《鑑真號的遠航、大佛的夢境預言與一塊像工農肥皂的起司》

1988年7月16日，我乘坐「鑑真號」輪船第一次離開故土去了日本。J 租了一輛小車，在18日中午抵達大阪碼頭來接我。回程的車中，我高歌一曲《妹妹你大膽地往前走》，就此開啟了我的海外生涯。

從大阪到位於神奈川縣伊勢原市的新家，如今用網上地圖一查，才五六個小時的車程。但當時的我並不知道，一切都是那麼的新鮮。J 不懂日語，全憑看著地圖開車，途中經常會遇到單行道，難免有些沮喪地嘟嘟囔囔。當晚我們在日本民宿住了一夜，途中 J 還帶著我轉了幾個地方。那時我人生地不熟，一個具體的地名也沒記住，只知道照片中的那尊大佛是鐮倉的。

多年後有了互聯網，上網一查才知道，鐮倉大佛距我拜訪的日子倒推700多年就開始建造了。大佛最初是木質結構，花了六年時間完成，三年後被颱風毀壞。1253年開始重鑄銅製坐佛像，供奉於大佛殿之內。而200多年後，大佛殿被海水倒灌沖毀，自此鐮倉大佛就成了露天大佛。我站在大佛像前時，大佛已經露天遮風擋雨將近500年了。這是多麼驚心動魄的歷程。難怪我那年元旦第一天就做了夢，夢見大地震，海水把一艘大船直接沖到了家門口。原來那是歷史通過夢的形式，小試牛刀演繹給我看一眼。

終於到家了。J 拿著鑰匙開了門，我剛要跨進去，J 說了一聲：「等等。」說著，他彎腰順勢抄起我的雙腿，將我整個橫抱起來走了進去。西方的這一習俗好溫馨。

屋子裡井然有序。放下行李，打開窗戶透氣，我們的小日子就開始了。

到家的第二天，J 給了我20萬日元。我當時全然不知道這筆錢是給我幹嘛用的，也許是讓我負擔起日常的開銷，我也沒問。但是平時出門買菜什麼的，他還會另外給我錢，我也就糊里糊塗地拿著。到了第二個月，他便沒有一下子再給我這麼多錢了，我同樣沒問。我腦子裡少了一根要「掌控」的弦，根本沒想過要當家、掌握經濟大權，本來這錢就不是我掙的。

抵達日本後的第五天，J 帶我去與他的朋友們見面。他們經常在附近的一家酒屋裡喝酒，裡面有日本教授，也有西方外教，都是東海大學的。一進門，媽媽桑就熱情地為我送上了鮮花和禮物。大家開開心心地聚集在一起分享美食、聊天，這還真是我頭一回被眾人如此「關注」，心裡有些不好意思。

從北窗望去，遠處最高的山峰是Oyama大山

接下來的幾天我們就在附近轉了轉。我們去爬了大山（Oyama），又去了古都鐮倉。

那時我發覺，結了婚的第一個好處是：再也不用偷偷摸摸的了。過去無論是愛誰還是被誰愛，心裡都覺得是一件見不得人的事。原因是我當年愛著的人，後來得知他早已經有了對象，所以我們在公園裡散步都是一前一後地保持著距離。或者是那個我不愛、但他偏偏愛我的人，因為害怕得罪他有權有勢的爸爸，我不得不一次次跟著他出去，嘴裡重複著說「我們就做朋友吧」。當然，我更不願意讓別人看到我和他走在一起。再後來的姐弟戀，也是同樣見不得光的。

J 在歐洲待了幾年，有點「崇歐媚外」，總覺得什麼優格、起司、麵包、香腸、酒等等都是歐洲的最好。他自己也會做一手美味的意大利和法國料理。

他做的青醬意大利麵（Pesto Spaghetti）非常好吃，做法也簡單：用新鮮羅勒葉、烤松子、現磨碎的 Parmesan 奶酪、大蒜、現擠的檸檬汁和橄欖油。說到帕爾馬干酪（Parmesan），這裡還有一個小插曲。

剛到日本的某一天，我正在水池邊洗菜。J 從後面伸過手來，將一塊黃兮兮的東西送到我嘴邊。我把頭讓開了一點，想看清那到底是什麼。那東西看上去就像一小塊過去用的「工農肥皂」。不容我多問，J 臉上帶著神秘的微笑，將那塊「肥皂」塞進了我的嘴裡。我頓時驚呼：「Soap！Soap！」然而第二聲「Soap」還沒喊完，一股無法言喻的美味便在嘴裡漾了開來。原來，那是一塊意大利的 Parmesan 起司。這是我這輩子第一次吃起司。

J 還做過另外一種意大利面，同樣好吃且做法簡單。用大蒜、辣椒、番茄、黑橄欖（Black Olives）、刺山柑（Capers）、鹹魚（Anchovies）和橄欖油。J 說這道麵有一個特殊的名字，叫「Whore Spaghetti」，也就是「妓女麵」。據說是因為過去的妓女接客太忙了，為了節省時間才做這種麵。但我後來記錯了，這些年裡，我一直把那道「青醬意大利麵」誤記成了妓女面。

說到美食，J 是比較講究的。他自己精通意大利和法國美食的烹飪，下館子必須要吃精緻美食（Gourmet Foods），從不吃任何快餐。他也從不去超市或大型連鎖店，買東西一定要去照顧街邊那些誠實本分、產品質量極高的小實體店生意，哪怕價格貴一點也無妨。面對經濟發展的迅猛趨勢，他的這種堅持，真的帶有一點螳臂擋車的無奈。

