Scarlet Romance

Chapter 26
The wedding of Zhang Haiyang and Wei Hong was scheduled to be held at Taiyue Restaurant. Zhang Haiyang strictly limited the number of guests to a dozen or so people, all of whom were relatively close.Wei Hong originally wanted to invite all his classmates from the police officer university and colleagues from the criminal police team, but Zhong Yuemin refused with a sullen face: "Xiao Wei, isn't it just a marriage? Why are you so mobilizing teachers and people? Can we not learn Those ordinary people? Let me declare in advance, if you insist on inviting so many people in police uniforms, then find another place, I will not accept them here."

Wei Hong was very upset: "Brother Zhong, why are you like this? What's wrong with the police uniform? Aren't Haiyang and I both wearing police uniforms?"

Zhong Yuemin said coldly: "Xiao Wei, you talk too much, let Zhang Haiyang talk."

Zhang Haiyang has been silent for a long time. He is very conflicted. As an old comrade in arms, he knows Zhong Yuemin too well. He knows that Zhong Yuemin has not yet escaped from the shadow of Ning Wei's death.Recently, he has disliked everyone, and even vented his anger on the sniper who shot and killed Ning Wei for no reason. He thought that the sniper's psychological quality was too poor, and he shot before he knew Ning Wei's intentions. If so, the ending of that day would not be so bad, at least that girl, she can survive.Zhang Haiyang knew that he was in a dead end, and he couldn't get out of that depressed mood for a while, so he blamed all the people in police uniforms.

Zhang Haiyang calmly said to Wei Hong: "Xiao Wei, this is not a big deal. Since Yuemin doesn't like people from the criminal police team, let's invite them another day. Why make him unhappy."

In private, Wei Hong complained to Zhang Haiyang not without jealousy: "Haiyang, is your comrade-in-arms an imperial decree? Except for him, I have never seen you so submissive to anyone."

Zhang Haiyang just kept silent, without any explanation. He felt that it was difficult to explain his relationship with Zhong Yuemin to Wei Hong.He cherishes his friendship with Zhong Yuemin, and he doesn't want to make trouble with Zhong Yuemin over such a trivial matter.

Zhong Yuemin did not preside over Cheng Zhang Haiyang's wedding after all.On the morning of the wedding, he suddenly received a call. Gao Yue found that his face suddenly became gloomy when he answered the phone, and she had a premonition that something had happened, but she would not take the initiative to ask.She knows that if Zhong Yuemin thinks it is necessary to tell her, he will take the initiative to tell her, otherwise, it is useless for you to ask.

Zhong Yuemin hung up the phone and lit a cigarette in a daze. He was silent for a while before asking in a low voice: "Xiao Gao, do we have any cash on hand?"

"There are more than 2 yuan, which is the business income from yesterday."

"Bring them all to me."

Gao Yue took out the cash and handed it to Zhong Yuemin without asking.He glanced at Gao Yue gratefully, and explained: "It's Li Kuiyong's younger brother who called. Li Kuiyong has just been diagnosed with lung cancer, and it's already at an advanced stage."

Gao Yue was startled: "Have you been admitted to the hospital?"

"No, he didn't go to the hospital. I think it might be because of financial reasons. I have to go and see him. Please help Zhang Haiyang's wedding today, and apologize to his wife for me."

Gao Yue put the cash into Zhong Yuemin's bag, she put her arms around Zhong Yuemin and kissed and said, "Go quickly, don't worry about here, I will explain to Zhang Haiyang and his wife. Yuemin, I just want to tell you that if your friend It takes money to treat a disease, you can sell the restaurant, after all, life is at stake, this matter is up to you, don't take my opinion into account."

Zhong Yuemin hugged Gao Yue tightly and said in a low voice, "Thank you, thank you, Xiao Gao, I really appreciate you..."

Zhong Yuemin has not been to Li Kuiyong's house for more than 30 years. Li Kuyong's house is still in the courtyard on Nanheng Street, Xuanwu District, in the same two houses as before.He was surprised that Li Kuiyong's home has not changed significantly compared with 30 years ago.This courtyard probably has a history of over a hundred years, and covers a large area. It is estimated that it used to be the courtyard of a wealthy family, but now it does not look like the old scenery, because the courtyard in the true sense has long since disappeared, and it is covered everywhere. The houses were disorganized, and there was only a path that was only enough for one person to walk in the former yard.The straight-line distance from the courtyard gate to Li's house is estimated to be 30 meters, but Zhong Yuemin encountered five 5-degree right-angle bends on this trail. The son crashed into the kitchen of a family that was cooking.Zhong Yuemin wondered why Beijing was demolished everywhere, and high-end residential complexes were popping up everywhere, why there is no movement here at all, and it still keeps the same as it was decades ago.

Li Kuiyong's younger brothers and sisters have all married and moved out. Only Li Kuiyong, who returned to Beijing from Shaanxi in the mid-20s, has no house. His work unit also put forward a frustrating condition when accepting him. Do not submit a housing request to the unit, otherwise it will not be accepted.Li Kuiyong's family of three lived with his mother in the two rooms left behind by his father. His 80-year-old son and grandma lived in the outer room, and Li Kuiyong and his wife lived in the inner room.Li Kuiyong's mother suffered from Alzheimer's disease two years ago and lost all memory. Every day she just sat on the edge of the bed without saying a word except for lethargy. At this time, the old man was lying on the bed and lethargic.

Zhong Yuemin hadn't seen Li Kuiyong for more than a year, but he was surprised when he saw him.Li Kuiyong has completely changed his appearance. He is so thin that his clothes seem to be hanging on his body, making him look empty.His face was swollen and deformed, his skin was dark black, exuding an aura of death.When Zhong Yuemin entered, Li Kuiyong was coughing violently. His wife Wang Shufen and elder brother Li Kuiyuan were helping him beat his back.

