When the "ignition ceremony" of the brick factory ended in Shuangshui Village, Tian Zheng was lying alone on the broken grinding board outside his courtyard wall, silently basking in the sun.

His condition looks very shocking.

Tang Fu's body completely collapsed. He is as thin as a stick, and the clothes that used to fit him now look as loose as robes. Pale, still covered with a layer of gloom; I haven't shaved for a long time, and my face is surrounded. On the ground next to the millstone, there was a pile of dirty sputum.

His eyes were half closed, and he curled up on the broken grinding board abandoned in his early years, motionless. If the shriveled chest does not fluctuate, we will think that he is no longer a living person.

The summer sun shines brightly on the earth. On such days, people are eager to hide in the shade, but Tian is here to bask in the sun. Only the diabolical sunshine and the hot stone mill can make his cold and thin body get some comfort. He thanked the sunshine in summer for bringing him warmth.

He didn't have the good luck and quietly closed his eyes on this broken mill for a long time. After a moment and a half, a violent cough lifted him up like a storm, making him have to lie on the edge of the millstone pitifully, splashing phlegm, nose and tears on the land next to him in the sound of vomiting. This kind of torture is terrible, every time it seems to rip my guts out of my chest.

After coughing, he stayed like an idiot for a long time, and then he lay on the millstone and enjoyed a rare quiet time.

We didn't expect that the man of the hour in Shuangshui Village or the whole Shigejie area has become like this now. At such a moment, we can't help but extend our deepest sympathy to him. We suspect that this peasant politician who once aspired to become an eternal figure is probably feeling sorry for himself at the moment. He doesn't know if he understands that it's not just his body that is declining. Tang Fu, you are curled up here like an abandoned orphan. Yes, everyone can see that you are no longer so enthusiastic about the official business of Shuangshui Village. But fundamentally speaking, the public affairs of Shuangshui Village are no longer enthusiastic about your guidance. Now you can only lie here alone, ruminating on what you swallowed in the past.

Indeed, for Tian, there is no place that makes him feel more cordial than this broken grinding board. Lying here, he can at least get a moment's peace. Looking for peace, just like looking for a vigorous political movement in those days, has become his wish today.

The worn board under him is like a bed, and the groove rolled out by the rolling stone over the years just makes his slimming board curl up inside. Lying in this stone trough is as comfortable and suitable as lying in a cradle.

It can be seen that the grinding board under him used to be a good stone. This kind of stone is as blue as water and contains no impurities. Judging from the deep groove that rolled out, this grinding piece has a long history. Probably after the rolling stone broke one side, the millstone died, ended its mission and was moved outside the courtyard wall. Unexpectedly, it is now assigned a new use by its owner.

Tang Fu himself couldn't tell the history of this dish. As long as he can remember, this dish has been used by their family. According to his dead father, he doesn't know when the millstone was first used. Then, its history can be traced back to grandpa Tang Fu's hand at least.

However, regarding this mill, Tang Fu still remembers that when the Kuomintang troops attacked here in 1947, General Hu Zongnan's soldiers used American flour to bake cakes in this mill. I heard about it from his grandfather later. At that time, he was twenty-one years old, and his parents ran to the cliff kiln in Hougou of the crying river to escape the war. Anyway, grandparents are not leaving, so they have to stay and look after the house. I remember grandma wiping her face with ashes from the stove, which was disgusting-she was afraid of being bullied by the white army. According to grandpa, the troops caught fire under this mill, baked foreign cakes on it all day, and gave grandpa a few pieces. When these soldiers filled vegetables with their urinals, grandpa told them it was a urinal. As a result, an officer with a big hat slapped him in the face and shouted, "I haven't eaten yet. You want a basin ..."

More than ten years ago, this millstone was finally worn out in his hands. A big piece fell off one side of the pot-maybe General Hu Zongnan should be responsible for the destruction of the pot.

After the grinding was broken, Tang Fu had to move to the present place, and asked the masons in Mijia Town to make a new one-the original rolling stone can still be used, and the grinding he uses now is a combination of old and new.

Since his body completely collapsed, this broken millstone that was abandoned here in the past has become an important partner in his life. His own situation seems to be similar to this broken millstone, and he was abandoned here.