喝酒方面 J 同樣有講究。儘管我們兩人在家吃飯時不喝開胃酒和餐後酒，但佐餐酒是必不可少的。吃海鮮必須配乾白葡萄酒，吃肉類則喝乾紅葡萄酒，普通的日常菜餚喝啤酒。到了睡覺前，在悠然輕鬆的背景音樂中，J 還喜歡喝上一點威士忌或白蘭地。

而過去只有在節假日才喝一點像甜水兒一樣的紅葡萄酒的我，一時間根本無法適應這種生活方式。為此 J 特意給我買了愛爾蘭百利甜（Baileys Irish Cream）和法國的金萬利（Grand Marnier）。我當時心裡還有些嫌他喝得太多。你想啊，我那時剛剛從一個貧窮、節儉的生活環境中走出來，哪裡見過這種架勢。沒見過家裡備有酒櫥，沒見過櫥裡擺著那麼多種類的酒，更沒見過天天都要喝酒的人。

那時的我根本沒有意識到這其實是一種中產階級（Bourgeois lifestyle）的生活方式和享受，反而認為這些都是不好的壞習慣。所以我是能不喝就儘量不喝。現在想想，是不是顯得有些大煞風景？確實是。我簡直是有福不享，生在福中不知福。

但是，到頭來生活了許多年後才知道，原來滴酒不沾才是最健康的。

**********************************

The Voyage of the Jianzhen, the Prophecy of the Great Buddha, and a Cheese update like Peasant Soap

On July 16, 1988, I boarded the liner Jianzhen and departed from my homeland for Japan for the very first time. Renting a small vehicle, J arrived at the Osaka pier at noon on July 18 to receive me. On our return drive, I sang aloud the song "Sister, Boldly March Forward," thus initiating my life overseas.

The distance from Osaka to our new home in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is merely a five-to-six-hour drive by modern online maps, though I had no inkling of this at the time; everything felt entirely novel. J understood no Japanese and navigated strictly by consulting paper maps; encounters with one-way streets were frequent, causing him to mutter with frustration. We lodged at a Japanese guesthouse for the night, and J guided me to see several locations along the way. Being completely unfamiliar with the country, I failed to record a single specific place name, knowing only that the giant Buddha in our photograph belonged to Kamakura.

Years later, with the advent of the Internet, I researched online and discovered that construction on the Great Buddha of Kamakura had commenced over 700 years prior to my visit. Initially a wooden structure, it required six years to complete, only to be demolished by a typhoon three years later. In 1253, casting began on the bronze seated statue, which was housed within a grand temple hall. However, over two centuries later, the hall was entirely swept away by a catastrophic tsunami, leaving the Great Buddha exposed to the elements ever since. By the time I stood before the statue, it had already weathered the sun and rain in the open air for nearly 500 years. What a breathtakingly monumental history. No wonder on the very first day of that New Year, I had a dream—dreaming of a massive earthquake where the surging sea pushed a grand vessel straight to our doorstep. It was history utilizing the architecture of sleep to grant me a brief preview of its power.

Upon arriving at our destination, J produced the key and opened the door. Just as I prepared to step across the threshold, J interjected, "Wait." Bending down, he caught both my legs in his arms, lifted me entirely into a bridal carry, and walked inside. This Western custom felt remarkably warm and welcoming.

The interior of the house was in immaculate order. We dropped our luggage and opened the windows to air out the space; our daily life together had begun.

On the morning following my arrival, J handed me 200,000 Yen. I had absolutely no conception of what this fund was intended for; perhaps it was meant for me to manage our daily expenses, though I never questioned him. However, he would still provide additional money whenever we went out for groceries, and I simply accepted it blindly. By the second month, he ceased giving me such a large sum all at once, and again, I asked no questions. The desire for "control" was entirely missing from my nature; it never crossed my mind to manage the household finances or seize economic authority—after all, the money was not earned by me.

On our fifth day in Japan, J took me to meet his companions. They regularly gathered for drinks at a local pub nearby; among them were Japanese professors and Western foreign language instructors, all belonging to Tokai University. The moment we entered, the proprietress (Mama-san) warmly presented me with fresh flowers and gifts. Everyone joyfully shared fine delicacies and chatted together; it was truly the first time in my life that I had been the focus of such attention, leaving me somewhat bashful.

Over the succeeding days, we toured the immediate vicinity, scaling the heights of Mount Oyama and visiting the historic ancient capital of Kamakura.

I quickly realized that the first true benefit of marriage was that there was no longer any need for secrecy. In the past, whether loving someone or being loved by another, it always felt like a shameful affair to be hidden from sight. The reason was that the man I loved was later revealed to already have a partner, meaning we walked through the park strictly with one behind the other, keeping our distance. Or, in the case of those I did not love but who loved me, out of fear of offending his powerful and influential father, I was forced to accompany him out time and again, repeating, "Let us simply be friends." Naturally, I was utterly unwilling to let anyone witness me walking beside him. The later relationship with a younger man was similarly barred from the light of day.

Having resided in Europe for several years, J possessed a certain penchant for Western imports, firmly believing that yogurt, cheese, bread, sausage, and wine were always superior if they came from Europe. He was highly skilled at preparing delicious Italian and French cuisine. His Pesto Spaghetti was exceptionally savory and simple to make: using fresh basil leaves, toasted pine nuts, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and olive oil. Regarding Parmesan, there remains a brief anecdote.

