A strange city, in a familiar corner

Text/South of the Border

1.

I was doing an internship in Zhengzhou during my senior year. In order to make it easier to go to a relative’s house, I took a second-hand bicycle to the house at six o’clock in the morning. I started riding halfway, and it took about twenty minutes to go around the Bauhinia Mountain section to the hospital.

Our internships are unpaid, with little rest, and we have to rely on family help for living expenses. Traffic is always congested on that section of Bauhinia Mountain. No matter when I go to work in the morning or get off work in the afternoon, I always feel bustling and in a restless mood.

Surrounded by viaducts and high-rise buildings, department stores are always filled with unknown high-end clothing and luxury goods. People around are always in a hurry, and the whole world is in a hurry.

I often look up at the sky. The fog or dust obscures the blue sky. For too long, I feel depressed and out of breath.

2.

When I was a junior in college, I worked many part-time jobs. When I handed out flyers, I was rejected outright or I took them and threw them on the ground. I despise my poor image and will always be accompanied by low self-esteem, loss and helplessness.

I have interned in nearly ten departments and seen countless patients. At that time, it was okay to have a teacher to guide me, and the people around me were still in the same circle, so we could complain and support each other.

We stayed with two girls in the same dormitory, Lao Xie Xiaoyan, for ten months and walked through the internship journey together.

I still remember that when I was poor at that time, I would plan carefully for what to eat for a meal. We would work part-time jobs together in our spare time. We would help each other carry the kettle downstairs and prepare meals. In heavy rain, when pushing a bicycle with bare feet, the water covering our ankles made us laugh and cry.

The condition of the old campus was not good. The dormitory was extremely small but accommodated eight people, with two large tables. It was dark and damp, and the playground was dusty.

3.

Many people in the university cannot remember many things clearly, but the few remaining ones are particularly important.

Even in such an environment, there are still countless people who want to stay. They can’t say why, and they don’t care whether the work is implemented later.

Staying seems to be a confession to myself and a willingness to give myself a chance to work hard.

When I took the bus at that time, the slogan on it was: We gave our youth to the city, what did the city give us?

Countless individuals have different answers. The only similarity is that they want to work hard and live the life they want.

On the day of graduation, we didn’t cry or hug. We just had a peaceful meal. Then everyone lamented about their destination, bought train tickets, and threw themselves to another city. .

Goodbye, it has been many years. I don’t know how long this day will last.

I remember that day, I sent my luggage back and left a big suitcase. Lao Xie and I went to the restaurant to have noodles together. She was wearing floral trousers that day. I got on the bus, then waved my hand and said, "Slow down on the road, let's go."

Let’s go.

When I went through the security check at the train station, the box was too heavy for me to lift, which delayed the people behind me. A strong hand helped me lift it up, put it down again, and left without turning around. I didn't even say thank you.

Sitting in the car, I shed tears, felt aggrieved, melancholy, lost, helpless, and had so many thoughts. I was very tired, but I couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. Maybe I'm complaining that I couldn't stay after all, or maybe I'm regretting those who didn't stay after all.

4.

Two years later.

In fact, I have been to Zhengzhou many times in the past two years, but my mood has never been the same again. At that time, I felt that school was my home, but now I can only find a trace of that time by finding good friends and getting together with them. Feel.

That day, four of us rode two bikes and walked on the road again. Xiao Yan and I happily said that this feeling was very similar to when we were doing internships in our senior year.

She said: Yes, when I cycle on the road to work now, I always think of that time. It is so hard to forget.

We lament how time flies. But no one can change anything.

She stayed in this city, working and living as usual, peaceful and stable.

She is a good girl, warm-hearted and doesn’t care too much.

I remember clearly that when we were in college, we were all clamoring for a campus love. It was beautiful and romantic, but she was the only one whose nickname on WeChat was: Better to be in love than to be in love.

She will not fall in love because of loneliness, nor will she fall in love because everyone is already in love. She has been waiting for the right person to appear.

Her tall figure of 1.74 meters often went to that station and joked to herself: "Actually, I also want to fall in love, but that person just won't come."

Made us laugh.

5.

We talked a lot that day. While eating, she said, girl, you have written about so many people and stories, so write about me too.

I said that’s no problem, you have to tell me your story.

She scratched her head in embarrassment and said: "Actually, there is nothing special. She is just an ordinary girl. She comes from a small city and now she has set up camp here. She has no earth-shattering love and no advantages over others. , If there is anything major, it is that my mother was ill last year, which was very difficult for me, but fortunately it has passed. Now I work hard and go home to see them more often.”

At the end, the tone became darker, and I didn't know how to end such a topic.

All we can say is: "Everything will be fine."

We must firmly believe that everything will be fine.

In this city, there are countless girls like her, like snails, working hard to climb up and take root here. Wherever the sun is shining, there is light.

What is rare is that in a city like this, it gives us pressure, opportunities, and motivation, as well as courage, perseverance, and perseverance. What moved me even more was the childishness and simplicity she still retained, which was particularly hard to come by.

6.

When I was in college, I loved the song "Across the Ocean to See You". It was like the difficulty after a thousand sails have passed, like a confession after infinite grievances, and a song for a small town in a big city. Those people in the corner are waiting most sincerely.

Reinforced cement concrete, the city of Zhengzhou will be different every time I go there. It makes me familiar and strange at the same time.

The only difference is that no matter how long it takes, no matter how late, as long as I get there and make a phone call, the person over there will always be: You are waiting for me there, and I will pick you up.

The city lights are always bright, and the thoughts at dusk are particularly charming.