Zhong Yuemin felt very sad. At this time, he didn't know what to say, so he just said in a low voice: "Kui Yong, I just found out that you are sick, you should have told me earlier."

Li Kuiyong smiled and said, "Yuemin, are you here? Let me introduce you. This is my wife Wang Shufen. You have met my brother Kui Yuan before, so I don't need to introduce you."

Wang Shufen is a rural woman, rather ugly, she nodded timidly to Zhong Yuemin, and then went to the outhouse with Li Kuiyuan.

Li Kuiyong said: "Yuemin, my wife is a rural girl who has never seen the world, and dare not speak when she meets strangers. You are laughing at me."

Zhong Yuemin smiled: "It must be quite capable."

"It's ugly, isn't it?"

"Normally, as long as you look pleasing to the eye."

"The problem is that I don't like it very much, but she has a good heart, and I can only find such a daughter-in-law under my condition. Although this kind of girl looks bad, once you follow her, she will be determined, which makes people very sad. rest assured."

"Your mother also needs someone to take care of her. If she finds a girl from the city, she won't be bothered to take care of the elderly, so you can't let you take care of all the good things."

"Yuemin, I still remember that the last time you came to my house was 30 years ago. You asked me to go to the Tianqiao Theater to buy tickets for the dance drama "Red Detachment of Women". Years have passed, and when I think about it, it’s like what happened yesterday. Yuemin, I invite you here today for no other purpose than to say goodbye to you, and I’m leaving.”

"Don't say that. If you get sick, you have to be cured. We all have confidence. I'm not here to say goodbye to you. I've already contacted the hospital for you. I'll accompany you there in a while. Anyway, you can't be so negative at home. wait."

"Yuemin, you don't need to comfort me. I'm afraid I don't believe what you said. It's already late, why spend this unjustified money? The current hospital is dark, like a bottomless pit, and no amount of money can be thrown into it to fill it up. We Don't be stupid, the result is the same if you don't treat it."

"What's this called? You don't have to worry about money, I'll take care of it. Let's be friends, can you listen to me today, let's go to the hospital first?"

"Brother, you should understand me. It's useless for anyone to persuade me to do anything I want to do. Let's not talk about it, okay? You and I have known each other for decades, and we rarely see each other without quarreling. Now I'm leaving. Just don't bother me, okay?"

Zhong Yuemin was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to say. Facing such a poor family, he felt that whatever he said was nonsense, and he couldn't do anything else except give a little money. .The taxi company where Li Kuiyong works is a collectively owned unit. The medical expenses are covered by a lump sum policy. Every year, only 200 yuan of medical expenses are paid per person. If the medical expenses exceed 200 yuan, they have to pay out of their own pockets.Zhong Yuemin knows that now the 200 yuan medical expenses can't even afford a cold, and the rich don't care, only ordinary people like Li Kuiyong who have no power and power suffer.Li Kuiyong is right. There can be no equality in this world. Generally speaking, everyone's destiny is doomed from birth.Zhong Yuemin remembers that Li Kuiyong used to be very proud of his worker background. In the past, the brand of the working class was so resounding, and it was also called the "leading class". The workers have been helplessly reduced to the bottom of the society and become a vulnerable group.Thinking of this, Zhong Yuemin felt very bitter.

"Yuemin, do you believe in Buddhism?"

"No, I don't have any religious beliefs, but I absolutely respect religion."

"I didn't believe it before. Later, I got in touch with a few people who believed in Buddhism and often chatted with them. I gradually became interested in Buddhism. It's just that I was too busy with work at that time. Think about it, I As soon as I woke up, before I opened my eyes, I owed the company more than 200 yuan for the "car share". After thinking about it, I finally thought of Buddhism. It is also a very enjoyable thing to think about things in my heart quietly, and I feel better in my heart. Yuemin, would you like to hear it?"

"Of course, I'm here to chat with you today. How many years have we not had a good chat? It's rare to get together. Let's chat enough today. Tell me, I'm listening. "

"That time in the hospital, the doctor called my younger brother to the office to talk and closed the door. I understood in my heart that it seemed that my illness was a bit near-term. When Kui Yuan came out, I could see that he had cried. Our Chinese hospitals are not good at this point. Anyone who has a terminal illness will do everything possible to hide it, fearing that the patient will not think about it, and some patients are willing to cooperate with the doctor to pretend to be stupid and fool themselves. When we arrived, we had to go. At that time, I grabbed Kui Yuan and said, "You're grown up, aren't you? Dare to hide something from me. I know, my illness can't be cured, right? Today you If you don’t tell me, I’ll beat you.” Kui Yuan cried at the time and said, “Brother, the doctor has diagnosed lung cancer at the advanced stage, and the doctor said that he should be hospitalized immediately.” I said, “Since it’s already in the advanced stage, why should I stay in the hospital?” Isn’t this throwing money into the water? In the end, it’s nothing more than people dying and the living going bankrupt. Let’s go, let’s go home’. That night I suffered from insomnia. , I still can’t sleep. I thought about it a lot, and first I felt that this life is too useless. You think, I have never lived a day of comfort in my life. When I was young, there were many children in my family, and it was all my father who earned money to support the family. Originally life was tight, but it happened to catch up with the difficult period of three years, I only remember that in those years I was often hungry so that my belly stuck to my back, and there were always little stars flying around in my eyes, and that feeling will never be forgotten in my life."

