The full text of Young Runtu

Hometown (excerpt)

Lu Xun

......

One day it was a very cold afternoon. I had lunch and sat down While drinking tea, I felt someone coming in from outside, so I turned back to look. When I saw it, I couldn't help but be very frightened. I stood up in a hurry and walked towards it.

This is Runtu. Although I knew it was Runtu as soon as I saw it, it was not the Runtu in my memory. His stature has doubled; the round purple face has turned grayish-yellow and has deep wrinkles; his eyes are like his father's, and are swollen and red around them. I know that, farming by the sea People who live with the sea breeze blowing all day long are probably like this. He wore a broken felt hat on his head, and only a very thin cotton coat on his body, which was tugged all over. He was holding a paper bag and a long pipe in his hand, and his hands were not as red and round as I remembered. His hands were thick, clumsy and cracked, like pine bark.

I was very excited at this time, but I didn’t know what to say. I just said:

"Ah! Brother Runtu, - you are here?..."

I then had a lot of words that I wanted to say in succession: horned chicken, jumping fish, shells, quail,...but I always felt like something was blocking me, just whirling in my head, and I couldn't spit it out. Go outside the exit.

He stood still, with a look of joy and sadness on his face; he moved his lips but made no sound. His attitude finally became respectful, and he shouted clearly:

"Master!..."

I seemed to shudder; I knew that there was a distance between us. A tragically thick barrier. I was also speechless.

He turned around and said, "Shui Sheng, kowtow to the master." Then he dragged out the child who was hiding behind him. This was exactly the Runtu from twenty years ago, but he was thinner and had more hair on his neck. There's just no silver ring. "This is the fifth child. He has never seen the world and is hiding..."

The mother and Hong'er came downstairs, and they probably heard the sound.

"Old lady, I received the letter a long time ago. I really like it very much. I know that the master will come back..." Runtu said.

"Ah, why are you so polite? Didn't you call me brother before? It's still the same: Brother Xun." Mother said happily.

"Ah, the old lady is really...what kind of rule is this? I was a child at that time and was not sensible..." Runtu said, and asked Shuisheng to come up and do some arching, but the child was shy and clumsy. The ones were only attached to his back.

"Is he a water creature? The fifth one? They are all strangers, so it is no wonder that he is afraid of them; Hong'er should go for a walk with him." Mother said.

When Hong'er heard this, he came to recruit Shui Sheng, but Shui Sheng went out with him happily. His mother asked Runtu to sit down. He hesitated for a while, then finally sat down, leaned the long pipe against the table, handed over the paper package, and said:

"There is nothing in winter. That's why. The dried green beans are dried there at home, sir..."

I asked him about his situation. He just shook his head.

"It's very difficult. The sixth child also helps, but there is always not enough to eat... and there is no peace... money is required everywhere, there are no regulations... the harvest is bad. Plant something. , if you choose to sell it, you will have to donate a few times and lose the money; if you don’t sell it, it will just rot..."

He just shook his head. Although there were many wrinkles on his face, he didn't care at all. It moves like a stone statue. He probably just felt bitter, but couldn't describe it. After being silent for a while, he picked up the pipe and smoked silently...

Original text (part)

Part one: Returning to my hometown

I braved the severe cold to return to my hometown, which is more than 2,000 miles away and has been away for more than 20 years.

Since it was late winter; as we approached my hometown, the weather became gloomy again. The cold wind blew into the cabin, making a whining sound. Looking out from the gap, I saw a few horizontal lines far and near under the pale yellow sky. A desolate deserted village with no vitality. My heart couldn't help but feel sad. Ah! Isn’t this the hometown I remember from time to time in the past twenty years?

This is nothing like the hometown I remember. My hometown is much better. But if I were to remember his beauty and describe his good qualities, I would have no images or words. It seems like that's it. So I explained to myself: The same is true in my hometown - although there is no progress, it may not be as sad as I feel. This is just a change in my own mood, because I am not in a good mood when I return to my hometown this time.

I came here specifically to say goodbye to him. The old house where we have lived together as a family for many years has been sold to another family member. The deadline for handing over the house is only this year. Therefore, we must hurry up before the first day of the first lunar month to say goodbye to the familiar old house and stay away from the familiar place. Hometown, move to a different place where I am looking for food.

Part Two: In Hometown

I arrived at the door of my house early in the morning of the second day. Many dead grass stems on the corrugated roof were shaking in the wind, explaining why this old house inevitably changed owners. The main family who lived a few rooms away had probably moved out, so it was very quiet. When I arrived outside my room, my mother had already greeted me, and then my eight-year-old nephew Honger flew out.

