underground river

When he woke up in the morning, Sinan's mind exploded like a firecracker.

No one is around.

It's already bright.

He frowned, rolled over and got out of bed, and opened the window.

Chen Sen downstairs heard the movement, raised his head and waved at him.

The dining table was carried to the yard.

Xu Ma came out of the house with a plate of steamed buns, looked up when she saw this, and said, "Are you awake? Hurry up and pack up and have breakfast."

"Here we come!" Guan Yan leaned out from the next window halfway.

Mama Xu waved her hands in fright: "Be careful! Fall again!"

At the dinner table, Dad Xu asked, "Where do you want to go today?"

The three looked at Xu Xu.

"I'm going to take them to the temple for a stroll." Xu Xu wiped his mouth, "Mom, you can prepare something for us, we won't be back at noon."

"Okay, I'll pretend."

"It's really an autumn outing!" Guan Yan patted Xu Xu.

"Then why don't you take the shuttle bus?" Dad Xu asked again.

Guan Yan stretched his neck: "Uncle! Can I ride your electric tricycle?"

"Okay!"

"Thank you uncle!"

"But the four of you probably wouldn't be able to get to the temple with that car, and the uphill road would cost a lot of electricity." Dad Xu thought for a while, "I'll go and borrow another battery car for you."

After dinner, packed things, and borrowed the car.

Si Nan carried Xu Xu, and Guan Yan carried Chen Sen, and they set off.

On a sunny day, the wind blows very comfortably.

"Let us live together in the world of mortals—"

"Riding the horse and galloping to share the prosperity of the world—" Xu Xu roared after Guan Yan.

Si Nan's ears were ringing and he smiled.

Next to him, Chen Sensi pulled the handlebar and shouted: "Fatty, do you dare to drive the car more steadily, what S line are you taking!"

"My name is drifting, do you understand drag racing?"

"Fuck your mother!"

Xu Xu laughed out loud when he heard it, and Sinan laughed too, twisted the handlebar, and rushed to the front.

The temple ticket is 40 per person, and the student ticket is half price.

Xu Xu led them to park the car, locked it, and then mysteriously walked aside to make a phone call.

"Aren't we going to buy tickets?" Guan Yan asked.

Xu Xu: "Wait a minute."

Not long after, a middle-aged man came out from the gate of the temple. Xu Xu saw him and waved his hand: "Second Uncle! Here!"

The man came over, handed out tickets to everyone, smiled, and asked, "Bring your classmates back to play?"

Xu Xu: "Yes!"

"Do you want to burn incense?" the man asked again.

Xu Xu turned to look at everyone.

"Burn it." Chen Sen said.

Guan Yan nodded again and again: "Burn it, burn it, it must be burned, I want to make a wish for my dad to travel more often."

"Stupid! It won't work if you express your wish." Chen Sen laughed.

Guan Yan hurriedly covered her mouth.

Second Uncle: "Okay, then Xiaoxu, take your classmate to the incense hall to collect incense, and put my name on the account."

"My dad gave me money." Xu Xu was embarrassed.

The second uncle smiled: "It's rare for you to bring your classmates to play, the second uncle treats you, you have a good time."

"Ok."

The four of them went to the incense hall to collect incense, and the Yunlong steps facing the Daxiong Hall were sprinkled with money and colorful.

Guan Yan took out a few coins from his trouser pocket and tossed them up.

They seem to be the only ones in the big temple.

Xu Xu turned into a tour guide and explained to everyone along the way.

Chen Sen felt drowsy and yawned continuously.

Going back from the Daxiong Palace is a long descending step.

Si Nan squinted at him: "You didn't sleep last night?"

"I slept, I didn't sleep enough."

"Then you got up so early?"

"can not fall asleep."

"..."

Do you want to sleep or not?

With his pocket in his hand, Si Nan felt weird.

He remembered smoking a cigarette with Chen Sen and going to the river together last night, but he couldn't remember anything else at all, such as what he said.

"Last night..." Sinan hesitated.

Chen Sen turned his face away.

"It's no joke, is it?"

The hand in his pocket moved nervously.

Chen Sen walked down the steps: "No."

Xu Xu: "This is the Nanhai Guanyin Temple, and the well next to it is called Jianquan."

Guan Yan: "Did the tree say anything?"

Next to Jianquan, there is a cypress tree that can only be hugged by four people. The tree is wrapped with a circle of red ribbons, and the upper trunk passes through the corner of the eaves. It is very tall.

