《On The Same Days》橄榄树

9、 16th July Tuesday 2002 Shenyang

　　Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding
　　(Even a monkey wears a golden ring; it still remains an ugly thing)

　　Ling sat next to the aunt of Roc in the bus to the hospital where Roc worked. The aunt came to Shenyang for some medical check last evening from a small town from far away. Roc made appointment for the aunt at 11:30 in the morning. Since all the rest had to work today, Ling was the only one who was free to take Roc’s aunt to the hospital.

　　Ling was actually quite tired. She corrected her student’s homework till 11 pm last night because she had a date today with Fan. Apart from that, she had to sort something out with Jane’s father. She seldom went to bed that late. But this aunt of Roc who shared the room with Ling was awake talking about her daughter, sons and grandsons till 12 pm as well as asking all kinds of questions over Ling and her sisters. Ling didn’t want to be impolite to a senior generation, she tried to listen and answer till she fell into asleep.

　　Then the aunt got up extremely early this morning, started to clean the kitchen and balcony, so Tiffany, Roc and Ling thought maybe she was not pleased with their not too tidy house, they asked the aunt to leave them the cleaning work, they would do it after work today, but she wouldn’t stop and insisted that they must go on sleep, she would just finish it for them in no time, after all a family needed some tidy hands, since she happened to be here, she would just do something, the aunt said.
　　But she was a guest somehow, so they wouldn’t let her to do the cleaning alone. So they all got up too and cleaned the whole house before breakfast time, which was and would remain a historical record.

　　Then the aunt went to the kitchen, wanted to cook them breakfast, because there weren’t really much stock in the fridge, Tiffany told the aunt to wait for a few minutes for her to buy something from morning market, but the aunt insisted to go, they wouldn’t let the aunt spending her money being a guest here, so they pushed money forward and backward for another while, finally they let the aunt go with her own money, they thought she might prefer some special dumplings, so she better chose it herself.
　　The aunt was back with loads different dumplings, even some fried chicken, and a dozen of different kinds of vegetables, they thought maybe she is a big eater at breakfast and she wanted to eat those things which she might not have at home, so they cooked up to 5 dishes just for breakfast, but she only ate two dumplings and a bite of each dish, but kept filling other’s bowls, it seemed like she specially came to save some refugees who hadn’t had breakfast for ages.

　　Now the aunt was talking about garbage, in the bus, on the street, people’s manner getting so low they throw garbage bags everywhere for their own convenience, with serious worry in her eyes. Ling was actually very sleepy, she tried to look at the aunt’s very thin lips, it is impolite to look into senior people’s eyes, opened and closed, opened again; Ling felt her head was swollen like a balloon full of garbage.

　　Ling became a bit awake after handed the aunt over to Roc, Bamboo and Deng were also waiting for their appointments; Ling didn’t spend much time with them together these days. They were too busy for the wedding, it seemed like once you had publicized that date, then the wedding plan would just walk out of your hands and form a life of its own, different members of both families started to arrange this and that, they had to be both here and there on the same time for signing legal papers or checking new houses.
　　had already taken a dozen photo albums from the best Photo Studio in town. Bamboo was amazing in those wedding dresses. Even the unstylish Deng looked quite handsome in those dark or white suits. Health examination was required by law before marriage, more or less a procedure, who would choose to get ill right before marriage except a nerve break down, which was undetectable.

　　Ling didn’t stay with them for long. Hospitals aren’t really any proper place to chat at all. You just couldn’t believe how come that there are so many people in all these hospitals. Crowed like markets, peddlers really came in as well, selling soups or sending out leaflets. Different kinds of patients settled in those waiting seats, some with broken arms or legs, some with real yellow faces, some trembling for no reasons, families of these patients flocked outside of different service windows, fighting to get appointments with doctors, fighting to see the doctors, fighting to get their prescription priced, fighting to pay, fighting to get their medicines… Faces behind each window were professional and indifferent, they must have seen too many emergencies covered with blood, too many came in on stretchers, went out in boxes.

　　Yet Ling knew she was not fair. She never saw Tiffany and Roc as indifferent. The pair were both studying and working like hell to become doctors. For a higher salary, better recognition.
　　It seemed her two sisters were all very well aware of where were they going, in both directions of career and family. Though Bamboo’s job is not pleasing her parents much, it was a job of lifetime, in a few years she might be promoted to be some section chief and move in house from the street. They all had plans. But Ling didn’t. She knew she was not going to jump and acting in front of groups of children forever, it was somewhat a girlish job, she might still continue to do it for a few years, but not when she would be up to 30.

　　She hadn’t think about life after 30 much, not that she was afraid of it, she envied very much life of Lily, her aunt had everything of her own, freedom and property. But where would she make enough money to buy herself a house? She wasn’t thrifty person at all, her salary was not low either, but after birthday and wedding gifts each month for friends and colleagues, occasionally dinner outside, regularly doing groceries, she couldn’t eat Tiffany and Roc’s money, their salary were still lower then Ling’s. 300 Yuan monthly allowance to her parents, not that they needed it, but the three of them agreed long ago to pay 15% of their salaries to their parents, Bamboo and Tiffany were also doing the same. She didn’t have too much savings left. She was not even paying for any rent, if she had to move out one day when Tiffany decided to have a baby, she might run into real problems. She rarely thought about this kind of garbage, she tried to shake all of it out of her head; she must be polluted by Roc’s aunt.

　　Now she had to find that father of Jane, she had to know what did happened, she was getting nowhere between the father and the child.
　　She went to the address registered under Jane in her address list of all her students last Tuesday. She found there without calling a taxi. It was a big apartment in a new building called Sunshine garden. She pressed the bell, expecting … the father or the grandparents of Jane to open the door for her, she still wasn’t sure who to believe, but it was Jane who opened the door, that tiny thing was at home alone. Her new babysitter went shopping without her, Jane said.

　　She went in, big living room with a dark sofa, huge screen TV, a computer desk at one corner. Jane showed Ling her bedroom. It was, it was a big luxury to a child, to have a room that big, but it was a bloody ridiculous room for a little girl, a bed with white sheets and blankets, a computer desk, a book shelf, a wardrobe, nothing on the wall, much room were still empty, it was a bloody room for an □□, not a 5 year old.
　　The worst was Jane showed her the dolls, Jane took a box out of her wardrobe, there laid the dolls she talked in class, Ling was about to cry when she saw those dolls, 3 in total, obviously very old, one with broken arm, one’s had no dress any more, one only had a plait at left side of the head. Jane said she used to sleep with them when she was small, she didn’t know how to repair them and she didn’t dare to bring them to class because other children would laugh at them.
　　Ling felt outrageous. The tiny thing had everything yet nothing. She had even a private driver to send her to school, a full time babysitter, but not even one healthy doll.

