Run Into The Night

By Robert Billy

Holding a mineral water bottle with a torn label in his hand, there was half a bottle of water left in the bottle, wearing a cotton-padded jacket, leaning on his body, breathing heavily, with some sweat on his forehead, the old man walked to the side of the road, Lian Song sat on the other side of the bench.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Billy
• Release date: Nov 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9791222020082

Book preview

Holding a mineral water bottle with a torn label in his hand, there was half a bottle of water left in the bottle, wearing a cotton-padded jacket, leaning on his body, breathing heavily, with some sweat on his forehead, the old man walked to the side of the road, Lian Song sat on the other side of the bench.

Standing again, the old man straightened his waist and sat down on the other end of the bench.

First, he unscrewed the mineral water bottle and took a sip, then put the mineral water bottle aside, reached out and unbuttoned a few buttons on the quilted jacket, opened the quilted jacket a bit, and the old man wiped his sweat again.

Putting down his hand, the old man raised his head again and looked at the pedestrians passing by in a trance on the side of the road.

There was another pause, and there was silence for a while, the old man turned his head again and looked at Lian Ge on the other side of the bench.

...Boy, alone?

Looking around, the old man laughed and said aloud.

almost.

Seeing the pedestrians passing by in a bustling street not far away, listening to the voices mingled in her ears, Lian Ge turned her eyes, glanced at the old man, responded with a loud voice, and turned her head back.

The old man doesn't go on walking anymore?

Looking at the pedestrians passing by the roadside from time to time, Lian Ge said calmly.

...I can't walk anymore, it's over...

The old man turned his head and looked at the pedestrians on the road. Looking into the distance, his eyes were a little dazed. He didn't know if he was responding to Lian Ge's words, or he was talking to himself, whispering something,

Immediately afterwards, the old man shook his head again, and then turned to Lian Ge's side.

I looked at Lian Ge, and then at the distance Lian Ge looked towards,

...The family is far away?

Turning his head back, the old man smiled and asked again.

That's it.

Lian Ge's tone was calm, and he answered again.

The old man laughed when he heard the sound, then turned back and looked into the distance, his eyes gradually lost in a daze.

...Okay... This is going out, there must be a place to miss. There is a place to go back... Otherwise, if this comes out, I don't know where to go...

The old man murmured, followed closely, paused again, stretched out his hand to prop his leg, got up from the bench, and stood up.

The old man no longer walks forward. The scenery ahead is pretty good.

The tone was calm, Lian Ge said aloud without turning his head.

...I'm old and can't walk anymore. Let others see the scenery in front. I should go back and go home.

The old man leaned forward, then picked up the empty bottle on the bench, turned around, and walked back.

Turned his gaze, looked at the old man, watched the old man walk away, Lian Ge turned his gaze back again, and looked at the bustling pedestrians passing by, quietly listening to the voices mixed in his ears. .

...Come on, put on your clothes and don't catch a cold for a while.

...Your son, I'm angry when I say it, let him find someone, he won't find...

...Mom, Dad, you go hurry up... My daughter grows up, mom and dad can't go... Then mom and dad, I will take you away...

Some people passed by, taking away some mixed voices.

A street vendor pushed the tricycle that opened his stall with some effort. He walked over and stopped by the side of the road. Lian Ge's bench was not far away.

...

After stopping the tricycle, the vendor first wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then reached out his hand to undo a button on his cotton jacket, hesitated again, and tied the button back again.

Withdrawing his hand, he removed two seven-hole bricks from the tricycle and placed them under the tricycle wheels to make the tricycle more stable. The vendor took a breath and unfolded the stalls on the tricycle.

After a busy period, the vendor took a few more breaths before reaching out to set up some things on the stall, igniting the fire of the gas tank, and preheating the iron pot on the stall.

And at this time, on the other side of the road, another stall also pushed his own stall and walked over. After swiftly rearranging his stall, he looked around again.

...Eh, Old Chen, didn't you say that you didn't come to set up a stall in the afternoon, and your stomach felt unwell, so you were going to the hospital?

