He was always complaining about people borrowing his tools, and sitting in his rocking chair to pass the time away in idle chatter, and tearing branches off his forsythia bush to use as whips for their horses.

• 他总是抱怨人们借走他的工具，坐在他的摇椅里聊大天儿混时间，还从他的连翘树丛里折树枝做马鞭。