Ai Xiang told Yu Mei: "My mother recorded some details about my upbringing, and she was a very caring person. ”

In the diary of Guo Ying, the director of the welfare home, she faithfully recorded the detailed experience of the growth of each child in the welfare home. Among them, the part about Ai Xiang's records, which she later gave to Ai Xiang, were several yellowed diaries.

In those diaries, Ai Xiang saw a passage written by Guo's mother: "Among the dozens of children of all sizes in the welfare home, Ai Xiang is a special one, rarely takes the initiative to be with other children, and seems particularly lonely. ”

Dean Guo Ying's mother paid more attention to him than other children, because she saw the almost innate loneliness hidden in Ai Xiang's heart. Until Ai Xiang went to university, Guo Ying's mother cared about everything about him, and although she rarely wrote letters, she often sent him some books and daily necessities.

One year, the winter was particularly cold, and at night Ai Xiang subconsciously shrunk his neck and stepped on the thick snow, and after returning to the dormitory from the study room, his roommate told Ai Xiang that there was an email that he had helped him get back. Ai Xiang opened it and took a look, and it turned out to be the down jacket sent to him by Guo's mother. His tears flowed out instantly, and looking at the thick down jacket, a warmth flowed through his body. In his heart, only Guo's mother can always make Ai Xiang feel a kind of home warmth.

After Ai Xiang graduated from university, he went to visit Guo's mother in a welfare home. When she saw him, it was like seeing her own biological child who had been reunited for a long time, and her face was full of joy that she couldn't hide: "Ouch, you've grown taller again, you make your mother almost unrecognizable." Time flies so fast, in a blink of an eye, you have grown up, and your mother is old. Ai Xiang, you are a young and promising young man now, and there are some things I think I can talk to you about. ”

Guo's mother took Ai Xiang's hand: "Time is so fast, more than 20 years have passed." If you look at the water cedar trees at the door, they were planted the year you came to the orphanage, and they are now towering trees. ”

She smiled and told Ai Xiang that she had found him outside the gate of the welfare home more than 20 years ago. When she said this, Guo's mother squinted her eyes and looked at Ai Xiang, as if she wanted to find the shadow of the thin life that was placed in the package from the tall young man in front of her.

Guo's mother looked at the expectant gaze in Ai Xiang's eyes, thinking about the past that had become distant with the passage of time, and the scenes seemed to appear in front of her, she recalled the morning with a faint mist, and those stories that were still wrapped in a fog.

It was the Dragon Boat Festival, because I had to go to the vegetable market early to buy some food such as zongzi leaves and meat and vegetables, so that I could prepare some festive delicacies for the children in the welfare home. Because she was worried that during the festival, some food supplies would be tight, and she was afraid that she would return empty-handed if she was late, so she got up half an hour earlier than usual that day.

As soon as she and the caretaker of the cafeteria walked out of the door, she vaguely felt something unusual on the side of the road, so she stopped and listened carefully, and then she was sure that it was the cry of a baby. The two of them followed the intermittent cries to find a half-human-high bamboo basket dozens of paces away from the gate. If you look closer, there is a baby wrapped in an old cotton jacket in the back basket, and at the bottom of the back basket is a handful of fragrant wormwood.

Guo's mother told Ai Xiang: "The leaves of wormwood have a volatile aroma, which can refresh the mind and drive away evil spirits. I am a southerner, in our south, every Dragon Boat Festival, every household will hang wormwood on the side of the door and window, in order to pray for the exorcism of evil, pray for peace and auspiciousness, this is a long-standing folk custom. In some parts of the north, mainly in the mountains, such customs are also practiced. ”

When Guo's mother said this, she still smiled gently: "No matter who put you outside the gate of the welfare home, this person still has a lot of heart." That handful of fresh wormwood saves you from mosquito bites. That's how your name came from, mugwort is the mugwort of wormwood, Xiang is auspicious Xiang, and you also have a nickname called Dragon Boat Festival. I gave you both of these names, and I gave you such a name so that I can remember something about you. When you're an adult, if you're interested in finding out some information and clues about you, you won't forget the most important details. ”