When I was 14 years old, as soon as my father passed away, my eldest son took over the management of the family. Thanks to socialism, my father’s unit still issued pensions to my family every month according to the regulations. Otherwise, our family But it will be miserable.do you know?These are the wealthiest years in our family’s history, because the state stipulates that pensions are distributed according to the family size. Although each person is only a dozen yuan, but my family has a large population, this is an advantage. The salary is still high, it's quite bitter to think about it carefully, such a cheap price is actually exchanged for my father's life.Later, I went to Shaanxi to jump in the queue, and you have experienced those days too. We are a poor village, and the wages are 5 cents a day for many years, and we still owe money after a year of hard work.In order to earn some money to send to my family, I worked hard every day, and even volunteered to carry rocks on the reservoir construction site. Once the project landslide buried me alive. After I was rescued, I was in a coma for two days and two nights. Three ribs on the left side were broken and he vomited blood.I rested for a month, and went to the construction site when my injury was not healed. In fact, no one forced me to go. It was because I was reluctant to give up the full meals on the construction site and the wages of one yuan a day.I lived like this for four full years, and in 3 I was assigned to work in the field wiring team of the County Electric Power Bureau.I finally have a salary. I am really content. I send half of my salary home every month. I am reluctant to buy even my own clothes. I wear work clothes all the year round. No matter how hard or tired I am, I will firmly remember it. That said, I don't just live for myself, I also have my mother and a large group of younger brothers and sisters at home. I am the eldest son and have to take this responsibility.During this period, I had a good friend, an educated youth in Xi'an. Although she looked ordinary, she had a good personality. We had a good relationship for 4 years, and we finally broke up. I can’t blame her. The situation in my family is obvious. Which woman It is impossible to have a good life by marrying me. She hesitated for a long time, coupled with the pressure from her parents, and finally made up her mind to break up with me.I’m not afraid of your jokes. We’ve been dating for 1974 years. I’ve never touched her. Give me your body, and it's not in vain for us to have a good relationship.I'm not a saint, if there is a woman you like crying and insisting on sleeping with you, can you bear it?At that time, my heart was broken, and I said, what's the matter with love, I'll do it first and then talk about it.But I'm sorry to say that I didn't get anything done that night.Think about it, a woman who has been with me for several years will leave you forever, this feeling is so desperate, she and I were in such a state of despair that night, even wanting to die Yes, why would you want to do that?It's no wonder it's not impotent.We just hugged each other for one night, and when she left the next day we were very calm. Since we all know that we can't be together in this life, it's better to break up peacefully. Long-term pain is worse than short-term pain. I have never seen her again since. she.To be honest, I can't forget her, she is the only woman I have ever loved in my life, and I don't think I will ever have this feeling of love again.Later, I was introduced to my current daughter-in-law. As you saw just now, she is ugly, her brain is not very clear, and she is basically illiterate.Even in the rural areas of northern Shaanxi, her family is considered a poor household, which is exactly the same as my family's situation, so don't dislike anyone.This is my fate, I have to accept my fate, what is all hope of despair, maybe that's it?I have been poor all my life, and no matter how hard I try, I can't get rid of this poverty. Now that I really admit it, how can people earn their lives.I have struggled all my life, but in the end not only my status quo has not changed, but the status quo of my relatives has not changed either. Even among my friends, I am a useless person. If I get mixed up with this, I should have been eliminated long ago.

Zhong Yuemin stopped his words: "Kui Yong, it is very unfair for you to evaluate yourself like this. You have done enough, not to mention your relatives, even my friend, I have accepted you in the most difficult time. I, Zhong Yuemin, will never forget. I remember that you said to me at that time, 'When everyone has bad luck, if you are a man, you have to grit your teeth and carry it'. Kui Yong, do you know? Just such a sentence At that time, my tears flowed out all at once. When people are frustrated, their feelings are the most fragile. Kui Yong, we are friends, and friends should help each other. I have accepted your help, and now I am My situation is better, and I am able to help my friends, I hope you will not reject me."

Zhong Yuemin took out the 2 yuan in cash and said: "Kui Yong, since you don't want to be admitted to the hospital, I think I should respect your choice, please accept the money, it's not much, it can only be used for emergencies. I'll send some more money in a few days."

Li Kuiyong looked at Zhong Yuemin and said, "Yuemin, what if I don't accept it?"

"Then I'll turn around and leave. I won't have you as a friend ever since, remember? You once said this to me, and it's my turn to say it today."

Li Kuiyong sighed and complained: "You, you always don't suffer. You still remember what I said, and you threw it back to me as it is. You are strong enough for revenge. Well, I just accept it. Let's talk about it." Something else."

Zhong Yuemin asked: "You just mentioned that you are interested in Buddhism. What's the matter? I remember that you are also a person without religious beliefs."

Li Kuiyong coughed violently again, Zhong Yuemin beat his back quickly, and it took a while to calm down.Li Kuiyong spit out a lot of bloody phlegm. He wiped the blood on the corner of his mouth with a towel and said, "I have a friend who believes in Buddhism. He told me that Buddhism believes in reincarnation and that everyone has a past life and a future life. Well, if you do a lot of good deeds, you will be reborn as a human in your next life and live a happy life. On the other hand, if you often do evil in this life, you may not be a human in your next life, but may become some kind of animal. Of course, Becoming an animal is not completely hopeless. After several reincarnations, you may be able to reincarnate as a human again, but the fate of this person’s life will not be very good, and I am afraid that he will suffer for a lifetime. Buddhism pays attention to karma, and evil must be punished. Just like a debt that must be repaid, if it is not repaid in this life, it must be repaid in the next life. My friend said that his master has a very high level of cultivation, and has opened the "eye of the sky", which can see people's past lives at a glance. Once, when his master was shopping, he entered a large shopping mall. As soon as he entered, he saw that the shopping mall was full of people, and at this moment his "eyes of heaven" opened. It didn't matter if he opened it. He found that the shopping mall immediately became After entering the zoo, there are animals everywhere, ranging from mice to elephants. His master was very puzzled at the time, thinking that there are too many animals in this mall. Although you can see some animals when you go to the mall in the past, after all, there are a lot of people. The proportions will not vary too much. Later, the old man realized after thinking about it. It turns out that this shopping mall is located in a poor area of ​​the city, and the residents here are all people who are engaged in the lowest jobs. People were animals in their previous lives, so it’s no wonder they were poor. I was an animal in my previous life, which is too hopeless..."

