Chapter 15 Chapter Twelve

1 Xiong Dajin said anxiously: "Mayor Zhao, the bentonite needed for the project is urgent!" Zhao Zhentao asked, "What's the reason?" Xiong Dajin said: "From the overall situation, Mayor Zhao, it is a good year for auspicious snow, but the mountain is blocked by heavy snow, and cars can't go up at all. The bentonite is on the top of Luotuo Mountain." Zhao Zhentao was stunned: "Camel Mountain? Is it the Camel Mountain that our Beigang Railway passes through?" "Beilong is just a camel mountain!" Xiong Dajin said. In the snowy day, the northwest wind blows in a fierce manner.The snow on the top of the tent creaked and murmured.The hot tea was steaming in Zhao Zhentao's hand, and the sweeping stove built of red bricks was also steaming.Xiong Dajin was roasting his hands by the stove, looking at the thoughtful Zhao Zhentao.After a while, Zhao Zhentao looked back from the snow outside, and said, I will go to Beijing in two days, Lao Gao will have an operation, and I will visit the Beigang railway construction site by the way, so I can have an explanation when I see Lao Gao!As for me, I will give you the bentonite!Xiong Dajin's sad face finally loosened, that was so good, I really couldn't get away.Zhao Zhentao rushed to Beilonggang in the wind and snow this time, because he came here specifically for the worker's alcohol poisoning incident.Zhao Zhentao repeatedly told him to take good care of the alcoholic workers.Salinization will also help.After the drinking and poisoning incident of construction site workers, Xiong Dajin originally didn't want to alarm Zhao Zhentao.Because in this poisoning incident, although 32 workers on the front line were poisoned to varying degrees, there were no casualties. The nine serious poisoners have also passed the critical period in Beilong Hospital.What made Xiong Dajin quite annoyed was that the workers who sold fake wine on the construction site this time were actually workers from Weiyuan Chemical Factory.Not only did they sell fake wine at the port, some people also stole building materials from the port.Recently, it was discovered that several female workers went to the construction site to solicit customers and prostitute in the name of selling tobacco, alcohol, tea and candy.Xiong Dajin is a very orthodox and old-fashioned person. He chills for the workers in the chemical plant, thinking that they have shamed the working class.As the deputy commander-in-chief of the project, he couldn't control these problems.Only Zhao Zhentao can deal with these problems.

After Zhao Zhentao arrived in Beilonggang, he first went to the hospital to visit the poisoned workers, and then called the leaders of Salt Chemicals to arrange to investigate the source of fake wine.Then he went to Weiyuan Chemical Factory with Xiong Dajin and found Xue Minzhi, the new factory director who replaced Feng Heping.Xue Minzhi was the former technical deputy director of the factory. From the conversation, she could see that she had lost confidence in Weihua.Zhao Zhentao didn't criticize the female factory director very much, and even blamed himself for being reckless when cleaning up the triangle debt.Shouldn't he replace Feng Heping?According to Feng Heping, the factory has a backlog of products, aging equipment, no working capital, and defaults on bank loans of 60 million yuan.Zhao Zhentao heard that the factory director, Xue Minzhi, had gone through the retirement procedures at the Beilong Erqing Bureau, which means that she has a way out whether the factory is good or bad.Zhao Zhentao was a little angry, such a factory director can't be in the same boat, so what's the point of helping each other?The current workers only receive a living allowance of 50 yuan a month, can they not be messed up?Zhao Zhentao felt very heavy.He interviewed several workers, and everyone had no major complaints about the former factory manager and the current factory manager, and believed that their equipment and products were eliminated.At this time, Zhao Zhentao had no good solution. He just ordered Xue Minzhi to take a closer look at the workers, learn a lesson from this incident of harassing the port workers, and give moral education to all the workers.

On the way back to the port construction site, Zhao Zhentao didn't speak, he was trying to find a way out for Weihua's employees.Where is the way out?He devised several possibilities, all of which were denied by himself.After much deliberation, it finally became one, which is to make Beilong Port open to navigation as soon as possible.Before Qi Shaowu went to the Beigang Railway, he analyzed Weihua's outlet for Zhao Zhentao. Don't cling to the chemical industry, but enlarge your vision. After the completion of the salt field expansion project of Salinization, a large number of salt workers will be needed, and Weihua's work can be fully accepted. Thousands of employees.Salt production does not require high production skills.That is to let the saltworks annex Weihua.Zhao Zhentao told Xiong Dajin about Qi Shaowu's idea. Xiong Dajin thought about it and said that this method is feasible.

Zhao Zhentao bid farewell to Xiong Dajin after drinking a cup of hot tea in the shed at the port construction site, and went directly to Luotuofeng from here.Xiong Dajin held Zhao Zhentao's hand and told him two things, one is bentonite, and the other is to meet Secretary Gao Huanzhang to say hello to him. Zhao Zhentao got into the car, the north wind was still blowing the ground, and the snow was blowing heavily. Four hours later, the car stopped under the hump.Indeed, as Xiong Dajin described, the mountain was blocked by heavy snow, and the car could not drive up at all.Zhao Zhentao asked the driver to park the car, and he climbed up the hillside with his secretary Zheng Jin and the driver.After climbing for a while, he lost his way. Zhao Zhentao asked Zheng Jin to call Feng Heping and Qi Shaowu in the headquarters with his mobile phone.Zheng Jin dialed for a while but couldn't get through, saying that it seemed to be a blind spot.Zhao Zhentao stomped the snow on his feet and told them to look for places with red flags.Looking up from a bird's-eye view, there is a vast expanse of snow all around.In the evening, they met Wang Ergou, a villager in Luotuo Village who was digging a cave on the construction site.Wang Ergou took them to the headquarters hiding behind the hillside.On the way, Wang Ergou and Zhao Zhentao revealed a secret, saying that there was an accident on the railway construction site.Ever since Gao Huanzhang assigned the job of digging the cave to Guo Laoshun of Luotuo Village, Guo Laoshun wanted to win the face of Secretary Gao and wanted Gao Huanzhang to be alive to see the opening of the railway. The shift worked backwards, and due to fatigue construction, a landslide accident occurred.On the morning of the landslide, strictly speaking, it should be a morning, a villager named Wang Youcai was sleepy and tired, and accidentally knocked down the ophthalmic stone with a hammer, and as a result, a piece of rubble fell down.Guo Laoshun was working next to Wang Youcai, and when he saw an emergency, he yelled and rushed over.He rescued Wang Youshun, but a villager was crushed to death. Guo Laoshun's eyes were injured and he was sent to Mingguo County Hospital.This snow-climbing Wang Ergou just came back from the county seat. Guo Laoshun was blind and asked him to replace the party secretary to organize the construction of migrant workers.

Zhao Zhentao was moved by Guo Laoshun's behavior, and complained to Gao Huanzhang in his heart.Although this construction accident is not as serious as the cross-sea bridge, it has the same nature in nature.If Gao Huanzhang had not ordered the bidding contract for the cross-sea bridge to be revoked, the cross-sea bridge might not have been destroyed by the storm surge, and perhaps there would not have been such a big bribery case as Chaidefa.This time at the railway construction site, Gao Huanzhang squeezed out the regular engineering team of the army and replaced them with villagers from Luotuo Village.Zhao Zhentao is really worried, can these mountain men who nailed the door of the pigsty keep the quality and quantity?This Gao Huanzhang always engages in projects with emotion.