On a certain day shortly after my arrival, I was washing vegetables by the sink. J reached his hand out from behind me, bringing a yellowish wedge directly to my lips. I drew my head back slightly to discern what it was. The object resembled a small block of the crude "peasant soap" issued by factories in China back in the old days. Before I could question him, J wore a mysterious smile and popped the "soap" straight into my mouth. I instantly shrieked, "Soap! Soap!" Yet before the second cry could escape my lips, a wave of pure deliciousness rippled across my palate. It turned out to be a piece of Italian Parmesan cheese—the very first time in my life I had tasted cheese.

J also prepared another variety of pasta that was equally delicious and simple. It utilized garlic, chili peppers, tomatoes, black olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil. J mentioned that this pasta bore a peculiar name called "Whore Spaghetti" (Pasta alla Puttanesca), explaining that prostitutes in the old days were far too busy receiving clients and prepared this dish simply to save time. However, my memory failed me later; for all these decades since, I had mistakenly remembered the Pesto Spaghetti as the "Whore Spaghetti."

When it came to culinary tastes, J was remarkably particular. He was an expert in cooking Italian and French delicacies; dining out required Gourmet Foods, and he never touched fast food of any kind. He similarly avoided supermarkets and massive retail chains, insisting instead on patronizing small brick-and-mortar storefronts along the street because they were honest, decent, and offered exceptional quality—even if the prices were slightly higher. Faced with the roaring velocity of modern economic development, his persistence truly carried the poignant futility of a mantis trying to stop a cart.

J was equally particular regarding alcohol. Though the two of us never consumed aperitifs or digestifs when dining at home, a table wine was mandatory. Seafood was strictly paired with dry white wine, meats required dry red wine, and ordinary daily dishes were accompanied by beer. Before retiring for the night, amidst a backdrop of serene and relaxing music, J also liked to savor a glass of whiskey or brandy.

Yet for someone like me, who in the past had only consumed sweet, juice-like red wine exclusively during festive holidays, I simply could not adapt to this way of living. For my sake, J specifically purchased Baileys Irish Cream and French Grand Marnier. Internally, I harbored a slight resentment that he drank so excessively. Consider it: I had only just emerged from a destitute, frugal environment and had never witnessed such a grand display. I had never seen a home outfitted with a liquor cabinet, never seen a cabinet packed with such a vast assortment of spirits, and certainly had never encountered a person who drank every single day.

At the time, I entirely failed to recognize that this was actually a Bourgeois lifestyle—a form of enjoyment; instead, I judged these practices as inherently bad habits. Consequently, I avoided drinking whenever possible. Reflecting on it now, did I not act as a total wet blanket? Indeed, I did. I was blessed with good fortune yet utterly failed to recognize it, living in comfort without realizing its value.

Yet, after living through it all to the very end, one finally learns that remaining entirely teetotal is the only true way to health.

特別感謝 Gemini AI 提供充滿活力的翻譯和文本潤色。

Special thanks to Gemini AI for providing the spirited translation and text refinement.

第四百二十六篇

《窄庫推車的霸氣工人、窗櫺閃光燈與「曾」家馬隊的惡作劇》

【作者注】

夢裡所謂 PY 的住房，現實中其實是 J 父母的家。兩位老人去世後房子歸了 J。因為 J 當時不在美國，我和胡笳便在2001年至2006年間租住在那裡。我們搬走以後，那棟房子便一直空關著。現實中根本就沒有任何專人看管，只是由我和胡笳每隔個十天半月，自己開車回去開開窗、透透氣。潛意識卻在夢裡把這個簡單的日常習慣，演繹成了一場有人看管、甚至招來軍車搜捕的荒誕大戲。

【夢境正文】

2023年8月17日：PY 的那套住房我已經有好久沒去了，平時都是交由專人看管著的。這回我去了，心裡總覺得有些不太習慣。中途有修理工上門來修理東西，他把自己的車停在了房屋西側的車庫裡。車庫狹窄，只能容下一輛車。（現實生活中那地方是條露天車道）。

等幹完活兒之後，只見那個修理工居然直接用雙手將他的車子推出了車庫。車庫大門口的地面上還有一個凸起的台階，他也只是加大力度，就把整輛車給推上了台階，一路推到了外面的大馬路上才發動開走，好霸氣。

負責看管房子的人家有一個小女孩，她敲門進屋，在桌上留下了一部折疊式手機。

沒過多久，外面又傳來了敲門聲。我透過窗戶看到門前的車道上正停著兩輛車，後面那一輛是軍用卡車，裡面黑壓壓地坐滿了荷槍實彈、神色威嚴的軍人。前面那輛車裡則下來了幾個身穿便衣的人，他們徑直來到門口，就開始大聲宣讀罪狀，作勢就要進屋抓人。

正當爭辯之際，突然走過來一個人對著領頭的說：「弄錯了，不是這一家，趕緊撤！」話音剛落，「呼啦」一下，這撥來勢洶洶的人便走得乾乾淨淨。直到這時，我才放下心來。

我順手拿起小女孩留下的那部折疊手機，來到了東邊的窗戶前。我用手分開百葉窗的條櫺，透過那道窄窄的縫隙，想用手機對著外面那群正準備離去的人拍張照片。

可好巧不巧，那部手機在按下快門的剎那，「唰」地一下，閃光燈竟然發出了一片刺眼的光。這一下立馬被還沒走遠的軍車上的人給發現了。

剎那間，四五個軍人迅速抬起了手中的槍，齊刷刷地對準了我所站立的那扇窗戶。他們有的拿著手槍，有幾個手裡拿著的則是極其先進的長槍，那黑黝黝、冷冰冰的槍管看起來十分滲人。

