五、祠堂里的前世今生

日头偏西时，陈老头领着大家来到镇东头的祠堂。祠堂门口的石阶被磨得发亮，屋檐下挂着几串干辣椒和玉米。推开厚重的木门，一股陈年木料和香火混合的气息扑面而来。正中央供奉着镇民的先祖牌位，两侧的墙上绘着褪色的壁画。

"这壁画是光绪年间的画师画的。"陈老头用拐杖指着右侧壁画上一个挑担子的人，"看见没？这人是咱镇的老祖宗，当年从山西逃难来，挑着一副空担子，最后却在这儿扎了根。"他的目光在壁画上缓缓移动，"你们看他担子上挂的斗笠，跟我爷爷当年戴的一个样。"

Ayu noticed a worn-out wicker trunk in the corner, its lid etched with faded patterns. "That's the trunk the town's postman used during the Republic of China era," Old Chen said, as if reading her mind. "The old postman left thirty years ago, and the trunk is still here. Now, during holidays, the town's children stuff it with slips of paper, writing their wishes." As he spoke, he carefully opened the trunk, revealing it indeed filled with colorful slips of paper, some already yellowed and brittle.

VI. Birds returning to their nests at dusk

As the setting sun bathed the town in a honey-colored glow, Old Chen's tour was drawing to a close. He led everyone to the old locust tree at the town entrance, where the cicadas' chirping had been replaced by the calls of birds returning to their nests. "That'll stop here," the old man said, wiping the sweat from his brow, his goatee fluttering gently in the evening breeze. "If you'd like to hear more stories, come find me by the well tomorrow morning, and I'll continue telling you about the fox den on the western hill."

Suddenly remembering something, Afang took out a bag of candy she had bought in the city from her bag: "Uncle Chen, thank you for taking us out to play today." The old man waved his hand: "No need to thank me, your presence brings life to this old town." Just then, the little girl who had given us wild daisies ran over again, this time with a grass cricket cage in her hand, which she timidly handed to Ayu.

Watching the group disappear into the inn, Old Man Chen stood under the locust tree for a long time, leaning on his cane. The setting sun cast its golden rays on his silvery-white hair and beard. An old woman selling malt candy approached, shaking her rattle-drum: "Old tree root, you've talked quite a bit today, haven't you?" The old man smiled, looking up at the gradually quieting bird nests in the tree: "Talking to young people makes me feel good. You see, this town is like an old tree; it needs new leaves to grow to be lively."

Warm yellow light shone from the inn's windows. Ah Yu and her group sat around the table, on which lay water chestnuts and lotus pods they had just bought from the market. Ah Ming flipped through the photos on his camera and suddenly said, "Have you noticed? When Grandpa Chen tells stories, his eyes shine so brightly, like the water in that well." Everyone laughed. The cicadas outside had stopped chirping sometime earlier, replaced by the soft breathing of the town as night fell, carrying the fragrance of earth and grass, quietly seeping into everyone's dreams.