The Shopkeeper Who Could Not Die
在城南的尽头，有一家小小的店。
At city-south (POSS) end, have one (M) small small (POSS) shop.
At the southern edge of town, there was a small shop.
店里卖糖、卖纸、卖蜡烛，也卖一些没人能说清楚是什么的东西。
Shop inside sell sugar, sell paper, sell candle, also sell some no-person able say-clearly is what (POSS) thing.
It sold candy, paper, candles, and a few things no one could quite name.
看店的是一位老人，姓周。
Look-shop (POSS) is one (M) old-person, surname Zhou.
The shopkeeper was an old man whose family name was Zhou.
城里的人都叫他周老板。
City inside (POSS) person all call him Zhou boss.
Everyone in town called him Mr. Zhou.
没有人记得周老板年轻的时候。
Not have person remember Zhou boss young (POSS) time.
No one remembered Mr. Zhou ever being young.
他的头发是白的，背是直的，眼睛是亮的。
His hair is white (POSS), back is straight (POSS), eye is bright (POSS).
His hair was white, his back was straight, and his eyes were bright.
他一直就是这个样子。
He continuously just is this (M) appearance.
He had always looked exactly this way.
三代人在这条街上来来去去，他一个也没送走。
Three generation person at this (M) street on come-come go-go, he one (M) also not see-off.
Three generations came and went on that street, and he outlived them all.
第一代里有一个男孩，叫阿东。
First generation inside have one (M) boy, called A-Dong.
In the first generation there was a boy named A-Dong.
阿东七岁的时候第一次走进店里，买了一块糖。
A-Dong seven year (POSS) time first time walk-enter shop inside, buy (PERF) one (M) sugar.
When A-Dong was seven he came in for the first time and bought a piece of candy.
周老板看着他，笑了笑，没说话。
Zhou boss look (CONT) him, smile (PERF) smile, not say-word.
Mr. Zhou looked at him, smiled, and said nothing.
阿东长大，结婚，有了自己的孩子。
A-Dong grow-big, marry, have (PERF) own (POSS) child.
A-Dong grew up, married, and had children of his own.
他六十岁那年又走进那家店，想买点纸。
He sixty year that year again walk-enter that (M) shop, want buy some paper.
At sixty he walked back into that shop one day, looking for paper.
周老板站在原来的位置，跟那天一模一样。
Zhou boss stand at original (POSS) position, with that day one-mold-one-style.
Mr. Zhou stood in the same spot, looking exactly as he had that day.
阿东问：“您怎么一点都没变？”
A-Dong ask: "You how one bit all not change?"
A-Dong asked, “How is it you haven't changed at all?”
周老板只是把纸放在桌上，说：“这是您要的。”
Zhou boss only is (DISP) paper put at table on, say: "This is you want (POSS)."
Mr. Zhou only set the paper on the counter and said, “Here is what you wanted.”
阿东走出店门，心里有一个谜，可是没有再问。
A-Dong walk-out shop door, heart inside have one (M) riddle, but not have again ask.
A-Dong walked out with a riddle in his chest, and never asked again.
第二代里有一个女孩，是阿东的女儿，叫阿月。
Second generation inside have one (M) girl, is A-Dong (POSS) daughter, called A-Yue.
In the second generation there was a girl, A-Dong's daughter, named A-Yue.
阿月每个礼拜都到店里来，给生病的父亲买药。
A-Yue every (M) week all to shop inside come, for sick (POSS) father buy medicine.
Every week A-Yue came to the shop to buy medicine for her sick father.
她对周老板说：“您真的不会老吗？”
She to Zhou boss say: "You truly not able old (Q)?"
She said to Mr. Zhou, “Don't you ever grow old?”
周老板把药包好，轻轻地说：“每个人都会老。”
Zhou boss (DISP) medicine wrap good, lightly (ADV) say: "Every (M) person all able old."
Mr. Zhou wrapped the medicine and said softly, “Everyone grows old.”
“只是有的人慢一点。”
"Only is have (POSS) person slow one bit."
“Some people just do it more slowly.”
阿月笑了，可是心里觉得他没有回答她。
A-Yue smile (PERF), but heart inside feel he not have answer her.
A-Yue smiled, but felt he hadn't answered her at all.
阿东去世以后，阿月还是每个礼拜来。
A-Dong pass-away after, A-Yue still is every (M) week come.
After A-Dong died, A-Yue still came every week.
她有时候只是买一支蜡烛，坐在门口的小椅子上。
She have-time only is buy one (M) candle, sit at door (POSS) small chair on.
Sometimes she only bought a candle and sat on the small chair by the door.
周老板从不打扰她，也从不催她走。
Zhou boss from not disturb her, also from not urge her go.
Mr. Zhou never disturbed her, and never hurried her along.
第三代里有一个小女孩，是阿月的孙女，叫小川。
Third generation inside have one (M) small girl, is A-Yue (POSS) granddaughter, called Xiao-Chuan.
In the third generation there was a little girl, A-Yue's granddaughter, named Xiao-Chuan.
小川九岁，喜欢问奇怪的问题。
Xiao-Chuan nine year, like ask strange (POSS) question.
Xiao-Chuan was nine, and loved strange questions.
她第一次走进店里，没有买东西。
She first time walk-enter shop inside, not have buy thing.
The first time she walked into the shop, she didn't buy anything.
她抬起头，认真地看着周老板。
She raise-up head, seriously (ADV) look (CONT) Zhou boss.
