beyond the horizon

In Mongolian, Dalantai is originally a name with auspicious meaning.

When he was born, Dad was nearly half a hundred years old, but his Eji was still young and beautiful.There was a short period of good times in those few years, when the development of the grassland was just on the rise, and jeeps drove in from the direction of the city one after another, carrying noblemen in suits and the hope of getting rid of poverty and getting rich.

People on horseback are naturally hospitable, and Dalantai's home also received such a group of city people.He ate meat after meal with his hands, and drank kumiss after meal. He listened to the adults at the table talking about development, travel, and many things he still couldn't understand. It is recognizable, the palm waving excitedly in the air seems to be a prophecy-good days are at hand.

Until one day, the jeeps left in groups, like black fish migrating among the green grass, and headed for the next destination.Dad squinted at the door of the yurt smoking a pipe, as if he had aged ten years overnight.Dalantai has never seen those people come back. The grassland is still a grassland, stretching endlessly, with only the sun rising and the moon setting at the end. No one around him talks about development and tourism, and no one talks about his young and beautiful Eji.

The jeep took away the good days and Dalantai's mother.Someone said that she went to the city with her boss to live a good life. He asked what was in the good life, but no one could answer him.

In those days, such things were not uncommon.Poverty will make people lose many choices, and it will also make people make many choices.The boys will leave with the female tourists, and the women will take the jeep, and they will fly to the end of the sunset with the migratory birds, live in warm nests, and live a good life.

And what is there in the good days?

Dalantai no longer wants to know.He hates people from the city, and he hates the promises they bring, because he has seen how those promises that will never be fulfilled are withered and decadent. If a person makes a promise to you, then he must want to get from you. Take something with you, behind all good intentions there is a price that needs to be exchanged.

He turned over on the hard plank bed in the detention center, and the hard plank bed made a toothache sound, but he was used to it, and his fatigue dragged him into a deeper dream.

In his dream, he saw lush red willows growing on the barren land, the red color was spreading vigorously, and the air was full of the fragrance of fresh grass juice. He sat on a raised dirt bag to herd sheep, and Hazab climbed up The earth bag stood in front of him.

He rarely had anything to do with Hazab, because Hazab was a coward, and everyone in the juvenile prison knew it.Every time when there was a group fight, he would just squat in the corner with his shoulders shrunk—as if he could shrink such a tall person, even if the fist fell on him, he would just bury his head in his knees and whimper, The more others laughed, the more frightened he seemed.Often at this time, his brother Wardle will stand up.Wardler is a good fighter, and even Da Lantai can't stop him when he goes crazy. They call their brothers dogs in private, the elder brother is a mad dog, and the younger brother is a cowardly dog.

But when Hazab stood in front of Dalantai, his cowardice was almost invisible.He looked straight into Dalantai's eyes, and straightened his waist, and Dalantai saw a little shadow of Waddle on his body.

"What are you doing here?" Dalantai looked at Hazab with a half-smile.Under Dalantai's gaze, Hazab flinched for a moment, and his light brown eyes drifted away.A gust of wind blew by, and the red willow tree swayed, like a flame under the blue sky. This ancient fire seemed to give him courage, and Hazabu's sight became firm again.

"Let me tell you, stay away from Wardle. Also, if you want to hurt that teacher, I won't let you go." Hazab held his breath and finished in one breath.

Da Lantai seemed to have heard the funniest thing in the world.

"If I don't promise you, is it possible that you will still hit me? My brother is not here, do you think you can touch a finger of mine?"

Hazab gritted his teeth fiercely, and as if he had made up his mind, he flew forward and wrestled with Dalantai.

Dalantai fell backward on the grass stalk, the world in front of him was turned upside down, Hazabu was fighting with himself for the teacher who came from the city, his eyeballs were as bright as wolves.How can a dog become a wolf?Wrong, all wrong, he also believed the lies of the city people, just as stupid as himself when he was a child, following those sweet words.

The red willow tree was burning in sight, igniting anger, burning from the top of Dalantai's head all the way into his heart, the heat from the flames made his pores tremble, and the scorching made his back sweat, and his light-colored wolf eyes It started to get darker until it was as dark as night, dark and dark, and it was Wardler's eyes.

