Xie Tian's breathing almost stopped when he saw the familiar facade of Xinglong Silk and Satin Shop in the sunset and the still familiar streets in front of him.
The end of Jiefang Avenue is still Zhong Street, which still maintains its original appearance before liberation.
The bluestone road is a narrow road with old houses on both sides of the road. Some houses are decades old at first glance. Some of them can be vaguely seen to have been built during the reconstruction of Dagu Town. It's so old that you can't see its original appearance.
Xie Tian parked the car on the side of the road and walked towards Xinglong Silk and Satin Store.
The young traffic policeman stood at the door of the silk and satin shop, looked at Xie Tian who was approaching and asked in a deep voice: "Are you here to visit Grandma Tang?"
"Grandma Tang, Tang Haoer? Is she really here? Is she still alive?" Xie Tian Bang grabbed the traffic policeman's arm.
The traffic policeman grinned in pain, pinched Xie Tian's hand and said, "Grandma Tang is already ninety-eight, and her ears are not very good. You should speak louder to her. Your name is Xie Tian. What does it have to do with Grandma Tang?"
Xie Tian even forgot to say thank you. He let go of the traffic policeman's arm and strode into the silk shop.
Seeing Xie Tian's somewhat lost expression, the traffic policeman shook his head slightly, got on his motorcycle, and rode towards his home not far away with the Xiangmanlou Hotel sign hanging on it.
Xinglong Silk and Satin Store has resumed selling silk and satin. The colorful cloths displayed on the shelves are much richer than before.
The only female clerk in the store saw Xie Tian entering the door and was about to go up to greet Xie Tian, but she saw Xie Tian waved to her and opened the back door and walked into the backyard.
People often come to visit Grandma Tang, and the clerk can’t remember so many people. Seeing that Xie Tian is familiar with the road, he simply doesn’t come to ask.
Walking into the backyard, Xie Tian immediately saw the silver-haired Tang Hao'er sitting on the rocking chair under the persimmon tree next to the well, with a quilt covering his legs. He had a sore nose and walked quickly to Tang Hao'er.
Although Tang Haoer was old, Xie Tian still recognized Tang Haoer at a glance.
Feeling someone coming over, Tang Haoer raised his head and looked at Xie Tian. He was stunned for a moment, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
Xie Tian squatted beside the rocking chair and took Tang Hao'er's hand. He looked at Tang Hao'er and said softly: "Hao'er, I'm back."
A smile appeared on Tang Haoer's face, he held Xie Tian's hand tightly and said, "I can't hear what you said clearly, is it you?"
Xie Tian simply pulled up a bamboo chair and sat next to Tang Haoer, lying in her ear and reading a poem: "The spring breeze has just brought green to the branches, and the beauty is already thinking of spring under the tree. Do you still remember these two poems?"
Tang Haoer nodded happily, tears welling up in his eyes. He held Xie Tian's hand and sobbed, "It's really you. I'm not dreaming."
These two lines of poems were composed by Xie Tian and Tang Hao'er to tease Tang Hao'er when they saw the persimmon tree in Pang Yuan's yard. Only the two of them knew about it.
Xie Tian stretched out his hand to wipe away Tang Hao'er's tears and laughed: "Of course it's me. I slept for a long time and ran over when I opened my eyes. I guessed that you were here. It seems that I won't make the trip today. I'll wait until tomorrow. , tomorrow I will prepare a big horse and a big sedan to marry you in, and you will be my wife."
Tang Haoer cried loudly and beat Xie Tian with both fists: "You stinky villain, big bandit, I have been waiting here for you for eighty years, wuwuwuwu..."
Xie Tian passionately held Tang Haoer's head in his arms, stroking her silver hair, biting Tang Haoer's ear and whispered, "I've wronged you."
Hearing Tang Haoer's cry in the courtyard, the female clerk ran into the courtyard in panic, ran over and asked quickly: "Grandma Tang, what's wrong with you? What did you do to her? Let her go quickly."
The last two sentences of the female clerk were obviously directed at Xie Tian.
