Chapter 10 1927 Tangerine-Straw Rope

The rain in the town is particularly good today.Now it rained for another three days. After the water in the river changed from pea green to muddy yellow, its status also changed from the beach to the embankment.When the sky cleared, the water stopped rising.A few more people were added along the banks of the river, but it is a pity that Xu Heisheng is dead in the locality, otherwise it is said that the eight scenic spots in the town should be changed to nine scenic spots, because the "Tuojiang River Spring Rising" chronicle did not exist in those days, or it was left on purpose. As for the Shawan people, they don't pay much attention to the shortcomings in the chronicles. It doesn't matter if "Tuojiang Spring Rise" is not included in the chronicle, everyone just hopes that the water will rise a little more.If the water in the river rises again, and when the entire sand dam near the river is submerged, and the water in the river can flow to the Great Willow Bridge, then the people in Shawan, like Brother Zhou, will be so happy that they will forget to eat, right? .

If the water is bigger, when it enters the bridge hole in the stream, as long as it knows how to water, it can get some extra benefits.It is a kind of going to the bridge hole to catch those big fish that are washed by the water and want to rest in the whirling water.For bold people, there is a more moving desire besides catching fish.The more fierce the water came, the happier they were. When the waves were surging, they bravely threw their bodies into the center of the river, that is, from the stone bridge railing across the river.Each of them cleverly tied a rope to their bodies, and the other end of the rope was tied to a big poplar tree. They did not try to swim slowly to the shore until they caught a pig or calf rushing from upstream.If the captive was a long wooden post or an empty fishing boat, he would tie the rope, but Gu Zi got away and swam to the downstream bank before landing.

However, the water did not rise up to the sign of the wooden stake at the river wharf as everyone expected, and stopped as if joking with everyone.Everyone is disappointed. The veteran at the bridgehead had a dream that the water would rise even more.There may be other people who have such a dream, but don't say it.The veteran, however, used his age and status as qualifications, and one morning, he went to the homes of his acquaintances and told the dream that the water would rise again as a prophecy.Of course, everyone wants this dream to come true. According to custom, it is not necessarily necessary for local rains to become flooded.The local sky is sunny, and the river is often flooded.Therefore, there is still a cloud in the sky at night, and the people of Shawan feel very cold.

"Uncle Degui, yes there are," said a man from Shawan named Erli, a sixteen-year-old monkey who made a living playing sandals with Degui.At this time, Degui was twisting a straw rope on a rough wooden wheel. This straw rope was as big as a child's arm, ready to be used to catch fish.The twisted straw rope is less than two feet long, and it has already been coiled into a large roll. In the house, a tung oil lamp is hung on the wall, and the three wicks are arranged side by side to absorb the oil in the lamp, emitting a yellow halo.On the wall in the left corner hangs a large pile of fresh straw sandals, and on the other is a wine gourd and an old coir raincoat.Behind the door, there are some sickles, some mallets, some long iron nails, and some thin ropes. When the door is closed, they are all illuminated by lights.

Erli squatted in a corner of the room, and hit the straw sandals he had just woven with a long hardwood mallet, making a snapping sound.The gavel was old, and the light was still reflecting on it, like a bald man with expensive hair. Degui is almost as if buried in the middle of a large pile of neat grass.One strong hand grabs the wooden handle of the wheel and shakes it vigorously, while the other hand squeezes the grass tightly and sends it over.The rope thus becomes longer and longer.The rolling sound of the wooden wheel, the squeaking sound of the same grass being squeezed by the wheel, and the rhythmic sound of Erli's hardwood hammer beating the straw sandals form a low-pitched but obviously pleasant music.

"Uncle Degui, I guess it will happen." Erli said that it is the big water in the tomorrow river.If Degui had doubts about the veteran's words, the rope would never be twisted so vigorously.But when Degui heard Erli's words, he didn't answer, he only responded with "uh", and the word "wu" was buried by other voices in the room, so Erli only saw Degui's mouth move. "I think the net behind our bed should be repaired early," Er Li said loudly, and stopped beating, "If tomorrow your old man catches a cow—or even a pig, you can add some money and buy a boat— —No, I think we'd better jump into the water and get a cow, and we need a boat in addition to selling the cow to replenish the guys on the boat. Uncle, you are in charge of the boat, and I will block the head, just row like that; Isn’t there fish to eat?”

Degui also slowed down his work a little, "Who will rescue me when I fall into the Jinsi pond?" This is a joke.This old man, the famous water ghost, can beat the river across the river by himself. Is he afraid of water? Erli knew he was teasing him, but said: "Uncle, you are pretending to be crazy! You call me! I am not afraid, I can swim for you tomorrow." "Uncle has grown old these few years, if you accidentally drink too much, can you save your uncle?" Degui laughed loudly, like a grand master.In fact, it is expensive, and some places really look more noble than a government official; for example, the light brown bald head that can still shine under the light, and the wide lips that slide down slightly, the big shoulders, and the long hair. waist,...but Degui is now a Degui who plays straw sandals for a living.Maybe it's luck.The old soldier, at another time, used his sackcloth physiognomy—he is simply a "all treasures", he can cure diseases, shave heads, and other skills in addition to physiognomy—saying that his luck is on the water; Season, luck, or just waiting for the master.So Degui thought of "evening luck" and was excitedly rubbing the rope, Erli had already seen the joyful look.

