3.4.6 牛郎回家 Cowboy Returns Home
小龙女（即夏娃，舜王，嫘祖，女娲）来海南岛了，她喜欢一片竹林，住在那片竹林的一栋竹楼里了。孺子牛（即牛郎，杨过）常去。
一段时间后，海南大禹治水的工程项目缺人。牛郎成为了海南省水利局的公务员，被派去修水库了。那个工程项目离家远，牛郎就住在那里了。
Little Dragoness (aka. Eve, King Shun, Lei Ancestor, and Nüwa) came to Hainan Island. She fell in love with a bamboo grove and settled in a bamboo house within it, where Able-Cow (aka. Cowboy, Sin) often visited.
After some time, the Hainan Province Water Conservancy Bureau faced a shortage of workers for the “Yu's Water Treatment” project. Cowboy became a civil servant with the bureau and was assigned to work on a reservoir construction project. Since the project site was far from home, Cowboy took up residence there.
有两次，孺子牛听说黄帝大禹来工地视察了，他也去看了黄帝大禹，但没辨别出来谁是黄帝。这天是七夕节，工地放假了。同事们彼此告别，都议论着回去和家人团聚。牛郎也回家了。
On two occasions, Able-Cow heard that Yellow Creator Big Yu had come to inspect the construction site. He went to see them too but couldn't tell which one was Yellow Creator. That day was the July 7th Day, and the site was closed for the holiday. Colleagues bid each other farewell, chatting about returning home to reunite with their families. Able-Cow also went home.
2
孺子牛回到了舜王住的竹楼，发现门口有很多士兵。他没理会士兵，就径直地向院子里走。士兵们跑过去拦住了他，说： “这里是顺皇（即舜王，小龙女）和禹皇（即黄帝大禹）的行宫，你不能进去！”
牛郎转身离开了。他走几步后，四周看了看，又回来了，继续向院子里走，说：“这是我的家！”
Able-Cow returned to the bamboo house where King Shun resided, only to find numerous soldiers stationed at the entrance. Ignoring them, he strode directly toward the courtyard. The soldiers rushed forward to block his path, declaring, “This is Migration Palace of White-king Shun (aka. Little Dragoness, Nuwa) and Yellow Creator Big Yu. You cannot enter!”
Able-Cow turned and walked away. After taking a few steps, he glanced around, then came back and continued toward the courtyard, saying, “This is my home!”
士兵们大声说：“我们再告诉你一遍：这里是顺皇（即舜王）和禹皇（即大禹）的行宫。如果你再说这里是你的家，我们把你抓起来！”
牛郎不离开，坚持要进竹楼。
The soldiers shouted, “We'll tell you once more: this is the Migration Palace of White-king Shun and White-king Yu. If you claim this is your home again, we'll arrest you!”
Cowboy refused to leave and insisted on entering the bamboo house.
这时顺皇听见了吵闹，出来了，在门口喊：“让他进来吧！”
孺子牛进屋后，发现竹楼里的装饰变了。客厅里就只有一张摆满了菜的饭桌。孺子牛就坐在了顺皇的对面，看见就只有顺皇的面前放着一个碗和一双筷子。他问： “我怎么没有碗？”
顺皇喊佣人说：“给牛郎拿个碗和一双筷子！”
At that moment, Whiteking Shun heard the commotion and came out, calling from the doorway, “Let him in!”
After Able-Cow entered the house, he noticed the bamboo house's decor had changed. The living room contained only a dining table laden with dishes. Able-Cow sat down opposite Whiteking Shun and saw that only a bowl and a pair of chopsticks were placed before her. He asked, “Why don't I have a bowl?”
Whiteking Shun called to a servant, “Bring a bowl and a pair of chopsticks for Cowboy!”
这时，整个客厅里就只有顺皇和孺子牛两个人。忽然，一个佣人出来了，默默地站在了远处厨房门口的一边。忽然，又一个佣人出来了，默默地站在了远处厨房门口的另一边。
孺子牛叨咕：“这么一大桌子菜，就咱俩吃，多浪费呀！”
At that moment, only Whiteking Shun and Able-Cow remained in the entire living room. Suddenly, a servant emerged and stood silently by one side of the distant kitchen doorway. Then another servant appeared and stood silently by the other side of the distant kitchen doorway.
