The Second-Hand Bookstore
老周开了一家小店，专门卖旧书。
Old-Zhou open (PERF) one (M) small shop, specially sell old book.
Old Zhou ran a small shop that sold only used books.
他的店在一条很安静的街上，客人不多。
His (POSS) shop at one (M) very quiet (POSS) street top, guest not many.
His shop sat on a quiet street, and customers weren't many.
可是他喜欢这样。
But he like this way.
But he liked it that way.
店里有几千本书，从地到顶到处都是。
Shop inside have several-thousand (M) book, from floor to top everywhere all is.
There were thousands of books in the shop, from floor to ceiling.
老周开店开了二十多年。
Old-Zhou open shop open (PERF) twenty-more year.
Old Zhou had been running the shop for more than twenty years.
在这么多年里，他发现了一件奇怪的事。
In so many year inside, he discover (PERF) one (M) strange (POSS) matter.
In all those years, he had noticed something strange.
有几本书，总是会回到店里。
Have several (M) book, always will return arrive shop inside.
A few certain books always seemed to come back to the shop.
比如有一本叫《夜里的火车》，他卖出去三次，又收回来三次。
For example have one (M) called "Night inside (POSS) fire-cart", he sell-go-out three time, again receive-return-come three time.
For example, there was one called Night Train — he had sold it three times and bought it back three times.
每次都是不同的人卖回来。
Every-time all is different (POSS) person sell return-come.
Different people sold it back each time.
另外还有几本，也是一样。
Other also have several (M), also is same.
A few other books were the same way.
老周开始觉得这些书有自己的命。
Old-Zhou begin feel these book have self (POSS) life.
Old Zhou began to feel these books had a life of their own.
有一年冬天，他决定做一件事。
Have one year winter, he decide do one (M) matter.
One winter, he decided to try something.
他在每本“常常回来”的书里，写了一张小纸条。
He at every (M) "often return-come" (POSS) book inside, write (PERF) one (M) small paper-slip.
Inside each of his “often returning” books, he wrote a small note.
纸条上写：“你好。我是这家店的老周。你看过这本书几次了？”
Paper-slip top write: "You good. I am this (M) shop (POSS) Old-Zhou. You read (PERF) this (M) book several time (PERF)?"
The note said, “Hello. I'm Old Zhou, of this shop. How many times have you read this book?”
然后他把书放回原来的地方，等着看会发生什么。
Then he (BA) book place-return original (POSS) place, wait (CONT) look will happen what.
Then he put the books back and waited to see what would happen.
几个月过去了，那些书又被买走。
Several (M) month pass-go (PERF), those (M) book again (PASS) buy-go.
Months passed, and the books were bought again.
老周想：可能没有人会注意到吧。
Old-Zhou think: possible not-have person will notice arrive (SUGG).
Old Zhou thought, “Maybe no one will even notice.”
夏天的时候，《夜里的火车》又回到店里。
Summer (POSS) time, "Night inside (POSS) fire-cart" again return arrive shop inside.
When summer came, Night Train returned to the shop.
老周把书拿到桌前，打开看里面。
Old-Zhou (BA) book take arrive desk front, open look inside.
Old Zhou took the book to his desk and opened it.
他的纸条还在。
His (POSS) paper-slip still at.
His note was still there.
下面有人用很整齐的字写了一行：“这是我第二次读。第一次我没看完。”
Down-face have person use very neat (POSS) character write (PERF) one (M) row: "This is my second time read. First time I not look-finish."
Below, someone had written in neat handwriting: “This is the second time I've read it. The first time, I didn't finish.”
老周笑了。
Old-Zhou laugh (PERF).
Old Zhou smiled.
他在下面又加了一句：“那这次呢？你看完了吗？”
He at down-face again add (PERF) one (M) sentence: "Then this time (Q)? You look-finish (PERF) (Q)?"
Beneath that he added: “And this time? Did you finish?”
他把书放回去。
He (BA) book place-return-go.
He put the book back.
三个月后，书又回来了。
Three (M) month after, book again return-come (PERF).
Three months later, the book came back.
新的回答出现了：“看完了。但是结尾让我难过。”
New (POSS) answer appear (PERF): "Read-finish (PERF). But ending let me sad."
A new reply: “I finished it. But the ending made me sad.”
这一年里，那本书来来回回好几次。
This one year inside, that (M) book come-come return-return several time.
Over the year, the book passed back and forth several times.
每次老周都写一句，每次书都带着新的回答回来。
Every-time Old-Zhou all write one (M) sentence, every-time book all bring (CONT) new (POSS) answer return-come.
Each time Old Zhou wrote a line; each time the book came back with a reply.
他们谈书里的人，谈结尾，慢慢也谈别的事。
They talk book inside (POSS) person, talk ending, slowly also talk other (POSS) matter.
They talked about the characters, the ending, and slowly other things as well.
对方写过：“我父亲去年走了。这本书让我想起他。”
Opposite-side write (PERF): "My father last-year leave (PERF). This (M) book let me think-up him."
The other wrote, “My father passed away last year. This book reminds me of him.”
老周写：“我母亲也走得早。我懂你的意思。”
Old-Zhou write: "My mother also leave (DE) early. I understand your (POSS) meaning."
Old Zhou wrote, “My mother left early too. I understand what you mean.”
他从来没见过这位读者。
He from-come not-have see (PERF) this (M) reader.
He never met this reader.
他不知道是男是女，多大岁数。
He not know is male is female, what age.
He didn't know if it was a man or a woman, or how old.
可是每次书回来，他都觉得见到了一位老朋友。
But every-time book return-come, he all feel see-arrive (PERF) one (M) old friend.
But each time the book came back, it felt like seeing an old friend.
这样过了一年多。
This-way pass (PERF) one year more.
It went on like that for more than a year.
后来老周年纪大了，身体也不太好。
Later Old-Zhou age big (PERF), body also not very good.
Old Zhou grew older, and his health began to fail.
他决定把店卖给别人。
He decide (BA) shop sell give other-person.
He decided to sell the shop.
卖店那天，他在《夜里的火车》里写了最后一句话。
Sell shop that day, he at "Night inside (POSS) fire-cart" inside write (PERF) last one (M) sentence.
The day the shop was sold, he wrote a final note in Night Train.
“我要走了。谢谢你和我说了这么久的话。”
"I want leave (PERF). Thank you and me speak (PERF) so long (POSS) word."
“I'm leaving. Thank you for talking with me all this time.”
“这本书会继续在这里，希望它也找到你。”
"This (M) book will continue at here, hope it also find-arrive you."
“The book will stay here. I hope it finds you too.”
他把书放回原来的位置，关上店门。
He (BA) book place-return original (POSS) position, close-up shop door.
He placed the book back where it belonged and locked the shop.
他没有再回去看过。
He not-have again return-go look (PERF).
He never went back to check.
可是他相信，那本书还会有它的下一个朋友。
But he believe, that (M) book still will have it (POSS) next (M) friend.
But he believed the book would find its next friend.