Public Bar in the World of Mortals 红尘酒馆 | Monthly Review

01

A Midsummer Night.
The moon was hidden in the clouds and the sky was full of stars.
A gust of wind blew over the alley with the chirping of cicadas. A string of red lanterns hunging highly was shaking gently like a bell.

A girl in a long skirt and exquisite getas found a drunk man lying at the entrance of tavern.
She squatted down and looked at his face carefully.
Well, he is a handsome man.

The outline of his face seemed softly in the dim light.He was just like a sleepy child at the moment.
“Are you OK?”
She asked him, but he didn't respond.
“Would you like to enter this room for a sleep?”
......
He still didn't respond.
“Well,I will take you in.”
He kept silent.
She straightened up, put the getas off and aside, then bent down and pulled his arm.
1,2,3,go!

02

Early in the morning of the second day,he woke up in the aroma of tea.He felt sore all over his body, especially his left arm.
A girl in a long white dress was lying on the table and playing with a pebble.

He sat up and coughed gently.
The girl suddenly lifted up her face and smiled brightly, showing her lovely little tiger teeth.

When she was about to talk to him,the wooden door was opened.A woman in a red dress stood outside the door. She was the owner of the tavern and named MeiHui.
Bend down to lift a potted plant, she walked into the room in barefooted.
"Your clothes have been ironed already.Have a good time for your breakfast after you get up."

MeiHui placed the potted plant on the wooden shelf beside the bookcase, adjusting it's position carefully.The tone of her voice was subtle, as if they were familiar.
The man nodded politely.
"XiYue,let's go out."
MeiHui said to the girl in white, and they went out together.Then she bent over him and pulled up the door gently.

03

At the evening,the clouds at the sky seemed like the burning fire.
The girl in white jumped happily, waving her white arm, and shouting to a window"AnQi！AnQi！"

AnQi was a half Chinese,half Japanese. Two years older than XiYue.
Nine years ago,MeiHui and XiYue lost their parents and relatives in a violent earthquake.The two girls could depend on no one but each other.AnQi's family had a bit of power in the local area,so the two girls settled down here with the help of AnQi's family.

He opened the window and saw her cunning smile.
"Come out,come with me to the roof!" She shouted to him.
Her big eyes glittered like a jewel, and the teenager's heart was full of pamper.

04

AnQi was tall and agile, after climbing a few steps he jumped onto the roof.
Stepped on a stone carefully and held the hand of the teenager firmly,XiYue climbed up the roof,too.
As usual, they lay down and looked at the sky.

"AnQi,do you know?I'm probably fell in love with someone."
She took a deep breath,closed her eyes and said gently. "he satisfied all my fantasies about men."
The teenager stared for a second,then he propped himself up with one hand and stared at her red face, "Who is that man!?"

Under the setting sun, XiYue closed her eyes and her long eyelashes quivered slightly in the sunset.
She said, "Well, I don't know who he is.He is a drunken man I found at the entrance of tavern.He is about more than 30 years old.Strong, handsome and mysterious."

"I found an old scar on his shoulder like a gunshot wound when I changed his clothes.I felt cocoons between his thumb and index, also on his fingers.Do you think he is a policeman or a professional killer?"
"Get away from him!"The teenager said suddenly.

XiYue opened her eyes widely.The light of the setting sun was obscured by the teenager's face.They made eye contact and breath entangled.
She pushed the teenager away, frowned and stared at his angry and injured face.She suddenly felt very uncomfortable in her heart and her eyes were wet.

The teenager's heart softened down at once when he look at her."I'm sorry，XiYue.I'm just afraid of you might be hurt.After all, we don't know where the man came from."
I'm just afraid of you might be hurt.
Can you understand me?

XiYue bent her head and suddenly lost interest in everything,buried her face in her lap and stopped talking.
AnQi looked at her sadly,tried to open his mouth, but in the end he said nothing but just accompanied her quietly.

05

One night, the mysterious man came to the tavern again. He was still dressed in a formal suit with exquisite Cufflinks, just same as the last time.
In the hallway,XiYue found that MeiHui opened the door slightly and went into his room.A long-lost smile appeared on her lips.Her eyes curved and the crow's feet were like ripples on the surface of the lake.

