The moon shines

Fall 1980.

Shanghai train station.The train from Beijing had just arrived at the station, and the passengers who had been sitting for more than ten hours couldn't wait to squeeze out of the train, and the platform was filled up in no time.Among the hustle and bustle of the crowd, an old gentleman over half a century old was particularly eye-catching. He was tall, with a straight back, and his gray hair was combed neatly.The old gentleman is carrying a suitcase in his left hand, and his right hand is in the pocket of a knee-length long coat. It is a woolen coat that is hard to buy even with a cloth ticket!Even though they were all on their way, people couldn't help but look at the old gentleman when they passed by.

And the old man didn't know if he was used to this kind of scrutiny, or he was completely immersed in his own world.He walked extremely slowly, almost stopping every three steps and stopping every five steps. However, this kind of slowness was not the leisurely stroll in the garden, but the timid hesitation that was close to the nostalgia.Soon, he fell at the end of the crowd, until the people on the same train were almost empty, but he was still quite far away from the exit.

His abnormal behavior caught the attention of the station staff. A young girl in her twenties trotted up to him and asked sweetly, "Old man, do you need help?" shoulders, big eyes full of concern.

The old man seemed to be taken aback for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It's been a long time since I've been back, I'm a little emotional." His voice was deep and low, like a cello.

The girl asked again: "Then are you waiting for someone to pick you up? They can't enter the station, so you can only see it when you get there."

The old man continued to shake his head: "No, no one came to pick me up." After a pause, he continued, "I'm here to find someone."

The girl was even more puzzled, she still smiled and asked: "Then, do you not know how to get there? I haven't been back for so many years, Shanghai has changed a lot. You can tell me the address, and I will help you find out where to go. Which car is convenient."

The old man thought for a while, then took out a neatly folded note from his coat pocket and handed it over.

The girl unfolded the note with a smile, and first praised "Your handwriting is so beautiful!" After browsing it quickly, she asked: "Only the street has no house number?"

The old man's throat tightened, his expression was still calm, but his voice was stiff: "...I don't know if he is still alive..."

Only then did the girl realize what was going on. Since overseas Chinese were allowed to return home to visit their relatives, this station has received countless people looking for relatives and friends.They come full of hope, but may not be able to return happily.

She was young, so she didn't really understand this kind of mood, but at this moment, she could feel the deep sadness on the old man's seemingly calm and resolute face.She felt that she had made a slip of the tongue, and a little embarrassment appeared on her face, and she said nothing after hastily explaining the bus route.

……

Fang Mengwei stood on the tram, looking at the unfamiliar yet slightly familiar street, countless past events flashed in his mind.He was still a young boy when he left Shanghai, but he was almost sixty years old when he came back again.He involuntarily clenched the note in his hand, not even realizing that he was trembling unconsciously.

At this time, it has been 31 years since he and Mingtai parted ways.In the past 31 years, he tried his best to inquire about Mingtai's news, but despite the obstacles of mountains and seas, he not only failed to get any news about Mingtai.Even his uncle and Mulan lost contact shortly after he left the mainland.

He finally returned to Beijing half a month ago, but there he got news of the deaths of his aunt and Mulan——Xie Peidong died of illness in prison, and Xie Mulan committed suicide at home less than a year after her father died. under 27.After Fang Mengwei listened to the insider's report with a blank expression, he was at a loss in his heart. The change of regime always requires the sacrifice of a large number of people's lives. This has always been the case since ancient times.It's just that when the victim is one's closest relatives and loved ones, this "naturalness" becomes unacceptable cruelty.

He spent more than ten days inquiring, and finally found the graves of their father and daughter with the help of the police.The tombstone is very simple, with only the name engraved on it.Since no one swept the tomb, the grave had long been submerged in the weeds, and the cracks in the stones of the tombstone were also filled with gray-green moss.The only consolation is that the two tombs are next to each other.

Fang Mengwei spent most of the day removing the withered grass from the grave, and then slowly sat down in front of the two tombstones. The ground was very cold, but he didn't seem to feel it at all. He was as pale as a paper doll.In the cold wind, the little courage in his heart seemed to dissipate like the heat in his body.

