(a)

Another road that we all loved to walk, completely through the old alleys. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

That alley, legend has it that 100 years ago was where the richest people in the city lived. The narrow roads are paved with granite, and many of them are the tombstones of someone in the past. It is also engraved with the names or surnames of those who died, and the words "first exam", "first concubine", "deceased husband", and "deceased wife" are written.

The houses on both sides of the road have high thresholds and stone piles for bolting horses, and a stone is inlaid in a corner of the tall wall, on which is carved a certain house.

These houses have long depths and carved shadow walls, and black doors with golden copper knockers.

Our wheels rolled over these tombstones, and we passed by the old mansions one by one.

Let's imagine together those who have lived here, lived and died here, prospered and wealthy here, and died here.

We rode through the street leaning against each other while we thought about the past people we never knew.

We often speculate about what kind of person was buried under this tombstone. Then we describe his or her life according to our own imagination.

We also often speculate about what kind of people lived in the house we just passed by, what kind of stories happened in it, and what the ending and fate of the people in the house were.

We're happy to make this guess again and again.

Every time we ride down this street, we each have some indescribable intimacy. We feel even more intimate because we can sense the same intimacy in each other's hearts.

The same experience makes us feel very close to each other. And the traces of the passage of time that echo on this street make us feel far away from each other.

There have been many times when I feel like we're two little fish in the ocean. We were swept together by the same great wave, briefly hurried down the street, and then were carried apart by the great tide.

We were in each other for a short moment. We are in this hurry.

When we are separated, life will be different from before we met. Because in this short period of time, we entered into each other's lives.

Even if we never see each other again, we will know that in the vast sea, there is a fish that knows me, a fish that misses me.

(b)

One day, as we rode past a deep house, we heard the sound of a bass flute coming from the depths of the yard.

A flute with a silver glow, hidden in a place we can't see, alone weeping and blowing a tune.

As soon as it sounded, we immediately heard the voice of an old woman coming from the front yard. She shouted into the backyard, "Less! Don't blow it! You've been blowing this for a day! ”

She shouted, "I can't stand it! ”

We looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

The man named "Less" replied loudly in the backyard, "Auntie, you have endured it for a day anyway, so bear with it again." He said, "I have an exam tomorrow!" Just let me practice two more times. ”

When the old woman heard this, she let out a loud sigh. Then, she muttered, "Alas, I can't stand it." ”

She said, "No matter how good things are, they can't stand it if they are repeated so endlessly." ”

"Anyway, I can't stand it," she said. Perhaps, someone can stand you. ”

Xiao said: "It doesn't matter if you can't stand it, the examiner can stand it!" ”

We looked at each other again and laughed again.

Then the old woman's voice was gone. The sound of the flute resumes. This time, it played all the way down very coherently. We heard the whole tune at this point.

When the flute starts to play again, you stop the car. You say, "That's nice." Let's listen before we go. ”

I said, "Okay." ”

We just stood on the side of the road and listened to the melody in the air.

You ask, "What did you hear inside?" ”

I said, "The light of the moon." ”

I said, "Guide, what do you hear?" ”

You say, "I hear some ripples spreading on the still water." There is a slow activity that forms it. ”

I said, "It's a boat paddling lightly across the water." ”

"It's not that big, it's smaller than a ship, it's not as strong and heavy as a ship." ”

You say, "It's a reserved and light thing." When it passes, it is like a fairy in the forest. However, it is not as floating as a fairy. Something noble soft and smooth. Like the light of silk. ”

I said, "Guide, you are now speaking like a soothsayer." ”

You reached out and made a motion to gently scratch my nose.

I dodged and said hatefully, "The bridge of my nose is not high, so I'm going to scrape it for you." ”

You give up with a smile.

You say, "I don't know if you still mind the bridge of your nose." ”

I said, "I don't mind a lot." I'm still very vindictive. ”

I said, "Every time you try to scratch the bridge of my nose, I think, if only my nose could be fired like a hidden weapon." ”

I said, "The next time you reach for it, it will pop out first and stop you." ”

You laugh again.

I look at you and say, "What are you laughing at?" ”

You say, "I suggest you might as well shoot your snot." ”

My answer was to bite my lip and gently kick you with my toes. At this point, the melody ends.

(c)

I said, "Shall we listen to it again and then leave?" ”

You say, "Okay." ”

Then we heard it ring again.

I said, "I know what that is." ”

You say, "It's a swan."

I said, "It's a swan." ”

We said "swan" at about the same time.

I said, "It's a white swan gliding across the water." ”

You shake your head and say, "Black." ”

I said, "White." ”

You say, "Black." ”

I said, "White." ”

You say, "Black." ”

I said, "It's white." ”

You say, "Black." ”

You say, "It's as black as your hair." ”

You say, "It's as dark as your eyes." ”

You say, "It's as dark as the night with the lights out." ”

You say, "It's as dark as if only the light of your heart can illuminate the path ahead." ”

After you finish, you look at me.

I bowed my head silently under your gaze.

The black-white controversy came to an end.

(iv)

Then, we continued to listen to it play together for a third time.

You say, "I'm really going to leave after listening to this." Otherwise, you'll be home late. ”

I said, "Okay, really gone." ”

That day, we listened to the guy called "Less" blow it five times. Towards the end of the last pass, you say, "He played well." It's a pity that it's a little faster. ”

You say, "If only it were slow." If it were a little slower, the light would not be as intense. Noble will rise. ”

I said, "yes, if only he could keep blowing like this, very slowly, very slowly." If you slow down, it's even more beautiful. ”

You look at me and say, "yes, if you slow down, it would be more beautiful." ”

Unfortunately, time is always as fast as a shuttle, and it usually doesn't slow down as we hope.

(5)

I never knew what the name of this melody was.

One day, many years after you died, when I was flying to Munich with Kaohsiung, I was eating at the airport restaurant and heard music playing it in the background.

I forgot to eat right then. I had a fork in my hand and was stunned.

Then I asked the waiter and learned its name: "Black Swan", a bass flute piece by a German composer.

It's really a black swan. You are right. You're always right.

Kaohsiung tilted his head and looked at the expression on my face.

He asked, "This very peculiar expression on your face at this moment, I can understand it, is it fear?" ”

I gave him a blank look, and I forked a piece of red cabbage again.

I said, "No." Not fear. ”

Kaohsiung asked, "What's that?" ”

I said, "It's too exuberant, very inappropriate curiosity." ”

Kaohsiung grinned and didn't ask any more. (To be continued.) )