It was already eleven o'clock when they arrived at the fort town by car from the Chen family town. It was a full six hours away from their appointment at five o'clock in the afternoon.
The weather was extremely cold. The sun had risen early and it was overcast. The northwest wind was howling. Where were they going to stay and how to spend these six hours? It was really difficult for everyone.
Baozhen was located in the southeast of the central part of Chongming Island. It was an important economic, cultural, transportation, and military town in the eastern half of the island. It was also the largest town in Chongming County. During its heyday, its prosperity had once surpassed that of the county town.
The town had been built for more than 300 years. A man-made river separated the town into two parts, the north and the south. People used to call it Nanbao Town and Beibao Town.
It was said that when the Japanese invaded Chongming during the Yongli period of the Southern Ming Dynasty, the local people built an earth fort to resist the enemy. Later, more and more people lived around the earth fort, gradually forming a town, and the name of the fort town came from this.
Platoon Leader Guo lived in Beibao Town. He told everyone that there were only three choices: The first option is to go to my house in Beibao Town to play mahjong and enjoy the scenery. The market there is very prosperous. Standing on the river pond at the boat dock of Beibao Town, you can look at the sea facing east. The scenery of the sea and sky is very spectacular.
He smiled and said," You might as well go to my boat dock to watch the sunrise. The golden red sun rises from the eastern sea, and the waves, beaches, grasslands, and reeds are all shining with golden light.
The second option was to have lunch at the Inn of Nanbao and stroll around the market. There was a famous chastity archway on the street. It was built by Emperor Qianlong to commend a local chaste woman. The granite-made archway was very simple and magnificent.
We might as well visit Yunlin Temple, where there is a flat forehead "Fu Yu" written by Emperor Qianlong's uncle and hung on the side beam of the founder's Buddha statue. There are many historical sites to visit.
The third is to go to Nanbao Wharf now. There is a boat leaving for Haosong at noon. We can take this boat to Haosong.
When we reach Wusongkou, the speedboat that was supposed to pick us up is still parked at the military port. I can call him to pick us up and send us to Shop 16. If you don't want to take the boat, you can contact the headquarters to send a car to pick you up and take you home. What do you think?
Everyone was very happy when they heard this. It was really like there was no way out after the mountains and rivers were heavy. Everyone had to go to the south pier to catch the boat, so they didn't have to eat lunch.
They ran straight to the south and saw the chastity archway erected in the market from afar. They slowed down and only glanced at it briefly. Without stopping for a moment, they went straight to the waiting room at the south dock. Platoon Leader Guo bought the ticket first.
It was a small return boat that had left Haosong in the morning. The ship set sail at twelve o'clock. They boarded the ship and walked into the cabin to take a look. There were not many passengers in the cabin.
As soon as they found their seats, the ship blew its horn and set sail. The boat sailed against the wind and water, and its speed seemed to be much slower than when it came. They talked and laughed, enjoying the scenery along the river.
When the ship docked at the dock in the south of the county, Li Shaohua bid farewell to everyone and went ashore. He turned around and waved to say goodbye next year.
There were a lot of passengers on board from the county town, filling up the cabin. The air in the cabin was also a lot more polluted. Everyone was eager to go home. Shi Guangyao seemed to be troubled and silent. Tian Meixiu was silent. Only Platoon Leader Guo kept teasing everyone. Yao Shunru also kept laughing and joking, trying to break the dullness of this journey.
After the ship arrived at the dock at Wusongkou, Platoon Leader Guo quickly contacted the local garrison and transferred a car. At this moment, everyone was beaming with joy. Although he had only left Shanghai for two days, he felt very familiar with the houses along the way. The feeling of returning home was very different. He returned to school before five o'clock in the afternoon.
After they got off the car, they shook hands with the two soldiers who escorted them. Yao Shunru and Shi Guangyao wanted to treat them to a meal. Platoon Leader Guo refused to listen. He said that they had to rush back to the headquarters to report, so he saluted and jumped into the car.