The stall owner greeted the stall owner here.

...What kind of hospital to go to, it's just a stomachache.

The vendor stood up, paused, raised his head, and said with a smile at the other vendor.

...The stomach disease is also uncomfortable, don't you rest?

... Rest and fart, rest, your old item is squeamish...

After taking a breath, the vendor smiled and cursed at the vendor, followed closely, paused again, and said in a much quieter voice.

...This is about to celebrate the Chinese New Year. That stinky boy is studying outside and will be back in two days... Or take advantage of this time to earn more money...

After speaking, the vendor took a breath again, turned his head again, and greeted the pedestrians who came and went by the side of the road.

...Pancake fruit, pancake fruit... delicious... fragrant and crispy... pancake fruit...

Listening to the voice on the side, Lian Ge turned his eyes and glanced at the stall owner.

The stall owner's face was a little tired, his face was a little pale, he was smiling, greeted the guests, and he was busy with his hands.

Looking at that side, he paused his gaze, Lian Ge turned his gaze again, looked at the bustling pedestrians on the front side, and listened to the mixed speech.

...I tell you that even if I die, I have to die in the house...

Several old men were arguing, moving forward while talking to each other.

...I'm hungry, what do you want to eat... Oh, my son is really grown up and can eat so many things.

In front of a booth, a pair of parents brought a child and talked.

... Sooner or later, there will be such a day, Lao Wu will leave first, maybe a few months, a year or a half later, we will follow.

...What kind of nonsense... You are dead, what about your two precious sons? One boss is not young yet not married, and the other is not worried...

A pair of cuddling old people were talking, and the old lady slapped the old man. She didn't say angrily, and walked down the road.

...Mom, should we go ahead... Grandma, let's go faster... OK, let's go faster.

An old lady was holding a little child, panting heavily. The child ran forward with joy, and the old lady speeded up her feet. The children of the old lady next to him, and a couple also followed.

Sitting on the bench, Lian Ge listened and watched,

Watching the number of people walking on the road in front of him gradually increase and decrease, listening to the sounds of words that are mixed in the ears with the breeze from time to time.

On the bench beside him, some pedestrians sit down from time to time, there are couples talking to each other, and there are elderly people who support each other.

Either talking about the scenery along the way, or walking out of the house but still talking about the things at home.

Someone seems to have noticed Lian Ge, and some seem to be unaware of Lian Ge sitting on the other side of the bench.

After a bird that landed on the bench rose again, the side of the bench and the other side became empty again.

The sun that had risen to the sky gradually began to slope westward, and there were fewer pedestrians on the road.

……Grandmaster.

At this moment, a cry of surprise sounded in Lian Ge's ear with Qingfeng.

Lian Ge turned his eyes and glanced towards that side.

On the side of the road, two couples stopped, and the man in the couple was looking at Lian Ge in surprise.

Seeing Lian Ge turned his gaze and followed, the man took a few steps and walked towards Lian Ge.

Somewhat surprised, the middle-aged man shouted and walked towards Lian Ge.

After walking a few steps, he turned around and supported his wife, took his wife, and came to this side together.

The couple who followed took a look and followed.

...

...Master, do you remember me...Master, have you traveled here?

Somewhat happy and excited, the middle-aged man said to Lian Ge,

Next to him, the middle-aged man's wife and another couple were a little confused, but immediately afterwards, the middle-aged man's wife seemed to think of something, with some surprise in her eyes, and followed by calling out.

Grandmaster?

Looking at the two couples again, Lian Ge smiled slightly.

The middle-aged man was surprised and excited, and he didn’t know where to put his hands. Next to the middle-aged man, his wife had a big belly. She seemed to have been pregnant for several months, and she also had some surprises.

Next to him, the other couple was still a little puzzled.

Looking at the other couple, Lian Ge turned his gaze back and looked at the middle-aged man.

Remember, Brother Chen, sit down.

With a slight smile, Lian Ge responded.

This middle-aged man is Chen Houde, the man who has been looking for his daughter for ten years.

