0843翻译: 好嘴杨巴（冯骥才）
Translation: Silver-tongued Yang Ba (Feng Jicai) (1)
(translated by: alexcwlin; edited by: Adam Lam)
津门胜地，能人如林，
In the scenic area of Tianjin, talented people were aplenty.
此间出了两位卖茶汤的高手，
Among them, two individuals stood out who were engaged in selling glutinous millet paste.
把这种稀松平常的街头小吃，干得远近闻名。
They were able to make this run-of-the-mill street-snack famous far and near.
这二位，一位胖黑敦厚，名叫杨七，
The chubby, dark and down-to-earth one was called Seventh Yang.
一位细白精朗，人称杨八。
The other refined, fair-skinned and sharp-looking one went by the name of Eighth Yang.
杨七杨八，好赛哥俩，
It would seem Seventh Yang and Eighth Yang were brothers
其实却无亲无故，不过他俩的爹都姓杨罢了。
But the fact was they were not related by any means except the family names of both their fathers were “Yang”.
杨八本名杨巴，
The original name of Eight Yang was “Yang Ba (巴)”.
由于“巴”与“八”音同，
The Chinese characters “Eight (八)” and “Ba (巴)” share the same Pinyin with identical pronunciations.
杨巴的年岁长相又比杨七小，人们便错把他当成杨七的兄弟。
Also the actual age and look of Yang Ba was younger than Seventh Yang, therefore people mistook Yang Ba as the brother of Seventh Yang.
不过要说他俩的配合，好比左右手，又非亲兄弟可比。
But the way they collaborated in business was like left and right arms that could top a working team of blood brothers.
杨七手艺高，只管闷头制作;
Seventh Yang excelled in the craft of making the product and he just put his nose to the grindstone in production.
杨巴口才好，专管外场照应，
Yang Ba was a smooth talker and he focused on tasks outside of the kitchen.
虽然里里外外只这两人，既是老板又是伙计，
There were only the two of them in the entire business and they assumed the roles of both bosses and workers.
闹得却比大买卖还红火。
However, activities in that operation were livelier than those in big business.
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杨七的手艺好，关键靠两手绝活。
Seventh Yang was a skilful craftsman in the trade and he counted on his two hands to come up with the unique product.
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一般茶汤是把秫米面沏好后，捏一撮芝麻撒在浮头，
Regular glutinous millet paste was made through turning millet powder into thickened liquid by adding hot water, and then a pinch of sesame seeds was sprinkled on top.
这样做香味只在表面，愈喝愈没味儿。
Making the paste this way would result in limiting the sweet aroma on the surface. The further down the bowl a person drank, the lesser flavor there was.
杨七自有高招，
Seventh Yang had a good trick.
他先盛半碗秫米面，便撒上一次芝麻，
He started with filling half a bowl with millet powder complemented with some sesame seeds on top.
再盛半碗秫米面，
Then he filled the other half bowl with the powder.
沏好后又撒一次芝麻。
After adding hot water, he would sprinkle more sesame seeds.
这样一直喝到见了碗底都有香味。
This way a customer could taste the sweet flavor from top to bottom.
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他另一手绝活是，芝麻不用整粒的，
Another smart one-of-a-kind trick was he did not use whole sesame seeds.
而是先使铁锅炒过，再拿擀面杖压碎。
Instead, he fried those seeds in an iron pot and then crushed them with a rolling pin.
压碎了，里面的香味才能出来。
It was only after those seeds were squashed that the flavor inside could be released.
芝麻必得炒得焦黄不煳，
Also the seeds should be sufficiently toasted but not burned.
不黄不香，太煳便苦;
Under-toasted seeds would not smell good and burned seeds would taste bitter.
压碎的芝麻粒还得粗细正好，
The smashed seeds should also be appropriately sized.
太粗费嚼，太细也就没嚼头了。
Oversized ones would take up too much chewing, and overly fine ones would not be chewy enough.
这手活儿别人明知道也学不来。
These trade secrets could not be duplicated even though other people knew about them.
手艺人的能耐全在手上，此中道理跟写字画画差不多。
Proficiency of a craftsman came from his hands similar in principle to the arts of calligraphy and painting.
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可是，手艺再高，东西再好，拿到生意场上必得靠人吹。
But regardless how good the craftsmanship and products were, promotion would always be needed in the market.
三分活，七分说，
In business, product would account for 30%, but salesmanship would account for 70%.
死人说活了，破货变好货，
A good salesperson could talk a bird down from a tree or sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo.
买卖人的功夫大半在嘴上。
His ability would shine through by the way he talked.
到了需要逢场作戏、八面玲珑、看风使舵、左右逢源的时候，就更指着杨巴那张好嘴了。
Silver-tongued Yang Ba was epitome of a masterful promoter rising to the occasion, pleasing everyone and going with the flow to get what he wanted.
