The adults finally decided to send Zhang Xiaoxian to the nearest town health center for further resuscitation. It just so happens that the health center is not far from our village, just on the main road. The conditions of the town health center are indeed a bit poor. But if we go to the county hospital instead of being close, we have to drive more than ten miles. Moreover, it has been raining heavily recently, and it is difficult to walk through the muddy fields. Besides, those days were not like now. Just call the emergency center. There was only one phone in the village and it was still at the brigade headquarters. Even if we called, the ambulance couldn't come to our place. The land was so bumpy that the car would have to sink into it. There was really no other place to go except the town health center.
The adults carried Zhang Xiaoxian in front, and I followed behind. Gradually, more and more people watched the excitement, and several children who usually played together also came over and chased after them. Who knows, Zhang Xiaoxian is the child king of the village of our generation, and there will naturally be no shortage of "loyal" "subordinates".
A child who usually plays well with us asked: "Hey, Zhang Ruoxu! What's wrong with Zhang Xiaoxian?"
"I don't know, maybe his father beat him too hard yesterday. No, let him be sent to the health center for rescue!"
"What? His father beat him yesterday. Is it because we went to the stream to see the big fat man? I also came home and my father took a belt and beat me severely!" The child said, lifting up his shirt. , the scratch marks on several belts are clearly visible.
"Yes, we were all beaten, but Zhang Xiaoxian's father beat him very hard. By the way, have you seen the fingerprints on Zhang Xiaoxian's feet? It will be darker!" I saw that the fingerprints on Zhang Xiaoxian's ankles had deepened. After a few minutes, I asked the playmate who was talking to me.
"Fingerprints? Where are there any fingerprints? You didn't see them, maybe you were dazzled!" This simple toy companion's reply made my heart skip a beat. I was very curious, how could they find such obvious five-fingerprints? Can't you see it?
After all, I am still a child and my physical strength cannot keep up with these adults. They move faster and faster. Being frail and sick, I gradually couldn't keep up, so I had to change from brisk walking to trotting. Who knew, as soon as I picked up the speed, I stumbled. This fall was really bad for me, who was wearing shorts and a vest. My knees and forearms were all scratched. Mixed with the dirty water from the street, I turned into a little clay figure.
Besides, the land in this village is really no better than the asphalt roads in the city. Pebbles and cat and dog poop can be seen everywhere. This fall really hit me hard, not to mention I was dirty, and my body was even torn. However, seeing the group of people carrying Zhang Xiaoxian walking further and further away, I ignored the pain and prepared to get up to chase them. Just as I got up, my longevity lock fell into my eyes. It turns out that the big fall I just made knocked out my longevity lock.
That is the longevity lock that has been on my neck since I was born. Seeing it lying quietly in front of me, I don’t know what it feels like. In fact, this longevity lock can really protect me. After all, I rarely see evil spirits after wearing it. Moreover, if I had always worn the longevity lock, would I not have been crushed by a ghost last night? This thing has become my most precious thing, and I never want to throw it away. I was just laughed at by the naughty kids in the village yesterday and threw it away on a whim. I was afraid that this precious longevity lock would leave me again, so I quickly grabbed it and put it around my neck again, for fear of losing it again.
The adults have long steps and fast legs and feet. In the time it took for me to fall to the ground and pick up the longevity lock, they had already carried Zhang Xiaoxian to the town health center. A large group of people gathered at the door. Why did they go in? That was still blocked out by the big white coat. I squeezed my way to the front and saw a white sheet spread on the ground. Zhang Xiaoxian was lying on it and was being examined all over by a man wearing glasses, Dabai.
Not even two minutes after the examination, the optician doctor shook his head repeatedly and said something to Zhang Xiaoxian's father. There were too many people at the scene, and I couldn't hear what it was about. I only saw Zhang Xiaoxian's father, a man as strong as an ox, sitting on the ground, crying like me for free, but the difference was that his hands were tightly closed. Pulling his hair. The crying was really loud, and her eyes were bloodshot. In the end, several adults in the village forced their hands away before she stopped.
I wanted to go to Zhang Xiaoxian's father and tell him about Zhang Xiaoxian's fingerprints, but before I could get close, I was stopped by a nurse from the town health center, who waved at me repeatedly to signal me to keep quiet. Indeed, it's already this time, and it will be even more annoying if a child like me comes to cause trouble.
