3 “Lí bô-iáⁿ ài a-pa, lí lóng phiàn--ê!” A-eng éng-oán ē kı̀--tit, in Éng-siông sè-hàn-sı̂ kā toā-siaⁿ jiáng: “Choân hau-siâu--lah!” Hit-chūn Éng-siông tha̍k kok-tiong, cha̍p-goā-hoè gín-á, bat chı̍t-ê siáⁿ? Ài ū hoeh ū bah, oa̍h-phut-phut ê lâng, kap ài khek-kut bêng-sim, sí--khı̀ ê lêng-hûn, chha-pia̍t tı̄ toh i kám chai? M̄-koh, oan-ná in Éng-siông tiám-chhíⁿ, hō͘ i koh-chài chhiat-chhiat sı̍t-sı̍t bı̄n-tùi in Sin-thiam. Keh im-iông, seⁿ-lı̂ sí-piat chò chı̍t-pái tùi-oē. Nā mài hit-chân chhia-hō, ngē kā in thiah--khui.....Kin-á-jı̍t mā bô hiah-ê tāi-chı̀.

 Kóng--khí-lâi lóng sı̄ miā--lah. A-eng sı̍t-chāi tin-sioh kap in Sin-thiam ê jı̍t-chí, bô-nāi hó-kéng put-siông. Jı̄-cha̍p goā nı̂ chêng, Sin-thiam ngó͘-choan pit-gia̍p, Jı̍t-seng kà i o̍h chò seng-lí, choan cháu goā-kháu. M̄-sı̄ tiàm-á-thâu pàng hoè, tō-sı̄ pān-toh chhoân hoè, sàng hoè. Nn̄g-lâng chá-àm chò-hoé, Sin-thiam kan-nā ē-hiáu tiâu-tı̍t-á kóng: “A-eng, in kóng lán khan-chhiú, goá tō ài chē kim-kau-í neh.” Goân-lâi nn̄g-lâng pêⁿ-chē-hoè, chı̍t-ê nı̂-thâu, chı̍t-ê nı̂-boé seⁿ. A-eng chiok-chiok chá cha̍p-kò-goe̍h, pun--lâi ê sı̂ nn̄g-lâng hō͘-siong kiò miâ kiò koàn-sı̀, tû-liáu chhù-piⁿ keh-piah kap chin-tông-á, iā bô lâng chai. M̄-chai sı̄ Sin-thiam khah bān chhut-sı̀, A-eng hiâm i gín-á-sèng, bô-tek bô-tiāⁿ, chò seng-lí mā khah chíⁿ--tām-po̍h-á. “Ài thoa--ā,” Jı̍t-seng kiò A-eng tio̍h kā kà: “Bô boâ boē giám-ngē--lah.” Sûi nn̄g-lâng kám-chêng chı̀n-tián, Jı̍t-seng lāi-lāi goā-goā ê seng-lí ta̍uh-ta̍uh-á pàng hō͘ in. “Chit-ê chhâ-thâu-ang-á,” sui-jiân A-eng chin chai Jı̍t-seng beh kā siu chò sin-pū, m̄-koh, A-thiam gōng-gōng boē-hiáu piáu-ta̍t ài-ı̀. Bô chhùi bô súi, hō͘ A-eng to ē khı̀, káⁿ ū-iáⁿ ka-tı̄ bô tit-lâng-iân? Boē tit-lâng-ài?