XiYue seldom saw this side of MeiHui,although she was no longer young, but at the moment she had the beauty of Intellectual and gentle,just like a ripe berry.
MeiHui went in and pulled up the door gently.

XiYue felt isolated in another world.
She sat down under the eaves in a low mood, her mind was full of that man.
"Oh, what exactly do I like about him?"
If I had to answer this question, it was probably because he was so deep as the sea that he could give me infinite reverie and security.

06

One morning, half a month later, she saw that man on the beach.
Some people even had a vague outline, but as long as it appeared, it could be confirmed at a glance.
XiYue ran to the man just like a rabbit.

She ran to his side with her silly smile and red face.
He smiled back when he saw her.

Suddenly XiYue plucked up the courage to leap into his arms, hugged his waist, her face pressed against his chest, closed her eyes and shouted "I like you! Whether you like me or not, I just like you!"

At this moment, the man patted her thin shoulder, without a hint of ambiguous, like an elder to comfort the child.
He said "I like you too, little girl."
XiYue suddenly raised her head in his arms, her eyes were as bright as stars.

He looked down at her and said, but like is not the same as love.
The light in her eyes was dim at once.
She said "But...... My like is love......I want to marry you, I want to be your wife, I want to be with you all my life".

He still looked down at her eyes and asked "What is the meaning of life to you?"
XiYue stared,she never thought about it.
The man said "When you live to a certain age and experience some things, you will find that fate always beats the overmatch."

"For me, the whole point of life is today.What time I get up today, what to wear, what to eat, what to drink, that's the meaning of my life."

I can have love easily, but it's hard to keep it.
I don't have time to take a detour and don't have time to make others happy.
I dare not ask for a wife.To meet a confidante is enough.
……

07

XiYue walked back to the alley with her head down.
AnQi ran to her side,and there was another shadow on the slate.
"XiYue,this is for you!"
AnQi spread out his palm,it's a bright and beautiful pebble.

XiYue didn't pick it up,just blinked and asked
"AnQi,what is the meaning of life for you?"
He laughed at once and said
"My life meaning is you!"

She looked at him sadly, and said word by word,
"AnQi, How to be a confidante?"

AnQi said,
"XiYue,you are not only my childhood sweethearts,but also my confidante,I will marry you in the future!I can give you anything if you like!"
XiYue shook her head and said"Thank you. I'm sorry. Forgive me for not understanding what love is."

08

How time flies,it was time for the Mid-Autumn festival, all the small string of lanterns outside the tavern were replaced by large lanterns, which were lit with real candles.
MeiHui was pregnant, although not married she still looked very happy despite the man only came here once in a while..

When XiYue knew it, her heart was mixed. She asked, "MeiHui, should I congratulate you?"

MeiHui looked at her with a smile, and said gently "XiYue, sometimes love is a mess that cannot be counted."

"We are all adults, we can see each other's hidden side. After we see it, we are all willing to be tolerant of each other's oceans.
Even if he won't come back, I have no regrets."
XiYue gave her a gentle hug and said
"Sister, I bless you!"

09

The moon hangs in the sky, as if it were within reach.
XiYue was carrying a lantern, wearing a long white dress and a exquisite geta walking through the wooden hallways of the tavern.
As soon as she stepped out of the gate, she found that a man fell to the side in drunk.
Oh, it's a handsome teenager.

XiYue raised her lantern and shouted at him.
"An!Qi!"
……
He was unmoved.

……

Are you sure you're really drunk?
Are you sure you want me to pull you up?
I count to three, it depends on you !
One!
Two!
……
The teenager got up immediately ,raised his lips and smiled at her.

"Alas, everybody is the same, why the treatment is so different?" The teenager sighed.
XiYue smiled sweetly at him, revealing two small tiger teeth and said "What kind of treatment do you want? Declare it, maybe the superior will think about it."
The teenager suddenly lowered his head and kissed her cheek, then whispered in her ear, "That's it,Sir."

