My father was a white blacksmith in the village, from my childhood, often followed him and vendors, various smiths, rooted in the village of the old youth, beggars chat. Old Sun head is one of them.
All the characters’ psychology and details in this article are from the old Sun head’s own narrative.
1
Baoying County is located in the Su Central River area, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs north and south, the early 80s, the county has a total of 173 large and small ferries. Qiangou village, once rooted in the reeds and connected to the vast salt and Huai land in the north, was the largest natural village in the county with more than a thousand households. At the west end of the village, the east-west An Sha River, which runs east-west, merges into the north-south Daxi River. Here, Qiangou Village looks across the river from the prosperous neighboring town of Xi’anfeng, with a ferry crossing of more than 20 feet.
The old Sun head is the ferryman, we only know his surname Sun, a foreign countryman, it is said to be the 60s from the north to flee the wilderness. He seems to have never been younger, nor older. The wind at the mouth of the river never stopped, scurrying out of the reeds, sharp as an open blade, the banks of the embankment cracked, revealing the gnarled roots of old poplar trees, like the wrinkles on the forehead and corners of the eyes of the old Sun. A head of white hair is always shaved short, needle felt like standing, the right half of the face does not show blood, like dry leaves like dry, creepy.
The ferry is the western gate of the village, the crops of vegetables and fruits, fish, poultry and eggs, Chai Po products, iron, copper, wood, gabions handicraft work, more to find buyers across the river. In order to grab a suitable stall, businessmen get up early and arrive at the ferry on the fifth night is a common occurrence.
The two dry thatched huts of the old Sun head were next to an old poplar tree on the riverbank to the east. Just call out the window “Sun master, cross the river,” not much work, accompanied by a few clear throat dry cough, the old Sun head will come out.
A few steps down to the river bank, the old Sun head will greet guests first on the boat, a few haphazardly untangle the twine wrapped around the stake, by hand, the rope thrown on the bow, and then a foot on the bow, a foot stomping the river bank, bow up a force, the bow will go into the water. Then the old Sun head will jump on the bow, came to the cabin, manipulated Shun lying on the board of the Penny, homeopathic against the river bank, only a ferry on the scamper out. Penny, go Penny, Penny, a breath of fresh air.
Villagers called him Sun Wukong, the thatched bamboo Penny is the Golden Band, the old ferry is a somersault cloud, a somersault over more than 20 feet wide Daxi River.
Windy days, the waves can lift a foot high, he a Penny even a Penny without a shake, like a nail under the feet, stable bow. Used to seeing the wind and waves, the old Sun head always while holding the boat, while roaring and singing: “The reeds of the water are a demon wind.
The reeds of the water swirling demon wind, the river surface of the big creek ripples.
Dragon King you do not want to be angry, do not stop the pedestrians to drive the road.
……
The old Sun head always said, the dragon king can hear the river trumpet, but also love to hear. Ten miles and eight villages across the river more love to hear, the wind and rain, this trumpet on their hearts; good days, this trumpet is a pastime.
The riverbed of the Daxi River is suddenly flat and steep, which is the legacy of the river dike construction in previous years, and naturally swallowed many lives. Women seeking death for love, boaters who lost their footing in passing boats, and children who were carelessly guarded by boaters on both sides of the river. There are no firefighters in the countryside, whenever this happens, the old Sun head is always either fighting alone, or a group of three or five good water boatmen, rescue people to retrieve the body, not a problem.
In the early years, the old Sun head also did back to the fire hero. At that time he was still a young man of about 20, once rushed into the fire to hold a crying doll, was burned red collapsed wooden beams cut off the right half of the face, burning a flesh blur. The local groom, Guo Hanxian, got some pot ashes, and the yellow mud of the Daxi River pounding Ba Ba, to the bad face spread, pain is pain, but really stopped the water, some days, the face is also better, is withered.
Old Sun head broken face, no girl can look, plus this is a foreign country, no relatives, naturally no one to arrange. The village saw him hardworking and honest, willing to suffer, he was arranged in the west end of the ferry, replacing the original old boatman, also considered a livelihood to settle down.
