The Translation of Lin Huiyin's Complete Works into Poetry and Drama

Chapter 5 Drama Volume (1)

Mei Zhen and Them (a play in four acts)
Meirui is satisfactory, and snowflakes bloom in the cold.

Remotely pity the water and wind at night, pieces of Tingsha.

——Huang Shanshan's "Title of Plum"

Act One

Introduced characters (according to the order of introduction):
Mrs. Li (widowed) Li Qiong in her 40s
Fourth Miss Li Qiong Daughter Li Wenqi

Mei Zhen Li's girl
promoted servant
Tang Yuanlan, an older international student who came back from abroad
Missy (born by Li's ex-wife, not Li Qiong's daughter) Li Wenjuan
Zhang Aizhu Wenjuan's girlfriend
Huang Zhongwei Studying Historiography A Youth Who Likes Painting
Location: The study shared by the third and fourth misses
Time: During the recent winter vacation
The mothers of these three relatively exquisite wing rooms have already used them as study rooms for the girls (one of the three girls has graduated from college, and the other two are still in the second grade).Although all the utensils in this room are old ones from the study at home and will be arranged for the children on the spot, but I don't know where they are located on the desk, bookshelf, chair, couch, or even the floor. It reveals the atmosphere of the dormitory for young girls.

Now there are only mother and Wen Qi in the room, (Wen Qi is usually called "the fourth child", the third sister Wen Xia, and the eldest sister Wen Juan are not at home).Mom (Li Qiong) obviously doesn't belong in this room!She is so elegant and tidy, sitting upright on a straight-backed chair to read a letter, with a pair of dainty eyeglasses on her face in her 40s.

"Fourth" Wen Qi is lying on the small sofa reading a book, that special curled up posture means that she is the real owner of this place without a doubt!She stared blankly at the book, naturally and sweetly composing a piece of youthful enjoyment with the surrounding air.

It was one afternoon during the winter vacation, and there was still some sun in the room. There was a pot of daffodils, a stove, grapefruits, oranges, half-eaten ones and whole ones.

After reading the letter, the mother stood up and looked around, her eyes resting on the "fourth child" lovingly. After a while, she went to another low couch and checked the various woven fabrics on it. .The fourth child stared at the book in a daze, turned over a few pages, and then went back to read.I didn't notice my mother's actions at all.

In Qiong's new year, you guys don't need to make such a mess in the house! (He lifts up the woven fabric on the low couch and puts it down again)
Qi (raises her head from the sofa and lays down again) It belongs to the elder sister and the third sister, and I can clean it up after a while.

JOAN (smiling lovingly) That's it.Fourth brother, I come in around dinner time, and you still lie down and read a book like this!

Qi (brutally) Maybe! (still reading)

Joan (still smiling helplessly, turned back before going out) Oh, I forgot, the second brother said in his letter that he would live in Tianjin for a day and be home the morning after tomorrow. (Pause) Are you going to treat us the night after tomorrow?
Qi the day after tomorrow?Oh, by the way, the day after tomorrow, (suddenly closing the book on his right chest and getting up slightly) When will the second brother say it will arrive?

Joan said the morning after tomorrow.

Chi that would do--better.In fact, I said it was a treat for him, to make him happy.

Second Brother Qiong said that after half a year of work, he has become a lot more popular, and he even promised that you are too crazy! (Secretly proud of my favorite son)

Qi won't, I found many of his old classmates, and... also invited Cancan.Mom remembers that he likes Cancan a little bit?
Joan, I don't know, who likes whom, who will tell mom about your affairs?Let me tell you, what do you want for a treat, tell me earlier, even if you are unreliable as a servant, Rongsheng is unreliable. Although you are childish, you should be anxious now.

Sister Qi said she took care of it.

Sister Joan?She has never been able to take care of herself, and Tang Yuanlan has come back these few days, their affairs are really a bit... I can come if I can help.

Qi (jumps up from the sofa happily and gratefully, still sitting on the edge of the sofa and looking at Mom) Really?Mother! (coquettishly) Mom, really? (leaving the book aside)
Why doesn't Joan believe it?