Original post written by @dancingapple: 红尘酒馆（月旦评）
Translator: @woolfe19861008

01
仲夏夜。
月亮隐匿在云层里，星星铺洒满天空。
风卷着蝉鸣抚过小巷，高挂的一串小红灯笼像风铃一样轻轻晃动。

穿着长裙，趿着精致木屐的她，在酒馆门口发现了醉倒的他。
她轻轻蹲下来细看他的脸。
嗯，看样子，是个俊朗的男人。
昏黄的灯光柔和了所有棱角，此刻他只像个沉沉睡着的小孩子。

你还好吗？
她问他。
沉默。

你要不要进去睡？
……
沉默。

那我动手了哦？
她等了五秒。
……
他依然沉默。

于是她直起身子，把木屐脱掉，放在一边，然后弯腰拉起他的一只手臂。
一二三——
走起。

02
第二天清晨，他在袅袅清烟中醒过来，茶香扑鼻，但他觉得全身酸痛，特别是左手手臂。

一个穿着白色长裙的女孩趴在桌子上把玩着一颗鹅卵石。
他坐起来，轻轻咳嗽了一下。

女孩突然把脸抬了起来，随即笑了一下，露出可爱的小虎牙，明媚灿烂。

她正想开口之际，木门被拉开，一个穿着红裙的女人站在门外，她是酒馆的老板娘美惠。
弯腰抬起一个盆栽，她光着脚走了进来。

你的衣服已经熨好了，起床洗漱好可以吃早餐。
美惠把盆栽放在书柜旁的木架子上，小心翼翼调整着摆放方位，语气淡淡的，仿佛他并不是个陌生人。

男人礼貌地点点头。

西月，出去吧。
美惠唤了一下白衣少女，两人一起出去了。她朝男人弯了弯腰，然后轻轻拉上了房门。

03
傍晚。天边一大片火烧云。
白衣少女西月用力跳了跳，同时挥动着白皙的手臂，朝一个窗户喊道——
安棋！安棋……

安棋是个中日混血，比西月年长两岁。
九年前大地震后，美惠和西月失去了各自的亲人，一个少女牵着一个女孩流浪到这个地方，安棋的家族在当地势力不小，得益于他们家怜悯，她们在此地安顿了下来。