Dusk came early in the winter. When they finished eating at the restaurant opposite the school, it was already the beginning of the night. Zhang Ruilian missed her sick mother and insisted on taking the evening bus back to Suzhou. Tian Meixiu had to send her to the station. The two boys naturally had to send her off.
Zhang Ruilian tried her best to stop him." This is a familiar car. We don't need you to send us off. Everyone should go home early."”
However, the three students insisted on sending her off, and she was sent all the way to the carriage. When the train slowly started moving, Zhang Ruilian was very excited and said reluctantly,"We're really like brothers and sisters, classmates and siblings. Our friendship will always come first.”
After walking out of the train station, Tian Meixiu deliberately avoided the two boys. She suddenly called a rickshaw, jumped on it, waved goodbye, and went home.
Seeing the rickshaw disappear into the night, the two boys felt very disappointed. Because their homes were in the north and south, they parted ways before the battle and went home separately. Before leaving, Yao Shunru said,"I may not return to my hometown. If there's anything, you can come to my uncle's house."”
Shi Guangyao said," It's my home number. You know it. Contact me anytime. Goodbye."”
When Yao Shunru returned to her uncle's house, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. His uncle was very angry with him and asked him where he had gone with a deadpan expression.
Yao Shunru knew that she was in the wrong. She smiled and said that she had gone to Chongming Island with her classmates for three days.
When she heard that they were going to Chongming Island for an inspection, her aunt interrupted,"Aiyo, you went to Chongming Island on such a cold day. That island is so cold. You probably haven't eaten yet. I'll make you a bowl of ginger noodles to drive away the cold.”
Yao Shunru quickly told her that he had already eaten. He was in good health and did not feel cold at all.
Uncle's anger subsided a little and he said,"Even so, you should have informed us. How am I supposed to report to your mother if something happens?”
Yao Shunru apologized profusely and told her uncle and classmate that they had sent two wild ducks and sent them to the kitchen. He hadn't seen Sister Manli for a long time, so he quickly asked why Sister Manli hadn't come down. In the past, no matter how late Yao Shunru came home, Sister Manli would leave the manuscript and go downstairs to welcome him.
"She went to Nanjing for an interview again and won't be back tonight."”
Aunt Yi Niang brewed a cup of coffee and placed it in his hands. Aunt Yi Niang was always so enthusiastic, and the coffee she brewed was especially delicious.
Uncle never drank coffee at night. He said that he couldn't sleep well after drinking coffee. The three of them chatted around the brazier. Yao Shunru took a sip of coffee and excitedly told them what she had seen and heard on Chongming Island.
He told his parents that they went to Xisha first and stayed at his classmate Li Shaohua's house for a night. They were warmly entertained by Li Shaohua's parents. They ate winter crabs and fish, and watched the tide and sunset. The most spectacular thing was to see the sunrise and the hundreds of birds in the morning sun.
When he told them about the robbery in the Eastern Sand Metasequoia forest, his aunt was so scared that her entire body trembled, and his uncle was also worried for him.
Uncle said,"Fortunately, Commander Shi was thoughtful and sent two bodyguards for you. Otherwise, I really don't know where to collect your body."”
"Bah! Bah! Bah! It's almost 30 years old. Don't say anything unlucky. Heaven will help the good.”Aunt said repeatedly.
Uncle said,"Since ancient times, Dongsha has been plagued by bandits. There are invasions and harassment by Japanese pirates, poor farmers who have been reduced to bandits, professional pirates, and evil forces.”
Uncle took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Yao Shunru, saying,"Your mother sent a letter the day before yesterday saying that your second brother is on the eighth day of the first lunar month. She asked you to go back immediately after the holiday to help hold a wedding for your second brother. Your mother even invited us to the wedding banquet. I should go home and congratulate her.
I've been with your aunt for 20 to 30 years. Your sister Manli is already 24 years old. I should take this opportunity to bring them back to acknowledge their ancestors. I've already sent a telegram to your Sister Manli, urging her to come back immediately. We're preparing to leave on the twenty-sixth of the lunar calendar. I've already asked someone to buy the tickets.”