Qi letter, letter, mother! (Get up and throw on mother's right shoulder, half push mother to walk a few steps)
Joan (simultaneously) is still acting like a baby at such an age!
Mama Qi, (in a begging tone again) Mama...

Joan (struggled to keep balance by the fourth child) What's the matter?Say it well!

Ki, can we borrow that nice set of tablecloths of yours?
Joan (hesitating) The one with the yellow border?

The piece Qi Daddy bought for you.

Joan (playing at the old fourth face) Thank you for remembering!It's been five years since Dad, so the tablecloth is just a souvenir.Well, I'll lend it to you. (Sentimental to the fourth child) This year's father's birthday, you should buy another flower to honor your father.

Qi (naturally) Well, I’ll buy another box of candy for you, (mom’s tone) No teeth!

Joan (with a sad smile, going out and turning back) There's one more thing I want to tell you.Don't think that Mei is really a girl, that child is very promising, smart and capable, you ask her to help you more... You know that the uncle always picks on the child, and the elder sister often tortures her and fights with her , I really can't say... I sympathize with Mei Zhen very much, but because the elder sister was not born by me, I have a lot of troubles in many places!

Mother Qi is relieved, Meizhen will never be more happy with me.

[Li Qiong gets off, Wen Qi jumps back on the sofa and stretches, and stares blankly at the book again.The small door opened slightly, and Mei Zhen who came in was about nineteen to twenty-one years old. She was plump but not thin, not tall, and she was born delicate and innocent, with lively expressions on her face, especially her pair of bright eyes. People like it.

Mei (turns up the front of the gown's gown, with a pile of peanuts inside, hurriedly) Fourth Miss!Fourth Miss!
Qi (turning the pages of the book, ignoring)...

Mei Li Wenqi!
Qi (turning her face) Mei Zhen!What's the fuss about?
Mei, I—— (panting) I was playing cards at Mrs. Chen's place, and I won a lot of groundnuts and a few persimmons! (shakes the persimmon and puts it on the bookshelf)

Hello Qi, you are playing cards again, and when the eldest lady comes back later, I will "sue" you.

Mei (playfully holding the front of her skirt and going to the sofa) You smell the smell of peanuts, you have to report, I will go back to the room and eat alone. (to go)

Qi hei, don't go, don't go, sit here and peel it for me to eat. (still have to read the book)

Mei nerds will really enjoy themselves!You have to give me a little more money to gamble, and I want to roll the "dice" later. ... The old aunt of the Chen family is here, and the Chinese New Year is very lively.

Qi is a bad girl, you have to learn all the bad things to be happy, who is as old as the opposite Chen family...

May (laughs happily) Who is as uplifting as you ladies? (Pulls a small stool and sits down) Anyway, people think that there is no good girl. Didn't the old man call me bad at the dinner table yesterday?If I don't learn some bad things earlier, it will be inconvenient for others! (peeled peanuts)

Qimeizhen, your mouth is too fast, no wonder Missy doesn't like you! (still reading)
Mei (hands peanuts to Wen Qi's mouth) These two days, the eldest lady has been unhappy, but it has worn me to death!I didn't dare to make a sound, because I was afraid that the eldest lady would tell the old man again if she heard it, and make your mother difficult.

Qi (puts down the book and sits up a little) By the way, my eldest sister is really unhappy these two days!Tell me, Mei Zhen, brother Tang Jiayuan has a weird temper, isn't he weird? ...I see that the eldest sister seems to be very disappointed with him (stretches out her hand and asks Mei Zhen for peanuts)...Give me two and I will peel them myself...The eldest sister is a person with the greatest vanity...(Eating peanuts, Mei Zhen bows her head Also peeling peanuts) Brother Tang Jiayuan doesn't seem to care about anything... (eating peanuts again)... After all, I didn't figure out whether Brother Yuan and his eldest sister were already engaged at the time, and the two of them have been awkward for a while Go!I count that Brother Yuan has been abroad for six years, who knows if he has anyone! (Pause) You know about the eldest sister, her little Yan has been making a fuss for a while, and now Xiao Lu is chasing her all the time!I am so puzzled!

