Chapter 7 third chapter
Jiang Yuanshan's team's first invisibility experiment was carried out in the underground laboratory of the Central Plains Base, nine years after their "Eleven Saints" entered the base.They first spent three years studying undergraduate and postgraduate courses. After that, He Shijie made a rather bold and unconventional decision: instead of assigning this group of children as assistants to other senior researchers, they were programmed separately. As a team, with Jiang Yuanshan as the team leader.He thinks that unrestrained imagination may be more important than experience in this new kind of research.
Fortunately, the bet was right.Nine years later, it was Jiang Yuanshan's group that took the lead in making a breakthrough, although it was only a preliminary staged result.
The dome of the basement was forty meters high, a silver sphere suspended thirty-five meters above the floor, held in place by three thin ropes.To minimize the sling's effect on the stealth performance, they used carbon nano-ropes, which are so thin they are barely visible to the naked eye.So in the eyes of everyone, this silver ball is quietly floating out of thin air, like floating in a dream.A crane raised the boom, and Yan Xiaochen sat in the gondola and was slowly sent to the silver ball.The silver ball door is opened, it is a swing-open hatch similar to the shutter of a camera, when it is opened, the silver ball looks like an eye, a bright and holy sky eye, with deep black pupils condescending, quietly overlooking the world.The exquisite Yan Xiaochen became smaller because of the distance, like a thumb fairy, floating lightly to the celestial eye.The boom retracted, Yan Xiaochen turned around, leaned out of the "pupil", waved to everyone with a smile, and then went in again; the sky eye also closed its eyes.
This silver ball was made by eleven members of Jiang Yuanshan's team. There was no mystery to them at all, but at this moment, it was suddenly endowed with dreamlike beauty, mythical beauty, and beauty. Take your breath away and awe.The silver ball is not big, only two meters in diameter.Its shell made of metamaterials that allows light to go around is quite thick, so the silver ball with a diameter of two meters has only a small space inside, which can only accommodate the exquisite Yan Xiaochen.
Eleven people from Jiang Yuanshan's group participated in this experiment, as well as other groups in the research institute: He's group (with He Shijie as the leader), Liu's group, Jin's group, and Hu's group, a total of more than 50 people.They are scattered and waiting on the main control screen or various observation points.Although there are many optical cameras, infrared cameras and various radars (millimeter wave, centimeter wave, microwave and meter wave, dual base station and single base station) arranged on the top, bottom, left, right, front and back of the silver ball, Jiang Yuanshan still wants to use naked eye observation as a supplement. He thinks This is the most reliable.
The on-site commander is Zhu Yufei. Nine years have passed, and this little fat man has become much thinner—the heavy work of Jiang's team has played an effective role in losing weight.At this moment, he is following the procedure, asking each observation point and Yan Xiaochen in the silver ball whether they are ready.Twenty-six-year-old Jiang Yuanshan and fifty-six-year-old He Shijie stood behind him.Today's Jiang Yuanshan has no joy of success at all, on the contrary, he looks preoccupied.
Pointing to the sky, he said solemnly to Lao He: "Today is our first test, and I guess it must have arrived, and it is hanging over our heads right now."
The "it" he said, of course, did not refer to the silver ball in front of him, but to the invisible flying ball encountered nine years ago.Since then, flying balls have never appeared in China again.Of course, it couldn't have never been here, it just didn't show up.It has obviously not been idle in the past nine years, and its traces all over the world can be smelled from the intelligence from abroad.Although China's Chiyou Project has implemented the strictest secrecy measures, it may be difficult to escape its eyes.
At the first professional meeting, the chairman had reckoned that it should be easier to spot the fly ball than harder to make it.But the actual progress of the research is just the opposite: in Jiang's group, Yan Xiaochen is mainly in charge of "manufacturing" and has achieved phased results to this day; Jiang Yuanshan is in charge of "discovery" and has not made a real breakthrough so far.
From Jiang's words, He Shijie could feel the young man's heavy heart.He patted Jiang's shoulder with a smile, "Don't worry, I believe you will make a breakthrough soon and grab that invisible devil by the tail."
After Zhu Yufei completed the inquiry procedure, he turned around to ask the two for their opinions, and they both nodded.Xiao Zhu turned around and solemnly announced: "The test starts now. Yan Xiaochen, activate the visible light blanking function."
More than fifty pairs of eyes and twenty-four lenses stared at the silver ball.The silver ball slowly became illusory, translucent, and then suddenly disappeared from people's vision.But looking at the various radar screens, the sphere stayed in place.The staff in the command hall were all working quietly, no one cheered, but the invisible excitement was beating in people's hearts.Only Jiang Yuanshan shook his head and pointed to the back of the silver ball to Lao He, "Visible light invisibility has flaws, which cannot be completely resolved."
He Shijie nodded—although the silver ball disappeared, the scene in a circular range behind it was distorted, and it could still be distinguished through careful observation.
The commander-in-chief of the test issued a second order: "Yan Xiaochen, activate the radar blanking function." The images on the millimeter wave and microwave radar screens also disappeared, and the spheres on the meter wave radar screen became blurred but did not completely disappear—obviously the radar The blanking function is also not perfect, and it cannot be completely invisible in the whole band.However, the meter wave radar itself cannot accurately locate, so the screen is just a bright spot with blurred boundaries and specious.
"Put on your sunglasses." Everyone put on their sunglasses, "Turn on the searchlights."
A beam of light suddenly shot out from the ground, it was extremely intense, submerging the huge underground test site in strong light.The strong light covered the location of the silver ball, and there was still nothing to be seen there, but there was a faint flash of light beyond the outline of the silver ball, which flashed intermittently, forming a ball bag roughly twice the size of the silver ball network surface.
"Turn off searchlights. Activate lasers."
The strong light was extinguished, and a bright blue laser shot out, burning a faint blue smoke wherever it passed.The laser covered the position of the silver ball, and people still couldn't see the silver ball, but the flash outside the silver ball was still appearing and disappearing, and its position and shape were the same as before, but the width was stronger.
"Turn off the laser."
The underground laboratory returned to normal lighting.The location of the silver ball is still nothing.
"Yan Xiaochen, turn off all blanking functions."
Suddenly, the silver ball appeared in its original position, and also appeared on various radar screens at the same time.The audience burst into applause.Yinqiu's pupils unscrewed, Yan Xiaochen appeared in the pupils, waved to everyone with a bright smile, and then sat down on the hanging basket.He Shijie rushed forward to meet her and hugged her warmly, "Good job Xiaochen, congratulations on your success, and congratulations to all members of your team."
Although the members of the other four groups were inevitably disappointed, excitement prevailed, and they all came over to congratulate them.Yan Xiaochen and Jiang Yuanshan looked at each other, of course they were very happy, but the joy was limited.
