Chapter 5 Chapter Two Three

He looked at the photo as if offering incense.My father wore a long robe and mandarin jacket and a melon skin hat. He had a beard and no smile on his face. However, the stern expression had been weakened by the years.Mother is kind-hearted.Probably the first time I took a photo, I was surprised.I guess it was taken shortly after I left. During the Anti-Japanese War, the soldiers were in panic, and the two elders would definitely not have the leisure to go to the city to take pictures. Grandpa looks a lot like Grandpa Zeng. Jiujiu leaned over to look at the photos, and then glanced at the old man for comparison.

However, you are not as strict as Grandpa Zeng, she happily pointed out that you are much more kind! Grandfather smiled gratefully.Secretly pleased with her Minhui. Is Dad strict with you? He better talk!It is still my mother and grandma who are strict. The old man shook his head: It's better to be wider. Resistance and resistance have always been directly proportional.I and my father seem to be in a state of eternal opposition, which intensifies with the years, and there is no possibility of reconciliation.If there is a truce in the middle, it is all the result of Mei Jiu's mediation.This is true of going abroad, and so is divorce.

In the early 1940s, I wrote a letter asking for a divorce.The excuse at the time was that the United States banned Chinese women from entering the country.My father's reply was a telegram: Immediately!He failed to comply and was soon cut off from support. Until the year of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, I suddenly received a letter from Mei Jiu, expressing her willingness to go through the divorce procedures.But he asked to keep it from his parents-in-law, and a money order was attached to the letter.He sent someone to publish a divorce notice in Shanghai's "Ta Kung Pao".One month after receiving the newspaper clipping, I received a telegram that the old man had died of illness, asking him to return to China for the funeral.

Speaking of which, this is also an unfortunate coincidence.At that time, she was having a hot fight with Bessie, and she planned to elope to New York to get married.At this moment, it is absolutely impossible to leave her and go back to the country.It just so happened that the Chinese civil war broke out again.Let him pick up an excuse for lingering. Six months later, my mother died.After receiving the letter, the funeral was over, and it seemed that he would not return to China for the funeral.He Fuxin cried a lot. For a long time, he often asked himself: Did my father see the divorce notice?Now that Mei Jiu is silent, this mystery will never be explained, and her own guilt will never disappear.

Jiujiu, does grandma often talk about Grandpa Zeng? He asked his granddaughter with a glimmer of hope. Jiu Jiu shook his head in a daze. Grandma seldom talked about the past, I think it was because the past was too bitter.One day, she looked at her brother's back and sighed and said: "It's better now. In the past, the Hu family was short of men. Grandpa was away. Grandpa Zeng died early. He was bullied all the time!" The old man was silent again after listening.Looking out of the window, when the dark clouds have dispersed, the sky is clear and blue. Grandpa doesn't need me to accompany me, so I'll go to school.

As she spoke, she stood up and picked up her schoolbag from the bed. I will take you to the bus. As soon as he finished speaking, he felt his granddaughter's gaze wandering over him. Grandpa, do you have any other tops? Yes, yes! He hastily changed out of his maroon sweatshirt and put on a white shirt, plus the Chinese-style jacket he got just yesterday. After locking the room and leaving the key at the front desk, the old and the young left the hotel sadly. While waiting for the bus, Jiujiu persuaded him to move to the county guest house. Grandfather promised to think about it after the funeral.He didn't have the courage to admit that he was actually very afraid of death, very afraid of being exposed to death.

Tell your dad, I pay for all funeral expenses.He will do what he wants, and I will be at the funeral on time.I am also really unfamiliar with life here, and I have never understood these things.Yongyong's funeral was arranged by one person first. Who is Yongyong? Jiujiu's face was both confused and serious. She was the woman I married after he pondered for a moment before finding an easier way to express it. After finishing speaking, my heart couldn't help hanging high, waiting for a series of questions: How many times did grandpa get married?Three times, cohabitation does not count.Why have you been married so many times?You can't do without a woman.Why?because

However, she tightly closed her water chestnut-like mouth, and the corners were almost flattened.His eyes were calm, and his face was determined and calm, just like her grandmother. The child seemed to have grown up a lot at once. After sending his granddaughter to the car, he cut his hands behind his back and walked along Huanhu Road by himself. Mei Jiu has gone, I am free, completely detached! He declared loudly in his heart. The grievances and grievances of this generation ended here, and the debts and guilt were all written off now.Like an entangled lawsuit, the case has been settled by a master in the dark, and winning or losing is second to none. It is a grateful thing in itself that the two parties can avoid the pain of long-term confrontation.

It is a pity that he has all kinds of feelings, but he lacks the ease and joy of detachment. Walking under the shade of trees by the lake, his feet are a little sluggish and numb, like the fatigue and numbness that must follow after a long period of stalemate; even the collapse of recovery from illness feel. The lack of a rival, even an invisible and distant one, ultimately diminishes the joy of life. It is always Mei Jiu who has a way, even in the last thing.He actually survived until the first day he entered the door before letting go, leaving him with a funeral. He stopped to look far away, looked up at the Baochu Pagoda among the thousands of trees, but the scenes from five years ago were churning in his mind.Gas, kitchen floors, stiff fingers, snow-white chrysanthemums, and priest's prayers: from dirt to dirt

Nothing frightened him more than this.If Mei Jiu intends to take revenge, then she has succeeded 100%. Facing the green water of a lake, he longed to hide in a deserted place.He needs tranquility. At this moment, the West Lake has more tourists than in the morning, and it is almost overcrowded.There are buses coming and going, one after another, and they are full.The yachts in the lake are also overloaded.As far as the eye could see, there were heads moving under the shade of trees.The area around the Broken Bridge is like going to a market, with an endless stream of pedestrians. He stopped for a moment when he heard someone yelling for excuses.Two young men, shoulder to shoulder, walked past him.

