[500 meters ahead of the fork in the road Shennongjia Forest Area]

The street signs standing tall quickly passed by.

The swaying wipers wiped away the white fog condensed on the car window, and looking at the fog that came out, Li Zhe's heart swelled with a trace of nostalgia.

It's been years.

I didn't expect the roads to reach my doorstep.

Originally, I thought that I would have to go through a few mountain roads to get there, but now it seems that the prepared anti-slip tools are useless, and I haven't been back for a long time.

"Dad, how long are we left?" muttered the child sitting in the passenger seat, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

It was his son, named Li Haoming, who had just turned six years old this year and was only in the first grade of primary school.

"It's almost there...... Wait for your dad to refuel the car first. ”

The car stopped at the gas station.

Looking at the eldest aunt who came over, Li Zhe, who got out of the car, said politely.

"Auntie, please help me fill up the oil. ”

"Okay, young man, are you taking your son on a trip?"

"No, I'm a local...... Take my son back to his hometown for the New Year. Li Zhe changed to a local accent, but unexpectedly found that he couldn't speak that taste.

The old lady smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay, most of the people who come here are tourists, and we all speak Mandarin now." ”

"Really?" Li Zhe was slightly stunned, and also changed to a standard Mandarin accent, with a smile on his face, "That's pretty good." ”

Speaking of which.

Since I went to Wuhan to study at university, I rarely speak my hometown. Especially after getting married with Haoming, even my father began to speak stumbling Mandarin on the phone.

After filling up the gas, father and son continued on their way.

After the car drove into the town, Li Zhe also subconsciously slowed down. It's not because of the road conditions, but because I want to see more of the familiar and unfamiliar hometown.

Rows of three-storey small western-style buildings line the road, every house has a yard, and every family has bought a car.

Life here is not as busy as in the city, and in their spare time, the old people sit at the door and shake their fans, watching the roosters and hens pecking rice in the yard, and chatting with the old man next door......

Although this is all a picture in Li Zhe's imagination.

After all, it is the lunar month, and the weather is still very cold, so it is difficult to sit at the door and chat with the neighbors. Moreover, in the month of La, according to the customs of the Tujia family, every household has to kill New Year's pigs, make glutinous cakes, and prepare New Year's goods, which is still very busy.

I followed the navigation to find the door.

Li Zhe stopped the car and loosened his seat belt.

The little guy sitting in the passenger seat was not sleepy at this time, and was looking around curiously. Born in the city since he was a child, everything here is full of novelties for him.

"Dad, is this where you grew up?"

"Yes, your dad grew up here. ”

"Is there a school here?"

"Yes, of course, schools, hospitals, supermarkets...... There are all in the city, and this is your father's hometown," Li Zhe rubbed his son's little head dotingly, and patted his back gently, "Go back to the car and take you to see grandpa." ”

"Well, I'm going to see the wildlings!"

"Savage?" Li Zhe was slightly stunned.

"Grandpa said that there are wild people in the primeval forest of Shennongjia," the son's eyes flashed brightly, and he waved his little fist excitedly and said, "Grandpa said, if I come back with my father, he will take me to see the wild people!"

What a savage.

Li Zhe looked at his son and smiled.

He has lived in Shennongjia for more than ten years, and he has never seen that thing, and it is all outsiders talking to themselves there.

"That's why you want to come to Shennongjia for the New Year. ”

"Hmm!" the son nodded vigorously, as if there was a light in his eyes, "Grandpa also told me that the toes of the wild man are thicker than my arms, and their feet are the size of five of my feet. ”

Li Zhe said with a smile.

"Where does Uncle Savage live on such a cold day? There is no heating in the mountains. ”

"I live in a warm cave in winter and a cold cave in summer, and my life is good," the son said in a serious childish voice, "Also, grandpa also said that there were scientific expeditions who were rescued by savages." ”

Saved by savages?

If there were really wild people, wouldn't they be eaten?

Li Zhe thought so in his heart.

As if to see that his father didn't believe what he said, the son pouted, buried his head and muttered quietly.

“…… If you don't believe it, don't believe it, and Nannan doesn't believe it either. ”

"Nannan?"

"It's my tablemate...... She also thought I was bragging, and said that I wanted to have a long nose, but it was not," the son said angrily, "When I take the photo, after the New Year school starts, I must give her a long insight." ”

Sure enough, it's a child.

