Don't forget the way home.
In the Spring Festival of 2002, I went to a small town to buy fireworks. In front of the yard of every household in the town, there are large pieces of red cannon crumbs, and the corn is tied to the tree. There is only one video store in the town, and the stereo at the door is playing Shui Mu Nianhua's "Life with You" day and night. Some naughty children hid in the distant wall, turned off the stereo while the shopkeeper was not looking, and then ran away laughing. The shopkeeper rushed out, shouted at the children's backs, then smiled and shook his head and turned on the stereo.
In that year, the wires were still erected with cement poles, and various advertisements were posted on the poles. That year, I was short and far. I looked up and saw the wires neatly marking several scars on the cloud. It snowed heavily that year, but it was sunny during the day. Grandma hung the mattress in the yard and didn't put it away until evening. I sat in the yard listening to adult stories. I was afraid that the old days would ebb, so I shook the moonlight dry.
On the way back from buying fireworks, I saw the village chief quietly enter the widow Wang's house at the head of the village, and soon the widow Wang screamed with pain.
I was frightened, thinking that such a big official as the village head still started beating women.
A few minutes later, the village chief went out, and widow Wang sent him away while arranging her hair. When she returned to the house, she found me standing by and watching her.
She paused for a few seconds, smiled and said to me, you come in and I'll give you candy.
At that time, I was young, upright and impatient. I ignored Widow Wang and directly caught up with the village chief, throwing the lit fireworks out of the window. The village chief and his wife were kicked out alive by me and chased after them. I turned my head and ran, across the village entrance, across the stone mill, across the pit next to the stable, and then dragged into the courtyard wall.
When I looked intently, a boy about my age put his index finger to his mouth and stared at me with big watery eyes. Then I heard the village chief's wife scold a few words outside, and her voice became smaller and smaller.
Before I could say thank you, the boy said first, don't thank me, I just can't stand the village head family.
I wanted to say thank you, but after hearing what he said, I got angry and said, who wants to thank you? She can't catch up with me without you.
The boy looked up and said, this is for the best. Now you can go.
I angrily walked out of his yard, thinking what this boy was proud of, and I'll throw firecrackers at your house later.
Later, I learned that the boy's name was Roy Chiu, and there were only two people in the family, he and grandpa. When Roy Chiu was a child, his family was regarded as rich peasants. At that time, being rich was not a good thing, especially being rated as a rich farmer. This is an open enemy and should be criticized and isolated by everyone. Adults said that Roy Chiu's mother could not resist the pressure when the children threw stones at home, so she returned to her village and remarried a family. Roy Chiu's father went to work in the city when he was seven years old and fell off a five-story platform. No one was there before he was sent to the hospital.
From then on, there were only two people left in a good family, living on a dozen sheep raised by Grandpa Roy Chiu.
2.
Fireworks are set off on August 15, and the hillside at the entrance of the village is the best place to watch. The terrain is high, and you can see the fireworks set off by the villagers, even the people in the next village can see it clearly.
I said I was going to watch fireworks, and my family was watching the party at home. There is nothing but the moon at night in the village. At that time, I was timid. I stood at the gate of the yard for a long time, got up the courage to walk out of ten meters and ran back quickly. I am so angry that I am about to cry.
Roy Chiu walked across the path in front of the door and said, Go and see the fireworks.
I am stubborn and won't go.
Ze autumn oh bowed their heads and walked on.
Can't you just ask one more fucking question? You won't have a trick, will you?
I shouted angrily, wait a minute, or I'll accompany you to have a look!
That night, I saw the brightest fireworks in my memory, blooming in the footsteps of strangers at night. Fireworks spread in the starry sky, scattered on the earth and spread between mountains and rivers. Halo floated on my cheek, leaving a frame. The laughter was too hasty, knocking over the sound at the end of the season, and the head was full of light, which passed through the last chapter of the night.
Then after the winter vacation, I went back to the city. Youth was caught off guard like this, like being caught in a heavy rain, like watching a firework, like childhood BearBiscuit slipping on the floor, and we grew up like grass after the rain, leaving nothing but the traces left by crayons.
I received another letter from Roy Chiu. Ten years later, I am a senior three, day and night. Qiu Ze took his grandfather to Baoding and rented a small house. During the winter vacation, we met in a small restaurant in the city. We have known each other for a long time. After all, we haven't seen each other for ten years.
We sat down face to face, and his hair became very long, but it didn't look decadent at all, and it was as bright and sunny as when he was a child. I asked him, why are you not in the village?
Roy Chiu said with a smile, I was thinking, I can't stay in that place all my life.
I nodded and said, yes. Where's your grandfather?