Jiang Yuanshanwei frowned and said: "You know, Director, this time it was not completely successful. Its optical blanking is not complete. As you saw just now, the scene behind it is distorted; the radar blanking in the meter wave range It's not fully functional either. There's an even bigger problem: once the flying ball is covered by a searchlight or laser, it's still invisible, but for some reason, there's a faint flash of light outside the range of the silver ball. We've been trying to figure it out , but they didn't do it."
Regarding the last point, Lao He already knew and thought about it for a long time, "Xiao Jiang, I had an idea yesterday, do you think it makes sense? Can we think about it from a different angle-maybe this is the door of the invisible flying ball ? That is to say, even 'that' flying ball may have a similar flash under strong light or strong laser? Anyway, until now, we haven't been able to cover it with a beam of light, and we haven't heard of any country have done so."
Jiang Yuanshan and Yan Xiaochen exchanged glances quickly, and Yan Xiaochen said: "Director, you are right. During this period of time, we have not been able to think outside the circle, only thinking that the invisible function is not perfect, and we are busy dispelling it. We will continue to try , if it cannot be dispelled no matter how hard you try, maybe it is the door of the invisible flying ball."
Jiang Yuanshan said: "There is another big problem. The responsible plasma drive of the pendulum has also made a breakthrough, and it is estimated that the next test will be able to install it on the flying ball. But by then, the invisibility of the flame will let us It’s a headache. How to make the jet flame invisible in the visible light range and infrared range, there is no theoretical idea at present.”
"Don't be discouraged, and don't be too impatient, let's take it step by step." He Shijie smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Besides, the temporary invisibility to the flame will not affect your development of 'discovery' technology, and will not delay the realization of the Chairman Said first target, right?"
"That's true."
"Then find it and shoot it first! This is the first task given to us by the chairman."
At the end of the experiment, the members of the other four groups left first after completing their observation reports.He Shijie gathered eleven members of Jiang's group together and said, "Congratulations again! Although it is only a phased achievement, since the winter jasmine has already bloomed, will it be far behind when all the flowers bloom? Don't stretch your strings too much." Tight, it's time to relax. I announce that you will be given seven days of compulsory vacation, and you will go to the mountains and rivers for me during these seven days, and no one is allowed to mention work."
Xu Yuanyuan said: "Uncle He, please forgive us. It's a good thing to go out to play, but we are really afraid of your 'military-level treatment'-a large group of plainclothes armed police, especially plainclothes, all of them are penetrating. Thieves, one look at you can strip you of all your clothes. With them following, any fun will be ruined."
Old He smiled, "I found a good place this time, and I made sure that the armed police and plainclothes people would not appear in your field of vision. Which one of you was it last time, Yuanyuan or Liu Tao? What do you most want to go to? Such a place: there are mountains and water, the mountains are dark green, the water is clear, and there is a white sandy beach beside the water; the surrounding is very quiet, only the sound of water, pines and birds can be heard; the air is filled with turpentine and the smell of green grass; there are no idlers, you can swim naked if you want." He shook his head, "Your requirements are too high, this is not the world, it is clearly the Tianchi where the seven fairies bathe. However," he intentionally paused for a while, Only then did the result come out, "I have already found this place."
Everyone cheered, "Really?"
"Of course. I'll take you there tomorrow."
"Uncle He, you have to go too!"
"Of course I'll go. However, getting an old man among the young people will definitely affect the interest. I only go for one day and come back. Anyway, each group has to take turns. I will accompany each group for a day or two, and I will spend the whole vacation. You earned it back, right?"
The next morning, two off-road vans marked "China Youth Travel Service" left the city and headed northwest.He Shijie fulfilled his promise, and this time there was no armed police to clear the way.But Jiang Yuanshan soon discovered that there was a car parked quietly at each main intersection. Although there was no police badge, it was obviously in charge of guarding.Sometimes plainclothes can be seen from a distance setting up barriers on the road, blocking passing vehicles.However, the partners were all happily watching the scenery, so Jiang Yuanshan pretended not to notice it—maybe the partners also saw it but didn't want to point it out.
The van walked for another two hours on the mountain road, a section of which was a dry river bed, and finally stopped in a mountain depression.After everyone got off the car, their eyes lit up and they cheered in unison.This is indeed the fairyland described by Director He yesterday - green mountains and green waters, a mountain stream flows out of a small lake at the bottom of the valley.The water of the lake is clear and blue, with rocks as the bottom, and only a few aquatic plants swaying in the water.There are some small fish in the water, all of which are very pocket-sized, which confirms the saying that "it is difficult to raise big fish in clear water".The midsummer sun has already risen to mid-air, but in the embrace of the mountains and forests, the heat has obviously decreased, and it has become a warm gaze.There are more than a dozen colorful life buoys floating in the center of the lake, anchored to the bottom of the lake with thin ropes, rippling in place, and connected in a circle with ropes on the water surface.The east bank of the lake is more soothing, and there is a large sandy beach, all of which are shiny white sand.Outside the beach is a green grassland, scattered with more than a dozen brightly colored one-person tents, like big mushrooms emerging from the grass.The girls couldn't wait to take off their shoes and socks, and ran wildly on the beach barefoot.
Jiang Yuanshan poked Lao He with a smile: "How much did this beach cost? Obviously it is man-made, and this small mountain stream cannot wash away such a large beach. Besides, the connection between the beach and the surrounding area is also very stiff."
Old He smiled, this beach is indeed artificially paved with sea sand. "It's just you monkey eyes. This beach cost some money, but it's worth it. Why? It's close to the research institute, and you don't need to fly to and from it—you know, for safety reasons, I'd rather let you fly— And the environment is closed, which is convenient for guards. From now on, this will be the exclusive leisure base of our research institute, which is safe and economical. The five groups come here in turn. If it’s too cold in winter, you don’t have to come here, and spend other holidays here.”
There was only one plainclothes man at the scene, a handsome guy in his thirties with a very capable appearance.He came over to salute Lao He, shook hands with team leader Xiao Jiang, and made a security statement: "All the guards are arranged at a distance of five kilometers in diameter, and you can play freely in the area within a radius of five kilometers. The security range There is also a short section of the Great Wall within, you can climb the Great Wall if you want. Look, it’s there.”
Following the direction of his finger, there is indeed a section of the Great Wall on the back of the mountain, just like a giant dragon accidentally revealing a section of its back during its graceful march in the valley.Seeing the Great Wall, and then estimating the driving time after leaving the city, Jiang Yuanshan has a rough idea of the geographical location here.
"There is an area in the middle of the lake that is more than one person deep. For absolute safety, I originally planned to strictly order you to wear life jackets when entering the water," the plainclothes said with a smile, "but I guess you don't want to be restricted by this, so we anchored along the edge of the deep water Twelve life buoys, just pay attention to that area when you go into the water to play."
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
"There is a walkie-talkie in each tent, so you can call us in case of any emergency. Food and other things are also prepared, and the cooked food alone is enough for you to eat for seven days. If you want to cook for yourself, there are pots and stoves in the largest tent , there are rice noodles, oil, salt, and vegetable seasonings; please pay attention to fire prevention when using the gas stove. Well, the safety matters have been explained clearly, and I should disappear as soon as possible, so as not to annoy you by dangling in front of your eyes."