This work, from the green hair to gray hair.
2
Old Sun head of the ferry more than thirty years, has been diligent, rain or shine. For the village of Qiangu, once dependent on the neighboring town, the old Sun head was once a more important figure than the village clerk. Over the years, the village secretary has changed several times, but no matter who it is, even if it is just to go across the restaurant for a drink, it is also to cross the river.
In the 21st century, the river area road construction finally ushered in the big development, “to get rich, first repair the road”, no road repair, the water township of agricultural and sideline products how to go out, all kinds of factories how to live in, how to climb up the GDP? So, the starry ferry appears more and more eye-catching.
Soon, the village east of that water swing sandwiched road, muddy Jiang Qian Road, quietly changed several times; south of the newly completed Xin Nong Bridge access to County Road 302; is to Xianfeng, a small turn to the southwest, where the water is narrower than this West Head Ferry, has also set up a new bridge.
West head of the ferry is a hard bone, wide water, engineering difficulties, need more tickets. Bridge construction and removal of the ferry, one need to build bridge money, two need to remove the ferry subsidies. Provinces and counties out of the bulk, the rest rely on village finance. Qiangu village leadership team complained about the village financial deficit, can not get the money, they puffed up the cheeks, play the loudspeaker to call on the villagers to donate money, according to the head to each production team under the index, the brigade and the task assigned to the squad.
In addition, the village always have some outside the face of the person, on New Year’s Day, are the branch of the Secretary Yang Da “caught a strong man”, Xi’an Feng restaurant set up a table, wearing a high hat, playing cards of affection, how much can always spit some to. In this way, the branch secretary often take people to drink the tradition, more impeccable.
A number of patchwork, Qiangu west of the bridge work was finally put on the agenda at the end of 2002.
One evening, the branch again from Xi’an Feng returned from drinking, a breath of wine, went up to congratulate: “Grandpa Sun ah, your ferry to build a bridge, the bridge is built you do not support the boat, do not suffer miles!”
Recently, the withdrawal of the ferry wind especially tight, the old Sun head heart backwards a thousand times: “Good! Build a bridge is good, the bridge to go on the people, also sports car, than the ferry strong! I listen to the public.” Said, the old ferry has scampered out a few feet away.
“You after the public support, is the five households, enjoy the blessings of miles!” The branch secretary came up, handed a cigarette to the old Sun head, lit, the old Sun head flattered.
Old Sun head know, he is enough to five households, the age and conditions are enough, and not to build a bridge is not related, but over the years, but never saw the shadow. He asked several times, to where they are like a ball is kicked around, think of their own a foreign man, they did not chase the end.
“Enjoy the blessing! Enjoy the blessing!” The old Sun head continued to bow, just lit the cigarette choked his eyes pain.
When we drew up against the shore, the branch secretary again pulled the old Sun head detailed comparison, what the policy of the top, the village arrangements of all kinds, until someone on the other side of the shore urged, but still not finished.
The air is still filled with the branch secretary has not dissipated the smell of alcohol, the old Sun head listened to the clouds, facing the sunset back to the ferry, even the half of the withered face are warm.
He felt that he was about to become a glorious laid-off employee, resting in peace, that is to lie in the sun all day under the old poplar tree, smoking good cigarettes, drinking good wine ah; but also think that he is still strong, can also find something to do, pull out the roots, playing small jobs. How to use the money earned? The half of the withered face is hot again when you think about it.
3
In 2003, just after the Spring Festival, the construction team lived in the west end of the village.
The old Sun head saw Wang Xihai also in the construction team, the brother-in-law of the branch secretary, topped with a helmet, the fat head brain simply can not cover. Wang Xihai was a mason, over the years pulled up a group of small and large workers as a foreman, the village cooperative pig farm, chicken farm is he led a group of people to build, the east of the Jiang Qian Road is also his contract dry. The old Sun head thought, he is quite capable, such a large bridge will be built, the bridge and the chicken, piggy bank fear is a reason?
West head of the ferry, finally came to its last year of service to the people.