我心知不妙，急忙離開窗子想躲避。但詭異的是，這整面牆壁在這一刻竟然全都變成了透明的玻璃，我根本無處藏身。無奈之下，我立馬走出了大門，雙手高高攤開，做出一副把手機主動交出去的姿勢，面部表情也盡量顯得平靜，試圖向他們傳達：我並沒有任何惡意。

最後才發現，這根本不是什麼抓捕，是「曾」家的人馬在故意表演的一場惡作劇，目的是為了在某個日子向房子的主人表示祝賀的，結果卻荒誕地找錯了地方。

**********************************

The Strongman in the Garage, an Accidental Camera Flash, and the False Arrest Misadventure

[Author's Note]

The residence referred to as PY’s quarters in the dream was, in reality, J’s parents’ old family home. After the elders passed away, the property was inherited by J. Since J was not in the United States at the time, Hu Jia and I rented and lived in that house from 2001 to 2006. After we moved out, the house remained locked and vacant. There was never any designated housekeeper looking after the property; rather, Hu Jia and I would simply drive back every ten days or a fortnight on our own just to open the windows and air out the rooms. Yet, my subconscious took this simple real-life routine and dramatized it into a grand narrative involving a property caretaker and a sudden military raid.

August 17, 2023:

I hadn't visited PY's residence in a very long time; it was usually left under the care of a housekeeper. Returning this time, I felt a distinct sense of unfamiliarity. A repairman arrived to fix some fixtures, parking his vehicle inside the garage on the west side of the house. The garage was exceedingly narrow, barely accommodating a single car.（In real life, that place is an open-air driveway.）

Upon completing his task, the repairman unexpectedly proceeded to manually push his car out of the garage with his bare hands. Although there was a raised step at the threshold of the garage door, he simply applied a sudden burst of immense strength, shoved the vehicle up over the ledge, and rolled it all the way out into the main road before turning the ignition to drive away. It was a display of sheer, formidable power.

The housekeeper's young daughter knocked and entered the room, leaving a folding mobile phone behind on the table.

Shortly after, another knock rattled the front door. Looking through the window, I spotted two vehicles idling in the driveway. The one in the rear was a military transport truck, packed with heavily armed soldiers wearing solemn expressions. Several men in plain clothes disembarked from the front vehicle, marched straight to the entrance, and began bellowing out a list of criminal charges, preparing to breach the house to make an arrest.

As a heated argument ensued at the door, someone abruptly approached the leader and interjected, "There's a mistake, it's not this house. Retract immediately!" No sooner were the words spoken than the aggressive faction cleared out as swiftly as they had arrived. Only then did I fully breathe a sigh of relief.

I picked up the folding phone left by the young girl and walked to the eastern window. Parting the slats of the window blinds, I attempted to snap a photograph of the retreating crowd through the narrow gap.

Unluckily, the exact instant I pressed the shutter, the phone's flash emitted a brilliant, blinding burst of stark light. This sudden illumination was instantly detected by the alert soldiers on the military truck who hadn't yet departed.

Within a heartbeat, four or five soldiers raised their weapons, aligning their barrels squarely at the window where I stood. Some held pistols, while others wielded advanced long rifles—their dark, cold metallic muzzles appearing thoroughly menacing.

Aware of the danger, I bolted from the window to seek cover. Yet, incomprehensibly, the entire solid wall had transformed at that moment into transparent glass, leaving me completely exposed. Seeing no alternative, I marched out the front door, spreading both hands wide in a submissive gesture to surrender the phone, keeping my facial expression entirely neutral to project that I harbored no ill intent.

In the end, it was revealed that the entire event was an elaborate prank staged by the "Zeng" family cohort. It was meant to be a theatrical congratulatory surprise to the homeowner for a specific occasion, but they had absurdly targeted the wrong house.

特別感謝 Gemini AI 提供充滿活力的翻譯和文本潤色。

Special thanks to Gemini AI for providing the spirited translation and text refinement.

第四百二十五篇

《十一層空鎖公寓、野鴨頭老手機與水簾洞裏的同學會》

【作者注】

現實生活中我根本不存在多餘的公寓。這又是一個有趣的「富夢」，潛意識在夢裡憑空為我添置了一套十一層的房產。而夢裡那個光著腳丫子、進不去的中專班同學會，則對應著我內心深處某種既渴望重逢又自帶靦腆、不願打擾的真實底色。

【夢境正文】

2023年8月7日:  

去了一趟另外的一套公寓，那套公寓在一棟大樓的第十一層上。裡面一共有三間屋子，平時我們並不常去，一直空鎖著。

天矇矇亮的時候，我迷迷糊糊地醒來。發覺西北角上的大玻璃窗外，似乎有個小西正在朝著我這邊看。仔細一看，原來是一隻綠頭野鴨子。大大的眼睛挺可愛，正一眨不眨地盯著我看，萌萌的。不知牠只是出於好奇看我，還是想跟我傳遞些什麼信息。

