The long-distance coach carried Shen Mingde across the newly built Yangtze River Bridge, and the gloomy sky blended with the river. It seems that the recent weather in Nanjing is similar to that of his hometown. Fortunately, the rainy and humid heat was temporarily blocked out of the car window. Shen Mingde's mood was still quite excited. The message sent by Chang Ci Hua Yu made him make up his mind. Before he returned home, he had to visit the writer who was thousands of miles away, but who seemed to know something about what had happened to him. So, in the early hours of this morning, he retired from the villa room where he had planned to stay for two nights. Impatiently took a long-distance bus to Nanjing.

The city of Nanjing, Shen Mingde has taken care of it several times. Sometimes for tourism, sometimes for work, so he's no stranger to it. The city gave him the impression that there were many mausoleums. But if you think about it, there are no less mausoleums in Beijing and Xi'an. I guess this is true of cities that have a heavy weight in history.

Shen Mingde got off the train at the long-distance bus station near the Nanjing Railway Station with great anticipation. He had wondered if he should first find a hotel to stay in and then freshen up. After washing away the exhaustion and changing out of the sweaty clothes, I went to meet the writer again. Chang Ci Hua Yu may be a middle-aged man with heavy glasses and a fat figure. Maybe not a few years older than me. Or maybe he was a respected teacher, and the professor was unknown. Shen Mingde was a little worried that his abrupt visit would give the writer a bad impression that the northerners were reckless and did not understand etiquette? However, when the car door opened, and when soaked in the soft, wet fresh air, Shen Mingde's worries disappeared like a frightened bird. Excited, he exchanged messages with the writer, then rented a car and drove to find it according to the address.

It was 10 a.m. and the road was clear. At this time, they were sitting under the sun umbrella that a Häagen-Dazs had set up outdoors near the Red Hill Zoo. Sandwiched between the two of them is a plate of ice cream and a cup of bubble tea on a circular plastic table. Of these two, neither of them was prepared for Shen Mingde. The temperature outside makes the yellow, brown and purple scoops of ice cream melt quickly. The man opposite Shen Mingde was hunched over and licked the melted ice cream into his mouth along the edge of the plate. Shen Mingde reluctantly lit a cigarette and watched the light gray smoke slowly drift into the sky. His anticipation and excitement dissipated like this smoke. The writer "Long Speech" sat across from him, licking ice cream. That childish face looked like he was seventeen or eighteen years old. If this guy hadn't taken out the information exchanged between the two of them on his mobile phone as proof, Shen Mingde would have thought that this person was actually the son of Chang Ci Huayu.

Chang Ci Huayu, this guy was born quite white. A knife-cut face, two thin lips, and a sharp nose bridge that towers over the center of the face. With thick eyebrows and thin eyes, these eyes were like a dog that had made a mistake when they widened, looking at Shen Mingde with a dripping look. Most of the time, however, his eyes were listlessly half-closed, as if he hadn't woken up. His hair was slightly bronzed, unkempt, and loosely couched over his head. The ears are completely hidden under the hair, and the bangs on the forehead go over the eyebrows and even cover the eyes. Shen Mingde understood that this hairstyle must be a "masterpiece" in a barbershop. However, on the whole, this hairstyle is always reminiscent of an ancient shepherd dog. This guy is on the thin side, but his height is about the same as Shen Mingde. It's just that his hunched posture when walking or standing makes him appear to be half a head shorter than others. He wears a pair of white-washed jeans, a white short-sleeved round-neck "old man's shirt", and a pair of flip-flops on his feet. It is just in contrast to Shen Mingde's gray business pants, light blue long-sleeved shirt, and black casual leather shoes. The sight of them sitting always gives the illusion that "a bad student who skipped class was caught by the director of the teaching office".

Shen Mingde extinguished the cigarette butt in the convenient paper cup and said, "Let's talk about it." What high school are you a student at? ”

He took a straw in his mouth, fiddled with the pearls in the cup, and said vaguely: "You don't know if you say it." ”

Shen Mingde licked his lips. He was right, even if he answered which middle school he was studying, Shen Mingde might not know. So, he changed the question and said, "Why didn't you go to school?" ”

Chang Ci Hua Yu squinted his eyes, looked at him boredly, and said, "I will suspend my studies in the second year of high school." I said that communication always starts with understanding. You're tortured. ”

So, Shen Mingde introduced himself, brought all his titles, and put a business card on the table.

After listening to Shen Mingde's self-introduction, Hua Yu said with a smile: "I, after King Jing of Zhongshan." Hanzuo general Yicheng Pavilion Marquis led Yuzhou Mu and came to visit. ”

Shen Mingde was amused by this guy and said, "So dare to ask the name of 'Yuzhou Mu'?" ”

This guy replied, "Fang Jiuling." ”

Shen Mingde burst out laughing. He thought to himself, this name is really "classical" enough.

