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HanSuyinwasborninBeijingin . HerfatherwasaChineserailwayengineerandhermotheraDutchlady. Sheisaphysicianandtheauthorofmanyworks, includingAMortalFlower, whichtellsoftheexperiencesoftheauthorandherfamily, bothinandoutofChina. Thisexcerptdescribestheauthor'sexperienceoflookingforherfirstjobintheearlys.
韩素音年生于北京。她父亲是中国铁路工程师，母亲是位荷兰女子。她是医生，也是作家，著述颇丰，其中包括《尘世的花》。此书讲述了作者及其家庭在国内外的经历。下述节录描写了作者在上世纪年代初第一次找工作的经历。
AMortalFlower
尘世的花
HanSuyin
韩素音
ThedayaftermeetingHildaIwrotealettertotheRockefellerFoundation, applyingforajob.
遇见希尔达的第二天，我就给洛克菲勒基金会写信申请工作。
NeitherFathernorMotherthoughtIwouldgetin. "Youhavetohavepull. It'sanAmericanthing, RockefellerFoundation. Youmusthavepull."
父母亲都觉得我不会被录用。“你要有后台才行。那可是一家美国机构，洛克菲勒基金会。你一定要有后台。”
Mothersaid: "That'swheretheydoallthoseexperimentsondogsandpeople. AlltheBigShotsoftheNankinggovernmentalsocameheretohavemedicaltreatment, andsometimestookawayanursetobecomeanewwife."
母亲说：“那里，他们在狗和人身上做各种试验。南京政府所有的头面人物也都来这里看病，有时还带走个护士做姨太太。”
Itmadesensetome, typinginahospital; Iwouldlearnaboutmedicine, sinceIwantedtostudymedicine. Andastherewasnomoneyathomeformetostudy, Iwouldearnmoney, andpreparemyselftoentermedicalschool. Ihadalreadydiscoveredthataconvent-schooleducationwasnotatalladequate, andthatitwouldtakemeatleastthreemoreyearsofhardstudybeforebeingabletoenteranycollegeatall. Science, mathematics, Chineseliteratureandtheclassics . . .withthepoorschoolinggiventome, itwouldtakemeyearstogetreadyforauniversity.
在医院里当打字员，对我挺合适。那样我就能了解一些医学知识，这很重要，因为我想学医。家里没钱供我上学，所以我得挣钱，自己想办法上医学院。我已经发现在女隐修会学校的教育远远不够，要想上大学，自己至少得再努力三年才行。科学、物理、数学、中国文学、古典文学……就凭我学的那么点儿功课，要上大学还得准备好多年。
"Iwilldoit," Butclenchedteeth, decisiontearingmybowels, werenotenough; therewasnomoney, nomoney, mymothersaidit, saidituntilIfeltasifeveryscrapoffoodIatewaswrenchedoffmyfather'sbody.
“我要上大学，”可是，咬牙切齿痛下决心是无济于事的；家里没钱，根本没钱，母亲说的，整天这么说，让我觉得自己吃的每一小口东西仿佛都是从父亲身上撕下来的。
"Nooneisgoingtofeedyoudoingnothingathome." Ofcourse, onewhodoesnotworkmustnoteatunlessonecangetmarried, whichiscalled: "beingsettledatlast." ButwithmylooksIwouldnevergetmarried; Iwastoothin, toosharp, toougly. Mothersaidit, ElderBrotherhadsaidit. EveryoneagreedthatIshouldwork, becausemarriagewouldbedifficultforme.
“你在家里闲着不做事，谁来供养你。”当然，不工作就没饭吃，除非嫁人，那叫做“终于有了归宿。”可论我的长相一辈子也嫁不出去；我太瘦小，嘴快人丑。母亲这么说。大哥这么说过。人人都觉得我该找事干，因为嫁人我是没指望了。
Withinaweekareplycame. Themorningpostmanbroughtit, andIchokedovermymilkandcoffee. "I'mtogoforaninterview. AtthePekingUnionMedicalCollege. TotheComptroller'soffice."
不到一个星期，回信就来了。早上送信的邮差送来的，我正喝着加奶咖啡，一下子给呛着了。“我要去面试。在北京协和医学院。审计主任的办公室。”
FatherandMotherwerepleased. Motherputthecoffeepotdownandtooktheletter. "Whatgoodpaper, sothick." ButhowcouldwedisguisethefactthatIwasnot [even] fifteenyearsold? Ihadclaimedtobesixteenintheletter. Infact, saidPapa, itwasnotaliesinceChineseareayearoldwhenborn, andifoneaddedtheNewYearasanextrayear, asdotheCantoneseandtheHakkas, whobecametwoyearsoldwhentheyreachtheirfirstNewYear (sothatababybornonDecemberstwouldbereckonedtwoyearsoldonthefollowingJanuarynd), Icouldclaimtobeingsixteen.