Jiang Yuanshan shook hands with him and increased his strength, "We are a group of masters who are not easy to serve, and we are causing you trouble."
"Long live to understand, long live to understand."
The girls have all changed into their swimsuits in the tent.It's all the most avant-garde three-point style. This is the unified rule made by the girls led by Xu Yuanyuan yesterday.So although there are only four beauties, they have already decorated the beach so beautifully.The handsome guy in plainclothes looked at him and said that he really wanted to stay here to feast his eyes, but it was a pity that he was on a mission, so he could only reluctantly leave. Then he saluted Lao He and quickly disappeared into the forest.
The girls moved their arms and legs, ready to jump.Liu Tao said: "It's a pity, in fact, such a beautiful place, it would be more enjoyable to turn it into a celestial bathing place."
Sun Kexin and Lin Tianyu immediately expressed their support, "Good proposal! Director He please approve it."
Old He smiled and said nothing, Xu Yuanyuan curled her lips and said, "Who needs to approve such a thing? Come on, I will take the lead, but you all have to follow. Anyone who shrinks back is a hypocrite with different words."
She really started to take off the three-point swimsuit, and Jiang Yuanshan warned with a smile: "Yuanyuan, don't look at the armed police in plain clothes, but this place is definitely not out of their sight. How many large-caliber telescopes are aiming at it in the bushes."
Xu Yuanyuan didn't think this warning had any deterrent effect, she undressed unhurriedly, jumped into the water, and swam gracefully with her arms swinging, while turning her head to look at her partner defiantly.Her slender, white body is clearly visible in the clear water.The two girls Zhuang Min and Liu Tao didn't hesitate, they also took off their clothes and jumped down. Three mermaids were playing in the blue waves.Several boys followed suit and jumped down naked.At this moment, only Lao He, Jiang Yuanshan, Yan Xiaochen and Lin Tianyu were left on the shore.Lao He said to the people in the water: "Hey, you should also have a little respect for the elderly, and take care of my conservative views."
Xu Yuanyuan smiled in the water, "Uncle He, if you can't stand it, just get a towel and cover your eyes. Hey, you three, why don't you follow? Lin Tianyu, do you want to be a hypocrite?"
Lin Tianyu said with a playful smile, "Xu Yuanyuan, you've been duped. I'm going to steal your clothes like Brother Niulang. If you want to get your clothes back, you have to be my wife."
"Okay, I'm a marriage fanatic just like Zhinu, and I'm worried that I won't be able to get married, so I'm looking forward to one of you being a big brother."
She didn't say brother Niu Lang but said brother Niu Niu, obviously giving Jiang Yuanshan his glance.Jiang Yuanshan heard her words, smiled and didn't answer.In terms of appearance, Yuanyuan ranks first among the girls, both beautiful and sexy.The strange thing is that today she is naked, but the "sexiness" has faded away, leaving only her natural beauty, like crystal dewdrops rolling on lotus leaves.She has not traveled far, apparently waiting for "Brother Niu Niu", her big eyes are captivating.Jiang Yuanshan didn't take her glances. From the bottom of his heart, he was an old-fashioned person like his father, and he preferred another type of woman.
Old He said: "Hey, since there is an 'initiator', you should follow along. As for me, an old man, I'm fine, I just sit on the shore and enjoy it."
The three young men began to take off their clothes, but Lin Tianyu did fulfill his words, stole Xu Yuanyuan's clothes before going into the water, dug a hole in the beach, buried the clothes, smoothed the sand, and then laughed and danced Go into the water.Lao He noticed that Yan Xiaochen, who had already taken off his swimsuit, froze suddenly, his face turned pale, and he stared at the place where Lin Tianyu buried his clothes, as if it was a black hole with strong gravitational force.Jiang Yuanshan also noticed her abnormality, and asked softly: "Xiaochen, what's the matter with you? Your face is so pale."
Yan Xiaochen turned his head and quickly glanced at the director, then put on the swimsuit he had already taken off.She said, I suddenly felt a little dizzy, Xiao Jiang, don't go into the water, and sit with me for a while.
Jiang Yuanshan also put on his swimming trunks. Yan Xiaochen took his arm and walked tens of meters away. The two sat down cuddled.Before the two left, Yan Xiaochen glanced at Director He again to see if he clearly understood where his emotional reaction came from.
He Shijie understood.In the past nine years, he had almost forgotten about that incident, but Yan Xiaochen's strong emotional reaction awakened his memory.At this moment, he suddenly and very clearly realized that what Jiang Yuanshan's parents said not only really happened, but also cut a deep wound in the hearts of all related people, and its lethality could even last to two years. Ten years later!Ironically, the only person involved, Jiang Yuanshan, was ignorant and had no memory of that incident.
He Shijie thought with a wry smile, this must be the blessing of this amnesiac.
This incident destroyed He Shijie's good mood all at once.He and Jiang Yuanshan already had a father-son relationship, and he really didn't want to associate him with the word "evil".During these years of observation, he has never found any evil shadow on Jiang Yuanshan's body.But—in case, as Jiang Yuanshan's parents worried, one day, Jiang Yuanshan, who ascended to a high position, sprouted his natural nature like Ming Shenzong, and misled the country and the people, and He Shijie, as the recommender, would also be nailed to the pillar of shame in history!
But what can he do now?Can he add the comment of "evil nature, restricted use" to a six or seven-year-old child because of one wrong thing?It would be shameful to do that.So—he had to force himself to forget about that.
But he couldn't get rid of his gloomy mood, and he didn't want to affect the mood of the young man by staying here, so he quietly called for a car.When he was about to get into the car, Jiang Yuanshan over there saw him, stood up quickly, and was about to run over to keep him.He Shijie waved at him from a distance to prevent him from coming, while he got into the car and urged the driver to drive away immediately.
Director He left, Jiang Yuanshan and Yan Xiaochen sat by the lake, playing with sand in their hands, watching their friends playing in the water in the distance.From the first time he saw Yan Xiaochen nine years ago, Jiang Yuanshan had a vague sense of intimacy with her, and even dragged her into a heart-warming dream.But generally speaking, at that time he was still a young little Qingxing, he didn't understand the style, and he didn't regard Yan Xiaochen as the opposite sex.It was the first time in Jiang Yuanshan's life that they were far away from their partners and cuddled with each other physically.He could feel the heat of the young girl rushing through him, electrocuting him.He smelled the woman's body fragrance, looked at Xiao Chen's wet eyes, the man's lust was awakened, and he couldn't help but have a strong desire to hold the girl tightly in his arms and stick his lips to the wet pair. on the lips.In order to restrain this desire, he moved a little farther away, moved his eyes to the distance, and pointed to Xiaochen the looming section of the Great Wall.He said, judging from the location, this section should be the Qin Great Wall, which was built by the famous general Meng Tian.Speaking of it, the Huaxia nation is indeed relatively conservative. After Qin unified the six countries, its military strength was definitely one of the best in the world, and it was indistinguishable from the ancient Rome that was in its heyday at that time.But the strange thing is that ancient Rome used chariots to open up a great empire across Europe, Asia and Africa, but Qin Shihuang basically did not expand outwards. Instead, he painstakingly built the Great Wall and enclosed himself in a big castle.They even built a large pit of terracotta warriors and horses to bury world-class troops underground!Do you think this mentality is strange?