My mother was very happy, but she also had a lot of desolation in her face. She taught me to sit down, rest, and drink tea, not to mention moving. Hong'er had never seen me, he stood far away and just looked at me.

But we finally talked about moving. I said that the apartment outside had been rented, and I bought a few pieces of furniture. In addition, I had to sell all the wooden furniture in the house and add more.

Mother also agreed, and the luggage had been gathered together. The wooden items that were difficult to carry were mostly sold, but they couldn't collect the money.

"You can rest for a day or two and visit your relatives and family, and then we can leave." Mother said.

"Yes."

"And Runtu, every time he comes to my house, he always asks about you and wants to see you. I have already brought you home Let him know about the date, he may be coming soon.”

At this time, a magical picture suddenly flashed in my mind: a golden full moon hung in the deep blue sky. Below is the sandy land by the seaside, where endless green watermelons are planted. Among them is a boy of eleven or twelve years old, wearing a silver ring around his neck, holding a steel fork in his hand, and stabbing a harpoon with all his strength. But she twisted her body and escaped from his crotch.

This young man is Runtu. When I met him, he was only over ten years old, which was about thirty years ago. At that time, my father was still alive and my family was well off, so I was just a young master. That year, my family held a big sacrifice for the new year (3). This sacrifice is said to only happen once every thirty years, so it is very solemn. During the first month of the year, there are many offerings to the ancestors, and the sacrificial vessels are very particular. There are also many worshipers, and the sacrificial vessels must be guarded against theft. My family only has one busy month (there are three types of workers here: those who work for a certain family throughout the year are called long-term workers; those who work for a certain family on a daily basis are called short-term workers); those who also farm their own land only come to work during the New Year, holidays and rent collection time. It must be called a busy month for those who work), and he was too busy, so he told his father that he could ask his son Runtu to take charge of the sacrificial vessels.

My father agreed; I am also very happy, because I have heard the name Runtu a long time ago, and I know that he and I are about the same age. He was born in the leap month, and the five elements lack earth, so his father is called Runtu. He is Runtu. He can pretend to be a bird and catch small birds.

So I look forward to the New Year every day. When the New Year arrives, Runtu will also arrive. Finally, at the end of the year, one day, my mother told me that Runtu was coming, so I ran to see her. He is in the kitchen with a round purple face, a small felt hat on his head, and a bright silver collar around his neck. This shows that his father loves him very much and is afraid that he will die, so he made a wish in front of the gods and Buddhas. The circle caught him. He was very shy when meeting people, but he was not afraid of me. He would talk to me when no one else was around, and within half a day, we became familiar with each other.

We didn’t know what to talk about at that time. I just remember that Runtu was very happy, saying that he saw many things he had never seen before after going to the city.

The next day, I asked him to catch birds. He said:

"This can't be done. It must snow heavily. It snowed on our sandy ground, so I cleared a clearing, used a short stick to prop up a big bamboo plaque, and scattered the grains. When I saw the birds coming to eat, I just pulled the rope tied to the stick from a distance, and the birds were covered under the bamboo plaque: rice chickens, horned chickens, swans, blue-backed... ”

So I looked forward to snowing again.

Runtu said to me again:

"It's too cold now. Come to us in the summer. We go to the beach to pick up shells during the day. There are red and green ones. Ghost There are people who are afraid, and there are also Guanyin hands. In the evening, my father and I will take care of the watermelon, and you will go too."

"No, people who are walking are thirsty. Picking a melon to eat is not considered stealing here. What we have to worry about is the badger, the hedgehog, and the harpoon. Under the moon, listen, the harpoon is biting the melon. Walk gently..."

I didn't know what this so-called thing was at that time - and I still don't know it now - I just felt that it looked like a puppy for no reason and was very strange. ferocious.

"Doesn't he bite?"

"There is a Hucha. When you get there, you see the harpoon, and you stab it. This beast is very smart and runs towards you. Instead, it escaped from under the crotch. His fur was as smooth as oil..."

I never knew there were so many new things in the world: there are such colorful shells on the beach; watermelons have such dangerous experiences, I only knew that he was selling out in the fruit shop.

"In our sandy land, when the tide is coming, there are many jumping fish that just jump, with two legs like frogs..."

Ah! There are endless strange things in Runtu's heart, which are unknown to my ordinary friends. They didn't know something. When Runtu was at the beach, they, like me, only saw the sky at the four corners of the high wall in the yard.

Unfortunately, the first month passed and Runtu had to go home. I was so anxious that I burst into tears. He also hid in the kitchen, crying and refusing to go out, but he was finally taken away by his father. He later asked his father to bring me a pack of shells and some nice bird feathers. I also gave him things once or twice, but we never met again.