Roy Chiu said that at first he asked me to do it myself, saying that he had lived in the country all his life, guarding a dozen sheep every day, and I felt it when I looked at the dirt road and hillside where he sat every day. But as you know, my grandfather and I have lived together since childhood, and no one can take care of him when I am out. I tried to persuade him every day for half a year, but I didn't convince him.
While listening, I called the waiter, ordered a roast duck, a plate of fried rapeseed and shredded potatoes with hot and sour taste, and ordered two bottles of beer. I asked him, how do you live? Don't you go to school?
Roy Chiu opened a bottle of beer and took two sips. He said slowly, I dropped out of primary school before I finished it. My grandfather digs wild vegetables and potatoes when he is herding sheep every day, and catches scorpions at the edge of the village at night to sell money. It is not easy to save some money. It's all for my school. Not worth it.
I didn't eat a bite of food. I stared at Roy Chiu and listened carefully. Roy Chiu looked at the flour paste on the table, picked up a chopstick and dipped it in rape and put it in his mouth.
I quickly said that it was eaten with roast duck.
Then I rolled him one and put it on the plate in front of him. Roy Chiu ate it in his mouth and said, I'm not going to school. I will pick up garbage during the day and help grandpa catch scorpions at night. You can earn a lot more in one day. At first, my grandfather didn't want to say that no matter how poor he was, he couldn't be poor in education. Then he couldn't help me, and there was nothing he could do.
I listened carefully and didn't eat a bite of rice. I asked him, is this how you have come over these years?
Roy Chiu took a few more sips, drank a bottle of beer, and said, No, later I grew up and built a house with a village contractor. After working for several years, no one quit, so I found another factory as a chain store, saved some money, and heard that I could earn 100 yuan a day working in the city, and then I came out.
At that time, I was really shocked, not because it was not easy to sympathize with their lives, but because compared with sitting in the classroom every day these years, I felt that life was so wonderful. On that day, Roy Chiu ate almost all the dishes and drank two bottles of beer. I couldn't drink at that time, so I heard him say that my life over the years was full of worship.
3.
Later, although I was in a city, I rarely contacted. I only know that Roy Chiu worked in a KTV for half a year, and set up a stall under the overpass part-time at night, selling headphones and data cables. Later, when KTV became yellow, Roy Chiu went to the amusement park to dress up as a doll and send balloons to the children. One shot a day is nearly a year.
When I was a sophomore, I had more contact with Grandpa Roy Chiu for the first time. A Mid-Autumn reader sent me a box full of moon cakes, which may not be available until next year. When I was worried, I suddenly remembered Roy Chiu, so I packed a big bag of things with different tastes and ran to Qiu Ze's house.
Roy Chiu told me that he and grandpa were at home, but he didn't tell me that there was another girl at home. I was going to take a taxi back and forth, but I didn't see many people, so I wore slippers and didn't even wash my hair. Walking into Roy Chiu's home, I found a girl smiling and looking at me with warm eyes. ......
I was in a trance for three seconds, and then my heart was dying.
The girl's name is Yu Fei. She is small and polite. Roy Chiu introduced that this is his girlfriend, who works as a shop assistant in a supermarket. One day, she and her friends went to the playground. Roy Chiu, dressed as a doll, saw her from a distance. When she came near, she was given the biggest and most beautiful balloon. Who knows that I didn't leave after I finished playing, so I bought Roy Chiu a cup of milk tea for 5 yuan, and they knew each other until he got off work.
The happiest thing that day was actually Grandpa Roy Chiu. He knew that we had to buy food and cook in advance, and he was almost happy from ear to ear. Roy Chiu turned pale and said, No, I'll do it.
Grandpa said with a frown, no one is allowed to come while you are playing outside!
Roy Chiu embarrassed at the head and said, but you. ......
When I saw the angry expression on Grandpa Roy Chiu's face, Form quickly frowned and said, Roy Chiu, just do what Grandpa wants.
Roy Chiu took a look at the form, want to say something. Before I speak, I said with a frown, Roy Chiu, please stop talking. I like grandpa's cooking!
Grandpa Roy Chiu smiled and waved and said, Good boy.
Roy Chiu had no choice but to stop talking. After a while, Grandpa Roy Chiu greeted us to the table with a smile and said, Come, try Grandpa's craft.
Roy Chiu sat down in a chair trembling, almost unable to hold chopsticks. Form and I looked at each other curiously, and then sat down and ignored him.
Yu Fei happily took a bite of the fish and said, I will eat first. Chewing for three seconds, his face was livid and he said, well, it's delicious.
I don't think it's that simple. I took a bite of fried meat with green pepper and put it in my mouth. Tears welled up before the tongue touched the green pepper. Too salty ... it's the sixth taste besides bittersweet!