Xiaochen's emotional reaction has passed now, and she looks at the profile of "Brother Niu Niu" with a smile and listens to his talk.Girls mature early, and she has already put Jiang Yuanshan in her heart a few years ago.Jiang Yuanshan is a nearly perfect boy, worthy of her love, worthy of her to compete with Xu Yuanyuan, but the shadows and scars of her early years have been stubbornly pulling her in the opposite direction.Until just now, when she had a strong emotional reaction and Jiang Yuanshan was ignorant, the stone in her heart was completely let go.Jiang Yuanshan has completely forgotten the experience of "Niu Niu", he is already a newcomer, why does he still remember the old things?That's too harsh on him, Director He is right, you can't punish a person's whole life for one wrong thing in childhood.
But Jiang Yuanshan seemed to be thinking of something, and suddenly fell silent, his clear eyes became blurred and heavy, and his brows were locked together.Xiaochen keenly sensed his change, and asked cautiously, "Brother Yuanshan, what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking...it's a long story. It's a minefield, and I've never talked about it with anyone."
Xiaochen hesitated a little, and said with a smile: "What, you are so serious, tell me."
Jiang Yuanshan said dully: "You know I suffered from amnesia due to a head injury when I was six and a half years old, and I can't remember anything before that. But now, sitting by the water, sitting on the beach , I suddenly had a vague feeling, as if something happened by this river." He said uncertainly, "It seems to be related to Lin Tianyu? How is this possible? But it must be when he buried his clothes on the beach. I got a vague feeling."
Xiaochen hid her surprise deep in her eyes, and interrupted quickly, "Don't think about it if you can't think about it. There should be better things to think about right now, for example, how to fall in love with a girl."
Jiang Yuanshan was still immersed in gloom, "But...before that, I must have done something very evil."
"evil?"
"I don't know what it is. My family keeps silent. As long as I ask about my childhood, they are very painful. I have learned to avoid these and completely cut off the life before amnesia. Without mentioning it, I knew something must have happened, something bad."
Xiao Chen was relieved, and said with a smile, "I know. Aunt Yao told me."
"What?" Jiang Yuanshan stared at her in surprise.
"Say you were a hooligan before you were six years old, and secretly kissed the neighbor girl."
Jiang Yuanshan was very irritable, "Don't interrupt, I'm serious!" He realized his rudeness, and turned to look at Xiaochen, "I'm sorry, I'm in a bad mood right now. I've been forcing myself to forget about it all these years, but No, it will occasionally float up in my memory, peeping at me like a demon. I am worried that once it becomes fully clear in my consciousness, maybe... it will split my personality."
Yan Xiaochen felt a dull pain in his heart.It was probably the first time in his life that he talked about his inner suffering with outsiders like this, and he didn't even talk about it with his parents.He only has a very hazy memory of his childhood, but Yan Xiaochen—as a secondary party to the incident—can fully complement it with his own experience.This is a kind of inner torture that makes people crazy. It is really not easy for Jiang Yuanshan to bury these deep in his heart and let everyone see the image of a sunny boy (man).Xiaochen was also very moved. Jiang Yuanshan revealed this inner secret to himself, explaining his position in his heart.She said bluntly: "Don't be stupid, don't torture yourself for nothing. What bad things can a six or seven-year-old child do? Even if he did it, he can't atone for it for the rest of his life. Besides, in my opinion, it is something that has no shadow—you Thinking, how could Lin Tianyu have something to do with your six-year-old incident? It's purely a wild idea. You are a man who can afford to let go, so sticky and sticky, it's not like you. Hey, don't be discouraged, It's time to do something worthy of the beauty of a beautiful day. Do you have to ask girls to take the initiative?"
She looked at Jiang Yuanshan with burning eyes, her lips pursed slightly.Jiang Yuanshan's passion was ignited.He is indeed a man who can afford to let go—he has come through with such a character over the years—so he put aside the gloomy moment just now.He smiled and hugged Xiao Chen into his arms, followed by a deep kiss that lasted forever.The world is still, and the blood of the two is boiling.After a while, Yan Xiaochen pushed Jiang Yuanshan away, looked him in the eyes, and said bluntly: "Come to my tent at night, I'll wait for you." Jiang Yuanshan seemed to be a little hesitant, and Xiaochen said unhappily, "Why, my invitation makes you feel uncomfortable. Are you in trouble?"
"Where is that, actually, I am very rude for asking you to send the invitation first, and I am already a man who has lost my status." Jiang Yuanshan said with a smile, "I was thinking that there is no one in the supplies that Uncle He prepared for us. No contraceptives."
"It's useless. We're both twenty-six years old, and it's time to have a baby. We can get married as soon as we get pregnant, at the same time. Let me tell you, I'm a woman with a strong maternal instinct. She smiled. "Unless you're planning on having a one-night stand."
Jiang Yuanshan protested seriously: "What are you talking about! There has never been such an irresponsible man in our Lao Jiang's family." A smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth.Yan Xiaochen asked suspiciously: "What are you laughing at? I think you're smiling furtively."
"It's a long story, and I'm a little embarrassed, thinking of a dream about you. Do you really want to hear it?"
"Of course I want to hear it, so let's talk."
Jiang Yuanshan told about the dream nine years ago.In the dream, he was the youngest member of the extraterrestrial Ashoka Mission. He left his home planet in an invisible flying ball. Before leaving, he left his own seed on his new wife, and the sixteen-year-old alien The bride looks exactly like Yan Xiaochen. "That's why I'm blushing, Xiaochen, I've had evil thoughts about you for a long time, probably since I was sixteen or seventeen."
Yan Xiaochen smiled, raised his head and kissed him again, "I didn't expect you to be so precocious. But thank you, you have me in your heart so early, which makes my self-esteem very useful. Remember that I will wait for you at night. Now let's go swimming too Bar."
She quickly took off her swimsuit and plunged into the water.Jiang Yuanshan also took off his clothes and jumped down with her, yelling and swimming towards the crowd.When they swam into the crowd, Xu Yuanyuan keenly noticed the unusualness of the two of them, and knew that something happened between them, and it happened not long ago.She swam to Yan Xiaochen's side and said with jealousy: "Xiaochen, it looks like you won."
"Ok?"
