Even if one string is broken, the remaining three must continue to be played. This is life.
—Emerson.
***
Near the Sanhe Human Market in Longhua District, Shenzhen, there is a group of people known as "Sanhe Great God". They work on daily wages to get by, and they eat this meal every day. No house, no family, living in a black Internet cafe for fifteen yuan a night, eating a bowl of clear soup and hanging noodles for six yuan.
Life is such a huddled life every day, no hope, no tomorrow.
But this is also life.
In 2000, when Gao Jiaxun was about to leave for work in Sioux City, a fellow returning from Shenzhen asked him if he wanted to go to the south.
"People like us have no culture and background, and we can't compare to those college students. What can we do in big cities, eat and drink enough every day, go to Internet cafes to surf the Internet at night, and have a loose cigarette for 50 cents, it's very refreshing. Fairy race."
Without thinking about it, Gao Jiaxun refused the invitation of the fellow.
"I want to try harder."
So he carried a tattered backpack and came to Sioux City.
Little people have little people's world, living in a group rented house of eight people, can't afford to play with computers, can't watch TV, but it's better than having this meal without a meal.
Every choice in the world may be inconspicuous at the moment, but looking back a few years later, at that moment, I am standing at a turning point in my life.
Who would have thought that a country boy who lived in a group of rented houses and worked as a part-time job by giving massages would eventually become the current CEO
Lianjia Real Estate Agency Huating Community Store.
In the bright and clean shop, the old man sighed to Xiao Liu while drinking tea: "Let me tell you, when Mr. Gao rented our community, I introduced him to him, and I paid him an agency fee. At that time, our company had not yet been established, and I was just a working man in a small intermediary shop. Now that life is better, Xiao Gao has become the general manager of Gao.”
Xiao Liu: "You also sold Mr. Gao's house to him later?"
Senior: "Yes, I bought it for Mr. Gao a few years ago. He is afraid that he wants to be a Nianxiang." Thinking of this, the senior sighed in his heart, "At that time, there were eight young men in their house. Only the one who survived, Mr. Gao, would feel good about it. Who would think of a normal couple quarreling and actually turning on the gas tank when they are idle!"
Xiao Liu remembered the document he had seen, and sighed, "Has that couple been released from prison?"
Old senior: "Who knows! I moved away early, I don't know what happened. Back then, they opened a gas tank and blew up, killing four on the spot, but the two of them were lucky, they didn't blow up, and the police took them to the police station to mediate the dispute. It's gone. Half of the building was blown up, three neighbors and one policeman died! I remember one of the three neighbors who died was a little girl from 1103 upstairs. The girl was in fifth grade and stood on the balcony every day. I played the violin. I just finished my homework that day and ran to the balcony to play it for a while. As soon as the bomb exploded, the little girl fell from the balcony window. Others could still save the girl. My mother was cooking in the kitchen when she heard the explosion and ran to the balcony. When she saw that half of the balcony was gone, she knew that the girl had fallen, and she almost jumped off, but was stopped by her father."
Xiao Liu clenched his heart: "Isn't there a total of fifteen people who died? There are only four, how can so many people die? After the bombing, everyone still didn't run away?"
The old senior glanced at her and recalled the scene of hell on earth.
Yes, after the bombing is over, why don't you run
Isn't that stupid!
At that time, his real estate agency store opened on the street across the street from the community. The explosion shook the entire street twice. He hurriedly ran out the door thinking there was going to be an earthquake, but when he looked up, the fire was blazing into the sky.
803, Building 13, Huating Community, is not a border household, but a middle household.
As soon as it exploded, the fire burst into flames. With it as the center, the balconies on the upper and lower floors were all blown up, and this is not over yet. The raging fire swept the entire 8th floor, and the fire spread upwards, with the tendency to overturn everything.
The elevator must not be able to go, there are stairs, and before it was swallowed up by the flames, many people from the upper floors ran down, but many of them didn't have time to run down, and the corridors were all on fire.
