From the highway exit to Clam Tun, although it is a country road, the whole process is paved with cement.

The nostalgia is even more timid.

After all, Wei Xiaotang returned to his grandfather's hometown, and he looked excited and excited along the way. "What a change, what a change!" It's been six years since he last came back, and he looks out the window at the scenery that sweeps backwards, and screams excitedly from time to time.

Wei Xiaotang's expression was shocked, as if he was saying: In the past ten years, not only the coastal areas have changed greatly, but not only the inland has undergone earth-shaking changes. In the southwestern border of the motherland, my grandfather's hometown has also undergone earth-shaking changes.

Wei Xiaotang told us that when he came back six years ago, there was no road in every village, and now it is not only a road, but also a cement road.

The country roads along the border that extend in all directions are obviously also an important part of national defense construction.

When passing by a village, he saw several rows of neatly planned small buildings on both sides of the road, and he said: Six years ago, there were some two- and three-story buildings in the village, but at that time, there were almost no tiles on the exterior walls, and the exterior walls of the buildings at that time were not decorated, in the words of the locals, "no clothes." "And at that time, there were also tiled houses, and even some thatched houses, but now there are almost no tiled houses, and there is no trace of thatched houses, all of them are small buildings, and on each small building, there are one or two fluttering national flags, tsk, it is really a strong country and a rich people!

The clam is located at the foot of a large mountain, on which there is an optimus stone pillar that reaches into the sky.

Wei Xiaotang said that it is precisely because of this optimus stone pillar that the clam village has become a feng shui treasure.

The whole tun is not large, with a population of about 300 people. There are Zhuang, Dai, Miao, and Yao. The northwest side of Tun borders Vietnam, and there are nine national boundary monuments in the whole Tun. The level of economic development and the people's living standards on both sides can be seen at a glance when standing on the border line. On the Chinese side, almost all of them are small western-style houses, but on the other side are low-slung tiled houses or even thatched huts. Even the flagpoles that raise the national flag in the playgrounds of primary schools in Chinese villages are stout, straight iron poles, while on the opposite side are crooked, skinny bamboo poles.

The dignity of the country is still based on economic development.

Across the border, several tuns belong to two different countries.

Although they belong to two different countries, they share the same language and customs and habits. The border residents of the two countries often move around.

Most of the events in the countryside are "international". For example, playing the Tianqin, singing mountain songs, all kinds of ball games, and even guessing the code during the Spring Festival, although the grade is very low, the level is not high, and the audience is not much, but the slogan is not small, and it is generally "What is the friendly match between China and Vietnam." ”

The villagers on both sides usually speak Zhuang, and they can also speak vernacular and Mandarin.

He said that the people here are very conscious of maintaining the security of the border. Every villager, regardless of whether he is high or low in culture, whether he is rich or poor, must have a national flag on the roof of every house, some not one, but several, if the flag is a little worn, immediately replace it with a brand new one. Obviously, planting the national flag on the border is a declaration. This declaration is also a kind of pride, a kind of pride.

Don't look at the villagers, some of them are usually shirtless, barefoot, and their speech is a bit vulgar. However, if someone is found to have violated border management, such as leaving the country without authorization, the villagers will seriously criticize and educate him, and if he does not listen, they will work together to hand him over to the relevant management department. They are well aware that maintaining the security and stability of the border is a sacred obligation. "For the villagers living on the border, the concept of the country is as important in their hearts as the Yangtze River, the Great Wall, Huangshan and the Yellow River." Wei Xiaotang said proudly.

Of course, the country does not forget the folks. It is said that the government gives a special monthly allowance to border residents within 0 to 4 kilometres of the border.

Wei Xiaotang said that he would have dinner at his cousin Wei Fangfang's house tonight.

When my father heard that he was eating at Wei Fangfang's house, he was a little uneasy.

He already knew in advance that I had made a special trip to Ningzhou to learn Tianqin this time, and my teacher was Wei Fangfang.

"Tonight, I visited the teacher for the first time and had to eat at the teacher's house, but my father and son were empty-handed, how can we be embarrassed by our father and son?" Father said.

Wei Xiaotang said with a smile: "Director Li, you are right. For example, during the Spring Festival, we will bring at least a piece of bacon and a big New Year's dumpling, if there is no New Year's dumpling, at least two packs of noodles must be brought, and if you drink alcohol, you have to pick a jar of old wine. Of course, the host will not only give you a warm welcome, but will also give you a multiplier gift on the way back. ”

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" Father was a little anxious.

"Don't be nervous, I said that it was the tradition of our Zhuang compatriots before, and now we don't pay attention to it so much, besides, where do you go to get bacon and big zongzi now?"

"There is a mobile phone WeChat or Alipay, yes, there must be a signal, just transfer money!" Flying Fish said with a smile. Although he said so, he also seemed to feel that it was not appropriate to go empty-handed for the first time as a guest at someone's house, so when the car passed by a small store on the edge of the playground of an elementary school in a village, he stopped and bought some souvenirs.