Tourists in their seventies and eighties like him are rare, and most of them are young people.Most of the accents are from other places, and the Shanghai dialect is even more frequent.Wu Nong's soft language has always been pleasant to the ear, but now he thinks it is noisy and distracting. Came back just in time for lunch. I remember Xianli said that he lived in the Qianmen Hotel in Beijing.The first thing after dinner is to hang up the long-distance call to find him. After trying for an hour, Beijing called back and said that Mr. Niu was not in the room.Tried again at noon, still not connected.He left a message and asked the other party to call him when he was free. In the afternoon, Jing Xian came on time.Also here is Secretary Cui whom I met yesterday. Jing Xian's eyes were dull, his expression was haggard, and the grief of losing his mother was beyond words. The old man said he would not move, and after a few words of persuasion, they stopped insisting.The banquets of the county government and the supply and marketing cooperatives were also postponed until after the funeral. I want to discuss with my father about the grave, Jing Xian asked for instructions respectfully, my mother once said before she was alive that she didn't like total cremation. The old man hadn't expressed his opinion yet, but Old Cui had already explained from the side. Regarding the situation in China, let me report to Mr. Hu. Since the Cultural Revolution, the government has vigorously advocated cremation in order to save farmland. At the same time, cremation is also more hygienic. Well, it is also more advanced.I heard that the United States also has cremation, right? When the old man heard the burials coming and going, his back felt cold.Wuxin talked to him deeply about American funeral ceremonies, but immediately expressed vaguely that there were both. However, he quickly stated that I advocate entering the country as the Romans do and doing things according to Chinese customs. Yes, Mr. Hu is right.As I said just now, the government stipulates that cremation should put the ashes in one place.However, we have another policy to take care of overseas Chinese, open up some land appropriately, and allow land purchase for burial. Since Mei Jiu insisted and there were policies to take care of him, he agreed on the spot and said that he would bear all the expenses. How much is needed? Do you have a number, Jing Xian? The grades are different, ranging from five or six hundred to six or seven thousand.This spring, the Yan family in a neighboring town, also relatives of overseas Chinese, held a funeral.Mom kept saying afterwards that this was the only decent burial she had seen in years.The selected land has marble tombstones, and pines and cypresses are planted on both sides.It is said that it cost 4,000 yuan, I don't know if it includes a few tables of banquets Banquet separately. Old Cui pointed out from the side that it seemed that he had already had an account in his heart. I'm giving Dad an example, we don't have to be so extravagant, we can save money. no no!The old man blurted out: Just do it like this. He secretly calculated it, and it was equivalent to two thousand dollars, which was half cheaper than in the United States. Jing Xian took out a piece of paper and handed it to him. This is the application form for buying a cemetery, my father signed it, and I will go to see the cemetery tomorrow. He read it.The concise wording of the eight-line script, and the square and square brush characters, one can tell at a glance that it is his son's handwriting.So he took out his ballpoint pen and signed his name. I have sent a telegram to report the funeral to my aunt, and let me know that my trip to Hankou will be postponed for a few days, and I will send a telegram at that time. The dull son is very orderly. May I ask Secretary Cui, when is the funeral? Old Cui frowned slightly, then spread out a big palm. Let's go catch up, five days is enough. five days.He was worried about whether the body could be kept for that long. Jing Xian saw his doubts, and hurriedly said: I have sent my mother to the County People's Hospital this morning. Send to the hospital? What's the use of sending a person to the hospital after death? That's it, Lao Cui explained to him that we usually send critical patients to the hospital as much as possible.Those who passed at home were immediately sent to the hospital for emergency treatment, then diagnosed as dead, and then sent to the mortuary according to the normal procedures, and those needed were frozen.When the memorial service is held, the corpse is sent directly to the crematorium for makeup. This way, the burden on the family is less. The old man nodded frequently in admiration: That's really advanced. Serve the people! After sitting for another moment, Old Cui got up to say goodbye. Dad, I'll ask Jianfeng to take a few days off and come to Hangzhou to accompany you around, okay? He knew his son's kindness, but he declined, saying that he wanted to be quiet for a few days. For Eunuch De and Granny Geng, they want to come to see you and catch up with you. The son conveyed the meaning of the two visitors in a report tone. The old man couldn't remember who these two people were. Because father-in-law is father's cousin, then Granny Geng said that she was a close neighbor with you when she was young: she played together. He still couldn't remember the surname Geng, but Hu Weide did. Wei De is only a few months older than himself and is about the same size, but he is full of tricks and is the best at taking advantage of others.When I was young, I played long-haired games, and when I was a long-haired person, I could do whatever I wanted.When Wei De