Station hakodate

One day before Christmas last year, I came back from a business trip in a small town in the northeastern United States. I'm going to transfer in new york and fly back to Atlanta. Due to the sudden change of weather and heavy snow, the plane could not take off. In the evening, the airline pulled all the passengers to a hotel not far from the airport. First, a free buffet is provided. There are all kinds of food and drinks on the dining table. After a big meal, we were arranged to stay in the hotel. The hotel has an elegant environment and spacious and comfortable rooms. Because I was busy for a few days, I took a hot bath and planned to go to bed early and have a good sleep. But I lay in bed and couldn't sleep for a while. The experience of this day reminds me of a past event 25 years ago: it was also this season, and it was snowing all over the sky, and my trip was delayed because of the weather. But it was not the plane but the train that missed. Not in new york, the largest city in the world, but in a small railway station on the most remote northwest plateau in China. ...

I am only 17 years old. After graduating from high school a year ago, as one of the last "educated youth" who went to the countryside, I settled in a small mountain village in western Gansu. After a year of hard "re-education", I miss my loved ones and long for food. I boarded the walking tractor in our village to pull coal from the railway station and embarked on a journey home. Our village is three or four hundred kilometers away from Lanzhou, the provincial capital where my home is located. This is a typical barren land; There are no cars or trains. The nearest small railway station is also seventy or eighty kilometers away. I remember that the sky was gray that day, and the north wind swept the bare mountain ridge mercilessly with light snow. We set out at dawn. I was carrying a military satchel that was popular among educated youth at that time. There are two pairs of underwear, toiletries and two tortillas. Along the way, the north wind was biting, and my face was like a knife. I wrapped my head in a cotton hat and scarf, put my hand into the cuff of my cotton coat, curled up in a corner of the tractor Tuo Dou, and bumped along the rugged mountain road in the snow. This is the so-called "simple highway" that is common in the northwest mountainous areas. Muddy road, and the road is very narrow, only for small tractors to walk. I don't know how long it took, and I don't know if I was frozen or asleep. It seems that I have gradually lost the feeling of cold.

Suddenly, I was awakened by the violent impact of my body. I didn't feel dizzy until I was scared to death. I found myself thrown in the snow on the hillside. The tractor also turned into the ravine. I hurried to the tractor driver, a young man in his early twenties, and saw him get up not far away. Also a face of panic. Yeah, he looks fine, too. Only then did I notice that it was snowing heavily. Needless to say, the tractor slipped into the ditch. I feel glad that I am lucky not to be held under Tuo Dou. The two of us stood there and looked at each other for a while, as if to make sure whether the other party was really alive or not, and there was nothing serious. This just ran to the bottom of the ditch with the stalled walking tractor. Although this ravine is only three or four meters deep, the slope is not too steep. But we can't get it up. I asked him what to do, but he just shook his head. A face of frustration and helplessness. Let me see my watch. It is almost eleven o'clock. Bitter in my heart: finished! I was going to take the train at noon, but it seems hopeless. I asked him how far it was from there to the railway station. He thought for a moment and answered about 30 kilometers. I estimated the time. If I walk and run, I might catch the 7: 30 train at night. But leave him alone? He may know what I think. Say to me:

"You go, go along the road. Get there before dark. I went to the village in front to ask for help. "

Without saying anything, I picked up my satchel on the ground, climbed to the top of the mountain in a few steps and ran along the simple highway.

After going out for an hour or so, my stomach began to growl and my legs began to weaken. But when I reached into my satchel, I found that the two tortillas I had brought were missing. Maybe he just rolled out when he overturned. I was in a hurry, but I couldn't find it. I'm afraid it's too late to go back now That area is full of wild mountains, not to mention restaurants, and it is difficult to find people along the way. I grabbed a handful of snow, kneaded it into a ball, ate it, and then moved on. As long as we can catch the last bus, we can get home the next morning. The thought of having New Year's Eve dinner and setting off firecrackers with my family made my legs strong again.

