十七　不健全的腿 The Crippled Leg

「『』？」。"Where is the 'People's Revolutionary Army'?" Erliban suddenly asked Zhao San.：「？」。This made Zhao San think: "Has Erliban become a running dog?" He didn't tell him.。Erliban went to ask Qingshan again.：Qingshan said:

人民: rén mín — the people (HSK 3)
革命: gé mìng — 1. to withdraw the mandate of heaven (and transition to a new dynasty) (original meaning) 2. revolution 3. revolutionary 4. to revolt (against sb or sth) 5. to revolutionize (sth) 6. (separable verb sometimes used in the pattern 革noun的命) 7. classifier: 次 (cì) (HSK 7-9)
軍: jūn — 1. (bound form) army 2. military
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
哪裡: nǎ lǐ — 1. where? 2. somewhere 3. anywhere 4. wherever 5. nowhere (negative answer to question) 6. humble expression denying compliment (HSK 1)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
突然: tū rán — sudden; abrupt; unexpected (HSK 3)
問: wèn — to ask; to inquire (HSK 1)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
趙: Zhào — 1. surname Zhao 2. one of the seven states during the Warring States period (476–220 BC) 3. the Former Zhao 前趙 (Qián Zhào) (304–329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (Hòu Zhào) (319–350), states of the Sixteen Kingdoms
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
使: shǐ — 1. to make 2. to cause 3. to enable 4. to use 5. to employ 6. to send 7. to instruct sb to do sth 8. envoy 9. messenger (HSK 3)
趙: Zhào — 1. surname Zhao 2. one of the seven states during the Warring States period (476–220 BC) 3. the Former Zhao 前趙 (Qián Zhào) (304–329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (Hòu Zhào) (319–350), states of the Sixteen Kingdoms
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
當: dāng — 1. to be 2. to act as 3. manage 4. withstand 5. when 6. during 7. ought 8. should 9. match equally 10. equal 11. same 12. obstruct 13. just at (a time or place) 14. on the spot 15. right 16. just at (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
走狗: zǒu gǒu — 1. hunting dog 2. hound 3. (fig.) running dog 4. lackey
吧: bā — 1. bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc) 2. to puff (on a pipe etc) 3. (onom.) bang 4. abbr. for 貼吧 (tiē bā) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
沒: méi — (negative prefix for verbs) have not; not (HSK 1)
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)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
告訴: gào sù — to press charges; to file a complaint (HSK 1)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
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)
問: wèn — to ask; to inquire (HSK 1)
青山: Qīng shān — see 青山區 (Qīng shān Qū)
青山: Qīng shān — see 青山區 (Qīng shān Qū)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

「，！」"Don't ask. Just wait a few more days and follow me!"

。Erliban was so anxious it seemed he would run off to the revolutionary army right away.：Qingshan told him in a long, drawn-out voice:

「，？"The revolutionary army is at Panshi—can you even get there?，。」：I can see you haven't got a shred of courage—you can't even kill a sheep." Then, as if deliberately humiliating him, he added:

革命: gé mìng — 1. to withdraw the mandate of heaven (and transition to a new dynasty) (original meaning) 2. revolution 3. revolutionary 4. to revolt (against sb or sth) 5. to revolutionize (sth) 6. (separable verb sometimes used in the pattern 革noun的命) 7. classifier: 次 (cì) (HSK 7-9)
軍: jūn — 1. (bound form) army 2. military
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
盤石: pán shí — variant of 磐石 (pán shí)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
去得: qù de — can go
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
一點: yī diǎn — 1. a bit; a little bit 2. (used in negative expressions) (not) the least bit 3. (after an adjective, used to form the comparative) a bit more, -er 4. a point (in a discussion etc) 5. (calligraphy) dot stroke (、) 6. one o'clock (abbr. for 一點鍾 (yī diǎn zhōng))
膽量: dǎn liàng — 1. courage 2. boldness 3. guts
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
殺: shā — 1. to kill; to slay; to murder; to attack 2. to weaken; to reduce 3. (dialect) to smart 4. (used after a verb) extremely (HSK 5)
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)
隻: zhī — classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc (HSK 2)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
夠: gòu — 1. enough (sufficient) 2. enough (too much) 3. (coll.) (before adj.) really 4. (coll.) to reach by stretching out (HSK 2)
接著: jiē zhe — 1. to catch and hold on 2. to continue 3. to go on to do sth 4. to follow 5. to carry on 6. then 7. after that 8. subsequently 9. to proceed 10. to ensue 11. in turn 12. in one's turn (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
故意: gù yì — deliberately; on purpose (HSK 2)
羞辱: xiū rǔ — 1. to humiliate 2. to shame 3. humiliation 4. indignity
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)

「？」"How's your goat doing?"

，，。Erliban grew so angry that the whites of his eyes at once showed more than the black, and his fervor instantly froze to ice within his heart.，，，。Li Qingshan said not another word to him, gazed at the trees on the horizon outside the window, shook his head softly, and began humming a little tune.，：As Erliban was about to go out the door, Qingshan's wife, sweating in the kitchen, said to him:

二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
為著: wèi zhe — 1. in order to 2. because of 3. for the sake of
生氣: shēng qì — 1. to get angry; to be furious 2. vitality; liveliness (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
白眼: bái yǎn — 1. to give sb a dirty look; to cast a supercilious glance 2. a disdainful look
球: qiú — 1. ball 2. sphere 3. globe 4. classifier: 個 (gè) 5. ball game 6. match 7. classifier: 場 (chǎng) (HSK 1)
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
多: duō — 1. many; much; more; a lot of 2. too many; in excess 3. (after a numeral) ... odd 4. how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. (duó)) 5. (bound form) multi-; poly- (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
黑: Hēi — short name for Heilongjiang 黑龍江 (Hēi lóng jiāng) (HSK 2)
眼球: yǎn qiú — 1. eyeball 2. (fig.) attention
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
熱情: rè qíng — 1. cordial 2. enthusiastic 3. passion 4. passionate 5. passionately (HSK 2)
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
心裡: xīn li — 1. chest 2. heart; mind (HSK 2)
結成: jié chéng — 1. to form 2. to forge (alliances etc)
冰: bīng — 1. ice 2. classifier: 塊 (kuài) 3. to chill sth 4. (of an object or substance) to feel cold 5. (of a person) cold 6. unfriendly 7. (slang) methamphetamine (HSK 4)
李: Lǐ — surname Li
青山: Qīng shān — see 青山區 (Qīng shān Qū)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
與: yú — variant of 歟 (yú) (HSK 6)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
再: zài — 1. again; once more; re- 2. further; beyond this point of time 3. (before an adjective) more 4. then (after sth, and not until then) 5. no matter how ... (followed by an adjective or verb, and then (usually) 也 (yě) or 都 (dōu) for emphasis) 6. (used to introduce additional information, as in 再則 (zài zé), 再就是 (zài jiù shì) etc) 7. (literary) to reappear; to reoccur (HSK 1)
多: duō — 1. many; much; more; a lot of 2. too many; in excess 3. (after a numeral) ... odd 4. how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. (duó)) 5. (bound form) multi-; poly- (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)
一句: yī jù — 1. a line of verse 2. a sentence
望: wàng — 1. full moon 2. to hope 3. to expect 4. to visit 5. to gaze (into the distance) 6. to look towards 7. towards (HSK 7-9)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
窗: chuāng — 1. window 2. classifier: 扇 (shàn)
外: wài — 1. outside 2. in addition 3. foreign 4. external (HSK 1)
天邊: tiān biān — 1. horizon 2. ends of the earth 3. remotest places
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
樹: shù — 1. tree 2. classifier: 棵 (kē) 3. to cultivate 4. to set up (HSK 1)
小聲: xiǎo shēng — 1. in a low voice 2. (speak) in whispers (HSK 2)
搖: Yáo — surname Yao (HSK 4)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
頭: tóu — 1. head 2. hair style 3. the top 4. end 5. beginning or end 6. a stub 7. remnant 8. chief 9. boss 10. side 11. aspect 12. first 13. leading 14. classifier for pigs or livestock 15. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
唱: chàng — 1. to sing 2. to call loudly 3. to chant (HSK 1)
起小: qǐ xiǎo — since childhood
調: diào — 1. to transfer 2. to move (troops or cadres) 3. to investigate 4. to enquire into 5. accent 6. view 7. argument 8. key (in music) 9. mode (music) 10. tune 11. tone 12. melody (HSK 3)
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)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
臨: lín — 1. to face 2. to overlook 3. to arrive 4. to be (just) about to 5. just before (HSK 7-9)
出門: chū mén — 1. to go out 2. to leave home 3. to go on a journey 4. away from home 5. (of a woman) to get married (HSK 2)
青山: Qīng shān — see 青山區 (Qīng shān Qū)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
女人: nǚ rén — woman (HSK 1)
流汗: liú hàn — to sweat
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
廚房: chú fáng — 1. kitchen 2. classifier: 間 (jiān) (HSK 5)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

「，。」"Uncle Li, have you eaten yet?"

