"At that time, wow... after we jumped down, wow... we couldn't find each other..." Qian Youmin, the old man, tried hard to recall the scenes of the past. While breathing in oxygen, he opened the photo album to show Su Che.
"I was woken up by our squad leader early the next morning... I was still hanging on the branch at the time... Later... I heard that there were less than ten people left in our company...
The others... were either blown away by the wind, or disappeared..." Qian Youmin took out a photo and handed it to Su Che.
Su Che took it and took a look. This photo should have been taken during the post-disaster reconstruction. There were more than a dozen people in the photo. They were all standing upright on the ruins, holding military shovels in their hands, and behind them were blood-red
slogan, and a dark gray sky.
Although Su Che had never experienced those days, he could hear the cries and feel the despair and sadness from these old photos...
"We are very lucky...the country...the country gave us commendations and...arranged us here. We have always been very grateful to the country." Qian Youmin said while wiping tears, probably because he remembered again.
Those former comrades-in-arms will never come back.
…
Su Che felt very heavy when he came out of Qian Youmin's room. He scanned all the precious photos into electronic versions and wrote down many keywords in his notebook, but his head was empty.
Compared with the heroic sacrifice of Awangdecuo and his colleagues more than ten years ago, the disasters saved by Qian Youmin and other paratroopers were man-made.
Nowadays, "△○△" has become a thing of the past. Coupled with the subsequent Dead Sea incident, it is difficult for people to remember what happened.
The rekindled beacon fire on the ruins lit up new hope, but in reality... some scars will still hurt no matter how deeply they are hidden.
Seeing that Su Che was in a low mood, Wang Gangdan asked with concern: "Are you okay?"
Su Che looked at her, then looked into the distance.
The contrast between the tall buildings in the city and this community service station, the tallest building of which is only three floors, makes people feel strange.
In the "algorithm era", the indifference between people has reached its extreme.
Although as the old man Awang Decuo said, human nature will not disappear. If society needs it, it will naturally be rekindled... But being wrapped in that kind of coldness made Su Che, who came from a calligraphy family, feel an indescribable depression.
and confusion.
He sighed and said: "My dad is an engineer from the Ministry of Engineering. Since the country recruited talented people from the whole society for the 'Flint Project' fifteen years ago, my family and I have never seen him again."
, it is said that... he is actually in China, in a data sampling base less than an hour away from me, but I just can't contact him... Although he left home at that time, I was still very young,
I don't have much of an impression of him, but what makes me very uneasy is why my mother and sister started to... stop talking about my father? Although they are very close to me, I can see them whenever I am on vacation, but
They... are like robots... haha... unlike this, everyone is alive."
Wang Gangdan listened to Su Che's words silently. After she was silent for a while, she shrugged and said, "I'm about the same as you. In fact, my father has always wanted me to go to college in the city to learn more useful support."
I want to go to another country, but I just don’t like it there, so I want to stay here. I said I’m not afraid of being dirty or tired, and the elderly also need to be taken care of. You can’t drive me away, can you? He then agreed... But when
Just when I thought I had won, my father started to travel far away frequently, and he would be gone for more than half a year, or even longer... Hehe... Sometimes I wonder, is it because my dad doesn't want me anymore, or is it now?
Has this social environment transformed him into a more perfect person?"
Su Che looked at Wang Gangdan in surprise and said, "Don't you and your uncle usually have little contact?"
"I often call him, but he doesn't answer the call at all. Later I realized that the rules he set for me before he went away were not just casual words... Ha, man." Wang Gangdan seemed to express his gratitude to his adoptive father Wang.
Wuchuan had strong opinions.
Su Che was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to answer the question. After thinking for a while, he asked: "The rule you mentioned is..."
"You can call him in the afternoon at the end of every month, but the call cannot last more than two hours. In addition, when he is away from home, you have to take care of his flowers and remember to water them. That's all." Wang Gangdan touched.
He took out a cigarette and lit it.
At that moment, Su Che suddenly began to understand why Wang Gangdan got into the "bad habit" of smoking and drinking.
"Oh...then...uncle won't be back soon?"
"Um."
"That……"
"If you have other plans, you can go find them first. If he comes back, I will notify you, okay?" Wang Gangdan looked at Su Che with a smile.
Su Che also smiled: "Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome."
…
The next day, after bidding farewell to Wang Gang, Su Che set out on the road to find the next interviewee.
This time, he will take a boat to a "mysterious island" located deep in the South China Sea to interview a mother-in-law who has watched her husband on that island for 67 years.
The reason why this island is said to be "mysterious" is not because it exists like "Skull Island", but because this island and its more than 300 residents have never been affected by anything in more than a century.
After surviving the punishment of nature, it is like a peach blossom garden isolated in the depths of the ocean. It once became a place admired by many people.
However, the resources on the island are extremely scarce. For generations, the indigenous residents have relied on small boats built by themselves to fish dozens of kilometers away from the island. The only communication facility on the island was responsible for data sampling in this area more than ten years ago.
