side by side

Several major incidents have occurred in Beiping recently, such as cold water pouring into a hot oil pan, and the oily peanuts that jumped up turned the city of Beiping, which was about to enter winter, overturned several times.

It's autumn, it's really cold, the sun is tired, lazy and unwilling to show up, Beiping is soaked in the black gray mist of the trowel, coughing and spitting until it spits out shards of ice.A row of rickshaws, grouped together, are placed on the corner of the street. The canopies are black red, bright blue, and bright yellow, scattered like chrysanthemum petals, embellishing the black-gray street.The street is sparsely trafficked, no one is there, so there are no customers, no customers, today's food and room money, the whole family's livelihood is lost, and the handlebars that are stained with red iron and rust are still covered with frost. It's bitter, it should be bitter, but the drivers in homemade gray cotton jackets are flushed.They sat in a group in the teahouse, with an earthen bowl in front of each of them. The tea soup was shallow, with scattered foam floating here and there. It has to be consumed, the days are too bitter, and the tea dregs can also sip some sweetness.

The cold wind was blowing, but they were arguing in full swing, their heads were sweating, their gray cotton jackets were undone, and their eyes were as big as copper bells.They were laughing and joking, forgetting the hungry mouths in the house, the rustling broken door, forgetting, forgetting, being happy.

[I tell you! ] sat close to the door, and one stood up. He was tall and had a round face. He put his handle in front of the door, like a living door god, [I tell you! ]

He obviously drank only a small amount of tea dregs water, but his face was flushed, as if he had just poured a few catties of white dry matter. [Hic,] He hiccupped for tea, hunched over, his voice was extremely low, his eyes were gossiping, his thick black eyebrows were furrowed into mobs, until everyone who spoke was silent , he happily spit out a few words, [I, a few days ago, I got a ghost! ]

[Hi!Foolish boy, you're talking nonsense again, aren't you?] The tablemate, don't give him this side, and grinned mockingly.

[Go, you know what an idiot,] the idiot cleared his throat hard, spit thick phlegm, [You know the one at the People's Voice newspaper office?The place where the president died was closed long ago, and there was no one there, so a coffin was parked there.A few days ago, I picked up a one-night job at the cargo port. The leader of the young man had to go to the People's Voice newspaper office, and the price was high. Could I be a fool? Drive him this way. ]

His voice is loud and bright, he raises and lowers, and he speaks books all over the place, which makes people wonder, "Then what? ]

[The son gave me a round-trip price. I thought about it and I can't cheat people. I can't get a car or find a person in a secluded place, so why don't I leave it there?Me, just tell him, wait for him at the alley, and then pull him back, and guess what? ] Hanzi lightly knocked on the wooden table, he gave a low laugh, [only heard the 'creak' sound, the door in the alley opened. ]

He imitated the storyteller, put his hands together and moved them aside, and made a gesture of pulling the door.

[The one who can make the dead get up and open the door is not a ghost, so what is it? ]

There was silence in the teahouse, the cold wind slipped through the crack of the door, the fool shivered, he felt ashamed, closed his shirt, bowed his head and spit again, turned around and kicked the room door, with a low curse.

[Hey, just to see what you said, it’s such a big newspaper, it’s not good for someone to hire a night watchman for his old superior, or something,] The person at the same table saw that he had won the prize, and was not convinced, and refuted he.

[Hey, who do you think I am?Is there any regular customer in the newspaper office that I used to pay for a monthly subscription? I can't hear Mr. Chen's old phlegm?Besides, I haven't finished my business,] the fool's face darkened, [The next day, I ran into something again. ]

[I was also beating my heart. Seeing that it was dark, I was thinking about going to bed early. At this time, I ran into a deal again.] The fool patted the table, [It’s a student, going to the western suburbs flat to go. ]

[Xijiaoping, at the foreign school, this student had a big block and couldn't see his face clearly, but he looked anxious and didn't seem to have any problems, so I took this trip.On the way to Xijiaoping, the wind and sea were calm,] Hanzi drank the tea in one gulp, put the bowl on the table, 'clang', [This is bad, it will be bad later.He asked me to wait for him at the entrance of the alley, and he had to ask me to go to get something.I saw that he was polite, so I agreed as soon as my heart softened.Unexpectedly, this person turned his head and brought out the young master I bumped into yesterday.The place they are going to is still the 'Guibi' alley. ]

