主 角 1（上部1）‍The Protagonist ‍—— 陈 彦 ‍—— Chen Yan

躍龍

　　她叫忆秦娥。开始叫易招弟。是出名后，才被剧作家秦八娃改成忆秦娥的。

Her name was Yi Qin'e. Originally, she was called Yi Zhaodi. It was only after she became famous that the playwright Qin Bawa changed her name to Yi Qin'e.

易招弟为了进县剧团，她舅给改了第一次名字，叫易青娥。

To join the county theater troupe, her uncle changed her first name to Yi Qing'e.

很多年后，忆秦娥还记得，改变她命运的时刻，是在一个太阳特别暴烈的下午。她正在家对面山坡上放羊，头上戴了一个用柳条编的帽圈子，柳叶都被太阳晒蔫干了。她娘突然扯破喉咙地喊叫，让她麻利回来，说她舅回来了。

Many years later, Qin'e still remembered that the moment that changed her fate was on a particularly scorching afternoon. She was herding sheep on the hillside opposite her house, wearing a willow-twig hat, the willow leaves withered by the sun. Suddenly, her mother shouted, tearing at the ground, for she should come back immediately, saying her uncle was home.

　　她舅叫胡三元，在县剧团敲鼓。她娘老骂她舅，说是不成器的东西，到剧团学瞎了，作风有了问题。她也不知道啥叫个作风问题，反正娘老叨叨。

Her uncle, Hu Sanyuan, played the drum in the county opera troupe. Her mother always scolded him, saying he was a good-for-nothing who had gone astray by the troupe and developed bad manners. She didn't know what "bad manners" meant, but her mother kept nagging.

她随娘赶场子，到几十里地外，看过几回县剧团的戏，见她舅可神气了。他把几个大小不一样的鼓，摆在戏台子一侧。他的整个身子，刚好露出来，能跟演员一样，让观众看得清清楚楚。戏要开演前，他先端一大缸子茶出来。那缸子足能装一瓢水。他是不紧不慢地端着摇晃出来的。他朝靠背椅子上一坐，二郎腿一跷，还给腿面子上垫一块白白的布。他噗噗地吹开水上的浮沫，呷几口茶后，才从一个长布套里，掏出一对鼓槌来。说鼓槌，其实就像两根筷子：细细的，长长的。“筷子”头朝鼓皮上一压，眼看“筷子”都要折断了，可手一松，又立即反弹得溜直。几个敲锣、打铙的，看着“筷子”的飞舞，还有她舅嘴角的来回努动，下巴的上下含翘，眼神的左右点拨，就时急时缓、时轻时重地敲打起来。整个山沟，立马就热闹非凡了。四处八下的人，循着热闹，急急呼呼就凑到了台前。招弟是后来才知道，这叫“打闹台”。其实就是给观众打招呼：戏要开始了，都麻利来看！看的人越多，她舅手上的小鼓槌就抡得越欢实，敲得那个快呀，像是突然一阵暴雨，击打到了房瓦上。那鼓槌，看似是在一下下朝鼓皮上落，落着落着，就变成了两个喇叭筒子，好像纹丝不动了。可那鼓，却发出了皮将爆裂的一迭声脆响。以至戏开始了，还有好多人都只看她舅，而不操心场面上出来的演员。好几次，她都听舅吹牛说，附近这七八个县，还找不下他这敲鼓的好手艺。省城大剧院的戏，舅说也看过几出的，就敲鼓那几下，还没有值得他“朝眼窝里眨的”。不管舅吹啥牛，反正娘见了就是骂，说他一辈子就知道在女人窝里鬼混。三十岁的人了，还娶不下个正经媳妇。骚气倒是惹得几个县的人都能闻见。后来招弟去了县剧团，才知道她舅有多糟糕，把人丢得，让她几次都想跑了算了。这是后话。

