L’horloger d’en bas

我家楼下有一个很小的修表店，老板是一位六十多岁的老师傅，姓陈。

Wǒ (third tone, dipping) jiā (first tone, high and level) lóuxià (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) xiūbiǎo (first tone, high and level) diàn, (fourth tone, falling) lǎobǎn (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) wèi (fourth tone, falling) liùshí (fourth tone, falling) duō (first tone, high and level) suì (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) lǎo (third tone, dipping) shīfu, (first tone, high and level) xìng (fourth tone, falling) Chén. (second tone, rising)

En bas de chez moi, il y a une toute petite boutique de réparation de montres. Le patron est un vieux maître artisan d’une soixantaine d’années, qui s’appelle Chen.

店里没有什么装修，只有一张旧桌子、一个小灯和墙上挂着的几十块旧手表。

Diàn (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) shénme (second tone, rising) zhuāngxiū, (first tone, high and level) zhǐyǒu (third tone, dipping) yì (fourth tone, falling) zhāng (first tone, high and level) jiù (fourth tone, falling) zhuōzi, (first tone, high and level) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) dēng (first tone, high and level) hé (second tone, rising) qiáng (second tone, rising) shang (neutral tone) guà (fourth tone, falling) zhe (neutral tone) de (neutral tone) jǐshí (third tone, dipping) kuài (fourth tone, falling) jiù (fourth tone, falling) shǒubiǎo. (third tone, dipping)

La boutique n’a pour ainsi dire aucun aménagement : un vieux bureau, une petite lampe et quelques dizaines de vieilles montres accrochées au mur.

现在大家都用手机看时间，戴手表的人越来越少，来修表的人就更少了。

Xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) dàjiā (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) yòng (fourth tone, falling) shǒujī (third tone, dipping) kàn (fourth tone, falling) shíjiān, (second tone, rising) dài (fourth tone, falling) shǒubiǎo (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) yuè (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) yuè (fourth tone, falling) shǎo, (third tone, dipping) lái (second tone, rising) xiūbiǎo (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) rén (second tone, rising) jiù (fourth tone, falling) gèng (fourth tone, falling) shǎo (third tone, dipping) le. (neutral tone)

Aujourd’hui, tout le monde regarde l’heure sur son téléphone ; de moins en moins de gens portent une montre, et encore moins viennent en faire réparer une.

有一次，我好奇地问他：“生意这么差，您为什么不换个工作呢？”

Yǒu (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) cì, (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) hàoqí (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) wèn (fourth tone, falling) tā: (first tone, high and level) “Shēngyi (first tone, high and level) zhème (fourth tone, falling) chà, (fourth tone, falling) nín (second tone, rising) wèishénme (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) huàn (fourth tone, falling) ge (neutral tone) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) ne?” (neutral tone)

Un jour, par curiosité, je lui ai demandé : « Les affaires vont si mal, pourquoi ne changez-vous pas de métier ? »

陈师傅笑了笑，没有直接回答，而是从抽屉里拿出一块很旧的手表给我看。

Chén (second tone, rising) shīfu (first tone, high and level) xiào (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) xiào, (fourth tone, falling) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) zhíjiē (second tone, rising) huídá, (second tone, rising) ér (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) cóng (second tone, rising) chōuti (first tone, high and level) li (neutral tone) náchū (second tone, rising) yí (second tone, rising) kuài (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) jiù (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shǒubiǎo (third tone, dipping) gěi (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) kàn. (fourth tone, falling)

Maître Chen a souri sans répondre directement ; il a plutôt sorti d’un tiroir une très vieille montre pour me la montrer.

那块表已经很旧了，表面上的字都快看不清楚了。

Nà (fourth tone, falling) kuài (fourth tone, falling) biǎo (third tone, dipping) yǐjīng (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) jiù (fourth tone, falling) le, (neutral tone) biǎomiàn (third tone, dipping) shang (neutral tone) de (neutral tone) zì (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) kuài (fourth tone, falling) kàn (fourth tone, falling) bu (neutral tone) qīngchu (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)

La montre était très usée ; on distinguait à peine les chiffres du cadran.

他说，这是一位老太太三年以前送来的，是她丈夫年轻时买给她的第一件礼物。

Tā (first tone, high and level) shuō, (first tone, high and level) zhè (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) wèi (fourth tone, falling) lǎotàitai (third tone, dipping) sān (first tone, high and level) nián (second tone, rising) yǐqián (third tone, dipping) sòng (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) de, (neutral tone) shì (fourth tone, falling) tā (first tone, high and level) zhàngfu (fourth tone, falling) niánqīng (second tone, rising) shí (second tone, rising) mǎi (third tone, dipping) gěi (third tone, dipping) tā (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) dì (fourth tone, falling) yī (first tone, high and level) jiàn (fourth tone, falling) lǐwù. (third tone, dipping)

Il m’a dit qu’une vieille dame l’avait apportée trois ans plus tôt : c’était le premier cadeau que son mari lui avait acheté, dans leur jeunesse.

