At that time, the place I lived was hidden in a residential area next to the block and blocked by the front row of buildings. It was said to be a residential area, but it was almost the same as a slum. Most of the houses were still built in the 1960s and 1970s... maybe the era
It's a bit older, because they are all made of mud bricks and tiles.
People at the bottom of society live here. Migrant workers, hawkers, craftsmen, chicken heads, wandering warblers, charlatans who have almost contracted dog skin advertising in the city...etc., there are all kinds of people. Sewage circulates here, garbage is littered here, here
There are piles of syringes and other medical waste piled up in some corners... Anyone with any respectability here can't avoid it, and everyone who lives here wants to escape...
This was the place where I lived.
Here, I am not afraid of being seen. Because there is only one light at the intersection. It is dark in the rest of the road and I can't even see the road clearly, let alone the people.
But I was still very careful and peeked in from the side of the door.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he poked his head out, he was caught by his mother squatting on the floor washing dishes.
I panicked, lowered my head and shouted "Mom" and slipped in. I thought she would say something, but surprisingly, she didn't say anything, she just rinsed the bowl silently, folded it up, and neatly folded it.
Put it on the table. If it was normal, if I came back so late from playing, she would nag a few words even if she didn't scold her. There was only one light bulb hanging in the room, and the orange light was not bright. I put down my schoolbag and turned my face sideways.
Take aim at her.
I don't know if it was an illusion, but I saw a twinkle in the corner of her eye.
"Eat first."
"oh……"
I turned to face her and moved to the table.
Mother turned around and wiped her hands on her body twice, "I'll go down and look at the stalls. Your sister has to study in the evening..."
"oh."
"Don't go out to play after eating. Do your homework and go to bed early..."
"oh."
"You must be obedient from now on..."
…
I remember very well that when my mother said this, her voice was trembling.
Later, I found out that the Chinese teacher had contacted my mother through the store’s phone number. He didn’t give a specific reason, but just apologized.
In order to wait for me, my mother warmed the food with hot water, but when she went out, I had no appetite. I am not very picky about food, and I have no right to be picky. I only took two mouthfuls of food before I felt my face hurt when I chewed it.
It hurt to eat. It was impossible not to eat. My mother would know that throwing it away would be even more sinful. I had no choice but to add some vegetable soup and half a bowl of boiled water, and swallowed the remaining half bowl of rice in a few mouthfuls.
After washing the dishes, I remembered to look in the mirror. I didn't dare to look in the mirror before. Now I think it should have faded a lot, but I was still stunned when I looked at it. The left side of my face was obviously swollen, and it looked like I had a baby in my mouth.
Big dumplings. I was a little frustrated, so I wet a towel and covered it, and then I felt better.
Usually at this time, I usually go out to play, or help my mother's fruit stall, or find a place with a TV to watch TV, or go out with Li Hui and the others to hang out... In short, there is no one who will not be back until 9 or 10 o'clock.
Because it was too boring to stay at home alone. But today I didn’t want to go out, so I lay on the dining table and did my homework for a while. But after I calmed down alone, I felt really painful.
After enduring half of the homework, I felt so uncomfortable that my head felt a little dizzy, so I washed my face and feet in a daze and went to bed.
I naively thought that I would be fine if I fell asleep, but not long after, my whole body felt stuffy and hot, and I was sweating all the time. I wanted to kick off the quilt, but found that I had no strength at all, and I couldn't even turn over.
I was always in a daze and felt like I was about to die.
squeak.
After staying up for an unknown amount of time, I finally woke up when I heard the sound of the door opening.
"Hey, it's so boring."
"Shh."
"Is he asleep?"
"Keep your voice down..."
"oh……"
…
When I heard the conversation between my mother and my sister while I was half asleep, I felt relieved, and my consciousness gradually became blurry. But just before I fell asleep, I felt the quilt on my body being pulled twice, and my face no longer hurt much.
I was touched...and I heard sobbing in a daze.
"Hello."
I was startled and woke up.
who?
I opened my sleepy eyes. The lights were not turned on in the room, but the lights outside were still on. The light filtered through the curtains on the partitions, and I could barely see. My mother and sister's beds were inside, but I only saw my sister sleeping.
I was familiar with it, but I didn’t see my mother. I was confused and moved my head to look at the small alarm clock on the bedside. At first glance, I thought I had seen it wrong. After blinking, I saw clearly that it was indeed early 4 o’clock.
