After a somewhat busy weekend, Lübeck reflected on how the newly adopted children had impacted his life. While the affection he gave them satisfied his moral needs, the reality was that they had indeed added to his burdens. Financially, it wasn't a problem for him, but the demands on his energy and time were very real. Moreover, they had somewhat disrupted his private life with Ruth and Emma.
经过了一个略显繁忙的周末,吕贝克思考着新收养的孩子给自己的生活带来的影响,虽然自己给她们付出的关爱很好地满足了自己的道德需求,可是现实中的确增加了自己的生活负担,经济方面还好,对于他来说不算什么,但是精力和时间方面的占用确是实实在在的.还有就是她们多少打扰了自己和露丝与艾玛的私人生活.
The carriage rolled along the road to City Hall, where Lübeck had once walked through all four seasons. Yet this particular spring brought him a distinct sense of its vitality and innocence. Perhaps it was the spiritual fulfillment from helping Doris, or the energy Clara and Ida, the two little sprites, brought to the household, or the satisfaction of stabilizing the social structure of the sanctuary. Whatever the reason, this road he had walked countless times over the years appeared profoundly different in the morning light.
马车在前往市政厅的路上行驶,吕贝克曾经在这里走过春夏秋冬,然而这一个春天,却让他感觉别样的春的生机与懵懂,或许是因为帮助了多丽丝带来的精神满足,或许是克拉拉和艾达两个小精灵给家庭带来了活力,亦或是自己稳定了庇护之地的社会结构的成就感,使得这条自己多年走过的道路,在晨光中显得那样的不同.
Upon arriving at City Hall, his colleagues were already present. Lübeck always seemed to be the last to arrive. The longer commute could serve as a perfectly valid excuse, yet he also didn't want to be the one arriving first and putting pressure on others. Both his own relaxed lifestyle and others' comfortable lives were reasons he had chosen to work here. Sometimes, appearing diligent simply didn't solve the problem.
到达市政厅,同事们已经有到了,吕贝克似乎总是最晚才到的,上班的路途更远可以是一个很好的借口,可是他也不想让自己成为那个先到的人给其他人施加压力.自己的生活轻松和别人的生活惬意都是他来这里工作的原因.有时候看起来的勤奋并不能解决问题.
The Sanctuary was established to preserve and expand human populations and ethnic groups. The most fundamental requirement for population growth is sustenance. From the outset of its administration, Lübeck placed particular emphasis on grain production, establishing a series of guidelines for implementation. At the town hall, these administrators are recording and compiling data on spring sowing activities and harvest estimates from across the regions according to his protocols, to inform the formulation of policy directives.
庇护之地创建的目的就是为了保留和壮大人种,种族.要繁衍人口最基本的需求就是吃,所以从一开始的行政管理中吕贝克就特别重视粮食作物的生产,并且制定了一系列的指导执行的准则,来到市政厅,这些行政人员正在按照他制定的规程记录和统计各地春播生产活动和收成估算用于制定指导政策.
Seated in his office chair, Lü Beck pondered yesterday's thoughts: whether to begin elevating the educational, productive, and technological standards of the Sanctuary. After all, the current environment of solely agricultural production naturally favored those with superior physical strength. They achieved greater agricultural output, thereby securing better personal living conditions. This advantage further enhanced their prospects in finding mates and producing offspring. Yet it was clear that such a pattern of genetic selection within the community inevitably skewed the trajectory of overall development.
坐在自己办公室的椅子上,吕贝克思考着自己昨天的想法,是否要开始提升庇护之地教育生产和科技水平了,毕竟目前单一的农业生产环境所形成的选择结果都是那些体力好的人,他们会有更好的农业产出,从而获得更优越的个人生活条件,使得他们在获取伴侣生育后代方面更具有优势,但是显然是这样的族群基因选择对于整体发展影响是有偏颇的.
