Chapter 314 The Traveler Returns Home
“Dear passengers, we have arrived at Shacheng Station. Passengers who are getting off the train, please take your luggage with you and thank you for taking this ride.”
Among the bustling crowd, Jiang Chen carried his suitcase and walked towards the exit of the station.
"Songshi, is there anyone going to Songshi? Fifty-one, leave immediately!"
"Jianli, Jianli people, hurry up, there is only one spot left!"
< br>The sound of chattering kept sounding, with Jiang Chen’s familiar local accent.
The faces have different expressions. Some are looking forward to it, some are smiling, some are picking up people, and some are soliciting customers.
The exit of the station was bustling with people.
After checking the tickets, Jiang Chen dragged his suitcase and walked out of the station alone.
“Young man, do you want to take a ride?”
"No need."
After declining the black taxi driver's kindness, Jiang Chen walked to the taxi stand located at the entrance of the train station and lined up.
About ten minutes later, he came to the front.
“Baoshan.”
The suitcase was put into the trunk and Jiang Chen got in the car.
The taxi left the train station.
Shacheng.
Located in the Jianghan Plain, it has a strategic location and has been known as a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. In the 1990s, it also experienced a brief period of glory, and local brands such as Vitality 38 were well-known throughout the country. .
However, in the past twenty years, the development of this ancient city with a long history has been unsatisfactory and has almost stagnated. It has been successively overtaken by brother cities in the same province, gradually falling out of the first echelon, and has declined into what it is today in Pian'an. Even look like.
Jiang Chen has heard many people criticize that Shacheng has fallen into such a state because of the incompetence of several leaders. This is indeed a very important reason.
It was only after he entered college that Jiang Chen understood that the more important reason was that Shacheng lacked heavy industry.
Light industry can only be the icing on the cake, while heavy industry is the "foundation" of a city.
It’s like Yicheng next door.
Relying on the dividends of the Three Gorges Dam, the economy has taken off rapidly. Now it is a rising star in the central region. However, Shacheng, which was proud of the world at that time, lacked a strong foundation and collapsed under the torrent of the times. .
But small towns also have their advantages.
Even if the economic development is not good, the sparrow is small and has all the internal organs. It can be said that ordinary people live here quite comfortably, especially after staying in a place like the East China Sea for a long time and suddenly coming back, the feeling is deeper.
“Thank you, I don’t smoke.”
The driver handed over a cigarette, but Jiang Chen declined it politely.
"Hey, good habits, there is really nothing good about smoking."
After all, the driver took a cigarette and lit it without any hesitation.
"You're back for the New Year, right?"
"Yeah."
"Working outside or going to school?"
"Going to school."
"Who are you older? "?"
"Senior year."
Jiang Chen leaned back in his chair and spoke in dialect. Although the development of Shacheng is indeed backward, it can make him feel other things. A sense of belonging that place can never bring.
Maybe this is the meaning of the word hometown.
“I’m going to graduate soon.”
The driver took a puff of cigarette and asked, “Which university?”
"Donghai University."
"Donghai?"
The driver was in awe, and looked at Jiang Chen in surprise and envy.
"I haven't been to the East China Sea yet. If I can go to the Pujiang River and see the Oriental Pearl Tower in this life, it will be worth it."
Jiang Chen smiled.
“Isn’t there an airport in Shacheng? It’s very convenient to get there.”
The driver smoked a cigarette and sighed with a smile: “It’s very convenient, but my girl just went to college and she still has to Try your best to make money.”
Jiang Chen was silent.
Both parents seem to be like this.
He devoted himself to his children without any regrets, but completely neglected himself.
The newly built airport in Shacheng only takes two hours to fly to the East China Sea, and the air ticket costs 1,500, but this driver may never be able to visit the East China Sea in his life.
“Actually, the East China Sea is just like that. It’s just that there are more cars on the road, the buildings are taller, and the city is bigger. The Pujiang River is not much better than our Mahe River.”
< br>The driver was startled, then laughed.
“Young man, there’s nothing wrong with what you said!”
When passing by a flower shop, Jiang Chen asked the driver to stop,
“Master, it may take you some time. We'll calculate the fare later."
"It's okay, go ahead, I'll wait for you."
The driver waved his hand nonchalantly.
Jiang Chen got out of the car and bought a bunch of lilies.
Seeing him come back with flowers in his hands, the driver seemed to realize something.
"Young man, you are going to Baoshan..."
"Look at my parents."
The driver was startled, then fell silent.
Jiang Chen closed the car door.
“Let’s go.”
Baoshan Cemetery.
"Go ahead, I'll wait for you, and I'll take care of you and take you home today."
The driver said relaxedly.
Jiang Chen took the flowers, opened the door and got out of the car.
The weather was cold today, with occasional cold winds blowing. When I arrived at my parents’ mausoleum, there was a bouquet of daisies placed in front of the monument.
It's still very fresh,
It was obviously put down in the past two days.
Who has been here?
Jiang Chen looked at the black and white photo on the tombstone, bent down, and slowly put Lily down.
He did not speak, but stood quietly in the cold wind for a long time.
"Young man, don't be too sad. If I were your parents, I would definitely be proud of you." The driver who had been waiting patiently looked at Jiang Chen who was getting on the bus.
