枝丫2： 08: 第八章: 一本关于鼎的古书
Zhang Laoban issues an invitation he regrets.
Twig 枝丫 Zhīyā is a fantasy series written in Simplified Chinese characters for intermediate level adult readers.
Reviewing the word list prior to reading the chapter may help with enjoyment and comprehension.
大约一年前。
前几天，张老板的前房东太太来书店了。陈太太非常喜欢古书，尤其是关于那本三条腿鼎的古书。她对鼎很着迷。有一次，张老板看见她打开一本写着鼎的书。张老板注意到她的表情从着急变得放松了。张老板觉得有点儿奇怪，但是很多顾客对很多东西和话题着迷。张老板想：各有所好吧。
陈太太有一个问题。陈太太的说话方式常常让人感到不被重视。陈太太没等别人说完他们的故事，就打断他们，别人说话的时候她插嘴，抢着说，把话题从别人的故事改变成自己的。
张老板从书店后屋的新书箱子里拿出一本关于鼎的书给陈太太看。他们一起说了些什么，张老板记不太清了，因为她只让他说了几句。但是，他觉得陈太太已经切掉了一些她的树。
她一直说，他一直听，张老板就觉得可以放心地请陈太太来参加会议了。张老板相信陈太太那样的说话方式，用沙漏轮流说两分钟话，会让她慢下来，会让她说一会儿就得停一下。
二十年前，张老板从一个房东那里租下了这家书店，房东叫陈和平 。陈房东、他的妻子陈太太，还有他们的儿子一家三口住在一个离书店很近的胡同四合院里。张老板在书店住，也在书店工作。张老板租了五年。十五年前，他从陈房东那里买下了书店。
陈房东的儿子，小陈，长大以后成了一个大厨。他开了一个小吃窗口，做特别好吃的煎饼，像皇帝的厨师做得一样好。陈房东死后，这个大厨和他的妈妈陈太太一起住，他一个人赡养她的妈妈。
张老板想：自从陈房东去世以后，陈太太可能会很孤独。参加会议可能会帮助她。我喜欢帮助人。张老板尝试忘记上一次帮助了别人后，他还必须得买一束花去道歉。
张老板胸口里面剩下的树说：帮别人自助。
会议开始前，陈太太到来以前，张老板把立白清洁剂倒在一块抹布上，然后用抹布擦后屋的桌子。后屋里有一点儿立白清洁剂的味道。不久，这种味道会消失，书和木头书架的味道又会回来。
陈太太来了。
张老板：“陈太太，欢迎欢迎！请坐。我来告诉你我们的会议方式。”
陈太太：“请说吧。”
张老板：“这个会议是一个试验和发现。。。”
陈太太打断：“谢谢你请我。”
张老板坚持：“。。。的地方。这就是为什么我们。。。”
陈太太抢着说：“我准时到了，对吧？”
张老板还坚持：“。。。使用这个东西。”
张老板从柜子里拿出他妻子的沙漏，举起它来。
陈太太抢着说：“很漂亮。我非常喜欢。是古董吗？”
张老板想：‘麻烦，麻烦’，但是又继续说：“每个人有两分钟。。。”
陈太太：“谁给你的？”
张老板：“。。。的说话时间。”
张老板还可以闻到清洁剂的味道。他后悔请陈太太来了。他未来还会后悔。
Word List
鼎 dǐng ancient three-legged cauldron or vessel, often made of bronze
大约一年前。Dàyuē yī nián qián. About a year ago.
房东 fángdōng landlord
陈太太 Chén Tàitài wife of 陈房东, 陈和平 Chén Hépíng, mother of 小陈，大厨 dà chú chef， founder and owner of 一个小吃窗口
着迷 zháo mí to be fascinated by, to be captivated by, to be obsessed with
变 biàn to change, to become
变得 biàn de to become (followed by an adjective)
各有所好 Gè yǒu suǒ hào Everyone has their own preferences; lit. Each (person) has that which (they) like. Here, 所 works as a structural particle that turns a verb into a noun phrase, meaning “that which is...” or “what is...”)
说话方式 shuōhuà fāngshì way of speaking; how someone talks in general, including tone, timing, and conversational habits
重视 zhòng shì to value, to attach importance to, to take seriously
打断 dǎ duàn interrupt; stop someone while they are speaking
插 chā to insert
插嘴 chā zuǐ talk over someone; speak without waiting for the other person to finish
抢 qiǎng to grab, to snatch, to vie for
抢着说 qiǎng zhe shuō interrupt and take control of the speaking
改变话题 gǎibiàn huàtí change the subject
参加 cān jiā to participate, to attend, to take part in
轮 lún turn, cycle, rotate
流 liú flow, move, circulate
轮流 lúnliú take turns, lit. rotate flow
一家三口 yījiā sānkǒu family of three
煎饼 jiān bǐng pancake
皇帝 huáng dì emperor
厨师 chú shī cook, chef
特别好吃的煎饼，像皇帝的厨师做得一样好
tèbié hào chī de jiānbing, xiàng huángdì de chúshī zuò dé yīyàng hǎo
delicious pancakes, as good as those made by an emperor's chef
赡 shàn to support financially, to provide for
养 yǎng to raise, to nurture, to take care of
赡养 shàn yǎng to support and provide for elderly parents or dependents, including both financial and daily care
一束花 yī shù huā a bouquet of flowers
立白 Liby lì bái a brand of household cleaning products
清 qīng clear clean
洁 jié clean pure
清洁 qīngjié clean cleanliness
剂 jì agent chemical
清洁剂 qīngjiéjì cleaning agent cleanser
倒 dào to pour
抹布 mā bù cleaning rag, cloth
擦 cā to wipe
试 shì try test
验 yàn examine test
试验 shìyàn experiment
发现 fāxiàn discover, find
坚 jiān firm strong
持 chí hold maintain
坚持 jiānchí persist, insist
举 jǔ lift raise
举起 jǔqǐ lift up raise
古 gǔ ancient
董 dǒng supervise, direct
古董 gǔdǒng antique
悔 huǐ regret
后悔 hòu huǐ to regret
Notes
1. The 大厨 is first mentioned in 枝丫1：第五章: 在窗口.
2. In 枝丫1：第四十章: 花瓶里的一束花, Zhang Laoban tries to help Liu Yinuo by giving her unsolicited advice. In 枝丫1：第四十一章: 好的意图, Zhang Laoban recalls with great discomfort witnessing Liu Yinuo’s fierce inner 狐狸精 húlíjīng fox spirit switch its nine tails at him in protest. In 枝丫1：第四十章: 花瓶里的一束花，in apology, Zhang Laoban gives Liu Yinuo a vase of flowers.
3. About the timeline: About a year ago, 张老板 received one of many visits from 陈太太. She is the wife of 陈房东. Twenty years ago, 张老板 rented the bookstore from 陈房东. After 5 years of renting, about 15 years ago, 张老板 bought the bookstore from 陈房东.
更多
枝丫1：《枝丫》第一部
枝丫1：Table of contents | 枝丫1：Chapter 1 | Complete 枝丫1 story, just 汉字
枝丫2：《枝丫》第二部
枝丫2：Table of contents | 枝丫2：Chapter 1 | 枝丫2 story so far, just 汉字
Word lists for review in Hack Chinese.
微故事 Wēigùshì, a series of occasional vignettes featuring objects in the 胡同 and in the lives of 枝丫’s denizens.
Main page: Twig 枝丫: A fantasy novel