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那次，李鸿章来天津，
One day Li Hongzhang came to Tianjin.
地方的府县道台费尽心思，究竟拿嘛样的吃喝才能把中堂大人哄得高兴?
Local county officials were wracking their brains to figure out what dish would please the visiting minister.
京城豪门，山珍海味不新鲜， 新鲜的反倒是地方风味小吃，
For affluent families in Beijing, exotic dishes would not be fresh and the fresh ones would usually be delicacies from the neighborhood.
可天津卫的小吃太粗太土;
But local snacks in Tianjin were too crude and unrefined.
熬小鱼刺多，容易卡嗓子;
Stewed small fish had too many bones and could get stuck in the throat.
炸麻花邦硬，弄不好硌牙。
Deep-fried sesame twists were too hard and improperly prepared ones could damage teeth.
琢磨三天，难下决断，
They mulled over the problem for three days and could not come up with a decision.
幸亏知府大人原是地面上走街串巷的人物，
Luckily County Magistrate was well-traveled on city streets and back alleys.
嘛都吃过，便举荐出“杨家茶汤”;
He had tried pretty much all the snacks and so he recommended “Yang family’s glutinous millet paste”.
茶汤黏软香甜，
The paste was soft-in-texture, delicious-smelling, and great-tasting.
好吃无险，
It was tasty and risk-free.
众官员一齐称好，
All the other officials cheered in concurrence.
这便是杨巴发迹的缘由了。
That was the start of how Yang Ba rose to prominence.
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这日下晌，李中堂听过本地小曲莲花落子，
One afternoon Minister Li had just finished listening to a folk song performed by a blind singer.
饶有兴味，满心欢喜，
It was entertaining and he was in good mood.
撒泡热尿，身爽腹空，
After taking a leak in washroom, he felt relieved and hungry.
要吃点心。
So he asked for a snack to eat.
知府大人忙叫“杨七杨八”献上茶汤。
County Magistrate quickly asked Seventh Yang and Eighth Yang to present the glutinous millet paste.
今儿，两人自打到这世上来，头次里外全新，
That was the first time in their lives that they donned in brand new clothes inside and out.
青裤青褂，白巾白袜，
Included were green pants/gowns and white scarfs/socks.
一双手拿碱面洗得赛脱层皮那样干净。
Their hands were washed so clean with soda powder that it seemed they had new skin after shedding the old layer.
他俩双双将茶汤捧到李中堂面前的桌上，
The two of them carried the paste with both hands to the table in front of Minister Li.
然后一并退后五步，垂手而立，
Then they stepped back five steps together and stood there with hands dangling by their sides.
说是听候吩咐，实是请好请赏。
On the surface, they appeared to be waiting for further instructions, but in reality they were soliciting accolades and gratuities.
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李中堂正要尝尝这津门名品，
Minister Li was ready to taste this renowned Tianjin delicacy.
手指尖将碰碗边，目光一落碗中，
But just when his fingers were about to touch the bowl, his eyes took a quick glance at what was inside.
眉头忽地一皱，面上顿起阴云，
Suddenly his eyebrows locked together in a dark frown.
猛然甩手，“啪”地将一碗茶汤打落在地，
He abruptly swung his hand and knocked the paste down to the floor with a splash.
碎瓷乱飞，茶汤泼了一地，还冒着热气儿。
Broken porcelain pieces were flying everywhere and steaming liquid was spilled on the floor.
在场众官员吓懵了，
The other officials at the scene were stunned speechless.
杨七和杨巴慌忙跪下，
Seventh Yang and Eighth Yang quickly dropped to their knees in fear.
谁也不知中堂大人为嘛犯怒?
Nobody had a clue on what infuriated Minister.
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当官的一个比一个糊涂，这就透出杨巴的明白。
Government officials were generally not known for their sharp-mindedness, and that made Yang Ba’s keen perceptiveness stood out more.
他眨眨眼，
The gears in his mind turned quickly at blinking his eyes.
立时猜到中堂大人以前没喝过茶汤，不知道撒在浮头的碎芝麻是嘛东西，
Right away he correctly guessed Minister never drank any millet paste before and he wouldn’t have known what stuff were those crushed sesame seeds sprinkled on top.
一准当成不小心掉上去的脏土，
As such, he had to be thinking those were dirt particles that fell inside inadvertently.
要不哪会有这大的火气?
Otherwise how else would he be triggered into such a fit?
可这样，难题就来了——
But in such a case, a problem arose on how to handle the situation appropriately.
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倘若说这是芝麻，不是脏东西，不等于骂中堂大人孤陋寡闻，没有见识吗?
If he pointed out those were sesame seeds and not dirt particles, wouldn’t that be like decrying Minister for his ignorance and unworldliness?