父母亲都挺高兴。母亲放下咖啡壶，取过信。“多好的纸，这么厚实。”可我们怎么才能掩饰我还不到15足岁的事实呢？我在信里说自己16岁。其实，爸爸说，这也不是撒谎，因为中国人生下来就是1岁，要是到了新年再加岁，就像广东人和客家人那样，他们第一次过新年就2岁了（所以说12月31日生的孩子到了1月2日就已经2岁了），那么我可以说自己16岁了。
"Youlooksixteen," saidMama; "allyouhavetodoistostophoppingandpickingyourpimples. Andlengthenyourskirt."
“你看上去有16岁，”妈妈说。“你只要别再蹦蹦跳跳的、别再掐脸上的粉刺就行了。还有就是把裙子放放长。”
WhatdressshouldIwear? Ihadtwoschooluniforms, agreendress, abrowndress, andonedresswiththreerowsoffrillsforSunday, toodressyforaninterview. Ihadnoshoesexceptflat-heeledschoolshoes, andtennisshoes. Therewasnotimetomakeadressandinthoseyearsnoready-madeclothesexisted, soMotherlengthenedthegreendress. Isqueezedtwopimplesonmyforehead, thenwenttotheEastmarketandboughtsomefacepowder, Butterflybrand, pink, madeinShanghaibyaJapanesefirm.
我该穿哪件衣服呢？我有两套校服，一套绿的和一套褐色的女服，还有一条缀着三排花边的女服，是过节穿的，穿着去面试太花哨了。我也没什么鞋，只有学校发的平跟鞋，还有球鞋。现做是来不及了，那时又没成衣出售，所以母亲就把那套绿颜色的服装放放长。我掐了额头上的两粒粉刺，接着去东单买了些蝴蝶牌香粉，粉红色的，是一家日本公司在上海生产的。
Thenextmorning, straw-hatted, withpowderonmynose, Iwentwithmyfathertothegatesofthehospital.
第二天上午，我带着帽子，鼻子上搽了粉，跟父亲来到医院门口。
"It'snotthisgate, thisisforthesick. It'stheothergate, roundthecorner," saidtheporter.
“不是这个门，这是病人走的。走另外一扇门，拐弯就是，”看门的说。
TheYuWangFuPalaceoccupiedawholecityblock. Wewalkedalongitshighgreyouterwall, hearingthedogsscreaminthekennels, andcametoitsothergate, whichwastheAdministrationbuildinggate. Ithadtwolargestonelions, onemale, onefemale. Wecrossedthemarblecourtyard, walkedupthestepswiththeircarveddragonscoilinginthemiddle, intoanentrancehall, withpaintedbeamsandintricatepaintedceiling, redlacqueredpillars, hugelamps. Therewascorkmattingonthestonefloor.
御王府占了整整一个街区。我们绕青灰高墙走，一路听见狗在窝里尖叫，走着走着到了另一扇大门，是行政楼的门。门前是一公一母两个大石狮子。我们穿过大理石庭院，走上正中雕有蟠龙的台阶，来到前厅，看见精致的雕梁画栋，丹漆柱子，还有高高大大的灯台。青石地面上铺着软木垫。
"I'llleaveyou," saidPapa. "Trytomakeagoodimpression. " Andhewasgone.
“我走了，”爸爸说。“注意给人留个好印象。”说着他就走了。
IfoundtheComptroller'sofficeeasily; therewasamessengerinthehalldirectingvisitors. Anopendoor, aroom, twotypewritersclatteringandtwowomenmakingthemclatter.
我没费周折就找到了审计主任的办公室；厅里有个当差的给来访者作指点。一扇开着的门，一间屋子，屋里两台咔嗒作响的打字机，两位女士咔嗒咔嗒在打字。
Istoodatthedoorandoneofthewomencametome. Shehadthenewstyleofhair, allupstandingcurls, whichIadmired, adresswithaprintroundthehem; shewasverypregnant, sothatherbellyseemedtobecomingatmefirst. Shesmiled. "Hello, whatcanIdoforyou?"
我站在门口，其中一位女士走上前来。她留着新式的发型，是我所喜欢的那种满头卷发竖立着的式样，穿着沿褶边印有花纹的裙子。由于她怀孕已快足月，所以她向我走过来时似乎是她的肚子最先到达我面前。她微微一笑。“你好，有事儿吗？”
"Ihaveaninterview."
“我是来面试的。”
Shetooktheletterfrommyhand. "Gladyoucouldcome. Now, justsityoudown. No, sitdownthere. I'lltellMr. Harnedyou'vecome."
她从我手里接过信。“真高兴你来了。这样吧，你先坐下。不，坐那儿。我去跟哈内德先生说你来了。”
Theofficehadtwootherdoorsbesidestheonetothecorridor, ononewas "Comptroller." Thatwastheoneshewentthroughandreturnedfrom.
除了通走廊的门，办公室另外还有两扇门，一扇门上写着“审计主任”。她从这扇门走了进去，一会儿又走出来。
"Mr. Harnedwillseeyounow."