Only adults speak of reality, and they are neither interested nor curious about what they believe does not exist.

Li Zhe smiled and didn't say anything.

In fact, before leaving, he and his wife had a quarrel over where to celebrate the New Year.

Xiao Hua is a native of Wuhan, and in previous years, he always went back to her parents' house with her for the New Year. First, it is close and it is convenient to go back, and secondly, there are two people, one is a nurse and the other is a policeman, and the nature of their work determines that it is not so easy for them to go home during the New Year's holidays.

Originally, this year was the same as in previous years, he planned to go back to his father-in-law's house with his daughter-in-law for New Year's dinner, but somehow, after his son and grandfather made a phone call, he suddenly began to quarrel and wanted to go back to Shennongjia for the New Year.

"Every time I go to my grandmother's house, I also go back to my grandfather's house this year. ”

Li Zhe couldn't refute his son.

Truly.

It was his father who had always come to the city to see him, but he never went back once after he got married.

It's not that he doesn't want to, but there are too many trivial things in life, and he can't leave at work, and he has thought that this is all an excuse, but he just can't put aside those various concerns, and put aside everything just to go back and have a look.

Because he's not a kid anymore.

Only children, you can not think about reality.

But this year he mustered up the courage.

On the one hand, it was his son's soft grinding and hard bubbles, and on the other hand, he really wanted to go back to see it, so he asked for leave with the leader and embarked on the return journey back to his hometown for the New Year.

Although his wife did not approve of his plan, and it was reasonable.

"It's so cold in winter, if you take your son back to Shennongjia, aren't you afraid that he will catch a cold? Do you know how many children our department has to hang water for at this time of year? ”

Xiao Hua, who works in the hospital, is undoubtedly very vocal on this issue, and this is indeed a problem.

If it was usual, Li Zhe might have bowed his head to his wife, but this time, somehow, he went back by magic.

"Who doesn't have an air conditioner now, and it's not just the city that won't be frozen, and those infectious diseases are all outbreaks in crowded places, I think my hometown is safe!"

"You, aren't you arguing with words?"

"Who is strong, and when will I not accompany you back to my parents' house for the New Year after marriage? This year, my son wants to go back to his grandfather's house for the New Year, what's wrong with me taking him back once?"

"If you want to go back, you can go back by yourself, our department is busy, and I can't finish working overtime, so I'll go back to my parents' house by myself this year!"

"Where do you love to go back? At that time, he also said something with a hot brain, Li Zhe thought about it afterwards, and he did regret it in his heart.

But if you say it, you will spill the water, and it will be too late to regret it, and the final result is that the two of them will go back to their respective homes for the Chinese New Year this year.

During the Chinese New Year, he didn't really want to think about those troubles.

When I go back after the New Year, I will apologize again......

……

Arrived at the doorstep.

It's Daddy who opens the door.

is almost sixty years old, but his body is very tough, especially the straight waist looks straighter than some young people.

According to my father, since he became a forest ranger in the scenic spot, he walked up and down the mountain every day, and he could eat two large bowls of rice at one meal, and drink two taels of wine at night, and his life was beautiful.

To be honest, Li Zhe was a little envious when he listened.

The son shouted to his grandfather and pounced on him with a smile, Li Guoping hugged his grandson, the wrinkles on his face turned into a ball, and he couldn't close his mouth happily.

"Obviously, let grandpa see if you've grown taller!"

"Grow taller! Grandpa, grandpa, I want to see the wild man!"

"Okay, let your dad take you to the mountain to see it later, I only saw it yesterday when I was walking around the mountain. ”

Putting down the cheering grandson, Li Guoping looked at his son who was standing at the door, and stretched out his head as if he was looking for something, but he didn't find it.

"Dad, are you okay?"

"Okay...... What about Xiao Hua? Why didn't I come back with you? ”

She ...... This year, I was busy at work, and I had to work overtime, so I didn't come back with me. Li Zhe was embarrassed to say anything about the quarrel.

Li Guoping nodded, and didn't ask, just sighed and sighed.

"It's better to be busy, she works in a hospital, and she wants to treat diseases and save people...... It's cold outside, so let's come in first. ”

……

A few years ago, because of the Dajiuhu ecological resettlement and relocation policy, the Li family moved with the people in the village, from the original Pingqian Village to the current Pingqian Ancient Town, and lived in a small western-style house resettled by the government.

