<p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 整個四合院猶如那架置了一個夏天的秋天的軋花機(jī)，到了冬天就就折折折地運轉(zhuǎn)起來了。這時候，一個致命的打擊接踵而來，白嘉軒發(fā)覺了孝文的隱秘。這個打擊幾乎是摧毀性的。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> The entire courtyard house was like a cotton gin that had been idle all summer and into autumn, now starting to operate haltingly in winter. Then, a devastating blow struck: Bai Jiaxuan discovered Xiaowen's secret. This blow was almost devastating.</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 那是入冬后第一場大雪降落的夜晚，白嘉軒踩了半晌軋花機(jī)，孝文硬把他拖下來。他揩了揩額頭的汗珠兒，穿上棉衣棉褲，走出了飼養(yǎng)牛馬的圈場，沒有走進(jìn)斜對門的四合院，折轉(zhuǎn)方向沿著西巷走過來。大雪隨下隨化，巷道里一片泥濘。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> It was the night the first heavy snow of winter fell. Bai Jiaxuan had been operating the cotton gin for a while when Xiaowen forcibly dragged him off. He wiped the sweat from his brow, put on his cotton-padded clothes, and walked out of the cattle pen. Instead of entering the courtyard house diagonally opposite, he turned and walked along the west alley. The snow melted as it fell, leaving the alleyway muddy.</b></p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 白嘉軒背抄著雙手走進(jìn)連著村巷的白鹿鎮(zhèn)的街道，推開了冷先生中醫(yī)堂虛掩著門板。冷先生給他斟上一盅金黃色的茶水，再把一包用乳黃色油紙裹著的卷煙葉解開，攤放在小桌上，指著一個茶杯說：“你趕巧了，這茶葉是剛剛接下的雪花水沖泡的，嘗嘗?！?lt;/u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Bai Jiaxuan, hands behind his back, walked into the streets of Bailu Town, a network of village lanes, and pushed open the slightly ajar door of Mr. Leng's Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic. Mr. Leng poured him a cup of golden-yellow tea, then unwrapped a packet of tobacco leaves wrapped in creamy-yellow oiled paper, spread it on a small table, and pointed to a teacup, saying, "You're lucky. This tea was brewed with freshly collected snow water. Try some."</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 白嘉軒呷一口茶，清香撲鼻，熱流咕嚕嚕響著滾下喉嚨，頓覺回腸蕩氣渾身通暢，嘴里卻故意冷淡地說：“雪水還不就是水嘛！我喝著沒啥兩樣兒?！?lt;/u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Bai Jiaxuan took a sip of the tea; its fragrance was intoxicating, and the hot liquid gurgled down his throat, instantly making him feel refreshed and invigorated. However, he deliberately said indifferently, "Snow water is just water! It makes no difference to me."</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 說著捏出一段兒，剪得十分規(guī)矩的煙片優(yōu)雅自如地撒開，鋪展到膝頭的棉褲上，再取來一段一節(jié)短的碎的煙片均勻地夾進(jìn)去，然后包卷起來，在兩只粗大的手掌之間反覆捻搓，用舌尖給開口的煙片抿一點口水粘住，就制造出一支漂亮的雪茄。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> As he spoke, he took out a piece of tobacco, neatly cut, and elegantly spread it out on his cotton trousers, reaching his knees. Then he took another short, fragmented piece of tobacco and evenly sandwiched it inside, then rolled it up, repeatedly twisting it between his large, rough hands. He then used the tip of his tongue to lick the open end of the tobacco to seal it, thus creating a beautiful cigar. </b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 他從桌邊拈起那根從早起到晚默默燃燒著的散發(fā)著香氣的火苗兒，對著雪茄頭兒燃了，悠悠噴出一口濃重的藍(lán)色煙霧來。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> He picked up the fragrant flame that had been burning silently from morning till night from the table, lit it over the end of his cigar, and slowly exhaled a thick cloud of blue smoke.</b></p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 二兒子孝武的媳婦正月里過門以后，他和冷先生的關(guān)系發(fā)生了深刻的變化，由爺們爹們的世代認(rèn)交發(fā)展為兒女親家。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> After his second son, Xiaowu's wife, married into the family during the first month of the lunar calendar, his relationship with Mr. Leng underwent a profound change, evolving from a generational kinship between fathers and fathers to in-laws.