，：Seeing Erliban's pitiful look, Qingshan said with a laugh:

「，，！」"What's the use of going home—you haven't even got a wife anymore. Eat first, we'll talk after!"

，。He himself no longer had a family, and so he coveted other people's families.，，，，！The moment he picked up his chopsticks, he quickly finished a bowl of wheat rice, then went on to eat two more big bowls—before the others had even finished, he was already smoking!，。He didn't drink a drop of soup; he only ate rice and then went off to smoke.

他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (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)
家庭: jiā tíng — 1. family; household 2. classifier: 戶 (hù) (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
貪戀: tān liàn — 1. to cling to 2. to be reluctant to give up (sth) 3. to have a fondness for (an indulgence etc)
別人: bié ren — other people; others; other person (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
家庭: jiā tíng — 1. family; household 2. classifier: 戶 (hù) (HSK 2)
當: dāng — 1. to be 2. to act as 3. manage 4. withstand 5. when 6. during 7. ought 8. should 9. match equally 10. equal 11. same 12. obstruct 13. just at (a time or place) 14. on the spot 15. right 16. just at (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
拾: shè — to ascend in light steps (HSK 5)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
筷子: kuài zi — 1. chopsticks 2. classifier: 對 (duì), 根 (gēn), 把 (bǎ), 雙 (shuāng) (HSK 2)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
快: kuài — 1. rapid 2. quick 3. speed 4. rate 5. soon 6. almost 7. to make haste 8. clever 9. sharp (of knives or wits) 10. forthright 11. plainspoken 12. gratified 13. pleased 14. pleasant (HSK 1)
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)
碗: wǎn — 1. bowl 2. cup 3. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
麥: Mài — surname Mai
飯: fàn — 1. cooked rice 2. classifier: 碗 (wǎn) 3. meal 4. classifier: 頓 (dùn) 5. (loanword) fan 6. devotee (HSK 1)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
下去: xià qù — 1. to go down 2. to descend 3. to go on 4. to continue 5. (of a servant) to withdraw (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)
接連: jiē lián — 1. on end 2. in a row 3. in succession (HSK 5)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
又: yòu — 1. (once) again 2. also 3. both... and... 4. and yet 5. (used for emphasis) anyway (HSK 2)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)
兩: liǎng — 1. two 2. both 3. some 4. a few 5. tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (jīn) (old) (HSK 1)
大: dà — 1. big; large; great 2. older (than another person) 3. eldest (as in 大姐 (dà jiě)) 4. greatly; freely; fully 5. (dialect) father 6. (dialect) uncle (father's brother) (HSK 1)
碗: wǎn — 1. bowl 2. cup 3. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
別人: bié ren — other people; others; other person (HSK 1)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
吃完: chī wán — to finish eating
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
已經: yǐ jīng — already (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
抽煙: chōu yān — variant of 抽菸 (chōu yān) (HSK 4)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
一點: yī diǎn — 1. a bit; a little bit 2. (used in negative expressions) (not) the least bit 3. (after an adjective, used to form the comparative) a bit more, -er 4. a point (in a discussion etc) 5. (calligraphy) dot stroke (、) 6. one o'clock (abbr. for 一點鍾 (yī diǎn zhōng))
湯: Tāng — surname Tang (HSK 3)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
沒: méi — (negative prefix for verbs) have not; not (HSK 1)
喝: hē — 1. to drink 2. variant of 嗬 (hē) (HSK 1)
只: zhī — variant of 隻 (zhī) (HSK 2)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (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)
飯: fàn — 1. cooked rice 2. classifier: 碗 (wǎn) 3. meal 4. classifier: 頓 (dùn) 5. (loanword) fan 6. devotee (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
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)
抽煙: chōu yān — variant of 抽菸 (chōu yān) (HSK 4)

「，。」"Have some soup, the cabbage soup is good."

「，，！」。"No, I won't. My wife's been dead three days—for three days I haven't eaten solid rice!" Erliban said, shaking his head.

：「？」Qingshan asked hastily, "Has your goat eaten any solid rice?"

，。Once Erliban had eaten his fill, it seemed as if everything held hope again.，。He wasn't angry; as usual, he began laughing to himself.。Feeling satisfied, he left Qingshan's house.，，。On the narrow path he kept smoking his pipe; the hazy sky stirred no sorrow in him; frogs croaked one call after another along the little river channel.，，。The small trees by the river rustled restlessly in the wind; he walked across what had once been his own vegetable field, and the old waves of feeling stirred again in his heart.。Not even a single root vegetable grew in the field.

二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
吃飽: chī bǎo — to eat one's fill
飯: fàn — 1. cooked rice 2. classifier: 碗 (wǎn) 3. meal 4. classifier: 頓 (dùn) 5. (loanword) fan 6. devotee (HSK 1)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
一切: yī qiè — 1. everything 2. every 3. all (HSK 3)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
有希望: yǒu xī wàng — 1. hopeful 2. promising 3. prospective
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
沒: méi — (negative prefix for verbs) have not; not (HSK 1)
生氣: shēng qì — 1. to get angry; to be furious 2. vitality; liveliness (HSK 1)
照例: zhào lì — 1. as a rule 2. as usual 3. usually (HSK 7-9)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
笑: xiào — 1. to laugh; to smile 2. to laugh at (HSK 1)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
感到: gǎn dào — to feel; to sense; to perceive (HSK 2)
滿意: mǎn yì — 1. satisfied 2. pleased 3. to one's satisfaction (HSK 2)
離開: lí kāi — to depart; to leave (HSK 2)
青山: Qīng shān — see 青山區 (Qīng shān Qū)
家: jiā — 1. home 2. family 3. (polite) my (sister, uncle etc) 4. classifier for families or businesses 5. refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China 6. noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian 7. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
小道: xiǎo dào — 1. bypath 2. trail 3. bribery as a means of achieving a goal 4. minor arts (Confucian reference to agriculture, medicine, divination, and other professions unworthy of a gentleman)
不斷: bù duàn — 1. unceasing 2. uninterrupted 3. continuous 4. constant (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
抽: chōu — 1. to draw out; to pull out from in between 2. to remove part of the whole 3. to inhale (esp. smoke) 4. (of fabric etc) to shrink 5. (of certain plants) to sprout; to bud 6. to whip; to thrash 7. classifier for sheets (of tissues, wet wipes etc) (HSK 4)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
煙火: yān huǒ — 1. smoke and fire 2. cooked food 3. (literary) beacon fire 4. (literary) descendants; posterity (HSK 7-9)
天色: tiān sè — 1. color of the sky 2. time of day, as indicated by the color of the sky 3. weather
茫茫: máng máng — 1. boundless 2. vast and obscure
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
並不: bìng bù — not at all; by no means
引起: yǐn qǐ — to give rise to; to lead to; to cause; to arouse (HSK 4)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
悲哀: bēi āi — 1. grieved 2. sorrowful (HSK 7-9)
蛤蟆: há ma — frog; toad
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
小河: xiǎo hé — creek; stream; brook
道: dào — 1. road; path (classifier: 條 (tiáo), 股 (gǔ)) 2. (bound form) way; reason; principle 3. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization 4. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao 5. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel) 6. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words) 7. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process 8. (old) circuit (administrative division) (HSK 2)
一聲: yī shēng — first tone in Mandarin (high, level tone)
聲: shēng — 1. sound 2. voice 3. tone 4. noise 5. reputation 6. classifier for sounds (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
哇: wā — 1. Wow! 2. sound of a child's crying 3. sound of vomiting (HSK 6)
叫: jiào — 1. to shout 2. to call 3. to order 4. to ask 5. to be called 6. by (indicates agent in the passive mood) (HSK 1)
河邊: hé biān — river bank
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
小樹: xiǎo shù — 1. shrub 2. small tree 3. sapling 4. classifier: 棵 (kē)
隨: Suí — surname Sui (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)
風: fēng — 1. wind 2. news 3. style 4. custom 5. manner 6. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 絲 (sī) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
騷鬧: sāo nào — noisy; to make a racket
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
踏: tā — see 踏實 (tā shi) (HSK 6)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
往日: wǎng rì — former days; the past (HSK 7-9)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
菜: cài — 1. vegetable; greens (classifier: 棵 (kē)) 2. dish (of food) (classifier: 樣 (yàng), 道 (dào), 盤 (pán)) 3. (of one's skills etc) weak; poor 4. (coll.) (one's) type (HSK 1)
田: Tián — surname Tian (HSK 6)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
振動: zhèn dòng — 1. to vibrate 2. to shake 3. vibration (HSK 5)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
往日: wǎng rì — former days; the past (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
心: xīn — 1. heart 2. mind 3. intention 4. center 5. core 6. classifier: 顆 (kē), 個 (gè) (HSK 3)
波: Bō — 1. (bound form) Poland (abbr. for 波蘭 (Bō lán)) 2. surname Bo
菜: cài — 1. vegetable; greens (classifier: 棵 (kē)) 2. dish (of food) (classifier: 樣 (yàng), 道 (dào), 盤 (pán)) 3. (of one's skills etc) weak; poor 4. (coll.) (one's) type (HSK 1)
田: Tián — surname Tian (HSK 6)
連: Lián — surname Lian (HSK 3)
根: gēn — 1. root 2. basis 3. classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings 4. classifier: 條 (tiáo) 5. radical (chemistry) (HSK 4)
菜: cài — 1. vegetable; greens (classifier: 棵 (kē)) 2. dish (of food) (classifier: 樣 (yàng), 道 (dào), 盤 (pán)) 3. (of one's skills etc) weak; poor 4. (coll.) (one's) type (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
生長: shēng zhǎng — 1. to grow 2. to grow up 3. to be brought up (HSK 3)

