Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve
When Yujin got married, she borrowed a club from someone else.There were a lot of people who came that day, almost all of them were relatives and friends of the woman, and Yu Jin had relatively few acquaintances in Shanghai.Mrs. Gu went to congratulate her. She had agreed with Manzhen to meet there, so she kept looking around in the crowd, but she didn't see her coming until the wedding was over.Mrs. Gu thought: This child is really strange, even if she doesn't want to come, I told her like that yesterday, she should come today no matter what.Why didn't she come, unless her sister's illness suddenly got better again, and she really couldn't go away?Mrs. Gu immediately became fidgety, thinking that Man Lu might have entered a dying state.At this time, the bride and groom had already left the auditorium amidst the sound of music, and the guests were seated for refreshments. At a glance, they were all smiling faces and noisy laughter. Mrs. Gu felt even more confused when she was in the middle of it.Originally, I wanted to wait for the bride and groom to come back and tell them before leaving, but I couldn't wait, so I left first, and as soon as I went out, I hailed a rickshaw and went straight to Zhu's house on Hongqiao Road.
In fact, her imagination is far from the reality.Man Lu was actually well, not even sick at all, she was wearing a satin cotton dressing gown, sitting on the sofa, smoking a cigarette, talking to Hong Cai.On the other hand, Hongcai looked a bit like a sick man, with two sticking plasters slanted on his face, and bandages on his hands.He was still a little shocked until now, and said repeatedly: I have never seen such a woman.Will bite!He was dragged by her and rolled down from the bed. He fell so badly that he almost couldn't hold him down, and let her run away. He only felt a burst of heat under the tip of his nose, and his nose was bleeding profusely.He was flustered by her yelling, and he was bitten by her so that he screamed, but he still grabbed her by the hair and knocked his head on the floor a few times before knocking her unconscious.At that time, in the dark, he didn't know that she was dead, and his wish was fulfilled even after death.Afterwards, I turned on the light and saw that I was still breathing. Before I woke up, I hugged him to the bed and took off his clothes. He looked like a corpse. This time, I let him have enough fun and wished to die on her body. It was also the last night.
Man Lu said indifferently: "That's not her fault, you still think that people will treat you like a spendthrift, or what?"Hongcai said: No, you didn't see her like that, she looked like she went crazy!Knowing her temper early, Man Lu cut off his words without waiting for him to finish, saying: It is because I know her temper that I always say it can't be done, it can't be done.You still think I'm jealous, because of this you're like an enemy to me.At this time, I was really pushed to the limit by you. It was so easy for me to come up with such an idea. At this moment, you are afraid again. Aren’t you trying to get angry with me?She pointed a cigarette straight in his face and almost burned him.
Hongcai frowned and said, "Don't blame me all the time, just tell me what to do."Man Lu said: What do you say?Hongcai said: It's not a problem to keep her locked in the house all the time, sooner or later your mother will come to ask us for someone.Man Lu said: It's not that I'm afraid of her, my mother is the easiest to deal with, unless her fiancé speaks out.Hongcai stood up abruptly, walked up and down, and muttered: This matter has become a big deal.Seeing his cowardly look, Man Lu was really angry, so she sneered and said: How can that be?Let her go quickly?People are willing to take such a loss from you for nothing?It doesn't matter how much you spend, and they are not in business, so they are not so easy to spend.Hongcai said, "That's why I'm in a hurry."But Man Lu snorted again, and said with a smile: What are you in a hurry for?She should be in a hurry.Anyway, she has already had a relationship with you, no matter how ruthless she is, she can't be ruthless. Give her two days to think about it carefully, and then I will persuade her. If she is a sensible person at that time, she will have no choice but to go down the steps.Hongcai still has some doubts, because he really lacks self-confidence in front of Manzhen.He said: What if I persuade her not to listen?Man Lu said: "Then we have to lock her up for a few more days to suppress her temper."Hongcai said: Can't we lock her up forever?Man Lu smiled and said: Can you lock her up for the rest of your life?One day she will raise a child, don't worry, she won't leave even if you drive her away, she will have to sue you for abandoning her!
After hearing this, Hongcai turned his worries into joy.He was stunned for a while, still seemed a little uneasy, and said: But according to her temper, do you think she is really willing to be young?Man Lu said coldly: She doesn't want me to let her go, can the head office do it?Hongcai knew that she was speaking out of anger, and hurriedly said with a smile: "What are you talking about?"From now on, I will not agree!I am going to slowly repay you in the future, where can I find a virtuous wife like you, I am still filial and filial to you.Man Lu smiled and said: "Okay, okay, don't coax me, just give me less anger."Hongcai laughed and said: You are still angry with me!He salivated and took her hand, and said again: You see I was beaten like this, don't you feel bad?Man Lu pushed him vigorously: You are only worthy of being treated like this.If anyone puts all his heart on you, he will definitely make you angry and sad!Do you think so? Feel your conscience!Hongcai laughed and said, "Yes, yes, don't fight with me again!"I can't stand the two of you sisters messing around like this!As she said that, she couldn't help but look pale, and Man Lu felt that he was already embracing his eyebrows and eyes.
She wished she could raise her hand immediately, and hit La La with two slaps, but this was just a momentary impulse.This time, she made up her mind to use her sister to hold his heart, just like some old ladies in the past, because they were afraid that their son would be wandering outside and would be difficult to restrain, they deliberately taught him to smoke opium and make him addicted. Among them, it is like holding a string on a kite in my hand, and I am no longer afraid that he will fly far away and never come back.
The couple were having a secret conversation in the room, and Ah Bao came in a little panicked and said: Miss, the wife is here.Man Lu threw the cigarette away, and said to Hongcai, "Leave it to me, you can hide for a while."After Hongcai quickly stood up, Manlu said again: You are still staying in that room yesterday, listening to my letter.Do not run outside again.Hongcai laughed and said, "You don't even look at me, how can I get out?"Tell my friends not to laugh at me when they see it.Man Lu said: When did you care about face again?People don't think you are a husband and wife fighting, and your nose is blue and your eyes are swollen.Hongcai laughed and said: That's not true, everyone knows that my wife is virtuous.Man Lu couldn't help but chuckled and said: "Let's go, let's go, you think I love wearing high hats like this."
Hongcai hastily opened a door, went to the back room, and made a detour down the stairs from the back.Manlu also frantically loosened her hair first, rubbing it like a chicken coop, then picked up a cold towel, wiped her face indiscriminately, wiped off the makeup on her face, took off her dressing gown, and went to bed. Go to bed and lie down.Mrs. Gu has already entered here.Although Man Lu pretended to be sick, when Mrs. Gu saw her, she was surprised and said with a smile: Yo, you look much better today!It's almost the same as yesterday.Man Lu sighed, "Hey, what's the matter, I just got two booster shots."Mrs. Gu didn't quite understand what she said, so she just said happily: "Speaking is much louder!"Yesterday like that, it really scared me!Just now she waited for Manzhen not to come, and threatened herself, thinking that Manlu's illness was turning critical, so she came to visit immediately, of course she skipped this episode.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, held Manlu's hand and said with a smile: Where is your second sister?Man Lu said: "Mom, you don't even know, just because of her, I was so anxious that I passed out. If the doctor hadn't given me two booster shots, I would have died by now!"Mrs. Gu was stunned, and only said: What's the matter?Man Lu seemed to be in pain, turned her face to the bed, and said: Mom, I don't even know what to say to you.Mrs. Gu said: "What happened to her?"What about people?Where did you go?She stood up anxiously and looked around.Man Lu held her tightly and said, "Mom, sit down. I won't even mention how much I hate Hongcai when I tell you. I haven't been home for several days, but last night I was so angry." When he came back, I don't know why he was so drunk, he would run to the room where the second sister lived in a daze, I was so sick that I didn't know what happened, and when I arrived, I knew that I had caused trouble.
