticed it, but now he is very sensitive, even he is a little jealous of the children's love for Yujin. Yujin was off guard and yawned.Manzhen said: Jiemin, let's go upstairs, Brother Jin is going to sleep.Yujin smiled and said: No, it's still early.It's because I haven't slept well in the past two days, and now I have become a countryman, and I can't sleep because of the noise of cars and trams.Manzhen said: There is also the radio next door, it's really annoying, it's on all day long.Yu Jin smiled and said: It's also because I'm not used to it.I wanted to find two books to read, but I couldn't fall asleep, so I fell asleep after reading a book.Manzhen said: I have them there.Jiemin, go up and get two more copies. Jiemin walked in carrying a large stack of books, all of which were on her bookshelf, and two of them were given to her by Shijun.She examined each book, handed it to Yu Jin, and said with a smile: I wonder if you have read it?Yujin smiled and said: I haven't even seen it.Let me tell you, I'm a countryman now, I stay up late all day, and I don't have time to read.He stood under the lamp and flipped through it, Manzhen said: Oh, this light bulb is not bright enough, you have to change it to a bigger one.Although Yujin tried her best to stop her, Manzhen went upstairs to get the light bulb.Shijun couldn't sit still at this time, and he was a little unwilling to leave when he thought about it.He casually picked up a book and flipped through it.Jiemin was there again babbling about his play and telling Yujin the plot. Manzhen brought a light bulb and said with a smile: Shijun, help me lift the table.Yu Jin and Shi Jun rushed to carry the table over and put it under the lamp, Manzhen quickly climbed onto the table, Yu Jin hurriedly said: Let me do it.Manzhen smiled and said: It doesn't matter, I can do it.She stood on the table, twisted the light bulb on the electric lamp, and took it off. The room was suddenly plunged into darkness.At the moment before the darkness came, Yujin was noticing Manzhen's ankle, he was standing by the table, there was really no way not to see it.Her ankles were slender and strong, just as she was.In the past two days, her mother often talked with Yu Jin about the family affairs. Yu Jin knew that the seven members of their family depended on Manzhen now.He found that her interests were different from those of ordinary people.She is really full of vitality.Now he even had the feeling that compared with her, her sister was just a dreamy and beautiful shadow. The lamp came on again, and the light was in her hand, shining on her face.Manzhen squatted down, jumped off the table, and said with a smile: Is that enough?But if you want to lie in bed and read, I'm afraid it won't work.Yujin said: It's okay, it's the same.Don't bother!Manzhen smiled and said: I'll just be a good person and do it to the end.She ran upstairs again and brought a lamp.Shijun recognized that desk lamp, it was the one in front of Manzhen's bed. Yu Jin sat on the edge of the bed, reading a book by the desk lamp.Does he also feel that the light is particularly warm?Shijun wanted to leave a long time ago, but he didn't want to look angry because Manzhen would definitely laugh at him.Intellectually, too, he found his jealousy unfounded.After they got married in the future, he would never object to her hospitality to his friends in the same way. He may not be so old-headed and small-minded.But rationality is rationality, he still finds it unbearable. What