。Over there, an old woman and some children, wrapped in the gathering dusk, crawled about on the field.，：They met at the edge of the field, and Erliban said:

那邊: nà bian — 1. over there 2. yonder (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
人家: rén jiā — 1. household 2. dwelling 3. family 4. sb else's house 5. household business 6. house of woman's husband-to-be 7. classifier: 戶 (hù), 家 (jiā) (HSK 4)
老太太: lǎo tài tai — 1. elderly lady (respectful) 2. esteemed mother 3. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 3)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
小孩: xiǎo hái — 1. child 2. classifier: 個 (gè)
們: men — plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
載: zǎi — 1. to record in writing 2. to carry (i.e. publish in a newspaper etc) 3. Taiwan pr. (zài) 4. year
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
暮色: mù sè — twilight
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)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
田: Tián — surname Tian (HSK 6)
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
匍匐: pú fú — to crawl; to creep; to lie prostrate
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
相遇: xiāng yù — 1. to meet 2. to encounter 3. to come across (HSK 7-9)
在地: zài dì — (Tw) local; native (from Taiwanese 在地, Tai-lo pr. [tsāi-tē])
端: duān — 1. (bound form) tip; end; extremity 2. (bound form) aspect; facet 3. (bound form) upright; proper 4. to hold sth level with both hands; to carry 5. to eliminate; to wipe out (HSK 6)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

「？"Are you digging in the ground?？Is there treasure buried underground?！」If there is, let me crouch down and dig too!"

：「！」，：A very small child called out crisply, "We're gleaning wheat ears!" The child seemed happy, but the old grandmother over there had already sighed:

「？……"Treasure?...？My old Heaven above...，，。」The children are crying with hunger, so I brought them here to pick up a few grains of wheat, to take home and make them something dry to eat."

有: yǒu — 1. to have; there is 2. (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 (yǒu yì) intentional) (HSK 1)
寶物: bǎo wù — 1. treasure 2. classifier: 件 (jiàn)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
老天爺: lǎo tiān yé — 1. God 2. Heavens
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
餓: è — 1. hungry 2. to starve (sb) (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)
亂叫: luàn jiào — to inconsiderately shout
領: lǐng — 1. neck 2. collar 3. to lead 4. to receive 5. classifier for clothes, mats, screens etc (HSK 3)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
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)
拾: shè — to ascend in light steps (HSK 5)
幾: jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)
粒: lì — 1. grain; granule; pellet; particle 2. classifier for small round objects (peas, bullets, peanuts, pills, grains etc) 3. (Tw) classifier for larger round objects (watermelon etc) (HSK 7-9)
麥穗: mài suì — ear of wheat
回家: huí jiā — to return home (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)
他們: tā men — they; them (HSK 1)
做: zuò — 1. to make; to produce 2. to write; to compose 3. to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc) 4. (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, friends etc) 5. (of a thing) to serve as; to be used for 6. to assume (an air or manner) (HSK 1)
乾糧: gān liáng — rations (to take on expedition)
吃: chī — 1. to eat; to consume 2. to eat at (a cafeteria etc) 3. to eradicate; to destroy 4. to absorb 5. to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc) (HSK 1)

，，，。Erliban handed his pipe to the old woman to smoke; she took it and, without even wiping it, put it straight into her mouth.，。Clearly she was well used to smoking, and badly needed it.，，，。She raised her shoulders high, shut her eyes tight, and thick smoke poured ceaselessly from her mouth and from her nostrils.，。It looked quite dangerous, as if her nose were about to catch fire.

二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
煙袋: yān dài — tobacco pipe
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)
老太太: lǎo tài tai — 1. elderly lady (respectful) 2. esteemed mother 3. classifier: 位 (wèi) (HSK 3)
吸: xī — 1. to breathe 2. to suck in 3. to absorb 4. to inhale (HSK 4)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
拿: ná — 1. to hold 2. to seize 3. to catch 4. to apprehend 5. to take 6. (used in the same way as 把 (bǎ): to mark the following noun as a direct object) (HSK 1)
過: Guō — surname Guo (HSK 1)
煙袋: yān dài — tobacco pipe
連: Lián — surname Lian (HSK 3)
擦: cā — 1. to rub; to scratch 2. to wipe; to polish 3. to apply (lipstick, lotion etc) 4. to brush (past) 5. to shred (a vegetable etc) (HSK 4)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
擦: cā — 1. to rub; to scratch 2. to wipe; to polish 3. to apply (lipstick, lotion etc) 4. to brush (past) 5. to shred (a vegetable etc) (HSK 4)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
放進: fàng jìn — to put into
嘴裡: zuǐ lǐ — 1. mouth 2. in the mouth 3. on one's lips 4. speech 5. words
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)
顯然: xiǎn rán — clearly; evidently; obviously (HSK 3)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
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)
熟習: shú xí — 1. to understand profoundly 2. well-versed 3. skillful 4. practiced 5. to have the knack
吸煙: xī yān — to smoke (HSK 4)
並且: bìng qiě — and; besides; moreover; furthermore; in addition (HSK 3)
十分: shí fēn — 1. very 2. completely 3. utterly 4. extremely 5. absolutely 6. hundred percent 7. to divide into ten equal parts (HSK 2)
需要: xū yào — 1. to need; to want; to demand; to require 2. needs (HSK 3)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
肩膀: jiān bǎng — shoulder (HSK 7-9)
抬: tái — 1. to lift 2. to raise 3. (of two or more persons) to carry (HSK 5)
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)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
緊: jǐn — 1. tight 2. strict 3. close at hand 4. near 5. urgent 6. tense 7. hard up 8. short of money 9. to tighten (HSK 3)
合: gě — 1. 100 ml 2. one-tenth of a peck 3. measure for dry grain equal to one-tenth of sheng 升 or liter, or one-hundredth dou 斗 (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)
眼睛: yǎn jing — 1. eye 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 雙 (shuāng) (HSK 2)
濃煙: nóng yān — thick smoke
不住: bù zhù — 1. (verb complement) unable to firmly or securely (grasp, recall etc) 2. repeatedly; continuously; constantly
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
嘴: zuǐ — 1. mouth 2. beak 3. nozzle 4. spout (of teapot etc) 5. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
冒: Mào — surname Mao (HSK 5)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
鼻孔: bí kǒng — 1. nostril 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī)
冒: Mào — surname Mao (HSK 5)
出: chū — 1. to go out; to come out 2. to arise; to occur 3. to produce; to yield 4. to go beyond; to exceed 5. (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result) 6. classifier for dramas, plays, operas etc (HSK 1)
那樣: nà yàng — 1. that kind 2. that sort (HSK 2)
很: hěn — 1. very; quite 2. (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element) (HSK 1)
危險: wēi xiǎn — 1. danger 2. dangerous (HSK 3)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
鼻子: bí zi — 1. nose 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 5)
快要: kuài yào — nearly at the point of (doing sth); about to (do sth) (HSK 2)
著火: zháo huǒ — to catch fire (HSK 4)

「，。」"It's been more than a month since I so much as touched a pipe."