Mrs. Gu was stunned for a while before saying: How can this be done?Your second younger sister already has someone else, how could he do such nonsense, my aunt, this is killing me!Man Lu said: "Mom, don't make a fuss first, I'm even more confused when you make a fuss."Mrs. Gu's eyes were so anxious that she straightened her eyes, and said, "Where is Hongcai?"I'm going to fight him hard!Man Lu said: How could he have the face to see you.He himself knew that he had caused trouble, so I said to him: Aren't you harming others for the rest of their lives?Tell her how to marry in the future.You have to pay me back!Mrs. Gu said: Yes, what did he say?Man Lu said: He promised to formally marry his second sister.When Mrs. Gu heard this, she was very unexpected and said: "We're officially married."how about you?Man Lu said: I am not formal with him.Mrs. Gu resolutely said: That's not going to happen.No reason.Man Lu sighed, and said: Oh, Mom, how long can I live, I still care about these things!Mrs. Gu couldn't help but feel sour in her heart, and said: Stop talking nonsense.Man Lu said: "I won't die for a while, I'm so sick, how can I go out to socialize, I think in the future, let her come forward for everything, so that people outside will know that she is Mrs. Zhu Hongcai, as long as I stay at home Fortunately, we are my own sisters, so are you afraid that she will treat me badly?
Mrs. Gu was very miserable when she said that, because she said: Even if you say this, it still won't work.You are so wronged.Man Lu said: "Who told me that the man I married is so worthless!"Besides, if it wasn't for my illness this time, this incident wouldn't have happened.I'm really ashamed to see my mother.Having said that, she wiped away tears.Mrs. Gu also cried.
Mrs. Gu felt sad at this time, and it was also because of Manzhen, she must have been unwilling to ask her to follow Zhu Hongcai, but at this point, she had no choice but to compromise.Although Mrs. Gu still felt that Manlu's suggestion was inappropriate, it was not a solution out of nowhere.
Mrs. Gu stunned for a while, then stood up and said: I'll go and see her.Man Lu sat up abruptly, and said, "Don't go with me first." Then she lowered her voice and said secretly, "You don't know, it's a big commotion, and you're going to report it to the police."Mrs. Gu was startled and said: Oh, this child is just so ignorant, how can he shout about such things, he is ashamed.Man Lu whispered: Yes, everyone is ashamed.Hongcai has some status in the society now, it's a shame to let people know about it.Mrs. Gu nodded and said: I'll go and persuade her to go.Man Lu said: "Mom, I think it's better for you not to meet her at this time. You know her temper. How often does she hear what you say? Now she is on fire again."Mrs. Gu couldn't help but also hesitated, and said: Then we can't let her temperament make trouble.Man Lu said: Yes, I was so anxious that I had no choice but to say that she was ill and had to rest, no one was allowed to go into her room, and she was not allowed to come out.When Mrs. Gu heard this, she suddenly shivered for some reason, feeling something was wrong.
Seeing her dumbfounded, Manlu said: Mom, don't worry, wait for two more days, when her anger subsides, then we will slowly persuade her, and as long as she agrees, we will make the happy event right away After all, there is no problem with Hongcai, but now the problem lies with her, and the surname Shen, you said they are already engaged?Mrs. Gu said, "That's right, what are you going to say back home at this time?"Man Lu said: Is he in Shanghai now?Mrs. Gu said: I came to Shanghai yesterday morning.Man Lu said: Does he know she came here?Mrs. Gu said: "I don't know, he just came here yesterday morning, but he hasn't been here since.Man Lu murmured: That's obviously strange, did the two quarrel?Mrs. Gu said: "I didn't expect that if you didn't tell me, I heard from the old lady yesterday that Manzhen dropped her engagement ring into the wastebasket."Didn't she throw it on purpose?Man Lu said: There must have been an argument.I don't know why?Isn't it for Yujin again?Yujin and Manzhen were very close at one point, and this episode of love is what Manlu feels the most painful about, and she will never forget it.Mrs. Gu thought for a while, and said: "It can't be because of Yujin. Yujin came to our place yesterday. Shijun left early at that time, and the two of them never met."Man Lu said: Oh, Yujin came yesterday?What's the matter with him?She was suddenly so jealous that she forgot about everything else.
Mrs. Gu said: "He sent us a wedding invitation, you see, I didn't intend to tell you, but I told me to miss it!"I'm confused right now.Man Lu was stunned for a moment, then said: Oh, he is getting married?Mrs. Gu said: "It's today."Man Lu smiled and said: You said yesterday that you were going to have a wedding wine, did you mean to eat his wedding wine?Why are you hiding this from me?Mrs. Gu said: "Your second sister said it, don't tell you first, your sick person can't stand stimulation."
But when Manlu heard these two sentences at this moment, she was deeply stimulated.Because she found that her younger sister was so considerate to her, in this way, among the many people in the family, only the second younger sister was her confidant, and what she had done was too sorry for others.She suddenly felt very ashamed. She might have wrongly blamed the second sister for the matter about Yujin before, so there was no need to hate her so much, but now it was too late to repent, and she had to justify herself. , I had no choice but to do it to the end.
Man Lu just thought deeply, holding the telephone cord in front of the bed and playing with it in her hand, and the round telephone cord was wrapped around her wrist like a small snake.Mrs. Gu suddenly said: A good person, you can't just disappear like this.How can I tell them when I go back?Man Lu said: It's okay for the old lady, you can tell her the truth.I'm afraid she won't keep her mouth shut.It's up to you.The younger brother and the others are fortunately still young and don't know anything.Mrs. Gu frowned tightly and said: You treat them as children, Weimin will be fifteen after the new year.Man Lu said: If he asks, he will say that the second sister is ill and is recuperating at my place.I told him that it was a lung disease, and I couldn't go out to do it in the future, and I had to save money at home in the future, and living in Shanghai was too expensive, so I had to move to the mainland.Mrs. Gu said blankly, "Why?Man Lu said in a low voice: Avoid for now, lest that person surnamed Shen come looking for her.Mrs. Gu was silent.She had lived in Shanghai for many years, and she was a little bit reluctant to ask her to tear down this family all of a sudden, as if uprooting it.