Mei, I remember that the eldest lady and Mr. Tang didn't seem to be officially engaged, but it was about it. You know those methods were weird at the time... (eating peanuts) Oh, I remember, it was Mr. Tang's aunt at first —— Mrs. Aunt Liu—come to talk to the eldest lady. At that time, Mr. Tang left by himself.Aunt Liu said it was okay, she was the one to decide the matter, (playfully chewing peanuts) Later, Aunt Liu probably knew that she couldn’t make the decision, so she didn’t bring it up again, but your uncle’s temper, so he insisted this thing...

Qi Now I think they are really awkward, the eldest sister is not happy, Tang Jiayuan's quietness is even more confusing!

Mei, why are you worrying about other people's many things?
Qi (amusingly) I'm not worried about my eldest sister, I just feel a little awkward!

Marriage, Mei, is somehow always awkward!
Not so for Kina.

Mei (contemplative and speechless, still eating peanuts) I hope you don't feel awkward tomorrow.

Qi (stands up and goes to the stove to look at the torch and throws the peanut skins into it) You see, Zhang Aizhu, my elder sister's good friend, is not special, and she has spent the past few days wriggling around here, asking about my second brother!
Mei (still holding her skirt and standing up too) Let her inquire!Her eyes are squinted and twisted!
Qi (pointing to Mei Zhen with chopsticks) You're being naughty again! (Suddenly puts down the fire chopsticks and walks over to the small round table) Mei Zhen, I have something serious to discuss with you.

Mei Ke is amazing, what's the matter?Don't be your lifelong event, right? (Pour the peanuts from the lapel on the table)
Qi don’t make trouble, listen, (sitting on the edge of the chair and shaking her two dangling feet. Mei Zhen sits on a chair opposite and listens) The day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, aren’t we a treat? ...cough cough...bad? (jumps down and walks towards the desk) Have you sent out all the invitations for us?The day before yesterday I saw that there were quite a few invitations that hadn’t been sent, (flicking through the drawer in a panic) Oops, where have all the invitations gone?

Mei (casually) Didn't Missy say that I don't want to take care of it?

Qi (closes the drawer loudly) Oh no, no, you should know, Missy's words are not reliable!She said you don't want to take care of it, but she doesn't necessarily remember to take care of it herself! (Turns through another drawer) She said...

Mei (secretly laughing) Come on, come on, don't worry, we girls have already thought of this level, even if the eldest lady loses her temper, we can't get her affairs wrong!It was sent out the night before.Many missing addresses have also been filled in. Do you think I am qualified enough to be a secretary?
Qi (returning to the sofa with a sigh of relief) Mei Zhen, you really "can"!If I am promising tomorrow, you will be my secretary!

How can you be successful, Mei?I will listen to it.

Qi I want to write a novel.

Mei (smiling) Maybe I'll write too!
Qi (also laughing) Maybe! (Suddenly becomes serious) But Mei Zhen, if you want to write, you need to study more and work harder now!

Mei, you are right!I want to read more books, and I don't have the mood to do things. Do you think the eldest lady promises to me?
Chi night...

See you tonight!it is good!Can you get up in the morning?We don't have any Saturdays or Sundays! ...

Qi, I discussed with my mother to give you a holiday on Saturday and Sunday...

Come on, May, when your sisters come home on Saturday and Sunday, and then invite four or five guests who can eat and make trouble, or if you are busy dressing up and going out, what holiday do I have?If you want to give it to me, just give me worship, like Zhongyuan Company...

Qi, well, I will speak for you tomorrow, and now I will ask you something serious...

May good guy.Seriously, you haven't said it for a long time?

Qi did not! ... You see, we have a treat the day after tomorrow, and we have nothing prepared!
Mei "our" treat?I am not so lucky!
Look at Qimei!You are good in everything, but sometimes the sourness is not good. Let me tell you, people should not be sour. If a good person is sour, it will be meaningless... I also know that you are embarrassed...