[You said, it’s midnight for the living, who’s okay to go to the grave of the dead,] the fool shuddered, [Hey, this rough place, someone froze to death,] he froze Son, rubbed his hands, shrugged his shoulders and shrugged his hands back into the cotton shirt, [It's done, I don't want you to be silly, I haven't got the money today. ]

He kicked and banged on the door, shifted his body and moved out.With an opening, the gust of wind met the door, roaring and rolling inside, sweeping away the hot air that was muffled by the teahouse.

At the corner of the teahouse, a small man shivered.

[It's cold today,] laughing and asking him with others.

[Ha... ha... yes, yes, yes, yes," the little guy responded, he was also brought here, and the kid's tea money is enough for him to feel distressed for half the morning.

The money for a sesame seed cake was wasted, and it was exchanged for such a half cup of bitter and hairless thing. He felt distressed, held it in his hands, and protected it in the palm of his hand, soaking up the warmth.He took a small sip and sucked, bitter, astringent, like the tip of a needle stinging his tongue, he frowned, slightly scattered, giving birth to some depression and sorrow.

[Ha,] He shivered, and filled his crotch with half of the tea and water from the earthen bowl he was holding.He didn't listen to most of what the idiot said just now, but Nuonuo nodded in response, but he turned around in front of his ears and went out without changing.But the last sentence of "returning to the coffin" in the alley was like thunder, and it hit him hard in his heart.Ha, his tongue is numb, and even his mind is numb.

[What,] Others laughed at him, [Did you pee your crotch? ]

[Ha... ha...] The little man lowered his head, his face turned pale with sorrow, the idea of ​​mocking him seemed to have not listened to him at all, beads of sweat the size of soybeans flowed down The white face rolled down and hit the clay bowl of tea, splashing water flowers.

[Spit, boring,] Seeing that he couldn't make a loud fart with three sticks, the person next to him spat and moved away.

The little guy was nestled in the corner like a dumb man, curled up and curled up, separated from the noisy teahouse.His lips were dry and pale, and he was trembling as he muttered.

The "Guibi" alley that Hanzi talks about is his nightmare and his taboo.

This little guy came from Zhouzhuang Village, thirty miles away from Beiping. The weather was dry and severe, and half a year's hard work went to the landowners.Man, life is difficult, life is even more difficult, there are no seniors and no children, no shelter or support, he can only rely on a pair of fleshy legs to earn a living and eat.He is strange, pale, thin, with thin skin and flesh stretched on the pile of bones, and he is afraid that he will break it when a gust of wind blows. Seeing him like this, Ke'er can't help but beat a rattle in his heart, afraid, afraid that he will break halfway Yes, it's bad luck.

In terms of the number of customers, he is always much less than others.

Just such a stinky carter who is struggling with money, bed money, and food, but he has his own death order and strict rules-one does not walk at night, two does not pull pregnant women, and three does not rush 'Another World'.

The so-called different world field is also the funeral graveyard.

He has a light personality and a thin soul, so he can't touch life and death.

Ben has been safe and sound, Ben has been doing well, 'Guibi' alley, 'Guibi' alley...he can't go, he can't.

But in the twinkling of an eye it was the new moon again, and the little man could only lower his eyebrows and raise his eyes in worry, for the three-foot shelter had to pay a new rent.The housewife's eyes were swollen and drooping, hanging down beside the tip of her nose, and her dark black bean mouse eyeballs stuck to him, [Ha! ] She forced out a thick and viscous breath from her nasal cavity, [Ha, if you want to sleep, you have to pay enough coins, I am not the living Jesus of Ji'antang. ] She's a half-Christian.Why half pull?The only time she is a devout believer is when she eats cereals for reading after church.After Tian Guoer ate her stomach, she patted her ass and turned her face away, forgetting about it, what dogmas, what benefits, bullshit, even a dime would be fine, and they would have to be thrown on the street with luggage rolls, she The berths here are precious, so they must not be touched for nothing.

