编者按：为了更好地进行中国文学海外传播工作，让中国作品在海外被发现（Discover）、被理解（Understand）、被传播（Express），中国文化译研网（CCTSS）邀请国内资深文学主编及文学评论家，精选出近两百部短中长篇小说，形成第一期《中国当代文学作品指南》（简称“指南”），从更具权威性、价值性的角度出发，更好地向世界展示中国当代文学精品，传播中国书香。

夏读书，日正长，打开书，喜洋洋。现将“指南”中的精品文学作品以一日一推的方式向读者呈现，让我们不负一夏好时光。

迟子建丨《世界上所有的夜晚》

推荐理由

《世界上所有的夜晚》发表于《北京文学（中篇小说月报）》2007年第12期。

小说以“我”和魔术师的爱情作为发端和主线，但整部作品主要讲述的却是主人公一路上见到的形形色色的“他人”的伤痛。小说中通过自我哀伤的化解过程，把目光更多地投注到社会底层小人物的现实困境中去。作品以第一人称叙述，让读者近距离地感受到芸芸众生中种种彻骨的哀痛，从而表达了作者对底层平民生存困境一往情深的关注和悲天悯人的情怀。

小说以死反衬生，即以死亡的恐怖和毫无道理反衬生活在这样的现实下的人的辛酸和艰辛。种种死亡意象贯穿故事始终，无论是正面描写人物的死亡过程，还是通过“未亡者”的叙述侧面体现死亡，这些死亡方式都是看似荒诞和毫无道理的。生命的无常似乎才是这里永恒的主题，由此便衬托出了故事中人物的坚忍和不易。

小说以景色和歌声的美丽反衬死亡的阴暗可怖。三山湖风景秀丽，乌塘虽说不够迷人，但它的每条街巷都有一个温和的名字，而且这里住着辛苦过日子的夫妻和拥有美妙歌声的老人。然而死亡在这里是无法摆脱的。生活的美丽温暖和死亡的丑陋不堪在故事中形成了鲜明的反差，带给读者极大的心灵震撼。

Reviews

All Nights in the World was published in Beijing Literature (Novella Monthly) in 2007, issue 12.

The novel starts with and revolves around the love between the magician and the narrator “I”. However, the whole story depicts the various pain of “others” during her travels. While resolving the protagonist’s own sorrow, the story casts light onto the plights of ordinary people who live at the bottom of society. The story is told in the first person, narrating various melancholy events that take place in the everyday lives of ordinary people, which happen right before the eyes of readers. In doing so, the author expresses a deep concern and sympathy to the plight of people living at the bottom of the society.

The novel compares life and death. That is to say, it describes people’s sadness in struggling with the real world against a background of the horror and ridicule of death. The story is full of all kinds of death—either straight-forward descriptions of a character’s death or indirect narration of death by survivors. All death seems to be absurd and unreasonable. The impermanence of life seems to be the permanent theme here, which in consequence brings out the persistent struggle of the characters in their difficult lives.

The novel also brings out the darkness and horror of death by setting the story in beautiful scenery with beautiful songs. For example, three Mountain Lake is a beautiful place, and although Wutang is less attractive, each of its streets has a gentle name, and in that town live couples who work hard together and an old man whose voice is beautiful. However, death is inevitable here. Readers experience a strong sense of dissonance while discovering the clear contrast between beautiful, warm life and embarrassing, ugly death. 

作家简介

Author Profile

迟子建，女，山东海阳人，1964年生于黑龙江漠河。1984年毕业于大兴安岭师范学校，1987年入北京师范大学与鲁迅文学院联办的研究生班学习。毕业后到黑龙江省作协工作至今。现任黑龙江省作协主席。

1983年开始文学创作。著有长篇小说《树下》《晨钟响彻黄昏》《伪满洲国》《越过云层的晴朗》《群山之巅》，小说集《北极村童话》《白雪的墓园》《向着白夜旅行》《逝川》《白银那》《朋友们来看雪吧》《清水洗尘》《雾月牛栏》《当代作家选集丛书·迟子建卷》《踏着月光的行板》，散文随笔集《伤怀之美》《听时光飞舞》《我的世界下雪了》《迟子建随笔自选集》等，另有《迟子建文集》（4卷）《迟子建作品精华》（3卷），已发表文学作品500万字，出版单行本40余部。

《世界上所有的夜晚》获第四届鲁迅文学奖、2004—2006年全国优秀中篇小说奖。

Chi Zijian, a female writer, was born in 1964 in Mohe city, Heilongjiang Province. She graduated from the Greater Khingan Normal School in 1984, and furthered her studies in 1987 with a post-graduate degree in a school co-established by Beijing Normal University and Lu Xun Literary Institute (formerly Central Literary Research Institute). Since graduation, she has been working in Heilongjiang Writers Association, where she now serves as the Vice-chairperson.

