After checking the population records, he tucked the list of names securely away. Leaving the archives room, he bid farewell to Miller and walked out of City Hall alone.
查过了人口档案,把记录的名单揣好.从档案室出来告别米勒,吕贝克独自走出了市政厅.
Turn left along the street in front of the building, and you'll soon reach the bustling marketplace where locals gather daily. Here, people trade surplus agricultural products, fish, and game, along with leather goods, handicrafts, and fabrics.
左转沿着建筑门前街道,走不远便是人们日常聚集的交易市场,人们常在这里交易一些自己多余的农副产品或者捕鱼狩猎的成果,当然也有一些皮革制品,手工艺品,布匹.
Lübeck strolled along the street, observing his surroundings. Occasionally, people greeted him; most regulars at the market recognized him, and he responded with a smile and a nod. The weather was still quite cold, so the market wasn't crowded. People moved about in small, scattered groups, clustered in twos and threes along both sides of the road.
吕贝克沿街边走边看,不时有人跟他打招呼,经常来市场的人多半都认识他,吕贝克也微笑点头致意.现在天气还比较冷,市场的人不多,松松散散,三两成群,分布在道路两侧.
Walking along, I spotted an elderly man selling eggs by the roadside. I didn't often see him here—he must have been among the first group of seniors who came with their children. But eggs weren't selling well here, since most people could raise chickens themselves. Lübeike squatted down, flipping through the eggs as he chatted casually, asking,
走着,看见路边有一个老人在卖鸡蛋,不经常见到他来这里,应该也是最早那批跟着自己的孩子一起过来的老年人.但是这里鸡蛋并不好卖,因为大家都有条件养鸡.吕贝克蹲下身子一边翻弄鸡蛋一边闲聊问,
How's egg sales today?
"今天鸡蛋卖的好吗?"
Oh, there weren't many people at the market, so I didn't sell much.
"哦,市场人不多,没卖出去多少."
Lübeck gathered up some eggs, stood up, and pulled a few broad-leaved plant leaves from the roadside. He wrapped the eggs in them, tucked half into his coat pocket, then paid. Pointing toward the sun, he smiled at the old man and said,
吕贝克捡出来一些鸡蛋,起身去路边扯来几片阔叶植物的叶子,把鸡蛋包好,一半塞进大衣兜里托着,然后付了钱,手指了指太阳,笑着对那个老人说,
"We should probably head back soon. It'll take time to get there, and we should make the most of the daylight while we still have it."
"差不多就早点回去吧,路上也要时间,趁现在天亮,"
"Yes, yes," the old man agreed with a smile, but he didn't move.
"是啊是啊,"那老人笑着答应,但是没有动.
Well, that's all there is to it. Perhaps he'll be on his way home soon. With that thought, Lübeck kept walking.
话说到了,也就只能这样了,也许他过一会儿就上路回家了,一边想着,吕贝克一边继续往前走.
From a distance, he spotted Reinhardt Meyer, the fishmonger from whom he often bought fish. Though not a professional fisherman, Meyer wove baskets and crates from plants—including fishing traps—which he lowered into the river to catch fish as a side income.
远远地,他看到了卖鱼的莱因哈特·迈耶,自己经常买他的鱼.他不是专业渔夫,只是他会用植物编织各种篮子,筐,也包括捕鱼用的篓子,下到河道里,能捕到一些鱼,作为自己的副业收入.
Approaching him, Lübeck examined his fish, then looked at him, and greeted him with a smile, asking,
走到他跟前,吕贝克看了看他的鱼,又看了看他,打招呼笑着问,
How's business?
"生意好吗?"
"Mr. Mayor, are you here to patronize my business?"
"市长先生,这是来照顾我生意吗?"
"Ha ha," said Lübeck, "Long time no see. Buy a few extra today," he said, picking through the fish in his basket.
"哈哈,"吕贝克说,"好久不见了,今天多买几条,"一边说,一边挑着他鱼篓中的鱼.
Despite being out of water for a long time, the fish still looked reasonably fresh due to the low temperatures. Lübeck selected them on one side, while Reinhardt threaded them onto straw ropes and carried them away on the other.
因为气温低,虽然这些鱼离水很长时间了,看起来还算新鲜.这边吕贝克挑出来,那边莱因哈特就拿草绳把鱼穿好拎着.
After taking a look, Lü Beck took the fish, paid for it, and asked,
看差不多了,吕贝克接过鱼付了钱,问,
"Would you like another one today?"
"今天还送一条吗?"