“哈内德先生这就见你。”
Mr. Harnedwasverytall, thin, withasmallbaldhead, alongchin, enormousglasses. Iimmediatelybegantoquiverwithfright. Hisheadwaslikeatempleontopofamountain, likethewhitepagodaonthehillintheNorthSeaPark. Icouldnothearawordofwhathesaid. Apaperandapencilwereinmyhand, however, andHarnedwasdictatingtome, givingmeaspeedtestinshorthand.
哈内德先生高高瘦瘦，小小的秃脑袋，尖尖的下巴，那副眼镜奇大无比。我一下子害怕得哆嗦起来。他的脑袋就像是山顶上的庙宇，就像北海公园山上的白塔。他说了些什么我一句也没听进。可我手里拿着纸和笔，我怎么办呢。哈内德在给我口授着什么，让我做速记的速度测试。
Iwentoutofhisofficeandthepregnantsecretarysatmeinfrontofherowntypewriter. Iturnedastrickenfacetoher, "Icouldn'thear. Icouldn'thearwhathesaid..."
我走出他的办公室，那个怀孕的秘书让我在她的打字机前坐下。我愁眉苦脸地对她说：“我没听清。他说的我没听清……”
"Wait, I'lltellhim." Shebustledoff. Attheotherdeskwasablonde, thingirl, whohadthrownonelookatmeandthengonebacktoclattering. Thepregnantonereappeared, apinksheetinhand: "Nowjustcopythisonthetypewriter, bestyoucan."
“别急，我去跟他说。”她匆匆走开去。另一张桌子前坐着的是一个苗条的金发姑娘，她看了我一眼，接着又咔嗒咔嗒打字了。怀孕的那位回来了，手里拿着一张粉红色的纸：“你就把这个打一份，尽你最大努力吧。”
Ihitthekeys, swiftly; thetypewriterwasthesamemakeasmine, aRoyal.
我快速击打着字键；打字机的牌子跟我自己的那台一样，是皇家牌的。
"My, youarefast. I'lltellMr. Harned."
“哟，你打得真够快的。我要去跟哈内德先生说。”
AndMr. Harnedcameout, benignbehindthoseenormousgoggleglasses. "Well, MissChou, we'vedecidedtotakeyouonasatypist, atthirty-fivedollarsamonth. TostartMonday. Isthatallright?"
哈内德先生走了出来，他戴着那副奇大的有色眼镜，看上去和颜悦色。“行，周小姐，我们决定聘用你当打字员，一个月35美元。星期一开始上班。行吗？”
Inodded, unabletospeak. HadhesaidtendollarsIwouldhaveaccepted.
我点了点头，话都说不出来。他即使说10美元我也会答应。
Thekindsecretarysaid: "Nowtakeyourtime, andwipeyourface. Howoldareyou, bytheway?"
那位好心的秘书说：“好了，别着急，擦擦脸。对了，你多大了？”
"Sixteen, nearly."
“16，快了。”
"Isthatall? Whymyeldestisbiggerthanyou, andsheisn'tthroughschoolyet. ItoldMr. Harnedyouwereshyandupset, andthat'swhyyoucouldn'ttakedictation. He'sallright, justtakesgettingusedto, that'sall."
“才16？瞧，我的大闺女都比你大，她还没毕业哪。我跟哈内德先生说了，你刚才是因害羞不安而没法做记录的。他挺不错的，只要慢慢习惯起来就行了。”
"Icouldn'tunderstandhisEnglish."
“我听不懂他说的英语。”
"Oh, you'llgetusedtoit. Now, Iwon'tbearoundonMonday, I'mgoingtohaveababy. It'syourletterthatgottheminterestedinyou, youwrotesuchgoodEnglish, betterthanalltheotherletterswe'vehad. Mr. Harnedwillgiveyouatry." Shewhispered, "Iputinagoodwordforyou."
“嗯，你会习惯的。好了，星期一我不来了，我要生孩子了。是你的信引起了他们对你的兴趣，你的英文写得真好，写得比我们收到的其他的信都好。哈内德先生要试试你。”她压低了声音说：“我帮你说了好话。”
"Thanks, thanksalot, ... Ineedthemoney, I ..."
“谢谢，多谢了，…… 我需要钱，我……”
"Yes, dear, weknow." Obviouslyshewantedhertypewriterback, andherchair. Iwasstillsittingonit. "Well, bye-byefornow; hopeyouenjoyyourselfinthisjob. I'vebeenheresixmonthsandI'veenjoyedeveryminute. Don'tletMr. Harnedworryyou; he'sreallygreat, onceyougetusedtohim."
“是啊，孩子，我们明白。”显然她想坐回到自己的椅子里，回到打字机前。可我还坐在那张椅子上呢。“好了，再见了；但愿你喜欢这活儿。我在这儿干了六个月了，一直干得挺开心。别因为怕哈内德先生而发愁；他人真的挺好，只要你习惯了就行了。”
Ihadajob, hadajob, hadajob.
我有工作了，有工作了，有工作了。