雙語|現(xiàn)代散文:馮驥才 富人區(qū)

The Wealthy Quarter 富人區(qū)

◎ Feng Jicai ◎ 馮驥才

In Los Angeles，an American friend of mine drove me to an affluent quarter for a visit．It was a place inhabited by the rich．Americans like to take their guests to see it as if on a sightseeing tour．Standing before me were houses and courtyards of a great variety of shapes，looking elegant，quiet and comfortable like in an earthly paradise．I suddenly put this question to him，“Don't you feel jealous of guys living in beautiful houses like these？”

在洛杉磯，一位美國朋友開車帶我去看富人區(qū)。富人區(qū)就是有錢人的聚居地。美國人最愛陪客人看富人區(qū)，好似觀光。到那兒一瞧，千姿夭態(tài)的房子和庭院，優(yōu)雅、寧靜、舒適，真如人間天堂。我忽然有個問題問他：“你們看到富人住在這么漂亮的房子里，會不會嫉妒？”

He looked at me in astonishment and said，

我這美國朋友驚訝地看著我，說：

“Jealous？Why？They live here because they've met with a good opportunity．If I should also find a good opportunity in the future，I can do even better.”

“嫉妒他們？為什么？他們能住在這里，說明他遇上了一個好機會。如果將來我也遇到好機會，我會比他們做得還好！”

The answer he gave was typical of Americans．Americans set great store by an opportunity.

這便是標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的“老美”式的回答。他們很看重機會。

Later，when I was in Japan，a Japanese friend of mine said he would take me to a nearby wealthy quarter and show me around．So，Japanese and Americans shared the same inclination to visit a wealthy quarter．Japanese houses were small，quiet and exquisite，and each was like a beautiful jewellery box．I put to him the same question as I had asked the American，

后來在日本，一位日本朋友說他要陪我看看不遠的一處富人區(qū)。原來日本人也有這種愛好。日本富人區(qū)，小巧、幽靜、精致，每座房子都像一個首飾盒，也挺美。我又想到上次問過美國人的那個問題，便問日本朋友：

“Are you jealous of the rich people living in these beautiful houses？”

“你們看到富人們住著這么漂亮的房子，會嫉妒嗎？”

After pondering for a moment，he shook his head and said，“No，never.”Then he explained，“When a Japanese finds somebody superior to himself，he'll contact him on his own initiative，make friends with him，learn from him，and try to excel him after learning all the strong points from him.”

這個日本朋友稍稍想了想，搖搖頭說：“不會的。”繼而他解釋道，“如果一個日本人見到別人比自己強，通常會主動接近那個人，和他交朋友，向他學(xué)習(xí)，把他的長處學(xué)到手，再設(shè)法超過他。”

Ah，the Japanese were a real aggressive sort！I was absorbed in thought.

噢，日本人真厲害。我想。

Not long ago，a friend of mine called on me on his arrival from southern China．While chatting together，he told me how，like in foreign countries，wealthy quarters had appeared in his own city in the wake of its fast development．When I，out of curiosity，demanded to hear more details of them，he mentioned their fountains，garages，security personnel guarding the gates，wolfhounds，etc．Then I asked him the same question as I had asked my American and Japanese friends，

前不久，一位南方朋友來看我，閑談中說到他們的城市發(fā)展得很快，已經(jīng)出現(xiàn)國外那種“富人區(qū)”了。我饒有興趣地打聽其中的情形，據(jù)說有的院子里還有噴水池，車庫，門口有保安，還養(yǎng)大狼狗。我無意中再次想到問過美國和日本朋友的那個問題，拿來問他：

“Do people visit the wealthy quarter？”

“有沒有人去富煅區(qū)參觀？”

“Yes，they often do，”said my friend.“But they can't get into it．They can only watch it from outside the gate.”

“有呀，常有人去看。但不能進去，在門口扒一扒頭而已。”這位南方朋友說。

“How do you feel？Aren't you jealous？”

“心理反應(yīng)怎么樣？會不會嫉妒？”

“Jealous？”he brightened up and said with a smile.“Not only jealous．We're dying to finish off these rich guys.”

“嫉妒？”他眉毛一揚，笑道，“何止嫉妒，恨不得把那小子宰了！”

I was stunned to hear it.

我聽了怔住。

雜文《富人區(qū)》的作者馮驥才，浙江寧波人，生于天津，是中國當(dāng)代著名作家和畫家。文章寥寥數(shù)語，勾畫出面對現(xiàn)實生活的三種不同心態(tài)，褒貶得宜，抨擊時弊，寓意深刻。