After about seven or eight hours of non-stop trekking, I finally saw the lights of two Three Lamps District districts from that small railway station in the distance. I was so excited that my nose was sore. Panting and dragging two mud legs to the platform, I saw ten minutes to seven, which was more than enough time. At this time, I feel that my legs are too soft to support my body. I sat in the snow and didn't want to move any more. It was not until I had a rest that I began to look around. This is the smallest railway station. There is nothing but a house, a platform and several rows of rails. As for the waiting room, it is probably two cement stools on the platform. Then I noticed that there was a passenger waiting for the bus on the platform besides me. This man is not tall, almost wearing a military cotton hat and a big mask on his head. Wearing a military coat that is a little too long. It seems that he is undoubtedly an educated youth. Probably because it was too cold, he kept stamping his feet back and forth. I waved to him. He also nodded to me. I am very happy to meet a traveling companion in such a remote station on such a night. I don't know if I am anxious to relieve the loneliness all day, or because what he put on the stool looks like food attracts me. I stepped forward involuntarily, trying to get to know him.

"You also sat 207 times?"

The other party nodded. This is obvious. This is the last train of the day, no matter from west to east, and it is also one of the only three or four trains that stop at that small station every day.

"Where to?" I then asked.

"... Longxi". The other person seems to hesitate before spitting out these two words.

I was dumbfounded at once: although the voice was vague through the mask, there were only two words, but 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 light and her packaging, or because my attention is on that net bag. I cann't believe I didn't see if the other person was a man or a woman. No wonder she looks a little defensive. I was embarrassed, too, and I didn't know what to say. In those days, it was unnatural to talk between strange men and women. So I muttered, "It's so cold!" , while also began to rub your hands and stamp your feet. After a minute or two, she first broke the silence:

"Are you also an educated youth?" She took off her mask and asked.

I think this should also be knowing perfectly well past ask. My accent and clothes have fully proved my identity. The difference between educated youth and local farmers was obvious. 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 take the train? Most educated youths have gone home. I was a few days late, because I stayed to help the team accountant clean up some old books.

"What time is it?" She kept stamping her feet and came closer to me.

At that time, the educated youth were all based on "points". Generally, a village has a point. Three or four people smaller. There are more than a dozen. We didn't know it was a commune until we exchanged "points". But because of the vast territory and sparsely populated, our village is more than ten miles apart, so we have never met. At this time, the other side's alert slowly lifted, and my embarrassment gradually disappeared. We started talking sentence by sentence. I just found out that her surname is Luo, and she went to the countryside one year earlier than me. I have been working as a teacher in a village-run primary school. I went home today because I helped the primary school students in the village rehearse the dance. At this time, she probably noticed that my eyes glanced at the net bag from time to time. There are some red things in it, which look like persimmons. My hunger has been pouring out sour water since I first saw the net bag. I tried not to swallow saliva, but my eyes were involuntarily tempted by the charming red.

"You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

Such a common question. It sounds beautiful to me. It touched me as much as I felt when I was rescued from the river when I was a child.

"Dinner? I don't know what breakfast is yet. "

She went to the stone bench and bent down to untie the net bag. I can't help but follow with my feet. She opened the net bag and took out a paper bag. Open the paper bag again. There are some boiled eggs in it. She put the paper bag in my waiting hand. There is no need to describe how the next few minutes passed. I don't even remember if I peeled the egg shell at that time. But I still clearly remember the way she stared at me. Although I probably just looked up at her in a wolf's mouth. Those are beautiful eyes. But what impressed me most was her eyes. There are three points of surprise, two points of sympathy, one point of satisfaction or pride. I think my image at that time can only be described as "terrible". When there is only one egg left in the paper bag. I just subconsciously stopped and looked up and asked her:

"What about you?"