Captain, look—after we cleared out that bunch of parasites, the farmers' enthusiasm for expanding their cultivated land has really picked up. Take a look," Miller said cheerfully as he walked into the office, holding the latest statistical report to show Lübeck.
"船长,你看,清除了那一波蛀虫之后,农户开拓耕地的积极性高了很多,你看看,"米勒手拿着最新的统计文件,一边笑呵呵地说着一边走进办公室来拿给吕贝克看,
Lübeck took it and flipped through the pages while Miller added,
"Look, based on this trend, the number of newborns families can afford might double. That small family unit model you mentioned earlier could be coming soon."
吕贝克接过来翻看,米勒还在一边补充说,
"你看,按照这个趋势,家庭能够负担的新生儿数量可能翻倍,你之前说的小家庭单位模式可能快来了,"
"Indeed, perhaps we should expand the residential areas in the city," Lübeck replied, though inwardly he was still focused on gradually improving population quality rather than quantity.
"Perhaps we should establish public education," Lübeck continued.
"还真是,也许我们应该要扩建城区居住区了,"虽然这样回答,吕贝克内心想的还是如何逐步提高人口质量,而不是数量,
"也许我们要开办公立教育了,"吕贝克接着说,
"But who will teach it?" Miller asked.
"可是由谁来教授呢?"米勒问,
"Yeah, maybe we can only rely on the development of social productive forces to gradually drive progress. I get a little hopeful at the slightest sign of improvement and start daydreaming, heh." Lü Beck chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"是啊,也许只能依靠社会生产力的发展来逐步推动了.才有一点起色我就想入非非了,呵呵."说着,吕贝克自嘲地笑了.
"Captain, you can't speak that way. For twenty years, I've watched our Sanctuary grow alongside you. After all, with our small population, achieving this level of development is no small feat."
"船长不能这么说,二十年来,我是跟你一起看着咱们的庇护之地建设起来的,毕竟我们的人口总量这么少,能有这样的发展已经不容易了."
"Well, let's take it step by step. Rome wasn't built in a day. Give me some time to think it over. We'll gradually introduce some technology and industry to build up a non-agricultural production system here."
"嗯,我们一步一步地前进吧,不能一日建成罗马,让我考虑考虑,逐步引进一些技术和工业,把这里的非农业生产体系逐步建立起来."
After reviewing the report documents and exchanging opinions, the extra half-day passed quickly. Lübeck left City Hall early, bought some fish at the market, and headed home.
经过查阅报告文件和交换意见,就这样多半天的时间很快就这样过去了,吕贝克早早地离开市政厅,去市场买了些鱼就回家了.
As soon as he entered, he saw Ruth preparing dinner for the family in the kitchen, while the sounds of children babbling came from Emma's room.
Without taking off his coat, Lübeck turned and walked straight into the kitchen.
一进门正看见露丝在厨房里给家人准备晚饭,另一边艾玛的房间里传来男孩和女孩的咿呀说话声.
没脱外衣,吕贝克直接转身走进厨房,
"I'm back," Ruth said, sitting still but turning her head to greet him. She was stoking the fire, using a long poker to stir the embers beneath the ashes while adding finely chopped wood.
"回来了,"露丝坐在那里没动,只是扭过头和他打招呼,露丝正在生火,一边用长的劈柴翻转炉灰下的残火,一边加入细碎的木柴.
Slowly, the fire in the stove began to blaze, The flames flickered from deep red to bright yellow within the hearth, casting light upon Ruth seated opposite. It illuminated the apron smock she often wore while working, revealing its worn patches, washed-out stains, and the creases etched by time—as if bearing silent witness to her quiet labors.
慢慢地炉火逐渐燃烧起来,炉膛里的火焰闪烁着从暗红到亮黄的火光,照在坐在炉膛对面的露丝身前,照亮她那件劳作时候常穿的围裙罩衫,火光照亮那件罩衫上的磨损,洗过的污渍,还有岁月留下的褶皱,仿佛是为自己所做的无声付出的诉说.