was especially unbearable was that when he was leaving, he walked to the dark street alone, but they were still reunited under the light like a family. Mrs. Gu had always looked at Manzhen and Yujin coldly, and felt that they were very reasonable, so she kept some hope in her heart, and she was even more secretly happy when she saw that Shijun was coming soon, thinking that Manzhen must be cold him. It was another Saturday afternoon, after lunch, Mrs. Gu spread two newspapers on the table, spread a few liters of rice on the newspapers, and slowly sorted out the weeds and sand.Yujin sat across from her and chatted with her.He said he was going back the day after tomorrow, and Mrs. Gu felt very sorry, because she said: We want to go back too, there are still a few acres of land in the countryside, two houses, and our old lady is always thinking about going back.I often say the same thing to the old lady, talking about your mother, I said we go to the countryside, we can get some food when we have time, and I will pick her up to play small cards, and our old sisters get together.How can I not see it!As he spoke, he sighed again.He also said: It is a pity that there are no good schools in the countryside, and it is inconvenient for children to go to school.In the future, when they are older, they can live and study. One day, Manzhen will also get married, and I will really go to the countryside with our old lady! Yujin listened to her tone, as if Manzhen's marriage was in the distant future, a very uncertain matter, so she asked with a smile: "Is the second sister not engaged?"Mrs. Gu laughed softly and said: No.She doesn't have any friends, and Mr. Shen often comes here, but Manzhen may not be willing to do this kind of people who don't know the details.Yu Jin could also hear her tone, she obviously liked him.But what about Manzhen himself?Is Mr. Shen completely unrequited love for her?Yu Jin was somewhat skeptical.However, everyone has this temper, and it is always easy to believe anything he is willing to believe.Yujin is no exception.There was some activity in his mind again. This time, the depression in his heart was no less than that of Shijun. Shijun didn't come today, nor did he call.Manzhen suspected that he might be sick, but maybe there was something wrong, so he came late.She has been in her room, leaning on the window sill and looking down.After watching for a long time, he walked to the next room without emotion.When her mother saw her, she smiled and said, "Why don't you go to the movies today?"Brother Jin is leaving the day after tomorrow, please invite him.Yujin smiled and said: I invite, I invite.I have been in Shanghai for the past few days, and I have never seen a movie!Manzhen smiled and said: I remember you used to love watching movies, why don't you seem to be very interested now?Yujin smiled and said: Watching movies is also addictive.The more you watch, the more you want to see.In the mainland, because I didn’t have much to watch, I quit after holding back for two years.Manzhen said: There is a film that you must watch.But now I don't know if it is still playing there.She immediately looked for the newspaper, searched and searched, but the one with the movie advertisement was missing.She leaned on the table and picked up a corner of the rice-picking newspaper her mother had laid out to read. Mrs. Gu said, "I have these old newspapers."Manzhen smiled and said: Well, isn't this today's?She pulled out the bottom newspaper, and