"Under the Apricot Tree" by Lu Yao

#2024-0507

短篇小說欣賞：

《杏樹下》 by 路遙

Here's a new translation of the short story "Under the Apricot Tree" by Lu Yao, a Chinese novelist born in Qingjian County, Shaanxi Province in 1949.

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（以下英譯是我從 YouTube 找到的四個朗讀版本，擇一而譯；相對而言，此版本比較 "精簡" 些，省略了兩處與 "主情節" 關聯性不強的段落，反而更有 "棄蕪存菁" 的美感！）

In April, the pale pink apricot blossoms had already withered. Hidden among the green leaves, the fuzzy green apricots shyly watched the middle-aged man, evoking a sense of familiarity.

He stood under the apricot tree, quietly letting his arms hang, gazing affectionately at the robust fruit tree. The countryside breeze carried the warmth of spring, gently caressing him. It mingled with the few strands of silver in his messy hair, stroking his cheeks and touching his heart.

Apricot tree, you should recognize me. Even though we've been apart for many years, I've never forgotten you. Whenever I see poplar trees, willows, pine trees... I think of you, apricot tree; I think of her, Xiaoping; I think of our childhood. But back then, you were small, and we were small too...

Yes, he was only eleven at the time, attending third grade in the village's elementary school. She was only fourteen, having started school late, in fourth grade.

Initially, they were strangers. One family lived in the east of the village, the other in the west, and the village was too large for them to cross paths. Despite living in the same village, children's worlds were always so small. Even at school, separated by different grades and genders, they had never exchanged a word. At that age, the boundaries between boys and girls were clear. They often lived in their own worlds, not interacting or intruding upon each other.

However, their lack of familiarity extended beyond these factors. At that time, the school also had collective activities and games, regardless of grade, size, or gender... Their unfamiliarity was determined by the living conditions of their two families. His family of five or six struggled to make ends meet with only his father working, barely scraping by. Needless to say, he was the poorest-dressed student in the school. But Xiaoping? Although her mother also lived in the countryside, her father was a doctor in the county town, and she was their only darling, often dressed like a little princess. She was undoubtedly the most distinguished student in the school.

They were at opposite ends. Although he was only eleven at the time, he already felt embarrassed by his shabbiness. So he always deliberately avoided those schoolmates who dressed decently, especially avoiding Xiaoping. In his eyes, she was probably always laughing at him. Others avoided him too; even those schoolmates from less affluent families tried to avoid him as much as possible, to prove they were a cut above him. He often found himself alone...

The scariest thing in the world is loneliness, especially for children. A lonely adult can create a world within their own mind to seek comfort, but for a lonely child, when there's a barrier between them and the outside world, their soul is left with nothing but a bitter and salty alkaline solution.

But, on that day, under that apricot tree, something happened...

He remembered clearly, it was also a day in April, the spring breeze caressing his rough little cheeks, soothing his sorrowful heart, just like today. He leaned against the trunk of the apricot tree, watching his schoolmates play the game of "finding friends." This was probably the annual spring outing for the rural school, the teachers bringing all the students to the countryside to play, sing, dance, and shout...

His schoolmates were having so much fun, but he dared not move from leaning against the tree trunk. No one knew why he didn't join in the fun. He couldn't even articulate the reason why he didn't join in.

The teacher approached, surprised, and asked him, "Why aren't you playing?"

"I... my stomach hurts."

"Is it severe?"

"No, not severe..."

"Then why don't you go home now?"

"No, no, I'll wait a while longer..."

He couldn't leave at that moment. He could only stand there, his back pressed against the tree trunk. This apricot tree was like a lifesaver to him.

Even when it was time for everyone to return to school, he remained standing there.

The whistle for assembly sounded, and his schoolmates lined up in four columns.

He still didn't move.

The teacher came over again, a little annoyed, "Aren't you leaving?"

"I..."

The teacher grew impatient, "Why are you still standing here?"

He had no answer.

His schoolmates all looked at him, gossiping and murmuring among themselves.

"Are you coming back?" the teacher asked, annoyed.

"I'm not going back now..."

"Why not?"

He burst into tears.

The teacher helplessly said to Wang Xiaoping in the group, "Wang Xiaoping, stay here, bring him back later..."

