Chapter 7 Chapter 7 The Chain of Time

At this time, the Xiao couple had arrived at the gate of a factory in the west of Nanyang.It was the working time in the afternoon, Xiao Shuihan parked the car outside the crowd and waited patiently.When the crowd cleared, he drove to the door to register, and the guard waved lazily to let them in.Xiao Shuihan drove around the factory slowly. The factory covers a vast area, the factory building is tall and magnificent, but the breath of death is already obvious.The walls of the factory buildings are covered with rust-red dust, the windows without glass are like black holes, many factories are vacant, and the roadside is covered with weeds as deep as a person.They came to the special railway line at the back of the factory. The platform was empty, the rail surface was covered with red rust, and the tall and poorly maintained gantry crane was like a giant with rigid joints.

Xiao Shuihan told his wife that this is the only remaining petroleum machinery factory in China.Since the Russian engineer Semyonov drilled the world's first oil well in the Caspian Sea in 1848, the oil industry has gone through 300 years of mileage.At present, domestic oil reserves have been basically exhausted, and even the oil reserves in the Middle East are running low.Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles are completely replacing gasoline-powered vehicles. "Soon you will see a news that China's last oilfield truck-mounted drilling rig is assembled here. After that, this once-powerful industry will die, just like the death of the steam locomotive manufacturing industry." He tweeted. He added sadly: "The death of an aging industry is nothing terrible, it just makes way for a more powerful emerging industry. Of course, watching its death process is still sad."

They walked through the assembly workshop, riveting and welding workshop, new product workshop, etc., and the workers inside were busy.Production is about to change here, and workers are dismantling old equipment that has been scrapped.When they saw a handsome gentleman and a potbellied lady enter, they greeted each other with their eyes, and did not stop what they were doing.Xiao Shuihan looked around with nostalgia. In the "previous life" he lived as engineer Kuping, he had spent the life of ordinary people here.He used to draw in front of the computer, and then transformed the drilling rig in the picture into a physical body.He used to work night shifts here, sweat profusely, eat popsicles sent by union officials, and listen to vulgar jokes from workers; he was excited about a successful design and regretted a mistake.But that era has long passed, everyone he knew has passed away, and those in front of him are all strangers.Now, he takes his wife and unborn child on those journeys all over again, asking them to keep all his past lives in their hearts.Because, that bloody oath should be fulfilled.

Qiu Feng silently listened to her husband talking about the history of the factory, and looked at her husband's desolate and sentimental eyes.During the journey of more than one month, her husband's "previous life" has become three-dimensional in her heart.There are many details telling her that these past lives are real, not illusory conjectures: her husband’s love for northern Shaanxi-style food in Huaiyuan Village; his grandfather’s admonition to Li Xiaosheng; Skill; he knows a statue hidden in the vines, and his innocence at this time... Maybe a person can really have a "previous life"?There was such a legend in the old days: if a person did not drink the ecstasy Mengpo soup when he was reincarnated, he could clearly remember his previous life.And how many times did the husband deliver?He can actually remember the previous life of the previous life... Qiu Feng sighed and didn't want to rack his brains anymore.Although she doesn't know much, she also knows that this is just superstition, and it is impossible to have a previous life.As for her husband... she believed that he would give her a clear explanation soon.

The H300 car slowly turned twice in the factory, drove towards the gate, and stopped downstairs of the factory administration building.Ms. Yuwen from the personnel department was applying lipstick to the mirror when a young man and woman walked in.They are obviously husband and wife. The man is about thirty-five or six years old, well-dressed, with a smart and stable manner. The woman is younger, only twenty-five or six years old, five or six months pregnant, and still looks petite and beautiful.Miss Yuwen asked enthusiastically: "Welcome, what can I do for you two?" Xiao Shuihan said politely: "I am entrusted by someone. There used to be an employee in your factory named Ku Ping, an engineer. He left your factory 60 years ago."

Miss Yuwen asked hesitantly, "Ask him..." "Your factory issued an announcement last year, because the factory is going to transfer production rights, requiring all shareholders to go through the corresponding procedures. You also specially published a notice to find Kuping or his heir, because he holds a small amount of employee shares." Miss Yuwen smiled: "Yes, I did the notice. Are you the heir of Mr. Kuping? Have you brought your certificate?" "No, I am not his heir, but I have been entrusted by Kupin to deliver a letter of thanks. He announced the relinquishment of his shareholding."

He took out a folded letter from his underwear pocket and handed it to Miss Yuwen.Yuwen asked in surprise: "Is Mr. Kuping still alive? Then he is 110 years old!" "No, Kupin is dead, but this is a letter in his own hand and has the force of law." Qiu Feng looked at her husband strangely: she had never heard of a 110-year-old Kupin among her husband's acquaintances!Moreover, for a person who has passed away, how can he get his own letter?This sentence is simply illogical.Over there, Miss Yuwen unfolded the letter paper, and there were only a few words on it: The letter was not dated.Miss Yuwen hesitated in embarrassment, how to prove that this letter was written by Kuping himself?Is an undated will legally binding?Xiao Shuihan knew her doubts, and said with a smile: "It is indeed Mr. Kuping's personal letter, it can't be wrong, you must have his handwriting here - I'm afraid he left thousands of copies in the design and review column of the drawing Sign it, you might as well compare the signature on the letter with it. In fact, that little equity is not worth mentioning, he asked me to come, just to express his gratitude in person, thank you for not forgetting an old man who disappeared 60 years ago."

Ms. Yu Wen solemnly put the letter in the folder: "Okay, I will pass it on to our lawyer. Thank you for coming from afar, I will report to the manager, he will come to see you, please Have a light meal here tonight." "No, thank you, we have to hurry, we can't stop any longer. Goodbye." He took his wife's arm and said goodbye to Miss Secretary at the door. Ms. Yuwen saw off the guests. Ten minutes later, the door of the office was pushed open again. An old man in his sixties or seventies came in. He smiled and showed his police ID: "Miss Yuwen, is there a man and a woman here?"