我輕輕地走過去。誰知「呼啦」一聲，陽台上的幾隻鳥一下子都飛走了。

我一回頭，看到靠牆的一張小長桌上，不知何時多出了一個老式的手機。那手機的顏色跟剛才那個野鴨頭的墨綠色一模一樣。此時，手機上的一個指示燈正一閃一閃地發著紅光。我納悶，從哪兒蹦出來的手機？我心生警惕，也不敢去接聽，只想著趕快回家去告訴家人。

我迅速轉身離開，下了樓。但是走的時候，那個手機的紅燈還在閃個不停，有些放心不下。

來到了樓下的大廳裡，正好碰到了大樓裡的門衛。我便走過去跟他說了那個奇怪的手機以及我的擔心。我問他，那紅燈一閃一閃的，到底是要我去接聽呢，還是在向我提示著什麼？如果說是有電話打進來，那為什麼又聽不到半點鈴聲呢？我希望門衛能上樓去幫忙查一下，但他似乎不太願意。

我跟著他走進了電梯，一起上了樓。可奇怪的是，到了中途門衛卻突然不見了。電梯最後停在了十樓，我也只好跟著其他乘客一起跨出了電梯。

此時的樓道裡到處都是積水，天花板上就像水簾洞似的，正不住地往下淌著水。

一陣喧嘩聲突然從旁邊的一間屋子裡傳了出來。我走過去一看，原來是有人在裡面聚會，而且聚會的居然全都是我中專班的同學。有同學進進出出，但詭異的是，他們彷彿都看不見我。我似乎還看到了我當年的同桌小T的身影。

我正猶豫著是否也進去參加，結果一低頭，看見自己還光著腳丫子呢，那就算了。

**********************************

The 11th-Floor Locked Apartment, the Mallard-Green Phone, and a Class Reunion in a Flooded Hallway

[Author's Note]

In reality, no such extra apartment exists. This was yet another amusing "rich dream" where my subconscious conjured up an entire piece of real estate on the eleventh floor out of thin air. Meanwhile, finding myself barefoot and unable to join that technical school class reunion reflects a deep, underlying part of my nature—a lingering bashfulness that longs for connection yet hesitates to impose or disturb others.

August 7, 2023:

I paid a visit to another apartment we owned, located on the eleventh floor of a high-rise building. It contained three rooms that we rarely visited, remaining locked and vacant.

As the sky was just beginning to brighten, I drifted into a state of semi-wakefulness. I noticed a small creature outside the large glass window in the northwest corner, peering in at me. Looking closely, it was a mallard duck. It had large, endearing eyes and stared at me unblinkingly with an utterly adorable expression. For a moment, I wondered if it was observing me out of pure curiosity or trying to convey some hidden message.

I softened my steps and crept toward the window. Suddenly, with a loud rustle, several birds perched on the balcony were startled and flew away simultaneously.

Turning around, I noticed an old-fashioned mobile phone sitting upon a small console table against the wall, though I had no idea when it had appeared. The phone was the exact same shade of dark green as the mallard's head. A indicator light on the device was flashing a steady, rhythmic red. I wondered where on earth this phone had come from. Feeling wary, I did not dare answer it, thinking only of returning home quickly to inform my family.

I left in haste and headed downstairs. Yet, as I departed, that red light continued to flash behind me, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease.

Upon reaching the ground-floor lobby, I ran into the building's doorman. I approached him and recounted the strange phone and my anxieties. I asked whether the flashing light meant I was supposed to answer a call or if it was alerting me to something else. If a call was coming through, why was there no audible ringtone? I requested that he go upstairs to investigate, but he seemed entirely reluctant.

I followed him into the elevator anyway, and we headed back up. Strangely, midway through the ascent, the doorman vanished completely. The elevator ultimately ground to a halt on the tenth floor, and I followed the other passengers out of the cabin.

The hallway here was heavily flooded with standing water, and streams were cascading down from the ceiling like the Water Curtain Cave from legend.

A burst of loud clamor suddenly erupted from a room nearby. I walked over and discovered that a party was underway inside, and the people gathered there were none other than my old classmates from my technical school branch. Several classmates drifted in and out of the doorway, yet strangely, none of them seemed to notice me. Amid the crowd, I caught sight of the silhouette of Yifan, my former desk partner.

I hesitated, wondering if I should join the gathering. But looking down, I discovered I was entirely barefoot. I reasoned that it was best to forget it, and abandoned the idea.

特別感謝 Gemini AI 提供充滿活力的翻譯和文本潤色。

Special thanks to Gemini AI for providing the spirited translation and text refinement.

第四百二十四篇

《白沙高價機場的空姐宿舍、「姆媽」的雙重面孔與未根樹樁》

2023年5月29日：

場景像是一個豪華的機場，地面上落滿了細白的沙子。空姐全都是西方人，身穿著淺色的製服，各個顯得極品漂亮。

我假裝要去買機票，轉過大樓後面，發現那邊也就不那麼氣派了。她們同樣需要排隊購物，買機票也需要排長隊。我隨即就離開了，因為我身上根本沒有錢買機票，而且機票的價格貴得離譜。

在回去的途中，我誤進了一棟大樓，裡面居然是空姐的宿舍。好多下了班的空姐此時都顯露出無比疲憊的樣子，身上的衣服也顯得不太整潔。她們稱呼那些管理她們生活起居的中年婦女為「姆媽」，但背地裡卻有對姆媽的不滿之詞。

