0918翻譯: 范進中舉（吳敬梓）

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0918翻譯: 范進中舉（吳敬梓）

Translation: Fan Jin Passing Civil Exam (Wu Jingzi)

(translated by: alexcwlin; edited by: Adam Lam)

范進進學回家，母親，妻子俱各歡喜。

Fan Jin successfully entered county school. When he returned home he made his mother and wife very happy upon telling them about his accomplishment.

正待燒鍋做飯，只見他丈人胡屠戶，手裡拿著一副大腸和一瓶酒，走了進來。

Just when they were about to start a fire in cooking supper, his father-in-law, Hu Tuhu, walked in with a set of large intestines and a bottle of wine.

范進向他作揖，坐下。

Fan gave him a clenched-fists bow (6) and then sat down.

胡屠戶道："我自倒運，把個女兒嫁與你這現世寶，

Hu said: 「It must be my bad luck that my daughter is married to a useless bum like you.

歷年以來，不知累了我多少。

In all these years, you have caused me plenty of grief.

如今不知因我積了甚麼德，帶挈你中了個相公，

Now I must have accumulated some divine good fortune so that you could ride on my coattail to score a seat in school as a scholar.

我所以帶個酒來賀帝你。"

Now I am bringing some wine to celebrate your achievement.」

范進唯唯連聲，

Fan meekly mumbled his accord.

叫渾家把腸子煮了，燙起酒來，

He asked his wife to cook the intestines and warm the wine.

在茅草棚下坐著。母親自和媳婦在廚下造飯。

Then he and his father-in-law sat under a reed-awning while the two women prepared meal in the kitchen.

胡屠戶又吩咐女婿道："你如今既中了相公，凡事要立起個體統來。

Hu instructed the son-in-law: 「Now that you have become a scholar, everything that you do needs to follow a protocol of respectability.

比如我這行事里，都是些正經有臉面的人，又是你的長親，

For example, the people in my line of work are decent and dignified individuals who are your elder associates.

你怎敢在我們跟前裝大？

You must be careful not to put on airs (1) before us.

若是家門口這些做田的，扒糞的，不過是平頭百姓，

Those people in front of the house who make a living in farming or raking faeces are merely commoners.

你若同他拱手作揖，平起平坐，這就是壞了學校規矩，

If you greet them with clenched-fists bows or treat them as your equals, then you would be violating the school』s established practices.

連我臉上都無光了。

In doing so, even I would be embarrassed.

你是個爛忠厚沒用的人，

You are a stubbornly honest and hopeless person.

所以這些話我不得不教導你，免得惹人笑話。"

I have to say all these things to teach you so that people won』t laugh at you.」

范進道："岳父見教的是。"

Fan said: 「Dad, thank you for teaching me all these things. You』re absolutely correct.」

胡屠戶又道："親家母也來這裡坐著吃飯。

Hu continued to speak, 「Ask your mother to come over and sit here for supper.

老人家每日小菜飯，想也難過。

Life must be tough for an old lady like her who eats very little every day.

我女孩兒也吃些。

My daughter will eat some as well.

自從進了你家門，這十幾年，不知豬油可曾吃過兩三回哩！

All these ten-odd years since she was married into your family, I don』t know if she has been fed lard for more than two or three times.

可憐！可憐！"

That is a real pity!」

說罷，婆媳兩個都來坐著吃了飯。

After he finished talking, the daughter and her mother-in-law came over to sit down for supper together.

吃到日西時分，胡屠戶吃的醺醺的。

They ate until evening and Hu was feeling tipsy on wine.

這裡母子兩個，千恩萬謝。

Both the mother and son expressed their utmost gratitude to Hu.

屠戶橫披了衣服，腆著肚子去了。

Hu put on his clothes and left with his bulged tummy.

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次日，范進少不得拜拜鄉鄰。

On the next day, Fan Jin went to pay visits to neighborhood villagers.

魏好古又約了一班同案的朋友，彼此來往。

Wei Haogu arranged with a group of classmates to associate regularly with one another.

因是鄉試年，做了幾個文會。

Provincial level Imperial Exam was going to be conducted in that year and the classmates held several academic discussion group meetings.

不覺到了六月盡間，這些同案的人約范進去鄉試。

Very soon it was the end of June, and those classmates asked Fan to go together for the Provincial Exam.

范進因沒有盤費，走去同丈人商議，

Fan did not have enough money to pay for the traveling, and so he went to discuss the situation with his father-in-law.

被胡屠戶一口啐在臉上，罵了個狗血噴頭，道："不要失了你的時了！

Hu spit on Fan』s face and told him off in saying: 「Don』t waste your time.

你自己只覺得中了一個相公，就癩蝦蟆想吃起天鵝肉來！

You thought you have passed one exam to be a scholar and now you』re daydreaming about hitting the bigtime.