I rubbed my eyes and looked out through the gap in the partition. I only saw the light and shadow shaking for a moment, and then my mother opened the curtain and walked in lightly.
I raised my head and she lowered her head. Then she was stunned and said in a very soft voice, "What's wrong?"
"Can't sleep..."
"Why can't you sleep? It's still early." She tied her hair into a ponytail with a rubber band, and then picked up the yellow coat placed on the old wooden cabinet.
"I don't want to sleep anymore."
"Does it still hurt?"
"Uh, it doesn't hurt anymore..." I saw her looking at my face, then I remembered and shook my head.
"Let's sleep a little longer, don't go to school."
"Can't sleep."
"Then, do you want to go to the old street?" Mother thought for a while and asked.
"Um."
I nodded quickly, fearing that she would regret it, so I hurriedly got up.
"Wear more clothes, it's only 4 degrees today."
"knew."
Although I didn't feel too cold, I still obeyed and put on an extra layer of clothes. My mother poured me water with a thermos bottle, and as soon as I went out, she wiped my face with a hot towel a few times. Normally, she would
She always rubs it hard, but today she just rubs it lightly.
"Drink some water."
"Um."
I took a sip of warm water and watched her open the door and push the bicycle out. The house was only 20 to 30 square meters, and it was divided into two rooms, inside and outside. It was already cramped, but without the bicycle, I finally had room to move around.
After I drank the water, I peed in the sink without shame... It was said to be a sink, but it was actually a small area of one or two square meters under the faucet that was slightly inclined to the water outlet. This kind of thing
The house is not particular at all. It is divided into wooden partitions. People sleep inside and there is a multi-functional space outside. On the left side of the entrance is the kitchen, with a table as the dining room, in the middle is the living room, and on the right side of the entrance is the sink, which also functions as a bathroom...
...Occasionally in emergencies, it can also be used as a bathroom... I rinsed it with washing water. My mother happened to remove the big basket on the back of the bicycle, so I helped her bring it in.
"Is it cold?"
"Not cold."
"Would you like hand socks?"
"No, it's not cold."
"It's cold outside."
My mother was a bit nagging again while pushing the bicycle. But just a short while from the alley to the street corner, she was carrying me on the bicycle and she stopped talking much.
Although I didn't feel cold, I still put my hands in the pockets of her coat and looked around.
The old street does not refer to a street, but to an area. It is about the same era as the place where we live, and the buildings are all the same old. However, compared to the area where we live, the old street is composed of the former gathering place.
It is a market derived from the city, so the nearby lots are quite valuable, and there are many more new buildings. The whole street, with new buildings and tile-roofed houses adjacent to each other, looks a bit out of place.
It was only 4:30, and the sky was still dark. There were no street lights on the street. Even with the stars and moon shining on it, I could barely see clearly a dozen or twenty meters away. I felt that if it weren’t for those new buildings, the surrounding area would be very dark.
The environment is very similar to the scenes in the zombie movies I watched before. Especially the large and small alleys that are located every other way. It is dark when you look in, and you always feel like something is shaking inside.
There is also the hill next to the old street. When I looked up, I could only occasionally see a little outline through the gaps between the buildings.
It is said that this mountain was a small battlefield during the Anti-Japanese War, and many people died on it. I never doubted it, because there is a monument on it, and we go to visit the grave every year. Not only our school, but all the schools in the town have to go,
In addition to kindergarten, this is also one of Li Hui and Wang Shu's favorite school activities, because they can see girls from other schools and provoke boys from other schools if nothing happens.
Chu tu tu tu——
Suddenly, a motorcycle came from behind.
The headlights of the car shone from behind me to the front, reflecting shadows and illuminating the road ahead. I wished it could shine longer, but the motorcycle quickly passed me, and then went further and further, turning into the end of darkness.
A small spot of light disappeared. Fortunately, it was not the oncoming car. I hate oncoming cars in the dark night. I remember a year ago, my mother was dazzled by the headlights of the oncoming car, and she ran over a stone on the road and fell.
.
I want to buy a motorcycle when I grow up. This way, my mother won’t have to ride a bicycle or use a bicycle to carry cargo.
Um……
I suddenly thought, why not a car? This way there is no need to blow the wind, no fear of rain, and no chance of falling. I leaned forward slightly, with my face touching my mother’s back. The street was still dark, except for the occasional light or two.
The lights flashed before my eyes, but I didn't feel so scared anymore.
"Would you like to eat fried dough sticks?"
