Chapter 3 (2) Gathering on the ancient post road

It was so smoggy that one couldn't see clearly from 500 paces away; the air was stuffy and suffocating.Outside the gate is a long embankment running from east to west, which is quite wide and can accommodate two large cars.The north and south sides of the embankment are paved with stone slabs.The inn is on the south of the road, and the waterway is on the north of the road.On the gate of the inn, there is a newly painted signboard with the word "Inn" in a big book.There are ancient willows on both sides of the road.Under the embankment on the south side of the post road is the wilderness on the back of the city, with miscellaneous trees and weeds growing, and creepers climbed up to the trees beside the post road.In the distance, one or two clusters of green pines and cypresses can be seen, which may be someone's tomb.The east end of the post road seems to be a forest, and the inns seem to be shrouded in the forest.We walked into the side of the waterway.The embankment is very high and steep, and the river is still without any ripples.The water surface is clear and clear, but the cloudy sky is reflected in the water, as if the sky and the earth are facing each other and are about to close.Maybe that's why it feels so suffocating.Looking west along the meandering waterway, I only feel that the future is very far away, but I am just confused and can't see clearly.The smooth green grass by the water leads to a long way.

The roots of the old willow trees have damaged the post road.The post road also rises and falls according to the terrain, and the edge of the stone slabs often collapses, so the road is difficult to walk.There were no boats in the river either. Ah Yuan supported me and said, "Mom, be careful, watch the ground." I know to be careful because I was just able to walk alone after being sick.I walked steadily, so as not to need A Yuan's help, she was already tired enough.Walking and walking—in fact, I didn’t walk very far, I saw a small boat parked on the shore, and ran quickly. On the shore of the bow of the boat, a long penny pole is planted for punting the boat, and the boat cable is attached to the pole.The boat is small, but it has a front cabin, an aft cabin, a bow, and a stern; but it has no rudder or oars.A plank for the stern and the sandy banks of the river.There is a long slope beside the post road, leading to the diving board.

Ah Yuan stood still and said, "Mom, look at the number on the stern of that boat, 311, it's Dad's boat." I saw it too.Ah Yuan went downhill first, and I walked behind, saying, "Don't worry, I'm walking steadily." But Ah Yuan had never seen a springboard, so she dared not walk.I went up first, stretched out my hand to hold her, and she walked sideways cautiously.Both of them boarded the boat. The boat was very clean, the rear cabin was empty, and the front cabin was covered with a clean and tidy bed, with snow-white sheets and snow-white pillows. It was like being in a hospital. Zhongshu was lying on his side, his abdomen rising and falling evenly, Sleep peacefully.

We took off our shoes in the back cabin and walked gently to the bed.I saw him pursing his lips tightly, there were still some tears in his eyes, and there was a tear stain on his face.There was a clean handkerchief beside the pillow, the one he had taken with him, which had obviously been washed since there was no crease.No one was on board. There should be a boater for punting, and maybe a boater for handkerchiefs.Are they all ashore? (I only guess in my heart) I felt that the temperature on his forehead was normal, so I wiped away his tears with his own handkerchief, and whispered "Zhongshu, Zhongshu" in his ear.Ah Yuan obediently next to me.

He opened his eyes immediately, and they were wide open.Without glasses, you can see that his eyelids are beautiful, but his face looks very haggard.He reassuredly called out "Ji Kang, Ah Yuan" in a very weak voice, and then complained intermittently with a bitter face: "They took me to a very high place, and then they brought me down again, and turned around." After a long journey, I was so tired that I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and I didn’t dare to sleep. I could hear the boat going in the water. Is this the boat? I’m just worried that you won’t find me.” Ah Yuan said, "Dad, we are here, don't worry!"

I said, "Ah Yuan led me, and did not take a wrong step. If you can't open your eyes, just close them and rest assured to sleep for a while." He was too tired to support, and immediately closed his eyes. We didn't have a place to sit, so we had to sit cross-legged on the ground.He stretched out half of his hand from the side of the quilt, moving his fingers, and asked us to shake hands.Ah Yuan sat at the end of the bed and hugged his feet, and he moved them deliberately.The three of us met again.Needless to say, I feel at ease.I held his hand and pillowed my face on the edge of the bed.Ah Yuan hugged her father's feet and leaned her face against the end of the bed.Although it is on the ancient post road, this is also a family reunion.