But Manlu didn't allow her to be half-hearted, so she picked up the phone and called Hongcai's office. They had a waiter named Xiao Tao, who was very alert and literate. He often ran errands for Manlu, Although there were errands in the family, there was no one as useful as him. She asked him to come here immediately.After hanging up the phone, she said to Mrs. Gu: I am going to ask him to go to Suzhou to find a house.Mrs. Gu said: Moving to Suzhou is better than going back to the countryside. The old lady is always thinking about going back.Man Lu thinks that there are too many acquaintances there, and Shijun also knows that it is their hometown, so it is easy to find their whereabouts.She said: Suzhou is better, closer.Anyway, I won't live for long, and as soon as there is a day to hold a wedding here, I will have to pick up my mother and come back to host the wedding.Of course I will still live in Shanghai in the future, and it will be more convenient for my children to go to school.Big brother, when he graduates, don't rush to ask him to find a job, let him study for two more years, and ask Hongcai to send him to study abroad tomorrow.Mom has suffered for so many years, and she should enjoy the blessings. You will live with me in the future, and I will not allow you to wash clothes and cook. Mom is so old, she really shouldn’t do such heavy things. Yesterday was Tired, twisted my waist.You don't even know, I don't know how uncomfortable it is to hear it!Mrs. Gu was confused by what she said, especially the bright future she described for her eldest brother.
The mother and daughter chatted and said that Xiaotao had already arrived, and Manlu told him to leave on the same day in front of her mother, to rent a house in Suzhou, and to move in within a few days, and then send a telegram temporarily Give it to him, so he can meet him at the station.He also asked Mrs. Gu to go back quickly to pack her things, ordered a car to take her back, and asked Xiaotao to take her car to go with her.Mrs. Gu wanted to meet Manzhen, but she had nothing to say in front of Xiaotao, so she just left with a sum of money from Manlu on her body.
Mrs. Gu went back in the car, feeling a little apprehensive all the time, thinking about how the old lady and the children would ask about Manzhen later, and how they should answer.At this time, they must have not returned from the wedding banquet.As soon as she rang the bell, it was the old lady of the Liu family who came to open the door. As soon as she opened the door, she said: Mr. Shen is here, you all go out, he has been waiting here for a long time.Mrs. Gu's heart skipped a beat. This nervousness almost forgot all the words Manlu taught her, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and go in to meet Shijun.It turned out that Shijun had a falling out with Manzhen since yesterday, and since he left Gu's house, he has been walking around alone all the time, and only returned to Shuhui's house very late, and he didn't sleep all night.This afternoon he called Manzhen's office and asked, Manzhen didn't come today, he thought she might be sick, so he rushed to her house right away, unexpectedly their whole family went out, Liu The old lady at home told him that Manzhen went to her sister's house yesterday, and her sister's house sent a car to pick her up, and she never came back.Because Shijun heard yesterday that her sister was sick, she must have gone to take care of her sister alternately with her mother, but I don't know if she will come back today.The old lady of the Liu family was very considerate, and let him sit in. No one in the Gu family was home, so she locked all the doors upstairs, except for the vacant room downstairs, so she brought a handful from her landlord's house. The chair went over and let Shijun sit there.That room was where Yu Jin lived before, and the old lady smiled and said: Mr. Zhang who used to live here came again yesterday.Shijun was startled for a moment, and said with a smile: Oh?Is he still living here this time?The old lady said: "I don't know, I didn't live here yesterday."Just as he was talking, the wife of the Liu family shouted over there: Mommy Gao!Gao Ma!She ran out.This empty room has been closed for a long time, full of dust, and it is a bit suffocating to breathe.Shijun sat here alone, extremely bored, and stood in front of the window for a while, and there was a layer of floating dust on the window sill, so he casually wrote on the dust, and then wiped off all the paintings, his heart was very confused, he just planned to see Thinking about how Manzhen should explain to her, and thinking about Yujin's visit yesterday, whether she saw Manzhen or not, Yujin didn't know, did she know if she knew about his termination of contract with Manzhen, would she tell him?When she was angry and sad, it was a good opportunity for Yujin.Thinking of this, my heart burns even more, and I wish I could see Manzhen right away to make things right.
It was so hard to wait until the doorbell rang at the back door, and heard Gao Ma go to open the door, Shijun hurriedly followed out, and saw that it was Mrs. Gu.Then he went up and smiled and said, "Auntie is back."He came from Nanjing this time, and it was the first time he met Mrs. Gu. When Mrs. Gu saw him, she didn't say a word of greeting. Shijun thought it was strange, but she seemed a little flustered.He thought about it again, she must have known that he and Manzhen had broken up, so she was angry.When he thought about it this way, he couldn't help being a little embarrassed, and he couldn't speak for a while.Mrs. Gu had a ghost in her heart, so she was afraid of seeing him, but when she saw him, she felt very excited and wanted to tell him right away.She was really anxious and angry, suffering from the fact that there was no one to discuss with, seeing Shijun was like meeting someone of her own, she almost shed tears.After all, it is inconvenient to speak downstairs, because he said: "Go upstairs and sit."She led the way upstairs, the two rooms upstairs were locked, and she carried the door key with her, so she reached into her pocket to get it, and when she touched it, she found the large stack of banknotes that Manlu had given her.That kind of banknotes that are 80% old are soft to the touch, and they are so thick and square.Things like money do have a mysterious power, and Mrs. Gu couldn't help feeling that she was sorry for Manlu.Talked well with Manlu, if she is about to leak the news at this time and tell Shijun that young people are all impulsive, it is bound to alarm the government and make trouble out of control.Besides, the affairs of their young people are uncertain, but he and Manzhen can throw away their engagement rings over a trivial matter. If he knows about Manzhen's current situation, Can he say he doesn't care at all?At the end of the day, I don't know if they will still get married or not, but I first broke up the affairs of Hongcai, and instead the two ends fell through.Thinking about it this way, there seem to be many reasons.
Mrs. Gu took out the key and went to open the door.In such a short time, she changed her mind two times in a row, causing her to be in a turmoil.I don't know if it was because of sweaty hands or tremors, but the key couldn't be turned back and forth, but it turned out that Shijun opened it for her.When the two entered the room, Shijun struck up a conversation and asked: "The old lady has gone out too?"Mrs. Gu replied absent-mindedly: Uh-huh.After a pause, he said again: "My back hurts, so I came back alone first."She went to pour tea for Shijun, Shijun hurriedly said: Don't pour it, auntie, let's rest.Where has Manzhen been? Do you know when she will come back?Mrs. Gu poured tea there with her body on her back, poured two cups, brought one over, Fang said: Manzhen is sick, and she is at her sister's house, and wants to rest at her place for a few days.Shijun said: Are you sick?What disease?Mrs. Gu said: It's nothing important.Wait for her to get well in two days and ask her to call you.How many days do you still have to delay in Shanghai?She was anxious to find out how many days he would stay in Shanghai, but Shijun didn't answer her, but said: I want to visit her.What's the number on Hongqiao Road?Mrs. Gu hesitated for a moment, because she said: I don't know the number.I am so confused, I only know the house, but not the house number.Then, he forced a smile again.Seeing her appearance like that, Shijun was clearly concealing it intentionally, and felt very surprised.Unless it was Manzhen's own intention, her mother was not allowed to tell him the address and refused to meet him.But no matter what, the elderly always advocate reconciliation. Even if Mrs. Gu is very dissatisfied with him and blames him for being bad, she will at most be cold to him, and she will never get involved to prevent them from meeting.He suddenly remembered what Gao Ma said just now, that Yujin came here yesterday.Is it still for Yujin?