Grandpa Roy Chiu went over and asked, What happened? Does it taste good?
I choked and said, good ... delicious ... delicious. ...
Grandpa Roy Chiu was even happier after hearing this. Then he suddenly patted his head and said, It's broken. I'll see if the fire is off. Then he got up and went to the kitchen. At this moment, Roy Chiu told us that Grandpa likes to cook when he is happy, but he does badly. Every dish can transcend the ups and downs, and has a taste that has never been seen in the world.
The whole meal is almost the rhythm of two dishes and a bowl of rice. The saddest thing is that Grandpa Roy Chiu always said with a smile, don't always eat, or eat more. ......
After dinner, I felt uncomfortable in my mouth, so I found an excuse to say that something was wrong at school and left first. Everyone kept sending me downstairs when I left. Grandpa Roy Chiu said as he walked, he would go home to play when he was free. I'm not used to living in such a tall building in the city. I'll make you something to eat when I come.
I came down after listening to the cold sweat. I quickly said, ok, ok, no problem.
Roy Chiu and his girlfriend were talking to me when they came downstairs. Grandpa suddenly patted his forehead and said, Oh, did I forget to turn off the fire? I'll go back and have a look first, so I won't send you away.
I nodded, and Grandpa Roy Chiu bent down and ran upstairs.
We looked at each other blankly. Rainy day asked, didn't grandpa go to see it when we were eating?
Roy Chiu looked at grandpa's back and said with a sigh, alas, it's probably old.
4.
The following spring, Roy Chiu called me and asked me if I knew of a secluded house for rent. I said, what happened?
Roy Chiu sighed and said nothing. I felt something. I forced Roy Chiu to tell me that Grandpa's memory was getting worse. He started to go out and didn't remember locking the door. Later, he didn't remember what he did ten minutes ago. Sometimes he even forgets to wipe his ass after going to the bathroom. Last month, he took his grandfather to the hospital. After the examination, the doctor told him that the old man had amnesia.
I suddenly froze, thinking of eating at Qiu Ze's home more than half a year ago. I asked, what should I do?
Roy Chiu said helplessly, there is no way but to take medicine, and I don't know if I can get better.
Roy Chiu lived with his grandfather since he was a child. Nothing is more important to him than his grandfather. Roy Chiu thought for a long time, and decided to take grandpa back to his hometown in summer to see the villages, hillsides and sheep that accompanied him for most of his life, hoping it would be good for his illness.
Lai told me that the first thing to deal with before leaving was rain. Roy Chiu thought all night and broke up with form the next day. I called him and said that because of this, it was unnecessary.
Roy Chiu on the other end of the phone was silent for a long time and said, forget it, I'm all right, don't delay others.
Although the old man's memory is getting worse, he is not confused. When he saw that it had been raining for a long time, he asked Roy Chiu what had happened. Qiu Ze smiled and said perfunctorily, Didn't you just come a few days ago? You forgot again.
The old man patted his head, sat down to one side and said to himself, alas, my brain.
Roy Chiu had to go to work during the day, so he told the old man to stay at home and not to run around. He nodded. But one day, when Roy Chiu came home from work, he couldn't find the old man, so he called me in a hurry. When I heard this, I quickly comforted him that it was okay, and then ran out to find him. After midnight, they finally found Grandpa Roy Chiu at the police station. When they saw the old man, he was walking around the room in a hurry, saying, I have to go home. My grandson is afraid of himself, so I must go home. ......
Two policemen on duty kept asking him where his address was, but he couldn't remember it. When Roy Chiu saw grandpa, he shouted angrily. Didn't he tell you not to run around? Why don't you listen!
He kept rubbing his hands and saying, sorry, sorry.
It was almost dawn when I took the old man home. Later, I learned that he had gone to see his fellow villagers, and I didn't know how to contact him. I made an appointment near my home, but I still forgot the way home.
Roy Chiu was afraid that this would happen again, so he posted a note with the address and telephone number on his grandfather, and then accelerated the handover task at work and prepared to go back to his hometown one month in advance.
Two weeks later, Roy Chiu took Grandpa to the hospital for reexamination. The doctor told him that the situation was not optimistic, but at least he can remember people now, so it's hard to say in the future.
Roy Chiu looked at the doctor and asked, "What do you mean you don't remember people?"
The doctor said that even people around him can't remember, and people who used to be familiar with him will become irrelevant strangers in his eyes.
Roy Chiu listened with ecstasy and leaned against the wall. After a long time, she dragged her grandfather out of the clinic and helped him to go home slowly.
5.
One night, he took a bath and asked Roy Chiu to sit in front of him. Roy Chiu asked doubtfully, what's the matter?
He rolled a cigarette and lit it twice. Then he was silent for a while and said, you stay here.