Zhong Yuemin couldn't help laughing: "According to Darwin's theory of evolution, human beings are transformed from animals. The rich and the poor are the same. They were trilobites or single-celled organisms at the beginning. There is nothing to lose. "

Li Kuiyong also smiled: "I originally wanted to ask that expert to look at my previous life. Even animals should be a little different, right? Tigers and mice are both animals, but can these two types of animals be compared? One is The first level of national protection of animals, one is to eliminate the "four pests". Later, I still did not dare to let people see, why? The main reason is that I have no idea, in case I was recognized as a rat in my previous life, and I was still poisoned by rats If I die from the medicine, then I really don’t have the courage to live anymore, it’s so desperate.”

Zhong Yuemin didn't speak, he was a realist, he didn't care about the past life or the next life, he didn't care about reincarnation.

Li Kuiyong coughed again, and continued: "Of course, this is all a joke. I asked that buddhist friend, can people stop reincarnation? Regardless of whether the next life is a human or an animal, I'm so fucking annoyed, what am I I don’t even want to be, it’s better for me to never be reincarnated. He said that unless your practice reaches a very high level, then you can enter the Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, and only at this level can you stop reincarnation. This is not something ordinary people can do. I heard After hearing his answer, I immediately felt despondent, and felt very unhappy. Think about it, in this endless reincarnation, which life is the end? This life is really boring. If you want to talk about why people live, everyone I can give a lot of reasons. If you want me to say, people live to survive, and there is no other purpose. Since you came to this world, you have to try to survive, and you have to work hard to support yourself. If you have children, You still have to raise the child, and when the child grows up, you will also be old, and you will not be far from death, this life is just passing by, if there is any meaning in it, I don’t think it is meaningless.”

Zhong Yuemin smiled: "Your conclusion is very straightforward. In fact, many things are originally so simple, but they are artificially complicated. As a person, he came to this world without the possibility of choice and without purpose. "

Li Kuiyong held out his hand to Zhong Yuemin: "Give me a cigarette."

"Brother, isn't this good? Smoking will make your illness worse, so you'd better bear with it."

"It's already like this. There is no difference between smoking one more cigarette and one less cigarette. Let's break it."

"That's true. I fell into the well, and my ears are still hanging? Even if you want to smoke white noodles at the moment, I can't refuse you." Zhong Yuemin lit the cigarette for him.

Li Kuiyong took a deep breath of the cigarette: "I haven't smoked for several days, my daughter-in-law hides all the cigarettes, as if I can get better if I quit smoking, you are enough to understand the mind of a dying person, and chat with you I am very relaxed. Yuemin, when I knew I had an incurable disease, how do you think I felt?"

"Probably very happy, because you are too tired and impatient to live, and you want to rest once and for all, don't you?"

Li Kuiyong gave Zhong Yuemin a punch excitedly: "That's right, you still understand me, you are very smart. To be honest, I was very happy at that time, just like looking forward to the New Year when I was a child. I felt that I was living too much. Tired, not only tired, but also without hope. I remember doing tiring work when jumping in the queue. When I was the most tired, I looked forward to finishing work, because after finishing work, you can take a bath on the well platform, and the whole night is at your disposal. This is the most relaxing moment of the day. This is the most specific hope. Without this hope, I might not be able to hold on and call it a day. But in terms of the whole life, I can't find it. No matter how hard I struggle I can't change the status quo, this is life. Sometimes I stare at my son for an hour, and I think, maybe it was a mistake for me to bring this kid into this world. This kid is with me, since he was a child I don’t like to study, and I get sleepy when I read books, but I have some talent in fighting. Look at my virtues now, and his future virtues. There is not much difference. Don’t expect him to be admitted to university and find a decent job in the future. It's no use, he is just a rough job material, and it would be good if he can make a living. In the future, social competition will be more intense. Will a simple-minded young man like this have to suffer from poverty all his life? Wait until he gets older Well, it's time to find a wife. By then this kid will follow in his father's footsteps. He is uneducated and poor. Who would a girl from a good family be with him? I can only find an ugly and stupid wife to make do with. If he has a child, he still has to work hard to support the child. In the end, like me, he will be poor and despised all his life. The more I think about it, the more discouraged I am, the days without hope are really boring. Now it’s all right, my life I've finally made it through, and all the shit in the world must come to an end. Yuemin, I'm so tired, I should go."

Zhong Yuemin was silent for a long time. He felt that Li Kuiyong seemed to talk a lot today.

Li Kuiyong lit another cigarette and continued: "A few days ago I read a book written by a man who was rescued from a car accident. When he was sent to the emergency room of the hospital, his heart had stopped beating. Recalling the scene at that time, he felt warm all over his body, and his whole body was in a relaxed state, which was extremely comfortable. He felt his body became very light and gradually floated up to the ceiling. Looking down, he saw that the medical staff were still desperately giving him artificial respiration, his body was lying quietly on the bed, and his family members were crying... Only then did he realize that he was on the ceiling at this time. A soul that has been separated from the body and can wander around... This person was finally rescued. He probably belongs to the kind of person whose life span is not yet reached, otherwise we living people would never know the feeling of dying. Min, you read more books than I do, have you ever heard of such a thing?"

