Chapter Eleven: Learning to Make Those Side Dishes (One)

  There are many ways to drink, but drinking generally requires side dishes. Side dishes have many varieties, and we don't care how others evaluate any side dish when drinking; only after personally tasting the side dish do we know what flavor it is.

  The ancients said that the Book of Han can be used to drink wine, but in fact, if we regard life as drinking wine, then when we drink this cup of life's wine, not only can the Book of Han be used to drink wine, but friendship and love can also be used to drink wine. Everything we experience in the world can be used to drink wine, including hardships and happiness, even a casual remark can be used to drink wine. All our intentional and unintentional actions in life are making dishes to accompany our own life's wine.

  We drink wine, the wine of life, and the appetizer of life. Perhaps it's because of responsibility, perhaps it's because of longing, or perhaps it's for some reason, we interpret our own lives while drinking.

  Summer vacation has arrived, Shi Wei insisted on going back to Shancheng with Long Bao to see the leopard in the painting, and Hai Lao also wanted to go together to experience the scenery of Xiongshan. So after sending off Du Ci and Bao Bei Fen, the three of them went back to Long Bao's hometown - Shancheng Xiongshan.

  The train arrived in Shancheng almost at noon, and the three of them got off the train and had a quick meal. They then took a bus to Jiangping Town from the East Bus Station. Longbiao wanted to take Baozi away from Wenli's home and also visit his teachers on the way. The road from Shancheng to Jiangping Town was almost 100 miles long, but only half of it was paved with asphalt. The rest was a bumpy dirt road with lots of dust flying around. The bus was packed with people, goods, baskets, and all sorts of smells mixed together, which made Shiwei feel uncomfortable. However, he was still excited about his countryside trip and kept pointing at the natural scenery along the way, laughing and chatting like a child.

  When they arrived at Jiangping Town, it was already past three o'clock in the afternoon. The three of them came to the front gate of Wenli's home. This is a separate small courtyard surrounded by walls on all four sides, with many flowers, grasses and fruit trees planted inside and outside the yard, and there are also lush vegetable fields around, covered with green vegetables.

  Shi Wei walked and asked Long Bao: "Where is the leopard? Why hasn't it come out to welcome you yet? Old Six, where is the leopard? Where is it?"

  A low and mournful howl, a black and yellow flash of lightning "swooshed" out from several feet away in the Wu family courtyard!

  This is a dog, a vicious dog with eyes that emit a cold glow.

  This dog didn't bark like other rural dogs, it didn't even bare its teeth. It was a dog that only used its eyes to show its presence. Shi Wei was scared off by this sudden ferocious dog and Hai Tao hurriedly bent down to pick up a stone as a defensive weapon.

  The fierce dog stood still three to five meters away from Long Bao, its eyes fixed on him.

  Long Wan didn't move, only infinitely gently gazing at this fierce and intimidating but not very large vicious dog.

  Suddenly, the dog rolled on the ground several times, let out a long howl towards the sky, opened its limbs and ran rapidly in the vegetable field by the side of the road. It ran east and west, south and north, jumped down from the ridge of the field, made an immediate turn in mid-air, landed and scratched its paws on the ground fiercely. Then it shot up onto the main road like an arrow, circled around Shi Weihai, Long Taibai and Dragon quickly several times before lying down in front of Long Taibai, with its bottom raised high, its forelimbs and chest completely stuck to the ground, its front paws lightly grasping the earth, its eyes staring fixedly at Long Taibai.

  Shi Weihai stared at the dog's strange behavior with his eyes wide open, Shi Wei was the first to come back to himself and excitedly shouted: "Is it a leopard? Is it a leopard? Is it? Is it?"

  Long Bao didn't answer, lightly beckoning the dog with his hand and calling out: "Come!"

  The fierce dog suddenly sprang into the air and pounced on Long Biao's chest, frantically licking his face and clothes with its tongue. Long Biao hugged the dog, laughing loudly as he dodged its enthusiasm.

  Shi Wei tentatively touched the oily fur of the vicious dog with his hand and immediately withdrew it.

