My adoptive-dad said,” Bean, you can’t use a nickname forever. You should have a formal one. Now you can use my surname, Jiang. For you are very quiet, I shall give you the name Jiang Jing[2]. Do you like it?”

I nodded. I indeed loved it.

义父道：“小豆儿，你不能总叫小名，也应该有个大名。你以后就随我的姓，姓姜，姜静，好不好？你这孩子很文静，便叫姜静好了。你喜欢吗？”我点点头，我真的很喜欢。

Adoptive-dad said,” I’m the master of Dawu Hall. My name is Jiangzhanyuan. If you’re asked, tell them the name.”

From that day I settled on the Dawu Hall.

Both adoptive-dad and Adoptive-mom were very kind to me. They asked me to regard here as my own home.

义父又道：“我是这大悟山庄的庄主，叫姜湛远。人家要问起来，你便这么回答他。“我点点头。

从此，我就在大悟山庄住了下来。义父和干娘都对我很好，让我把这里当作自己的家一样。

Adoptive-mom was much considerate. In a few days she had copied everything Liying held for me, such an individual room, fine furniture, pretty dresses etc. However I still felt homesick. I missed mom, missed dad, missed brother, missed sister, and missed the brother boy.

干娘对我好极了，我刚来，丽颖妹妹有的，我就都有了。有自己一间屋子，还有自己的新衣服。可是，我还是想我的家，想娘，想妹妹，想爹，想哥哥，还想小哥哥。

I had begun to see what the Kung Fu was. I spared no pains to study with adoptive-dad. He often praised me for my brightness, endeavor and learning fast.

Normally I learned and practiced together with other apprentice brothers and sisters. First apprentice brother studied hardest of us, while second apprentice brother was playful, and his playing had came between him and his practices. Sister Liying was very fond of playing with second apprentice brother, and they often got a sermon From adoptive-dad together.

When adoptive-dad gave us a lecture, he appeared very august, but not fierce.

我终于明白了武功是什么，认真地和义父学。义父总夸我聪明、努力，学得快。我平时和师兄师妹们一起练功，大师兄学得最认真。二师兄很喜欢说话跑动，但练起武功来却不够努力。师妹最喜欢和二师兄一起玩，两人经常一起偷懒，也经常一起挨义父的训。义父训人时是很威严的，却并不凶恶。

My adoptive-mom had no skill in Kung Fu, but she was very learned,even familiar with Mongolian, which is difficult to understand for us Han People, and most of Hans would not learn. In our spare time adoptive-mom would teach us reading and writing, and Mongolian usually.

干娘不会武功，但她却念过很多书，而且连蒙古语都会。平时义父教我们练功，干娘就在空闲的时候教我们读书识字，有时还会教些蒙古语给我们。以前在家里的时候，爹娘都教我识过字，干娘见我认识很多字，很是喜欢。

When I was at home before, both mom and dad had cultivated my literacy. Adoptive-mom was very glad that I could write many characters.

As the days passed by, there had been three years. The cloth brother gave me were well preserved, and the remaining mos often were fetched out by me to retrace the past.
Besides, I had made a same sachet as the one I had used at home. I remembered that my nature sister Seedling had liked my sachet very much, and always on my back aske

for it. I had promised her that I would make a same one for her, but before I had fulfilled their promises, we were parted.
日子一天天过去，快有三年了吧。小哥哥的衣服我仍是好好地保存着，剩下的馍我也时常拿出来看看。我还做了一个香袋，和以前在家用的一模一样。我记得妹妹小苗儿很喜欢我做的那个香袋，总是缠着我想要。我答应她要给她做个一模一样的，可是香袋还没有做，我就找不到她了。所以我在空闲的时候就做了这个香袋，想着以后如果能够再见到她时送给她。可是……我什么时候才能再见到她啊！

So at my leisure I made the sachet, in order to give her it when I would see her again. However, when the day would come?

[2] In Chinese, Jing (静) means ” a calm and introverted temperament”.

Chapter 1 was translated completely.

“I certainly do,”said the aunty. She nestled me in her side, caressing my head, and said,” What’s your name, my child?”

“It’s Bean.” I looked at her, and I loved her. I liked beingstroked by the aunty. Her petting just was my mom to me.

