「五四遺事」英文版
關燈
小
中
大
STALEMATES
-AShortStorySetintheTimeWhenLoveCametoChina
Twomenandtwogirlsinaboatsatfacingeachotheronwhickerseatsundertheflatblueawning.Cupsofteastoodonthelowtablebetweenthem.Theywereeatingling,waterchestnutsaboutthesizeandshapeofaCupid&rsquos-bowmouth.Theshellsweredarkpurplishredandthekernelswhite.
&ldquoMissChouisverystylishtoday,&rdquooneofthemensaid.Itwasalsostylishtoaddressgirlsas&ldquoMiss.&rdquo
MissChouglaredathimthroughhernewspectaclesandthrewalingshellathim.Herglasseshadroundblackrimsandperfectlyflatlenses,asshewasnotnear-sighted.Theyearwas1924,wheneyeglasseswerefashionable.Societygirlsworethem.Evenstreet-walkersaffectedglassesordertolooklikegirlstudents.
Eachofthemensatwithhisowngirlbecausethelittleboatbalancedbetterthiswaythanifthetwogirlssatsidebyside.Thepalegreenwaterlookedthickandjustalittlescummy,andyethadasuggestionoflingeringfragrancelikeabasinofwaterinwhichafamouscourtesanhadwashedherpaintedface.
Thegirlswerearoundtwenty-youngforhighschoolinthosedayswhenprogressivewomenofallagesflockedtotheprimaryschools.MissChouwasmuchadmiredforherviva-cityandboldnessasbeingtypicaloftheNewWoman,whileMissFan&rsquoswasthebeautyofastilllife.Shesatsmilingalittle,herfaceaslimpointedoval,herlonghairdoneintworoundglossyblacksideknobs.Sheworelittlemake-upandnoornamentsexceptagoldfountainpentuckedinherlightmauvetunic.Hertrumpetsleevesendedflaringjustundertheelbow.
TheyoungmenwereLoandWen.Lowastallandthin.Hispaleturquoiselonggownhungwellonhiminamoreliteralsensethanwhenthephrasewasappliedtowesterner&rsquosclothes.HetaughtinthesameschoolasWen.TheybothownedlandintheirhomevillageandtaughtschoolinHangchowmerelyasanexcusetolivebytheWestLake,whereeveryscenicspotwasassociatedwiththememoryofsomepoetorreigningbeauty.
Thefourhadbeenmeetingalmostdailyformorethanayear.Theywouldgooutonthelake,havedinneratoneoftherestaurantsalongthestore,andgoboatingagainiftherewasamoon.SomebodywouldreadShelleyaloudandthegirlsheldhandswitheachotherwhentheywerefourofthem,sometimessixbutnevertwo.Themenwerealreadymarried-auniversalpredicament.Practicallyeverybodywasmarriedandhadchildrenbeforeeverhearingoflove.WenandLohadtobecontentwithdiscussingthegirlsinterminablybetweenthemselves,showingeachotherthegirls&rsquocarefullytheircalligraphy,analyzingtheirpersonalitiesfromthehand-writing.LovewassuchanewexperienceinChinathatalittleofitwentalongway.
Thesailedintoapatchofyellowinglotusleaves,thelargegreenplatescrunchingnoisilyagainsttheboat.Thentherewassilence.Theboatmanandhislittledaughterwererestingontheiroars,lettingtheboatdrift.Nowandthenthewatermadeasmallswallowingsoundasifithadapieceofcandyinitsmouth.
&ldquoGoinghomethisweekend?&rdquoMissFanasked.
&ldquoIsupposeIcan&rsquotgetoutofitthistime,&rdquoLoansweredsmiling.&ldquoMymotherhasbeencomplaining.&rdquo
Shesmiled.Thementionofhismotherdidnotalterthefactthathewasgoingbacktohiswife.
LatelyLohadbeenfellingincreasinglyguiltyaboutgoinghome,whileMissFanhadallowedherresentmenttobecomemoremanifestbeforeandaftereachvisit.
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