……thanks, thanks……

I don’t know if Xie Liange remembered him or thanked him. Chen Houde gratefully said to Liange, followed closely, and turned around in a hurry and looked at his wife.

My wife, the master is the one who helped me as I told you before. If it wasn't for the master, I now...thank you, master...

Chen Houde was talking a little confused, but his wife next to him understood, and nodded, the doubts in the eyes of the other couple also disappeared, and there was more gratitude in their eyes.

...Old Xu, Brother Xu...Brother Xu, this is the master who I have told you so much about, so that my daughter and your son can get rid of the snow... Let those two beasts be born. The master of retribution...

In a hurry, after facing the other couple a few times, Chen Houde turned around again and looked at Lian Ge.

Master, thank you...

Thanks, Chen Houde said to Lian Ge again.

Don't thank me, you have already paid for that gua.

Looking at Chen Houde and these two couples, Lian Ge smiled slightly, shook his head, and said aloud,

...Thank you, thank you... If it weren't for you, Master Chen, now...

Next to him, Chen Houde’s wife followed closely, gratefully and said to Lian Ge,

...By the way, Master, this is my wife, this is my former neighbor, the old Xu's house, and now it is also a neighbor...

Chen Houde seemed to react, and then hurriedly introduced his wife and another couple.

...This is not the New Year's Eve, it just happened to be a little empty, so I took my wife out and said to travel here, it just so happened that Brother Xu and the others wanted to come out and walk, we will come out together... Fortunately, we will come out, or else pay I can't meet you, the master.

Still somewhat happy, Chen Houde said.

...Master, I've heard Lao Chen talk about everything before, thank you, Master, you saved our family, let Xiaoyue her...

Chen Houde's wife had some gratitude in her eyes, and as she spoke, she seemed to think of something, and there were more tears in her eyes.

...Master, thank you... We often hear Lao Chen and the others talking about you. Thank you, if it were not for you, the two beasts would still be at large. We might not know forever... Thank you, Master, for your giving It's fair to him...

Next to him, another couple, Xu Kong’s parents followed closely and gratefully said to Lian Ge,

Sit down first.

Smiling slightly, looking at the two couples, he said another word.

...Yes, sit down and say, sit down and say... my wife, sit down and rest first.

Chen Houde responded, turned around hurriedly, and sat down on the other side of the bench with his wife.

...Master, you have lunch, or let's find a place to invite you to have a meal, and thank you, Master.

After taking care of his wife with a big belly sitting down, Chen Houde turned around again and said to Lian Ge.

No need. I really want to thank me and buy me a pancake. It's lunch.

With a calm tone, Lian Ge glanced at the sidewalk not far away, and said aloud at the food stall set up by the vendor.

How about that, master...

Chen Houde turned around and looked around, then quickly said again.

The tone was calm, Lian Ge said again.

... Then, Master, wait a moment...

Chen Houde hesitated again, then turned around and walked quickly towards the stall.

...I'll go.

The man in the Xu family nearby, Xu Kong’s father took the lead, said aloud, and walked over.

Seeing this, Chen Houde didn't follow suit, nodded, stopped, and then turned back.

...Master, have you traveled here yet?

Correct.

After answering, Lian Ge looked at Chen Houde, who was still standing, and Xu Kong's mother next to him.

Sit down, too.

...I won't sit down, Sister Xu, please sit down.

Chen Houde smiled and answered, turned around and spoke to Xu Kong's mother again.

Xu Kong's mother heard the sound, stood up again, and sat down on the bench beside Chen Houde's wife.

Looking at Xu Kong’s mother, Lian Ge turned away, then looked at Chen Houde’s wife.

Looking at his already bulging abdomen,

Are you pregnant again? Have you chosen a name?

With a calm tone, Lian Ge said aloud.

...Yes, I'm pregnant again, it's been more than four months.

Chen Houde smiled on his face, nodded and responded,

...As for the name, I thought with her, if it's a boy, it's Chen Yue, if it's the Yuelongmen Yue, if it's a girl... it's still called Chen Yue, Yueyue...

