Chapter 652: Return to Gourd Village

I was crossing a hill when Shi Yong picked up a stone slab from the roadside.

"Brother, look, there's something on this stone slab."

I looked at the stone slab Shi Yong was holding.

On it were several ancient insect fossils, very clear. These are fossil slides.

I suddenly recalled the past scene of collecting fossil slides with Wang Changguang.

Then I had just arrived at Beishan; to increase my sister's family income, I ventured into the mountains with Wang Changguang to collect fossil slides.

That's what these so-called fossil slides are.

"A large one could sell for five coins."

Collecting this entails great risk.

When Wang Changguang climbed the cliff top to collect, he found in a cave that batch of bronzes collected by the museum.

But this guy has a poor memory; he buried the bronzes near Hama Spring, but can't recall exactly where.

"He had me go to Hama Spring to retrieve the treasure, but I didn't find it."

"He always suspected I stole those treasures and sold them."

"He became neurotic, arguing with me every day and daily going to Hama Spring to search for the treasure."

"Sigh, how absurd."

I held the fossil slide, thinking of past events.

I don't know if Wang Changguang still remembers those.

"Shi Yong, this is called a fossil slide; back then I made money by selling this."

"This can make money." Shi Yong asked.

"Yes, someone collects this; the piece you picked is too small; if it were larger, it could sell for money."

There's nothing valuable in the mountains,

"Only these." I said.

Shi Yong held the fossil slide in his hand, looking left and right,

"Brother, if we slightly process this, it can become a handicraft; later it can be sold as a tourist souvenir." Shi Yong said.

"Shi Yong, your brain has been enlightened. It seems that just now at Hama Spring, not only was your lower ailment cured, but your brain's illness was also healed." I laughed.

"A man only needs one rise; wisdom instantly occupies the high ground. Brother, from now on, leave the planning to me." Shi Yong said happily.

Shi Yong and I walked along, talking and laughing.

Soon we arrived at Gourd Village.

Gourd Village is now administratively under Lanling County.

Beishan has been assigned to Xin Cheng.

Since Hulutao lies in Lanling County, it has not yet been demolished.

Sigh, being just over ten li apart, the fates of the two villages differ; North Mountain Village has completely turned around.

Gourd Village remains as before.

Before even entering the village, I heard dog barking; hearing dogs means there are people in the village.

Gourd Village is actually small, only about thirty to forty households.

Mountain villages are generally small, unlike those on the plains.

The land here is scarce and cannot support many people.

A village with over a hundred people counts as a large village.

I hurried toward Gourd Village,

Shi Yong followed behind, his steps vigorous, much stronger than when we first entered the mountains.

It seems the Lying Ox Stone really can cure illness.

We reached the village entrance,

The village entrance has a north-south road that runs through the whole village.

Back then, when I fled from my uncle's house back to Hulutao,

I saw my father on this road, his back bent, leaning against a wall corner like an old dog, staring at my arrival with dull eyes.

The village road is still there, even that wall corner remains,

but I can no longer see my father.

I feel no sorrow in my heart,

my feelings for him are not deep.

I have never experienced his fatherly love.

I withdrew my gaze from the wall corner,

I found Gourd Village more desolate than I imagined.

In the village, nine out of ten households have their doors locked,

no spring couplets are visible on the doors, indicating these households do not return for the New Year to put up couplets.

As I walked slowly through the village,

finally in the village square I saw an old man smoking dry tobacco.

Shi Yong and I casually walked up to them,

took out cigarettes and tossed them over,

"Elder, why is there no one in the village?"

The old man looked at me and Shi Yong; his gaze was full of sorrow,

Everyone left, there's no one in the village. Hmph, the whole village, only me and a dog remain.

"What are you here for?" the old man asked me and Shi Yong.

I lit a cigarette for the old man,

"We are travelers passing through this place, wanting to enter the village to find something to eat."

I did not reveal my identity to the old man.

I also didn't want to mention that I am Zhao Jianqiang; I was born here and lived here for eight years.

I was afraid the old man would bring up those past events again.

"There's food, come with me to my house to eat." The old man said, then stood up.

"Shi Yong, follow the old man to get some food, don't forget to give him money. I'll walk around the village." I said to Shi Yong.

Shi Yong nodded and followed the old man away.

I walked alone in Hulutao Village,

then easily found my former home,

the home that often appeared in my dreams,

two stone-built houses, although not collapsed, the roofs were overgrown with grass.

the gate of the courtyard was also gone,

the once jujube tree also died.

I didn't go inside, just glanced at the doorway twice, and then noticed in front of the doorway that large millstone,

Mother often used this stone mill to grind flour,

she wore old clothes, slowly turning the millstone, occasionally lifting her head to look at us not far away,

Sister, I, Xiao Hua, Xiao Guo, jumping rope in the sunlight, we laughed happily.

However, now only this millstone remains; Mother has been dead for many years.

I have dreamed of Mother, dreaming of her like a leaf, floating in the sky,

her voice gave me comfort.

When my uncle beat me, she would come calling me,

In my most difficult times, she would come to see me.

Again her voice rang in my ears,

"Er Hai, you have come back."

"Mother, I have come back." I said in my heart.

"Coming back is good."

"Mother, I miss you, I want to eat the food you cook, I want to eat the pancakes you make."

"Er Hai, good, Mother will make it for you to eat." Mother said, then turned and left.

But she left and never came back.

My eyes became moist,

Since I left Mother at age eight, I have never seen her again.

In my heart she is forever that kind.

Mother, I want to tell you, your Er Hai is now over forty, already middle-aged.

But before you, I will always be your child.

"Mother, I'm leaving; I am now preparing to develop Hulutao, to let our mountain village revive, to make this place a tourist area, to let there be vitality here.

"Let there again be songs and laughter here." I proudly said in my heart.

Besides the mountain wind blowing past my ears, there is no longer any sound.

"Brother, where are you? Come over to eat." Shi Yong shouted loudly from a distance.

I glanced again at my home,

then hurriedly walked toward Shi Yong.

Shi Yong and the old man stood together.

Shi Yong held a large pancake in his hand,

I walked up to Shi Yong,

"Brother, try it, this is old pickled vegetables. Very fragrant."

I took the large pancake from Shi Yong's hand and then took a big bite.

The pancake is thick, the pickled vegetables inside are salty but very fragrant,

truly fragrant, it is the familiar taste of my childhood.

Salty, spicy, fragrant.

The old man looked at us and said: "Alas, there's nothing else to entertain you here; I only have this pickled vegetable and pancake."

"If you like eating them, that's great; I can make sure you're full with these."