Mrs. Gu said with a smile: "Okay, I'll let you."I also have to go to rest, this time the rice is not good, and there is a lot of sand, which made me dizzy.She tidied up and went out. Manzhen found the advertisement for the movie in the newspaper, and said to Yujin: It's the last day.I advise you to go see it anyway.Yujin smiled and said: You go too.Manzhen said: I have already read it.Yu Jin smiled and said: If it is as good as you said, it is worth watching it again.Manzhen laughed and said: You've cheated on me!No, I'm really tired today and I don't want to go out anymore. I don't even plan to watch my younger brother perform on stage today.Yujin smiled and said: Then he must be very disappointed. Yujin was holding a book she lent him in his hand. He read a paragraph every day before going to bed, and folded the book, the cover had already come off.He laughed and said: Look, I see your book like this!Manzhen smiled and said: What's the point of such a broken book.Brother Jin, are you leaving the day after tomorrow?Yujin said: Ah.I have been staying for an extra week.He didn't say: It's all for you.These words, he originally planned to wait until the day before leaving to tell Manzhen, if she rejected her, just walked away, and after being rejected, he still lived in her house and saw each other every day, it must be very painful.But now he thinks again, it's rare to have such an opportunity, and no one is around. He hesitated for a while, then said: I really want to invite my aunt and aunt to go to the countryside to play. When Weimin and the others are on spring break, we can go together and stay for a few more days.You can live in our hospital, which is cleaner.You probably don't have a holiday?Manzhen shook his head and said with a smile: We rarely have a few days off in a year.Yu Jin said: Can I take a few days off?Manzhen smiled and said: I'm afraid not, we don't have such rules there.Yu Jin showed a very disappointed look, and said: I really hope you can go for a visit, the scenery in that place is not bad, on the one hand, you can also get to know me better. Manzhen suddenly realized that if he continued talking, he would have a tendency to propose to her.Something happened unexpectedly, she thought, stop him quickly.Don't let him say this sentence no matter what, it will leave a mark in vain.But even though she thought this way, her heart was beating suddenly, she just lowered her head, and slowly pushed some rice grains left on the table to the front, and piled them into a small pile. Yu Jin said: You must think that I am too reckless, why did I say these things when I first met you.I really can't come to Shanghai often because I have to, and there will be very few opportunities to meet each other in the future. Manzhen thought: It's all my fault.When he came this time, as soon as I saw him, I remembered how naughty I was when I was a child. He was with my sister, and I always made trouble with them. Now I think about it and I feel sorry, so I treat him better.I didn't expect that because of my apology, I would feel a deeper apology now. Yu Jin smiled and said: Over the years, I have been busy all day long and immersed myself in work, but I don't feel that I am getting old.Since I saw you this time, I feel that I am old.Maybe it's too late for me to know you?Manzhen was silent for a while, then smiled and said: It's too late, but it's not the reason you think.Yu Jin paused, and said: Is it because of Shen Shijun?Manzhen just smiled