Tang Haoer cried and laughed and pushed Xie Tian away, looked at the female clerk and said: "Juanzi, this is none of your business. You can go back. You don't have to come here anymore. Tell your grandfather, thank him for all these years." Take care of me, I’ve written it all down.”
Juanzi looked at Tang Haoer in surprise: "Grandma Tang, did I do something wrong? Can't I change it?"
Tang Haoer smiled and said: "You have done a good job. When you go back, tell your grandpa, forget it. I haven't figured out how to tell him yet. Let's talk about it later. Let's go. Don't interrupt our conversation."
Xie Tian looked at Juanzi's back and asked, "Who is her grandfather?"
Tang Haoer looked at Xie Tian and said with a smile, "Xiao Qi."
"Damn it, this guy's granddaughter is already so old."
Tang Haoer chuckled: "She is the great-granddaughter."
Xie Tian had a black line on his head, and Tang Haoer giggled so hard that his flowers trembled.
Juanzi saw Tang Haoer smiling like this, and then she walked out of the backyard with confidence and went to the front to clean up the shop.
Tang Haoer told Xie Tian: "Commander-in-Chief Xie, go to the front and close the store door. No one is allowed to come in tonight."
"Yes", Xie Tian saluted with a military salute, reluctantly let go of Tang Haoer, got up and ran to the front to close the door.
Xie Tian came back and hugged Tang Haoer again. Tang Haoer looked at Xie Tian with his head raised and said with a smile, "Are you really going to ride a big horse and carry a sedan chair to marry me tomorrow?"
"It's necessary, we can't delay it any longer." Xie Tian said righteously.
If you wait for eighty years, I will believe you.
Tang Haoer grabbed Xie Tian hard and said, "You must finish composing that poem for me before I will consider whether to marry you."
Xie Tian laughed: "What's so difficult about this?"
Putting away his smile, Xie Tian took Tang Hao'er's hands and read the poem carefully, his voice was a little loud, mainly because he was afraid that Tang Hao'er could not hear clearly.
"The spring breeze has just brought green to the branches, and the beautiful lady is already thinking about spring under the tree. When we finally meet the green silk and begonia, we are still haunted by dreams."
Tang Haoer murmured and repeated the two sentences newly added by Xie Tian: "When we finally meet each other, Qingsi Begonia is still haunted by dreams."
"How is it?" Xie Tian looked at Tang Haoer proudly.
Tang Haoer suddenly took out his hand and twisted Xie Tian's arm hard, gritting his teeth and said, "You just think I'm old."
Xie Tian was dumbfounded: "I didn't mean that. Why don't you say something later? It's still haunting me."
Tang Haoer showed his white teeth: "I'll bite you to death."
Xie Tian suddenly laughed. A princess picked up Tang Hao'er from the recliner and kissed her fiercely on the face: "You can have this."
After saying that, Xie Tian turned around and strode towards the house with Tang Haoer in his arms.
Tang Haoer exclaimed: "Big bandit, you can't..."
The next day, the entire Dagushan County was shocked.
Breaking news.
Ninety-eight-year-old Grandma Tang is married.
She was married to a thirty-year-old boy.
The cadre from the Marriage Registration Office of the Civil Affairs Bureau took the two people's ID cards and rushed into the director's office. He stammered: "Bureau Chief, Grandma Tang is getting married."
"Which Grandma Tang?"
"That's Grandma Tang."
"Gungun, what are you talking about? That Grandma Tang is almost a hundred years old."
"Look, this is their ID card. They are in the lobby."
"I'll go." The director took the ID card and jumped three feet high.
On the highway leading from the provincial capital to Dagushan County, the white-haired old man sitting in the back seat kept hitting the senior colonel driver on the head with his cane: "Drive faster, drive faster."
The senior driver grinned in pain and replied: "Grandpa, stop knocking. I am your grandson. I have already driven 160. Can you tell me what happened to Grandma Tang?"
