It is more than two years since I saw my father last time, and what I can never forget is the sight of his back. In the winter of more than two years ago, grandma died and father lost his job. Misfortunes never come singly. I left Beijing for Xuzhou to join father in hastening home to attend grandma's funeral. When I met father in Xuzhou, the sight of the disorderly mess in his courtyard and the thought of grandma started tears trickling down my cheeks. Father said, "That things have come to such a pass, now not be too sad. Fortunately, Heaven always leaves one a way out."
我與父親不相見已二年餘了,我最不能忘記的是他的背影.那年冬天,祖母死了,父親的差使也交卸了,正是禍不單行的日子,我從北京到徐州,打算跟著父親奔喪回家.到徐州見著父親,看見滿院狼藉的東西,又想起祖母,不禁簌簌地流下眼淚.父親說："事已如此,不必難過,好在天無絕人之路!"
After arriving home, father sold out all the family belongings in order to pay off the debts. He also borrowed money to meet the funeral expenses. Between grandma's funeral and father's unemployment, our family was then in reduced circumstances. After the funeral was over, father was to go to Nanjing to look for a job and I was to return to Beijing to study, so we started out together.
父親回家變賣典質,父親還了虧空；又借錢辦了喪事.這些日子,家中光景很是慘淡,一半為了喪事,一半為了父親的賦閒.喪事完畢,父親要到南京謀事,我也要回北京唸書,我們便同行.
I spent the first day in Nanjing strolling about with some friends at their invitation. The next morning, I'd ferry across the river to Pukou, and, from there, catch an afternoon train for Beijing. Father said he was too busy to go and see me off at the railway station, but would ask a hotel waiter that he knew to accompany me there instead. He urged the waiter again and again to take good care of me, but still did not quite trust him. He hesitated for quite a while about what to do. As a matter of fact, nothing would matter at all because I was already twenty then and had gone to Beijing quite a few times. After some wavering, he finally decided that he himself would accompany me to the station. I repeatedly tried to talk him out of it, but he only said, "never mind! It won't be comfortable for them to go there!"
到南京時,有朋友約去遊逛,勾留了一日；第二日上午便須渡江到浦口,下午上車北去.父親因為事忙,本已說定不送我,叫旅館裡一個熟識的茶房陪我同去.他再三囑咐茶房,甚是仔細.但他還是不放心,怕茶房不妥帖；頗躊躇了一會.其實我那年已二十歲,北京已來往過兩三次,是沒有什麼要緊的了.他躊躇了一會,終於決定還是自己送我去.我兩三回勸他不必去；他只說："不要緊,他們去不好!"
We entered the railway station after crossing the river. While I was at the booking office buying a ticket, father saw to my luggage. There was quite a bit of luggage and he had to bargain with the porter over the fee. I was then such a smart-aleck that I frowned upon the way father was haggling and on the verge of chipping in a few words when the bargain was finally clinched. Getting on the train with me, he picked me a seat close to the carriage door.
我們過了江,進了車站.我買票,他忙著照顧行李.行李太多了,得向腳伕行些小費,才可過去.他便又忙著和他們講價錢.我那時真是聰明過分,總覺他說話不大漂亮,非自己插嘴不可.但他終於講定了價錢,就送我上車.他給我揀定了靠車門的一張椅子；
I put on the brownish fur-lined overcoat he had tailor-made for me. He told me to be watchful on the way and be careful not to catch cold at night. He also asked the train attendants to take good care of me. I sniggered at father for being so impractical; for it was utterly useless to entrust me to those attendants, who cared for nothing but money. Besides, it was certainly no problem for a person of my age to look after himself. Oh, when I come to think of it, I can see how smarty I was in those days!
我將他給我做的紫毛大衣鋪好座位.他囑我路上小心,夜裡要警醒些,不要受涼.又囑託茶房好好照應我.我心裡暗笑他的迂；他們只認得錢,託他們真是白託!而且我這樣大年紀的人,難道還不能料理自己麼?唉,我現在想想,那時真是太聰明瞭!
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