The surrounding scene also changed.The fire burned on the grassland and engulfed the cowshed. The two partners he brought were stunned by the fire, and fear made them cowardly—at first Dalantai just said that he wanted to teach the teacher from Handi a lesson , burn his yurt and run away, no one will find out they did it.They threw the ignited dry grass on the upper air vent of the felt tent, but they didn't expect the wind to turn sharply, and the flames shot up suddenly, igniting the cowshed next to it, and the cows fled in all directions because of the heat of the fire. It's all out of control.

A person emerged from Mr. Handi's felt tent, and that person was Wodele.He stared dumbfounded at the flames, with surprise written on his face. He quickly returned to the tent, fetched a felt blanket, and joined in the rescue. After extinguishing two or three small flames near the felt tent, he straightened up, I saw Dalantai standing not far away.

Wardler glared at Dalantai, fire burning in his dark eyes.He was so fierce and hated, as if he was going to throw Dalantai into the flames in the next second.Dalantai has not had many moments of fear in his life, but at this moment, he couldn't help but shudder.

The car engine interrupted Wardler's gaze, he turned his head to look at the source of the sound, and Da Lantai followed suit.A jeep was parked near the felt tent. Teacher Handi jumped out of the car first, followed by Hazabu.Wardler's figure was fixed in place, and this was definitely the worst moment, because the teacher also saw Wardler.

Wardler threw down the yurt, turned and ran.

Only then did Dalantai come back to his senses, and greeted his two partners, run, are you waiting to be caught and put in jail?

At the end of the dream, the fire was not extinguished, the red danced like a prayer flag, devouring everything on the grassland, his old father, the beautiful Eji, and the black jeep, the red willow tree was still strong in the sea of ​​fire, and the green The branches and leaves were completely burned, leaving only the red branches, like the bright red blood shed from the grassland.

Dalantai woke up with a start.Drenched in cold sweat, he turned his head to look at the opposite bed. Wardler was sitting cross-legged on the bed, staring at the moon in the night sky with his dark eyes through the iron window on the wall.

Dalantai clenched his fist, and his nails left a crescent in the palm.

For a long time, Luo Yunxi did not take the initiative to contact the county government.

That rainy night, when he recklessly rode his horse to chase the police car, and finally fell off the horse, he thought he would be crushed by the horse and break his ribs, or at least break a leg.But nothing happened in the end. Hazab hugged him and rolled in the muddy water, avoiding the horse's hooves and buffering the force of the falling horse.He didn't even know when Hazab followed behind him, the boy pressed against him, panting and buried his head in his muddy collar, no, he said, the tip of his nose touched Luo Yunxi's skin, as if Luo Yunxi is the source of his breath.The strong emotions made his Sinicization become blunt and impoverished for a while, so he could only repeat again, teacher, don't.

At dawn the next day, the two left from the county seat. Director Li and several cadres came out to see him off, but Zhao Xiaoqin was nowhere to be seen in the crowd.The vehicle drove out of the compound. From his side, Hazabu saw a person hidden by the wall, looking towards this side. He rolled down the window and took a look, and found that it was Zhao Xiaoqin. The two looked at each other. As if frightened, he suddenly turned around and faced the corner, covering his ears and stealing the bell.

Luo Yunxi noticed Hazabu's movement and asked him what's wrong, Hazabu looked back and shook his head, saying nothing happened.

That fire quickly burned up the summer on the grassland.When the two of them reorganized their fragmented lives, it was time for the transition to the grassland.

The grassland in the summer pasture has been eaten up by cattle and sheep. With the advent of autumn, the river has also changed, and some small tributaries are about to dry up. The herdsmen need to rush to areas with more abundant water and grass to settle down.Hazab has been running back and forth about moving recently, and Luo Yunxi is quietly counting the time in his mind while he is busy.

What he counted was not the days of transition, but the days when he was about to be transferred back to Beijing.With the Wardler incident, it went from unspeakable to absolutely unspeakable.Perhaps Luo Yunxi was distracted more and more, and even Hazab was faintly aware of worry.

