第2章 自序 西湖·遇见·爱

At West Lake,An Encounter of Love

杭州，所幸遇见。

Hangzhou,how fortunate to have met you.

所幸遇见湖光之美，山色若蛾黛般宁静、平和、繁荣、瑰丽。

It is a pleasure to experience the beautiful scenery here—the sublime lakes and the lush mountains,bringing tranquility,peace,prosperity,and grandeur to people.

西湖，有灵秀、有气韵、有逸动、有质感：有才子的风雅，有诗词的清丽，有官仕的气度，有商贾的睿智，亦有佳人的婉约、柔美、知性，可谓人神共赏、凡仙向往的生活栖息之地，华贵典雅之城。

The West Lake embodies elegance,charm,vitality,and good sentiments.It induces inspirations to the literary pursuits of learned scholars,gives rise to beautiful poetry,accommodates the pride and dignity of officials,motivates the wisdom of merchants,and brings to mind the elegance,grace,and intelligence of a beautiful lady.It is such a wonderful place blessed by gods and beloved by people.Embracing the West Lake,Hangzhou is also a vibrant and elegant city and an ideal destination sought after by both worldly and heavenly beings.

自不必细数，杭城的自然风光与人文景观，借以短叹长吁、温婉流转、意之所指、念有所盼、爱之所向、情之所钟……处处皆乃神奇造化。故《武林旧事》曰：

Without going into too much detail,Hangzhou's natural scenery and cultural landscape are full of wonders,evoking sighs of admiration and tenderness.It is a city people long for,dream about,love and show great affection for...Everywhere,one can encounter a marvel of nature.Therefore,as the saying goes in the book Ancient Mmatters from Wulin Garden,

“西湖天下景，朝昏晴雨，四序总宜；杭人亦无时而不游，而春游特盛焉。”怎奈一“游”字，不足以诠释她那具象的销魂之美？于是乎，诗、词、歌、赋，千百年来欲穷尽于斯，却亦无穷而无尽焉！

“The scenery of the West Lake takes varied expressions in all seasons,even between the morning and evening,and differs on rainy and sunny days.In Hangzhou,people never get tired of visiting the West Lake,especially during the spring.”However,just a chance visit is never enough to fully capture its alluring beauty.That is why there have been countless poetry,lyrics,songs,and odes dedicated to the West Lake over the past thousands of years,but the infinite charm of this place is never exhausted!

西湖杭城，更素有南宋遗风，千年更迭绵延流转，光阴不输天上人间，即便是赏玩于此，亦玩出个极致——应景的移步换景、触景生情、情景交融、寓景于情、境象万千之情来、气来、运来，而终汇至心境来。故而，久住的人钟爱此城，新来的客亦流连忘返，此乃太平盛世里，养颐之福，可得永年。幸甚之至哉！无不体现新兴时代变革与发展中，人民对美好生活的热爱与向往。

Hangzhou,the home of the West Lake,have has carried forward the heritage of the Southern Song Dynasty(1127—1279)over the past thousand years.As the time flies by,the world has been through constant changes,but the city has always boasted heavenly scenery.For a leisurely visit,the wonderful nature features are in abundance here.There're different things to see at every step,inspiring emotions and alleviation.The diverse scenery carries rich cultural and historical contexts,bringing to mind passion,sentiment and a sense of elevation.Therefore,local residents love this city more and more even years later,and new visitors also linger on in no hurry to go back home.This is the blessing of living in a peaceful era.People can enjoy the prosperity and good environment.It is indeed fortunate!As the tide of the times flows on,people's yearning for a better life can be better satisfied with the emerging social changes and development.

因为爱，所以遇见；因为向往，所以重逢。若说三生有幸，正为今生你我的相会。原来冥冥真如我愿：人生际遇种种，相信所有的幸会都是久别的重逢。

Because of love,I come to meet you;because of yearning,I come to get reunited with you.If I can say that I am a lucky person,it is precisely because of my encounter with you.It turns out that the fate is working in my favor:all the ups and downs in my life is to prepare me for the happiness of our encounter and reunion.

人生，是一趟不归的旅程。旅行，在乎沿途的风景，更在乎同行的人……心情，是最慰藉感人的一剂良药。药在于己。不然，再好的风景也不解看风景的人。

Life is a journey that goes only in one way.Traveling is not just to experience the scenery,but more about the companionship along the way.A happy mood is the most comforting remedymedicine,and this is something we can control ourselves.Otherwise,even the most beautiful scenery won't be able to heal people just by itself.