Seeing Feng Heping and Qi Shaowu warming up in the shed, Zhao Zhentao first criticized them: "Why didn't you report such a major accident in the project?" Feng Heping said uncomfortably: "Mayor Zhao, we handled the accident properly. There are two reasons why we didn't report it. One is that Gao Huanzhang remembered his illness, and he would be very sad if he found out! We couldn't bear it! In addition, we heard that Mayor Zhao is very busy recently. In addition to handling the daily work in the city, he is also doing "three links and one leveling" in the Fenghuang Development Zone of Beilonggang. Are you tired? I think you are thinner! "

Zhao Zhentao stared at them and said, "On the surface, your reasons sound good, but you violated the principle. You must tell me what happened on the construction site. I will definitely keep it secret from Secretary Gao! Oh, this big boss Gao! , it is both hateful and painful!" Feng Heping said: "Mayor Zhao, what do you think? When you came in the summer, I said that Secretary Gao was doing bad things with good intentions! Isn't there another problem?" Zhao Zhentao frowned and did not speak. Just as Qi Shaowu was about to talk about the cross-sea bridge, he looked at Zhao Zhentao's face and shrank back.He was photographed by Zhao Zhentao on the Beigang railway construction site, and his working relationship is still with the Yanhua County Government.Originally, he wanted to transfer out together, but when he heard that both Chai Defa and Bai county magistrate had been arrested, he didn't want to move.Zhao Haiying objected to him coming to the construction site at first, and she thought he would be promoted this time.She wanted to come forward to find her eldest brother, but was stopped by Qi Shaowu.Qi Shaowu's judgment on himself is still accurate, and his qualifications are far from enough to mention the possibility of being a senior.Besides, even if he is qualified, Zhao Zhentao will not let him take over the power of salt at this time.In addition, when Zhao Zhentao needed him the most, he ran away, which would leave a bad impression on Zhao Zhentao.He had to make some achievements on the construction site, and everything would be easy to handle in the future.Zhao Zhentao turned his head to look at Qi Shaowu and asked Feng Heping: "Old Feng, how is Shaowu doing?"

Feng Heping said with a smile: "It's not that I speak well with him, but County Magistrate Qi is capable and responsible! In the past, when he was in Xiewan Township Government, we knew each other very well!" Qi Shaowu said modestly: "Follow Director Feng to be practical." Zhao Zhentao smiled: "You two don't flatter each other! Let me ask you, Lao Gao told me many times before leaving that Luotuofeng will come to a small stop, how are you doing?" Feng Heping stood up, raised his finger and pointed outside: "Look, the small station was built with the special funds allocated by Mayor Zhao. Deputy Commander Qi is very concerned about this small station, and sometimes he works with it at night. ! Look, okay?"

Zhao Zhentao stood up and looked out: "What's the matter? It's so white, I can't see it! Well, as long as Secretary Gao is satisfied when he comes back, I will be satisfied!" Qi Shaowu said sadly: "Secretary Gao, can he come back?" Zhao Zhentao lowered his head and said with red eyes: "I hope that Lao Gao will come back and have a look. Even if others can't come back, his soul will come back! He is unwilling to be lonely! Lao Gao's affection for the people is very worthy of us." Study. In this regard, I, Zhao Zhentao, are not as good as Lao Gao! Therefore, before meeting Lao Gao, I want to go to the Mingguo Hospital to see the branch secretary Guo Laoshun. When I have time, I will go to Luotuo Village to see—” His words seemed to be Soaked in the sea, there is a lot of desolation.

Feng Heping sighed: "Secretary Gao is a good man!" Zhao Zhentao thought for a while and said, "Beilonggang No. 1 and No. 2 wharves will be open to navigation next spring, and your Beigang railway will also be completed at the same time! I think Lao Gao can survive until then, let him go away contentedly! He has nothing but these two things in his heart." Engineering is his eighty-three-year-old mother!" Feng Heping said: "We can finish it!" After dinner, the wind slowed down, snowflakes floated in the air one by one, and the air was icy cold.Zhao Zhentao asked Feng Heping, is the cave contracted by Luotuo Village far from our headquarters?Feng Heping said it's not far away, it will be there in 20 minutes!Zhao Zhentao looked at his watch and said, let's go, take me to the cave.Am I always worried about their activities?Feng Heping said flatly, the plaster was put on, it doesn't matter if it works or not.To be honest, I was worried that they would delay the whole project!Zhao Zhentao said that he would have a look there, and if it didn't work, he changed them.Feng Heping shook his head and said, no way, Secretary Gao reminded me again and again before leaving!Zhao Zhentao said nonchalantly, not afraid.