 A-eng sı̄ koè-lū--liáu, jı̍t-jı̍t chò-hoé, A-thiam chò-tio̍h khang-khoè koh tio̍h put-sı̂ hō͘ A-eng hoah tang hoah sai, kan-nā khoàⁿ A-eng hiah mé-chhéⁿ, A-thiam kèng tō khah chē koè ài--lo͘h. Koh tı̄ la̍k-cha̍p nı̂-tāi, chng-kha gín-á pó-siú, khah ham-bān piáu-ta̍t kám-chêng. Nā mài o͘-káu Tân put-sı̂ teh o-ló, A-eng m̄-chai ka-tı̄ joā tit-lâng-iân. Nā mài o͘-káu Tân tı̂ⁿ-chêng toè-āu, A-thiam boē chhia-tó chhò͘-tháng siap chin-chêng! “Chit-khoán ê ki-kut, chò『模特兒』siōng-hó.” Ou-káu Tân siōng-gâu kóng hó-thiaⁿ-oē. Ū-iáⁿ A-eng sán-thiu, phēng in bú--a ke chiok koân-toā, sui-jiân ē-hoâi chiam-chiam, chhùi-phoé pí in bú--a iáu khah phòng-phoê--leh. Kāng-khoán chhùi-á sè-sè, m̄-koh bô têng-tha̍h-khí. Siōng-sêng iáu-sı̄ ba̍k-sı̂n oa̍h. “Ba̍k-boé ē kóng-oē--ô͘!” Liân Jı̍t-seng to o-ló o͘-káu Tân chı̍t-ē-chhiú tō lia̍h chhut A-eng siōng-bê-lâng ê só͘-chāi. Chha tō chha Sin-thiam ná é-káu, iā boē-hiáu o̍h. Chhiūⁿ A-eng chò thâu-mn̂g, “kin-á-jı̍t hoe ná teh thò͘-sin-lúi--ô͘,” o͘-káu ē nai nn̄g-kù: “Ke joā kiau joā súi--leh!” Ah nā phı̄ⁿ-tio̍h hoe-hún-bı̄, “Oâ! Phang-kòng-kòng,” hoah kah toā-sè-siaⁿ: “Kin-á-jı̍t pá koh chùi--a, bián chia̍h--lo͘h.” Sin-thiam chhāi tı̄ piⁿ--a, chhò͘-tháng tı̍t-tı̍t-giâ, khı̀ koh bô-tè tháu, kian-kian-á pı̀ⁿ bô-lián.
 A-eng jı̄-cha̍p-jı̄-hoè hit-nı̂ tang-boé, o͘-káu Tân in ché-hu lı̄-iōng chò-nı̂-boé-hı̀ chhiáⁿ kheh-hō͘. Sin-thiam kóng bô-ài khı̀, “Lí m̄-khı̀ tông-gia̍p ē án-choáⁿ kóng? Bô kap lâng kau-poê beh nah chò ū seng-lí?” Jı̍t-seng kóng-tio̍h Sin-thiam ê sim-koaⁿ-khut-á: “Toā-hàn tio̍h chhoā--a, lán chit-pān--ê, kap lâng pí-phēng káⁿ ē su--lâng!” Kı̂-sı̍t Sin-thiam kok-hong-bı̄n lóng boē su--lâng, cheng-chha bô o͘-káu hit-ki-chhùi niâ. I chin chai in lāu-pē teh kā cháⁿ-khùi, m̄-koh, tō-sı̄ bô hoat-tō͘ chhiūⁿ o͘-káu Tân án-ne siáⁿ-mih oē to thı̍h, koh kóng kah hō͘ A-eng ē chhùi-chhiò ba̍k-chhiò. Kap A-eng ná cha̍h chı̍t-têng bô͘-á, hō͘ Sin-thiam chiâⁿ khó͘-náu. M̄-chai ài án-choáⁿ tu̍t-phoà, lâi kha̍p-tio̍h A-eng ê sim, tit tio̍h i ê ı̀-ài.
