试着将自己以前的一篇文章译成英文。
If by any chance there are ghosts in the world, then how many stuck in the abandoned house where across the river.
It is a grim rainy day. Lucy and I visited here in the afternoon.
Over half shops were closed. Colorful flags standing on the store roof were flying in the cold wind. We passed a dusty alley, crossed a little bridge, climbed the top of a tower, saw the haunting house, near the river, where there was as silent as always.
“I’d like to take you to a quiet place that no one goes there.” I said to Lucy.
We crossed another little bridge, got to the opposite bank of the river, left the tower behind us.
We walked on a muddy path which was lined on either side by bamboo fence. After a while, we got lost when the road became narrower.
There are several old houses standing on an unsettled land near by the riverside, they don’t look like badly damaged even after so many years. One door in faded red paint was ajar
The chilly wind began to blow through the empty yard, sounds like ghosts’ whisper. Perhaps hundreds of years ago there’s a poor woman who had been sold to a wealthy by slave owner. Her spirit has stuck here forever since she dies and has suffered all kinds of pain. She lay on the grass during the day, hop up to the roof when the night comes, set on top of the building, look far into the distance where people live in.
Her serenity had been disturbed by our sudden visit at the moment. She might gave us a glassy-eyed stare right now.
We went in the square courtyard, saw a stage first. I explained to Lucy what was that stage for. It used to be a place that played drama for the noble family. Curiousity led Lucy to sneak into a side-door, but backed out immediately, and said that was horrific inside.
We decided to turn back the way we came. The road goes around a pond. A old, dying tree was coiled around by the vines, and its root half in shore of the pond, half in the water. After a while, we noticed that we had returned the place we started. We were disoriented, even the tower disappeared as I looked back to want to find it.
This must be the female ghost who didn’t want us to leave so that cast a spell on us to keep us stay here for a moment. Her past life was full of distress and painfulness. Her soul was trapped here forever without hope.
How short twinkling is, how long forever is?
The noise we made broke the endless silence and brought her soul out of the darkness. So I thought she may follow us right now.
I was imagining many things about her. If I closed my eyes and listened carefully, maybe I can hear her sobbing in the wind. If I opened my eyes stared at somewhere, maybe I can see her bright eyes filled with tears.
I would like to assuage her grief if I can.
这世上若当真有鬼魂存在，那么，与河渚街隔河相望的那片荒废的老宅里，是否也滞留着数百年不散的幽灵？
我和Lucy在深冬的某个下午来到这里。那天，雨后，天阴沉。
河渚街过半的铺子都打了烊，斜插的招牌彩旗在冷风里抖瑟。我俩穿过灰蒙蒙的巷弄，走过弓形桥，爬上河渚塔的顶端。看见那片老宅沉寂在河对岸，悄无声息。
我对Lucy说，我带你去一处安静的地方，即使河渚街上游客如织，那地方也鲜有人造访。
我记得我们又走过一座园弓桥，来到河对岸，回头看，河渚塔耸立在身后。
顺一条泥泞小路往深处走，路两旁有竹栅栏。略宽的石板路和羊肠小路交替，不一会儿，我们便迷了方向。
几处老宅错落，久无人居，阴冷，却仍然不失气派。门前小径弯，围墙很高，但没有年久失修的斑驳痕迹。厚重的木板门半掩，朱红色的漆，不像那些真正废弃了的古宅那样千疮百孔。
空落的大院贯穿冷嗖嗖的风，似乎真的有幽灵在叹息。许是数百年前一位孤苦的女子被卖入大宅做了妾，死后依然无家可归，她的游魂便在这宅子里永久地呆了下来。孤独，惊惧，悲凉，哀伤，承受岁岁年年的风雨侵袭。白天睡在庭院空地的草尖上，夜晚便飘上屋顶，坐在雕龙的檐角，远眺，俯瞰，看河对岸村落里万家灯火，村民世代繁衍生息。
此刻，我们惊扰了她枕在草尖上的梦，也许她正用空洞透明的眼睛看着我们两个偶尔闯入的来访者。
我们走进这庭院，四方的回廊，大堂正对着是个戏台。我向Lucy模拟官宦人家听戏时的场景，老爷太太小妾丫环家丁所处的位置。Lucy侧身走进昏暗的堂屋，探头向里张望。我站在长廊下等她，她很快退了出来，说太阴森了。
我们决定原道而回。顺着这老宅门前的那条小路向来时的方向走。这路绕了一圈，还经过了河的边缘，一颗老树把根的一半扎在土里，另一半扎在河底。树干上青苔披垂，被乱藤缠绕，然后那路又绕回宅院的大门口。我再向四处张望，高高的河渚塔也不见踪影。
一定是那寂寞的女鬼施了蛊惑，想把我们多挽留片刻。前世的凄苦将她的魂魄死死钉牢在荒宅中，每一粒尘埃都沾满辛酸往事，将她重重围困，出不得门，升不得天，停滞在漫长的几个世纪的虚空里。
瞬间有多短，永久有多长？
瞬间的喧哗击破永久的死寂，受了撩拨的女鬼挣脱而出，失落的轮廓渐渐清晰，跟随我们左右。
我想，我若闭上眼睛仔细听，或许能听到回转的风里有她的哭泣声。我若睁开眼睛盯着某处看，或许真的能看到她眼瞳里晶亮的眼泪。
我愿意在这萧瑟的冬日里，抚慰你数百年的忧伤。
