Chapter 14 Chapter Thirteen

When the elder returned home, the county party committee politely said that this was a reasonable thing, and Yue Rui was not surprised.Surprisingly, Zu Yuan and the county party committee went far beyond the scope of "expression": formally reported to Yue Rui, and formally listened to Yue Rui's instructions and opinions on Pengcheng's work.This moved Yue Rui deeply. As an old man who left the front line, he has long since lost his right to speak about major social life.And this right to speak is almost equivalent to the value of Yue Rui's entire life.Only in this land of his hometown, his value and influence are still preserved.For Yue Rui, this is far beyond any honor and kindness.

The fuchsia Nissan sedan was driving quietly on the newly repaired asphalt road.The autumn scenery of his hometown flaunted the sultry colors and poured into the car window one after another, and Yue Rui broke free from that touching emotion. The mountains are still the green mountains of the hometown; the water is still the pure water of the hometown.For Yue Rui, the landscape of his hometown has been missing for a long time.After returning home for a few days, now he finally got the chance to taste and savor it. "Stop, stop!" When the little Nissan drove across the Maya River, Yue Rui decided to get off the car.

Watching the little Nissan leave and standing on the embankment of the Maya River, Yue Rui felt a surge of passion in his heart.Maya River, the river of hometown in his heart!No matter how many years pass by.How much sand has been piled up, the Mayan River is always flowing in his heart for a long time! The Maya River has changed.The river in my memory is extremely wide and deep, and what appears in front of me seems to be just a small canal or stream, and I can walk to the other side by lifting my feet.The dikes are even more pitifully shabby, and many areas are nothing more than a sandy belt with a few weeds growing a little higher than the river bed.He didn't understand why memory and reality were so far apart.Is the memory blurred by the years, or the reality distorted the true face?Puzzled thinking made him laugh quickly: Did you see the Yellow River at that time?Did you take a ferry across the Yangtze River at that time?Did you walk on the embankments of the Pearl River and Songhua River?Were you so heavy-footed and unshaven then? ...memory and reality coincide.The Maya River has shown its former style again.Look, how clear the river is!Just after it rains, you can also clearly see the snow-white, pink and gray-green gravel pebbles under the water, and you can see barracuda, flower drifters, and crucian carp swimming freely on the gravel pebbles, lazily or ghostly. Eels, freshwater shrimps, (yulu) roe...crabs hiding around the gravel and pebbles are rare to see. You have to lift up the stone slabs at the bottom of the river, or stick your arms out into the caves close to the river bank.Sometimes you have to endure the attack of iron pincers, and pay the price of a few drops of blood.The most effective and interesting way to deal with it is "photographing".It is also easy to illuminate the crabs. Carry a gas lamp or a flashlight at night and day to attract the crabs or make them forget about it, and just wait to pick it up in the basket or bucket.When crabs are in heat or roe, it will not take long to take a small basket and a bucket at a time.At that time, the Maya River was the paradise for Yue Rui and his partners from the time when Qingming was over in spring to the end of autumn in Jiujiu. It's not cold.If it weren't for getting old, Yue Rui would really be the same as before, stripping naked and getting into the water, having fun to his heart's content.

Only about a mile upstream, a clump of reeds appeared under the embankment.The reeds are not big, like a blue-grey cloud, permeating the grass on the side of the river embankment.At that time, this was unique in dozens of miles away.The reed leaves are very wide, like a strip. They are used to make rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival in May, and the taste is particularly pure.Many people have eaten zongzi, and the reed leaves will be kept for next year.Now reeds are growing downstream, and this area is still there.This piece of reed that is still there is the only reed in Yue Rui's mind, the only reed that is evergreen and rooted in his heart.