"Of course, we always take care of our regulars," Reinhardt said as he rummaged through the fish basket with both hands. He pulled out a fish, threaded it onto a straw rope, handed it to Lübeck, and added with a reminder,
"当然,老顾客当然要照顾啊,"一边说着,莱因哈特双手在鱼篓里摸了一会儿,拿出一条,穿上草绳,递给吕贝克,然后还不忘嘱咐一句,
"Hold on tight, don't drop it."
"拿好,别掉了,"
When Lübeck returned to the courtyard outside his home, he stepped down from the carriage and looked back. Two suns glowed a deep crimson, suspended at intervals on the horizon. The sky here was also pale blue, yet it held hints of purple-red—perhaps influenced by the suns' hues.
当吕贝克回到自己家的庭院外,下了马车回望,两颗太阳泛着暗红,有些间距,悬于天边,这里的天空也是淡蓝,但是其中蕴含着紫红,或许是太阳颜色的影响.
Upon returning home, she placed the eggs and fish in the kitchen before washing her hands to check on her child. Emma was on the bed, entertaining the baby with some brightly colored toys. Seeing Lübeck arrive, she encouraged the child by saying,
回到家中,去厨房放好鸡蛋和鱼,首先就是洗了手去看自己的孩子.艾玛正在床上拿着一些色彩鲜艳的的小玩具逗孩子玩,见吕贝克来了,便鼓励孩子说,
Look who's here! Look, he's your daddy. Say "Daddy." Quick, say "Daddy."
"你看谁来了,你看他是你的爸爸,叫爸爸,快叫爸爸,"
The child lay in bed, clutching a toy in his hand and babbling away. His bright eyes darted from Emma to Lübeck, and he often broke into smiles, cooing happily as if he too enjoyed Lübeck joining in the fun.
孩子躺在床上,手里抓着玩具,咿咿呀呀地发出声音,亮晶晶的眼睛一会儿看看艾玛,一会儿看看吕贝克,不时地脸上露出笑容,啊啊地高兴地喊着,似乎他也喜欢吕贝克来凑他的热闹.
Lübeck watched the child play while studying him. It seemed the boy had inherited his mother's sturdy build and might grow up to resemble her physique, though as a boy he would likely be more muscular than his father's slender frame. Yet the child had inherited his own blue-gray eyes and dark brown hair, while his mother had blonde hair and dark eyes. The child's facial features also seemed to resemble his father's more closely.
吕贝克一边逗孩子玩,一边打量着他,似乎他继承了孩子妈妈健硕的身形,将来身材可能像他的妈妈,但是作为男孩,可能会更加健硕,不像自己比较消瘦.但是孩子继承了自己蓝灰色的眼睛和棕黑的头发,而他的妈妈是金发黑眼睛,孩子的脸型似乎也会更加像自己.
Emma was only nineteen, still a child herself, untested by complex social environments. Lübeck didn't know what her true potential might be, so he dearly hoped his son Erwin would inherit his own traits—cleverness, sound judgment, and a resolute character. The good news was that, at least for now, the boy's face bore a strong resemblance to his own. Perhaps his mind would too.
艾玛才十九岁,她自己也还是个大孩子,没有经过什么复杂社会环境的考验,吕贝克也不知道她的潜力到底如何,所以他很希望自己的儿子埃尔温能像自己一样,聪明,有判断力并且有着坚毅的性格,好消息是至少现在看来孩子的脸很像自己,或许脑子也是吧.
After playing with the children for a while, Lübeck turned and noticed Ruth standing by the doorway, leaning against the frame and smiling as she watched him interact with the kids. He then turned back to tell Emma,
陪孩子玩耍了一会儿,吕贝克回头注意到露丝也在门口,靠着门框站立,微笑着看他在跟孩子互动,便回头告诉艾玛,
I bought some fish today, so I need to go to the kitchen and clean them with Ruth. Can I spend a little less time with you?
"我今天买了鱼,我得去厨房和露丝一起把它们清理一下,少陪你一会儿好吗?"
"Alright, go ahead," Emma said over her shoulder. Lübeck seized the moment, cupping her chin in his hand and kissing her lips.
"好啊,你去吧,"艾玛回头说,吕贝克趁机用手掐住她的下颌,亲吻了她的嘴唇,Then Emma went back to playing with the children, smiling cheerfully. She had such a good nature, like a big kid herself. As she passed Ruth, Lübeck placed a hand on her lower back and walked with her into the kitchen.
然后艾玛又笑眯眯地去陪孩子玩了.她的性格很好,就像个大孩子一样.走过露丝身边时,吕贝克抚着她的后腰,和她一起来到了厨房.
The two men tossed the fish into the wooden tub. One grabbed a small stool and sat down opposite the tub. Lübeck rummaged through the tub, first retrieving the smaller fish Reinhardt had given him. He then reached for the fish-cleaning tools, only to glance up and catch Ruth scrutinizing him from across the tub.