　　She accompanied her mother to various performances, traveling dozens of miles to see the county opera troupe a few times. She saw how impressive her uncle was. He had several drums of different sizes arranged on one side of the stage. His entire body was visible, just like the actors, so the audience could see him clearly. Before the performance began, he would bring out a large jar of tea. The jar could easily hold a ladle of water. He carried it out slowly, shaking it gently. He sat down in a chair with a backrest, crossed his legs, and placed a white cloth under his legs. He blew away the foam on the water, sipped a few mouthfuls of tea, and then pulled a pair of drumsticks from a long cloth case. The drumsticks were actually like two chopsticks: thin and long. The "chopsticks" were pressed against the drumhead, seemingly about to break, but as soon as the hand was released, they bounced straight back. Several gong players, watching the "chopsticks" dance and observing her uncle's twitching lips, up-and-down chin, and gesturing eyes, began to strike the drum, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes light, sometimes heavy. The entire valley instantly became bustling with activity. People from all directions, drawn by the commotion, hurriedly gathered at the front of the stage. Zhao Di later learned that this was called a "stage for commotion." It was essentially a way of greeting the audience: the show is about to begin, everyone hurry and watch! The more people watched, the more enthusiastically her uncle swung his small drumsticks, striking so fast it was like a sudden downpour hitting the roof tiles. The drumsticks, seemingly falling one strike after another onto the drumhead, eventually transformed into two trumpet-like tubes, seemingly motionless. But the drum emitted a series of sharp, cracking sounds, as if the leather was about to burst. So much so that even when the play started, many people only watched her uncle, paying no attention to the actors on stage. Several times, she heard her uncle boast that in the seven or eight counties nearby, no one could find a drummer as skilled as him. He said he'd seen several plays at the provincial theater, and his drumming wasn't even worth a "blink in his eye." No matter what her uncle boasted about, her mother would scold him, saying he'd spent his whole life fooling around with women. At thirty, he still couldn't find a decent wife. His lewdness was known throughout several counties. Later, Zhao Di went to the county theater troupe and realized how terrible her uncle was, how much he embarrassed her, making her want to run away several times. But that's another story.

　　她从坡上回来，她舅已经在吃她娘擀的鸡蛋臊子面了。她爹在一旁劝酒。舅说不喝了，再喝把大事就误了。

When she returned from the hillside, her uncle was already eating the egg and minced meat noodles her mother had made. Her father was urging her to drink. Her uncle said he wouldn't drink anymore, or he'd ruin something important.

舅对娘说：“麻利把招弟收拾打扮一下，我赶晚上把娃领到公社住下，明天一早好坐班车上县。看你们把女子养成啥了，当牛使唤哩，才十一岁个娃娃么。这哪像个女儿家，简直就是个小花子，头蓬乱得跟鬼一样。”

He said to her mother, "Hurry up and get Zhaodi dressed up. I'll take her to the commune tonight so she can catch the bus to the county tomorrow morning. Look what you've raised her like! You're treating her like a cow! She's only eleven years old. She doesn't look like a girl at all; she's practically a little beggar, her hair is a mess like a ghost."

　　要是放在过去，娘肯定要唠叨她舅大半天。可今天，任舅怎么说，娘连一句话都没回，就赶紧张罗着要给她洗澡、梳头。她舅还补了一句说：“一定要把头上的虱子、虮子篦尽，要不然进城人笑话呢。”她娘说：“知道知道。”娘就死劲地在她头上梳着篦着，眼看把好些头发都硬是从头皮上薅掉了，痛得她眼泪水都快出来了。娘还在不停地梳，不停地篦，她就把头躲来躲去的。娘照她后脑勺美美磕了几下说：“还磨蹭。你舅给你把天大的好事都寻下了，县剧团招演员，让你去哩。头上这白花花的虮子乱翻着，人家还让你上台唱戏？做梦吧你。”说着，又磕了她一下。

　　In the past, her mother would have nagged her uncle for ages. But today, no matter what her uncle said, her mother didn't even reply. She just hurriedly started preparing to bathe and comb her hair. Her uncle added, "You must get rid of all the lice and nits on your head, otherwise people in the city will laugh at you." Her mother said, "I know, I know." Her mother then vigorously combed and combed her hair, tearing out quite a bit of hair from her scalp, which hurt so much that tears almost welled up in her eyes. Her mother kept combing and combing, and she kept turning her head away. Her mother gave her a few gentle taps on the back of the head and said, "Stop dawdling. Your uncle has found you a great opportunity, the county theater troupe is recruiting actors, and they want you to go. With all these white nits crawling around on your head, they want you to go on stage and sing? Dream on!" As she spoke, she tapped her head again.