我聽見人說，就是中相公時，也不是你的文章，

I heard someone told me that you didn』t write your essay that passed the exam.

還是宗師看見你老，不過意，舍與你的。

The master-examiner felt pity on you because you were old and let you pass.

如今痴心就想中起老爺來！

Now you are fantasizing about passing the Imperial Exam to become a master.

這些中老爺的都是天上的文曲星！

All those who make the grade in the exam to become masters are 『Wisdom Stars』 from heaven.

你不看見城裡張府上那些老爺，

Haven』t you seen those masters in Zhang Family』s mansion?

都有萬貫家私，

They are loaded with money.

一個個方面大耳？

In addition, they all have square faces and big ears.

像你這尖嘴猴腮，也該撒拋尿自己照照！

A person like you with pointed mouth and monkey cheeks should pee on the ground to check out what you really look like from the reflection.

不三不四，就想天鵝屁吃！

You don』t look respectable and yet you are dreaming big.

趁早收了這心，

My advice is you should give up your pipe dream early.

明年在我們行里替你尋一個館，

Next year let me find you a shop through my connections in my line of business.

每年尋幾兩銀子，養活你那老不死的老娘和你老婆是正經！

That way you can earn a few 『liangs』 of silver a year in order that you can support your long-overdue-to-die mother and your good-natured wife.

你問我借盤纏，

You ask me to loan you some money for traveling.

我一天殺一個豬還賺不得錢把銀子，

I slaughter a pig a day and have been unable to earn a 「qian」 and change of silver.

都把與你去丟在水裡，叫我一家老小嗑西北風！"

Lending that to you would be like throwing it in water and what do my family have left to live on.」

一頓夾七夾八，罵的范進摸門不著。

Hu』s mumbo-jumbo in lashing out at Fan left Fan scratching his head on what that was all about.

辭了丈人回來，

Fan said goodbye to his father-in-law and came home.

自心裡想："宗師說我火候已到，

He thought: 「Master said my knowledge is proficient enough for the exam.

自古無場外的舉人，

Nobody can ever become a successful candidate without actually entering the test center.

如不進去考他一考，如何甘心？"

How could (8) I live with myself if I don』t give it a try in the exam?」

因向幾個同案商議，瞞著丈人，到城裡鄉試。

So he found a way to participate in the Imperial Exam inside the city behind his father-in-law』s back after discussing the matter with a few classmates.

出了場，即使回家。家裡已是餓了兩三天。

After writing the examination, he came home and his family had been starved for two to three days.

被胡屠戶知道，又罵了一頓。

Hu Tuhu found out and of course he gave Fan more lecturing.

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到出榜那日，家裡沒有早飯米，

On the day the exam results came out, the Fan family ran out of rice for breakfast.

母親吩咐范進道："我有一隻生蛋的母雞，

The mother instructed Fan Jin: 「I have an egg-laying hen.

你快拿到集上去賣了，買幾升米來煮餐粥吃，

Quickly take it to the market to sell and see if you can get a few 『shengs』 of rice for cooking congee to eat.

我已是餓的兩眼都看不見了。"

I am going blind from starving.」

范進慌忙抱了雞，走出門去。

Fan hurriedly took the hen and went out the door.

才去不到兩個時候，只聽得一片聲的鑼響，

After he had gone out for less than four hours, a series of gong sounds rang out.

三匹馬闖將來。

Three horses galloped in.

那三個人下了馬，把馬拴在茅草棚上，一片聲叫道："快請范老爺出來，

The riders got off the mounts, tied the horses to the thatch-shack and shouted: 「Ask Master Fan to come out quick.

恭喜高中了！"

We want to congratulate him for passing the Imperial Exam.」

母親不知是甚事，嚇得躲在屋裡；

The mother did not know what was going on and she was scared stiff hiding inside the house.

聽見了，方敢伸出頭來，說道："諸位請坐，

After hearing those words, she poked her head out and said: 「Please take a seat, gentlemen.

小兒方才出去了。"

My son just went out.」

那些報錄人道："原來是老太太。"

Those people delivering the good news said: 「Oh, you are the mother.」

大家簇擁著要喜錢。

They were crowding around asking for lucky money.

正在吵鬧，又是幾匹馬，二報、三報到了，

In the midst of all the clamoring, the second group of good-news messengers came followed by the third group.

擠了一屋的人，茅草棚地下都坐滿了。

The house was packed with visitors and even the thatch-shack was full of people sitting on the floor.

鄰居都來了，擠著看，

Neighbors came as well and they were trying to squeeze inside the house to see what was happening.

老太太沒奈何，只得央及一個鄰居去尋他兒子。

Old Mrs. Fan had no choice but begged a neighbor to go find his son.

