红楼梦Chapter24_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter24

He was， at this very moment， coming back home from the house of a creditor， whom he had dunned， and was already far gone with drink， so that when， at an unforeseen moment， Chia Yuen ran against him， he meant there and then to start a scuffle with him.

Old Erh! Chia Yuen shouted， stay your hand; its I who have hustled against you.

As soon as Ni Erh heard the tone of his voice， he opened wide his drunken eyes and gave him a look; and realising that it was Chia Yuen， he hastened to loosen his grasp and to remark with a smile， as he staggered about， Is it you indeed， master Chia Secundus? where were you off to now?

I couldnt tell you! Chia Yuen rejoined; ve again brought displeasure upon me， and all through no fault of mine.

Never mind! urged Ni Erh， if youre in any trouble you just tell me， and Ill give vent to your spite for you; for in these three streets， and six lanes， no matter who may give offence to any neighbours of mine， of me， Ni Erh， the drunken Chin Kang， Ill wager that I compel that mans family to disperse， and his home to break up!

Old Ni， dont lose your temper， Chia Yuen protested， but listen and let me tell you what happened! After which， he went on to tell Ni Erh the whole affair with Pu Shih-jen. As soon as Ni Erh heard him， he got into a frightful rage; Were he not， he shouted， a relative of yours， master Secundus， I would readily give him a bit of my mind! Really resentment will stifle my breath! but never mind! you neednt however distress yourself. Ive got here a few taels ready at hand， which， if you require， dont scruple to take; and from such good neighbours as you are， I wont ask any interest upon this money.