Ah Yuan and I looked around.Zhongshu's glasses and shoes are gone.The four walls of the front cabin seemed to be full of closets, and we dared not open them.Near the bow, there is a large stone pier.Probably the town ship. A Yuan suddenly said: "Oh, it's too bad, Mom, I have lessons today, I forgot all of them! I have to go to school tomorrow." I said, "It's too late to go." "I've never missed a class. They're bound to call. Well, I have to make up. Gotta go back and call the department tonight." Ah Yuan wanted to go back, so I was the only one staying in the hotel.I used to think I was very independent, but now I feel like a creeping vine.But I can't hold on to Ah Yuan.Fortunately, the formalities have been completed, and the inn is not far from the ship.

I sighed and said, "You should retire early. Just say that your father is old, your mother is confused, and you are too burdened. The first volume of the textbook you edited has only been published, and the second volume has not yet been written." A Yuan said: "Mom, you don't understand. While teaching, you will make new discoveries and revise and supplement. The published volume 1 needs to be revised and revised-Mom, you always hope that I will retire, and I am afraid that I will retire in three years. Even after five years, there is no way to retreat." I am ashamed of myself, only I am a superfluous person.I am silent.The sun was already over the hull.I said softly: "When the sun shines into the front cabin, we have to go back to the inn. If Dad is still awake..." I touched the pins on my cuffs and quickly stopped asking.

"Wake him up." Ah Yuan was determined, she was like her father. Zhongshu seemed to be still in a deep sleep.Before the blood-red sun behind the clouds hit the bedside, Zhongshu suddenly opened his eyes, looked at us, and recited our names as if comforting himself: Ji Kang and Yuanyuan.We hurriedly told him that we had to go back to the inn when the sun came into the front cabin.Ah Yuan said: "I will visit you every week. Mom comes to accompany you every day. It is very quiet here." Zhongshu said, "I heard everything." His ears were so sharp that he was only half asleep when he fell asleep.At this time, he suddenly pulled his closed mouth into a straight line, pulled out a mischievous smile, looked at me strangely and said, "Jiang, are you still dreaming?"

I froze for a moment, and said blankly, "I feel like I'm dreaming right now." I answered like this, but knew that I didn't answer.I couldn't figure it out for a while. Ah Yuan stood up and said, "We should go. Dad, I will come to see you on Sunday, and Mom will come tomorrow." Zhongshu said, "Let's go." I said: "See you tomorrow, sleep well." We hurried to the back cabin to put on our shoes.I got on the diving board first and led Yuan.She just walks sideways step by step.We disembarked and walked up the post road.The two hurried back to the inn, because the road was difficult to walk, and I couldn't walk fast.