Zhong Yuemin nodded and said: "I have also read books on this topic. It is said that there is a scientist in the United States who wants to verify whether people have a soul, and if so, whether the soul is material. He conducted an experiment and put a dying person On a special, extremely precise electronic scale, at the moment of the person's death, he found that the person's weight suddenly decreased by a few tenths of a gram. The scientist came to the conclusion that he believed that the human soul is material, because it It has weight. Of course, as for whether people really have a soul, the scientific methods currently available to mankind are not enough to verify it, so no conclusion can be drawn."

Li Kuiyong suddenly turned pale and was dripping with sweat. He clutched his chest in pain, and his breathing seemed very short.Zhong Yuemin hurriedly supported him and asked, "Kui Yong, are you in pain?"

"Yeah, I'm in pain all over my body. I can't bear the pain. Having cancer is really a painful thing. I really don't want to procrastinate any longer. It's better to end it sooner. Yuemin, I want to ask you one thing, You have to promise me."

Zhong Yuemin shook his head: "I'm afraid I can't promise you anything until you say what you want."

"It's not a big deal, and you can do it. Find me some sleeping pills, okay?"

"Kui Yong, I understand your feelings, but I can't help you. Your request makes me embarrassed. You can't just let me go to jail and get a bad name as a murderer because you want to fly to the ceiling. Fair enough."

Li Kuiyong let out a long sigh: "I knew you wouldn't help me, you boy, it's really fucking meaningless."

"Except for this request, I can promise you everything else. I can take care of your mother until the end of her life, and I can also help your wife and children to the best of my ability."

Li Kuiyong shook his head: "A friend can only save the emergency, but not the poor. After I leave, Kui Yuan will be the eldest son, and he should take responsibility. Yuemin, I came to you today just to say goodbye to you. Since my friend One match always has a beginning and an end, now I'm a little tired, you go, don't come again. Kui Yuan will notify you after I leave. Goodbye, buddy, if there is fate, we will still be friends in the next life."

Zhong Yuemin hugged Li Kuiyong sadly: "Kuiyong, goodbye!" He stood up and walked towards the door. He knew that if he didn't leave, he would not be able to control his sadness.

"Yuemin..."

Zhong Yuemin stopped, but he didn't look back.

"When I leave, I will wait for you on the ceiling. You can't see me, but I can see you. You wave to me, and I will leave with confidence. That is our last farewell..."

Zhong Yuemin didn't look back, he replied in a low voice: "I know..." After speaking, he left without looking back.

Zhou Xiaobai called Zhong Yuemin and said that someone had given her two concert tickets. It was Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in China, and the conductor Zubin Mehta was the guest conductor.

Zhou Xiaobai asked Zhong Yuemin if he was interested in listening.

Of course Zhong Yuemin was interested. The Berlin Philharmonic is a world-class symphony orchestra, not to mention the famous Zubin Mehta as the conductor.

Zhou Xiaobai's father, Zhou Zhennan, retired in the mid-20s as a principal in the military region, and his family moved into a small two-story building in a cadre rest center.Most of the Zhou family's children work in other places, and only the youngest daughter, Zhou Xiaobai, is in Beijing.Among the many children of the Zhou family, Zhou Zhennan's youngest daughter, Zhou Xiaobai, is the most beloved one.When he was in office, he used his authority to transfer Zhou Xiaobai from the field army to the headquarters hospital in Beijing. Zhou Zhennan made no secret of this: I am getting old, so what if I transfer my children back to take care of them?Anyone who likes to gossip can gossip, I can't hear you.It seems that Zhou Xiaobai's promotion to the vice president of the university is also due to Zhou Zhennan's manipulation.Even though he has retired and has no power, his prestige in the army is still there. His old subordinates are all over the army, and the old man's words still have a certain weight.

Zhou Xiaobai's two older brothers both graduated from the Harbin Military Engineering Institute in the mid-20s and have been serving in the army. Now they are both major generals and heads of a certain military department.This seems to be a common practice. It is normal for a lieutenant general like Zhou Zhennan who was awarded the title in 60 to have several generals among his children.Zhou Xiaobai was born in a typical military family. Her father is a lieutenant general and her brothers are major generals. Her youngest daughter also has the lowest military rank, a colonel with two bars and four stars on her epaulettes.

These days, Zhou Xiaobai's second brother, Zhou Huaihai, was in Beijing for a meeting, so he brought his secretary and security guards back to his parents' house.When Zhong Yuemin came to find Zhou Xiaobai as scheduled, he met Zhou Huaihai who was going out for a meeting.He is a handsome middle-aged man, very similar to Zhou Xiaobai, with big eyes, double eyelids, fair complexion, and looks a bit frail.He was wearing a wool general uniform with golden general stars on his epaulettes, and was about to get into the Volvo car when he saw Zhong Yuemin walking into the yard and straightened up and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Zhong Yuemin nodded to him politely and said, "I'm looking for Zhou Xiaobai."

Zhou Huaihai looked at Zhong Yuemin from top to bottom and asked, "Which unit do you belong to? What can I do with her?"

Zhong Yuemin was a little annoyed, what's wrong with this person, he checked his household registration when he came up, what's the matter?Can't you come if you have nothing to do?He deliberately replied: "I don't have a unit, I'm self-employed, I have a little time today, so I came to talk to Zhou Xiaobai."

