Xinhua Road

Knowing that dreams are so profound last night, when looking through the chat records, I remembered the book "84 Charing Cross Road" mentioned in the movie "Beijing Meets Seattle: A Love Letter".The 20-year-old friendship between Helene Hanff and Frank Del is quite similar to the chat between me and Meng. Of course, I am luckier than Helene and can meet Meng.

I spent a whole morning reading that book, annoyed by Helian and Frank's regrets in this life, wishing to fly to that era to send Helian some money by post, so that she could get what she wanted.But will their lifelong friendship last if they get what they want?Perhaps it was because Frank had never met Helian in his life and was attracted by Helian's generous and enthusiastic character, so he spent his whole life looking for books for Helian to maintain her joy of life.

I suddenly hope that Meng is my Frank, even if I don't see each other all my life, I can devote my whole life to maintaining such a beautiful friendship.

I put an excerpt from that book in my circle of friends: "I fantasize about that day coming soon - I step off the ship, the train, step on the dusty sidewalk... I want to walk all over Berkeley Square, Stroll all the way down Quimber Street; I'll be in St. Paul's Cathedral, where John Donne preached; I'll sit on the steps of the Tower of London, where Elizabeth refused to be a prisoner..."

I also dream that one day I can come to the places Helian mentioned with Meng, follow in her footsteps, and realize Frank's encounter.I just don't know how long the chat between me and Meng can last?Three months or three years or really create another legend, but all legends come at the cost of tragedy.If one person's life is required to achieve a legend, I would rather never meet the dream.

The whole morning dream of studying did not send me a text. During lunch, I took a photo of my meal and sent it to Moments, leaving a message: "After replenishing spiritual food, replenishing physical food, I have the strength to wait."

At about one o'clock, I finally received Meng's message: "Who are you waiting for?"

Me: "Wait for my Frank."

Dream: "Have you waited?"

Me: "If he wants to be my Frank, then he will."

Meng: "Then you met today?"

Me: "I've seen it before."

Meng: "Who is it? Let's hear it."

I don't know if Meng is pretending to be stupid on purpose or is taking my words step by step, pretending to be a little angry: "Ask knowingly."

Dream: "Ask without knowing."

Me: "Have you seen "84 Charing Cross Road?""

Meng: "Why did the topic turn to the book again? I haven't read it, but I saw you posted on Moments."

Me: "The friendship inside is very precious. Frank and Helian have not seen each other in 20 years of correspondence."

Meng: "Do you know why they can maintain their friendship for 20 years? That is because they have never met each other in their entire lives."

Me: "Yes, all classics are tragedies. I am afraid that such classics will never be created again in this era."

Meng: "Then you want me to be your Frank."

Me: "Don't you know that?"

Dream: "Look at your stupidity, tease you, wait until I buy that book and read it before deciding whether to be your Frank, what if it's a pit, if you agree, won't you be buried?"

Me: "Well, give me that book after reading it." After I finished speaking, I remembered that Jiao Jiao and Luo Daniu walked on the road because of this book. Together, it can be said that this book is the matchmaker for all book lovers. As long as someone gives him this copy of "84 Charing Cross Road", their fate in this life will be locked.Of course, I'm not sure if the dream will give me away. I have lost too much, so I dare not look forward to it. I am afraid that I will lose the joy of chatting if I look forward to too much.

Two days later, I saw the picture sent by Meng. It was the book "84 Charing Cross Road". I asked excitedly, when will it be delivered to me?He said that if you don't come to eat at noon, don't ask for books.

I looked at the time, it was already eleven o'clock at noon, and I looked at myself in the mirror. If I had known that we would meet today, I would not have made myself like this.A white sweater has not been changed for two days, and the jacket is still wearing my sister's old clothes. I want to go home and freshen up, but it is too late.I simply cleaned up and took a taxi.