Outside the tent, the thick snow crunched under their feet.Half an hour later they were in the brightly lit tunnel.The mountain people in the tunnel are still working hard.The smoke from the stone powder rushed into Zhao Zhentao's eyes, choking him to tears.Zhao Zhentao saw that the mountain villagers were tired of construction, some shook from time to time, and some kept blinking.What surprised Zhao Zhentao even more was that the helmets they used were actually made of wicker.How can this stand against falling stones?Can not go forward, the construction ahead is very chaotic.Feng Heping told Zhao Zhentao that when Guo Laoshun was present, the construction was illegal. Now that he is recuperating, the situation is even worse.Zhao Zhentao said decisively: "Let them stop working immediately! They can't do it for a second!" Feng Heping called Wang Ergou over and ordered them to stop working immediately.Wang Ergou argued blushingly, "Stop work? Without a message from Party Secretary Guo, without a note of approval from Party Secretary Guo, we won't stop!" Zhao Zhentao said sternly: "Comrade Wang Ergou, I am the mayor, and I order you to stop! Tomorrow I will visit you Party Secretary Guo in the hospital!" Only then did Wang Ergou stop the mountain people from working. The tunnel was quiet.Feng Heping looked at Zhao Zhentao suspiciously. He originally thought that Zhao Zhentao would agree to allocate some poverty alleviation funds to Luotuo Village as compensation.Unexpectedly, Zhao Zhentao came up with a plan that was beyond his expectations.Zhao Zhentao said emotionally: "Folks, Secretary Gao missed your Luotuo Village in the past, and I, Zhao Zhentao, will be like Secretary Gao. I heard that there was an accident in the tunnel not long ago. I was very sad after hearing that. This kind of project is a professional project. You are not familiar with it, but your fighting spirit is commendable. For your safety, for the quality of the project, and for Secretary Gao to see the day when the Beigang Railway will open to traffic as soon as possible, you must stop!" Wang Ergou stared and asked: "This leader, when you went up the mountain and lost your way, I was the one who brought you up the mountain! Can't you give us a bite to eat?" Zhao Zhentao said: "Now there is a project that you can do, which is to carry the soil down the mountain, from the bentonite factory on the top of the mountain to the bottom of the mountain. There is an urgent need for bentonite at the seaport! The car can't come up, can't stop working? I saw Wang Er today The dog climbed the snow mountain, one is worth ten!" Feng Heping nodded and said, "Mayor Zhao, I understand!" The mountain people smiled naively: "Let's take care of it!" 2 A dark cloud passed over Zhao Laogong's head, and the sky became brighter.The wind from the river slapped the old man's face with snow particles.Zhao Laogong sat on the stone platform at the head of the wooden bridge like a clay sculpture, with his eyes drooping, his back twitching, and a humming sound coming from his nose.The latch bar was gripped tightly in the old man's hand.Villagers coming and going spoke to him, but the old man didn't respond.An old lady brought Huai Tiaozi and asked him to make a lamp, but Zhao Laogong sent him away when he said he was not free.People found Bai Xueying's shriveled face very ugly, and felt that the old man's eyes were like two deep pools, bottomlessly deep. The wind was cool, and Zhao Laogong felt cold, so he tightened the black and greasy cloth strips tied around his waist.The old man coughed hoarsely.When Zhu Quande passed the small bridge, he found Zhao Laogong sitting upright on the bridge, and said from a distance, brother, why are you running here in the cold and snow?Are the lights done?Seeing that it was Zhu Quande who had come, he slowly suppressed his breath and said, "Don't make fun of me lightly, you'll be mad at me to death!"Mrs. Ge is so fucking vicious, she made my little Le lose his soul.Zhu Quande laughed and said, Xiao Le is making lamps for the Ge family, I know.Brother, don't be angry, with your skills, you will give Mrs. Ge some color at the Snow Lantern Festival!Don't blame Xiao Le, he is a child after all.Zhao Laogong said, regardless of him, my old face is still in the world.Better goug it out and throw it to the dogs!Zhu Quande's face turned ugly, and he said, you keep making such a fuss, will you finish the lamp?Will the snow lantern be smashed?Zhao Laogong was in a hurry, but he was stubborn and stubborn.Zhu Quande got Zhao Laogong up from the bridge.Zhao Laogong looked up at the thick snow in the river, and his mouth began to move, making a lamp, making a lamp.The old man's legs trembled due to the cold, and he could not stand still. He heard the heavy breathing in his chest.Little by little, he stepped on the snow that the villagers had ruined and went home.The door lever knocked on the snow from time to time. The heavy snow that was flying all over the sky rose again at dusk after a day's rest.Snowflakes wiped away the foot sockets in the village lanes without a trace.There is no one in the village alley, and occasionally a dog runs around.Zhu Quande looked at Xue Jinger and the smoke from the kitchen in the evening mist, waiting for Zhu Zhu to call Xiao Le.Zhu Quande guessed that Zhu Zhu must have helped Zhao Xiaole with work.He knew some details, Zhao Xiaole called the children to make lamps, and the whole team worked for Mrs. Ge.This trick is bad enough, and it's a group of young children who are playing tricks. Isn't this using an anchor to poke Zhao Laogong's heart?Zhu Quande really couldn't see it.Mrs. Ge's Snow Lantern Festival always makes Zhu Quande fantasize, thinking a lot, and it's weird.The pattern of ice flowers on the glass window was very brightly reflected by the white snow, and the spectacle of flowers covered Zhu Quande's body. Both Zhu Zhu and Zhao Xiaole entered Zhu Quande's field of vision.As he got closer, Zhu Zhu saw his father's face was not good-looking, and he went to help his mother with some work. In the afternoon, Zhao Xiaole was chased by the work in the