Turning to look at Zhang Xiaoxian again, his face was completely bruised, and he even saw red deposits on his back. Driven by curiosity, he looked at Zhang Xiaoxian's left ankle again. Precisely because no one could see it, only I could see the fingerprints on his ankle. However, when I looked at it again this time, I was so frightened that I was speechless...
The fingerprints that were so obvious and clear on Zhang Xiaoxian's left ankle just now disappeared...
This is my biggest psychological shadow. Not long ago, I saw a woman dragging Zhang Xiaoxian out of his house. At that time, the fingerprints on her ankles were clearly visible. In just one meal, the fingerprints were gone.
The adults didn't stay long, but a pair of uncles and aunties from the village squatted in front of Zhang Xiaoxian's father and persuaded him harmoniously for a long time. Zhang Xiaoxian's father finally gained some strength and was able to stand up and walk out a little bit.
Then, this group of adults carried Zhang Xiaoxian home again. The ophthalmologist at the town health center said that he was too late and he should go home to take care of his affairs! As a young person, I already knew what death was, but I still didn’t understand the specific concept of death. I foolishly thought that the woman who took Zhang Xiaoxian away took him away and would never come back again. Not being able to see my parents, not being able to see my friends, it’s like being cut off from us and never showing up.
At that time, I only felt sad and burst into tears. I couldn't bear to see our leading brother leave like this.
As for the so-called fear of dirty things, I think it is because of my unlucky eyes. After all, there is a saying, out of sight, out of mind, I see things I shouldn’t see, that is, unknown things. Naturally, he is afraid of three points, just like a tiger in Guizhou Province seeing a donkey.
Crying and fussing, and fussing and fussing, since I will never see Zhang Xiaoxian, the brother I chase after my butt for fun, I just want to sneak into his house quickly, see him one last time, and say goodbye or something like that.
It wasn't until I went to Zhang Xiaoxian's house that I discovered that his house was in complete chaos, with many neighbors surrounding the courtyard entrance. Zhang Xiaoxian's father did not go in. He squatted at the door of the yard, his eyes were red and swollen, and tears fell from time to time. He banged his head against the wall from time to time, muttering something unknown. Zhang Xiaoxian's mother sat in the yard with her legs crossed, crying. She screamed, and her mouth was still hanging open. My mother and several aunts were comforting her. After crying too much, her tears dried up and her throat became hoarse, leaving only her squeaking and howling.
Apart from Zhang Xiaoxian's parents, the village chief and several elders started organizing the funeral arrangements.
I took full advantage of my small size as a child, squeezed through the crowd, and ran into the inner room. At this time, Zhang Xiaoxian had already put on new clothes, but his face was covered with a square white cloth.
We all know that for weddings, the bride’s face should be covered with a red hijab, but why did Zhang Xiaoxian wear a white hijab? I was still young at that time and didn't understand simple things, so I took off the white hijab covering Zhang Xiaoxian's face. His face was still livid and expressionless, as if he was asleep, but it was gone. The air came in and out, so the adults concluded that he was dead.
"What a sin! Zhang Fuguo, I will fucking smash you to death!" Zhang Xiaoxian in the yard suddenly jumped into a rage. She didn't even care that the stove tiles, which were blackened by firewood, were hot to her hands. She picked up a stove tile and rushed towards it. Zhang Xiaoxian's father hit him hard. He only aimed at Zhang Xiaoxian's father's head, not paying attention to the upper beam of the courtyard door, but the force was so strong that the solid wooden beam was broken in one turn.
"Zhang Fuguo, you are a man who has been stabbed a thousand times. You beat my son to death. It's all your fault. Is there anyone who beats a child with such cruelty as you? Give my son his life!" Zhang Xiaoxian's mother went crazy, her face was red and her neck was thick. The ground roared. Seeing that there was a hatchet for chopping firewood on the ground, he picked up the hatchet in his hand, rounded his arms, and roared loudly: "My son is gone, and I don't want to live anymore. I will die with you. Let's go down together to accompany you." Go kid."
This posture was really scary. Zhang Xiaoxian's father did not dodge or dodge, but the neighbors in the yard were so frightened that they did not dare to neglect them. Several of them rushed up at once and finally pulled her out of control. Back to the house.