No matter what the reason was, since Mrs. Gu had such an attitude, he really had nothing to say to her, so he could only stand up and say goodbye.After walking out, I went to a shop to borrow the phone book and looked through the phone book. There was only one Zhu Mansion on Hongqiao Road, and of course it was Manzhen's sister's house.He found out the house number, and immediately hired a car. When he got there, it was just a big house with a brick wall.Shijun went to ring the bell, a small square hole opened on the iron gate, and a male servant showed half his face, Shijun asked, "Is this the Zhu Mansion?"I'm going to see the second miss of the Gu family.The man said: What is your last name?Shijun said: My name is Shen.The man opened the door, and then heard the sound of footsteps on the coal dust road inside, gradually going away, thinking that he had entered to make an announcement.But when Shijun waited outside for a long time, no one came to open the door.He wanted to ring the doorbell again, but held back.There are no neighbors to this house. There are wastelands and vegetable gardens in front and behind, and the weather is freezing, and there is no sound in the surroundings.In the afternoon, the sky was yellow and overcast, when a gust of wind suddenly blew up, and there seemed to be a woman's cry faintly in the air, and the wind passed by, and it could not be heard again.Shijun thought: Where does this sound come from, it can't be in the house?This place must be very close to the Hongqiao Cemetery, maybe it's the cries on the new graves in the cemetery.When I listened intently again, I couldn't hear anything at all, and I only felt miserable in my heart.At this moment, the door on the iron door opened again, and the same male servant said to him: "Second Miss of the Gu family is not here."Shijun was stunned for a moment, and said: What?I just came from Gu's house, and Mrs. Gu said that Miss Er is here.The male servant said: I went to ask, but I am not here.As he said that, he closed the door again with a bang.Shijun thought: She is so unfeeling, she refuses to see me.He stood there in a daze for a while, then raised his hand and knocked on the door, the male servant opened the door again, Shijun said: "Hello, is your wife at home?"He thought that he had met Man Lu before, and if he could meet her, he might ask her to turn things around.But the servant replied: Madam is not feeling well, she is lying down.Shijun has nothing to say.The rickshaw that dragged him came back after a detour because the area was deserted and there was no business. Seeing that Shijun was still standing there, he asked him if he wanted to take him back.The manservant watched him get into the car and leave before he closed the door.
A Bao had been standing inside the door, but she didn't show up. Man Lu was worried and sent her here, fearing that the male servant might not handle it well.Then she quietly asked: "Have you left?"The male servant said: "Let's go!"A Bao said: Madam told you all to go in, I have something to take care of you.She called several male and female servants in together, and Man Lu said to them: If anyone comes to look for Second Miss in the future, they will all answer that he is not here.The second lady is recuperating here, so you take care of her carefully, I will never make you busy in vain.Sometimes she understands her illness, and sometimes she is confused. Anyway, we can't let her go out. Our old lady entrusted her to me. If she runs away, I have to ask you.But don't talk nonsense outside, do you understand?Everyone is naturally chattering.Man Lu gave them the annual rewards earlier, doubling the previous years.The servants all left, only A Bao was left alone. Seeing that the matter had passed the clear road, A Bao whispered to Man Lu: "Eldest Miss, I will send food to Second Miss in the future, let Zhang Mama go, Zhang Mama strong.When I went in just now, she almost rushed out, and I couldn't hold her back.Speaking of this, she lowered her voice again, and said quietly: But I think she looks sick, and she can't even stand upright.Man Lu frowned and said: Why are you sick?Ah Bao said softly: "It must have been freezing. She smashed that window and poured wind into it. In this cold weather, it blows continuously for a day and a night. Why didn't she get sick from the cold?"Man Lu pondered for a while, then said: I have to move a room for her.I'll go and have a look.A Bao said: You have to be careful when you go in.
Manlu went to see Manzhen with a bottle of cold medicine. The two empty rooms in the back building had a lock on the inside and a lock on the outside. First, she opened the outside door and told Abao and Zhang Ma to follow in. Guard the door of the inner room, and then go to open that door.Through the door, I suddenly heard a rattling sound inside, and I couldn't help but be surprised. In fact, it was the smashed glass window, which opened and closed by itself in the cold wind. Every time it slammed, there were some broken glass They fell downstairs one after another, choking and falling to the ground.Manzhen smashed the glass window because no one heard her screaming at night, and she also cut her hand, which was wrapped in a handkerchief.She lay on the bed, motionless.Manlu opened the door and went in, and she fixed her eyes on Manlu.Her sister was so sick yesterday that she seemed to be dying, but today she is up and walking around, which shows that it is a fake illness. From this point of view, her sister is actually an accomplice.When she thought of this, she felt cold and hot all over her body, but felt the hot air rushed to her head like a blaze, her face flushed red, and her eyes turned black in bursts.
Man Lu also felt guilty, she forced a smile and said: Why is your face so red?Have a fever?Manzhen didn't answer.Manlu walked over step by step, a chair fell on the ground blocking the way, she leaned over to help the chair up.The wind blew on the broken glass window, and when it was opened and closed, it made a loud noise, which was not only ear-piercing but also shocking.
Manzhen sat up suddenly and said: I want to go back.If you let me go back right away, I'll forget it, like being bitten by a mad dog.Man Lu said: Second sister, this is not a matter of anger.I'm also angry, why am I not angry, I made a big fuss with him, but what's the use of making a fuss, what can I really do to him?It's really hateful to say that he is a person, but he is sincere to you. I know this. It has been two years, before we got married, and he envied you very much when he saw you.But he has always respected you very much. If he was not drunk yesterday, he would never dare to do this again.As long as you are willing to forgive him, he will always repay you well in the future, anyway, he will never change his heart towards you.Manzhen picked up a bowl on the table and threw it on the ground. It was the meal that Abao brought in just now. The soup flowed all over the floor and the bowl was broken. She picked up a sharp porcelain piece and said, "You go Tell Zhu Hongcai that he must be careful when he comes again, I have a knife here.
Man Lu was silent for a while, bent down and wiped the oil stains on her feet with a handkerchief, and finally said: Don't worry, let's not talk about this now, you can recover from your illness first.Manzhen said: Are you going to let me go back instead of letting me go back?As she said that, she supported the table, stood up and walked out, but Man Lu grabbed her tightly, and the two of them were twisted into a ball in an instant.Manzhen was still holding the half broken bowl in his hand, it was as sharp as a blade, Manlu was also a little scared, and murmured: What are you doing, are you crazy?During the struggle, the broken bowl dropped from his hand and fell to pieces. Manzhen panted and said: You are crazy, what are you doing, you colluded with others to kill me, are you still human?Man Lu shouted: Did I collude with you to harm you?I've been wronged to death, and I don't know how much I've suffered because of you. Manzhen said in anger: You still have to blame me!You still have to rely on it!She really hated it so much that she slapped Man Lu across the ear with a slap.This blow was not light, even Manzhen felt shaken and dizzy.She was stunned, and Man Lu was also stunned. Man Lu instinctively raised her hand, trying to touch her cheek, but that hand stopped in midair.Half of her face was red, and she just stood there blankly. When Manzhen saw it, somehow, she remembered her past benefits. She has helped her for many years in the past, and she has never told her Words of gratitude.Although my family members can't talk about giving and repaying kindness, it is also because there is an instinctive shyness among close relatives, and many words seem to be inconvenient to say.In Man Lu, she just felt that her sister had always looked down on her.After the slap just now, both of them thought about the previous debt at the same time. Manlu thought about it and felt that she was really wronged. She was both angry and sad, especially the one who hated Manzhen's fierce female face.She sneered and said: Hmph, I never expected such a strong woman to come out of our family, huh?If I had been a strong woman at that time, our whole family would have starved to death!I am a dancer and a prostitute, and I am also bullied by others. Where can I go to act like a baby?I am also the same person as you, with the same sister and two sisters, why should I be so cheap while you are so honorable?The more she spoke, the louder her voice was, and when she said this, unknowingly, tears flowed down her face.Ah Bao and Zhang Ma stood outside the door. At first they heard the sound of scuffling in the room, they were already startled, they opened the door and waited to come in to persuade them, but then they heard Man Lu say that she was a dancer and a prostitute, so naturally these words were all Not wanting to be heard, Ah Bao hurriedly winked at Mama Zhang, and was about to leave, but still closed the door, but Manzhen took this opportunity to rush forward, and rushed out sideways.Manlu didn't have time to stop her, she only grabbed her by one arm, the two struggled again, Manzhen shouted: "You still won't let me go?This is against the law, do you know that?Can you keep me locked up forever?Can you kill me?Manlu didn't answer, just threw her away. After all, Manzhen was hot, and her body was fluttering. When Manlu threw her back, she took two steps back, and then fell as far as she could, sitting on her seat. On the ground, one hand was pressing on the fragment of the broken bowl, and he couldn't help but groan.Man Lu had already creaked and ran out stepping on the broken porcelain, closed the door, and locked it again from the outside with a click of the key.