  Long Bao patted the dog's head, seemingly talking to people in general, and said to the dog: "Leopard, come, let me introduce you. This is Hai Tao brother, this is Shi Wei brother."

  The dog glanced at Haitao and Shiwei with his eyes, barked twice, and took it as a greeting.

  The atmosphere at Wenli's home was somewhat unnatural, and her mother repeatedly mentioned Zheng Xue, praising him as a sensible and polite young man. She said it was a pity that he only stayed for three days during the summer vacation last year, and they had wanted to keep him for a few more days. Wenli's mother also asked Longbiao about the ancient inherited curse, but was scolded by her father for being nosy.

  The hypocritical hospitality made Long Bao deeply feel the utilitarian and cold attitude of the Wenli family towards him, Hai Tao felt like he had eaten a fly, feeling uncomfortable all over his body. Long Bao suddenly regretted not reserving the money that the Wenli family had paid for him two years ago when he donated it, he really didn't want to have any more involvement with Wenli. Shi Wei was too lazy to think about these things, he just played with Baozi, he had already become friends with Baozi.

  Although Wenli's family also said that they could stay at her house, Longbiao tactfully said he wanted to go see the school teachers and declined their kindness. He walked out of Wenli's house with his bag, with Baozi closely following behind. Shiwei had a crush on Baozi, and Baozi felt its owner's bad mood, so they started playing a game of tag on the road.

  The arrival of Longbiao is a big deal in the eyes of the teachers at No. 12 Middle School. Principal Wang immediately gathered those teachers who had taught Longbiao before and other school leaders to set up a table at home.

  Principal Wang grasped Longbiao's hand and said, "Longbiao! You are the most talented, most ambitious, most determined, bravest and kindest student I have ever seen since I started my career in education. I feel extremely honored to have a student like you in my lifetime!"

  The school leaders and teachers nearby all echoed in agreement.

  Long Wan felt that he didn't deserve this evaluation, and with a reddened face, he stood up and said: "You are all overpraising me. I have no achievements to report to the teachers now. In my two years of university, I have accomplished nothing. I am unworthy of your cultivation and teachings."

  Principal Wang furrowed his brow, his expression turning solemn as he said, "Long Bao, you're doing a good thing by working hard and being frugal, but how can you not respect your teachers and the school rules, and be so willful and disobedient? And to think that you even got punished for it?"

  Principal Wang paused, then said: "Long Bao, a person can't take others' kindness as a donkey's liver and lungs. Excessive stubbornness, excessive pride, and excessive resistance to others' kindness are all manifestations of being overly self-centered. Being alone in one's own world, with no regard for others, is very dangerous! To put it more severely, it's arrogant and conceited, looking down on everyone else, thinking oneself is the best in the world! How can this be allowed?!"

  Principal Wang said with a serious tone: "Understanding the world is about learning, mastering human relationships is about writing articles. Dragon, society is a university! What is called worldly affairs? What is called human emotions? It's not like the knowledge in books, it's not written in books! Others won't teach you either! You have to figure these things out yourself through social interactions! With your strong personality, if you don't change and learn this subject of society, how will you survive in the future? How will you build a career? You must understand that one needs to learn how to sell oneself, show oneself, express oneself effectively. If you don't strengthen your learning and training in this area, if you don't learn how to blend into society... then I think even if you become a graduate student or a PhD, your impact on society won't be great. You might as well just find a job after graduating from university..."

  Long Bing was deeply shocked by Principal Wang's words, and he lowered his proud and strong head. Long Bing was speechless, Principal Wang's words pierced his heart, he had no face to face Principal Wang's heartfelt words, he felt deeply ashamed for himself.

  Principal Wang arranged accommodations for the three of them.

  Haitao lay on the bed and pushed Longbiao with his hand: "Old Six, your Principal Wang is really capable! How come he only became a small principal?"

  Long Bao's mind was still on Principal Wang's speech, and today's shock to Long Bao was too great, as if it suddenly enlightened him to many things he had not understood before. Long Bao was pondering repeatedly, and when Hai Tao said this, he hastily replied: "Principal Wang is of very high caliber, one of the first batch of university students after ***, I don't know why, but he only became a principal, it's said that some of his classmates have already become county magistrates."

