It is more than two years since I saw my father last time and what I can never forget is the sight of his back.

 

我与父亲不相见已二年余了我最不能忘记的是他的背影。

In the winter of more than two years ago Grandma died and father lost his job.

那年冬天祖母死了父亲的差使也交卸了。

Misfortunes never come singly.

正是祸不单行的日子。

I left Beijing for Xvzhou to join father in hastening home to attend grandmas funeral.

我从北京到徐州打算跟着父亲奔丧回家。

When I met father in Xvzhou the sight of the disorderly mess in his courtyard and the thought of grandma started tears trickling down my cheeks.

到徐州见着父亲看见满院狼藉的东西又想起祖母不禁簌簌地流下眼泪。

Father said “that things have come to such a pass now not be too sad .

父亲说“事已如此不必难过。

Fortunately Heaven always leaves one a way out.

好在天无绝人之路。

After arriving home in Yang Zhou father sold out all the fortunate in order to pay off the debts.

回家变卖典质。

He also borrowed money to meet the funeral expenses.

父亲还了亏空又借钱办了丧事。

Between grandmas funeral and fathers unemployment our family was then in reduced circumstances.

这些日子家中光景很是惨淡一半因为丧事一半因为父亲赋闲。

After the funeral was over father was to go to Nanjing to look for a job and I was to return to Beijing to study so we started out together.

丧事完毕父亲要到南京谋事我也要回北京念书我们便同行。

I spent the first day in Nanjing strolling about with some friends at their invitation and was ferrying across the Yangtze River to Pukou the same day.

到南京时有朋友约去游逛勾留了一日第二日上午便须渡江到浦口下午上车北去。