老派的老吴 Lao Wu, an Old-fashioned Man

Who is Lao Wu (Old Wu)? It's me. What does 老派 (Laopai) mean? It's probably conservative, outdated, not keeping up with the times, which is a bit derogatory.

Translator Fu Weici's representative work in translation is Maugham's "The Moon and Sixpence". When it comes to Maugham being the most popular among serious literary writers, he said, "Maugham is too old-fashioned." I suddenly felt that I did belong to the ranks of the old-fashioned. Even compared to Maugham, I go even further, if I have the qualifications to be compared to Maugham.

How old-fashioned is Lao Wu?

1.Value emotions and righteousness, value my own broomstick, and do not follow the flow.

Lao Wu values emotions and righteousness, and treat people in good faith. Although he sometimes feels sad and sheds tears when encountering an ungrateful and vicious person, he can never change his kind nature. One reason for unwilling to raise animals is that they have a short lifespan and will die before humans. Lao Wu is afraid of feeling sad, so it's better not to raise them. Even if it is something that has been used for many years, Lao Wu is not willing to throw it away, after all, it has been with him for many years. The first phone number was used for more than ten years, but later it needed to be transferred to the internet to apply for a package, which gave rise to the current phone number. However, it has been ten years since then.
Those things that follow fashion, change with the environment, trends, and wind direction have nothing to do with Lao Wu.

2.Don't like face saving, don't like meaningless ostentation and showing off.

Lao Wu doesn't like face saving at all, nor does he pay attention to ostentation. He hates those things that are empty and meaningless. Lao Wu believes that face saving is for people to see, and often it is to suppress a smile, feeling pain in the heart, and act for others to see. Shallow people only focus on superficial forms, and those gorgeous and exaggerated appearances can only deceive shallow people. This is probably the social trend, but Lao Wu is not moved, still goes his own way, and does not care about the strange or even contemptuous looks of others. Old Wu is very rustic and conservative, but he believes that as long as he feels happy, it is enough.

3.Your spouse, old house, and old-age pension cannot be lost.

Old Wu always insists that there are three things that cann't be lost: your spouse, old house, and old-age pension. How can one bear to abandon his wife who has grown up and helped each other through the most difficult times of life? But many people, with changes in status and environment, are increasingly disdainful of their aging wives, leading to divorce. Lao Wu wouldn't do this, he who has done like that is heartless and unjust, is he still human?

Old houses are one's place of refuge. In old age, even living with your son or daughter is not a long-term solution, and it is not a good feeling to be under someone else's roof. So, the old house cannot be lost.

After a lifetime of hard work, the retirement pension is one's own foundation. It should not be controlled by others, including your children. It should be firmly held in one's own hands, which is one's last reliance.

Is Lao Wu too old-fashioned, abandoned by the bustling and confusing world, and only living in his own world? Lao Wu firmly believes that being pragmatic, valuing emotion and righteousness, and being principled is the key to a down-to-earth and happy life.

老吴是谁？那就是我自己。何为老派？大概就是守旧、落伍，不与时俱进，大约有点贬义吧。

翻译家傅惟慈的翻译代表作有毛姆的《月亮与六便士》，在谈起毛姆是严肃文学作家里最通俗的时，他说：“毛姆这个人太老派。”我忽地觉得，自己不正是属于老派的行列吗？甚至相比于毛姆真的是有过之而无不及，当然如果我有资格与毛姆相提并论的话。

老吴到底有多老派？

一、重情重义，敝帚自珍，不随波逐流。

老吴重情重义，对人一腔热情，尽管有时遇到“白眼狼”而伤心落泪，可怎么也改变不了善良的本性。不愿养动物的一个原因，就是动物的寿命短，会先于人而去，怕自己伤心，还是不养也罢。哪怕是用了多年的东西，也不舍得扔掉，毕竟跟随自己多年了。第一个手机号用了十多年，后来需要转网办理套餐，才有了现在的这个手机号，不过迄今也有十年的时间了。

那些赶时尚、随环境、潮流、风向而变化的事情，都与老吴无关。

二、不爱面子，不喜欢毫无意义的排场和作秀。

老吴一点也不爱面子，也不讲究排场，对那些虚头巴脑的东西恨之入骨。老吴认为，面子是给人看的，很多时候是强忍着笑脸，内心作痛，演戏给别人看。肤浅的人只注重表面的形式，而那些华丽虚夸的外表只能糊弄浅薄之人，这大概就是社会的风气或者潮流，可老吴就是不为所动，依然我行我素，丝毫不在意别人异样甚至是鄙视的眼神。老吴很土气，很守旧，可老吴认为只要自己觉得快乐就足够了。

三、老伴、老屋、老本不能丢。

老吴一直以为有三样东西不能丢：老伴、老屋、老本。结发妻子，相濡以沫，共同度过人生最艰难时光，又怎能忍心抛弃？可许多人随着地位和环境的变化，越来越瞧不上年老色衰的妻子，随之离婚。老吴不会这样做，无情无义，还是人吗？

老屋是自己的安身之处，年老之时，即使跟着儿女也不是长久之计，寄人篱下不是好的滋味。所以，老屋不能丢。

劳作一生，退休之后的退休金便是自己的老本，不可让他人包括子女掌控，要牢牢攥在自己的手里，这是一个人最后的依托。

老吴是不是太老派，被繁华迷离的世界抛弃而只活在自己的世界里？老吴坚信，务实、有情有义、有原则，才会生活的踏实幸福。