This year, the villagers often while thinking about the bridge can bring great convenience and frowning, while teasing the old Sun head, said he worked all his life easily retired, should hurry to meet a small old mother, grab the tail of youth to a twilight love. Every time this time, the old Sun head will blush to the root of the neck, the most will point to the bridge next to the not yet formed, said to stand the last shift.
Money in place, the schedule to advance quickly, Wang Xihai the farmer engineer to the construction of his hometown reported an infinite enthusiasm. Of course, the county bridge and road design institute also sent engineers and technicians. Survey site, pouring reinforced concrete bridge plate, bridge plate, building railings, on the mid-year flooding delayed two months, until the end of the year, the bridge is hard to spell out, called “Qian Gou Xidu Bridge”.
Bridge ceremony, the branch led the director Jin Er, accountant Guo San and some contributors, surrounded by the county sent representatives, all in good suits. Bridge East crowded with people, each production team are there, the bridge fund-raising almost every household have a share, everyone is a “shareholder”, everyone is the main character. Old Sun head can not squeeze in, standing under the old poplar tree, this piece of land is high, look fresh.
In the middle of the bridge, put a four-inch square board, called the dragon mouth board, from the two ends of the bridge pull a red head rope in the middle, the bridge set up offerings, candles on incense – this is for the “back of the dragon mouth” (dialect, broken) ready.
The so-called “back to the dragon mouth”, from a long-standing legendary story. Legend has it that the Dragon King is divided into three, six and nine classes, and the East Sea Dragon King is the largest, in charge of the water dragon king in each lake. In the Lixia River area, there was a session of the small water dragon king of Baima Lake with violent temperament, because the sky is high and the emperor is far away, fish and flesh of the people, grabbed the roof of the people’s thatched roofs, destroy the bridge, the people suffer unbearably. Finally, a young man called Malang came forward, with calamus sword cut back the small water Dragon King’s bloody mouth, from this area will be eliminated and blessings, people and animals in good health. Legend has it that from then on, whenever houses and bridges are completed, this place will have a “back dragon mouth” ceremony, hosted by the local old mason.
Zhu San Hunchback is standing at the bridge, he is the village’s old mason, is Wang Xihai’s master, naturally he has to preside over the big picture, his hunchback fell from the scaffolding. Everything is ready, he began to sing and shout, his voice is hoarse, but very powerful, we all to shout and accompany.
“Hey a son hey! I carry the dragon mouth for the village, diligent and thrifty have the road upward, respect for the elderly and filial son are as desired, eat not anxious to wear not worry!”
“Hey a son hey! I for the village back dragon mouth, silver money yuan treasure gathered gold bucket, lucky star high shine three yuan land, usher in the phoenix three nod!”
……
Old Sun head standing far away, also loudly drink “good”.
The end of the happy singing, Wang Xihai then gave Zhu San Hunchback a good cigarette, Chinese, soft shells, and a large bag of large white rabbit milk candy, which is used to “sprinkle happy” to the crowd, who grabbed more, lucky and rich. Zhu San Hunchback neatly unwrapped the outer packet of cigarettes, himself first tucked two packets, and eight packets are unwrapped, mixed in the bag of sugar, a handful of scattered.
The bridge exploded into a frenzy. Old Sun head more crowded in, but also honestly stood under the poplar tree.
He is waiting, he knows that the main thing has not yet begun.
Bridge head one grabbed the joy of grabbing a dusty face, Wang Xihai muttered something with his brother-in-law branch on the sidelines – to find someone to cross the bridge.
The first to cross the bridge is unlucky, will crash into the water dragon king, that most people attract disaster, a paragraph of the legend is the gods, nose and eyes, bluffing you sweat straight up. Must find a poor man or beggar first, this number of people hard and cheap life, give some tribute and reward money on it. This deadly job, no one naturally do.
Branch is a number of belly, he took two packs of Chinese cigarettes and 200 yuan from his brother-in-law Wang Xihai, straight to the old poplar tree, “Master Sun, the bridge is completed, we dare not cross, please cross a bridge. You are familiar with the Dragon King, you are Sun Da Sheng, with the Golden Band, the Dragon King is also afraid of you three points!” The branch secretary nodded, courteous, said the cigarettes ah money or something to the old Sun head hand.