  Haitao shouted "what a pity" and then said: "Old Six, I think Principal Wang scolded you quite right! Just now, Principal Wang repeatedly emphasized to you that the curse is simply idealism. We are all learning Marxist materialism, how can we believe in these things? What's with your Dragon family being destined to not live past 30 years old, it should be nonsense! Your parents and brother getting into accidents were all unexpected, such things happen nationwide, who knows how many similar situations there are, you can't blame the reason on some curse!"

  Shi Wei sneered and walked up to say: "That is, if the heavens really have a curse, why does it specifically target your ancestor Long Bao, not other people with the surname Long? Why doesn't it use curses to kill those corrupt officials one by one, but instead lets them live in luxury every day, harming ordinary people, and plays this boring game on your family's loyal generations for centuries? So, I can infer that there is no such thing as a curse in this world! Isn't that right?"

  Long Bao acknowledges that what Principal Wang, Hai Tao and Shi Wei said are all true facts and reasons. Long Bao himself has also thought so, but the ancestral genealogy clearly records it, how can it be explained?

  I remember Grandpa Qi saying that there was a letter written by Mom in that box, and Grandpa Qi told me to wait until I'm sixteen years old to read it. Now that I've turned sixteen, I can go take a look at the letter Mom left behind.

  The next day, Long Bao and Hai Tao, Shi Wei, and Bao Zi rushed to Tian Lei Township. Long Bao saw Liu Laozhongyi and Liu Laonainai, as well as several teachers. Two years had passed without seeing each other, and Liu Laozhongyi's hair was already white. He almost couldn't recognize the now tall and handsome Long Bao. He tightly grasped Long Bao's hand, and two lines of old tears flowed down his face. His voice choked with emotion as he wanted to say something to Long Bao but couldn't get anything out, only shaking Long Bao's hand.

  Then the three of them walked along that winding road for over ten years, not knowing how many times they had taken this route to Xiongshan. The scenery along the way was still the same, even the wild grass by the roadside swayed in the wind with the same gesture as it did in their memories. The river water, ponds, wild trees, rice fields, swallows, sparrows, everything remained unchanged, except for a few newly built houses of villagers that occasionally appeared by the roadside. Baozi led the way in front, sniffing from time to time to see if his urine smell was still there, and occasionally lifting up his hind legs to squeeze out a few drops of dog pee.

  Shi Wei was completely like a child at this moment, pointing here and there to ask Long Bao, what's this, what's that, can pigs eat this kind of grass, do cows chew on that kind of grass. Even the undulating waves of rice paddies made him exclaim: Too beautiful, too beautiful! Hai Tao saw him like that and couldn't help but laugh, this good-for-nothing, actually didn't even recognize sweet potato sprouts, a typical lazy city kid. Hai Tao had been to the countryside several times before, so he still recognized these things.

  The sun was scorching, and the three of them didn't bring any shade, so Long Bao ran to a small pond and picked a large green lotus leaf for Shi Wei and Hai Tao to wear on their heads. The three of them walked around and arrived at the front of the big sandy beach, where they scooped up water from the Zijiang River to wash their faces.

  Just a few more miles on the mountain road and I'll be home. The leopard is still running in front, Long Bao staring at the familiar road under his feet, tears involuntarily welling up in his eyes, swirling in his heart, swirling in his mind.

  The closer I get to home, the more timid my feelings become! It's only when I'm close to home that I realize my emotions are filled with apprehension.

  Long Baoqiang put on a smiling face and politely greeted several familiar villagers he met, and finally saw the old house that his ancestors had lived in and left to him again.

  Is this my former home? Is this the home where I used to live with Grandpa Qi? Is this the home where my parents lived?

  For two years, wind, frost, rain and snow have ravaged this house, which has been left unrepaired and is now in a state of disrepair. The tiles are covered with weeds, the gate is slightly ajar, and the stone steps at the entrance are overgrown with scattered weeds and moss. Spider webs hang loosely from every possible place where they can be spun.

