潘年英《桃花水红》
📝 作者简介 · Author Bio
潘年英，男，侗族，生于1963年。祖籍贵州天柱，现居湖南湘潭。在大学谋职。学生时代开始发表文学作品。曾在《上海文学》《民族文学》《青年文学》《山花》《花溪》《天涯》等文学刊物发表小说和散文多篇。有部分作品被翻译成法文和英文在国外出版。1993年加入中国作协。1994年获庄重文文学奖。主要代表作品有：长篇小说《解梦花》《敲窗的鸟》《昨日遗书》《青山谣》《故乡信札》《木楼人家》，中短篇小说集《寂寞银河》《伤心篱笆》《桃花水红》《金花银花》，散文集《我的雪天》《边地行迹》《山河恋》《顿悟成篇》，文论集《民族民俗民间》《在田野中自觉》《文学与人类学演讲录》《从文化到文学》等。
Pan Nianying, a male from the Dong ethnic group, was born in 1963. His ancestral roots are in Tianzhu, Guizhou, while he currently lives in Xiangtan, Hunan, working at a university. He began publishing literary works during his time as a student. Over the years, he has contributed numerous novels and essays to scholarly journals such as "Shanghai Literature," "Ethnic Literature," "Youth Literature," "Mountain Flower," "Huaxi," and "Tianya." Several of his works have been translated into French and English and published internationally. He became a member of the Chinese Writers Association in 1993 and won the Zhuang Chongwen Literature Award in 1994. His notable works include the novels The Flower of Dream Interpretation, The Bird Knocking on the Window, Yesterday's Legacy, Ballad of the Gr
中文原文 Chinese Source Text
盘村的人家中，老东家算是独门独院的一户。单单建在往来石洞和盘溪的山坳口上。
门前一排葡萄架，无论春秋寒暑，也无论天晴落雨，这架下必然是坐满了各式各样的人——有过路的，也有村寨上的，都喜欢到这葡萄架下来乘凉、歇脚或聊天。
房屋四周被竹林和桃林包围，风景是美得很的。
这一天恰逢春分，老东家屋前屋后的桃花正开成云霞一般灿烂的一片，姹紫嫣红，景象迷人。正巧老东也在这一天中午回到了家。老东的几个姨妈和姨娘也不约而同地来到了老东家。
她们都和老东妈妈一道坐在葡萄架下说话。大伙的脸上都洋溢着一种掩饰不住的甜蜜的笑容。
老东在县水利局工作，单位派他到石洞片区来检查农田水利建设情况，他就乘机回了家。
老东的妈妈一直不停地抱怨，说几个姨妈和姨娘事先不打一声招呼，到家来什么菜也没有。话虽这么说，但她心中有数，春节刚过不久，炕上的腊肉和坛子里的腌肉还多得很。
老东的父亲早几年就去世了，母亲跟着老东的弟弟一起过，但弟弟和弟媳现在都在广东打工，老东又在外面工作，这家人的堂屋就空了。有客来，老东妈是很高兴的。
这家人算得上是殷实的人家。
大姨妈嫁在凯寨，二姨妈嫁在盘溪，四姨娘嫁在本寨，却不知今天为什么一起来到了盘村。老东刚想问，远远就看见了长腰大田的路上又走来了一个女人和一个孩子，大姨妈立即惊叫起来：
“那个是冬雪吧？”
二姨、四姨和母亲也一齐惊叫道：
“是呀，是呀！”
大伙都欢天喜地等待着那个女人和孩子慢慢走近。
大姨叫冬梅，二姨叫冬兰，母亲是老三，叫冬莲，四姨叫冬英，五姨叫冬雪，孟寨杨氏五姊妹，年轻时候是五朵有名的金花。路上走来的若是冬雪，这五姊妹就算到齐了。
那女子终于到了老东家门前，却不是冬雪，而是一个叫老东万万料想不到的人——妹红。
二十年前，老东还在县城读高中的时候，这个叫妹红的女人便应父母之命来到了老东家。虽然没有正式过门成亲，但两家老人已正儿八经决定了一对年轻人的大事——那时候，老东的父亲想不到老东是能考上大学的，他要为儿子好好说上一门亲，而这妹红在那个时候正可以说是盘江河两岸百里挑一的好女子。
妹红的父亲与老东的父亲既是亲戚，也是极要好的朋友，逢年过节都是要走动的，因而老东和妹红也可以说是青梅竹马，两小无猜。转眼长大成人，要转入婚嫁上去，也都是十分顺理成章的事。
只可惜老东后来考上省城水电学校，自己悔了婚，跟一个城里女子做了一家，妹红才无奈地在当地嫁了他人。
二十多年不见了，老东已认不出妹红来了，妹红也认不得老东了。但妹红是认得几个姨妈和姨娘的，便一一跟她们打了招呼：
“大姨妈，二姨妈，亲妈，四姨娘，你们都在家呀？今天你们都来，莫怕是老东家有什么好事吧？”
妹红还是叫老东妈为亲妈，老东一下子就明白过来了，他主动叫了一声：
“妹红……”
“是老东吧，”妹红说，“好多年不见，不敢认了，远远看又有点像老平，近看又不太像，不敢喊了。”
老平是老东的弟弟。
除了脸上增加了一点皱纹外，妹红的模样并无大变，她还是那样美丽，健康。倒是老东因为几年前离了婚，后来又一直没有成家，人显得又苍老又憔悴。
“你去看你姐？”老东问。
“噢。”妹红说，“我送这个崽回去嘛。”
妹红说的“这个崽”，就是走在她前面的那个小男孩，大约七八岁的样子。老东问：
“是你家老几呀？”
听了这话，妹红笑了，大伙也都笑了。妹红说:
“这个是我姐的大孙崽，我也是要当外婆的人了，我哪里还有福气生这么小的呀。”
老东的脸一下子红了。
老东妈说:“光讲话，过来坐嘛，妹红。”
“不坐了亲妈，我送他到家后还得赶紧转回去，家里的活路多得很。”
“我们农村人，活路是做不完的。”大姨妈说。
老东给妹红搬来了凳子，妹红坐下了，说：
“老东，听说你的婆娘和崽都到美国去啦？你有办法呀。”
妹红的话是真诚的，并无挖苦之意，老东说：
“那是人家有办法，我有什么办法？”
English Translation 英文译文
Pan Village is home to the Old Dong family, uniquely situated at the pass connecting Shidong and Panxi, alone on a hillside.
