the wallet of kai lung-第26节
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he may incur the displeasure of the benevolent and pure…minded
Emperor； and be condemned to death by roasting； he may also be
troubled by demons or by the disturbed spirits of his ancestors； or be
struck by thunderbolts。 Indeed； there are numerous annoyances； but
they become as Heaven…sent blessings in comparison to a
self…opinionated and more than ordinarily weak…minded son…in…law。 Of
what avail is it that I have habitually sold one idol for the value of
a hundred？ The very objectionable man in possession sits in my
delectable summer…house； and the unavoidable legal documents settle
around me like a flock of pigeons。 It is indeed necessary that I
should declare myself to be in voluntary liquidation； and make an
assignment of my book debts for the benefit of my creditors。 Having
accomplished this； I will proceed to the well…constructed tomb of my
illustrious ancestors； and having kow…towed at their incomparable
shrines； I will put an end to my distinguished troubles with this
exceedingly well…polished sword。'
〃'The wise man can adapt himself to circumstances as water takes the
shape of the vase that contains it；' said the well…known voice of Li
Ting。 'Let not the lion and the tiger fight at the bidding of the
jackal。 By combining our forces all may be well with you yet。 Assist
me to dispose of the entirely superfluous Yung Chang and to marry the
elegant and symmetrical Ning； and in return I will allot to you a
portion of my not inconsiderable income。'
〃'However high the tree； the leaves fall to the ground； and your hour
has come at last； O detestable Li Ting！' said Yung； who had heard the
speakers and crept upon them unperceived。 'As for my distinguished and
immaculate father…in…law； doubtless the heat has affected his
indefatigable brains； or he would not have listened to your
contemptible suggestion。 For yourself； draw！'
〃Both swords flashed； but before a blow could be struck the spirits of
his ancestors hurled Li Ting lifeless to the ground； to avenge the
memories that their unworthy descendant had so often reviled。
〃'So perish all the enemies of Yung Chang；' said the victor。 'And now；
my venerated but exceedingly short…sighted father…in…law； learn how
narrowly you have escaped making yourself exceedingly objectionable to
yourself。 I have just received intelligence from Peking that I have
passed the second degree； and have in consequence been appointed to a
remunerative position under the Government。 This will enable us to
live in comfort； if not in affluence； and the rest of your engaging
days can be peacefully spent in flying kites。'〃
CHAPTER III
THE PROBATION OF SEN HENG
Related by Kai Lung； at Wu…whei； as a rebuke to Wang Yu and
certain others who had questioned the practical value of his stories。
〃It is an undoubted fact that this person has not realized the direct
remunerative advantage which he confidently anticipated；〃 remarked the
idle and discontented pipe…maker Wang Yu； as； with a few other persons
of similar inclination； he sat in the shade of the great mulberry tree
at Wu…whei； waiting for the evil influence of certain very mysterious
sounds； which had lately been heard； to pass away before he resumed
his occupation。 〃When the seemingly proficient and trustworthy Kai
Lung first made it his practice to journey to Wu…whei； and narrate to
us the doings of persons of all classes of life；〃 he continued； 〃it
seemed to this one that by closely following the recital of how
Mandarins obtained their high position； and exceptionally rich persons
their wealth； he must； in the end； inevitably be rendered competent to
follow in their illustrious footsteps。 Yet in how entirely contrary a
direction has the whole course of events tended！ In spite of the
honourable intention which involved a frequent absence from his place
of commerce； those who journeyed thither with the set purpose of
possessing one of his justly…famed opium pipes so perversely regarded
the matter that； after two or three fruitless visits； they
deliberately turned their footsteps towards the workshop of the
inelegant Ming…yo； whose pipes are confessedly greatly inferior to
those produced by the person who is now speaking。 Nevertheless； the
rapacious Kai Lung； to whose influence the falling off in custom was
thus directly attributable； persistently declined to bear any share
whatever in the loss which his profession caused； and； indeed；
regarded the circumstance from so grasping and narrow…minded a point
of observation that he would not even go to the length of suffering
this much…persecuted one to join the circle of his hearers without on
every occasion making the customary offering。 In this manner a
well…intentioned pursuit of riches has insidiously led this person
within measurable distance of the bolted dungeon for those who do not
meet their just debts； while the only distinction likely to result
from his assiduous study of the customs and methods of those high in
power is that of being publicly bowstrung as a warning to others。
Manifestedly the pointed finger of the unreliable Kai Lung is a very
treacherous guide。〃
〃It is related；〃 said a dispassionate voice behind them； 〃that a
person of limited intelligence； on being assured that he would
certainly one day enjoy an adequate competence if he closely followed
the industrious habits of the thrifty bee； spent the greater part of
his life in anointing his thighs with the yellow powder which he
laboriously collected from the flowers of the field。 It is not so
recorded； but doubtless the nameless one in question was by profession
a maker of opium pipes； for this person has observed from time to time
how that occupation； above all others； tends to degrade the mental
faculties； and to debase its followers to a lower position than that
of the beasts of labour。 Learn therefrom； O superficial Wang Yu； that
wisdom lies in an intelligent perception of great principles； and not
in a slavish imitation of details which are； for the most part； beyond
your simple and insufficient understanding。〃
〃Such may； indeed； be the case； Kai Lung；〃 replied Wang Yu
sullenlyfor it was the story…teller in question who had approached
unperceived； and who now stood before them〃but it is none the less a
fact that； on the last occasion when this misguided person joined the
attending circle at your uplifted voice； a Mandarin of the third
degree chanced to pass through Wu…whei； and halted at the door…step of
'The Fountain of Beauty'； fully intending to entrust this one with the
designing and fashioning of a pipe of exceptional elaborateness。 This
matter； by his absence； has now passed from him； and to…day； through
listening to the narrative of how the accomplished Yuin…Pel doubled
his fortune； he is the poorer by many taels。〃
〃Yet to…morrow； when the name of the Mandarin of the third degree
appears in the list of persons who have transferred their entire
property to those who are nearly related to them in order to avoid it
being seized to satisfy the just claims made against them；〃 replied
Kai Lung； 〃you will be able to regard yourself the richer by so many
taels。〃
At these words； which recalled to the minds of all who were present
the not uncommon manner of behaving observed by those of exalted rank；
who freely engaged persons to supply them with costly articles without
in any way regarding the price to be paid； Wang Yu was silent。
〃Nevertheless；〃 exclaimed a thin voice from the edge of the group
which surrounded Kai Lung； 〃it in nowise follows that the stories are
in themselves excellent； or of such a nature that the hearing of their
recital will profit a person。 Wang Yu may be satisfied with empty
words； but there are others present who were studying deep matters
when Wang Yu was learning the art of walking。 If Kai Lung's stories
are of such remunerative benefit as the person in question claims； how
does it chance that Kai Lung himself who is assuredly the best
acquainted with them； stands before us in mean apparel； and on all
occasions confessing an unassuming poverty？〃
〃It is Yan…hi Pung；〃 went from mouth to mouth among the
bystanders〃Yan…hi Pung； who traces on paper the words of chants and
historical tales； and sells them to such as can afford to buy。 And
although his motive in exposing the emptiness of Kai Lung's stories
may not be Heav