temporary lamphouse newly built by Mrs. Ge's shipyard.He sat on a pile of bricks, soaked the locust tree strips with water, and then put the warm and wet locust tree strips on the brazier to bake. When the fire was over, he bent the locust tree strips into lamp bones. The hemp rope is tied.One-stop assembly line operation, seeing the lamp bones piled up like a mountain.Mrs. Ge wanted the blue lantern, so Zhao Xiaole made the blue lantern.He didn't care what the Blue Lantern Bandit had to say, he said that if the customer was satisfied, he could do the consignment.Zhu Zhu came, pouted and said, my father told me to come to you from the hair salon and told you to go there immediately.Zhao Xiaole said, what does your father want from me?Zhu Zhu said, you will know when you go. Zhu Quande was very annoyed by Zhao Xiaole's indifferent appearance.Zhu Quande said, Xiao Le, are you done with the blue lights?Is all the money in your pocket?Sitting on the sofa, Zhao Xiaole said with a smile, the blue lantern still needs forty lamp bones, and the rest will be mounted on blue paper!As for money?Old Mrs. Ge doesn't dare to renege on her, so don't worry, old man.Zhu Quande was so angry that his throat was choked, and he said, don't worry, I'm asshole!Slave, are you willing to be a slave because you are five feet tall?You are mad at your father!Zhao Xiaole said, my father is already that old, and that's what people who believe in crooked things do.Ge's family is also a legal self-employed, a big good citizen, I am employed by her, is it a slave?Uncle, if you call me a bastard, you can't praise me as a slave, and I can't curry favor with anyone I want to be a slave!Is a slave someone like me?Zhu Quande was stunned for a moment, his lips trembled and said, Zhao Xiaole, what a brat, you used to be a gourd without a mouth, you can't speak, but now you can sting people!It's really admirable for three days!Even though you and Zhu Zhu are not married, I still care about you!Zhao Xiaole said contemptuously, no, the old man is wrong, to be a blue light is the same as being a red light and a green light in my eyes. , money is a good thing, isn't the old man also busy making money?I have to support Xiuxiu, and I have to live too!Zhu Quande was so angry that his head was buzzing, and he said, what did you say?Did you lose your face just to make money?Zhao Xiaole smiled grinningly, uncle, the head is still growing on the neck, and the face is still attached to the head!Zhu Quande said in a more emphatic tone, "My uncle won't allow you to be sly and hang your tongue. I persuade you for the good of your Zhao family. I don't want to make friends with your father. I really don't want to worry about this bitterness!"You are the mayor's brother, so you all look up to me.You are obsessed with obsession, wear new shoes and step on dog shit, ruining your reputation and ruining your future, you can't even cry!Zhao Xiaole said, why am I crying?In my opinion, there is nothing I can cry these days, but I can't cry if I don't have money.Zhu Quande was choked. The snow fell and stopped at night, and the village alleys were shining with white lights.Zhao Xiaole didn't care whether the snow was falling or stopping, the sound of the wind sweeping the snow was as illusory to him as breathing.When he walked to the door of Mrs. Ge's house, Zhao Xiaole saw a dog standing not far away.He recognized Mrs. Ge's big yellow dog.The dog looked at him calmly, and there seemed to be a mocking look in his eyes.Zhao Xiaole stopped, he stood like a bare tree in the snow at the door.These days, Mrs. Ge's house is so familiar that even the big yellow dog treats Zhao Xiaole as his own family, and snorts when he sees that he hasn't bitten.Is Second Aunt in the house?Zhao Xiaole called out at the door.There was no answer, and he saw a few lanterns hanging in the main room downstairs, like blurred human faces, sometimes flat and sometimes round, sometimes long and sometimes short, standing without a trace.He was thinking about how to ask Mrs. Ge for money.He has also learned to calculate people, which does not mean that he is short-sighted.In fact, the old lady Ge is plotting against him right now.She was hiding upstairs in the living room smoking and watching TV.The scenery on the TV was swaying, and her heart was also swaying leisurely.My daughter, Sun Yanping, went upstairs and said Xiao Le was called.Mrs. Ge said, let him call, there is rhubarb accompanying him.Zhao Xiaole roared vigorously again.Old lady Ge smiled with great interest, this kid has a really wild voice, like a donkey.Yanping went downstairs and told him that I was not at home and went to the cemetery, and asked him to go to the cemetery to find me.cemetery?How can my mother do this?Mrs. Ge said, Mother is a little sick today, and has chest tightness all day long.Sun Yanping said, take medicine for you.Mrs. Ge said with a flat mouth, don't take medicine, walking around the Zhao family is the best medicine for mother!Sun Yanping left unhappily.Zhao Xiaole got impatient with waiting, and raised his leg to rush in.As soon as he took a step, the big yellow dog jumped up without barking or biting, and its front paws reached Zhao Xiaole's throat.Zhao Xiaole trembled with fright, and retreated limply.The big yellow dog also shrank back very obediently.Zhao Xiaole smiled pitifully, the smile was hard earned.People's sufferings are often different, and serving people's livelihood must bear a serious crime.He looked at the dog in embarrassment, feeling that the dog was as unpredictable as Mrs. Ge, and even the small