"I think—" Er Li said, but didn't say anything. This is because the two forces have become obsessed, and there is the word "I think" before speaking.Sometimes it is unavoidable to encounter things that are not what you think.This is a common thing when you are younger. "I think we should also have a side of raw silk net, otherwise we will not be able to catch night fish on the beach." "I think," said the little monkey, "we should also have some big six-toothed harpoons." "There are still many miles," Degui deliberately proposed so that Erli could count them one by one.

"We need four oars, four poles, two small fishing pockets with long poles, and a fish cage... Uncle Degui, do you think there should be an iron pocket on the bow for fishing and burning firewood at night?" "Of course it is." "I think that's quite a lot, otherwise, how do we burn firewood? I think we'll need a new awning on board, in case we get a boat with no awning? I think we'll have—hope we get one." The boat is fully furnished, so there is no need to worry about it, just let us move to the top to wish." "Go get some wine for uncle. It will be enough for a catty. No money. You can say it is on credit, and we will pay it together tomorrow."

Er Li stood up, stretched himself, and punched himself in the leg.Going to Degui's side, he wrapped the thick straw rope around his body like a joke. "It's so thick, it's enough to hang a big five-cabin boat. I think the water can hold it well, and a small house can hang it too." "Good nephew, let's go, or other people's shops will be closed late at night. You can go there and get yourself something else on credit. Go ahead." Erli reached out to get the gourd, shook the gourd again, and then handed it to Degui, "Please drink it up, if there is any left, I will drink less when I go back to her. That old Miao woman—I think She'll just take advantage of these little things."

Degui held the gourd up to the sky, with his mouths in the mouth of the gourd, as if he was kissing, he took two big mouthfuls before swallowing, and finally rolled the leftovers from the corners of his mouth with his tongue, the gourd was grabbed by Erli, and Erli opened the door. gone. "There is a star, uncle!" Er Li left a message outside the door. Later, I heard a dog barking at the entrance of the alley, and Degui guessed that Erli deliberately teased the dog with the gourd, otherwise the dog would not bark until Erli knew him well. The rope was longer, coiled in the ground like a cauliflower snake.Degui still didn't take a break, drank two mouthfuls of "Shui Laoguan", and his strength became stronger again. If it is expensive, I hope that if it is a boat, I will get a bigger one, and it will be better if it can accommodate three people-this decent man still wants to find a wife for Er Li. He who has been making straw sandals for eight years is expensive, and he is doing his job well. It has been eight years since he moved from the countryside to the city. During these eight years, he has been respected by the people of Shawan. My nephew has grown up too. Let's see for myself. If you are old, if God can really arrange happiness for decent people, and you will not be lucky until you are old, then it is time to accept this late luck. Not long after, I heard dogs barking in the alley again, and Erli turned home, shaking the gourd hissingly. Before entering the door, he was still singing, humming military songs, and pulling a beard with oral language, but he pushed the door open but remained silent. The yellow light in the house dazzled his eyes. "Uncle, I heard people say that the water along the river has receded a bit." When Degui heard it, he stopped and turned the wooden wheel in his hand. "I don't think it's scary. There are stars in the sky here, and the sky in the west is as dark as a patch of paint. It must always be falling around the general barracks." While Degui was drinking with a gourd, Erli also took out dried tofu from his body to chew. "Why don't you give me a drink?" "I think you should close your eyes." When Degui closed his eyes and opened his mouth, a lump of stuff would be stuffed into his mouth. Erli tried to measure the rope, and when it was three feet long, he stopped immediately if it was too expensive. The rope needs to be at least five feet long to be distributed.At this time, you have to think, the fishing boat is big, the water is big, and there are cows outside the boat, it must be twelve feet or ten feet, and the achievement at this time is only one-third. Erli got tired of beating a straw sandal back and forth, so he came to fetch grass for Degui again.Still tired, I buried myself in another haystack and dreamed of driving a fishing boat as a barrier. I could hear drums beating four times on the bunker, and a rooster crowed somewhere, and Degui's hand was still spinning vigorously on the wooden handle of the wheel.The sound of the wheels is not as good as before, it seems to be moaning, sighing, saying yes, forget it, forget it... For the dream of the old soldier, all the poor people in Shawan opened their eyes and made a happy show. Dream. But God knows, the river subsided overnight!The old soldier was deceived by a dream—but he deceived many people in Shawan. The water in the river receded so quickly that even how many people could not pull it off in the same place the next day, only God knows. !The old soldier had played a big joke with the Savan people, and Degui was almost exhausted from the joke. From then on, that decent man was still doing the business of making straw sandals, waiting for another late luck to change his life - Er Li naturally didn't work as a stopper, and he didn't want to do it any more. As for those who are concerned and want to know the future whereabouts of the thick grass rope that is nine feet long and ten feet long, you can go to the Yangliu Bridge by the river to see it. It is hung on the fourth old tree as a swing, and the children of Hewan people are vying for it. Isn't that the one who climbs up and swings? Written on March 28, 1927