At that time, he was so frightened that he stood still.
But in this world, there are always people who will rush to death and redeem their lives without turning back.
Senior: "Mr. Gao and the other eight guys had already escaped, but when they went downstairs and looked up, at least 20 people above were trapped inside and couldn't get out. They turned their heads and ran back without thinking. Save people. The one who went up and down took a lot of effort. They saved twelve people down, and the one who ran up and down, the fire truck is coming soon. When it’s time to rescue the last wave... The fire spread to the next door, putting the The gas tank of the house next door burst.
"Eight people, only Mr. Gao survived.
"Later, Mr. Gao said that when his brothers ran up to the eighth floor, they suddenly found a strong smell of coal, and quickly told them to evacuate. When it finally exploded, Gao was always pushed out from behind. He didn't either. I know which pushed it, but after waking up in the hospital, he was the only one who survived.
"You said, can President Gao feel better?"
Xiao Liu panicked in his heart: "There are still many good people in this world, and good people will definitely be rewarded. Look at Mr. Gao, he will be prosperous and rich now."
Senior: "Well, Mr. Gao has always helped the seven young men who died in the past to support their parents, which can be regarded as being benevolent and righteous."
…
The sky is getting dark, and the lights are on.
After drinking a cup of bitter coffee, listening to an ancient story.
Lian Xi and the two stood at the entrance of the cafe, and the successful man in a suit took out a business card from the business card holder and handed it over. His eyes were slightly red, but he had a gentle smile on his face, "I always feel like I've seen you two before, and I feel like I'm familiar with you. If you need it, you can come to me with this business card at any time, and I can listen to you. Tell us about your project."
This time, Lian Xi did not refuse, saying that he had no entrepreneurial project.
He took Mr. Gao's business card.
Mr. Gao smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll go first."
A luxury car slowly parked on the side of the road, and Mr. Gao got in the car and left.
Watching the taillights of the car go away, after a while, he asked, "When did you know who he is?"
Hearing this, the handsome and unassuming man lowered his eyes slightly and raised an eyebrow at the young man beside him: Huh
Lian Xi looked at him: "At the door of Baozipu, I decided to follow him. Did you already find out at that time that he is the guy who lives opposite us?"
Yes, from the beginning to the end, even Xi didn't recognize it. This Mr. Gao was the guy who lived opposite them until he received the information from Xiao Liu.
Because President Gao looks so different from that guy!
The guy opposite the door is young and sunny, always smiling, and his eyes are full of vigor and hope for the future.
But Mr. Gao has experienced many vicissitudes. He doesn't look like a person in his 30s or 40s. He seems to be in his fifties, with white hair on his temples, wrinkles on his eyebrows and eyes, and even walking with a heavy pace, as if something is pressing hard. On his shoulders, he couldn't breathe.
Lian Xi decided to follow him, but he subconsciously felt that the guy opposite the door might have something to do with this person, otherwise they would not go to the same bun shop to buy breakfast at the same time. He is an intuition.
The courtier: "You can't see?"
Lian Xi: "What?"
The courtier: "His soul."
Lian Xi showed a dazed look.
Lord Hei Wuchang shook his head lightly, and said disappointedly, "You really lost your memory." Not even that, "His soul looks exactly like that person."
Lian Xi was slightly stunned.
- The heart has not changed, so it is still the same teenager.
***
When I got home, the shorty roommate had been waiting at home for a long time after class.
As soon as Lian Xi and Gu Chen came back, Su Jiao came over excitedly: "How is it, do you have any clues? What's going on at the opposite door? It's definitely not a ghost." Jian Lian Xi didn't refute himself. , Shorty's roommate suddenly felt confident, glanced at Zong Zong quietly, and hummed: "I just said, if this is a ghost, how come I'm also a mysterious cultivator, can't you see it?"
Caochen smiled, didn't bother to pay attention to him, turned around and walked to his bedroom.
