As long as I can catch the last train, I can get home the next morning. When I think of having New Year's Eve dinner with my whole family and setting off firecrackers, my legs gain strength again. Aft

As long as I can catch the last train, I can get home the next morning. When I think of having New Year's Eve dinner with my whole family and setting off firecrackers, my legs gain strength again. After about seven or eight hours of non-stop trekking, I finally saw two or three lights from the small train station in the distance. I was so excited that my nose felt sore. Panting heavily and dragging my muddy legs to the platform, I looked at my watch and saw that it was ten minutes to seven o'clock, which was more than enough time. Only then did I feel that my legs were too weak to support my body. I sat down on the snow and never wanted to move again. After I took a breath and calmed down, I started to look around. This is an extremely small train station. There was nothing left but a house, a platform and a few rows of tracks. As for the waiting room, it's probably just two cement stools on the platform. At this time, I noticed that besides me, there was another passenger waiting for the bus on the platform. This man was not tall, and his head was almost completely covered by a military cotton hat and a large mask. Wearing a military coat that's a little too long. Judging from his appearance, he is undoubtedly an educated youth. Probably because it was too cold, he kept stamping his feet back and forth. I waved at him as a greeting. He nodded back to me. I was happy to meet a traveling companion at such a remote station on such a night. I don’t know whether it was because he was eager to relieve the loneliness of the whole day, or because the food-like thing he put on the stool attracted me. I walked up to him involuntarily, wanting to get to know him.

"You also sat 207 times?"

The other party nodded. This is obvious. Regardless of heading west or east, this is the last train of the day and one of only three or four trains that stop at that small station every day.

"Where?" I asked next.

"...Longxi". The other party seemed to hesitate for a moment before uttering these two words.

I was immediately stunned: Although the voice was blurry through the mask and only had two words, it conveyed an unmistakable message to me: the other party turned out to be a woman! I don't know if it's because of the dim lighting and her packaging, or because my focus is entirely on that net bag. I didn't even see clearly whether the other person was a man or a woman. No wonder she seemed a little wary. I was quite embarrassed for a moment and didn't know what to say. In those days, it was still very unnatural to talk to strangers between men and women. So I muttered "It's so cold!" and started rubbing my hands and stamping my feet. After a minute or two, she broke the silence first:

"You are also an educated youth, right?" She took off her mask and asked.

I think this should also be done knowingly. My accent and my clothes have made it clear who I am. The difference between the educated youth and local farmers of that era was clear at a glance. What's more, it's the end of the year and local farmers are staying at home to prepare for the New Year. Who will come to take the train? Most of the educated youth have already gone home. I was only a few days late because I stayed to help the accountant in the team clean up some old account books.

"Which spot?" She continued to stamp her feet and walked closer to me.

At that time, the units of educated youth were “points”. Generally, one point is set up in a village. The small one is three, four people. There are as many as a dozen. After we exchanged "little" information, we realized that we belonged to the same commune. But because the area is vast and sparsely populated, our villages are more than ten miles apart, so we have never seen each other. At this time, the other party's guard was slowly lifted, and my embarrassment gradually disappeared. We started chatting here and there. I learned that her surname was Luo and that she went to the countryside a year earlier than me. He has been working as a teacher in a village primary school. Because I was tutoring primary school students in the village to rehearse dance, I didn't go home until today. At this time, she probably noticed that my eyes glanced at the net bag from time to time. There are a few red things inside that look like persimmons. From the moment I first saw the net bag, my hungry stomach began to gush out acid water like a river. I tried my best not to swallow my saliva, but my eyes were involuntarily attracted by the charming red color.

"You haven't had dinner yet?"

Such a common question. It sounds so beautiful to me. It moved me as much as I did when I was rescued from the river after drowning as a child.

“Dinner? I don’t know what breakfast is yet.