[Go to that 'guibi' alley! ] The person who came up was a gentleman who was the leader of a foreign school. He looked about [-] years old, and he was raw and tender in his bones.

[Ha,] He was gasping for breath again, it was hard to breathe, it was already dark, he shouldn't be going there, let alone go there at this time, [Grandpa, you should find another car.. ....] Enduring his distress, he pushed the business out and pushed the copper forward.

[If you think it's too far away, just raise the price, don't fix these things! ] The gentleman became angry, sat still, and refused to get out of the car.

[Hey, it’s not because of this...] The price increase, bed money, and the new month, the egg-sized homeowner’s wife’s bags under the eyes flashed in front of the little man’s eyes, he gritted his teeth, [Come on, seeing that you are really in a hurry, I will send you this way. ]

[But it’s good to say beforehand, I don’t include the return trip. ]

.....

The little man huddled in the corner of the table and twitched violently like an epileptic.

[nerve! ] The person at the same table was taken aback by him, and scolded him with wide-eyed eyes.

He shivered, he shouldn't, he shouldn't have gone to that 'guibi' alley.

He stared at the gentleman as he got out of the car, and stared at him walking straight towards the grave alley.The thick wall made of simple plaster, the gentleman didn't seem to see it, he bumped straight up, and the figure disappeared, and in the blink of an eye, the gentleman disappeared, he disappeared, and disappeared directly there. Wipe the back of the wall!

He didn't know how he got back to the three-foot shelter.

The little man was still holding the earthen bowl, holding it in the palm of his hand, even the tea in the bowl was not even a little hot, he was still holding it carefully, and his palms trembled.He bowed his head, his chapped lips stuck to the rim of the bowl and licked some wet marks, it was bitter and astringent, he was not used to drinking it, but he had to drink it, and he couldn't bear to drink it all in one gulp.It's money, it's a kid, but it's also blood, his blood.

Ah, a death order, a hard rule, he can't be stubborn, he has to live.Hun is light, ha, who cares about Hun'er, that pile of rotten meat is about to go bad.

With a stiff face, he lowered his head and took another sip of the tea dregs water.The little man was hunched over, spitting out a wry smile.

[Heh, this can be considered a matter! ] One person stood up unsteadily.He is tall, but extremely thin, with broad shoulders but a narrow body, trapped in an old gray half-cotton gown, which is empty, and the hem of the gown shakes open in the cold wind.The bridge of his nose is low, and he wears a pair of old glass lenses. Without the support, they slide straight to the tip of the nose and will be hooked.The speed has long been out of balance, he hissed his eyes, shrugged his shoulders, and circled around.He said to himself that he didn't look like a cart puller, even if he couldn't let go of the frosted and sticky iron handlebars, even if he showed enough style, he could only consume this kid's cup of tea dregs.

[Peking City is big and old,] He shook his narrow sleeves, and used the edge of the sleeves to prop up the legs of his glasses, [It's not unusual for old things to be weird and fine, let's not talk about these things. ]

[Hey, Ban Xianer is here again. ] Others laughed at him.

[Hum,] He held his head up and let out a gasp with the tip of his nose. The name 'Half Immortal' was meant as a joke, but he didn't understand it at all, and Yi Ran readily accepted it as a compliment, [Those things are not unusual, but what I'm going to say now, that's interesting up. ]

[oh? ] Everyone is suspicious, [you can talk about it? ]

[In our city of Beiping, when it comes to the Du family, no one knows about it, right?The little son of the Du family couldn't open his eyes for seven or eight days, and what he saw was half a leg crossing the gate of life and death.With just such a single seedling, Mr. Du's hair was grayed and most of it was stroked,] half fairy half bent over, replaced the fan with his sleeve, and slammed it on the table with a 'bang dang', almost overturning the earthen bowl Get up, [I, just that day, I will pick up a guest.Don't you think about who I am, my eyes are poisonous.I took a look at it so intently, hey, this must be the nobleman of the young master of the Du family. ]

[Hey, you're talking nonsense again, aren't you? ] The person next to me is happy, [May I not know?At the end of the night when he woke up, I just happened to drag the young master of the Gu family to rush there. As soon as the head and feet arrived at the door of Du's house, I heard howling inside.This young master of the Du family woke up by himself in the middle of the night, so you can just talk nonsense there. ]

[Wake up by yourself, why didn't you wake up by yourself in the first seven or eight days?I just drove this person there and didn’t wake up that day, huh, you guys are so ignorant,] Everyone burst into laughter, Ban Xian’er blushed, he coughed violently, muttered and sat down, and refused to let go , [I am different from your general knowledge, different from your general knowledge. ] He slammed down the tea dregs in the earthen bowl, choking so fast that he choked and sobbed, and everyone laughed more heartily.