他推开玻璃窗，看到她狡黠的笑脸。

快出来，陪我去屋顶哦！西月冲他喊道。
她洋溢着愉悦的大眼睛像宝石一样闪闪发光，少年的心里满满都是宠溺。

04
安棋长得高大且身手敏捷，跑了几步，一下子借力就翻上了屋顶。
西月则小心翼翼踩上石墩子，牢牢拉住少年伸过来的手，一下子也攀了上去。

他们如往常一样，躺下，看天空。

安棋，你知道吗？我大概是爱上一个人了。
西月深吸一口气，闭着眼睛轻轻说道，他满足了我对男人的所有幻想。

少年楞了一秒，随即用一只手撑起身子，盯着西月红红的脸问到，谁！？

夕阳下，西月闭着眼睛，长长的睫毛轻轻颤动。
她说——
嗯，我也不知道他是谁。
他是一个醉倒在酒馆门外的男人。大概，有三十多岁了吧。
刚毅，俊朗，神秘。

我帮他换衣服的时候，看到他的肩膀上有一个旧伤疤，像是枪伤。哦，我还摸到他的虎口和手指有层茧。
你说，他会不会是个警察？或者，是个职业杀手？

离他远点！少年突然激动地说。

西月蓦地睁大眼睛，夕阳猩红的光线被少年近在咫尺的脸庞遮住，四目相对，气息纠缠。

她用力把少年推开，皱着眉头盯着他既愤怒又受伤的脸。突然感到心里很难受，眼前一片氤氲。

看到她的模样，少年瞬间心软，说，对不起，西月。我只是害怕你受到伤害。毕竟，那个男人来路不明。
我只是，害怕你受伤。
你，明白我吗？

西月低头，突然对一切都没有了兴致，只把脸埋在膝盖上，不再说话。
安棋难过地注视着她，张了张口，可是最后还是什么都没有说，只静静陪着她。

05
一天晚上，神秘男人又来到了酒馆。跟上回一样，他这次依然穿着质地十分考究的西装，别着精致的袖扣。

西月在走廊看到美惠轻轻拉开他的房门，终年不笑的她此时嘴角喃着浅浅的笑意，眼睛弯弯的，眼角的鱼尾纹像是湖面荡起的涟漪。

西月很少看到美惠的这一面，虽然她已不算年轻了，但是此刻却散发着知性温婉的美，像一颗成熟的浆果。
美惠进去了，并轻轻拉上了房门。

西月感觉自己被隔绝在另一个世界。
她心情低落地坐在屋檐下，脑海里全都是那个男人。
哦，我究竟是喜欢他什么呢？

如果非要寻根问底，那大概是因为他深沉得像大海，可以给我无限的遐想和安全感吧……

06
半个月后的一个早晨，西月在海边看到了那个男人。

有些人，哪怕只有一个模糊的轮廓，但只要出现了，就能一眼确认。
西月像小兔子一样奔跑了过去。

跑到男人身边，她只傻傻地笑，脸蛋红扑扑的。
他看着她这样子，也笑了。

西月突然鼓起勇气扑进他怀里，环抱着他的腰，脸贴着他的胸膛，闭着眼睛喊到——
我喜欢你！不管你喜不喜欢我，反正我就是喜欢你！

此刻男人拍了拍她瘦小的肩膀，没有一丝暧昧，就像一个长辈在安抚着小孩。
他开口道——
我也很喜欢你，小丫头。
西月突然在他怀里抬起头，眼睛明亮得像星星。

他低头看着她，说，但这种喜欢无关爱情。

她眼里的光瞬间暗淡。
她说，可是……我对你的喜欢，就是爱情啊……我想嫁给你，我想做你的妻子，我想一辈子都跟你在一起。

他依然低着头看着她的眼睛，问道:
对你来说，人生的意义是什么？

西月怔住了，她从未想过这个问题。

男人说，当你活到一定年纪，经历过一些事情，就会发现——命运总爱击倒强者。

对于我来说，人生的全部意义就在于今天。
今天几点起床，穿什么衣服，吃什么晚餐，喝什么酒，这就是我的人生意义。

我可以很轻易就拥有爱情，但也很难把它留住。
我再花不起时间去走弯路，也花不起心思去哄别人。
我不再奢求妻子，有幸能遇上红颜知己便足矣。
……

07
西月低着头走回小巷。
安棋跑了过来，石板路上多了一个影子。

西月，送给你！
安棋摊开手掌，是一颗莹润漂亮的鹅卵石。

西月并没有接，只是眨了眨眼，问:
安棋，对于你来说，人生的意义是什么？

安棋马上笑了，说——
我的人生意义就是你啊！

西月忧伤地看着他，一字一句地说，
安棋，怎样才能做一个"红颜知己"？

安棋说——
西月，你不仅仅是我的青梅竹马，也是我的红颜知己，将来我还要娶你！只要你愿意，我什么都可以给你！

西月摇摇头，说，谢谢你，对不起。原谅我已经不明白什么是爱情了。

08
转眼间到了中秋，酒馆外的那一串串小灯笼换成了大灯笼，里面燃上了真正的蜡烛。

美惠怀孕了，尽管没有婚姻，尽管那个男人只是不定期才过来一次，但她依旧看起来十分开心。

西月听到这个消息，心里五味杂陈，她问，美惠姐，我该恭喜你吗？

美惠笑意盈盈地看着她，温柔地说，西月，有时候爱情是一笔糊涂账，也是一笔暗账。
我和他都是成人了，彼此都看得清对方深藏在海底的那部分冰山，而在看清之后，我们都愿意去做包容对方的那片海洋。
我和他都是不问明天的人，但我们都是对今天全力以赴的人。
哪怕他不再回来，我也无怨无悔。

西月轻轻抱了抱她，说，
美惠姐，祝福你！

09
皎洁的圆月挂在天边，仿佛触手可及。
西月提着灯笼，穿着白色长裙，趿着精致的木屐穿过酒馆的木走廊。

跨出大门，发现有个人醉倒在一旁。
哦，原来是个帅气的少年。

西月扬了扬灯笼，冲他喊到——
安！棋！
……
他不为所动。

你确定你真的醉了吗？
你确定要我把你拉起来吗？
我数到三，你自己看着办！
一！
二！
……

少年立马站了起来，扬起嘴唇朝她笑了笑。

唉，同样是人，怎么待遇就这么不一样呢？少年感叹道。

西月冲着他甜甜地笑了，露出两颗小虎牙，说，你想要什么待遇？申报一下？或许上级会考虑考虑。

少年突然低下头迅速朝她脸蛋亲了一下，然后在她耳边轻轻地说，报告，就这样。