Able-Cow grumbled, “All this food on the table, just for the two of us to eat—what a waste!”
顺皇说：“今天我，娥黄，和女婴在外面溜达的时候，她俩喜欢上了那家的后院。现在她俩在那里玩呢！我怎么叫，她俩也不回来！若不然，你再去招呼她俩回来吃饭！”
牛郎站了起来，问：“她俩在哪儿玩呢？”
顺皇指着旁边说：“就河边那家！你不知道怎么过河，我陪你一起去吧！”
Whiteking Shun said, “Today, when I, Beauty Yellow, and Heroine were out strolling, they took a fancy to that home’s backyard. Now they’re playing there! No matter how I call, they won’t come back! If not, you go call them back for dinner!”
Able-Cow stood up and asked, “Where are they playing?”
Whiteking Shun pointed beside them and said, “At that house by the river! Since you don't know how to cross, I'll accompany you!”
3
顺皇领着孺子牛穿过了一片茂密的竹林，走过了一座简易竹桥，指着前面一家的后院说：“牛郎你看，他们俩在那里玩呢！”
Whiteking Shun led Able-cow through a dense bamboo forest and across a simple bamboo bridge. Pointing to the backyard of a house ahead, she said, "Cowboy, look！Those two are playing over there!"
牛郎看清了，娥黄和女婴正在他自己打造的秋千和摇椅上晃悠呢！他走过去问：“你们俩怎么不回家吃饭？”
女婴回答：“不回去，甜女家的饭太甜，我们喜欢吃辣的！嬉儿嫂子正给我们做辣菜呢！”
Able-cow saw clearly that Beauty Yellow and the Heroine were swinging on the swing and rocking chair he had made! He went over and asked, "Why aren't you two home for dinner?"
Heroine replied, "We're not going home. Sweet Girl's food is too sweet. We like spicy food! Sister-in-law Xi'er is making spicy dishes for us!"
牛郎愣了一下，他走向屋里看谁在他家里做饭呢！娥黄，女婴，和顺皇跟了进去。娥黄指着贴在柜子上的红喜字问：“你们俩是什么时候结婚的？怎么这红喜字看起来跟新的一样！”
孺子牛看见他媳妇正在做辣菜呢！她已经被辣得流眼泪了！女婴赶紧过去推开了窗户，说：“嫂子，可不能用手摸辣椒，不能让辣椒沾到皮肤。如果辣椒碰到了眼睛，你会受伤的。”
嬉儿回答：“我知道，社区的厨师嘱咐我几次了。他们把那种特辣的椒粉拿回去了！”
Able-cow paused for a moment, then went inside to see who was cooking. Beauty Yellow, Heroine, and Whiteking Shun followed. Beauty Yellow pointed to the red "double happiness" character pasted on the cabinet and asked, "When did you two get married? This red 'double happiness' character looks brand new!"
Cowboy saw his wife making spicy food! She was already tearing up from the spiciness! Heroine quickly went over and opened the window, saying, "Sister-in-law, you can't touch the chili peppers with your hands, and you can't let them get on your skin. If the chili peppers get in your eyes, you'll get hurt."
Xi'er replied, "I know, the community cook told me several times. They took the extra-spicy chili powder back with them!"
4
嬉儿把做好的饭菜端到了后院。顺皇吃了一口，被辣得啊的一声，把菜吐回了碗里。嬉儿看着顺皇，疑惑地问：“有那么辣吗?” 她也尝了一口，也是立刻吐回了碗里，说：“可能是我把辣椒粉放多了；我回厨房重新做！”
娥黄和女婴制止了嬉儿，说：“我们俩吃着挺好！”牛郎和她们俩没觉着这桌菜太辣。
顺皇和嬉儿用筷子扒拉了几下碗里的菜，谁都不想再吃了，就只是看着他们仨吃饭。
Xi'er brought the prepared food to the backyard. Whiteking Shun took a bite, cried out in pain from the spiciness, and spat the food back into her bowl. Xi'er looked at Whiteking Shun and asked doubtfully, "Is it that spicy?" She also took a bite and immediately spat it back into her bowl, saying, "Maybe I put too much chili powder; I'll go back to the kitchen and make it again!"