and didn't answer, she acquiesced.She said this on purpose, to show that she fell in love with someone else first, so she had to feel sorry for him, and she felt that this would not hurt his self-esteem.In fact, even if she met him first and then Shijun, she believed that she still liked Shijun. Now she suddenly understands why Xiang Shijun's attitude is so strange and why he doesn't come here anymore.It turned out that it was because of Yu Jin that he had a misunderstanding.Manzhen felt very angry that he didn't trust her so much, thinking that she was so easy to change her mind.Even if she changed her mind, didn't Shijun promise her before, he said: I will take you back no matter what.Didn't what he said that night in the moonlight count?He still has the usual passive style, as soon as a third party appeared, he immediately walked away quietly without saying a word.This person is too hateful! The more Manzhen thought about it, the angrier she became. In that instant, her heart had already flown to Shijun, and she almost forgot about Yujin's existence.Yu Jin also had mixed feelings at this time, he sat across from her silently, after a long while, he finally stood up and said: I have to go out for a while.see you later. When he left, Manzhen felt sad again.She happily took the book she had lent him.The cover is torn.She rolled the book into a cylinder, held it tightly in her hand, and tapped on it. It was almost dusk, and it seemed that Shijun would not come today.This man is really hateful, she wanted to go out in a fit of anger, so as not to worry about him all the time at home, and wait for him not to come again. She went to the next room. Her grandmother was lying on the bed because of the cloudy weather today.Her mother worked there wearing glasses.Manzhen said: Jiemin is acting today.Mom going to see it?Mrs. Gu said: I'm not going, I'm just like grandma, I suffer from cloudy days and my back hurts.Manzhen said: "Then I'll go, I won't go alone, it's too disappointing for him."Her grandmother said, "Where's brother Jin?"You ask Brother Jin to accompany you.Manzhen said: Brother Jin has gone out.Her grandmother looked at her face, and her mother was always indifferent, without saying a word.Manzhen also somewhat guessed what the two old ladies were thinking, so she didn't say anything, just packed up and went to her brother's school to watch a play. Not long after she had left, the phone rang. Mrs. Gu went to answer the phone, but it was Yu Jin who called, saying: I won't be coming back for dinner, don't wait for me, auntie.I'm at a friend's house and I'm not coming back tonight.Listening to his voice, although there is a smile, that smile is very reluctant.Mrs. Gu knew very well that Manzhen must have bumped into him just now, and he felt embarrassed, so he moved to live elsewhere. Mrs. Gu was already sad enough, but the old lady kept asking long and short questions: Are you staying at a friend's house?What's going on, Manzhen ran out alone.Don't the two little people quarrel, right?It was fine just now, I saw them talking and laughing.Mrs. Gu sighed and said: Who knows what's going on!Manzhen's temper is frustrating, anyway, she will never care about her business again! She made up her mind to ignore Manzhen's affairs, but suddenly she thought of her eldest daughter, Manlu, as if she had nowhere to place her feelings.The last time Manlu went back to her natal home, she cried and told her about the quarrel between her husband and wife. She