当时老太太跑了好几家店，别人都说零件早就不生产了，没办法修。

Dāngshí (first tone, high and level) lǎotàitai (third tone, dipping) pǎo (third tone, dipping) le (neutral tone) hǎo (third tone, dipping) jǐ (third tone, dipping) jiā (first tone, high and level) diàn, (fourth tone, falling) biéren (second tone, rising) dōu (first tone, high and level) shuō (first tone, high and level) língjiàn (second tone, rising) zǎo (third tone, dipping) jiù (fourth tone, falling) bù (fourth tone, falling) shēngchǎn (first tone, high and level) le, (neutral tone) méi (second tone, rising) bànfǎ (fourth tone, falling) xiū. (first tone, high and level)

Elle avait fait plusieurs boutiques, et partout on lui avait répondu que les pièces n’étaient plus fabriquées depuis longtemps et qu’il n’y avait rien à faire.

陈师傅却把表留了下来，一有时间就研究。

Chén (second tone, rising) shīfu (first tone, high and level) què (fourth tone, falling) bǎ (third tone, dipping) biǎo (third tone, dipping) liú (second tone, rising) le (neutral tone) xiàlái, (fourth tone, falling) yì (fourth tone, falling) yǒu (third tone, dipping) shíjiān (second tone, rising) jiù (fourth tone, falling) yánjiū. (second tone, rising)

Maître Chen, lui, a gardé la montre et s’y est attelé dès qu’il avait un moment.

没有零件，他就自己做；做坏了，就重新再来。

Méiyǒu (second tone, rising) língjiàn, (second tone, rising) tā (first tone, high and level) jiù (fourth tone, falling) zìjǐ (fourth tone, falling) zuò; (fourth tone, falling) zuò (fourth tone, falling) huài (fourth tone, falling) le, (neutral tone) jiù (fourth tone, falling) chóngxīn (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) lái. (second tone, rising)

Faute de pièces, il les fabriquait lui-même ; quand il en ratait une, il recommençait.

陈师傅说，那段时间，他晚上常常在灯下工作到很晚，有好几次都想放弃了。

Chén (second tone, rising) shīfu (first tone, high and level) shuō, (first tone, high and level) nà (fourth tone, falling) duàn (fourth tone, falling) shíjiān, (second tone, rising) tā (first tone, high and level) wǎnshang (third tone, dipping) chángcháng (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) dēng (first tone, high and level) xià (fourth tone, falling) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) dào (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) wǎn, (third tone, dipping) yǒu (third tone, dipping) hǎo (third tone, dipping) jǐ (third tone, dipping) cì (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) fàngqì (fourth tone, falling) le. (neutral tone)

Il m’a raconté qu’à cette époque il travaillait souvent sous la lampe jusque tard le soir, et qu’à plusieurs reprises il a failli abandonner.

用了半年多的时间，那块表终于又走了起来。

Yòng (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) bàn (fourth tone, falling) nián (second tone, rising) duō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shíjiān, (second tone, rising) nà (fourth tone, falling) kuài (fourth tone, falling) biǎo (third tone, dipping) zhōngyú (first tone, high and level) yòu (fourth tone, falling) zǒu (third tone, dipping) le (neutral tone) qilai. (neutral tone)

Au bout de plus de six mois, la montre s’est enfin remise à marcher.

老太太来取表的那天，拿着表看了很久，突然就哭了。

Lǎotàitai (third tone, dipping) lái (second tone, rising) qǔ (third tone, dipping) biǎo (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) nà (fourth tone, falling) tiān, (first tone, high and level) ná (second tone, rising) zhe (neutral tone) biǎo (third tone, dipping) kàn (fourth tone, falling) le (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) jiǔ, (third tone, dipping) tūrán (first tone, high and level) jiù (fourth tone, falling) kū (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)

Le jour où la vieille dame est venue la chercher, elle l’a tenue et regardée longtemps, puis s’est soudain mise à pleurer.

她问陈师傅要多少钱，陈师傅摇了摇头，一分钱也没有收。

Tā (first tone, high and level) wèn (fourth tone, falling) Chén (second tone, rising) shīfu (first tone, high and level) yào (fourth tone, falling) duōshao (first tone, high and level) qián, (second tone, rising) Chén (second tone, rising) shīfu (first tone, high and level) yáo (second tone, rising) le (neutral tone) yáo (second tone, rising) tóu, (second tone, rising) yì (fourth tone, falling) fēn (first tone, high and level) qián (second tone, rising) yě (third tone, dipping) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) shōu. (first tone, high and level)

Elle a demandé combien elle devait. Maître Chen a secoué la tête et n’a pas accepté un centime.