"Don't pretend to be confused. I know you and Xiao Jiang are on good terms, the paper on the window has just been pierced, right? Don't try to fool me, just take a look at your expression on the surface of the water, with the brilliance of love on your face! "She said, "I expected this result a long time ago. Although I am a little jealous, I still wish you well."
Yan Xiaochen's face was "glowed with love", hugged Yuanyuan and kissed her.
Everyone played crazy in the water, and they didn't go ashore until four or five in the afternoon for lunch.Several people wanted to put on clothes during the meal—after all, they are all familiar colleagues, and they are not used to facing each other naked on the shore—they were firmly stopped by Yuanyuan, Liu Tao and Lin Tianyu, saying that since they are naturists, they should do it thoroughly , don't be that kind of half-yin and half-yang hypocrite, everyone will agree with it with a smile.At night they sat on the beach chatting and singing, the cold moonlight caressing their bare skin.
Sun Kexin suddenly said: "Let me say a word, you are not allowed to say that I defeat everyone's interest."
"Then don't say it before it's too late." The chief said.
"No, I still have to say." Sun Kexin pointed to the sky, "We are playing so happily, will 'it' be watching us from above?"
Xu Yuanyuan scolded him, "You are not allowed to talk about work! Uncle He said that no one will talk about work these seven days, and you are not allowed to mention a single word."
Sun Kexin explained, "I'm not talking about work, I'm just thinking about safety. If it sees us all here and uses some kind of laser weapon to scan it, wouldn't China's stealth research team be wiped out."
Everyone was silent for a moment.Jiang Yuanshan sighed, "Although Xiao Sun's words are unfavorable, they are not impossible. In fact, although the superiors are cautious about our security, they dare not say that it is really effective under the lens of the invisible flying ball. However, 'it' "Jiang pointed to the sky, "If you want to do this, I'm afraid you've already succeeded, and it doesn't matter if you can't see us today. Yuanyuan is right, don't kill the scenery today."
Sun Kexin admitted his mistake and stopped mentioning it.
It wasn't until before going to bed that Yuanyuan realized that her clothes were missing. Of course she guessed who did it, pointed at Lin Tianyu's nose and cursed, and then dragged him to find the clothes.Lin Tianyu obediently walked ahead, lowering his head and trying to find, followed by a group of booers.The perpetrator had forgotten where the clothes were buried, so it took a while to find them.The moonlight was bright and clear, illuminating a group of naked young men and women, and the light circle of the flashlight flickered on the sand.Yan Xiaochen didn't follow, because this familiar scene brought back that painful memory.She was very worried, and quietly observed Jiang Yuanshan. Fortunately, he didn't respond this time, and kept laughing heartily, teasing Lin Tianyu from a distance: "Hey, my brother Cowherd, have you found it? Sister Zhinu is too embarrassing." Already!"
Xiaochen was completely relieved.
By four o'clock in the morning, the group was sleepy and went to sleep in their tents.In the dead of night, the moonlight was like water, and several mosquito repellent lamps were dimly lit, making a slight crackling sound.Yan Xiaochen didn't zip up the tent and waited for Jiang Yuanshan.After a while, a naked black figure opened the tent door and got in.The two immediately hugged each other, kissed passionately, immersed in the joy of the flesh.The tents are not far apart. Although they are not afraid of others knowing, they are too embarrassed to be too careless, and they try to move as gently as possible, keeping their panting in their throats.At around six o'clock in the morning, they were tired and fell asleep hugging each other.Jiang Yuanshan fell asleep first, breathing evenly and sleeping peacefully.Yan Xiaochen raised her head and kissed him, and fell asleep in his arms.She thought drowsily, after tonight, the nightmare in Niu Niu's heart would definitely be sealed and buried forever.
When Yan Xiaochen was three and a half years old (she was called Jiang Chenchen at the time), she returned to her hometown, Jiangying in the southwest of the Central Plains, and lived with her grandmother for three years until she was almost seven years old.At that time, her closest playmate was brother Niu Niu. Because of the fate of "being born in the same delivery room at the same time on the same month and day of the same year", under the conscious or unconscious guidance of the two adults, the two children have a natural sense of closeness.Although Niu Niu is only a few minutes older than Chen Chen, she looks like a big brother and a master, letting her in and pampering her in everything.Niu Niu was dark and thin at that time, especially in summer, because he loved to swim in the river, he was sunburned like black charcoal, and even his little butt was black.When he was five or six years old, he had already developed good water skills, and he was able to do dog planing, breaststroke and diving.Niu Niu used to have an older sister who was three years older, and she was good at water since childhood, but unfortunately drowned when she was five or six years old.When Niu Niu grew up to the age of running around, his parents decided not to let him go down the river alone for safety reasons, and beat him up from time to time for this, especially the martial Niu Niu father, who believed in the saying "If you don't fight, you won't succeed". Gu Xun, although he pampered his son very much, he was also very hard when he was beaten.But Niu Niu is born with a wild temper, especially loves to play in the river, and Niu Niu's father's broom handle has not been able to control him.