　　Ling had thousands of questions to ask, but seeing the extra shy, fragile tiny face, she decided to compliment the dolls first. Jane was too sensitive as a child. Ling couldn’t help but want to protect that girl.
　　They went to a few department stores and gift shops, Jane loved those teddy bears, bright colored stationeries, Pokerman stickers and a lot many articles. Finally Ling bought Jane a pillow sized Barbie Jane liked most and two dolls in nice skirts. Jane was so happy. She never asked that many questions in class, never smiled that much, real smile, bright, still shy but without hesitation.

　　Then they went to McDonalds, each ordered a big menu in order to get a free gift. Ling thought it might be time to try, “You are living with your father, Jane?”
　　“Sometimes,” The tiny face stopped shinning.
　　“Sometimes?” Ling felt guilty, but she had to continue.
　　“He seldom visits home.”
　　“You told a story in class that little girl who lives with her grandparents…”
　　“I wish I have any grandparents.”
　　“Do you mind to tell me about your mother? Only if you like to share, Jane,”
　　Jane stopped eating, silent for a minute. Then looked into Ling’s eyes, and asked “Do you also think I am a very bad child?”
　　“Of course not, you are quick to learn, one of the best students I ever had.”
　　“But nobody wants me, I have no mother, I heard they say she was dead, father hates me, he almost never talk to me. No one ever really talks with me, babysitters only want to do their own things and ask me to be quiet, I don’t need them,” Tiny face totally dark under clouds.

　　“I am sorry. Jane, but we all love you. I do, your classmates do, the person who gave you the dolls do. Who gave you the dolls?”
　　“I always had them. I don’t know who gave them to me.”
　　“What do you think if we go to the Wonderland this afternoon?” Ling knew how to cheer the little thing up.
　　“Really?” tiny face shone again. “I have never been there yet.”

　　They spent 3 hours in Wonderland, a big park where children went crazy about those sliding boards, air trolleys, electrical horses and many more.
　　Ling promised she would take Jane out to the zoo some other time soon.

　　But she had to talk to the father first. She could play one day with Jane every now and then, but she was not going to adopt that child, but it was unfair to leave the tiny thing feel bad of herself, Ling really wanted to sort things out.

　　Changed two lines of buses, Ling came to the agreed appointment address, a few blocks away from the city hall, it was a construction site! She couldn’t believe it, checked the street name and house number again, it was correct. And it was 1 pm exactly.
　　Some workers were busying in the air, some on the ground, cranes biting some cement here and vomiting what sands there. One of the workers near Ling lighting himself a cigar staring at Ling and shouting something in some dialect to those in the air, then they all burst into laughter. Ling was truly lost, what kind of black joke was this?

　　“Hi, baby, looking for someone?” the cigar shouted to her.
　　Ling said nothing. She knew better not to talk with any of these construction workers, she read more than enough horrible stories about theses people often getting drunk and fighting against each other because they hated their own lives, and they couldn’t do anything about it, if one hated his own life, you wouldn’t suppose he would do much good to others.

　　The cigar was walking to Ling, another one just coming down from the frames in the air also approaching, out of fear; Ling turned back, and ran.

　　“Stop, Miss Liu!” what a hell, how a bloody worker knew her family name? Ling kept running, she was almost back on the main street.
　　“Wait, don’t you want to talk about Jane?” god, it was the father, Ling stopped, turned back. She could hardly recognize him in a blue dusty working cloth, holding a hamlet.
　　They both frowned at each other with question marked eyes as if the other one was the problem, no speech, they were finding their breaths back.

　　“Sorry, Mr. Lee, I didn’t know you were here,” Ling was a bit embarrassed; “I didn’t know you work here.”

　　“Sometimes I have to work on site. If you can wait for a few minutes in the tea house across street, I will go for a change.” He patted his dusty sleeves.

　　“No problem.” Ling walked to the Tea House.

　　Not many people came to Tea House in the early afternoon; most of the tables in the hall were free. Ling ordered Jasmine tea while waiting, a few minutes later Mr. Lee came in with clean working cloths.

　　“What is exactly your question?” he asked straightforward.
　　“To be exactly your problem,” Answered Ling as direct as he was.
　　“I have loads, you’d better specify.” He was not smiling, but Ling thought she saw a piece of amusement flashed in his eyes.
　　“Let’s be straight then. I am the teacher of your daughter. I care for my students’ well being both in class and at home. Jane is not happy.” Ling failed to find any reaction from his face back into a piece of portrait again.

　　“She has everything. If she is not happy with it, it’s her problem.” Icy cold,

　　“She has everything except what she really needs. I don’t think it is her problem that her father has to blame her for whatever might have happened.” Fire hot,

　　“Which version of the story did she tell you?” Sarcasm,
　　“Her mother died, by giving her birth, you hardly talk to her. She has no friends, no toys, not even a healthy doll.” Still burning, but in control.

　　He frowned again, didn’t quite understand why this little woman got so upset with some doll every time, “She isn’t what she looks like, you’d better take care of her stories. Her mother never died, but dumped her instead.” Gave her a break, he continued, “She somehow inherited her mother’s quality, looks like an angel, but acts as a devil. She was dismissed by her kinder garden because she behaved like a wild beast, she scratched a boy’s face in blood and pulled a string hair out of a girl. I moved house to a new area, planned to send her to a new kinder garden, but she refused to go. She chose to learn English, because her mother used to be an English Interpreter.” He finished calmly like he was just talking about the weather.

　　Ling couldn’t bring a sound out of her wide opened mouth, that tiny girl, shy like a rabbit, scratched a boy in blood, pulled a string hair out of someone, this man was dumped by his wife who was an English Interpreter? “Uh, I am very sorry to hear all that, Mr. Lee, but Jane was in my class for two years, she’s never fought with anybody in class.” She protested.

　　“She was busying at home throw one babysitter out after another, on one could bear her for up to half a year, it wasn’t easy to get in house babysitters, the latest told me she could only find two left shoes and one pair of sock in blue and pink.”

　　“Nice combination, uh, no, sorry,” Ling forced her smile back, but a blue foot and a pink one in two left shoes, one dark shoe one red maybe, “ is the latest babysitter still staying?”

　　“After she’s offered not to worry about shoes and socks for a whole year,” He did have humor.

　　They both remained silent as a nice tea girl in silk cheongsam came to fill their teapot.

　　“Would you try to talk to her? Maybe she will explain you why.” Ling poured him another cup of tea, still tried for her mission.
　　“You must have asked. What did you get?”
　　“I am not her father. Yet I am not giving up on her.”
　　“That was what I said 4 years ago.”
　　“Right, everyone make mistakes once or tw…ice, wait a second, what did you say 4 years ago, the first sentence or the second?” She must have misunderstood something crazy here.