In fact, Zhou Huaihai didn't mean to be rude. He just had been a leading cadre for a long time, and he had developed the habit of being a leader. When he spoke, he unconsciously had a condescending tone.But Zhong Yuemin's answer was also very arrogant. Seeing what he meant, he finally took some time today to chat with Vice President Zhou. Who does he think he is, the head of the Organization Department?What kind of words is this? Where did Xiaobai know such a self-employed person.Zhou Huaihai was really angry, he didn't bother to have the same knowledge as this kind of person, so he lowered his face and said: "Zhou Xiaobai is not at home." The implication was that he hoped that Zhong Yuemin would leave immediately.

Zhong Yuemin didn't know the truth: "Isn't it? She promised to wait for me, how can she keep her promise? It seems that there are only two possibilities: either Zhou Xiaobai lacks integrity, or you are not telling the truth."

Zhou Huaihai's secretary was putting his hands on the door frame of the car to prevent the head from meeting. He was annoyed when he heard Zhong Yuemin's words, and quickly shouted: "Hey, why are you talking to the head?"

Zhong Yuemin replied neither humble nor overbearing: "I am an ordinary person, and I am not under the control of your chief. Besides, I don't know if he is the real chief. Don't joke, we ordinary people don't know the things on your shoulder cards. I have a My cousin has just graduated from the military academy, and he also has a star on his shoulder badge, I remember he said that anyone with a star is a second lieutenant, that is, a platoon leader, can a platoon leader be considered a leader?"

Zhou Xiaobai was standing on the balcony on the second floor, listening to Zhong Yuemin's nonsense with great interest. She had seen Zhong Yuemin walk into the yard long ago, and before she had time to greet him, she saw a conflict between Zhong Yuemin and her second brother. Lively.It's been a long time for Zhong Yuemin to be mean-spirited. Once this guy comes, his emotions are often full of witty remarks, and he is so angry that he doesn't pay for his life.Zhou Xiaobai likes to listen to his nonsense, no matter how annoying he is, once he hears Zhong Yuemin's nonsense, the worries in his heart will disappear immediately.When she heard Zhong Yuemin deliberately mistaking the major general for a second lieutenant, Zhou Xiaobai couldn't help but burst out laughing on the balcony.

Zhou Huaihai and his secretary, who were about to explode, saw Zhou Xiaobai on the balcony leaning forward and backward with joy, and became puzzled. Zhou Huaihai asked, "Xiaobai, why are you smirking? Who is this?"

Zhou Xiaobai covered his stomach and laughed, "Second brother, hurry up and leave, if you don't leave, you won't even be a second lieutenant, maybe you'll be a private soldier. Ouch, Zhong Yuemin, you're killing me, my stomach..."

Zhou Huaihai and the secretary smiled wryly, got into the car and left.

Zhong Yuemin walked into the living room and complained: "Houmen is as deep as the sea, why is it so difficult for a self-employed person to see Vice President Zhou? That major general is your second brother, has he ever fought?"

"It seems that he has never fought before. He is from a technical background." Zhou Xiaobai was busy making tea for him.

Zhong Yuemin said sarcastic words: "In my eyes, only the generals in 1955 are genuine. They were typed out. Huh, now... what major general? It's similar to Huang Jiang."

"Okay, keep your mouth full of virtue, and if you continue, all your bad words will come. Let me tell you, my father is a 'bellsmith', my brother is a 'yellow sauce', and I am a 'twenty-four' , okay?"

Zhong Yuemin's mood was not going well, so he opened his mouth and began to teach others: "Xiaobai, you are a senior colonel, it's almost fine, don't let your father get promoted, if you are like you, you have never even touched a gun. If there are more female generals, where will we put the face of our army? Besides, even if it is a family of generals, you can’t produce generals one by one. I think your family is almost becoming a 'sauce jar'." Princes and generals, Would you rather be kind?' You can’t rely on genetics to be a general. You are a doctor, so just be your doctor honestly. If you don’t want to be a vice president, you can hang up the sign of a university as if it’s a real thing. What are you talking about?"

Zhou Xiaobai was so angry that she couldn't speak for a long time. She held back for a long time before she spoke back: "Zhong Yuemin, you bastard, you have such a bad mouth. My second brother offended you, and I didn't offend you. How could you Will you bully me? I am unlucky to meet you in this life. You bullied me when I was young. Half my life has passed, and you still bully me. Humph, no one dares to talk to me like that except you. I forgot who it was As I said, I would rather be hung on a cliff than hang on Zhong Yuemin's tongue, that would be terrible, it would definitely be a disaster."

Zhong Yuemin thought of Zhou Huaihai again, and his mouth became more vicious: "Your second brother is quite majestic, especially when he is dressed up in the general's uniform, he looks like a canary. He is beautiful. He should command the guard of honor , that can reflect the demeanor of Chinese soldiers. When foreign heads of state saw it, they thought that millions of Chinese soldiers had such elegant and handsome faces. Whether they could fight a war or not, at least it was a handsome and beautiful army, so beautiful that the enemy I can't bear to beat you."

Zhou Xiaobai begged for mercy: "Okay, okay, please spare our family. I will apologize to you on my brother's behalf. You can do good deeds with your words."

Zhong Yuemin felt that he had finished talking, so he stopped talking.

Zhou Xiaobai sighed and said, "Actually, if you don't change your career, you should be a senior colonel now. Among our old friends, only you are the most suitable to be a professional soldier. If there are a few more wars, you can really become a general. You have This potential. You, what a pity, a person who had hoped to become a general and make great achievements, but now becomes a small boss, no matter what you say, it is a waste of talent."

Zhong Yuemin didn't like to hear this kind of talk the most. He retorted: "This is the idea of ​​ordinary people. A person does not come to this world to make meritorious deeds. First of all, he has to come because he has no right to choose. Now that he has come , then you have to choose a way of life that you like and spend your life happily. Your second brother thinks that being an official is happy, that is his own business, but no one has the right to ask others to agree with their own values.”