Since 1983 she has been publishing literary works. Her novels include Beneath the Tree, Morning Bell Heard Throughout the Evening, Puppet Manchukuo, Sunshine Behind the Clouds, and Peak Among the Mountains. Her collections of novellas include Tales from an Arctic Village, The Snowy Graveyard, Travels to White Nights, Shichuan, Baiyinna, Let’s Enjoy the Snow, Washing Off Dust with Clear Water, Fog, Moon, and the Cattle Pen, Collection of Contemporary Writers: Chi Zijian and Andante Treading on the Moonlight. Her collection of essays and prose include Beauty of Sentiment, Listen, Time is Flying, My World Is Snowing and Collection of Chi Zijian’s Prose. Her other publications include Collection of Chi Zijian (Four Volumes) and Selected Works of Chi Zijian (Three Volumes). Her publications total more than five million words and more than forty separate editions.

Furthermore Fog, Moon, and the Cattle Pen won the 1st Lu Xun Literature Prize in 1996, Washing Off Dust with Clear Water won the 2nd Lu Xun Literature Prize in 2000, All Night in the World won the 4th Lu Xun Literature Prize in 2007 and the 2004-2006 National Award for Outstanding Novellas, and Last Quarter of the Moon won the 7th Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2008.

中文概要

Synopsis

第一章 魔术师与跛足驴

我的丈夫是一个魔术师，在两个月前的一个深夜，被一个骑着破旧摩托车的菜农（跛足驴）撞死街头。我悲痛万分，无法忘记那些与他相伴美好的夜晚。于是我决定去三山湖旅行，据说那里“红泥泉”中沉积的淤泥能够治愈疾病。我还想到附近的村镇走走，去收集一些民歌与鬼故事，我甚至想遇到巫师，能够用招魂术让我的灵魂与他相遇。

第二章 蒋百嫂闹酒馆

由于列车前方路段发生了塌方，我不得不在乌塘下车。在这个破旧的小镇，我住在了周二嫂的旅馆中。她向我推荐了“暖肠酒馆”。在去酒馆的路上，我发现了一条瘦狗，一位老人说这条狗仍等待着自己的主人蒋百，然而蒋百早就在矿站失踪了一年多，并嘲讽蒋百嫂常往家里带男人，还不如狗忠诚。

我进了酒馆，就听到一个女人在里面大声吆喝着添酒，突然招呼我去陪她喝两杯，我以为这是酒疯子，没有理睬。这种淡漠却激怒了她，她将酒菜碗碟摔在地上。这时，店主出来说，蒋百嫂你又闹了，你家蒋百丢了一年多也不着急，女人没了男人果然不行。蒋百嫂却冷笑，继续砸下去，说，损了东西我赔，赔得起。

第三章 说鬼的集市

旅馆周二嫂的丈夫叫周二，原是一名矿工，在一次事故中幸存，用赔偿金开了旅馆，平时也做卖豆腐的生意，他听闻我要搜集鬼故事，便邀我一同去集市，那里讲鬼故事的人多。

在集市中，种种小人物各有各的悲哀，周二将会说鬼故事的史三婆介绍给我，她讲了故事，后来又给我讲到“嫁死”的怪俗——一些穷地方的女人跑到乌塘来，嫁给矿工，买上好几份保险，单等着他们死，从而获得赔偿金。人比鬼还可怕。

第四章 失传的民歌

周二听说我还想收集民歌，便向我介绍了深井画店的主人陈绍纯。来到画店，陈绍纯在认真画画，没理睬我，我要走时，他突然悲吟起来，像大雪漫天，凄美悲凉。与其说他唱的是民歌，不如说是“丧曲”。这时，一个叫牛枕的壮汉进来，叫陈绍纯把一副画中的牡丹涂得再红些，陈很不情愿，但也默应了。他又开始作画，我百无聊赖的去街上走走，这悲调让我想起魔术师。然而就在这个夜晚，陈绍纯却被一幅画砸死了，就是牛枕让他添墨的牡丹画。

第五章 沉默的冰山

周二嫂说蒋百嫂这两年没少听陈绍纯的民歌，也会哼两句。于是我决定去找蒋百嫂。

我对蒋百嫂说上次在暖肠酒馆你邀我喝酒，我没应你，现在过来赔罪。酒过三巡，蒋百嫂醉了。她家里屋常有机器的轰鸣声。趁着蒋百嫂睡着了，我偷偷进去，发现屋里有一个白色的冰柜，冰柜上面放着贡品，而冰柜里竟是蒋百的尸体。我打了一串寒战。

第六章 永别于清流

离开乌塘，我来到了三山湖，涂满泥巴，释放泪水。

我在景区里闲逛，一个卖磨脚石的男孩吸引了我，他叫云岭。他爸爸是一个独臂人。他说云岭的妈妈死于一条狗，得了狂犬病。可云岭从没去过妈妈的坟上，每年阴历七月十五，他都会提着河灯，去一条小溪放河灯。他说，妈妈没有呆在土里。