When we arrived at the mouth of the clam tun, Wei Xiaotang asked us to wait for him at the intersection for a while. He said that he was going to see her aunt, saying that his aunt was his grandfather's only sister, and she was married in the village, and her children and grandchildren all lived in the county seat, and her aunt was usually home alone.

"Now that I'm passing by my aunt's house, I'm going to go in and have a look, lest my aunt know I'm coming back and say that if I pass by her door and don't enter, she'll scold me." Wei Xiaotang walked and said.

Twilight is getting thicker. We waited for him in the car.

There was no one in the village, and they were probably all at home for dinner. Street lamps hung in the corners of houses or on telephone poles were also lit up.

About 20 minutes later, Wei Xiaotang was out of breath and trotted all the way back.

He said, "I'm sorry, Fang Fang called to urge." ”

We drove all the way to a threshing floor in the middle of the village before stopping.

I probably heard the sound of a car, and a few people came up to meet me.

One of them was a young and beautiful girl, slim and beautiful.

Under the evening breeze, her long hair fluttered, her dress and temperament, a girl like her in these years, is rare in the countryside, because young people probably go to the city to work. She's really standing out in the countryside.

Seeing her greet her with a smile on her face, her father realized that it might be Teacher Fangfang.

Sure enough, Wei Xiaotang grabbed it and said, "This is my Tang sister Fangfang!" Fang Yuan is hundreds of miles famous Tianqin master! ”

Fangfang is about twenty-five or sixteen years old, with a round and plump figure, light feet when walking, and a charming fragrance all over her body.

She was warm and generous, and after greeting everyone, she came over and hugged me, as if I was her own brother who had been separated for many years.

I couldn't help but be a little shy, and I blushed so much that I didn't know what to say if it wasn't for my father reminding me to hurry up and call "Hello Teacher".

"Fangfang, how's it going? Are you ready for the banquet? Can I drink it? ”

"I'm waiting for you, uncles and brothers and sisters of my clan at home, I heard that you brought your Guangdong friends back, everything that can be drunk is here, you go in first, and I will take the piano with Jiuyin and put it away."

After that, she turned her head and asked me softly, "Where is the guqin you brought?" ”

I said, "In the car." ”

After that, he walked to the car door, and was about to reach out and open the car door, but Fangfang took the first step, ran in front of me, pulled the car door, bowed his head and bent over, stretched out his slender and white arms, and gently unfolded a piece of red cloth to wrap the guqin.

Only then did I realize that I was just chatting happily, and I didn't notice that she was holding a folded red cloth in her hand, and this time I saw her unfold the red cloth and wrap the guqin.

After Fang Fang held up the piano with both hands, she asked me to go with her.

Fangfang and I walked straight home, walked through the open and lively courtyard, walked through the bright hall, and walked to the stairs on the second floor.

The lobby on the second floor is spacious and bright. Under the light, I saw incense candles near the south window, and in front of the window was a huge chest-high mahogany case, on which was placed a Tianqin with an ancient shape, the same shape and appearance as my guqin.

Obviously, these two identical guqins were unearthed 6 years ago when their Wei family moved to the grave.

Now the two guqins can finally be together again.

Fang Fang gently placed my piano next to hers. In front of the piano there is a plate of rice, several plates of dishes, a few glasses of water and wine, as well as various offerings such as fruits and vegetables.

After Fang Fang placed my guqin, she asked me to burn a pillar of incense, inserted it into the incense burner, and pulled me to stand in front of the two pianos.

When I walked down the stairs, Fangfang said to me, "Your guqin is originally a pair with my qin." We've been enshrined here for this time. If you go to the county seat to learn the piano, you don't need this piano, I have a new piano there, and I'll give it to you when I get back. ”

A few years later, I saw that there was a record in the history books that in the long feudal society, the Lyra was regarded as a sacred object, and only the Celestial Po could use it when she "jumped to the sky". "Dancing Heaven" was originally a secluded form of superstitious performance by a woman named "Tian Po", wearing a long skirt and a beaded velvet hat, holding a lyra while playing, singing, and dancing. She claimed to be a heavenly fairy who came down to earth to have fun, solve problems and bless on earth. Tianpo's lyre is regarded as a heavenly artifact, and it is usually not allowed to move, and it must be used before it can be taken off and played.

It seems that even if the times have developed to this day, in the Ningzhou area, Tianqin is still regarded as a magic weapon, and it is still a sacred thing.

And these two thousand-year-old guqins, in the eyes of Master Tianqin Fangfang, its sacred status is even more indescribable.

The spacious courtyard was brightly lit, and five tables were set up for the banquet tonight.

Fangfang's father used to be a teacher at the town center primary school, and after retiring the year before last, he went home to grow some passion fruit with his wife. Fangfang's brother works in Nanning and did not return tonight.