When we arrived at the inn, Ah Yuan said, "Mom, I really want to be with you, but I have to hurry home to make a phone call and arrange make-up lessons...Mom, you are alone..." She couldn't bear to leave me. I think the inn is not far from the ship, and although I don't feel secure, I can't bear to drag Ah Yuan down.I said, "Don't worry, I walked steadily. If you don't have time for dinner, you might as well go back early, otherwise you will be stuck in traffic." As soon as we entered the door of the inn, the gate was bolted. Ah Yuan said: "Mom, you walk carefully, you would rather go slowly." I said: "Don't worry, you go to bed early." She agreed, and hurried out through the back door, which was also closed immediately.The front and rear doors are tightly closed. I was still sitting at the little dining table under the stairs, waiting for dinner.I ordered a light dinner and sat and looked around.There is a counter in the shop, a big stove, a shopkeeper, and several waiters, and one of them is a very kind woman.We smile and say hello.I found a window opposite the counter, and there was a large turntable next to it. Tea, snacks, and meals were all turned out from this turntable.Something was blocking the window and I didn't see it during lunch.I said to the woman: "It's busy over there, I'm not in a hurry." The woman explained to me that outside is a snack shop that attracts customers on the north-south road, and it also serves tea and light meals.I pointed upstairs, but didn't dare to speak.She said that the goods are stacked upstairs, and the manager of the store also lives upstairs.There are no other guests. Upstairs, my guest room has an attached bathroom, which is very clean.My handbag is already in the guest room.I was so tired from walking that I fell asleep when I went to bed. When I fell asleep, it became a dream, very light.I wanted to go up to see the boats on the river.In a flash, I was already on top of the electric pole of the street light outside the inn.I couldn't see the river on the other side of the post road, and of course I couldn't see the boat parked by the river. There were no lights on the boat.The south side of the inn is beautiful, with red lights, green lights, yellow lights, and blue lights shining in various colors. It is the city that never sleeps with thousands of lights, and it is Beijing.Where is Sanlihe?Suddenly, I was already on the top of the cypress tree in front of the bedroom window at home. The whole room was dark, and Ah Yuan didn't know which street or which bus he was on.Tomorrow our son-in-law is coming for breakfast, does he know about our family?Suddenly, I went to Ayuan's husband's house in Xishicao.Lights were on in several rooms of the house.ah!Ah Yuan just put down the phone and came over to sit at the dining table.Her mother-in-law sat next to her.My son-in-law scooped up a bowl of soup for Ah Yuan, told her to drink it, and asked: "Can I go and see them?" "No, only mother and I are allowed." Her mother-in-law said, "You can move back in." Ah Yuan said: "The books are all over there, and that side is close to the school. I have to go there after dinner." I leaned against Ah Yuan and listened to their conversation, then followed Ah Yuan into the car and went back to Sanlihe.She didn't go to bed after taking a shower, and prepared for lessons until late at night.Although this dream of mine is light and quick, it is incompetent in every way, and I can't make Yuanyuan go to bed early.Dream is also tired.I stopped and rested in the corner of my bed close to the closet, feeling that I had faded into nothingness. I opened my eyes, I was lying on the bed in the inn, my hands and feet had rested.I had breakfast and hurried on my way, hoping to get on the boat early to accompany Zhongshu.I can vaguely remember the road I walked yesterday, but the boat below the slope is gone. Now I'm panicking.I didn't think about it, the boat was in the water, of course it would go.How far has it been?There's no one around to talk to.One person timidly, afraid of what to do if you trip in a hurry, afraid of missing the boat in the river, and even more afraid of missing the boat if you walk too slowly.Walking carefully step by step, searching carefully, I saw another inn appeared on the left side of the post road. I didn't dare to miss it, so I went in to eat and rest.The inn is exactly the same, but the shopkeeper and the guy have changed.I went in with a sign, like a regular customer.I washed my hands and went back on my way, feeling panic-stricken.Fortunately, not too far away, I saw the slope on the right side of the post road, and the ship No. 311 stopped at the slope as before.I walked across the gangway and took off my shoes in the back cabin. Zhongshu was half sitting and half lying on the pillow waiting for me. He asked, "Where's Ah Yuan?" "Go to school." I still sat cross-legged in front of his bed, touched his forehead, the temperature was normal, and the neck was smooth.He still had his own handkerchief draped over his pillow, which had obviously been washed again.His expression was very stable, but his face was very haggard, and he lost a lot of weight all of a sudden. He said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time." I told him that he was afraid of falling when he walked, and that he couldn't walk fast. I took my transformation into the Yuan I saw in my dream, and told them one by one as the truth.He listened with concern, without asking me how I knew.He was tired of waiting for me, so tired that he closed his eyes.I was also tired in my dream, tired from walking, and tired from nervousness.I closed my eyes too and rested my head on the side of his bed.Being with him like this makes me feel at ease.When it was time to disembark, I got up and said that it was time to go back. He said, "See you tomorrow, don't worry, and walk carefully." I walked back to the inn step by step. However, I have a big knot in my heart.Is Ah Yuan as confused as I am, thinking that the old boat just stays where it is?The boat probably traveled all night, which inn would Ah Yuan come to find me on