倘若不加解释，不又等于承认给中堂大人吃脏东西?
But if he didn’t provide an explanation, wouldn’t that be an admission of guilt in feeding Minister dirt?
说不说，都是要挨一顿臭揍，然后砸饭碗子。
Whether he spoke out or not, both he and his business would be taking a serious beating.
而眼下顶要紧的，是不能叫李中堂开口说那是脏东西。
But what was most important right away was to prevent Minister Li from saying the stuff was dirt.
大人说话，不能改口。
Once Minister said something, he could not retract his words.
必须赶紧想辙，抢在前头说。
So he had to figure a way to speak first before Minister would.
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杨巴的脑筋飞快地一转两转三转，
Yang Ba’s mind was wheeling and careening in search of a way out.
主意来了!
Finally he came up with an idea.
只见他脑袋撞地，“咚咚咚”叩得山响，
His forehead banged the ground hard with thunderous “thump, thump, thump” sounds while he was on his knees.
一边叫道：“中堂大人息怒!
At the same time, he was shouting, “Honorable Minister, please don’t be mad.
小人不知道中堂大人不爱吃压碎的芝麻粒，惹恼了大人。
Poor little I did not know your honor does not like eating crushed sesame seeds and get you upset.
大人不记小人过，饶了小人这次，
I hope your honor would not hold it against me and forgive me this once.
今后一定痛改前非!”
I promise I won’t make the same mistake again.”
说完又是一阵响头。
That was followed by another series of loud kowtows.
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李中堂这才明白，刚才茶汤上那些黄渣子不是脏东西，是碎芝麻。
It was only then that Minister Li understood the yellow residues on top of the paste just now were not dirt bits but crushed sesame seeds.
明白过后便想，天津卫九河下梢，人性练达，
In realized the truth, he thought in downstream of rivers in Tianjin District, people by nature were street-smart.
生意场上，心灵嘴巧。
In business dealings, they were quick-witted and tactful.
这卖茶汤的小子更是机敏过人，
In particular, this young millet-paste vendor was exceptionally astute.
居然一眼看出自己错把芝麻当做脏土，
Surprisingly this individual was able to discern he mistook those sesame seeds as dirt crumbs.
而三两句话，既叫自己明白，又给自己面子。
In a few words, the young man was able to make him understand the situation and spare him of embarrassment.
这聪明在眼前的府县道台中间是绝没有的，
Such wits were not seen on those county officials in front of him.
于是对杨巴心生喜欢，便说：
So he took a liking to Yang Ba and said,
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“不知道当无罪!
“Of course you should not be blamed if you are unaware of the situation.
虽然我不喜欢吃碎芝麻(他也顺坡下了)， 但你的茶汤名满津门，也该嘉奖!
Even though I do not like crushed sesame seeds (he was going with the flow), yet your millet paste has a good name in Tianjin and you should be rewarded.
来人呀，赏银一百两!”
I’ll ask my servant to give you one hundred ‘liangs’ of silver.”
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这一来，叫在场所有人摸不着头脑。
All the people in presence were puzzled by this development in events.
茶汤不爱吃，反倒奖巨银，
They did not understand why Minister did not like the paste and yet he awarded a large sum of silver.
为嘛?
What was that for?
傻啦?
Was he out of his mind?
杨巴趴在地上，一个劲儿地叩头谢恩，
Yang Ba was kneeling down and kowtowing hard to show his gratitude.
心里头却一清二楚全明白。
However, he knew in his mind exactly what was going on.
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自此，杨巴在天津城威名大震。
From that time onwards, Yang Ba’s name was spread far and wide in the City of Tianjin.
那“杨家茶汤”也被人们改称做“杨巴茶汤”了。
The “Yang Family Millet Paste” was changed to “Yang Ba Millet Paste” by the public.
杨七反倒渐渐埋没，无人知晓。
Seventh Yang faded into obscurity and became an unknown.
杨巴对此毫不内疚，
In this regard, Yang Ba did not feel guilty.
因为自己成名靠的是自己一张好嘴，李中堂并没有喝茶汤呀!
He earned his reputation by his silver tongue and Minister Li did not drink any of the paste.
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附注：
(1) silver-tongued
在英文跟 “silver-tongued” (能言善辩, e.g., “He is a silver-tongued politician who can charm a bird out of a tree.)相似的词语包括：
a. smooth-talking (油嘴e.g., I witnessed a smooth-talking salesman who successfully made a pitch and peddled a problematic car to an unwary consumer.);
b. eloquent (好口才 e.g., This high school student is an eloquent debater who has 6 trophies to his credit in inter-school debate competitions.)
c. persuasive (有说服力 e.g., He is a good talker but is he persuasive enough to sell refrigerators to Eskimos?)
(2) 官职名称
因古今中外政府制度有异，所以官职的英文翻译可能不准确。