Yu Mei listened to Ai Xiang's statement and was also very emotional: "The mother Guo you said is very thoughtful and very careful. But just based on these impressions she said, if there are no more clues from other aspects, it is impossible to determine what your birth has to do with Kitayama. ”

Ai Xiang looked at Yu Mei and explained: "Of course, there are other clues, Sister Mei, do you know that there is a half-mountain temple in Beishan?" ”

Yu Mei remembered one thing, which was a strange scene she experienced when she and her friends went to Beishan Resort for leisure: "I know about Banshan Temple, I went there five years ago in the summer. Banshan Temple is on the slope of the North Mountain, it is a place with beautiful scenery, I have heard others say more than once that the most beautiful landscape of Banshan Temple should belong to the sea of clouds, and it is a rare wonder. What I didn't expect was that when I was going up the mountain, I happened to meet it. ”

Thinking of the adventure that day, Yu Mei can still feel the intoxication: "That day was also a very coincidental day, because there were showers on the mountain, and a few companions and I took refuge in the temple. The mountain rain came and went quickly, and after a short while, the clouds opened and the sun rose. We were about to descend the mountain, but we saw that between the surrounding mountains, patches of clouds poured up from the valleys everywhere, and in an instant they turned into a sea of clouds piled up like silk, and there was a momentum that made people feel swept over, continuous, rolling silently, as if they could touch and hold it up when they reached out. At that moment, we were in the middle of the smoke, feeling like we were fascinated, dreamy, and fluttering. ”

Ai Xiang looked at Yu Mei with some distraction: "Sister Mei, I didn't expect you to be such a poetic person, listening to you tell about the wonders of the sea of clouds in Banshan Temple, it makes me feel that that place seems to be a paradise." ”

Yu Mei remembered the scene at that time, and was still a little fascinated: "You are right, Banshan Temple can indeed be called a paradise, and being in it makes people naturally have an otherworldly consciousness." It is a kind of consciousness that forgets things and me, and when you are nostalgic for it, you can feel that the things in the world are just floating clouds, and there is nothing that cannot be put down, so that you feel that what you see in front of you is everything beautiful. ”

Ai Xiang then recalled the clues that Guo Ying's mother told him when he went to the welfare home: "That day, Guo's mother gave me a yellowed note, which she said she had kept for more than 20 years. When I looked at it, it turned out to be a signed poem with the words "Banshan Temple" printed on it. The handwriting on it was already a little blurry, and only after careful identification could I see that there were four signed poems on the note. ”

Ai Xiang remembered the four lines of the fan-like signature poem: "The four sentences I remember are: 'It is good to live in peace under the Beishan Gate, and if you ask the end, be cautious at the beginning.'" There are many things that can be laughed at, although the scales are not repaired. At that time, Guo's mother smiled and said to me, these few lines of signed poems are a bit like riddles, I don't understand the meaning of this signed poem, and there is no way to help you guess the bottom line, it may be your parents or other people, encountered a lot of difficulties, before sending you away, some rest assured, once went to the Banshan Temple, and asked for such a signature. This note was in the old padded jacket that wrapped you at the time, and now I have given it to you, I hope it will help you a little. ”

Yu Mei thought for a while and said: "The four sentences you said should be used in the temple for pilgrims to draw lots, as for what does it mean?" It's really hard to guess, and there's no way to guess as time passes. However, since it is left with the imprint of Banshan Temple, there is finally a valuable clue. At the very least, the person who sent you outside the gate of the welfare home had been to Banshan Temple. It also shows that the place where you were born will definitely not be too far from the Banshan Temple. Guo's mother is indeed a very caring person, and she has thought of everything she can think of. She has done everything she can do. You can try your luck with these clues, after all, nearly thirty years have passed, and of course, it cannot be ruled out that some miracle will happen, and if you can find someone who knows what happened decades ago, you may be able to solve the mystery. The world is unpredictable, things are wrong, and where can you find people who knew about this old thing decades ago? ”