 Kui-boé, Sin-thiam sái suh-pah-luh, chài Jı̍t-seng kap A-eng khı̀ hō͘ o͘-káu Tân in ché-hu chhiáⁿ. Toh khui cha̍p goā tè. Jı̍t-seng sûi hō͘ lâng chhiáⁿ-jı̍p toā-thiaⁿ, A-eng mā hō͘ A-mûi khiú-khı̀ cha-bó͘-toh. “Tang-sı̂ beh kiat-hun?” A-eng chhiò--leh chhiò--leh bô ı̀n--i. “A-eng, goá thài thiaⁿ-kóng lí bô-ài kè--i-leh,” A-mûi oa̍t-thâu khoàⁿ Sin-thiam: “Bái-bái-á-bé mā ū chı̍t-pō͘-chhú, kó͘-ı̀ tō hó--lah.” A-eng khin-siaⁿ kóng: “Kan-nā chı̍t-ki-chhùi kâm chı̍t-ê chı̍h, lóng bô goā-iân, chò m̄-chiâⁿ seng-lí ne.” “Káⁿ sı̄ beh tāi-lí Ûi-tha-lō͘ ê keng-giau-koân--a?” A-mûi chin him-siān: “Kheh-hō͘ phah-phah--leh, pàng hō͘ lín A-thiam i tō chò boē lı̄--lo͘h.” “Iáu teh kau-sia̍p--leh, m̄-chai the̍h ē tio̍h--bô?” Teh kóng ê sı̂, A-eng khoàⁿ o͘-káu Tân oá khı̀ Sin-thiam hit-tè toh kèng-chiú. Kui-toh lim-tang lim-sai, thiaⁿ boē chheng-chhó. Tı̄ chit-khoán ê tiûⁿ-bı̄n i ū khah tan-sim Sin-thiam, chai-iáⁿ chhùi tāng boē iâⁿ--lâng, ē hō͘ lâng koàn-chiú. Ou-káu Tân cháng-tio̍h ki-hoē it-tēng ē kā sah-sé, siu-lí--chı̍t-ē. Ba̍k-chiu thau-lioh--leh, ū-iáⁿ chai kúi-lō poe. I koh boē lim, pau chhám--ê. Bô joā kú, o͘-káu Tân chı̍t-chhiú chiú-kan, chı̍t-chhiú ni poe-á kiâⁿ oá--lâi. “Goá kèng ta̍k-ê...” “Boē-sái--tit,” A-mûi sûi nâ-cha̍h: “Tio̍h sûi-ê-á lâi.” “Án-ne goá kèng A-eng,” o͘-káu Tân chı̍t-ē chhiú kui-poe bih-luh tò lo̍h âu: “A-eng lí sûi-ı̀ tō hó.” “Goá--leh?” A-mûi chiú-poe phâng--leh: “Lí kan goá sûi-ı̀--lah.” “Khoaⁿ-khoaⁿ-á sı̄, A-mûi-a.” Ou-káu Tân chhoē phāng seh lo̍h-lâi chē: “Tú-chiah tı̄ hia kap in piàⁿ kúi-lō poe, mā tio̍h hō͘ goá chia̍h chhài--leh.” Ou-káu Tân chhài ná ngeh, chhùi ná oē: “M̄-sı̄ teh pûn-ke-kui, A-thiam bián saⁿ-poe tō kā khoán--khí-lâi-a.” Kóng-tio̍h chiâⁿ chhàu-iāng: “A-thiam beh kap goá piàⁿ--oh? Cha--leh! Tán koè-nı̂-á koè...” Ou-káu Tân siòng tùi A-eng, oē tiong ū oē: “Goá bô beh niū-chhiú--lo͘h, phêng chhiú-oán chò seng-lí, phêng pún-téng chhoā ke-āu, hit-chūn lín ài kiò goá hiuⁿ-ko͘ Tân, tán goá chhoā-bó͘ liáu....” “Lí m̄-thang siàu-siūⁿ lâng A-eng, lâng in...” “In án-choáⁿ?” Boē kóng soah tō hō͘ o͘-káu Tân cháⁿ-tiāu: “Lâng A-eng iáu-boē hō͘ lâng hō--khı̀-leh, tio̍h--bô? Goá pún-chı̂ⁿ chhoân hó, Po͘-lí hoè-goân, ē-chhiú kheh-mn̂g mā kat hó-sè, kan-taⁿ chha hoāⁿ-siàu niâ. A-eng--a, lí tio̍h hō͘ goá ki-hoē, lán tâng-chê lâi phah-piàⁿ--lah-hohN.” “Kóng chiú-oē--a.” Tng chiah chē lâng bı̄n-thâu-chêng, bô gı̄-gō͘ o͘-káu Tân kóng-oē hiah pe̍h, pêng-sı̂ iáu sǹg khai-lóng ê A-eng, bı̄n soah âng--khí-lâi. Siōng-khı̀ sı̄ m̄-chai ài án-choáⁿ ı̀n chiah hó, kui-khı̀ soá lı̄ chia̍h-toh.