”

She walked to the stone bench and bent down to untie the net bag. I followed her involuntarily with my feet. She opened the net bag and took out a paper bag. When she opened the paper bag again, there were several A hard-boiled egg. She placed the paper bag on my waiting hands. I don’t even remember peeling the egg. I don’t need to describe how it happened. I remember the way she stared at me. Although I probably only glanced at her while I was eating, it was her eyes that were most unforgettable. It was a mixture of sympathy and satisfaction or something like pride. I think my image at that time could only be described as "terrible" when there was only the last egg left in the paper bag. He stopped and looked up and asked her:

"What about you? "

"I have eaten. This is what the landlady asked me to take on the road. I have something else. ”

I know that eggs were quite expensive in those days, especially in the countryside. But she gave it to a stranger so generously. Gratitude and guilt prompted me to give the remaining one I wrapped the eggs and put them back in the mesh bag, despite the strong resistance from my "gastrointestinal department". Educated youths at that time generally had a lot of food. I once ate nine steamed buns in one meal during the summer harvest, and I was hungry all day long. After trekking for dozens of miles, she undoubtedly saw that I still looked hungry, so she took out a few more persimmons and some dried sweet potatoes, and I was about to squat down to kill the "remnant enemy" with the force of "taking advantage of the enemy". At that moment, I suddenly saw someone walking over. It turned out to be the station manager, who was probably the only staff member at the station.

"The train is late. " He seemed to tell us a little apologetically.

In those days, it was common for trains to be delayed. Especially this kind of train that had to stop at the station and give way to the train, which was truly the so-called "slow train". So I I wasn’t surprised. But I thought it was a bit unusual for the stationmaster to come out and tell us this. Anyone who had taken the train at that time must have experienced the bad attitude of the station staff. The webmaster is thin and about fifty years old, but he seems to be a very amiable person. I am secretly glad that although the journey today was not smooth, I met all good people.

"How long will it be?" "She didn't seem surprised.

The stationmaster sighed and looked at the two of us sympathetically. Then he told the truth. It turned out that there had been heavy snow in the mountains for several days, and the snowdrifts from the landslide completely blocked the entrance of a tunnel. It's blocked. The relevant departments are definitely organizing people to clean it up. It's hard to say how long it will take to open it to traffic. But one thing he can do is, at least the train won't come before dawn.

"What can I do? ! "Only then did we realize the seriousness of the situation.

There is not much snowfall in the northwest plateau in winter. Such heavy snow is especially rare. So this sudden news made us completely at a loss. I subconsciously Looking around, it was snowy. Except for this small area on the platform, everything was covered with thick snow. There was no house in sight, and there was obviously nowhere on this small station. We spent the night. The stationmaster told us that there was a village two or three miles west of the railway. There was an inn in the village, but we looked at each other and hesitated for a while. This was our only choice at this platform. So we picked up our belongings and walked westward on the sleepers, half an hour later we found the village with at most a dozen houses. This is a small hotel at the end of the village. After we knocked for a long time, someone finally opened the door. The owner was a woman in her forties and said nothing when she heard that we were staying. She was led into a small, dark room and told us that this was the only room she had left. She went to work quickly and started to light the fire. . Then he went out and picked up a hot water bottle. Finally, he asked us for two yuan and turned around, leaving her and I looking at each other, not knowing what to do.

"You can stay here while I go to the village." Find another way."

I make the only reasonable suggestion. She didn't speak at first. It seems to be the default. After I walked out the door, she chased me out.

"It's so late, can you find a place to stay?"

"It should be possible. At worst, there will be knocks on the door from house to house."

My mouth Saying this, I feel unsure. I know that the farmers have already gone to bed at this time. And many people have dogs. I felt a little scared when I knocked on the door so rashly.

"How about... or you just make do here."

She obviously mustered up the courage to say this. I was really in a dilemma for a while. To be honest, it does take some courage to knock on the door at home. But living in the same cabin with a strange girl was an experience I had never had before.

"Actually, I'm a little scared to be alone."

I saw some kind of expectation, even a request, in her two big eyes. On such an icy and snowy night, in such a strange small village, in such a gloomy little earthen house. Not to mention a girl, even I would probably feel the same way. At this time, I suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of responsibility. It was as if the person standing in front of me was my little sister and needed my protection. This is certainly a better sign of my manhood than knocking on doors late at night or even dealing with a hungry dog. So I followed her back to the room without saying a word.

