清晨4:50，老刀穿過熙熙攘攘的步行街，去找彭蠡。
Lao Dao went across the bustling pedestrian walk to find Peng Li at 4:50a.m.
從垃圾站下班之后，老刀回家洗了個澡，換了衣服。白色襯衫和褐色褲子，這是他唯一一套體面衣服，襯衫袖口磨了邊，他把袖子卷到胳膊肘。老刀四十八歲，沒結(jié)婚，已經(jīng)過了注意外表的年齡，又沒人照顧起居，這一套衣服留著穿了很多年，每次穿一天，回家就脫了疊上。他在垃圾站上班，沒必要穿得體面，偶爾參加誰家小孩的婚禮，才拿出來穿在身上。這一次他不想臟兮兮地見陌生人。他在垃圾站連續(xù)工作了五小時，很擔(dān)心身上會有味道。
Coming back home from the refuse station, his working place, Lao Dao took a shower, and then put on his white shirt and brown trousers, which were his sole decent clothes. They have been kept for many years. Only when it came to someone’s wedding, would Lao Dao put them on. He would take them off and fold them as soon as he got home. However, the cuff of the shirt wore out. He then rolled up the sleeves to the elbows. Lao Dao, now at the age of 48, stayed single and did not care about his outer appearance any more. Nevertheless, he did not feel like impressing the stranger with a dirty appearance. He was afraid that he would be smelly after 5-hour-long work at the refuse station.
步行街上擠滿了剛剛下班的人。擁擠的男人女人圍著小攤子挑土特產(chǎn)，大聲討價還價。食客圍著塑料桌子，埋頭在酸辣粉的熱氣騰騰中，餓虎撲食一般，白色蒸汽遮住了臉。油炸的香味彌漫。貨攤上的酸棗和核桃堆成山，臘肉在頭頂搖擺。這個點(diǎn)是全天最熱鬧的時間，基本都收工了，忙碌了幾個小時的人們都趕過來吃一頓飽飯，人聲鼎沸。
The pedestrian walk was packed with workers who were just off duty. Men and women gathered together at the local specialty stall, bargaining with the hawkers. Meanwhile, some customers were absorbed in consuming hot and sour rice noodles at the plastic tables. The white steam from rice noodles clouded the customers’ faces. The aroma of fried food hung in the air. The stall was almost overwhelmed by wild jujubes and walnuts. Besides, preserved meat was hung over heads. Since nearly all the people finished their work and they would come here for a big meal, the moment was the most hectic throughout the day.
老刀艱難地穿過人群。端盤子的伙計一邊喊著讓讓一邊推開擋道的人，開出一條路來，老刀跟在后面。彭蠡家在小街深處。老刀上樓，彭蠡不在家。問鄰居，鄰居說他每天快到關(guān)門才回來，具體幾點(diǎn)不清楚。
Peng Li’s home was deep in the walk. It was hard for Lao Dao to cross the crowd. He followed the trays-holding-waiter who asked people to step aside and pushed people getting in a way aside. After Lao Dao went upstairs, he found Peng Li was not at home. Peng Li’s neighbor told Lao Dao that Peng Li would went back home every day when the gate was going to be closed. But the actual time was not clear.
老刀有點(diǎn)擔(dān)憂，看了看手表，清晨5點(diǎn)。他回到樓門口等著。兩旁狼吞虎咽的饑餓少年圍繞著他。他認(rèn)識其中兩個，原來在彭蠡家見過一兩次。少年每人面前擺著一盤炒面或炒粉，幾個人分吃兩個菜，盤子里一片狼藉，筷子扔在無望而鍥而不舍地?fù)軇?，尋找辣椒叢中的肉星。老刀又下意識聞了聞小臂，不知道身上還有沒有垃圾的腥味。周圍的一切嘈雜而庸常，和每個清晨一樣。
Lao Dao became a little worried. He looked at the watch. It turned to be 5a.m. He stepped back to the gate. Several teenagers who were wolfing down were around him. Lao Dao once met two of them at Peng Li’s home. Each teenager ordered fried noodles or fried rice noodles. Besides, they shared two more dishes. Although the food was in a mess, the teenagers still searched the peppers for just a speck of meat. Lao Dao smelt his forearms unconsciously to check whether the odor still lingered. The noise around was just as usual.
“哎，你們知道那兒一盤回鍋肉多少錢嗎？”那個叫小李的少年說。
“ Hey, do you guys know how much is sauteed sliced pork with pepper and chili there?” asked by a teenager named Li.
“靠，菜里有沙子?！绷硗庖粋€叫小丁的胖少年突然捂住嘴說，他的指甲里還帶著黑泥， “坑人啊。得找老板退錢！”
“ Damn it. There is sand in the dish.” another fat teenager named Ding complained suddenly with his mouth covered while black mud still remained in his nails. “ Shit! The boss must refund our money!”
“人家那兒一盤回鍋肉，就三百四?！毙±钫f，“三百四！一盤水煮牛肉四百二呢。”
“ 340 for sauteed sliced pork with pepper and chili there.” said Li, “ 340! 420 for sliced beef in hot chili oil.”
“什么玩意？這么貴?！毙《∥嬷鶐妥庸緡伒?。
“ What? How expensive.” Ding murmured with his cheek covered.
另外兩個少年對談話沒興趣，還在埋頭吃面，小李低頭看著他們，眼睛似乎穿過他們，看到了某個看不見的地方，目光里有熱切。
Another two teenagers showed no interest in the dialogue. They were still consuming noodles. Li looked at them, however, it seemed that he saw a place beyond his vision. Earnest was filled with his eyes.
