Chapter 61: The wanderer returns home, the scenery is different, and he is filled with emotion when he revisits his old place.
In the spring of 1979, Luo Guoyun returned to the mainland with dozens of his former subordinates and a large visiting delegation composed of elites from various fields such as economy, trade, science and technology, and culture.
Xiao Xiangyue, accompanying them as a representative of the cultural and arts community, finally returned to their homeland after a 33-year absence. Yishui's special status prevented them from making the trip, so they specially sent Mayor Zhang Tingyun, long retired, to the United States to accompany them back to the mainland. A special plane was also arranged to bring back the ashes of Sun Mu and Lu Hankun, along with the remains of over ten people who had accompanied them abroad, including their deceased butler, Uncle Hong, and their chef, Ah Fu.
Homesickness is a common sight. A few nights before leaving, Xiao Xiangyue was so excited she couldn't sleep. She pestered Luo Guyun to discuss where they should go first and who they should meet after returning home... Luo Guyun hugged him and gave him countless instructions: "Now that we've decided to go, Yue'er can go wherever she wants and meet whoever she wants. You can come back often in the future, or stay longer if you want... But no matter what happens or who you meet after you return, you must not get too excited. We are both over sixty years old, and health is the most important thing... Medical facilities in China are relatively backward. This time, I asked Qin Ling to accompany us the whole time because I was worried that Yue'er would get excited. If anything happens, I can take care of her."
The special plane arrived at Beijing Capital Airport. Central leaders and some of his former subordinates went to the airport to greet Luo Guoyun and his entourage.
There are many fans of Xiao Xiangyue in China, but he keeps a low profile; his name isn't even on the delegation list. With the exception of a few people in the music industry, the public is unaware of his return. As a result, he hasn't been surrounded by fans the moment he steps off the plane, as he has been in other countries.
Li Erhu and Jianmei, along with Sanhu, Ximei, Xiaohu and others, were waiting at the airport.
As soon as the gray-haired Erhu saw Luo Guyun, he hugged him and cried like a child: "Thirty-three years! Thirty-three years! Back then, Erhu insisted on going with the young master, but you said that you would only feel at ease if I stayed to guard Anyang City! Young master... no... Master... you left me behind for thirty-three years... You are so cruel..."
He had been forced to leave Erhu behind. Luo Guoyun knew that Erhu would absolutely follow his orders, no matter the circumstances. To ensure the safety of the people of Anyang City during this critical period, Erhu was the most suitable person to guard Anyang... He had never imagined that this separation would last for over thirty years...
When father and daughter met, Zhang Tingyun, who was nearly 90 years old, hugged Jianmei and cried bitterly. Luo Guyun had repeatedly warned Xiao Xiangyue not to get excited, but in the end, he couldn't help but cry with him.
After two days of rest, Luo Guoyun met with Chinese Communist Party leader Deng Xiaoping in the West Flower Hall of Zhongnanhai. The two hit it off quite well. Originally scheduled for a two-hour meeting, they chatted all afternoon, still feeling quite satisfied. They then had a small dinner together, enjoying a lively conversation. A preliminary agreement was reached for the Morn Consortium to invest in the development of the Shekou Industrial Zone, introduce French technology, and build the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant.
Luo Guoyun had high standards, and when foreign dignitaries approached him, he paid them little attention. Back at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Xiao Xiangyue, feeling sorry for him after his fatigue and alcohol consumption, offered him a glass of kudzu flower honey water to sober him up, smiling, "Brother, you seem quite impressed with Mr. Deng." Luo Guoyun took it and kissed him on the cheek, "Mr. Deng said something that really hit the spot... It doesn't matter if the cat is red or white, as long as it catches mice! Brother has always believed that no matter what party it is, a good political party is one that works for the welfare of the people..."
After a few days in Beijing, Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue planned to return to Anyang City. They disliked being surrounded by a constant stream of people. However, central government officials insisted on accompanying them, stating that this was a political mission and that the highest standards of hospitality set by the state must be adhered to, with no room for error or oversight.
Daxue and Xiaoxue had already taken Roy back to Anyang to visit their parents. Qionghua couldn't help crying when she saw Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue. Wiping her tears, she said, "When the general left, he told Qionghua to take good care of the old house, saying that he and Yue'er would come back to live there in a few years... I clean it every day! I've been looking forward to it year after year, but you never come back... The house is now under the management of the government. They said it is a historical relic that needs to be protected, and no outsiders are allowed to enter. Knowing that the general was going to return home, the government specially allocated funds to renovate the house. Everything is brand new..." She added, "Over the years, the money that Daxue and Xiaoxue sent me was previously withheld by the government. It was only returned to me last year. It was all in US dollars, a large sum. How can a country woman like me need such money! Take it all back!"