　　Before he could say anything, Ling saw someone familiar coming in the Tea House. Lily, of course Lily, she worked in the city hall.
　　“Ling?” Lily never saw Ling in the Tea House before, with some building worker? Then she saw his face as he turned, both Lily and Mr. Lee stunned for a second, “Jun?” Shenyang is really getting small, Lily concluded.

　　“You know each other?” asked both Ling and Lee at the same time.
　　“Yes, Ling is my niece,” she became the first introducing the two to each other’s first names, “Jun is my …uh, acquaintance.”

　　“He is a father of my student.” Ling explains to Lily’s question marked eyes.

　　“As a matter of fact I have to be back on site again.” He stood up; stoke his hands out first time for a shake. After he returned Ling’s hand had she realized, “but I am not ready with you yet?”

　　“You have a better story teller now.” Ling noticed sarcasm from his voice, he was already at the reception, paying the bill, and gone in a second.

　　“What are you doing here with a father of your student?” Lily took Lee’s chair.
　　“To sort out if he is the father of my student.”
　　Lily didn’t laugh, so it was not a joke? “Lily, tell me everything.” Ling felt her head is growing bigger and bigger, she didn’t sort anything out so far.
　　“Not today, Ling, another time I promise, I am meeting someone here in 2 minutes.”
　　“I will call you tonight then,” curiosity would kill Ling, “Or maybe I’ll just come over to your place?”
　　“Fine, Miss Liu, I am not going to vanish today, you will get your story, see you later then.”

　　Out on street, near half past 2, Ling was far too early for her date with Fan, but she won’t go all the way back home then out again, she’d spend the whole afternoon in buses then.

　　So she decided to go window-shopping, maybe she’d get some idea for a proper gift for Bamboo’s wedding. 3 hours later she loaded her bag with cartoon greeting cards and stickers of the favorite children series “1+1≠2”, she had to make her lectures really attractive for the children who sacrificed their summer vacation for □□.

　　She met Fan at cultural square. They strolled around, Ling almost tripped to fall by a kite rope, a little girl apologized she couldn’t fly kites well yet. Many kites were flying in the sky. Ling had no idea anymore when did she last sent any kite to sky.
　　“What would you like to fly, butterfly or eagle?” Fan smiled at her, noticing she was more interested in those flying cartoons than him.
　　“Sorry, what did you say?” Ling was seldom so inattentive.
　　“I was asking what kite would your prefer to fly, maybe we can do it next time?” Fan liked Ling’s character, a bit childish, but far better than those girls who only talk about cosmetics and clothes. Fan had met a few set ups before just to have an easy life with his parents. He couldn’t bear their sighs, their attitude of deep disappointment as if he was completely hopeless, if he refuse their proposal of set ups, his father would shout, his mother would cry, they both would say none of his sisters ever created so many problems as he did. God knows he just hadn’t met a girl of his life yet, that was all. He wasn’t anti-marriage or something.

　　“That will be great,” Ling felt her own eyes shinning, “a big dragonfly maybe, I haven’t fly a kite for ages, how did I lost my childhood?”
　　“To your children probably”, Fan heard a lot about her groups already.
　　“Talk about my children, would you mind if I bring a poor tiny girl with me to fly kites together?” Ling looked at Fan with pleading, knowing most of the boys would get annoyed if his date would bring a child of someone else’ with her.
　　“One of your student? It is no problem for me, but I don’t think it a very good idea to mix your personal life with work together, you may have too many children to worry about instead of your own.” He was half joking.
　　“Fan! By the time I have my own children; I will quit job to be a full time private teacher of himself.” Ling got red cheeks, “This little girl has no mother, hardly a father. My lecture is so far her only social life.”
　　“What does hardly a father mean?” Fan frowned.
　　“I wish I know, but I met her father a while ago at his construction site, I couldn’t get a complete story out of him, he spends much more time in fathering cements than his daughter.” She really wanted to go to Lily right now.
　　“Which construction site?”
　　“The one behind the city hall,”
　　“That is our project, what is the father’s name?”
　　“Uh, Mr. Lee, Jun Lee actually, do you know him too?” Ling stared at Fan open mouthed, why it always seemed that everybody else knew much more about someone or something she should.

　　Fan stared her back open mouthed too, “Are you sure he is a father? I worked for him almost two years now, I never know he is ever married, he is the manager of Sunshine Construction, and our best architecture.”
　　“Aha, so he kept his daughter underground?” her anger started to rise again.
　　“That is not what I mean, it just, I have never seen him appear with a wife or a child in any occasion, but, of course he may have a daughter.” He explained eagerly, his date sounded very pissed off with his boss.
　　“So you won’t be able to tell me any inside stories of his family, I suppose?”
　　“I am afraid not, I can load you up with his projects and working dilemmas if you want to hear.”
　　“No, thanks, I don’t care how many bugs he make, but I have to find out what happened with his daughter and what is he going to do about it. As a matter of fact, my aunt may know something about it, which is why I must go and see her tonight. Sorry for the dinner, maybe we reserve it for next time together with your little boss?”
　　“I am afraid of bribery; you know how serious those anti-corruption officers are.” He laughed. Seemed like his date was no less a workaholic then his boss is.
　　“Aha, the only thing you need to do is to buy 10 more kites for those officers, you may even get some prize for extraordinary contribution for a big case.” Ling joked back.

　　“Start from Chapter one”, Later on in Lily’s apartment, they opened Ling’s bribery, a few boxes of takeaway from the restaurant around Lilly’s corner.
　　“1+1≠2?”
　　“Lily, I will start to call you ancient aunt if you dare to fake memory loss.”
　　“Don’t you think…”
　　“I am mixing up work and my private life?” Ling cut Lily short, why did everybody keep telling her this, how could anybody separate his work from his life? How come even normal care for a student from a teacher became such a fuss? No wonder one needed courage to give his seat for elder in a bus nowadays, you might be accused of showing off your good manner… “Lily, I only just don’t want to be a bad teacher, I do it for my own good. I hate to feel guilty by betraying their pure trust when I know something is wrong.”

　　“I can’t believe you are 23 already Ling, I mean, still remains unpolluted in your own world of white without black. That is why I don’t really want to tell you the story which may confuse your vision of the 1+1=2 world.” Lily paused, Ling waited for her to continue.

