Shi Qiaocun-a place that nourishes homesickness.

Shi Qiaocun —— A place for nurturing homesickness.

Text /Kelvin Chen

The day before the Dragon Boat Festival, I received a notice from Zhuanglang Federation of Literary and Art Circles inviting me to attend the Third Congress of Zhuanglang Writers Association at 4 pm on the Dragon Boat Festival. The plan to visit Shiqiao during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday has been rescheduled.

I got up in a hurry in the morning, drank tea, ate steamed buns and rode to South Lake. In addition to the driver, I was listening to songs on the Nanhu bus in the county seat, seemingly leisurely. From time to time, I stuck my head out of the window and shouted, "In five minutes, the water will fall ... the water is falling ...".

Afraid of the hot weather in the afternoon, wear thin clothes in the morning, get on the bus as soon as possible and choose the nearest single seat. I didn't want to disturb other people's habits, so I chose a single seat. On the one hand, I have the habit of being sleepy by car. Second, the inspiration for riding came, and I conceived an article to fill my tight days.

Although the driver turned around twice in the streets of nanhu town, he still picked up several passengers and had to say, "It's hard to earn money now, and the upper and lower fuel costs can't be tied." I smiled and said, "Before the 1980s, I waited for the bus at the intersection, and finally I got the car of Lailong De. The people rushing to get on the bus are too crowded to get off! At that time, drivers were really awesome. There are more private cars now, because society is developing rapidly. "

When the bus arrived at the entrance of No.1 Middle School, the driver said, "You can get off at Shiqiao, and you are not allowed to stop in front!" " I got off and walked to the South Station, thinking that the bus to Yunyan Temple would be the same as the bus from Nanhu to the county seat, and it would not be too crowded. Unexpectedly, a car to Yunyan Temple came out, and the driver pressed the steering wheel with one hand; One hand, "full ... full!" .

Fortunately, there were seats on the bus leading to Huating, but the driver said, "Fifteen!" " "Would you please sit me down? I said, isn't the fare for walking the stone bridge nine yuan? How can you raise the ticket price casually? The driver said, "Are you too expensive? If it's not too expensive, I won't force you to sit down! "I didn't say a word at the thought of attending a meeting in the afternoon.

A few meters from the car to Shiqiao, you can see the riverside parking lot of Shiqiao from the window, and hundreds of cars are lined up, which shows that there are many people visiting Shiqiao today. When getting off the bus, I saw the police on duty standing on both sides of the gate leading to the stone bridge, asking tourists to scan the "boarding code" first, for fear of crowding, which blocked tourists who wanted to drive directly across the bridge.

I stood in front of the bridge, took out my camera and adjusted the focus. I can't wait to photograph the door marked "Shi Qiaocun", which is a combination of classical and modern beauty. Holding a briefcase in one hand and a camera in the other, I tried to take pictures of all the beautiful scenery here with my camera, but there are too many wonders here and too many tourists wearing colorful clothes. I don't know where to take pictures. Where can't I take pictures?

Walking on the stone bridge, I first looked to the left, and four striking words "Silk Road" attracted my attention. I adjusted the distance and focal length of the camera, only heard the inscription click, and then went home to study the engraved words slowly.

With this inscription, I quickly followed a couple in love and walked left along the clean road paved with small stones of various colors. A clear spring stands in front of me, and a boulder engraved with "Zhong Ling Yu Xiu" on the spring makes me think. Is this the lingshi left by Nu Wa? Why is the spring water under this stone so clear? "Clear water means no fish." You can't even find a loach in spring, let alone a small fish. I think this spring should be called "Qingquan"? Let those corrupt officials stand on such a clear spring and have a look at their despicable and dirty souls!

Take a picture of this clear spring and continue to swim south along the front. An almost flat-topped towering mountain peak appeared in front of us. I usually like to read some books on astrology and geomantic omen. Standing at the foot of this verdant mountain, I can't help but sigh, what is "Shang Lu Gen". It's gossip positioning. This "Shanglugen" is in the west of the stone bridge, which belongs to the White Tiger, and the "Shanglugen" in the northeast opposite seems to be a pair of gatekeepers. Curiosity prompted me to look to my right hand in the distance. Sure enough, a towering mountain peak appeared in the northwest, similar to the emperor's itinerary. No wonder Han made Zhang Qian love to stay here for one night.

It's refreshing to swim along the left hand by flowing water, and it's great to accidentally step into the "water town in the south of the Yangtze River" and "small bridge flowing water".

I saw an endless stream of tourists, some elderly kind-hearted old people holding mobile phones to take pictures of the other half; There are boys and girls as beautiful as flowers and pure as jade, crowded together, showing their charm, recording videos with mobile phones and leaving this scene; Loved couples use this trip to enhance their feelings. ...

It's a pity that a pair of white geese in the pool don't know why they don't come here today to provide tourists with interest in taking pictures.

Standing in front of the Wang Bo Bridge, I imagined that Zhang Qian had made outstanding contributions to the opening of the Silk Road from China to the Western Regions, which has been praised by the world so far. Wang Bo Bridge is a full affirmation of Zhang Qian's extensive knowledge.

I stood at Qiaotou in Wang Bo for a long time, afraid of rain, so I took advantage of my interest and had to swim north along another stone step on my right hand. I really came to a path to raise homesickness.

Different patterns made of bamboo on both sides of the path read "national unity"; "Diligence for the people, honesty and morality; Light with ambition, quiet with self-cultivation "; "National unity, like a family, is tightly held together like pomegranate seeds."; "Born well educated, funeral simple"; "Not greedy for politics, blue sky overhead; Politics is not embarrassing, and the sword is hanging high. " ; "Respect the old and love the young"; "Always sit on a bench with the masses." "Jane will do well in the wedding." ; "Industrial revitalization.

"Farming Cultural Park." ; "A chestnut, my name; A penny, people's cream ";

"It's nice to get married." ; "Civilized sacrifice, green and environmental protection." ……

Unexpectedly, the former wilderness mountain village has now become a thriving holy land for the party's policy propaganda, because it is the contact point of the early red underground party.

A place to raise homesickness, where there are wooden horses, shooting and bridge entertainment; There are bean jelly, barbecue, delicious wild vegetables, inns, wine shops and other health places.

Unfortunately, the weather was not good, and there were dark clouds over Dongshan, and it soon began to rain heavily. Farmers who are eager for a soaking rain before the wheat harvest applaud.

Afraid of the hot weather, I took two most symbolic photos with my camera before the heavy rain came. Just as the bus to Handian stopped at the roadside and honked its horn to greet tourists, I quickly got into the car.

An incomplete life is perfect. Leave regrets. Wouldn't it be better if I had a chance to revisit this homesick Shi Qiaocun?

(Draft on June 3, 2022)