Above the lintel of the Luo Mansion hung a gleaming golden plaque, inscribed in gilded characters: "General's Mansion." When Luo Guoyun and his entourage arrived at the gate, a sea of people had already formed outside. An elderly man knelt on the spot, crying out, "Commander-in-Chief! General! You've finally returned..." Military police set up a cordon to maintain order, shouting through loudspeakers at the agitated crowd: "Everyone, get up! Get up! This is a socialist new China, the Communist Party's world! There's no commander-in-chief, and kneeling is not allowed..." Since class stance was a concern, Luo Guoyun couldn't say anything. He helped the kneeling elderly men up, waved to the crowd, and entered the mansion with them.
The courtyard layout remained the same, but just as Qionghua had said, everything was brand new, even the pillars under the corridor were painted vermilion. Xiao Xiangyue was surprised to find that the crooked old locust tree in the courtyard had disappeared, and a straight pine tree had been planted in its place.
The current mayor of Anyang is surnamed Liu. Mayor Liu, attentive and attentive, said, "When we were renovating the General's Mansion, we found that the locust tree had grown crooked and didn't quite fit in with the grandeur of the mansion. So we cut it down and replaced it with this pine tree..." Luo Gulan, standing nearby, sighed and whispered, "That old locust tree was planted by Dad himself..."
After leaving the Luo residence, everyone headed to the cemetery of Luo Qifeng and his wife. From afar, they could see a white marble stele standing in front of the grave, more than twice as tall as the original marble headstone. Even more curious, the inscription, which had originally been written by Luo Guyun, "Son Luo Guyun, son-in-law Xiao Xiangyue," had now become "Filial son Luo Guyun, daughter Luo Gulan."
Mayor Liu, standing by, quickly explained, "During the Cultural Revolution, there was a movement to destroy the Four Olds. Most of the stone tablets, stone Buddhas, and temples around Anyang City were smashed; even the Buddha statue at Famen Temple was destroyed. The original tablet, with its carvings of dragons and phoenixes, was also considered one of the Four Olds, and a group of Red Guards rushed in and smashed it. They were about to smash the tomb, but were stopped by nearby villagers, who then reported the matter to the government. The government urgently stopped them, saying that General Luo was a patriotic anti-Japanese general and a close friend of our Party, unlike Chiang Kai-shek! The cemetery was protected...but the broken tombstone has disappeared. Later, the government, at a huge expense, searched for this piece of high-quality white marble and chose an auspicious day to re-erect the tablet. It's been discovered that Commander Luo Qifeng had only one son, Luo Guoyun, who is your name, General... and one daughter, Luo Guolan. So, the names of his children were engraved on the tablet..."
Luo Guyun's expression changed immediately. Xiao Xiangyue whispered in his ear, "Brother said that no matter what happens after you come back, don't get excited..."
Anyang City has transformed dramatically. The Anyang Hotel, built on the site of the former guard barracks next to Luo's residence, is a high-end government venue for VIP receptions. When China and Japan established diplomatic ties, former Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka stayed here during his visit to Anyang. Luo Guoyun and his entourage also stayed here.
Before returning, the government had contacted Luo Guyun's secretary, intending to return the Anyang Luo Mansion, Shanghai, and Nanjing mansions to the Luo family. Luo Guyun refused, suggesting instead that the mansions be donated to the nation, provided they were not enclosed and ideally used for other public welfare purposes or for public viewing. He suspected Yue'er might be nostalgic and wish to stay there for a few more nights. Qin Ling had heard that long-uninhabited houses harbored a lot of invisible mold and stale dust, which could easily trigger allergies. He couldn't risk that.
That evening, the Anyang government held a banquet to solemnly welcome General Luo back home. News reports and photos of Luo Guoyun's cordial exchange with Deng Gong had made the front page of the People's Daily, and major official media outlets also widely publicized the report. Officials are good at grasping the direction of the wind, and they all wanted to have some connection with him. Officials from the central, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as representatives from all walks of life, filled the huge banquet hall. Luo Guoyun went on stage and gave a brief speech, then asked Yi Han, Sun Xu, the secretary and others to socialize with the officials. He and Xiao Xiangyue sat with several old gentry to understand the real living conditions of the common people.
Erhu led a few middle-aged men of similar age into the hall and said with a smile, "These old guys! I told them to wait in Luling, but they couldn't wait! They ran all the way to Anyang overnight..."
The people who came in were Cheng Jin, Chen Shaofeng and several brothers from the village protection team back then.
"Ajin, Afeng!" Xiao Xiangyue shouted in surprise and went up to hug them.
The few of them felt a little awkward. Cheng Jin rubbed his hands and said, "Yue'er...Mr. Xiangyue is now a great figure admired by the world. We peasants are not worthy of being your friends..."