这会儿睡在姜元善的身边，严小晨不由得想到，一个人的领导才能真是天赋啊，牛牛哥五六岁时就是孩子王，只要他一挥手，大伙儿就像麻雀一样哄地随他飞走。同伴中有一个叫小冬的男孩，年龄比牛牛大一岁，但他心甘情愿地做牛牛的跟屁虫。
晨晨在姜营学到很多乡里娃儿的游戏。那天他们在寨墙脚下玩“翻螺壳”，这种古老的游戏想必现在已经失传了吧，就是从沙滩中捡来蚌壳，分成两半，撒到平地上。凡是壳腹向上的，就用食指指肚按住壳腹的凹处，小心地翻过来，这只蚌壳就算你赢过来了；凡壳背向上的，就在指肚上沾一点唾沫，小心地粘起蚌壳把它带翻身，再继续上述动作。如果哪回失误，就换对家来做。这天晨晨运气不好，一袋蚌壳很快就输光了，只好嘟着嘴看别人玩。牛牛哥觉察到晨晨的不快，便提议：“咱们到河边去拾蚌壳吧。”
晨晨说：“姜伯伯说过不让去河边，去了你要挨打的。”牛牛毫不在乎地挥挥手，于是五个人——小冬和四个女孩——就像麻雀一样跟着他飞去了。
过了漫水桥，河南岸是幽静的柳林。那天格外清静，没有一个闲人——正是这点情况促成了之后的悲剧。风和日丽，洁白的沙滩平坦而松软，女孩子们高高兴兴地散开去拾蚌壳，牛牛和小冬则熟门熟路地直奔河边，脱了衣服，赤条条跳到河里。城里娃儿晨晨毕竟胆子小，抬头喊一声：“牛牛哥！姜伯伯不让下河，又要用笤帚把揍你哩，你忘了那天把你屁股都打肿了？”牛牛满不在乎，“不让他知道就行了，记住，回家谁也不许说！”
他俩在河里游了蛙泳游狗刨，游了自由泳再换成仰泳，打得水花四溅惊天动地。河的中央有座小岛，长着齐人高的野草，两人游累了就到岛上歇一会儿。
突然，晨晨听见牛牛在喊什么，但距离远，听不清。她把手拢成喇叭状大声喊：“你——说——什——么？我——听——不清！”
牛牛也把手拢成喇叭状又喊了一遍，这回晨晨听清了：“岛上——有鸟蛋！一会儿——俺俩——带——回去！”
一个小时后，四个女孩子都拾了一大捧蚌壳，用衣襟兜着，喊两个男孩子上岸。牛牛先游回来，爬上岸，背对着这边迅速蹬上裤头，盖住他的黑屁股，那时他多少有点男女之防了。他忽然想起了什么，朝河中大声喊：“小冬！鸟蛋忘了，你拿回来！就在岛边！”
小冬应了一声，返身向岛上游。牛牛偏着头，一只脚用力跳着，想弄干耳朵中的进水。这时，晨晨她们瞥见水面上的小冬忽然消失了，过了一刻，又过了一刻，还是没有露面。小芹担心地说：“小冬哥咋还不出来呢？”晨晨喊：“牛牛哥，小冬潜水里半天了，咋还不出来呢？”
牛牛哥没当回事儿，笑嘻嘻地转身看去，水面上真的没有小冬的身影。就在这时，两只手臂在水面上挥了一下，传来一声呼救，然后手臂消失了，河面又归于平静。晨晨清楚地看见，牛牛哥的脸刷地白了，他三两下扒掉已经穿好的短裤，跳到水里，水花四溅地向那里奔去。
这个场面如同特写镜头一直保留在姜晨晨的童年记忆中，保留在严小晨的青少年记忆中。直至二十年后，她仍由衷佩服牛牛当时的果断。对于一个不足七岁的孩子来说，在危急时刻能迅速做出决断，确实不容易啊。牛牛哥先是涉水向那边跑，到深水区后再用自由式游。几个女孩都用手托着衣襟里的蚌壳，紧张地盯着他。虽然紧张，但那时还不知道害怕，因为大家都相信，好水性会武术的牛牛，大家心目中的领袖，一定会救出小冬的。牛牛在那一带游了几圈，还下潜了几次，都是两手空空地浮出水面。时间一分一分地过去——五分钟？还是十分钟？此后，在严小晨从童年到青年的二十年里，她曾多次努力回忆，想对此做出准确判断——这个时间段对那位道德犯的定罪极为关键——但一直不能确定。那时她们毕竟太年幼也太紧张了，紧张无疑会影响对时间的判断。
这时，牛牛终于捞到了小冬！小冬的脑袋露出水面，倚在牛牛的肩膀上。几个女孩高兴地跳着，齐声尖叫着。牛牛拽着小冬向岛上游——那儿离小岛比较近，他肯定是累惨了，两个脑袋时浮时沉。他终于坚持到了浅水区，站起身子，用力把小冬朝岛上拖。他只把小冬的上半身拖出水面，自己就一头栽到了岸上。两个身影一动不动地躺了很久。
这边几个女孩儿焦急地喊叫，但那边没有一点儿动静。时间一分一分地过去——又是五分钟，还是十分钟？终于，牛牛哥动了，他支撑起身子，爬向小冬，用力摇他的脑袋，可能也在喊他，但这边听不见他的声音。他摇了很久，小冬仍一动不动。
几个女孩儿开始感到恐惧，喊声变成哭声。后来牛牛不摇了，坐在水里，直起上身看着这边。这个姿势保持了很久。距离太远了，晨晨看不清他的表情，但在此后的回忆中，她总觉得自己分明看到了牛牛哥当时的目光，那里面浸透了无助和绝望，但绝望很快变成决绝，不，应该说是残忍果决，因为他此刻肯定已经做出了一邪恶的决定。
牛牛哥把小冬拉下水，开始往回游。这次他是侧泳，一只拉着小冬。这边几个女孩子高兴地喊着：“牛牛哥回来了！还拉着小冬哥！”但晨晨的心窍比她们灵光些，已经看出了不祥，因为牛牛哥并没有努力把小冬的脑袋保持在水面上，可以说此刻他不是在救生，而是在运送尸体。牛牛游到深水区，手一松，小冬的身体立即被河水吞没了。但牛牛没有停留，径直向岸边游来。看得出他实在累惨了，不时沉下去，喝几口水，又挣扎着浮上来。女孩子们都惊呆了，直直地站在那儿，如木雕泥塑一般。晨晨扔了怀里的蚌壳，最先跑过去，站到水里向牛牛伸出手。但她那时还不大会游泳，不敢往里走，只能焦灼地喊着：“牛牛哥快过来！”眼见牛牛用尽了最后一丝力气，手臂停止划动，无力地沉下去——幸亏双脚已触着河底。于是他直起身，踉踉跄跄地向河岸走过来。
几个女伴那当口儿只会傻傻看着，只会哭喊着牛牛哥牛牛哥！牛牛总算够到了晨晨的手，被她拉着，歪歪倒倒地爬上河岸，一头栽到沙滩上。这时只听“哗”的一声，其他三个女孩同时抛撒了蚌壳，围上去哭喊。牛牛吃力地翻过身，鼻尖、肚皮和小鸡鸡上都沾着沙子，脸色煞白，满是惊惧和茫然。直到这时女孩子们才意识到大祸已经临头，小冬哥死了，救不回来了。她们心目中的领袖同样只是一个小孩，他也被灾难压跨了。晨晨第一个反应过来，知道应该向大人求救，她大声哭喊：“来人呀，救命呀！”三个女伴也跟着她放声哭喊。可是附近没有大人。幽静的柳林中和河面上没有一个人。对岸倒是有隐隐约约的人影，但他们显然没听见这边的喊声。夏天的热风飒飒地吹着柳叶，蝉鸣高一声低一声地聒噪着，伴着几个女孩子嘶哑的喊声。她们喊了一会儿，又不约而同地停下来，泪眼模糊地看向小冬消失的地方，盼着他会突然哈哈大笑着跃出水面……
