Border Town Ending

It rained heavily at night, accompanied by frightening thunder. When the electric light passed over the ridge of the roof, there was an explosion of lightning. Cuicui was shaking in the dark. Grandfather also woke up. Knowing that she was scared and worried that she would catch cold, he got up and put a piece of cloth over her body. Grandfather said:

"Cui Cui, don't be afraid!"

Cuicui said: "I'm not afraid!" After saying this, she also wanted to say: "Grandpa, I'm not afraid of you here!" A big thunder, followed by a loud and heavy crashing sound that rose beyond the sound of rain. Both of them thought that the cliff on the stream bank must have collapsed, and they were worried that the ferry would be crushed under the cliff.

Grandfather and grandson lay in bed silently listening to the sound of rain and thunder.

But no matter how heavy the rain was, Cuicui still fell asleep soon after. When I woke up, it was already dawn, and the rain had stopped. I could only hear the sound of water pouring into the stream from the ravines on both sides of the stream. Cuicui got up and saw that her grandfather seemed to be sleeping well, opened the door and walked out. The front door has become a ditch, and a stream of water flows from behind the tower, falling straight down from the cliff in front. And there is such a kind of temporary waterway everywhere. The vegetable garden next to the house has been messed up by the mountains and rivers, and the vegetable seedlings are buried in the coarse sand and mud. When I walked ahead and looked into the stream, I realized that the water in the stream had also surged.

It had already overflowed the pier, and the water was almost reaching the teapot. The road down to the pier is like a small river, rushing with yellow muddy water. The cable held by the crossing stream at the transition was also submerged, and the ferry anchored under the cliff was gone.

Cuicui saw that the cliff in front of the house did not collapse, so she did not pay attention to the loss of the ferry at that time. But after a while, she searched high and low for it but couldn't find it. When she accidentally looked back, she saw that the white tower behind the house had disappeared. I was so surprised that I hurriedly ran to the back of the house, only to find that the white tower had collapsed, and a large pile of bricks and stones was spread there in a very messy way. Cuicui was so frightened that she didn't know what to do and called her grandfather in a sharp voice. Grandfather didn't get up and didn't agree, so he hurried back home and shook his grandfather's bedside for a long time, but he still didn't say anything. It turned out that the old man had died when the thunderstorm was about to subside.

Cuicui burst into tears.

After a while, some people who were running errands across Sichuan from Chadong arrived at the stream. They shouted across the stream to say goodbye. Cuicui was by the stove

Crying and boiling water to prepare. Anointing the dead grandfather.

The man thought that the old boatman and his family were still awake and eager to cross the river. When his shouts were not answered, he threw small stones across the stream and hit them on

the roof. Cuicui walked out with runny nose and tears, ran to the stream and stood in front of a high cliff.

"Hey, it's getting late! Bring the boat over!"

"The boat has run away!"

"What did your grandfather do? He is in charge of the ship and has a responsibility!"

"He is in charge of the ship for fifty years - he is dead!"

Cuicui said to the people across the stream. One side burst into tears. The man knew that the old boatman was dead and had to go to the city to report the news.

He said:

"Is he really dead? Don't cry. I'll go back and inform them and ask them to get a message." Bring something by boat!"

When the man returned to Chadong City, he reported the incident to his acquaintances. Soon, everyone in Chadong City and outside knew about it.

The news is gone. The boat on the river street went smoothly, so he sent someone to find an empty boat, took a pair of white wooden boxes, and immediately headed for Bixi. The Yang Ma soldiers in the city rushed to Bixi Nuo with an old soldier, cut down dozens of large moso bamboos, and made rafts out of kudzu vines to serve as temporary ferries for transportation. After weaving the raft, we propped it up and went to Cuicui's house.

On the other side of the bank, we left the veterans to guard the bamboo raft and ferry people there. I ran to Cuicui's house to see the deceased, with tears wet from her eyes. ,

I touched my old friend who was lying stiff on the bed for a while, and then hurriedly did what he should do.

After arriving, helpers came,

The coffins brought from the big river boats also came. The old Taoist priest who lived in the city also brought many magical instruments, including an old linen sermon

Robe, and carried a big rooster to do his duty to take care of all the water affairs, and also crossed over on the raft. People in the family were coming in and out, but Cuicui just sat on a low stool by the stove and cried.

At noon, the captain of the ship came, along with a man carrying a bag of rice, a jar of wine, and a leg of pork.

When he met Cuicui, he said:

"Cui Cui, I know that grandpa is dead. Old people must die. Don't worry, I have everything!" p>

Have a look and then go back.

In the afternoon, the coffin was laid, and some of the helpers went home. In the evening, only the old Taoist priest and Yang Ma were left.