　　“10 years ago, I was just about you age, some of my ancient aunts introduced Jun to me through a set up.” Ling’s jaw dropped down at those words, Lily couldn’t be the mother?
　　“No, I am not”, Lily saw Ling’s surprise. “I just started my work in the city hall after graduation, running errands to be exactly, Jun had his apprenticeship in Sunshine Construction, we met up each other every now and then for nearly two years, we almost believed that we would just get married one day. There were no electricity between us or whatever, but we don’t dislike each other, actually we can talk quite well, which to us was a good enough reason for a marriage. We were all very busy at work, especially him, he wouldn’t propose till he’d get everything ready, at least a house.
　　They were almost ready with a house when his father passed away, his mother died when he was a child. According to tradition, he shouldn’t marry within one year after his father’s funeral. So we went on as regular friends. None of us care one year or another, but things changed in the next year, another girl joined city hall and became one of my best friends. She was an English interpreter, assigned from another province. She was a tiny pale thing, so beautiful and vulnerable that everyone wanted to protect her. The regular meeting of us two become us three, I was so proud that Jun behaved like a nice big brother to her, I didn’t think about anything else. I was still simple minded as you are.”
　　Lily gave herself another pause, sipped her tea and filled both of their teacups full. Ling almost got the story according to those soaps series on TV, but where was that tiny mother now?

　　“Yes, you got it right, regular meeting became us two again from us three, I was dumped. They became us. Friends became enemy. I never talked to any of them any more.
　　After those rumors about an office affair of Jones, her name, with one of our senior officials started, honestly I didn’t quite believe it, in those days if you happened to fall into a man’s arm per accident, you had an affair. I knew Jun never believed it either. Because they got married after he bought a small house. One year later, they had a daughter. Another year later, Jones went away with an American Engineer from Sunshine Construction.
　　I got a letter from her saying how sorry she was, and the office rumor was somewhat true because she dared not to say no to that senior official for fear to lose her job, that she didn’t meant to cheat either me or Jun, she had to get married when she found herself pregnant. She said she wouldn’t mind if Jun sends the daughter to a orphanage or whatever, she never wanted the child, she couldn’t live under the threat of that senior official either, she had to leave all these behind and go to start her new life in another country.” Lily stopped.
　　Ling couldn’t manage a word. She felt the fried chicken roaring in her stomach, she ran to the toilet and thrown. It’s not that Ling never heard of this kind of story, but never anyone related with her real life, it was sick.
　　“See, that is why I didn’t want you to know. More tea?” Lily offered after Ling settle herself back in sofa again.
　　“Who is the senior official?” Ling’s first question came through clenched teeth.
　　“You will never be qualified to work in any state owned organization. That is a professional secret, I wouldn’t tell you to risk my job.” Lily half joked,
　　“Don’t you tell me he is still working in your city hall, pawing new graduated girls around?” Ling’s eyes almost fell out.
　　“Easy, easy, he is not here anymore, he was a bit scared when Jones went away, he moved to south China.”
　　“Still working in city halls?”
　　“I have no idea, probably yes, probably already retired, probably already died of his cancer, he wasn’t young.”
　　“What the hell is this world are we living in? Lily? Why can’t any of you who are well aware of the truth send the old shit to justice?” Ling was still furious.
　　“Dear, who is justice? Every senior official has some kind of an uncle in Beijing. Besides, the truth is not always black and white. That senior official had done quite some good things for Shenyang.”
　　“Lily, I am so happy that I am working with these children, together with a group of young people, though they play games behind each other’s back sometimes too, but far more simpler than that world of yours. Now back to family Lee, have you ever contacted Jun or Jane then after Jones went away?”
　　“Not really, while Shenyang is not such a big city, I saw him a few times on governmental occasions, but we never talked, he probably thought that I have slept around half of the senior officials already to survive my job for so many years in the city hall. Why would I be the first to open a conversation with such a stubborn fool?”
　　“You did this afternoon. Besides, he is also a victim. God, you are all victims. Jane too, have you ever seen her?”
　　“No, I didn’t know he kept that girl till this afternoon, I could never do that after I knew the truth; he is still a man with all his principles.”
　　“At least he seems to be a qualified father to my student now as he didn’t dump her into an orphanage.” But what could she do to help now? Ling frowned to herself, then suddenly,
　　“Lily?!”
　　“What?”
　　“Would you mind, if I re-set you up with Jun for another time? Do you still like him? I mean, I little bit?” Ling stared at her aunt hopefully.
　　“How did I get myself such a selfish niece who sells her aunt for her own unsolvable problems?” Lily couldn’t believe her ears, “It is no family reunions. We never even loved each other. He made me lose a whole lot of face. Then he lost his own. I didn’t send him any letter of congratulations when Jones left him, he should be happy with that already.”

　　“But she is the manager of Sunshine Construction now, and you are the head of your section, you are still such a good match.”
　　“ It is late, you should either go home or sleep in sofa here, promise to keep your mouth shut for whatever I said tonight and never start this conversation with me again.” Lily was serious now.
　　“Ok, I see. I had no ears today. See you maybe next week.” With a head full of paste, Ling went back.

　　阿川的中文翻译：

　　2002年七月16日，周二，沈阳

　　穿金戴银，不改猴相

　　开往Roc所在医院的公车上，玲挨着Roc的阿姨坐着。这位阿姨昨晚从遥远的小镇来到沈阳，要做些健康检查。Roc给阿姨安排了早上11：30做。今天其他人都要工作，于是玲成了唯一有时间领阿姨去医院的人选。

　　其实玲挺累的。因为今天约了帆，另外还得跟Jane的父亲探讨点儿事儿，昨晚她批改作业直到11点。她很少熬到那么晚才睡觉，可是Roc的这位阿姨住在她房里，一直拖着她聊天聊到12点，说完女儿说儿子，还有孙子，还有关于玲和她的姐姐们的各种问题。对长辈，玲不想表现得不礼貌，她尽量倾听，回答，直到坠入梦乡。

　　然后今天早上这位阿姨一大早就起了床，动手打扫厨房和阳台，这让Tiffany，Roc和玲以为她可能不太满意他们整理得不太整洁的房间，他们请求阿姨把清洁工作留给他们做，今天下班后就做，可是阿姨不停手，坚持让他们自管去睡觉，她没一会功夫就能打扫完，据阿姨说，毕竟每个家庭都需要一双勤劳的手，既然她正好在这儿，那么她很乐意做点儿什么。

　　可她总是客呀，所以大家不能让她独自做清洁，于是全体起床，吃早饭前把整个房子打扫了一遍，估计创下了空前绝后的纪录。

　　然后阿姨进了厨房，想给他们做早饭。冰箱里没存多少东西，Tiffany请阿姨等一会儿，她好去早市买一些，可是阿姨坚持她自己去，他们不想让阿姨做客期间还掏钱买东西，于是大家纷纷掏钱让来让去，又耗时一刻钟，最后他们觉得阿姨可能想吃点儿特殊口味的饺子，那么最好让她自己去选，于是让阿姨带着自己的钱去了。