In the long days of the day, as long as there is the sun, he has been lying on this board, that is, in winter, the weather outside is a little warmer, and he will take a dog skin mattress to it and lie on his back for a long time ... At this time, as soon as the cough subsided, he stayed for a while, and then lay on the press board. His eyes were half closed and he seemed to be unconscious in the hot sun.

In fact, under his thin chest, emotions are surging endlessly. External movement and internal static, external static and internal dynamic, always like this. As long as the cough subsides, the mind will be active. It is no longer the "revolutionary movement" that is repeatedly thought about now. It's about your children.

To a great extent, he was completely knocked down on this broken millstone by successive disasters at home. When Runsheng suddenly proposed to marry a widow with children, he couldn't stand the blow. Before that, the unfortunate marriage of his daughter and son-in-law had made him miserable. Then it was like thunder in the sky, and his son-in-law's leg was broken by a car. The daughter's return to her useless son-in-law did not bring him any comfort-although it was always his greatest wish to make up with them. Runye finally lives with a cripple, which is worse than making a clean break with Li Xiangqian! He knows that for his daughter, the real disaster only "officially" begins ... For Tian, the disaster comes from his mouth, and the disaster comes from his mouth. What saddens the old couple most is that their son, who is regarded as the apple of his eye, is possessed and bent on getting married with that damn widow on the long road. They said it was crooked and that it was impossible to talk to this boy. As a result, I don't know if I have a mental problem or if I pretend to be crazy. This Runsheng cried and laughed all day, running around, and almost became the successor of the dead Tian Er. What is even more frightening is that my son finally ran away a few days ago-he left a message to his mother saying that he would go to find a widow and never come back to this house. ...

Fate, so cruel! How do the old couple live in this world?

He is lying here now, although his mouth is still venting, but he really looks like a dead man. He lives today and doesn't know what to do tomorrow ... Tian doesn't know that there will be a big show today. Yesterday, Sun Yuting dragged the worn shoes that he had been given in those years to the millstone and asked him to "attend" today's activities. Fuck you! Lao tze now this stall, what's the idea to catch your bustling?

However, Yu Ting breathed a sigh of relief and took pains to ask him to "toast" his nephew on behalf of the Shuangshui Village Party branch. He didn't even lift his eyelids and said, "I'm so ill, how can I get there?" Can't you see? Call Jin Junshan! "

"After all, you are the head of our village!" Yu Ting continued to persuade him. "The head is a fart! I only have a dry bone left now! " He said to his former assistant in disgust.

"Zhou county magistrate will come in person!" Sun Yuting reminded him again. "I haven't seen a county magistrate? I have a prefectural party committee secretary at home! Hurry up and kiss up to the county magistrate! See if he can also promote you! " He sarcastically Sun Yuting said.

Sun Yuting dared not talk back to him and left angrily.

Tian knows that at this time, Sun Yuting doesn't care if you call him a turtle. He doesn't care about anything now, just trying to make this "happy event" happen. He will drag his rotten shoes, wade the Dongla River for a while, and excitedly appear in the courtyard of Jinjunshan ... "Dogs can't change and eat shit!" "Tian scolded Sun Yuting sentence in my mind.

But strangely, although Tian didn't want to attend the "ignition ceremony" and scolded Sun Yuting, he was satisfied that Yu Ting invited him to give a speech on behalf of Shuangshui Village.

Hum, anyway, my field is still the first person in the village! You have to invite me to this matter whether you like it or not. If I don't go, it's your turn to Jin Junshan! Although you Jin Junshan became the "Prime Minister" of Shuangshui Village, * * always leads everything! The Monkey King couldn't turn a somersault. Don't look at you ...

A violent cough interrupted his thinking-it was because of intense inner activity that the cough came early.

Tian threw a pile of phlegm and snot on the ground beside him, groaning and lying back in the groove of the broken grinding plate. Alas, a strong heart is not strong! If there were not so many disasters at home, his health might not collapse, and those water towns that are the first to enrich the people may still be other fields. There is a brick factory in Sun Shaoan? Tian He Tang Mi will build a steel plant for you to see!