In the past two years, the development of the scenic spot has been done well, and there are many young people in the town, and the economy is much better.

Some new furniture has been added to the house, but the old furniture and small items are still there.

Especially when he saw his room, Li Zhe's eyes suddenly moistened.

Those things, my father and mother kept for themselves, and even the awards sticking to the earthen wall were moved, and none of them were missing......

"Everything is here, I cleaned it a few days ago, do you see what is missing? Is there enough quilt, do you want to add another bed? It's quite cold here in winter. ”

The old lady walked in with a quilt in her arms, looked at her son and said with a smile.

I haven't seen my son for a few days, and it's rare to come back, and she has been preparing since yesterday.

"No, no, there is air conditioning, I'll just cover a blanket...... This is?" Looking at the brand-new certificate hanging on the wall, Li Zhe cast a puzzled look.

Noticing her son's gaze, the old lady looked at the wall and said with a smile.

At that time, geologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences came to investigate, but they were accidentally trapped in the mountains during sampling, and your father carried a bag on his back to bring them out. In the end, not only did the people come out, but also the scientific research samples were there, and the unit sent him a certificate of merit, coaxing the old man! As far as his own treasure is concerned, he will come here all day to take a look. I told him that he should just hang it in his room, but he didn't do it, so he had to hang it with his son's award. ”

After listening to the old lady's words, Li Zhe showed a surprised expression on his face.

"Why didn't Dad tell me?"

The old lady sighed and said.

"It's not that I'm afraid you're worried, in fact, there's nothing to worry about, he's already familiar with this place, and it's easier to go up and down the mountain than the young people in the unit. No, I didn't eat lunch and ran up. ”

"Don't you have a holiday for the New Year?" Li Zhe said stunned.

"The young people in the unit have all gone home for the New Year, and he is also on vacation, who will go to the mountain to pick up cigarette butts? Who will call the police if something happens? Someone has to do it, and the old man himself is happy, so you can leave him alone. By the way, after lunch, you take Ming Ming to the back mountain for a walk. ”

"Back Mountain?"

"Aren't you going to see the savage? You take him to the mountains to look for it. ”

Looking at the smiling old lady, Li Zhe said with a bitter smile.

"Mom, why are you as confused as Dad, where did you get the wild man these days?"

"Look for it, have you forgotten that your father took you to catch butterflies when you were a child? It doesn't matter if it's not, it's okay to take the children to the mountains to play, now that the mountains have built roads, it's not difficult to walk. You're still in the city, sucking in the exhaust fumes of cars every day, and now you have a rare opportunity to breathe fresh air, aren't you happy?"

After being told by his mother, Li Zhe sighed helplessly and went to the living room to find his son lying on the ground playing with toys.

"Son, Dad will take you to the back mountain. ”

Hearing this, Ming Ming immediately dropped the toy in his hand and looked at his father with bright eyes.

"Go to the wildlings?"

Li Zhe hesitated slightly, but when he saw his son's hopeful gaze, he still smiled and nodded vigorously.

"Hmm!"

"Let's go, Dad will take you to see the savages!"

"yes, I'm going to take a picture!" the son jumped up excitedly.

"Okay! Dad take the camera with you! Let's shoot with the camera, that thing is clearer than the phone shot!"

"Oh oh oh! Daddy is so nice!"

……

The road in the back mountain is steep and has dense vegetation on both sides, but it can be regarded as a road. A stone brick road winds up the mountain, and then it is a little muddy, and it is also a pity that it has not rained in the past two days, otherwise Li Zhe would definitely not bring his son up here.

Will there be wild people in such a place?

Li Zhe was skeptical.

But he didn't take it too seriously.

Even if you don't, it's nice to bring your son for a walk.

It's the wax moon now, and the sun will be a little sunny at noon, and it won't be too cold to walk outside. Walking all the way up the mountain, suddenly he saw a figure in the distance.

The man was covered in furry stuff, with boots or something on his feet, crouching in the woods as if looking at this side. It's not the furry outfit that makes people feel weird, it's the green mask on the face.

Yes, that seems to be a mask?

Serious people don't have to wear masks.

Li Zhe didn't see it too clearly, and the shadow disappeared in a flash.

And the one standing on the side was obviously excited, pulling his sleeve and shouting to point towards him.