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那鄰居飛奔到集上，一地裡尋不見；

The neighbor ran towards the market and couldn』t find Fan Jin anywhere along the way.

直尋到集東頭，見范進抱著雞，手裡插個草標，

It was not until he searched all the way to the east side of the market that he saw Fan holding the hen with a straw-sign attached to indicate it was for sale.

一步一踱的，東張西望，在那裡尋人買。

Fan was plodding and looking around to find a buyer.

鄰居道："范相公，快些回去！

The neighbor said: 「Mr. Scholar Fan, go home quick.

你恭喜中了舉人，

Congratulations (5)! You have passed the Provincial Imperial exam.

報喜人擠了一屋裡。"

Your house is packed with good-news messengers.」

范進道是哄他，

Fan thought the neighbor was pulling his leg.

只裝不聽見，低著頭往前走。

So he pretended he did not hear and continued walking with his head down.

鄰居見他不理，走上來，就要奪他手裡的雞。

The neighbor saw Fan was ignoring him and so he walked up and wanted to take the chicken away from his hand.

范進道："你奪我的雞怎的？

Fan said: 「Why do you want to grab my chicken?

你又不買。"

You are not buying, are you?」

鄰居道："你中了舉了，叫你家去打發報子哩。"

The neighbor said: 「You have passed the Imperial Exam and you are asked to come home to send the messengers away.」

范進道："高鄰，你曉得我今日沒有米，要買這雞去救命，

Fan said: 「Neighbor Gao, you know I run out of rice today and need to sell this chicken to save lives.

為甚麼拿這話來混我？

Why are you saying these things to trick me?

我又不同你頑，

I』m not fooling around with you.

你自回去罷，

You go back and leave me alone.

莫誤了我賣雞。"

Don』t get in the way while I am selling chicken.」

鄰居見他不信，

The neighbor saw he didn』t believe what he said.

劈手把雞奪下，摜在地下，一把拉了回來。

So he snatched the chicken away from him, flung it to the ground, and dragged him along to go home.

報錄人見了道"好了，

The messengers saw him and said: 「That』s fantastic.

新貴人回來了。"

Our new bigwig is back.」

正要擁著他說話，范進三兩步走進屋裡來，

Just when they were going to surround him to talk, Fan quickly got inside the house.

見中間報帖已經升掛起來，上寫道："捷報貴府老爺范諱進高中廣東鄉試第七名亞元。

He saw the document in reporting the good news had already been hung up that read: 「This is a brief notification that Master Fan Huijin at your house scored Number Seven in ranking of Guangdong Provincial Imperial Exam.

京報連登黃甲。"

The official yellow document will follow.」

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范進不看便罷，看了一遍，又念一啟蒙，

Everything was fine with Fan Jin before he looked at the notice. After reading it once and reciting it once, it dawned on him what actually had happened.

自己把兩手拍了一下，笑了一聲，道："噫！好了！

He clapped his hands together, let out a laugh, and said: 「Oh, that』s terrific!

我中了！"

I passed the exam.」

說著，往後一交跌倒，牙關咬緊，不省人事。

After saying that, he fell backward clenching his teeth and fainted.

老太太慌了，慌將幾口開水灌了過來。

The old Mrs. Fan got panicky and scrambled to pour several gulps of warm water into his mouth to wake him up.

他爬將起來，

He crawled to get up.

又拍著手大笑道："噫！好！

Then he clapped his hands and laughed out loud: 「Oh fantastic!

我中了！"

I pass.」

笑著，

Afterwards he laughed some more.

不由分說，就往門外飛跑，

For no reason he darted out the front door.

把報錄人和鄰居嚇了一跳。

In doing so, he shocked the messengers and neighbors.

走出大門不多路，一腳踹在塘里，

A short distance away one of his feet stepped into a pond and slipped.

掙起來，頭髮都跌散了，兩手黃泥，淋淋漓漓一身的水。

In struggling to get up, his hair was messed up, his hands were full of yellow dirt (2), and his body was dripping wet with water.

眾人拉他不住，

People were unable to pull him back.

拍著笑著，一直走到集上去了。

So they clapped and laughed as all of them went with him to the market.

眾人大眼望小眼，

They looked at one another and were at a loss on what to do.

一齊道："原來新貴人歡喜瘋了。"

So they all said: 「Our new exalted official has gone crazy from overjoyed.」

老太太哭道："怎生這樣苦命的事！

Old Mrs. Fan said in tears: 「What rotten luck we have!

中了一個甚麼舉人，就得了這拙病！

He passed some sort of exam and contracted this strange ailment.