The female secretary looked at the visitor in surprise.She had a good impression of the young couple just now, so she was somewhat hostile to the newcomers.She replied: "Yes, do you think they are cheating..." Deng Fei smiled heartily: "No, no, don't make random guesses, I just happen to be interested in the same person as them." "Kupin? A man who disappeared or died 60 years ago?" "Yes, please let me see his information. Can you?" He has seen the information stored in the computer: Ku Ping, male, born in 2040, spent his youth abroad, entered the factory in 2062, and has been in charge of the design of new products in the design office. He is an excellent engineer and has worked many times. Get rewarded.Never married. Suddenly disappeared in 2090.Miss Yuwen asked: "There are still some short audio materials in the file, do you want to listen to them?"

"Of course, thank you Miss Yuwen." There are only a few sentences in the audio data, which is a speech at an award ceremony: "I am very happy to receive the first prize of technological progress from the head office. This is the result of the joint efforts of all the staff in the room..." Maybe it has been stored for too long , the voice is a little distorted, but Deng Fei always feels that his voice has a certain sense of familiarity.he mused.The files in the computer are too simple, and they are all dead, two-dimensional materials, but what he wants are living things.he asks:

"Is there any old factory man who worked with Kupin still alive?" Miss Yuwen thought about it for a while, and said affirmatively: "Yes, there is a retired engineer named Yuan Shiming, who is 85 years old this year. He must have met Kuping, and coincidentally, he happened to work in the research institute." "Thank you, you are really a competent secretary." Deng Fei praised sincerely, then inquired Yuan Gong's address, thanked her and left. The family compound is just opposite the factory, and there are dozens of dormitory buildings in the courtyard.He inquired all the way to find Yuan Gong's home, and saw an old man in his dying years.He was sitting in a wheelchair, with silvery hair and long eyebrows hanging down, half covering his eyes.His wife was probably dead, and he was looked after by a little nurse.He greeted the visiting guests lightly, still half-closed his eyes, Shen Jin was half asleep and half awake in the elderly.But after Deng Fei mentioned Kuping's name, his eyes widened immediately: "Kuping? Where is he?" He asked urgently. "No." Deng Fei asked carefully: "It was 60 years ago, do you still remember him?" "Of course I remember, he was a strange man, always covered in a fog, so I have a deep impression on him. He has been missing for 60 years, but I always feel that he is not dead, and one day he will appear in a very Reappear in a special way." "Oh, that's a curious notion. How did you get it?" Yuan Gong recalled slowly, his thinking is still clear, and his memory is also very good.He said he hadn't worked with Kupin for a long time, but they got along very well.At that time, I was an intern technician, and Kuping was an old engineer with good professional qualities, but he was not a genius. Generally speaking, he was an unknown ordinary person.However, there are often some mysteries in him. In the chats of colleagues, it is often seen that he has a flash of wisdom in the field of philosophy or biology.When he was in his late twenties, shortly before his disappearance, he had solemnly competed in a middle school math Olympiad, and many thought he was out of his mind.The competition questions are difficult and emphasize unconventional thinking.But his results were good, and he won the first place with a relatively large advantage.He was delighted, telling me it proved his "base intelligence" was still at its peak.I think he is using this to justify his mediocre life, the so-called "Heaven's death for me is not a crime of war."Before long, he quietly disappeared. "But I have a deep impression on him, very special. I always feel that he is a person from another world, a banished fairy from the sky, who accidentally fell into this ordinary factory. His demeanor has always been detached from this environment. .Why did you come to ask him? I don't think it's for nothing." Deng Fei carefully explained: "Someone brought his autographed letter, declaring that he would give up the employee stock rights of the factory. From the signs, maybe he is still alive? But the person who came said that he had passed away, which is completely illogical .” Yuan Gong said "Oh": "He is 25 years older than me. If he is alive, I really want to meet him." He fell into deep thought again, and it took a long time to recover, realizing that there are guests in the room, " Mr. Deng, have I made it clear what you want to know?" Deng Fei smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You speak very clearly, and I admire your memory. But I am afraid that the more I listen, the more confused I become." Another missing person in his prime, though this time not a scientist.Why does Xiao Shuihan have a soft spot for missing persons?Is it conscience guilt?Of course, he could never have been involved in