heard

Zhao Changgeng has lived for a long time, and even if he leaves immediately in the next moment, he will feel that this is enough.

He was born on the day when the last empire died of old age in more than 2000 years. In that year, the first nominally new government in Chinese history was proclaimed in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.At that time, the vigorous national/movement had not yet started, barbarian boats and cannons surrounded this ancient land, local traditions collided with western new learning, intellectuals were adjacent to traffickers and pawns, those with ambitions were suffering from national disasters, speculators were in trouble, and those who were humble Letting go, the society is violently turbulent, and the long pains of an era have begun to emerge.

Later, people were frightened by its turmoil, amazed by its sudden changes, felt its temperament and abjection, and used too many praise or derogatory words to describe it.But as far as the parties are concerned, there are so many novelties to speak of, no matter whether they are rich or poor, everyone is still earning a breath and a life.Some people survived, and more people died, anointing this unfertile land in an unknown corner.Who said that the history of China for thousands of years is like a rolling carriage, with more bumps than flats. When it comes and goes, some people control the direction, some guard the walls, some live in the center, and others Fill the gap with this handful of muscles and bones, and pave the way for the road to move on.

Zhao Changgeng can't remember where he heard this sentence.He has experienced the years of gunfire, the joy of universal celebration, the battle of brotherhood, and the frenzy of ignorance and cowardice... He has ushered in a new regime and sent off the old century.He was never a noble or great man, he just lived on, almost a hundred years of living history.The years have worn away his body and energy, bit by bit and stripped away his memory.He has forgotten many things. When his gray-haired grandchildren and students with students came to see him, he tremblingly patted the backs of those same wrinkled hands, but he couldn't find any corresponding words from his mind. trace.

But he still remembers one thing: he has been looking for someone for most of his life, most of China.In fact, he no longer had the extravagant hope to see that person, he only thought that even if he heard the news from afar, knowing whether he was alive or dead, where he aged, and where he rested, it would be good.But neither.Searching has become a thought in this long time, to the point that he no longer remembers that person's appearance, nor does he remember the name that was on his lips.He only remembered that he was looking for someone, and in his lifetime, he could no longer give up that blood relative.

That's nearly 80 years of separation, more than the length of many people's lifetimes.

Zhao Changgeng is very old, and when he is lying on the recliner under a blanket, he will often be lost involuntarily.Just like at this moment, he was casting his slack eyes on the vastness outside the window for a long time, the night had already fallen, and a very bright star was rising in the western sky.Zhao Changgeng hadn't seen such a clear night sky for a long time, he gradually couldn't move his eyes away as he looked at the star that was second only to the moonlight.Fragments gradually emerged from the depths of his memory, and he suddenly groped around with trembling hands, over and over again, and finally found a hard round object in the pocket of his jacket near his heart.

It was an old-fashioned pocket watch. The case was well preserved, but there was a shocking bullet mark across it.The watch stopped moving ten years ago, it has been repaired countless times, until the last nearby watch repair shop closed, no one wants to spend time on these complicated escapements, so this old object is slow Slowly dead in time.

Zhao Changgeng still remembers that on that day, the "Manuscript of General History of China" with a total of more than 50 million words was delivered for printing. Everyone said that Mr. Zhao's wish of more than [-] years had finally come true, but only he knew whose obsession was dust settled.There are two words on the back of the pocket watch, and the engraved marks can no longer be seen clearly with dim eyes, but the loose skin still faithfully transmits the touch back to the brain.On the back of the watch is engraved in small seal script, Qiming.

That's the star!Zhao Changgeng's eyes that had been muddy for a long time flashed brightly. "Poetry" Xiaoya Dadong chapter: "There is Qiming in the east, and Changgeng in the west." Mao Chuan's note said: "When the day comes out, the star is called Qiming, and when the day comes, the star is called Changgeng."

He remembered that person's name: Qiming, Zhao Qiming.

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