Ai Xiang said thoughtfully: "I must find the answer myself, I have been thinking about this question since Guo's mother told me these things." It's been another ten years since I met Guo's mother that time, and I've always wondered if this piece of paper would give me any hints. Last year, I went back to the welfare home again, and Guo's mother was still like that, she was very happy to see me, and called me by my nickname and said that our family's Dragon Boat Festival was promising. I went to see Guo Ying's mother for selfishness, mainly to find more clues from her, so I asked Guo's mother if the old padded jacket that wrapped me was still there. Guo's mother said that the old padded jacket was gone, but there were photos back then, and she took out a few old photos from the cabinet she had been keeping. ”

A smile appeared on Ai Xiang's face when he said this: "Looking at the baby back then, this ignorant and unconscious baby who was once abandoned on the side of the road, decades later, is already an intelligent life with its own understanding of the world. I can't help but feel the wonder of life, and I am also grateful to everyone who gave me care and warmth when I was growing up, and at the same time, I also felt the magic and impermanence of fate. ”

Yu Mei knew her students too well, she knew that Ai Xiang was a person who tried her best to do what she said, looking at the affectionate young man who grew up in the welfare home in front of her, her eyes were a little softer and more confused.

She thought for a moment and said, "I can understand that you are looking for answers related to your life, but you also have to be mentally prepared. Be mentally prepared not to find answers, not all questions will have answers, and time will ruthlessly erase the traces of the past. Although we know that it is absurd to carve a boat for a sword, but in real life, we often make the mistake of carving a boat for a sword, but we don't know it. You also need to be prepared to find the answer, but not the answer you want. Some answers may surprise us, some may make us feel embarrassed or even embarrassed, not all answers can give us the kind of expectation we want, and not all answers can satisfy us. ”

Ai Xiang said with some stubbornness: "No matter what the answer is, as long as it is a kind of truth, I will accept it." Like that young life more than thirty years ago, he was powerless and unable to choose. Thirty years later, I have no choice but to pursue the truth. Since the time Guo's mother told me everything about me, I have been mentally prepared for ten years. Today I am determined to find the answers, and I have been preparing myself for more than ten years, and I feel that I should be able to accept all possible answers. ”

Yu Mei smiled reassuringly, she was very trusting of her students. She believes that he will do what he says, this is a young man who will never regret a decision he has made, and a young man who will not leave himself any way back as long as he makes a choice.

Before going to the field to participate in the academic seminar, Yu Mei specially called Ai Xiang to her office, looked at Ai Xiang who had heavy eyelids because of staying up all night, and said with concern: "If you feel too tired and need to rest, don't force yourself to work overtime, you really can't finish those tests on time, just drag it back, it's not impossible, it's okay to be a day earlier, a day late, it won't be a big deal, we just need to strictly follow the appraisal procedures and ensure that the accurate appraisal conclusions are submitted within the specified time, it's okay. Don't be too yourself. ”

Ai Xiang knew that Yu Mei was afraid that he would be overtired, so he said: "Working a few more days, although it will be a little tired, I have good physical fitness and can withstand it, it's okay, Sister Mei can rest assured." In addition, I understand better than others those parents who cannot be reunited due to various reasons, and I also want to help those children who have been abducted and trafficked and have no chance to find their parents. In my heart, I am very willing to help these special groups, staying up for a few more nights and suffering for a few more days, it is nothing. ”

Yu Mei looked at Ai Xiang, who was obviously a little tired on his face, and said, "After doing this, you should rest and adjust for a while." You can go to Beishan and take a walk at Banshan Temple. Relax and find what you're looking for. However, you must have a normal heart, don't have too much hope, the more hope, the more disappointment, everything must be fate. ”

Ai Xiang cheered up: "Thank you Sister Mei for your concern, I originally thought about asking for leave with you, but I was afraid that I would leave for a few days, in case I delayed anything, I would feel guilty, so I hesitated." I've always wanted to talk to you, but I haven't had a chance to say it. Since Sister Mei understands it this way, I think it's better to go to Beishan first, although Beishan is not far away, but I haven't been to Beishan, and I don't know how I will feel after I go? I don't know if anything will happen, these are things I look forward to and can't imagine. ”

Yu Mei comforted: "Nature can always give people a magical experience, let's go for a walk in Beishan." When you go, you will know the magic of this mountain by experiencing it with your heart, even if you don't have any purpose, it will leave you with a different feeling that will make you linger. ”

(Next Preview: Chapter 61: A Home Feeling)