Jiang Chen smiled gratefully.
“Where to go now?”
“East Gate, go home.”
————
Shacheng is divided into the ancient city area and the outer city area.
Jiang Chen’s home is in the city.
The big offices in Kyoto grew up under the roots of the imperial city, and he also grew up under the roots of the ancient city. You can see the ancient city walls within a five-minute walk from home.
The former provincial construction unit could also be called a state-owned enterprise. However, due to the wave of reform and opening up, many agencies were abolished one after another, and his father's unit did not escape the wave of bankruptcy.
When Jiang Chen was in elementary school, his father was forced to lay off due to the collapse of his workplace and has since become unemployed. If not for this, his family would not be so poor.
Of course.
Although the company closed down, the staff compound has been preserved, which can be regarded as leaving the last foundation for these employees to survive and avoid being displaced.
Seeing this young man dragging his suitcase into the Sanjian compound, the driver who insisted on confiscating the money stopped smiling and sighed secretly. When he was about to drive away, he glanced casually and noticed that the passenger seat A few banknotes were stuffed into the cracks.
A full five hundred.
He was stunned, took out the money, and was about to push the door and get out of the car to chase after him, but his hand on the doorknob suddenly stopped.
People are susceptible to three thousand illnesses, including birth and old age.
This is helpless.
This young man is open-minded and is a top student at Tunghai University. His future is limitless.
There seems to be nothing to be pitiful about.
The driver turned his head, watching the young man's back outside the window gradually disappearing, and finally collected the money.
He is a rough man with little education, but he understands that sometimes compassion is not a virtue.
"End the day and go to the market to buy a fish. I haven't cooked for my daughter for a long time. Today I'm going to show off my skills."
The taxi left.
The residents in the compound come and go. Because they were all employees of the same unit in the past and have lived here for decades, most of them know each other and will say hello when they meet. It’s okay. He would stop and chat for a few words.
What is the atmosphere of the market? This is it.
Eight staff buildings.
Because it has been nearly thirty years old, and it is a building for laid-off workers, there is no property at all. In the absence of repairs, the building looks quite old, and the peeling walls are all left by the years. trace.
Of course, a house decades ago cannot be an elevator room. There are two households on the first floor. Because it is a staircase, Jiang Chen can only carry his suitcase upstairs. Fortunately, the floor is not high, and the total is It's on the eighth floor, and Jiang Chen's home is on the sixth floor.
When he arrived at the door of his home, Jiang Chen put down his suitcase, took out his keys, and was about to open the door. At this time, there was movement from the opposite door.
“Bang,”
The door opened, and a man with gray temples came out carrying a garbage bag.
Jiang Chen turned around and said with a smile: “Uncle Fang . ”
The other party was stunned for a while, and then he reacted.
“Jiang Chen?!”
"Good boy, I thought you weren't coming back!"
He walked closer excitedly, raised his hand and pressed Jiang Chen's shoulder.
“It’s been a year since we last met, and I’ve grown stronger and more handsome!”
Jiang Chen smiled shyly.
"Uncle Fang, I will be embarrassed if you praise me so much."
"Haha, you are not so thin-skinned."
"What are you talking about? Why don’t you take out the garbage quickly? Don’t forget the vinegar!”
A fierce shout came from the opposite room, and then a very ordinary housewife appeared at the door.
“Look who’s back.”
“Xiao Chen?!”
Seeing Jiang Chen, the middle-aged woman was also extremely surprised, and her reaction was exactly the same as her husband's.
“Aunt Pan.”
Jiang Chen shouted.
"You kid, hasn't school been on vacation for a long time? Why did you come back just now?"
The other party looked reproachful.
Obviously, these two families are Jiang Chen’s neighbors. They lived here before Jiang Chen was born. It can be said that they watched Jiang Chen grow up. The relationship between the two families is naturally self-evident.
"Isn't it time to graduate? I was delayed for a few days because of my graduation thesis."
The woman changed from yelling at her husband for his toughness, and her face was full of kindness, "Just come back. Just come back.”
“I’ll buy vinegar first.”
“Uncle Fang, you’re busy.”
Fang Weiguo carried the garbage downstairs.
"Xiaochen, you haven't been back for so long. The house needs to be tidied up. How about Aunt Pan helping you?"
"No, Aunt Pan, I can do it myself."
"Sure, if you need help, just tell Aunt Pan, don't be polite."
Jiang Chen nodded,
After greeting the Fang family, Jiang Chen opened the door Go inside.
Two bedrooms and one living room, more than 60 square meters, a lot of the putty on the walls has fallen off, and there are even spider webs on the ceiling. Although it is not a house with bare walls, it can still be called a standard. The shabby house.
Jiang Chen was not in a hurry to pack his luggage. He put down the suitcase and started cleaning first.
“Dong dong dong…”
Just as he had just finished cleaning the living room, there was a knock on the door.
He put down the mop, wiped his sweat, walked to the door, and opened it.
He thought it was the Fang family, but it turned out not to be the case.
“Long time no see.”
Outside the door.
A girl in her prime stood there gracefully, with long hair shawl, and her once green face had become gentle and charming.
The four eyes met, and the corners of Jiang Chen's mouth slowly raised unconsciously.
“Long time no see.”
(End of this chapter)