“我当然答应了。”阿姨笑着，把我拉到她的身边，轻轻摸着我的头，问我：“你叫什么名字？”“我叫小豆儿。”我看着她，很喜欢她。我喜欢让她摸我的头，她摸我的头的时候，就像娘在摸我一样。

The uncle said,” She lose touch with her parent. Unlike Yong andJunyang, she doesn’t know her family name and formal name. So Iintended to adopt her as a foster daughter, not only teach her KungFu, but also give her a surname and a whole home.”

“I see.” The aunty smiled gently. She said to me,” Bean, sinceyou couldn’t find you nature dad and mom, if you like, uncle andaunty would replace them as your adoptive parent. From this out we will love you like your nature parent. It’s ok?”

伯伯说：“她和她的父母失散了，也不知道自己姓什么，叫什么。她不像阿勇，俊扬，知道自己的姓名，所以我想收她为义女，不仅仅只教她武功，还给她一个姓，一个名，一个家。”

“我明白。”阿姨温和地笑着，对我说：“小豆儿，你的爹娘找不到了，以后伯伯和阿姨就做你的爹娘，好不好？以后伯伯和阿姨就像你的爹娘那样疼你喜欢你，好吗？”我哭了，使劲地点点头，我真的很希望在没有娘的日子里，有一个人能像疼丽颖妹妹那样疼我爱我，希望有个人能摸着我的头。

I was melt into tears and gave her a nodded with delight. I indeedexpected that during my mom’s absence I could obtain as affectionFrom somebody as Liying and someone would stroke me gently on myhair.

伯伯高兴地说：“你以后不用像阿勇俊扬那样叫我师父，叫我义父好了。这个阿姨，你就叫她干娘，好不好？”“义父，干娘。”我轻轻的叫着，心里还有点害怕。义父和干娘却很喜欢。

Uncle said, “Well, unlike Yong and Junyang, From this out you canaddress me as adoptive-father instead of tutor-father. As far asthe aunty, you can call her adoptive-mother. It’s ok?”

“Adoptive-dad! Adoptive-mom!” I murmured the greeting with ablush and timidity. However my adoptive-dad and adoptive-mom werevery pleased.

这时，一个小一点的哥哥过来道：“师父，她以后是我们的师妹吗？”义父道：“是的。来，小豆儿，义父告诉你。这是你的二师兄，石俊扬；这是你的大师兄，钟勇。”

A younger brother came to me and said,” Tutor-father, she will beour apprentice sister then?”

Adoptive-dad said, “Yes! Well, Bean, I tell you this is yoursecond elder apprentice brother, named Shi Junyang, and that isyour first elder apprentice brother, his name is ZhongYong.”

“First apprentice brother! Second apprentice brother! “I greetedthem. I’d never heard of such an appellation and felt it wasinteresting.

My two apprentice brothers said in chorus, “Apprenticesister!”

Adoptive-mom pushed sister Liying in front of me and said,” sendregard to your elder apprentice sister. Of course she is also yourelder sister.”

Sister Liying looked curiously at us, and said,” apprentice sisterand sister!”

Adoptive-dad smiled, “you can choose either. You needn’tassociate them.”

I felt embarrassed somewhat. I returned, “Sister Liying.”

“大师兄，二师兄。”这种称呼我以前从没有听说过，觉得很新鲜。大师兄二师兄一齐道：“小豆儿师妹。”干娘拉过丽颖妹妹，道：“去见过师姐，叫姐姐也可以。”丽颖妹妹好奇地看着我，道：“师姐姐姐。”义父笑道：“叫一个就可以了，不用连在一起叫。”我有点不好意思，向“师妹妹妹”还礼：“妹妹。”

to be continued…

She looked me up and down for a minute, and demand, “Are youalso my apprentice sister?” Her voice was very nice, but I didn’t know what the apprentice sister meant. The uncle answered for me with a smile, “Yes.”

丽颖妹妹看了看我，然后问：“你是我的师姐吗？”她的声音很好听，我却不明白她的话是什么意思。伯伯笑着替我回答了：“是的。”

Then the uncle said to me,” After a while I will take you to meettwo other elder brother. They both lost their parents, and justlike you, I took them back and arranged them grow up with mydaughter Liying together. I taught them Kung Fu, so I am theirmaster, and they and Liying are brother and sister. In thefollowing days I will teach you Kung Fu too.”

然后伯伯对我道：“一会儿我带你去见两个小哥哥，他们也是没有爹娘的孩子，就像你一样，我把他们带了来，让他们和丽颖一起长大。我教他们武功，是他们的师父，他们和丽颖就是师兄妹。以后伯伯也会教你武功的。”

“Kung Fu?” I spelled out the word lowly. I knew the term; itmeant boxing and I had seen my brother boxing by the river.