didn't know what happened recently, but she didn't hear from her for quite a while, so she was very worried. She called Manlu and asked how she was doing.Manlu heard her mother's tone as if she wanted to see her, since that time when her younger sister came to visit and caused trouble, now she has made up her mind to try to avoid her mother's family from coming to her, and would rather go by herself.She then said: I was going to come out tomorrow, and I will come to see my mother tomorrow.Mrs. Gu was stunned for a moment, remembering that Yujin was living in their house now, it might be inconvenient for Manlu to come.Although Yujin lived outside today, she might be coming back tomorrow, so she happened to meet her.She hesitated for a while, then said: "It's not very good for you to come tomorrow, so why not come again after a few days."Man Lu felt very surprised, and asked: Why?It was inconvenient for Mrs. Gu to say more on the phone, so she only replied vaguely: Let's talk about it when we meet. The more she hesitated, the more curious Man Lu felt. She thought it was very boring to stay alone at home, so she drove to her mother's house by car that night to see what was going on.That night, the children of the family were having a funfair at the school, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a quiet dinner and sat opposite each other under the lights to pick rice.When Manlu came suddenly, Mrs. Gu was taken aback. She thought she had a falling out with her son-in-law and ran out in a fit of anger. She just looked at her face, but she didn't see any tears. She was still a little puzzled, and asked : What can you do?Man Lu smiled and said: It's nothing.I've always wanted to come, but I didn't call tomorrow, so I came today. Before she could sit still, Mrs. Gu rushed to tell her: Yu Jin has come to Shanghai, did your mother tell you that he lives with us now?His mother died, so he came here to tell us that this child has not seen him for a few years, and he is more capable than before. This time he came to Shanghai to buy an X-ray machine for their hospital.A person who just passed the age of 30 became the dean, and his mother was also miserable. She died before enjoying a few years of blessings. I was so sad to hear that, among the few nieces and daughters, she was the most affectionate to me. Where can I think of it? Yes, she was walking ahead of me!As he spoke, tears welled up again. Man Lu only heard the first two sentences, saying that Yu Jin had come to Shanghai and was staying with them.As soon as I heard these two words, there was a buzzing in my ears, and I couldn't hear the words below.After being stunned for a long time, as if she didn't trust her grandmother very much, she turned her face away and asked her mother: "Yu Jin lives with us?"Mrs. Gu nodded and said: He went out today and stayed overnight at a friend's house, and he won't come back.After hearing this, Man Lu breathed a sigh of relief and said: Just now you told me on the phone not to come tomorrow, is that why?Mrs. Gu smiled wryly and said: Yes, I thought you were here, should we meet or not?Weird.Man Lu said: That's nothing.Mrs. Gu said: "Accordingly, it's nothing. It's been all these years, and we are old relatives, so we don't have to worry about hearing the doorbell ring suddenly when someone has nothing to say.Sitting on the chair, Man Lu couldn't help but bowed her body, took a picture in the full-length mirror on the opposite side, and brushed her hair, deeply