Speaking aloud, Chen Houde turned his eyes again and looked at his wife. Her wife also lowered her head, smiled slightly, and gently stroked her abdomen.

pretty good.

Smiling slightly, Lian Ge turned his eyes again and looked at Xu Kong’s mother who was sitting next to him.

The eldest sister, did you name your child?

Upon hearing the sound, Xu Kong’s mother was stunned, and turned her head, with some doubts in her eyes.

...Master, do you mean, Big Sister Xu, you are pregnant?

Next to him, Chen Houde reacted and asked aloud,

……pregnant?

Next to him, Xu Kong’s father, who was going to buy pancakes, also walked back at this time. He happened to hear that, his face was pleasantly surprised.

Xu Kong’s mother reacted, and there was some joy on her face.

Right. It should have been more than a month.

Smiling slightly, Lian Ge glanced at the couple, and then answered again.

I don’t know what the thanks, Xu Kong’s father said with some joy, and squatted down in front of his wife.

His hands trembled a little, and he reached out and stroked his wife’s abdomen.

...What are you touching? What can I find out in just over a month...

Xu Kong’s mother patted Xu Kong’s father’s hand, smiled and cursed, followed closely, turned her head again, and looked at Lian Ge.

...Master, we just learned about it. Why don't you give him a name, Master.

...Yes, master, you can help me choose a name.

Hearing the sound, Lian Ge glanced at the couple again and smiled slightly.

It's better to call Xu Kong.

With a slight smile, Lian Ge said aloud, and then glanced at Xu Kong's mother's unswollen belly.

In this life, it's your turn to be her brother.

Xu Kong’s father was silent for the first time, his eyes trembled, and then he whispered a few more words, then turned his head, looked at his wife’s abdomen, and gradually smiled on his face.

...Then you are also called Xiaokong, do you know?

Reaching out his hand, Xu Kong’s father gently stroked his wife’s abdomen, smiled, and said aloud,

...It's only been more than a month, you still expect him to hear and understand.

Xu Kong’s mother smiled, said something, and then stretched out her hand and gently stroked her abdomen, followed closely, raised her head again, and looked at Lian Ge.

...Master, thank you for giving your child a name.

...Yes, thank you master, thank you master...

Xu Kong's father raised his head and watched Lian Ge speak out.

...By the way, this pancake...Master, otherwise we'd better change the place, we will treat you to a meal, thank you very much.

Xu Kong's father hurriedly handed over the pancake that he had bought before, followed closely, paused, and said to Lian Ge aloud.

This is enough.

Reaching out his hand, Lian Ge smiled slightly, took the pancake, tore off a small half, and handed it to the greedy mouse on his shoulder, whose eyes are all moving with the pancake.

The mouse held the small half pancake and gnawed it.

...Master, or I will go again and buy two pancakes...

Xu Kong’s father hurriedly said again, then turned his head and looked at Xu Kong’s mother next to him.

...Wife, are you hungry, or I will buy you some food too...

You go where you were going before, and I will sit here again.

Holding the remaining half of the pancake, Lian Ge ate a mouthful at will. To Chen Houde and his wife, Xu Kong's parents smiled and said something.

...We just came out to travel, and there is nothing important to go. It's hard to meet you, Master, we...

Next to him, Chen Houde followed closely, and also said aloud from the side.

No need. Go ahead.

After looking at the two couples, Lian Ge turned his gaze back, looked into the distance, and said aloud.

...The master...

Upon seeing this, Chen Houde hesitated and nodded.

...Then we won't bother you, Master, next time I meet you, Master, I hope you will let us entertain you well, thank you...

for sure.

Turning his gaze, Lian Ge glanced at the two couples, smiles appeared on his face, and he responded.

"...Random mission: Birth, old age, sickness and death have been completed.

Task Reward: Designated Textbook for Intermediate Title Assessment-Law"

Looking at Chen Houde and his wife, Xu Kong's parents, and the two couples gradually moving away, Lian Ge turned his eyes and glanced at the prompt on the system panel that the task was completed.

