The Letter After the War
祖父去世那年的秋天，林之远回到老家整理他留下的东西。
Grandfather pass-away that year (POSS) autumn, Lin-Zhi-Yuan return arrive old-home organize his leave-down (POSS) thing.
The autumn his grandfather died, Lin Zhiyuan went back to the old house to sort through what he had left behind.
祖父一辈子住在那座临河的小屋里，房子又旧又安静。
Grandfather one-lifetime live at that (M) face-river (POSS) small-house inside, house both old and quiet.
His grandfather had spent his whole life in that small house by the river, old and silent.
他活到了九十六岁，几乎没跟谁说过他年轻时候的事。
He live arrive (PERF) ninety-six age, almost not with whom speak (EXP) his young time (POSS) matter.
He had lived to ninety-six, and had told almost no one about his younger years.
家里人只知道他参加过那场战争，从前线回来以后就不再开口。
Home people only know he participate (EXP) that (M) war, from front-line return-come after just not again open-mouth.
The family only knew he had fought in that war, and after returning from the front, never spoke of it again.
林之远在卧室的衣柜底下，找到了一个用布包好的小木盒。
Lin-Zhi-Yuan at bedroom (POSS) clothes-cabinet bottom-under, find-arrive (PERF) one (M) use cloth wrap-good (POSS) small wood-box.
Beneath the wardrobe in the bedroom, Lin Zhiyuan found a small wooden box wrapped in cloth.
盒子里是一叠信，用一根旧红绳子绑着。
Box inside is one (M) stack letter, use one (M) old red rope tie (CONT).
Inside was a stack of letters, tied with an old red string.
他数了一下，一共二十七封。
He count (PERF) one-down, total twenty-seven (M).
He counted them: twenty-seven in all.
每一封上都写着同一个名字：阿云。
Every one (M) on all write (CONT) same one (M) name: A-Yun.
Each one bore the same name: A-Yun.
信封上没有邮票，也没有寄过的痕迹。
Letter-envelope on not have postage-stamp, also not have send (EXP) (POSS) trace.
There were no stamps, no signs that any had been sent.
他打开最上面那一封。纸已经发黄，字也变浅。
He open most top that one (M). Paper already turn yellow, character also change shallow.
He opened the top letter. The paper had yellowed; the ink had faded.
他看了几行，眼睛慢慢湿了。
He read (PERF) several line, eye slowly wet (PERF).
He read a few lines, and his eyes slowly grew wet.
信是祖父年轻的时候写给一个姑娘的。
Letter is grandfather young (POSS) time write give one (M) young-woman (POSS).
They were letters his grandfather had written, as a young man, to a girl.
姑娘叫阿云，住在边境另一边的村子里。
Young-woman call A-Yun, live at border another-side (POSS) village inside.
The girl's name was A-Yun, and she lived in a village on the other side of the border.
战争开始之前，他们差一点就要结婚。
War begin before, they short one-bit just want marry.
Before the war began, they had been close to marriage.
战争一爆发，那条边境就被关闭了，再也没开过。
War once erupt, that (M) border just (PASS) close (PERF), again also not open (EXP).
Once the war broke out, the border was sealed, and never reopened.
祖父写了一封又一封，可一封也寄不出去。
Grandfather write (PERF) one (M) again one (M), but one (M) also send not out-go.
He had written letter after letter, but could send none of them.
他把信存了下来，等了一辈子。
He (BA) letter store (PERF) down-come, wait (PERF) one-lifetime.
He had kept them all his life, waiting.
林之远连续几个晚上读那些信。
Lin-Zhi-Yuan continuously several (M) evening read those letter.
Lin Zhiyuan read the letters over several nights.
他从前不知道祖父会说这样的话。
He previously not know grandfather would speak this-kind (POSS) word.
He had never known his grandfather capable of words like these.
信里有春天的河，有阿云在井边洗头发的样子，还有一句一直重复的话。
Letter inside have spring (POSS) river, have A-Yun at well-side wash hair (POSS) appearance, also have one (M) continuously repeat (POSS) word.
There were the river in spring, A-Yun washing her hair beside the well, and one sentence that returned again and again.