這一瘋了，幾時才得好？"

Once he goes crazy I really don』t know when he would recover.」

娘子胡氏道："早上好好出去，怎的就得了這樣的病！

His wife Miss Hu said: 「He was fine this morning when he went out and how did he catch this disease.

卻是如何是好？"

What are we going to do?」

眾鄰居勸道："老太太不要心慌。

The neighbors tried to comfort them in saying: 「Don』t panic, Mrs. Fan.

我們而今且派兩個人跟定了范老爺。

We』ll arrange to have two people follow Master Fan closely.

這裡眾人家裡拿些雞蛋酒米，且管待了報子上的老爹們，

Here we』ll get some eggs, wine and rice from our homes to entertain these Master Messengers.

再為商酌。"

Then we』ll figure out what to do.」

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當下眾鄰居有拿雞蛋來的，有拿白酒來的，也有背了斗米來的，也有捉兩隻雞來的。

Immediately neighbors brought over eggs, wine, a bucket of rice and a couple of chickens.

娘子哭哭啼啼，在廚下收拾齊了，拿在草棚下。

While weeping, the wife got all the food organized in the kitchen and took them out to the thatch shack.

鄰居又搬些桌凳，

The neighbors moved some chairs and tables over to Fan』s place.

請報錄的坐著吃酒，商議他這瘋了，如何是好。

While drinking wine on their seats, the messengers talked about how they were going to handle Fan』s mentally deranged condition.

報錄的內中有一個人道："在下倒有一個主意，不知可以行得行不得？"

A messenger (3) said: 「I have an idea and I wonder if it could work.」

眾人問："如何主意？"

Others asked: 「What』s your idea?」

那人道："范老爺平日可有怕的人？

The messenger (3) said: 「Is there a person whom Master Fan normally is very afraid of?

他只因歡喜狠了，痰湧上來，迷了心竅。

He is only overly thrilled such that he gets choked up with phlegm and his mind is all fogged up.

如今只消他怕的這個人來打他一個嘴巴，說這報錄的話都是哄你的，你並不曾中。

Now all it takes is for the person whom he fears to whack him one on the mouth and say, 『Those messengers are feeding you a line and you did not pass.』

他這一嚇，把痰葉了出來，就明白了。"

Once he gets a jolt and spits out the phlegm, then he would be fine.」

眾鄰都拍手道："這個主意好得緊，妙得緊！

The neighbors applauded and one of them said, 「This idea is great and wonderful.

范老爺怕的，莫過於肉案上的胡老爹。

The person whom Master Fan fears is none other than Senior Hu at the butcher table.

好了！快尋胡老爹來。

Alright then! Go and find Mr. Hu quickly.

他想還不知道，在集上賣肉哩。"

I suppose he does not know about this yet and is still selling meat in the market.」

又一個人道；"在集上賣肉，他倒好知道了；

Another person said, 「If he is selling meat in the market he would have known about this already.

他從五更鼓就往東頭集上迎豬，

Between 3:00 a.m.-5:00 a.m., he has been waiting in the east side of the market to pick up the pig that he ordered.

還不曾回來。

He has not returned as yet.

快些迎著去尋他。"

Go quickly and find him.」

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一個人飛奔去迎，走到半路，遇著胡屠戶來，

A person dashed to locate Hu Tuhu and halfway over there he ran into Hu.

後面跟著一個燒湯的二漢，提著七八斤肉，四五千錢，

Behind him was a kitchen soup-making helper carrying seven to eight 「jins」 of meat and four to five thousand copper coins.

正來賀喜。

They were coming to extend congratulations (5).

進門見了老太太.

Hu saw Mrs. Fan upon entering the front door.

老太太大哭著告訴了一番。

While in tears, Mrs. Fan told Hu everything.

胡屠戶詫異道："難道這等沒福？"

Hu was surprised and said, 「Does that mean we don』t have the good fortune?」

外邊人一片聲請胡老爹說話。

All the noises outside were requesting Mr. Hu to say a few words.

胡屠戶把肉和錢交與女兒，走了出來。

Hu left the meat and money with his daughter and came out.

眾人如此這般，同他商議。

Those people told him the ins and outs of the situation and discussed with him about the plan in mind.

胡屠戶作難道："雖然是我女婿，如今卻做了老爺，就是天上的星宿。

Hu put up a reluctant look and said, 「Even though he is my son-in-law, yet he is now a master, which is a divine star in the sky.

天上的星宿是打不得的！

Nobody is allowed to hit a divine star.

我聽得齋公們說：打了天上的星宿，閻王就要拿去打一百鐵棍，

Monks told me anyone hitting a divine star would be sentenced by Yama, the Netherworld King, to one-hundred blows with iron-rod,

發在十八層地獄，永不得翻身。

Also he would be sent to the bottom of the eighteen levels of hell and would never be incarnated again.