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 感激不盡親家翻心至誠的療治，終于使他百日之后重新走到白鹿村的街巷里，而沒有變成一個死僵僵癱瘓炕頭的廢物。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Extremely grateful for his in-law's heartfelt and sincere treatment, he was finally able to walk back into the streets of Bailu Village after a hundred days, instead of becoming a lifeless, paralyzed cripple.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 他原先從不串門現(xiàn)在更不串了，只是在隔過一些日子或陰雨綿綿的憋悶時日，到親家冷先生的中醫(yī)堂來坐坐聊聊。冷先生的中醫(yī)堂，成為羅鍋嘉軒了知白鹿原動態(tài)的一個通風(fēng)口。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> He, who never used to visit others, now rarely does, only occasionally stopping at his in-law Mr. Leng's traditional Chinese medicine clinic for a chat. Mr. Leng's clinic became a source of information for Luoguo Jiaxuan about the happenings in Bailu Plain.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 求醫(yī)抓藥的人每天都把各個村子發(fā)生的異常事件及時傳遞到中醫(yī)堂里來，冷先生對紛繁的大小事變經(jīng)過篩選，揀出那些值得－說的事說給白嘉軒，倆人接著就對此事議論評說一番。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> People seeking medical treatment and medicine would promptly report any unusual events occurring in their respective villages to the traditional Chinese medicine clinic. Mr. Leng would sift through the numerous events, selecting those worth mentioning and sharing them with Bai Jiaxuan. The two would then discuss and comment on these matters.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 有時候倆人對坐著喝茶吸煙，夏天一人一把竹皮扇子，冬天守一盆木炭火，冷先生話語不多，白嘉軒也不好彈舌，倆人就那么坐著甚至不說一閑話。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Sometimes, the two would sit facing each other, drinking tea and smoking. In summer, each would have a bamboo fan; in winter, they would tend a charcoal fire. Mr. Leng was a man of few words, and Bai Jiaxuan was not one to mince words; they would simply sit there without exchanging a single idle chatter.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 倆人心里都明白，其實只有真正信賴無虞的關(guān)系才能達(dá)到這種去偽情而存的真實的境地。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b> Both understood that only a truly trusting relationship could achieve this genuine state of being, free from pretense.</b></p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 白嘉軒懷著平和愉悅的心態(tài)呷著雪水沖下的茶水，發(fā)現(xiàn)冷先生給他格外殷切地添茶，稍微一點過分的客套反而引起不適和別扭；他留心瞄瞅著冷先生，終于發(fā)覺那雙平素總透著冷氣的眼睛躲躲閃閃，浮泛著一縷虛光。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Bai Jiaxuan sipped his tea, brewed with snow water, with a peaceful and pleasant mood. He noticed that Mr. Leng was unusually attentive in refilling his teacups, and this slightly excessive politeness made him uncomfortable and awkward. He glanced at Mr. Leng and finally noticed that those eyes, usually so cold, were shifty and gleaming with a hint of unease.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 他直言說：“冷大哥你甭瞎張羅了“你坐下抽你的煙吧。茶我會倒，煙我會卷喀！你象是心里有事？我在這兒不便我就走?！?lt;/u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> He said bluntly, "Brother Leng, don't bother me. Sit down and have your cigarette. I'll pour the tea, and I'll roll my own! You seem to have something on your mind? If it's inconvenient for me here, I'll leave."</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 冷先生看到自己弄巧成拙，急忙拉住白嘉軒的手，就再也轉(zhuǎn)不過彎兒了：“兄弟你坐下，我有話跟你說……”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Mr. Leng, realizing he had made a fool of himself, quickly grabbed Bai Jiaxuan's hand, unable to think straight any longer: "Brother, sit down, I have something to tell you..."</b></p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “咱弟兄們說話，還這么拐彎抹角呀？”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> "Why are we beating around the bush like this, brothers?"