  A mouse was apparently startled by the sudden visitor and scurried away hastily, with the leopard giving chase in a low growl. Shi Wei hurriedly called out to the leopard to come back.

  Haitao saw the tears on my face, and with a strong arm around my shoulder, he said: "Brother! We three big men, are we still afraid of not being able to deal with it? Don't worry! Go get a few things!"

  I nodded and stepped into the house, a musty smell that made my heart ache rushed straight to my nose. With a creak, I pushed the door wide open.

  Inside the house, the old furniture in the room was scattered all over the place, some with broken arms, some with broken legs, and some with smashed boards. The bed was also torn apart, and my quilt that I had stored in a trunk was gone too. Those pickled vegetable jars and pots, bowls, and chopsticks were all shattered on the ground. Many books that had been thrown to the ground were moldy and ruined. Even the ancestral tablets of our ancestors on the altar were smashed!

  ……

  I silently picked up the spirit tablet, and big drops of tears fell on it.

  Haitao and Shiwei were utterly shocked at what they saw, they couldn't say a word and had no idea how to communicate with Longpo.

  The three of them stood there for a long time. The leopard was searching for mice in the room, and it had already bitten one to death, with the mouse corpse thrown outside the door.

  Shi Wei and Hai Tao exchanged a glance, nodded, and began to clean up. The two of them clumsily threw away the completely destroyed things into the courtyard.

  Long Bao stared blankly at them, wiping away his tears and then went forward to help clean up together.

  Liu Jinfu, the village accountant, arranged lunch for Longbiao and his family. Longbiao was eager to know what was going on, and Liu finally told him the whole story. It turned out that after Hu Wenming (Hu Zide's father) was transferred from being the town head of Jiangping Town to becoming the party secretary of Tianlei Township, Qi Yunhai was also transferred to the county government as the deputy secretary of the county politics and law committee. Wu Xizhong (the former village head), relying on their support, did whatever he wanted in Dafeng Village, and the villagers dared not speak out against him. Last year, there was a severe drought in Shancheng, especially in Tianlei Township, where the disaster was even more serious, and the mountain springs of Xiongshan were almost dry. The villagers had trouble even getting drinking water, and Wu Xizhong, perhaps on Hu Wenming's instructions, used the excuse that a sorceress said Longbiao was a jinx who had run away, so heaven brought disaster upon them. He led several people to come and smash Longbiao's house, smashing furniture and preparing to push the house down and burn it. The villagers did not dare stop him, but fortunately, Wu Laoye (the oldest member of the Wu family) stepped forward and said that the drought was a natural disaster, heaven's punishment on humans, and that heaven would never let people live comfortably. He also said that the lack of water was because during the Great Leap Forward, all the trees on Xiongshan were cut down, and it had nothing to do with Longbiao's family. Wu Laoye was the highest-ranking elder in the Wu family, and with him speaking out, Wu Xizhong could only lead his men away.

  Long Bao's anger was boiling over, he smashed things and even the ancestral tablet! And to make matters worse, Wu Xi Zhong and his gang were going to set fire to the house! What can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated?! His face turned red with rage, as soon as Liu Jin Fu finished speaking, "Whoosh" he stood up and was about to rush out. Hai Tao and Shi Wei also got up at the same time.

  Liu Jinfu panicked, covering his mouth with his hand and shouting at the top of his lungs: "Long Bao! Long Bao! You're now the only heir to the Long family! Are you going to risk your life fighting him? If something happens to you, won't the Long family be extinct?! How can you not think this through calmly?! How can you face your ancestors and your parents?! At this point, what's the point of going after him for revenge?! What good will it do?! And if you really manage to stir up trouble, wouldn't I become an accomplice to arson?! How could I still stay here?! Besides, this is their territory, no matter how brazen they are, they won't dare go too far!"