I was so frightened that I quickly closed the door to the back room. Just like that, I heard her screaming at the door: "Let me go, let me go. Zhang Fuguo, you murderer, you killed my son, I If you don’t live anymore, you can’t live either!”
With Zhang Xiaoxian's mother looking so crazy, I didn't dare to open the door. Maybe this crazy woman would lose control and chop me alive.
Now, in this cramped room, there are only me and Zhang Xiaoxian who is completely cold. Looking at Zhang Xiaoxian who is as calm as if she is asleep, I feel quite uncomfortable. Although he often bullied me, he also brought me to play with him! I saw that there was dust on Zhang Xiaoxian's left arm and it was a little dirty, so I thought about reaching out and cleaning it for him. After all, Zhang Xiaoxian has always been a clean child. If he really went to another world, he definitely wouldn't want to go there so dirty, right?
At this time, I consciously took off my vest with a small hole in the back, grabbed it into a ball, stood on tiptoes, and tried my best to reach for Zhang Xiaoxian's left arm.
My naked upper body was already attached to Zhang Xiaoxian's body, and the longevity lock hanging around my neck naturally attached itself to Zhang Xiaoxian, rubbing back and forth in front of his crossed hands.
Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoxian's locked eyes opened. At the same time, his hands pulled off the longevity lock hanging around my neck. Then, Teng sat upright with a shiver. I was so frightened that I fell down and squatted down. The teapot on the bedside table was also touched and fell to the ground.
Such a loud movement alarmed everyone in the house and courtyard, and they all crowded into the house.
"Zhang...Zhang Xiaoxian...Zhang Xiaoxian, okay..." Zhang Xiaoxian yelled in surprise.
My mother also squeezed in. Seeing me here, she lifted me up from the ground and asked, "What are you doing here, you bastard? Why did Zhang Xiaoxian suddenly wake up?"
"I...I don't know! I just saw that Zhang Xiaoxian's left side was dirty, so I stretched out my hand to wipe it. Who knew, Zhang Xiaoxian sat up on his own and snatched my longevity lock in his hand." I am most afraid of my mother. As soon as she glares at me, I will immediately be honest and tell the truth.
Before his mother could speak to blame, Zhang Xiaoxian made another move. He held his stomach and cried out in pain. He reached for the spittoon and said he was going to vomit. Before the spittoon was brought over, he rolled his eyes and his face, which was green just now, suddenly turned red. Red, his whole body twitched involuntarily, and his legs kicked up from the waist, forming a perfect ninety-degree right angle between his upper body and his lower body.
Several adults noticed that he was about to vomit wildly, and hurriedly stepped forward to support him. Then Zhang Xiaoxian let out a "wow" sound, and spat out a large mouthful of sewage. There were rotten fishing nets, silt, and smelly river inside. Shrimp, after all, are just a big mess. The filth spit out smells so bad, it's like corpse water from a rotten corpse.
At this time, Fifth Grandpa also came forward to take a look. He could not help frowning and sighed: "Oh, this river god is destined not to be reborn." Then, he coaxed all the onlookers out, He pinched Zhang Xiaoxian's brow. Zhang Xiaoxian slumped down like a frustrated baby, like a puddle of mud. Zhang Xiaoxian's parents cried and screamed again, but Zhang Xiaoxian's face gradually turned rosy and she became a little angry.
Grandpa Wu said to Zhang Xiaoxian’s parents: “Fortunately, the time for the earth’s soul to leave the body has not passed yet, so the baby can be saved.”
As soon as Grandpa Wu said that Zhang Xiaoxian was saved, and then saw that Zhang Xiaoxian's breathing had stabilized, her cold body had warmed up again, and she suddenly felt energetic. By chance, the doctor from the village also came, but the first thing he asked when he came in was where the deceased was. Just those words made Zhang Xiaoxian's father almost slap him on the stool! I bet this doctor had already regarded Zhang Xiaoxian as a dead child. This time he came here to do an autopsy and report, and then issue a death certificate.