“如果有一天这条路再通，我就走过来。”
"If have one day this (M) road again pass-through, I just walk-pass-come."
"If one day this road opens again, I will walk over."
他从来没走过那条路。
He from-come not walk (EXP) that (M) road.
He had never walked it.
林之远做了一个决定。
Lin-Zhi-Yuan make (PERF) one (M) decision.
Lin Zhiyuan made a decision.
他要找到阿云，或者，找到阿云的家人。
He want find-arrive A-Yun, or, find-arrive A-Yun (POSS) home people.
He would find A-Yun, or her family.
他要把这些信送到他们手里。
He want (BA) these letter send-arrive them hand inside.
He would put these letters into their hands.
现在那条边境早已重新打开，村子也好找。
Now that (M) border early already restart open, village also good find.
The border had long since reopened, and the village was easy to find.
可是七十多年了，谁还记得一个叫阿云的姑娘？
But seventy more year (PERF), who still remember one (M) call A-Yun (POSS) young-woman?
But after seventy-some years, who would still remember a girl named A-Yun?
他先把信全部翻译成另一边的语言，请一位退休的老师帮忙。
He first (BA) letter entire translate become another-side (POSS) language, request one (M) retire (POSS) teacher help-busy.
He first had the letters translated into the language of the other side, with help from a retired teacher.
老师读着读着，悄悄地哭了。她说：“这些字，应该让她家人知道。”
Teacher read (CONT) read (CONT), quietly cry (PERF). She say: "These character, should let her home people know."
As she read, the teacher quietly wept. "Her family must know these words," she said.
春天的时候，林之远跨过了那条边境。
Spring (POSS) time, Lin-Zhi-Yuan cross-pass (PERF) that (M) border.
In spring, Lin Zhiyuan crossed the border.
村子在山脚下，房子大多还是老样子。
Village at mountain-foot under, house most still is old appearance.
The village lay at the foot of a mountain, the houses mostly unchanged.
他拿着祖父信里写过的几个地名，挨家挨户去问。
He hold (CONT) grandfather letter inside write (EXP) (POSS) several (M) place-name, one-by-one home one-by-one household go ask.
Carrying place names mentioned in the letters, he went from house to house, asking.
第三天，他在一位卖菜的老太太那里得到了一点线索。
Third day, he at one (M) sell vegetable (POSS) old-grandma there obtain (PERF) one-bit clue.
On the third day, an old woman selling vegetables gave him a small thread to follow.
“阿云？”她想了想，“是不是那位嫁到城里去的女孩？”
"A-Yun?" She think (PERF) think, "Is not is that (M) marry-arrive city inside-go (POSS) girl?"
"A-Yun?" She thought a moment. "The one who married into the city?"
她又想了想：“她早不在了。”
She again think (PERF) think: "She early not present (PERF)."
She thought again. "She passed long ago."
“可她有个女儿，听说还住在城里。”
"But she have (M) daughter, hear-say still live at city inside."
"But she had a daughter — still in the city, I hear."
林之远顺着这条线慢慢往下找。
Lin-Zhi-Yuan follow (CONT) this (M) line slowly toward-down find.
Lin Zhiyuan followed the thread slowly.
他终于在一个安静的小区里，敲开了一扇绿色的门。
He finally at one (M) quiet (POSS) neighborhood inside, knock-open (PERF) one (M) green (POSS) door.
At last, in a quiet neighborhood, he knocked on a green door.
门后是一位六十多岁的女士。她叫秋华，是阿云的女儿。
Door behind is one (M) sixty more age (POSS) lady. She call Qiu-Hua, is A-Yun (POSS) daughter.
Behind it stood a woman in her sixties. Her name was Qiuhua; she was A-Yun's daughter.
他说明来意，把信摆在她的桌上。
He explain-clear come-intention, (BA) letter place at her (POSS) desk on.
He explained himself, and laid the letters on her table.
她久久没说话，只是用手轻轻地摸着信封。
She long-long not speak, only is use hand lightly touch (CONT) letter-envelope.
For a long time she said nothing, only ran her hand softly over the envelopes.
“妈妈从来没提过这个人。”她终于说。
"Mom from-come not mention (EXP) this (M) person." She finally say.
"My mother never mentioned this man," she said at last.