"Dad, Savage, take a picture!"

It seems to be frightened, or something else.

When the man heard the voice, he quickly turned and slipped into the vegetation on the side, and after a while he was gone.

With a frustrated expression, he let go of his hand tugging on his father's sleeve.

"The savage ran away. ”

Looking at the direction in which the "wild man" disappeared, Li Zhe was stunned for a long time.

Are there really savages?

Impossible, right......

Could it be a monkey or something.

Curiosity was gradually piqued, and although common sense told him that it was impossible, he still squeezed his son's hand.

"It's okay, Dad will take you to look for it again in the mountains. ”

"Can we still see him?" asked the son, looking up and winking.

"Don't worry, Dad is a policeman, he can even catch a thief, but he can't catch Uncle Savage?"

"That'...... You caught him, but don't take him back to the police station," the son said timidly, "Let's take a picture with him, and let him go." ”

Looking at his innocent and kind son, Li Zhe smiled and touched his little head.

"How come? The Public Security Bureau only imprisons the bad guys, let's say hello to him and leave. ”

It doesn't look like a tourist at all, and although it doesn't look like he's doing something bad, it could be a missing person.

Either way, you have to at least make sure he's safe.

Li Zhe admits that he is a little nosy, but who wants him to be a police officer?

The "wild man" did not leave, but hid in the mountains, as if he were playing hide and seek with father and son. Several times they were close to the wild man, but they were all thrown away by the other party.

Li Zhe was a little unconvinced, but he couldn't help it.

After all, it is impossible for him to leave his son on the mountain, and it is impossible to pass through those densely vegetated places with his son, so he can only follow the road, how can he catch up?

However, after a few contacts, he confirmed that this wild man was not a monkey or a real wild man, and that it was probably someone living in the neighborhood who was playing with them.

After all, how can a wild man wear shoes?

Because of his profession as a police officer, he is too familiar with the soles of shoes......

After looking for two hours, my son got tired of walking, sat down on the stone pier, and stuck out his tongue and said.

"It's too hard to chase. ”

"After all, Uncle Savage has lived here for so many years, climbing mountains every day, unlike you who often don't exercise, how can it be so easy for you to catch up. ”

"That'...... If I start exercising now, will I be able to catch up with him?"

"I guess so. ”

"Speaking of which, Dad. ”

"What's wrong?"

"Your name is Uncle Savage...... What should I call him?" asked Ming Ming, tilting his head and looking innocent.

Li Zhe smiled and touched his son's head.

"Daddy's uncle, of course you have to call him Grandpa. ”

……

Although he didn't catch up with the savage and take a photo with him, he was satisfied when he saw the savage's Mingming.

The father and son played until the sun was about to set in the evening, and then they went down the mountain and returned home.

"Why do you get sweaty? Come on, grandma will help you separate your back so that you don't catch a cold. The old lady took the towel and led Ming Ming to the side.

Li Zhe took a towel to wipe his sweat, and planned to wait for Ming Ming to finish taking a shower and go to the bathroom to take a shower.

It didn't take long for the grandfather who went out to patrol the mountains to come back, and he was also sweating, but his face was smiling brightly, and as soon as he entered the door, he picked up his grandson who rushed over.

"Grandpa! We've seen the wildling!"

"Oh, my good grandson, did you say hello to the savages?"

"Say hello! I almost caught up with him. Ming Ming said with a look of annoyance.

"It's okay, let your dad take you up the mountain tomorrow to find it!"

"But I want my grandfather to take me. Ming pouted and channeled.

"Grandpa has to work, and the trees on this mountain are all in Grandpa's care. ”

"Has Grandpa ever seen a wild man?"

"But no, if Grandpa hadn't seen him, how could he tell you his story?"

Seeing the two grandchildren chatting there, Li Zhe's face also had a smile on his face.

Although the identity of the wild man is still a mystery, seeing his son so happy, his mood is much better.

……

At night.

Li Zhe watched TV with his parents for a while, and then went back to his room to sleep.

Although it was a new home, the familiar bedding and the familiar smell still made him feel sleepy quickly. However, just as he was about to fall asleep, a noise came from outside the door, but his eyes slowly opened.

The door opened a crack.

By the light of the moon, he saw a man tiptoe in, holding something in his hand, as if it had been borrowed from here.

That man was his father.