The old Sun head did not refuse, not rare this stuff. He is really familiar with the Dragon King, over so many years ferry, really feel that the Daxi River is their own home, which day stirred, to be able to sink into the river, but back home.
The aging Sun Wukong and his ferry
The old Sun head followed the branch to the bridge, straight on the bridge, like stepping on their own old ferry general steady, which have a few scruples? At this point, Wang Xihai greeted the small workers fried small whip, the sound of people annihilated. Villagers superstition, the crowd is not lack of dismay and regret faces, this “back dragon mouth”, like in the execution of an old man.
But the old Sun head clearly seems to be holding his old ferry, the sound of firecrackers, the river call came again: “Hey!
Hey!
The reeds of the water swirling demon wind, the river surface of the Daxi ripples.
Dragon King you do not want to be angry, do not stop the pedestrians to drive the road.
……
Old Sun head walked to the middle of the bridge, stopped in front of the dragon mouth plate, towards the dragon mouth plate kowtowed three heads, got up, and continued to walk west.
Old Sun head a walk across the dragon’s mouth plate, Zhu San Hunchback commanded the minion to swing the axe to cut the red rope, then, several minions rushed to the middle of the bridge, with four iron nails will be nailed to the dragon’s mouth plate.
Longkou back over, the sound of firecrackers died down. Qiangu Xidu bridge to go, open to traffic. Old Sun head retired.
4
By the beginning of 2004, but a year of light, East and West bridge are unknowingly opened a few seams, each with a finger thick, day after day, see the trend of climbing to the middle. Bridge piers on the concrete is also cold to fall slag. Old Sun head look at the bridge, bridge piers, the concrete stars of many holes, like the face of pockmarked, creepier than his withered face.
Wang Xihai said the cracks are big car pressure, the piers fell slag is a big water bubble. The old Sun head guarded the bridge to live on the edge, and did not see how big the car crushed, and the pier does not pestle in the water can also poke the sky?
Said more people, the branch is also anxious, ask the county bridge design institute experts to see, people said the bridge eat cement did not eat, more did not eat well. Branch let experts think about the method, experts shake their heads, scared the branch sweat, but still gave a “prescription” – with a high grade cement, the cracked seam patching, diligent maintenance.
Not long, the bridge was inserted into the eye of The load limit warning signs.
I think the cement really are Wang Xihai family, Jiang Qian Road is also the same, three or two years of work, a place with a good discussion, cracked up a large mouth, some places even collapsed, the road along the middle of the direct break into two halves. Wang Xihai said again, this is the tractor pressure. But the chicken children’s farm road does not go tractor can become? The branch told his brother-in-law to bring people to the folded road to repair the good, sewing large on the patch.
Of course, repair costs are not Wang Xihai personal out.
Bridge cracked on the load limit, the road collapsed repair patch, a group of people in the brigade department bullying, more powerful than experts, there are always ways to solve practical difficulties for the village. The good thing is that the location of the village is remote, the road repair is not a big problem, cracking a few mouths villagers do not care, and not their own fields dry cracked mouth.
The fields in the Rixia River are not afraid of drying out, but of flooding and drowning the seedlings. Small water to replenish the seedlings, big water to extinguish the harvest.
The 2003 flood was another flood that hit the Lixia River region hard after the 1998 flood. In this regard, the state is subsidized, called “agricultural tax disaster relief subsidies”, referred to as “disaster relief money”, the money is refunded to the treasury. The wind of “disaster relief money” is also a hitch, it seems to have returned the money only individual villages, such as the next village of Chonglin – that village has a lotus garden scenic spot, considered a small “rich”.
The villagers never expect to pay the money can still spit out, never, there is such a labor spirit are going to the field to fill the rice.
The old Sun head did not have a field, after the withdrawal of the ferry, the five guarantees of the subsidy is finally seen, but is January sunny January rain, but also really no number. He also had to make some wire mesh, long fish cage to the ditch to put down, have the strength to pull out the root. If it is free, old Sun head like to cross the bridge to Xi’an Feng town Wang stonemason that piece of running. Before the construction of the bridge, the old Wang head to the village dead ghosts carved monuments, are the old Sun head to transport across the river, the two old man relationship is the top, often invited each other to drink old wine.