Lübeck approached Ruth standing before the stove, bent down to set the fish he'd bought, wrapped his forearm around her waist, and tilted his face toward hers.
吕贝克走近炉膛前的露丝,俯身放下手里买的鱼,用自己的前臂搂住她的腰,把自己的脸斜着凑到她的面前,
The furnace flames flickered, illuminating the eyes within her deep-set sockets, reflecting the lingering glow of fire in Ruth's gaze. Lübeck closed his own eyes and gently kissed her lips.
炉膛的火焰闪动,照亮她那深深眼窝中的双睛,带着露丝眼中闪烁的火焰残影,吕贝克合上自己的双眼,轻轻亲吻上她的嘴唇.
The furnace flames scorched Lübeck's neck, while the warmth of Ruth's lips scorched his soul.
炉膛火焰的温度炙烤着吕贝克的脖颈,露丝嘴唇的温度炙烤着他的心灵,
"All right, the child is watching," Ruth said softly, gently pushing Lübeck away after the kiss.
"好了,孩子在这看着呢,"亲吻之后,露丝轻柔地推开吕贝克说,
Her smiling eyes, slightly upturned corners of her mouth, and gently swaying posture radiated nothing but gentle kindness. Only then did Lübeck notice Clara, who often assisted Ruth with tasks within her capabilities. The small figure sat silently on a stool against the wall, observing everything without a word. Her pale, slightly sparse hair was neatly pulled back close to her scalp into a ponytail, making her appear all the more lonely and vulnerable.
她含笑的眼神,微挑嘴角,和轻轻扭动的身姿,满满的都是温柔以待.这时吕贝克才想起一边的克拉拉,她经常和露丝一起,帮她做一些力所能及的工作.那个小小的身影正靠墙坐在小板凳上,一言不发地看着一切.她淡金色略显稀疏的头发,紧贴着头皮简洁地向后挽,绑了一根马尾辫,看起来整个人愈加显得孤单无依.
Lübeck knew he'd neglected her, and how fragile a little heart could be. Thinking this, he took the initiative to pull her over and sit her on his lap, kissing her small forehead as he said,
"Sit here, closer to the warmth of the stove."
吕贝克知道自己冷落她了,小小的心灵是多么的脆弱,想到这便主动把她抱过来坐在自己的腿上,亲了一下她小小的额头说,
"坐这里吧,里炉火近一点暖和,"
After speaking, he glanced at Ruth across from him and smiled. How could he possibly express his inner helplessness in front of the child?
说完看了一眼对面的露丝一笑,内心的无奈怎好在孩子面前诉说.
Ruth smiled back at Lübeck without saying much, then bent down to help him clean the freshly bought fish. Looks like tonight's meal will have an extra flavorful addition.
露丝看着吕贝克也笑过来,也没多说什么,低头开始帮着吕贝克收拾新买来的鱼,看来今晚可以加点额外的风味食物了.
Clara sat on Lübeck's lap, not idle at all. Watching the two of them, she learned how to handle fish scales and guts. Though her little hands moved with childish clumsiness, she worked diligently and earnestly.
克拉拉坐在吕贝克的腿上也并没有无所事事,看着两个人的样子,学着如何处理鱼鳞,鱼的内脏,虽然小手的动作还很稚嫩,但是依然做的很用心,认真.
Dinner after welcoming two new little members was lively, but Lübeck seemed not yet accustomed to this new rhythm of life. After supper, he went out alone for a walk along the road. The bustling figures moving about before his eyes seemed to disturb his thoughts; only the quiet night sky and the nebula could soothe the peace within his heart.
新增了两个小成员之后的晚餐是热闹的,但是对于吕贝克来说似乎还并没有适应这样的新生活节奏,晚饭之后就独自到室外路上散步了,似乎眼前各自忙碌的身影晃动搅扰了他的思绪,只有安静的夜空和星云能够安抚他内心的平静.