There was a big gash on Manzhen's hand, and blood dripped down.She picked up her hand to have a look, and when she looked, she saw the ruby ring on her hand first.Of course, her concept of chastity is somewhat different from the women in the past, and she doesn't feel that she has anything to be ashamed of Shijun, but when she saw the ring on her finger, she felt like a needle pricked her heart.
Is Shijun still in Shanghai?Would he come here to find her?Didn't her mother come here?It is useless to count on my mother to save me. Even if my mother knew the truth, she would never report it to the police station. Once the family is ugly, it must not be publicized. Moreover, my mother believes in sticking to the end. Bar.My sister puts a little more pressure on this aspect, and my mother is a person who has no ideas. The only hope is that my mother will tell Shijun the truth about this matter and discuss it with Shijun.But is Shijun still in Shanghai?
She supported the window sill to get up, and the broken glass on the window lattice became zigzag, like a mountain of sharp knives.Outside the window is the garden, and the turf is bare in winter, making it especially vast.It was surrounded by high walls, and she had never noticed that the walls were so high.There is a redbud tree in the garden, its branches like withered vines swaying in the cold wind.She suddenly remembered hearing people say that there are ghosts under the bauhinia flowers when she was a child.I don't know why I say this, but maybe because of this sentence, I always feel that the redbud flower looks eerie.If she died here, there must be her ghost under the bauhinia, right?Anyway, I can't die here in a daze, and I won't accept this tone even if I die.As long as there is a box of matches in the room, she really knows how to set fire, and she may be able to escape in the chaos.
忽然聽見外面房間裏有人聲，有一個木匠在那裏敲敲打打工作著。是預備在外房的房門上開一扇小門，可以從小門裏面送飯，可是曼楨並不知道他們是幹什麼，猜著也許是把房門釘死了，把她當一個瘋子那樣關起來。那釘錘一聲一聲敲下來，聽著簡直錐心，就像是釘棺材板似的。
又聽見阿寶的聲音，在那裏和木匠說話，那木匠一口浦東話，聲音有一點蒼老。對於曼楨，那是外面廣大的世界裏來的聲音，她心裏突然顫慄著，充滿了希望，她撲在門上大聲喊叫起來了，叫他給她家裏送信，把家裏的地址告訴他，又把世鈞的地址告訴他，她說她被人陷害，把她關起來了，還說了許許多多的話，自己都不知道說了些什麼，連那尖銳的聲音聽著也不像自己的聲音。這樣大哭大喊，砰砰砰捶著門，不簡直像個瘋子了嗎？
她突然停止了。外面顯得異樣的寂靜。阿寶當然已經解釋過了，裏面禁閉著一個有瘋病的小姐，而她自己也疑惑，她已經在瘋狂的邊緣上了。
木匠又工作起來了。阿寶守在旁邊和他攀談著。那木匠的語氣依舊很和平，他說他們今天來叫他，要是來遲一步，他就已經下鄉去了，回家去過年了。阿寶問他家裏有幾個兒女。聽他們說話，曼楨彷彿在大風雪的夜裏遠遠看見人家窗戶裏的燈光紅紅的，更覺得一陣悽惶。她靠在門上，無力地啜泣起來了。