Before finding this place, he went to visit Uncle Cui’s grave for Aunt Cui. Uncle Cui’s tombstone did not even have words because of the need for confidentiality. He finally found Uncle Cui’s tomb based on the old grave where Ma Hanshan buried gold bars.

These people who are vivid in memory have now turned into pieces of cold and hard stones.

What about Mingtai?Compared with his uncle and Mulan, his "beginning" is even worse, and the young master of a wealthy Shanghai family was also a military agent.Fang Mengwei didn't dare to think anymore.For the past 31 years, he has painstakingly sought any news about him, but now that he is back in the mainland, he is afraid to hear any news about him.It seems that as long as there is no news of him, he must still be alive somewhere.

Still, he had a clue.The person who gave him the address explained that it was likely that Tai had returned to his place of origin—all those who entered the labor camp with him had been flattened.On the contrary - as long as he is still alive.

The tram finally arrived at the stop, and the crowd who got off took him to squeeze off the tram, and took him to walk away from the station for a long distance, and then gradually dispersed.Much like his whole life, in the face of the power of the torrent of history, his unwillingness, struggle, and resistance are all so vulnerable.In the end, you can only be swept up and pushed by such a wave, and stagger forward in the struggle, but you never know whether the road ahead is a broad road or an abyss.

Shanghai in November is already very gloomy and cold, but Fang Mengwei's palms are covered with fine sweat - the street written on the note has arrived.

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It has been more than a year since Mingtai returned to Shanghai from Hunan. The harsh environment in the labor camp almost killed him several times, but he survived in the end.Even the barefoot doctor named Buffalo marveled at his tenacious vitality. After all, the days of being insulted and trampled have caused many people to end their lives in despair.However, only he knew that the reason why he survived was all because of the faint hope in his heart: he wanted to see him again.

But after returning to Shanghai, everything seems to be better.Not long after he returned to Shanghai, his two elder brothers also returned to Shanghai one after another.Luckily for them, their files are actually well preserved, hence the ping.On the other hand, it went well.After all, fate was kind to them, allowing their brothers to reunite after going through the storm.

Today, the three brothers live in an old two-story western-style building with a single family.The Xiaoyang Building is small and exquisite, and it is definitely incomparable with the Ming Mansion back then. Moreover, before they moved in, this formerly charming small building had been remodeled. At most, there were four families crowded together. The layout inside has been tossed beyond recognition, and it is almost impossible to see the shadow of the year.

Mingcheng tidied up the small courtyard, Minglou planted flowers and plants, and the small building gradually looked like a home.Mingtai did not know where to bring back a white kitten. When it was brought back, it was thin and small, with round eyes that always seemed to contain puddles of water. Mingtai called it "Wei Wei".For this reason, Minglou complained, saying that this name is not catchy at all, it might as well be called Xiaobai, Meowmeow or something like that.Mingtai just laughed, but still insisted on calling it Wei Wei, the cat also clings to him, and every day Mingtai goes out for a walk, it also follows.

On this day, Mingtai went out for a walk with Wei Wei in his arms as usual. Minglou was sitting in front of the window basking in the sun. When he saw his figure disappearing at the door, he walked over to Mingcheng, who was painting, and whispered, "He still thinks about it." As for the child, the cat with the same name can’t wait to carry it in his arms every day.”

Mingcheng stopped writing, and sighed: "Our young master is superficial, but in fact he is the most affectionate. Half of that photo was burned, and he still holds it like a treasure."

Minglou smiled: "But that child really looks like you, at first I thought Mingtai hid your photo."

"It looks similar at first glance, but you can tell the difference when you look closely." Mingcheng said and added a few more shadows to the painting.

"That's right, otherwise I would have beat him up." Ming Lou raised his chin, pretending to be majestic.Then he asked again: "You said, that Fang Mengwei looks so similar to you, you are not a child of the Fang family, are you? Didn't you check it?"

Mingcheng exposed him unceremoniously: "Back when you saw the photos, you checked Fang's background thoroughly, so I didn't need to do it." Minglou just laughed.But I heard Mingcheng seriously say: "I never want to know who my parents are, my eldest brother is enough." Ah Cheng's sideburns are already full of hair, but his eyes are as clear as yesterday.

