Hunger

饥饿 （3）

[12] The cashier cast an angry sidelong glance at the young clerk, but he had to keep silent in my presence and worked his abacus with a vengeance.

[13] I volunteered to serve as a temporary clerk, ready to hand the book in person to any young customer who wanted to buy it. They often had no idea that I was the author of the book. Some didn't like the way I did the wrapping and looked somewhat displeased. The young clerk was about to tell a customer who I was when I immediately stopped him by tipping him a wink. The young man was confused and, after looking me up and down for a while, walked off in sulky silence.

[I4] To my great surprise, I got as much as five dollars towards evening. On my way home, I travelled first class in a streetcar instead of third class. The moment I stepped into it, chin up and chest out, the conductor barked pointing to the front compartment, "Third class in the front!" Judging by the way I was dressed, he must have thought I was too poor to travel first class. I quickly showed him the fiver in my hand and demanded by way of a protest,

[15] "Hey, give me my change!"

[16] He was silent, lowering his head.

[17] A young man sitting beside me happened to be reading my The Diary of a Woman Soldier. He boldly recommended me the book and advised me to go and buy a copy for myself. I replied.

[18] "I don't like this book because I don't think it's good for a woman to be a soldier."

[19] He was much annoyed at my remark and called me a diehard.

[20] "A 20th century woman shouldn't go against the trend of the times!" said he angrily.

管账的用着怒眼斜视着小伙计，但因我在旁边，他没有说什么，只是重重地打着算盘。

我充当临时的店员，进来买《从军日记》的青年，我都愿意亲自将书递给他。但对方并不知道我就是那本书的作者，有几个顾客嫌我包的书不好，表示很生气的样子，小伙计正想告诉他我是谁时，我连忙使了个眼色制止了他，弄得那位青年莫名其妙地打量了我很久，然后悻悻然地离去。

快到黄昏的时候，我居然拿到了五元钱。归来，我不再搭三等车了，趾高气扬地跑进了头等车，那位售票员忙指着前面一节车说：”到三等车去吧！”他大概看见我穿的衣服太破旧，以为一定是个坐不起头等车的穷光蛋。我忙把五块钱的钞票拿在手里，故意向他示威：

“喂，找钱来吧!”

他这才低下头不做声了。

意外地遇到一个青年拿了一本《从军日记》坐在我的旁边看，他竟大胆地向我宣传，要我去买一本来看看，我回答他：“我不赞成女人当兵，所以也不喜欢看这本书。”

他听了非常不高兴，竟骂我思想顽固。

“廿世纪时代的女性不应该这样开倒车的！”他气愤愤地说。