was a long hair, he had the most ideas, asking people to dig out honeycombs from trees, steal peaches from over walls, and even pull up his pants to ask people to suck his one.I did it one by one, thinking that when it was my turn to be a long-haired man, I could do the same to him.Unexpectedly, when the time comes, he will turn his face and refuse to accept the relief, and there will be nothing he can do about it. How is he now?When I went abroad, I remembered that he was an apprentice in a silk cloth shop. I heard that he opened a store, but it was closed before the victory of the Anti-Japanese War.Since then, I have been working for others.There was a son who died of illness during the Great Leap Forward.The grandson settled in Xinjiang far away, and now lives on his granddaughter.His health is poor, it seems to be a disease caused by kidney stone surgery a few years ago, and he has not recovered. Judging by Jing Xian's tone, the relationship between the two families is quite distant. See you later until we're done. He has never been interested in reminiscing about the past.Yongyong once even pointed at his nose and scolded him for being unreasonable, but he never changed his temper. yes.See you soon too.They'll all be there when there's a memorial service. Let's meet then. It's fine if you can postpone it for a few days, but if you're afraid that the topic won't leave the dead when you meet now, you're asking for trouble. Mr. Hu.If there is anything else we can do for you, please feel free to let us know. Before Lao Cui left, he took care of him warmly. For a moment, he couldn't think of anything to ask the other party.Glancing at Jing Xian, the latter lowered his hands and closed his eyes, but he couldn't get any inspiration. What do you want, go to Hangzhou Friendship Store to buy.Old Cui graciously introduced that there is everything you need; TV, washing machine, bicycle: you can get whatever you want.You can also exchange foreign currency, which is very convenient.Mr. Hu is interested, we can accompany you now.Do you have a car? It's very convenient. It reminded him.You should give your son some money first. Jin Jiang Hotel can exchange foreign currency, I would like to ask Binhu Hotel if it is OK.If it works, you don't have to go to the Friendship Store today. Immediately called to ask.Hotels can exchange, but the amount should not be too large.So he took the two of them downstairs and exchanged a traveler's check for five hundred dollars at the accountant's office. You use these first.In two days, I will prepare another 3,000 yuan for you. Jing Xian accepted it respectfully. About the cemetery.There is also the stone for the tombstone, should Dad choose it by himself? Jing Xian's gentle and focused eyes clearly hoped that his father would take responsibility for this matter. Mr. Hu can take a look at the cemetery, and Mr. Cui is also beside him, suggesting that people of your age pay attention to Feng Shui, so it is more reassuring to see for yourself. The old man hesitated for a moment, but still dare not agree.I don't believe in and don't understand the theory of feng shui directions at all; besides, running up and down in the graveyard is not a pleasant thing. You have full authority to handle it, he told his son, within this fee range, just play by ear, don't ask me. yes.Dad, let's go home for the holidays tonight. Jing Xian sincerely invited him to go home. no.There is something at home.You are busy.You don't have to greet me.I never have holidays in the United States, I'm used to it, and I won't feel lonely, don't worry.Also, I am waiting for a call from Beijing.I really can't go away. The latter is the key.Today, no matter what you have to find the first thing to do. He sent the two of them all the way out of the hotel gate.The first thing I did when I got back to my room was to dial the phone to Beijing. Xianli is still not in the room.He left another message. Being bored, I finished reading that day's "Hangzhou Daily" word for word. The dinner was particularly rich and delicious.Each table was also given a plate of small Soviet-style mooncakes, which was both festive and humane.He couldn't eat it at the time, but he took it all back to his room and kept it to enjoy slowly.Usually do not eat sweets.But the moon cakes in my hometown are not to be missed. The guests at the next table were reading a copy of Xinmin Evening News.Seeing the old man paying attention frequently, I forwarded it to him after reading it.He also took it back to the room. When I was studying in Shanghai, I often read "Xinmin Evening News". I didn't expect this newspaper to still exist. It should have a history of a hundred years. Again he read it word for word. Compared with the 1930s, its content and layout are much smaller, and there are a lot of sports news.Readability is also higher. Until bedtime, Xianli's phone call came late. Mr. Hu, is everything alright? Well, it's okay, at least he hasn't fallen ill yet.After the humor, he immediately complained: Is there something wrong with your hotel phone?I didn't get through after calling for a day! There is nothing wrong with the telephone, but there are too few telephone lines, which is one of the obstacles to China's current four modernizations.A businessman from West Germany told me today that in Beijing, if you can make two phone calls a day, it is considered a complete merit! Xianli's tone was a little weak and tired. The old man felt that he should show some concern, and he was embarrassed to open his mouth to talk about his difficulties. Are you tired, first stand?How is your job going? This time it was quite smooth. The cadres of the Foreign Trade Bureau were replaced by a few younger ones, who dared