regretting that she came out in such a hurry that she didn't even change a piece of clothes. Old lady Gu said: But Yujin is back.Mrs. Gu said: No way, he said he won't be coming back tonight.The old lady Gu said: "It can't be Manzhen and the others. It's only after eight o'clock at this time, and they are not so fast."Man Lu felt that the air upstairs and downstairs was tense, as if a play was about to start, and as the heroine, she was not prepared at all, and she couldn't remember a single line, and everything in her mind was very vague and vague. Mrs. Gu pushed open the window and shouted: Who is it?As soon as the window was opened, there were two or three dots of cold rain on the face.It's raining.The tenant's mother also yelled at the back door: Who is it?Oh, it's Mr. Shen!When Mrs. Gu heard that it was Shijun, she immediately became angry, turned around and said to Manlu: Let's sit in the room over there, I don't want to see him.It was the one named Shen.I thought about it, I was really angry, if he hadn't said this, he sighed again, and told her daughter the whole story one by one.Yujin came to Shanghai this time, and because he was not yet married, his grandmother said behind his back that it would be a good idea to marry Manzhen to him, to repay him for being unmarried for seven years.It seems that he is also very interesting to Manzhen, and Manzhen is also very good to him, but it is because there is a person named Shen here first. Shijun didn't plan to come today, but it has become a habit to come to Manzhen on Saturdays.I held back for a day during the day, but I didn't come, but I still came at night.The stairs are dark, and Manzhen turns on the lights on the stairs when he usually walks here. Today, no one turned on the lights for him, so he guessed that Manzhen might not be at home.I walked up in the dark, and when I got to the corner, I suddenly felt hot on my shins. It turned out that there was a briquette stove on the ground, and a pot of things was cooking on it. It was no fun to kick it over.He was taken aback, and became more careful.Walking upstairs, I saw Mrs. Gu sitting alone under the lamp, with a few old newspapers spread out in front of her, picking rice there.When Shi Jun saw her, he felt a little uncomfortable.This time, old lady Gu's attitude towards Shijun was quite different from before because she thought he was Yujin's enemy and she was protecting her nephew.Shijun had never been treated so coldly by others in his life. He forced a smile and called out: "Old lady."She raised her head and smiled, humming in her mouth as a greeting, still picking her rice.Shijun said: "Has Manzhen gone out?"Old lady Gu said: Well, she went out.Shijun said: Where did she go?Old lady Gu said: I don't really know.Did you go to the theater?Then Shijun remembered that he was downstairs and passed by the door of Yujin's room just now, and there was no light inside.Yujin also went out, probably to the theater together. A woman's overcoat was draped over the back of the chair, and a leather bag was placed on the table, as if there was a guest here.Is it Manzhen's sister?I didn't notice it just now, but there seemed to be a car parked at the back door. Shijun was about to leave immediately, but when he heard the rain outside, he didn't bring a raincoat when he came out, and he might not be able to call a car when he went out.While hesitating, the glass window was not closed tightly, and the two windows were blown open.