她说，丈夫已经去世十年了，听到这块表的声音，就好像他又回来了。

Tā (first tone, high and level) shuō, (first tone, high and level) zhàngfu (fourth tone, falling) yǐjīng (third tone, dipping) qùshì (fourth tone, falling) shí (second tone, rising) nián (second tone, rising) le, (neutral tone) tīng (first tone, high and level) dào (fourth tone, falling) zhè (fourth tone, falling) kuài (fourth tone, falling) biǎo (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) shēngyīn, (first tone, high and level) jiù (fourth tone, falling) hǎoxiàng (third tone, dipping) tā (first tone, high and level) yòu (fourth tone, falling) huílái (second tone, rising) le. (neutral tone)

Elle a dit que son mari était mort depuis dix ans ; en entendant le tic-tac de la montre, c’était comme s’il était revenu.

“后来她每年都来看我一次，”陈师傅说，“这块表是她上个月又送来的，说是有点儿慢。其实我知道，表一点儿问题也没有，她只是想来跟我说说话。”

“Hòulái (fourth tone, falling) tā (first tone, high and level) měi (third tone, dipping) nián (second tone, rising) dōu (first tone, high and level) lái (second tone, rising) kàn (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) cì,” (fourth tone, falling) Chén (second tone, rising) shīfu (first tone, high and level) shuō, (first tone, high and level) “zhè (fourth tone, falling) kuài (fourth tone, falling) biǎo (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) tā (first tone, high and level) shàng (fourth tone, falling) ge (neutral tone) yuè (fourth tone, falling) yòu (fourth tone, falling) sòng (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) de, (neutral tone) shuō (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) yǒudiǎnr (third tone, dipping) màn. (fourth tone, falling) Qíshí (second tone, rising) wǒ (third tone, dipping) zhīdào, (first tone, high and level) biǎo (third tone, dipping) yìdiǎnr (fourth tone, falling) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) yě (third tone, dipping) méiyǒu, (second tone, rising) tā (first tone, high and level) zhǐshì (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) lái (second tone, rising) gēn (first tone, high and level) wǒ (third tone, dipping) shuōshuo (first tone, high and level) huà.” (fourth tone, falling)

« Depuis, elle vient me voir une fois par an, a dit maître Chen. Elle a encore apporté cette montre le mois dernier, en disant qu’elle retardait un peu. En réalité, je sais bien que la montre n’a absolument rien ; elle veut simplement venir bavarder. »

陈师傅把表轻轻地放回抽屉，接着说：“你看，我修的不只是表，还有人们的回忆。只要还有人需要，我就会一直做下去。”

Chén (second tone, rising) shīfu (first tone, high and level) bǎ (third tone, dipping) biǎo (third tone, dipping) qīngqīng (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) fànghuí (fourth tone, falling) chōuti, (first tone, high and level) jiēzhe (first tone, high and level) shuō: (first tone, high and level) “Nǐ (third tone, dipping) kàn, (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiū (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) bù (fourth tone, falling) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) biǎo, (third tone, dipping) hái (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping) rénmen (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) huíyì. (second tone, rising) Zhǐyào (third tone, dipping) hái (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) xūyào, (first tone, high and level) wǒ (third tone, dipping) jiù (fourth tone, falling) huì (fourth tone, falling) yìzhí (fourth tone, falling) zuò (fourth tone, falling) xiàqù.” (fourth tone, falling)

Maître Chen a reposé doucement la montre dans le tiroir et a poursuivi : « Vous voyez, je ne répare pas seulement des montres, mais aussi les souvenirs des gens. Tant que quelqu’un en aura besoin, je continuerai. »

从那以后，我每次经过他的小店，都会停下来，看一看店里亮着的灯。

Cóng (second tone, rising) nà (fourth tone, falling) yǐhòu, (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) měi (third tone, dipping) cì (fourth tone, falling) jīngguò (first tone, high and level) tā (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) diàn, (fourth tone, falling) dōu (first tone, high and level) huì (fourth tone, falling) tíng (second tone, rising) xiàlái, (fourth tone, falling) kàn (fourth tone, falling) yi (neutral tone) kàn (fourth tone, falling) diàn (fourth tone, falling) li (neutral tone) liàng (fourth tone, falling) zhe (neutral tone) de (neutral tone) dēng. (first tone, high and level)

Depuis, chaque fois que je passe devant sa petite boutique, je m’arrête et je regarde la lampe allumée à l’intérieur.