to take responsibility.The main thing is of course that they have a better understanding of the product and have confidence in my analysis and introduction.Unlike before, it was simply Tai Chi!After grinding their mouths for a long time, the one on the left looked again, and the one on the right reported and asked for instructions. No one dared to make a decision.Alas, let’s not talk about it, it’s useless to talk about it, I’m going back to San Francisco tomorrow. ah?what happened? The company called early this morning and asked me to take the next flight back immediately, saying that I had something important to discuss.What's the matter!80% of the business is not done, I would rather let the French earn it! The old man let out a long breath, thankful that he got through the phone before he left. I'm sorry, Mr. Hu, you must have something to do with me, huh? Could it be Mei Jiu, my first wife, she passed away last night. There was an exclamation first, it was deafening.The old man had to temporarily move the receiver two inches away. Well, have you seen her? see you.I went back to see her yesterday afternoon.Very ill for a year without letting me know. That is, alas, just waiting for the teacher to come back to meet me! Then a long sigh came from the receiver. That's what I thought, too. It just so happens that you are right in front of you, so you can see her off. Yes, I was trying to talk to you.Jing Xian said that she had longed for burials, hoping to have cemeteries and tombstones and so on.I promised to give her a decent funeral, which is estimated to cost 4,000 RMB Where do we need so many?Xianli protested and yelled: "This is all cremation, not even a coffin, just buy a cemetery, can't it be so expensive?" This is not the most expensive, it's just above average, and it's only for taking care of the family members of overseas Chinese. aha!This is obviously a scam!i see you No, no, I promised, I can't break my promise and lose weight.Besides, I owe Mei Jiu so much, I would rather jump into the Pacific Ocean myself to save the funeral expenses, but also give her a decent grave. Is the teacher not enough money? That's why I want to discuss with you.The hotels here are more expensive than I imagined, regardless of the first-class fees and second-rate services, I can live at home, but the toilet can't stand it and can't stand it.However, I can stay in the county guest house in the future and save the next travel expense How close are you? Four thousand yuan.Can you think of a way for me? Um, do you have a credit card with you? I never use a credit card. I take it with me.Credit cards can borrow money here, but a 4% processing fee is charged in advance. So, can you borrow two thousand dollars for me?I'll write you an IOU first when I go back.When the bill comes later, I will pay you back in installments with interest. All right.I'll do it for you before I get on the plane tomorrow, and ask them to wire it to you. After explaining their hotel and room number clearly, the two exchanged a few words about their travel impressions before hanging up the phone. The next afternoon, the People's Bank of Hangzhou sent someone to deliver the cash. In the evening, the daughter-in-law brought their grandson to see him.Jiujiu has a cram school, so she can't come. Except for the serious and depressed expression, no one mentioned the funeral, as if they understood the old man's taboo about it. They brought a net bag of food, such as Longjing tea, chrysanthemum tea, persimmon cake, lotus root powder and fresh lotus root, etc., and piled up a tea table.Even the porcelain bowl for making lotus root powder, sugar and spoon are also brought. What are you doing with so many things?The restaurant has three meals ready-made! Having said that, when he saw the plump and plump fresh lotus root, he was overjoyed for a while, as if seeing an old friend. During festivals when I was a child, my mother always set up an incense table in the courtyard to worship the moon, and lined up a table full of food, such as moon cakes, haw jelly, white pears, roasted sweet potatoes, fresh lotus roots, water chestnuts and pomegranates. Dad, let's try a piece of fresh lotus root, wash it clean. The son sat across the coffee table from him, and cut half of it with a knife and gave it to him as he spoke. Does dad have any changed clothes to wash?I will wash. Jiufang sat on the edge of the bed with Jianfeng, looking restless. Don't bother, it's easy for one person. He chewed the lotus root and pointed to the bathroom, indicating that it was well equipped and convenient. Jianfeng went to look around the bathroom and asked: Grandpa, can I take a bath? His father immediately turned his head and gave him a sullen look, intending to stop him. Grandpa has already agreed: Of course, you can wash it. Jianfeng locked himself in the bathroom. The old man remembered sitting on the toilet in his daughter-in-law's room yesterday, and guessed that the whole family must have taken a bath in the kitchen, using an old-fashioned wooden basin. I remember meeting an old man in Jinmen Bridge Park and told an interesting story about his visit to relatives in Luoyang.It is said that relatives and friends came to visit him in the hostel, and they all stayed to take a bath. As a result, the guest room became a bathhouse, and the faucet kept running all day long. The old man chewed the tender lotus root, and at the same time hesitated whether he should open the door of convenience to his family. Do you take a shower too? Finally asked again. Jiu Fang didn't say anything, but Jing Xian thanked her politely. I have washed it at home and am used to washing the tub, which is also convenient. He didn't insist. In the blink