After seeing Wei Xiaotang and returning to Tunli after six years, the uncles and siblings were all very happy, and they carefully prepared sumptuous and distinctive dishes.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, they scrambled to Wei Xiaotang to talk about the past of his grandfather and father in Tun when they were children, and everyone talked and staggered. To my father and the flying fish, the hospitable people all took turns to toast them with the pride of the Zhuang people in drinking "rather hurt the body than hurt the feelings".

During the banquet, Fangfang took the opportunity to toast with Wei Xiaotang and pulled me aside, intending to discuss my learning the piano.

After the three of them flashed to the side, Fangfang asked with a smile: "From the high-speed exit to our tun, such a short distance, and the whole cement road, why do you use it for so long, Brother Tang?" Could it be that you can't remember the way again? Can't you forget your roots? ”

Wei Xiaotang smiled and said, "Fangfang, how can I forget my roots? This is where my grandfather grew up, it is my grandfather's hometown, and it is also my hometown, although I have only been back once, but the mountains and rivers, grass and trees here often appear in my dreams. ”

"Then Brother Tang, you have to come back more, don't go for six years before you come back!" Fang Fang said with a smile.

"I have to come back often."

Wei Xiaotang explained with a smile: "It's not that I can't recognize the road, we have already arrived at the head of the village, but I just passed by the door of my aunt's house, so I went in to see her, and it took some time." My aunt is my grandfather's only younger sister, I heard my father say that my grandfather was able to go to college because of the sacrifice made by my aunt, and my aunt took the initiative to drop out of school at a young age to help work at home for my grandfather to go to school, and my father often told me to go back to my hometown to see my aunt......"

Wei Xiaotang held the empty wine glass and gushed endlessly, but I saw Fangfang's face turn from red to white, and finally became a little stiff.

"You're going to your aunt's house?"

"Yes, I went six years ago, I know her house, this time I passed by her door, I couldn't wait to go, I brought her some Cantonese souvenirs......"

"What about you...... See your aunt? ”

"Yes, however, she may be old, her eyes and ears are not very good, she recognized me, looked at me kindly and smiled, I gave her a letter, and peeled an apple and handed it to her, she took it in her hand, took a bite, shook her head, and put it down again, I saw that she only had two front teeth...... I took out another envelope and handed it to him, and told her, this is a thousand yuan, you can take it and drink tea. She shook her head and waved her hand, as if to say that she wouldn't need the money......"

Fangfang didn't squeak. After being stunned for a long time, he suddenly reached out and pulled Wei Xiaotang and me, saying that he was going to my aunt's house to have a look.

Wei Xiaotang was puzzled, but seeing that Fangfang's attitude was very resolute, he had to take the car keys with Ah Hai, and the three of them drove to his aunt's house.

My aunt's house is located on the side of the Tunkou crossroads, on the edge of a large fish pond, a low tiled house, it is dark, the lights are not turned on in the house, and I can't see my fingers.

"Where did my aunt go?" Wei Xiaotang asked.

Fang Fang was silent. She turned on her phone's flashlight and shone it, pushed open the hidden gate, walked across the courtyard, and went directly to the hall.

"Is there no electricity?" After Wei Xiaotang also turned on the lighting function of his mobile phone, he leaned to the wall next to the door and pressed the switch of the light a few times, and when he saw that the light was not on, he said in a little shock.

Fangfang remained silent. Walk straight to the ancestral tablet at the front of the hall.

In front of the ancestral tablet, there is a large bag of souvenirs, and through the transparent plastic bag, you can vaguely see that there are Cantonese sausages, bacon, and a can of Yingde black tea...... Next to it is a lone peeled apple.

Fang Fang gently picked it up and took a closer look, and there were indeed two shallow tooth marks left on the apple, and there was a gap between the two tooth marks.

"Auntie's two front teeth are indeed empty...... Fang Fang said to herself. Fang Fang picked up the thick envelope again and found that the seal had not been opened.

"It's so late, where is my aunt going?" Wei Xiaotang saw that Fangfang's face was frozen, and couldn't help asking.

"Auntie...... She passed away a few years ago......"

"Huh? ......" Wei Xiaotang exclaimed in shock.

When I heard this, I felt a chill hit my spine, my hair stood upside down, and I got goosebumps all over my body.

"My aunt left a few years ago, and I didn't inform you that I was in Guangdong, and my aunt's children and grandchildren all moved to the county seat, and they didn't come back until March 3. Usually there is no one here, and the door is not locked,......" On the way back to Fangfang's house, Fangfang, who had been silent, suddenly said to Wei Xiaotang.

"But, I, I'm in the evening...... I did meet my aunt, and she, and she took a bite of the apple I had peeled for her in front of me......"

“...... They're following you, and it looks like you'll have to get into the car tonight......" Fang Fang said in a deep voice.

"Huh? They? ...... Who are they? ......" Wei Xiaotang and I were shocked together.