Knowing that he was no match for Zhong Yuemin, Zhou Xiaobai calmed down and said, "I'm an ordinary person, okay? You little boss has been training me, the vice president, for a long time. It's time to stop talking."

"Xiaobai, don't just put gold on your face. Who said you are a layman? Are you so good? I think you look like a tyrant. Fortunately, the power is still small now, just a vice president. , if you become the head of the Ministry of Health of the General Logistics Department, is there any way for others to survive?" Zhong Yuemin sarcastically said.

Zhou Xiaobai was so angry that he picked up the water glass and wanted to splash Zhong Yuemin: "You still have more..."

"Yuemin, you are here." Yuan Jun came out of the study and greeted Zhong Yuemin.

Zhong Yuemin followed Yuan Jun into the study, and saw a large sand table in the study, with some models of tanks and artillery placed on it, Zhong Yuemin said with a smile: "After all, he is a deputy division commander, and he still plays sand table homework at home."

Yuan Jun seemed a little tired. He gently rubbed his temples with his fingers and said, "I'm going to be in the army, so I need to get familiar with the business. In the Armored Command Academy, my grades were pretty good. Later, I was transferred to work at the headquarters. If I can’t get on, it will gradually become deserted. I have been sharpening my guns in front of the battle for the past two days, otherwise I will make people laugh when I get to the army.”

Zhou Xiaobai said: "Why did you go there so early? You have been at the headquarters for so many years, and you have not learned other skills, but the level of eating and drinking is good, and the troops below are used to it."

Zhong Yuemin looked carefully at the sand table and asked: "Is this the formation of the armored division's attack? Does it look like that?"

Yuan Jun smiled and said, "You're an amateur at tank tactics, so it's best not to comment."

Zhong Yuemin played with the tank model on the sand table like a toy and said, "How about we have an asymmetrical confrontation exercise between the red and blue forces?"

"Okay, how do you say to play?"

"You are the Red Army, a full-staffed Class A tank division. I am the Blue Army, a special reconnaissance brigade. I will attack first. Where do you think my preferred attack point should be in the Red Army?"

Yuan Jun smiled disdainfully: "Pediatrics, why don't you ask? Special forces are good at sneak attacks, and their attack points should be in the most critical places in our army's command system, communication and information processing systems."

Zhong Yuemin said: "What am I doing so hard for? Find a plumber to open the water pipe near your residence and pour in the croton water. It will cost hundreds of kilograms of croton at most. The rest is to watch the fun. A teacher It must be a very spectacular sight for people to have diarrhea together on the same day. If I am happy, I will block the sewage pipes in your station and let the feces flow out of the toilet. Within a day, this tank division will be a stinking manure field……"

Yuan Jun thought for a while and admitted: "This is a crooked trick. You can always come up with some crooked ways."

Zhou Xiaobai had already changed into a blue woolen dress, the attire of a white-collar professional woman. She walked into the living room and said, "It's disgusting. This is Zhong Yuemin's special warfare. Only he can think of such a crooked thing." Trick."

Yuan Jun said seriously: "Don't underestimate this idea. This is true wisdom. The key lies in the flexibility of thinking and not thinking about problems with fixed thinking."

Zhou Xiaobai said with a smile: "There is a rule here, any good kid who kept his own way since he was a child will not be able to come up with so many crooked tricks even if he is killed; on the contrary, those who can come up with such crooked tricks must be like dogs when they were young." disgusting child."

Yuan Jun agreed: "That's right, Zhong Yuemin was indeed not a good boy when he was young, I can prove it."

Zhou Xiaobai urged: "Yuemin, stop talking, we should go, the concert hall has regulations, latecomers must wait until the intermission before entering, let's not be late."

Zhong Yuemin said embarrassedly to Yuan Jun: "You should go with us too, otherwise it would be impolite."

Yuan Jun waved his hands and said with a smile: "The concert hall is where you elegant people go, and I dare not go there to make up for it. Xiaobai said that when it comes to elegant music, it's not that you don't understand it, it's just that you don't understand it. Pretentious, pretentious. You go, I have too low taste for symphonies."

Zhou Xiaobai sarcastically said: "Our Yuan Jun is good at this, we definitely have self-knowledge."

When Zhong Yuemin and Zhou Xiaobai walked into the theater, the lights just dimmed, and the fuchsia velvet curtain slowly opened. The conductor Zubin Mehta, wearing a traditional black tuxedo, raised his baton with his back to the audience.Zhong Yuemin and Zhou Xiaobai kept apologizing to others in the dark, groping to find their seats.As soon as they sat down, the lights on the stage suddenly shone brightly. Zubin Mehta's silver baton drew a lightning bolt under the light. The first movement began, and the introduction unfolded against the tremolo background...

Zhou Xiaobai whispered in Zhong Yuemin's ear: "It's really time, as if there is a divine sign, Zubin Mehta seems to be waiting for us."

Zhong Yuemin put his finger on his lips and hissed softly. He concentrated on the unfolding of the first movement. At this time, the first theme had appeared. He felt that Beethoven’s soul that had passed away for more than 100 years returned to the world tonight. The arrogant and unyielding spirit shows a character that is not afraid of violence. This is really a man with great personality.With the unfolding of the first theme, a masculine aura rushed towards his face, and Zhong Yuemin instantly felt the blood surging all over his body, and the passion burst out in the darkness...