碧波荡漾柳含烟，苏堤春晓桃绽颜，断桥残雪凝眸处，一叶兰舟拥湖眠。抬眼望天，星辰里有爱，回眸临水，柔波里有诗。

The emerald waves glisten as the willows sway.On Sudi Causeway,spring blooms in bright array.Where snowdrifts cling to Broken Bridge's pillars still,a lone boat sleeps upon the tranquil rill.Gazing up to the stars above and you'll find love.Looking back to the rippling waves,poems come to my mind.

愿你如春桃般初绽，似夏荷般清丽，若秋桂般金灿，犹冬梅般俏艳……犹如真真正正眷爱你的人，倾其所有，情不知所起，一往而深。

May you prosper like the peach in fullest bloom during springtime.May you be pure as summer lotus fair.May your life shine like golden sweet osmanthus in autumn.And may you be strong even in tough times as the plum flourishing in winter.To love and give all your best,be true and steadfast as love knows no end.Love is of source unknown,yet it grows even deeper.

山湖故友重逢，世纪新塘再现。

Mountains,rivers and lakes bear witness to countless encounters and reunions.Centuries later,a brand-new era is emerging for the historical Hangzhou city.

想和你，从春花秋月，到夏荷冬雪；赏三秋桂子，邀万年婵娟。约圈内好友，凭栏远眺，极目钱塘西子，忆往昔岁月。冶来朝情怀，把酒问天，品茗畅思。三潭印月映辉清，万松书院同窗深。金玉良缘无语凭，形影相随伴今生。

I want to be with you,

To see the spring flowers,summer lotus,autumn moon and winter snow,

To enjoy the fragrant osmanthus in autumn;

And to indulge in the eternal beauty of the moon.

Gather our friends and gaze into the distance,

See the West Lake in its splendor,

Recall the past and learn to cherish the present.

Toast to the heavens and savor the tea,

The Tree Pools Mirroring the Moon is crystal clear,Deep classmate bonds are forged at the Wansong Academy.

Our precious love needs no words to express,

We'll be together for this lifetime,and the next.

然

世外桃源终是梦

红尘深处念佳人

But alas,

The utopia is nothing but a dream

In the mundane world,I think of my beloved

你可知

我一直守在红尘深处

脉脉等你归来

Do you know

That I have been right here

Waiting for you all along?

爱 是我生命的主题曲

念你 是永远的旋律

Love is the theme song of my life

Thinking of you is the eternal melody

我将一腔心意托付笔端

我将一世柔情植入文字

让爱

让爱

永远 永远，永永远远

徜徉在诗意的梦里水乡

I pour all my love to the tip of my pen

Soft feelings planted into my words for eternity

Let love

So that love

Go on forever and ever

Wandering in a poetic dream of a water town.

若不是

万丈红尘中遇见最初的你

若不是

光阴荏苒里镌刻过往的我

共赴一场美好的例外与偏爱

If it were not for

Meeting the kernel of yourself in the world of mortals

If it were not for

Experiencing my growth over the passing years

We won't be blessed with this wonderful chance encounter

祈愿

愿世界无纷扰、人间都美好；时光能善待、岁月可留居；万物皆澄朗、人间尽喜剧。

I pray

May the world be free of troubles,and the world be peaceful;may time be kind to us and leave us good memories;may all creatures great and small,be all pure and wonderful.

这里有童真、这里有母爱；这里有良善、这里有仁心。

Here,you'll find innocence and motherly love;here,you'll find kindness and benevolence.

阅人阅己、悦人悦己，人生如书，不倚厚重，不妄自菲薄。此书谨献给从职场女性到全职母亲，变换人生角色，也曾遭遇困惑、有过迷茫、历经挫折，依然热爱生命、讴歌真情、向往美好生活的我们。

Take people as a mirror is to better know myself.Life is like a book,and as the writer and reader,we should not be neither arrogant nor self-deprecating.This book is dedicated to all the women who have experienced changes going from working to being full time housewives.There may be confusion,uncertainty,and setbacks.But they still remain passionate about life,dedicate their love to the world,and work hard in pursuit for a better life.

顺颂时祺，唯愿美好。

My best wishes,may all be well.

金影

于杭州西湖

At West Lake,Hangzhou

2021年11月9日

November 9,2021