However, when he saw the weak Zhang Xiaoxian, the village doctor was also stunned. He did not expect that Zhang Xiaoxian, who had lost his breath for a long time, could regain his health. Then he started to check, felt his pulse, listened to his heartbeat, and then said: "This baby is so lucky, he really survived! Now, his life is not in danger, but his body and bones are too weak. If he can't take care of him, Okay, there will still be danger, and you must rest." Then he sat down and prescribed a few medicines on a piece of paper, told people to go to the clinic to pick up the medicine, and left.
After a false alarm, everyone dispersed after seeing that Zhang Xiaoxian had regained consciousness and could speak. As for Zhang Xiaoxian's father and mother, who were dying just now, when they saw that their precious son had come back to life, they hugged each other and cried. My mother knew that this occasion was not suitable for outsiders to be present, so she called out to Grandpa Wu and took me home. .
Zhang Xiaoxian's family was happy. It is rare to see great joy after great tragedy. On the contrary, Grandpa Wu’s face became serious, and he called me out alone and said some words that I couldn’t quite understand.
"Zhang Ruoxu, where is your longevity lock?"
When Fifth Grandpa suddenly asked, I panicked. I was afraid that Fifth Grandpa would blame me, so I hid Zhang Xiaoxian's taking away the longevity lock. He lied and said: "During the day, when I was chasing Zhang Xiaoxian to the town, I accidentally fell down and couldn't find him when I got up again."
Sure enough, Fifth Grandpa got angry and shouted: "What? How dare you throw away such an important thing! You bastard!"
As he said this, he was about to hit me with his hand. Seeing that he was really going to hit me, tears burst out from my eyes. In the end, Fifth Grandpa did not take action. He could only shake his head helplessly and said to me: "Zhang Ruoxu, you kid is short-lived and has too few horoscopes. Especially your eyes, sooner or later something will go wrong. Forget it. , there is no way to get the longevity lock back if you lose it. In the future, be careful to go to crowded places; never walk alone at night; don’t be curious about any ghosts and strange things you see, just pretend you didn’t see it. .Okay, Si Mingzhi belongs to me, it’s up to you what kind of life you, this kid, can have!”
After saying that, the fifth grandpa left... not long after leaving, my mother came out from the kitchen with a plate. Seeing that the fifth grandpa had left, she asked me, "Zhang Ruoxu, are you the fifth grandpa?"
"He left and said that it's up to me how I can live."
At this time, my father also came out of the house smoking a dry cigarette, moved a small bench to sit in front of the wooden table, opened the Erguotou and started to drink by himself.
Later, the Fifth Grandpa disappeared. Some people said that he went to the mountains for spiritual cultivation, while others said that he revealed the secret of heaven and was summoned away by evil spirits. The legends are all kinds of strange, and there are many different theories...
The strange thing that happened to Zhang Xiaoxian became a topic of conversation among the neighbors after dinner, but gradually it was forgotten by everyone. I was the only one who could still see the fingerprints on Zhang Xiaoxian’s left ankle. I mentioned the fingerprints on Zhang Xiaoxian’s ankle to him more than once, but Zhang Xiaoxian’s answer was, nonsense, why can’t I see it?
Later, my father went to work in the county town and followed a good contractor. After a few years of hard work, he had some money and bought a small two-bedroom apartment in the county town. I have also reached school age. In order for me to receive a better education, my mother happened to have no job, so the family left the old house and moved to a new house in the county. On the day of moving, I went to say goodbye to Zhang Xiaoxian. As for my longevity lock, I didn't ask him to get it back because I knew it was the longevity lock that saved him.
Several years later, my father himself became a reassuring contractor and began to take jobs in provincial capitals. Dad was making more and more money, and our lives were getting better and better. Naturally, our family moved to the provincial capital, lived in a brand new three-bedroom apartment, and lived like city dwellers. Our family moved further and further away, and in that era when communications were not very developed, we completely lost contact with Zhang Xiaoxian's family.
However, the fingerprints on his ankles are still fresh in my memory, and I have been thinking about them in my heart. Since Zhang Xiaoxian woke up, those fingerprints appeared again. I wonder if the big fat man who drowned in the stream by the village hasn't let him go yet? However, as long as the longevity lock is always with him, he should be fine.
Later, as time accumulated, I grew up day by day, and soon I was about to enter the first grade of elementary school. In this year, I met Zhang Xiaoxian again, and this meeting was like goodbye forever.
