2017-06-01

清晨4:50，老刀穿过熙熙攘攘的步行街，去找彭蠡。

Lao Dao went across the bustling pedestrian walk to find Peng Li at 4:50a.m.

从垃圾站下班之后，老刀回家洗了个澡，换了衣服。白色衬衫和褐色裤子，这是他唯一一套体面衣服，衬衫袖口磨了边，他把袖子卷到胳膊肘。老刀四十八岁，没结婚，已经过了注意外表的年龄，又没人照顾起居，这一套衣服留着穿了很多年，每次穿一天，回家就脱了叠上。他在垃圾站上班，没必要穿得体面，偶尔参加谁家小孩的婚礼，才拿出来穿在身上。这一次他不想脏兮兮地见陌生人。他在垃圾站连续工作了五小时，很担心身上会有味道。

Coming back home from the refuse station, his working place, Lao Dao took a shower, and then put on his white shirt and brown trousers, which were his sole decent clothes. They have been kept for many years. Only when it came to someone’s wedding, would Lao Dao put them on. He would take them off and fold them as soon as he got home. However, the cuff of the shirt wore out. He then rolled up the sleeves to the elbows. Lao Dao, now at the age of 48, stayed single and did not care about his outer appearance any more. Nevertheless, he did not feel like impressing the stranger with a dirty appearance. He was afraid that he would be smelly after 5-hour-long work at the refuse station.

步行街上挤满了刚刚下班的人。拥挤的男人女人围着小摊子挑土特产，大声讨价还价。食客围着塑料桌子，埋头在酸辣粉的热气腾腾中，饿虎扑食一般，白色蒸汽遮住了脸。油炸的香味弥漫。货摊上的酸枣和核桃堆成山，腊肉在头顶摇摆。这个点是全天最热闹的时间，基本都收工了，忙碌了几个小时的人们都赶过来吃一顿饱饭，人声鼎沸。

The pedestrian walk was packed with workers who were just off duty. Men and women gathered together at the local specialty stall, bargaining with the hawkers. Meanwhile, some customers were absorbed in consuming hot and sour rice noodles at the plastic tables. The white steam from rice noodles clouded the customers’ faces. The aroma of fried food hung in the air. The stall was almost overwhelmed by wild jujubes and walnuts. Besides, preserved meat was hung over heads. Since nearly all the people finished their work and they would come here for a big meal, the moment was the most hectic throughout the day.

老刀艰难地穿过人群。端盘子的伙计一边喊着让让一边推开挡道的人，开出一条路来，老刀跟在后面。彭蠡家在小街深处。老刀上楼，彭蠡不在家。问邻居，邻居说他每天快到关门才回来，具体几点不清楚。

Peng Li’s home was deep in the walk. It was hard for Lao Dao to cross the crowd. He followed the trays-holding-waiter who asked people to step aside and pushed people getting in a way aside. After Lao Dao went upstairs, he found Peng Li was not at home. Peng Li’s neighbor told Lao Dao that Peng Li would went back home every day when the gate was going to be closed. But the actual time was not clear.

老刀有点担忧，看了看手表，清晨5点。他回到楼门口等着。两旁狼吞虎咽的饥饿少年围绕着他。他认识其中两个，原来在彭蠡家见过一两次。少年每人面前摆着一盘炒面或炒粉，几个人分吃两个菜，盘子里一片狼藉，筷子扔在无望而锲而不舍地拨动，寻找辣椒丛中的肉星。老刀又下意识闻了闻小臂，不知道身上还有没有垃圾的腥味。周围的一切嘈杂而庸常，和每个清晨一样。

Lao Dao became a little worried. He looked at the watch. It turned to be 5a.m. He stepped back to the gate. Several teenagers who were wolfing down were around him. Lao Dao once met two of them at Peng Li’s home. Each teenager ordered fried noodles or fried rice noodles. Besides, they shared two more dishes. Although the food was in a mess, the teenagers still searched the peppers for just a speck of meat. Lao Dao smelt his forearms unconsciously to check whether the odor still lingered. The noise around was just as usual.

“哎，你们知道那儿一盘回锅肉多少钱吗？”那个叫小李的少年说。

“ Hey, do you guys know how much is sauteed sliced pork with pepper and chili there?” asked by a teenager named Li.

“靠，菜里有沙子。”另外一个叫小丁的胖少年突然捂住嘴说，他的指甲里还带着黑泥， “坑人啊。得找老板退钱！”

“ Damn it. There is sand in the dish.” another fat teenager named Ding complained suddenly with his mouth covered while black mud still remained in his nails. “ Shit! The boss must refund our money!”

“人家那儿一盘回锅肉，就三百四。”小李说，“三百四！一盘水煮牛肉四百二呢。”

“ 340 for sauteed sliced pork with pepper and chili there.” said Li, “ 340! 420 for sliced beef in hot chili oil.”

“什么玩意？这么贵。”小丁捂着腮帮子咕哝道。

“ What? How expensive.” Ding murmured with his cheek covered.

另外两个少年对谈话没兴趣，还在埋头吃面，小李低头看着他们，眼睛似乎穿过他们，看到了某个看不见的地方，目光里有热切。

Another two teenagers showed no interest in the dialogue. They were still consuming noodles. Li looked at them, however, it seemed that he saw a place beyond his vision. Earnest was filled with his eyes.