 Sió-khoá tháu chı̍t-ē khùi, jím boē tiâu A-eng koh khı̀ in hit-ê chhâ-thâu-ang-á, Sin-thiam thài boē-hiáu tng lâng bı̄n-chêng kóng chit-khoán oē--leh? Ah bô, nn̄g-lâng chò-hoé kóng sè-siaⁿ-oē mā hó. Khoàⁿ tùi Sin-thiam hit-tè toh, bô khoàⁿ-kı̀ⁿ i tı̄ hia. Mn̄g--lâng, “khı̀ lia̍h-thò͘-á--lah!” Chı̍t-sı̀-kè chhoē-chhoē--leh, lóng bô khoàⁿ-kı̀ⁿ iáⁿ. Tang-sı̂-á chá kiu tı̄ suh-pah-luh hoè-tâi lāi teh khùn. Sui-jiân hoah-kûn hoah lim chiâⁿ lāu-jia̍t, ke-á-bı̄n teng-hoé mā kng-iàⁿ-iàⁿ, A-eng soah ū bô-khı̂m bô-khı̍p ê khang-hi-kám. Ba̍k-chiu chêng ê Sin-thiam, tiâu-tı̍t koh kó͘-ı̀, boē oē-soaⁿ oē-chúi. Aih, tō-sı̄ boē-hiáu khui-chhùi--lah.
 “A-thiam--a, A-eng--a.” Hiông-hiông thiaⁿ-tio̍h lâng teh kiò, A-eng sı̄ kín cháu oá. “A-thiam--leh? Lín a-pa ná-chhiūⁿ phoà-pēⁿ ê khoán--ô͘...” Thiaⁿ-tio̍h án-ne, A-eng chông jı̍p toā-thiaⁿ. Khoàⁿ Jı̍t-seng toā-lia̍p-koāⁿ sè-lia̍p-koāⁿ, bı̄n-sek liâm-mi chheⁿ, liâm-mi pe̍h, chiok kan-khó͘ ê khoán. “Kín chài lâi khoàⁿ i-seng!” Sûi ū cha-po͘-lâng tàu moh chiūⁿ chhia-téng. A-eng bô khoà kiò A-thiam, chhia sái--leh, tō lōng kàu pēⁿ-ı̄ⁿ koà kip-chín. A-thiam chhéⁿ sı̄ chhéⁿ--lâi, iáu-sı̄ A-eng khah giám-ngē. Chông-chêng chông-āu, kip-chín-sek i-seng chèng-thâu khoàⁿ chē--a: “Ka-chài chá sàng--lâi, sim-chōng hoeh-iû that tiâu--leh, tio̍h kín phah thong....” Chı̍t-ē thiaⁿ boē thoat gûi-hiám, tio̍h toà ka-hō͘-pēⁿ-pâng koan-chha̍t. A-eng m̄-káⁿ lı̄-khui, kiò Sin-thiam tńg-khı̀ kóng hō͘ a-i chai, i beh tiàm pēⁿ-ı̄ⁿ. “Mā hó,” A-thiam goā-saⁿ thǹg hō͘ A-eng tha̍h: “Goá tńg--khı̀ sûi lâi.”
 Ka-hō͘-pēⁿ-pâng jı̍t-kong-teng chiò kah ná jı̍t-sı̂-thâu--leh, chhn̂g-thâu tàu ke-si, chhn̂g-téng tih toā-tâng. A-eng tùi kháu--a thàm kúi-lō piàn. Kàu ē-poàⁿ-mê, sı̍t-chāi thài thiám--leh, chē--leh soah khùn--khı̀. Hān-bı̂n-sı̂-á hān-bı̂n-sı̂, tu̍t-jiân-kan chhéⁿ--lâi. “A-pa--lah?” “Khùn kah chin lo̍h-bı̂n, goá chhoā lí lâi chhia-té khùn.” “Ah ū iàu-kín--bô?” “Ū in teh kò͘, bô iàu-kín--lah.” A-eng boē kı̀-tit án-choáⁿ khı̀ chhia-té khùn--ê. Kui-mê chhia lâi chhia khı̀, khoàⁿ-tio̍h Jı̍t-seng it-tı̍t lâu-chhı̀n-koāⁿ, bı̄n-sek chheⁿ-sún-sún, hat heng-khám-á thiàⁿ... Chhiak chı̍t-ē chhéⁿ--khí-lâi, jı̍t-thâu í-keng chhut--lâi-a: “Goá thài thiaⁿ a-pa kui-mê haiⁿ-haiⁿ-kiò....” Peh khí kha-thoa A-thiam tō beh lōng khı̀ pēⁿ-pâng, chiah hoat-kak bô chhēng goā-saⁿ....