她忽然覺得身體實在支持不住了，只得踉踉蹌蹌回到床上去。剛一躺下，倒是軟洋洋的，舒服極了，但是沒有一會兒工夫，就覺得渾身骨節酸痛，這樣睡也不合適，那樣睡也不合適，只管翻來覆去，鼻管裏的呼吸像火燒似的。她自己也知道是感冒症，可是沒想到這樣厲害。渾身的毛孔裏都像是分泌出一種粘液，說不出來的難受。天色黑了，房間裏一點一點地暗了下來，始終也沒有開燈。也不知道過了多少時候，方才昏昏睡去，但是因為手上的傷口痛得火辣辣的，也睡不沉，半夜裏醒了過來，忽然看見房門底下露出一線燈光，不覺吃了一驚。同時就聽見門上的鑰匙嗒的一響，但是這一響之後，卻又寂然無聲。她本來是時刻戒備著的，和衣躺著，連鞋也沒脫，便把被窩一掀，坐了起來，但是一坐起來便覺得天旋地轉，差點沒栽倒在地上。定睛看時，門縫裏那一線燈光倒已經沒有了。等了許久，也沒有一點響動，只聽見自己的一顆心撲通撲通跳著。她想著一定又是祝鴻才。她也不知道哪兒來的一股子力氣，立刻跑去把燈一開，搶著站在窗口，大約心裏有這樣一個模糊的意念，真要是沒有辦法，還可以跳樓，跳樓也要拉他一同跳。但是隔了半晌，始終一點動靜也沒有，緊張著的神經漸漸鬆弛下來，這才覺得她正站在風口裏，西北風呼呼地吹進來，那冷風吹到發燒的身體上，卻有一種異樣的感覺，又是寒颼颼的，又是熱烘烘乾呼呼的，非常難受。
她走到門口，把門鈕一旋，門就開了，她的心倒又狂跳起來，難道有人幫忙，私自放她逃走麼？外面那間堆東西的房間黑洞洞的，她走去把燈開了，一個人也沒有。她一看見門上新裝了一扇小門，小門裏面安著個窗台，上面擱著一隻漆盤，托著一壺茶，一隻茶杯，一碟乾點心。她突然明白過來了，哪裏是放她逃走，不過是把裏外兩間打通了，以後可以經常地由這扇小門裏送飯。這樣看來，竟是一種天長地久的打算了。她這樣一想，身子就像掉到冰窖裏一樣。把門鈕試了一試，果然是鎖著。那小門也鎖著。摸摸那壺茶，還是熱的，她用顫抖的手倒了一杯喝著，正是口渴得厲害，但是第一口喝進去，就覺得味道不對。其實是自己嘴裏沒味兒，可是她不能不疑心，茶裏也許下了藥。再喝了一口，簡直難吃，實在有點犯疑心，就擱下了。她實在不願意回到裏面房裏那張床上去，就在外面沙發上躺下了，在那舊報紙包裹著的沙發上睡了一宿，電燈也沒有關。
第二天早上，大概是阿寶送飯的時候，從那扇小門裏看見她那呻吟囈語的樣子，她因為熱度太高，神志已經不很清楚了，彷彿有點知道有人開了鎖進來，把她抬到裏面床上去，後來就不斷地有人送茶送水。這樣昏昏沉沉的，也不知過了多少時候，有一天忽然清醒了許多，見阿寶坐在旁邊織絨線，嘴裏哼哼唧唧唱著十二月花名的小調。她恍惚覺得這還是從前，阿寶在她們家幫傭的時候。她想她一定是病得很厲害，要不然阿寶怎麼不在樓下做事，卻到樓上來守著病人。母親怎麼倒不在跟前？她又惦記著辦公室的抽屜鑰匙，應當給叔惠送去，有許多文件被她鎖在抽屜裏，他要拿也拿不到。她想到這裏，不禁著急起來，便喃喃說道：傑民呢？叫他把鑰匙送到許家去。阿寶先還當她是說胡話，也沒聽清楚，只聽見鑰匙兩個字，以為她是說房門鑰匙，總是還在那兒鬧著要出去，便道：二小姐，你不要著急，你好好地保重身體吧，把病養好了，什麼話都好說。曼楨見她答非所問，心裏覺得很奇怪。這房間裏光線很暗，半邊窗戶因為砸破了玻璃，用一塊木板擋住了。曼楨四面一看，也就漸漸地記起來了，那許多瘋狂的事情，本來以為是高熱度下的亂夢，竟不是夢，不是夢
阿寶道：二小姐，你不想吃什麼嗎？曼楨沒有回答，半晌，方在枕上微微搖了搖頭。因道：阿寶，你想想看，我從前待你也不錯。阿寶略頓了一頓，方才微笑道：是的呀，二小姐待人最好了。曼楨道：你現在要是肯幫我一個忙，我以後決不會忘記的。阿寶織著絨線，把竹針倒過來搔了搔頭髮，露出那躊躇的樣子，微笑道：二小姐，我們吃人家飯的人，只能東家叫怎麼就怎麼，二小姐是明白人。曼楨道：我知道，我也不想找你別的，只想你給我送個信。我雖然沒有大小姐有錢，我總無論如何要想法子，不能叫你吃虧。阿寶笑道：二小姐，不是這個話，你不知道他們防備得多緊，我要是出去他們要疑心的。曼楨見她一味推托，只恨自己身邊沒有多帶錢，這時候無論許她多少錢，也是空口說白話，如何能夠取信於人。心裏十分焦急，不知不覺把兩隻手都握著拳頭，握得緊緊的，她因為怕看見那枚戒指，所以一直反戴著，把那塊紅寶石轉到後面去了。一捏拳頭，就覺得那塊寶石硬梆梆地在那兒。她忽然心裏一動，想道：女人都是喜歡首飾的，把這戒指給她，也許可以打動她的心。她要是嫌不好，就算是抵押品，將來我再拿錢去贖。隨即把戒指褪了下來，她現在雖然怕看見它，也覺得很捨不得。她遞給阿寶，低聲道：我也知道你是為難。你先把這個拿著，這個雖然不值錢，我是很寶貴它的，將來我一定要拿錢跟你換回來。阿寶起初一定不肯接。曼楨道：你拿著，你不拿你就是不肯幫我忙。阿寶半推半就的，也就收下了。
曼楨便道：你想法子給我拿一支筆一張紙，下次你來的時候帶出去。她想她寫封信叫阿寶送到叔惠家裏去，如果世鈞已經回南京去了，可以叫叔惠轉寄。阿寶當時就問：二小姐要寫信給家裏呀？曼楨在枕頭上搖了搖頭，默然了一會，方道：寫給沈先生。那沈先生你看見過的。她一提到世鈞，已是順著臉滾下淚來，因把頭別了過去。阿寶又勸了她幾句，無非是叫她不要著急，然後就起身出去，依舊把門從外面鎖上了，隨即來到曼璐房中。
曼璐正在那裏打電話，聽她那焦躁的聲音，一定是和她母親說話，這兩天她天天打電話去，催他們快動身。阿寶把地下的香煙頭和報紙都拾起來，又把梳妝台上的東西整理了一下，敞開的雪花膏缸一隻一隻都蓋好，又把刷子上粘纏著的一根根頭髮都揀掉。等曼璐打完了電話，阿寶先去把門關了，方才含著神秘的微笑，從口袋裏掏出那枚戒指來，送到曼璐跟前，笑道：剛才二小姐一定要把這個給我，又答應給我錢，叫我給她送信。曼璐道：哦？送信給誰？阿寶笑道：給那個沈先生。曼璐把那戒指拿在手裏看了看，她早聽她母親說過，曼楨有這樣一隻紅寶戒指。是那姓沉的送她的，大概算是訂婚戒指。因笑道：這東西一個錢也不值，你給我吧。我不會白拿你的。說著，拿鑰匙打開抽屜拿出一搭子鈔票，阿寶偷眼看著，是那種十張一疊的十元鈔票，約有五六疊之多。從前曼璐潦倒的時候，也常常把首飾拿去賣或是當，所以阿寶對於這些事也有相當經驗，像這種戒指她也想著是賣不出多少錢的，還不如拿去交給曼璐，還上算些。果然不出她所料，竟是發了一筆小財。當下不免假意推辭了一下。曼璐噗的一聲把那一搭子鈔票丟在桌上，道：你拿著吧。總算你還有良心！阿寶也就謝了一聲，拿起來揣在身上，因笑道：二小姐還等著我拿紙同筆給她呢。曼璐想了一想，便道：那你以後就不要進去了，讓張媽去好了。說著，她又想起一樁事來。便打發阿寶到她娘家去，只說他們人手不夠，派阿寶來幫他們理東西，名為幫忙，也就是督促的意思，要他們盡快地離開上海。
