笑 Laughter

Laughter

．；I came back from afar through the rain, because I had found something my wife dearly loved;．I had to bring it home to her.

我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (HSK 1)
地: de — 1. -ly 2. structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct (HSK 1)
冒着: mào zhe — 1. to brave 2. to face dangers
雨: yǔ — 1. rain 2. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 場 (cháng) (HSK 1)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
因: yīn — 1. cause 2. reason 3. because (HSK 6)
爲: wéi — variant of 為 (wéi) (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
妻子: qī zǐ — wife and children (HSK 4)
心愛: xīn ài — beloved (HSK 7-9)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
一樣: yī yàng — 1. same 2. like 3. equal to 4. the same as 5. just like (HSK 1)
東西: dōng xī — east and west (HSK 1)
讓: ràng — 1. to yield 2. to permit 3. to let sb do sth 4. to have sb do sth 5. to make sb (feel sad etc) 6. by (indicates the agent in a passive clause, like 被 (bèi)) (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
找着: zhǎo zháo — to find
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
得: dé — 1. to obtain 2. to get 3. to gain 4. to catch (a disease) 5. proper 6. suitable 7. proud 8. contented 9. to allow 10. to permit 11. ready 12. finished (HSK 2)
帶: dài — 1. band 2. belt 3. girdle 4. ribbon 5. tire 6. area 7. zone 8. region 9. classifier: 條 (tiáo) 10. to wear 11. to carry 12. to take along 13. to bear (i.e. to have) 14. to lead 15. to bring 16. to look after 17. to raise (HSK 2)
囘: huí — variant of 回 (huí)
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
給: gěi — 1. to 2. for 3. for the benefit of 4. to give 5. to allow 6. to do sth (for sb) 7. (grammatical equivalent of 被) 8. (grammatical equivalent of 把) 9. (sentence intensifier) (HSK 1)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)

，，．，『As soon as I entered, the little maid took my rain gear, while the old serving woman found an excuse to leave. I said to my wife, “We have been apart for several

？……days—have you been dreadfully bored?…，！Ah, how fragrant!？』Where does it come from?”

『？』“Isn’t there a pot of white orchids beneath the lattice window?”

，．：『？I turned to look. Several sprays of orchid were blooming in a Ru-ware bowl. I said, “When was this pot brought indoors?In such

，，！……heavy rain, for them still to bloom so beautifully is truly remarkable!…．』And yet I cannot quite believe that those flowers possess so rich a fragrance.”

．，『，，？』We sat side by side on a red sandalwood couch. I went on to ask, “My dear, is it really the orchids that are fragrant, or is it you?”

『，？“Is it really the orchids that are fragrant, or is it you?．』，．，，，．Let me smell and see.” As she spoke, she kissed me. The little maid saw us, covered her mouth and laughed, then turned, lifted the curtain, and made to go out.