  Haitao Shiwei was after all an outsider, and he calmed down. Shiwei said loudly: "Old Six, a gentleman takes revenge, ten years is not too late! Today we will endure it, but in the future, he will be sorry!" Haitao also changed from preparing to rush out to hugging Longbiao, saying: "Old Six, don't be impulsive, listen to me. If you must fight him, fine, I'll accompany you to the death; however, you should also think about your responsibilities, can't be reckless, a small concession can ruin the big plan! There will be plenty of opportunities to settle accounts and take revenge, right?"

  The dragon's anger gradually subsided. Ah, he hadn't even gotten married, graduated from college, or had children. What if something really happened? How could he face his ancestors? His parents? Grandfather Qi? Grandfather Qi always expected him to make a name for himself in the future. Principal Wang had just talked to him about it last night, how could he forget today? Even if he beat up Wu Xizhong now, what would be the point? Would it relieve his anger? Let off steam? Moreover, Wu Xizhong would definitely know that Liu Jinfu was behind it, wouldn't that mean Liu Jinfu would get into trouble as soon as he left? Besides, this was just a family matter, did he need to drag two brothers into it?

  Enduring anger is much more difficult than physical tolerance. Physiological pain is just a sensory reaction, but psychological humiliation really requires courage to face. Long Bao deeply felt this.

  Mr. Wu, who was already 92 years old, was still mentally sharp and articulate. He was delighted to see Longbiao bring gifts to visit him, and he held Longbiao's hand and asked about his well-being. Longbiao did not expect that this once stubborn old man would be so kind to him.

  The old man had no teeth, but he smiled and started eating the lantern cake made by Zhang Han, saying it was delicious. He also happily recalled some old events of the Long family in the past. Wu Lao Tai Ye told Long Bao to focus on his studies with peace of mind, as there were people taking care of him at home, and not to worry about any past grievances. What's most important now is to learn a good skill and strive to bring blessings to fellow villagers.

  The old house is now in such a state that it can't be inhabited, so the three of them had to spend the night at Liu Jinfu's home.

  Long Bao's mind was preoccupied with his mother's letter and the family tree, both of which were stored in a box buried under the vegetable garden. Tonight, he had to dig them up and take a closer look, wondering what kind of letter his mother had left for him sixteen years ago.

  It was not until late at night when the only sound in the fields was the chirping of crickets that he quietly left the house with a flashlight and came to the vegetable field, where he dug up the box. He took the box into the old house, walked into the inner room, and opened it.

  He suppressed the excitement in his heart, put his mother's letter into his pocket, and then opened the bronze-made family tree to read it word by word. The relics of his ancestors on the family tree proved that the curse borne by the Long family was true, and for sixty-three generations, not a single ancestor had lived beyond thirty years old. Those ancestral mothers had all passed away within a year after their husbands' death. The warnings from the ancestors were written clearly: after the children turned sixteen, the first thing they had to do was to carry on the family line, and their only hope was that in some future generation, heaven would naturally terminate this terrible curse on their family.

  Long Bao relocked the box and buried it back in the vegetable field, trying to restore it to its original state. This time, he kept the copper key, which was actually a small knife, on himself.

  The next day, Long Bao went to his ancestors' graves to burn incense, paper and weeds, and to tend the soil. This was a relatively isolated cemetery with over a hundred large and small tombstones of varying heights, hidden by dense wild grasses and shrubs. Many of the tombstones were so old that the inscriptions on them could no longer be read, while many others had long since toppled or shattered.

  The three of them spent almost two or three hours under the scorching sun before they roughly cleaned up the grave.

  Longbiao arranged the offerings in front of his parents' and Uncle Qi's graves, lit candles and incense paper, then ignited a handful of incense sticks, inserting three incense sticks into each grave. He also burned a handful of incense paper at each headstone before beginning to recite the memorial text he had written on red paper.

  Main Sacrificer: Xiaonan Longbo

  Yin and yang are far apart, wanting to entrust swans with the intention of reciprocating nourishment.

  Offering sacrifices with a sorrowful heart, I can only express my filial piety and lonely feelings through paper money and candles.