顧太太再也沒想到，今年要到蘇州去過年。一來曼璐那邊催逼得厲害，二來顧太太也相信那句話，正月裏不搬家，所以要搬只好在年前搬。她趕著在年前洗出來的褥單，想不到全都做了包袱，打了許多大包裹。她整理東西，這樣也捨不得丟，那樣也捨不得丟。要是全部帶去，在火車上打行李票也嫌太糜費了。而且都是歷年積下的破爛，一旦暴露在光天化日之下，僅只是運出大門陳列在衖堂裏，堆在推車上，都有點見不得人。阿寶見她為難，就答應把這些東西全都運到公館裏去，好在那邊有的是閒房。其實等顧太太一走，阿寶馬上叫了個收舊貨的來，把這些東西統統賣了。
顧太太臨走的時候，心裏本來就十分愴惶，覺得就像充軍似的。想想曼璐說的話也恐怕不一定可靠，但是以後一切的希望都著落在她身上了，就也不願意把她往壞處想。世鈞有一封信給曼楨，顧太太收到了，也不敢給誰看，所以並不知道裏面說些什麼。一直揣在身上，揣了好些時候，臨走那天還是拿了出來交給阿寶，叫她帶去給曼璐看。
世鈞的信是從南京寄出的。那天他到祝家去找曼楨，沒見到她，他還當是她存心不出來見他，心裏十分難過。回到家裏，許太太告訴他說，他舅舅那裏派人來找過他。他想著也不知出了什麼事情，趕了去一問，原來並沒有什麼，他有一個小舅舅，是老姨太太生的，老姨太太一直住在南京，小舅舅在上海讀書，現在放寒假了，要回去過年，舅舅不放心他一個人走，要世鈞和他一同回去。一同回去，當然不成問題，但是世鈞在上海還有幾天耽擱，他舅舅卻執意要他馬上動身，說他母親的意思也盼望他早點回去，年底結帳還有一番忙碌，他不在那裏，他父親又不放心別人，勢必又要自己來管，這一勞碌，恐怕於他的病體有礙。世鈞聽他舅舅的話音，好像沈太太曾經在他們動身前囑託過他，叫他務必催世鈞快快回來，而沈太太對他說的話一定還不止這些，恐怕把她心底裏的憂慮全都告訴了他了，不然他也不會這樣固執，左說右說，一定要世鈞馬上明天就走。世鈞見他那樣子簡直有點急赤白臉的，覺得很不值得為這點事情跟舅舅鬧翻臉，也就同意了。他本來也是心緒非常紊亂，他覺得他和曼楨兩個人都需要冷靜一下，回到南京之後再給她寫信，這樣也好，寫起信來總比較理智些。
他回到南京就寫了一封信，接連寫過兩封，也沒有得到回信。過年了，今年過年特別熱鬧，家裏人來人往，他父親過了一個年，又累著了，病勢突然沉重起來。這一次來勢洶洶，本來替他診治著的那醫生也感覺到棘手，後來世鈞就陪他父親到上海來就醫。
到了上海，他父親就進了醫院，起初一兩天情形很嚴重，世鈞簡直走不開，也住在醫院裏日夜陪伴著。叔惠聽到這消息，到醫院裏來探看，那一天世鈞的父親倒好了一點，談了一會，世鈞問叔惠：你這一向看見曼楨沒有？叔惠道：我好久沒看見她了。她不知道你來？世鈞有點尷尬地說：我這兩天忙得也沒有工夫打電話給她。說到這裏，世鈞見他父親似乎對他們很注意，就掉轉話鋒說到別處去了。
他們用的一個特別看護，一直在旁邊，是一個朱小姐，人很活潑，把她的小白帽子俏皮地坐在腦後，他們來了沒兩天，她已經和他們相當熟了。世鈞的父親叫他拿出他們自己帶的茶葉給叔惠泡杯茶，朱小姐早已注意到他們是講究喝茶的人，便笑道：你們喝不喝六安茶？有個楊小姐，也是此地的看護，她現在在六安一個醫院裏工作，託人帶了十斤茶葉來，叫我替她賣，價錢倒是真便宜。世鈞一聽見說六安，便有一種異樣的感觸，那是曼楨的故鄉。他笑道：六安你說的那個醫院，是不是一個張醫生辦的？朱小姐笑道：是呀，你認識張醫生呀？他人很和氣的，這次他到上海來結婚，這茶葉就是託他帶來的。世鈞一聽見這話，不知道為什麼就呆住了。叔惠跟他說話他也沒聽見，後來忽然覺察，叔惠是問他哪一個張醫生？他連忙帶笑答道：張豫瑾。你不認識的。又向朱小姐笑道：哦，他結婚了？新娘姓什麼你可知道？朱小姐笑道：我倒也不大清楚，只曉得新娘子家在上海，不過他們結了婚就一塊回去了。世鈞就是再問下去，料想多問也問不出所以然來，而且當著他父親和叔惠，他們也許要奇怪，他對這位張醫生的結婚經過這樣感到興趣。朱小姐見他默默無言，還當他是無意購買茶葉，又不好意思拒絕，她自命是個最識趣的人，立刻看了看她腕上的手錶，就忙著去拿體溫表替嘯桐試熱度。
世鈞只盼望叔惠快走。幸而不多一會，叔惠就站起來告辭了。世鈞道：我跟你一塊出去，我要去買點東西。兩人一同走出醫院。世鈞道：你現在上哪兒去？叔惠看了看手錶，道：我還得上廠裏去一趟。今天沒等到下班就溜出來了，怕你們這兒過了探望的時間就不准進來。
他匆匆回廠裏去了，世鈞便走進一家店舖去借打電話，他計算著這時候曼楨應當還在辦公室裏，就撥了辦公室的號碼。和她同處一室的那個男職員來接電話，世鈞先和他寒暄了兩句，方才叫他請顧小姐聽電話。那人說：她現在不在這兒了。怎麼，你不知道嗎？世鈞怔了一怔道：不在這兒了她辭職了？那職員說：不知道後來有沒有補一封辭職信來，我就知道她接連好幾天沒來，這兒派人上她家去找她，說全家都搬走了。說到這裏，因為世鈞那邊寂然無聲，他就又說下去，道：也不知搬哪兒去了。你不知道啊？世鈞勉強笑道：我一點也不知道，我剛從南京來，我也有好久沒看見她了。他居然還又跟那人客套了兩句，才掛上電話。然後就到櫃台上去再買了一隻打電話的銀角子，再打一個電話到曼楨家裏去。當然那人所說的話絕對不會是假的，可是他總有點不能相信。鈴聲響了又響，響了又響，顯然是在一所空屋裏面。當然是搬走了。世鈞就像一個人才離開家不到兩個鐘頭，打電話回去，倒說是已經搬走了。使人覺得震恐而又迷茫。簡直好像遇見了鬼一樣。
他掛上電話，又在電話機旁邊站了半天。走出這家店舖，在馬路上茫然地走著，淡淡的斜陽照在地上，他覺得世界之大，他竟沒有一個地方可去似的。
當然還是應當到她從前住的地方去問問，看衖堂的也許知道他們搬到哪裏去了，他們樓下還有一家三房客，想必也已經遷出了，如果有地址留下來，從那裏也許可以打聽到一些什麼。曼楨的家離這裏很遠，他坐黃包車去，在路上忽然想到，他們最後一次見面的時候，他不是叫她搬家嗎？或者她這次搬走，還是因為聽從他的主張？搬是搬了，因為負氣的緣故，卻遲遲的沒有寫信給他，是不是有這可能？也許他離開南京這兩天，她的信早已寄到了。還有一個可能，也許她早就寫信來了，被他母親藏了起來，沒有交給他。但是她突然辭了職卻又是為什麼呢？這就把以上的假定完全推翻了。