，。She seemed still unwilling to part with the pipe; only reason forced her to.。Erliban took it back and rapped it sharply against the ground.

！The human world had already grown so desolate!，。No birds wheeled through the red glow at the horizon; no dogs barked by the fences of the houses.

人間: rén jiān — 1. the human world 2. the earth (HSK 5)
已: yǐ — 1. already 2. to stop 3. then 4. afterwards (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)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
般: bān — 1. sort 2. kind 3. class 4. way 5. manner
寂寞: jì mò — 1. lonely 2. lonesome 3. (of a place) quiet 4. silent (HSK 7-9)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
天邊: tiān biān — 1. horizon 2. ends of the earth 3. remotest places
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
紅: Hóng — surname Hong (HSK 2)
霞: xiá — rose-tinted sky or clouds at sunrise or sunset
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
鳥兒: niǎo r — bird
翻: fān — 1. to turn over 2. to flip over 3. to overturn 4. to rummage through 5. to translate 6. to decode 7. to double 8. to climb over or into 9. to cross (HSK 4)
飛: fēi — to fly (HSK 1)
人家: rén jiā — 1. household 2. dwelling 3. family 4. sb else's house 5. household business 6. house of woman's husband-to-be 7. classifier: 戶 (hù), 家 (jiā) (HSK 4)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
籬: lí — a fence
牆: qiáng — 1. wall (classifier: 面 (miàn), 堵 (dǔ)) 2. (slang) to block (a website) (usu. in the passive: 被牆 (bèi qiáng)) (HSK 2)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
狗: gǒu — 1. dog 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī), 條 (tiáo) (HSK 2)
兒: ér — 1. child 2. son
吠叫: fèi jiào — 1. to bark 2. to yelp

，，。The old woman slowly drew a wad of paper from her waistband; slowly, beneath her hands, it unfolded, and then she smoothed it flat.

「！"Go home and take a look!、！Your wife and children are all dead!，！No one can save you—go home and take a look!！」Once you look, you'll understand!"

你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
回家: huí jiā — to return home (HSK 1)
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)
看看: kàn kan — 1. to take a look at 2. to examine 3. to survey 4. (coll.) pretty soon
吧: bā — 1. bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc) 2. to puff (on a pipe etc) 3. (onom.) bang 4. abbr. for 貼吧 (tiē bā) (HSK 1)
老婆: lǎo pó — (coll.) wife (HSK 4)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
死: sǐ — 1. to die 2. impassable 3. uncrossable 4. inflexible 5. rigid 6. extremely 7. damned (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)
誰: shéi — 1. who 2. also pr. (shuí) (HSK 1)
能: Néng — surname Neng (HSK 1)
救: jiù — 1. to save 2. to assist 3. to rescue (HSK 3)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
回家: huí jiā — to return home (HSK 1)
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)
看看: kàn kan — 1. to take a look at 2. to examine 3. to survey 4. (coll.) pretty soon
吧: bā — 1. bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc) 2. to puff (on a pipe etc) 3. (onom.) bang 4. abbr. for 貼吧 (tiē bā) (HSK 1)
看看: kàn kan — 1. to take a look at 2. to examine 3. to survey 4. (coll.) pretty soon
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
明白: míng bai — 1. clear; obvious; unequivocal 2. sensible; reasonable 3. to understand; to realize (HSK 1)
啦: lā — 1. (onom.) sound of singing, cheering etc 2. (phonetic) 3. (dialect) to chat (HSK 6)

，。She pointed at the paper as though pointing at a talisman.

！The sky grew darker still!。So dark it pressed against people's faces like a curtain.，，，：The smallest child, after walking a few steps, clung to his grandmother's thigh, crying out over and over:

天: tiān — 1. day 2. sky 3. heaven (HSK 1)
更: gēng — 1. to change or replace 2. to experience 3. one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided 4. watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard) (HSK 2)
黑: Hēi — short name for Heilongjiang 黑龍江 (Hēi lóng jiāng) (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
黑: Hēi — short name for Heilongjiang 黑龍江 (Hēi lóng jiāng) (HSK 2)
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)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
帳幕: zhàng mù — tent
緊逼: jǐn bī — 1. to press hard 2. to close in on
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
人: rén — 1. person; people 2. classifier: 個 (gè), 位 (wèi), 名 (míng) (HSK 1)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
最: zuì — 1. (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est 2. (after 之 (zhī)) best or most extreme example (e.g. 世界之最 (shì jiè zhī zuì) "the greatest in the world") (HSK 1)
小的: xiǎo de — 1. (coll.) young child; the little one(s) of the family 2. (old) (humble) I; me; my (used by a commoner when speaking to an official)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
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)
幾: jī — (literary) almost (HSK 1)
步: Bù — surname Bu (HSK 3)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
抱: bào — 1. to hold 2. to carry (in one's arms) 3. to hug 4. to embrace 5. to surround 6. to cherish 7. (coll.) (of clothes) to fit nicely (HSK 4)
住: zhù — 1. to live; to reside; to stay 2. to stop; to cease 3. (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state) (HSK 1)
祖母: zǔ mǔ — father's mother; paternal grandmother (HSK 6)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
大腿: dà tuǐ — thigh
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
不住: bù zhù — 1. (verb complement) unable to firmly or securely (grasp, recall etc) 2. repeatedly; continuously; constantly
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
嚷: rǎng — 1. to shout 2. to bellow 3. to make a big deal of sth 4. to make a fuss about sth (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)

「，，！」"Grandma, my basket is full, I can't carry it!"

，。The grandmother carried the basket for him and pulled him along.。The few older children ran ahead like an honor guard.，，，，，：When they got home, the grandmother lit a lamp to look, and found the basket full of wormwood, spilling over the rim—there wasn't a single wheat ear. The grandmother tapped the child's head and laughed:

祖母: zǔ mǔ — father's mother; paternal grandmother (HSK 6)
為: wéi — 1. as (in the capacity of) 2. to take sth as 3. to act as 4. to serve as 5. to behave as 6. to become 7. to be 8. to do 9. by (in the passive voice) (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
提: dī — used in 提防 (dī fang) and 提溜 (dī liu) (HSK 2)
筐: kuāng — 1. basket 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)
拉: lā — 1. to pull 2. to play (a bowed instrument) 3. to drag 4. to draw 5. to chat 6. (coll.) to empty one's bowels (HSK 2)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
那: Nā — surname Na (HSK 1)
幾個: jǐ ge — 1. a few 2. several 3. how many
大一些: dà yī xiē — a bit bigger
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
衛隊: wèi duì — guard (i.e. group of soldiers)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
跑: páo — (of an animal) to paw (the ground) (HSK 1)
在前: zài qián — 1. ahead 2. formerly 3. in the past
面: miàn — 1. face 2. side 3. surface 4. aspect 5. top 6. classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc
到家: dào jiā — 1. perfect 2. excellent 3. brought to the utmost degree
祖母: zǔ mǔ — father's mother; paternal grandmother (HSK 6)
點燈: diǎn dēng — to light a lamp
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
滿: Mǎn — Manchu ethnic group (HSK 2)
筐: kuāng — 1. basket 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)
蒿: hāo — 1. celery wormwood (Artemisia carvifolia) 2. to give off 3. to weed
草: cǎo — 1. grass 2. straw 3. manuscript 4. draft (of a document) 5. careless 6. rough 7. classifier: 棵 (kē), 撮 (zuǒ), 株 (zhū), 根 (gēn) (HSK 2)
蒿: hāo — 1. celery wormwood (Artemisia carvifolia) 2. to give off 3. to weed
草: cǎo — 1. grass 2. straw 3. manuscript 4. draft (of a document) 5. careless 6. rough 7. classifier: 棵 (kē), 撮 (zuǒ), 株 (zhū), 根 (gēn) (HSK 2)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
筐: kuāng — 1. basket 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī) (HSK 7-9)
沿: yán — 1. along 2. to follow (a line, tradition etc) 3. to carry on 4. to trim (a border with braid, tape etc) 5. border 6. edge (HSK 6)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
流出: liú chū — to flow out; to issue; to leak
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)
而: ér — 1. and 2. as well as 3. and so 4. but (not) 5. yet (not) 6. (indicates causal relation) 7. (indicates change of state) 8. (indicates contrast) (HSK 4)
沒有: méi yǒu — 1. haven't 2. hasn't 3. doesn't exist 4. to not have 5. to not be (HSK 1)
麥穗: mài suì — ear of wheat
祖母: zǔ mǔ — father's mother; paternal grandmother (HSK 6)
打: dá — 1. (loanword) dozen 2. Taiwan pr. (dǎ) (HSK 1)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
頭: tóu — 1. head 2. hair style 3. the top 4. end 5. beginning or end 6. a stub 7. remnant 8. chief 9. boss 10. side 11. aspect 12. first 13. leading 14. classifier for pigs or livestock 15. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
笑: xiào — 1. to laugh; to smile 2. to laugh at (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)

「？」，：「，！」"Is this all the wheat you gleaned?" The grandmother's smile turned to a sorrowful look; she thought: "The child still can't tell wheat ears apart—poor child!"

這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
都: Dū — surname Du (HSK 1)
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)
拾: shè — to ascend in light steps (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
麥穗: mài suì — ear of wheat
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)
祖母: zǔ mǔ — father's mother; paternal grandmother (HSK 6)
把: bǎ — 1. to hold; to grasp 2. to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate 3. handlebar 4. classifier: handful, bundle, bunch 5. classifier for things with handles 6. (used to put the object before the verb: 把 (bǎ) + {noun} + {verb}) (HSK 3)
笑臉: xiào liǎn — 1. smiling face 2. smiley :) ☺ 3. classifier: 副 (fù) (HSK 6)
轉換: zhuǎn huàn — 1. to change 2. to switch 3. to convert 4. to transform (HSK 5)
哀傷: āi shāng — 1. grief; distress; bereavement 2. grieved; heartbroken; dejected
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
她: tā — she (HSK 1)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
不能: bù néng — 1. cannot 2. must not 3. should not
認識: rèn shi — 1. to know 2. to recognize 3. to be familiar with 4. to get acquainted with sb 5. knowledge 6. understanding 7. awareness 8. cognition (HSK 1)
麥穗: mài suì — ear of wheat
難為: nán wei — 1. to bother 2. to press sb, usu. to do sth 3. it's a tough job 4. sorry to bother you (polite, used to thank sb for a favor)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
孩子: hái zi — child (HSK 1)

※※※※※※

，，。On the Fifth-Month Festival, though it was summer, the wind blew as if autumn had come.，，，，，，。Erliban put out the lamp and came out from under the eaves looking fierce and strong; he picked up a vegetable knife and searched everywhere—the corner of the wall, the sheep pen, even under the white tree in the yard, he searched it all.，。He wanted to free himself of every attachment, as though he had no choice but to kill the old goat at once.

五月節: Wǔ yuè jié — Dragon Boat Festival (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month)
雖然: suī rán — although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是 (kě shì) or 但是 (dàn shì) etc) (HSK 2)
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)
夏天: xià tiān — 1. summer 2. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
卻: què — 1. but 2. yet 3. however 4. while 5. to go back 6. to decline 7. to retreat 8. nevertheless 9. even though (HSK 4)
像: xiàng — 1. to resemble 2. to be like 3. to look as if 4. such as 5. appearance 6. image 7. portrait 8. image under a mapping (math.) (HSK 2)
吹: chuī — 1. to blow 2. to play a wind instrument 3. to blast 4. to puff 5. to boast 6. to brag 7. to end in failure 8. to fall through (HSK 2)
起: qǐ — 1. to rise 2. to raise 3. to get up 4. to set out 5. to start 6. to appear 7. to launch 8. to initiate (action) 9. to draft 10. to establish 11. to get (from a depot or counter) 12. verb suffix, to start 13. starting from (a time, place, price etc) 14. classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance 15. classifier for groups: batch, group (HSK 1)
秋: Qiū — surname Qiu
風: fēng — 1. wind 2. news 3. style 4. custom 5. manner 6. classifier: 陣 (zhèn), 絲 (sī) (HSK 1)
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)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
熄: xī — 1. to extinguish 2. to put out (fire) 3. to quench 4. to stop burning 5. to go out (of fire, lamp etc) 6. to come to an end 7. to wither away 8. to die out 9. Taiwan pr. (xí)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
燈: dēng — 1. lamp 2. light 3. lantern 4. classifier: 盞 (zhǎn) (HSK 2)
凶: xiōng — 1. vicious 2. fierce 3. ominous 4. inauspicious 5. famine 6. variant of 兇 (xiōng) (HSK 6)
壯: Zhuàng — Zhuang ethnic group, the largest ethnic minority in China (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
從: Cóng — surname Cong (HSK 1)
屋簷: wū yán — 1. eaves 2. roof (i.e. home)
出現: chū xiàn — 1. to appear 2. to arise 3. to emerge 4. to show up (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
提起: tí qǐ — 1. to mention; to bring up 2. (lit. and fig.) to lift; to raise 3. to initiate (legal proceedings) (HSK 5)
切: qiē — 1. to cut; to slice; to carve 2. (math.) tangential (HSK 4)
菜刀: cài dāo — 1. vegetable knife 2. kitchen knife 3. cleaver 4. classifier: 把 (bǎ)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
牆角: qiáng jiǎo — corner (junction of two walls)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
棚: péng — 1. shed 2. canopy 3. shack
就是: jiù shì — 1. exactly; precisely 2. only; simply; just 3. (used correlatively with 也 (yě)) even; even if (HSK 3)
院: yuàn — 1. courtyard 2. institution 3. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
白: Bái — 1. surname Bai 2. Bai ethnic group (HSK 1)
樹: shù — 1. tree 2. classifier: 棵 (kē) 3. to cultivate 4. to set up (HSK 1)
下: xià — 1. down 2. downwards 3. below 4. lower 5. later 6. next (week etc) 7. second (of two parts) 8. to decline 9. to go down 10. to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) 11. measure word to show the frequency of an action (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
也: Yě — surname Ye (HSK 1)
搜: sōu — 1. to search 2. variant of 蒐 (sōu) (HSK 5)
遍: biàn — 1. everywhere 2. all over 3. classifier for actions: one time (HSK 2)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
要: yāo — (bound form) to demand; to coerce (HSK 1)
使: shǐ — 1. to make 2. to cause 3. to enable 4. to use 5. to employ 6. to send 7. to instruct sb to do sth 8. envoy 9. messenger (HSK 3)
自己: zì jǐ — oneself; (attributive) one's own (HSK 2)
無牽無掛: wú qiān wú guà — (idiom) unburdened by obligations or attachments; carefree
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
非: Fēi — abbr. for 非洲 (Fēi zhōu), Africa (HSK 4)
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
殺死: shā sǐ — to kill
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
不可: bù kě — cannot; should not; must not

：This was the night before Erliban's departure:

，，。The old goat came bleating back, wild grass caught in its beard, rubbing against the pen so that the rails rattled.，，。The knife in Erliban's hand was raised higher than his head as he walked toward the rails.