我卻是不敢做這樣的事！"

I would not dare to do such a thing as hitting him.」

鄰居內一個尖酸的人說道："罷么！胡老爹，

An acid-tongued neighbor said, 「Forget that, Mr. Hu.

你每日殺豬的營生，

You are in the business of slaughtering pig every day.

白刀子進去，紅刀子出來，

Your shiny white knife turns red with blood after drilling into the body of a pig.

閻王也不知叫判官的簿子上記了你幾千鐵棍；

Yama must have asked his registrar to record thousands of iron-rod blows against you on the books.

就是添上這一百棍，也打甚麼要緊？

It would not make a difference in adding on these extra hundred blows, would it?

只恐鐵棍打完了，也算不到這筆帳上來。

I am afraid after the iron-rod is all used up in beating you, these additional hundred blows would not have come up as yet.

或者你教好了女婿的病，閻王敘功，從地獄裡把你提上第十七層來，

Maybe after you have cured your son-in-law』s illness, Yama would consider the merits and move you up to the seventeenth level of hell.

也不可知。"

Don』t discount such a possibility.」

報錄的人道："不要只管講笑話。胡老爹，這個事須是這般，

The messenger said: 「Mr. Hu, all joking aside, this is the way this matter should be handled.

你沒奈何，權變一權變。"

There is no other choice and you must be accommodating to the circumstances.」

屠戶被眾人局不過，

Hu could not refuse at being cornered by all those people.

只得連斟兩碗酒喝了，壯一壯膽，把方才這些小心收起，將平日的兇惡樣子拿出來，

Upon downing a couple of bowls of wine to boost his courage, he dropped his well-mannered guise and returned to be his normal ferocious self.

卷一卷那油晃晃的衣袖，走上集去。

He rolled up his oily sleeves a bit and walked towards the market.

眾鄰居五六個都跟著走。

Five to six of the neighbors followed him.

老太太趕出來叫道："親家，你只可嚇他一嚇，卻不要把他打傷了！"

Old Mrs. Fan ran out and shouted, 「In-law Hu, just give him a scare and don』t hurt him.」

眾鄰居道："這自然，

The neighbors said, 「Of course that goes without saying.

何消吩咐。"

You don』t need to remind us.」

說著，一直去了。

They kept going as they were speaking.

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來到集上，只見范進正在一個廟門口站著，

When they arrived at the market, they saw Fan Jin was standing before the front door (4) of a temple.

散著頭髮，滿臉污泥，

His hair was messed up and his face was splattered with dirt.

鞋都跑掉了一隻，

One shoe was missing.

兀自拍著掌，口裡叫道："中了！中了！"

He was still clapping hands and shouting, 「I pass! I pass!」

胡屠戶凶神似的走到跟前，說道："該死的畜生！

Hu Tuhu walked up to him looking like a fiend and said, 「You damn fool!

你中了甚麼？"

What the heck did you pass?」

一個嘴巴打將去。

Then he let go a hard smack on his mouth.

眾人和鄰居見這模樣，忍不住的笑。

The neighbors and others saw the act and couldn』t hold back laughing.

不想胡屠戶雖然大著膽子打了一下，心裡到底還是怕的，

They never would have thought even though Hu mustered enough courage to slap Fan, he was still apprehensive of the consequences.

那手早顫起來，不敢打到第二下。

His hands had been trembling since a while earlier and he would not hit Fan a second time.

范進因這一嘴馬，卻也打暈了，昏倒在地。

Fan was knocked out by the smack on the mouth, and he was lying unconscious on the ground.

眾鄰居一齊上前，替他抹胸口，捶背心，

The neighbors came up to rub his chest and thump lightly at his back.

舞了半日，漸漸喘息過來，眼睛明亮，不瘋了。

After working on him for a long while, he slowly caught his breath, his eyes lit up, and he regained his sanity.

眾人扶起，借廟門口一個外科郎中的板凳上坐著。

Those people helped him up and seated him on a stool borrowed from a surgical herbalist.

胡屠戶站在一邊，不覺那隻手隱隱的疼將起來；

Hu was standing on one side and he felt a barely noticeable pain in one hand.

自己看時，把個巴掌仰著，再也彎不過來。

He saw the palm was facing upward and could no longer be bent.

自己心裡懊惱道："果然天上文曲星是打不得的，

He thought regretfully, 「Sure enough no one is allowed to strike a Wisdom Star from heaven.

而今菩薩計較起來了。"

Now the Bodhisattva is settling the score with me.」

想一想，更疼的狠了，

Once he thought about that, his pain aggravated.

連忙向郎中討了個膏藥帖著。

He promptly asked the herbal doctor for a medicine plaster to put over the sore spot.