Fang Jiuling said with a smile: "My name has a great origin. My original name was given to me by my grandfather, and it was called 'Fang Sai Jiu'. When I was nine years old, I was involved in a traffic accident. But nine deaths and one life, life hangs by a thread. Suddenly, a Taoist, the fairy wind Dao bone, passed by on the road. When he saw me falling to the ground, he recited the proverb:

'Fang Lei is scattered in all directions, and the solitary son is passed down from generation to generation.

At the end of nine years, Yu should be reckless.

How to pass on to future generations, and call Jiuling after death. ’

As soon as I finished speaking, I sat up in full view of everyone. I looked around, but I didn't see the Taoist. Since then, Fang Jiu has been renamed "Fang Jiuling".

After hearing this, Shen Mingde tapped the table with his four fingers, made a posture of turning around and leaving, and said, "Okay." That's it. I'm in a hurry. ”

Fang Jiuling immediately stood up, blocked Shen Mingde's way, and said innocently, "Brother Shen." Uncle Shen! Why be angry. Just kidding. Your story hasn't been told yet. ”

Shen Mingde sat down again and said with a serious face: "Communication comes from trust. One moment you make a joke, the next you play a poor mouth. How do I know that what you say and what you are going to say afterwards is true? ”

Fang Jiuling changed the virtue of the hippie smile just now, handed his ID card to Shen Mingde and said, "My name is Fang Jiuling. This is not a lie. Our family has been passed down for nine generations, and my grandfather named me 'Fang Sai Jiu'. I was involved in a traffic accident when I was nine years old. Later, my dad felt that the name 'Saijiu' was unlucky, so he found a 'master'. The 'master' said that I had this fate. That's why it was renamed 'Jiuling'. The allusion is from the "Commentary on the Book of Rites" "King Wen's Son". It means 90 years old, and later extended to longevity. 'Master' I suffered this disaster when I was nine years old, and I changed my name to Jiuling, and I will live to be at least 90 years old. ”

Shen Mingde nodded, feeling that what he said was quite reliable, and then asked, "Why did you suspend your studies?" ”

Fang Jiuling sneered and said, "There is a statue at the gate of our school. The carving is of a schoolgirl holding a book in one hand and a bird in the other. Do you know what that means? 'Reading is for birds'. Anyway, I can't find a subject I like, and even if I do, I may not be able to get into any prestigious university. Even if you graduate from college, you may not find a good job. Even if you get a good job, maybe you'll be done that day. Even if you don't finish it, the world may end one day. ”

Shen Mingde gritted his teeth. Looking at the guy in front of him, he felt that this kind of thought was spreading like a contagion in today's society. He unconsciously blurted out: "Nihilism? ”

Fang Jiuling didn't look at him, and childishly stirred the pearls in the cup with a straw, while saying, "Nothingness? Perhaps. Did you know that Kant divided the main forms of theoretical consciousness into sensibility, intellect and reason? Humans have only five senses. Unless we have more ways of perceiving, we will never be able to answer the rational level. If you can't understand the 'things in yourself', or if you go beyond the world and understand the world outside the world. So, no matter how much I know about this world, don't I still have to face the 'Descartes' demon' theory? ”

The so-called "Descartes' demon" theory, Shen Mingde knows. That's a very interesting paradox. Here's what it's saying: Suppose there's a demon. It doesn't do anything all day, and its only character is to deceive humans. Demons create illusions around our senses, the "outer world" that we think we see. However, this "outside world" simply does not exist. It also shapes our bodies and memories, and of course, it's all illusory. So, how can I, in this "reality", judge whether the things around me exist?

Shen Mingde fully understood what Fang Jiuling meant. He believes that even if he keeps to his own school, he may only get an imaginary in the "illusory world". Immediately afterwards, Fang Jiuling talked with Shen Mingde about the "Enlightenment School" and Taoist theory in Buddhism. To be honest, this little guy really gave Shen Mingde a "dismount". Although he was disgusted with school, he had a keen interest in reading. Regardless of whether what he said was true or false, whether he understood it right or wrong, he took out all kinds of idealistic theories from the East and the West, and then raised his "reasons" for not wanting to go to school to a philosophical level.