Lian Xi glanced at his back and said to Su Jiao, "It's really not a ghost."
Su Jiao: "I said so!"
Lian Xi: "But it's not human either."
Su Jiao: "Huh?"
Lian Xi thought for a while: "Human obsessions may be stronger than ghosts."
…
Carrying a bottle of wine, Lian Xi knocked on the opposite door.
It was the very righteous young guy who opened the door - Mr. Gao.
Seeing Lian Xi, he was stunned for a moment, and then said angrily: "What are you doing, you still have a bottle of wine, do you want to apologize? It's useless for you to come, and it has nothing to do with you. Call the man in black over here."
Lian Xi smiled and said, "No, it's been a long time since I moved here and I haven't said hello to you, so I just want to have a meal together."
Mr. Gao said suspiciously, "Just you, don't you bring your sick roommate?"
"Without."
President Ji, who was eavesdropping with Su Jiao behind his house: "... Ha."
The young guy glanced at the door behind Lian Xi several times, and after confirming that Lian Xi was the only one, he touched his nose and opened the door: "Okay, then you can come in. Hey, how do you know that we are eating pig's head tonight. The meat is old and fragrant."
The dark lacquered door opened slowly, and after pondering for a moment, he stepped inside.
With a click, the door closed.
There was no furniture in the empty room, only eight young men stood blankly, wide-eyed and looked at Lian Xi curiously.
But they don't seem to think it's an empty house.
The guys were very enthusiastic, helped Lian Xi move the "chair", took him to the "table", and took out a plate of "pig's head meat" from the kitchen.
"By the way, do you like pork head meat?"
Even Xi: "I can do it."
"Okay, let's go together. What kind of wine did you bring?"
"Buy it at random, you can try it."
"OK."
With nine "cups" in hand, the young man started pouring wine. When he was about to pour the last cup, he was stopped by Lian Xi.
Lian Xi: "I don't drink."
The young man was stunned: "Then you watch us drink?"
Lian Xi: "Well."
Young guy: "Uh, that's fine."
Eating "pig's head meat" and drinking white wine, everyone was hooked.
"The store will give out bonuses next week, Xiao Gao, this time it will definitely be your number one performance again."
"hey-hey."
"The surnamed Wang, Xiao Gao works the most every day, and never rests from morning to night. It's not right to get bonuses. Why are you jealous."
"I'm jealous. It doesn't look like Xiao Gao is working hard. Do you want him to rest more?"
"It's a good thing, Xiao Gao, like this, will definitely have something to do in the future. It's different from us."
"Xiao Gao, you are so desperate to make money, do you want to save money to go back to your hometown to build a house and marry a wife?"
The crowd burst into laughter.
The young man Xiao Gao was also amused by them, his face blushed and he couldn't raise his head.
"Don't tell me, Xiao Gao is the youngest among us. Just nineteen, I remember? You should all learn from others."
"I've always regarded Xiao Gao as our little brother."
"Hey, it's strange, why doesn't the girl upstairs play the violin today. I don't feel comfortable listening to her playing the violin during dinner."
"Don't let people get tired, don't you want to pull today?"
"Okay, okay, I'm afraid her mother will scold her again." After speaking, the young man pinched his throat and imitated the girl's mother's voice: "Mom paid you to learn the piano for me, not for you. .You haven't practiced well, your money is going to waste, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh piss me..."
"Ha ha ha ha."
Xiao Gao: "Next week I will give out bonuses, and tomorrow morning I will treat everyone to breakfast!"
The seven boys suddenly came to the spirit: "You said, I want to eat fried dough sticks and soy milk."
"I want a big meat bun!"
"I want fried dough sticks and steamed buns, and I want the one from Laojie Wangji!"
Xiao Gao: "Okay!"
Everyone was eating and drinking, and they were in high spirits. Xiao Gao suddenly saw Lian Xi who was sitting quietly beside him. He was taken aback and smiled, "I'm sorry, I'm so happy that I didn't pay attention to you. Eat more, your wine is really good. , I haven't had a drink since I came to Sioux City." As he said, Xiao Gao picked up the "wine glass" and was about to pour it into his mouth.
