South of Chutian

The bus was driving on the expressway, and there was light rain in Tongren in early April, and the sky was already dark.

Tang Heng closed his eyes, and the light in the carriage was dim, so no one noticed his expression.His brows were furrowed, his thin lips were drawn into a line, and the corners of his lips were pressed down—if it wasn't for his extraordinary endurance, he felt that he could spit it out in a second.

Motion sickness.He has always suffered from motion sickness. This time he was in a hurry to go out and forgot to bring motion sickness stickers.What's more terrible is the buffet that I ate in Tongren city an hour ago.The chef of the hotel may regard them as starved ghosts reincarnated. They have everything from chickens, ducks, beef, sheep and fish, except that there is no plate of vegetables or a bowl of porridge.Tang Heng just ate a few mouthfuls of fried beef, and was about to go downstairs to smoke a cigarette to wake up before the students finished eating, when the Poverty Alleviation Office staff came over.

Director Xu showed his leadership style, saying that he had quit drinking for many years and replaced the bar with tea.Lu Yue is a woman, so no one persuaded her to drink.Therefore, the task of drinking in the end fell to him and Sun Jihao. There were many people on the other side, the director and the secretary took turns to toast.Even if Tang Heng just touched his lips every time, he drank more than three cups in the end.White.

"This wine is really good." Sun Jihao was still a little bit unsatisfied, "Junior Brother, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Tang Heng said.

They got on the bus immediately after dinner, and the accompanying staff said that Shijiang County is still nearly three hours away from Tongren city.Tang Heng felt that something was wrong, so he swallowed a mint candy quickly, but within half an hour, the dizziness still surged violently.Anyone who has experienced motion sickness knows that you must not eat too much or too much food before getting in the car, because motion sickness is prone to nausea.

So at this moment, Tang Heng felt that there were two hands reaching into his body, one stirring his brain and the other stirring his stomach.And Sun Jihao is still discussing the thesis with the students in the front seat, rewrite the abstract, and use another person to quote here, he is inappropriate, you quote the article that Teacher Tang just posted this year, about poverty alleviation in Jiangxi Province... No, no, not Tang Teacher Heng is Teacher Tang Guomu.

Tang Heng wanted to ask if you could stop for a while.But I couldn't open my mouth, because I was afraid that I would spit it out when I opened my mouth.

On weekdays, he seldom goes out of school, and every time he goes out, he remembers to post motion sickness stickers.This time it was really hasty. I was still teaching the students in the afternoon, and Director Xu called in the evening: "Xiao Tang, pack up and go on a business trip with us tomorrow."

Tang Heng didn't react: "What?"

"It's an emergency," Director Xu sighed, "Wang Shan was going with us, this guy was hospitalized for asthma at noon today!"

Tang Heng: "..."

"You will take Wang Shan's place. We will set off at [-]:[-] tomorrow morning and gather at the gate of the teacher's apartment. Xiao Sun will send you the precautions later."

"Wait, Director Xu," Tang Heng said blankly, "I still have classes, and I'm going to Hong Kong for a meeting next Friday—"

"Your class should be replaced by someone, or you can take a leave of absence and make it up when you come back." Director Xu paused, "This project is very important. We did it once last year. When we come back this time, the department plans to apply for national approval. Yes, great opportunity, Xiao Tang."

Director Xu said something like this, Tang Heng couldn't shirk anymore.It's just that he didn't expect at the time that the destination of this trip was Tongren Shijiang County.There are 2851 county-level administrative regions in mainland China, and they went to Shijiang County—what kind of damn luck is this?

After Sun Jihao and the girl discussed the thesis, they chatted about which tea restaurant was delicious. Tang Heng looked out the window a little irritatedly. The twilight was dark, and the fluorescent green sign flashed past, which read: Shijiang, 124KM

He didn't know how long it would take to drive 124 kilometers, maybe it was almost there, but the scenery along the way was always dark peaks and exposed rocks, giving him a feeling that he would never reach his destination.Sun Jihao turned his head and asked: "Are you not full at night? I think you only ate a few mouthfuls... Let's go out to eat some more when we get to Shijiang."