a series of murders or kidnappings over a hundred years.Or is it his ancestors who did these things, and he is repenting for the sinful ancestors?This kind of speculation is also impossible. Which underworld organization will maintain planned murder for 120 years.Or, Mr. Li Yuanlong left some treasure and passed it on to Liu Shixiong, Ku Ping, Sun Siyuan and others in turn. Xiao Shuihan found out this secret and is struggling to find this treasure?But looking at his superficial travel arrangements, it doesn't seem like he is chasing this treasure.Moreover, none of these speculations involved an important point: at least three of these people came back from country G.Deng Fei felt his head was going to burst. "Anyway, I sincerely thank you for introducing so much information. Goodbye, Mr. Yuan." Yuan Gong asked the little nanny to push the wheelchair to the door, and said goodbye to Deng Fei: "Mr. Deng, when your investigation has results, if there is no confidentiality involved, please report to me. I am very concerned about Ku Ping's whereabouts." "Okay, I'll make sure to remember. Thanks." That night, Xiao Shuihan parked in a remote town at the junction of Henan and Anhui, and Deng Fei soon followed.When he left the expressway toll booth in the afternoon, the person on duty at the station checked his car number and name, and handed him a sealed packet.After driving out of the toll booth, he opened the bag. Inside was an anesthesia gun, not the 7.64 caliber pistol that Long Boqing had said. The old dragon was very cautious, and he tried his best to prevent the retired Deng Fei from being involved in any life lawsuits. He found Xiao's parking place through the signal device, and registered a room at a neighboring hotel.This is a single room, and the cold moonlight casts the creeper's vine leaves into the room.After taking a hot bath, Deng Fei wrapped his body in a towel, leaned against the back of the bed, and fell asleep with his eyes closed.According to old An'an's habit, he had to sort out what he had seen and heard in the past few days.It is also his habit to keep notebooks and pens at hand. He is often the most active in thinking when he is half asleep. Once a spark bursts out, he will write it down on paper so as not to forget it after waking up. Of course, sometimes there are some ironic jokes, such as "the banana is bigger, the banana peel is bigger" and so on. In the past two days, he eavesdropped on many conversations of the Xiao couple.Of course he doesn't believe in any nonsense about "past life and previous life", that can only deceive a naive woman like Qiu Feng.One thing is certain, judging from Xiao Shuihan's itinerary, his trip is by no means just wandering aimlessly.Deng Fei's intuition told him that the material of this case was almost done, and a secret was about to be revealed—but he didn't know what it was at the moment. There must be some kind of hidden relationship between Li Yuanlong, Liu Shixiong, Ku Ping, someone who will be visited in the future, and the known Sun Siyuan, and Xiao Shuihan, a red line that has lasted for nearly 170 years. There is no doubt about this.First of all, the similar statue between Liu Shixiong's house and Tianyuan Building is definitely not a coincidence, it is probably some kind of symbol.Is there another point that is also considered abnormal?Except for Mr. Li Yuanlong, the other three missing persons were never married. Even Xiao Shuihan was single for more than 20 years.Once was a coincidence, and twice was a coincidence, but it is doubtful that the experiences of four or five people are so similar.What is even more suspicious is that, except for Li Yuanlong, the other four spent their youth abroad, and at least three of them returned from country G. But what could it matter?Deng Fei tapped his forehead in distress.You must know that these five people went to different sides after returning to China, and their respective life trajectories hardly overlapped.There is no overlap in space, and a small amount of overlap in time, but they are scattered on the time axis of up to 170 years, and they are basically irrelevant. 170 years, almost two centuries, what secret can have such a long vitality. overlapping!Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration and wrote these two words in the notebook. He opened his eyes wide, seized this breakthrough point, and continued to think.Among these five people, every pair of them has an overlap of more than 20 years in their survival period, but if their respective "shadow" lives are excluded, that is, their recorded but unsubstantiated lives abroad, I am afraid that the survival periods of a few people are completely different. will not overlap.After silently calculating in his heart, he affirmed that this conclusion was correct. Perhaps, it is the "time" in which they are not related to each other that is precisely their connection!The drowsiness is gone all at once.He sat up and drew a few horizontal lines on the notebook: Li Yuanlong 1980-2030 Liu Shixiong 2033-2060 Kupin 2062 - 2090 Sun Siyuan 2092-2120 Xiao Shuihan 2122——present Except for the "shadow" life, the actual life periods of each person do not