The soldiers were sent by the Shunshun family. Two young and old. Before dusk, the old Taoist priest cut some flowers out of red and green paper and made some candlesticks out of yellow clay. After dark, yellow nine-grade wax was lit on the small table in front of the coffin, incense was burned, and small candles were lit around the coffin. The old Taoist priest put on the blue linen sermon robe and began the funeral. Coffin circling ceremony. The old Taoist priest led the way with a small paper flag, the filial son was second, and the horse soldiers were behind, slowly circling around the lonely coffin. The two elders stood in the empty space beside the stove, playing gongs and cymbals indiscriminately. The old Taoist priest closed his eyes and walked away, singing and humming to comfort the souls.

When he mentioned the fragrance of flowers all seasons in the Western Paradise where the souls of the dead go, the old horse soldier scattered the paper flowers in the wooden tray high on the coffin to symbolize the situation in the Western Paradise.

At midnight, the things were done, the firecrackers were set off, and the candles were almost extinguished. Cuicui, with tears in her eyes, hurriedly

went to the stove to light a fire and do something for the people who were helping. Night snack. After a midnight snack, the old Taoist lay on the bed of the dead and fell asleep.

The remaining people still had to keep vigil in front of the coffin according to the rules. The old horse soldier sang a funeral song for everyone, using an empty measuring meter and wooden sling,

as a small drum. , banging his hands while singing - singing about "Wang Xiang lying on the ice", singing about "Yellow

Incense Fan Pillow".

Cuicui cried all day long and was busy all day long. By this time, she was extremely tired and leaned her head on the coffin and squinted.

The two long-time soldiers had a late-night snack with the cavalry soldiers and drank two glasses of wine. They were still in good spirits, so they took turns singing in the funeral hall. But

After a while, Cuicui woke up again, as if she was dreaming about something. After waking up, she realized that her grandfather was dead, so she started crying again

.

"Cui Cui, Cuicui, don't cry, you can't cry after you die!"

The bald Chen Sisi then said that a newlywed would cry. It was a joke, and the words were mixed with three or five wild words, which caused the two people to laugh for a long time. The yellow dog was barking outside the house, and Cuicui opened the door.

I stood outside for a while, and heard the sound of insects everywhere. The moonlight in the sky was very beautiful, and the big stars were embedded in the clear blue sky. ,

Very calm and gentle. Cuicui thought:

"Is this true? Is grandpa really dead?"

The old horse soldier was following her because he knew the girl's heart. Narrow, maybe a fire was suffocating in the ashes

with no trace left. Seeing my grandfather gone, I felt hopeless, so I jumped off a cliff and wanted to go with my grandfather, but

Maybe! Therefore, be careful to monitor Cuicui at all times.

When the old horse soldier saw Cuicui standing stupidly, not looking back after a long time, he coughed and called Cuicui and said:

"Cui Cui, the dew has fallen. "Isn't it cold?"

"It's not cold."

"The weather is very nice!"

"Ah..." A big meteor made Cui Cui shouted softly.

Then another meteor streaked down from the south. There are hooting owls towards the creek.

"Cui Cui," the old horse soldier had already stood side by side with Cuicui, and said very gently, "You go into the room.

Go to sleep, don't think about it. !”

Cuicui silently returned to her grandfather’s coffin, sat on the ground and sobbed again.

The two who have been staying in the house for many years have been asleep

.

Yang Mabing said quietly: "Don't cry! Don't cry! Your grandfather is also sad, his eyes are swollen and his throat is swollen from crying.

What's the use of crying and hissing? Listen to me Say, I know everything about grandpa, and I will arrange everything well. I will be worthy of your grandpa. I want a grandpa who will be happy and you will be happy too.

People come to take over this ferry! They can’t do what we want. Although I am old, I can still fight with them with a sickle.

Don’t worry, I will take care of everything! ..."

A cock crows somewhere in the distance, and the old Taoist priest mumbles to himself on the bed over there: "Is it morning?

It's morning!"< /p>

Twenty-one

Early in the morning, the helpers came with ropes and poles from the city.

When the old boatman's small white wood coffin was carried by six people to the hillside behind the collapsed tower for burial, the boat

was always smooth, the horsemen and the soldiers were green. , the old Taoist priest, and the yellow dog followed behind. When he arrived at the pre-dug square well, the old Taoist

jumped down first according to the rules, placed some cinnabar particles and white rice in the four corners and the center of the well, and burned some paper money.

When you climb out of the trap, the coffin bearers will start to kill you. Cuicui screamed with a hoarse throat, lying on the coffin without getting up. Jingma

The soldiers pulled her apart hard before they could move the coffin. After a while, the coffin was lowered into the pit, the rope was pulled away, and the direction was adjusted. It was covered by new soil, and Cuicui was still sitting on the ground sobbing. The old Taoist priest wanted to go back to the city to prepare a meal for others, so he left in the interim.

The captain entrusted everything to the old horse soldier and hurried back to the city. The helpers all went to the stream to wash their hands. Everyone in the family had their own business, and knowing the situation of the family, it was inconvenient to disturb the owner any more, and they stopped disturbing the owner and went home.