[Ha, Du's family,] everyone laughed ambiguously, they lowered their voices, with vile joy bubbling from their throats, [Oh, Du's family. ]

[Speaking of which, the Du family has suffered some crimes recently, they are just such a single seedling, and they are not ready to learn well,] talking about crimes, but there is unconcealable joy on the face, [ It's fine to cover up this idea, but he still pokes at the newspaper in a daze, this young master, tsk. ]

[This old man Du must be so angry,] Everyone ridiculed, [You can't find a successor for your big family. ]

[The other seems to be Liang Jiqing, the current director of the People's Voice Newspaper, right? ] One person muttered and opened his mouth, [It seems that he is unlucky enough, the newspaper office stopped, and when Young Master Du had an accident a few days ago, his younger brother also had an accident. ]

[Hey, how do you know? ]

[Isn’t the daughter of the old Li’s next door in our courtyard working for Xing’an Newspaper?She came back to chat with us, it seems to be at the beginning of this month, didn't Miss Gu's family fall into the sea?He was rescued by a young man, and the one who was rescued survived, but the one who saved him died. The obituary that was published in the newspaper on September [-] belonged to his younger brother.It is said that just after returning from studying abroad, it is also tragic to suffer such a round of things. ]

[Eh!If you don’t mention this, I almost forgot about it, and I was terrified at the time,] one person’s eyes widened suddenly, [Isn’t my uncle a night watchman at the pier?That day, the profile for the tide, he could not move, I went on his behalf. ]

[Ke Jin is Liang Jiqing’s younger brother, but he didn’t know it at the time, so he parked on the pier, and I was guarding in that small house, and I was panicking in my heart,] He shivered, [I wanted to suffer It would be fine to turn in the shift at dawn. In the middle of the night, a person came to do the transfer.It was dark, and there was only one coal lamp. It was very dim, and he could vaguely see that it was a gentleman at the head of the Western school. He was still holding Tuanbai vaguely in his arms, maybe it was a cat.The transshipment he did was for the dead in the warehouse.As soon as I heard it, the back of my neck was cold, so I quickly got it done.When I got home early in the morning, I realized something was wrong... The man’s head looked familiar, no matter how I thought about it, I felt like the one lying in his warehouse, and I fell ill when I turned around , lying in vain for several days.Later my uncle came back and told me about it, but I didn't dare to say anything, hey, it was his brother who frightened me for a few days. ]

[Heh, how do you know it's his brother?Why couldn't he get up and do the transshipment for himself? ] Banxian'er was not convinced, and murmured against him.

[Why are you so annoying? ] shivered, the man who just said something made a gesture to hit him, Ban Xianer shrugged, the cat table went down, and there was another burst of laughter.

......

On the table, there was tea in an earthen bowl. The bottom of the bowl was bottomed out, and the lazy sun cast shadows outside, and it looked faintly lit.The sky was still dry and cold, but the street was bustling with people and guests.

After tea, people dispersed, they had a little fun, clutching the icy handle of the car with bare hands, scattered around, eating and working for that berth.

They are threads and nets that strung together the entire city of Beiping.

FIN.

There are four coachmen in the story (Fanwaili is written from the perspective of three of them and some passers-by):

A. When Liang Jixuan came to Beiping, the first person he met (go to Minsheng Newspaper) - Chapter 11

+——When I ran into Du Ruobai on the second day, I went to Xijiao Ping Hutong (same person)——Chapter 15

B. The one who hired a car to take him to Guijiu Alley in the middle of the night——Chapter 29

C. The one who prophesied when I went to Du’s Mansion——Chapter 34