两个人把鱼扔进木盆,一人拿了一个小板凳,坐在木盆对面.吕贝克在盆里翻了翻,先找到莱因哈特送的那条比较小的拿在了手里,然后找修理鱼的工具,无意抬头看到露丝正在对面审视着自己,
"Is it my turn?" Ruth asked calmly.
"轮到我了吗?" 露丝平静地问,
"Huh?" Lübeck didn't grasp her meaning at first. "Ha ha," he laughed, then suddenly understood. The same lady needed the same care.
"啊?"吕贝克一时没明白她的意思,"哈哈,"紧接着恍然大悟,同样的女士,需要同样的关怀.
Holding the fish in his hand, he leaned in, wrapping his hand and forearm around her waist, returning her kiss. Then he returned to his seat, grabbed the scissors, and absentmindedly fiddled with the fish while admiring the light smile on Ruth's face across from him. By the time Ruth had finished cleaning both fish, Lübeck still held his fish in his hand. Ruth occasionally glanced over without urging or complaint. Her lips curved into a gentle smile, and her eyes sparkled with a lively twinkle.
拿着手里的鱼,凑过去用手背和前臂搂着她,给她一个同样的吻.然后再回到自己的座位,拿了剪刀,一边欣赏对面露丝脸上轻盈的微笑,一边心不在焉的弄手里的鱼.露丝那边两条都收拾完了,吕贝克还是这条鱼拿在手里.露丝不时抬脸看看这边,也不催促不埋怨,她嘴角上扬的微笑唇形,和灵动翻转的眼神很美.
Finally, after Lübeck's endless procrastination, he slit open the fish's head and belly, pulled out a shrivelled swim bladder, rummaged inside, and retrieved a note. After glancing at it for a moment, he tossed it into the furnace.
终于,在吕贝克的百般磨蹭之后,剖开了鱼头,鱼腹,从里面拿出一个瘪的鱼鳔,在里面翻出来一个纸条,看了一会儿,就把它扔进了炉膛.
Throughout the entire process, Ruth watched from across the room. The beautiful smile that had graced her face moments before had vanished. She knew how difficult it was for Lübeck to rule over so many people here, so she simply focused on processing the fish in the wooden basin with a blank expression.
整个过程露丝在对面看着,刚才还在脸上那美丽的笑容也消失不见了,她知道吕贝克在这里要统治这么多人不容易,就只顾着自己面无表情地处理木盆里的鱼.
Lübeck noticed her emotional state and comforted her, saying,
吕贝克注意到了她的情绪,一边安慰她说,
"They're just everyday trivial matters. You don't need to worry."
"都是一些个日常琐碎小事情,你不用担心,"
He rushed to help her with the work, deliberately snatching the fish from her hands. Pretending to have made a mistake, he grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go. Ruth had no choice but to stop, glaring at Lübeck with a sulky look, saying nothing, just waiting for him to release her. Lübeck was just as mischievous, determined to tease her until he saw that beautiful smile return to her face before finally letting go.
一边抢着帮她干活,还故意抢她手里的鱼,假装弄错了抓住她的手不放,露丝只好停下来,瞪着眼睛,赌气似的看着吕贝克,也不说话,就等他放手.吕贝克也是调皮,非得逗她到又见到她脸上那美丽的笑容,才肯松开.
Tonight's special treat is grilled fish. The cleaned fish sizzles over the fire, filling the room with its aroma. Emma even brought her baby out to join the fun. Smelling the aroma and watching others take bites of the grilled fish, Erwin squirmed in his mother's arms, kicking his legs and grabbing at things with his hands. He looked from one person to another, utterly impatient.
今天晚上的加餐是烤鱼,处理干净的鱼在火上烤得吱吱作响,香味儿飘得满屋子都是,艾玛也抱着孩子出来凑热闹了.闻着香味儿,看着别人把烤鱼往嘴里送,埃尔温在他妈妈的怀里啊啊地喊着,双腿蹬啊蹬,双手抓啊抓,看看这个看看那个,着急得不得了.
Emma had no choice but to tend to the child first, picking out pieces of fish without bones, chewing them soft, and then feeding them to the little one. Lübeck, meanwhile, held the grilled fish in his hand and brought it to Emma's mouth to feed her. Ruth focused more of her attention on the fish roasting over the fire. That was how the chain of love passed between the family members.
艾玛只好先顾着孩子,挑到没有鱼刺的肉,嚼软了,然后喂给孩子.吕贝克则是把自己手里的烤鱼递到艾玛嘴边喂她吃,露丝把更多精力放在了火上的烤鱼.一家人的爱心传递链条就是这样的.