So there were only three people left in Bixinuo, one was Cuicui, one was an old horse soldier, and the other was sent by the boat manager to help take care of the ferry temporarily

Bald Chen Sisi. The yellow dog was hit with a stone by the bald head. He seemed very unhappy about the bald head and barked softly.

In the afternoon, Cuicui discussed with the old horse soldier, asking the old horse soldier to go back to the city and leave the horse to the people in the camp to take care of him, and then return to Bi

Xixuo to accompany her. When the old horse soldiers returned to Bixiyu, the bald Chen Sisi was sent back to the city.

Cuicui still went to get the ferry with the yellow dog, and let the old horse soldiers sit on the high cliffs on the stream bank to play, or sing to her with his old throat

.

Three days later, the boat manager came to discuss taking Cuicui to live at home, but Cuicui wanted to guard her grandfather's grave and was unwilling to enter the city immediately

. She only asked the ship manager to go to the city government office to say a word, and promised Yang Ma Bing to live with her temporarily. The ship manager smoothly agreed to the matter and left.

Since Yang Mabing is a man in his fifties, his storytelling ability is better than that of Cuicui's grandfather. In addition, he pays special attention to everything and is diligent and clean. Therefore, living with Cuicui made Cuicui seem to have lost a grandfather and gained a new uncle. Someone asked about her poor grandfather during the transition, and thinking of her grandfather at dusk made Cuicui sad and felt very desolate. But this desolation will gradually fade away as the days go by. The two of them met together in the dusk every day

At night, they sat on the high cliff by the stream in front of the door, talking about the old stories of the poor grandfather lying in the wet soil, many of which were green

< p>What she didn't know before, it makes Cuicui's heart soften even more. He also talked about how Cuicui's father, a soldier who wanted love but cherished his reputation, dressed up like a Green Camp soldier at that time and attracted girls. He also talked about how Cuicui's mother was good at singing, and how popular the songs she sang were at that time.

Times have changed, and everything is naturally different. The emperor no longer controls the country, but ordinary people don’t care! Yang Mabing recalled that when he was a young horseman, he took the horses to Bixi Nuo to sing to Cuicui's mother, but Cuicui's mother ignored her, but now he is doing this. Being the sole supporter and sole trustee of this orphan, I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Because the two would talk about their grandfather and the family every evening, and later they talked about everything before the old boatman's death

Cui Cui understood how her grandfather was alive. Many things not mentioned. The singing of the two elders, the death of Shunshun's eldest son

, the indifference of Shunshun and his son to his grandfather, the people of Zhongzhai using the mill as a dowry to seduce the two elders, and the two elders both

memory it Her brother's death, and because she could not get Cuicui's attention, and was forced by her family to accept the mill, she still wanted to ferry the boat, so she became angry. How did the cause of her grandfather's death have anything to do with Cuicui... ...Everything Cuicui didn’t understand,

now she understands everything. After Cuicui figured it out, she cried all night.

After April 7th, the captain of the ship sent someone to invite the horsemen to go into the city and discuss taking Cuicui to his home as the wife of the second elder.

But since the two elders are in Chenzhou, they should not mention this matter for now, and move to live across the river street. We will see what the two elders mean when they come back.

Ma Bing thought he had to ask Cuicui about this matter. When he came back, he told Cuicui what Shunshun meant, and then made some suggestions for Cuicui, thinking that since the status was not settled, it was not good to go to a stranger's house, it would be better to stay in Bixinuo

Wait until the two elders come back by boat, and then we will see what the elders mean.

After this method was decided, the old horse soldier thought that the two old men would come back soon, so he still entrusted the horses to the camp master to take care of him.

He stayed with Cuicui in Bixiyu. Live life one day at a time.

The white pagoda of Bixituo is related to the Feng Shui of Chadong. The pagoda collapsed and it would be impossible to build a new one. In addition to

in addition to the city's business management, tax bureau, and various businesses and civilians who donated some money, there were also people from various villages who donated money through booklets.

The achievement of this tower is not a benefit to anyone. Everyone should do their best to accumulate virtue and benefit, and everyone should have the opportunity to donate

money, so on the ferry there is also A large bamboo tube with knots at both ends was placed, and a hole was sawed in the middle. The passers-by were free to put money in. When the bamboo tube was full, the horsemen took it to the chief executive in the city. In addition, I brought back a bamboo tube.

When the ferryman saw that the old boatman was gone and there were white threads in his green braids, he knew that the old man had finished his

work quietly. After lying down in the pit, he looked at Cuicui with sympathetic eyes, took out the money and stuffed it into the bamboo tube. "God bless you. If you die, go to the West, and if you live, you will always be safe." Cuicui understood the meaning of those who donated money. She felt sad and hurriedly put her body on her back to pull the boat.

In winter, the collapsed white tower was repaired again. But the young man who sings under the moon, making the green grass gently lift his soul to the sound of singing in his sleep, has not yet returned to Chadong.

…………

This person may never come back, maybe he will come back “tomorrow”!