那天，几个小女孩一定是患了集体癔症，她们同时号啕大哭，又同时拔腿逃走。只有晨晨没逃，因为小冬哥还在水里，累垮了的牛牛哥还躺在地上，但她束手无策。突然听见后边一声断喝：“站住！”
是牛牛哥的喊声。三个小女孩停住脚步，回过头。赤身裸体的牛牛艰难地爬起来，努力站稳，把女孩子们喊到他周围。他的面色依然惨白，不过眉头紧蹙，显然已做出了重大决策。他的目光啊……如果以严小晨今天的理解，他当时的目光真称得上残忍果决，绝不像是六岁半的孩子。他严厉地下达着命令，毫无商量余地：“回去后谁也不许对大人说！说了，我会被俺爹打断腿，你们也逃不了挨打。”
大家一下子愣了，面面相觑。小孩子心中还没有太明确的是非观念，但大家本能地感到，这个决定有点儿……邪恶。她们呆望着首领，不敢答应也不敢拒绝。
牛牛狠狠地瞪着她们，坚决地说：“咱们再怎么挨打，小冬也活不了啦，你们说是不是？你们也都看见，我已经尽力救他了。”他补充道，“俺爹说过，溺水的人过了六分钟就救不活了。”
是呀，牛牛哥说得对。要是挨顿打能让小冬活过来，那就应该告诉大人，挨打也值得。可是，挨了打小冬也活不了啦。再说，刚才牛牛哥确实很勇敢地救他了，差点被淹死。可她们呢，只会在岸上哭，现在咋有脸去责备牛牛哥呢。
牛牛看出大家的动摇，再次重复道：“都不许说！……等我穿上衣服。”
他去河边穿了衣服，然后大家的目光不约而同盯上另一堆衣服，小冬的衣服。小冬淹死了，又不能告诉大人，这些衣服该咋办？牛牛似乎已经胸有成竹，他抱起那堆衣服往前走了十几步，蹲下，开始在地上挖坑。四个女孩围观着，慢慢明白了他的用意。于是，一种羞愧感和负罪感悄悄弥漫开来，似乎将要埋掉的不是小冬的衣服，而是小冬本人，是小冬的生命。衣服没有埋下去之前，小冬和这个世界还有一点联系；一旦埋下去，小冬就真的死了，再也不能复活。牛牛忽然停了手，仰起头，狐疑地看着大家。不知道他当时是怎么想的，但在他做出如下决定时，无疑暗合了黑社会常用的一项规则：为了保密，每个人的手都得沾上鲜血。
他厉声命令道：“都动手呀，快点！”
二十年后回想起这段往事，严小晨并不想为自己辩解，但确确实实，当时她们是被牛牛的目光魇住了，被他雄辩的道理（挨打也救不活小冬）镇住了。她们顺从地蹲下，四双小手忙乱地扒沙。沙层很松软，几分钟后，小冬的衣服被埋藏妥当。
牛牛在上面踩了两脚，再次命令道：“回家吧，谁也不许说。谁说，谁就是叛——徒！”
在他的逼视下，四个人都被迫点了头——谁都不想做叛徒。
走前，他们不约而同地回头看河面。那儿仍没有任何动静，夺去了小冬生命的河水仍然不紧不慢地流着，无悲无喜。五个人沉默着离开河岸，走过漫水桥，爬上寨门，良心上免不了惴惴不安，行动上免不了鬼鬼祟祟，只有牛牛强作镇静。拐过街角，偏偏迎头碰上小冬妈，一个喜欢所有孩子的胖大婶。
她笑嘻嘻地说：“到哪儿疯跑啦？恁晚才回来。牛牛，一看就知道你又下河了，小心你爹还用笤帚疙瘩揍你的黑屁股。俺家小冬呢？”
大家的心一下子提到嗓子眼，四双惊慌的目光都转向牛牛。牛牛抢先回答：“不知道，小冬和我吵嘴，今天没和俺们一起玩，不信你问她们。”
大家忙不迭地点头。小冬妈奇怪地嘟哝一句：“这娃儿能跑哪儿去？”便撇下他们走了。大伙儿没想到第一关这么容易就闯过去，都松了一口气。临分手时，牛牛又用他带有魔力的目光挨个儿巡视一番，低沉有力地说：“谁也不许当叛徒！”
整个晚上，晨晨一直心神不宁。外婆以为晨晨生病了，摸摸额头不发烧，但仍安顿她早早睡下。晨晨闭上眼睛，脑海中翻腾着一个场景：小冬的衣服躺在沙坑中，四双小手匆匆忙忙向上堆沙子。比这更可怕的是另牛牛哥带着小冬往回游时，“不小心”一松手，河水便把小冬冲走了。No, that's not the case.牛牛是有意松的手，因为晨晨分明看见，他在松手时甚至还顺手推了一把。他肯定是在发现小冬救不活时已经决定瞒下这件事，所以他是有意把小冬拉回深水区“毁尸灭迹”。二十年中，这两个场景常常从严小晨的记忆中浮现，像钝锯一样在她心中锯割，把死亡、恐惧、负罪感等乱七八糟的东西搅浑在一块儿。
夜风送来小冬妈焦急的呼喊：“小冬，你死哪儿去啦？小冬，快回来！”
晨晨记不得自己是何时才入睡的，半夜里她突然哭醒了，失声喊道：“小冬死了！小冬淹死了！”外婆忙按住她，嗔道：“不许说晦气话，小冬肯定已经回家了，你听，这会儿他妈已经不喊了。”
她在外婆的安抚下沉沉睡去。第二天她刚刚醒来，牛牛的脑袋就从窗户外探进来，打量着她，上上下下地打量。他肯定是判断出晨晨没有当叛徒，便轻轻点点头，悄无声息地走了。
严小晨相信，那天早上他一定挨家挨户巡视了一番，为秘密团伙的四名成员打了气。
街坊的大人们忙作一团，到处寻找小冬，把五个孩子撇到一边。现在回想起来真是不可思议，五个小屁孩怎么能把这桩骇人的秘密整整保守了一天？主要是怪大人们的懵懂，他们实在想不到会有这个可能啊。他们分头到邻村找，给小冬可能去的亲戚家打电话，可全都毫无结果。直到晚上，疑点才重新聚拢到小冬平时的五个玩伴身上。大人们悄声商量着，然后各自领着自家的孩子，聚到晨晨家里。
“审判”开始了。在村里属牛牛爷（就是济世堂的老姜先儿）文化水平最高，最受乡亲们敬重，先由他来讲道理：娃儿们，你们应该诚实呀，要体谅小冬妈的焦急呀，要对得起自己的良心啊。牛牛哥半闭着眼睛，胸膛大幅度地起伏着，就是不说话。四个女孩的脸色由红转白，由白转青，把头深深埋到胸前，只偶尔抬头瞅一眼牛牛。看到这样的情景，大人们越来越担心，也越来越把目光聚到牛牛身上。
牛牛爷的话还没说完，小冬妈就忍不住大哭起来：“娃儿们哪，求求你们了，小冬是死是活给个实话吧，我给你们跪下啦！”