Before Tang Heng could answer, he continued, "The rice noodles in Shijiang are very famous. Have you tried mutton noodles? I heard they are all goat meat, which is different from what we usually eat."

Tang Heng felt nauseous at first, but after hearing what he said, he felt even more dizzy.

"Let's talk." Tang Heng said in a low voice.

"Really, you must try it. During the few days we stayed in Guiyang last year, Lu Yue and I went to eat mutton noodles every morning..."

Sun Jihao is the one who loves to eat the most and knows how to eat in the School of Social Sciences. His face is white and round like dough. Although he is only 35 years old, he already shows a bit of the kindness of Maitreya Buddha.

Tang Heng didn't answer his words, but just asked: "How long will it be?"

"An hour or so."

"it is good."

As soon as the words fell, a sense of vomiting came up again. Tang Heng quickly pressed his stomach. Fortunately, he was covered with a jacket to cover his hands.

After eight o'clock in the evening, the bus stopped at the main entrance of Shijiang Hot Spring Hotel.Tang Heng got out of the car by the front door, and when he passed the rearview mirror, he saw that his face was as white as paper, and his brows were also furrowed, as if he was here to ask for his life.

After getting out of the car, the wet and cold air rushed towards his face. For a moment, Tang Heng felt much better.Unlike Macau, the night sky here is very high, and it seems empty for no reason.He looked up, the second time he came to Guizhou, the night sky of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau was still devoid of stars.

A man in a suit and tie greeted him, hello, the journey has been hard." He shook hands with Director Xu and introduced himself, "I am the manager of Shijiang Hot Spring Hotel. The teachers can just call me Xiao Qi, Qi Qin's Qi, haha. Director Xu nodded noblely, and Sun Jihao stepped forward to greet him: "Manager Qi, haha, hello, hello." "

"You are too polite! You can just call me Xiaoqi! Teachers have worked hard these days, and there is nothing interesting in our backcountry. I am really sorry..."

"Well," Sun Jihao said with a smile, "we're here to help you with poverty alleviation."

While exchanging greetings with Sun Jihao, Manager Qi looked for an opportunity to talk to Director Xu, and at the same time led the four of them to the hotel.This hot spring hotel looks very grand. Entering the gate is an antique corridor. Tang Heng walked beside Lu Yue. Seeing that she had folded her arms and said nothing all the way, she asked, "Senior sister, are you feeling unwell?"

"It's okay," Lu Yue forced a smile, "I'm just a little tired."

Tang Heng nodded and said nothing more.They spent the whole day on transportation, flying from Macau to Guiyang in the morning, taking the high-speed train from Guiyang to Tongren at noon, and taking the bus after dinner.

Walk through the corridor, pass by two fountains, and finally arrive at the housekeeping department.Crystal chandeliers hang from the high dome, casting overlapping shadows on the malachite green marble floor.There was a waiter standing at the elevator entrance. Seeing them coming, he smiled and bowed first, and then pressed the button of the elevator door for them.

Manager Qi introduced: "Students live in double rooms on the second floor, and teachers' single rooms are on the third floor."

Director Xu Shi Shiran said: "We have a couple, we can arrange them in the same room."

"Ah?" Manager Qi turned his eyes on the four of them, and immediately said, "I'm really sorry, there are double suites on the third floor, I'll go and arrange it right away..."

"Don't bother," Lu Yue interrupted him, "Just live like this."

Sun Jihao also nodded: "That's right, that's it, no need to change rooms—everyone has worked hard today."

So the four of them took their room cards, led by the waiter, and entered their rooms.

The single room mentioned by Manager Qi is actually a spacious suite.The trolley case had been brought in ahead of time, and the lights in each room were on, including the bedroom, study room, living room, bathroom, and a semicircular terrace.There was a faint fragrance in the air, but I couldn't tell what kind of fragrance it was.Tang Heng still felt a little nauseous, so he took off his jacket and walked into the terrace.

