Chapter 488 Going to Shangzhou to express condolences (second update)
"Me? Isn't what you want to say the same as what I want to say?" Fang Minghua asked rhetorically.
"Okay, where is Emily? What message do you want to bring?"
"I wish her to write more excellent works!"
Song Tangtang suddenly Amused.
"Okay, I'm kidding you. I don't care if you go dancing after I leave, but you are not allowed to ask anyone to drink!"
"I'm not an alcoholic. Besides, who can I drink with? The Red Army has such a drinking capacity. It's not worth mentioning that Lu Yao can't drink now, Chen Zhongshi is writing a novel in his hometown, and Bai Miao, I heard that the president and editor-in-chief are shouldering the responsibility and working overtime all day long like a dog. Who should I ask for a drink? !" Fang Minghua said confidently.
“Isn’t there another Jia Pingwa?”
“Yes. But I rarely hear from him recently. What is this guy busy with all day?”
"No matter what, drink less!"
"I obey, my dear wife!"
Three days later, Song Tangtang packed up her suitcase, took her two children and her second aunt on a journey to the United States.
Fang Minghua drove them to Xijing Airport and told the two children to listen to their mother. He felt relieved when he saw a few people happily entering the security checkpoint.
Free.
Let yourself go for a while.
Of course, you are not allowed to enter the dance hall, and there is no point in touching the little hands of strange girls. Besides, you have to pay attention to your social image.
Drink less wine and listen to your wife.
Then let’s drink tea.
Take the good Longjing to Yan Bingchu’s house, drink tea with the old man and appreciate the calligraphy and painting, or have a leisurely time with Lu Yao, or go to Western University I talked to Lei Xuecheng about literature at the nearby Xuecheng Bookstore, and I also went to Nanfang Alley to see my small building. It is basically completed now and will be renovated after a few months.
On a hot day, let’s go to the night market with Zhao Hongjun to eat some barbecue and drink some beer.
Those bottles of beer were nothing.
I also have to go back and sit at my parents’ house.
Of course, the more important thing is writing. This is business that cannot be delayed. Fang Minghua’s plan is to complete the manuscript by the end of the year.
This morning, Fang Minghua came back from a walk after breakfast. He had just made himself a cup of tea and sat in front of the computer. Before he turned on the phone, the phone in the living room rang. Fang Minghua went over to answer the call. It was the call from the Writers Association. phone number.
"Minghua, I am Hu Cai. Come to my office now. I want to tell you something."
"Okay, come right over."
Fang Minghua put on a short-sleeved shirt, hurriedly went downstairs and drove his car straight to the Writers Association. He entered the courtyard of the Writers Association. As soon as his car parked, a red car followed behind him. Santana comes in.
It’s Lu Yao’s car.
Seeing Lu Yao come out of the car, Fang Minghua asked: "Brother Lu, did Chairman Hu ask you to come here?"
"Yes, you too, right?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Don't you know? Pingwa's father passed away, I guess we are discussing condolences."
"Ah? No wonder we haven't seen each other for so many days. When I heard the news, what disease did he have? ""Stomach cancer."
The two came to Hu Cai's office in the backyard.
Sure enough, Hu Cai saw the two of them coming in and said: "Lu Yao, Minghua, you must already know about the death of Pingwa's father. Our Writers' Association is going to go to his hometown to express condolences in the name of the unit. I should be the one to go, but I I’m getting older and my heart is not in good condition. I’m afraid I can’t stand taking the bus for several hours, so I want to entrust you two to go to Shangluo on behalf of the Provincial Writers Association. It’s convenient for you to have a car, and the travel expenses and gas expenses will be reimbursed.”
The two immediately agreed to make a trip for both business and personal reasons.
"Also, Bai Miao from "Yanhe" is also going to Shangluo on behalf of the magazine and wants to give you a lift."
"No problem, call him when we leave. ."
The two left the office, and Fang Minghua said to Lu Yao: "Do you want to inform the junior high school?"
Lu Yao pondered for a moment and said:
"Forget it, Zhongshi heard that writing is at the most critical moment, so let's not disturb him. When we send him a wreath, we will also send him a wreath."
"That's okay, then let's drive my car. It's more spacious." Fang Minghua said.
"Okay, let's go back and prepare and leave immediately."
Fang Minghua returned home and called Bai Miao's office. After explaining the situation, Bai Miao said that he was ready , just call him when you arrive at the door of the magazine.
Half an hour later, Fang Minghua packed up his luggage, called Lu Yao downstairs, picked up Bai Miao at the magazine, and drove towards the east of the city.
Jia Pingwa’s hometown is Danfengxian, Shangzhou. After the car entered the Qinling Mountains, the car has been driving along the Danjiang Gorge, sometimes crossing bridges, sometimes drilling tunnels, and villages are scattered along the river. On a small flat ground.
We walked for almost six hours and ate a bowl of noodles in a small town on the way. When we walked out of the canyon, the view became wider and we were not far from Jia Pingwa’s hometown, Danfengxian Dihua Town. Far away.
Dihua Town is located at the southern foot of Qinling Mountains, between Danfeng County and Shangzhou City. The Danjiang River winds through the town and is a stop on the ancient Shangyu Road. The ancient road ran from Danfeng County, Shangluo, Shanxi to Neixiang County, Henan. It was an important political, military, and commercial thoroughfare in ancient times. Its history can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period. During the Warring States Period, it was known as "the flower of humanity and the Qinling Mountains hidden in the courtyard".
The local area was rich in Tangdi flowers in the early years, hence the name Dihua Town. Bai Juyi once visited Dihua three times and left a famous sentence: "I heard that the brothers dreamed of traveling and staying in the distance, so the postal booth should be named Dihua". Many of Jia Pingwa's novels describe situations in her hometown, the most famous of which is "The First Record of Shangzhou".
This is a typical Qinnan town, with winding streets. On both sides are old wooden houses from the 1940s and 1950s, mud houses made of yellow adobe, and recently built blue brick houses. Of course, they are not half-built in the Guanzhong area.
As soon as Fang Minghua drove into the town, he heard someone singing in the distance.
"(A) What good is it to be alive (oh)?,
Say (that) and (wow) die,
(that) Relatives and friends don’t (wow) know (ugh).
Relatives and friends knew that
the deceased had arrived at Naihe Bridge.
It turns out that someone is singing a filial song - "Naihe Bridge"
There is no need to get out of the car to find out the address of Jia Pingwa's house, listen to the sound and watch which gatekeeper comes in and out, Whichever house is the busiest is their house.
In Shangzhou, the customs in rural areas of Guanzhong are somewhat similar. People regard funerals as the most important thing in the whole village, and all other things must make way for funerals, because a person can only die once in his life, and other things are There is a chance to do it again.
So friends, relatives, and neighbors would come to help. Fang Minghua and the others drove to the gate of the busiest house, with elegiac couplets posted on both sides.
As soon as I got off the bus, I saw several people wearing sackcloth and mourning coming out of the yard. When I saw them, I immediately knelt down and kowtowed, including Jia Pingwa.
This is also the custom in Qinnan. When people who wear filial piety see those who come to express condolences, they must kowtow and thank them, regardless of their age or seniority.
Fang Minghua and the others quickly helped them up, and only then did he see Jia Pingwa clearly.
Eudi Shenna
I haven’t seen him for a while, but my face is so haggard and sallow, as if I’m a different person.
(End of this chapter)