Globe Trekker

Chapter 50

Fang Zhichun looked at Wu Ming with complicated eyes, then lowered his head sadly, and did not speak, and the dinner fell silent.

Fang Youchun pondered for a while, seeing that the atmosphere was a little awkward, he broke the silence immediately, and said with a smile: "Xiao Wu, whether you want to listen or not, you are a great benefactor of my Fang family. My wife, sister, and Xiao Xin, They all treat you as their own family, so I won't say any polite words, but just want to ask, what are your plans for the future? Of course, if you don't want to say it, just pretend I didn't ask. "

Wu Ming didn't expect Fang Youchun to be so thoughtful. He probably made such a sophisticated judgment after hearing his wife's narration, and there was something in the words with sharp eyes, which was not easy.

But how could such a perceptive person be framed by others without the power to fight back?Is it because of this bad temper that is not polite and aggressive?Or was it honed out in prison?

Wu Ming's heart turned like electricity and he thought quickly, motioned Lei Peng to pass the cigarette over, took out a struck match and lit it slowly.

Sister-in-law Fang and Fang Zhichun couldn't help being dumbfounded when they saw the string of smoke rings that Wu Ming subconsciously spewed out. They didn't know that Wu Wei was a standard smoker, and they were taking the opportunity to light up a cigarette to think about countermeasures.

"Brother Fang, do you think there is something wrong with my background?" Wu Ming spoke, seemingly friendly but guarded, his originally smiling eyes could no longer see the slightest emotion.

Fang Youchun shook his head: "You are a chivalrous man, courageous, resourceful and talented. No matter what you have done before, it will not damage your impression on me, my wife, children and family. Pity!"

Wu Ming smiled faintly: "Brother Fang, I think you should take care of yourself first. Although the younger brother is alone, he has no worries and cares, and lives freely. You don't need Brother Fang to worry about the younger brother."

As soon as these words came out, there was another burst of silence.

Sister-in-law Fang didn't expect Wu Ming, who had always been good-tempered, to have such a violent reaction, and she invisibly distanced herself from each other, which made her feel a pain in her heart.

Then Wu Ming's reaction made her even more anxious. In the awkward silence, Wu Ming stubbed out the cigarette butt, picked up a bowl full of rice and ate it vigorously.

Wu Ming wiped his mouth, stood up and said goodbye with a smile: "Brother Fang, sister-in-law, and Miss Fang, it's a pleasure to meet you, but I've already wasted a lot of time, so let's take my leave for the time being. Kuiyuan, Lei Peng, pack up thing."

"and many more!"

Fang Youchun stood up and looked at the two young men who came to the bed to pack their luggage: "Take it easy, you two, come and have a full meal. Xiao Wu, where are you going?"

"Go to Hangzhou."

After Wu Ming finished speaking, he turned around and came to Xiao Xin's side, pinching his little face lovingly: "Goodbye, Xiao Xin, grow up quickly!"

Xiaoxin stared blankly at Wu Ming, then suddenly grinned and climbed off the chair, threw herself into her mother's arms, and cried "Wow", "Mom, I don't want uncle to go!"

Wu Ming sighed slightly, glanced at everyone present and bowed his head before leaving.

Fang Youchun quickly stepped forward to block the way: "Well, I'm going to Hangzhou too, let's go together, drop by."

"What are you doing in Hangzhou?" Wu Ming was deeply surprised.

Fang Youchun sighed: "I'm going to avenge my grievances."

Wu Ming was stunned for a long time, then pointed to Sister-in-Law Fang who came by his side: "What about sister-in-law? You can't let her go home alone with her little niece in her arms, can you?"

"go together."

Sister-in-law Fang suddenly expressed her opinion, her face was full of determination.

"I am coming too!"

Fang Zhichun came over to join in the fun with Xiao Xin in his arms.

Lu Kuiyuan looked at each other in blank dismay, neither to leave nor to stay, not knowing what to do.

Fang Youchun pulled Wu Ming to sit down, asked the two guys to put down their suitcases and sit down to eat, and then said sincerely to Wu Ming: "Then let's go together after eating... Today is August 21st, at three o'clock in the afternoon The boss of that boat is my old company commander, and there are seats whenever you go. Sit down and eat first, and leave soon after eating."

After Fang Youchun finished speaking, he ate alone, Wu Ming hesitated, Mrs. Fang looked at Wu Ming expectantly, Fang Zhichun stuffed Xiao Xin into Wu Ming's arms, turned and went out.

Wu Ming hugged the little guy whose tears were still wet, so he had no choice but to go back to the table and sit down again, took Xiao Xin's bowls and chopsticks to accompany him to eat, this meal was really awkward.