There is a person spread out on the deck chair on the balcony next door, it is Sun Jihao.

"Junior brother!" Sun Jihao said with a smile, "Let's go to the county town later, I asked, and it will take 10 minutes by car."

"No," Tang Heng propped his hands on the railing, his white shirt was already crumpled, "I'm a little tired."

"Oh, those little girls are going to be disappointed, and they begged me to call you. I wanted to chat with you in the car just now, but they didn't dare because of your cold face."

"..."

"Come on," Sun Jihao got up and twisted his neck, "Then I'm going to buy medicine for Lu Yue."

"What's up with her?"

"It's nothing, but I may have to take some ibuprofen in a few days..."

He mentioned buying medicine, and Tang Heng remembered the motion sickness stickers. In the next few days, they will go to poor villages to investigate.After hesitating for a moment, Tang Heng said, "I'll go with you."

"Ah? Do you want to buy something?" Sun Jihao looked at Tang Heng, "Are you tired, let me bring it back for you."

"...It's okay, I'll go with you."

After more than 20 minutes, a group of people came to the main road of Shijiang County.

Manager Qi sent them here with the driver, and now he became their tour guide again, leading a few students to the front, introducing Shijiang's customs enthusiastically.The area of ​​Shijiang County is small, a small river passes through the city, and along the riverside, one can smell a very faint smell of water.

Passing by a pharmacy, Sun Jihao took a box of ibuprofen, but there were no motion sickness stickers in the store, only motion sickness medicine.Sun Jihao simply said: "Then motion sickness medicine, come, pay for both boxes together."

Before Tang Heng could stop him, he had already pulled out his wallet and quickly handed over a 50 yuan note.

Tang Heng had no choice but to take the motion sickness medicine and thank him.

"You're welcome." Sun Jihao said carelessly.

Everyone followed Manager Qi to the night market. At ten o'clock in the evening, it was quite lively, with butter lamps lit everywhere.Two students sent fried yams they had just bought in a disposable paper box, sprinkled with green onion and cumin.

"Teacher, they call potatoes yams here. It's only four yuan for such a large portion!" As if it was a novel thing, the student's tone was amazed.

"Small potatoes are grown here, I don't know if this is it," Sun Jihao put a piece into his mouth with a bamboo skewer, "Well, the taste of potatoes is very strong."

"Brother Hao, what is a little potato?" Another girl asked.

"It's also a potato, but it's very small." Sun Jihao flexed his index finger and thumb and gestured, "It's just this big. We ate it on a business trip to Guiyang last year."

"You have been to Guizhou last year!"

"Last year, it was Director Xu, Wang Shan, me and Lu Yue." Sun Jihao looked at Tang Heng, "Is this the first time for the younger brother?"

"..." Tang Heng held a bowl of stir-fried yams. He didn't eat, but felt choked.

Sun Jihao looked at him, the students looked at him, and even Manager Qi came over and said very enthusiastically: "Ms. Tang is here for the first time? We are at a high altitude, are you used to it?"

Tang Heng stared at the bright yellow potatoes, and said in a low voice, "This is my first time here."

"Hey! Although our economy is a little behind, the scenery is really good," Manager Qi said excitedly, "How about this, Teacher Tang, after your work is over, I will take you to Fanjing Mountain, a natural oxygen bar—— Climbing the mountain is very comfortable!"

"That's not necessary," Tang Heng's tone was a little cold, "Manager Qi, you know, we have work discipline."

Manager Qi smiled embarrassingly: "Then we are so embarrassed, you have worked so hard..."

Sun Jihao smoothed things over and said, "It's okay, there is still a chance to come in the future."

Tang Heng was too lazy to listen to them, so he lowered his head and ate potatoes.He couldn't remember where he had eaten it last time—of course he was sure it was in Wuhan.But where is Wuhan?Zhuodaoquan Night Market, Liangdao Street, or Wansong Garden?Can't remember, it was six years ago after all.

Too much time passed, and more and more memories became insignificant.

