the wallet of kai lung-第32节
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be of noble birth； or very desirous of putting to shame their less
prosperous neighbouring places。〃
〃Such exhibitions of uncalled…for lavishness are merely the signs of
an ill…regulated and inordinate vanity；〃 remarked a Mandarin of the
eighth grade； who chanced to be passing； and who stopped to listen to
Kai Lung's words。 〃Nevertheless； it is not fitting that a collection
of decaying hovels； which Wu…whei assuredly is； should； in however
small a detail； appear to rise above Shan…Tzu； so that if the
versatile and unassuming Kai Lung will again honour this assembly by
allowing his well…constructed bowl to pass freely to and fro； this
obscure and otherwise entirely superfluous individual will make it his
especial care that the brass of Wu…whei shall be answered with solid
copper； and its debased pewter with doubly refined silver。〃
With these encouraging words the very opportune Mandarin of the eighth
grade himself followed the story…teller's collecting…bowl； observing
closely what each person contributed； so that； although he gave
nothing from his own store； Kai Lung had never before received so
honourable an amount。
〃O illustrious Kai Lung；〃 exclaimed a very industrious and ill…clad
herb…gatherer； who； in spite of his poverty； could not refrain from
mingling with listeners whenever the story…teller appeared in Shan
Tzu； 〃a single piece of brass money is to this person more than a
block of solid gold to many of Wu…whei； yet he has twice made the
customary offering； once freely； once because a courteous and
pure…minded individual who possesses certain written papers of his
connected with the repayment of some few taels walked behind the bowl
and engaged his eyes with an unmistakable and very significant glance。
This fact emboldens him to make the following petition： that in place
of the not altogether unknown story of Yung Chang which had been
announced the proficient and nimble…minded Kai Lung will entice our
attention with the history of the Mandarin Chan Hung； to which
reference has already been made。〃
〃The occasion is undoubtedly one which calls for recognition to an
unusual degree；〃 replied Kai Lung with extreme affability。 〃To that
end this person will accordingly narrate the story which has been
suggested； notwithstanding the fact that it has been specially
prepared for the ears of the sublime Emperor； who is at this moment
awaiting this unseemly one's arrival in Peking with every mark of
ill…restrained impatience； tempered only by his expectation of being
the first to hear the story of the well…meaning but somewhat premature
Chan Hung。
〃The Mandarin in question lived during the reign of the accomplished
Emperor Tsint…Sin； his Yamen being at Fow Hou； in the Province of
Shan…Tung； of which place he was consequently the chief official。 In
his conscientious desire to administer a pure and beneficent rule； he
not infrequently made himself a very prominent object for public
disregard； especially by his attempts to introduce untried things；
when from time to time such matters arose within his mind and seemed
to promise agreeable and remunerative results。 In this manner it came
about that the streets of Fow Hou were covered with large flat stones；
to the great inconvenience of those persons who had； from a very
remote period； been in the habit of passing the night on the soft clay
which at all seasons of the year afforded a pleasant and efficient
resting…place。 Nevertheless； in certain matters his engaging efforts
were attended by an obvious success。 Having noticed that misfortunes
and losses are much less keenly felt when they immediately follow in
the steps of an earlier evil； the benevolent and humane…minded Chan
Hung devised an ingenious method of lightening the burden of a
necessary taxation by arranging that those persons who were the most
heavily involved should be made the victims of an attack and robbery
on the night before the matter became due。 By this thoughtful
expedient the unpleasant duty of parting from so many taels was almost
imperceptibly led up to； and when； after the lapse of some slight
period； the first sums of money were secretly returned； with a written
proverb appropriate to the occasion； the public rejoicing of those
who； had the matter been left to its natural course； would still have
been filling the air with bitter and unendurable lamentations； plainly
testified to the inspired wisdom of the enlightened Mandarin。
〃The well…merited success of this amiable expedient caused the
Mandarin Chan Hung every variety of intelligent emotion； and no day
passed without him devoting a portion of his time to the labour of
discovering other advantages of a similar nature。 Engrossed in deep
and very sublime thought of this order； he chanced upon a certain day
to be journeying through Fow Hou； when he met a person of irregular
intellect； who made an uncertain livelihood by following the
unassuming and charitably…disposed from place to place； chanting in a
loud voice set verses recording their virtues； which he composed in
their honour。 On account of his undoubted infirmities this person was
permitted a greater freedom of speech with those above him than would
have been the case had his condition been merely ordinary； so that
when Chan Hung observed him becoming very grossly amused on his
approach； to such an extent indeed； that he neglected to perform any
of the fitting acts of obeisance； the wise and noble…minded Mandarin
did not in any degree suffer his complacency to be affected； but；
drawing near； addressed him in a calm and dignified manner。
〃'Why； O Ming…hi；' he said； 'do you permit your gravity to be removed
to such an exaggerated degree at the sight of this in no way striking
or exceptional person？ and why； indeed； do you stand in so unbecoming
an attitude in the presence of one who； in spite of his depraved
inferiority； is unquestionably your official superior； and could；
without any hesitation； condemn you to the tortures or even to
bowstringing on the spot？'
〃'Mandarin；' exclaimed Ming…hi； stepping up to Chan Hung； and； without
any hesitation； pressing the gilt button which adorned the official's
body garment； accompanying the action by a continuous muffled noise
which suggested the repeated striking of a hidden bell； 'you wonder
that this person stands erect on your approach； neither rolling his
lowered head repeatedly from side to side； nor tracing circles in the
dust of Fow Hou with his submissive stomach？ Know then； the meaning of
the proverb； 〃Distrust an inordinate appearance of servility。 The
estimable person who retires from your presence walking backwards may
adopt that deferential manner in order to keep concealed the long
double…edged knife with which he had hoped to slay you。〃 The excessive
amusement that seized this offensive person when he beheld your
well…defined figure in the distance arose from his perception of your
internal satisfaction； which is； indeed； unmistakably reflected in
your symmetrical countenance。 For； O Mandarin； in spite of your
honourable endeavours to turn things which are devious into a straight
line； the matters upon which you engage your versatile
intellectlittle as you suspect the factare as grains of the finest
Foo…chow sand in comparison with that which escapes your attention。'
〃'Strange are your words； O Ming…hi； and dark to this person your
meaning；' replied Chan Hung； whose feelings were evenly balanced
between a desire to know what thing he had neglected and a fear that
his dignity might suffer if he were observed to remain long conversing
with a person of Ming…hi's low mental attainments。 'Without delay； and
with an entire absence of lengthy and ornamental forms of speech；
express the omission to which you have made reference； for this person
has an uneasy inside emotion that you are merely endeavouring to
engage his attention to the end that you may make an unseemly and
irrelevant reply； and thereby involve him in an undeserved ridicule。'
〃'Such a device would be the pastime of one of immature years； and
could have no place in this person's habit of conduct；' replied
Ming…hi； with every appearance of a fixed sincerity。 'Moreover； the
matter is one which touches his own welfare closely； and； expressed in
the fashion with the proficient Mandarin has commanded； may be set
forth as follows： By a wise and all…knowing divine system；