When hearing Shen Mingde's evaluation of "idealist", Fang Jiuling retorted rhetorically: "No! I'm a materialist in the real way. Although my novels contain 'ghosts and spirits', isn't the process of knowing mysteries the spirit of materialism? Wasn't the theory of heliocentrism also considered heretical? I believe that the 'things that are in themselves' will eventually become the 'things that are for me'. True idealism is those who study 'how many angels can stand on a nail', and those who regard contemporary science as the only 'truth'. Perhaps one day, humanity in the future will discover how superstitious our 'scientists' are today. ”

Shen Mingde looked around, fortunately, there were not many pedestrians in such a rainy weather. He waved his hand, motioned for Fang Jiuling to calm down, and said, "Since you mentioned your novel, then I want to know, how do you know about what happened to me?" ”

Unexpectedly, Fang Jiuling asked, "How do you know that this incident can only happen to you?" ”

Shen Mingde was startled at first, and then he made an expression of "I want to hear it".

The drizzle around me started to fall again, and it made a "pop, pop" sound on the parasol. With the sound of rain, Fang Jiuling told a story from the past:

That year, 16-year-old Fang Jiuling had just finished his high school entrance exam. He had a long, relaxing time without going to school. He followed his mother to visit relatives in his hometown. It was a rural village in the northeast, and my mother's parents and sisters still lived in that place called Fengyang Village.

Fang Jiuling got along well with his cousins in the village. In addition to reading idle books alone, he wandered around the village and the mountains under the guidance of his cousins. He is very adaptable, and it doesn't take him two days to memorize his surroundings. Occasionally, a few children from the same village would say to them, "Go, tease the pigs." ”

At first, Fang Jiuling was not interested. He pondered, that animal was dirty and smelly, and it was better not to look at it. So he returned to his lodgings alone in a state of great interest. Only on that occasion did he follow his cousins down the hillside and sneak into the courtyard of a house by surprise. There is no pigsty in the yard, nor is it a barn. A white-walled and gray-tiled bungalow sits in the middle of a neatly cleaned courtyard. Rows of small windows emerge from the base of the bungalow's walls, and iron railings the thickness of thumbs are installed on them. It looks like a devil's tooth grinning at people. It should be out of the cellar, or vegetable cellar. Fang Jiuling couldn't say clearly. A small light bulb hangs in the center of the low ceiling, and hay mats are laid on the floor like in a room with tatami mats in a Japanese movie. A woman crawls naked on a hay mat like an animal. Probably due to the lack of exercise and sunlight, this woman looks white and chubby. Several teenage children squatted and lay around the small window, throwing stones into it and screaming quietly. Sometimes he stabbed the woman twice with a branch and a stick. The woman was like a trapped beast, making vicious expressions and driving away movements from time to time, but it made the children snicker. Fang Jiuling didn't dare to look any further, and soon said goodbye to his cousins and went back alone. According to Fang Jiuling, it is not because of how "noble" he is. He didn't think there was anything wrong with treating another person like this. In fact, he felt a sense of uncontrollable fear at the time. The woman's behavior was different from ordinary people, and he was terrified. At the same time, frolicking in someone else's yard may always attract the attention of his own family, which is why he feels scared.

However, for a teenager who is only 16 years old, he seems curious about the nudity of women. Although, the woman's bloated, fat body has no beauty. However, allowing Fang Jiuling at that time to see the real woman's body had a very strong temptation for him. So that night, he endured the fear alone, and once again sneaked into the courtyard where the woman was held.

In the small space of the cellar, the small dim light bulb hanging from the ceiling reflected the fat and deformed body of a woman. As if she knew that Fang Jiuling would come back, she kept turning on the small light, waiting for him to appear. She crawled towards Fang Jiuling on the hay mat in the cellar. Fang Jiuling found that her crawling movements were indeed very similar to some kind of animal. With the vibration of crawling, the fat on her body trembled. Climbing up to the bars, her figure suddenly disappeared into the shadows. With the help of flashlights and small light bulbs in the cellar, Fang Jiuling searched for her. Due to the angle, looking down from Fang Jiuling's position, he could only see a small part of the wriggling piece of meat under the window. Fang Jiuling held up his flashlight and slowly approached the iron window. He wanted to know what the woman was messing with under the window? Just as Fang Jiuling was still a fist away from the iron window, a swollen face that was almost covered by unkempt and greasy hair appeared in the window. A large, neurotic eye almost burst out of its socket, and its large crescent-like mouth bared two rows of yellow teeth. In Fang Jiuling's words: "I was so scared that I even let a fart out of my mouth." He jerked back, sat down on the ground, threw away his flashlight, and took a few steps backwards with his hands and feet. The woman's big face was almost sticking out of the iron window, if it weren't for a few solid railings, Fang Jiuling would have personally experienced a classic scene in the movie "Sadako". Because there was a bars separating him, and Fang Jiuling was sure that this woman really couldn't climb out, he gradually put his mind at ease. He picked up his flashlight and slowly approached the woman. The woman still maintained a smirkling and terrifying expression, her left hand grasped the iron railing, and slowly stretched out her thick right arm towards Fang Jiuling. For some reason, Fang Jiuling saw her outstretched hand at that time, and also had the idea of wanting to touch this crazy woman. He also tentatively reached out to the woman's hand at a snail-crawling slow pace. It was a very graphic scene. It is very similar to Michelangelo's famous painting "The Creation of Adam".