"don't want."
As soon as my mother asked, I knew we were almost there. I turned my head and looked forward, and sure enough I saw the lights of a store in front. This is a time-honored breakfast restaurant, and the most conspicuous thing is the big frying pan at the door. The boss
He was a big fat man, busy frying fried dough sticks and sesame balls.
The freshly fried fried dough sticks and sesame balls were particularly delicious, but my mother was most afraid of getting angry. I held back and turned my gaze to the far end of the street.
There, many light spots gathered like fireflies, forming a light group in the darkness.
I heard the beep beep of motorcycles and trucks, as well as some human voices, and then there was a buzzing sound that filled my ears.
"Sit down."
When we arrived at the wholesale market, my mother got out of the car. I wanted to get off too, but she wouldn't let me.
After passing the first stall, she greeted a stout woman at the door who was counting the goods, "Hey, boss lady, it's so early."
"It's so early, what time is it?"
"The car is coming?"
"Not yet. Hey, have you brought your son?"
"yes."
"Hey, handsome boy."
"What an ugly son." The mother still smiled happily.
"What's ugly about being ugly? He's so handsome, isn't he? Do you want to eat an apple, little handsome guy?"
…
I shook my head quickly. Growing up, what I ate most were unsaleable apples, so I hated them deeply. This store mainly wholesaled apples, and the boxes of apples at the door were piled up like several hills.
It's the same, it's already my nightmare just looking at it.
"Don't spoil him. I'll go inside and take a look. I'll come back later."
"Okay, I'll leave you two boxes of the best ones."
"That's what you said, thank you in advance."
…
"Good morning, boss..."
…
"The boss lady..."
…
Less than fifty meters away, my mother said hello to most of the wholesalers on the street. I sat in the back seat, nodding and shaking my head from time to time in response to other people's kindness, a little annoyed. Then I looked at my mother, who was hanging on me all the time.
With a gentle smile, it seems that he will never get tired of it.
"Is it cold?"
"Not cold."
I came down and looked around. The streets were brightly lit, and various fruits were piled in boxes on the roadside. There were not many people watching, and it was a little deserted. Mainly because the weather was too cold, and most people were hiding in the shops.
Waiting. My mother pushed the bicycle under the tree and locked it. She turned around to look at me and my face. The wrinkles between her eyebrows relaxed slightly and asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want to buy something to eat? Let's go buy a steamed bun to eat.
?”
I nodded quickly, "Yeah."
My mother put her hand into her trouser pocket, explored it a few times, grabbed a wad of change with some difficulty, and gave me two dollars: "Well, go ahead, don't go far..."
"Don't you want it?"
"I'm not hungry, go ahead and don't go far."
"Oh..." I took the money and hesitated for half a second before leaving.
"Don't go far!"
"knew."
I don’t think much of it. I’ve been going to the market as long as I can remember, but not often. Sometimes I came to buy goods with my mother like today, sometimes I came to buy vegetables with her or my sister, or with Li Hui, Wang Shu and the others.
Come over and play... In short, you can say that you are very familiar with the surroundings.
However, when I turned the corner and looked around, I found that the bun shop wasn't open yet.
"It won't go bankrupt..."
I muttered, but I knew it was impossible. This steamed bun shop is very famous. It can sell thousands of steamed buns every day. The steamers are stacked several times every day, and each building is two people high. The business is very good. Especially
It's that big meat bun, as big as an open palm,
It contains more than half an egg, a few large pieces of meat, shredded radish, and leeks... Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. But it's a bit expensive, other people's buns cost 50 cents, but this one costs 2 yuan, so I don't eat it often.
Like my mother, she is even more reluctant to eat it because she thinks it is too luxurious.
I looked at the greenhouse on the other side of the street, then looked at my mother's side, hesitated, and then walked over.
The sound of the small wheels of the carts rubbing against the ground, the honking of motor vehicles, and the shouts of people... is this a real vegetable market or a wholesale market?
I walked by the side of the road and looked at the bustling scene inside, so I didn’t go in. It wasn’t that I disliked it, but there was nothing of interest to me. Besides, my mother would come over after finishing the shopping. Because it was after 5 or 6 o’clock.
At that time, most of the vegetables have been wholesaled, and the remaining ones will start to be sold. The vegetables at that time are not only fresh, but also cheap, almost the same as the wholesale price. It is much more cost-effective than buying them in the morning.