 Siù-tin í-keng iang Jı̍t-seng ê oāⁿ-thiap-toā Tân Êng-chı̀n chài lâi tı̄ pēⁿ-ı̄ⁿ. Jı̍t-seng ná-chhiūⁿ chin hi ê khoán, liân beh péng-sin to bô khùi-la̍t, kóng-tio̍h oē phàⁿ-siaⁿ phàⁿ-siaⁿ. Siù-tin kám-sim A-eng: “Ka-chài kín chhia--lâi, hù kiù--tio̍h, bô tō gûi-hiám--lo͘h.” “Hit-chūn a-pa bı̄n-sek chheⁿ-sún-sún, kan-khó͘ kah haiⁿ-haiⁿ-kiò, koāⁿ it-tı̍t piàⁿ, oa̍h beh kiaⁿ--lâng...” A-eng kā Siù-tin lám--leh, chin-chêng lâu-lō͘: “A-pa nā khı̀..., ah, a-i--a, goán kam-goān chiat-hoè-siū hō͘ a-pa sio-thiⁿ--lah!” “A-mih-tō͘-hut, lí ê hàu-sim, i ū hok-khı̀ chia̍h pah-hoè--a-lah.” Khiā tı̄ piⁿ--a ê Sin-thiam tiām-chut-chut, chin kám-tōng ê khoán.
 Chhut-ı̄ⁿ hit-kang, Sin-thiam chài A-eng hoaⁿ-hoaⁿ hí-hí khı̀ pān chhiú-sio̍k. Chhia sái chhut toā-lō͘, nn̄g-pêng chhân-hn̂g m̄-sı̄ chèng chhài tō-sı̄ iā chhài-chí. Iû-chhài-hoe khui kah n̂g-gı̀m-gı̀m koh chiok toā-phiàn, kı̀-chāi tang-hong teh siàn. A-eng m̄-sı̀n, “án-choáⁿ kóng cha-bó͘ gín-á chhài-chí-miā? M̄-sı̄ kheh-iû tō-sı̄ au-thô͘ chò pùn, lóng chò in kai chò--ê-a.” Tng teh him-sióng iû-chhài-hoe-phêⁿ. “A a...A-eng--a...” “Siáⁿ--lah, ...kan-nā a kui-po͘ iā m̄ kóng--lo̍h-khı̀.” A-eng chiah teh kı̂-koài, oa̍t-thâu khoàⁿ Sin-thiam kui-bı̄n âng-kı̀-kı̀, chhia thêng tı̄ khe-kau piàn-thâu piⁿ, chhun chhiú kā khiú--leh, “A...A-eng...lí...lí kè--goá-lah hó--m̄...?” Tı̄ chit-ê sı̂-chūn, chit-khoán ê só͘-chāi, A-eng bô gı̄-gō͘ Sin-thiam ē kā kiû-hun, “chiàⁿ-káng sı̄ chhâ-thâu-ang-á, chı̍t-sut-sut-á khı̀-hun to bô!” A-eng kui-seng-khu sio-thǹg-thǹg, hı̄ⁿ-khang-kin thiaⁿ chhia-siaⁿ hu-ú chı̍t-ē hu-ú chı̍t-ē koè--khı̀, chhia-lāi thô͘-soa-hún-á phōng-phōng eng--jı̍p-lâi. I kui-ê-lâng phak tiàm Sin-thiam seng-khu-sin, beh chı̍t-sı̀-lâng kiat chò-hoé--lah.