One day in early March 2004, the old Sun head to the old Wang head that string door, landing a mouthful of tea has not yet drunk, the old Wang head asked: “your village head Guo accounting want me to carve a lot of chapters, but also told me not to tell people, and your it, afraid of what is not Zhou Zhengzhi!”
Although the village people are not much culture, but this chapter of the family but look at the dead. The chapter can be poked everywhere, with the same signature, can receive money can also make you pay for tickets, sitting in jail are there!
“I did not ask Guo accountant to carve the chapter ah.” The old Sun head puzzled, the village carved their own chapter for what purpose? Old Wang said, the village head of many people have a share, there are 84, he does not suspect that there is a ghost.
That night, the old Sun head found retired old teachers Xia Yiyang, Pan Zhengqing, also have their chapters. The two people have ink in their stomachs, foreseeing this thing is extraordinary. The next morning, two people have come to the town government, the County Commission for Discipline Inspection to report, requesting to identify village cadres privately carved villagers seal used in what place, and Qiangou village in 2003, “disaster reduction money” issued.
This matter immediately exploded in the county discipline inspection committee, the county on the one hand, try to block the news, on the one hand, low-profile treatment. The branch secretary Yang Da, director Jin Er, accountant Guo San was taken to the county overnight, all in the good car of the Discipline Inspection Commission to go. The old Sun head heard people say that it is called “Audi car”, “several hundred thousand a it! A moment to give a scare. A small car hundreds of thousands, that has to buy how many good ferry ah!
Now, the villagers are to that legendary “disaster relief money” lit up hope. As for the old Sun head, he still can not figure out the village to carve his chapter to do what.
Nearly a month later, on April 15, the village market bulletin board posted on the village accountant Guo San’s “review letter”: I work in the previous section, at the request of the higher levels of the 2004 “tax decomposition to the household table” stamp rate must reach 80%, due to the short time. Due to the short time, many villagers do not have stamps at home, and many villagers work outside, it is difficult to complete the work within the specified time. Therefore, the unauthorized engraving of 84 seals for others, for inspection and acceptance ……
The first is that the so-called “tax decomposition to the household table” villagers do not know, and the second is that there is no mention of what “disaster relief”, disappointment and dissatisfaction in the village spread.
On April 19, the county discipline inspection commission departments and the town government jointly held a meeting to inform the results of the investigation, to set the tone for the incident. The meeting also invited villagers’ representatives such as Lao Suntou, Pan Zhengqing and Xia Yiyang in the list to quell public anger. Old Sun head does not like the whole thing, but he is an important witness, it is not good to resist, he feels he has this responsibility. He is not good at speech, in fact, the General Assembly did not give him the opportunity to speak.
The meeting informed the “investigation results” – money ditch village accountant Guo San private carving villagers seal is a personal behavior, the private carving of the villagers seal is not used, did not cause serious consequences, not to pursue legal responsibility, the town party committee decided to remove Guo San money ditch village accountant position.
5
Guo accountant’s “removal” did not quench the villagers’ anger, but anyone with a “political sense” can smell that this is the county party committee, the town government, the village committee reached a tacit agreement. The villagers felt that the “findings” were evasive, and they were once again fooled.
Finally, I do not know who put this on the net, “Qian Gou village”, “village cadres carved private seal” words immediately attracted the attention of some media, Yangzhou TV “concern” came, even the CCTV “common concern” also came, the interview car drove all the way to the The village. People never dreamed that they could be on TV, or the central station. One by one, they walked around in front of the camera, and some of them even talked.
For the “investigation results”, the face of the reporter’s microphone, the town cadres, village representatives have very different views. Even the dismissed Guo San himself, but also aggrieved, quite a few words.