　　招弟也不知是高兴，还是茫然，头嗡的一下就木了。她可是连做梦都没想过，要到县剧团去唱戏的。这事，她舅过去喝酒时也提说过，说啥时要是剧团招人了，干脆让姊妹俩去一个，也好让家里减轻一些负担。她想，那咋都是她姐来弟的事。来弟比她漂亮，能干。她就是一个笨手笨脚的主儿。娘老说，招弟一辈子恐怕也就是放羊的命了。可没想到，这事竟然是要让她去了。

Zhao Di didn't know whether to be happy or bewildered; her head suddenly went numb. She had never even dreamed of going to the county opera troupe to sing. Her uncle had mentioned it over drinks, saying that if the troupe ever hired, one of the sisters should go, to ease the family's burden. She thought it was always her older sister Lai Di's responsibility. Lai Di was prettier and more capable than her. She was just clumsy. Her mother always said that Zhao Di was probably destined to herd sheep her whole life. But unexpectedly, it was her who would be going.

　　洗完头，娘给她扎辫子的时候，她问：

After washing her hair, as her mother braided it, she asked,

“这好的事，为啥不让姐去？”

"Why can't my sister go? This is such a good thing!"

娘说：“你姐毕竟大些，屋里好多事离不开。我跟你爹商量来商量去，你舅也同意，还是让你去。”

Her mother replied, "Your sister is older, and there are many things around the house that require her to go. Your father and I discussed it, and your uncle agreed, so we'll let you go."

　　“我去，要是人家不要咋办？”她问。

“Oh dear, what if they don’t want it?” she asked.

娘说：“你舅在县剧团里，能得一根指头都能剥葱。谁敢不要。”

Her mother said, “Your uncle works in the county opera troupe; he can get anything he wants, even just a finger. Who would dare refuse it?”

娘把她姐的两个花卡子从抽屉里翻出来，别在了她头上。这是姐去年挖火藤根，卖钱后买下的，平常都舍不得戴。

Her mother took her sister’s two hair clips out of the drawer and pinned them in her hair. Her sister had bought them last year after selling fire vine roots; she usually couldn’t bear to wear them.

　　“姐不让戴，你就敢给我戴？”她说。

"You dare let me wear it even though my sister won't let me?" she said.

“看你说得皮薄的，你出这远的门，戴她两个花卡子，你姐还能不愿意。”

"Look at you, so thin-skinned! You're going on such a long trip, wearing those two hair clips, how could your sister not like it?"

娘说完，咋看，又觉得她身上穿的衣裳不合适。不仅大，像浪浪圈一样，挂搭在身上，而且肩上、袖子上、屁股上，还都是补丁摞补丁的。就这，还是拿娘的旧衣裳改的。娘想了想，突然用斧子，把她姐来弟的箱子锁砸了。娘从那里翻出一件绿褂子来。那是来弟姐前年过年在供销社买的，只穿了两个新年，加上六月六晒霉，拿出来晒过两回，再没面过世的。不过两年过年，来弟姐都让她试穿过，也仅仅是试一下，就赶紧让她脱了。那褂子平常就一直锁在箱子里，钥匙连娘都是找不到的。

After saying that, Mother looked at her clothes and felt they didn't fit properly. Not only were they too big, hanging like a sling, but they were also covered in patches on the shoulders, sleeves, and back. And even then, they were made from Mother's old clothes. Mother thought for a moment, then suddenly smashed the lock on her sister Lai Di's trunk with an axe. She pulled out a green jacket. Lai Di's sister had bought it at the supply and marketing cooperative two years ago for the New Year, only wearing it for two New Years, and after being aired out twice to prevent mold on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, it hadn't worn out again. For those two New Years, Lai Di's sister had let her try it on, but only briefly before quickly making her take it off. That jacket was usually locked in the trunk; even Mother couldn't find the key.