Withdrawing his gaze again, looking into the distance,

After eating the leftover pancakes, I continued to listen to the mixed words with the breeze ringing in my ears,

It wasn't until the pancakes were eaten that the slanting sun was getting more and more close, and Lian Ge stood up from the bench again.

...Squeaky, squeaky...

The little white mouse also gnawed the small half of the pancake he was holding, turned his head, looked around, and yelled twice.

I don't want to eat anymore.

Looking at the mouse, Lian Ge smiled slightly, turned his eyes, and looked at the bustling pedestrians on the road.

Turning around, choosing a direction at will, and then moving away, one person and one mouse drifting away again.

...

...Tweeted.

The sun just after noon swayed some sunlight on the ground, barely dispelling the chill brought by the breeze.

This is the entrance of a village not far from the town.

A tree of a few years old is standing by the road at the entrance of the village. The leaves on the tree are already a little yellowed, with some chilly breeze blowing from time to time, rolling down a few leaves, and falling beside a few villagers resting under the tree. Side, body,

People resting their feet or some old people, wearing cotton-padded jackets, old ladies sitting on the stone slabs under the trees, or middle-aged people who just came back from the field and peddled a hoe to support their bodies and chatted.

From time to time, a few people were talking, chatting about things in the family’s home, neighboring villages, looking at the village from time to time, and looking at another place near the entrance of the village.

Another place beside the village entrance, not far from the tree,

There are two ping pong tables made of bricks with some cement. The cement on the sides has peeled off, exposing some weathered masonry. The table tops are also cracked, with potholes. A few children, right? Holding a ping-pong racket, playing around on the table.

A few flying birds hidden in the trees fell from time to time, and fell in the weeds not far from the ping-pong table for food. From time to time, they were startled by the chasing children and leaped into the distance.

Village entrance, beside the road,

Walking along the ramp to the entrance of the village, Lian Ge paused slightly, turned his eyes, looked at the entrance of the village, and then along the roads of the entrance, looked at the village.

On his shoulders, the white mouse also had his forelimbs, turned his head, and looked towards the village.

Either two or three-story small buildings, or bungalows with brick walls and black tiles, families scattered along the village roads in this village.

This is not a closed village.

On the village road, from time to time, people in the village pass by on a bicycle, and from time to time some people carry some farm tools, or come back from the field, or head towards the field.

In the yard of every family, they either hold a rope, hang the washed clothes, or spread them out and dry some food.

The villagers who are busy preparing to go down to the fields go in and out from time to time in the house, and the villagers who are still eating lunch from time to time have a few words with people passing by.

In the houses and backyards of every household, there are cock and dog barks from time to time, mixed with the voices of the village, as the breeze sounds in Lian Ge’s ears from time to time,

After taking a look, Lian Ge turned his gaze back.

A few days ago, after meeting Chen Houde and his wife, Xu Kong’s parents left the scenic spot,

Lian Ge chose a direction at will, passing through cities and villages all the way.

Either staying overnight, or sleeping out, spent a few days, then went through a town, and got here.

Turning his gaze, Lian Ge glanced at the village mouth not far away.

...Chang Shan, Chang Shan?

...Chang Shan, it's your turn... Are you still playing?

By the brick table tennis table, an eight or nine-year-old boy shouted at another boy.

The boy named Chang Shan seemed a little absent-minded, holding a degummed table tennis racket, standing next to the table tennis table, the racket resting on the table, his head lowered, as if thinking about something.

After being yelled for several times, the boy named Changshan seemed to hear him. He raised his head, first hurriedly responded, and then lowered his head a little.

...I'm not playing anymore, let's play.

With that, he put the table tennis bat on the table and walked to the side with his head down.

Next to the weed, with his head buried, squatted down, silent.

...Chang Shan, are you okay?

The boy who yelled at Chang Shan before holding a racket, looked towards Chang Shan, and asked aloud.

...It's okay...I'm okay...

With his head buried, Chang Shan shook his head and said aloud.