As long as you know Mei, just let me be sour and stinky!
Qi, but you can't be too courageous, you have to hope for the best, don't be discouraged.You know that acid means admitting failure on the one hand and resisting on the other hand, but resisting or not resisting... How boring do you think!
May Well, I remember your words of wisdom for the future novelist.But you forgot that there is also a kind of acid in the world, which is originally a kind of jealousy fermented into such a smell-but I won't talk about it. ...

Qi don't say it.look back...

May is good.I won't say it, but now I'll tell you the truth, I've thought about the treat a long time ago! ...

Qi, I knew you must have some evil ideas...

Mei, look at other people's kindness, you call it a ghost idea!In fact, I don't care about your business!Don't tell me again, what is a girl's job?

Who cares?I seriously advise you to forget about this girl and not being a girl, (seeing Mei Zhen pursing her lips and sneering) you——you should just do it here...be a friend...

May friend?whose friend?
Qi helped...

May helped?Why help?
Qi's distant relative... a distant relative...

Come on, Mei, don't come up with a nice name for me, and you'll crush your precious little head later!A girl is a girl, there is no way to deal with this unlucky thing, and no one can do anything with good intentions, unless...unless one day I will leave and not be at your house!Stop talking, let's talk about your treat.

Qi's treat, you made me forget all about the treat!
Look, May, your sympathy doesn't go there either, does it?Just say a few words, even if you mess with your serious business, what a delicate lady!

Qi, your mouth is like a sharp knife!

May I'm sorry, I forgot your words again.What are you talking about?Don't you say, Mei, why don't you be so sour if you have the courage?

Rong Shengjin, Rong Sheng is about 40 years old northern servant, although there is nothing special about his appearance, but he looks a little funny.

Fourth Miss Rong's phone call...Mr. Huang Zhongwei, what kind of painting meeting did you call? I can't believe it. Mr. Huang only said that Miss Fourth knew...

Qi (laughs) Come on, I know, I know. (Turns around) Where are the earphones? Where did the earphones go?

Mei ran away with headphones again!Anything that you forgot where you put it is considered to have escaped!The phone book and earphones all have such long legs? (Also got up and looked around)

Rongsheng found the earphones from the bookshelf beside the table and handed them to Miss Fourth, and then he took them out.

Qi (answers the phone) Hey, hey, (angrily) Rongsheng!You hang up the phone!I can't hear you here!Hello, Zhongwei?What's up?

Miss Mei Si, let me go out so that you can make a call...

Qi (turning on the phone) Mei Zhen, Mei Zhen, don't go, it's about the treat, (waves hurriedly) Don't go!Hello, hello, what?Oh, oh, are you coming? ...I'm very busy here, you don't know!scare?I can't hear you, come on!scare?well……

Mei smiled and returned to the table, took a piece of paper and a pencil, sat on the chair, and wrote while thinking.

Qi (continuing on the phone) Okay, see you later. (unplug the phone, take the earphones to the sofa and throw them away)
Mei (looks at Miss Si) wait a minute, the earphones are gone! (Look down and write again)

Qi Where did we talk just now?
Mei talked about... Let me think about it, oh, what is sour and smelly, and then came the sweet... phone call?
Qi (laughs easily and innocently) Stop making trouble, let's talk about the treat.

Oh, Mei, why do you never get to the topic? (hands the list to Wen Qi to read) I have written a list for you, do you like it?I calculated that there are fourteen candle tables in my house, and I also thought about tablecloths...

Qi tablecloth, (looks at the list in hand) Fortunately, you also thought of it, I borrowed it a long time ago!
May, well, well, count yourself as a quick step!I asked you if you are eating enough?

Qi (happily) Enough, enough. (Looking at the list) Hey, this Black Song Cidan vase is wonderful for plum blossoms, Mei Zhen, why do you think so?

Mei, I am two years older than you, so I eat two more bowls of rice! (laughs) I think the living room needs to be moved to leave more space for you to dance. You should ask your wife to tell the master not to ask everyone to be "inappropriate". (Stands up and looks left and right) This room we dress up in a weird, modern, futuristic, (laughs) like in the movies for the guests to rest, smoke, talk or "make love" -, okay ?
Qi this bad girl!
May, I think you can ask your good friend who can draw to help, draw some modern things and hang them up, he will be happy!

(End of this chapter)