到底: dào dǐ — 1. finally 2. in the end 3. when all is said and done 4. after all 5. to the end 6. to the last (HSK 3)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
蘭花: lán huā — 1. cymbidium 2. orchid
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
香: xiāng — 1. fragrant 2. sweet smelling 3. aromatic 4. savory or appetizing 5. (to eat) with relish 6. (of sleep) sound 7. perfume or spice 8. joss or incense stick 9. classifier: 根 (gēn) (HSK 3)
是: shì — 1. to be (followed by substantives only) 2. correct; right; true 3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well 4. (adverb for emphatic assertion) (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
底: de — (equivalent to 的 as possessive particle) (HSK 4)
香: xiāng — 1. fragrant 2. sweet smelling 3. aromatic 4. savory or appetizing 5. (to eat) with relish 6. (of sleep) sound 7. perfume or spice 8. joss or incense stick 9. classifier: 根 (gēn) (HSK 3)
讓: ràng — 1. to yield 2. to permit 3. to let sb do sth 4. to have sb do sth 5. to make sb (feel sad etc) 6. by (indicates the agent in a passive clause, like 被 (bèi)) (HSK 2)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
聞: Wén — surname Wen (HSK 2)
一: yī — 1. one 2. single 3. a (article) 4. as soon as 5. entire; whole; all; throughout 6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) 7. also pr. (yāo) for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit (HSK 1)
聞: Wén — surname Wen (HSK 2)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
親: qīn — 1. parent 2. one's own (flesh and blood) 3. relative 4. related 5. marriage 6. bride 7. close 8. intimate 9. in person 10. first-hand 11. in favor of 12. pro- 13. to kiss 14. (Internet slang) dear (HSK 3)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
一下: yī xià — 1. (after a verb) a bit; a little (indicating brief duration, or softening the tone, or suggesting giving sth a try) 2. all at once; suddenly
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
丫頭: yā tou — 1. girl 2. servant girl 3. (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment) (HSK 7-9)
看見: kàn jiàn — to see; to catch sight of (HSK 1)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
掩: yǎn — 1. to cover up; to conceal 2. to close (a door, book etc) 3. (coll.) to get (one's fingers etc) caught when closing a door or lid 4. (literary) to launch a surprise attack
着: zhāo — variant of 著 (zhāo) (HSK 1)
嘴: zuǐ — 1. mouth 2. beak 3. nozzle 4. spout (of teapot etc) 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
笑: xiào — 1. to laugh; to smile 2. to laugh at (HSK 1)
翻身: fān shēn — 1. to turn over (when lying) 2. (fig.) to free oneself 3. to emancipate oneself 4. to bring about a change of one's fortunes
揭開: jiē kāi — 1. to uncover 2. to open
簾子: lián zi — curtain (HSK 7-9)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
往外: wǎng wài — 1. out 2. outbound 3. departing
走: zǒu — 1. to walk 2. to go 3. to run 4. to move (of vehicle) 5. to visit 6. to leave 7. to go away 8. to die (euph.) 9. from 10. through 11. away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走 (chè zǒu)) 12. to change (shape, form, meaning) (HSK 1)

『，，．』。“Yuyao, Yuyao, come back.” The little maid did not dare disobey.，．But she still smiled with pursed lips.

『？』“What are you laughing at?”

『．』“I’m not laughing at anything.”

，『，，．』To smooth things over between them, I said, “You know perfectly well what she is laughing at; why bother asking her? Let her off.”

，『．，。』My wife said to the little maid, “You are not to go outside and talk nonsense. Off you go—pick me some daphne from the garden.” The little maid