In front of their home, a row of grapevines thrives. Regardless of the season—be it spring, summer, autumn, or winter, whether sunny or rainy—this vine-covered space is always bustling with travellers and villagers. They gather to enjoy the shade, rest, or chat beneath the vines.
Encircled by bamboo groves and peach orchards, the house is a picturesque sight.
On this particular day, the Spring Equinox, the peach blossoms around the Old Dong's house were in full bloom, resembling a sea of clouds and mist, their vibrant hues creating an enchanting view. Coincidentally, Old Dong returned home at noon on this very day, and several of his aunts also arrived at his house, seemingly by chance.
They all sat under the grapevines with Old Dong's mother, chatting. Everyone's faces radiated with unmistakable joy.
Old Dong works at the County Water Resources Bureau. His unit sent him to inspect farmland water conservancy construction in the Shidong area, and he took the chance to come home.
Old Dong's mother complained that his aunts hadn't given any notice and that no food had been prepared for them. Despite her words, she knew there was still plenty of preserved meat on the stove and pickled meat from the Spring Festival jar.
Old Dong's father passed away several years ago, and his mother lives with his younger brother. However, his brother and wife work in Guangdong, and Old Dong is also away from home, leaving the main hall empty. Old Dong's mother was delighted to have guests.
This family is considered affluent.
Big Auntie is married in Kaizhai, Second Auntie is in Panxi, and Fourth Auntie is in the same village. But it was unclear why they all came to Pan Village today. Old Dong was about to ask when he saw a woman and a child approaching from the road to Changyao Datian. Big Auntie immediately exclaimed:
"Is that Dongxue?"
Second Auntie, Fourth Auntie, and the mother also exclaimed in unison:
"Yes, yes!"
Everyone waited joyfully as the woman and child approached slowly.
Big Auntie's name is Dongmei, the Second Auntie's is Donglan, the mother is Donglian (the third sister), the Fourth Auntie's is Dongying, and the fifth sister is Dongxue. The five sisters from Mengzhai Village were renowned as the five most beautiful girls in their youth. If the woman approaching was Dongxue, all five sisters would be present.
Finally, the woman arrived at Old Dong's doorstep, but it was not Dongxue. Instead, it was someone Old Dong never expected to see — Meihong.
Twenty years ago, when Old Dong was still in high school in the county, a woman named Meihong came to Old Dong's house as arranged by their parents. Although they were not officially married, the elders of both families had already decided on the marriage between the two young people. Old Dong's father never expected his son to attend university, so he wanted to arrange a good marriage. Meihong was among the most outstanding women along the Pan River.
Meihong's father and Old Dong's father were relatives and close friends, visiting each other during festivals and occasions. Therefore, Old Dong and Meihong grew up knowing each other intimately. As they grew up and it was time for marriage, everything seemed to fall into place naturally.
Unfortunately, Old Dong later enrolled in the Provincial Water Conservancy School in the provincial capital and broke off the engagement, marrying a woman from the city instead.
After over two decades, the Old Dong no longer recognized Meihong, and Meihong didn't recognise him either. But Meihong knew the aunts and aunties well and greeted them one by one:
"Big Auntie, Second Auntie, Mother, Fourth Auntie, you're all at home? You're all here today. Is there some good news at the Old Dong's house?"
Meihong still called the elderly neighbour "Auntie," the old man immediately recognized the voice. He took the initiative to greet her:
"Meihong..."
"It's you, Old Dong," Meihong responded. "I haven't seen you in so many years, I almost didn't recognise you. From afar, you resembled Old Ping a bit, but up close, it was clear you weren't him. I hesitated to call out."
Old Ping was Old Dong's younger brother.
Except for a few more wrinkles, Meihong hadn't changed much; she remained as beautiful and healthy as before. However, Old Dong looked older and worn out after his divorce years ago and never remarried.
"Are you visiting your sister?" Old Dong inquired.
"Yes," Meihong replied. "I'm bringing this little one home."
The "little one" was a boy of about seven or eight, walking ahead of her. Old Dong asked:
"Is he one of your children?"
Meihong laughed at this, and so did everyone else. She clarified:
"This is my sister's eldest grandson. I'm about to become a grandmother myself. I wouldn't be lucky enough to have a child this young."
Old Dong's face turned red.
"Enough talking, come sit down, Meihong," said Old Dong's mother.
"No, Auntie, I need to return after dropping him off. There's a lot of work waiting at home."
"As farmers, we always have more work than we can handle," said the eldest aunt.
Old Dong brought a stool for Meihong, and she sat down, saying:
"Old Dong, I heard your wife and child have gone to the United States. You must be doing well."
Meihong's words were genuine and not meant to be sarcastic. Old Dong replied:
"That's because they have the means, not me."