When he returned home once more, everyone had retired for the night. Only Ruth had prepared hot water for him to wash up upon his return. Seeing Lübeck come back, she went back to her room alone.
当他再次回到家中,大家都休息了,只有露丝准备了热水等他回来洗漱,见吕贝克归来,便自己独自回了房间.
After finishing his ablutions, Lübeck followed Ruth's footsteps back to her side. After a day of tedious chores, he could finally rest quietly beside his beloved. One hand caressed Ruth's silky hair as he watched the night light trace the contours of her cheeks. He leaned in to resume the kiss left unfinished that afternoon.
洗漱完毕,寻着露丝的脚步,吕贝克回到了她的身边,经过了一天的繁杂琐事,现在终于可以安静地守在爱人身边,一手抚摸着露丝的秀发,看着夜色勾勒她脸颊的轮廓,凑上去继续下午未完成的吻,
Watching you cook today, it felt like all these years of your presence in the kitchen flashed before my eyes.
"今天看到你做饭,我感觉好像这么多年你在厨房的身影在我的眼前闪过,"
"Heh," Ruth chuckled at his words,
"At least you still have a conscience—you haven't forgotten me."
"呵呵,"听到这么说,露丝笑了,
"还算你有良心,心里还有我,"
"But now there are two little girls around, making it inconvenient for us to be intimate," Lü Beck confided with a hint of frustration in his voice.
"只是现在又多了两个小丫头,都不方便我和你亲热了,"吕贝克倾诉的语气有些沮丧,
"Hmph, so you absolutely have to have it?" Ruth teased him softly.
"哼,那你就非得要啊?"露丝轻声取笑他说,
"I suppose it might be time to establish a public orphanage or boarding school—after all, I can't adopt every child myself."
"我想,也许应该成立一个公立孤儿院了,或者寄宿学校,毕竟我也不能收养所有的孩子啊,"
"Hmm, that's true," Ruth agreed.
"嗯,那倒也是,"露丝附和着说,
It's just that we don't know when it will happen yet. Right now, it's still only an idea. We don't have enough professionals at present, so we can't implement detailed social division of labor.
"只是还不知道要什么时候,现在还只是一个想法,现在还没有足够的专业人员,还做不到详细的社会分工,"
Just then, a sliver of moonlight illuminated Ruth's cheek. Startled, they both looked up. From the crack beneath the door, a tiny figure peered out into the night. After a moment of hesitant watching, it timidly whispered,
"Daddy, please don't send me away, okay?"
正说着,一道夜色亮光照亮了露丝的脸颊,两人诧异中抬头一看,房门缝隙的夜色中,探出半个小小的身影,在门口巴望了一阵才怯生生地说,
"爸爸,别把我送走好吗?"
It was Clara after all. She had overheard Lübeck and Ruth's conversation outside the door.
原来是克拉拉,她在门外听到了吕贝克和露丝的谈话,
Alas, what kind of deprivation would make a child listen outside the door to idle talk about her own fate? With a sigh, Lübeck hurriedly called out to her,
"Come in, my child,"
唉,是什么样的匮乏让一个孩子在门外听自己关于她的命运的闲谈,感慨着,吕贝克赶紧叫她,
"进来吧,我的孩子,"
Clara stepped through the doorway, closed the door behind her, and walked to the bed. Lübeck slipped an arm under her armpit to help her lie down, positioning her between himself and Ruth. This child had lost her father, and her mother was not here. Now he was her father, and Ruth was her mother.
克拉拉迈步跨进房门,回手关上房门,走到床前.吕贝克一只手挽着她的腋窝扶她上床,躺在了自己和露丝的中间,这个孩子没有了爸爸,妈妈也不在身边,现在自己就是她的爸爸,露丝就是她的妈妈.