Xiaoping was a senior student, dignified and sensible. The teacher often assigned her to do "tasks" that were seen as significant by the students.

Now, beneath the apricot tree, only he and she remained.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He dared not look at her, nor did he answer.

She approached him, boldly touching his sweaty forehead to see if he had a fever.

He felt his forehead burn like it was touched by a hot iron.

Turning his head away, not looking at her, he said, "I'm not sick."

"You said your stomach hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt."

"Then what's wrong? Can you tell me?"

Her tone was like that of an older sister.

He hesitated for a moment and said, "But you can't tell anyone."

"I promise I won't."

"What if you do?"

"Then I'll be a puppy."

"...My pants... are torn."

"Where are they torn?"

"In the back..."

"Ah, that's why you're not playing! Let me see."

"No."

"What are you afraid of! I have a needle and thread. I'll sew it for you."

"No."

Regardless of his agreement, she had already taken out a small needle and thread from her pocket and clumsily threaded the needle. He immediately became as nervous as if a doctor were about to give him an injection.

"Turn around!" she commanded.

He didn't move.

She walked over and forcefully turned him around. He immediately leaned against the apricot tree trunk, crying.

Without saying a word, Xiaoping began to sew the tear in the back of his pants. Occasionally, the needle pricked his buttocks, causing him to wince in pain, but she just chuckled from behind, saying, "Almost done..."

After fiddling for a long time, she finally finished sewing.

She looked up at the green apricots on the tree and said, "The fuzzy apricots are the best, sour and sweet... Shall we go back to school now?" she said to him.

"I'm not going back yet. You go first!"

She smiled at him and left. Not far away, she turned back and reminded him, "Come back soon!"

She left, disappearing on the small dirt road down the mountain.

He lifted his head and looked at the fuzzy green apricots among the leaves.

Although he wasn't very good at climbing trees, he struggled to climb this apricot tree.

He barely made it up, just picked an apricot, but because his footing wasn't stable, he fell from the tree.

He sat on the ground, hearing a "sizzle" from behind. Oh no, the pants she just sewed were torn again!

Tears once again filled his eyes. What saddened him this time was that he couldn't deliver this apricot into Xiaoping's hands. It was to repay her that he took the risk of climbing the tree. Now, he finally picked an apricot, but at the cost of his pants being torn again...

He sat on the ground dumbfounded for a while, determined to give her this apricot.

So, he braved it down from the mountain, to the small river by the school gate.

He saw his schoolmates cleaning up the yard, and he didn't dare to approach.

At this moment, Xiaoping came out of the classroom to dump the trash. She saw him and shouted, "Come back soon!"

He didn't move.

She stood there for a moment, seeing him like this, then walked down the small path from the school gate.

She stood in front of him and asked, "Why aren't you going back?"

"Here!" He handed the apricot to her. Although it was a bit dirty from his sweaty hands, Xiaoping still took it with surprise, tossing it into her mouth. As she ate, she said, "So delicious, sour... Let's go back..."

"I'm going home..."

"School isn't over yet!"

"My pants tore again..." he said, turning his head and running away, not forgetting to cover his unfortunate buttocks with one hand...

From then on, a kind of "inharmonious" friendship developed between him and Xiaoping—a friendship between a wealthy girl and a poor boy.

A year later, Xiaoping suddenly left the village. Not just her, her whole family moved away. It was said that her father signed up to support Tibet and went to work in a place called Shigatse.

Since then, he had never seen her again.

Many years passed, and now he stood under this apricot tree, looking at the fuzzy green apricots among the leaves, tears unknowingly streaming down his face. For the joy and sorrow that had passed, for the bittersweet memories, he smiled and cried. At this moment, he seemed to hear the joyful, childish singing again: "Finding friends, finding friends!..."

He wiped away his tears with his hand, then, like when he was a child, clumsily climbed the apricot tree. He picked a green apricot, then jumped down from the tree.

He threw the apricot into his mouth, savoring the sour taste, then bid farewell to the apricot tree and descended the mountain. The April breeze gently caressed his hair, mingling with a few strands of silver, caressed his tear-stained cheeks, caressed his childlike heart...

（全文完）

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  "The Cracked Vase" by Liang Xiaosheng     (Trans. in 2024)

2)  The Covenant Renewed     (2009, 2010, and 2012)