　　阿姨买回来了各种不同口味的饺子，还有一些炸鸡，一打各式各样的菜肴。大家觉得也许她早饭特别能吃，也许她想吃些在家吃不到的东西，于是烧了5个菜作早饭，可是阿姨就吃了两个饺子，每样菜尝了一口，倒是不停地往别人碗里夹菜，看上去好像是她特意来这儿拯救一群多年没早饭吃的难民。

　　这会儿，阿姨正在大谈垃圾问题，公车上，大街上，大家的公德意识太差了，到处随手乱扔垃圾袋，她的眼里满是忧虑。玲真是困坏了，她努力睁眼看着阿姨的两片薄薄的嘴唇（盯着长辈的眼睛很不礼貌），一张一合，再一张一合，玲觉得自己的脑袋胀得好像一只装满垃圾的气球。

　　把阿姨交给Roc以后，玲稍稍清醒了一点儿，Bamboo和邓也在等着做体检。这些日子玲跟他们呆在一起的时间不多，他们俩为了婚礼忙得不可开交，好像你一旦对外公开结婚的日期，那么如何办婚礼就会步出你的掌控自成一体，两家的各式成员开始安排这安排那，有时甚至他们会在同一时间被要求出现在不同地点，签法律文件，检查新房子等等。

　　他们在市里最好的婚纱照相馆照了成打的婚纱照，穿上婚纱的Bamboo艳光四射，就连平日毫无特色的邓，穿上黑色或白色西装也显得十分英俊。婚前体检是法律要求，或多或少走个过场，除非精神崩溃（也查不出来啊），没有谁会选在婚礼前长病。

　　玲跟他们呆了没多久。医院根本不是什么聊天的好地方。无法相信怎么会有这么多人到医院里来，拥挤得跟自由市场似的，实际上小商贩也真的可以进来，卖汤，或者派发手册。各式各样的病人在候诊区的椅子上安置好了，有断腿断胳膊的，有脸色蜡黄的，有无缘无故抖个不停的，病人的家属拥在各个窗口外，努力争着跟医生约时间，争着先看医生，争着议价，争着付款，争着拿药品。。。窗口后面的职业脸孔对这一切漠不关心，他们已经看过了太多血淋淋的急救场面，见过太多的人站着进来，装在盒子里出去。

　　不过玲知道她有些偏激了。她不认为Tiffany和Roc会漠不关心。这对夫妇都拼了命的学习工作好成为行医医生，以便得到更高的工资，更多的认可。

　　事业也好，家庭也好，似乎两个姐姐都很清楚要往哪儿走。尽管Bamboo的工作远远不能让父母满意，却是一份终生职业，再干几年，她可能会升职成部门主管，就可以进屋不用巡街了。她们都有计划。可是玲没有。她知道自己不能永远在一群孩子面前又蹦又跳，这份工作有些孩子气，她还可以再干几年，可是到了30就不能干了。

　　关于30岁她想的不多，不是因为害怕，她还很羡慕Lily的生活呢，阿姨自己什么都有，自由，财产。可是她去哪儿挣那么多钱自己买房子啊？实际上她不是贪心的人，她的工资也不低，可是每个月给朋友们和同事们买生日和婚礼礼物，偶然在外吃个饭，定期采购家庭用品，她不能靠Tiffany和Roc的钱养活，他们的工资比玲的还要低；每月300元的生活费交给父母，不是因为他们需要这个钱，而是三姐妹很早就达成共识要把工资的15%交给父母，Bamboo和Tiffany同样也在这么做。所有这些做完，她也剩不了多少可以积蓄了。目前她还不用付房租，要是哪天Tiffany决定要个宝宝而她不得不搬出去，她可能就真有财务问题了。她很少考虑这种垃圾问题，她努力把这些从自己的脑子里驱逐出去：她肯定是被Roc的阿姨给带坏了。

　　现在她得找到Jane的父亲，搞清楚发生了什么，在父亲和孩子之间她现在还找不到立足点。

　　她去了上周二课堂上学生名单上登记的Jane的地址，没搭出租车就找到了。在名为阳光花园的新式建筑里，一所大公寓，她按了门铃，等着Jane的父亲或者祖父母来为她开门，她还拿不稳该相信谁，可是Jane来开了门，这个小东西自己呆在家里。据Jane说，她的新保姆去买东西了，没带她。

　　她进了屋，起居室很大，摆着黑色的沙发，电视屏幕很大，电脑桌摆在屋角。Jane领着玲看了她的卧室，对一个孩子来说，拥有那么大的房子，够大够奢华，可是对于一个小女孩来说，这房子确实大得有些荒谬，一张铺着白床单和白毯子blankets的床，一张电脑桌，一个书架，一个衣橱，墙上没挂东西，很大空间都空着，对一个成人来说这房间棒透了，可是对一个5岁孩子来说不是。

　　更糟糕的是Jane给她看的娃娃，Jane从衣橱里拿出一个盒子，里面躺着她在课堂上谈论到的娃娃，看到那些娃娃时玲几乎要哭了，总共三个，一看就很旧了，一个断了胳膊，一个没了衣服，一个只剩了脑袋左边的辫子。 Jane说她小的时候常常抱着她们睡觉，她不知道怎么修好她们，因为害怕其他孩子嘲笑她们，她不敢把她们带到课堂上。

　　玲出离愤怒了。这个小东西拥有一切却又什么也没有。哪怕她有私人司机送她去学校，一个全职保姆，可是她连个健全的娃娃都没有。

　　玲有几千个问题想问，可是看着那张极端羞涩的，脆弱的小脸，她决定先去把娃娃买好。作为一个孩子，Jane太敏感了，玲忍不住想要去保护这个女孩。

　　她们去了几家商场和礼品店，Jane喜欢那些泰迪熊，色彩鲜艳的文具，扑克人物的贴纸和许许多多玩意儿。最后玲给Jane买了最喜欢的枕头大小的芭比娃娃和另外两个穿漂亮裙子的娃娃。Jane那么高兴。她从来没问过那么多问题，从来没笑的那么多，真正的笑，明亮，仍然羞涩可是毫不犹疑。

　　然后她们去了麦当劳，每人点了一大份好得到惠赠的礼品。玲觉得是时候试一试了，“Jane，你跟你父亲一起住？”

　　“有时候，”小脸不再闪亮。

　　“有时候？”玲觉得内疚，可是她不得不继续。

　　“他很少回家。”