“Kung Fu is martial art. I will explain it to you later.” saidthe uncle.

“武功？”我轻轻地道。武功这个词我知道，就是打拳。从前我见过哥哥在小河边打拳的。

“武功就是功夫。以后伯伯会慢慢讲给你听的。”

The uncle took sister Liying and me into the center hall. No soonerhad the uncle sat down, than a graceful aunty came to us followedby two elder brothers at the age of me.

伯伯领着我和丽颖妹妹进了中间的大屋子。刚刚坐下，一个阿姨领着两个和小哥哥差不多大的小哥哥走了进来。

The aunty was very beautiful. Her kind expression reminded me of mymom. I imagined that how nice if my mom had not carried the longscars on her face, and had a same fine look as the aunty.

Here the two elder brother came and bow to the uncle.“Tutor-father!” said they respectfully. The aunty smiled too,”You come back.”

The uncle avoided their salutes and said to the aunty,” Wanyu,this is the girl I adopted on the way. I like her very much andintend to adopt her as our foster child. Would you agree?”

那个阿姨长得漂亮极了，脸上的样子也很温和。看着她的样子，我不由想起了娘。如果娘没有脸上那道长长的伤疤，和这个阿姨长得一样漂亮，那可有多好！

这时两个小哥哥过来向伯伯行礼，说：“参见师父。”阿姨也说：“你回来啦！”伯伯笑着让他们起来，又对那个阿姨说：“宛玉，这个小女孩是我在半路上收的，我很喜欢。我想把她收为义女，你答不答应？”

to be continued…

Holding my hand gently, the uncle went up to the door and knocked. Soon an old man opened it. When he saw the uncle, he cheered up immediately, and said,” Back you come, milord! Madam said it! Madam said you would come back today or tomorrow.Precisely!”

The uncle patted him on his back, and said,” Old Fu, come and seethe little girl. I adopted her on the way. Come, good child, this is Grandpa Fu.”

“Good afternoon, Grandpa Fu.” greeted I timidly.

Grandpa Fu smiled, “Atta girl!”

伯伯拉住我的手，轻轻握了握，带我上前拍门。一会儿，一个老家人开了门，见到伯伯，立刻高兴地道：“老爷回来啦！夫人说的果然没错，说老爷今明就回来，果真今天就回来了！”伯伯笑着拍了拍他的肩，道：“老福，来，看看我新收的小姑娘。来，小豆儿，叫福爷爷。”我红着脸，轻轻叫道：“福爷爷好。”“真乖！”福爷爷笑道。

I followed the uncle into the courtyard. Had there been so much a grand and beautiful place for home in the earth? There are many houses; a path paved by little mice stones led to the main hall;trees and flowers were planted all over garden in order.

Here a sisterly girl ran out of the house. She flew to the uncle’s arms, and cheered,” Good dad!” Then she began to kiss the uncle on the cheek. If I had seen my dad come back From a distance, I would be delighted too. But I dared not kiss him, for dad was not always kind to me, and he always kept a straight face.

我和伯伯进了大门。世上还有这么大这么漂亮的家吗？这里有这么多房子，房子前面有小石子铺的路，两边还种了好多树和花……

这时候，一个小妹妹从屋子里跑出来，一下子扑到伯伯的怀里，叫道：“爹！”还去亲伯伯的脸。如果这个时候我突然见到我的爹爹回来，也会这样高兴的。但我不敢去亲爹的脸，因为爹每次见到我时并不总是高高兴兴的，爹经常是板着脸的。

Holding the girl’s hand, the uncle introduced me to her,” come,Liying. This is elder sister Bean. Afterward you will live and play together, is it ok?”

The sister looked at me with a curious expression, which embarrassed me more or less. Her dress was very beautiful, just like the daughter’s of Provincial Graduate He. As far as the He’s young lady was arrogant and willful, I wished the sister would not has the same ill temper as her.

这时，伯伯拉着小妹妹对我说：“来，丽颖，这是小豆儿姐姐，以后你们一起玩，好不好？”小妹妹歪着头看着我，我有些不好意思了。她的衣服可真漂亮，和何举人家小姐的衣服一样好看。不过何举人的小姐很凶，不知道这个小妹妹会不会也这样。

to be continued…