"I have eaten. This is what the landlord asked me to take with me on the road. I have other things to do. "

I know that eggs were very valuable in those days, especially in the countryside. She gave it so generously to a stranger. Gratitude and guilt prompted me to wrap the remaining eggs and put them back in the net bag despite the strong resistance of the Gastroenterology Department. At that time, educated youth generally ate much. I once ate nine steamed buns at a meal during the summer harvest. Besides, I was hungry all day and walked dozens of miles. There is no doubt that she still looks hungry when she sees me. And took out a few persimmons and some dried sweet potatoes. I was just about to squat down and wipe out the "remnant enemy" with the potential of "remaining courage to chase the poor bandits" when I suddenly saw someone coming. It turned out to be the stationmaster and probably the only staff member at the station.

"The bus was late." He seems a little sorry to tell us.

In those days, it was common for trains to be late. Especially when you see the station, you have to stop, and when you see the car, you have to give way. It is a veritable so-called "slow train". So I'm not surprised. I think it's not normal for the webmaster to come out and tell us with this expression. Everyone who took the train at that time must have learned the bad attitude of the station staff. But at present, this dark and thin webmaster, about fifty years old, seems to be a very amiable person. I am very happy. Although my trip today was terrible, I met all the good people.

"How late?" She doesn't seem surprised either.

The stationmaster sighed and looked at us both sympathetically. Tell the truth. It turned out that it snowed heavily in the mountains for several days, and the falling snow completely blocked the entrance of a tunnel. Now the relevant departments must be organizing people to clean up. It's hard to say how long it will be open to traffic. But there is one thing he can do, at least the train can'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. This kind of goose feather snow is particularly rare. So this sudden news made us completely at a loss for a while. I subconsciously looked around and it was covered with snow. Except this small place on the platform, it is covered with thick snow everywhere. As far as I can see, I can't see a house. And there is obviously no place to spend the night on this small station. The stationmaster told us that there was a village two or three miles west along the railway and an inn in the village. I just don't know if there is any place to stay at this late hour. We looked at each other and hesitated for a moment. It seems that if we don't want to freeze to death on this platform, this is our only choice. So we picked up our things, braved the heavy snow and walked west on the sleeper. Half an hour later, we found that there were at most a dozen families in this village. This small hotel is at the head of the village. We knocked for a long time, and finally someone came to open the door. The shopkeeper is a woman in her forties. I heard that it was an educated youth who came to live, and we didn't say anything. Light a kerosene lamp and lead us into a dark little house. Tell us this is the only room. No matter how we react. She went to work by herself. I saw that she quickly stuffed some leaves and wheat straw into the kang hole and then lit a fire. I went out and got another thermos. Finally, he asked us for two yuan and turned away. She and I looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

You stay here and I'll find another way in the village. I made the only reasonable suggestion. She didn't speak at first. It seems to be the default. She chased me out when I walked out the door.

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

"It should be okay. Knocking at the door is a big deal. "

I say so, but I don't know. I know the farmer has fallen asleep by this time. And many families have dogs. It's really scary to knock so rashly.

"Why don't you ... why don't you just make do here?"

She obviously got up the courage to say this sentence. I'm really in a dilemma at the moment. Seriously, it takes a little courage for a family to knock at the door. But sharing a cabin with a strange girl is an unprecedented experience.

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

I saw some expectations and even requests in her big eyes. In such a snowy night, in such a strange village, in such a dark hut. Not to mention a girl, even I am afraid I will feel the same way. At this time, I suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of responsibility. It seems that my little sister is standing in front of me and needs my protection. This undoubtedly reflects my manhood better than knocking at the door at night or even dealing with hungry dogs. So I followed her back to my room without saying a word.