building with dark shadows in the snowy night in front of him became terrifying and mysterious. The Snow Lantern Festival was held as scheduled, and the villagers who returned from the market sang the lantern song that had been held back for a long time at dusk.As soon as it got dark, Zhao Laogong and Zhao Xiaole hung up the lamps.The horns of the village committee blared endlessly, shaking the streets.The village committee wants to gather lanterns from all households to the east of the bridge, so the west of the bridge is the snow lantern festival that Mrs. Ge chose alone.According to the ancient customs of this land, every household has to hang lamps out, borrow lamps to drive away evil spirits, and borrow lamps to illuminate blessings, in order to seek luck in the future, especially the lamps in the cemetery. It is supported by a tomb lamp.As soon as the cemetery lamps are made, one piece is made. A few lamps alone are unfilial to the ancestors, so only Mrs. Ge and Zhao Laogong's family make vacant lamps in the village.In addition to the cemetery lamps, Zhao Laogong will also make six lamps that are very eye-catching once they are hung on the pile of clam skins on the East Street.After Zhao Xiaole helped Zhao Laogong hang up the lamp, he went to find Xiuxiu.He made money from Mrs. Ge's graveyard lamp.The villagers Hulala hung the lamps on the East Street, and let Mrs. Ge have a taste of what it's like to pick up a lonely lamp on the West Street.Zhao Laogong sat under the lamp of the Beatitudes, smoking a short and thick pipe, watching the villagers running around with the lamp.The blue cotton padded jacket, which had faded to black and gray, was draped obliquely, and the old man's face hung there like an old lamp. 嘡—嘡——嘡—Zhu Quande, the trumpet guard of the village committee, beat the gong and yelled, light—the lamp——and then he directed each household to hang the lamps.Zhu Quande suddenly noticed that the lights on Qiaodong Street were sparse, and some of the already hung lanterns were taken away by the owner, and the flickering shadows of the lights flowed across the small wooden bridge and moved towards Qiaoxi Street.Zhu Quande stopped beating the gong, and looked west of the bridge for a long time.Zhao Laogong also felt that something was wrong, and his bow-like eyebrows called out doubts: "Old Zhutou, what's going on?" Zhu Quande sighed, it's probably something wrong with Mrs. Ge!Zhao Laogong's face turned cold, and he was very angry.He came wholeheartedly, and the Xue Lantern he was looking forward to would look like this?When the old man was sullen, almost all the lanterns around him were removed.The old man said look over there, maybe the regulations have been changed again.Zhu Quande walked away on the snow, and Zhao Laogong couldn't sit still, so he went with him with all his face.But before walking on the wooden bridge, Zhao Laogong saw the densely packed lanterns on the West Street very hot.There are star lanterns, lotus lanterns, flat peach lanterns, zodiac lanterns, and kitchen king lanterns, all of which are hung all over the street.The old man was dumbfounded, and this time he saw the lights that he hadn't seen for many years.He didn't know whether the villagers were dizzy or Mrs. Ge had cast some magic. Even the most exquisite Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea Lantern and Monkey Dwelling Golden Mountain Lantern were lifted out by the Heavenly King Yuzhu.Zhao Laogong, quickly bring your lamp to help out!Someone in the dark said.Zhao Laogong said angrily, I don't want to mess with Mrs. Ge!The man said with a smile that Zhao Laogong still held grudges, and then went to watch the lantern with the child in his arms.The shouts in the village alley were rough and excited.long.Zhu Quande took a gong the size of a dough cake and approached Zhao Laogong and said, brother, money can make ghosts turn millstones. It turned out that the surname Ge paid the money, and he was rewarded fifty yuan on the spot for hanging a lamp on West Street. Money, she also spent money to hire a shadow puppet troupe, and she will be singing on the bridge in a while!Zhao Laogong was stunned and didn't say anything, his whole body was as heavy as lead.Surrounding him were walls of human faces, illuminated by the lamp, flushed like a monkey's back.The world has changed. In the past, even if a person like Mrs. Ge had a golden mountain, she couldn't exchange for a hot meal.Zhao Laogong said to himself, his old cold gray face was empty and quiet.In front of my eyes are a patch of flowery lights and a blurred face.Suddenly, Zhao Laogong saw Mrs. Ge approaching in a grand manner, so he quickly turned his head and walked slowly towards the East Street.Mrs. Ge walked leisurely among the crowd to enjoy the lanterns, and another old lady beside her was her eldest sister, Ge Yumei.There is a group of people behind him, and the big yellow dog wags its tail and crawls around.In the shadow of the lamp, Mrs. Ge's eyebrows and eyes do not look old, she has a beautiful appearance and a charming charm. Only careful people can see that her lower eyelids are red and dark.Her eyes were so intense that she saw Zhao Laogong walking from a long distance away.She took a few steps and called out to Zhao Laogong in a very sweet voice.Zhao Laogong pretended not to hear, snorted and left quickly.The snow trembled slightly as I walked.Seeing Zhao Laogong's dingy look, Mrs. Ge felt comfortable from the bottom of her heart.She couldn't remember what happened before her eyelids, but she took the matter of smashing her heel very seriously. Zhao