Beauty Yellow and Heroine stopped Xi'er, saying, "We're eating just fine!" Able-cow and the two girls didn't find the food too spicy.
Whiteking Shun and Xi'er stirred the food in their bowls a few times with their chopsticks, neither of them wanting to eat anymore, and just watched the three of them eat.
5
女婴说：“牛哥对我们保密，我们问嫂子。嬉儿嫂子！你是怎么认识我牛哥的？什么时候结婚的？自我介绍一下呗！”
Herine said, “Brother Cow kept it a secret from us, so we'll ask Sister-in-law. Sister-in-law Xi'er! How did you meet my Brother Cow? When did you two get married? Why don't you introduce yourself?”
嬉儿说：“我的老家在浙江上虞的白毛女山，嬉儿我自幼许配赵家。我和赵柱儿不认识，我怎么能嫁他呢！随后，赵家犯了法，被流放到了海南。去年，赵伯父委托人去我家送聘礼，说他们父子俩在海南发财了。我们家穷，接了聘礼；我就坐船来了海南。到这我才知道。赵家父子俩在强盗之国菲律宾做生意。在一次交易中，他俩被菲律宾人杀了，尸体被他们吃了。”
Xi'er said, "My hometown is White-Hairs-Woman Mountain in Shangyu, Zhejiang. I was betrothed to the Zhao family since childhood. I didn't know Zhao Zhu'er, how could I marry him! After, the Zhao family broke the law and were exiled to Hainan. Last year, Uncle Zhao sent someone to my house to deliver betrothal gifts, saying that he and his son had made a fortune in Hainan. My family was poor, so we accepted the gifts; I then took a boat to Hainan. Only then did I learn that the Zhao father and son were doing business in Philippines, a country of bandits. During a transaction, they were killed by Filipinos, and their corpses were eaten by them.”
嬉儿继续说：“龙王在社区看见我无依无靠，就雇佣我去他家做了佣人。几个月前，龙王说他要介绍他的徒弟给我。他说孺子牛有房子有地，还是个老实人。我和孺子牛相亲见面，他同意了。我们俩就结婚了。结婚后，他的工作很忙，很少回家。俩孩子住在学校。我就每隔几天去给孩子们送换洗的衣服，送点儿好吃的。这几天，那俩孩子嫌我给尘凡剃成了秃子，不愿意我了，不让我给他们送饭了。”
Xi'er continued, "When Dragon King saw that I was all alone in the community, he hired me as a maid in his house. A few months later, Dragon King said he would introduce his apprentice to me. He said that Able-cow had a house and land and was an honest man. I met Able-cow on a blind date, and he agreed. So, we got married. After we got married, he was very busy with work and rarely came home. Our two children lived at school. So, every few days I would go and bring them clean clothes and some treats. These past few days, the two children have been upset because I shaved Dust Mortal's head bald; they don't like me anymore and won't let me bring them food.”
娥黄说：“我看见尘凡的头了！”她转脸对女婴说：“下次咱俩去看孩子，得帮着嫂子劝劝他们俩：尘凡的头上长了那么多的疮，不剃成秃子没办法敷药啊！”
Beauty Yellow exclaimed, “I can see Dust Mortal's head!” She turned to Heroine and said, “Next time we visit the children, we must help our sister-in-law persuade them both: Dust Mortal has so many sores on his head that their mom can't apply medicine unless she shaves him bald!”
6
孺子牛，娥黄，和女婴吃完饭，女婴叨咕：“这多好吃！甜女她们家的饭菜总是那么甜！我在她家吃饭，从来没吃饱过！”
顺皇对嬉儿说：“走！去我们家吃甜食去，让他们仨看着咱俩吃饭！”
After Able-cow, Beauty Yellow, and Heroine finished their meal, Heroine murmured, "This is so delicious! Sweet Girl's food is always so sweet! I've never been full when I eat at her house!"
Whiteking Shun said to Xi'er, "Come on! Let's go to our house for some sweets and let the three of them watch us eat!"
返回大禹治水的目录 Return to Catalog of Yu’s Water Treatment