Luo Yunxi was about to go to sleep that day, when he glanced at the calendar, he realized that there were only three days left before returning to Beijing.After extinguishing the candle, he closed his eyes and tossed and turned for a long time, but his mind became more and more clear. He could only sigh helplessly and stood up gently. As a result, just as he sat up straight, he felt a warm covering on the back of his hand.He was startled, and looked down. It turned out that Hazab was also awake, lying on his side and looking at him, with the other hand on the back of his hand.

"Teacher, you have a lot on your mind." Hazabu said in an affirmative tone, he no longer looked like a young man like this, and Luo Yunxi was briefly amused.

"Why do you think so?" he responded softly.

"Because you are so far away from me." Hazabu said, Luo Yunxi looked at the hands they held together, Hazabu also sat up and shook his head, "I'm not talking about this distance."

Luo Yunxi was silent.He was a little afraid of Hazab's continued questioning, but he also had some expectations, as if only if Hazab asked, he would have the confidence to tell the matter.

"Do you want to go out for a walk?" In the end, Hazab just tentatively asked.The hazy moonlight of tonight flows in his eyes, very light but also very deep.

"Okay." Luo Yunxi said, without asking where they were going.

Hazabu helped Luo Yunxi sit on the white mulberry, with several layers of cotton pads on the saddle, and the length of the pedals was just right for him, as if they were tailor-made for Luo Yunxi.Hazab never needs pedals when riding a horse. Luo Yunxi turned his questioning gaze to Hazab. Hazab just smiled shyly, and this smile was the answer.

After arranging Luo Yunxi, he went to untie the reins of Xingguang.Xingguang was very excited when he heard someone walking in. He sniffed and sniffed his cheek intimately. After repeated confirmation, he lowered his head in a little disappointment. Hazabu knew that it was waiting for its original owner. .He affectionately touched Xingguang's neck, got on his horse, came to Bai Sang's side, took Bai Sang's rein, and led it to walk shoulder to shoulder beside Xingguang.

Luo Yunxi recognized this road. Hazab brought him here on the day of the bonfire party, and the end point pointed to the beautiful lake.

The wind is still blowing. The wind in the grassland will never stop. It is ancient. Compared with the wind, even the mountains and lakes become younger.But in this moment, the melancholy is wrapped in the wind, as if it is endless, and the joy is scattered in it, it is a spark, blown by the wind, it burns into an ancient flame, solidifying the sunset glow in the setting sun of a certain day.

They stood on the edge of the lake, Luo Yunxi suddenly asked, do you want to go with me?

Hazabu turned his head to look at him. Under the moonlight, Luo Yunxi looked like a stone statue, with soft eyebrows and red eyes. The wind and sand in the grassland could not sharpen him, but he made the wind and sand gentle.Hazab seems to have returned to Badagarzhao, and the white lotus blooms in the middle of the lake.

"Where are you going?" Hazabu asked, and leaned over to kiss the corner of Luo Yunxi's eyes, and his lips touched the warmth of the skin.Luo Yunxi held Hazabu's wrist, and gently stroked the raised wrist bone with his fingers. He was as quiet as a lake, and his heart was rippling because of Hazabu's kiss.

"If I want to go back to Beijing, will you leave with me? We will live in the city, where the transportation and life are very convenient. When Wardle comes back, we will be the same as before-I promised, I will not Will leave you, so, will you go with me?"

After Luo Yunxi finished speaking, Hazabu didn't answer.Everything in the world lost its voice, even the wind stopped.

In this silence that was barely enough to snap a finger, Luo Yunxi had already started to regret it.Why would he ask such a stupid question, what is he as Hazab, a piece of luggage?After going through so much, how could he still want to take Hazab away?

But another voice said, take him away.Take him away from all this, away from this pain and powerlessness, take him to another life.You said you wouldn't leave him, didn't you?If one of them is destined to compromise, why not compromise for a better life?

After a while, Hazab said, do you know red willow?

Luo Yunxi didn't have time to react, so he shook his head instinctively.

"The branches of the red willow are red, and they grow into one piece, which looks like a fire from a distance. Dad said, the more dry the place, the more tenacious the vitality of the red willow, this is its life, on the grassland As long as there are red willow trees that can be seen, there will be hope like fire."

Luo Yunxi's heart sank.

Hazabu went on to say, teacher, it is my destiny to grow up in the grassland.