我退了出來，正好看見一個姆媽騎著自行車從前面過去，方才那些背地裡抱怨的空姐們，立刻一口一個「姆媽」地叫得無比親熱。

我想要趕快離開。回去的路在下面，需要從上面跳下去，大約有兩米左右的高度。好在地上全是厚厚的白沙，我縱身一跳還真沒事兒。抬頭看見一個自媒體大V也正想進大樓去看看，他身上穿著一件跟地上的白沙一個顏色的毛巾浴衣。我連忙對他說：「要小心，裡面是不讓外人進去的。」

這時周圍傳來了人聲。我趕緊對他說：「你趕快躺下別動！」因為他的衣服顏色和地上的沙子一模一樣，正好可以隱蔽。我則假裝沒看見他，盡量動作自如地從他小腿的位置跨了過去。

但他還是被空姐們發現了。她們圍上來要抓他，還從上面放下繩索，試圖要勾住他的腳踝把他拽上去。我迫不得已只能出手，幫他脫離了繩索的套扣。

在逃跑的路上，迎面看到了兩個穿著制服、長相帥氣的空少。道路十分狹窄，他們見狀微微讓開了一點空間，我只能從他們兩個人中間穿過去。心裡頓覺不好，因為與他們擦肩而過時，我沒有使用他們組織內部特有的方式打招呼，他們一定會察覺出我是個外人。

必須得趕快離開。走到這條路的盡頭，眼前卻赫然出現了一堵垂直的沙坡。我必須要把胳膊完全伸直，才能勉強夠到沙坡的上沿。我只能拼命往上爬，擔心後面的人會追過來。

我伸手一把抓住坡上的一棵白樺樹幹，可一用力，那棵樹竟然直接倒了下來——原來那只是一段沒有根的死樹樁。接著，我又看到上方還有一個大鐵窗框，想著拽住它應該也能上去，結果伸手一拉，發現那鐵框子也是鬆動的，根本吃不住力。

醒來，時間將近清晨6點。

**********************************

The White-Sand Airport, the Double Faces of 'Muma,' and the Rootless Birch Trunk

May 29, 2023:

The setting resembled a luxurious airport, its floors completely covered in fine white sand. The flight attendants were all Western women dressed in light-colored uniforms, each exceptionally beautiful.

I pretended to purchase a flight ticket, but upon rounding the back of the building, the grandeur faded. They too had to line up to shop, and purchasing a ticket required waiting in long queues. I decided to depart immediately, for I possessed no money to buy a ticket, and the prices were outrageously exorbitant.

On my return journey, I accidentally entered a building that turned out to be the flight attendants' dormitory. Many off-duty attendants appeared utterly exhausted, their uniforms somewhat untidy. They referred to the middle-aged women who managed their daily lives as "Muma," yet behind their backs, they muttered words of deep resentment against them.

I retreated from the quarters just as one of the "Mumas" rode past on a bicycle. Instantly, the very attendants who had just been complaining began calling out "Muma! Muma!" with immense, honeyed affection.

I needed to leave quickly. The path back lay below, requiring a jump from a height of about two meters. Fortunately, the ground was deep white sand; I vaulted down and landed completely unharmed. Looking up, I noticed a prominent social media influencer attempting to sneak into the building; he was wearing a terry-cloth bathrobe that matched the exact color of the white sand. I warned him, "Be careful, they don't allow outsiders in there."

Just then, voices echoed nearby. I urgently told him, "Lie down immediately and don't move!" Since his garment matched the sand perfectly, it served as camouflage. I feigned ignorance of his presence, attempting to act naturally as I stepped over his lower legs.

Yet, he was discovered by the flight attendants anyway. They swarmed to capture him, lowering ropes from above to snag his ankles and haul him up. Left with no choice, I intervened and helped free him from the noose.

On the escape route, I encountered two handsome flight stewards in uniform. The path was remarkably narrow; they stepped aside slightly, forcing me to pass directly between them. A sense of dread hit me; as our shoulders brushed, I realized I had failed to greet them using their organization's specific secret code. They would undoubtedly realize I was an intruder.

I knew I had to run. Reaching the absolute end of the path, I was confronted by a sheer, vertical wall of sand. I had to extend my arms fully just to reach the upper edge. I had no choice but to climb, terrified that they would pursue me.

I reached out and grabbed the trunk of a birch tree on the slope, but the moment I applied force, the tree toppled over—it was merely a rootless stump. Next, I spotted a large iron window frame above, reasoning that gripping it would pull me up, but when I lunged and pulled, the iron frame proved loose and completely incapable of bearing weight.

Waking time: close to 6:00 AM.

特別感謝 Gemini AI 提供充滿活力的翻譯和文本潤色。

Special thanks to Gemini AI for providing the spirited translation and text refinement.

第四百二十三篇

《紐約地下通道的迷路、木柵欄外的問路與地下奴工？》

2023年5月27日：

似乎是在紐約，想回家。我知道只要往東走就行。後方遠處有一棟地標性的建築，通體墨綠色，似乎是一家藝術博物館。那棟樓所在方位讓我想起了安德魯·魏斯的著名畫作《克里斯蒂娜的世界》（Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth）。我知道自己只要朝著相反的方向走就行。

來到一條繁忙的街口，必須要經由地下通道才能過馬路。地下通道裡有幾條岔道，我轉著轉著就徹底迷失了方向。

通道兩側看見有幾間開著門的小屋子。這條岔道比較髒，屋子狹小且條件很差，其中一間裡住著一個瘦小的男青年。裡面家徒四壁，地上甚至開始流出污水。

我又轉到了另一條岔道，這裡顯得比較乾淨明亮一些。一間裝有大玻璃門的屋子似乎是個公司，有個西方男人正站在門口懸掛寫有漢字的小簾子，門廳裡面還站著三個著裝得體的男人。我走上前問：「怎麼才能走出去？」但並沒有得到任何實質的答案。

