On the following day after their arrival at Beijing, Shaun took Jeffrey on a tour around the nostalgic, and more traditional part of the city, which surrounds a traditional market.
他們抵達北京的隔天，孝恩便帶著傑佛瑞到較傳統的北京市區逛逛。
他們抵達北京的隔天，孝恩便帶著傑佛瑞到較傳統的北京市區逛逛。
After strolling for some time, they found themselves to be lost from the twist and turns of the marketplace.
逛著逛著，他們赫然發現自己已經在這些彎曲的道路裏迷路了！
逛著逛著，他們赫然發現自己已經在這些彎曲的道路裏迷路了！
Suddenly, something caught Jeffrey's eye, "Look! There's an old man over there selling antiques. We could go and ask him for directions, and take a look at those treasures."
突然，傑佛瑞發現了什麼。「你看！那兒有個老人在賣古董。我們可以去跟他問問路，順便去看看有啥好玩兒的！」
突然，傑佛瑞發現了什麼。「你看！那兒有個老人在賣古董。我們可以去跟他問問路，順便去看看有啥好玩兒的！」
As Shaun couldn't think of any better idea, he agreed.
孝恩也想不到更好的辦法，於是便同意了。
孝恩也想不到更好的辦法，於是便同意了。
On approaching the old man, Shaun perceived him to have a long, white beard, and he appeared to be wearing a kung-fu costume. Whilst Shaun inquired the old man for directions, Jeffrey, who could not understand a word of the conversation, started looking around at the things that was on sale. There were all sorts of things, clay pots, cups, mugs, plates, chopsticks, jars; basically, anything one could ever imagine.
孝恩慢慢靠近老人後才發現，原來他留著長長的鬍鬚，還穿著功夫裝。當孝恩在向老人問路時，完全聽不懂中文的傑佛瑞則開始四處張望，瞧瞧兒老人到底在賣些什麼。攤位上的東西五花八門、琳琅滿目，不管是茶壺、杯子、盤子、筷子、還是水壺，只要想得到的應有盡有。
All of a sudden, something caught Jeffrey's eye- a completely white, porcelain vase. "Wow! That's beautiful!" Jeffrey couldn't help but exclaimed in astonishment at the great detail of it.
突然，有一個東西吸引了傑佛瑞的目光～一個純白的瓷花瓶。「哇！好美呀！」傑佛瑞不禁讚歎著那細膩的工藝。
"Sir, I must say that you have an excellent sense when it comes to judging the beauty of something," the old replied in fluent English, which further amazed Jeffrey, "This is indeed a very fine piece of artwork that dated back to the Yuan Dynasty, around eight hundred years ago," the old man continued after quietly stealing a glance at the excited expression on Jeffrey's face. "We, Chinese people, believe very much in destiny; and I believe that this vase is indeed destined for you as I have just bought it off someone this very morning before you came."
「先生，我不得不承認您的神美觀還真是了得呀！」讓傑佛瑞更驚訝的是，老人竟用著流利的英文說：「這的確是一個細緻的作品呀！依我的判斷，這可是從距今八百年前的元朝所留下來的文物呢。」老人偷偷的喵了一眼傑佛瑞臉上興奮的表情後繼續說道：「我們中國人是很相信緣份的，我覺得這個花瓶跟您挺有緣的，因為今早你們來光臨本舖之前，我才剛從友人那裡買來呢！」
Without warning, the old man turned to Shaun and spoke in Chinese, as if unwilling to let Jeffrey understand, and smiled a strange smile, "And, I think it suits you very well too, young sir! Whether you believe me or not, it's up to you, but I can see that you were some sort of an important official in your last life. This vase is indeed very suitable for someone as respectful as you."
突然，老人往孝恩的方向望過去，便開始用中文說話，似乎不想被傑佛瑞聽懂一般；他的臉上還露出了詭異的微笑：「而且我也覺得它也挺適合你的呢，年輕人！不管你信不信，但我可以看到你的前世曾是某位高官。像您這樣有身份地位的人用這種花瓶最搭了！」
A chill ran down Shaun's spine despite his disbelieve in the old man's words, as it was as if the latter could see straight through him, there was nothing that could be hidden from him.
孝恩感到背脊一陣寒意，雖然他不相信老人的話，但總覺得老人能完全看穿他的心思；因此，對他絲毫不能隱瞞任何事。
Although Shaun tried to dissuade Jeffrey from buying the vase, it was all in vain as the latter just couldn't take his eyes off it, as if hooked by its beauty. "So, how much can you offer me?" he inquired.
雖然孝恩試圖打消傑瑞德購買花瓶的念頭，傑瑞德已經深深地被花瓶的美貌所吸引了，根本不聽孝恩的勸說。「那您能以多少錢賣給我呢？」他問道。
Eventually, they reached an agreement, then, Shaun and Jeffrey, who carefully held the vase all the way, returned home after their mini excursion.
最後，這次交易終究還是成交了。孝恩和一直小心翼翼地抱著心愛的花瓶的傑瑞德回到了家，結束了他們的半日遊。
What, indeed, was so special about this vase that Jeffrey just had to buy it?
那花瓶到底有什麼特別的，竟能讓傑佛瑞對他愛不釋手呢？
~To be Continued~
～待續～
No comments:
Post a Comment