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贾平凹丨《腊月·正月》

推荐理由

退休教师韩玄子，在知识、名望、家庭经济实力等方面远胜于出身贫寒、地位卑微的普通乡民王才。但王才顺应时代发展的潮流，积极参与经济变革，不无艰难却一步步走上创业道路。虽然韩玄子想方设法算计王才，竭力阻遏王才的发展，而最终陷入四面楚歌的，却是他自己。这一新旧替代的过程，只经历了腊月到正月短短一个月的时间。

作者写作时，确定“以商州作为一个点，详细地考察它，研究它”，并将这种考察、研究的着眼点放在商州这一特定地域的地理、风情、历史、风俗上，集中反映改革声流对农民生活观念、土地观念、道德伦理观念等的重大影响。

跟作者的《小月前本》《鸡窝洼的人家》等作品相比，本小说更直接地从正面否定了传统观念、传统道德中落后、消极的成分，更有力地否定了时代的落伍者。着力刻划“社会最底层的小人物”，探讨经济变革中涉及的道德伦理、人情世态的种种问题。注重对生活作“近乎实录”的反映。《腊月·正月》获第三届全国优秀中篇小说奖。

Reviews

Han Xuanzi, a retired teacher, starts out with knowledge, reputation and economic means far superior to those of Wang Cai, a poor and humble farmer. Wang, however, seizing the historic opportunity of economic reforms and riding on the tide of the times, manages in the end to make his fortune despite numerous attempts by Han to thwart him. The reversal of fortune between Han and Wang is vividly depicted through events unfolding within a short space of one month from mid lunar December to mid lunar January.

According to the author, it is his idea to reflect the significant impact of reform on the peasants’ ideas on life, land and moral principles. This story vividly describes the dramatic events unfolding around that time in Shangzhou, a specific place with local geography, customs and history.

 Compared with the author’s other works on similar themes, this story exposes more directly the negative elements in traditional ideas and morals, passing harsh judgment on laggards such as Han Xuanzi. Focusing on the common people at the bottom of society, the author attempts to explore moral, ethical and interpersonal relationship issues through realistic depiction of society.

 Lunar December, Lunar January won the 3rd National Outstanding Novella Award. 

作家简介

Author Profile

贾平凹，一九五二年古历二月二十一日出生于陕西南部的丹凤县棣花村。父亲是乡村教师，母亲是农民。一九七二年以偶然的机遇进入西北大学学习汉语言文学。此后一直生活在西安，从事文学编辑兼写作。出版《商州》《浮躁》《废都》《白夜》《高老庄》《怀念狼》《秦腔》《古炉》《带灯》等。曾获茅盾文学奖（《秦腔》）、施耐庵文学奖（《古炉》）等及美国美孚飞马文学奖、法国费米那文学奖和法兰西共和国文学艺术荣誉奖等。被翻译为英、法、德、俄、日、韩、越等文字出版了二十多种版本。

Jia Pingwa，born in 1952, is a native of Danfeng County, Shangluo City in Shaanxi Province.

Having graduated from the Chinese Language Department of Northwest University in 1975, Jia Pingwa founded the literary journal Essay in 1992, and assumed the position of Dean of School of Humanities at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology in 2003. He is, now, a member of the Presidium of the Chinese Writers’ Association, Chairman of Shaanxi branch of the organization, and Chairman of Xi’an Literary Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Jia Pingwa started publishing literary works in 1974, First Records of Shangzhou, Turbulence, Ruined City, White Nights,Old Gao Village, Wolves of Yesterday,  and Qin Opera are but some of his major pieces.

In 1979, Jia Pingwa won the 1st National Best Short Story of the Year for his short story Full Moon. His novella Lunar December, Lunar January won the 3rd National Best Novella of the Year. Traces of Love won the 1st National Best Prose (Collection), and Jia Pingwa’s Lengthy Prose Selection won the 4th Lu Xun Literature Prize of excellent prose and essays. In 1997, Ruined City was awarded French Prix Femina étranger, and in 1987 Turbulence was recognized by the Pegasus Prize For Literature. Qin Opera won both the 1st Hong Kong The Dream of the Red Chamber Award: The World’s Distinguished Novel in Chinese In 2006 and the 7th Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2008. His works have been translated into over 20 languages including English, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese.