She tilted her head up and looked at Mr. Zhou very seriously.
她说：“爷爷说您小时候见过他爷爷。这是真的吗？”
She say: "Grandfather say you small-time meet (EXP) his grandfather. This is true (Q)?"
She said, “Grandpa says you knew his grandfather when you were young. Is that true?”
周老板第一次愣了一下。
Zhou boss first time stunned (PERF) one bit.
For the first time, Mr. Zhou paused.
他说：“是真的。”
He say: "Is true."
He said, “It's true.”
小川没有惊讶。她只是又问：“那您为什么不死呢？”
Xiao-Chuan not have surprised. She only is again ask: "Then you why not die (Q)?"
Xiao-Chuan wasn't surprised. She just asked, “Then why don't you die?”
周老板看着她，看了很久。
Zhou boss look (CONT) her, look (PERF) very long.
Mr. Zhou looked at her, looked at her for a long time.
店外面下着小雨，街上没有别的人。
Shop outside fall (CONT) small rain, street on not have other (POSS) person.
A light rain was falling outside, and the street was empty.
他终于开口：“很久以前，有人给我一个选择。”
He finally open-mouth: "Very long before, have person give me one (M) choice."
He finally spoke: “A long time ago, someone gave me a choice.”
“他说：‘你可以自己定哪一天死。’”
"He say: 'You able self decide which one day die.'"
“He said, ‘You may choose the day you die yourself.’”
“我当时太年轻，舍不得现在，就说：‘明天吧。’”
"I that-time too young, willing-not-leave now, just say: 'Tomorrow (suggestion).'"
“I was young then, and I didn't want to leave just yet, so I said, ‘Tomorrow.’”
“第二天我又舍不得，又说：‘明天吧。’”
"Second day I again willing-not-leave, again say: 'Tomorrow (suggestion).'"
“The next day I still couldn't bear it, and I said again, ‘Tomorrow.’”
“一天一天，一年一年，我每天都选了明天。”
"One day one day, one year one year, I every day all choose (PERF) tomorrow."
“Day after day, year after year, every day I chose tomorrow.”
小川安静地听，没有打断他。
Xiao-Chuan quietly (ADV) listen, not have interrupt him.
Xiao-Chuan listened quietly, never interrupting.
周老板说：“可是现在，我认识的人都在另一边了。”
Zhou boss say: "But now, I know (POSS) person all at other one side (PERF)."
Mr. Zhou said, “But now, everyone I loved is on the other side.”
“你的爷爷在那里。你的爷爷的爷爷也在那里。”
"Your grandfather at there. Your grandfather (POSS) grandfather also at there."
“Your grandfather is there. His grandfather is there as well.”
“我还留在这里，是因为没有人问对问题。”
"I still stay at here, is because not have person ask right question."
“I stayed because no one asked the right question.”
小川低下头，想了想，问：“今天可以吗？”
Xiao-Chuan low-down head, think (PERF) think, ask: "Today able (Q)?"
Xiao-Chuan lowered her head, thought for a moment, and asked, “Could it be today?”
周老板第一次笑得很大。
Zhou boss first time smile (DEG) very big.
For the first time, Mr. Zhou smiled broadly.
他说：“你是第一个问这个的人。”
He say: "You is first (M) ask this (M) (POSS) person."
He said, “You are the first person ever to ask that.”
“好。今天。”
"Good. Today."
“Yes. Today.”
他把店门轻轻关上，把钥匙交到小川的手里。
He (DISP) shop door lightly close on, (DISP) key hand-to Xiao-Chuan (POSS) hand inside.
He gently closed the shop door and put the key into Xiao-Chuan's hand.
他说：“以后这家店是你的了。卖什么都好。”
He say: "After this (M) shop is your (PERF). Sell what all good."
He said, “The shop is yours now. Sell whatever you like.”
小川点点头，把钥匙放在口袋里。
Xiao-Chuan nod-nod head, (DISP) key put at pocket inside.
Xiao-Chuan nodded and slipped the key into her pocket.
周老板坐到他平时坐的椅子上。
Zhou boss sit-to he usual-time sit (POSS) chair on.
Mr. Zhou sat down in the chair where he always sat.
他闭上眼睛，脸上还带着一点笑。
He close-on eye, face on still carry (CONT) one bit smile.
He closed his eyes, still smiling a little.
外面的雨慢慢停了。
Outside (POSS) rain slowly stop (PERF).
The rain outside slowly stopped.
屋子里只剩下一个安静的老人和一个安静的孩子。
Room inside only remain one (M) quiet (POSS) old-person and one (M) quiet (POSS) child.
Inside the shop there was only a quiet old man and a quiet child.
过了一会儿，小川走出去，把门锁好。
Pass (PERF) one moment, Xiao-Chuan walk-out, (DISP) door lock good.
After a while Xiao-Chuan went out and locked the door.
她抬头看了看天，天很亮。
She raise-head look (PERF) look sky, sky very bright.
She looked up at the sky; the sky was very bright.
她想：他终于到那边去找他的朋友了。
She think: He finally to that side go find his (POSS) friend (PERF).
She thought: he has finally gone to find his friends on the other side.
她小声说：“明天我也会开门的。”
She small-voice say: "Tomorrow I also will open-door (POSS)."
Softly she said, “I'll open the shop tomorrow.”
然后她拿着钥匙，慢慢地往家走。
Then she hold (CONT) key, slowly (ADV) toward home walk.
Then, holding the key, she walked slowly home.