“可是她临走的时候，看着窗外，叫了一个名字。我那时不懂。”
"But she face-leave (POSS) time, look (CONT) window-outside, call (PERF) one (M) name. I that-time not understand."
"But near the end, she looked out the window and spoke a name. I didn't understand it at the time."
她抬起头，眼里有泪：“那个名字，是你祖父的。”
She lift-up head, eye inside have tear: "That (M) name, is your grandfather (POSS)."
She looked up, tears in her eyes. "That name was your grandfather's."
几天以后，他们一起去了山上的墓地。
Several day after, they together go (PERF) mountain top (POSS) grave-place.
A few days later, they went together to the cemetery on the mountain.
阿云的墓在一棵老松树下，墓碑上刻着她的名字和日期。
A-Yun (POSS) grave at one (M) old pine-tree under, grave-stone on engrave (CONT) her (POSS) name and date.
A-Yun's grave lay beneath an old pine. On the stone, her name and dates.
秋华把信摆在墓前，慢慢地，一封一封地念。
Qiu-Hua (BA) letter place at grave-front, slowly, one (M) one (M) read-aloud.
Qiuhua placed the letters before the grave, and slowly, one by one, read them aloud.
风吹动了纸的角，松针轻轻落下来。
Wind blow-move (PERF) paper (POSS) corner, pine-needle lightly fall-down-come.
The wind stirred the edges of the paper. Pine needles drifted down.
林之远站在旁边，眼睛望着远处的山。
Lin-Zhi-Yuan stand at side, eye gaze (CONT) far-place (POSS) mountain.
Lin Zhiyuan stood by, his eyes on the distant mountains.
他忽然想起小时候祖父教他认字的样子。
He suddenly think-up small time grandfather teach him recognize-character (POSS) appearance.
He suddenly remembered how his grandfather had taught him to read as a child.
他从前以为祖父沉默是因为战争。
He previously think grandfather silent is because war.
He had always thought his grandfather's silence came from the war.
现在他明白，沉默里还有别的东西。
Now he understand, silence inside still have other (POSS) thing.
Now he understood that within that silence there was something else.
祖父这一辈子，一直在等一条路再打开。
Grandfather this one-lifetime, continuously at wait one (M) road again open.
His grandfather had spent his whole life waiting for one road to open again.
等不到，他就把那条路放在自己心里，走了一遍又一遍。
Wait not arrive, he just (BA) that (M) road place at self heart inside, walk (PERF) one-time again one-time.
Since it never did, he had kept the road in his heart and walked it again and again.
念完最后一封信，秋华把信整整齐齐地放回盒子里。
Read-aloud finish last one (M) letter, Qiu-Hua (BA) letter neat-neat-orderly-orderly place-return box inside.
When the last letter was read, Qiuhua placed them all neatly back in the box.
她对林之远说：“这些信，你拿回去吧。”
She toward Lin-Zhi-Yuan say: "These letter, you take return-go (SUGG)."
She turned to Lin Zhiyuan. "Take them back with you."
“它们已经到了。”
"They already arrive (PERF)."
"They've already arrived."
他点点头，把盒子轻轻地抱在胸前。
He nod-nod head, (BA) box lightly hug at chest-front.
He nodded and held the box gently against his chest.
下山的路上，秋华说：“我妈妈那一句话，我想我现在懂了。”
Down-mountain (POSS) road on, Qiu-Hua say: "My mom that one (M) word, I think I now understand (PERF)."
On the way down, Qiuhua said, "I think I understand my mother's last words now."
“她不是难过没等到他。”
"She not is sad not wait-arrive him."
"She wasn't grieving that he never came."
“她是想告诉我们：有一个人，一直没有忘记她。”
"She is want tell us: have one (M) person, continuously not have forget her."
"She wanted us to know that there was someone who had never forgotten her."
林之远没说话。
Lin-Zhi-Yuan not speak.
Lin Zhiyuan said nothing.
他只是握紧了手里的盒子，跟着她一步一步往山下走。
He only is grasp-tight (PERF) hand inside (POSS) box, follow (CONT) her one-step one-step toward mountain-down walk.
He only held the box tighter, and step by step followed her down the mountain.