　　“你在班上讲了个小女孩和爷爷奶奶住在一起的故事。。。。”
　　“我希望我有爷爷奶奶。

　　”你愿意告诉我你妈妈的事吗？如果你愿意跟我分享的话，Jane。”

　　Jane不吃了，静默了一分钟，然后看着玲的眼睛问“你也觉得我是个坏小孩吗？”

　　“当然不是啦，你学东西很快，算是我教过的好学生中的一个。”

　　“可是没有人想要我，我没有母亲，我听见他们说她死了，父亲恨我，他几乎从来不跟我说话。从来没有人真正的想跟我说话，保姆光想干她们自己的事儿，就让我乖乖的，我不需要她们。”小脸上乌云密布，全变黑了。

　　“我很难过，Jane，不过我们都爱你。我，你的同学们，给你娃娃的人也爱你。谁给了你那些娃娃？”

　　“我从一开始就有那些娃娃。我不知道谁给我的。”

　　“如果我们今天下午去仙境游乐园，你怎么说？”玲很清楚怎么让小东西高兴起来。

　　“真的吗？”小脸又放光了。“我还从来没去过呢。”

　　她们在仙境游乐园呆了3个小时，那是一个大公园，孩子们乐颠颠的玩滑板，空中飞车，旋转木马以及其他许多玩意儿。

　　玲许诺说过不了多久再带Jane去动物园玩。

　　可是她首先必须得跟孩子的父亲谈谈。她可以时不时带Jane出来玩一天，可是她没打算收养这个孩子，让那个小东西自己在那儿自怜自艾又不公平。
　　玲决定弄个水落石出。

　　换了两次公车，玲来到了约好的见面地点，隔市政厅几个街区，是个建筑工地！她以为走错了，又查了查路名和门牌号，没错。正好下午1点。

　　工人们有的在高空，有的在地面，忙忙活活，搅拌机这边吞进水泥，那边吐出混凝土。站在玲附近的一个工人给自己点了支烟，盯着玲看了看，用了某种口音冲高空的人大喊了几句，然后他们哄堂大笑。玲真是不知所措，这是开的什么黑色玩笑？

　　“嘿，宝贝，找谁呀？”抽烟那人冲她喊。

　　玲什么也没说。她知道最好不要跟这些建筑工人讲话，她读过足够多的关于他们的可怕的故事，因为痛恨自己的生活，可是又无力改变，他们经常喝醉，打群架，如果有人痛恨自己的生活，不要指望他能对别人心存善意。

　　抽烟那人朝玲走过来，另一个刚刚从高空的脚手架上下来的人也朝玲靠近，出于恐惧，玲转身就跑。

　　“停一停，刘小姐！”什么状况，怎么一个恐怖的工人知道她的姓？玲接着跑，快要跑到主干道上了。

　　“等等，你不是想要谈谈Jane的事儿吗？” 上帝，是那个父亲，玲停下来，转过身。他穿着一套脏脏的蓝色工作服，手拿安全帽，她几乎认不出他了。

　　他俩眼里写满问号，互相皱眉瞪眼，好像对方才是个麻烦，没说话，俩人都在平复呼吸。

　　“不好意思，李先生，我不知道你在这儿，”玲稍稍尴尬了些，“我不知道你在这儿工作。”

　　“我有时候在工地工作。如果你愿意在对街的茶馆里等几分钟，我可以去换身衣服，” 他拍拍袖子上的灰尘说。（He patted his dusty sleeves.）

　　“没问题。”玲去了茶馆。

　　刚过午，茶馆里没有多少人，大厅里的多数桌子没上客。玲边等边叫了壶茉莉花茶，几分钟后李先生穿着干净的白色工作服走了进来。

　　“你到底有什么问题？”他开门见山就问。

　　“说实话，是你的问题。” 玲跟他一样不客气，直接答回去

　　“我有一把问题，你最好说清楚，” 他没笑，可是玲觉得在他眼里看见一丝好笑的神情闪过。

　　“那么我们就开诚布公。我是你女儿的老师。我关心我的学生们的状况，不管在课堂上还是家里。Jane不快乐。”那张脸又回复成了扑克样，让玲找不到任何反响。

　　“她什么都有。如果这样她还不高兴，那是她的问题。” 冷冰冰的。

　　“她什么都有，就是没有真正需要的。我觉得不管发生过什么事儿，她的父亲怨到她的身上去，那就不是她的问题。” 火嗤嗤的。

　　“她跟你说了哪个版本的故事？” 嘲讽意味十足。

　　“她母亲死了，因为生她，你几乎不跟她讲话。她没有朋友，没有玩具，甚至没有一个完好的布娃娃。” 还是火药味十足，但是控制了一下。

　　他又皱起了眉头，不太明白为什么这个小女人每次都对什么布娃娃这么介怀，“她跟看起来的样子并不一样，你最好小心她的那些故事。她母亲根本没死，只不过抛弃了她。” 停了一下让她消化，接着又说，“她多少遗传了些她母亲的特质，看上去像天使，可是干起事儿来像魔鬼。她被幼儿园开除，因为她跟头小野兽似的，把一个男孩子的脸抓的血淋淋的，还把一个女孩子的头发扯下来一把。我把家搬到新区，打算把她送进新幼儿园，可是她不去。她选择学习英语，因为她母亲过去是个英语口译。”他平静地陈述完毕，口气好像在谈论天气。

　　玲的嘴巴大张，一个音儿也发不出来，那个小女孩，跟小兔一样羞涩，把男孩子的脸抓出血，把别人的头发扯下一把，而这个男人，他的妻子是个英语口译，把他给甩了？“呃，李先生，对于听到的这一切我很抱歉，可是Jane在我的班里两年了，从来没跟任何人发生过冲突。”她不服气地反驳。

　　“她忙着在家往外扔保姆呢，一个接一个，没有一个能容忍她超过半年。找一个住家保姆并不容易，最后一个告诉我她只能找到两只左脚的鞋子，还有一双袜子一直兰一只粉。”

　　“配得挺好，呃，不不，抱歉，” 玲把笑意压了回去，可是，一只脚蓝一只脚粉，穿在同边的左脚里，也许一只黑鞋一只红鞋，“最新一个保姆还在吗？”

　　“跟她提供了一年期限内不用担心鞋子和袜子，还在，”他也有幽默感。

　　他们俩陷入沉默，一个身穿丝绸旗袍，长得不错的女招待过来续满他们的茶壶。

　　“你没试着跟她谈谈？也许她会跟你解释为什么这么做。”玲给他又添满茶，试着继续她的职责。

　　“你肯定问过了，你得到了什么？”

　　“我不是她的父亲。可是我也没打算放弃她。”
　　“这话我4年前说过。”