  It was the year of Xin Si, and it was summer. Later generations' lonely man and filial son Long Bao, on June 8th, respectfully used sacrificial rituals to offer sacrifices in front of the graves of his ancestors and said:

  High mountains and red sun, green sea and blue sky, low-hanging clouds, rain swallows flying, autumn river shadows disorderly, wheat leaves drooping. Sixty-four generations of descendants weep facing the proud sun.

  Looking at the tomb and sweeping, feeling the longing getting higher, kneeling for a long time in front, facing this sorrow, the ritual of offering not yet completed, tears of grief already wetting the dry soil.

  Alas! My Dragon Family's calamity, why is it so? Painful sighs! The root is hard to forget!

  The scenery is boundless, but I can only gaze at the majestic mountains and green waters. The sorrow is overwhelming, who can sympathize with the lonely child's spirit that pierces the long rainbow, tears falling like a deluge. Today, I respectfully offer three libations, bowing to worship the ancestors' spirits. With nothing worthy to present, I humbly express my deepest feelings, hoping that future generations will understand our sincere intentions.

  The husband only knows the operation of heaven and earth, the cycle of乾坤, our ancestors were in their prime, riding cranes to distant places, not entering the dusty world. The years are vast and long, human life is difficult, until the 64th generation of descendants, the world has changed like the sea and the mulberry fields, no longer the same as before. Although the grandson is not filial, relying on the ancestors' high moral character, their virtues have been passed down, now he has become a university student. However, the grandson is actually incompetent, unable to revive the family's reputation, ashamed and unable to bear it. Holding onto past mistakes, never having pleased his parents, suffering hardships and difficulties, being unfilial and unkind, how can this be endured!

  Alas! Why must yin and yang be forever separated? My heart is torn apart, tears flow like blood, and my liver is shattered! Do you know, my ancestors? Do you know, my father? My mother?

  Today, the sixty-fourth generation of descendants of Long Bao, we gather before his spirit tablet, mourning and telling each other of our grief. We look up to silently plead for his blessing, and bow down to receive his benevolence. I will forever remember the teachings and warnings he gave me, and strive to establish a family and career as soon as possible, in order to continue our lineage and prevent it from being cut off!

  Offering sacrifices and libations to comfort the spirits of our ancestors!

  Enjoy your meal!

  After finishing the sacrifice, Long Biao knelt in front of the tomb and refused to get up, with tears streaming down his face.

  There was also a photo in Mom's envelope, and Longbiao took the photo and examined it carefully:

  This is mom, this is dad, and this is brother. Dad's face is very stern, with a stubble beard. Mom looks elegant, gentle, beautiful, and kind-hearted. Dad is holding a chubby little boy in front of a backdrop, while mom is leaning against them gently.

  This is a family photo taken before Long Bo was born, estimated to be a black and white photo taken in the early 1980s. Judging from his brother's appearance, he may be only two or three years old. The photo has faded somewhat, and there are even water stains on the bottom. Brother Qi said that his brother looked like him when he was young, but unfortunately, he didn't take any photos when he was young, otherwise, they would have known.

  Long Bao opened up a yellow letter paper, with his mother's elegant handwriting.

  My baby!

  You should be over 16 years old by now and should also be tall and handsome like your father. You should also know about the affairs of the Long family.

  Mom is taking advantage of her own clarity to write this letter to you now, I don't know when my next clarity will be. Looking at you sleeping foolishly, Mom's heart is broken. Poor child, poor you with a difficult fate...

  I met your father at the Xianhe Building, and his deep melancholy drew me in. I fell in love with your father. Child, your father told me everything about himself, and the magic of love made me follow him unconditionally...

  I didn't expect the tragedy of the Long family to continue in our generation, and the last bit of fantasy I had was ruthlessly shattered. With your brother's and father's departure, my mind is filled with despair, I know my spirit is starting to collapse, and I also sense that I am about to die, about to leave behind my child...

  Child, curses are real, I have no choice but to believe it's true. Child, mom is getting a little dizzy now, I need to finish talking quickly.

  Mom called Wen Yan, your grandfather is a university professor, named Wen Shende, your grandmother is Yu Yingyao, your grandmother's body is not good, Mom has an older brother, that is your uncle.

