「五四遺事」英文版

s.Therewasanunwrittenlawthatawifecouldneverbedivorcedonceshehadwornmorningwhiteandtheramiescarfofmourningforaparent-in-law.Sotheoldladygottheideathatherdaughter-in-lawwishedforherdeath.Itwouldcertainlysettlethedivorceproblem.Buttheoldladysworeshewouldseetheyoungerwomanoutofthehouseverticallybeforeshemadeherownexithorizontally. Outwardlythedivorcenegotiationshadnotgainedmuchgroundinsixyears.MissFan&rsquosfamilyneverdidapprove.Nowtheykeptremindingherthatattwenty-sixshewasbecominganoldmaid.Soonshewouldnotevenqualifyfort&rsquoien-fang&mdashroomfiller,awifetofillupawidower&rsquosemptyroom.ItseemedtoherfamilythatLowasonlywaitingtohaveheronhisownterms.Itwasdoubtfulwhetherhewasseriouslytryingtogetadivorce.Possiblyalimonywasthestumblingblock.Therewerethosewhosaidhewasactuallyquitepoor.Whatlittlehehadmusthavedwindledawaythroughhislongabsencefromhome,withhisestateleftinthehandsofanestrangedwife.Therehadbeensomeunpleasantnessoverthedivorcequestionattheschoolwherehewasteaching.Ifhedidn&rsquotdependonhisjobforaliving,whydidn&rsquotheresign? MissChoutoldWenconfidentiallythatMissFanhadbeenouttodinnerwithapawnbroker,chaperonedbymembersofherfamilyandaladymatchmaker.WenwasnottotellLo. InhisindignationWentoldLoanyway,thoughofcourseheadded,&ldquoIt&rsquosallherfamily&rsquosdoing.&rdquo &ldquoTheydidn&rsquottieherupwitharopeanddraghertotherestaurant,didthey?&rdquoLosaidsardonically.Hepromisednottotakeupthematterwithherimmediatelyasthatwouldbetraythesourceofhisinformation. ButthateveningLodranktoomuchricewinewhentheydinedattheHouseBeyondHouseswhichhadthelakeonthethreesides.&ldquoCongratulations,MissFan!&rdquohesaid.&ldquoIhearyouaregoingtoinviteustoyourweddingfeast.&rdquoHedrainedhiscupandstrodeoffangrily. MissFanrefusedtojointhemthenextday.Lo&rsquosletterswerereturnedunopened.AweeklaterMissChoureportedthatMissFanhadagainbeendiningwiththepawnbroker.Everythingwassettledthemanhadgivenherabigdiamondengagementring. Lo&rsquosdivorceactionhadreachedthepointwhereitbegantomovethroughitsownmomentum.Thereweresignsthathiswife&rsquossidewasnowmorereadytolistentoreason.Hewouldbealaughingstockfortherestofhislifeifheweretoreturntohiswifeatthisstage.Sohewentaheadwiththedivorce,givinghiswifeageneroussettlementashehadpromised.AssoonasthedecreewasfinalhegotaprofessionalmatchmakertoapproachtheWongsofthedyeworksonhisbehalf.TheeldestWonggirlwasreportedtobetheprettiestgirlintown. Afteranexchangeofphotographsanddueinvestigation,theWongsacceptedhim.LosoldagreatpartofhislandandboughtMissWongadiamondringevenbiggerthantheoneMissFanwassaidtohavegot.Hewasmarriedafterthreemonths. ForsomereasonsMissFan&rsquosmatchdidnotcomeoff.MaybethepawnbrokerhadhisdoubtsaboutmoderngirlsandhadheardsomethingofMissFan&rsquoslongattachmenttoLo.AccordingtotheFansitwasbecausetheyhadfoundoutthatthepawnbrokerhadfalsifiedhisage.Somemalicioustongueshaditthatitwastheotherwayaround. InthenaturalcourseofthingsLowouldhaverunintoMissFansoonerorlater,livinginthesametown.Buttheirfriendswerenotcontenttoleaveittochance.S