　　“对啦，每个人都会犯一两次错….. 等等，你4年前说过什么，第一句还是第二句？”在这一点上，她肯定弄错了些什么。

　　他还没来得及说，玲看见有个熟人进了茶馆，Lily，当然是Lily，她在市政厅工作。

　　“玲？”Lily以前从来没在茶馆遇到过玲，跟个建筑工人一起？然后他转过身来，她看见了他的脸，Lily和李先生都愣了一下，“君？”沈阳真是越变越小了，Lily总结道。

　　“你们认识？”玲和李异口同声。

　　“是的，玲是我侄女，”她成了介绍俩人名字的第一人，“君是我的…..呃，熟人。”

　　“他是我一个学生的父亲。”Ｌｉｌｙ满眼疑问，玲解释道。

　　“说实话，我得回工地了，”他站起来，头一次伸出手来跟她握手。等他把玲的手松开，她才反应过来，“可是我还没跟您谈完？”

　　“现在你有一个更好的说故事的了，”玲注意到他语气里略含嘲讽，他已经快速走到前台那儿，付了帐，径自离开。

　　“你在这儿跟一个学生的父亲一起干嘛？”Ｌｉｌｙ　坐到李的椅子上。

　　“来弄清楚他是不是我学生的父亲。”

　　Ｌｉｌｙ没笑，那么说不是玩笑？“Ｌｉｌｙ，告诉我所有的一切。”玲觉得自己的脑袋越来越大，直到现在她什么也没搞清楚。

　　“今天不行，玲，我保证另找时间告诉你，２分钟以后有人来这儿跟我见面。”

　　“那么我今晚给你打电话，”　好奇会杀死玲，“或者也许我就直接去你那儿？”

　　“好吧，刘小姐，我不会今天就消失不见，你可以得到你的故事，那么待会儿见。”

　　出来上了街，快两点半了，跟帆的约会还早着呢，不过玲不想一路跑回家然后再出来，那样她这一下午就全泡在公车上了。

　　于是她决定逛逛店，也许能找到些点子该给Ｂａｍｂｏｏ的婚礼送个什么样的礼物才合适。３个小时后，她的背包里塞满了卡通贺卡和孩子们喜欢的系列贴纸“1+1≠2”，她得把自己的课堂搞得对孩子有吸引力，才对得起他们牺牲暑假时间来“阶梯“上课。

　　她在文化广场跟帆碰了面。他们四处漫步，玲差点儿被一根风筝线绊一跤，一个小女孩抱歉地说她还不太会放风筝。天上有许多风筝在飞，自己上次什么时间放飞的风筝，玲已经没有概念了。

　　“你想放哪种风筝，蝴蝶还是老鹰？”帆注意到了她对这些会飞的卡通图片比自己更感兴趣，笑着问她。

　　“不好意思，你说什么？”玲很少这么心不在焉。

　　“我问你更喜欢哪种风筝，也许下次我们可以放一放？”帆很喜欢玲的性格，有点儿孩子气，可是比那些除了化妆品和衣服之外就没得说的女孩子们好多了。为了跟父母的日子好过些，帆已经相过几次亲了。他受不了父母的叹息，他们绝望的姿态，好像是他彻底没救了似的。如果他拒绝参加他们的相亲会，父亲会大发雷霆，母亲会哭泣，两个人都会控诉说他的姐姐们从来没跟他这样找这么多麻烦。上帝知道，他不过是还没遇到命中注定的女孩儿，如此而已。他又不是失婚一组或是别的什么。

　　“那太好了，”玲觉得自己两眼都放光，“也许可以放个大龙，我好多年没放风筝了，怎么把自己的童年给丢了呢？”

　　“可能丢给你的孩子们了，”帆已经听了不少她的团队的事儿了。
　　“说到我的孩子们，如果我带一个可怜的小女孩儿跟我们一起放风筝，你会不会介意？”玲恳求地看着帆，知道如果带个别人家的孩子一起约会，多数男孩子会不开心。

　　“你的一个学生？我没问题，可是我觉得把个人生活跟工作混为一谈不是个好主意，你可能得操心太多的孩子，就没法操心你自己的了。”他半开玩笑地说。

　　“帆！等我有了自己的孩子，我就辞职当他的全职私人教师。”玲的脸颊变红了，“这个小姑娘没了妈妈，几乎算不上有爸爸。来上我的课是她迄今为止唯一的接触外界的机会。”

　　“几乎算不上有爸爸是什么意思？” 帆皱起了眉头。

　　“我倒希望自己知道，可是刚才我跟她父亲在他的工地见了一面，从他那儿也没弄清来龙去脉，他用来照料水泥的时间比用来照顾女儿的时间多多了。”她真想现在立马去找Lily。

　　“哪个建筑工地？”

　　“市政府旁边那个。”

　　“那是我们的工程，那位父亲叫什么？”

　　“呃，李先生，全名叫李君，你也认识他？”玲盯着帆，嘴巴合不拢，为什么好像总是别的每个人都比她应该知道的多许多呢。

　　帆回盯着她，嘴巴也合不拢，“你确定他做爸爸了？我给他工作差不多2年了，从来不知道他结过婚，他是阳光建筑的经理，也是我们最好的建筑师。”

　　“啊哈，那么说他把他女儿雪藏了？”她的怒火又开始外冒。

　　“我不是这个意思，只不过，我从来没在任何场合看见过他跟妻子或孩子一起出现，可是，他当然可以有个女儿。”他急忙解释，听起来他的约会被他的老板搞砸了。

　　“这么说，我猜你也没法告诉我他的家庭内部事务喽？”

　　“我恐怕是这样，如果你想听，我可以告诉你无数关于他的工程和困境。”

　　“不用，谢谢啦，我不关心他制造了多少麻烦，可是我得弄明白他女儿是怎么回事儿，他要怎么处理这件事儿。实际上，我阿姨可能知道些事儿，所以我今晚要去她那儿看看。很抱歉不能一起吃晚饭，也许我们留着下次一起，跟你的小小老板？”

　　“我害怕犯贿赂罪，你知道，反贪官员可是很认真地。”他大笑着，似乎他的约会工作味儿十足，不比他工作狂的老板差。

　　“哈哈，你能做的就是再去买10个风筝给那些反贪官员，可能你还会被奖励呢，为一个大案子做了无与伦比的贡献。”玲也开起了玩笑。

　　*****

　　“ 从第一章开始，”之后在Lily的公寓里，她们打开了玲的贿赂品 --- 从Lily家附近一个街角的饭店里拿的外卖盒子。

　　“关于1+1≠2?”