Now that my mother mentioned him, all my memories of my time here suddenly came to life like lightning, and I seemed to see my beautiful hometown. I responded and said:

"That's great! He, - how is it?..."

"He?... His situation is also very unsatisfactory..." Mother said, then Looking outside the room, "These people are here again. They said they were buying wooden utensils, so they just took them away casually. I have to go and have a look."

My mother stood up and went out. There were several women's voices outside the door. I invited Hong'er to come closer and chat with him: I asked him if he could write and if he was willing to go out.

"Shall we go by train?"

"We will go by train.

"

"Where's the boat? "

"Take the boat first,..."

"Ha! This is what it looks like! The beard is so long! "A sharp and strange sound suddenly shouted.

I was startled and quickly raised my head, only to see a woman in her fifties with protruding cheekbones and thin lips standing in front of me. His hands were placed between his hips, his skirt was not tied, and his legs were spread out, just like a slender compass in a drawing instrument.

I was stunned

“Don’t you recognize me. ? I even hugged you! "

I was even more stunned. Fortunately, my mother came in and said from the sidelines:

"He has been away for many years and has forgotten all about it. You should remember," he said to me, "This is Mrs. Yang across the door... who owns a tofu shop. ”

Oh, I remember. When I was a child, there was indeed a Mrs. Yang who sat all day long in the tofu shop diagonally across the door. Everyone called her "Tofu Xishi"⑹. But she had white powder on her cheekbones. He was so tall, his lips were not so thin, and he was sitting all day long. I had never seen him in such a compass-like posture. People at that time said, "Because, the business in this tofu shop is very good. But it's probably because of my age." I was not impressed at all, so I completely forgot about it. However, the compass was very uneven, showing a look of contempt, as if mocking the French for not knowing Napoleon ⑺ and the Americans for not knowing Washington ⑻, and said with a sneer:

“Forgot? This is really a noble person's arrogance..."

"Then there is such a thing...I..." I stood up in fear and said.

"Then, let me tell you. Brother Xun, you are rich and cumbersome to move. If you want these broken wooden utensils, let me take them. Our small family needs it. ”

“I am not rich. I have to sell these, and then go..."

"Aye, you have put up a Taoist platform, and you still say it is not enough? You now have a concubine with three bedrooms and a sedan with eight carriages when you go out. Isn’t that rich? Scared, nothing can be hidden from me. "

I knew I had nothing to say, so I shut up and stood silently.

"Ah, ah, ah, the richer you are, the less money you have. The more you are willing to relax, the more you refuse to relax, the richer you will be..." Yuangui turned around angrily and said softly, slowly walked out, and stuffed a pair of my mother's gloves into the waistband of his pants and walked out.

After that, my family and relatives from nearby came to visit me. While socializing, I took some time to pack some luggage. This lasted for three or four days. It was a very cold afternoon, and I was sitting drinking tea after lunch. I felt someone came in, so I turned around to look.

This is Runtu. Although I knew it was Runtu when I saw him, it was not the Runtu I remembered. His figure had doubled; his previous round purple face had changed. His eyes are sallow and deeply wrinkled; his eyes are swollen and red all around like his father's. I know that this is usually the case for people who farm by the sea and are exposed to the sea breeze all day long. He was wearing a broken felt hat, and only a very thin cotton coat on his body, which was wrapped around his body. He was holding a paper bag and a long pipe in his hand. The hand was not the red and round one I remembered, but it was It was thick, clumsy and cracked, like pine bark.

I was very excited at this time, but I didn’t know what to say. I just said:

“Ah! Brother Runtu, - are you here? ..."

I then had many words that I wanted to say in succession: horned chicken, jumping fish, shells, quail,... but I always felt like I was being blocked by something, alone. He was whirling in his mind, unable to speak out.

He stood still, with a look of joy and sadness on his face; he moved his lips, but remained silent. His attitude finally became clear and respectful. Shout:

“Master! ..."

I seemed to shudder; I knew that there was a pathetically thick barrier between us. I was speechless.

He He turned around and said, "Shui Sheng, kowtow to the master. "Then he dragged out the child who was hiding behind him. This was exactly the Runtu from twenty years ago, but he was thinner and had no silver ring around his neck. "This is the fifth child. He has never seen the world and is hiding... ..."

Mother and Hong'er came downstairs, and they probably heard the sound.

"Old lady. The letter was received early. I really like him so much, knowing that the master is back..." Runtu said.