The scientific research team built it for them.
Therefore, after experiencing some disturbance from the outside world, this "mysterious island" has returned to its former tranquility.
Su Che was not alone on this trip. He brought his junior student Liu Mengyan, a sunny boy who also looked forward to experiencing the spiritual charm of humanity outside the city. Moreover, he not only accompanied Su Che on this trip, but more importantly, he was
Hainanese, his ancestors also went out to sea for fishing all year round. His grandfather had accidentally visited that island many years ago and married his grandmother there, so another job of Liu Mengyan's trip was to provide services for Su
Che acts as the "translator".
But as soon as the boat went out to sea, Su Che unexpectedly discovered that his junior student, who was born and raised by the sea, and has the blood of a fisherman in his blood, was actually seasick.
Looking at the junior student who was wilting in the corner of the bow of the boat like an eggplant beaten by frost, it was his first time to go to sea on a fishing boat. However, Su Che, who looked like the king of the sea, was standing on the bow of the boat holding a harpoon and smiling so happily.
"Hey, little dream! Come on, come on, Titanic! I'll play the role of shredded meat!"
The junior rolled his eyes at Su Che, who was shuddering, and said dullly: "If all the shreds of meat were like you, there would be no need to hit the iceberg, and Jack would jump off the ship himself!"
Su Che laughed when he heard this. He put down the harpoon and sat on the bow of the boat, blowing the sea breeze and feeling the breath of the sea.
But vaguely, the unique salty smell of the ocean disappeared, and the smell of disinfectant from the hospital flooded into the nasal cavity.
When Su Che opened his eyes and turned around, he saw a building that looked like the Eiffel Tower standing in the distance in the thick fog.
"I'll go! What is that?"
Liu Mengyan didn't even raise his head, and snorted: "Isn't it the first central axis built in the South China Sea by the 'Flintstone Project' that is making all the fuss?"
"The first central axis?!" Su Che suddenly remembered.
He had read in the report that it was one of the starting contents of the "Flint Project". As a part of the huge plan, the first central axis has been controversial since its completion.
Oceanographers and biologists agree that the "First Axis" built for global data sampling has severely damaged the marine ecology and is responsible for the extreme weather conditions that have occurred in recent years. At the same time, with more
The completion of the observation base is bound to bring a new round of disaster.
Su Che remembered that when he first read this report, he was so indignant that he wrote several articles as an intern to criticize this "unjust act" that destroyed the natural environment and ecology.
But what Su Che never expected was that less than an hour after his article was published, all related content was removed from the shelves, and he himself was interviewed by the editor and scolded.
At that time, Su Che was still very aggrieved and felt that it was too dark here.
Since when did it become a crime to reveal the truth?
Later, Su Che learned that the main purpose of the "Flint Project" was to fundamentally solve the problem of constraints on human progress and development caused by the living environment that humans rely on to survive. Perhaps this process will be accompanied by many "pains", but as long as
If we unite as one and gather strength around the world, we will surely be able to welcome a new tomorrow.
Regarding this explanation, Su Che was very confused at first, and now he has only reluctantly accepted its existence.
Looking at the mysterious "first central axis", Su Che, who was on the small fishing boat, had a strange feeling... That feeling was a bit similar to the first time he followed Ngawang Dan into the mountains.
Looking at the majestic snow-capped mountains, he had the urge to worship because they were so big and so brilliant!
In comparison, humans are so small.
And this is the feeling that this first central axis with only "one foot" exposed gave Su Che.
It is a human creation. It is hard to imagine how human beings built such a miracle deep in the ocean and how much manpower and material resources were spent on it.
These are beyond what Su Che can understand and imagine.
All he could do was stand on the bow of the boat and watch it silently, slowly approaching, and then slowly walking away...
During this process, Su Che also saw destroyers and shore-based guard fortresses in the thick fog.
Looking at these "big guys", Su Che's heart was beating loudly, fearing that they would suddenly fire...and then...
…
"After the New Year, I'm going to work at the First Central Axis." Liu Mengyan said suddenly.
Su Che was stunned and said in surprise: "What? Aren't you just a freshman? How come you suddenly..."
"Haha, I don't want to either, but as you know, I don't have much say at home. I have to listen to my dad for everything. My grandpa allowed me to accompany you this time, otherwise... I might have gone
Reported." Liu Mengyan struggled to get up.
Su Che hurriedly gave him a hand, and the two of them sat down on the bow of the boat.
Liu Mengyan said: "Actually, it's quite good. I'm also very curious about what's in the first central axis. Maybe I can secretly send you some exclusive news then, senior. Ah, you can also become a well-known editor-in-chief in the future!"
Su Che chuckled: "You'd better say goodbye. I'm worried that if you don't send the message, you may be gone."
Liu Mengyan was startled for a moment, and then he laughed hahaha, still looking so heartless.