However, from the heart, he still admires Sun, a big boy. How dare this boy! Dare to borrow 10 thousand yuan from the bank and hire dozens of people in the village to run a brick factory. Now, please ask the county magistrate to "light the ceremony" with thunder and drums. Tian admits that in the countryside, he is a talent. From this, he naturally remembered the "origin" of Shao An and Run Ye. Alas, now this boy is proud, and it is ringing in the back and forth ditch; His poor daughter lives with a disabled person ... Tian has no regrets about Shao An and Run Ye who finally didn't get married. Daughter's misfortune is another matter, but it never means that she didn't marry Sun's son! Sun Shaoan, no matter how successful he is, is also a child with muddy legs. His educated daughter should find a husband who eats official food-certainly not without arms and legs!

At present, his biggest crush on Sun Shaoan is not that he "made a fortune", but that he is strongly aware that the people in Shuangshui Village are gradually attracted by this boy. Although Sun Shaoan is not party member yet, he has almost become the "leader" of the village. One day, will the "power" of Shuangshui Village fall into this guy's hands?

Although Tian is no longer enthusiastic about the public affairs of Shuangshui Village, the "official" in the countryside has no power now, but as long as he is still venting his anger, he is not prepared to give up the position of party branch secretary to others.

For people like Tian, power is extremely important, even if it is only a symbolic existence. When alive, power is the best spiritual food; Power is also the best requiem when you die. What he is afraid of is watching power be handed over to others. No, he will never give up the position of Party branch secretary of Shuangshui Village, even if he lies on this broken rice mill and never gets up again! Hum, no matter how beautiful and prosperous you live, I still care about you!

Tian coughed for a while, but he couldn't help thinking for a while ... The sun had set in the west, and the mountain shadow behind Tianjiagelao spread out from the hillside, like the giant wings of a strange bird. Tian's mood is even more gloomy. He is like a chicken without resistance, waiting for black wings to surround and engulf him with fear.

He struggled to get up from the broken rice mill and saw many people coming out of the south road one after another, talking loudly, some wading across the Dongla River and heading for Jinjiawan; Some people are scattered in Tianjiage and walk back to their homes. Tian knows that these people have just watched the "ignition ceremony" of the brick factory-the splendid brick laying scene is probably over.

Tian couldn't help sighing from his phlegm-filled throat. He lamented the passage of history and the great and rapid evolution of life. Yes, in those days, on the stage of Shuangshui Village, Hotan Tang Fu was always the leading role. Now, someone is playing this role. He is old and ill. Lying here alone. It has become an insignificant "audience" in life.

At this time, as usual, his wife came to him from under the courtyard wall outside the gate with his jacket. Only this person will not abandon him! She gave him warmth and care with her eternal feelings, and Tian's eyes were full of tears. He was sad to see his mother's face wrinkled and gray after endless pain and years of exercise. He knew that for several days, she cried for her son who had run away from home almost every night. ...

Now, Tian no longer thinks about other things, and once again he shivers painfully for this rough embellishment. The old couple finally failed to save the final situation, watching their son leave this house to find his "flower mother". Now, there are only the old couple left in this empty yard. What's the difference between this and being buried in a grave?

Tian was filled with indignation at the thought of his son. He loves Runsheng, but hates him. He hates him because he failed his love. Look, he left his parents to find a widow!

Hum, you said you wouldn't come back to this home? Even if your boy comes back, I will beat you out! You ruined the family style, you black sheep. ...

His wife came up to him, put on his jacket and said, "The sun is going down, go home."

"Wait a minute ..."

"Worried about catching a cold ..." She looked at him sadly.

"Can't die!"

She hesitated and said to him, "Are you going out to find our livelihood ... I don't know about the doll ..." She kept crying, just wiping her tears.

"I'm not looking for him! His life or death is none of my business! Don't worry. Just pretend that you have never had a son in your life! " As he spoke, Tian's severe cough made him fall on the edge of the ground plate. He felt that it was not phlegm in his throat, but blood.

His wife quickly knelt beside him and hugged him. After the cough subsided, the two lonely old people actually hugged each other on this broken board and cried loudly.

The sun went down. Boundless darkness suddenly enveloped the earth. ...