　　“Lily，如果你敢假装失忆，从今往后我就叫你老阿姨。”

　　“难道你不觉得你。。。”

　　“工作跟生活混为一谈？”玲截住Lily的话口，怎么每个人都在这么说，有谁能把工作跟生活截然分开吗？怎么一个老师正常关心一下学生就这么大惊小怪？怪不得现如今在公车上给老人让个座也许要勇气，可能有人会指责你太能出风头。。。“Lily，我不过是不想成为一个失职的老师，我给自己做好事儿呢。我不想愧对他们纯真的信赖，知道有件事儿不对却不管。”

　　“我不能相信你已经23了，玲，我意思是说，还保留着你洁白无瑕的世界没被污染。这就是为什么我不太想告诉你这个故事，可能会困扰到你1+1=2的世界。”Lily顿了顿，玲等着她继续。

　　“10年前，我大概跟你一样大，有些老阿姨通过相亲把君介绍给了我。”玲听了这话下巴差点儿掉下来，Lily不会是那个母亲吧？

　　“不，我不是，“Lily看出了玲在惊讶什么。”那时我刚毕业，刚开始在市政府工作，确切的说是打杂，君在阳光建筑公司当学徒，将近俩年时间，我们时不时地见上一面，几乎相信我们有一天会结婚。我们之间没有触电感或是别的那些感觉，可是我们彼此不讨厌，实际上我们可以很痛快地交谈，这对我们足以构成结婚的一个很好的理由。我们工作都忙，特别是他，除非他把一切都准备好了，否则不会求婚，最少也要有套房子。

　　房子什么的准备得差不多了，他父亲却过世了。他孩子时母亲就没了。根据老传统，父亲的葬礼后一年内不能婚嫁，所以我们继续跟朋友一样交往。我俩都不在乎多等一年还是两年，可是第二年事情发生了变化，另一个女孩儿进了市政府成了我的好朋友。她是英语口译，从另一个省分配过来的。她长得娇小又苍白，那么漂亮又那么脆弱，每个人都想要保护她。定期的两人约会变成了三人行，我很骄傲，君对待她就像个好心的大哥哥一样，我一点儿都没有多想。我那时的思想跟你现在有点儿像。”

　　Lily又顿了顿，小口泯着茶水，又把俩人的茶杯续满。看多了电视上的肥皂剧，玲几乎可以猜得出整个故事，可是那个小巧的母亲哪儿去了？

　　“对啦，你猜对了，定期约会又从三人行变成了‘我们’俩，不过我被抛开了，他们成了我们，朋友成了敌人。从那以后我再没跟他们讲过话。

　　这之后，关于Jones，那女人的名字，和一个政府高官的办公室恋情传得沸沸扬扬，说实话，我不太相信，那个年代，哪怕你不小心因为意外撞到一个男人怀里，你就会有事儿。我知道君也不相信。因为他买了所小房子然后结婚了。一年后，他们有了个女儿，又过了一年，Jones跟着阳光建筑的一个美国工程师跑了。

　　我收到了她的一封信，说她很抱歉，那个办公室谣言多少有些真实，因为她不敢对那个高官说不，怕丢了工作，还说她不是故意要骗我和君，她当时发现自己怀孕了，必须得结婚。她说如果君送那个女儿去孤儿院或者其他地方她都不在意，她从来没想要孩子，她也不想生活在那个高官的阴影里，她不得不远离这一切，去另一个国家开始新生活。” Lily说完了。

　　玲找不出一个词儿，她觉得炸鸡在胃里蠕动，跑到洗手间吐了起来。不是玲从来没听过这种故事，可是从来没有一个跟她的真实世界相关，真让人恶心。

　　“看吧，这就是为什么我不想让你知道。再来点儿茶？“玲重新在沙发里安顿好后，Lily说。

　　“那个高官是谁？“玲咬着牙问了第一个问题。

　　“你这辈子都没法胜任任何国有机关的工作。这是职业机密，我不会拿自己的工作来冒险告诉你。“Lily半开玩笑的说。

　　“难道你是说他还在你们市政府工作，到处去骚扰刚毕业的女孩子？“玲的眼珠子快要掉出来了。

　　“放松，放松，他不在这儿了，Jones出走时他也有点儿受惊，他调去了中国南部。“
　　”还在市府工作？“

　　”我不清楚，可能还在，也许已经退休了，也可能已经得癌症死了，他年纪不小了。“

　　“我们生活的到底是个什么样的糟烂世界呀？Lily？你们这些清楚真相的人怎么没哪个能送那老混蛋上法庭吗？“玲还是很愤慨。

　　“亲爱的，谁做法官？每个高官都在北京有这种那种叔伯亲戚。而且，真相不总是黑白分明的。那个高官也给沈阳做过不少好事儿。”

　　“Lily，我真高兴我的工作是跟孩子们呆在一起，跟一帮年轻人一起，尽管有时候他们也在背后彼此搞小动作，可是比起你的世界来都太小儿科啦。现在再谈谈李家，Jones走了以后，你还联系过君或是Jane吗？”

　　“没怎么联系过，沈阳不是很大，我有几次在政府场合见过他，可是我们从来不交谈，也许他觉得我这么多年能保住市府的工作已经跟半数以上的高官睡过觉了，我为什么要先开口跟这么个榆木疙瘩交谈？”

　　“今天下午你先开的口。再说，他也是受害者。上帝，你们都是受害者。Jane也是，你见过她没?”

　　“没见过，今天下午我还不知道他留下了那个女孩儿，知道真相以后我可做不到这一点儿；他还是个男子汉，有他自己的准则。“

　　“至少现在看起来他是个合格的父亲，没把我的学生扔到孤儿院去。“ 不过现在她能帮什么忙呢？玲暗自皱眉，然后忽然地，

　　“Lily？！“

　　”怎么了？“

　　“你介不介意，如果我安排你和君重新相一次亲？你还喜欢他不？我意思是说，还有一点点儿？“玲满怀希望盯着阿姨。

　　”我怎么找了这么个自私的侄女，为了解决自己的问题就把自己的阿姨给卖了？“Lily不敢相信自己的耳朵，“这不是家庭复合。我们甚至没爱过彼此。他让我丢了不少面子。然后他自己也丢了面子。Jones离开他时我没给他送贺信，他已经应该偷着乐啦。”

　　“可是他现在是阳光建筑的经理了，你也是部门头头，你们还是这么般配。”

　　“太晚了，你应该回家睡觉或者在沙发上凑合一夜，你得保证关于今晚我讲的一个字也不对外讲，也别再跟我提起这个话题。” Lily这下很是严肃。

　　“好的，了解。我今晚没带耳朵来。再见，大约得下个星期。”玲满脑子浆糊，回了家。