Lian Xi stretched out his hand and blocked his wine glass.
Xiao Gao was stunned and looked up at him.
In the dimly lit room, the bustling lights outside seemed unable to reflect it, only silence and peace enveloped the room.
Lian Xi looked at the confused young man in front of him, and said, "If you drink wine for the dead, don't drink it for the living."
Xiao Gao froze suddenly.
Lian Xi's voice was quiet and soft: "I once heard of a disease. For example, survivors of wars, survivors of earthquakes and natural disasters, after experiencing major and terrifying disasters, they will be depressed and fall into nightmares. Feeling guilty and self-blame, and always asking myself unconsciously—
"why me
"Why did I survive
"Why me?"
Xiao Gao's pupils trembled slightly, and he slowly opened his lips.
Lian Xi: "It's called survivor syndrome."
In the spacious house, the sound of the seven boys laughing at each other stopped abruptly. They turned their heads silently, just like Lian Xi, quietly looking at the man holding the "wine glass" and opening his mouth, not knowing that he was already crying. face full of people.
Lian Xi: "It's not your fault, they are also very happy that you survived. It's never wrong for you to survive, this is the luck that the seven of them are willing to give you.
"You are not the shameful survivor, you are the lucky one who worked hard.
"They're underground and happy for you, too."
There is a long silence in the room.
a long time.
Lian Xi turned his head and looked at the place where the seven guys "sit" just now. I saw that there were no "tables", "chairs", and no "bowls" and "wine glasses". On the ground, there were only traces of Qitan wet. That is wine, to pay homage to the martyrs, and to pay homage to seven people who sacrificed their lives to save their lives.
"thanks."
Lian Xi turned his head and looked at the young guy.
I saw that he slowly let go of the hand holding the "wine glass" and looked at Lian Xi with a warm and sad smile.
"Thank you for the wine, it's really good."
The voice ceased, and the figure of the young man disappeared suddenly in the air.
At the same time, in a high-end apartment on the other side of the city, a middle-aged man in pajamas suddenly woke up from a nightmare. His forehead and body were covered in sweat. He was only thirty-eight years old, but his forehead was covered with wrinkles, and his temples were also dyed white.
He was breathing heavily, his fingers trembling.
After a long time, he suddenly let out a low roar, covering his face in grief and weeping.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... why is it me, why am I the only one who survived..."
"I'm sorry for you!"
All the words that had been in my heart for nineteen years, at this moment, all roared out, with tears and guilt.
However, it was also at this moment that he seemed to really come to life.
No longer so heavy and sad, no longer so stuck in the past, unable to extricate themselves.
The next morning, Su Jiao got up early for class, and when he passed the old street next to the neighborhood center, he suddenly saw a shiny luxury car.
"Fuck? Mercedes-Benz?!"
The car stopped in front of Su Jiao.
A middle-aged man in a high-end suit got out of the car and came to a shop called "Wang Ji Baozi Shop". He laughed loudly: "Pharaoh, a fried dough stick, a meat bun, and a cup of soy milk."
The boss who was busy in the store heard this, stopped kneading the dough, and turned to look at the middle-aged man in surprise: "Hey, don't you buy so many today?"
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "If you don't buy it, they should have eaten enough long ago."
Boss: "Haha, okay."
The middle-aged man carried his breakfast, turned and walked towards Daben.
Su Jiao wiped his eyes, and in a trance, he actually saw the young man opposite the door who should have been sent to reincarnation by Lian Xi and the middle-aged man. Only one turned to the west and one to the east. The young man didn't hold anything in his hand. He walked briskly, hummed a little song, with a bright smile on his face, and his figure gradually disappeared into the air.
Under the bright and warm sunshine, Gao Jiaxun straightened his back and looked up at the bright morning sun.
What a great weather!