I looked around the room under the dim kerosene lamp. This is a typical small earthen house in the northwest countryside. There is a heatable adobe sleeping platform against the wall. Like all local farmers' homes, the kang is covered with bamboo mats. There is a bed on it, but you can't see the old quilt. There is an unpainted table and a three-legged stool in front of the window. This is everything in the house. I looked at the not too wide heatable adobe sleeping platform and felt embarrassed. Standing in the middle of the room at a loss. As soon as she entered the room, she began to walk back and forth. Blow the dust off the table first and put our luggage on it. Then he patted the dust on the old quilt with his hand. Take out some toilet paper and wipe the kang mat. Just take off the mask, take off the cotton cap and let the two long braids drag down. Then I poured some hot water and wiped my face on the towel. Then he took off his military coat, put it on his shoulders smartly, kicked off two wet shoes and sat cross-legged on the kang skillfully. At this time, she completely recovered the true colors of a girl and looked so dignified and quiet. I also had a chance to look at her carefully. To be fair, she is a beautiful girl even by present standards. At that time, we male educated youth lay on the kang at night and liked to comment on female educated youth and attractive young women in the village, scoring one by one. I estimate that if Yang Likun, the most beautiful woman we recognized at that time, got 65,438+000 points, my guys would have to give this girl at least 90 points. She was wearing grass-green military clothes and a pair of Landika pants. This ordinary dress at that time looked very elegant and decent on her, revealing a cool and heroic attitude. Her waist-length braid added a bit of charm to her. Her face seems a little round. The skin color is white and red. There is nothing special about the five senses except the eyes. Maybe all her charm is focused on those two big clear and transparent eyes. Those are eyes that can accurately convey thoughts and feelings without words. And her temperament is unique. But what is unique, I can't say. Probably related to her family background as an army intellectual. Her parents both work in a military hospital, which I learned later. I only remember that there is no common "red two groups" on her face. That is what we call rural women and educated women who have been going to the countryside for a long time. Due to the windy and frosty climate in the northwest plateau, most local women have two blushes on their faces caused by prominent capillaries.

"What are you still doing? Come up and warm your feet. " She was a little embarrassed to see me staring at her all the time.

I just realized that I was a little rude. Look for your towel in your bag quickly.

"Yes, if you come, you will be safe." I had a brainwave and came up with this punch line. When I rolled up my sleeves to wipe my face with water, she suddenly cried:

"Why is there blood on your arm?"

I raised my right arm and saw blood on one side of my wrist, and the cuffs of my shirt were dyed red with blood. I remember I was injured when I overturned today. At that time, I was shocked, then I was anxious and covered with cotton sleeves, but I never noticed the bleeding. But for me, this little injury is really nothing. Once I went up the mountain to cut wood, the branch hit the index finger of my left hand with a wood knife, almost cutting off the whole finger, and half of my sleeves were dyed red with blood. Just wrapped it in a rag and came back. Then she jumped off the kang and dragged me under the kerosene lamp, and looked at the wound carefully. Then open your travel bag and find out a small bottle of iodine and a small ball of cotton wool. She lifted my wrist with one hand and dipped the other hand in iodine and gently applied it to the wound. There was a sudden sharp pain in the wound. But I tried to pretend as if nothing had happened. I can't miss the chance to be a hero in front of girls.

"Does it hurt?" She looked at me with wide eyes. Obviously not confused by my cover-up. With such a close distance and such beautiful bright eyes, I suddenly feel a little embarrassed.

"Guan Yunchang don't even knit the brows when scraping the bones to cure poison. What pain is this? " I can't help feeling smug when I say this. It not only hides my embarrassment, but also shows my courage and my literary skills. But she glanced at the corners of her mouth and smiled gently. I don't know whether I disapprove of my analogy or laugh at my pretense of being relaxed. She seemed uneasy after applying iodine, so she took out a white handkerchief from her pocket, shook it out and tied it on my wrist. I silently watched her finish all this, and I felt a strange feeling in my heart. When I was a child, my mother seemed to have done something similar for me, but it was the first time that I was taken care of so carefully by a girl I didn't know. I just stared at her hand in a daze and even forgot to say "thank you". This has become the biggest regret in my life. When she does all this, she always looks calm and natural. Just like a big sister looking after a naughty little brother. I have to admire her secretly in my heart. I just went to the countryside the year before. But it is meticulous and thoughtful everywhere, and it is natural and graceful. By contrast, I am a real teenager myself.