妻子: qī zǐ — wife and children (HSK 4)
對: duì — 1. right; correct 2. towards; at; for 3. concerning; regarding 4. to treat (sb a certain way) 5. to face 6. (bound form) opposite; facing; matching 7. to match together; to adjust 8. to fit; to suit 9. to answer; to reply 10. to add; to pour in (a fluid) 11. to check; to compare 12. classifier: couple; pair (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
丫頭: yā tou — 1. girl 2. servant girl 3. (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment) (HSK 7-9)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
不許: bù xǔ — 1. not to allow 2. must not 3. can't (HSK 5)
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
外頭: wài tou — outside; outdoors (HSK 6)
瞎說: xiā shuō — 1. to talk drivel 2. to assert sth without a proper understanding or basis in fact 3. not to know what one is talking about
去: qù — 1. to go 2. to go to (a place) 3. (of a time etc) last 4. just passed 5. to send 6. to remove 7. to get rid of 8. to reduce 9. to be apart from in space or time 10. to die (euphemism) 11. to play (a part) 12. (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth 13. (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker) 14. (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation) (HSK 1)
罷: bà — 1. to stop 2. to cease 3. to dismiss 4. to suspend 5. to quit 6. to finish
到: dào — 1. to reach; to arrive 2. to leave for; to go to 3. to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) 4. (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point) 5. considerate; thoughtful; thorough (HSK 1)
園: Yuán — surname Yuan (HSK 6)
裏: lǐ — variant of 裡 (lǐ) (HSK 1)
給: gěi — 1. to 2. for 3. for the benefit of 4. to give 5. to allow 6. to do sth (for sb) 7. (grammatical equivalent of 被) 8. (grammatical equivalent of 把) 9. (sentence intensifier) (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
摘: zhāi — 1. to take; to pick (flowers, fruit etc); to pluck; to remove; to take off (glasses, hat etc) 2. to select; to pick out 3. to borrow money at a time of urgent need (HSK 5)
些: xiē — classifier indicating a small amount or small number greater than 1: some, a few, several (HSK 4)
瑞香: ruì xiāng — winter daphne
來: lái — 1. to come 2. (used as a substitute for a more specific verb) 3. hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來 (huí lai)) 4. ever since (as in 自古以來 (zì gǔ yǐ lái)) 5. for the past (amount of time) 6. (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世 (lái shì)) 7. (between two verbs) in order to 8. (after a round number) approximately 9. (used after 得 (dé) to indicate possibility, as in 談得來 (tán de lái), or after 不 (bù) to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來 (chī bu lái)) (HSK 1)
小: xiǎo — 1. small 2. tiny 3. few 4. young (HSK 1)
丫頭: yā tou — 1. girl 2. servant girl 3. (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment) (HSK 7-9)

．went out, still smiling with pursed lips.

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What it’s about

Returning through rain after several days away, the narrator brings something his wife especially wanted. Indoors he notices an intense fragrance and asks whether it comes from the white orchids blooming beneath the lattice. Seated beside her, he teasingly asks whether the scent belongs to the flowers or to her. She repeats the question and kisses him, while the young maid Yuyao sees the exchange, covers her mouth and turns toward the curtain laughing.

The rest of the scene revolves around that laugh. The wife calls the maid back, asks what amused her and then warns her not to gossip outside before sending her to gather daphne. Everyone knows the answer, but social hierarchy requires the servant to deny what she saw and the husband to intercede. The title belongs to the observer at the edge rather than to the loving couple at the center. A private gesture becomes comic because it has an audience, and affection is shown negotiating the household's rules of speech, modesty and rank rather than floating free in an abstract romantic world.

When it was written 背景

This domestic sketch is useful evidence of the intimate, companionate marriage imagined by many New Culture writers, though it also preserves the servants and etiquette of an older household. Xu often stages philosophical exchanges with a wife, and the affectionate address 良人 gives the conversation an intentionally literary softness. White orchid and daphne both belong to a classical vocabulary of refined fragrance, while the 汝窰 bowl and rosewood couch add cultivated material detail. Yet the maid's suppressed laughter prevents the scene from becoming a timeless aesthetic tableau. Learners should track who can speak openly: the spouses may flirt, the maid may see, but she cannot safely name what she has seen. That asymmetry is part of the joke's social texture.

Words in this chapter 生词

囘huí囘huí — variant of 回 (huí)
蘭花lán huā蘭花lán huā — cymbidium · orchid
丫頭yā touHSK 7-9丫頭yā tou — girl · servant girl · (used deprecatingly, but sometimes also as a term of endearment) (HSK 7-9)
抿mǐn抿mǐn — to smooth hair with a wet brush · (of a mouth, wing etc) to close lightly · to sip
借故jiè gù借故jiè gù — to find an excuse
冒着mào zhe冒着mào zhe — to brave · to face dangers
找着zhǎo zháo找着zhǎo zháo — to find
瑞香ruì xiāng瑞香ruì xiāng — winter daphne
鉢bō鉢bō — variant of 缽 (bō)
雨具yǔ jù雨具yǔ jù — rainwear
麽mó麽mó — tiny · insignificant
着zhāoHSK 1着zhāo — a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) · trick; tactic · (dialect) okay; all right · (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)