Laogong was very sad by the formation of the Snow Lantern Festival on Qiaoxi Street, and remained silent.He tried not to look at the light.He felt that the world was chaotic as soon as it was said, and people became kitsch.His eyes are broken, and everything is wrong with him.Am I wrong?How could I, Zhao Laogong, be wrong?The sky is twirling, wooden bridges, old trees and lanterns have fallen over, the flow of people is flowing backwards, and the snow is hanging on the sky.It is quite interesting to watch Xiaocun Snow Lantern Festival upside down.He couldn't find Zhu Quande, so he slipped out of the crowd unknowingly, went to the small shop at the entrance of the village to buy a bottle of Laobaigan wine on credit, and started to drink it.After drinking, sweat poured out of his armpits.When he walked up Dongjie Village Lane, he saw his six lanterns hanging on the pile of clam skins from a distance, drinking and asking wine by the lonely lantern, his old face became red with alcohol.His eyes were dim, and indeed his eyes were useless.The snow on the roof and tree branches was blown off by the wind, and landed on the lamp, and on Zhao Laogong's face and shoulders.He wiped the snow off his face, and his face was watery like tears.Suddenly a car stopped.Zhao Zhentao and Nannan got out of the car.The man jumped at Zhao Laogong and shouted: "Grandpa—" Zhao Laogong put his arms around the man: "Is the lamp coming? Is the master's lamp okay?" The man said, "Okay, Grandpa, why don't you move there? Let Dad and I find it easier!" Zhao Laogong scolded angrily: "That end is a lamp bought by the Ge family, grandpa won't mix with the Ge family!" Zhao Zhentao smiled and asked the man to accompany Zhao Laogong.Zhao Laogong pushed the man and said that you should tell your father to see it.Just as they were talking, Siju and Liu Lianzhong walked over, chatting and laughing.Zhao Laogong didn't look at them, and he didn't know when they left him.Walking across the bridge, Zhao Zhentao saw Xiong Dajin, Mi Xiuxiu, Zhao Xiaole and the workers in the harbor all admiring the lanterns.After a while, Zhao Laogong heard the old bell hanging from the old tree with crooked neck at the bridgehead ringing.This ancient clock was built in the Guangxu period and is a witness to the changes in the small village.Over the years, trumpets have been installed in the village, and the ancient clocks have been hanging idle to become a scene in the small village.The village committee stipulated that if a major event such as a tsunami does not occur, the bell must not be struck. If it is struck, it means that a major event has occurred.In the village alleys on a snowy night, lamps have been set up in the nests, and people have also set up the nests. The dull and harsh sound of the ancient clock, like a bomb falling, exploded in the people's nests.A dense crowd of people turned their heads towards the bridge head in unison, shooting surprised gazes from far and near.After being stunned for a moment, people rushed to the bridge to squeeze.Zhu Quande took off a lantern from the electric pole next to him, held it high in his hand, and looked at the villagers gathered in the dark with a solemn expression on his face.The villagers didn't know what happened, they all looked at Zhu Quande eagerly, and some didn't even dare to breathe.Zhu Quande knew that the villagers were not afraid of him, but were afraid of the bell.He held the lantern in his hand, and the light made his face red.When the gathering was almost over, Zhu Quande said in a serious and stern voice: "Listen, the village committee has issued a notice a long time ago, and the whole village will hold a snow lantern festival on Qiaodong Street. Why did they transfer to West Street without knowing it?" What? You don’t listen to the village committee’s unified plan!” People shouted, “Who are you? Will you pay?” Zhu Quande said: “From this hour, all the lights will be moved to the East Street!” Before Zhu Quande finished speaking, the crowd booed.There are all kinds of gossips, but one thing is consistent, this incident of hanging lights is far from enough to ring the bell.Some people yelled angrily, are East Street and West Street different?There is money to hang lamps on West Street!Aren't you just looking for a partner for Zhao Laogong?Old Mrs. Ge and her sister stood not far away and watched coldly, the halo of the blue lantern faintly reflected on their two happy faces. After the bell rang, Zhao Laogong's heart tightened, and he stared blankly in the direction of the bridge for a long time.When he walked over and heard Zhu Quande arguing with people, the old man's heart felt hot, and his eye sockets were really filled with tears. He quickly wiped away the two tears with the rough back of his hand.Not long after, a few villagers with lamps came over, saw the stupid Zhao Laogong and said, Zhao Laogong, Zhu Quande is ringing the bell to keep you company.What is this old man doing so hard in the cold?Ah, six lamps hung on West Street cost three hundred yuan!When Zhao Laogong heard this, he put on an old face viciously, and scolded: "Get out!" It was dark and no one could see anyone's face clearly, so he scolded the villagers away.Zhao Laogong took out the iron hook from the pocket of the green cloth padded jacket, took off the six lamps one by one, and squeezed them to a place against the wind.At this time, the old man's face suddenly turned yellow like yellow paper, but his eyes were red, his teeth were biting his lips, and bleeding came out.With a shriveled and crooked hand, he reached into the lamp of