Then we all sat cross-legged on the kang. She took out a piece of toilet paper and spread it on the kang, taking out all the edible things. I regret it again and want to hit myself twice. Why not be considerate and bring more food before you go? It's a real mess now. She casually handed me dried sweet potatoes and said half jokingly:

"Come on, eat food taken late at night. You're welcome. We are all comrades in the trenches. " This was a popular rhetoric at that time.

We chatted while chewing dried sweet potatoes. Talk about their families and schools, talk about the ups and downs of rural life, talk about interesting things among educated youth, and talk about movies in the 1950s and 1960s that have just been lifted ... However, the most exciting topic for us to talk about is the newly resumed college entrance examination. Both she and I are going to take the college entrance examination in summer. I told her that I wanted to enter the Chinese Department and become an editor or a reporter in the future. She said that she wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor. In this way, time unconsciously passed midnight. I started yawning one after another, and her eyes gradually began to lose their light. It is very cold in the room at this time. It's okay to sit on the kang in the lower half. The upper body began to freeze.

"It's cold. I think we'd better lie down and talk. " Trembling, she gave me this great suggestion that I had been waiting for a long time. Probably the cold and drowsiness drove away the last psychological obstacle of each of us. She suggested that she lie inside and I lie outside. She covered her coat and the quilt was mine. After that, I moved to the wall, covered my coat and fell down with my clothes. I pulled open the quilt and instinctively lay on the other side. But after a while, she suddenly turned over. Probably realized that her side is a kang, and my side is a kang. Usually kang is hotter than kang. So she suggested that we all lie on the kang. Now, girls are so generous, why should I be coy? And obediently obeyed.

In this way, we a pair of strange young men and women, in such a snowy night, in such a desolate mountain village, side by side, lying on this small kang less than two meters wide. Although the space was narrow and there was a girl I didn't know, I fell asleep quickly because of the fatigue of running around all day.

..... Some of our friends are hunting rabbits in the mountains. I saw an injured rabbit shivering in the bushes. Look at its poor appearance. I am determined to save it. So I held it gently in my arms, fearing that it would be hurt again. Its furry rabbit hair rubbed against my chin, itchy and crunchy. . .

I opened my eyes and froze. It was not the rabbit that rubbed my chin, but her head. I don't know when we all turned over. Probably because the temperature of the heatable adobe sleeping platform is gradually decreasing, it is colder indoors. We instinctively snuggle up to each other to keep warm. I don't know where her coat went, and her whole body shrank into the quilt I covered. At this moment, we are not only face to face, but also her head is buried in my chest and one hand is still on my neck. Although we are all dressed, I smell a faint fragrance on her. Seventeen, this is the first time in my life. It is not difficult to imagine my fear and embarrassment at that time. Although I was mature at that time. The potential desire for the opposite sex has also begun to develop. Like many of my peers, I often hide in the quilt at night to launch a "self-defense war." Strangely, however, at this moment, when I first slept with a woman (not counting infancy, of course) and a beautiful girl, I didn't have the slightest sexual response. Maybe it's because of her general concern and unreserved trust in my elder sister. Maybe the quiet expression in her sleep is solemn and holy. In short, my only reaction at that time was nervousness, embarrassment and being at a loss. At first, I wanted to move her hand and turn around, but I was afraid of waking her up. Seeing this scene is even more embarrassing. Besides, she slept soundly, and I couldn't bear to disturb her. Had to stay there. I don't know how long it took, but irresistible sleepiness dragged me to sleep again. ...

"Get up, get up!"

