请进包房
Please Go to the Private Box
戴 希
Dai Xi
李点儿、丁莉、衣米一和娜夜都是中国人。他们气味相投，常常相约去城里的餐馆酒楼小聚。时间一长，城里的餐馆酒楼几乎没有他们未光顾的。每进入一家餐馆酒楼，落座，酒菜上桌，拿起碗筷，他们总是旁若无人：边吃吃喝喝，边猜拳、说段子、争辩是非、讲趣闻轶事……面红耳赤、高声喧哗。似乎餐馆酒楼里其他人不向他们张望，不被他们感染吸引，他们就白忙活、不风光似的。这是在中国的南方，这里的人们都很宽容、洒脱。因此，大家相安无事、习以为常。
Tiny Speck Li, Lily Ding, Yi Miyi and Night Na were all Chinese. They liked the look of each other and often went to a restaurant in the city for a small get-together. Time went by. Nearly all therestaurants there were graced with their presence. Every time after having come in, settled down, been served with wine and dishes and taken up their bowls and chopsticks, they behaved like there was nobody around: making a clamorous scene by guessing fingers, arguing, telling jokes and interesting stories and anecdotes over their food and wine … until their faces were red to the ears. Seemingly they must have busied for nothing and lived a wasted life if the others were not attracted to shoot glances their way and not infected. It was in the South of China and people there were all lenient and easy-going. Therefore, living harmoniously together, they thought that there was nothing unusual.
李点儿、丁莉、衣米一和娜夜结伴去美国。四个人又进加州一家大餐馆吃饭。起初，他们自己坐在人满为患的大厅里。像在中国南方一样，酒菜上桌，碗筷拿好，他们又旁若无人：边吃吃喝喝，边猜拳、说段子、争辩是非、讲趣闻轶事……面红耳赤、高声喧哗。大厅里形形色色的人们一下子把目光投向他们，那种目光很怪很复杂。餐馆美国老板见状，像个消防队员，风风火火直奔过来。“女士们、先生们，你们好!我请你们进包房用餐，进包房可以吗?”美国老板忐忑不安地恳求他们，还郑重许诺进包房不收包房费。他们一听，立即豪迈地起身。美国老板这才悄悄地嘘了一口气，赶紧唤来服务员，迅速把餐桌上的酒菜一古脑儿移进那间隔音效果很好的包房，然后严严实实地关上房门。他们又在包房里喝酒碰杯、继续热闹。没有人再注意他们的一举一动。
One year, Tiny Speck Li, Lily Ding, Yi Miyi and Night Na went to the United States together and one day they went to dine in a big restaurant in California. The dining hall was seething with customers. Just as if they were still in the South of China, after food and liquor were served and bowls and chopsticks were grabbed in hand, they ignored the people around and made a big scene again, guessing fingers, arguing, telling jokes, interesting stories and anecdotes over their food and wine… until their faces were red to their ears. People in the dining hall all looked their way and their gaze was strange and complicated. At the sight of this, the American boss dashed over like a fire fighter. “How do you do, ladies and gentlemen! Would you please go dine in the private box, OK?” Uneasy at heart, he beseeched them to do him a favour and promised that this service would be provided for free. Hearing these words, they stood up heroically. The American boss, heaving a stealthy sigh of relief, hurriedly summoned the waitresses to take the liquor, dishes and all to that sound-proof private box and then shut the door tight. They went on drinking and clinking glasses there noisily. This time, nobody paid them any attention.
吃饱喝好，恋恋不舍地从那家餐馆出来，走在宽广美丽的加州大街上，他们个个飘飘欲仙，难掩内心的激动与自豪。
After eating and drinking their fill, they tore themselves out of the restaurant and strutted along a wide beautiful Californian street. Feeling as if they were treading on air like immortals, they couldn’t suppress their inner excitement and pride.
李点儿春风得意：“怎么样?老美就是高看咱中国人，厚待咱中国人吧!”
Tiny Speck Li wore a beaming face. “What do you think? Old Uncle Sam just looks up to us Chinese and gives us a generous treatment!”
“是啊，”衣米一喜形于色，“如今咱中国发展强大了，吃饭喝酒老美都给咱中国人‘开小灶’，OK!”
“Yeah.” Yi Miyi’s face was radiant with joy. “Now that China has developed into a great power, Old Uncle Sam has to give us a ‘special treat.’ OK!”
丁莉眼睛亮了：“咱们经常来美国吧，多多享受老美对咱中国人的充分尊重!”
Lily Ding’s eyes sparkled. “Let’s come frequently to enjoy Old Uncle Sam’s respect towards us Chinese!”
“我看啦，”娜夜撇撇嘴，神采飞扬，“咱们赚足钱后，索性移居美国!”
“The way I see it,” Night Na pursed her lips in high spirits, “we might just as well emigrate here as soon as we’ve made enough money!”
兴头正浓，他们还要高谈阔论。一直沉默不语、跟在他们身后的美国翻译终于忍不住了。“其实，”美国翻译说，“餐馆老板是怕你们高声喧哗影响大厅里其他客人，是怕其他客人反感离席弄砸生意，才心急火燎，特地请你们进包房的!幸亏你们好打商量，要不，餐馆老板可要……”美国翻译说不下去了。
Falling deep into conversation, they got ready to spread themselves. The American interpreter, who had always remained taciturn behind them, could no longer hold his tongue. “In fact,” he explained, “the boss did that because he was afraid that the fuss made by you in the dining hall might influence the other customers and damage his business! Luckily, you didn’t take much persuasion. Otherwise, he would …” He couldn’t go on with his words.
李点儿他们惊呆了，摇摇头，你看看我，我望望你，每个人的脸都比醉酒时更烫更红。
Stupefied, Tiny Speck Li and his gang shook their heads and turned to look at each other. Their faces burned even redder than when they were blind drunk.
