come or go off work
1. When men come off work at midday and in the evening they buy a bowl of wine; it cost four coppers twenty years ago, but now it costs ten. Standing beside the counter, they drink it warm, and relax. Another copper will buy a plate of salted bamboo shoots or peas flavoured with aniseed, to go with the wine; while for a dozen coppers you can buy a meat dish.
做工的人，傍午傍晚散了工，每每花四文铜钱，买一碗酒，--这是二十多年前的事，现在每碗要涨到十文，--靠柜外站着，热热的喝了休息；倘肯多花一文，便可以买一碟盐煮笋，或者茴香豆，做下酒物了，如果出到十几文，那就能买一样荤菜，但这些顾客，多是短衣帮，大抵没有这样阔绰。
2. Most city people who come off duty either work overtime or go to futrher study (recharge), with their nerve tightened like a full bow all day.
大多数都市人下班时间不是加班就是赶著去充电，神经整天绷得紧紧的，很多中青年人身体处于亚健康状态。