她从座上挣下来，真的要跪下，其他几个大人忙拉住她。她的哭声解除了牛牛哥的魇镇，晨晨哇地哭出来，“小冬死了，淹死了！他的衣服就埋在河边！”她的懵懂小心眼儿里意识到这句话对牛牛哥很不利，忙哭着补充，“牛牛哥去救他，已经捞到他又被河水冲走了，牛牛哥差点淹死！”
其他三个女孩也陆续哭着坦白。晨晨想起了对牛牛哥的许诺，便用求饶的眼神看着他，牛牛则鄙夷地、恶狠狠地瞪着四个女孩。
大人们都惊呆了，屋里一下子变得异常安静，静得瘆人。他们事先已看出这个小团伙的异常，但实在不愿相信五个小屁孩竟然能干出这种缺德事。五家大人都被击跨了，不敢看小冬妈。尤其是刚才还在向孩子们讲道理的牛牛爷，此时面如土色，恨不得找条地缝钻进去——谁都看得出，在这件缺德事中，他的孙子显然是领头的。
大人们连夜出动，几只手电前后照着，押着五个小囚犯来到作案现场。牛牛爹脸色铁青，一手拎着木棍，一手拎着牛牛的衣领。回想起来，当时长辈们的决定也不合情理，他们没有立即着手打捞小冬的遗体，却全力去寻找他的衣服——也许只有亲眼看到他的衣服，他们才真的相信这个噩耗？找衣服花了很长时间，因为平坦的沙滩上没有留下任何标记，但终于找到了，在一圈手电光的照射下，小冬的衣服蜷缩在沙坑里，似乎在无言地控诉。
小冬妈瘫软在沙坑边，昏死过去。
大家焦灼地喊：“小冬妈！小冬妈！”喊声中杂着沉重的棒击声。那是牛牛爹在狠狠地揍儿子，头上、背上，逮哪儿打哪儿，那架势就像存心想打死他。牛牛梗着脖子不求饶，牛牛的爷爷和妈妈也咬着牙不去劝解。女孩们都被吓得放声大哭，晨晨跑过去抱着牛牛爹的腿，哭得直噎气，“别打……别打……牛牛哥去救过他呀……”
牛牛爹甩脱她的小手继续打。乡亲们脸色阴沉地旁观着。从内心讲，他们巴不得打死这个祸害，但乡里乡亲的，面子上过不去，最后总算有人出头把牛牛爹拉住了。直到二十年后，严小晨还清楚记得牛牛哥当时的表情：他站在人群外，头上汩汩地淌着血，像一只受伤的孤狼，用仇恨的目光挨个儿瞪着几个女孩子，瞪着大人，然后决绝地扭身跑了。村人冷淡地目送着他，只有牛牛妈犹豫片刻后追过去。十几分钟后，听到牛牛妈凄厉的哭喊求救声。众人慌了，互相看看，向哭喊声跑去。
几个女孩子被家人带着回家，所以小晨没有看到后来的场景。听说牛牛一直跑过漫水桥，跑到对岸河堤上。那边河岸很陡，砌着护坡石。牛牛妈追上来时，牛牛从河堤顶纵身跳了下去。他是想跳水自杀，还是想顺河游水逃走？已经无从得知。可能是夜色中看不准距离，他没能跳到水里，而是脑袋狠狠地撞到护坡石上，摔得鲜血淋漓，当场昏死过去。
大人们赶忙兵分两路，一拨送牛牛去镇医院，一拨设法打捞小冬的尸体。牛牛爹是在第二拨。他脸色阴沉，对牛牛的伤情根本不闻不问，先安排人在附近打捞小冬，他本人则租一辆货车连夜沿河南下。在三十里之外他下了车，沿河上溯，四处打听。他的决定是对的，在下游十里处找到了小冬的尸体。
等他带着小冬的遗体回来时，牛牛已经被抢救过来了，但从此彻底失忆。晨晨不久就被父母接走了，走前去医院看过他。牛牛哥靠在病床上，头上裹着绷带，木然看着这个陌生的世界，看着周围陌生的人。他已经根本不记得晨晨是谁了。当时大家还认为这是脑震荡后遗症，以后会恢复的，没想到牛牛彻底失忆了，连他的家人都是后来“重新”认识的。小晨至今还记得病房当时的情形。牛牛妈抱着这个“陌生的”儿子长声痛哭，牛牛爷老泪纵横，只看了孙子一眼就拂袖而去。牛牛爹回来后，开始时沉着脸，仍然对牛牛的一切不闻不问，但那个目光空茫的牛牛实在太可怜了，牛牛爹最终撑不住，无声地垂着泪，把儿子揽到怀里。
小晨大哭着离开医院，离开姜营，从此再没回去过。小晨只是从父母偶尔的交谈中知道一些老家的情况。她知道牛牛爹妈为了让儿子躲开这个环境，很快带牛牛离开老家，在附近一座城市里开了私立诊所。牛牛爷则留在村里“赎罪”。这位济世堂的老姜先儿曾是全村人最敬重的长辈，但打那之后，他在乡亲们面前再也抬不起头来。姜爷爷死得很早，乡亲们都说他是“愧”死的。严小晨绝对相信这种说法。想想吧，一位惯于被人敬重的长辈，突然陷进深深的负罪感中，陷在鄙夷的、至少是怜悯的目光之网中，那个晚年该是什么滋味。
严小晨的爸妈尽一切努力让女儿忘记那段经历，但小晨忘不了，尤其忘不了那个令人屈辱的场景：四个女孩在牛牛哥的逼迫下慌乱地扒沙埋衣服，就像是在合谋杀人。村民们谴责牛牛的邪恶，但至少在充当同谋的那个时刻，四个女孩（包括她自己）并不比牛牛高尚啊。而且——也许牛牛哥确实杀了人？ !因为在他把“救不活”的小冬重新扔回水中时，小冬有可能只是假死。医学书上说溺水后的黄金救援时间是四到六分钟，超过这个时间大脑就会死亡，无法挽救。小冬的溺水时间应该超过这个时间了。但她也见过一些报道，说存在溺水三十分钟后被救活的案例，甚至有报道说台湾彰化某人溺“死”八小时后复活，把法医吓傻了。这么说来，小冬真的可能是被牛牛哥害死的？至于严小晨看到的那个场景——牛牛在松手时还顺手推了小冬一把，她从未对任何人说过，包括父母和外婆。那个场景太可怕了，别说把它说出来，只要一想到它，严小晨就会觉得心脏一下子被冻透了，冻裂了，发出咔咔嚓嚓的碎裂声。乡亲们已经把牛牛看成祸害，看成灾星，如果他们再得知此中详情……
她把这个秘密深深埋于心底，当然更不会告诉小冬家。这让她一辈子背上了良心债，似乎成了牛牛的同谋。
但她同样忘不了另外一幕完全相反的场景：牛牛一发现小冬落水，就水花四溅地跑过去营救，几乎搭上自己的性命。那是一个高尚的身影，他那时的高尚和其后的邪恶怎么能共处一具身体之中呢？所以，她对牛牛的情感一直很矛盾，既有温馨和怜悯，也有排斥和敌意。但不管是温馨还是排斥，自从在军事夏令营里与牛牛哥重逢之后，她就一直把他罩在自己的关注目光中。
也许是关注转化成了爱情，更有可能是冥冥中的缘分。九年的时间过去了，现在她躺在这个男人的怀里。
这就是命吧。也许当两人在同一个产房里降生时，就被命运拴在一起了。既然这样，那她就永远伴着他、守护他，也许……还在某个关头去拯救他。就如基督徒李德全婚前对冯玉