Fruits are different from vegetables. Fruits are fine every one or two days. Vegetables generally need to be soaked in water to re-sell, let alone every other day. If they are not sold in the morning, they will change in the evening. I come here often, and I have learned a lot. For example,
The wholesale time of fruits and vegetables is also different. Vegetables
Vegetables are usually served around 2 o'clock, while fruits are served around 5 o'clock. Why? Because vegetable sellers and breakfast cooks usually open at 6:00 or 7:00, and if they are not prepared 3-4 hours in advance, it will be delayed. Fruit sellers are different.
It’s no problem if the store opens after 8 a.m., so you can naturally purchase goods later.
Of course, you can also be lazy, but the best ones have been picked out, so it is not so cost-effective. I walked around the roadside and came to an open area.
This is a large wilderness with wasteland, vegetable fields, and a small pond a little further away.
I could only see so far, and it would be too dark and foggy, so the street lights couldn't shine through, so I couldn't see anything.
But I was not afraid, because I had been there before and knew that there were wastelands and vegetable fields on the other side. Moreover, the vegetable market not far away was bustling with people. The atmosphere was different from that of a ghost movie, and it was not very scary. I leaned down and watched
There are some white spots in the vegetable patch, which is very strange.
Ice.
I walked down in novelty, squatted down and poked it with my finger. It should be said that it was frost, a thin layer, I twisted it a little, and it melted away in the blink of an eye.
Hey.
I was very playful, pinching on the left, picking on the right, and stepping on it again... The first time I saw frost in my memory was when I followed my mother back to my hometown when I was a child. At five or six in the morning, there was endless sight on both sides of the road.
The fields are a vast expanse, and the whole world is gray and white.
This is a small difference.
I was thinking about it, but I was still happy, so I looked into the wasteland. There were very few on the roadside, but the further in, there were more and more, and they were all spread out on the vegetable fields and grass.
It wasn't until I was almost to the edge of the pond that I realized what I was doing. Looking forward, I saw that it was very dark ahead, the fog was thick, and the shadows were blurry, which was a bit scary. I swallowed my saliva and was about to turn around, but my eyes inadvertently passed by the center of the pond.
, and then I was attracted by a bright red color.
It turned out to be a lotus flower.
I was a little surprised and couldn't help but take a closer look.
Among the water plants, there are six or seven leaves floating with a radius as large as a dinner plate or as small as an egg. The lotus flower hovers slightly above it, like a ball of flame.
I have seen lotus flowers blooming in winter, because the local area is famous for lotus flowers, but I have never seen such beautiful lotus flowers blooming in winter. Although there is only one lotus flower, it seems to be glowing and lighting up the surrounding area.
Now, even the fog has become like evaporating water vapor.
Huh.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew.
Just as I was about to turn around and leave, I couldn't help but shudder. I let out a breath of white air, looked at it a few more times, and then found a streak of white dispersed.
I was immediately frightened.
With the lotus as the center, ice formed on the water surface silently, spreading outward at a visible speed, and soon it reached the shore.
I only felt a heat, something spread all over my body, and a layer of ice shards surrounded me.
"Hello."
I was stunned and raised my head.
On the ice, a faint mist swayed on the fiery red lotus, changing violently, forming a human-shaped outline.
I opened my mouth wide.
Normal people should be afraid, but I don't know why, but I was in a trance. I stared at it for several seconds, and almost shed tears.
"Ghost——"
Then, I turned around and ran.
"Oh my god, my god -"
I ran all the way and almost fell to the ground. I didn't dare to stop even under the street light. I turned around and glanced, and saw that there was no one following me. The other side of the pond was also shrouded in fog as before and I couldn't see clearly, but I still looked at it with a hundred faces.
He ran from the end of the street to the street at a sprint speed of 3 meters.
There were many trucks pulling goods parked on the roadside. There were some drivers and workers loading goods, and they looked at me like I was looking at a lunatic.
"Ah! Ah——"
I shouted twice in shock, clenching my fists and gritting my teeth to give myself courage, but my whole body was still trembling.
Fake, fake...
I muttered viciously and ran into the market. It wasn't until I was among the crowd that I felt less scared, but the fog was still in my mind.
What does it want to say.
But I didn’t want to know at all and was about to cry. I guessed that I didn’t wake up or was hungry, because people say that if you don’t have a good rest or you are hungry, you will have hallucinations. After I was done, the bun shop opened, so I hurriedly bought it.
I picked up the big bun and ran towards my mother.