我又在裡面轉了轉，一扭頭看到外面的樓房與天空，便立馬走上台階，居然真的就離開了地下街道。回頭一看，那棟墨綠色的樓依然矗立在那裡，我繼續往前走。

走著走著，我似乎想找個人確認一下方向。看到右側有一個農莊，兩個西方人正在裡面工作。等其中一個人停下手裡的活兒，我隔著塗過白漆的舊木柵欄大聲問：「那個方向是否是東方？」正問著，另外一個工人也朝這邊走過來了。

他們反問我打哪兒來的。「取道日本，從中國來的。」我回答。似乎他們打算帶我一程。在他們轉身去取車的時候，我順便觀察了一下這個農莊。

突然，我看到有一排東方人正坐在兩個舊倉房之間狹窄的空隙裡。他們衣著極其樸素，其中也有人穿著綠軍裝，像是文革時期的穿戴。他們看著我，臉上毫無表情。

我走過去跟他們伸出大拇指，但似乎自己的大拇指有些僵硬，怎麼也沒能完全伸直。心裡的感覺頓時有點不妙，隱隱覺得他們似乎都是被這個農莊控制著幹活的奴工。

趁著那兩個準備帶我一程的西方人還沒出現，我即刻撒丫子走人。我推著一個小推車，貓著腰，急急忙忙地往回走。這時，突然有人拍了拍我的右臂。啊呀，他們追上來了！

醒來，原來是胡笳在拍我。估計是我在夢裡逃離現場的動靜太大了。早晨時間是5點57分。

**********************************

The Labyrinth of the New York Underpass, Inquiries at the White Fence, and the Hidden Laborers?

I seemed to be in New York, with a strong desire to return home. I knew I simply needed to head east. In the far distance behind me stood a landmark building, entirely dark green, which appeared to be an art museum. The location of this building reminded me of Andrew Wyeth’s masterpiece, Christina's World. I reasoned that I only needed to walk in the exact opposite direction.

Arriving at a bustling intersection, I was forced to use an underground pedestrian underpass to cross the street. The underpass contained several branching tunnels, and after winding through them, I completely lost my sense of direction.

I noticed a few small rooms with open doors along the way. This particular branch was quite filthy; the quarters were cramped and the conditions wretched. In one room lived a frail young man; the space was utterly destitute, and sewage had begun to pool across the floor.

Turning into another branch, the surroundings became cleaner and brighter. A room with a large glass door appeared to be a company office; a Western man stood at the entrance hanging a small curtain inscribed with Chinese characters, while three immaculately dressed men stood inside the lobby. I approached and asked, "How do I get out of here?" but received no definitive answer.

After wandering a bit longer, I turned my head, caught sight of the buildings and sky outside, and immediately climbed the steps. Incredibly, I successfully exited the underground streets. Looking back, that dark green building was still standing there, so I pressed on.

As I walked, I felt the need to find someone to confirm my direction. To my right was a farm where two Westerners were working. Waiting until one of them paused his labor, I called out across an old wooden fence painted in weathered white: "Is that direction East?" As I inquired, the second worker walked over to join him.

They asked where I had come from. "By way of Japan, from China," I replied.

It appeared they intended to give me a lift. While they went to retrieve their vehicle, I took the opportunity to look around the farm. Suddenly, I spotted a line of Asians sitting in the narrow clearance between two old barns. Their clothing was exceedingly plain; some wore green military uniforms characteristic of the Cultural Revolution era. They stared back at me, their faces entirely devoid of expression.

I walked toward them and flashed a thumbs-up gesture, yet my thumb felt stiff and refused to straighten completely. A wave of unease washed over me; I intuitively felt that they were slave laborers controlled by the farm.

Before the two Westerners returning with the vehicle could reappear, I took off instantly. Pushing a small handcart, I hunched my back and retreated in frantic haste. Just then, someone suddenly tapped my right arm. Oh no, they had caught up to me!

I awoke with a start to find Hu Jia tapping me. It turned out the commotion of my escape inside the dream had manifested physically. The morning clock read 5:57 AM.

特別感謝 Gemini AI 提供充滿活力的翻譯和文本潤色。

Special thanks to Gemini AI for providing the spirited translation and text refinement.

第四百二十二篇

《迪斯尼渡口的冰封山梁、復活的黝黑鯉魚與錯過的班船》

2023年5月：

乘渡船過了一條不寬的河，說是去迪斯尼。隨著人流往前走，途中有幾家涼亭棚子搭成的小吃鋪，裡面有人在講故事。

右方有一個比較陡峭的高坡，大約有一兩層樓高。我也走過去跟著爬。腳下並沒有路，泥地已經開始結凍，泥土呈現的不是黑色而是白雪，但並不蓬鬆。我高一腳低一腳地爬上斜坡，發現上面原來是一道窄窄的山梁，放眼望去是一片銀乾坤、玉世界。

這時，有幾條似乎是剛剛被凍住了的魚從下面蹦了上來，其中一條魚還艱難地動了動嘴巴。我伸手把那條魚抓了過來，放進口袋裡，接著又順手抓了一個凍疙瘩放進另一個口袋。

我立馬轉身下來朝著渡口走去。沒過多久，口袋裡的那兩個小傢伙在體溫下漸漸暖了過來。我掏出來一看，原來一隻是烏龜，身子比一般的烏龜要稍長一點兒；另一條是鯉魚。牠們此時的鱗甲都變得黝黑滑亮。