The address Meng sent was Yimeng Road, telling me that it was near the Construction Bank.I vaguely remember the China Construction Bank on Yimeng Road, but I don’t remember such a hot pot restaurant. I thought maybe I didn’t pay attention to it, maybe it might not be a new one.So I called a taxi, and seeing the price was only [-] yuan, I thought the road was not far away, so it turned out that he was so close to me.

When I arrived at the destination, I looked around and did not find the hot pot restaurant.Ask the driver master, he was confused by my question.Want to come to my mobile phone to see the location sent by Meng, start the car directly, and said to me very neatly: "It's not this place, you're in the wrong place."

"Isn't this Yimeng Road?" I asked him suspiciously.

"Yes, but across the bridge."

"Is it the bridge that is far away?"

"Correct."

"Is that also Yimeng Road?"

The driver actually laughed: "Are you from Linyi? You don't even know Yimeng Road?"

I touched my cheek embarrassingly, unwilling to admit to him that I was a road idiot, for fear that he would take a detour and charge more for a taxi.I muttered in my heart, "It turns out that Yimeng Road doesn't stop at People's Square."

I don't know if the master guessed my heart, and told me after turning a corner: "From the railway station to Yinan is Yimeng Road."

I looked at the master in astonishment. I had been working near this road for two years, but I didn't know that Yimeng Road was so long.At that moment, I remembered the text "Sitting Well and Watching the Sky" I learned in elementary school.

I kept my mouth shut all the way, for fear that the driver would laugh out loud and cause me a new round of crimes.Meng sent a message asking me where I was?I tell you the truth, it was wrong.He sent a few sweaty emojis, asking if he found them.I say the route has been re-planned.

He asked me what kind of pot base I want, and I replied Yuanyang pot, the super spicy one.He sent a surprised expression, then left a message and went to the second floor of the hotel to get the seasoning, then turned left and then left.I looked at the message and muttered in my mouth. The driver may see that I am still a little pretty, and he really wants to talk to me. He said in a humorous tone: "Let your friend go downstairs and wait, I guess you can't find him."

I found him, at the southernmost corner of the hotel, he was already sitting there, I tried my best to control my heart that was about to jump into the hot pot, so that I looked elegant and natural.

Meng handed the book to me. It has a sea blue hard cover, a golden title, and the soft colors make me fall in love with it instantly.I especially like hardcover books, even if I don't read them, I can appreciate them as a work of art.

"Thank you." I said softly.

"You're welcome." Meng also answered me lightly.

And I was so nervous that I could suffocate, and I couldn't even hold the chopsticks steadily. I drank a few glasses of water desperately to relieve my nervousness, and then tried my best to find topics to chat with.

Gradually, we talked about calligraphy and painting casually. Meng said that the famous calligrapher is now Pi Zhixian, and the best painter is Ma Yue, who is famous for painting cats.For me, who knows nothing about calligraphy and painting, I don't know Pi Zhixian's name, but I know Ma Yue, and it's not because of his works that I know him.I don’t know how to join Mayo’s apprentice’s WeChat, and asked me to buy tickets for several scenic spots, I learned from her.After that, I browsed some works and deeds about him on the Internet.Only then did I know his fame and talent.

I said to Meng: I don't know Ma Yue, but I know Ma Yue's apprentice.I don't know much about painting, but I think it looks good when anyone draws it.I don’t know much about calligraphy, but Tang Yousheng, a writer in Linyi, invited me to a party and got a calligraphy by one person. The calligraphy is sincere and beautiful, and I like it very much.

I saw that person again a few days ago, and asked him for a pair of "Man Jianghong". Meng said, this is something you can do.People ask for calligraphy only for a few words, but you actually opened up a whole article of "Manjianghong", I guess that person has already deleted you in a "furious manner", right?

I hurriedly found out my phone, opened WeChat, and saw that the person was still my WeChat friend, and heaved a long sigh of relief. Faced with Meng’s ridicule, I gritted my teeth and said: Just wait, I will definitely come.