老通宝坐在“塘路”边的一块石头上, 长旱烟管斜摆在他身边。“清明”节后的太 阳已经很有力量,老通宝背脊上热烘烘的, 像背着一盆火。离老通宝坐处不远,一所灰 白色的楼房蹲在“塘路”边,那是茧厂。老 通宝听得镇上小陈老爷的儿子--陈大少爷 说过,今年上海不太平,丝厂都关门,恐怕 这里的茧厂也不能开;但老通宝是不肯相信 Lao Tongbao sat on a stone on the edge of the “Tang Road,” and the long-smoke tobacco pipe lay beside him. The sun after the “Ching Ming” Festival was already very powerful. The old Tong Bao’s back was hot and baked like a pot of fire. Not far from Lao Tong Bao, a gray-white building hangs on the edge of the “Tang Road,” which is a factory. The old Tongbao heard that the son of Master Chen of the town, Master Chen Dachang, said that Shanghai is not very smooth this year and that the silk factories are closed. I am afraid that the factory here cannot be opened, but Lao Tongbao is unwilling to believe it.