At such a close distance, Li Zhe saw the things in his father's hands clearly. And it was precisely because he saw it clearly that he suddenly showed a surprised expression on his face.

It was a green mask.

Vaguely, it seemed to be the same as the one he saw on the face of the savage during the day.

But it wasn't a savage mask, it was a character from the cartoons he used to see on TV as a child.

He remembered his name as Monster in Disguise, and even remembered that his dad bought him a toy at the market when he was six years old, when he came back from town.

However, for the children of this era, it should not be impressive.

His eyes were slightly moist, and Li Zhe didn't know what he was moving. Putting the mask back in the drawer, Daddy quietly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced back at his son who was sleeping on the bed.

However, it was this glance that made him stand there awkwardly.

The air was silent.

Only the moonlight outside the window was flowing.

The first to break the silence was Daddy, who didn't explain anything, but whispered.

"Your mother said, I don't know what you want and what you don't want, I thought about it, and it was a pity to lose it, so I brought it from my hometown house. At that time, a big car was loaded, and the driver who helped him joked and asked us if we should remove the wall skin. ”

Li Zhe smiled and said softly.

"yes, I think it's a shame to lose it...... Keep them all. ”

"Hmm...... Then you go to bed early. ”

"Good night. ”

"Good night. ”

Li Guoping nodded, turned his back and left the room, and gently closed the door as if he had never come.

Of course, Li Zhe will not say.

Even if he knew the truth, tomorrow he would still take the child to the mountains to find Uncle Savage. Because at that moment, he suddenly understood many things that he didn't have time to understand even if he became a father.

The two have a tacit understanding, and no one has broken it.

……

Next.

Li Zhe took his son to play crazy in the mountains all day and took a lot of photos.

In the evening, the family sits around a table full of steaming dumplings. However, looking at the rising mist, Li Zhe always felt that something was missing.

Li Guoping saw through his son's mind at a glance and accosted him.

"Thinking about Xiao Hua?"

"Hmm. ”

"Tell me honestly to Dad, did you quarrel?"

“…… It's not a quarrel, it's just a little contradictory. ”

"I have to criticize you for this, it's normal for husband and wife to stumble between each other, you are a big man, you should let other people or let other girls' families when you should let them. ”

As he spoke, Li Guoping touched his grandson's head and said with a smile.

"Obviously, if Mom and Dad quarrel, I have to persuade them for Grandpa. ”

Ming Mingdi nodded vigorously and said in a milky voice.

"Hmm! next time...... I'll comfort my mother. ”

Li Zhe smiled bitterly and did not speak.

Today is Chinese New Year's Eve.

He didn't want his father and mother to know that he had a conflict with his wife because he went home for the New Year, otherwise the two old men would definitely worry about him.

Outside the window, the night was getting darker.

The family talked and laughed, but they didn't move their chopsticks.

Even Mingming is the same.

When he was very young, he knew that when the family ate together, he had to wait for the elders to move the chopsticks first. This time, however, it was not because he was polite, but because his father always looked out the window from time to time, as if he was looking for something.

Ming Ming tilted his head and looked at his father.

"Dad, what are you thinking?"

"Daddy...... I was thinking about the savage uncle we saw on the mountain today," Li Zhe paused and continued, "I don't know if he has dumplings to eat when he returns home...... Let's eat first, don't wait for the dumplings to be cold. ”

He didn't know what he was waiting for, and he didn't know what he was expecting.

As he was talking, a light suddenly lit up outside the window.

To be exact, it's a couple.

Li Zhe's eyes dilated slightly, and a hint of disbelief was written in his pupils.

Grandpa had a relieved smile on his face, and Grandma, who was sitting on the side, pushed his arm and whispered, "Go and get a pair of chopsticks for someone."

At this time, there was a knock on the door outside the courtyard.

Li Zhe rushed out of the house, ran to the door, and opened the courtyard door.

In the light snow, a woman stood there.

She was wrapped in a thick scarf around her neck, and her hair was filled with moonlight, like frost on the eaves, and like moonlight.

“…… Why are you here?"

"Is this the only thing you want to say to me?" Xiao Hua's face had a hint of complaint, but what was printed in his eyes was the lights at home.

In the courtyard behind him, there was a clear voice.

"Mom?!"

It was as if awakened by the voice.

He stepped forward and hugged her.

"Welcome home. ”