The autobiography of a returnee: Traveling through China in the days without fire and smoke

Oral narration?|?Wang Wei

Pictures and text?|?Wang Wei

Correction?|?A friend who wishes to remain anonymous

Guys, I am the editor Lao Wang. Before, I was used to interviewing others with pen and paper, but now that the epidemic is severe, all I can do besides staying at home and switching ingredients to make noodles is the only way I can go is to interview myself. Let me tell you about my experiences on the way back to Beijing from my hometown and my thoughts these days.

The following is my dictation, with some modifications.

There are similar slogans on both sides of the road. Who would run out to see these? bird?

Work will start on February 10th, but I have to come back on the tenth day of the Lunar New Year

According to the normal plan before the Spring Festival, the ninth day of the first lunar month (February 2nd) is the day when work will start. In view of the seriousness of the epidemic, the start date has been postponed to February 10. Before then, it was possible to work remotely from home.

To be honest, I don’t want to go back to Beijing at all.

At 8:54 on January 28, the morning of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Fa Xiao told me that the first confirmed case of new coronavirus pneumonia in Tai’an City was confirmed; and at that time in Beijing, this number It has soared to 63.

In addition, the population of my community is relatively fixed. In any case, it is definitely safer than Beijing.

But I have to return to Beijing in advance, because if I return to Beijing for one day every night, the 14-day home quarantine period will be postponed by one day, and my work will be delayed by one day.

The moment I got the notice, I made up my mind to return to Beijing immediately after lunch.

That meal was also the most rushed meal during the entire Spring Festival holiday.

In addition to clothes, I brought enough instant noodles for 14 days

The 14-day home quarantine period means that like many Beipiao who returned to Beijing early, I have to stay at home I can't go out for more than half a month. What will I eat?

The only things I can think of are instant noodles, ham sausages, bread and toasted buns, which are all things that can be stored for a long time without relying on the refrigerator.

As for chicken, duck, fish, melons, fruits, pears, I didn’t bring any of them because I didn’t have a refrigerator. If I couldn’t eat them after I brought them back, I would have to watch them go bad.

The trip back to Beijing: Road closures don’t seem to be as serious as imagined

This time when I returned to Beijing, I chose to drive by myself. I originally drove back to my hometown by myself, so I couldn't just leave the car at home. Besides, the epidemic is severe, long-distance buses have stopped very early, and high-speed trains come into contact with too many people, which is really scary. After thinking about it, driving by yourself is the most reliable.

The fellow countryman who made an appointment with me to give me a ride years ago also wisely called me and said he had canceled the agreement.

Even if they don’t call me, I will probably call them. In the face of the epidemic, face can only be that much.

I have seen many reports on the Internet about using piles of earth, forklifts, iron plates, and even knocking down street lamps to block roads. I originally thought that this trip back to Beijing would be difficult, and even I was worried. Heng was prepared to "not be able to go back to Beijing or home, so he would sleep in the car", but things went much smoother than I expected.

The whole journey from my home to Beijing was 507km, and it only took me less than 7 hours. Except for stopping for inspection 9 times and having my temperature taken 6 times, I did not encounter any substantial difficulties, nor did I encounter any dead-end road.

The first inspection: At the checkpoint at the gate of the community, after registering all the information, I was told that once the car was out, it could not be entered again; but when I asked the guards in my local accent if they could not get in, What to do on the highway? They also answered with their local accent: You can put the car outside and walk in.

The once bustling Zhendian is now deserted on the streets and every house is closed.

When I left the provincial highway in the town, I finally saw the rumored "mound road closure." Of the originally wide 6 lanes, only 1 lane is left for traffic.

The good news is that there is only one lane left that can pass, but the bad news is that you have to write the exact same thing again.

Except for the fire trucks roaring by, there are basically no cars on the provincial highway.

At the junction of the two cities, the traffic police temporarily added a checkpoint, and a vegetable greenhouse was requisitioned next to it for emergency isolation of people with fever. It is quite serious-here, filling out forms and measuring body temperature are just routine operations. A vehicle must also be disinfected.

In fact, it is very simple, just spray disinfectant with an agricultural sprayer.

Furthermore, this is also the most well-equipped checkpoint among the three checkpoints I passed. The first two checkpoints were only equipped with masks, but here, I also saw goggles and even masks. Protective clothing.

After passing several towns along S330, Mount Tai loomed in the distance. But I have no intention of admiring it. What I care about is whether the Beijing-Taiwan Expressway entrance not far away is open normally.

Fortunately, the highway was not closed. Once on the expressway, the journey back to Beijing is half successful.

I only need to go straight along the Beijing-Taiwan Expressway, and then pass through the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway and the Beijing-Tianjin Expressway to reach the Southeast Fifth Ring Chemical Bridge in Beijing. The whole journey is straight without a single bend.

Compared with the sparse provincial roads, the emptiness of the highway is even more awe-inspiring. The total number of cars encountered on the road never exceeds three digits.

When I crossed the Shandong-Hebei border, I stopped the car again, lowered the window, and cooperated with having my temperature taken. 36.5℃, everything is normal.

All service areas on the road must cooperate with temperature measurement. What's more, normal highways are closed and car owners are forced to stop at the service area to have their temperature taken.

After all, on the highway in Shandong, I cooperated with the temperature measurement 4 times a day.

With the lights on, the sky is getting dark, and the sun is setting at a speed visible to the naked eye.

When I arrived at the Qingxian Service Area, I had not slept for 4 hours and had to rest. While smoking a cigarette, I discovered this:

Special trash can for discarded masks

The rest of the way is easier. Apply for the Beijing Entry Permit (after taking a temperature measurement), After checking my ID card, I crossed the Chemical Bridge before 20:00 and went straight to Wangjing.

The village in the city where I rented had been informed of the decision to close the village very early, unless I applied for a pass and guaranteed to be quarantined at home for 14 days.

The pass has been processed before departure. In theory, I don’t need to get out of the car to fill out the form, but the security guard obviously doesn’t know all this. He requires that all vehicles must be registered on site.

After communicating for a long time, I was allowed to enter the village smoothly.

Of course, body temperature measurement is necessary.

In total, I stopped for inspection 9 times, had my temperature taken 6 times, and registered personal information 4 times.

After returning to the familiar village in the city and parking the car, I suddenly noticed that the outer wall of the building across the river lit up the four characters "Come on Wuhan".

Even through the haze, it is still clearly visible.

I sincerely hope that those on the front line of the fight against COVID-19 can feel this encouragement.

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.