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‘This man’s a racketeer,’ Jia Yun thought tohimself, ‘but he’s been known to do a good turn before now—in fact, he’s gotquite a reputation in some quarters as a champion of the poor. If I don’taccept his offer, he may turn nasty and I shall be in trouble. Better acceptthe money and pay back double the amount when I can.,Having made the decision,he thanked Ni Er with a smile:‘You’re a real sport, Diamond! Since you’ve been kind enough to make theoffer then, I won’t refuse. I’ll make you out a proper IOU for it when I gethome.’ 贾芸心下自思：“素日倪二虽然是泼皮无赖，却因人而使，颇颇的有义侠之名。若今日不领他这情，怕他臊了，倒恐生事。不如借了他的，改日加倍还他也倒罢了。”想毕，笑道：“老二，你果然是个好汉，我何曾不想着你，和你张口。但只是我见你所相与交结的，都是些有胆量的有作为的人，像我们这等无能为的你倒不理。我若和你张口，你岂肯借给我。今日既蒙高情，我怎敢不领？回家按例写了文约过来便是了。”Ni Er roared with laughter:‘There’s only fifteen taels and sixpennyweights of silver here. If you’re going to go writing lOUs, I won’t lendit to you!’ Jia Yun laughed too an4 took the money from him:‘All right, Diamond, anything you say! Let’snot fall out about it!’ 倪二大笑道：“好会说话的人。我却听不上这话。既说‘相与交结’四个字，如何又放帐给他，使他图赚的利钱！既把银子借与他，图他的利钱，便不是相与交结了。闲话也不必讲。既肯青目，这是十五两三钱有零的银子，你便拿去治买东西。你要写什么文契，趁早把银子还我，让我放给那些有指望的人使去。”贾芸听了，一面接了银子，一面笑道：“我便不写罢了，有何着急的。”‘That’s more like it!’ said Ni Er. ‘Gettingdark now. Won’t keep you for a drink. Still got a little business to do. You goon home. Like you to give a message to my old woman, be so kind. Not going hometonight. If there’s anything to tell me about, she can send my daughter roundfirst thing tomorrow. Find me at Bandy Wang, the horse-dealer’s.’With thesewords he went on his way, lurching horribly. The encounter left Jia Yunsomewhat bemused. 倪二笑道：“这才是了。天色黑了，也不让茶让酒，我还到那边有点事情去，你竟请回去罢。我还求你带个信儿与舍下，叫她们早些关门睡罢，我不回家去了。倘或有要紧事，叫我们女儿明儿一早到马贩子王短腿家来找我。”一面说，一面趔趄着脚儿去了，不在话下。‘That Ni Er’s certainly a character!’ hethought. ‘The trouble is, it may only have been the drink that made himgenerous. Perhaps when he’s sobered up tomorrow he’ll want his money back witha hundred per cent interest. What am I going to do then?’ 且说贾芸偶然碰了这件事，心中也十分罕希，想那倪二倒果然有些意思，只是还怕他一时醉中慷慨，到明日加倍的要起来，便怎么处，心内犹豫不决。Then he suddenly remembered what the moneywould enable him to do:‘Of course! It doesn’t matter! If I get the job, I can pay back the loanand a hundred per cent interest easily.’ 忽又想道：“不妨，等那件事成了，也可加倍还他。”