More than forty years ago, we met a swallow. At that time, we were teaching with her at Jinhu Experimental Primary School, a water town in northern Jiangsu. As a baby girl in Nanjing, she graduated from Xiaozhuang Normal School and suddenly came to Baima Lake from metropolis to become a rural female teacher. The contrast of her life can be imagined. We met by chance forty-five years ago. At that time, just after the Treasure Island incident, the military sub-division held a photo exhibition called "Down with the New Tsar". As an artist and commentator, I was transferred to Liuhe, the preparation place of the exhibition. After the exhibition, Swallow moved from Baima Lake to County Experimental Primary School. After more than 20 years, Swallow and I became close friends and colleagues.
In our eyes, Zheng Xiaoyan is a talented woman. Not only does she teach Kung Fu very well, but she also plays the erhu very well. She can also play Qin Yue and flute. It can be said that she plays and sings well. This was unique among the experimental primary school teachers at that time.
Swallow has always been a warm-hearted, she is three years older than my wife, so in my wife's mind, Swallow has always been her big sister. We have all been to her former residence outside Zhonghua Gate in Nanjing. Her parents were still alive at that time. Her honest and kind parents treated us warmly as guests. Swallow accompanied my wife to visit Yuhuatai, Xuanwu Lake, Mochou Lake and other places of interest, leaving a black-and-white photo of Zhang Zhengui. Swallow and my wife are in their prime, and there is a shallow smile on their innocent faces. We still cherish those photos today.
A few years later, we all had our own families. Her husband was then the director of the county economic commission and my hometown in Yangzhou. He has a straightforward disposition. Our two families are in tandem, and we often hear the loud voice and the laughter of Swallow's husband. Later, we were both only daughters and were very good friends at school.
In the late 1980s, the Yanzi couple moved out of Jinhu and returned to their husband's hometown of Yangzhou. Our house just needs to be repaired, and we are worried that there is no place to settle down. After hearing the news, the swallow lent us his house for a period of time, which helped us solve the urgent need. Unfortunately, twenty-six years later, she never met the Swallow couple again.
Later, we moved to Beijing, farther away from the swallows. We only looked at the old photos taken in those years and silently missed the little swallow and her family.
Thanks to the Internet, not long ago, on the Internet, we finally got in touch with Swallow, who taught us to write a blog. From then on, we met and chatted on the blog every day, which finally contributed to this long-awaited gathering of old friends in Jinling.
In the season of sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance, the moment when old friends who have been looking forward to 26 years have finally arrived. 1On the morning of October 3rd, we drove from Yangzhou to Nanjing. Accompanied by our old friend Sister Hai, we excitedly pushed open the swallow's door. Swallow and her old friends, such as Lehe, who arrived first, jumped up, and several sisters hugged each other tightly with tears in their eyes. At the moment, they are all like children, holding, jumping and laughing, with tears in their eyes. Swallow gave up her master bedroom as our residence in Ning. The careful swallow knew that my cervical vertebra was not good, and specially prepared a special pillow for me. Swallow's husband, my hometown in Yangzhou, and my eldest brother, who is two years older than me, also talked to me about that parting time.
In those days, Mr. and Mrs. Swallow arranged our party schedule in an orderly and colorful way, which allowed us to meet nearly 20 old friends and colleagues whom we had not seen for many years. In order to find out the traffic situation of the venue, Swallow walked several miles and walked around the Drum Tower, and finally found the Blue Bay Cafe. Every morning, the swallows get up early and squeeze five cups of black soybean milk for us. Big Brother buys the famous beef fried dumpling in Nanjing. In addition to group gatherings, eldest brother wore an apron and cooked in person, prepared rich delicacies for us, and specially bought timely hairy crabs to entertain us. It was really flattering.
Swallow and his wife are very loving. Big brother proudly declared in front of us that the swallow is the sun in his heart. Made everyone laugh. During the chat, we learned that after being transferred to Yangzhou Normal School, Yanzi made unremitting efforts to obtain a bachelor's degree, passed the Japanese exam, and finally obtained the senior title of Chinese education. Now, although I have retired, I still have the same enthusiasm for learning. I have participated in erhu classes, computer classes and photography classes in Jinling University for the Aged, and I have achieved great success in my studies. Otherwise, we will not be mentors in the online world!
During our four days in Swallow's house, we talked about the past twenty years while learning to beat eggs. The original two-day party was extended to three days until four days. On the fourth day, after breakfast, I was arranged to return to Yangzhou. Unexpectedly, the host kindly retained me, and under the attraction of "breaking eggs", everyone unanimously decided to leave after lunch. After lunch, everyone was still reluctant to go, and decided to play another game of "beating eggs" before withdrawing. Enthusiastic eldest brother suggested that we start tomorrow. In fact, the sisters know in their hearts that the attraction of "breaking eggs" is only an excuse, and giving up is the voice of the sisters. Afraid of disturbing the swallow family again, I had to say goodbye to the swallow couple. You know, the Swallows didn't attend their daughter's party to receive us during the National Day, and they also missed their lovely little grandson in Yang Yang.
Swallow and Sister Hai insisted on taking us to the station. On the bus, the four sisters huddled together and talked all the way. When we bid farewell to Swallow and other three friends at the ticket gate of Nanjing Bus Station, the four good sisters hugged each other tightly. I saw tears in their eyes.
When the bus started, we looked out of the window and saw three friends, Swallow, Lehe and Hai Jie, still waving their hands for a long time with tears in their eyes. The wife can no longer control her feelings, and her eyes are full of tears. Goodbye, Swallow, and Sister Hai, goodbye, old friends of Nanjing! We look forward to meeting again this time next year!