The night stall owner brought the copycats and put them on the table.
The moment the man took off his mask, the chopsticks in Chujiu's hand fell to the table with a clatter.
I couldn't figure out what I was feeling at this time. The hatred of the person who had arranged the formation disappeared instantly.
"Hey, I don't know how many more times I can eat like this. I'm really reluctant to give it up."
The man picked up a hand with chopsticks, stuffed it into his mouth, and bit open the outer layer of dough. As soon as a trace of satisfaction showed on his face, he started coughing uncontrollably.
This was the first time in my life that I saw someone coughing like this. The man pressed his chest with one hand and supported the table with the other hand, coughing until a drop of red liquid flowed out of the corner of his mouth.
Chujiu picked up the small bowl on the table, poured half a bowl of water, and pushed it in front of the man. I saw Chujiu mouthing three words to me: "Yam Luo Ling."
When he took off his mask, I could already see that his palace was dark gray and he only had a few days left to live.
Later, Chujiu told me that he saw that the man was exuding a strong aura of death and was no longer much different from a corpse.
The man did not eat the remaining food, put on his mask, and stared at the bean curd in front of him with a tender look, as if he was looking at his beloved.
"Let's find a place to chat after eating. Suddenly I really want to talk."
The man stared at me and said nothing more after saying this.
"On the ninth day of the lunar month, you should go back to Dean Wang's apartment first, explain the situation, and remember to ask him to arrange for people to repair the damaged areas!"
When the man saw me explaining the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, he threw 20 yuan on the table, told the boss that they both paid it together, got up and left.
I followed the man and walked along the road for ten minutes. The man walked to a pavilion on the side of the road and sat down.
He took off his mask, looked at me, smiled, and took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
"you…"
The man interrupted me: "Lung cancer is in the advanced stage, I know, and I've smoked the last pack."
I sat on the stone chair opposite the man and watched him finish smoking a cigarette while coughing.
"Actually, I'm going to sneak in tonight and demolish it. Let me tell you a story, and you can just listen to a dying man talking a few words."
The man lit another cigarette and began to tell the story he wanted to tell me.
42 years ago, there was a famine in western Hunan, and Wu Yuanliang fled to Chongqing, Sichuan with his wife and children.
Wu Yuanliang's father is a stonemason, and he occasionally does another job, which is a side job. People in other places call this side job a corpse driver. Wu Yuanliang's generation has not inherited this craft, because this generation of Wu family
Wu Yuanliang was the only son left.
After fleeing to Chongqing, he relied on his father's skills as a mason and did some construction work, barely making a living.
In ten years, Wu Yuanliang became a well-known stonemason in this area. When anyone in the surrounding villages and towns wanted to build a house, the first person who came to mind was Wu Yuanliang, who didn't like to talk much.
Ten years later, Wu Yuanliang had his own construction team, and nearly a hundred people worked with him. No one in the construction team called him a contractor, and they all affectionately called him the team leader.
Two and a half years ago, 50-year-old Wu Yuanliang took on a big job. A health center building was to be built in the town. The person in charge of the project came from the city hospital, and everyone called him Director Fang.
After signing the contract, we chose an auspicious day, burned incense to worship heaven, and started construction.
According to the design drawings, the wasteland must be leveled first and a foundation laid for the building. Wu Yuanliang is very aware of the importance of the foundation. He has to come to the construction site even at night to check around to see the progress of the project and what problems need to be solved.
Every time Wu Yuanliang came to the construction site, he would bring some pancakes, pig head meat and a bottle of wine. He would eat something together with the masters who drove the bulldozers at night and drink a small cup each. He said that it would refresh his mind and the masters would stay awake at night.
Work is safer.
One night, the soil pushed out by the bulldozer was mixed with some white powdery particles. Wu Yuanliang knew it was white ash at a glance. White ash is mostly used in construction, and it will heat up when sprinkled with water. When he was young, he often used it while working.
Secretly hide two eggs in the white ash, sprinkle with water, and they will be cooked in a short time.
Wu Yuanliang asked the workers to gather the white ash together, which could be used when laying the foundation later. This saved the health center a lot of money.
In the next few days, some bones would always be dug up from the wasteland at the construction site. As the number of bones increased, Wu Yuanliang realized that something was wrong. After discussing with Director Fang, he called the police.
After the police arrived, they investigated the scene and did some research, and finally came to the conclusion that the case was not under their control and had to be approached by the history and culture department.
The relevant departments that came later shook their heads. This was all a matter of which dynasty and generation. There was no record of it in the county annals. There was only such a record in the unofficial history, but it was mentioned briefly. It was recommended to find a place to bury him on the spot.
The person in charge of the project, Director Fang, just said, "Let's find a way to deal with it without affecting the progress of the project."
Wu Yuanliang was helpless. There was nothing he could do with so many bones on the construction site. He remembered that there was a wasteland dozens of miles away, so he called a dozen workers and a bulldozer to dig a hole and bury the bones together, regardless of whether they were named or not.
As a matter of fact, it is important to pay attention to how one is laid to rest.
"Director Fang, I'm afraid this won't work! If the construction is not carried out according to the drawing standards, there will definitely be safety hazards."
"Two options. First, you do as I say. Second, you leave and I find another construction team to take over."
Wu Peng, Wu Yuanliang's son, who also worked at the construction site, passed by the office door one day and heard a conversation between his father and the general manager.
Wu Peng stood not far from the office and soon saw his father coming out dejectedly.
Wu Yuanliang sighed when he saw Wu Peng standing not far away.
"There are so many brothers following me who have to survive. I inform everyone that they must pay attention to safety."
The foundation needs to be dug nearly ten meters deep. According to the drawings, a reinforced retaining wall should be built to prevent the earth wall around the foundation from collapsing.
"Captain Wu, although the quality of the building will not be affected after the foundation is laid without the protective wall, the brothers who have to work in a ten-meter-deep pit will feel uneasy after all."
"Tell brothers to pay more attention. I will check the wall every day and if there is anything wrong, I will find a way to solve it. Just do what the leader asks!"
"There is obviously a protective wall in the budget, and this person obviously wants to eat up this part of the money."
"Work hard! You are the only one who talks a lot!"
During lunch, a co-worker came up to Wu Yuanliang and complained a few words, but Wu Yuanliang sent him away.
Without resting after dinner, Wu Yuanliang went to the foundation and inspected it a few more times. There was no harm in it.