"Ah, why are you so polite? Didn't you call me brother before? Still the same: Brother Xun. "My mother said happily.

"Ah, the old lady is really...what kind of rule is this. I was a child at that time and was ignorant..." Runtu said, and asked Shuisheng to come up and play arch, but the child was shy and clung to his back.

"Is he Shuisheng? The fifth one? They are all strangers, so it’s no wonder they are afraid of them; Hong’er should go for a walk with him. "Mother said.

When Hong'er heard this, he came to recruit Shuisheng, but Shuisheng went out with him easily. Mother asked Runtu to sit, but he hesitated for a while, and finally He sat down, leaned the long pipe against the table, handed over the paper package, and said:

"There is nothing left in winter. These dried green beans are dried at home, sir..."

I asked him about his situation. He just shook his head.

"It's very difficult.

The sixth child also helps, but there is always not enough food... and there is no peace... money is required everywhere, there are no regulations... and the harvest is bad. If you grow something and sell it, you will have to donate money several times and lose the money; if you don't sell it, it will just rot..."

He just shook his head; although there were many wrinkles on his face , but completely motionless, like a stone statue. He probably just felt bitter, but couldn't describe it. After being silent for a while, he picked up the pipe and smoked silently.

My mother asked him if he knew. His family was busy with business and he had to go back tomorrow; he hadn't had lunch yet, so he went out to cook rice by himself.

My mother and I both lamented his situation: he had many children. , famine, exorbitant taxes, soldiers, bandits, officials, and gentry, all made him suffer like a puppet. My mother told me that anything that does not need to be moved can be given to him and he can choose it by himself. p>

In the afternoon, he picked up a few things: two long tables, four chairs, a pair of incense burners and candlesticks, and a scale. He also asked for all the straw ashes (we use straw for cooking here). , the ashes can be used as fertilizer for the sand), and when we set off, he used the boat to carry us there.

During the night, we talked some more, but they were all insignificant; the next day. In the morning, he took Shuisheng back.

Nine days later, it was the day for our departure. Runtu arrived in the morning, but Shuisheng did not come with him, but he only took his five-year-old daughter with him. We were very busy all day long, and there were many visitors, including those who saw us off, some who took things away, and some who also took things away. By the time we got on the ship in the evening, everything in this old house was dilapidated. Everything large and small has been swept away.

Part Three: Leaving Hometown

As our boat moved forward, the green mountains on both sides became dark in the dusk. Hong'er and I were leaning against the boat window, looking at the blurry scenery outside. He suddenly asked: "Uncle!" When will we come back? "

"Come back? Why do you want to come back before you leave? "

"But Shuisheng invited me to play at his house..." He opened his big black eyes and thought dreamily.

My mother and I were also a little confused. , then she brought up Runtu. My mother said, Sister-in-law Yang from Tofu Xishi has been coming to our house every day since she packed her luggage. The day before yesterday, she took out more than ten dishes from the ashes. After talking about it, Then it must be said that Runtu buried it, and he could move it back home together when the ashes were being transported. When Ersao Yang found out about this, she took credit for it, so she took the dog and killed it (this is the dog we raise here). It was a chicken utensil, a wooden plate with a fence on top, and food inside. The chicken could reach in and peck, but the dog couldn't. It could only watch and get angry), and it ran away as fast as it could, thanks to its small feet. I ran so fast.

The old house is getting farther and farther away from me; the mountains and rivers of my hometown are gradually moving away from me, but I don’t feel any nostalgia. I only feel that there are invisible things around me. The high wall isolated me, which made me very depressed; the image of the little hero with the silver collar on the watermelon ground was originally very clear to me, but now it was suddenly blurred, which made me very sad.

< p>My mother and Hong'er were both asleep.

As I lay there, listening to the gurgling sound of water on the bottom of the boat, I thought: I am so isolated from Runtu. But our younger generations are still in the same boat. Hong'er is missing Shui Sheng. I hope they will no longer be like me and become estranged from each other... However, I don't want them to live like me because of their hard work. I want them to live like Runtu's hard work and be numb, and I don't want them to live like other people's hard work and wantonly. They should have a new life that we have never lived.

I think of hope. , suddenly I became scared. When Runtu asked for the incense burner and candlestick, I secretly laughed at him, thinking that he always worships idols and never forgets them. Now, isn’t my so-called hope just an idol made by myself? His wish is close, but my wish is far away.

In the haze, a piece of green sand on the beach spread out in front of me, and a golden full moon hung in the deep blue sky above. : Hope doesn’t mean anything. This is just like the road on the earth. In fact, there is no road on the earth. When there are more people walking on it, it becomes a road.