I looked around the room under the dim kerosene light. This is a typical small mud house in the northwest countryside. There is an earthen kang against the wall. Like all local farmers’ homes, the kang is covered with bamboo mats. On top was an old quilt whose original color could not be seen. There was an unpainted table and a three-legged stool in front of the window. This is all the belongings in the house. I looked at the not-so-wide Tukang and felt embarrassed again. He stood helplessly in the middle of the room. But as soon as she entered the house, she started busy. First we blew the dust off the table and put our luggage on it. Then he patted the dust on the old shabby quilt with his hands. He took out some pieces of toilet paper and wiped the kang mat. Then he took off his mask, took off his cotton hat, and let his two long braids fall down. Then he poured some hot water on the towel and wiped his face. Then he took off his military coat, draped it on his shoulders coolly, kicked off his two wet shoes, and sat down on the kang with his legs crossed very skillfully. At this time, she completely restored her true appearance as a girl, looking so dignified and quiet. I also had the opportunity to look at her carefully. To be fair, she was considered a pretty girl even by today's standards. At that time, we male educated youths would lie on the kang at night and like to comment on female educated youths and the more attractive young women in the village, and rate them one by one. I estimate that if Yang Likun, the "Ashima" recognized as the most beautiful woman at that time, was rated as 100 points, my guys would have to give this girl at least 90 points. She was wearing a grass green military uniform on her upper body and a pair of blue Dika pants on her lower body. This kind of attire, which was very common at the time, looked very elegant and decent on her, revealing a refreshing and heroic appearance. Her two waist-length braids added a bit of charm to her. Her face seems a bit round. The complexion is white and rosy. Except for the eyes, there is nothing special about the facial features. Perhaps all her charm is concentrated in those two big, clear and transparent eyes. Those are a pair of eyes that can accurately convey thoughts and emotions without using words. And her temperament is very unique. But what exactly is unique about it, I can’t tell. Probably it has something to do with her family background as a military intellectual. Her parents both worked in military hospitals, which I later learned. I just remember that she didn't have the usual "red blob" on her face. That is our joking name for rural women and female educated youths who have been in the countryside for a longer period of time. Due to the windy and frosty climate of the northwest plateau, most local women have two clusters of blush on their faces caused by protruding capillaries.

"Why are you still standing there? Come on up and warm your feet." Seeing me staring at her, she felt a little embarrassed.

I just realized that I was a little out of control. He quickly went to his bag to find his towel.

"Yes, as soon as it comes, let it go." I came up with this wise saying.

When I rolled up my sleeves and was about to wipe my face with water, she suddenly shouted:

"Why is there blood on your arm?"

I raised my right arm and Look, there is indeed blood on the side of the wrist, and the cuffs of the shirt are also stained red with blood. I think of the injuries I probably sustained when my car rolled over today. Because I was frightened at the time, and then in a hurry to go on my way, and covered by my cotton-padded sleeves, I never noticed the bleeding. But to me, this little injury is nothing. Once I went up the mountain to cut firewood, and when a branch flicked, the hatchet hit my left index finger, almost cutting off the entire finger, and half of my sleeve was stained red with blood. I just wrapped it in a rag and came back. At this time, she jumped off the kang and dragged me to the kerosene lamp, and looked at the wound carefully. Then he opened his travel bag and found a small bottle of iodine and a small ball of cotton wool. She held my wrist with one hand, dipped her other hand in iodine and gently applied it to the wound. Suddenly a heartbreaking pain came from the wound. But I tried my best to act as if nothing had happened. I can't pass up the opportunity to act like a hero in front of girls.

"Does it hurt?" She looked at me with concern with her two big eyes. Apparently not fooled by my cover-up. Being at such a close distance and facing each other with such beautiful and bright eyes, I suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"Guan Yunchang scrapes bones and cures poison without even frowning. What does this little pain mean?" I couldn't help but feel proud of myself after saying this. It not only concealed my embarrassment, but also showed my bravery and my literary skills. But she glanced at her mouth and smiled softly. I don’t know whether he is dissatisfied with my analogy or amused by my pretense of ease. She didn't seem to feel relieved after applying iodine. She took out a white handkerchief from her pocket, shook it out and tied it around my wrist. I watched her do all this silently, feeling an inexplicable feeling in my heart. My mother seemed to have done similar things to me when I was a child, but it was the first time for me to be cared for like this by a girl I didn't know. I just stared at her hand in a daze and even forgot to say "thank you". This became the biggest regret in my life. She always seemed calm and natural while doing it all. It's like a big sister taking care of a naughty little brother. I have to secretly admire her. They only went to the countryside a year earlier than me. But everything is meticulous, thoughtful and generous. In contrast, I am a real kid.