Zhong Yuemin closed his eyes, as if he had fallen asleep.In this world, what is light and what is darkness?Everyone thinks that they are looking for light, and that what they find is light, which complicates the world, which is due to human nature.Human nature opposes this world, and this world has light and darkness, good and evil. Who has the right to judge these opposite things?Romain Rolland once made such a judgment: "If a person listens to the beautiful chords of instrumental music or the gentle singing, he does not know how to appreciate, does not know how to be moved, does not tremble from head to toe, does not feel refreshed, does not If you can detach yourself, then this person's heart is not righteous, ugly, and depraved."

Zhong Yuemin smiled coldly, Mr. Romain Rolland, this statement is wrong.A wicked person may also be moved by music.There was such a moment in history. When the Nazi army occupied Warsaw, a mild-mannered German officer ordered the execution of a group of Polish citizens. What was played was Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata".According to eyewitnesses, the officer's playing level is extremely professional, and he has a very deep understanding of the music. He delicately expresses Beethoven's emotions in a tender and sweet way. The dreamlike piano music is played on the streets of Warsaw. reverberates, and the blood of the victims has merged into a red stream...

In this world, what is good and what is evil?Different races and ideologies lead to very different conclusions due to different positions and perspectives.In this diverse world, there are multiple truths. When truths conflict with each other, human beings will inevitably fall into confusion. Different ideas and positions collide and confront each other, leading to hatred, bloodshed and war... …

With emotion, the band has already started the third movement, the double-theme variation, the song-like Adagio, and the music is full of contemplation, dreams and expectations.Suddenly, the stern trumpet sounded, awakening people's dreams, and there was a particularly sad sigh in the music, and the melody became weeping, melancholy and sad...

Beethoven's thoughts are profound and simple.He told mankind with the language of music: Only when all people become brothers, can mankind be happy.The huge wave-like presto of the fourth movement caught Zhong Yuemin's heart at once, arousing his endless reverie...

Although there are too many unsatisfactory things in this world, human rational thinking and scientific critical spirit cut through the night sky like lightning in the dark, pass through the dust of history with their huge penetrating power, and finally carry mankind to The ideal shore.What a glorious other shore it will be, full of vibrant spirituality, boundless space full of creativity, galloping passion, vigorous life will and admirable personality strength, all people live in this world like brothers and sisters. Together, racial prejudice and hatred will be eliminated, and there will be no shackles of thought, only the freedom of the soul and the unbridled display of individuality. That should be an ideal state worthy of our admiration for generations to come. life, and why not the whole human race?

The climax of the whole song is approaching. The baritone lead singer, male and female voice quartet and symphonic chorus have been varied and alternated for many times. Finally, the powerful chorus burst out a huge sound wave, singing "Joy" with great momentum and enthusiasm. The theme of "Ode":

Hugs, billions of people,
everyone kisses and loves each other

…………

The whole finale is magnificent and magnificent. The symphony band and the jubilant chorus merged into a surging torrent, implying that the happy crowd is singing the joy and beauty of life in the ideal heaven, and all the darkness and ugliness will be destroyed here. submerge...

Zhong Yuemin was strongly shocked, he felt his heart burst open suddenly, and a hot liquid gushed out of his eyes, at this moment, he saw Zhou Xiaobai was also wiping his tears with a tissue...

In the middle of the night, Zhong Yuemin was awakened by the rapid ringing of the phone. He sat up startled, stared blankly at the phone, and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. The ringing of the phone in the middle of the night seemed to be some kind of ominous sign. Who called so late?Zhong Yuemin grabbed the phone: "I am Zhong Yuemin, please speak."

"Brother Zhong, I'm Li Kuiyong's younger brother Li Kuiyuan, I'm sorry to bother you so late..."

Zhong Yuemin interrupted him politely: "Is it your brother's business? How is he doing? Just tell me briefly."

Li Kuiyuan sobbed: "My brother just passed away, and now our whole family is in the hospital. My brother told you to notify you as soon as he leaves."

"Understood, I'll go right away." Zhong Yuemin hung up the phone and began to get dressed.

Gao Yue was also awakened. She asked repeatedly in panic, "Yuemin, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Li Kuiyong passed away and is now in the hospital. I have to go and see him."

"I will go with you."

"No, you go to sleep."

When Zhong Yuemin rushed to the emergency room of the hospital, the medical staff were removing the hanging bottles and monitoring equipment. Li Kuyong's body was still lying on the emergency table, and his younger brothers and sisters were crying to scrub his body and change his clothes. grief.

Li Kuiyuan told Zhong Yuemin that his brother had entered a dying state at home an hour ago.Since Li Kuiyong insisted on refusing to go to the hospital for treatment after his illness, none of the younger siblings dared to go against his decision, because whoever proposed to go to the hospital would be scolded, so everyone had to take turns to take leave to take care of this elder brother, and only waited for him to enter the dying state. Dare to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Zhong Yuemin walked to Li Kuyong's side, looked at his lifeless face, and stared at him for a long time.He thought of the conversation he had with Li Kuiyong not long ago about the soul, and felt at a loss.He wanted to say something comforting to the family of the deceased, but he felt his throat was choked. He opened his mouth, but he didn't say anything.

He raised his head slowly, staring at the ceiling, Li Kuiyong's words before his death rang in his ears: "When I leave, I will wait for you on the ceiling, you can't see me, but I can see you, If you wave to me, I will go away with confidence..."

Zhong Yuemin knew that at this moment Li Kuiyong's soul was watching him silently, waiting to say goodbye to him.He raised his left hand with difficulty, and only said: "Kui Yong, go away, Zhong Yuemin bids farewell to you..."

Before he finished speaking, he was already in tears, and he seemed to hear a deep sigh in the dark. He knew that Li Kuiyong's soul was gone forever...

(End of this chapter)