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范進看了眾人，說道："我怎麼坐在這裡？"

Fan Jin looked at all the people around him and said: 「Why am I sitting here?」

又道："我這半日，昏昏沉沉，如在夢裡一般。"

He also said: 「My mind was in a daze for half a day as if I have been dreaming.」

眾鄰居道："老爺，恭喜高中了。

The neighbors said, 「Master, congratulations (5) for passing the exam.

適才歡喜的有些引動了痰，方才吐出幾口痰來了，好了。

Just now you spit out some phlegm and everything is fine now.

快請回家去打發報錄人。"

Go home quick to send away those messengers who delivered the good news.」

范進說道："是了。我也記得是中的第七名。"

Fan said, 「Yes, I do remember I came in seventh place of the exam.」

范進一面自綰了頭髮，一面問郎中借了一盆水洗洗臉。

At that time Fan coiled up his own hair and asked the herbalist to borrow a bowl of water to wash his face.

一個鄰居早把那一隻鞋尋了來，替他穿上。

Earlier a neighbor found his missing shoe and put that on for him.

見丈人在跟前，恐怕又要來罵。

He saw the father-in-law in front of him and was concerned he was there to tell him off again.

胡屠戶上前道："賢婿老爺，方才不是我敢大膽，

Hu walked up and said, 「My good old Master Son-in-law, just now it was not my doing to slap your face so daringly.

是你老太太的主意，央我來勸你的。"

It was your mother』s idea, and she asked me to get you out of your predicament.」

鄰居內一個人道："胡老爹方才這個嘴巴打的親切，

A person said, 「Just now Mr. Hun』s slap on your mouth was up close and personal.

少頃范老爺洗臉，還要洗下半盆豬油來！"

Later when you wash your face half a basin of lard is going to come off.」

又一個道："老爹，你這手明日殺不得豬了。"

Another one said, 「Mr. Hu, tomorrow this hand should not be used to slaughter pig.」

胡屠戶道："我那裡還殺豬！

Hu said, 「I don』t need to slaughter pig anymore.

有我這賢婿，還怕後半世靠不著也怎的？

With a good son-in-law like this one, I can live off him for the remaining half of my life and don』t have to worry about a thing.

我每常說，我的這個賢婿，才學又高，品貌又好，

I always say my son-in-law here is superb in ability, rich in academic-knowledge, excellent in mannerism, and great in look.

就是城裡頭那張府、周府的這些老爺，也沒有我女婿這樣一個體面的相貌。

Even those masters in Zhang』s mansion and Zhou』s mansion inside the city are not as respectable looking as my son-in-law.

你們不知道，得罪你們說，我小老這一雙眼睛，卻是認得人的。

You may not know, and I mean no offense in telling you this, my pair of eyes is good in recognizing great talent (7).

想著先年，我小女在家裡長到三十多歲，多少有錢的富戶要和我結親，我自己覺得女兒像有些福氣的，

I can still remember in earlier years when my daughter grew up to be thirty-odd years old, many young men from rich families wanted to marry her, but I always felt my daughter was doomed to have good fortune.

畢竟要嫁與個老爺，

Eventually she would marry a master.

今日果然不錯！"

Today that has come true.」

說罷，哈哈大笑。眾人都笑起來。

He laughed heartily after he finished speaking and all those people laughed along with him.

看著范進洗了臉，郎中又拿茶來吃了，

They watched as Fan washed his face and the herbalist gave him tea to drink.

一同回家。范舉人先走，屠戶和鄰居跟在後面。

Afterwards they went home together as Fan walked in front while Hu and the neighbors followed closely behind.

屠戶見女婿衣裳後襟滾皺了許多，

Hu saw the back piece of Fan』s clothe was wrinkled from rolling on the ground.

一路低著頭替他扯了幾十回。

Along the way he bent down in trying to pull it straight several tens of times.

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到了家門，屠戶高聲叫道："老爺回府了！"

Once they arrived at home, Hu shouted, 「Master is home now.」

老太太迎著出來，

Old Mrs. Fan came out to meet them.

見兒子不瘋，喜從天降。

When she saw her son was no longer insane, she was pleased beyond words.

眾人問報錄的，已是家裡把戶送來的幾千錢打發他們去了。

They asked about the messengers and realized the family had sent them away after giving them the several thousands of copper coins that Hu brought over.

范進拜了母親，也拜了丈人。

Fan respectfully bowed to his mother and father-in-law.

胡屠戶再三不安道："些須幾個錢，不夠我賞人。"

Hu repeatedly said, 「You may need some money, and I』m afraid what I brought was not enough to tip those people.」

范進又謝了鄰居。

Fan thanked all the neighbors.