Wang Dahua, deputy secretary of the town party committee, said that the meeting came up with four points of treatment, one is Guo San private carved seal costs paid by his own, two is the earlier has ordered Guo San to write a “review”, three is the town government collected 78 private carved villagers seal destroyed on the spot, four is the village accountant Guo San removed from office on the spot. Deputy Secretary Wang said to the camera: “The four points of the meeting to deal with the views after the meeting were timely delivery, the masses of Qiangu village is still relatively satisfied.” Sprayed the microphone full of spittle.
But the villagers’ representatives said that the “findings” are very dissatisfied. Xia Yiyang said: “We did not agree with the ‘results of the investigation’. First, the town wanted to destroy the privately engraved seals on site, we strongly disagreed, but they still preempted the destruction of 78, but it is good to save six of them; second, they (county discipline inspection committee cadres) after a month of investigation and evidence, the results are disappointing, they are ‘privately engraved 84 villagers seals’ the circumstances, the circumstances of the matter. They did not explain clearly whether it is related to the state ‘disaster reduction money’ and so on, obviously there is a cover-up behavior ……”
Even the “removed” Guo San does not agree that “private engraved villagers seal” is his personal behavior. In the face of the camera, Guo accountant said, “the village carved everyone’s private seal, the branch secretary nod.” The branch secretary got angry and scolded him for his dog fart.
At the end of the day, both men said, “This is the practice of the top research, but also the tacit approval of the villagers.” Guo also added: “A leader approached me to talk, in order to take care of the overall situation, before asking me to take responsibility to accept the treatment.”
The key issue is still not resolved, the villagers do not believe that these private seal is really the brigade department to carve for fun? With the villagers’ expectations, the reporter ran to the county discipline inspection bureau, the director said, “The investigation showed that the village cadres did not have obvious disciplinary actions, so the discipline inspection committee did not file a case on the matter, QianGou village disaster reduction money so far, can be responsible to say no problem.” In the end is a big official, speak is to have the bottom.
Xia Yiyang still has “privately carved” six villagers’ seals in his hand. The company is still trying to figure out what the basis for the release of the “disaster relief money” is? What is the basis for the payment? In addition, the villagers generally believe that everyone involved in donating money to build the bridge, repairing the road also obviously jerry-built materials, check the buttocks of the branch secretary clean is very necessary, “Wang Xihai is his brother-in-law!
Xia Yiyang also took out a signed petition: “Petition is a matter of necessity, if there is a way, no one wants.”
This is not an uncommon thing. History and experience tell us that always encounter this kind of thing, as long as it is handled properly, some of the villagers even if they have a sky-rocketing enthusiasm, can soon be subdued, Qiangou village is no exception.
6
The old Sun head is old and did not participate in the petition, he is worried that a toss will be the “irregular” five guarantees to completely tossed away.
Stonemason old Wang head chatted by chance, heard that after the new bridge was built and withdrawn, the old boatman Shen Changshan got a lump sum of 5,000 subsidies to withdraw the ferry, asked old Sun head how much he had taken.
He counted these curves, there is really “withdrawal of ferry subsidies” this file, not a legend.
Old Sun really does not like the whole thing, so he gave himself relief, he has the treatment of the five guarantees, the body is still quite strong, but also can suffer a little. The own should not run it, he also do not hurt that Laoshi God.
On the other hand, he also feels that the public will give a statement in the end.
Old Sun head is old, just like his ferry is old, lying in the shallows.
When the sun is good, he likes to put a rattan chair under the old poplar tree, lying down, listening to Huaihua opera throughout the radio, looking at his old ferry.
The wicker chair wobbles, the old Sun head easily tired, the sun for a while to fall asleep.
He had a dream. He dreamed of the Water Dragon King. The Dragon King took the form of a dragon and leapt out of the Daxi River, whispered, swam around the old poplar tree, and became young himself, back to twenty years old, and that withered face was shining. Before he could see the face, the dragon grabbed the bridge with a giant claw, even the piers up, leapt back to the soup of the river.
Bridge is gone, the old Sun head again became a boatman.
The estuary of the demon wind still year round, he continued to sing: “The reeds of the water is a demon wind.
The reeds of the water swirling demonic wind, the river surface of the Daxi ripples.
Dragon King, you do not want to be angry, do not stop pedestrians to drive the road.
Recent Comments