Then we all sat cross-legged on the kang. She took out a piece of toilet paper, spread it on the kang, and took out all the edible things. I regretted it so much that I wanted to punch myself twice. Why don't you want to be more considerate and bring more food before you leave? It's so embarrassing now. But she handed me the dried sweet potatoes as if nothing had happened, and said half-jokingly: "Come on, let's have a midnight snack. You're welcome. We are all comrades in the trenches." This was at that time. A popular saying.

While chewing dried sweet potatoes, we chatted about the world. We talked about our respective families and schools, the ups and downs of rural life, interesting anecdotes among educated youths, and the movies of the 1950s and 1960s that had just been lifted... However, the topic we talked about the most and the one that made us most excited was just now The resumed college entrance examination. She and I are both preparing to take the college entrance examination in the summer. I told her that I wanted to study Chinese and become an editor or reporter in the future. She said she wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor. In this way, the time passed midnight unconsciously. I couldn't help but yawn violently one after another, and her eyes gradually began to lose their light. It was freezing cold in the room at this time. It's okay to sit with your lower body on the kang. But his upper body began to feel stiff with cold.

"It's so cold. I think we should lie down and talk." She trembled and made this great suggestion to me that I had been waiting for a long time. Probably the cold and sleepiness drove away the last bit of psychological barriers in each of us. She suggested that she lie inside and I would lie outside. She would be covered with a coat and the quilt would be mine. After saying that, he moved towards the wall, covered himself with his coat, and fell down with his coat. I pulled back the quilt and instinctively lay down on the other side. But after a while she suddenly turned over and got up. Probably because she realized that her side was the head of the kang and my side was the tail. Usually the end of the kang is warmer than the end of the kang. So she suggested that we all just lie down on the edge of the kang.

However, her big eyes clearly told me that she also wanted the journey to be longer. I tried to avoid her eyes so I could hide my emotions. My reason is trying to tell me that we are just strangers who meet by chance. However, at this moment, reason was overwhelmed by the strong feeling of inseparability. Looking at her back walking towards the exit, I felt my eyes were a little moist. I still find it strange that I didn’t seem to suffer so hard when I broke up with my classmate friend who I had been with for several years.

The train started slowly. I stuck my head out the window again, wanting to take another look at the station and the city. Suddenly, I saw a figure waving on the platform, it was her! Unexpectedly, she returned to the platform. Ignoring the safety warning of the passenger next to me, I stretched half of my body out of the car window and waved to her desperately. The train continued to accelerate, and she had turned into a small dot, until finally, together with the station, it disappeared on the horizon...

I returned to the educated youth spot shortly after the Spring Festival. After a few days, I made an excuse to go to her village to look for her. But she hasn't come back yet. I went again a month later. But she went to the county to hold a commendation meeting for outstanding private teachers. Later, due to the busy farming schedule and preparations for the college entrance examination, I never went to their village again. Seven months later, I got the admission notice from the Chinese Department of a normal university. I heard that she also passed into a certain medical school. The day before I left home to prepare for school, I came to her village again, hoping to see her. However, as soon as I entered the village, I heard news like a thunderbolt: Luo Yan died in an accidental cave collapse two days ago! This can be said to be the most shocking and sad news in my life. My whole body suddenly seemed to have turned into a wooden pile. I couldn't accept this fact for a long time. Did a young and beautiful life suddenly disappear like this? And it was just at the beginning of the best phase of her life! I have almost no memory of how the next few days passed. I just remember that I couldn't regain my composure for a long time after entering school. One night I told my roommates about this experience. Our dormitory, where eight people lived, was usually noisy even after the lights were turned off, but it was completely silent that night...

I sometimes even suspected that the entire experience was a dream. Or I would rather believe it is just a dream. However, the white handkerchief left in my hand, the white handkerchief that accompanied her closely and was stained with my blood, always reminded me that it was not a dream. More than twenty years have passed. From the countryside to the city, from the northwest to the south, from the eastern hemisphere to the western hemisphere, no matter where I go, this handkerchief has always been with me...

"The vertical line of Definition: Two arbitrary points extend forward at a ninety-degree angle and intersect at one point. As the two line segments continue to extend, the distance between the two points will become farther and farther..."