  Thank the Bodhisattva, I was once so happy and joyful. Although the days with your father were short-lived, they were the warmth of my life. Even if it has come to this point, Mom has never regretted her choice back then...

  "My baby, I know you've suffered a lot. Mom couldn't take care of you so she had to leave you with Grandpa Qi. Mom is going to leave now, and her soul will go find your dad. Mom even saw your dad waving at me from over there, asking me to come over. Child, mom can finally be with your dad and brother again... but it's a pity that you still have to endure such hardships in this world..."

  Our family's hardships are too heavy, generation after generation of loneliness and hardship, suffering all difficulties. Mom is always praying to the heavens to let all the hardships end with you, so that my child can have a beautiful future, so that my precious son can marry a good girl who is not only beautiful but also gentle and loving. Praying to the heavens for a beautiful future for you...

  Child, mom can't write anymore. Last words to you: no matter how much suffering you endure, don't meet with your paternal grandparents again. Don't bring the curse upon them. This is what your ancestors and your father entrusted me with. Your paternal grandparents will be well taken care of by your uncle.

  Child, my child, do you know how much I love you? Do you know that Mom is now in the underworld with your dad and brother, we are all thinking of you and loving you wholeheartedly! My precious son.

  Wishing you happiness and joy!

  Mother Wen's performance with tears and pen. January 11th, 1986 night.

  This was written by mom two months before she passed away. At that time, Long Bao was only seven months old. Two months later, mom left us.

  Long Bao looked at his mother's last letter, but he had no tears in his eyes. He just held the letter with a trembling hand.

  He stood alone by the riverbank, suddenly letting out a loud shout towards the sky: "Ah......!"

  Shi Wei and Hai Tao looked at him from afar. Behind them was Xiongshan.

  The water of the Zijiang River is not very clear, but it's much cleaner than the Yangtze River. Occasionally, one or two water birds fly over the river surface, trying to pick up something from the water.

  Today's weather isn't very hot, with some dark grey clouds covering the sky, seeming like it's going to rain, and the river breeze is also quite cool.

  Long Bo took off his clothes and walked into the river, swimming with all his might. The leopard also swam up to him.

  The dragonfly flew to the other side of the river and then flew back, flying back and forth.

  ……

  Haitao went to his girlfriend Wu Qingfen's hometown in Anhui, where her parents wanted to meet him. Haitao took the train and left. Shi Wei insisted on bringing Baozi back to Changhan, saying he had already fallen in love with Baozi. So, he and Long Bao took the long-distance bus from Shancheng to Changhan with little dog Baozi. The journey from Shancheng to Changhan takes over ten hours by bus, which runs on a provincial highway.

  The world is a vast and mysterious place, I arrived sixteen years ago, but now my unchangeable past has gone with the wind, disappearing without a trace.

  Life, I am engraving eternity in simple landscapes with fleeting moments. I have never lost heart to myself, even though I still haven't achieved anything yet.

  I do not piously hope, I do not vaguely pray, and I am too proud to petition the master of the universe. My head is bloody but unbowed. Look straight ahead, just look straight ahead, no need to glance around.

  My heartbeat is the wilderness bell, one strike and one knock only resonates on this land, one strike and one knock but dust fate.

  The history of the Wilderness Bell is the dusty fate I have experienced.

  Long Bao drew a line under these words in his own poetry book and pushed open the bedroom door out of the library.

  It's bad, De Lao, that is, Grandpa is in front! Long Bao's heart thudded, and his body on the bicycle shook slightly.

  The old man had already seen him, and the old man was walking slowly from the front. He liked Longbiao very much, a kind of intimacy.

  The old man beckoned him over with a kind smile: "Come here, come here."

  Long Bu could only stop in front of De Lao and shouted with mixed emotions: "De Lao, hello!"

  "Long Bao, it's been so long since I've seen you! How are you, young man?" De Lao looked at him with affection.

  "Oh, Master De, you've been studying harder than before, I hope your body is still doing well?" Long Bao said with a calm tone, trying to appear nonchalant.