overlap, and there is a gap of 2-3 years between each person's time period. He slammed the pen on the book, and he understood it all. He already has a clear answer, although this answer seems more absurd than the myth of "previous life, previous life".However, taking all the materials together and considering certain points of view revealed in Li Yuanlong's writings, he tends to believe in this even more bizarre myth. There is no gap in this chain of time, so he can point out Xiao Shuihan's next stop without hesitation: Langyatai Life Research Institute, Sun Siyuan.Mr. Liu from Shandong University's feeling is indeed very accurate. Xiao Shuihan is indeed closely related to Sun Siyuan's disappearance—although it is not the kind of relationship Mr. Liu imagined. He looked at his watch, it was half past three, and after a little hesitation, he still called Long Boqing's home.Immediately grabbed the phone over there, and the voice on the phone was sober, without the slightest drowsiness, which is the basic skill of the chief of public security.Long Boqing asked happily: "Old Deng? Is there any sudden change? You woke me up in the middle of the night. I guess it's a big improvement, right?" "Old Dragon, I think the truth of that matter has come to light, I just sorted out that thread." He said wearily. Long Boqing was very happy, and said with a smile: "It's still Lao Jiang Layao. Lao Deng, the sword is not old." He asked, "Simply put, is he a criminal? What field is he a criminal?" "Let me keep it secret for the time being. I want to verify it thoroughly. My conclusion is too absurd and unbelievable. If I tell you now, you will doubt whether my nerves are normal." "Hmph, it's a trick. Okay, I won't force you. Tell me about your next plan?" "I don't want to be their tail anymore. I want to rush to Langyatai to wait for the guests. If I can wait for him there, my success is 90% sure, otherwise I will be ashamed." Deng Fei smiled wryly. Say. The early winter of this year in Langyatai was very cold. There had just been a thin snowfall, and the trees were covered with snow caps.Xiao Shuihan slowed down the speed of the car, and looked at his wife who was sleeping in the back seat from the rearview mirror from time to time.The wife has been pregnant for 7 months and can no longer suffer from the bumps.However, this is also the last stop of his plan. Looking back, he couldn't see the two cars he was already familiar with, but they were definitely still following.One of his followers is Deng Fei, the retired chief of public security. Xiao Shuihan has been aware of this since he was monitored more than 20 years ago.Of course, he had nothing to panic about. In the next 20 years, he kept his composure and calmly observed others' observations of him. To a certain extent, he became close friends with this devoted old Deng. friends.He really wanted to understand why Director Deng had doubts about him, but he couldn't figure it out.He never imagined that it was his friend Liu Shiyun who provoked it. Another group of followers was unidentified and appeared to be from abroad.Of course they are for the treasure that everyone desires.But he didn't care too much.An old man who has seen through the vicissitudes of life will look back on his life with clear eyes when he faces death. At that time, he will find that all people are equal in the face of death.All kinds of scheming, scheming, scheming and intrigue in the world... are all so ridiculous and so worthless.Of course he has already reached this level.The only thing he was interested in was how both groups of people could smell the prey and know the existence of the treasure under his strict protection.However, there is no need to be too surprised about this matter. It has been 135 years since that treasure came to the world. After such a long time, some information will always be revealed, no matter how strict the precautions are. But let them not dream of getting it.Only those with deep fortunes are worthy of possessing this world's most precious treasure, and it must be many years later. This time, he deliberately led his wife and unborn offspring through the life of his four "previous lives".He never planned to evade his responsibility, so when he decided to have offspring, he was ready to fulfill that bloody oath.He remembered that his father died when he was 10 years old. At that time, a still ignorant child suddenly realized that death is so terrible: the body turns into dust and air, and he can never see his relatives again, and he can never be resurrected again.Especially when his education had destroyed the last hope: there was no immortal soul, and when one died there was nothing left.Man is just a hasty passer-by in the world. Even a centenarian can only see 36,600 sunsets and sunrises.At that time, he really hoped to get the elixir of Queen Mother Xi and save his father from another world... He looked at his wife in the back row in the rearview mirror.Qiu Feng was reclining on the sofa, still doing what she liked to do most recently - talking to the fetus.She ran her fingers lightly over the belly, guessing where the limbs or the head of the fetus might be.She made it