正待坐下，早看見一個體面的管家，手裡拿著一個大紅全帖，飛跑了進來："張老爺來拜新中的范老爺。"

Just when he was about to sit down, a respectable-looking housekeeper quickly ran in with a large, formal red-card in his hand announcing, 「Master Zhang is coming to pay his respect to the newly qualified Master Fan.」

說畢，轎子已是到了門口。

As soon as he finished speaking, a sedan-chair was at the door.

胡屠戶忙躲進女兒房裡，不敢出來。

Hu hid in his daughter』s room and was self-conscious to show his face in this serious occasion.

鄰居各自散了。

The group of neighbors broke up and went home.

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范進迎了出去，

Fan Jin came out to greet the visitor.

只見那張鄉紳下了轎進來，

He saw Village Squire Zhang get off the sedan-chair and walk inside.

頭戴紗帽，身穿葵花色圓領、金帶、皂靴。

His was wearing a gauge-hat, sunflower-color round-collared clothes, golden belt, and thick-bottom white boots.

他是舉人出身，做過一任知縣的，

He also passed the Provincial Imperial Exam and was appointed county-magistrate for one term.

別號靜齋，

His alias was Jingzhai.

同范進讓了進來，到堂屋內平磕了頭，

He came in with Fan and they both went down on their knees to kowtow to each other.

分賓主坐下。

Then they sat down in positions according to etiquette which distinguished host and guest.

張鄉紳攀談道："世先生同在桑梓，一向有失親近。"

Squire Zhang started the small talk and said, 「You and I have been closely associated through living in the same village but we have missed the opportunity to know each other better.」

范進道："晚生久仰老先生，只是無緣，不曾拜會。"

Fan said, 「Sir, I always admire you as a respectable person except I never have the good fortune to meet you face to face.」

張鄉紳道："適才看見題名錄，貴房師高要縣湯公，就是先祖的門生，

Squire Zhang said, 「I just saw the successful candidate list and your mentoring teacher Mr. Tang from Gaoyou County was a student of my ancestor.

我和你是親切的世弟兄。"

You and I are closely related through our learning affiliations.」

范進道："晚生僥倖，實是有愧。卻幸得出老先生門下，

Fan said, 「Honestly I was undeservingly lucky and has the good fortune to learn under my teacher.

可為欣喜。"

I am greatly pleased.」

張鄉紳四面將眼睛望了一望，說道："世先生果是清貧。"

Squire Zhang looked around and said, 「You are indeed needy.」

隨在跟的家人手裡拿過一封銀子來，說道："弟卻也無以為敬，謹具賀儀五十兩，

Then he took an envelope of silver from a helper and said, 「I have nothing much to offer except a congratulations (5) gift of fifty 『liangs』 of silver.

世先生權且收著。

Please accept it for the time being.

這華居其實住不得，將來當事拜往，俱不甚便，

This place is not suitable for you to continue living in because in the future if someone of authority come to visit you, this dwelling is inappropriate for the occasion.

弟有空房一所，就在東門大街上，三進三間，

I have an empty house on East Gate Main Street which is three rooms in width and three poles in depth.

雖不軒敞，也還乾淨，

Even though it is not spacious and bright, yet it is rather clean.

就送與世先生；搬到那裡去住，

Let me give that to you for accommodations.

早晚也好請教些。"

From time to time I could consult you for advice.」

范進再三推辭，張鄉紳急了，道："你我年誼世好，

Fan repeatedly tried to decline the offers but Squire Zhang got anxious and said, 「You and I both passed the Provincial Exam and our families have been closely affiliated for generations.

就如至親骨肉一般；

As such, you and I are like brothers.

若要如此，就是見外了。"

If you refuse my good gesture, you would be treating me as an outsider.」

范進方才把銀子收下，作輯謝了。

At hearing that, Fan took the silver and gave Squire Zhang a clenched-fists bow in gratitude.

又說了一會，打躬作別。

They talked a bit more and then mutually bid farewell by bowing to each other.

胡屠戶直等他上了轎，才敢走出堂屋來。

Hu Tuhu waited until Zhang got into the sedan-chair before he dared to walk out to the hall.

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范進即將這銀子交與渾家打開看，一封一封雪白的細絲錠子，

Fan Jin gave the envelope of silver to his wife. They opened the envelope and saw spindle-shaped pieces of silver.

即便包了兩錠，叫胡屠戶進來，遞與他道："方才費老爹的心，拿了五千錢來。

After wrapping up two pieces of silver, they asked Hu Tuhu to come in, handed the two pieces of silver to him and said, 「Dad, thanks for your trouble just now to take five thousand copper coins over here.

這六兩多銀子，老爹拿了去。"

Here are six 『liangs』 of silver for you to take home.」

屠戶把銀子攥在手裡緊緊的，把拳頭舒過來，道："這個，你且收著。

Hu grasped the silver tightly in his hand initially before he loosened his fist and said, 「You take these back please.