"If I knew what happened, would I still be so anxious? Yesterday, Juanzi called me and said that someone had gone to the silk and satin shop. Madam hugged that person and cried and laughed, and told Juanzi that she didn't have to go there in the future. Again. Drive faster for me, faster, faster, faster."
There were tall horses and sedan chairs, eighteen suonas played hundreds of birds and phoenixes, and gongs were played in front to clear the way. Almost everyone in the county came out to watch the fun.
Ninety-eight-year-old Grandma Tang got married, and she was married to a thirty-year-old boy. No need to ask, this must be for money.
People don't know how much money Grandma Tang has. People only know that many suffocating high-ranking officials come to visit Grandma Tang every year and festivals, and some are even Grandma Tang's grandchildren.
Some people say that the ocean-front buildings in the Taiyuan Military Division Headquarters are the private property of Grandma Tang and are worth a lot of money.
Damn it, that guy is eating soft food and is so proud of it. He is riding on a big horse and clasping his fists in all directions.
Should I find two rotten eggs and throw them at him?
If you can offend those people behind Grandma Tang, just smash them. I can't afford to offend them, but I'm optimistic about you.
The people watching the excitement were talking a lot, but they didn't expect that they would unknowingly follow the wedding procession up the mountain to the Martyrs Cemetery next to Gushan Temple.
Let me go, why are you so unlucky to get married and come here to knit? Is this kid short-sighted?
Seeing the nameless monument and the dense tombstones behind it, Xie Tian's eyes were red and he smiled.
Xie Tian got off his horse and helped Tang Haoer out from the sedan chair. The two of them stood side by side in front of the tombstone. Xie Tian waved to the people from the wedding company to step aside first, then step back, and then step back again.
Well, it’s the uncle who spends the money. You have the final say. We have been doing weddings for so many years, and this is the first time we have held a wedding in a cemetery. I have gained a lot of experience.
Xie Tian held Tang Haoer's little hand tightly and faced the Unknown Monument. He was about to speak when a rapid siren sounded from the crowd. Xie Tian had to interrupt the ceremony and look back.
I saw a Mercedes-Benz car with military plates driving up from the crowd, and drove straight to the big sedan and stopped.
The car door opened, and a white-haired old man rushed out from the back seat of the Mercedes-Benz. He carried a walking stick and ran straight to Xie Tian and Tang Haoer angrily.
When he came to the front, the old man leaned forward and bowed slightly to Tang Haoer, called his wife, then glared at Xie Tian and asked with a dark face: "Who are you?"
Xie Tian looked at the old man with a smile on his face, and cursed in a low voice: "You lazy bitch, I haven't settled the matter with you for drugging me. Don't call me, just stand aside. Wait until I finish the wedding. I’ll take care of you again.”
The old man's eyes widened instantly, and the walking stick in his hand fell to the ground with a bang.
His grandson, the colonel, was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to help the old man.
The old man suddenly grinned and burst into tears. He pushed his grandson away, wiped his tears fiercely to stop his crying, moved his steps and stood to the side behind Xie Tian, with his back straight and straight.
Xie Tian took a deep breath, looked up at the tombstone, held Tang Haoer's hand tightly, and said in a deep voice: "Brothers, I'm here to see you. Today, your sister-in-law and I are holding a wedding in front of you. You guys are so stupid. I will witness the marriage with your sister-in-law, and I will treat you to a wedding banquet today."
One bow, another bow, three bows.
The people from the wedding company used hammers to open the seals of more than a dozen jars of wine on the pickup truck. Xie Tian picked up a jar of wine, and Tang Haoer and Tang Haoer walked towards the tombstones each holding a bowl.
The white-haired old man hurriedly reached out to grab the wine jar that Xie Tian held under his ribs. He grabbed it twice before grabbing it, and looked at Xie Tian helplessly.
There is someone in front of me, I can’t name him.
The grandson of the old man's senior colonel hurriedly stepped forward to take over the old man's place, but Xie Tian loosened his arm at this moment, and the wine jar fell into the old man's arms. A smile suddenly broke out on the old man's face, and he shouted to the grandson who was approaching him: "Get out of here. go."