  "It's all right, it's all right!" Old De was obviously pleased with Longbiao's greeting, and smiled: "My son has returned from the United States, bringing his wife and grandson back too. It's been several years since we last saw each other, and my grandson is already this tall!" As he spoke, he used his hand to gesture to his own shoulder.

  Grandpa, grandpa, I'm also your grandson! Long Biao suppressed the cry in his heart and continued to ask with a forced smile: "How old is your grandson?"

  "Hehe, ten years old already! Ten years old! Four years ago when I saw him, he was just that small...” De Lao patted his waist again, “It's really fast, in the blink of an eye he's grown up so big!” De Lao's face, full of age spots, was filled with a proud and satisfied smile, unique to old people.

  I'm also your grandson! I've grown up so big! Grandpa! Your grandson is standing right in front of you, talking to you, but doesn't dare acknowledge you, and even doesn't dare come find you, only dares to hide far away and sneak a peek at you. Do you know all this?! Grandpa, your daughter and son-in-law have gone to heaven, their son is now standing right in front of you, talking to you...

  Long Bao was afraid that if he and De Lao chatted for a long time, he would uncontrollably call out "Grandpa", so he muttered: "Yes, it's really fast..."

  De Lao wants Long Bao to come to his home to play, and also introduce Long Bao to his son and grandson. This is an old man's strange invitation, even the old man himself doesn't know why he wants Long Bao to meet his family.

  He didn't dare to respond, he remembered how his ancestors and mother had instructed him, he didn't dare. He knew that as long as he showed the old man a photo of his parents together, he could embrace the family affection he had always dreamed of, and be free from the pain of wanting to see his grandfather who was right in front of him but not daring to approach him. But was this okay? His ancestors' instructions clearly told him that he couldn't recognize his grandfather, he could only treat him as an outsider, otherwise it would bring terrible disaster to his grandfather.

  Looking at the old man in front of him, his heart was like a knife cut. His grandfather was right in front of him and talking to him, but he only dared to call him "De Lao" like a student, not being able to love him, take care of him, or call him "Grandfather" like a grandson should. He and his grandfather were in the same school, he could faintly hear his grandfather's weakening breath as he slept, and deeply feel the old man's thick sorrow for his daughter who had left home. He was so close to his grandfather, yet so far away.

  Whose fault is it?

  De Lao's body is not very good, his son wants him to live in the United States for a long time, and he will set off tomorrow. This noon, De Lao called Long Bao to go to his house. He likes this big boy with a dark complexion, always feeling that there is something familiar about Long Bao, but what it is, De Lao can't quite put into words.

  Longing to be reunited with his father, yet dreading the inevitable farewell that would soon follow. The bond of kinship had not even begun to form, yet it already felt like an eternal separation. The affection was within reach, yet seemed as distant as a chasm. All this was a tale of helplessness and heartlessness.

  Long Wan sat in the library, his eyes fixed on the words, which still stuck tightly to the page. These words didn't tell him how to deal with De Lao's invitation either. He missed the appointment.

  The next day, Long Bao didn't go to class and hid quietly under the residential building where De Lao lived. He didn't know De Lao's flight number, so he could only get up early in the morning and stare blankly at the staircase entrance. He wanted to see his grandfather again, but couldn't let his grandfather know.

  The old man and his son, daughter-in-law and grandson walked down the stairs. He gazed deeply at the familiar scenery, the familiar flowers and grass, the familiar road. He was reluctant to leave this place, for it held too many memories for him.

  This must be Uncle, this is probably Auntie, and this must definitely be Little Cousin.

  Long Bao looked far away, watching as the small car they were riding in threw out a faint wisp of blue smoke under the rapid rotation of the engine. This faint wisp of blue smoke was driven away by the wind that was everywhere, and soon, under the sunlight, there was no longer any trace of this wisp of blue smoke.

  Every time he reflects on his ancestors' words in the dead of night, Longbiao feels that tragedy is still going to befall him. He feels that life is already extremely compact and he can't delay any longer. He seizes every moment to study crazily and work hard to make money, which is all he can do now.