清 貧
我從事革命斗爭(zhēng),已經(jīng)十余年了。在這長(zhǎng)期的奮斗中,我一向是過(guò)著樸素的生活,從沒(méi)有奢侈過(guò)。經(jīng)手的款項(xiàng),總在數(shù)百萬(wàn)元;但為革命而籌集的金錢(qián),是一點(diǎn)一滴地用之于革命事業(yè)。這在國(guó)民黨的偉人們看來(lái),頗似奇跡,或認(rèn)為夸張;而矝持不茍,舍己為公,卻是每個(gè)共產(chǎn)黨員具備的美德。所以,如果有人問(wèn)我身邊有沒(méi)有一些積蓄,那我可以告訴你一樁趣事:
就在我被俘的那一天——一個(gè)最不幸的日子,有兩個(gè)國(guó)民黨軍的兵士,在樹(shù)林中發(fā)現(xiàn)了我,而且猜到我是什么人的時(shí)候,他們滿(mǎn)肚子熱望在我身上搜出一千或八百大洋,或者搜出一些金鐲金戒指一類(lèi)的東西,發(fā)個(gè)意外之財(cái)。那知道從我上身摸到下身,從襖領(lǐng)捏到襪底,除了一只時(shí)表和一枝自來(lái)水筆之外,一個(gè)銅板都沒(méi)有搜出。他們于是激怒起來(lái)了,猜疑我是把錢(qián)藏在那里,不肯拿出來(lái)。他們之中有一個(gè)左手拿著一個(gè)木柄榴彈,右手拉出榴彈中的引線,雙腳拉開(kāi)一步,作出要拋擲的姿勢(shì),用兇惡的眼光釘住我,威嚇地吼道:
“趕快將錢(qián)拿出來(lái),不然就是一炸彈,把你炸死去!”
“哼!你不要作出那難看的樣子來(lái)吧!我確實(shí)一個(gè)銅板都沒(méi)有存;想從我這里發(fā)洋財(cái),是想錯(cuò)了。”我微笑著淡淡地說(shuō)。
“你騙誰(shuí)!像你當(dāng)大官的人會(huì)沒(méi)有錢(qián)!”拿榴彈的兵士堅(jiān)不相信。
“決不會(huì)沒(méi)有錢(qián)的,一定是藏在那里,我是老出門(mén)的,騙不得我。”另一個(gè)兵士一面說(shuō),一面弓著背重來(lái)一次將我的衣角褲襠過(guò)細(xì)的捏,總企望著有新的發(fā)現(xiàn)。
“你們要相信我的話(huà),不要瞎忙吧!我不比你們國(guó)民黨當(dāng)官的,個(gè)個(gè)都有錢(qián),我今天確實(shí)是一個(gè)銅板也沒(méi)有,我們革命不是為著發(fā)財(cái)啦!”我再向他們解釋。
等他們確知在我身上搜不出什么的時(shí)候,也就停手不搜了;又在我藏躲地方的周?chē)皖^注目搜尋了一番,也毫無(wú)所得,他們是多么地失望呵!那個(gè)持彈欲放的兵士,也將拉著的引線,仍舊塞進(jìn)榴彈的木柄里,轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)來(lái)?yè)寠Z我的表和水筆。后彼此說(shuō)定表和筆賣(mài)出錢(qián)來(lái)平分,才算無(wú)話(huà)。他們用懷疑而又驚異的目光,對(duì)我自上而下地望了幾遍,就同聲命令地說(shuō):“走吧!”
是不是還要問(wèn)問(wèn)我家里有沒(méi)有一些財(cái)產(chǎn)?請(qǐng)等一下,讓我想一想,啊,記起來(lái)了,有的有的,但不算多。去年暑天我穿的幾套舊的汗褂褲,與幾雙縫上底的線襪,已交給我的妻放在深山塢里保藏著——怕國(guó)民黨軍進(jìn)攻時(shí),被人搶了去,準(zhǔn)備今年暑天拿出來(lái)再穿;那些就算是我唯一的財(cái)產(chǎn)了。但我說(shuō)出那幾件“傳世寶”來(lái),豈不要叫那些富翁們齒冷三天?!
清貧,潔白樸素的生活,正是我們革命者能夠戰(zhàn)勝許多困難的地方!
Honest Poverty
I have been engaged in the revolutionary struggle for more than a decade. During these long militant years, I have lived a plain life with no luxuries to speak of. Millions of dollars passed through my hands, but I always saw to it that every single cent of the money raised for the revolution was spent for no other purposes. This may sound like a miracle or an exaggeration to Kuomintang VIPs. Self-discipline and self-sacrifice, however, are the virtue characteristic of a Communist. Therefore, should anyone inquire of me about my personal savings, let him read the following amusing episode:
On the day of my capture — a most inauspicious day it was — two Kuomintang soldiers discovered me in a wood. Sizing me up, they thought they had come upon a windfall and started making a frantic body search, hopefully to find on me hundreds of silver dollars or some jewellery like gold bracelets or rings. They frisked me from top to toe and passed their hands over everything on me from the collar of my jacket to the soles of my socks, but, contrary to their expectation, they found nothing at all, not even a single copper, except a watch and a fountain pen. They were exasperated, suspecting that I had my money hidden somewhere and refused to give it up. One of the two men had in his left hand a wooden-handled grenade. He pulled out the cord from inside the wooden handle and moved his legs one step apart as if he was about to throw the grenade. Glowering at me ferociously, he threatened loudly,
Out with your money quick, or you die!
Hey! I said drily with a faint smile. "Don't you put on such nasty airs! True I haven't got a single copper with me. You're barking up the wrong tree to seek a fortune from me."
Shit! Nobody can ever believe a big shot like you ain't got no money! the soldier with the grenade remained wholly incredulous.
No money? the other soldier joined in. "Impossible! It must be hidden somewhere. No fooling an old hand like me." Meanwhile, he bent low to pass his hand again meticulously over every nook and corner of my clothes and the crotch of my trousers, still holding out high hopes of making a new discovery.
You should believe me and stop messing around! I explained again. "Unlike your Kuomintang officials who're rolling in money, I'm really penniless. We join the revolution not for personal gain."
Finally, when they knew for certain that there was no money on me, they gave up the body search. Nevertheless, they lowered their heads to scan here and there the place where I had hidden myself, but again in vain. How frustrated they must have felt! The soldier holding the grenade pushed the cord back into its wooden handle, and turned round to scramble for my watch and fountain pen. The two men, however, settled their dispute by agreeing to divide the money equally between them after selling the spoils. They eyed me up and down with suspicion and amazement before barking out in chorus, "Come along!"
Dear readers, maybe you wish to know if I have any private property at home. Just a minute! Let me see … Ah, here it is, but nothing much though. I have left with my wife for safekeeping a few changes of used underwear and a few pairs of socks with mended soles, all of which I used to wear last summer. She has now put them away in a remote mountain valley to prevent them from being stolen in case of Kuomintang attack, so that I may wear them again this summer. These are all the property I have to my name. But wouldn't the declaration of my "family treasures" make myself an object of lively ridicule to the rich?
To remain honest though poor, to live a clean and simple life — that is what we revolutionaries count on to overcome innumerable difficulties!
《清貧》是方志敏烈士(1899—1935)1935年英勇就義前在江西國(guó)民黨監(jiān)獄中寫(xiě)下的不朽散文。文章通過(guò)真人真事表達(dá)作者清廉樸素的生活和崇高的人生目的,情摯意深,愛(ài)憎分明。