A group of people gradually walked to the end of the night market. They stepped on the stone road, with the undercurrent of the river under their feet, and every step made an empty echo.Disposable chopsticks and cardboard boxes were everywhere, and Tang Heng heard a girl remind her companion, "Be careful, the floor is very dirty."

"Mr. Sun, Mr. Tang," Manager Qi came over and pointed to the front, "There is a Shijiang souvenir shop here, do you want to have a look?"

Sun Jihao shook his head and said, "No need, we don't have anything to buy."

"It's okay if you don't buy it, I'll show you Shijiang's special products," Manager Qi said eagerly, "In the past, Shijiang didn't have any factories that produced these things at all, and each family made their own food. In the past two years, Macau The factory was opened only after funding was provided to us.”

"Brother Hao!" Several students became excited, "Let's go and have a look?"

Sun Jihao gave a helpless look: "Brother, do you want to go?"

Tang Heng should have understood his hint - Manager Qi took them to the souvenir shop, maybe he wanted to take the opportunity to give gifts.However, the fried yams just now were so salty and bitter, as if swallowing a pinch of oil-soaked salt raw, nausea and dizziness came back.

For a while, Tang Heng didn't think about anything, just nodded and said, "Then go and have a look."

Later, when he recalled this scene, he always felt that he had suffered retribution in the dark—the retribution of lying.

After walking for another 5 minutes, Manager Qi led them into an alley. At the entrance of the alley was an inconspicuous house with a locked door.

"Eh?" Manager Qi stepped forward and fiddled with the lock twice, "Usually the door doesn't close so early, please wait a moment, I'll call and ask."

Sun Jihao said: "Forget it, it's not too early."

"It's all right, let me ask—hello? Where are you? I have a few customers here. I want to come and have a look at your store. Um... yes, yes."

Manager Qi hung up the phone: "He'll be right back, he went to find his girlfriend just now."

Everyone was speechless, standing at the entrance of the alley and waiting.Tang Heng adjusted his glasses, and looked at the signboard of the small shop in the ignorant night. It was plain and white on a blue background, and it read: Shijiang Local Products Retail (Main Store)

Is this still the "headquarters"?Tang Heng thought vaguely, maybe this is the only family.I couldn't eat the roasted yams, and there were no trash cans around, so I had to carry them in my hand, and the smell still wafted up.Tang Heng frowned, thinking bluntly, maybe it was really a rebellion.

A bright white car light came from the entrance of the alley, the electric car stopped and locked, and a tall and thin figure walked towards them.Manager Qi said: "This is a leader from Macau who came to inspect our place and just arrived today."

"Ah, welcome to the leader, welcome." The man shook hands with Sun Jihao, then took out the key to open the door, as if he didn't notice Tang Heng at all.However, the moment Tang Heng heard his voice, his eyes suddenly widened.The door opened with a "snap", the incandescent lights came on, and the students filed in.Tang Heng stood where he was.At this time, Manager Qi said: "Xiao Li, there is another leader here, Mr. Tang."

Tang Heng took a step back subconsciously, his back almost touching the wall of the alley, which was very cold.He still couldn't see the man's face clearly, he only heard the other party say "hmm" with a rising tone, as if hesitating.

He came to him.

"Teacher Tang?" He stopped in front of him and asked calmly.Maybe he could see Tang Heng's face clearly, maybe he didn't, there were five or six steps between them, and his shadow was elongated and pressed down.Tang Heng felt dizzy as the smell of cold fried potatoes rolled up.

"Tang Heng, is that you?" he said.

"..." Tang Heng didn't even dare to look at his face, the world was spinning and he couldn't see anything clearly, "...Li Yuechi?" Saying these three words was like swallowing a mouthful of extremely hot water, causing pain from the tip of his tongue to his chest.

"It's me," but Li Yuechi smiled and said neatly, "I didn't expect you to come to Guizhou again."

again.

Came to Guizhou again.

Sure enough, lying will be punished.

Tang Heng's Adam's apple rolled up and down, and two seconds later, he couldn't hold it anymore, and spat it out with a "wow".