of an eye, half of the tender lotus root has been eaten, and the mouth is full of fragrance, crispness and sweetness. Lotus root is good in my hometown!He couldn't help but cut another small section.Much fatter than before. This is lotus root from West Lake, Jiufang said, the variety has been improved. Dad loves to eat, so I will buy some more tomorrow.As he said that, Jing Xian suddenly fell in love with the scene.Mom also liked to eat lotus root during her lifetime, sweet and salty, and steamed with glutinous rice can be made into many flavors. The old man nodded, and couldn't bear to eat the lotus root in his hand for a moment. The room was silent for a while, and the sound of cheers from the water pipes in the bathroom could be clearly heard. Jing Xian ran to two cemeteries today and found a piece of land, which he said was very good, right? The daughter-in-law looked at her husband and changed the subject in a gesture. I don't know either, but people at the cemetery say the land is fine. Her husband honestly admitted.It is said that it is located on a small slope, facing east from west, with miscellaneous trees on the top of the slope.There is a good distance from the road so there is no threat of migration. What does dad think? Set it down if you feel good about it. Well, I'll call them back tomorrow to finalize. Jing Xian went on to talk about the graveyard of his grandparents, which was razed by rebel farmers during the Cultural Revolution and has been expanded into arable land. Mom has been obsessed with this matter.I think, do you think it is appropriate to set up a tombstone to commemorate them this time? Well, since we have our own land, we should do so. He was very happy that he had the opportunity to show his love to his parents, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone. There is one more thing, but also to ask for father's consent. Jing Xian was a little hesitant, and glanced at his wife, as if seeking some alliance or support. Dad might not know, but Jiufang immediately helped to explain that domestic policies can change as soon as they are said, and there is no guarantee.Now the policy is open, but no one dares to guarantee what will happen in the future.Jing Xian hoped to take this opportunity to buy more stones. The old man did not understand the meaning.He stared blankly at them for a moment. That's it. When I look at the stone tomorrow, I want to pick up a good one. I order two of them in the same way and stand side by side.A blank piece, after a hundred years, find someone to add text What?He even arranged for his own funeral to go to this field together! He opened his mouth wide in surprise and stared blankly at his son. Strange to say, it has always been taboo to talk about death, once you talk about your own funeral face to face, even though you are surprised, there is no sense of terror or fear. Looking at his son's honest and shy face, he suddenly thought of Cao Yu's play "Peking Man".Nowadays, it is no longer possible to put a pair of longevity materials and paint them every year, but a stone tablet can be erected and wait in the cemetery. The Chinese tradition has been passed down in such a different way. if dad doesn't object Against what?Oh, and with Mei Jiu's ashes they were also divorced once, but no one here seems to care or acknowledge it. I don't have anything, just do what you think you can do well. He answered very simply.There has never been such a happy thing in this life, and two generations have settled in one piece of land. He didn't have the courage to ask his son, how long can the land to be bought be kept forever?Will it be like the cemetery of the ancestors, in order to cultivate or build roads, it will be razed at any time? Mom would be very happy if she knew. Jing Xian looked at his wife with a smile and said, the deep ditch-like wrinkles on his face seemed to have been flattened all at once, and his eyes still shone with a peaceful and satisfied light. The old man suddenly became self-evident. All of this is in the works.It is mainly for the living, how long the cemetery can be kept is actually irrelevant. It's really thanks to Dad's return, Jiufang is also very relieved.Everything is easy to handle. There is money.Take it today. He took out the prepared three thousand yuan and handed it to Jing Xian. What kind of trees does Dad want to plant?Knowing earlier, you can ask someone to pick some good saplings. Jiufang advocates early planning. It is said that pines and cypresses are the most sought-after. Jing Xian said that the price is calculated according to the height of the tree. If I had to choose, the old man said, I would like to plant a few pomegranates and sweet-scented osmanthus. Pines and cypresses can grow evergreen. The son tactfully pointed out the advantages. Changqing is so lonely!There is nothing more monotonous than the unchanging green for many years. It is better to bloom brilliantly and lively in spring and autumn.Rather remember the glory of the past at the moment of fading.At the same time, imagine the new life in the coming spring. I love the colors and smells of autumn, he told his son and daughter-in-law.The family used to grow pomegranates and fenced them with iron railings. The flowers turned red in early summer, and the fruits could be eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival.Too bad it's gone now. It was all made by the Great Leap Forward!Jiufang complained angrily and said, it's good to make steel.The iron bars were all knocked away.They didn't stop doing anything, and simply dug up the roots of the pomegranate tree and sent it to be used as firewood to feed the blast furnace. Alas, at that time, the cooking pot could not be kept! Jing