顧老太太忙去關窗戶，通到隔壁房間的一扇門也給風吹開了，顧太太在那邊說話，一句句聽得很清楚：要不然，她嫁給豫瑾多好哇，你想！那她也用不著這樣累了。老太太一直想回家鄉去的，老太太也稱心了。我們兩家並一家，好在本來是老親，也不能說我們是靠上去。另一個女人的聲音不知說了一句什麼，大概是叫她輕點聲，以後便嘁嘁喳喳，聽不見了。 顧老太太拴上窗戶，回過身來，面不改色地，那神氣好像是沒聽見什麼，也不知耳朵有點聾呢還是假裝不聽見。世鈞向她點了個頭，含糊地說了聲：我走了。不要說下雨，就是下錐子他也要走了。 然而無論怎樣心急如火，走到那漆黑的樓梯上，還是得一步步試探著，把人的心都急碎了，要想氣烘烘地衝下樓去，那是絕對不可能的。世鈞在黑暗中想道：也不怪她母親勢利本來嗎，豫瑾的事業可以說已經成功了，在社會上也有相當地位了，不像我是剛出來做事，將來是什麼樣，一點把握也沒有。曼楨呢，她對他是非常佩服的，不過因為她跟我雖然沒有正式訂婚，已經有了一種默契，她又不願意反悔。她和豫瑾有點相見恨晚吧？好，反正我決不叫她為難。 他把心一橫，立下這樣一個決心。下了樓，樓下那房客的老媽子還在廚房裏搓洗抹布，看見他就說：雨下得這樣大，沈先生你沒問他們借把傘？這兒有把破傘，要不要撐了去？倒是這不相干的老媽子，還有這種人情上的溫暖，相形之下，世鈞心裏更覺得一陣淒涼。他朝她笑了笑，便推開後門，向蕭蕭夜雨中走去。 樓上，他一走，顧老太太便到隔壁房間裏去報告：走了。雨下得這樣大，曼楨他們回來要淋得像落湯雞了。老太太一進來，顧太太便不言語了，祖孫三代默然對坐著，只聽見雨聲潺潺。 顧太太剛才對曼璐訴說，把豫瑾和曼楨的事情一五一十說給她聽，一點顧忌也沒有，因為曼璐自己已經嫁了人，而且嫁得這樣好，飛黃騰達的，而豫瑾為了她一直沒有結婚叫自己妹妹去安慰安慰他，豈不好嗎？她母親以為她一定也贊成的。其實她是又驚又氣，最氣的就是她母親那種口吻，就好像是長輩與長輩之間，在那裏討論下一代的婚事。好像她完全是個局外人，這樁事情完全與她無關，她完全沒有妒忌的權利了。她母親也真是多事，怎麼想起來的，又要替她妹妹和豫瑾撮合，二妹不是已經有了朋友嗎，又讓豫瑾多一回刺激。她知道的，豫瑾如果真是愛上了她妹妹，也是因為她的緣故因為她妹妹有幾分像她。他到現在還在那裏追逐著一個影子呀！ 她心裏非常感動，她要見他一面，勸勸他，勸他不要這樣癡心。她對自己說，她沒有別的目的，不過是要見見他，規諫他一番。但是誰知道呢，也許她還是抱著一種非分的希望的，尤其因為現在鴻才對她這樣壞，她的處境這樣痛苦。 當著她祖母，也不便說什麼，曼璐隨即站起身來，說要走了，她母親送她下樓，走到豫瑾房門口，曼璐順手就把電燈捻開了，笑道：我看看。那是她從前的臥房，不過傢俱全換過了，現在臨時佈置起來的，疏疏落落放著一張床，一張桌子，兩把椅子。房間顯得很空。豫瑾的洗臉毛巾晾在椅背上，豫瑾的帽子擱在桌上，桌上還有他的自來水筆和一把梳子。換下來的襯衣，她母親給他洗乾淨了，疊得齊齊整整的，放在他床上。枕邊還有一本書。曼璐在燈光下呆呆地望著這一切。幾年不見，他也變成一個陌生的人了。這房間是她住過好幾年的，也顯得這樣陌生，她心裏恍恍惚惚的，好像做夢一樣。 顧太太道：他後天就要動身了，老太太說我們做兩樣菜，給他餞行，也不知道他明天回來不回來。曼璐道：他的東西都在這裏，明天不回來，後天也要來拿東西的。他來的時候你打個電話告訴我。我要見見他，有兩句話跟他說。顧太太倒怔了一怔，道：你想再見面好嗎？待會兒讓姑爺知道了，不大好吧？曼璐道：我光明正大的，怕什麼？顧太太道：其實當然沒有什麼，不過讓姑爺知道了，他又要找碴子跟你鬧了！曼璐不耐煩地道：你放心好了，反正不會帶累你的！也不知道為什麼，曼璐每次和她母親說話，儘管雙方都是好意，說到後來總要惹得曼璐發脾氣為止。 第二天，豫瑾沒有回來。第三天午後，他臨上火車，方才回來搬行李。曼璐沒等她母親打電話給她，一早就來了，午飯也是在娘家吃的。顧太太這一天擔足心事，深恐他們這一見面，便舊情復熾，女兒女婿的感情本來已經有了裂痕，這樣一來，說不定就要決裂了。女兒的脾氣向來是這樣，不聽人勸的，哪裏攔得住她。待要跟在她後面。不讓她和豫瑾單獨會面，又好像是加以監視，做得太明顯了。 豫瑾來了，正在他房裏整理行李，一抬頭，卻看見一個穿著紫色絲絨旗袍的瘦削的婦人，也不知道她什麼時候進來的，倚在床欄杆上微笑地望著他。豫瑾吃了一驚，然後他忽然發現，這女人就是曼璐他又吃了一驚。他簡直說不出話來，望著她，一顆心只往下沉。 他終於微笑著向她微微一點頭。但是他實在不知道說什麼好，再也找不出一句話來，腦子裏空得像洗過了一樣，兩人默默相對，只覺得那似水流年在那裏滔滔地流著。 還是曼璐先開口。她說：你馬上就要走了？豫瑾道：就是兩點鐘的車。曼璐道：一定要走了。曼璐抱著胳膊，兩肘撐在床欄杆上，她低著眼皮，撫摸著自己的手臂，幽幽地道：其實你不該上這兒來的。難得到上海來一趟，應當高高興興地玩玩。我真希望你把我這人忘了。 她這一席話，豫瑾倒覺得很難置答。她以為他還在那裏迷戀著她呢。他也無法辯白。他頓了一頓，便道：從前那些話還提它幹嘛？曼璐，我聽見說你得到了很好的歸宿，我非常安慰。曼璐淡淡地笑了一笑道：哦，你聽見他們說的。他們只看見表面，他們哪兒知道我心裏的滋味。 豫瑾不敢接口，他怕曼璐再說下去，就要細訴衷情，成為更進一步的深談了。於是又有一段較長的沉默。豫瑾極力制止自己，沒有看手錶。他注意到她的衣服，她今天穿這件紫色的衣服，不知道是不是偶然的。從前她有件深紫色的綢旗袍，他很喜歡她那件衣裳。冰心有一部小說裏說到一個紫衣的姊姊，豫瑾有一個時期寫信給她，就稱她為紫衣的姊姊。她和他同年，比他大兩個月。 曼璐微笑地打量著他道：你倒還是那樣子。你看我變了吧？豫瑾微笑道：人總是要變的，我也變了。我現在脾氣也跟從前兩樣了，也不知是否年紀的關係，想想從前的事，非常幼稚可笑。 他把從前的一切都否定了。她所珍惜的一些回憶，他已經羞於承認了。曼璐身上穿著那件紫色的衣服，頓時覺得芒刺在背。渾身就像火燒似的。她恨不得把那件衣服撕成破布條子。 也幸而她母親不遲不早，正在這時候走了進來，拎著一隻提籃盒，笑道：豫瑾你昨天不回來，姑外婆說給你餞行，做了兩樣菜，後來你沒回來，就給你留著，你帶到火車上吃。豫瑾客氣了一番。顧太太又笑道：我叫劉家的老媽子給你僱車去。豫瑾忙道：我自己去僱。顧太太幫他拎著箱子，他匆匆和曼璐道別，顧太太送他出去，一直送到衖堂口。 曼璐一個人在房裏，眼淚便像拋沙似的落了下來。這房間跟她前天來的時候並沒有什麼兩樣，他用過的毛巾依舊晾在椅背上，不過桌上少了他的帽子。昨天晚上她在燈下看到這一切，那種溫暖而親切的心情，現在想起來，卻已經恍如隔世了。 他枕邊那本書還在那裏，掀到某一頁。她昨天沒注意到，桌上還有好幾本小說，原來都是她妹妹的書，她認識的，還有那隻檯燈，也是她妹妹的東西。二妹對豫瑾倒真體貼，借小說書給他看，還要拿一隻檯燈來，好讓他躺在床上舒舒服服地看，那一份慇勤，可想而知。她母親還不是也鼓勵她，故意支使她送茶送水，一天到晚藉故跑到他房裏來，像個二房東的女兒似的，老在他面前轉來轉去，賣弄風情。只因為她是一個年輕的女孩子，她無論怎樣賣弄風情，人家也還是以為她是天真無邪，以為她的動機是純潔的。曼璐真恨她，恨她恨入骨髓。她年紀這樣輕，她是有前途的，不像曼璐的一生已經完了，所剩下的只有她從前和豫瑾的一些事跡，雖然淒楚，可是很有回味的。但是給她妹妹這樣一來，這一點回憶已經給糟蹋掉了，變成一堆刺心的東西，碰都不能碰，一想起來就覺得刺心。 連這一點如夢的回憶都不能給她留下。為什麼這樣殘酷呢？曼楨自己另外有愛人的。聽母親說，那人已經在旁邊吃醋了。也許曼楨的目的就是要他吃醋。不為什麼，就為了要她的男朋友吃醋。 曼璐想道：我沒有待錯她呀，她這樣恩將仇報。不想想從前，我都是為了誰，出賣了我的青春。要不是為了他們，我早和豫瑾結婚了。我真傻。How silly. 她唯有痛哭。 顧太太回來的時候，看見她伏在桌上，哭得兩隻肩膀一聳一聳的。顧太太悄然站在她身邊，半晌方道：你看，我勸你你不信，見了面有什麼好處，不是徒然傷心嗎！ 太陽光黃黃地曬在地板上，屋子裏剛走掉一個趕火車的人，總顯得有些零亂。有兩張包東西的舊報紙拋在地下，顧太太一一拾了起來，又道：別難過了。還是這樣好！剛才你不知道，我真擔心，我想你剛巧這一向心裏不痛快，老是跟姑爺嘔氣，不要一看見豫瑾，心裏就活動起來。還好，你倒還明白！ 曼璐也不答理。只聽見她那一陣一陣，摧毀了肺肝的啜泣。