Chapter 87 Bless my father and mother——Preface to "The Story of Umeji"

(Unused for some reason when the book was published) After publication, I experienced many things.The word "experience" could have been changed to "encounter", but I was afraid of causing boring discussions.I'm almost forty years old too, so I should be more peaceful in my life and work. On the third day of the first lunar month, I went on a pilgrimage to Mount Heng, the southern mountain, and knelt before the Buddha with a pure mind.I don't care whether I believe in Buddha or not. I always think that worshiping Buddha is worshiping my own soul.Buddha forgive me!Afterwards, I traveled around Kunming, Jianshui, Dali, and Lijiang, never forgetting to change my mind and transform my new self.After that, I disappeared, cut off from the world.In a remote corner of a certain city in the south, I rented a third-floor residence and devoted myself to writing this novel.

At this time, the novel was only half written.It is very difficult to write, and I often put it down and ignore it for a few months.The heart is too restless.I hid, and the only people with me were the characters in the novel.I don't think about anything, just write, and I feel relaxed.All the previous thoughts are like floating clouds with me.Write non-stop, sleep when you are tired, and eat when you are hungry.What have I written?It's meaningless to say more.A writer shouldn't talk too much outside of novels. The room had no heating and was freezing cold.Originally, the owner of a hotel wanted to give me a room as a studio, but I politely declined.I don't want to owe anyone a favor, and it's not a place where I can hide.I had no choice but to sit under the covers and write with my ASUS laptop.The bed was loose and creaky.Maybe the landlord will be surprised that I hide in the house day and night and stay at home.At this time, the anti-crime storm swept across the country. Do they suspect that I am a gangster who is on the run?Seeing that I still have a charitable face after all, I didn't report the crime.I turned off my phone, but the pager was always vibrating around my waist.It's the relatives and friends who miss me.I did not call back and beg their forgiveness!

The first draft was finished, and I suddenly missed my old parents very much.After nearly a month of revision in Beijing, I brought my parents from my hometown in Xiangxi and brought them with me.Both parents are in their seventies and have suffered too much.I have always felt sorry for my parents and didn't have time to take them out for a walk.Now that I am a freelance writer, I have nothing to worry about, and finally got my wish.My mother said that parents in their 70s and their 40-year-old son go out for a month, and they have never heard of it.The old man is happy.When my mother arrived in Beidaihe, she saw the sea and started running on the beach.I almost cried when I saw it.I haven't been with my parents day and night for many years, and I find that my temper is getting better and better.I was writing at my desk, and my mother was always nagging behind me.She was always worried that I would have trouble writing, and taught me how to write.Her old man actually asked me to write something like "I Love My Family", which made everyone happy.I wasn't bothered at all, I just kept turning my head and smiling at the two old men.I used to be a very willful son, always talking back to my parents.Listening to my mother's nagging every day, I finished the second draft of this novel.

The manuscript was sent to the editor. I was relieved, but my parents were very anxious.Later, the editor asked for my opinion, whether it can be written more fully.I also felt that I was not enjoying myself enough, so I agreed to change it again.The parents thought something was wrong.My father was a rightist back then, and he suffered more than 20 years of punishment for just a few words.The scar left them with a dull pain in their chest for the rest of their lives.When my mother talked about me, my father always looked at me silently.They did not want their son to repeat their ordeal.I explained repeatedly, but my parents didn't believe me, they always thought I was comforting them.I said, I am almost forty years old, you can just treat yourself like an old child, eat and play with me at ease.Taking a step back, even if something happens, I have to bear it myself.The parents felt a little helpless, lamenting that they were old after all and could no longer protect their children.

Back in Changsha, I hid again.The worried faces of my parents are always lingering in front of my eyes.I have to write novels according to my own ideas, but I can't let the old people worry about me anymore.At this time, the parents went back to their hometown.I would call back every few days, always chatting on the phone.Mom always likes to think about the voice and tone of my phone, whether I am really happy.There used to be many rumors about what happened to me.My parents kept calling, and I kept yelling too.One evening, my parents knocked on my door suddenly.My gray-haired parents descended from the sky, and I was both happy and annoyed that they didn't call first so I could meet them at the station.My parents just laughed and looked at me repeatedly after entering the door.I suddenly understood that the two old men just wanted to catch me off guard so that they could see my true state.I couldn't help having a sore nose, shut myself in the bathroom, and burst into tears.

Parents will still be anxious when the novel is finally finished.They lived into their seventies and still treated their sons like children.They never believed that their son would be strong enough to take his time and do whatever he wanted.My mother always said, son, you are so kind.I said, Mom, your son is kind, but not cowardly.Mom laughed, but couldn't help sighing. I would like to dedicate this book to my parents and wish them a long and healthy life!