More than forty years ago, in this patch of reeds, Xiao Yun's wife lost her four-year-old tiger cub in order to save Yue Rui who was injured and endangered! The reeds make waves.The waves are wide and deep, just like Yue Rui's thoughts soaring. At the first branch of the Maya River extending to the hinterland of Lilong Mountain, Bi Yuerui left the embankment and embarked on the path up the mountain. He knew the area very well.The change of mountains is no more than that of people and villages.People and villages are children and teenagers, and you can't recognize them when you blink your eyes.And Shan is an old man. Many, many times have passed, but the wrinkle has become deeper, the gray hair has turned gray, or a few white hairs have fallen out.There are many secrets hidden deep in the mountains.Which person who grew up in the mountains does not hide the secrets of the mountains in his heart!When he was a child, Yue Rui caught grasshoppers, hugged grass, fought mountain battles, and rolled down stone mines from the opposite mountain top; later he fought real battles here, using real stone mines to blow up bandits and soldiers. The devil's helmet and horseshoe.None of that left a mark on the old man of the mountain.Only this path and the scenery of autumn mountains that can be seen on both sides of the path seem to be still in love with him.This is a living vegetable, which can be cooked and eaten when it is tender, and it used to be considered a treasure to survive the famine; now nature has been neglected, and only tall, reddened stalks and grains like ears of rice are left.This is the lazy old lady flower—the morning glory, look, the sun has risen in the middle of the sky, and Shanshan, like a lazy lady, shows a smiling face; it is beautiful, but beautiful, the vines climb on the jujube or other trees, and those who are not "Manly men" of many colors are also dressed up in fancy dresses; but before the sun goes down, she closes the door again and sleeps in.Ripe grass and thatch are as soft as high-grade carpets, making people feel as if they are flying away.Jizike and Lalayang stretch out their long, thorny hands, tearing the clothes and pants of tourists.The sumac greets guests with an amorous embrace and a smile, but don't be fooled, that amorous smile hides resentful teeth. "You are seven (lacquer) and I am eight. If you want to bite me and kill me with a knife!" Yue Rui and his friends always shouted when they encountered a lacquer tree when they were young, and now the children still shout like this when they encounter a lacquer tree.The mountain is a treasure house and a garden—the largest, richest, most beautiful garden in the world.Mountain chrysanthemums are in clusters and flakes, blue, white, and yellow; wild peonies are in full bloom, red, purple, and pink; Colorful flowers.There are also fire-like persimmon trees all over the mountain, golden barberry trees, silver-like poplars, old pine trees like bronze, and anchor chains dotted with red clouds and ink in the blue sky like the ocean. Stone boron flower... The majesty, grandness, beauty and beauty of the mountain are enough to amaze the most outstanding poets and painters in the world.Even Yue Rui, the son of Shan, who is almost at the age of doing what he wants, can only roughly perceive the mystery and spirit of Shan.

Passing through a stretch of land and turning around a mountain ridge, the path leads Yue Rui to an ancient temple—the Liwang Temple. It is impossible to test when the Liwang Temple was first built. As a provincial key cultural relic protection unit, the newly built Liwang Temple is much more majestic than it was back then.At that time, the main hall could not accommodate two tables of the Eight Immortals, and the statue of Li Longye was mottled and shabby.That was exactly fifty years ago.The seventeen-year-old newborn calf, Yue Rui, and his twelve young brothers lit incense and drank blood in front of the main hall and statues. "Master Li Long! The one who is greedy for life and fears death, and the one who runs away pretending to be a bear, will be thundered, and the fire will burn him!" The oath of the year echoed in his ears, and Yue Rui felt the passion surging, and also felt a certain childishness. and funny ingredients.

Standing on the hillside behind Liwang Temple, a magnificent reservoir appeared in front of Yue Rui.The reservoir once again touched Yue Rui's deep and dignified love. The era when the three red flags were flying. Yue Rui, who had been secretary of the county party committee in the mountainous area of ​​western Fujian for several years and had just been transferred back to the north to serve as the deputy director of the rural work department of the prefectural party committee, returned to Pengcheng to inspect and guide the work.His first goal was the reservoir site which was under construction at that time.He declined the kindness of the leading comrades of the county party committee, and only accompanied by Yue Pengcheng, who stayed in the village and was already so tall that he couldn't tell his height, he climbed up the hillside in front of him on foot.

The construction site is very spectacular, with thousands of migrant workers covering the bottom of the mountains and valleys, and various colored pennants symbolizing honor and drive are flying around.From the grass shed of the headquarters to the rising reservoir dam, the eyes of Yue Rui, the red bearded commander and guerrilla leader, did not know which direction to search. "Dad, are you looking for Aunt Yun?" The son saw what his father was thinking. In 1942, when the guerrillas were upgraded, Yue said that after leaving Pengcheng as a young commander of the regular army, he wrote several letters to Mrs. Xiao Yun with sincere feelings.Mrs. Xiao Yun also wrote back a few letters.But then the army was busy, he was busy with military affairs and government affairs, and he took root in the south again. After working for many years, the contact with Mrs. Xiao Yun was cut off.This time when he returned to his hometown, one of the most important tasks was to visit this benefactor who gave him a second life and never expected or received anything in return.