　　她咋都不敢穿，还是娘硬把绿褂子套在了她身上。褂子明显大了些，但她已经感到很派派、很美观、很满足了。

She absolutely refused to wear it, but her mother insisted on putting the green jacket on her. The jacket was clearly too big, but she already felt very stylish, beautiful, and satisfied.

姐那天得亏不在，要是在，这衣服不定还穿不成呢。

Thank goodness her sister wasn't there that day; if she had, she might not have been able to wear it.

出门时，舅看了看她说：“你看你们把娃打扮的，像个懒散婆娘一样。再没件合身衣服了？”

As she left, her uncle looked at her and said, "Look at how you've dressed the child, like a lazy old woman. Don't you have any clothes that fit?"

　　娘说：“真没有了。就身上这件，还是她姐的。”

"I really don't have any more," said the mother. "This one she's wearing, it even belongs to her sister."

舅无奈地叹了口气说：“唉，看看你们这日子。不说了，到城里我给娃买一件。走！”

The uncle sighed helplessly. "Sigh, look at your lives. Never mind, I'll buy the child a new one in town. Come on!"

刚走了几步，娘就放声大哭起来。

After taking only a few steps, the mother burst into tears.

娘突然跑上去一把抱住她，咋都不让走。娘说娃太小，送去唱戏，太苦了。就是在家放羊，也总有个照应，这大老远的，去了县上，孤孤单单的，娃还没满十一岁呢。娘越想越舍不得。

Suddenly, the mother ran up and hugged her tightly, refusing to let her go. She said the child was too young; sending her to the opera was too hard. Even at home herding sheep, there was always someone to look after her. Going all this way to the county town, all alone, the child wasn't even eleven yet. The more the mother thought about it, the more reluctant she became.

　　舅就说：“放你一百二十个心，娃去了，比你们的日子受活。一踏进剧团门槛，就算是吃上公家饭了。你扳指头算算，咱九岩沟，出了几个吃公家饭的？”

Uncle said, "Don't worry, the child will have a better life than you. Once he steps into the theater troupe, he'll have a government job. Think about it, how many people from our Jiuyan Village have gotten government jobs?"

算来算去，这么些年，沟里还真就出了舅一个吃公家饭的。

After all those years, Uncle was indeed the only one from the village to have a government job.

爹就劝娘，说还是放娃走，不定还有个好前程呢。

Father then advised Mother to let the child go; perhaps he'd have a bright future.

　　招弟就眼泪汪汪地跟着舅走了。

Zhao Di followed her uncle, tears welling in her eyes.

刚出村子，她舅说：“得把名字改一下，以后不要叫招弟了。来弟、招弟、引弟这些封建迷信思想，城里人笑话呢。就叫易青娥吧。省城有个名演员叫李青娥，你叫易青娥，不定哪天就成大名演了呢。”舅说完，还很是得意地笑了笑。

Just outside the village, her uncle said, "We need to change your name. Don't call yourself Zhao Di anymore. Names like Lai Di, Zhao Di, and Yin Di are all feudal superstitions; city people will laugh at you. How about Yi Qing'e? There's a famous actress in the provincial capital named Li Qing'e. If you're called Yi Qing'e, who knows, you might become a famous actress someday." Her uncle finished speaking and smiled smugly.

突然变成易青娥的易招弟没有笑。她觉得舅是在说天书呢。

Suddenly becoming Yi Qing'e, Yi Zhao Di didn't smile. She felt her uncle was speaking gibberish.

　　易青娥舍不得娘，也舍不得那几只羊，它们还在坡上朝她咩咩叫着。

Yi Qing'e couldn't bear to leave her mother, nor could she bear to leave the sheep; they were still bleating at her from the hillside.

十几年后，易青娥又变成了忆秦娥。

More than a decade later, Yi Qing'e became Yi Qin'e again.

