the wallet of kai lung-第51节
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even to a more advanced degree； is the certainty that otherwise the
family monuments will be untended； and the temple of domestic virtues
become an early ruin。 This person has submitted the dilemma to the
test of omens； and after considering well the reply； he has decided to
obtain the price of the maiden in a not very honourable manner； which
now presents itself； so that Liao may send out his silk…bound gifts
without delay。'
〃'It is an unalluring alternative；' said Ah…Ping； whose only inside
thought was one of gratification that the exchange money for Ts'ain
would so soon be in his possession； 'yet this person fails to perceive
how you could act otherwise after the decision of the omens。 He now
understands； moreover； that the loss you referred to on his part was
in the nature of a figure of speech； as one makes use of thunderbolts
and delicately…scented flowers to convey ideas of harsh and amiable
passions； and alluded in reality to the forthcoming departure of his
daughter； who is； as you so versatilely suggested； the comfort and
riches of his old age。'
〃'O venerable； but at this moment somewhat obtuse； Ah…Ping；' cried
Quen； with a recurrence to his former method of expressing his
unfeigned agitation； 'is your evenly…balanced mind unable to grasp the
essential fact of how this person's contemplated action will affect
your own celestial condition？ It is a distressing but entirely
unavoidable fact； that if this person acts in the manner which he has
determined upon； he will be condemned to the lowest place of torment
reserved for those who fail at the end of an otherwise pure existence；
and in this he will never have an opportunity of meeting the very much
higher placed Ah…Ping； and of restoring to him the thirty…thousand
taels as agreed upon。'
〃At these ill…destined words； all power of rigidness departed from
Ah…Ping's limbs； and he sank down upon the forbidding earth by Quen's
side。
〃'O most unfortunate one who is now speaking；' he exclaimed； when at
length his guarding spirit deemed it prudent to restore his power of
expressing himself in words； 'happy indeed would have been your lot
had you been content to traffic in ginseng and other commodities of
which you have actual knowledge。 O amiable Quen； this matter must be
in some way arranged without causing you to deviate from the
entrancing paths of your habitual virtue。 Could not the very
reasonable Liao be induced to look favourably upon the attractions of
some low…priced maiden； in which case this not really hard…stomached
person would be willing to advance the necessary amount； until such
time as it could be restored； at a very low and unremunerative rate of
interest？'
〃'This person has observed every variety of practical humility in the
course of his life；' replied Quen with commendable dignity； 'yet he
now finds himself totally unable to overcome an inward repugnance to
the thought of perpetuating his honoured name and race through the
medium of any low…priced maiden。 To this end has he decided。'
〃Those who were well acquainted with Ah…Ping in matters of commerce
did not hesitate to declare that his great wealth had been acquired by
his consistent habit of forming an opinion quickly while others
hesitated。 On the occasion in question he only engaged his mind with
the opposing circumstances for a few moments before he definitely
fixed upon the course which he should pursue。
〃'Quen…Ki…Tong；' he said； with an evident intermingling of many very
conflicting emotions； 'retain to the end this well…merited reputation
for unaffected honourableness which you have so fittingly earned。 Few
in the entire Empire； with powers so versatilely pointing to an
eminent position in any chosen direction； would have been content to
pass their lives in an unremunerative existence devoted to actions of
charity。 Had you selected an entirely different manner of living； this
person has every confidence that he； and many others in Lu…kwo； would
by this time be experiencing a very ignoble poverty。 For this reason
he will make it his most prominent ambition to hasten the realization
of the amiable hopes expressed both by Liao and by Ts'ain； concerning
their future relationship。 In this； indeed； he himself will be more
than exceptionally fortunate should the former one prove to possess
even a portion of the clear…sighted sagaciousness exhibited by his
engaging father。'
〃VERSES COMPOSED BY A MUSICIAN OF LU…KWO； ON THE
OCCASION OF THE WEDDING CEREMONY OF
LIAO AND TS'AIN
〃Bright hued is the morning； the dark clouds have fallen；
At the mere waving of Quen's virtuous hands they melted away。
Happy is Liao in the possession of so accomplished a parent；
Happy also is Quen to have so discriminating a son。
〃The two persons in question sit； side by side； upon an
embroidered couch；
Listening to the well…expressed compliments of those who pass
to and fro。
From time to time their eyes meet； and glances of a very
significant amusement pass between them；
Can it be that on so ceremonious an occasion they are
recalling events of a gravity…removing nature？
〃The gentle and rainbow…like Ts'ain has already arrived；
With the graceful motion of a silver carp gliding through a
screen of rushes； she moves among those who are assembled。
On the brow of her somewhat contentious father there rests the
shadow of an ill…repressed sorrow；
Doubtless the frequently…misjudged Ah…Ping is thinking of his
lonely hearth； now that he is for ever parted from that
which he holds most precious。
〃In the most commodious chamber of the house the elegant
wedding…gifts are conspicuously displayed； let us stand
beside the one which we have contributed； and point out
its excellence to those who pass by。
Surely the time cannot be far distant when the sound of many
gongs will announce that the very desirable repast is at
length to be partaken of。
CHAPTER VIII
THE VISION OF YIN； THE SON OF YAT HUANG
When Yin； the son of Yat Huang； had passed beyond the years assigned
to the pursuit of boyhood； he was placed in the care of the hunchback
Quang； so that he might be fully instructed in the management of the
various weapons used in warfare； and also in the art of stratagem； by
which a skilful leader is often enabled to conquer when opposed to an
otherwise overwhelming multitude。 In all these accomplishments Quang
excelled to an exceptional degree； for although unprepossessing in
appearance he united matchless strength to an untiring subtlety。 No
other person in the entire Province of Kiang…si could hurl a javelin
so unerringly while uttering sounds of terrifying menace； or could
cause his sword to revolve around him so rapidly； while his face
looked out from the glittering circles with an expression of
ill…intentioned malignity that never failed to inspire his adversary
with irrepressible emotions of alarm。 No other person could so
successfully feign to be devoid of life for almost any length of time；
or by his manner of behaving create the fixed impression that he was
one of insufficient understanding； and therefore harmless。 It was for
these reasons that Quang was chosen as the instructor of Yin by Yat
Huang； who； without possessing any official degree； was a person to
whom marks of obeisance were paid not only within his own town； but
for a distance of many li around it。
At length the time arrived when Yin would in the ordinary course of
events pass from the instructorship of Quang in order to devote
himself to the commerce in which his father was engaged； and from time
to time the unavoidable thought arose persistently within his mind
that although Yat Huang doubtless knew better than he did what the
circumstances of the future required； yet his manner of life for the
past years was not such that he could contemplate engaging in the
occupation of buying and selling porcelain clay with feelings of an
overwhelming interest。 Quang； however； maintained with every
manifestation of inspired assurance that Yat Huang was to be commended
down to the smallest detail； inasmuch as proficiency in the use of
bo