very engaging, sometimes giggling.Xiao Shuihan sighed in his heart.Feng'er, Feng'er, do you understand your husband's painstaking efforts?Maybe she can't understand, after all, she is too young.That secret was too shocking, if Qiu Feng brought it out suddenly, she would find it unbearable.Therefore, during this trip, he split the answer into facts and presented them to her step by step.But so far, she doesn't seem to have the least understanding.Perhaps her mind was completely occupied by the unborn child.Xiao Shuihan sighed and shook his head lightly.There is no way, she is a crystal girl who will never grow up. He drove the car to the gate of "Langyatai Life Research Institute", opened the right door, and carefully helped Qiu Feng out of the car.Qiu Feng, who was seven months pregnant, was already walking slowly. The research institute is a group of scattered buildings, with low hedges as walls, because the original director, Sun Siyuan, did not want the high walls to restrict people's communication and the gallop of thinking.Xiao Shuihan asked the girl in the reception room if they would be allowed to walk around the institute. He wanted to visit the traces of a senior scholar's life.The big-eyed girl smiled and said enthusiastically: "You mean Professor Sun Siyuan, our former director. He has been away from us for 30 years, but everyone misses him very much. Please come in." They walked not far after entering the door, and an old man with a leather bag came towards him, walking steadily and with gray hair on his temples.The girl shouted loudly from behind: "Sir, madam, please wait and you, old minister, wait too!" She caught up and introduced to Xiao Shuihan, "This is Mr. Deng, the old minister of the security department of the research institute. Let him Let me show you around, he is very familiar with Professor Sun. Minister Deng, this gentleman and his wife want to take a look at the Institute, and remember the late Director Sun.” Xiao Shuihan was about to say goodbye, but Deng Fei had already warmly shook hands with the two of them—of course he directed the play—and said solemnly: "I am willing to serve you both. Professor Sun is my most respected senior, and even my friend who forgets the age. What do you want to know?" Xiao Shuihan looked at the Director Deng Fei who followed from Wuhan with a smile.No, Sun Siyuan never knew you, and you never served as the Minister of Security here.But he didn't expose it, and smiled lightly: "Are you familiar with Professor Sun?" "Of course, we could talk about everything when he was alive, even though he was ten years older than me. I am a security guard and a layman in science, but under the influence of Mr. Sun, I can already be regarded as half a living creature. I am a scholar, and I can count Mr. Sun's theoretical achievements like a treasure." Xiao Shuihan smiled and listened to his bragging. "Can you introduce us?" "Of course, of course. Come on, please go this way, the road is slippery in snowy weather, Madam, please be careful. You see, that window is Mr. Sun's former office, and it is often the last one to turn off the lights at night. This lakeside path is often taken by Mr. Sun when he walks in the morning Yes, who knows how many inspirations burst out here! Let me tell you, Mr. Sun once studied under Professor Liu Shiyun of Shandong University, but experts commented that he is more like a descendant of a great biologist. I mean the biological world Mr. Einstein—Mr. Li Yuanlong. Come, this way." He turned sideways and took a sharp glance at Xiao Shuihan.Xiao Shuihan noticed his gaze, raised his eyebrows, and did not speak.Qiu Feng didn't realize the secret confrontation between the two, her face was flushed from the cold, she carefully covered her stomach, and praised: This is so beautiful!You can smell the breath of the ocean here, don’t you think the water is cold?Deng Fei still eloquently said: "Mr. Sun has conducted comprehensive and in-depth research on the theories of Senior Li. For example, the life field theory or living body restraint proposed by Mr. Li-do you understand these concepts? May I ask your occupation?" Xiao Shuihan was carefully helping his wife down the next step, he winked at his wife before answering: "No, I don't understand. I'm an industrialist, a money-smelling businessman hawking outside the halls of science." Deng Fei said seriously: "Then I will continue to brag. I am afraid that if I meet an expert, I will be out of class. Living body restraint means that every living body, due to metabolism, the bricks and stones of its living body ( Various atoms) will be replaced for dozens of rounds, and the me today is not the me of yesterday. But the frequently changed bricks and stones still maintain the original association mode precisely, so this organism can still strictly maintain the original attributes. This kind of The precise and robust transfer of quantum information, which can only exist in living confinement, challenges the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics." This is exactly what Xiao Shuihan said in his article 28 years ago.He deliberately stared at Xiao Shuihan, but the other's expression remained