The galaxy is reckless, and Hazab has made his decision.Luo Yunxi didn't answer anymore, this was not the answer he was most looking forward to, but for some reason, he was relieved—he had fulfilled his responsibility as a teacher, what a good boy his Hazab has become now.

Teacher, Hazab wanted to say something, but in the next second, Luo Yunxi grabbed his collar and kissed him.

It was an almost self-sacrificing kiss.His eyelashes drooped down, pious and solemn, and he kissed Hazab like a drop of dew or a pine needle, so the rivers and seas turned into waves, and the pine waves surged into forests. The feathers of swan goose.

Luo Yunxi also made a decision.

On the day of the transition, Luo Yunxi went to the guard station and made a long phone call.

When they came back, Hazab had already dismantled the yurt. Unlike other families, they had a large number of cattle and sheep to drive away, which saved them a lot of trouble.In the days of transition in autumn, the people on the grassland are extremely united, because they have to hug tightly like cattle and sheep in order to survive the unpredictable weather and wild animals on the long transition road.

When Luo Yunxi came back, he saw that his neighbor was binding his yurt to the Lele car with Hazabu. Hazabu's action was obviously more difficult, because his chest was tied with cloth strips, the lamb Yunduo.

The lamb's back was attached to Hazabu's chest, and its four hooves were propped in the air helplessly. Some children nearby thought it was fun, and wanted to go up to touch the lamb, but they were all kicked by Yun Duo's hooves. It opened, and because of this it got a slap on the head from Hazabu, "Don't move around, I can't even tie a knot properly." Luo Yunxi laughed in his heart, pushed aside the children around Hazabu and walked Going forward, Yun Duo smelled a familiar scent, her little hooves died down, and she turned to stretch her little head, trying to thrust into Luo Yunxi's palm.

Hazabu was staggered by the lamb, and when he looked up, he saw Luo Yunxi standing in front of him with a smile on his face.He lowered his head and looked at his child-like appearance, his ears turned red belatedly, and he tugged at the hem of his clothes uncomfortably.

Luo Yunxi touched the lamb's head, Yun Duo was raised by them like a puppy, and he knew how to lick Luo Yunxi's wrist.

"Why do you look like this?" Luo Yunxi asked.

"It's too small and silly. If you don't tie it up, it will get lost." Hazabu replied earnestly. Yun Duo seemed to have been greatly insulted, and started kicking around again. Luo Yunxi smiled and untied the lamb. , threw it on the ground, and said to it, "Go, follow Baisang and Xingguang, if you get lost, I don't want you!"

Yun Duo ran away shaking his head, and the children watching the theater burst into laughter, chasing the lamb and running away.

The long line for the transition began to march, and the crowds and livestock were arranged in an orderly manner on the grass, like an endless river, meandering to a more vigorous and warm place, where it continued to thrive.

At dusk on the third day, they finally arrived at the autumn pasture.

Luo Yunxi was sleeping lightly in Hazabu's arms. The horse was bumping and the journey was exhausting. He and Hazabu held hands together and tightened the reins.No one doubted the posture of the two of them. In their eyes, Luo Yunxi was still that slender teacher who couldn't ride a horse, and he deserved whatever care he received.He has never explained this, but now he has gained a lot of money.

This day is bound to be unusual.

Yun Duo followed closely behind Bai Sang and Xing Guang, and they really didn't fall behind.The old man in the company said that this transition was the smoothest in recent years. The weather was good and no one got sick, so it must be blessed by the Longevity God.Luo Yunxi stood on the hillside of his new home and looked at it. For the first time in his life, he saw a stretch of red willow trees blooming like a raging fire.

When the sunset turned from gold to red, the yurt had been re-tied, and in the distance, a car drove up from the ridge.

Here, jeeps and pickups are common, but cars are rare.The busy people stopped their work and looked at the car curiously.

The door opened and someone got out of the car.

Xingguang raised his head high, stepping on the ground alternately with his four hooves, breathing loudly.

This day is nothing more than an ordinary day.

Zhao Xiaoqin got on the train back to Beijing, and the red accordion was placed beside her, taking the place that should have belonged to another person.In the early morning, Director Li received a call from the town police station, saying that Da Lantai had changed his statement for some reason, and Wardler was proven innocent.

This day is the end of all previous days and the beginning of all future days.