"Dad, can you find Aunt Yun here?" The son smiled, helped Yue Rui down to the deep, damp bottom of the valley, passed through the crowd, and came to a group of people who were building the dam foundation with rocks . There he saw Mrs. Xiao Yun, a construction site commander who was dressed exactly like a male migrant worker. "Sister Yun!" he shouted, with tremors hidden in his voice. When she heard the call, she shivered involuntarily, then turned sideways, inspected with a dull gaze, and suddenly let out a series of heart-pounding surprise cheers: "My God! Yue Rui? Is this you? "

"Who isn't I? Sister-in-law Yun, look again!" The laughter stopped, Mrs. Xiao Yun suddenly grabbed Yue Rui's arms, looked at it, and two strings of silver beads rolled down from her orbit.The same two strings of silver beads were also circling in Yue Rui's orbit. "Oh! Look what's wrong with me!" Mrs. Xiao Yun suddenly realized her gaffe, wiped her face, took Yue Pengcheng's hand, and said, "Come on, let's go up and talk!" In the headquarters on the hillside, sitting on Mrs. Xiao Yun's "kang head" covered with straw and thatch, Yue Rui, Yue Pengcheng and Mrs. Xiao Yun had a "reunion dinner" together.The rice consisted of a few pancakes mixed with elm leaves and a few bowls of porridge made of corn shards.Yue Rui couldn't imagine that this well-known revolutionary hero in Pengcheng lived such a miserable life.