"Yes. This tree is a marriage tree."

When Guan Yan heard this, he immediately bowed to the tree in a serious manner.

Several people entered the hall again, burned incense and kowtowed.

Coming out of the Guanyin Hall, Xu Xu led them down a small step next to the gate of the hall, muttering again.

Guan Yan: "Where are you going?"

"I'll show you something miraculous." Xu Xu said.

There is also a small hall under the steps, but it is much simpler, and there are many pennants hanging in the hall.

Guan Yan laughed: "It's popular here to send silk banners to Bodhisattvas?"

"This is called fulfilling a wish." Xu Xu corrected him seriously.

"Is it working?" Chen Sen asked.

Xu Xu nodded.

"Generally, foreigners don't come here to play here, but we locals believe in it. Look——"

Xu Xu led the crowd to the incense table and squatted down.

"The water in this pit flows down from the mountain, but my grandfather said that the mountain spring will stop when it is full. But since then, no matter how you scoop up the water in this pit, there is no less or more water. It is amazing. ?”

Several people squatted down to watch what he said.

Bright puddle of water, very clear.

"Is this water drinkable?" Guan Yan asked.

"Of course." Xu Xu got up and took the long jug for scooping water from the table next to him, scooped up half of the jug of water, and poured it into the bowl on the table.

"Try it?"

Several people took turns taking a sip.

The water is very cold, and the mouth is sweet.

Guan Yan drank another bowl.

"Many people came here to make wishes, and many of them came back to fulfill their wishes."

Guan Yan: "Have you promised?"

Xu Xu: "Yes."

Guan Yan: "Then we may make a wish."

Guan Yan held incense and knelt on the futon, muttering words.

Chen Sen knelt down and looked up.

The statue has a majestic face, but there is a forgiving smile on the corner of its mouth.

Who are you kidding...

Close your eyes and worship three times, offer incense and get up.

The temple is indeed very big, and there is a large area of ​​Jinbalin in the depths, which is known as a natural oxygen bar.

The four of them sat down in an open space in the woods and ate something.

Chen Sen leaned against the tree trunk and fell asleep.

Guan Yan said to let him rest for a while, and went to another place with Xu Xu.

Si Nan took out his mobile phone from his pocket, only to find that it was turned off automatically when it ran out of battery.

He looked east and west, and finally his eyes fell on someone who was sleeping next to him.

Chen Sen sleeps very well, with one leg half propped up, his hands resting on his knees, his head hanging slightly, a bit like the dog in Uncle Wang's house.

That dog was picked up by Uncle Wang when he was about to die. He was still an old dog.

The neighbors around persuaded him to raise a young one, saying that the old one could not see the family.Uncle Wang was stubborn, and took care of the old dog more than he took care of himself.

The dog probably knew that his blessings were short of time, so he took the time to enjoy every moment.

Every day when Sinan sees it, it curls up in the yard basking in the sun. Its fur is soft and warm. When he passes by, he likes to pet it. The old dog is not as knowledgeable as he is. fall down.

Chen Sen opened his mouth slightly, but did not snore.

Si Nan watched and couldn't help touching Chen Sen's hair twice.

Very soft and easy to touch.

Si Nan spread his five fingers and looked at it for a while, then looked at Chen Sen's hand on his knee.

The wrist of that hand hangs down slightly, the gap between the fingers is slightly open, the knuckles of the fingers are clear and long, and the veins on the back grow abruptly, like a rocky mountain.

It always feels weird.

Si Nan withdrew his hand and got up.

After wandering around until more than two o'clock in the afternoon, the four of us went down the mountain.

After arriving home, no one was seen, Xu Xu said: "I guess they planted trees in the backyard!"

Guan Yan pulled out the key, and several people walked to the backyard.

When passing the corridor built by the pergola, Guan Yan stopped with a "yo" and said, "Old Xu, do you still have billiards at home?"

Si Nan and Chen Sen followed his gaze - there was a billiard table at the end of the corridor, the space was small, and there was a pole rack hanging on the wall next to it.

"My dad took it back from someone else, do you want to play with it?" Xu Xu asked.

Guan Yan rubbed his hands: "Play!"

The ball was yarded, Guan Yan picked up a club and looked at them: "Which one of you will play a game with me?"

Xu Xu waved his hand: "I won't."

"Old Chen?"

"I don't fight, my arm hurts." Chen Sen said.

Si Nan looked at him: "Are you made of tofu?"

"I'm made of crystal."