unchanged. "The secret order of God is hidden in the confinement of the living body. You know, for a single-celled organism, its division and reproduction can proceed infinitely, so it is practically immortal only for the cells, from half a billion years ago. Until now. But when a cell (which itself is also a kind of living body constraint) is subject to a higher-level living body constraint, its division will be restricted. For example, cells in the human body are restricted by the human body and can only divide for about 50 generations. Then it will age and die. This is the essential reason for people to age. It has caused people's decline and alternation of life and death. This biological clock is extremely accurate and reliable. In the human body, only cancer cells and germ cells are not bound by it. Germ cells will automatically Turn the biological clock back to zero; cancer cells can proliferate indefinitely. These two cells actually restore the nature of single-celled organisms to 'divide infinitely', or in other words, they replace the more recent secrets with the older secrets of God." Xiao Shuihan murmured: "God's will." "Yes, this is the will of God. But Mr. Sun often quotes a sentence from Mr. Li Yuanlong: While worshiping God, scientists are also trying to explore the 'technical measures' to implement God's will. God's technical measures! This word How good it is, because all the magic of God in the biological world must be realized through some biological mechanism. Hey, climb up to the high ground in front, and you can see the sea. This is Mr. Sun's favorite during his lifetime. Where you came from. Are you going up? How is the lady?" Xiao Shuihan asked his wife softly, Qiu Feng said: "I want to go up and have a look, it's okay, I can go up." Now, in front of them is the boundless sea, white waterfowls are flying in the sky, the sea breeze carries a damp fishy smell, at the junction of the water and the sky is a white cruise ship, and music can be faintly heard.It was too far away to hear the melody of the music clearly, it just floated intermittently from the surface of the water like a float.This scene made Qiu Feng feel familiar, and she remembered that she had seen it in Qingdao.At that time, she found that her husband liked this kind of scenery very much, and often felt sad because of it.She took a peek at her husband, and found that this sense of loss had surfaced in the depths of his eyes again. Deng Fei praised: "How beautiful. Look at this stone, we often call it Mr. Sun's kneeling stone. He often sits here for hours, thinking about the universe and the avenue of life. His thoughts have reached the harmony between man and nature. One realm. Do you like this place?" I like it, Xiao Shuihan thought.An old man is always nostalgic, especially when he is determined to cut the chains of life.That's exactly what I'm here for.I want to visit traces of the past, traces that my wife and unborn children will touch and remember forever. They let Qiu Feng rest on the knee-hugging stone, and the two left Qiu Feng tacitly and climbed a high ridge.Deng Fei glanced at Qiu Feng who was left under the high ridge, took a deep breath, and said with emotion: "Did you see it? The building over there is Wangyue Building, which was built by King Goujian of Yue after he moved his capital here. This is where Xu Fu set sail. He crossed the sea from here to find the elixir of immortality for Qin Shihuang. Of course he failed. Later, many emperors repeated the stupidity of Qin Shihuang, such as Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, Emperor Wuzong of Tang Dynasty, Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty, and Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty. They either made alchemy, or visited Taoism, and even died because of taking elixir. But these failures cannot Stop the efforts of future generations to pursue immortality, because the temptation of immortality is too strong for everyone. It is not until many failures that human beings are forced to realize that the alternation of life and death is inescapable-this is a scientific principle However, it has also evolved into a new superstition. According to the law of negation of negation, we should break this superstition now. Are you right?" They looked at each other tacitly, knowing that there were no more secrets between the two of them.Suddenly, a muffled groan came from under the stone ridge, interrupting their conversation. If Qiu Feng is ignorant of abstract thinking, then the "face recognition function" of the frontal lobe of her brain is stronger than that of men.From the moment Deng Fei appeared, she realized that this person seemed familiar.When Deng Fei was talking about the knowledge of life science, she had been thinking hard.She finally remembered that during the trip, this person had appeared near them many times in a red Audi, sometimes caught in the bustling crowd, and seemed to cast a glance over inadvertently.Therefore, the reappearance of this person is probably not accidental. After becoming alert to this Mr. Deng, she found that his words seemed to be insinuating.The strange thing is that the husband seems