Yao Shunru was very happy when he heard that his second brother was getting married. Of course, he had to rush home to help. Moreover, Tian Meixiu's illness had already recovered, and the rural investigation had also been completed. He was so excited that he did not sleep the entire night.
The next day, Sister Manli rushed back from Nanjing. They spent two days shopping on the main road and Linsen Road. Yong 'an Company entered, Xianshi Company left," Old Jie Fu,"" Xie Da Xiang,"" Heng Yuan Xiang,"" Bao Da Xiang,"" Lao Feng Xiang,"" Heng De Li," and other well-known old shops were almost all visited, and they returned with full bags.
On the morning of his return to Changsha, he gave Shi Guangyao a call and told him that his second brother was getting married. He had to rush back to his hometown to help. The situation had changed suddenly and time was tight. He really couldn't find the time to tell him in person. He was very sorry.
He really wanted to meet Tian Meixiu and say goodbye to her, but he didn't know where she lived or her phone number.
He originally wanted to ask Shi Guangyao about it, but after thinking about it, he gave up and said to Shi Guangyao,"If you run into Tian Meixiu and Zhang Ruilian, please tell them to wish them a happy new year and see them at school.”
In fact, it was true that he asked Shi Guangyao to tell Tian Meixiu. In his heart, he really couldn't let go of his longing for Tian Meixiu. One day apart felt like three years.
It was a lie to tell Zhang Ruilian. He knew that Zhang Ruilian would not come to Shanghai during the winter vacation because she was very tight on money. She had to pretend that she had a few cents to spend. She even had to go out to work during the winter vacation. He only sympathized with Zhang Ruilian and did not care about her at all.
In the afternoon, he boarded the train to Changsha with his parents and Sister Manli. The moment the train started moving, he couldn't help but stick his head out of the window and look around. How he longed for Tian Meixiu to suddenly appear on the platform.
Sister Manli saw that he had been absent-minded since he entered the station and asked,"Shunru, what's wrong? Did a girl arrange to send you off?”
His cousin's question made him blush, waking him up from his wishful thinking. Just as he was at a loss, he heard a hoarse voice ask,"Is this seat taken?"
Yao Shunru turned around and saw a young man with a big bag on his shoulder standing beside him. He pointed at the two empty seats. The four tickets that his uncle had asked someone to buy were consecutive numbers. His uncle's family happened to be sitting in the three seats opposite him, and his seat was just next to the window. He said,"I don't know. Sit down first.”
The man was of medium build and had a slightly tanned skin, which accentuated his snow-white teeth. He had an aquiline nose, protruding forehead and brow bones, and sunken eyes. His thin lips had a sparse beard, and he was no more than thirty years old.
After he placed the big bag on the luggage rack, he sat beside Yao Shunru and introduced himself,"My surname is Tao, and I drive a car at Pu Xing Bank. The boss agreed to let me go back to my hometown for the New Year at the last minute.”
When Yao Shunru heard the local accent, he asked happily,""Where is your hometown?"
"Hunan Shaozhong Village. May I know your name? Are you rushing home for the New Year too? Where do you work?" Driver Tao was very generous. As he spoke, he took out a cigarette and toasted Yao Shunru and Uncle Yao, but they were all rejected.
Uncle Yao said,"Thank you. We don't smoke."”
"It's best not to smoke in the carriage," Mary interjected.”
Driver Tao was very tactful. He quickly put the cigarette back into the box and said,"I'm sorry."
His actions left a very good impression on everyone.
"My surname is Yao. We are from the same hometown in Hunan. These are my uncles and cousins." Yao Shunru introduced them enthusiastically.
"Oh, hello Uncle Yao, hello Aunt Yao, hello Miss Yao, hello Young Master Yao. It's a pleasure to meet an old friend! Nice to meet you." Driver Tao was very talkative and had a sweet mouth. He quickly got familiar with everyone and began to talk about everything.
He further introduced himself,"My name is Tao Gongnian. I'm 30 years old this year and I'm still single. My parents are still living. I've been driving in Shanghai for two or three years."
Yao Shunru never dreamed that this encounter on the train would give birth to many stories. These were all things that would happen in the future.
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This book comes from：m.funovel.com。