中文概要

Synopsis

四皓镇是商州一大名镇。秦时，东园公、角里先生、绮里季、夏黄公四位老者避乱世隐居于此，饥食紫芝，渴饮石泉，而名垂青史。如今，镇上的韩玄子被人称作“商山第五皓”。韩玄子是民国时代国立县中的毕业生，很有学问。教了34年书，3年前退休，仍然志得意满。因为他“桃李满天下”，学生有的当了县委书记，有的当了地委部长，他的长子大贝又是全镇第一个大学生，现在在省城当大记者。退休后他被公社委任为文化站长。小儿二贝接他的班在公社中学当老师，已娶妻，大女儿叶子也已出嫁。闲暇时他在院中读书喝茶。近两年他的日子越来越不好过。二贝不听话，嫌他保守，爱管闲事。二贝媳妇白银学城里人的样子，穿拖鞋，烫头发，睡懒觉。于是他和儿子分家，天天喝闷酒。老伴埋怨日子越过越穷，不如人家王才。王才本是镇上的穷小子，又矮又瘦，上学了还尿床，瞎眼老娘去世，好不容易娶了媳妇，穷得叮当响。但搞责任制后，他受二贝启发，先是采商芝卖钱，没成功，又办食品加工厂，终于发了财。韩玄子心里不服。女儿叶子已经旅行结婚，韩玄子还要按当地风俗在家办一场酒席，以示自己受人敬重。正月里请客，他腊月就开始准备。这天早上他去巩德胜的杂货店买酒，路上听说王才为了搞食品加工厂，把自家的责任田转包给狗剩种了。买了酒回到家，王才正在等他。因为生产队的四间公房要出卖，公房挨着王才的家，王才想买下当厂房用，托他去和公社说。韩玄子当过王才的老师，又是镇上的头面人物，所以王才对他毕恭毕敬。但他却谈起王才转包土地的事，说那是雇工剥削，把王才吓得脸发白。王才走后他又找公社王书记告状，王书记却说中央快要下文件了，土地可以转让。为了使王才买不成房，韩玄子决定自己把房买下，但没有钱。二贝反对，大贝也来信反对。最后房子被王才买去，韩玄子气得在床上睡了两天，并决定过年给叶子办酒席不准王才家的人来，连狗剩、秃子都不准来，因为狗剩和秃子到王才的厂里当工人去了。一天，狗剩几个人从王才那里领了工资，去巩德胜店里喝酒，和巩德胜发生冲突，韩玄子借机让公社武装部重罚他们，让他们知道和王才站在一起没有好处。王才伤心不已，想找机会多为镇上的人办好事。大年三十王才私人拿钱包电影给镇上人看。得知此事，韩玄子便怂恿巩德胜当晚也包一场，放《少林寺》，把人都吸引过去了。二贝和白银对爹大为不满，去看王才包的电影。王才拉着二贝的手激动不已。他诉苦说现在厂里销路好产量大，但原料不足。二贝出主意让他申请县里供给，并答应帮他写报告。从正月初一开始，来韩玄子家拜年、请喝酒的人排成队，韩玄子高兴得满面红光。王才带着礼品来了三次，韩玄子才见他。他求韩玄子把他的报告转给县里，韩玄子不同意。最后是二贝偷偷通过熟人把王才的报告转到县里。正月十二四皓镇社火队要去县里参加社火比赛，但没有经费。王才主动捐钱，韩玄子还摆架子。最后社火队在县里被人比下去，丢了脸，韩玄子几乎气出病来。正月十五，韩玄子家要请客了。公社王书记说县委马书记要来四皓镇给几户人家拜年，邀韩玄子一起去迎。韩玄子以为马书记一定会来自己家，便说了出来，满院子客人又激动又羡慕，说叶子好福气。但实际上马书记是接到二贝代王才转上去的报告，专程来给个体户王才拜年的。马书记与王才合影，还请他参加县里的个体户代表大会。韩玄子家的许多客人跑到王才家看热闹，酒席冷了场。马书记走后，镇上许多人要入王才的厂，白银为偿还家里大办酒席欠的债，也背着韩玄子去王才的厂里做工了。正月过后，韩玄子明显衰老了。

小说对韩玄子在竞争中迅速败北的结局安排，充分显示出经济变革对农村社会的人际关系，对农民观念意识、习惯带来的重大变动和令人惊叹的变化。

The Town of the Four Hermits is well-known in Shangzhou. During the Qin dynasty, four hermits of noble character and great wisdom sought refuge here from the raging political turmoil, eating shelf mushrooms and drinking spring water, leaving the town forever famous in Chinese history.

These days, Han Xuanzi is called “the Fifth Hermit”. Graduated from the county public middle school during the Republic of China era (1911-1949), Han is very knowledgeable indeed. Having taught for thirty-four years, he retired three years ago. He is very content with his life from having so many talented students: one is now county CCP secretary, another important official of regional CCP committee. Da Bei, his eldest son, the first ever in the town to receive a college education, is now a famous journalist in the provincial capital. Upon retirement, the commune appointed him chief of the cultural station. Er Bei, his second son, is now married and has taken over his post to teach at the commune middle school. Ye Zi, his eldest daughter, is married now also. During his leisure time, he reads and sips tea in the courtyard.    