黃包車在弄口停下。這地方他不知道來過多少回了，但是這一次來，一走進衖堂就感到一種異樣的生疏，也許因為他曉得已經人去樓空了，馬上這裏的房屋就顯得湫隘破敗灰暗，好像連上面的天也低了許多。
他記得他第一次來的時候，因為曼楨的家始終帶一點神秘性，所以踏進這衖堂就有點莫名其妙的慄慄自危的感覺，當然也不是沒有喜悅的成分在內。在那種心情下，看見一些女傭大姐在公共的自來水龍頭下淘米洗衣裳，也覺得是一個新鮮明快的畫面。而現在是寒冷的冬天，衖堂裏沒有什麼人。弄口有一個小木柵，看衖堂人就住在那裏，卻有一個女傭立在他的窗外和他談心。她一身棉襖褲，褲腰部分特別臃腫，把肚子頂得高高的，把她的白圍裙支出去老遠。她伏在窗口和裏面的人臉對臉談著。世鈞見這情形，就沒有和看衖堂的人說話。先走進去看看再說。
但是並沒有什麼可看的，只是門窗緊閉的一幢空屋，玻璃窗上罩著昏霧似的灰塵。世鈞在門外站了一會，又慢慢地向弄口走了出來。這次那看衖堂的卻看見了他，就從小屋裏迎了出來，向世鈞點點頭笑笑。世鈞從前常常給他錢的，因為常常在顧家談到很晚才走，衖堂口的鐵門已經拉上了，要驚動看衖堂的替他開鐵門。現在這看衖堂的和他點頭招呼，世鈞便帶笑問道：顧家他們搬走了？看衖堂的笑道：還是去年年底搬的。我這兒有他們兩封信，要曉得他們地址就給他們轉去了，沈先生你可有地方打聽？說著，便從窗外探手進去，在桌上摸索著尋找那兩封信。剛才和他談天的那個女傭始終立在窗外，在窗口斜倚著，她連忙一偏身讓開了。向來人家家裏的事情都是靠傭人替他們傳播出去的，顧家就是因為沒有用傭人，所以看衖堂的儘管消息靈通，對於弄內每一家人家都是一本清帳，獨有顧家的事情他卻不大熟悉，而且因為曼璐過去的歷史，好像他們家的事情總有些神秘性似的，他們不說，人家就也不便多問。
世鈞道：住在他們樓下的還有一個劉家呢，搬到什麼地方去了，你可知道？看衖堂的喃喃地道：劉家好像說搬到虹口去了吧。顧家是不在上海了，我聽見拉塌車的說，說上北火車站嘛。世鈞心裏怦的一跳，想道：北火車站。曼楨當然是嫁了豫瑾，一同回去了，一家子都跟了去，靠上了豫瑾了。曼楨的祖母和母親的夢想終於成為事實了。
他早就知道，曼楨的祖母和母親一直有這個意思，而且他覺得這並不是兩位老太太一廂情願的想法。豫瑾對曼楨很有好感的，至於他對她有沒有更進一步的表示，曼楨沒有說，可是世鈞直覺地知道她沒有把全部事實告訴他。並不是他多疑，實在是兩個人要好到一個程度，中間稍微有點隔閡就不能不感覺到。她對豫瑾非常佩服，這一點她是並不諱言的，她對他簡直有點英雄崇拜的心理，雖然他是默默地工作著，準備以一個鄉村醫生終老的。世鈞想道：是的，我拿什麼去跟人家比，我的事業才開始倒已經中斷了，她認為我對家庭投降了，對我非常失望。不過因為我們已經有兩三年的歷史，所以她對我也不無眷戀。但是兩三年間，我們從來沒有爭吵過，而豫瑾來過不久，我們就大吵，這該不是偶然的事情。當然她絕對不是藉故和我爭吵，只是因為感情上先有了癥結在那裏，所以一觸即發了。
看衖堂的把兩封信遞給他，一封是曼楨的弟弟的學校裏寄來的，大約是成績報告單。還有一封是他寫給曼楨的，他一看見自己的字跡便震了一震。信封上除了郵戳之外還有一個圓圈形的醬油漬，想必看衖堂的曾經把菜碗放在上面。他把兩封信拿在手裏看了一看，便向看衖堂的微笑著點了個頭，說：好，我想法子給他們轉寄去。就拿著走了。
走出衖堂，街燈已經亮了。他把他寫給曼楨的那封信拿出來辨認了一下。是第二封信。第一封她想必收到了。其實第一封信已經把話說盡說絕了，第二封根本就是多餘的。他立刻把它撕成一片片。
賣蘑菇豆腐乾的人遠遠吆喝著。那人又來了。每天差不多這時候，他總是到這一帶來叫賣，大街小巷都串遍，一個瘦長身材的老頭挽著個籃子，曼楨住的衖堂裏，他每天一定要到一到的。世鈞一聽見那聲音，就想起他在曼楨家裏消磨過的無數的黃昏。豆乾！Spiced Mushroom Dried Tofu!沉著而蒼涼的呼聲，漸漸叫到這邊來了，叫得人心裏發空。
於是他又想著，還可以到她姊姊家裏去問問，她姊姊家他上回去過一次，門牌號數也還記得，只是那地方很遠，到了那兒恐怕太晚了。他就多走了幾步路，到附近一家汽車行叫了一輛汽車，走到虹橋路，天色倒還沒有黑透。下了車一撳鈴，依舊在鐵門上開了一個方洞，一個僕人露出半邊臉來，似乎還是上次那個人。世鈞道：我要見你們太太。我姓沈，我叫沈世鈞。那人頓了一頓，方道：太太恐怕出去了，我瞧瞧去。說著，便把方洞關上了。世鈞也知道這是闊人家的僕役應付來客的一種慣伎，因為不確定主人見與不見，所以先說著活動話。可是他心裏還是很著急，想著曼楨的姊姊也許倒是剛巧出去了。其實她姊夫要是在家，見她姊夫也是一樣，剛才忘問一聲。
在門外等著，他也早料到的，一等就等了許久。終於聽見裏面拔去門閂，開了一扇側門，那僕人閃在一邊，說了聲：請進來。汽車道走進去，兩旁都是厚厚的冬青牆。在這傍晚的時候，園子裏已經昏黑了，天上倒還很亮，和白天差不多。映著那淡淡的天色，有一鉤淡金色的蛾眉月。
世鈞在樓窗下經過，曼楨在樓上聽見那腳步聲，皮鞋踐踏在煤屑路上，這本來也沒有什麼特異之點，但是這裏上上下下就沒有一個人穿皮鞋的，僕人們都穿布鞋，曼璐平常總穿繡花鞋，祝鴻才穿的是那種粉底直貢呢鞋子。他們家也很少來客。這卻是什麼人呢？曼楨躺在床上，竭力撐起半身，很注意地向窗外看著，雖然什麼也看不見，只看見那一片空明的天，和天上細細的一鉤淡金色的月亮。她想，也許是世鈞來了。但是立刻又想著，我真是瘋了，一天到晚盼望世鈞來救我，聽見腳步聲音就以為是世鈞。那皮鞋聲越來越近，漸漸地又由近而遠。曼楨心裏急得什麼似的，因想道：管他是誰呢，反正我喊救命。可是她病了這些時，發熱發得喉嚨都啞了，她總有好些天沒有和任何人說過話了，所以自己還不大覺得。這時候一張開嘴，自己都吃一驚，這樣啞著嗓子叫喊，只聽見喉嚨管裏發出一種沙沙之聲罷了。
房間裏黑沉沉的，只有她一個人在那裏，阿寶自從上回白拿了她一隻戒指，就沒有再進來過，一直是張媽照料著。張媽剛巧走開了一會，到廚房裏吃年糕去了。這還是正月裏，家裏剩下很多的年糕，傭人們也可以隨時做著吃。張媽煮了一大碗年糕湯，才呷了一口，忽見阿寶鬼鬼祟祟地跑進來，低聲叫道：張奶奶，快上去！叫你呢！張媽忙放下碗來，問道：太太叫我？阿寶略點了點頭，附耳說