to have gained insight into his identity, and the conversation between the two seems to have been playing charades.Sitting on the lapping stone, she caught a glimpse of her husband and Mr. Deng exchanging glances and leaving her to go to the stone ridge. They obviously wanted to have a secret conversation. Yes, they were having a secret conversation, and it was evident from their body language.Concern for her husband made her unable to sit still. She stood up and climbed up the stone ridge with difficulty.The stone ridge covered with thin snow was very slippery, she suddenly slipped and fell to the ground, crying out.When the two rushed over after hearing the sound, Qiu Feng was half squatting on the ground, clutching his stomach, with a painful expression on his face.Xiao Shuihan quickly helped her up, and hurriedly asked: "What's the matter? Did you fall? It's all my fault. You shouldn't be left here alone." Deng Fei also said with concern: "Send your wife to the hospital for a checkup, it's very close here." Qiu Feng smiled and shook his head: "It's okay, it's just a slip. It's okay." She helped her husband stand up, "Really, look at me. Shuihan, let's get out of here, I want to rest for a while." She looked at her husband imploringly, trying to avoid the vague uneasiness in her heart.Xiao Shuihan agreed.Of course Deng Fei couldn't let Xiao Shuihan leave just like that, and said enthusiastically: "It's almost noon. Today I'm the host. I'll treat you to Mongolian barbecue. This was Mr. Sun's favorite food during his lifetime. Please enjoy it." Qiu Feng secretly signaled to her husband to refuse, but Xiao Shuihan seemed to have accepted the invitation without hesitation.They got into Xiao Shuihan's car and drove out of the institute.Genghis Khan Barbecue Garden is not too far from here. Under a hillside, you can see the raging fire through the window glass, against the white snow outside, it has a special flavor.Inside the house, an iron plate with the size of a table top was burnt to dark red, and a big Mongolian man with shirtless arms was frying on the iron plate. This is a cafeteria. Qiu Feng sat at the table, watching the two people choose dishes from dozens of food plates, and then line up to fry them, chatting leisurely.But this kind of superficial leisure can't drive away Qiu Feng's inner uneasiness, she has already smelled some secrets between the two of them.However, Qiu Feng was an optimist by nature, and when the fragrant dishes came, she put her troubles aside.Oh, it's so delicious, just looking at these dishes can give birth to a sense of beauty!She admired loudly.Deng Fei said happily: "I'm not mistaken, this is Mr. Sun's favorite place to come. Wait a minute, there are still good shows." He snapped his fingers at the head waiter, who nodded, and then a 70-year-old man, blind, wearing a fringed Mongolian robe, groped his way to the center of the restaurant, his face weathered like a dried walnut.The face is broad and flat, and the bridge of the nose is slightly collapsed, obviously carrying the characteristics of Mongolians.He sat down on the round stool, played the motouqin, and first bowed his head and meditated for a few minutes, as if reminiscing about the vicissitudes of life.Qiu Feng secretly looked at her husband and Deng Fei, and she found a strange light in their eyes. Deng Fei introduced in a low voice that Mr. Sun loved listening to the songs of this Mongolian singer. At that time, the singer was only in his 30s.Mr. Sun has always been single, and he always patronizes this restaurant almost every week. Most of the prosperity of this restaurant depends on his recommendation and generous gifts.But he didn't tell Xiao Shuihan that the old man hadn't sang for nearly 10 years, he was the one who specially invited the old man here after hearing about these situations.He only arrived one day earlier than Xiao Shuihan, and he was busy enough to do so many things non-stop in one day. After a moment of silence, the old man sang a desolate song accompanied by the sound of the piano.His Chinese is not very idiosyncratic. Deng Fei explained it to Qiu Feng in a low voice, saying that this is a famous Mongolian folk song. Because of Mr. Sun's love, it became a repertoire of this restaurant.The meaning of the song is: The old man's voice is high-pitched and vigorous, accompanied by the desolate sound of Matouqin.但观众的感动并不只为他的演唱技巧，更为这首歌内在的苍凉，它像雪山上冰凉彻骨的融水，悄悄渗入人的内心。歌声和琴声都在高音区戛然收住，听众们沉津在秋风萧杀的氛围中，忘记了鼓掌。邱风听得泪流满面，看看丈夫，他的眼中也闪着水光，而那位邓先生此刻正紧紧盯着丈夫，目光中有很多难以言说的东西。萧水寒没有在意邓的盯视，掏出支票簿，写上一个数目颇大的数字，撕下来，走过去交给老人： “谢谢你的歌声，老人家。” 蒙古老人握到熟悉的手掌，听到熟悉的话语，全身一震。他昨天已听邓飞说过一些情况，但那时还不敢相信。他侧过耳，急迫地说： “真的是你吗，孙先生？你还活着？” 萧水寒点点头，嗄声道：“对，我是孙思远，我的好兄弟，咱们已经30年没见面了，真没想到还能听到你的这首歌。” 老人的泪水溢出来，高兴得语无伦次了：“孙先生，你没死，我太高兴了。能再见到你，我太高兴了。” 邓飞悄悄地跟在他身后，听着两人的对话，心情复杂地看着他朝气蓬勃的身体。当他说出自己深思熟虑的结论时，仍不免有临事而惧的踌躇： “真的是你吗，170岁的李元龙先生？” 萧水寒回过头，他的身体生气勃勃，但目光中分明是百岁老人的睿智和沧桑，他平静地说：“对，我是李元龙，也是刘世雄、库平、孙思远和萧水寒。” 邓飞低声道：“李先生，你让我猜得好苦啊。” 正在这时，他们听到邱风发出一声压抑的呻吟，她捂着肚子，脸色雪白，头上是豆大的汗珠。萧水寒急忙奔过去，邓飞在他身后喊道： “太太是刚才摔跤动了胎气，快送医院！我去把车倒出来！” 他要过萧的汽车钥匙，把车开到门口，一个侍者赶来，帮萧水寒小心地搀扶着邱风上车，汽车迅即向妇产医院开去。 医生说邱风要早产，把她送入分娩室，两扇门随之关闭。门外不时听到撕裂般的呻吟。萧水寒面色焦灼，在屋内来回踱步，他的步伐急迫轻灵。邓飞用过来人的口吻劝他： “别担心，出生前的阵痛，哪个女人也得过这一关。”萧水寒感激地点点头。