# # # # # #
In the afternoon, a group of people came to the pier and boarded the passenger ship bound for Hangzhou smoothly. They saw the bearded and missing arm boat boss hugging Fang Youchun and weeping. Several men who were obviously veterans also hugged Fang Youchun and cried bitterly. Ting, Wu Ming's impression of Fang Youchun is much better. It is definitely not something that a ruthless person can do to make his former subordinates show such deep feelings in front of hundreds of people.

It is a two-and-a-half-story steel-hulled passenger ship more than 80 meters long and equipped with a diesel engine. It has more than 50 seats and more than [-] berths. Its normal speed is [-] kilometers per hour, and the downstream speed is much faster. It is also the Shanghai Jiangnan Machinery Bureau four years ago. Manufactured, this situation was beyond Wu Ming's expectations. He did not expect that the country's industrial base was not poor at this time, and Quzhou actually had such a practical motorized passenger ship.

The semi-open deck on the top floor has a wide view. When the boat was sailing, the bosses of the ship had already set up a table of wine and food to entertain the old boss. Although most of the dishes were cooked food and braised stew, the intention was very touching.

The bosses of the ship still called Fang Youchun the head of the regiment. From the conversation, they could hear that they had visited the prison several times during this period. Until now, they are still in contact with their former comrades-in-arms, trying to find ways to raise money to help Fang Youchun, but they did not expect Fang Youchun to be released from prison so soon.

After listening to Fang Youchun's brief introduction, the bosses of the ship stood up one after another, toasted Wu Ming for four glasses of wine before sitting down, and after a while they reminisced about the old days with their old boss, talking about the First Battle of Longyou and the Northern Expeditionary Army Liu Zhi. When the teacher was beaten until the blood flowed like a river, a group of people choked up many times, and kept chanting the names or nicknames of the dead brothers one by one. Fang Youchun, who always had a poker face, covered his face and sobbed several times, grabbing the old subordinate's Holding on to the arm for a long time, Wu Ming and the two young men at the side all had moist eyes.

The setting sun was setting and the sky was full of red clouds. The bosses of the ship, who had cried and laughed enough, went down to the bilge and started routine inspections, as if they didn't know that Longyou City, where they had shed blood and tears, was on the river bank.

The passenger ship did not stop at Longyou, and when it got farther and farther away from Longyou City and was almost invisible, Fang Youchun, who had recovered, told Wu Ming in a low voice:
"This ship was bought by more than a dozen retired brothers. It travels back and forth on the Quzhou-Hangzhou route every four days. From the day it set sail to now, it has never stopped at Longyou City Wharf."

There was still half of the food and wine on the table, and the dinner was about to start again. Mrs. Fang and Fang Zhichun, who were resting in the first-class cabin on the second floor, were also respectfully invited up by the boat boss and others. A large plate of crabs is indispensable with a jar of famous Quzhou wine Qianjiangchun.

Drinking the low-alcohol but mellow wine in the glass, Wu Ming remembered that starting from the waters of Quzhou, the torrential river under his feet was already called the Qiantang River.

Late at night, Wu Ming, who was physically and mentally exhausted, lay on the second-floor bunk of the first-class cabin. His thoughts were complicated and he couldn't sleep for a long time. Although he closed his eyes, he still habitually recalled the events of the day.

Fang Youchun brought a lot of feelings to Wu Ming. This 38-year-old man from West Zhejiang has a resolute and reticent personality, but unintentionally reveals his weak side, which is also a manifestation of extreme sincerity and love. Once such a person becomes a brother , he will silently do everything he can for you.

Wu Ming thinks that such a person is worthy of admiration and deep friendship, and that he deserves everything he has done for him, instead of being compassionate and sympathetic as before. Husband's Sister-in-Law Fang's face.

After thinking about it, Wu Ming couldn't help but burst out laughing. He didn't expect any repayment at first, he broke up with him when he arrived in Hangzhou, and he didn't know when the next meeting would be. Why was he thinking so much?
In a trance, Wu Ming felt a pair of eyes staring at him. Since Taijin Mountain was rounded up, this intuition has been with Wu Ming. Whenever danger comes, there will always be a sign of danger in his heart. The unknown made him extremely disturbed.

Wu Ming opened his eyes and looked over. Fang Zhichun, who was on the bunk diagonally opposite, quickly closed his eyes, but the twinkling light in her eyes reflected by the stars and moon outside the window had already fallen into Wu Ming's eyes.

Wu Ming's heart beat wildly restlessly, which triggered a physiological reaction. A certain part was as hard as iron, so he could only pretend to turn over, and thus spent a sleepless night full of chaos.

(End of this chapter)