Dao County at the beginning of the millennium is different from what it is now in my memory. The river at that time was not as clear as it is now because of the vigorous development of bases at that time. There was a large textile factory in the county similar to Northwest Second Cotton, and
The two large sugar factories discharge sewage into the river, so the river is not clear.
Tian Sanjiu and I drove to the county seat in the morning. Because we were not familiar with the local area, we took a minibus. Tian Sanjiu told people to go to a place where there were a lot of clothes sold. There would be a place to eat on the way and we would stop and let us have something to eat.
The reward is fifty yuan.
That place is called Chemen Bridge, which is a big bridge. All kinds of food are sold under the bridge. We ate delicious jelly.
I forgot the name of the driver who drove the minibus. He seemed to be named Zhang. He was in his fifties. His car could only seat three people and looked a bit like a trampoline.
When passing by the nitrogen fertilizer factory, there were many such vehicles. They were used to transport workers, and there were also passenger buses with tractor fronts modified. They could seat seven or eight people. When driving, black smoke would come out, and the faces of the people sitting in the vehicles could be wiped out in a few minutes.
They are all blackened, but they are comparable to cows.
Lao Zhang, the driver of the Bengbeng truck, said: "Boy, just turn a corner and we'll be there. Don't you want to buy dozens of sets of clothes? Let me tell you, it's the cheapest here because they've all moved out right away, so it's definitely affordable."
This place is called Xiguan Qiaotou. There is a market that sells clothes. When we got there, there were indeed several shops closing down, and there were no people around.
I said this location is okay, but the small market is deserted and there are no people around.
Lao Zhang, the driver of the Bengbeng truck, said: "Boy, have you seen that house with white walls?"
The white house he was talking about was right next to the small market.
"You people from out of town don't know, you don't usually read newspapers, right? What happened some time ago, the people in this white house were killed, their heads were covered with quilts, their heads were smashed with a hammer, and they were wiped with a fruit knife
The blood from my neck flowed from the house to the door of the market."
"It used to be lively, but now people say this place is haunted at night. People always say they saw a large pool of blood at the entrance of the market at night. After a few months, no one comes here anymore."
I tell you this because I really have an impression of that white house. Xiang Shen said that it was broad daylight when Tian Sanjiu and I went there, and the place was dark and gloomy. It was sealed and the sun couldn't shine.
I went all over the market and bought almost the same clothes, including black leather jackets and leather pants, both large and small. I also bought hats, masks, threads and gloves, all from one store after another.
I asked Boss Tian, why do we buy so many leather jackets?
He looked at the watch and said you will know when you get back.
When we went back at around three o'clock in the afternoon, Tian San didn't say anything about the clothes for a long time. He waited until about eight o'clock in the evening when six more taxis came to the entrance of Xiajiang Village. I have never seen this group of people. They should be what he calls them.
trump card.
Everyone took off their original clothes, looked for something they could wear, and put on leather jackets bought at the market. They also put on masks and hats to hide them tightly.
Opening the trunk, there was a large package of solid steel pipes, and each person received one.
"Brothers, have you remembered what I just said?"
"remember."
"good."
"Set off."
Large cars and small cars pulled dozens of people toward Tianguangdong. Everyone in the car wore a hat and a mask and said nothing.
I asked in the car: "Tian Bituou, are you sure that the Five Ugly Boss hurt the snake himself and hid it in Tianguang Cave?"
Tian Sanjiu said casually: "The man said it himself on the phone."
"Then you believe it? Maybe he's just tricking us."
He slowly shook his head and said, "I believe it. If the self-harming snake doesn't believe that I can find him, I will use the stupidest and most primitive method."
Tian Sanjiu narrowed his eyes and said: "Tonight, if I want to scare the snake away, I will dig the snake out of the soil and chop it into two pieces."
At 8:30 p.m., it’s time for people to eat.
This is really a coincidence. After excluding Hei Dan, Brother Hei Dan, and Er Fatty, there are no more or less people left. Counting the driver, there are exactly 39 people in total.
The people were divided into two groups, I led one group, and Tian Sanjiu led another group. Tian Sanjiu and I communicated directly through the walkie-talkie.
From west to east, every house, every household, especially old unoccupied houses, cellars, dry wells, and even pig pens and cattle pens was spared.
"What are you doing? Who are you? Why are you coming to my house!"
Several people wearing hats and masks pointed steel rods at these people and threatened to beat them. Those who refused to obey were immediately beaten.
My purpose was to find people, so I could only try my best to restrain them. Some old men and women were holding bowls and shaking, obviously frightened.
When I came out of a house, a brother looked around, pulled down his mask and asked me in a low voice: "Brother, we have searched more than 20 people. Brother Tian said that we should pay special attention to those who raise birds at home. I will take care of my brother."
Let me ask, what kind of bird is this? Myna, parrot?"
"No, it may be called a big-headed badger bird in their local dialect. I don't know what it looks like. Please put on a mask quickly so that no one can see it."
"Woof! Woof woof!"
A native dog yelled at us crazily on the street. Immediately, a boy ran out, raised his hand and hit the dog's head several times with a steel pipe. Then the big native dog snorted a few times and lay motionless.
"This house is so dilapidated, no one must live in it. I guess it doesn't even have electricity."
"Brother Tian, what did you say? You have to find any unoccupied houses and kick them away."
Two big feet kicked open the door, and a group of people rushed into the abandoned old house with flashlights.
There were old pots and broken bowls, broken mats and broken tables and chairs. The house was very dusty, and the walls were covered with spider webs. No one had lived in it for who knows how many years, and it was lifeless.
At this moment, the small walkie-talkie in my pocket rang.
"How's it going on your end?"
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I looked around, pressed the small intercom and replied: "We have searched dozens of houses, and now we are leading someone in a dilapidated house. Where are you?"
"There is a well in my courtyard. I just asked someone to check it, but there is no harvest yet."
"Go on, keep in touch. I have a feeling that I am getting closer to that person."
"Okay, keep in touch."
After setting up the walkie-talkie, I was just about to go out, when suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I saw a broken chair that seemed to move.
"Wait a minute."
"Did you hear anything?"
"No, is there a mouse? Brother, you are too nervous."
I took a photo with my flashlight.
This chair is an old-fashioned rocking chair made of bamboo. Most elderly people like to lie on it while rocking and reading newspapers.
I stared at it for two minutes. There was no movement in the broken rocking chair. It was very quiet.
Just as I turned back and took a step, I suddenly heard another "squeak" sound, like a rocking chair moving.
I turned around sharply and shone my flashlight.
"Go and have a look."
The brother closest to me nodded, held up a flashlight, and approached with the steel pipe.
When he got there, he kicked over the broken rocking chair and turned around and said, "There's nothing there, maybe it's a mouse."
"do not move."
"Liu Zi, listen to me, just stand there and don't move."
"What's wrong? Is there something on my head?"
"Damn it, don't be scary." The man didn't dare to move anymore.
I swallowed and turned pale.
All of us could see it clearly.
At some point, a huge green-skinned toad lay on the brother's head.
The big toad's cheeks bulged and retracted, and a small piece of rat tail was exposed from the corner of its mouth.