...Chang Shan, why are you so distracted today... It's not that you are sick, or you go home...

...No, no...I'm not sick...I'll stay here for a while.

Na Chang Shan shook his head first, said aloud, followed closely, buried his head, squatted, and fell silent.

...Xiaoshan, Xiaoshan...go away, it's time to go home...

A middle-aged man dressed in gray clothes, stepped on a pair of rubber shoes, carried a hoe, and walked over from the village.

Stopped by the village road at the entrance of the village, the middle-aged man showed some grin on his rough-skinned face, with a smile on his face, and greeted Chang Shan, a boy squatting with his head buried next to the table tennis table.

Hearing the sound, the boy Changshan paused, but still buried his head, squatting, neither getting up nor raising his head.

...Chang Shan, Chang Shan...your dad calls you.

At the table tennis table, the boy who shouted at Changshan looked over here, then looked at Chang Shan who was still squatting with his head buried, shouted at Chang Shan, ran over, and pulled Chang Shan.

...Chang Shan, your father told you to go back, why are you so distracted today, your father called you, you didn't even hear...

The boy pulled Chang Shan up from the ground, complained and said something, then ran back to the table tennis table, picked up the racket, and started playing.

After Na Changshan stood up, looked at the middle-aged man, then buried his head again, and stood still.

...Xiaoshan, come here, let's go, we are going home, your grandma is still waiting in the house.

The middle-aged man carried a hoe, smiled on his face, moved his steps, walked under the tree at the entrance of the village, and greeted Chang Shan again.

Hearing his father calling him, Chang Shan buried his head and walked over here slowly.

Looking at Chang Shan, the middle-aged man turned his head again and said hello with a smile to the people resting under the tree.

...Aunt Xu, Aunt Liu, and Uncle Wu are all here...

...Stop your feet, a few people just gossiping... Xiaode, you come back from the ground?

The old lady sitting on the stone slab under the tree laughed and nodded in response

...I went to the mountain, isn't it still early? I thought it was a long time since I went to see my dad. Go to the mountain to see him by the way tidy up and pull out some weeds that grow out.

The middle-aged man smiled and responded.

... Xiaode is really interested.

The old lady sighed and spoke.

The middle-aged man smiled and shook his head.

At this time, the boy Chang Shan, who was slowly moving his feet, walked over and stopped next to the middle-aged man Chang Xiaode.

The middle-aged man turned around and looked at his child,

...Xiaoshan is called Granny Xu, Granny Liu, and Grandpa Wu...

Putting his hand on Chang Shan’s shoulder, the middle-aged man smiled and said aloud,

Hearing the sound, the boy buried his head and said nothing.

...What's the matter? No one will scream today?

The middle-aged man smiled, looking at Chang Shan and asking aloud,

Chang Shan raised his head, looked at the few people under the tree, followed closely, and buried his head again.

...It's okay, it's okay, kid, it's like this, one after the other...no need to call...

The old lady smiled, waved her hand, and said aloud,

...I'm sorry, Aunt Xu.

...It's okay, it's okay...

... Then Aunt Xu, Uncle Wu, let's go first, come here early in the evening, my mother is still waiting to talk to you.

The middle-aged man smiled, greeted again, lowered his head, and looked at the boy Chang Shan.

...Hurry up to Grandma Xu, Grandpa Wu and the others say goodbye.

……Goodbye.

The boy raised his head, said something, and then buried his head again.

...Okay, we must come here soon...bye, goodbye Xiaoshan...

The old people resting under the tree first responded to the middle-aged man's words, and then smiled and talked to the boy Chang Shan.

...Then let's go first.

After that, the middle-aged man held the hoe in one hand and supported Chang Shan’s shoulder with the other, turned around, and walked towards the village.

...Xiaoshan, are you still having fun today? Tell dad, did you win or...

...

...The eldest child in this Chang's house is really interested, and he knows that he will give his mother a birthday.

The middle-aged man took the boy away, and under the tree, a few old people and a few people who were resting on their feet started talking again.

"...It's like the one in