Over the past two years, his life has been deteriorating. Er Bei, who becomes disobedient, accuses him of being conservative and advises him to mind his own business. Bai Yin, Er Bei’s wife, following the customs of the city folk, wears slippers, perms her hair and sleeps in late. He parts with Er Bei and drowns his sorrows in alcohol. His wife complains that they are getting poorer by the day and falling further and further behind Wang Cai.

Wang Cai, originally the pauper of the town, is short and skinny. It is rumored that he still wet his bed even after starting school. After his blind mother died, he, due to poverty, experienced much difficulty before finally securing a spouse. His chance, though, came with the beginning of the Reform. At the suggestion of Er Bei, he first tries to sell shelf mushrooms, but fails. However, he finally makes his fortune by running a food-processing plant.  

Han is unwilling to give in. Although his daughter has already gone on her honeymoon trip, he still plans to host a wedding banquet according to local custom to demonstrate the respect he commands in the local community. Even though the banquet is scheduled for lunar January the following year, he begins preparations in lunar December.

One morning, on his way to buy liquor, he hears that Wang Cai, occupied with the plant, has subleased his land to Gou Sheng. Back home, he finds Wang Cai waiting for him. Wang Cai wants to buy the four public houses near his home for plant expansion and asks Han to make the enquiry.

Wang Cai shows deep respect for Han as Han was once his teacher and is a local dignitary. Han, however, warns Wang that subleasing the land amounts to exploitation, giving Wang quite a fright. After Wang’s departure, Han goes to inform the commune CCP secretary. The secretary, however, reveals that official document will soon be issued, allowing the sublease of land.

To the spite of Wang Cai, Han decides to buy the houses himself. However, he has not got enough money and is met with objections from both of his sons. Wang finally succeeds in buying the houses. Han is so infuriated that he lies in bed for two days. Again, to spite Wang and those close to him, he refuses to invite Wang, his family and his employees such as Gou Sheng and Tuzi to his daughter’s wedding banquet.    

One day, Wang’s employees such as Gou Sheng, after receiving their wages, go to buy liquor and fall into a brawl with Gong Desheng, the shop owner. Han seizes the opportunity and asks the local authorities to severely punish Wang’s employees, warning them of the danger of association with Wang.

Deeply hurt, Wang nevertheless decides to contribute further to the local welfare system. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, Wang hosts a movie showing for the town folk at his own expense. Learning this, Han encourages Gong, the liquor shop owner, to treat the town folk to a show of Shaolin Temple to draw away the crowd.

Er Bei and Bai Yin, deeply discontented with Han’s doings, attend the show hosted by Wang. Holding Er Bei’s hand excitedly, Wang complains that supply of raw materials has been insufficient to meet surging market demands. Er Bai suggests that he apply for the county government’s supply and promises to draft the application for Wang.   

On the first day of lunar new year, people start to line up at Han’s door to show their respect and express congratulations as usual and Han is overjoyed. Gift in hand, Wang has to come three times before Han agrees to meet him. Han rejects Wang’s plea to submit the application to the county government. In the end, Er Bei succeeds in this effort through his connections.

On the twelfth day of lunar January, the town troupe is supposed to attend a performance competition at the county level, but is unable to do so due to a shortfall in funding. Fortunately Wang Cai comes to the rescue, volunteering to finance the trip out of his own pocket, a generous gesture for which Han nevertheless shows scant appreciation. The town troupe loses the competition. Humiliated, Han falls sick. 

On the fifteenth day of lunar January, the wedding banquet is held at Han’s home. Mr. Wang, the commune CCP secretary, invites Han to come along to welcome Mr. Ma, the county CCP secretary, who is calling on certain households in the town to offer his best wishes for the Chinese New Year. Han, confident that Mr. Ma will call on him, tells his guests as such, winning the admiration of all present. In actuality, however, Mr. Ma is coming to call on Wang Cai following the receipt of his application forwarded by Er Bei. Mr. Ma takes a photo with Wang and invites him personally to attend the county private entrepreneur conference. Many of Han’s guests steal out to watch the scene at Wang’s home. The banquet is turning out to be a flop. Following the departure of Mr. Ma, many in the town apply to join Wang’s plant. Han ages perceptibly following lunar January. 

The decline and fall of Han’s fortune fully reflects the impact of changing social-economic circumstances in rural China, which drastically changes interpersonal relationships, thoughts and habits of farmers.