Princess Catherine: Relatives

十年前 將軍澳某茶樓
Ten years ago
A in a traditional restaurant in Tseung Kwan O
 
一張桌上坐著六人：一對夫婦、他們的兩個兒子，還有阿芊和她的女兒。阿芊兩母女那殘舊的衣著與另外那對夫婦身上的光鮮衣著形成了鮮明的對比。那對夫婦是阿芊的表妹及表妹夫，他們的兒子們也是算阿芊女兒的表弟了。
Six people were sat around the table, one couple, their two sons, Chin and her daughter. Compared with the couple’s posh appearance, what Chin and her daughter were, were less fortunate. The couple is Chin’s cousin and brother-in-law. Their kids could be recognised as Chin’s nephews.
 
表妹吃著魚翅，問道：「近排唔係好掂?」
Chin’s cousin asked, while enjoying her shark fin soup, “Life’s not getting along?”


 
阿芊答道：「係啊，近排呢都冇米落鑊啦。」
“Yes,” Chin answered, “we’re too poor to afford food.”
 
表妹的兩個兒子把一塊又一塊象拔蚌送入口中，吃得津津有味。阿芊的女兒呆呆地看著那他們，她的碗中只有一條青菜。
Cousin’s sons kept eating geoduck clam slice by slice , enjoying the treat. Chin’s daughter could only watch them eating, There was only a piece of vegetable inside her bowl.
 
小女孩拉了拉阿芊的衣袖，指著桌上的那盤象拔蚌說：「媽咪，我想試下……果個。」
The girl pulled Chin’s sleeve gently, pointing at the plateful of geoduck clams, said, “Mummy, I want to try...that.”
 


阿芊表妹立即斥道：「細路仔唔好揀飲擇食啦，食多啲菜啦!」
Chin’s cousin immediately taught the girl a lesson, “Don’t be picky! Vegetables are good for you!”
 
小女孩被表姨罵得低下頭來，她呆呆地看著隔壁象拔蚌的殼在兩位表弟的碗前疊成了一座小山，看得鼻子都酸了。
Listening to her aunt’s words, the little girl could go nothing but to look down. She witnessed her two cousins piling the clam’s shells up, creating a little knoll.
 
阿芊的女兒再抬起頭來，楚楚可憐地看著她的那位表姨，淚水都差不多在她眼框打轉了。表姨指著桌上的一盤青菜，說道：「食菜啦!」
The girl looked up again, look dearly into her aunt’s eyes, tears almost dropped out. But her aunt said bluntly in return, “Have some vegetables.”
 
然後她給自己的兒子各夾了兩塊象拔蚌。阿芊全程目睹著自己女孩所遭受的對待，卻不敢作一句聲。阿芊和她的女兒勉強地湊在這桌邊，連乞丐都不如。


Then she picked two clams for each of her son. Chin saw how her daughter was treated, but she didn’t even dare to speak for her. Chin and her daughter huddle at on side of the table like two beggars.
 
小女孩再一次捉著阿芊的衣袖，水靈靈的天使瞳下是一行淚痕。阿芊把自己碗中的唯一一塊象拔蚌肉夾到女兒碗中，哄道：「乖啦，唔好喊啦。」
The girl caught Chin’s sleeves, her crystal-clear eyes started to drop tears. Chin gave the only calm she had in her bowl to her daughter, and said, “It’s okay, don’t cry.”
 
受盡屈辱後，阿芊勉強地從表妹那裡借到了一千元。離開茶樓後，她牽著女兒的手走回家，小女孩問道：「媽咪，點解我地成日要同表姨食飯架?」
After the humiliation, Chin finally received a grand from her cousin. She left the restaurant, returning home holding her daughter’s hand. Her daughter wondered, “Mummy, why do we have to eat with my aunt so often?”
 
阿芊只知道自己不能把真相告訴女兒，但腦袋遲鈍過人的她不知道如何回答，只是沉默得說不出話。
Though she isn’t that smart, she knew that she couldn’t tell her the truth. Therefore she remained silent.