After I was discharged from the army in 1990, I chose to stay in the big city, and although I often went out for a few years as a soldier, the training schedule of the army throughout the day made me feel like I was isolated from the world.
One of the reasons why I chose to stay in the big city was to try to integrate into this ever-changing society, but deep down, I could never forget the days of iron and friendship in the barracks.
01
One day I received a message that my comrade-in-arms, Ah Bing, a brother of the Yi nationality, was sick, and it was said that the situation was not very optimistic.
Years on the battlefield have forged a deep friendship between us, and upon hearing the news, I decided without hesitation to visit him in a mountain village in Yunnan.
Before leaving, I prepared some gifts, which were Ah Bing's favorite cigarettes and the specialties I brought from the city.
As the train slowly moved away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the scenery outside the window gradually changed from high-rise buildings to rolling hills, and I began to relax and imagine the reunion with Ah Bing, and the happy time we could chat and drink.
As the saying goes, the plan can't keep up with the changes, and on the day I arrived, things didn't go as planned.
After I got off the train, I took the bus for a few hours according to the instructions given by Ah Bing, and then got off the bus and walked into the depths of the town.
Just as I was looking for my way to Ah Bing's house, a middle-aged woman suddenly stopped me enthusiastically.
Before I could figure out the situation, she had excitedly taken my hand and said that she was going to take me to her house, and I was confused, so I could only follow her into a typical Yi compound.
At that time, I thought that this woman was Ah Bing's relative, and the reason why she was so enthusiastic about me was all because of Ah Bing's arrangement, but this idea was punctured the second she said her first sentence.
"Our daughter happens to be at home, and she's not too young, ......you see," she said as she led me deeper into the yard, my heart was confused and helpless.
I really didn't expect that a sudden blind date would start like this.
I stood in the Yi courtyard decorated with painted wood carvings, and my heart was full of confusion.
The enthusiasm of the middle-aged woman made it difficult for me to refuse outright, but I was not here for a blind date, and she seemed to have completely misunderstood my intention.
I tried to explain, "Auntie, I'm actually here to visit an old friend, and I'm worried about him when he's sick. ”
But she just smiled and shook her head, as if I had come to look for her, and then she said, "Oh, it's all here, let's sit down and rest in the room." "I had no choice but to follow her into the house.
There were several family elders sitting in the room, their faces full of kind smiles.
I was placed in an old wooden chair, and soon a young woman, probably in her twenties, dressed in a simple national costume, walked in with tea, smiled shyly at me, and then sat silently in the corner.
From the degree of twisting of her expression and movements, it is not difficult to see that she is the daughter of the middle-aged woman, which is what I call a "blind date".
02
In that living room, which is full of Yi characteristics, I tried to have a deeper communication with the girl.
She started out to seem a little shy, but gradually as we got deeper into the conversation, she began to relax and share more stories about herself.
"Did you grow up here?" I began to ask curiously, trying to understand her living environment.
"Yes, I've always been in this village. She smiled slightly, her eyes swept over the familiar mountain scenery outside the window, "It's beautiful here, but life is also very monotonous, except for housework and farm work, it's a festival market every day." ”
"Sounds peaceful. I responded, but I could feel the longing hidden in her words, and then I tentatively asked, "Have you ever wanted to go out into the world?"
She nodded, a glint in her eyes: "I've always dreamed of studying in a big city, or beyond, and I want to learn computer because I've heard it can open doors to the world." ”
When I heard her idea, I thought she could do it, so I encouraged her: "Learning computers does give you the opportunity to see different worlds, and maybe you can use it to help your village, for example, by developing some applications to help with agriculture." ”
She looked motivated by the thought and said with a thoughtful look on her face, "I didn't think about it, but it sounds really meaningful, and I just don't know how I'm going to get there from here." ”
"There are many ways to get started, but the easiest way is to go to school!" I tried my best to give advice, after all, there were so many majors for her to choose from in college.
As night fell, the courtyard was lit up with dim lights.
The girl's mother seems intent on creating opportunities for us to be alone, but I think it's time to make things clear.
"Auntie, in fact, I came here today mainly to visit an old comrade-in-arms of mine, who is sick and not doing well. I began to explain as gently as I could, hoping that she would understand my position.
The girl's mother looked a little surprised, but nodded and said, "Well, did we misunderstand you?"
Then the girl spoke, her voice small but firm:
"Mom! I said before that I'm not ready to get married, I want to finish my school first. She looked directly at her mother, and there was a determination in her eyes.
As I looked at the mother and daughter, I couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for this young woman, who lived in an environment that was deeply bound by tradition, but still had her own ideas and pursuits.
Her mother looked at her daughter, the expression on her face changing from confusion to understanding, and she sighed softly.
Just as I was racking my brains to figure out how to break the silence, my phone rang suddenly and it was a message from Ah Bing, who asked me if I had arrived in the village.
I seized the opportunity to tell everyone that I needed to see him early the next morning because I was worried about his health.
When the girl's mother heard this, she immediately said, "Then you can leave tomorrow, have a good rest with us tonight, and I will let my daughter send you tomorrow." ”
Late at night, the moonlight shone on the quiet courtyard, and I felt a peace that I had not felt for a long time.
Although this unexpected encounter brought some initial embarrassment and confusion, it eventually made me appreciate more human touch and profound cultural exchange.
03
Early in the morning, I walked on the path to Ah Bing's house, accompanied by a girl.
The air was filled with the fresh smell of the earth, the outlines of the surrounding mountains were particularly clear in the morning light, and we talked very little, but we felt a tacit understanding with each other.
Walking on the country road, I felt a rare sense of tranquility and calm.
When I arrived at Ah Bing's house, he was already waiting for me at the door.
Seeing his slightly haggard face, a deep concern welled up in my heart, and we hugged tightly, silently conveying each other's thoughts and concerns.
Ah Bing also told the truth, saying that he was sick, but it was not as serious as they reported.
The girl was not in a hurry to leave, she stood quietly to the sidelines, watching the reunion of our two veterans.
Ah Ping noticed her and asked me about the young escort, and when I saw that she was still not gone, I introduced Ah Bing: "She is a friend I met in a misunderstanding yesterday. ”
Ping nodded his head in gratitude and invited us into the house, where we enjoyed breakfast together in his cottage, where the three of us shared stories and filled the room with laughter and conversation.
After the meal, the girl and I were ready to leave.
At the time of saying goodbye, I said to the girl: "Thank you for your company yesterday and today, I hope your dream can come true, and if you come to the city one day, don't forget to contact me." ”
She smiled and nodded, her eyes flashing with determination and hope: "Of course, thank you for your encouragement last night, I will remember." ”
The moment I returned to the city, I deeply felt that although life is full of unforeseen turns and accidents, these experiences have made us grow and make our lives richer and more colorful.
That trip not only allowed me to reunite with old friends, but also made new ones, and deepened my understanding and respect for different cultures.
This casual encounter, although it began as a misunderstanding, eventually became a warm and unforgettable experience in my memory.
Note: This story is purely fictional, the names and events in the story are fictional, and the purpose of using place names is only for the purpose of describing the plot and making it easy to read and understand
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