Xian looked at his father, shaking his gray head silently.It seems that the absurdity and perversion of that period are not worth mentioning. I remember that my mother also likes sweet-scented osmanthus.Dad, just plant as you said. His daughter-in-law firmly supported him. One or two pines and cypresses are also planted. Jing first reminded me gently. There are a lot of pomegranates and sweet-scented osmanthus!Jiufang supports to the end.Our own land, we can turn it into a garden if we like, who said that the cemetery is not so miserable? good!You have modernized your thinking! He praised his wife. Cemeteries in the United States, he told his family, are often in the center of the city, or near churches, and they are organized like parks, with no atmosphere that everyone should avoid.He didn't say it, but like the cemetery where Yongyong is, there is a piece of green grass, and there is no erected tombstone.The small tombstones are placed flat and embedded in the grass, and only people can recognize Zhang San or Li Si if they get close.Around the cemetery and on both sides of the main walkway, there are tall flowering trees or evergreen trees, which shade the sky.On weekends and holidays, this place is still a place for some people to relax or have a picnic. Tomorrow, Jiufang and I will split up to look for saplings. Jing Xian seemed to be able to foresee the scene of the cemetery ten years later, so he became enthusiastic. After a while, the bathroom door opened, and Jianfeng walked out radiantly. Hi!I've never been this clean since I was born! His face was flushed, his washed hair was neatly arranged, and the marks of comb teeth were still there. It's such a pleasure to take a shower!Lying in warm water with eyes closed, one is like floating on water, no, floating on clouds, alas, it is so comfortable!When will we have such sanitary equipment? I ignored my parents when I saw them.Instead, he came over to persuade the two of them to take a bath. You can soak in water without washing. Anyway, there is no charge. Waiting for the next bus to go home. How nice to be warm and comfortable! The couple still refused.After sitting down and chatting a few words about homework, he got up with his son.Going to catch the last bus home. Dad, I'll report back to you tomorrow night. The old man insisted not to. When the day to go to the crematorium is fixed, just come and let me know.I wander around by myself every day, and I come back indefinitely.You must not come. With that said, he personally escorted them to the elevator entrance. The next day, he started his plan to revisit the old place.Take the car to the Six Harmonies Pagoda first.Stop and go and walk up to the top of the thirteen-storey tower.Looking at the Qiantang River and the bridge, the scenery is indeed magnificent.When I came down to rest by the river, I chatted with fellow villagers, and only then did I know that the tide was two feet high, and it just passed the day before yesterday, but it was a pity that I missed it. On the way back in the afternoon, I went to Hupao to drink Longjing tea.There are too many tourists, and the elegance of drinking tea under the forest is completely lost.The well water at Hukou was still clear and tense. Young people rushed to throw copper coins into it. The water rose but did not overflow.Tried and failed when I was a child. The next day, he went to Feilai Peak and Lingyin Temple.The number of tourists here has exceeded the description of the crucian carp in the river, which makes people want to retreat several times.Now that you are here, let's take it easy, and finally squeezed into the Daxiong Palace among tourists and pilgrims. The temple has been rebuilt in a splendid golden light, and all the decayed wooden beams of the treasure hall have been replaced with reinforced concrete.The magnificent Buddha looks like a new outfit. After asking, I found out that it was re-carved with camphor wood in the 1950s.In addition, the stone Buddha statues of the Five Dynasties, Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and the woodcarved Buddha statues of the Song Dynasty are also well preserved. The elderly are afraid of crowding.It was crowded in the morning, and I was so tired that I lay down on the bed in the afternoon.And itchy throat, coughing several times, like a cold. In the evening, Jing Xian came alone.Seeing my father looking sleepy, I couldn't help showing worry. Every autumn is when influenza is rampant, and my father still seldom goes out, because places with a lot of people are prone to infection of germs.I'll ask the service desk for a while, and buy a few bottles of Lingqiao detoxification tablets for my father tomorrow morning, which is the most effective cure for colds. The old father smiled and listened to it.In the United States, colds are a disease that many doctors can't do anything about. If they barely prescribe a prescription, they only need to rest and drink water.He seldom gets sick, so he doesn't take this minor illness seriously, and believes that he will be fine after two days of rest. Dad, please lie down. Since the son was so serious, the father couldn't bear to refuse, so he went to bed casually and sat on the head of the bed.The son occupied a sofa and accompanied him across from each other. It is rare for father and son to face each other alone. He hoped that the father and son could have a deep talk, how happy the man-to-man conversation is!Jing Xian, who is nearly fifty years old, is there anything he can't say to his father who is seventy-two years old? Are you and Jiufang okay? Well, we've been married for twenty-five years. Jing Xian's tone was casual, but his eyes flickered as he looked at his father, as if he was guessing