我请求陪同云岭一起去，他妈妈曾对他说，一个人若是丢了，在清流中呼唤他的名字，灵魂便会回来。

我将丈夫生前用过的剃须刀里残存的胡须倾入河中，呼唤着他的名字，放了河灯。我回到旅馆后，竟发现装剃须刀的盒子里有一只蝴蝶，它盘旋而出，落在我无名指上。

Chapter 1: Magician and the Crippled Donkey

My late husband was a magician. Two months ago, at midnight, he died in an accident in the street where he was hit by a vegetable farmer (the Crippled Donkey) who was riding an old motorcycle. I was in agony and could not forget all those beautiful nights when he was beside me. So I decided to take a trip to Three Mountain Lake. It is said that the silt on the bottom of the Red Mud Spring can cure diseases. I also desired to pay a visit to the nearby villages to collect some folk songs and ghost stories. My secret, my wild idea, is that I might even encounter a spiritual medium who might help me to meet my late husband’s soul.

Chapter 2: Mrs. Jiang Bai Making Trouble in the Restaurant

Due to a collapse ahead of the train, I must disembark from the train at Wutong, which is a fairly old broken down town. I live in a hotel there whose owner is Mrs. Zhou’er. She recommends that I try the restaurant “Nuan Chang”. On my way to this restaurant, I run into a skinny dog. An old man says that the dog is still waiting for its master, Mr. Jiang Bai who has been missing for more than a year. The last place he was seen was the mine station. The old man scorns Mrs. Jiang because she always brings men home at night. He says the dog is even more loyal than her.

Upon entering the restaurant, I hear a woman yelling inside for more alcohol. Suddenly, she invites me to have a cup of alcohol with her. I assume that this must be a crazy, drunk woman and ignore the invitation. However, my coldness irritates this woman. She throws food, drink, plates, and saucers on the floor. At this moment, the owner of the restaurant comes out and says, “Mrs. Jiang Bai, you are making trouble again. Your husband has been missing for more than a year and you are not worried about him. It is true that women cannot live without men.” Mrs. Jiang sneers and continues breaking dishes, saying, “I’ll pay for the damage. I can afford it.”

Chapter 3: A Market full of Ghost Stories

The hotel owner’s husband is Mr. Zhou’er who used to be a miner. He survived a mining accident and opened the hotel with his compensation. He usually sells tofu too. When he learns that I want to collect ghost stories, he invites me to go to the market where there are quite a few people who can tell ghost stories.

In the market, there are many ordinary people each with their own sadness. Zhou’er introduces me to an old woman named Shi San who knows a lot of ghost stories. She tells me stories and mentions a strange local custom “marrying the dead”—some women from the poorest regions come to Wutang and marry miners. They first buy a lot of insurance and then they do nothing but wait for their husbands’ death so that they can get paid. People are more terrible than ghosts.

Chapter 4: Lost Folk Songs

When Zhou’er learns that I am also interested in folk songs, he introduces me to Chen Shaochun who runs a “Deep Well” painting store. When I enter the store, Chen is so focused on painting that he completely ignores me. As I am about to leave, he suddenly begins singing. The songs are so sad. They sound like huge snowflakes fluttering their way down from the distant sky above which envelops the whole world in beautiful sadness. His songs sound much more like dirges than folk songs. At this moment, a robust man named Niu Zhen enters. He asks Chen to paint the peony in a redder paint. Chen hesitates, but he agrees silently in the end. He starts to paint again. I am bored so I decide to take a walk in the street. The sad tunes remind me of my late magician. However, Chen Shaochun dies the same night. A painting falls on him. The same painting of the peony that Niu Zhen asked him to paint redder. 

Chapter 5: Silent Iceberg

Mrs. Zhou’er says that Mrs. Jiang Bai heard quite a few folk songs from Chen Shaochun over the past couple of years. She can hum some too. So, I decide to pay her a visit. 

I say to Mrs. Jiang Bai, “You invited me for alcohol last time and I did not respond to your invitation. I have come here to apologize.” After several cups of alcohol, Mrs. Jiang Bai gets drunk. There is always a roaring sound of some machine in her apartment. While she is fast asleep, I creep into the room and find a white freezer there on the top of which lay some sacrifices. What’s inside the freezer turns out to be the corpse of Jiang Bai. I feel chills run down my spine. 

Chapter 6: Farewell to clear current

I leave Wutong and come to Three Mountain Lake. Applying silt all over my body, I let go of my tears. 

I wander around the scenic area and get attracted by a boy who sells foot stones. His name is Yunling. His father has only one arm. He says that Yunling’s mother died from a dog. She got rabies. However, Yunling never went to his mother’s tomb. Instead, he goes to a stream with a river lantern in his hand on every lunar July 15th. He floats the lantern in the current. He says that his mother is not in the earth. 

I ask if I can accompany Yunling this year. His mother once told him, “If a person is lost, you call their name in the clear current and their soul would be able to come back.” 

Calling his name, I emptied into the stream the remaining beard in the razor that my late husband used and float a river lantern. When I come back to my hotel, to my surprise, I find a butterfly in the razor case. It swirls out and lands on my ring finger.