"..."

"Then Sinan, come here." Guan Yan threw a cue to him.

Si Nan touched the cue stick, as if he was standing in the underground billiard hall in Lin County again.

"You first, I'll kick the ball first as a bully." Guan Yan laughed wildly.

Chen Sen reminded him in a low voice beside him: "You kick off first."

Guan Yan ignored it.

Si Nan wiped his skin: "I play very expensive golf, so I have to be lucky, right?"

Guan Yan pointed at the club: "Arrogance!"

"The one who loses will dormitory hygiene for one semester, and the winner will be determined in one game?" Sinan looked at him.

Guan Yan filed his teeth: "Come on!"

It's eight ball.

Sinan kicked the ball into a big flower.

Chen Sen whispered next to Xu Xu: "Look, Guan Yan's underwear is going to go in."

"..."

Guan Yan felt that he might be a bit unlucky.

The ball was almost over, and he didn't even stick out.

"Sao Nian, you want to clear the stage with one shot?" Guan Yan bit his cheek.

Si Nan smiled, and gestured with the pole.

There is still a black eight left, if it goes in, the round will be considered a victory.

"Looking good." Sinan said.

Hit out with one shot, eat a library and hit the bag.

The ball is in.

Guan Yan put on a bitter face: "Is it okay to win three out of five rounds?"

Si Nan shook his index finger: "Once a word is spoken, it is hard to follow."

Guan Yan: "Come again! Extra classrooms are on duty for a week!"

Simon: "You're going to live with the broom."

"..."

Chen Sen was bored watching them play, so he wandered to the backyard to watch Dad Xu and the others plant trees.

"What kind of tree is this? Is it alive?"

"Orange tree, it's so good." Dad Xu smiled.

"Can I grow one?" Chen Sen asked.

"It's done!"

Chen Sen dug a hole with a hoe.

Dad Xu instructed from the side: "The pit should be dug deeper and wider."

The hole was dug and water was poured.

"Well, stir it up with a hoe, and pour some water if there is no stagnant water."

There was a tumble.

Chen Sen compacted the last handful of soil and stomped on it.

"Uncle, is this all right?"

"Well, then wait for it to grow slowly."

"Will it bear fruit in those years?" Chen Sen asked again.

Xu's father shook his head: "This is a seedling. It has not been grafted. It may take how many years to bear fruit. It may be sour when it bears fruit."

Chen Sen: "..."

It takes a long time.

While Chen Sen was squatting there looking at the tree he planted, Si Nan came over.

"Where's Guan Yan?"

"Holding Xu Xu and begging him to help share the hygiene!"

After Si Nan finished speaking, both of them laughed.

"You planted this?"

"Ah."

"It's an orange tree." Chen Sen added.

Sinan touched the leaves: "Is this a seedling? It will probably be sour after it bears fruit."

Chen Sen: "..."

Si Nan smiled, went to the pile of saplings to pick and choose for a while, and walked over with one in hand.

Dig a hole, pour water, put a tree.

"A skilled worker..." Chen Sen looked at him with a smile on his lips.

"I used to help others plant."

"What do you grow?"

"Pomegranate."

"Can it work?"

"can."

"..."

In the evening, Dad Xu took out the barbecue stove, waved his hand, and announced that there would be barbecue tonight.

Guan Yan was so excited when he heard that, he immediately forgot about his "hygiene debt", and excitedly ran to the kitchen to help skewer the skewers.

Xu Xu: "Then I'll move the carbon tank."

Simon: "I'll help you."

Chen Sen: "Then what am I responsible for?"

Simon: "Crystal is responsible for looking good."

Chen Sen: "..."

Xu Xu took Sinan to the utility room in the backyard.

"You are quite similar to Chen Sen." Xu Xu said suddenly.

Si Nan froze for a moment, and corrected seriously: "I am more diligent than him."

Xu Xu laughed out loud.

Si Nan also laughed: "Why do you say that?"

"I don't know." Xu Xu scratched his head, smiling shyly, "I just think you are all very good, um, very good."

— not shy.

--what is that?

— timid.

"It's here." Xu Xu turned on the light, the utility room was a bit messy, and the carbon boxes were pressed under a pile of wooden boards.

The two moved the board away, Xu Xu reached out to lift it, Si Nan picked it up - it was a bit heavy.

"Let me do it."

"You close the door."

When walking back to the corner, Sinan paused: "Squad leader."

"Ok?"

"You are also great."