Xie Tian supported Tang Haoer, and the two of them walked past each tombstone in turn carrying wine bowls, calling the names of the owners of each tombstone, and toasting to them.
Countless people held up their mobile phones to record this bizarre wedding, and some even started a live broadcast. The live broadcast room was as lively as the Spring Festival Railway Station Square, with people saying everything, blessings a lot, and gifts flying out. .
Whether it's a farce or a show, it has to end.
The large sedan chair carried Tang Hao'er back to the Xinglong Silk and Satin Mansion, which had a red "Happy" sign on it. Xie Tian carried Tang Hao'er from the sedan chair through the door. Once the door was closed, no one could see it.
Only the white-haired old man who helped the newcomers carry the wine jar and the old man's grandson followed in, and everyone else declined.
No gifts, no banquets, no interviews, no hospitality, no one to see.
Xie Tian and Tang Haoer were sitting cross-legged on the warm earthen kang in the bridal chamber. Eight dishes were placed on the kang table, and the middle plate contained the delicious Bazhen roast chicken.
Bazhen Roast Chicken has been passed down for several generations, and the taste has been improved many times. Xie Tian can no longer taste the taste of Lao Cui.
The white-haired old man wiped away his tears and looked at the grandson of the colonel who was standing beside him. He stared at his eyes and said, "I've rotted everything you heard and saw today in my stomach. Did you hear that?"
The grandson of the colonel stood at attention and responded loudly: "Yes"
Xie Tian smiled at the colonel's grandson and said, "Don't listen to your grandpa's threats. I'm not afraid of being dragged into slices. Your name is Shaoxuan, right?"
Colonel Sun Tzu stood at attention again: "Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, my name is Shen Shaoxuan."
Xie Tian nodded: "I have something for you to take back. You can figure it out yourself. Just give it to the leader of your army."
"yes"
Xie Tian looked at Tang Haoer and asked, "Can our tunnel still be used?"
Tang Haoer smiled: "I don't know, it's been twenty years since I last went there."
Xie Tian chuckled and moved to the end of the kang, lifted up the mat, revealing a half-meter square thick wooden board on the big kang. He lifted the board with ease, revealing a dark hole underneath.
The white-haired old man looked at the tunnel in surprise. When he saw Xie Tian's legs extending into the tunnel, he hurriedly reached out to hold them and said eagerly: "Commander-in-Chief, I'm going down."
Xie Tian smiled and pushed the old man away: "Xiao Qi, don't mess up your damn old arms and legs with me. Besides, you haven't been down here before, so you don't know how to get there. Wait up there. ,This is an order."
After that, Xie Tian jumped into the tunnel.
Tang Haoer smiled slightly and handed a flashlight to Xie Tian.
Xie Tian took it, smiled at Tang Haoer, and squatted down. No one was there.
Ten minutes later, there was movement at the entrance of the tunnel. Xiaoqi looked down and saw a wet cement block emerging from the tunnel first. He reached out to catch it but failed to catch it. He hurriedly shouted to his grandson: "Catch it quickly, no." A little insight.”
Shen Shaoxuan hurried forward to pick up the cement block that had been lifted out of the tunnel, grinned, picked it up and prepared to put it aside.
Xie Tian's voice came out soon after: "Be careful, the things inside can kill people in this county."
Shen Shao ?”
Xie Tian was shivering from the cold. Tang Haoer hurriedly pulled off the quilt on the kang cabinet where the mandarin ducks were playing in the water and put it on Xie Tian. He scolded: "Going down the well? Why don't you go down in such a cold day?"
As he spoke, Tang Haoer filled a bowl of wine for Xie Tian and handed it to him.
Xie Tian wrapped himself in a quilt and drank the bowl of Maotai in one breath. He breathed a sigh of relief and then answered Shen Shaoxuan: "There are two type 1 cyanide grenades sealed in here. Take them back and give them to your unit chief, they will deal with them. "
Tang Haoer looked at Shen Shaoxuan and said, "Shaoxuan, just tell him that I suddenly remembered this."