老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
鳴叫: míng jiào — 1. to emit a sound 2. (of birds, insects etc) to chirp, hoot etc 3. (of a siren, steam whistle etc) to sound
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
回來: huí lai — to return; to come back (HSK 1)
鬍子: hú zi — 1. beard 2. mustache or whiskers 3. facial hair 4. classifier: 撮 (zuǒ), 根 (gēn) 5. (coll.) bandit (HSK 5)
間: jiān — 1. between 2. among 3. within a definite time or space 4. room 5. section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars 6. classifier for rooms (HSK 1)
掛: guà — 1. to hang; to suspend (from a hook etc) 2. to hang up (the phone) 3. (of a line) to be dead 4. to be worried; to be concerned 5. (dialect) to make a phone call 6. to register (at a hospital); to make an appointment (with a doctor) 7. (slang) to kill; to die; to be finished; to fail (an exam) 8. classifier for sets or clusters of objects (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)
野草: yě cǎo — 1. weeds 2. mistress or prostitute (old)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
欄: lán — 1. fence 2. railing 3. hurdle 4. column or box (of text or other data) (HSK 7-9)
棚: péng — 1. shed 2. canopy 3. shack
處: chǔ — 1. to reside 2. to live 3. to dwell 4. to be in 5. to be situated at 6. to stay 7. to get along with 8. to be in a position of 9. to deal with 10. to discipline 11. to punish (HSK 4)
擦: cā — 1. to rub; to scratch 2. to wipe; to polish 3. to apply (lipstick, lotion etc) 4. to brush (past) 5. to shred (a vegetable etc) (HSK 4)
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)
欄柵: lán zhà — barrier
響: xiǎng — 1. echo 2. sound 3. noise 4. to make a sound 5. to sound 6. to ring 7. loud 8. classifier for noises (HSK 2)
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
中的: zhòng dì — 1. to hit the target 2. (fig.) to hit the nail on the head
刀: Dāo — surname Dao (HSK 3)
舉: jǔ — 1. to lift 2. to hold up 3. to cite 4. to enumerate 5. to act 6. to raise 7. to choose 8. to elect 9. act 10. move 11. deed (HSK 2)
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)
比: Bǐ — 1. Belgium 2. Belgian 3. abbr. for 比利時 (Bǐ lì shí) (HSK 1)
頭: tóu — 1. head 2. hair style 3. the top 4. end 5. beginning or end 6. a stub 7. remnant 8. chief 9. boss 10. side 11. aspect 12. first 13. leading 14. classifier for pigs or livestock 15. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
還: Huán — surname Huan (HSK 1)
高: Gāo — surname Gao (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
朝向: cháo xiàng — 1. toward 2. to face 3. to open onto 4. to turn towards 5. orientation 6. exposure 7. Qibla (Islam)
欄杆: lán gān — 1. railing 2. banister (HSK 7-9)
走去: zǒu qù — to walk over (to)

，。The knife flew from his hand and, with a crack, chopped down a small tree.

，。The old goat came over and rubbed itself against his legs to scratch an itch.，，。For a long, long while Erliban stroked the goat's head; he felt deeply ashamed, and, like a Christian, prayed to the goat.

老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
走過: zǒu guò — 1. to walk past 2. to pass by (HSK 2)
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)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
腿: tuǐ — 1. leg 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 2)
間: jiān — 1. between 2. among 3. within a definite time or space 4. room 5. section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars 6. classifier for rooms (HSK 1)
搔癢: sāo yǎng — 1. to scratch (an itch) 2. to tickle
二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
許久: xǔ jiǔ — 1. for a long time 2. for ages
許久: xǔ jiǔ — 1. for a long time 2. for ages
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
摸: mō — 1. to feel with the hand 2. to touch 3. to stroke 4. to grope 5. to steal 6. to abstract (HSK 4)
撫: fǔ — 1. to comfort 2. to console 3. to stroke 4. to caress 5. an old term for province or provincial governor
羊頭: yáng tóu — 1. sheep's head 2. fig. advertisement for good meat
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
十分: shí fēn — 1. very 2. completely 3. utterly 4. extremely 5. absolutely 6. hundred percent 7. to divide into ten equal parts (HSK 2)
羞愧: xiū kuì — ashamed (HSK 7-9)
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (HSK 2)
耶穌教: Yē sū jiào — Protestantism
徒: Tú — surname Tu
一般: yī bān — 1. same 2. ordinary 3. so-so 4. common 5. general 6. generally 7. in general (HSK 2)
向: Xiàng — surname Xiang (HSK 2)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
禱告: dǎo gào — 1. to pray 2. prayer

，，，。Early in the morning he seemed to speak to the goat, murmuring for a while in the pen, then closed the gate carefully; the goat ate grass inside the pen.

，。On the Fifth-Month Festival, the sky was clear blue.；Old Zhao San felt this didn't seem like the Fifth-Month Festival at all;，，。the wheat had not grown up, no scent of wheat hung in the air, and no house had paper gourds hanging at its door.！He thought: all of this had changed!！Changed so quickly!，，，？Last year's Fifth-Month Festival, so clear and bright, seemed right before his eyes—weren't the children out catching butterflies?？Wasn't he drinking wine?

五月節: Wǔ yuè jié — Dragon Boat Festival (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month)
晴朗: qíng lǎng — sunny and cloudless (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
青: Qīng — short name for Qinghai 青海 (Qīng hǎi) (HSK 5)
空: kōng — 1. empty 2. air 3. sky 4. in vain (HSK 3)
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
趙: Zhào — 1. surname Zhao 2. one of the seven states during the Warring States period (476–220 BC) 3. the Former Zhao 前趙 (Qián Zhào) (304–329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (Hòu Zhào) (319–350), states of the Sixteen Kingdoms
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
這不: zhè bu — (coll.) As a matter of fact, ... (used to introduce evidence for what one has just asserted)
像: xiàng — 1. to resemble 2. to be like 3. to look as if 4. such as 5. appearance 6. image 7. portrait 8. image under a mapping (math.) (HSK 2)
個: gě — used in 自個兒 (zì gě r) (HSK 1)
五月節: Wǔ yuè jié — Dragon Boat Festival (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month)
樣: yàng — 1. manner 2. pattern 3. way 4. appearance 5. shape 6. classifier: kind, type (HSK 6)
麥子: mài zi — 1. wheat 2. classifier: 株 (zhū)
沒: méi — (negative prefix for verbs) have not; not (HSK 1)
長: cháng — 1. long 2. (bound form) length 3. (bound form) strong point; forte 4. (bound form) to be good at 5. (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. (zhàng)) (HSK 2)
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)
嗅: xiù — 1. to smell 2. to sniff 3. to nose
不到: bù dào — 1. not to arrive 2. not reaching 3. insufficient 4. less than
麥: Mài — surname Mai
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)
家: jiā — 1. home 2. family 3. (polite) my (sister, uncle etc) 4. classifier for families or businesses 5. refers to the philosophical schools of pre-Han China 6. noun suffix for a specialist in some activity, such as a musician or revolutionary, corresponding to English -ist, -er, -ary or -ian 7. classifier: 個 (gè) (HSK 1)
家門: jiā mén — 1. house door 2. family clan
前: qián — 1. front 2. forward 3. ahead 4. first 5. top (followed by a number) 6. future 7. ago 8. before 9. BC (e.g. 前293年) 10. former 11. formerly (HSK 1)
沒: méi — (negative prefix for verbs) have not; not (HSK 1)
掛: guà — 1. to hang; to suspend (from a hook etc) 2. to hang up (the phone) 3. (of a line) to be dead 4. to be worried; to be concerned 5. (dialect) to make a phone call 6. to register (at a hospital); to make an appointment (with a doctor) 7. (slang) to kill; to die; to be finished; to fail (an exam) 8. classifier for sets or clusters of objects (HSK 3)
紙: zhǐ — 1. paper (classifier: 張 (zhāng), 沓 (dá)) 2. classifier for documents, letters etc (HSK 2)
葫蘆: hú lu — 1. calabash or bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) 2. hoist 3. generic term for block and tackle (or parts thereof) 4. muddled 5. (poker) full house
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
想: xiǎng — 1. to think (about) 2. to think of; to devise 3. to think (that); to believe (that) 4. to desire; to want (to) 5. to miss (feel wistful about the absence of) (HSK 1)
這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
一切: yī qiè — 1. everything 2. every 3. all (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)
變: biàn — 1. to change 2. to become different 3. to transform 4. to vary 5. rebellion (HSK 2)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
變得: biàn de — to become
這樣: zhè yàng — 1. this way; like this; so 2. (before a noun) this kind of; such (HSK 2)
速: sù — 1. fast 2. rapid 3. quick 4. velocity
去年: qù nián — last year (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
五月節: Wǔ yuè jié — Dragon Boat Festival (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month)
清: Qīng — 1. Qing (Wade-Giles: Ch'ing) dynasty of China (1644–1911) 2. surname Qing (HSK 6)
清朗: qīng lǎng — 1. clear and bright 2. unclouded 3. clear and sonorous (voice) 4. clear and lively (narrative)
朗: lǎng — 1. clear 2. bright
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
就: jiù — 1. (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then 2. (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after 3. (same as 就是 (jiù shì)) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly 4. only; as little as 5. as much as; as many as 6. to approach; to move towards 7. to undertake; to engage in 8. (often followed by 著 (zhe)) taking advantage of 9. (of food) to go with 10. with regard to; concerning 11. (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 (yī cù ér jiù)) 12. (pattern: 就 (jiù) ... 也 (yě) ...) even if ... still ... 13. (pattern: 不 (bù) ... 就 (jiù) ...) if not ... then must be ... (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
眼前: yǎn qián — 1. before one's eyes 2. now 3. at present (HSK 3)
似的: shì de — 1. seems as if 2. rather like 3. Taiwan pr. (sì de) (HSK 4)
孩子們: hái zi men — children
不是: bù shì — 1. no 2. is not 3. not
捕: bǔ — to catch; to seize; to capture (HSK 6)
蝴蝶: hú dié — 1. butterfly 2. classifier: 隻 (zhī)
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
不是: bù shì — 1. no 2. is not 3. not
喝酒: hē jiǔ — to drink (alcohol)
嗎: má — (coll.) what? (HSK 1)