邓飞解嘲地说：“嗨，我几乎脱口喊你是年轻人。真的，看着你的容貌和步伐，很难承认你是170岁的老人。” 萧水寒已恢复老人的平和，微笑道：“实际上我自己也很难适应这个角色：身体的青春勃勃和心理上的老迈，它们常造成错位。你怎么猜到我的秘密？” 邓飞笑道：“喏，就是这张纸片。”他把笔记本上那一页递过来，“我发现与你有关的五个人，其生活区段恰恰首尾相连，中间只有2-3年的空白，而这正是一次彻底的整容术所需的时间。”他端详着萧的面容，“萧先生，你的整容术很成功，不过，能作这种高水平整容术的医生并不多，所以警方很容易找到他们，包括G国的何塞·马蒂医生，波塞略医生等。警方也查到，从李元龙开始的这五个人，血型都是AB型。当然这可能是巧合，但也是一个有力的旁证。还有，你的声音并未改变，当我听到库平的录音时就觉得似曾相识，但那段录音在电脑中有些变音，我又尽力找到李元龙先生一些原始录音作了对比。为了百分之百的把握，我还安排了烤肉苑的相认，因为盲人的听觉是最灵敏的。” 他心情复杂地再次端详着萧水寒。他头发乌亮，皮肤光滑润泽，动作富有弹性，绝对不像170岁的老人，甚至不像50岁的中年人。他的身体一直保持着35岁的状态。邓飞不满地说： “李先生，恕我冒昧问一句——我不会不识趣地问你长生之秘，你隐名埋姓地活着，自然是为了牢牢保守这桩无价之宝的秘密。但你能否告诉我，你为什么不把它公布于众，与全人类共享呢？” 萧水寒在他面前立定，用170岁老人的目光居高临下地看他。他在35岁时发现了长生之秘，并施之于自身。为此，他数度易名，数度易容，反复扮演着20-50岁之间的人生角色。为了保密，他不得不多次斩断熟悉的人际关系。在结发妻子因车祸去世后，他一直没有再婚，因为没有经过长生术的女人无法永远伴他同行。他独自荷受这个秘密已太久了，谁能理解他的百年孤独？他平静地问邓飞： “年轻人，这真是一个好礼物吗？” “那当然！”邓飞脑海中立即浮现出父亲缠绵床榻的痛苦晚年，那时他真的愿意以世上的一切换取父亲恢复青春。“谁不愿意逃避衰老呢。这是每个人从灵智开启时就具有的愿望，是人类千万年来的渴求。而且在现代，长生的必要性是越来越大了。科学飞速发展，知识爆炸，人类在学习上花费的时间越来越多，终有一天会达到这样的临界平衡：人们学完最起码的知识后就得迎接死亡，那时科学就从此停滞了，不会再发展了。所以人类的短寿已成了制约人类发展的瓶颈。” 萧水寒摇摇头：“你说得很对，但你把长寿和长生混为一谈了。不过，这不是一时片刻能说清的话题，咱们以后再说吧。”他补充道，“我的真实身份请暂不要告诉我的妻子，等她满月后我会慢慢告诉她。” 病房内又传出撕裂般的呻吟，这是一段平静后的又一次阵痛。一个护士匆匆走出来，惶惑地对萧水寒说：“你太太是横生，医生正在努力转位。萧太太坚持要你在身边，医生也同意了，请进吧。” 邱风支着双腿，平卧在产床上，几个医生正在忙碌。长时间的阵痛后，邱风已十分虚弱，她闭着眼，头发被虚汗浸透。她忽然摸到丈夫的手，身体起了一波震颤，眼睛睁开了： “水寒，是你吗？” “风儿，是我。我在陪你。” “不要离开我，我怕……” 阵痛使她的精神变得恍惚，使她的心理变得脆弱。丈夫背负的那个毒誓已在她心中深深扎根，邓飞今日的神秘举止又加重了她的恐惧。孩子就要出生，“天谴”会不会真的落到丈夫身上？她怕丈夫会抛下她和孩子而去。萧水寒知道她的心理，爽朗地大笑起来： “怕什么？是不是我曾说过的誓言？告诉你吧，那是骗你的，我一直都在骗你。人怎么可能有前生呢？当然，这里有一个曲折的故事，等把孩子生下来我再慢慢告诉你。” "Really?" 萧水寒笑着点头，吻她一下，邱风慢慢安静下来。 两个小时后，一个女孩哌哌坠地。邱风松了劲儿，很快唿唿入睡。护士为孩子按了指模，抱过来让萧水寒看一眼，嗨，真是个丑东西，猢狲似的小脸，皮肤皱皱巴巴，闭着眼，额头上还有皱纹呢。不过，一种与生俱来的亲切感从心中油然升起，他觉得喉咙中发哽，胸中涌出一股暖流。这种暖流在他的头生儿子出生时曾经尝过，不过差不多已经淡忘，毕竟是130几年前的事了。 邓飞也进来了。看着这位幸福得发晕的父亲，邓飞又几乎忘了他的真实年龄。他拍拍这位“年轻父亲”的肩膀，以爷爷的心态向他祝福。萧水寒向他点头致谢。 第二天，邓飞来到产房，婴儿在育婴室里，萧水寒坐在邱风的床前，正握着她的手在说着什么。他从窗户里看到邓飞，知道邓飞有话要说，便主动走出来。邓飞没有绕圈子： “你的秘密恐怕难以保守了。”他心情复杂地说，“我不得不向上级汇报，先向你打个招唿吧。” 萧水寒微笑道：“邓先生请便。实际上，从我决定要孩子的那一天起，我已决定把这一切来一个了断。那个秘密已经没有价值了，你不过是把那个时间提前几天而已。” 邓飞迟疑地说：“恕我冒昧，你对今后是什么打算？如果需要我帮忙，我会尽力的。” “衷心感谢。等内人满月后再说吧，到那时，我会把自己的决定通知你。” 晚上，邓飞在加密通讯中向龙波清通报了本案的结论。龙波清在电话中吃惊地说：“什么？你不是开玩笑？” 邓飞忍不住微微一笑，他猜想这发炮弹一定把局长大人从他的转椅上轰起来了。不过，这件事的沉重分量使他无法保持幽默的心境，“不是，我既不是开玩笑，也不是说昏话。” 电话那边沉默了很久，然后果断地说：“不要再说了，我马上派一架直升机接你。” 两个小时后，邓飞坐在龙局长的办公室里。黑色的丁字型办公桌把龙波清包在里面，平添一种居高临下的威严。龙局长唤秘书为邓飞斟上绿茶，秘书退出后，他把沉重的办公室大门仔细关好，坐到邓飞面前。 “老邓，我自然相信你，根据不足的结论你不会出口的。但鉴于此事的分量，我还要再问一遍：这是真的吗？你凭什么相信它，这件看来十分荒谬的事？” “我也是逐步信服的，在这个过程中我的心理惯性比较小，恐怕要得益于我看过不少李元龙先生的早期著作。在那里面，生物可以长生的结论几乎唿之欲出，只是，在那层窗户纸捅破之前，我想不到这上面去。” 邓飞又把思路捋一遍，说： “李先生说，上帝是一个非常开明的统治者，完全采用无为而治，他把亿万种生物洒在世界上，任其自生自灭，让它们各自进化出最有效的生存和繁衍模式。单细胞生物靠分裂方法繁衍，从细胞本身来讲，可以说是长生不老的。当它发展成多细胞生物时，如果仍保持每个细胞的无限分裂能力，并仍用分裂方法繁衍后代，才是最正常、最容易达到的路径。科学家在研究癌症时早就发现，人体细胞中有一种致癌基因——RAS基因。它在胚胎期参与组织的发育和分化，婴儿出生后即受到抑制。但在致癌物质的作用下，它会恢复功能，始终向细胞发出生长和增殖信号，这就形成癌组织。其实，这种所谓的致病基因，恰恰是生命早期的正常基因，它的无限分裂是正常的功能，被抑制才是不正常的，是活体约束的结果。癌症之所以难以攻克，正是因为科学家要对付的恰恰是细胞的原始本性，虽然这种本性在进化过程中被压抑了几亿年，但它仍顽强地不时复活。这些内容太专业，你能听懂吗？” 龙局长苦笑道：“我硬着头皮听，继续说吧。” “所以，我们之所以觉得生物的长生不可思议，只是因为我们的思维被加上无形的枷锁，是数十亿年生命方式对我们思想的潜移默化。还是接着刚才的说吧。我们完全可以假定那种长生的多细胞生物确实存在过，后来被大自然无情地淘汰了，而原因是这种生命形式不利于物种的变异进化——记住，它的不存在是因为它不利于物种变异进化，而不是它不可能存在。造物主并没有禁止细胞乃至生物体的长生，没有任何物理定律限制它。” 龙波清听得十分专心，喃喃地说：“全新的视角。” 邓飞笑道：“其实，科学探索和我们的破案很相似，有时候某个案件错综复杂，一片混沌，但只要跳出圈子，换一个视角，往往有新的发现。”他继续说道： “刚才是从宏观上、从哲学高度讲，如果从微观、从纯技术角度来看，也是可以达到的。人类之所以会死亡，是因为人体细胞只能分裂约50代，就会衰老。人体中刚受精的胚细胞中，其染色体顶端有大约1000个无编码意义的碱基对，它们就象鞋带端头的金属箍，对染色体长链起保护作用。但在活体约束中，一种细胞凋亡酶CPP-32向所有细胞发出密令，使它们在每次分裂时失去80-200个碱基对，染色体因而逐渐失去保护，细胞就开始衰老死亡。再问一次，你能听懂吗？这是很抽象的知识，不懂就问，不要爱面子，你别让我对驴弹琴。”邓飞开玩笑地说。 龙波清已听得入迷，忘记了回击他的调侃：“请继续。” “癌细胞与此不同，它有一种端粒酶PARP可以克制凋亡酶的作用。所以它是长生不死的。100年前，李先生治疗了千百年令医学界束手的绝症，并因此扬名于世，他用的正是克制端粒酶的办法，” 他有意停顿一会才说： “然后，李先生就想到事情的另一面，如果使所有人体细胞都能像癌细胞一样无限分裂（当然分裂速度不能失控），实际上也就是使RAS基因回复到原始状态。那会是什么结果？那就是千百年来人们孜孜追求的长生不老。说起来简单，实行起来难度极大，但李先生终于成功了，并把这种手术施之于自身。于是他成了第一个长生不老者，直到现在还保持着35岁的身体。” 邓飞介绍完了，龙波清久久与他对视，屋里安静极了。Deng Fei asked: "Do you understand?" “听――懂――了。”龙波清慢吞吞地说，“你说的道理我都听懂了，很有说服力，但我还是不敢相信。人怎么可能长生不死呢，连宇宙还会灭亡呢，连物质世界的砖石――质子――还会洇灭呢。” “噢对了，我忘了为你辨清这一点。萧先生说过，严格说来，他的技术不能称作'长生术'，而只能称作'准长生术'。你刚才说得很对，绝对的长生确实是不可能的。但也不能把他的准长生术与'长寿'混为一谈，两者不属于一个数量级。这么说吧，如果我们用修修补补的医学手段让人类的寿命以算术级数增加，达到120岁，200岁，甚至500岁，这属于'长寿'的范畴；但如果彻底取消基因中关于寿命的指令，使人类寿命以几何级数增长，达到1000岁，5000岁，甚至10万岁，那就是'准长生'的范畴了。理论上说准长生是没有上限的，它能达到一个极大的但小于无限的数字。当然，实际能达到什么高度要受技术水平的制约。” 龙波清思索着，点点头：“这么说比较容易理解了。我也信服了。” 邓飞皱着眉头说：“老实说，过去把萧水寒当作潜在罪犯时，我倒对他一直怀着敬意。知道了真相，我反而鄙视他可怜他。他像个土财主似的抱着这个秘密，土拨鼠似的东躲西藏，为的什么呀。纯粹的恋宝癖！他为什么不把这个秘密公布于众呢。” 公安局长似乎没有听到这段话，从这会儿开始他走上了自己的思路。也许他与邓飞毕竟身份不同了，作为侦察员的邓飞，关心的是破案的进程和准长生术的技术细节，而他作为公安局长，关心的是它的社会影响。如果它是真的，如果它被泄露，会造成什么样的轩然大波？会有多少世界巨富用倾国之资来购买这项技术？有多少黑道枭雄来强取暗盗？That's not the most important thing.重要的是，社会秩序将被完全推翻，要在长生术的基础上重新构建了。 中学时他遇见过一位很善于煽情的历史老师，在讲猿人时代时，那位老师绘声绘色地说：当一只大胆聪明的猿猴第一次学会从林火中取下火种时，这个种族的命运就发生了突变。那是人类获取的第一把科学之火，它把耶和华为人类设置的桎梏烧毁了。现在，这种长生术或者准长生术，无疑是有同等意义的第二把科学之火。与它相比，什么核能、电脑、激光都只是小玩意儿。 他多少带点怜悯地看着邓飞，这位老朋友在侦破过程中仍然保持着锐利的思维，令人佩服。除了他，谁能把这桩迷案归结到长生术上去？但他在大局观方面未免迟钝。不过这会儿他不想把话说透，他想了想，决断地说： “我们也暂时为他保密。你先回家见见老嫂子，然后立即赶回去，死死地守着萧水寒。我还要向上面汇报。我想，这个足以影响全人类的无价之宝，如果仍然归私人收藏，恐怕不合适。太可惜，也太危险，对他本人或对社会来说都太危险。” “好的，我马上回去。不过，那两人呢？那两个跟踪者的情况怎么样？我这两天一直没有注意到他们。” 局长懊恼地拍拍脑袋：“噢，该死，我真该死，只顾听你讲天书，这么重要的事忘记通告你。那两人在两天前——就是你们在宝天曼山中时——突然取消跟踪，向广州那边去了。刚刚我得到通知，他们已经出国了。因为没有犯罪事实，不好拘捕他们。放长线钓大鱼吧，他们肯定还会再来的。” 邓飞警告他：“你可要小心对付，这种突然的撤退恐怕预示着更大的进攻。” “我会小心的。快回去吧。”邓飞走后，他沉思很久，最后下了决心，直接要通北京的电话。他要求那边，立即为他安排一次破格的晋见，他有极端重要的事情汇报。那边问清他的姓名和职务，挂了电话。不久电话又打过来，告诉他约见已经安排，请他即刻来京。