Shen Shao
Xie Tian chuckled and reached out to knock on the table in front of the empty wine bowl: "Pour wine, pour wine, come on, come on, have another bowl."
Xiao Qi hurriedly reached out to grab the wine bottle. When she saw Tang Hao'er also stretched out his hand, he retracted his hand angrily, looked at Xie Tian helplessly and asked: "Commander-in-Chief, what are your plans next?"
Xie Tian laughed loudly: "We are already in the peaceful era and there are still stupid plans. Damn it, the great situation I finally created has been turned into this by you lazy idiots. What a good deal." Beaten to a pulp. Forget it, forget it, it’s already like this, today is my wedding night, don’t talk about these spoiling things."
Xie Tian looked at Tang Haoer and said with a smile: "Honey, an ugly daughter-in-law still has to meet her parents-in-law. How about I take you to meet your parents-in-law tomorrow?"
Tang Haoer chuckled: "If you are not afraid that I will scare them, then go ahead. It's a good story for parents-in-law to serve their daughter-in-law."
Xie Tian laughed loudly: "Damn it, I will have to take care of a large family from now on, and I have to find a way to make money to support you. I am worried to death."
Just as Xiao Qi was about to speak, Tang Haoer already chuckled and said: "I think you should just settle down and eat soft food. Two years ago, the Provincial Military Region wanted to build a military history museum in Dayang Building, and came to discuss with me about buying it. That house belongs to you I bought it and sold it without permission. Who told you to leave and not come back for eighty years? The money was all deposited in my name, which is enough for you to spend several lifetimes."
Xie Tian laughed: "It seems that I have the capital to make a comeback again."
Tang Haoer was startled, stared at Xie Tian and asked, "What do you want to do?"
Xie Tian pointed at the rusted shell gun and said to Shen Shaoxuan: "Take this back and let them deal with it. Damn it, I don't have anyone to handle now, otherwise I have to go to Mongolia and Ku Go around Yidao, there is an old debt that I haven’t settled with them yet.”
Xiao Qi looked at Xie Tian excitedly: "Commander-in-Chief, I'll go with you."
Tang Haoer stared at Xie Tian and snorted, hesitated for a moment, turned around, took out a small wooden box from the kang cabinet and handed it to Xie Tian, saying: "They took away the firing pin and bullets, you have to think of something yourself."
Xie Tian opened the wooden box. Lying in the wooden box was the Browning 1911 he had given to Tang Haoer for self-defense. His eyes lit up...
【Complete book】
postscript:
*Tiedan (Xie Jin) later became a famous director and directed many excellent film and television works. He died of illness in 2008.
* Gao Meijuan, who was married to the director of the Forestry Bureau of Dagushan County before liberation, failed to survive those years and committed suicide with her father, Gao Kuirong, a large landowner.
*Li Chunxiang gave birth to a son, named Cui Baoqing. Cui Baoqing inherited his father's business and ran Xiangmanlou. Li Chunxiang and Tang Haoer had been good friends for decades and died of illness in 1997 at the age of 81.
* Pang Yuan, who refused the invitation to form a coalition government in 1949 and lived in seclusion in Hong Kong with his wife and children, died of illness in 1986 at the age of 86.
*Zhao Gang retired in 1974 and resigned as Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. He moved to Shanghai and died of illness in 2003 at the age of 93.
*Xu Jinghao, who was deeply involved in China's nuclear weapons research and development, died of multiple organ necrosis in 1967 at the age of 56. In 2016, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of the Republic by the country's highest authority.
*Chu Yunfei, Commander of the Shenyang Military Region, retired in 1967 and settled in Dagushan County, Shanxi Province in accordance with Xu Jinghao's last wish. He died of illness in 1977. Their ashes were buried in the Cemetery of the Unknown Soldiers next to Gushan Temple. They had no heirs.
*Li Yunlong, commander of the Taiyuan Military Region, had an armed conflict with rebels who planned to criticize Tang Haoer in Dagushan County in 1966. He was hit by a stray bullet and died in vain.
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