，。He sat on a fallen, broken tree trunk in front of his door, mourning all that was now lost.

，「」，，：Li Qingshan's figure passed by him, got up like a common laborer, barefoot with his trouser cuffs rolled up; he said to Zhao San:

「！"I'm off now!，……」There's someone waiting for me in the city, I must go..."

。Qingshan made no mention of the Fifth-Month Festival.

，，。From afar Erliban came limping and running, his sallow, horse-like face seeming to carry a smile.：He said:

二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
遠遠: yuǎn yuǎn — 1. distant 2. by far (HSK 6)
跛腳: bǒ jiǎo — 1. to limp 2. lame person
奔: bēn — 1. to hurry 2. to rush 3. to run quickly 4. to elope (HSK 7-9)
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)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
青色: qīng sè — 1. cyan 2. blue-green
馬: Mǎ — 1. surname Ma 2. abbr. for Malaysia 馬來西亞 (Mǎ lái xī yà) (HSK 3)
一樣: yī yàng — 1. same 2. like 3. equal to 4. the same as 5. just like (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
臉孔: liǎn kǒng — face
好像: hǎo xiàng — 1. as if 2. to seem like (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)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
笑容: xiào róng — 1. smile 2. smiling expression 3. classifier: 副 (fù) (HSK 6)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
說: shuì — to persuade (HSK 1)

「，，，……」"You're sitting here—I see you're about to, on this log, ..."

，，，：When Erliban turned to look, the old goat shut in the pen had somehow followed along behind him; at once his face grew even longer:

二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
回頭: huí tóu — 1. to turn round; to turn one's head 2. later; by and by (HSK 5)
看: kān — 1. to look after 2. to take care of 3. to watch 4. to guard (HSK 1)
時: Shí — surname Shi (HSK 3)
被: bèi — 1. quilt 2. to cover (with) 3. (literary) to suffer (a misfortune) 4. used to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, if the doer is not mentioned, before the verb) 5. (since c. 2009) (sarcastic or jocular) used to indicate that the following word should be regarded as being in air quotes (as in 被旅遊[bei4 lu : 3 you2] to "go on a trip") (HSK 3)
關: Guān — surname Guan (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
欄: lán — 1. fence 2. railing 3. hurdle 4. column or box (of text or other data) (HSK 7-9)
中的: zhòng dì — 1. to hit the target 2. (fig.) to hit the nail on the head
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
居然: jū rán — 1. unexpectedly 2. to one's surprise 3. go so far as to (HSK 5)
隨: Suí — surname Sui (HSK 3)
在身: zài shēn — 1. to possess 2. to be occupied or burdened with (work, a contract, a lawsuit)
後: hòu — 1. back 2. behind 3. rear 4. afterwards 5. after 6. later 7. post- (HSK 1)
立刻: lì kè — immediately; at once; right away (HSK 3)
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
臉: liǎn — 1. face 2. classifier: 張 (zhāng), 個 (gè) (HSK 2)
更: gēng — 1. to change or replace 2. to experience 3. one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided 4. watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard) (HSK 2)
拖長: tuō cháng — 1. to lengthen 2. to drag out
起來: qǐ lai — 1. to stand up; to get up 2. also pr. (qǐ lái) (HSK 1)

「……"This old goat...！keep it for me!！Brother Zhao San!！……」As long as you live, keep it for me!..."

這: zhè — 1. (pronoun) this; these 2. (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun) 3. (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. (zhèi), esp. in Beijing) (HSK 1)
條: tiáo — 1. strip 2. item 3. article 4. clause (of law or treaty) 5. classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc) (HSK 2)
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
替: tì — 1. to substitute for 2. to take the place of 3. to replace 4. for 5. on behalf of 6. to stand in for (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (HSK 2)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
吧: bā — 1. bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc) 2. to puff (on a pipe etc) 3. (onom.) bang 4. abbr. for 貼吧 (tiē bā) (HSK 1)
趙: Zhào — 1. surname Zhao 2. one of the seven states during the Warring States period (476–220 BC) 3. the Former Zhao 前趙 (Qián Zhào) (304–329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (Hòu Zhào) (319–350), states of the Sixteen Kingdoms
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
哥: gē — elder brother (HSK 1)
你: nǐ — you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您 (nín)) (HSK 1)
活: huó — 1. to live 2. alive 3. living 4. work 5. workmanship (HSK 3)
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)
天: tiān — 1. day 2. sky 3. heaven (HSK 1)
替: tì — 1. to substitute for 2. to take the place of 3. to replace 4. for 5. on behalf of 6. to stand in for (HSK 4)
我: wǒ — I; me; my (HSK 1)
養: yǎng — 1. to raise (animals) 2. to bring up (children) 3. to keep (pets) 4. to support 5. to give birth (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)
天: tiān — 1. day 2. sky 3. heaven (HSK 1)
吧: bā — 1. bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc) 2. to puff (on a pipe etc) 3. (onom.) bang 4. abbr. for 貼吧 (tiē bā) (HSK 1)

，，，。Erliban's hand lingered on the goat's wool in parting; with tears, his hand stroked the wool one last time.

二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
羊毛: yáng máo — wool; fleece
上: shǎng — used in 上聲 (shǎng shēng) (HSK 1)
惜別: xī bié — reluctant to part
他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
流淚: liú lèi — to shed tears (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
手: shǒu — 1. hand 2. (formal) to hold 3. person engaged in certain types of work 4. person skilled in certain types of work 5. personal(ly) 6. convenient 7. classifier for skill 8. classifier: 雙 (shuāng), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 1)
最後: zuì hòu — 1. final; last; ultimate 2. finally; in the end (HSK 1)
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)
刻: kè — 1. quarter (hour) 2. moment 3. to carve 4. to engrave 5. to cut 6. oppressive 7. classifier for short time intervals (HSK 2)
摸: mō — 1. to feel with the hand 2. to touch 3. to stroke 4. to grope 5. to steal 6. to abstract (HSK 4)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
羊毛: yáng máo — wool; fleece

，。He hurried off, to catch up with Li Qingshan ahead.，……Behind him the old goat cried out mournfully without stopping, its beard swaying slowly...