我原是賀你的，怎好又拿了回去？"

I was giving you those as congratulations gifts and how could (8) I take them back?」

范進道："眼見得我這裡還有幾兩銀子，若用完了，再來問老爹討來用。"

Fan said, 「I still have several 『liangs』 of silver here, and if I spend them all, then I』ll ask you, Dad, for them back to spend.」

屠戶連忙把拳頭縮了回去，往腰裡揣，口裡說道："也罷，你而今相與了這個張老爺，何愁沒有銀子用？

Hu quickly took his fist back, concealed the silver inside his waistband and said, 「Alright! Now that you associate with Master Zhang, you no longer have to worry about not having silver to spend.

他家裡的銀子，說起來比皇帝家還多些哩！

He has more silver at home than the hoard of the Emperor.

他家就是我賣肉的主顧，

His family is a regular customer of my meat business.

一年就是無事，肉也要四五千斤，

Every year even without any special event, he would buy four to five thousand 『jins』 of meat.

銀子何足為奇！"

Silver to him is nothing special.」

又轉回頭來望著女兒，說道："我早上拿了錢來，你那該死行瘟的兄弟還不肯，

He then turned around to look at his daughter and said, 「This morning when I take money over here, your darn brother tried to stop me.

我說：姑老爺今非昔比，

I said, 『Your brother-in-law is a different person now from yesterday.

少不得有人把銀子送上門來給，只怕姑老爺還不希罕。

There is no shortage of people taking money to his house as gift for him and their concerns are he may snub them.』

今日果不其然！

Today things happened just as I expected.

如今拿了銀子家去，罵死這砍頭短命的奴才！"

Now that I take the silver home I』ll really give a piece of my mind to this stupid fool.」

說了一會，千恩萬謝，

After talking a bit more, Hu was thoroughly thankful.

低著頭，笑迷迷的去了。

He left with his head down and a grin on his face.

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附註：

(1) Put on Airs

「Put on airs」 is an idiom meaning behaving arrogantly as if one person is better than the others.

Notice the word 「airs」 has an 「s」 in the end and 「air」 without the 「s」 is wrong in this expression.

(2) Meaning of 「Dirt」

Notice that beside 「dirty substance」, one of the other meanings of 「dirt」 is 「earth」.

(3) 「a messenger」 and 「the messenger」

When the messenger giving the idea was first mentioned in the story, the determiner 「a」 (i.e., 「a messenger」) was used because it referred to a non-specific person.

After that person was known, the second time around when he was mentioned again, we all know who he was and so the determiner 「the」 (i.e., 「the messenger」) was used.

Technically in grammar determiners are a class of its own but for our discussion purpose here, we can look at determiners as adjectives.

(4) 「the front door」 or 「a front door」

Since we know the 「front door」 was that of 「a temple」 already mentioned, therefore we use 「the」 in the phrase 「the temple」, assuming of course there was only one front door in that temple.

If for some strange reason there were two front doors in that temple, we could use 「a front door of a temple」. However, without specifying there were two doors, common sense dictates that there should only be one front door and so using 「the」 and not 「a」 is appropriate in this case.

If we drop the words 「a temple」 in the phrase, we could then say 「…Fan Jin was standing in front of a front door.」 (with a temple deleted) because the door was not a specified one.

(5) 「congratulation」 or 「congratulations」

「Congratulation」 means the act of congratulating someone.

「Congratulations」 (with an 「s」), means expression of joy for someone』s success or achievement. The interjection: 「Congratulations! You won the first prize」 has an 「s」.

(6) 「clenched-fists bow」 or 「clenched-fist bow」

You clench two fists together and make a bow in this social gesture.

Since 「clenched-fist」 here functions as an adjective, shouldn』t you say 「clenched-fist bow」 instead of 「clenched-fists bow」?

Since there are 2 fists involved clenched together in this bow, therefore the plural form 「clenched-fists」 with the 「s」 is correct—in my opinion.

(7) Subject-Verb Agreement: 「is」 or 「are」

In this phrase: 「my pair of eyes is good in recognizing great talent」, should 「is」 be 「are」 since the subject appears to be 「eyes」 which is in plural form.

The subject is 「pair」, not 「eyes」. The phrase 「of eyes」 is an adjective phrase (also called prepositional phrase with 「of」 as the preposition and 「eyes」 a noun).

Since 「pair」 is singular, therefore using 「is」 is correct.

(8) 「how could」 or 「how can」

The word 「could」 implied 「possibility」 and 「can」 implies 「ability—be able to」.

In the two cases here, 「could」 is better than 「can」, although grammatically using 「can」 is not incorrect.