I was awakened by her. I opened my eyes and found it was bright. Hurriedly got up with a somersault. It seems that she has been up for a long time. She told me that we should hurry back to the station for safety. I agree. Let's get ready in a few minutes. Follow the railway back to the platform. What a coincidence! The bus will come soon. I helped her with her luggage and got on the bus. There are few people in the car. Let's find a window seat and sit face to face. Then I volunteered to buy breakfast. I bought a lot of fried dough sticks, porridge and pickles. Although I ate most of it, I finally felt a little relieved to have the opportunity to repay her. When eating, she suddenly smiled and asked me:

"Do you know why I was so generous yesterday? I'll bring you everything as soon as I see you? "

I shook my head.

"Because you are like a hungry wolf. I am afraid that if I don't feed you, you will eat me alive. " Then she giggled. I can't help laughing. The first time I saw her so happy, I thought she was particularly cute at that moment.

After breakfast, we were silent for a while. I don't know if I said everything I could yesterday, or if we were all a little embarrassed to remember last night. I guess she must have blushed when she woke up. In this way, we looked out the window at the rapidly passing plateau snow scene and lost in thought. ...

The train is going like lightning, and it will arrive in Longxi soon. When I realized that we were going to break up soon, I suddenly felt reluctant to part. I can't help complaining that this local train seems to be faster than the express train. I hope it can run slower and stop longer at each stop. Even subconsciously hope that the railway will be blocked again. So that we can spend some time together. However, this hope was quickly dashed. The train pulled into the station soon. When she said goodbye to me, she deliberately pretended as if nothing had happened. What I saw was a bright smiling face. However, her big eyes clearly tell me that she also hopes to have a longer journey. I tried to avoid her eyes to hide my emotions. My reason tried to tell me that we were just strangers who met by chance. However, at this moment, reason is overwhelmed by inseparable strong feelings. Looking at her back walking towards the exit, I feel a little wet in my eyes. I still feel strange. Breaking up with classmates and friends who have been together for several years seems to be less painful.

The train started slowly. I put my head out of the window again to see the station and the city again. Suddenly, I saw a figure waving on the platform. It's her! Unexpectedly, she returned to the platform. Ignoring the safety warning of the passenger next to me, I leaned out of the window and waved to her desperately. As the train accelerated, she became a dot and finally disappeared on the horizon with the station. ...

Shortly after the Spring Festival, I returned to the educated youth point. A few days later, I made an excuse to go to her village to find her. But she hasn't come back yet. I went again a month later. She went to the county to hold a commendation meeting for outstanding private teachers. I have never been to their village since I finished my farm work and began to prepare for the college entrance examination. Seven months later, I got an admission notice from the Chinese Department of a normal university. I heard that she also passed the medical school exam. The day before I left home for school, I went to her village again, hoping to see her. However, as soon as I entered the village, I heard a news like a bolt from the blue: Luo Yan was killed in an accidental landslide two days ago! This can be said to be the most shocking and sad news in my life. I suddenly seem to have become a stake. I can't accept this fact for a long time. A young and beautiful life, just suddenly disappeared? And at the beginning of the best stage of her life! I hardly remember how I spent the next few days. I only remember that I couldn't restore calm for a long time after I entered school. I told my roommate about this experience one night. There are eight people in our dormitory. The lights are still noisy after being turned off for a long time, but it has been quiet that night. ...

I sometimes even suspect that the whole experience is a dream. Or I prefer to believe that this is just a dream. However, the white handkerchief left in my hand, the white handkerchief that closely accompanied her and stained with my blood, has always reminded me that this is not a dream. More than 20 years have passed, from rural areas to cities, from northwest to south China, from the eastern hemisphere to the western hemisphere, this handkerchief has always been with me wherever I go. ...

"Definition of vertical line: Any two points extend at an included angle of 90 degrees and intersect at one point. With the extension of the two line segments, the distance between the two points will be farther and farther ... "