the eight blessings, pulled out a piece of wax, and tilted the lamp paper, and the lamp of the eight blessings ignited.Facing the wind, the five lamps also slammed on the ground.A gust of wind blew up, tongues of flames flickered, licking the scorching black sky, and paper ashes floated up, spreading all over the sky piece by piece.Zhao Laogong stood still like a muddy tire, he didn't even know that there were flames crawling on the sleeves of his cotton-padded jacket. Damn it, today is today!Zhao Laogong thought. On the third day of the Snow Lantern Festival, which was the first sunny day of the month, Zhao Xiaole carried a shotgun and shot rabbits all day.He found that Zhao Laogong made an exception after burning the lamp.Soon, Zhao Xiaole saw Mrs. Ge's big yellow dog jumping from the old river, and in front of it were Mrs. Ge, her sister, Sun Yanping and others.After setting up the tomb lanterns, they went back to the village.Zhao Xiaole saw the big yellow dog staring at the west sky, barking intermittently, its barking lost its former impatience, and a disturbing sight appeared in the dog's sight.The place where the sun sinks is purple-black, and the sky is cloudy again. The sky of the color of the old sail is covered with dizzy strange lights, making the white and bright sea of ​​ice rippling with indescribable things.Zhao Xiaole felt that the scene was strange enough, so he went home wretchedly with the rabbit.His eyes seemed to be unfocused, and he saw his father squatting by the stove, smoking a pipe.Zhao Laogong's body didn't break down after burning the lamp, but he suddenly became old, his words were seldom, and his face quickly became sad.He obviously couldn't cope with what was in front of him, and the snow lantern would become so far away that it no longer belonged to him.Mr. Ge is too poisonous.Zhu Quande came to see him at home at night, and stayed very late before leaving. Looking at the simple-minded Zhao Laogong, there was the shadow of the Tai Chi ax in front of his eyes. He dodged that memory, but he couldn't escape it.Zhao Xiaole threw the two rabbits on the floor of the main room, splashing a piece of grass ash.At this moment, he saw that Zhao Laogong's face was dry and slender, just like the money purse of the poor in the past.Zhao Xiaole felt that his father was pitiful, so he said something reassuring, Dad, let Siju smoke the rabbit to serve you wine.Zhao Laogong glanced at his son and didn't answer.He was thinking about setting up graveyard lamps for his ancestors' graves in the cemetery at night.In the past, keeping lights was very particular. Whoever made the lights would keep them. If the person who made the lights went to the cemetery in person, it would be the glory of the Baodi family.If the lamp is lost or destroyed at night, the lamp keeper will be punished, and the lamp keeper will be fined to kneel on the grave in the snow for three days and three nights.Zhao Xiaole finished his meal when it was dark, put on a green cotton coat, and slipped out of the house quietly with a bottle of loose liquor in his pocket.Seeing his shadow, Siju shouted: What are you doing again?Zhao Xiaole didn't stop, she threw back a long voice, and I went to find Xiuxiu.There are still scattered lanterns hanging in the air on both sides of the street.As soon as the moon appeared, it was covered by dark clouds, and the fog fell. Laoxie Bay had never seen such a thick fog, which made Zhao Xiaole's eyes as confused as gruel.When he arrived at Mrs. Ge's house, Zhao Xiaole asked for a deposit of 2,000 yuan, and when the lamp was kept, Mrs. Ge would pay the other half.At dusk, Mrs. Ge had already led her family to the old cemetery to pay homage to their ancestors, and at night only the lampmaker kept watch. The snowy night is dark and white. The big yellow dog walked obediently in front.The dog legs are powerful and extremely agile.Zhao Xiaole and Xiuxiu walked behind talking and laughing.小乐要挣钱，给秀秀办画展，所以叫秀秀来。眼前有些恍惚，四周的一切沉沉浮浮。望着前头的大黄狗，赵小乐恨得咬牙根儿，顺手从肩头摘下猎枪，不动声色地瞄准大黄狗的脑袋。秀秀摁下他的猎枪说，别犯傻啦，打死它，一冬的灯笼都白做啦！赵小乐五迷呵眼地笑了，说，俺不放枪。然后猎枪依然呈瞄准姿势端着，端着枪眯着一只眼走，眼前的大黄狗幻化成葛老太太的脑袋，继而又变回黄狗。狗脑破裂，血和脑浆咕嘟咕嘟流在雪地里。赵小乐眼里再现这样画面的时候，心里就格外舒服。端着枪走了很长一截路。秀秀说，你累不累，跟个孩子似的出洋相。赵小乐摆出鬼子进庄的姿势，一直端枪瞄到了新墓地，才把枪放下了。赵小乐将白天运来的几捆秫秸铺在雪地上，这就是床了。铺完称秸他就拿秫秸当引柴，点燃了一堆树杈子。赵小乐跪在雪地上吹了底火，沾了满脸的灰尘。火苗子渐渐大了，烤在雪地上蒸出的热气湿漉漉的，但它既能照亮也能驱寒。这时候，他和秀秀分别拿秫秸火一点一点将散落在坟地里的蓝灯笼点着了。这时坟地就暖和了，景致也极特别，蓝幽幽的灯笼铺铺排排，映得坟地像是布满星星的天景儿。秀秀忘记了是在坟地守灯，欢快地叫起来，真好看，真好玩儿！赵小乐以前守过灯，从没有像今夜守蓝灯这样惊讶。他瞪大眼睛看灯，努力把灯看懂，看庄严凄美的灯盏变换流转，陈年老事俱到眼前来了。起风了，天穹猛然灰暗许多，接着就有星星点点的雪花飘落下来。雪花抱团儿凝成颗粒状的小冷子，将赵小乐砸得醒了血性，他忽然觉得自己太过分了，就哼起没皮没脸的骚歌来搅乱刚才不正常的气氛。大黄狗在蓝灯群里钻来钻去。夜半时候，他们听见村头传来看船佬敲铜锣的声音。夜越黑得深，锣声越敲的神秘，坟地的雪野一派灰蓝。不多时辰，他就觉出天气的异样。老蟹湾雪夜的天气说变就变的，他看见从海边的方向卷来糊糊涂涂的雪带，风声响得厉害，一扇高高的雪墙盖来了。最敏感的大黄狗朝雪带哭嚎般叫着，样子比黄昏时更凶。赵小乐眼前是白白的雪柱。秀秀不知道出了啥事，身子怯怯地倒在赵小乐怀里。 “坏了，雪晕。”赵小乐说。 雪晕在老蟹湾的冬天时有发生。它是风暴潮在冬日里的变种儿，强台风席卷冰海上的积雪，催出一道道雪墙，横扫十里长滩。赵小乐扭头呆呆地看，率先拥来的是一股龙卷风，摆在茔地上的蓝灯笼，被风吹得骨碌碌滚动起来，有的立马就着了，有的滚出老远依旧惨然地亮着。雪墙铺天盖地压来的时候，赵小乐瞅见公墓那头，也亮着灯。那是父亲赵老巩给祖上守茔地灯呢！他拉着米秀秀去找赵老巩。没跑出多远，雪墙就啼哩哗啦地朝他们压来了，一道白白的雪坎子，遮住了大地上的万物。赵小乐吃力地拱出雪坎子，又将秀秀拽了出来，在下一道雪墙扑来之前，他拽着秀秀往前扑了一程，很快就被另一道雪墙压住半截身子，他们一摇一摆地拧出来，又往回跑，雪越来越厚，他们跑动的速度越来越慢。赵老巩被雪埋了，赵小乐扒起父亲，背起来往回走。过了河套，爬越河堤，风头子就软多了，雪墙也矮挫了，他们累稀了，扑扑跌跌，末了几乎是一点一点爬回村里的。 天景白亮起来，雪梁子与天空的界线愈发明晰了。北龙港被白雪覆盖着，像雪雕筑在那里。 3 雪灯会前后，孙艳萍开着自己的那辆红色宝马车，带着葛老太太往省城和北京跑了几次。虽然雪灯会给葛老太太带来了虚幻的满足，可她内心的恐慌，还是被赵振涛感觉到了。孙艳萍找了他几次，赵振涛都躲开了，当他接到孙艳萍的电话时，依然很明确地表明了自己的态度。孙艳萍哭泣着给赵振涛道歉。赵振涛的心硬起来了。他永远牢记高焕章说的一句话，人不能太傲气，可不能无傲骨。赵振涛突然发现一个问题，凭葛老太太的性格，李广汉在她们视野里已经消失，变得毫无价值，可她们还那样竭力保他，说明李广汉掌握着葛老太太和孙艳萍的致命把柄。那天孙艳萍威胁他的时候就有一句这样的话，要么他立马把姓李的毙掉，要么把他放了。The implication is obvious.葛老太太和孙艳萍最怕李广汉什么呢？ 这个索绕在赵振涛脑际的疑问，只能由雷娟来解答。赵振涛给雷娟打电话想从侧面破译这个问题。雷娟无法回答，可能她的案子还没有审到那个地步。