the meaning behind his father's question. One of the models of Chinese marriage is to raise the eyebrows and be well-behaved on the outside.In our generation, this is understandable.You are now amicable, and you have made some progress.But to me, it still looks like a brother-sister or sister relationship, lacking the intimacy that a husband and wife should have.Of course, this may only be a superficial phenomenon. Dad's observation is not wrong. With the current living conditions, we actually often maintain a brother-sister relationship. The old man let out a sigh, and the appearance of the room with the toilet came to mind.A large bed and a small bed are separated by a toilet, and the two mosquito nets can be used as curtains.Yangci's schoolbag was placed on the small table under the west window, and several clothes were hung on the back of the chair in front of the table. Two generations shared the same room, and it had to be used as a bathroom. It was really embarrassing. It is really inconvenient for Jiujiu to sleep in the same room with her parents at such an age.In the United States, children over the age of ten must have separate rooms for men and women. After mother Qiqi passed, Jiufang planned to renovate the empty room for Jianfeng Why give it to him?Doesn't he have his own room? It is very small, next to the kitchen, just big enough for a bed and a dining table, where everyone usually eats.What Jiufang meant was that since Jiujiu is still young, she will use her brother's room first.My elder brother has to marry a wife in two years and needs a big room.One bedroom and one living room are connected together, which is more attractive to women. I see. He couldn't bear to ask: If Mei Jiu was still around, wouldn't Jianfeng be able to marry a wife? Jiufang is shrewd and capable. He sincerely praised this daughter-in-law. Yes, ever since my mother fell ill, the family has been relying on her.Everything is up to her. Are you afraid of your wife? Jing was taken aback for a moment, then blushed slightly in embarrassment, but started to giggle. The men here are probably only farmers with the exception of common bronchitis problems. After the old man understood the homonym of strict wife management, he laughed too. What, is the status of women raised too high? Their status has indeed improved compared to before, they have jobs, and they can help support their families financially. Of course, men respect them three points.However, the real fear of them is because they have the power of life and death in the intercourse. This time it was the father's turn to be surprised.When did Chinese women become so active! You see, the room is so crowded, it is very common for two generations to share the same room, and there are also three generations.Husband and wife want to be intimate, and there is bound to be a race against time. No matter what, both parties need a high degree of cooperation.If the woman pulls her face, things will blow up.Therefore, there are very few people who are not afraid of their wives, even if they pretend to be heroes outside, they must be obedient at home. The old man smiled when he heard that. He hoped to talk more about this aspect, such as people's views on divorce, remarriage, and so on.However, Jing Xian lacked interest in this area, so he took the initiative to talk about Jianfeng, saying that his business opportunities and prospects were unprecedentedly good. After finally entering the factory, isn't it great to be a worker? The old man was surprised that the father and son vented their anger at the factory when they hated it. In the factory, we have no background, and it is difficult to join the party and upgrade.Only doing business depends entirely on one's ability and is completely free. Jing Xian said that the mainland has gradually relaxed its government regulations, designated special economic zones for import processing, and allowed private business. This is a rare opportunity for more than 30 years, and it would be a pity to miss it.Shanghai, Beijing, as well as cities such as Wuxi, Suzhou and Hangzhou, have emerged individual business households.Many penniless unemployed youths set up street stalls in the streets and alleys at first, and then quickly opened shops.People with an annual income of 10,000 yuan have gradually appeared in rural areas; some farmers have even established their own transportation companies to market products across provinces.He said that in the past, it was always believed that being rich was sinful and shameful, but now it has been turned upside down. Everyone envies money and tries to make money. Now everyone wants to improve their lives, and they are most envious of living in a special zone like Shenzhen.The income is high, everything is available, and the lifestyle is fully modernized.But like Shenzhen, ordinary people can't go in and stroll around if they have nothing to do.If ordinary people want to be prosperous, they can only do business, starting from small stalls and hawkers.Only in business can you rely on your personal ingenuity and hard work to get ahead. He also said that many cities have opened night markets, prospering night life.Like the county seat, two streets that cross each other have recently been opened.From dusk to ten o'clock at night, public and private stalls are set up to sell all kinds of snacks, dry goods from the north and the south, shoes, and fabrics.In addition, it also repairs shoes, tailors clothes, and repairs farm tools and bicycles, which is convenient for workers who go to work during the day.When the lights first came on, the crossroads were crowded.Farmers came from far away to participate, and brought two catties of fungus and golden needles, and sold them on the ground with newspapers. Dad, do you want to go and see?Jing Xian suggested: let Jianfeng go with grandpa, he is very good at these things. Let's talk about it when I move to the county party committee guest house.Would Jianfeng like to do small business?Grandfather was suspicious.He yelled that he had made money by being nonsense, and his tone was quite disdainful for doing this business. The grandfather never mentioned his grandson's desire to go abroad.One more thing is worse than one less thing, he doesn't want to involve himself. This kid is a bit ambitious, but he is really motivated when he does things.In the past two years, I was unemployed at home and bored.His mother took the time to make a few pairs of embroidered shoes, modified a few dolls, and asked him to sell them in Hangzhou, but they were all sold out!