Sunday? The inn is indeed "one-stop", and my handbag has been moved to another inn's room.I passed another night as usual, and it turned into a dream again, following Ah Yuan in a circle, and as usual, I walked through another inn, and found Zhongshu's boat again.He is still waiting for me, and I am still with him. Day after day, I waited for Sunday, but forgot which day it was.One day, I washed my hands after a meal and was about to go out when I heard Ah Yuan calling my mother. She didn't even have a bag hanging on her shoulder. In my dream, I saw her pack her school bag before going to bed.I didn't dare to ask, so I just said, "You didn't bring your schoolbag." She said she didn't need a schoolbag, so she just took out a small wallet from her pocket to show me, and took me on the road together.I was amazed and admired. I didn't know how Ah Yuan found it, and I didn't dare to ask, so I just said, "I'm afraid you won't find us." Ah Yuan said, "It can be figured out." Someone in the past gave her a sailing chart, and she could look for it according to the schedule.I let go of a big worry. We boarded the boat together. Zhongshu was very happy to see Ah Yuan. Although he was tired, he did not close his eyes. Although I was tired, I was also very excited. We were reunited on the boat again. I only solemnly told Ah Yuan to go to bed early at night and not to linger until late at night when we parted.Ah Yuan said: "Mom, dreams are for work, and when you are tired, you will have nightmares." Last year, her father underwent surgery, and she suffered from neck pain. The old nightmare is now healed.She said: "Mom is always impatient, we can only follow the path obediently." But I often wanted to try to get Zhongshu off the boat with Ah Yuan and slip back home.How is this possible! My dreams are no longer light, I dream very tired, and my dreams are very heavy.I had a different dream, seeing Ah Yuan busy here and there, watching her having dinner, and being interrupted by phone calls. Once, two students came to see her late at night.I saw my son-in-law in the kitchen of our house, boiling water, with a plaster baked on the pot, which was uncovered, and A Yuan stuck it on the back of his neck.Is it all true?Does she have neck pain again?I dare not tell Zhongshu the truth.Fortunately, he didn't even ask. The willows on the embankment began to fall yellow and gradually became bare willows.I walk on the post road every day, stepping on fallen leaves with my own shadow. One Sunday, the three were reunited on a boat.Zhongshu no longer had the energy to half sit and half lie down, he just lay flat.I discovered that his dentures had been missing since sometime.He is getting thinner and thinner, as if he never eats.I touched his forehead, it was a little hot.I touched Yuan's forehead, both of them were hot, I tried it with my own forehead, they were both hot.Ah Yuan laughed and said, "Mom is a bit cold, it's not us who are hot." But the next day I saw a bruise on the back of Zhongshu's hand, as if he had used a needle, and there was blood under the skin.He couldn't open his eyes, he just squeezed my hand.I held his hand and he slept soundly until the sun came into the front cabin.He has a strong sense of time and always opens his eyes in time.He nodded to me.I said, "Sleep well, see you tomorrow." He just said, "Go back." Ah Yuan's calculations are very accurate, she always comes to the nearby inn to find me.I visit my father every week, except for a few business trips, to Xiamen, Kunming, and Chongqing.I always remember the moments when her plane took off and landed.When she was on a business trip, I didn't dream and took a break.Zhongshu had the needles several times, his body temperature was back to normal, and his spirit was slightly better. We talked about Ah Yuan together on the boat. I said: "She is really 'strong parents, better than ancestors'. You can handle it when you speak in a meeting. Whenever I need to speak in a meeting, I am always so scared that I can't say a word. Ah Yuan, there is always her Dare to speak out her unique insights. She was still the moderator for those meetings." Zhongshu sighed and said, "Our Yuanyuan is a material that can be made, but..." Every time Ah Yuan came back, she always told us many interesting things, which filled the gap left by my not dreaming.We often get together on the boat, and her forehead is often as hot as Zhongshu's, and she often coughs in vain.I was worried and said: "You should go see a doctor, you'll get a 'call', and you'll 'call' back." She said that she had seen a doctor, and it was chronic bronchitis. She smiled and said that she was squeezing the car with a big schoolbag on her shoulders. One of the people in the same car thought of her and said to her: "Auntie, why don't you retire?" I said: "Jumping the car takes time, time is not money, time is Life, remember. You use 'taxis' when you come and go." A Yuan said, "The 'taxis' are often blocked on the street, you can't go forward, you can't go back, it's not as fast as a bus." My dreams have become very heavy, but when Yuanyuan comes back from a business trip, I still follow her around every night.I saw my son-in-law calling at my house, arranging Yuan to have MRI and CT.I have nightmares all night.One night, my son-in-law kept making phone calls at my house, asking this person and that person for A Yuan, please register as an expert.Finally hung up. I walked on the ancient post road with doubts and doubts.Willows change most frequently throughout the year.As soon as the autumn wind blows, the willow leaves begin to fall. With gusts of wind, batch after batch of leaves fall, turning into bare willows in winter.The spring breeze has not yet blown, the willow has sprouted, and it looks green from a distance; the willow tree has long green strips floating in the spring breeze.Then misty catkins will fly for a month or two.The catkins have not finished flying, and the willow trees are covered with green leaves.Then pieces of it turned yellow and turned into bare willows again.I walked on the ancient post road for more than a year, step by step.