Suddenly, a very domineering force clamped Fang Jiuling's wrist. At that time, Fang Jiuling wanted to shout "help", but when he thought of the lonely countryside night, he broke into other people's yards and molested other people's crazy women...... He resisted the urge. I don't know if Fang Jiuling's posture made it difficult for him to exert his strength, or if this crazy woman was born with strange strength, no matter how much he struggled, he didn't break free of that hand. Little by little, he was dragged closer to the bars. When the distance between the two was close enough, the woman's right hand relaxed a little bit of force, and she no longer pulled Fang Jiuling forward. The two of them looked at each other. No, it should be staring at each other, because the woman's right eye has been hidden behind her long hair. Although the woman's right hand was no longer so strong, it was still grasping Fang Jiuling's wrist. It's like he's a bird that has been hunted, and when he loosens his hand, he will fly away.

She put a finger of her left hand in front of her mouth, let out a "shhhh Don't wake them up".

Fang Jiuling felt at the time that the woman was reminding him and himself that "you can't wake up your family". But later, Fang Jiuling felt that this sentence might have a deeper meaning.

After the woman turned her head, she continued to stare at Fang Jiuling and said to him, "Tell you a secret...... I'm not crazy."

Then, that night, the madwoman told Fang Jiuling a few strange stories in an inaudible voice.

Fang Jiuling lived in that village for about half a month. Ever since that night, the mad woman told him the first story. In addition to reading a book, whenever he had the chance, he would run to the madwoman's cellar and listen to her story. Later, Fang Jiuling found out that it was not just for him. In fact, anyone who approached there would be mad women telling them those stories, but all of them thought that the woman was "just talking crazy things." Some of these "crazy words" are bizarre, some are extremely scary, and some seem to be historical stories. Fang Jiuling was very interested in the story of this crazy woman. Almost every conversation, he would use his mobile phone to record the woman's words. The protagonist of those stories is basically not this crazy woman, but she tells it in as much detail as if she had experienced it herself. For example, the previous story seems to be about the southern legends of the Ming Dynasty, but the next story is about the old events of Beiping during the Republic of China. It wasn't until nearly a year ago that Fang Jiuling found some patterns from these seemingly fragmented stories. Almost all of the stories are about some ancient god, ancient esoteric religion, fear and despair, sacrifice and redemption.

On the last night that Fang Jiuling was about to leave, he came to the madwoman's cellar again. Although Fang Jiuling had not known this crazy woman for a long time, he still felt a little sad. The mad woman also fell silent after the last story. She stared at Fang Jiuling silently and said nothing. I don't know if it's because she feels a sense of emptiness because she has finished telling all her stories, or if she feels sad because she has a premonition that Fang Jiuling is about to leave. Fang Jiuling took out the lighter he was carrying and gave it to this crazy woman. That's right, Fang Jiuling, like almost all boys of that age, always wanted to do something that was not recognized by teachers and parents. He hoped that this cheap disposable lighter, which he had always been by his side, would bring some memories to this woman. The madwoman lowered her head, holding a small lighter in both hands, rubbing it in her palm, looking very precious.

Fang Jiuling returned to Nanjing and soon started school. His life was as boring as all high school students. For Fang Jiuling, who is not good at sports, has average academic performance, and is not good at calling friends. He was like an invisible man in high school, with no presence to speak of. A few months later, Fang Jiuling's mother received a phone call from her aunt, who lived in her hometown. In addition to greetings and greetings on the phone, as well as conversations such as how to deal with grandma's future generations in the future, the aunt also brought a piece of news that shocked Fang Jiuling. His mother later told Fang Jiuling about this incident as a strange story. The aunt said that the crazy girl of the Zhao family burned to death in the cellar. Fang Jiuling was shocked and blamed himself, he regretted very much that he shouldn't have left the lighter for her as a souvenir. However, things were not as simple as Fang Jiuling imagined. The madwoman disappeared in the locked cellar. A charred, supine silhouette of a black humanoid appeared on the ground. Strangely, no ignition was found in the cellar, and there were no signs of burning on the hay mats in the cellar except for the charred outline. In fact, this incident happened a few days after Fang Jiuling and her mother left.