今年端午節，他又跑了一趟，也是圓滿完成任務。 Yeah?老人不禁要刮目相看。他奶奶說，他有生意頭腦。 我想鼓勵他從小生意做起，以後再看機會。照現在的形勢，機會是越來越多。很多人相信，按鄧小平和胡耀邦的路線走下去，便會出現公營企業和私營企業和平共存的局面。他們說，那樣就像臺灣了，公家包辦重大的企業，其它就開放給民營，讓大家自由發展和公平競爭，反而創造了經濟奇蹟。 景漢是說過，老人同意，臺灣的國營企業經常賠錢，賺外匯的多數是是民營企業。 那就是了！中國要有希望，非這麼辦不可！ 景先說的興奮，一臉的皺紋廣泛紅暈，眼光更是灼灼有神。 恐怕沒這麼簡單。臺灣號稱實行三民主義。從政治學上說，三民主義也是一種社會主義。但是實際上臺灣不走社會主義，所以經濟能一枝獨秀。現在中國搞自由經濟和經濟特區，這就是共產主義的一種異化，等於在走資本主義道路了。 現在取消四個堅持可能會造成人心大亂的局面，景先說，不管中央和地方上，還有極左勢力存在，正伺機反撲，所以，口號還不宜取消。好在我們都知道，政治口號是一回事，政策又是另一回事，大家心照不宣。 我在美國教了幾十年經濟學，一向批判社會主義的反人性和反科學。這兩天看看唔，我反而懷疑起來，中國若全盤資本主義化是否那麼可取。 全盤走資本主義道路是不可能。景先實事求是地表示，但是逐漸地開放小型私營企業，解放人民的生產力和創造力，有一天可能就摸索出一套適合國情的經濟制度來。 那，還得再看幾年才能看出什麼苗頭吧。 是是，所以很多人都希望改革派的鄧小平多活幾年，胡耀邦和趙紫陽永遠在位才好。 老人啞然失笑。 兒子的擁鄧，和孫子的反鄧，恰成對比。 景先今晚簡直是個奇蹟。自上海見面以來，就數這次說話最多最無顧忌。就像換了個人似的，一反在官長面前的謙卑，父母眼前的溫順。或妻管嚴症狀，竟然表現得相當激進，使老父大為驚訝。原來景先並非天生木訥，既關心兒子的前途，也關懷國家今後的去向，並沒有真的為一頂過時的右派帽子嚇得三緘其口。 以他今晚的言論，從前的右派帽子，多少怕也合乎尺寸吧。 父子倆直聊到九點出頭，怕趕不上最末一班巴士回縣城，景先才起身告辭。 明天星期日，玖玖要來陪爺爺一天。 好，好！ 老祖父已經等不及要聽她那輕脆甜美的聲音了。 那個日子定了沒有？ 送兒子到客房門口時，老人含蓄地打聽。 定了。對不起，竟忘了向爸爸報告。火葬場排了廿八日，上午十時舉行告別儀式。中午請親友在我們家裡吃飯，大廳裡正夠擺四桌酒席。下午三點出發。送骨灰入土為安。這個行程安排，爸爸覺得怎麼樣？ very good. 老人早下了入境隨俗的決心，絕口不參與任何意見。 哎呀，我又忘了一件事！ 景先站在門口，自責地敲敲自己的額頭。 今早接到伯母的電報。說她正設法買車票。要趕來見媽媽一面。 綺華要來奔喪？真是始料未及。 她何必折騰一趟，老人頗不以為然，我們反正要去漢口接她。 但是，伯母和媽媽，還沒見過一面呢！ 這一說，做父親的只有點頭稱是。 送走兒子。他立刻躺回床上。 這時不但渾身酸痛，關節似乎分崩離析，骨頭一根根宣告脫離似的，心情上也悵然若失。 一直盼著要見這位侄媳婦，但計劃中的地點在漢口，不在此地，尤其不是這種場合。到武漢遊覽東湖，然後一路行船到上海。這是計劃了兩年的行程，放棄未免不甘。但是綺華如果來得成，那麼自己還去武漢嗎？ 他發現，在大陸旅行不能有什麼事先的計劃，因為意外的事太多。幹什麼只有走一步瞧一步辦。 第二天，酸痛之外，又加上鼻水淋漓，他不得不承認，自己患了重傷風。 吃早點時，聽到華僑旅行服務社去岳墳的包車有空位，十點出發，便訂下了兩個位置。 到時在門口聚集等車的，有七八位，全是華裔客人，玖玖及時到達，祖父歡喜地牽著她的手上車去。 岳廟所在的棲霞嶺，距市區最近，週日旅客最多，想在岳王像前留影的，須要排隊等候。 導遊很盡責，走到哪裡，便解說掌故到哪裡。結果，本地旅客也聚攏過來。組成了一旅軍隊似的，浩浩蕩蕩地緊跟在後。 同志們請讓讓！ 導遊大聲勸導正在岳飛像前擺弄姿勢的遊人。 先讓外賓照一下相！ 正當相機咔嚓作響之際，導遊在旁說明，岳墳在文革期間受到紅衛兵破壞，理由是愚忠、不敢造皇帝的反等等；現在的塑像是前幾年重新塑造的。秦檜夫婦是鐵鑄的，敲打不碎，至今仍然跪在一邊。 No wonder!有個老華僑恍然大悟地叫起來。這岳飛不像古代的岳飛，很像現在的人呀！ 我看這個岳飛塑造得還不錯。 一位中年華僑挺身出來辯護。他捧了一架攝影機，衝鋒槍似的鏡頭正轉向四周圍觀的人群。 我剛去過成都的都江堰，參觀過二郎廟，他放下攝影機向大驚小怪的老頭說，那個二郎神也是遭文革破壞，後來重修的。新二郎身上披紅戴綠，臉孔圓圓胖胖，十足像個豐衣足食的人民公社社員！ 那也不錯呀！導遊靈活機警地加以譬解：正好反映我們這個時代的精神面貌嘛！ 說得眾人啞口無言。 爺爺，以前的岳飛是什麼樣子呢？ 玖玖悄聲問。 老人歪頭瞇眼地思索了一陣，竟記不起來。 古代忠臣的模樣吧。 他覺得，導遊的說法還有幾分真知灼見。 岳墳回來後，嗓門又痛又癢，止不住要乾咳出來。他怕傳染給孫女，也不願意讓人見到自己的病容，因此早早把她打發回家。 爺爺要好好休息兩天，你們都不必來看我，到時來接我就好了。 他吃了服務員代購的藥片，一時未見療效。胃口不佳，睡眠也差。翌日咳嗽加劇，甚至出現小便失禁的現象。他整天待在房裡。 明知傷風是小毛病，但內心竟懊惱而且恐慌得很。乾脆大病一場也好，索性臥床不起，避掉這場喪事算了，可惜只是一場感冒。 過去也感冒多次，但都沒有這回這麼窩囊，這麼痛苦。這一生的大病，就是在芝加哥為急性盲腸炎住院動過一次手術，那也沒現在難受。護士噓寒問暖，同房病人可以閒聊，雍雍每天來陪伴，一點都不寂寞。 如今病倒在旅館內。孑然一身，燈光下不禁顧影自憐。隔室傳來笑語，門外腳步蹀躞，相比對照，也倍感淒清。兒孫也許可以一招即來，但總不忍心叫他們不上班不上學來陪一個傷風的老頭子。 這種時刻，他最渴望的是一個女人在身邊，要個茶水，說句體己話，遞個熱毛巾什麼的都方便。是的，老來有伴才是幸福，萬一有個三長兩短，也有人奔波後事 後事，怎麼想到後事啦？ 他驚得渾身起雞皮疙瘩，連忙背後墊了枕頭坐起身來。 他安慰自己，從來還沒聽到有人死於傷風感冒的。美國人的剋星是心臟病、癌症、高血壓，這些他尚無徵兆，謝天謝地！ 有些思想竟是不以人的意志為轉移，譬如死亡，越不願想它，有關它的傳聞卻接二連三地闖進腦海。纏綿病榻，因而痛苦死亡的；活得厭倦而自殺的；還有人死了沒人知道，送牛奶的看到奶瓶成堆，才好心去報警的 自己不訂牛奶，到時真不連個報喪的都沒有？ 啊，又回到自己身上來！ 逃避瘟疫似的，他怏怏然下床，蹣跚地走向窗口，希望藉著美好的湖光山色來驅走心頭的恐懼。 窗外滿天清輝，湖水一片幽黯靜宓；岸邊燈光燦爛，遠山也有燈火輝映，像落下一把星星，亮得喧鬧歡騰。那一輪明月在穹蒼獨步，圓得完美無缺，傲視群倫般，襯得人更覺孤獨落寞。 他悻悻然拉上窗簾。 說是孤獨，似又不然。越靠近喪葬時刻，有關梅玖的記憶，她年輕時的音容，竟逐漸復活過來。新嫁娘的拘謹，伴著紅燭枯坐的窘相，在公婆面前低聲下氣，背後凝注自己的眼神，一被察覺便如驚弓之鳥般倉皇他顧這些塵封的記憶，如今都栩栩如生，以致那短暫的共處歲月，逐漸在腦海中擴大延長。他閉上眼便彷彿回到那炎夏的夜晚，她穿一件小白布衫，手揮著葵扇為他驅蚊催眠。他恍惚聽到許多聲音。夜深時，耳旁響起哭聲，那是她埋首被裏的啜泣，那麼傷心欲絕。還有一聲長長的嘆息，那是什麼？那，是她得遂心願後莫名所以的哭喊。 她說哭過一次，其實並不真確。事後她也熱淚盈眶，只是悄無聲息而已。 他感到梅玖就在附近，佇立床頭，倚在窗口，或隱身門後。驀然轉首，又失去影蹤。 梅玖，妳在哪裏？ 任憑他滿室繞走，柔聲呼喊，卻總是可望而不可即。等手觸到玻璃面，寒涼穿心時，他才驚覺，梅玖已永遠離去。這時的空虛和惆悵，穿過血液在全身運轉，才化成了永恆的寂寞。他但願自己也那麼哭泣一次，但淚水始終不來。 廿八日晨，健豐來接他。 一早就刮了臉，梳洗完畢，穿上西服，並結了一條素色的領帶。咳嗽輕些，但仍然渾身疲軟，卻努力打起精神，就怕露出病容來，不料還是瞞不過年輕人。 爺爺的感冒還沒好嗎？人瘦了些。 好了，好了，沒什麼！他故作輕鬆過兩天縣太爺請客，還有你爸爸單位的很快就吃得胖回來。 哦，你說的縣太爺，今天就可以見到！健豐挺興奮地告訴爺爺。縣委書記今早會來參加追悼儀式，爸爸已經等在火葬場了。爺爺，我們快走吧。 既然勞動了一縣之尊，那是不好遲到。他叫了一部計程車直奔縣城來。 火葬場在城郊，是一座外表不顯眼的四方平房。但是高聳的紅磚煙囪冒出滾滾黑煙，看得老人渾身不自在。他好像在清明透亮的空氣中嗅出了一股焦味。 久芳母女在門口迎接客人。 她們穿了平常的衣服，只在袖子上加一圈黑布，此外便沒有其他誌哀的裝飾。 據說上一家的儀式剛結束，禮堂還沒有重新準備好。因此，景先陪著早來的親友和兩個攝影師等在禮堂外的走道上。 他剛進來，景先便領著一個彎腰駝背的小老頭迎過來。 為恆，還認得我嗎？ 這個老人頭頂禿光了，只剩周遭一圈稀疏的白髮，襯得禿頂又圓又亮像隻燈泡。他老遠就開口招呼，缺了上下排門牙，說話便像風箱漏氣地渾濁不清。 爸爸，這是為德公公。 老人恍然大悟，連忙趨前握手。 對不起，為德，太久不見了，一時竟沒認出來。這些年，你都好嗎？ 好好，這個年紀還活著，托福托福，嘿嘿 他點頭哈腰，又露出無齒的微笑。 怎麼認得出來呢？當初耀武揚威的從堂兄，如今衰老萎縮得矮了半截，前後判若兩人。 聽說你要住到縣招待所，好，我們倆要敘敘舊！ 是，是，要好好敘一敘。 剛招呼完為德，便被景先扶著轉過身去。原來一個男子攙著一位乾瘦的老太太，正向自己迎面而來。 老太太顯然腿瘸，依靠著拐杖，走路仍是顫顫巍巍的。蒼白的鵝蛋臉形，五官端正。年輕時想必面貌姣好，可惜歲月在臉上刻畫了太密太深的痕跡，如今只予人一份年華已逝的淒涼和悲哀。 雖是蒼老衰殘，老太太一身黑布衫褲，黑布鞋，收拾得素淨整潔。黑白相間的頭髮從中分開，齊耳梳平，各用髮夾固定，顯見是個做事有條不紊的女人。 一路上前，她凝視著老人，目光柔和而深沉，嘴角微張，露出一個親切而熟絡的微笑。 看著是有些臉熟，老人猜想，這必是自稱和自己小時候玩過的耿婆婆了。 你們長得很像，我一眼就認出來了！ 她先開口，因為走得吃力，說話一頓一頓地喘著氣。 爸爸，這是 趁著景先一遲疑，她已經自我介紹了。 我是綺華，景漢的愛人。 綺華，景漢的 啊，景漢啊！ 他失聲喊起來。 瞪著這個拄杖的老太婆，他感到萬分難受不知為誰，綺華，還是景漢？ 叔叔認不出，我比照片老太多了！ 綺華口氣落落大方，眼神卻頗陰沉抑鬱，似有難伸的遺憾和悵惘。 叔叔一時無言以對。明知不能怪誰，但確有一種被愚弄了似的尷尬和失望。 胡景先！誰是胡景先？ 禮堂的門此時霍然開放，出來一個管理人模樣的大漢，高聲喝問著。 老人連忙側轉了身子，目光落到兒子臉上。 爸爸，你和嫂嫂在這裏等一下，我去看看就來。 你和健豐都去吧，我們等著就是。 禮堂的門近在咫尺，他忽然害怕跨過它。即使是短暫的延遲，也是意外的收穫。 走掉了介紹和引見的人，在旁觀望的親友也隨著景先父子紛紛進了禮堂。 這是我們家老二崇漢，綺華目指著扶持自己的人說，他落地三天，景漢就走了。 叔公，您好。 一直悶聲不響的崇漢，點頭哈腰地請安，一手仍扶著母親不放。 他中等個子，穿著一身普通的藍布衣褲。白淨的長圓臉掛著溫和的微笑，目光卻憂悒凝注，神色透著一份和他年紀並不相稱的老氣，一種閱歷甚深的收斂。 也像他媽媽。叔公感到奇怪，胡家的兒子都像他們的母親。難怪，都是母親帶大的。 唉，已經這麼大了，景漢一定想不到！老人一時感慨繫之。結婚了吧？ 結婚的是姐姐慰華，兩個兒子都唸中學了。 綺華說著，向兒子瞟去了一道愛憐的眼光。 Yes Yes. 老人暗怪自己健忘，綺華給她丈夫的信上，早說過崇漢在黑龍江插隊落戶過八年，怕回不來家鄉，一直不肯