"What?" Xu Xu was stunned.

Sinan twitched the corner of his mouth: "If you think Chen Sen and I are very good, then you who are with us are also very good."

Xu Xu clenched his hands hanging by his side, but did not speak.

"Let's go."

"Ah."

In the yard, Guan Yan sat side by side with Mama Xu and learned how to barbecue, while Uncle Chen was in charge of eating in the reclining chair.

Dad Xu slipped out the bucket of medicinal wine again, and Sinan quickly pulled Guan Yan up: "Take a break, I'll come."

Guan Yan was staggered by him, patted his buttocks and sat down inexplicably, and soon had a drink with the man.

"I want to hold a farmhouse in the future!" Guan Yan held an iron braze as a microphone, "If there is wine, meat, and brothers, the only thing I need is a girl." With a belch, "My girlfriend doesn't know how to get from the belly of the mother-in-law." Have you come out..."

Xu Xu recorded Guan Yan's drunk state with his mobile phone, and he couldn't breathe from laughing.

After eating for a while, the two adults went back to the house to watch TV, leaving a few people to mess around outside.

"I want to eat shiitake mushrooms." Chen Sen nestled in the chair and ordered, "And corn."

Si Nan rolled his eyes, picked out a few strings of shiitake mushrooms and corn and grilled them on a charcoal grill.

Chen Sen looked at him quietly.

The boy's nose was soaked with sweat, his fair skin was reddened by the strong fire, the corners of his mouth were pursed, his eyes were calm and focused, and he unconsciously brought out a bit of coldness.

"Here." Sinan handed him the grilled mushrooms.

Chen Sen took it and ate it, belching contentedly.

The air in the countryside is very good, and there are a few stars scattered on the dark sky.

Si Nan opened a bottle of beer and drank slowly.

"What are you looking at?"

"The Big Dipper."

Chen Sen leaned over: "Is there any?"

Si Nan got up and led him to the backyard.

Dad Xu's tree hadn't been planted yet, so Sinan led him to stand in a small open space next to him.

"Look there." Sinan drew a line along a point, "That's the handle of a spoon." He bent slightly, "That's a spoon."

Chen Sen looked along.

Sinan continued to point out: "The star at the end of the spoon is called Shake Light, the middle is the Kaiyang star, and the second is the Yuheng star. I heard people say that Yuheng is the brightest of the seven stars... It doesn't make any difference when you look at it... "

"Heard someone say?"

"When I was young, my mother was very busy. Sometimes I would go out to play by myself. Once I couldn't find the way back, so I went to a bookstore to stay. There was a lecture in the bookstore..." Sinan looked up. Looking at the sky, "What I'm talking about is the stars."

"Can you recognize constellations?" Chen Sen gestured with his index finger and thumb, "The two stars at the opening of the spoon, Tianshu and Tianxuan, are connected and extended five times outward, which is Polaris, and there it is."

Si Nan looked at him with unclear meaning.

"This star is located in the northern starry sky all year round, and the range of movement is almost negligible. In our hemisphere, all the stars revolve counterclockwise around it. Finding it is equivalent to finding the constellation of Ursa Minor and also finding you. way home."

The boy talked eloquently, like an endorsement.

"If the weather is better and the field of vision is wider, we can still see Pegasus and Andromeda, probably there." Chen Sen turned around and pointed in a direction, just like the person taught him, with accurate and precise eyes And determined.

Si Nan looked at him, as if he had returned to the bookstore when he was a child. When the young man holding the star map talked about it, he seemed to be thinking of someone, and his eyes were longing.

Chen Sen lit a cigarette and threw the cigarette case to Sinan.

"Who do you remember?" Sinan also lit one.

"My dad." Chen Sen exhaled lightly, and the smoke thread was spit out by him in a long way.

"he……"

"Passed away." Chen Sen turned his head to meet his eyes, and smiled softly, "I was in danger when I was out on an investigation. My dad is in geology, and his group of people are very hardworking, and he is easy to be serious."

"Then you are really different from your father." Si Nan narrowed his eyes and smiled lightly, "Just like an old cat."

Chen Sen declined to comment on his statement.

"My dad told me that human time is different from geological time. One million years may be a long time for human beings, too long for us to imagine, but for him, it is just the smallest unit."

The boy's voice was soft as if it came from the other side of time and space.

"In his world, everything will soon become nothing, the disappearance of a human being, and the planet will not respond to it in just a few decades."

"This means that you just need to spend the rest of your life well."