"Sister-in-law Yun, are you still living alone?" Yue Rui asked. After Mrs. Xiao Yun lost her lifeblood, the tiger cub, Yue Rui more than once had the idea of ​​accompanying and repaying her for life. In the letters he wrote back after leaving Pengcheng, Yue Rui repeatedly expressed this desire and expectation.In his impression, Mrs. Xiao Yun also had a deep affection for him.No matter during the recovery period or after the injury, the true feelings made him feel unparalleled happiness and warmth.Strangely, Mrs. Xiao Yun evaded her several times in her reply.Later, Yue Rui learned from other sources that many people wanted to find a companion for Mrs. Xiao Yun, but she refused on the grounds that she was busy with work and could not be distracted (she was already a key member of the Pengcheng Revolution at that time).Only then did Yue Rui give up, and married his ex-wife, who was always in love with him. "Look, don't I live a beautiful life alone? If one is full, the whole family will not be hungry." Through Mrs. Xiao Yun's relaxed tone, Yue Rui could hear something not relaxed. "If it wasn't for saving me, the tiger cub would be..." "Look, why are those things brought up again now!" "No, Mrs. Yun, I mean, even if you don't want to find another person, you must have a companion. My little girl just came from the south and is not used to living in the city. I want to send her back, even if it is your daughter." Mrs. Xiao Yun stared at Yue Rui speechlessly, full of gratitude and reprimand: "You Commander Yue, you still have a red beard temper! You don't think about it, my daughter is just learning how to look like a grown-up, come to us This poor place won't waste her whole life? Besides, she is so young, I don't have the time to drag her!" Yue Rui fell silent.After pondering for a moment, he resolutely called Yue Pengcheng to the front and said, "Since this is the case, it's fine if the girl doesn't come back. But my son is by your side. Today I am the master, let Pengcheng recognize you as a godmother, and he will be your son in the future .” Without waiting for Mrs. Xiao Yun to answer, Yue Rui pulled Yue Pengcheng in front of Mrs. Xiao Yun and said, "Pengcheng, kneel down! Kowtow to your godmother!" Yue Pengcheng had heard other people's stories about Mrs. Xiao Yun a long time ago, and he had always admired and loved Mrs. Xiao Yun in his heart; Mrs. Xiao Yun had cared for him since he was a child, and he always regarded Mrs. Xiao Yun as his relative in his heart.Hearing his father's order, he didn't hesitate at all, and immediately kowtowed three times to Mrs. Xiao Yun respectfully. "Oh! Get up! Get up!" Mrs. Xiao Yun hurriedly pulled Yue Pengcheng up from her face, and said to Yue Rui: "Look, how can you, a senior cadre in the agency, come up with such a thing! Godson, son is not far from "dry"? Pengcheng is your son, that is, my son. In the future, don't call that godmother, but call him aunt. I think as long as the affection is strong, my aunt and His mother is not far behind. Ah!" Seeing this, Yue Rui had no choice but to give in, and said, "Okay, you can call me Aunt. Pengcheng, listen, your Aunt Yun is just like me and your mother. If you are not filial or make her angry , I can't spare you!" "Auntie!..." Sixteen-year-old Yue Pengcheng threw himself into Sister Xiao Yun's arms with tears in his eyes. A few months later, Yue Rui and Mrs. Xiao Yun met again at the construction site in the spring of the next year.At that time, "blast furnaces are starting everywhere, everyone is busy making steel" is forming a boom, and the construction of the reservoir has reached a critical moment: if the main project is not completed before the flash flood arrives, nearly half a year's labor of thousands of migrant workers will be wasted; More than 100,000 mu of grain fields in more than a dozen villages will continue to be dry for a long time.However, in a speech, a major cadre described the construction of the reservoir in Li Longshan as right opportunism that interfered with the large-scale steel smelting.A group of people were ordered to force Mrs. Xiao Yun to dismiss the migrant workers.Yue Rui rushed to the construction site Xingye after receiving the emergency, and argued hard.The reservoir was saved, Mrs. Xiao Yun was criticized, and Yue Rui has since become a "representative" of Right opportunism.Soon, he was demoted and transferred to a remote area thousands of miles away. Standing on the towering dam of the reservoir, standing on the hillside where Xiao Yunsao fought together, Yue Rui's feelings were surging with the mountain wind and pine waves. Mrs. Xiao Yun!The savior and revolutionary hero of the past, where are you now? For Mrs. Xiao Yun, Yue Rui never forgot no matter when and under what circumstances.Especially after his son settled down in the village, he almost always asked about Mrs. Xiao Yun's situation in every communication with his son.Four years ago, he first heard that Mrs. Xiao Yun was gone, and then he learned that Mrs. Xiao Yun had fallen ill.At that time, he had just resumed his leadership position and wanted to make a special trip back to Pengcheng, but he failed in the end.Regarding Mrs. Xiao Yun's illness, Yue Rui had no doubts: The old woman is already in her seventies!As for Mrs. Xiao Yun's situation, Yue Rui had no doubts: The old lady is a well-known old hero and model in Pengcheng!Even so, he was eager to know the hospital she was staying in now, and eager to go to condolences and visits earlier.Last night, he wanted to find Shuzhen several times, but he gave up on several times: his daughter-in-law is ill, why bother her in such a hurry? The mountain wind sent the monotonous and gloomy singing of the pines all over the mountain. The singing was like a song without words, hitting and rolling on Yue Rui's heart. Yue Rui got up and walked down the mountain.At this time, it became his most urgent wish to find out the hospital where Mrs. Xiao Yun was being treated, and to rush to Mrs. Xiao Yun's side immediately. Across a gentle valley, a flock of sheep wandered beside a stream with lush water and grass.Next to the sheep, on the grass with the warm sunshine and warm wind, lay a thin and vigorous boy. "Little comrade, which village are you from?" Yue Rui came to him. The boy sat up, blinked his eyes, and recognized the secretary's father in front of him. "I'm in the same village as you." He lay down on the grass again without paying attention. "A village? So you are from Damulberry Garden, and you still know me?" Yue Rui suddenly became interested, and sat down on the grass next to the boy. The boy turned over a few times and avoided a certain distance. "What's your name?" The boy rolled his eyes and didn't answer. "No, tell me who your father is. "...Shi Hengbao" "...Then, do you know what your grandfather's name is?" "I heard from my second uncle that his name is Shi Laocheng." "Oh, Lao Cheng! So you are Lao Cheng's grandson? Well, that's great!" Shi Bo Ding'er was infected by Yue Rui's emotions, turned over and sat up again: "Do you know my grandfather?" "Not only do we know each other, but we even beat the butt together when we were young!" Shi Bo Ding'er narrowed his eyes, showing a bit of joy. "Hey, mature grandson, can I ask you for someone?" "With me?" "That's right. There used to be an old woman in our village who was the secretary and was in charge of the whole village. She was about the same age as me..." "Isn't that Mrs. Xiao? Who doesn't know wow!" "That's right, it's your old lady Xiao! Do you know where your old lady Xiao is now and which hospital you live in?" "Hospital?..." Shi Boding'er glanced at Yue Rui blankly. Yue Rui, "Yes. She is seriously ill, and she is staying in a big hospital..." Shi Bo Ding'er scrutinized Yue Rui several times, then jumped up suddenly, shouting: "You are bad! Your son's secretary almost killed Mrs. Xiao!Mrs. Xiao is so sick, she doesn't care!It smells like a hospital!How well said! " Yue Rui was startled suddenly.A gust of wind blew through the mountain depression, and Songtao sang the song without words again.