Roy Chiu one leng, he went on to say, form is a good girl, won't do anything to disappoint others, let alone because of me. To put it bluntly, how long can I live? Dying people are not worth it.
Roy Chiu said with a frown, what are you talking about?
The old man finished pinching the cigarette in his hand, and then said blankly, well, I'll take a bath and go to bed early.
Roy Chiu looked at grandpa's back and a pile of empty bags of shampoo in the trash can. Tears kept falling. This is his fourth bath tonight.
6.
He refused to go back to his hometown, so Roy Chiu took a long vacation. He shows his grandpa around every day. When he got home at night, he sat in his room and chatted with the TV on. It was not until he fell asleep in the chair that Qiu Zecai turned off the TV and went back to the house to rest.
One weekend, the sun shone on the old man through the house. He leaned back in his chair and squinted at Roy Chiu. Actually, I'm sorry about your father. At that time, our family was rated as a rich farmer in the village. In fact, our family is the poorest because my son is really bullied everywhere.
Roy Chiu Well, he went on to say, your grandmother left early. At that time, she had nothing to eat at home, so she ate the chaff that others didn't want after grinding. In fact, it's all for pigs.
He said, wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes. Roy Chiu quickly comforted him and said, "It's all over, and I don't have to live like that anymore.".
He said, actually, I hope you can get married soon.
Roy Chiu listened, bowed his head, looked at the photos of himself and Yu Fei beside him, and then the room was silent for a long time. Occasionally, there were birds singing outside the window, and the sun was fluffy from the chair to the windowsill. A gust of wind blew over and the curtains were gently lifted like waves on the sea. He turned his head slowly, looked at Roy Chiu doubtfully and asked, Who are you?
Ze Qiu leng for three seconds, corners of the mouth kept trembling, instant tears. ......
7.
The old man suddenly had a heart attack after half a month of complete amnesia, and he didn't come to the rescue. I heard Roy Chiu look at me and suddenly cried and said, "Grandpa is gone, and I have no relatives anymore." . ......
Form also catch up after hearing the news. As soon as she met, she began to cry and didn't stop for an hour. I cried and said that a while ago, my grandfather went to me to cook and eat. Why did it happen suddenly?
Ze autumn after hearing one leng, red eyes asked raining what's going on. Yu Fei didn't know until he finished it, that is, the day he got lost in the police station. After seeing his fellow villagers, he ran to Yu Fei's residence by impression and cooked a meal for Yu Fei. He asked Yu Fei, do you like Roy Chiu?
Rainy day nodded, and the old man said, Roy Chiu was brought up by me, that is, filial piety, and he wanted to take me home. Don't worry, grandpa doesn't want to go back and won't let him go back.
Asked on a rainy day, really?
He nodded and said, it is true. Don't worry, I have prepared all the money for your wedding, so you should be fine.
Ze Qiuhong asked, how much is the wedding money? Why don't I listen to grandpa?
Two days later, the fellow villagers contacted Roy Chiu and gave him a bank card, saying that it contained 80,000 yuan. Your grandfather came to me and said that you were getting married when you were older and wanted to sell the house in your hometown to get you some money.
After the villagers finished speaking, Roy Chiu and Yu Fei both cried.
At that time, Roy Chiu knew why Grandpa refused to go back to his hometown, because all the houses were sold. Later, Yu Fei added 5,000 yuan to her hometown, saying that we didn't want to sell the house. Grandpa always forgets the way home. I don't want him to be homeless.
The villagers were silent for a while and returned 5000 yuan to Yu Fei, saying, well, even if there is no such thing.
Roy Chiu returned to his hometown in the rain and buried his grandfather on the hillside where he often herded sheep, where he lived for half a month. After he came back, he worked hard and didn't dare to rest casually. We had a meal together and talked about my childhood. Roy Chiu said that my life was given to me by my grandfather, no matter what it was like. Our life has been very difficult. When I was a child, I relied on my grandfather to herd sheep and dig sweet potato wild vegetables. Later, I picked up garbage and sold scorpions for money. In the most difficult time, we didn't eat for two days. Grandpa also smiled and told me that life is actually very hard, but we still have to work hard. ......
Roy Chiu said, my tears kept falling with him.
The following spring, Roy Chiu went to his hometown to visit his grandfather's grave in the rain, and sent some photos in a circle of friends. You can see that the mountain road there is rugged and full of gravel, and you will fall down if you are not careful.
After a while, Roy Chiu sent another passage, which read:
On the day grandpa was buried, the mountain was full of azaleas. Every year on Qingming Festival, the paths up the mountain are closed and covered with weeds. Walking to grandpa's tombstone, I thought I heard him say to me with a smile, you see, this is the power of life.