Back to 80: My Literary Life

It seems that his father's death had a big impact on him.

After a few words of comfort, Fang Minghua and the others followed Jia Pingwa into the courtyard. They went to the main room first, where the old man's coffin and portrait were placed.

Several people respectfully lit incense and burned paper in front of the portrait, and the memorial ceremony was over.

Because he was driving all the way, he didn't have time to deliver the wreaths, but for convenience, there was a paper shop in the east of the town. Bai Miao volunteered to go there, and after a while someone came over with a large bundle of wreaths.

The Provincial Writers Association, Chairman Hu Cai, and several vice-chairmen, whether they are here or not, must send a wreath in their own name, and no one can be missing.

At the magazine, Bai Miao not only sent gifts in the name of the magazine and himself, but also sent three gifts in the name of three deputy editors of the editorial department. Suddenly, there was a row of humanities gifts on the wall outside Jia Pingwa's yard. The wreaths are spectacular.

In addition to the Provincial Writers Association and "Yanhe" magazine, Xijing City Writers Association and "Chang'an" magazine, representatives of the Shangzhou Writers Association also expressed condolences and sent wreaths. Danfeng County also sent wreaths in the name of the county committee and county government, and also sent wreaths. A deputy county magistrate came to express his condolences.

During dinner in the evening, a group of literati sat at a large table, including the deputy county magistrate named Jin, and it was quite lively.

Jia Pingwa will accompany you.

"Everyone, I can't drink now, so I'll entrust Minghua to have two more drinks with everyone!"

Damn it

Forget it, don't tell him, he really can't drink like this.

But this is a funeral, and there is no funeral ceremony yet, so everyone is very sensible to drink, just drink a token amount.

After dinner, County Magistrate Jin invited Fang Minghua and the others to return to the county and live in the county guest house. He also said that the conditions here were relatively poor, but Fang Minghua declined with a smile.

I came here to express my condolences, but it was inappropriate to go to the county town at night. Besides, the funeral was going to be held at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, so it was too tiring to go back and forth.

Jia Pingwa arranged for Fang Minghua and the others to stay at her brother's home. Although the room was simple, the bedding was very clean.

According to rural customs, before an elderly person dies and is buried, someone must sit vigil in front of the coffin in the main room every night. In addition to relatives of the deceased, sometimes people from the same village will come to keep the filial family from being deserted and reduce their grief. Emotions, and also express the last care for the deceased.

The night in the Qinling Mountains swept away the heat of the day and was very cool. At the home of Jia Pingwa's brother Jia Zaiwa, Fang Minghua and the others heard someone singing in the mourning hall again.

What flowers come in May?

Lotus flowers bloom in May

May Lotus Yaochi

Nezha is picking lotus leaves

This time it seems to be an antiphonal song.

"Brother Lu, Bai Miao, go out for a walk." Fang Minghua suggested.

The three of them walked out and walked along the streets of the town.

At this time, Dihua Town was not a tourist attraction, nor did it have as many attractions as in later generations. It was just a narrow street paved with bluestone slabs. Fang Ming finally walked back and forth for a short time.

When I came back and passed Jia Pingwa's house, I saw Jia Pingwa sitting alone on the bluestone under the persimmon tree at the door, smoking.

Seeing Fang Minghua and the others approaching, Jia Pingwa stood up and greeted, "Have you gone out for a spin?"

"Um."

"There are so many people, so many things, and I'm sorry for the poor reception."

"Hey, why are your friends talking about this? You also need to express your condolences and take care of yourself."

"Actually, it was unexpected. My dad's disease was diagnosed as stomach cancer in March. It progressed rapidly. He became bedridden in June this year. He was rolling in bed in pain one day. He was hungry and couldn't eat. Look. I feel uncomfortable, and it’s a relief to actually leave.”

Everyone was silent.

"Come, sit here."

The three of them sat down as instructed.

Jia Pingwa handed out a cigarette to Lu Yao and Bai Miao, then lit a chair herself, and suddenly said: "Do you believe in fate?"

Before anyone could answer, Jia Pingwa said to herself again: "I believe it. There is a fortune teller in our countryside. Everyone calls him Blind Man Liu. This Blind Man Liu is very accurate in telling fortunes. Specifically, he travels around the country, touring the streets and telling fortunes." stall experience.”

"I started learning divination and fortune-telling when I was a teenager. I had a very good master and got very good at it. In fact, he was only half-blind and never married or had children in his life."

Everyone listened quietly to Jia Pingwa's story.

"This Spring Festival, I went back to my hometown to visit my parents and met him on the street. He saw me with a cane, looked at me and suddenly said: "Pingwa, you are having a bad year this year and everything is going wrong. "

"Of course I don't believe it. We believe in Marxism-Leninism. How can we believe in ghosts and gods? But I still asked deliberately, in this case, is there any way to resolve it?" He shook his head. There is no escape, but once you get over it, your career will go further. .I asked him what the matter was, but he said that the secret must not be leaked. Isn't this nonsense? I ignored him. "

"But after what I have experienced for more than half a year, I gradually feel that blind man Liu is right. He is doomed."

Bai Miao thought Jia Pingwa was talking about his father, so he comforted him: Pingwa, don't be too sad. Mr. Jia has taught and educated people all his life, and the world is full of peach blossoms. And he has a promising son like you. The merits are complete. "

"Am I promising?" Jia Pingwa smiled bitterly: "Bai Miao, there are some things you don't understand, you don't understand."

At this time, someone called Jia Pingwa's name and asked him to go back. Jia Pingwa quickly put out the cigarette butt and spoke to the three of them, then hurriedly entered the compound.

Fang Minghua and the three of them had nothing to do, and they couldn't help because others were busy, so they went back to Jia Zaiwa's house, washed their feet, and went to bed.

Lu Yao and Fang Minghua squeezed on the same bed, and then Lu Yao said: "Minghua, you don't know, Pingwa is really unlucky this year."

"What else happened?"

"At the beginning of the year, he accompanied his father to Xijing Hospital for a physical examination, and also checked himself, and the result was hepatitis B." Lu Yao said.

"Ah? Hepatitis B?" Fang Minghua was shocked: "No wonder he looked sallow today, I thought he was sad and tired because of his father's death."

"That's only one aspect. Hepatitis B puts a lot of mental pressure on him. He used to have a wide range of friends, but now you rarely see him go out."

That's it!

In this era, people are terrified of hepatitis B, no less than the fear of cancer.

"Also, his wife is divorcing him. Didn't you notice that you didn't see his wife today?"

Yes

Fang Minghua paid attention to this matter this time. How could his daughter-in-law not be present when his father-in-law died?

"Does Pingwa have a woman outside?" Fang Minghua's gossip heart started.

"Hey, no, it's just hearsay. Wasn't Pingwa's novel "Wild Mountain" adapted into a movie a few years ago? Pingwa went to the crew as a screenwriter and directed the film. He met an actor named Xia in the film. The two got along well and sometimes exchanged letters, but they were just ordinary friends."

"But his wife didn't believe it. That woman was so beautiful and you were so talented, it would be strange if nothing happened! So they often quarreled about this matter. I heard that they even went to the Municipal Writers Association to make a scene. Where would Pingwa put his face? So their relationship became worse and worse."

So that's it!

Haven't I been misunderstood before?

But I have a deep relationship with Song Tangtang and trust each other. Besides, Song Tangtang is beautiful, capable and confident.

Also, the career advancement that Liu the Blind mentioned, is it Jia Pingwa who wrote the book "Wasteland"?

It really made him famous at home and abroad.