在她的记忆深处，那天从山里走出来参加工作，除了姐的两个花卡子和一件绿褂子外，娘还硬着头皮，觍着脸，从邻居家借了一双白回力鞋，两只鞋的大拇指处都有点烂。不过人家很细心，竟然用白线补出了两朵菊花瓣。鞋才洗过，上过大白粉，特别的白。虽然大了几码，娘还给鞋里塞了苞谷叶子，但穿上好看极了。她一路走，还一路不停地朝脚上看着。惹得舅骂了她好几回，说眼睛老盯在脚背上，跟她娘一样，都是些山里没出息的货。

Deep in her memory, on the day she left the mountains to start work, besides her sister's two hair clips and a green jacket, her mother, with a heavy heart and a bit of embarrassment, had borrowed a pair of white Feiyue shoes from a neighbor. The big toes of both shoes were a little worn. But the neighbor was very thoughtful; they had even patched two chrysanthemum petals with white thread. The shoes had just been washed and coated with white powder, making them exceptionally white. Although they were a few sizes too big, her mother had stuffed corn husks inside, but they looked beautiful on her. As she walked, she kept glancing at her feet. This angered her uncle, who scolded her several times, saying that her eyes were always fixed on her feet, just like her mother—both were good-for-nothing mountain folk.

　　多少年后，剧作家秦八娃给秦腔名伶忆秦娥写文章时，是这样记述的：

Years later, playwright Qin Bawa wrote an article about the famous Qinqiang opera singer Yi Qin'e, recounting it thus:

那是1976年6月5日的黄昏时分，一代秦腔名伶忆秦娥，跟着她舅——一个著名的秦腔鼓师，从秦岭深处的九岩沟走了出来。

It was dusk on June 5, 1976. The renowned Qinqiang opera singer Yi Qin'e, accompanied by her uncle—a famous Qinqiang drummer—emerged from Jiuyan Gully, deep in the Qinling Mountains.

那天，离她十一岁生日，还差十九天。

That day, there were still nineteen days until her eleventh birthday.

忆秦娥是穿着乡亲们送的一双白回力鞋上路的……

Yi Qin'e set off wearing a pair of white Feiyue shoes given to her by her fellow villagers…

　　陈彦，1963年生于陕西镇安。一级编剧。中国作家协会会员。曾创作《迟开的玫瑰》《大树西迁》《西京故事》等戏剧作品数十部，三次获“曹禺戏剧文学奖”“文华编剧奖”，作品三度入选国家舞台艺术精品工程“十大精品剧目”。曾创作32集电视剧《大树小树》，获“飞天奖”。著有长篇小说《西京故事》《装台》，其中《装台》被中国小说学会评为“2015小说排行榜”长篇小说榜首，“2015中国好书”，2017年获首届“吴承恩长篇小说奖”。出版有《陈彦剧作选》《陈彦词作选》《陈彦西京三部曲》，散文集《必须抵达》《边走边看》《坚挺的表达》《说秦腔》等著作。

Chen Yan was born in Zhen'an, Shaanxi Province in 1963. He is a first-class screenwriter and a member of the China Writers Association. He has created dozens of theatrical works, including *The Late-Blooming Rose*, *The Great Tree Moves West*, and *The Story of Xi'an*, winning the Cao Yu Drama Literature Award and the Wenhua Screenwriting Award three times. His works have been selected three times as one of the "Top Ten Excellent Plays" in the National Stage Art Masterpiece Project. He also wrote the 32-episode TV series *The Great Tree and the Little Tree*, which won the Feitian Award. He is the author of the novels *The Story of Xi'an* and *Zhuangtai*, with *Zhuangtai* being ranked first on the "2015 Novel Ranking" by the China Novel Society and named one of the "2015 China's Best Books." In 2017, he won the inaugural Wu Cheng'en Novel Award. He has published *Selected Plays by Chen Yan*, *Selected Lyrics by Chen Yan*, *Chen Yan's Xi'an Trilogy*, and essay collections such as *Must Arrive*, *Walking and Observing*, *A Resilient Expression*, and *Talking about Qinqiang Opera*.