双语|现代散文:冯骥才 富人区

The Wealthy Quarter 富人区

◎ Feng Jicai ◎ 冯骥才

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

在洛杉矶，一位美国朋友开车带我去看富人区。富人区就是有钱人的聚居地。美国人最爱陪客人看富人区，好似观光。到那儿一瞧，千姿夭态的房子和庭院，优雅、宁静、舒适，真如人间天堂。我忽然有个问题问他：“你们看到富人住在这么漂亮的房子里，会不会嫉妒？”

He looked at me in astonishment and said，

我这美国朋友惊讶地看着我，说：

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

“嫉妒他们？为什么？他们能住在这里，说明他遇上了一个好机会。如果将来我也遇到好机会，我会比他们做得还好！”

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

这便是标准的“老美”式的回答。他们很看重机会。

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

后来在日本，一位日本朋友说他要陪我看看不远的一处富人区。原来日本人也有这种爱好。日本富人区，小巧、幽静、精致，每座房子都像一个首饰盒，也挺美。我又想到上次问过美国人的那个问题，便问日本朋友：

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

“你们看到富人们住着这么漂亮的房子，会嫉妒吗？”

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

这个日本朋友稍稍想了想，摇摇头说：“不会的。”继而他解释道，“如果一个日本人见到别人比自己强，通常会主动接近那个人，和他交朋友，向他学习，把他的长处学到手，再设法超过他。”

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

噢，日本人真厉害。我想。

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

前不久，一位南方朋友来看我，闲谈中说到他们的城市发展得很快，已经出现国外那种“富人区”了。我饶有兴趣地打听其中的情形，据说有的院子里还有喷水池，车库，门口有保安，还养大狼狗。我无意中再次想到问过美国和日本朋友的那个问题，拿来问他：

“Do people visit the wealthy quarter？”

“有没有人去富煅区参观？”

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

“有呀，常有人去看。但不能进去，在门口扒一扒头而已。”这位南方朋友说。

“How do you feel？Aren't you jealous？”

“心理反应怎么样？会不会嫉妒？”

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

“嫉妒？”他眉毛一扬，笑道，“何止嫉妒，恨不得把那小子宰了！”

I was stunned to hear it.

我听了怔住。

杂文《富人区》的作者冯骥才，浙江宁波人，生于天津，是中国当代著名作家和画家。文章寥寥数语，勾画出面对现实生活的三种不同心态，褒贬得宜，抨击时弊，寓意深刻。