他: tā — 1. (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his 2. (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日 (tā rì) and 他人 (tā rén)) (HSK 1)
快: kuài — 1. rapid 2. quick 3. speed 4. rate 5. soon 6. almost 7. to make haste 8. clever 9. sharp (of knives or wits) 10. forthright 11. plainspoken 12. gratified 13. pleased 14. pleasant (HSK 1)
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)
跟上: gēn shàng — 1. to catch up with 2. to keep pace with (HSK 7-9)
前面: qián miàn — 1. ahead 2. in front 3. preceding 4. above 5. also pr. (qián mian) (HSK 3)
李: Lǐ — surname Li
青山: Qīng shān — see 青山區 (Qīng shān Qū)
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)
身後: shēn hòu — 1. the time after one's death 2. a place behind sb 3. (fig.) one's social background
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
不住: bù zhù — 1. (verb complement) unable to firmly or securely (grasp, recall etc) 2. repeatedly; continuously; constantly
哀: Āi — Ai (c. 2000 BC), sixth of legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 (Yán dì) descended from Shennong 神農 (Shén nóng) Farmer God, also known as Li 釐 (Lí)
叫: jiào — 1. to shout 2. to call 3. to order 4. to ask 5. to be called 6. by (indicates agent in the passive mood) (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
鬍子: hú zi — 1. beard 2. mustache or whiskers 3. facial hair 4. classifier: 撮 (zuǒ), 根 (gēn) 5. (coll.) bandit (HSK 5)
慢慢: màn màn — slowly; gradually (HSK 3)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
擺動: bǎi dòng — 1. to sway 2. to swing 3. to move back and forth 4. to oscillate (HSK 4)

，！Erliban's crippled leg stumbled on and on, growing distant!！Growing blurred!，。The hills and the woods receded further and further away.。From far off, the goat's cries accompanied old Zhao San's own dazed, hoarse sobbing.

二: èr — 1. two 2. 2 3. (Beijing dialect) stupid (HSK 1)
里: Lǐ — surname Li (HSK 1)
半: bàn — 1. half 2. semi- 3. incomplete 4. (after a number) and a half (HSK 1)
不: bù — 1. no; not so 2. (bound form) not; un- (HSK 1)
健全: jiàn quán — 1. robust 2. sound (HSK 5)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
腿: tuǐ — 1. leg 2. classifier: 條 (tiáo) (HSK 2)
顛: diān — 1. top (of the head) 2. apex 3. to fall forwards 4. inverted 5. to jolt
跌: diē — 1. to fall 2. to tumble 3. to trip 4. (of prices etc) to drop 5. Taiwan pr. (dié) (HSK 6)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
顛: diān — 1. top (of the head) 2. apex 3. to fall forwards 4. inverted 5. to jolt
跌: diē — 1. to fall 2. to tumble 3. to trip 4. (of prices etc) to drop 5. Taiwan pr. (dié) (HSK 6)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (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)
模糊: mó hu — 1. vague; indistinct; fuzzy 2. to blur; to obscure; to confuse; to mix up (HSK 5)
了: le — 1. (completed action marker) 2. (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) 3. (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) (HSK 1)
山: Shān — surname Shan (HSK 1)
崗: gāng — variant of 岡 (gāng)
和: Hé — surname He (HSK 1)
樹林: Shù lín — Shulin city in New Taipei City 新北市 (Xīn běi shì), Taiwan (HSK 4)
漸: jiān — to imbue
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)
漸: jiān — to imbue
遠: yuǎn — 1. far 2. distant 3. remote 4. (intensifier in a comparison) by far 5. much (lower etc) (HSK 1)
羊: Yáng — surname Yang (HSK 3)
聲: shēng — 1. sound 2. voice 3. tone 4. noise 5. reputation 6. classifier for sounds (HSK 5)
在: zài — 1. to exist; to be alive 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress) (HSK 1)
遙遠: yáo yuǎn — distant; remote (HSK 7-9)
處: chǔ — 1. to reside 2. to live 3. to dwell 4. to be in 5. to be situated at 6. to stay 7. to get along with 8. to be in a position of 9. to deal with 10. to discipline 11. to punish (HSK 4)
伴: bàn — 1. partner; companion; comrade; associate 2. to accompany (HSK 7-9)
著: zhāo — 1. a move in chess (Taiwan pr. (zhuó)) 2. trick; tactic 3. (dialect) okay; all right 4. (dialect) to put in; to add (HSK 1)
老: lǎo — 1. prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity 2. old (of people) 3. venerable (person) 4. experienced 5. of long standing 6. always 7. all the time 8. of the past 9. very 10. outdated 11. (of meat etc) tough (HSK 1)
趙: Zhào — 1. surname Zhao 2. one of the seven states during the Warring States period (476–220 BC) 3. the Former Zhao 前趙 (Qián Zhào) (304–329) and Later Zhao 後趙 (Hòu Zhào) (319–350), states of the Sixteen Kingdoms
三: Sān — surname San (HSK 1)
茫然: máng rán — 1. blankly 2. vacantly 3. at a loss (HSK 7-9)
的: de — 1. of; ~'s (possessive particle) 2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun) 3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis) 4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 (pí gé de) "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 (pǎo táng r de) "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 (xīn de) "new one") 5. also pr. (dì) or (di) in poetry and songs (HSK 1)
嘶鳴: sī míng — 1. to whinny (of a horse) 2. to neigh

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What it’s about

An impaired leg closes the novel with survival written visibly into the body. Disability here is neither a sentimental badge nor a private medical problem: it records labour, violence, inadequate care and the unequal demands made on anyone who cannot move as others do. Xiao Hong follows the practical consequences of the leg—pace, dependence, pain and exposure—while refusing to let physical difference exhaust the person's identity.

The final chapter denies readers a triumphant military conclusion. Resistance has entered the village, but damaged people must still negotiate the ordinary world produced by occupation and by older forms of neglect. A leg that cannot function “soundly” also challenges the language of a healthy national body, which can hide the individuals sacrificed to collective narratives. The ending returns scale from history to flesh. Across seventeen chapters, bodies have planted, given birth, been beaten, infected and killed; this body continues imperfectly. Such persistence is real, but Xiao Hong will not rename it victory or pretend that endurance repairs what made it necessary.

When it was written 背景

生死場 appeared in December 1935, four years after the occupation of Manchuria and while resistance writing sought figures of collective strength. Ending with an “unsound” leg is characteristically resistant to heroic closure. Lu Xun's preface helped readers recognize the novel's political urgency, but its last emphasis remains on the costs borne by particular bodies. Learners should read this chapter beside the old horse and the failed medicine packet: each asks how usefulness is judged when movement or labour fails. The prose closes motifs rather than every plot line, fitting a novel built from seasonal scenes and recurring villagers. Its incompleteness is not an accidental loose end but part of Xiao Hong's refusal to make suffering narratively whole.

Words in this chapter 生词

青山qīng shān青山qīng shān — green hills · (the good) life
五月節Wǔ yuè jié五月節Wǔ yuè jié — Dragon Boat Festival (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month)
煙袋yān dài煙袋yān dài — tobacco pipe
麥穗mài suì麥穗mài suì — ear of wheat
吧bāHSK 1吧bā — bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc) · to puff (on a pipe etc) · (onom.) bang · abbr. for 貼吧 (tiē bā) (HSK 1)
羊毛yáng máo羊毛yáng máo — wool; fleece
菜刀cài dāo菜刀cài dāo — vegetable knife · kitchen knife · cleaver · classifier: 把 (bǎ)
羊yángHSK 3羊yáng — sheep; goat · classifier: 頭 (tóu), 隻 (zhī) (HSK 3)
好像hǎo xiàngHSK 2好像hǎo xiàng — as if · to seem like (HSK 2)
趙zhào趙zhào — to surpass (old)
抽煙chōu yānHSK 4抽煙chōu yān — variant of 抽菸 (chōu yān) (HSK 4)
欄lánHSK 7-9欄lán — fence · railing · hurdle · column or box (of text or other data) (HSK 7-9)

十七 不健全的腿 The Crippled Leg

What it’s about

When it was written 背景

Words in this chapter 生词

十七　不健全的腿 The Crippled Leg