孙艳萍再次打来了电话，可能算是她们母女的最后通碟。孙艳萍阴阴地说，你赵振涛别以为在这个事情上可以做个旁观者，你已经卷进来了，不，是我孙艳萍把你拖进来了，不赶紧采取行动，你会毁掉前程的。赵振涛再次催问她时，孙艳萍把电话挂断了。赵振涛犹如坠入大海，看不见海岸。他挖空心思地想，我在她们手里没有短处啊？其实，孙艳萍知道母亲留给赵振涛的最后杀手铜是什么。可是她不愿意跟赵振涛完全闹僵，因为她过去真正爱过他。可是葛老太太逼她这样说，娘也是被逼到了悬崖上了。人得到什么之后是不想丢掉的，纵然是很沉的东西也愿意背着。 在孙艳萍的小别墅里，葛老太太静静地坐在沙发上，慢慢地吸着一支烟说：“艳萍，你不要对赵振涛抱有任何幻想了，过去他也没有真正爱过你。我的傻闺女，你总是沉醉在一种幻觉里，不愿意醒来。娘向来是以仁厚待人的，可光有仁厚不行。既然他不能为我所用，就干脆毁掉他！”孙艳萍十分惊恐地望着葛老太太，乞求道：“娘，不管振涛是不是真正爱过我，我都愿意他好。因为我爱过他，真正的爱是不讲回报的。”她抱住娘的头，感到娘浑身在颤抖。葛老太太的老脸痉挛着，就像是刮过一阵风。她的目光失常，空洞的眼神恐怖地散落在灯光里：“现在还没有危及到咱们的头上，到那时，娘是啥事都敢做的！你看娘先给他点厉害瞧瞧！”孙艳萍不知葛老太太是说梦话还是真有手腕？有些时候，她感到娘是很陌生的。葛老太太还说，娘不是老实人，不老实的人在获得了不老实的成果后，就更加不老实了。孙艳萍记得娘在打麻将时，输了几万元都能泰然处之，俨然一副内力很足的样子。葛老太太又说：“艳萍，娘搞到这么多的钱，是贪图享乐吗？娘多时乱花过一分钱啦？娘在雪灯会上，为啥大把大把地扔钱？娘是在为你的姥爷报仇。你能体会赵小乐给咱做灯时，娘的感觉吗？姑奶奶不拚到这步天地，谁能瞧得起咱们？谁能给你坟地挂灯笼？眼下，赵振涛给赵家带来了荣光，娘不容，娘一时一刻都受不了，受不了啊！”孙艳萍的眼睛里布满血丝，茫然的表情里显出某种暂时的憔悴。葛老太太眼睛里闪过一道凶光：“艳萍，记住，谁也不要听信，这个世界没好人，商人无德行，政客无良心。要想利用他们，你就是金钱美女开道——” 孙艳萍似懂非懂地听着母亲的话，心里不时地哀挽着，哀挽那些任谁也留不住的东西。娘身上有钱的气味，这些事，气味熏着她。她要给娘赔上一个假装理解的微笑。实际上，她这些年跟着娘的指挥棒转得很累很累了。她有些厌恶地离开了娘。娘畸形的心态快到了崩溃的边缘。这些事，连几十年不见面的大姨葛玉梅也不大理解。葛玉梅带着怨恨和无奈失望地回香港去了。临走时，她对大姨说，本来她是老蟹湾百里招摇的一枝花，原来的她是多么聪明纯净，善解人意。她与男女老少都能应酬，摸摸小孩的脸，捶捶老人的背，挽住男人的胳膊，拉住女伴的手，谁不跟她亲近呢？是什么时候她的形象变了？在她错走的那一步上，娘把她向深渊狠推了一把。这是命里注定的事，娘生下她好像就是为葛家复仇的。祸根在母女情感里潜伏着，潜伏在她们无知无觉的欢乐中。孙艳萍的脸上隐隐约约含着岁月的痕迹，往日的鲜艳早已被日子吃掉了。连走路都变成了鸭式，一拧一拧的，整日像个鬼影飘来飘去。她听见背地里有人骂她和娘：这娘俩真是能耐活妖精哩，省市领导家的门儿平趟！ 是孙艳萍牵连了李广汉？还是李广汉自投罗网？她与李广汉没有感情是众人皆知的。没有离婚时，她就知道李广汉外面有女人。李广汉与老娘还有她不知道的事情吗？比如经济方面的。那天她朝赵振涛发火时说，李广汉完蛋，我们也完啦！这是娘的话，实际上她并不知道为什么都会完蛋的原由。孙艳萍不敢往下想了，只是下意识地抬手摸了摸自己额顶的发根处，那里像是总爬着一只紫红色的蜈蚣。这是男人李广汉给她留下的一道疤痕。娘知道孙艳萍嘴浅，好多事不让她参与，更不让她知道。有一次，孙艳萍从娘公司的会计那里得知，娘的账上经常有大笔的钱进入。这些财富一夜之间像爆米花一样膨胀起来。被虚荣驱使的女人会导致不幸的。 金钱并没有让她快活，她品尝到了人间从没有过的孤独。孙艳萍经常在半夜里爬起来，不开灯，在黑暗中摸出烟来吸，望着窗外的一粒星光，直到它全部消失。她默默地哭了。星星都有自己的位置，我的位置呢？恰到四十多岁了，连自己的一点位置都没找到。天下还有比你孙艳萍更可怜的女人吗？ 男人的责任比女人大，女人的心酸比男人多！ 4 雷娟很早就到市政府的办公室来等赵振涛，她说要跟赵振涛一起去北京看望高焕章书记。赵振涛见到雷娟，就明白雷娟已经把高焕章与盐化腐败案严格划分开了。赵振涛替老高欣慰着，自己却陷入了危机。说危机好像有点过重，也许是一个不祥的信号。有人把事情捅到省委潘书记那里，告赵振涛十分恶劣地对待外商。上告信里说，在招待香港葛氏集团副总裁葛玉梅的宴会上，他对即将在北龙港开发区投资的葛总裁索要贿赂，被港商拒绝后，他恼羞成怒地掀翻了餐桌，造成港商愤然离去。省委潘书记把信转到了省委督察室，让人了解情况后再反馈给他。赵振涛觉得这是葛老太大干的，她在省里的确有很深的关系，葛老太太的钱有时能够说话。省里不仅对赵振涛的事有了反应，对李广汉的问题也有了干涉意见。赵振涛本想给潘书记打个电话，向他说清楚事情真相，可他又忍住了，既然心里没鬼，就让他们查吧。坐到汽车里的时候，赵振涛以为雷娟不知道对他的反应信，就没有多说什么，怕影响她紧张的办案。 其实雷娟的消息是很灵通的，她一上车就询问赵振涛这些情况。赵振涛笑着说，你是听谁说的？雷娟看着他说：“你先说，我的消息来源准确不？” 赵振涛说：“是啊，威胁北龙港的风暴潮被我们攻克啦，可对于我赵振涛本人的风暴潮，就要来啦！” 雷娟半晌没说话。想了一会儿，雷娟说：“围绕跨海大桥的腐败案基本明了了，由此派生出来的案件也已经露出了苗头。赵市长，我觉得，我的工作会帮上你的！” 赵振涛笑笑说：“雷娟哪，雷娟，我赵振涛要是等着你的帮助，可早就混不下去啦！不过，你这份心情，我得领情！” 雷娟朝他拧眉瞪眼道：“你别不老实，你可别让我雷娟查到你的头上！” 赵振涛大咧咧地说：“你查吧，你不查省里也有人查的！我这人哪，就是身后跟着小人。在省里对外开放办的时候，我挨过查，你知道吗？我赵振涛见过风浪！” 雷娟没有随着他往下说，转了话题：“赵市长，李广汉为什么牵动那么多人前后两次来说情，这说明一个可怕的信号！” 赵振涛咬了咬牙说：“这就看你雷娟的啦，孙艳萍和她娘肯定与李广汉有瓜葛！丈夫和姑爷这个样子，妻子和丈母娘能好到哪里去呢？” 雷娟的眉头轻轻涌起了一个小疙瘩说：“李广汉在里边还指望着孙艳萍和葛老太太给他解围呢，所以抗得挺硬。近来我们又研究了新的审理方案。那天，我们抓捕李广汉的时候，他弟弟举起猎枪来对付我们，当场让我给吓住啦！” 赵振涛有些兴趣地看着她：“雷大侠，你说说，是怎么吓住他们的？” 雷娟摇了摇头说：“不说啦，你想拿我寻开心哪？” 赵振涛笑着，并认真地看了看雷娟。以往她穿着检察院的服装，他就基本没有拿她当女人，今天她穿着淡蓝色的羽绒服，围着一条米色的真丝围巾，配上她的白皮肤，很有点女人味，一个高大丰满的女人。 雷娟被赵振涛看得有点发慌，说：“你不认识我吗？” 赵振涛有些感慨地说：“北龙的干部都瞅着你害怕，我赵振涛瞅着你没这个感觉。因为我不想贪财。” 雷娟笑着说：“都说人为财死，鸟为食亡。办案时，接触这些罪犯，觉得人并不比乌聪明，人的贪心使人堕落也使人活得小了。其实钱这东西，少了它丢了尊严，多了又能买到魔鬼！还是没弄懂生活呀！” 赵振涛说：“人要想活得舒服，最好别弄懂生活！” 雷娟问道：“先说说，你弄懂生活没有？你让自己懂不让别人懂，黑心不黑心？” 赵振涛笑着说：“我要是懂了为啥经常请教你呢？我感到人活着是没有资格谈论生活的！自从我在省城听了你做报告，就觉得你这个女人不简单。别的不说，这个充满怨言的时代，人人都在发牢骚，到处都有怨言，而惟独你没有，为什么？” 雷娟摇了摇头说：“我不知道，也许怨言都让我吃进肚子里去了。实际上，人每次面对诱惑，都要与自己心中的魔鬼较量一次！” She giggled.赵振涛也笑了，说：“好啦，咱俩越扯越远啦，累不累呀？”雷娟说我说也是，然后就请赵振涛说点轻松的趣事。 两个人都渴望轻松和幽默，实际上他们两人都没有轻松和幽默的心态，或者说他们两人都没有幽默。他们说着说着就扯到高焕章身上去了。雷娟很感动地说：“赵市长，盐化柴德发的案子没有进展的时候，我一直以为高书记在里边作梗，一直以为高书记是他们的总后台，甚至以为高书记是那种打着纯朴和廉洁的外衣，表面本色实际肮脏的人！现在看来，我错了，我大错特错啦！你说得对，还是你们男人之间感受得深啊！高书记是个廉洁本色的好干部，至于他乱指挥的事，另当别论。我想，构成高书记个人魅力的基础，很可能是他父辈的影响。” 赵振涛说：“是啊，谁也无法割断历史，我们的身上都有父辈的影子。小时候，我的义父赵老巩对我影响真是太大啦！人在逆境里养成的品质，顺境里是无法获得的！” 雷娟伤感地说：“高书记病成这样啦，你可别跟他说我怀疑他。那还不得把他气死！我跟你来看望高书记，就是想深深地向他道歉！表示我个人的一份敬意！” 赵振涛感动地说：“我代表老高谢谢你啦！” 来到高焕章的病床前，赵振涛发现雷娟并没有说上几句话，只是默默地站在床边抹眼泪。实际上高焕章很想知道盐化案件的具体情况，可他回避着。高焕章紧紧抓着赵振涛的手，问完北港铁路就问北龙港的工程进展。赵振涛请他放心，过了年，冰雪融化，春风吹来，咱就请高书记给剪彩啦。从高焕章的表情上，赵振涛断定高焕章真的不知道郭老顺那里的事故，他还打听郭老顺他们的工程进度。赵振涛说他们干得很好，保质保量。高焕章哪里知道，临行在北龙医院门口给他唱明国小曲的郭老顺已经双目失明了，但赵振涛不能告诉他。赵振涛想到北龙港凤凰开发区的变化，就对高焕章说：“老高啊，你来北京这两月，凤凰开发区可是上马了不少新项目哇！”他就不厌其烦地数给高焕章听。 高焕章比原来消瘦了许多，可是眼神仍然很有神采：“振涛哇，距离我们当初的设想，越来越近啦！” 赵振涛轻声说：“老高，再告诉你个好消息，跨海大桥，又在原来的地方破土动工啦！我让他们来个深圳速度！回去你就能看得见！” 高焕章小声说：“注意质量，前面的教训要汲取呀！” 赵振涛说：“那是肯定的！这次新加坡的李总裁还带来了日本的海洋专家，对咱们的风暴潮治理评价很高！” 高焕章眼睛慢慢红了，喃喃地：“看来，风暴是过去了，过去了！我们治理了一百年哪！” 赵振涛动情地看着高焕章。 高焕章让其他人都出去，又跟赵振涛说了几句知心话：“振涛啊，省委潘书记和傅省长在北京开会，到医院来看我。他们对北龙港的进展，还不是很了解，你不能光闪着头干，抽空儿到省里汇报汇报。我听说背地里有人给你捅刀子啦！” 赵振涛气恨地说：“我知道，是葛老太大搞的，她把香港的葛玉梅拉来，以投资为条件，让我放过李广汉，你说这是交换的事吗？在气头上，我掀了桌子！” 高焕章说：“你掀桌子的当天，我就知道啦，马部长告诉我的。我是支持你的，可你也得注意呀，你还年轻，不能跟我高焕章学，还得谨慎啊！” 赵振涛说：“老高，你还记得我们相识时，我说的一句话吗？” 高焕章摇了摇头：“你跟我说的多了，我知道哪一句？” 赵振涛说：“在狗年，我不愿做一条狗，在牛年，我愿做一头牛！这就是我赵振涛的原则！您该退了，北龙港建成了，我怕什么，大不了丢了官！” 高焕章瞪了他一眼：“胡说，再说我可接你！该破罐子破摔的是我高焕章。你不能！”他攥紧了赵振涛的手：“你要学会保护自己，一个连自己都保不住的人，怎么搞改革？北龙，只有交给你赵振涛，我才会死而瞑目啊！” 赵振涛哽咽了：“老高，我记住啦！” 高焕章缓缓地点头：“你还要记住，在北龙，你面临的不仅仅是来自大海的风暴，还有建设风暴，还有廉政风暴，还有你想都想不到的舌尖上的风暴，你要在风暴里牢牢地站稳脚跟。记住，工作中所有的过失，都往我的头上推，老哥不怪你！” 赵振涛抱住高焕章的头，哭了。 马上就要进手术室了，医生们走进来时，人们就拥出来了。赵振涛发现北龙来了三百多人，医院的楼筒子被挤得严严实实。女护士小高因为与高焕章同姓，与高焕章相处得很好，她主动上来推着高焕章进手术室。她看着人们送别时悲悲泣泣的样子，就想调节一下气氛，她边推边说：“当家子大叔，我知道你一辈子什么好车都坐过，今天就坐一回侄女的专车吧！我这车呀，比豪华加长的林肯车还舒服呢！” 高焕章的双手被牢牢地绑在了车架旁，只能用眼神跟人们打着招呼。他笑呵呵地说：“我的大侄女说得好哇，你们都回去吧，我就坐着她的专车走啦。舒舒服服地走啦！哈哈哈——” 谁知高焕章的话音没落，送行的人群就炸了窝，顿时哭声一片。别人一哭，高焕章就笑不下去了，蜡黄脸上的肌肉僵僵地绷住了。他此时的心是痛的，疼痛烧出了他的满眼泪水，他强忍住泪水，谁也不看，死死地闭上双眼。也不知是谁带头走过去用自己的脸贴了一下高焕章的脸，人们就学开了。高焕章不敢睁眼，就感到一张又一张的火热脸庞朝他的脸上贴过来，分不清是谁的，感觉都是烫烫的，还混杂着一滴一滴滚烫的泪珠，落在他的脸上。这么多的从无数双眼睛淌下来的泪水，是多么的珍贵呀。他相信是真实的泪水，真实的泪水是有味道的，他闻到了。他撕心裂肺地体会到，眼泪是一种暗示，是一种联系，是一种鼓舞，是一种力量。不管人活在哪个关系层面里，这种回报是靠人格赢得的。这种力量给他带来了手术前从没有过的恐惧，他在心里一次一次与死神对话：我高焕章拥有这么好的同事和朋友，我还要回到他们中间去，别让我离开他们，别让我倒下去，求求你啦，我高焕章可从没有求过什么—— 惟有赵振涛没有挤过去，他木然地站着，神情有些恍惚。事后，高焕章给他描述这一瞬间的感觉时说，不相信天不怕地不怕的高焕章会被眼泪击垮。