Su Che sometimes envied him. Although Liu Mengyan had a strict upbringing, he never rebelled, but was happy and carefree.
Unlike himself, Su Che's father was okay, but his mother was very picky and basically planned her son's life, including when to graduate, when to have a girlfriend, when to get married, where to work, and when
She had made a complete plan for having a child.
But as for Su Che, he didn't want to. He would rather make his mother angry and send her to the hospital. She said she wanted to sever the relationship, but he also wanted to be himself.
So... Su Che, who usually looks very quiet, is actually a very independent person.
"Hahaha... Yes, hey... Senior, tell me... will we have a chance to meet again in the future?" Liu Mengyan looked at Su Che seriously.
Su Che looked at him, then looked at the sea, and said seriously: "There will be."
…
When we arrived at the island, we happened to catch up with the return of the fishermen on the island. They all set out yesterday evening and have just returned now.
The women on the island have prepared meals and are waiting for their men to go back to eat.
When they saw Su Che and the others, the residents on the island cast curious glances. After all, no outsiders had visited this place for several years.
Su Che was a little uncomfortable with being watched like this while walking on the road. Fortunately, Liu Mengyan came here once in a while to deliver some medicines that were not available here, so he was very familiar with the people here, and the residents were also familiar with him.
With him leading the way, Su Che quickly found the mother-in-law who had watched over her husband for more than sixty years - Cai Xingmei.
Granny Cai was not actually a resident of this island at first. She and her husband went fishing together and encountered a "sea monster". Both her fishing boat and her husband were dragged away by the sea monster.
At the critical moment, Granny Cai's husband threw the life preserver and Granny Cai into the sea, and Granny Cai survived.
After floating at sea for more than ten days, Granny Cai was rescued by fishermen on the island.
Grandma Cai, who was only 19 years old at the time, arrived on the island and learned the dialect here. She also had various tools and a house of her own. However, she always refused the advances of the men on the island, saying that she wanted to wait for her husband to come back.
.
Gradually, the residents of the island stopped disturbing her.
And because Grandma Cai is literate and knows some basic nursing care, the residents on the island also respect her.
When the scientific research team built a communication tower on the island, Grandma Cai came to receive it. Now she is the person in charge of the communication tower, living in a small house near the communication tower, day after day, year after year.
Years of watching for her husband's return.
When she saw Su Che, a stranger, Granny Cai, who was already dazzled, was a little nervous and wary. She tentatively asked many questions, such as "Are you from the expedition team?" "Are you here to find the 'Sea Monster'?" "I
I’m not sick, I don’t need a doctor, do you want to take me away?”
Questions like that.
Only then did Su Che realize that many people had disturbed Granny Cai in the past sixty years.
But none of them cared about why Granny Cai always believed that her lover was still alive. All they wanted to know from Granny Cai was her experience.
Although Su Che was also curious about what kind of "sea monster" Granny Cai and his wife encountered before dragging a ten-meter-long fishing boat into the deep sea, out of politeness, Su Che decided to avoid these questions as much as possible during the interview.
.
…
"Please take a seat."——[The following words of Granny Cai are translated by Liu Mengchuan]
Su Che glanced at Liu Mengchuan, and then the two sat down in Granny Cai's hut.
Although Granny Cai is now close to eighty years old, she has always taken good care of herself. The room is also tidied, and even the tea cups and tea sets on the table are neatly placed.
The blue and white interior walls are also decorated with shells and starfish, which look very beautiful.
Su Che asked with a smile: "Mother-in-law, did you make all these decorations? They are so beautiful?"
Grandma Cai didn't smile. She looked at the decorations on the wall and said, "The shells were picked up by the children, and they made the decorations. I don't think they look good, and I want to find someone to dig them all out."
Su Che and Liu Mengyan looked at each other, both of them felt embarrassed.
It seemed that this was not a good start. Su Che reorganized his words and said: "Oh, that's right... Granny, you have been watching here all these years. Suppose that one day, your lover really
He's back, do you have anything to say to him?"
Granny Cai's eyes lit up, and she looked at Su Che blankly. Although her eyes had long been cloudy, there was no confusion in her eyes.
She said: "If he comes back as you said, then I will definitely ask him why he threw me into the sea and why he separated from me for so long. We once agreed to be together no matter what time, but
Why would he let me endure this torture alone?"
After Liu Mengyan finished translating, he was stunned.
Su Che was the same. He suddenly remembered a book he had read called "Memories of Survivors". The book recorded the psychological and physiological changes of survivors of many disasters after surviving.
Many of them have the same question, that is, why are they the ones who survived?
It seems that surviving is a more painful thing.
Su Che, who had never had any deep emotional entanglements with anyone, could not fully understand Granny Cai's depressed state of mind, but he could hear a voice from Granny Cai's rhetorical questions... and that was...
My watch is suffering every day because of my survival...