我開始到處找水，心裡害怕牠們會渴死。在一家小食店的後廚裡，我找到幾個杯子，裡面剩有小半杯水。我把牠們放進去喝水。

隨後我匆匆趕到碼頭，此時一班渡船剛好啟航離開。我在碼頭等了下一班船，這才過了河。

**********************************

The Frozen Ridge at the Disney Ferry, the Revived Black Carp, and the Missed Boat

I took a ferry across a narrow river, bound for Disney. Moving forward with the crowd, I passed several snack stalls set up under pavilion sheds, where people were telling stories inside.

To the right rose a fairly steep slope, about one or two stories high. I walked over and began to climb it. There was no path underfoot; the muddy ground had begun to freeze, and the soil appeared not black but filled with white snow, though it was not powdery. Trudging unevenly up the slope, I discovered that the top was a narrow mountain ridge—a vast, panoramic world of silver and jade.

Just then, several fish that seemed to have just been frozen leaped up onto the ridge; one of them was still feebly moving its mouth. I reached out, caught the fish, and slipped it into my pocket, then casually grabbed a frozen clod of earth and put it in my other pocket.

I turned around immediately, heading back down toward the ferry. Before long, the two little creatures in my pockets began to warm up against my body. When I pulled them out, I discovered that one was a turtle, its shell slightly longer than usual, and the other was a carp. Their scales and armor were now a glossy, polished pitch-black.

I began searching everywhere for water, terrified that they would perish of thirst. In the back kitchen of a small eatery, I found a few cups containing a fraction of a cup of water. I placed them inside to drink.

Afterward, I hurried to the pier, but a ferry had just unmoored and departed. I waited for the next scheduled boat before finally crossing the river.

特別感謝 Gemini AI 提供充滿活力的翻譯和文本潤色。

Special thanks to Gemini AI for providing the spirited translation and text refinement.

第四百二十一篇

《大廳矮桌的錯置期貨單、24美金盈利與消失的下單鍵》

2023年5月14日：

好像是在旅途中，進了一間大廳。在門左側找到一個小矮桌。我將一個大本子從手提箱裡取出，想坐在箱子上操作，但皮質的軟箱有點合不上。

桌面並不大，上面還堆放著其他東西。我的大本子無法展平，打開後像報紙一樣大，是幾張疊在一起的淺棕色的油紙，很薄、有點皺，但很結實。本子上面密密麻麻地印滿了一行行的字母和數字。

還沒等坐穩，我手裡拿著的筆不小心就點在了某一組字母上了。「嘀嗒」一聲，動靜像是在屏幕上點擊了一下，信息迅速就傳了出去。我心裡一驚：「啊！」原來是一不小心意外地下了一張期貨市價單，且已經成交！

買進的合約名稱是D字打頭的，一共三個字母。我的第一反應是必須立即管控新增加的風險敞口，這是交易的紀律！我的習慣是，只要出現不在計劃或預料之內的情況，需要立即截斷額外的風險。

我迅速打開了這個D字開頭的合約價格圖，發現線條是上漲後的窄幅整理，新合約顯示已經有了24美元的盈利。同時我注意到，賬戶裡還有一張過夜單，暫時贏利6美元。

當務之急是要把這手多單平倉。我想將這手不小心買入的多單平倉，或者設置一個跟蹤止損，但任憑我怎麼找，也找不到可以點擊下單的按鍵。

醒來，時間是早晨8點37分。  

**********************************

The Accidental Futures Order on the Low Table, a $24 Profit, and the Vanished Execution Button

May 14, 2023:

I seemed to be on a journey, entering a large hall. To the left of the door, I found a small low table. I retrieved a large ledger from my suitcase, intending to sit upon the case to work, though the soft leather luggage would not easily close.

The tabletop was small and cluttered with other objects. My large ledger could not be laid flat; when opened, it was as large as a newspaper, consisting of several sheets of light brown greaseproof paper layered together—very thin and somewhat wrinkled, yet highly durable. The ledger was densely printed with rows of letters and numbers.

Before I could even settle into my seat, the pen I was holding accidentally tapped against a specific group of letters. A crisp click resounded, precisely like a tap on a digital screen, and the order was instantly transmitted. Panic hit me: "Ah!" I had inadvertently executed a futures market order, and it was already filled!

The purchased contract name began with the letter "D" and consisted of three letters total. My immediate reaction was that I must manage this newly added risk exposure immediately—this is the strict discipline of trading! My habit dictates that whenever an unplanned or unexpected situation arises, any additional risk must be cut off instantly.

I swiftly pulled up the price chart for this D-initiated contract and discovered it was in a narrow consolidation phase following an upward move. The new contract indicated a profit of 24 dollars. Concurrently, I noticed an overnight position remaining in the account, showing a temporary gain of 6 dollars.

The urgent priority was to close this long position. I wanted to close the long contract purchased by mistake or establish a trailing stop, yet no matter how frantically I searched, the button to execute the order was nowhere to be found.

Waking time: 8:37 AM.

特別感謝 Gemini AI 提供充滿活力的翻譯和文本潤色。

Special thanks to Gemini AI for providing the spirited translation and text refinement.

第四百二十篇