</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “我聽到一句閑話，——”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> "I heard some gossip—"</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “……”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> "..."</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “雖則是一句閑話，可不是一般的閑話。”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> "It's just gossip, but it's not ordinary gossip."</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “呃呀幾天不見，你的直筒腸子扭成麻花了！算了你甭說了。我回去睡覺呀！”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> "Ugh, haven't seen you in days, your straight tongue has twisted into a pretzel! Never mind, don't say anymore. I'm going back to sleep!"</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “我怕你招不住這個閑話。兄弟你聽到這閑話先不要生氣。這閑話給你說行不行，說了又怕你招架不住……”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> "I'm afraid you can't handle this gossip. Brother, don't get angry when you hear it. Can I tell you? But I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it..."</b></p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:22px;"><u> “我的黃貨白貨給上匪打搶了，又砸斷了我的腰，我不象人樣兒象條狗，我連一句氣活也沒罵還是踏我的軋花機(jī)；我不信世上還有啥‘閑話’能把我氣死，能把我扳倒？頂大不過是想算我的伙食帳（處死）罷咧！”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> “My yellow and white goods were robbed by bandits, and they even broke my back. I'm not human anymore, I'm like a dog. I didn't even utter a curse, I just kept treading my cotton gin. I don't believe any ‘gossip’ in this world can kill me, can bring me down. At most, they just want to settle my food debt (execution)!”</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “嘉軒兄弟……我聽人說孝文的閑話……”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> “Brother Jiaxuan… I heard some gossip about Xiaowen…”</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “孝文？孝文能有啥閑話？”。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> “Xiaowen? What gossip could there be about Xiaowen?”</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “說是跟村口爛窯那個貨……”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> “They say it's about that bastard at the rotten kiln at the village entrance…”</b></p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> “呃……”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> “Uh…”</b></p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 冷先生看見白嘉軒泛紅的臉色頓然變得如同一張黃表紙，佝僂的軀體猛烈地抖顫了一下，反夾在指間的卷煙擠成了彎兒，在那一霎間眼睛睜大到失神的程度。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Mr. Leng saw Bai Jiaxuan's flushed face turn ashen, his hunched body tremble violently, the cigarette between his fingers curl into a stub, and his eyes widen to a dazed state.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 這一切都沒有超過冷先生的預(yù)料，白嘉軒沒有熱血沖頂當(dāng)下閉氣已屬萬幸，他終于說出了這個難以啟齒的閑話，白嘉軒很快恢復(fù)過來，冷著臉問：“大哥依你看，這是果有實事，還是有人給我臉上抹屎？”冷先生說：“我看都不是。</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> All of this was exactly as Mr. Leng had anticipated. It was fortunate that Bai Jiaxuan hadn't lost his breath in a fit of rage. He finally managed to utter the embarrassing gossip. Bai Jiaxuan quickly recovered, his face cold as he asked, "Brother, in your opinion, is this true, or is someone trying to smear me?" Mr. Leng said, "I don't think so.</b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"><u> 閑話嘛你就只當(dāng)閑話聽?！卑准诬幱謫枺骸澳懵犝l說的？這話是怎么嘈出來的？冷先生輕描淡寫他說：“俗話說‘露水沒籽兒閑話沒影兒’。白嘉軒搖搖頭說：“凡是閑話都有影兒！”</u></b></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><b style="font-size:20px;"> Just take gossip as gossip." Bai Jiaxuan asked again, "Who told you this? How did this rumor start?" Mr. Leng casually replied, "As the saying goes, 'Dew has no seeds, gossip has no shadow.'" Bai Jiaxuan shook his head and said, "All gossip has a shadow!"</b></p>