Minglou's heart felt hot, and he held his right hand hanging by his side in his palm.That's what Ah Cheng said, and he did the same.This right hand, which has no strength, is the proof.

They were approved in [-].During the fight, Ah Cheng used his right hand to forcibly block a heavy stick that was supposed to hit his spine.At that time, they were "traitors" and "***" who were punished by everyone, and they could only endure the smashed bones of their hands.By the time he was sent for treatment, his hand had been ruined.Even with a little force, I trembled violently, and I could no longer hold a gun or a pen.Such beautiful hands...

Whenever Minglou thinks about it, he feels very sad.But when it comes to this matter, Ah Cheng always comforts him with a smile: If it hits the spine, the eldest brother will be paralyzed. I only use one hand to change it, it is worth it.

Ming Lou was feeling emotional when Ah Cheng sighed: "I heard that Fang Mengwei went to Hong Kong. I haven't contacted him for such a long time. It's not so easy to find him."

Minglou nodded: "Yes. I also thought about finding someone for him, but I didn't dare. It's been more than 30 years, I'm afraid he has already married a wife and had children. If there is a connection, Mingtai will feel uncomfortable if he finds out."

However, the two of them never imagined that the person they were talking about was inquiring about Mingtai's whereabouts from household to household not far away.

Mingtai hugged the kitten and froze in place.Even though he hadn't seen him for 31 years, he still recognized the figure in front of him at a glance.His hair was already grey, but his figure was still as tall and straight as when he was a boy, and the profile of his side face was more determined than that.Mingtai thought about many scenes of the two reuniting, and he wanted to tell him that he remembered Lin Shu, Mei Changsu, and him.However, when this moment came true, he couldn't utter a word, and even the soles of his feet seemed to be nailed, and he couldn't move a step.He stood like this, watching the man turn his head, shocked, and then walked towards him step by step...

Fang Mengwei's lips moved, and his hands were shaking so much that he could hardly hold the box.The surprise of lost and found fell from the sky, he was like a person who was knocked out by a pie falling from the sky, he couldn't believe that he would be so lucky!Even though that person was old, haggard, very thin, and a bit hunched, he was still 31% sure that this person was the person he had been waiting for for [-] years.

He walked towards him step by step, and he said "Sir..." before he choked up and couldn't speak anymore.Mingtai's current state made him dare not think about how he survived these years...

Mingtai looked at the white hair on Meng Wei's sideburns, his eyes were sore, but he said with a smile, "After all these years, you still love to cry so much...Jingyan." He called this name very lightly.

Fang Mengwei was shocked, his eyes widened in disbelief: "What did you call me?"

"Jingyan." Mingtai said these two words clearly this time.He stepped forward and hugged Fang Mengwei, "Although it's a bit late, I remembered everything."

Fang Mengwei hugged Mingtai tightly.He's back, and he's back.

Back then in Beiping, he always dreamed of the Daliang Palace and Prince Jing's Mansion.But after going to Hong Kong, I dreamed of Peiping more frequently, and dreamed of all kinds of things he got along with Mingtai.He thought about it at that time, it's okay if Mingtai can't remember, even if he is not Xiaoshu's reincarnation, it doesn't matter.He still wanted to see him, it was Fang Mengwei who wanted to see Mingtai.

However, fate still treated him preferentially. When he felt that he had nothing, he actually gave him such a most precious gift.

"Come on, let's go home!" After crying, Mingtai smiled and took his hand.Don't ask where they came from, don't ask when they will return, as if they were together before, and will always be together from now on.

The author has something to say: Lou Cheng’s story was originally intended to be a short story that stood alone, but this one hurt me. Thinking about the stories of that era makes me feel sad (there are too many blocking words!), and I don’t want to write any more. up.Another baby called the big brother to come out in the comments, so it was merged into the last chapter.

This could be regarded as the story of Su Jing struggling as an ordinary person in a turbulent era.In the end, it doesn't really matter whether they are Tai Wei or Su Jing. It is the greatest luck of that era for lovers to be together.