Xiao Xiangyue said angrily, "When did you become so estranged from Yue'er?"
Everyone relaxed a little when they saw that he was still as easy-going as he was when he was a child.
Cheng Jin stared at them carefully: "Xiangyue is still as beautiful as ever! Master... the general doesn't look old either!"
Xiao Xiangyue, now in her sixties, had wrinkles on her face and a few gray hairs. But her unique charm and grace only grew stronger with the passage of time. Together with Luo Guyun, she maintained a healthy and disciplined body, which further separated her from her peers.
Cheng Jin and several of his brothers were imprisoned for two years, and Yi Han used his connections to get them out. Because they each had elderly parents to care for, they stayed in Luling County to farm.
A Feng said, "Before the general left, he assigned me to look after Yue'er's parents and several other tombs in Alsophila Valley. A Feng visits them every year. However, this year, Alsophila Valley has begun construction into a national scenic area, and there's a lot of construction going on everywhere. The tomb is not far from the valley entrance, and it's noisy and bustling. Master Li's tomb is also very cramped due to urban expansion. If a suitable location becomes available, A Feng thinks it would be best to relocate it."
Luo Guoyun nodded: "We are returning home this time to do exactly this."
"Brother Sun grew up in Alsophila Valley. His last wish was to be buried back in his hometown. Xiangyue thinks it's better not to move out of Alsophila Valley." Xiao Xiangyue said hurriedly.
Erhu suggested: "Altissima Valley is full of mountains, covering hundreds of kilometers in radius. We can choose another good place to build a cemetery. But we may need to send people to conduct an on-site survey to find a suitable place..."
"I know there's a beautiful and quiet Feng Shui treasure land in the back mountain of Alsophila Valley." Luo Guoyun was very sure.
Xiao Xiangyue asked curiously, "How did brother know?"
Luo Guyun said, "Yue'er, do you still remember the herbalist's path we took when we first met Brother Sun in Shaqiao Town and repaired our parents' graves? There's a gentle slope halfway up the mountain with stunning views overlooking the Qingyi River... Let's buy that piece of land and rebury our parents, Imperial Physician Sun and his wife, Brother Sun, and our uncle-in-law, so they can live side by side and look after each other. Okay?"
Xiao Xiangyue recalled, "Yue'er was so focused on climbing that she didn't notice the surrounding scenery...After all these years, can brother still find that piece of land?"
After staying in Anyang for a few days, the group went to Alsophila Valley via Jincheng.
A tall reinforced concrete gate has been erected where a tile house once stood in Alsophila Valley. The forest path has been transformed into stone steps, and pavilions and towers have appeared. A cableway is currently under construction, and the construction piles have exposed some of the rocky terrain in the once lush forest. The suspended cableway seems incongruous with the tranquility of the forest.
The accompanying local official explained attentively, "The scenic area will be fenced off and an entrance fee will be charged. Of course, General Luo and Mr. Xiao are honored guests, and you're welcome to visit and guide us at any time... Also, I have a humble request: 'Alternaria Valley National Scenic Area' be inscribed on the entrance. It would be truly wonderful to have the general's calligraphy..."
The mountains are prone to rain, and the stone tablet inscribed by Luo Guyun himself has been severely weathered, with the words now somewhat illegible. The path in front of the tomb has been paved with stone steps, becoming the only way for tourists to enter the mountain.
Nearly half a century had passed since leaving home at the age of sixteen, and finally, the lonely mountain grave that had haunted her so many dreams at midnight was before her eyes. Xiao Xiangyue knelt on the ground, her voice choking with sobs: "Dad! Mom! I'm an unfilial son. I'm late..."
Luo Guyun quickly helped him up and said with a smile, "I wonder what happened to the tree hole? Let's go and take a look!"
A few decades passed like a fleeting moment for a thousand-year-old tree, and the tree hole remained unchanged. After paying their respects to Xiao Pingzhou and his wife, Imperial Physician Sun, the group set out on the trail leading to Shaqiao Town from the back mountain.
The mountain road was rugged. Luo Guoyun suddenly said, "Are you tired, Yue'er? Come, let me carry you..."
"Yue'er can walk by herself, no need to be carried!" Xiao Xiangyue has strengthened her muscles and bones through years of outdoor cross-country adventures, so this mountain road is no problem at all.
Luo Guyun felt a little embarrassed, touched his head, and whispered: "Yue'er, aren't you worried that after so many years, brother can still find that piece of land? Back then, I carried Yue'er down the mountain slowly and only then did I accidentally discover that gentle slope. Only with Yue'er on my back did brother find the feeling he had back then..."
Sun Xu, Sun Xi and others who followed behind covered their mouths and laughed: "Uncle San wants to carry Uncle Xiao, feel free to do so, just pretend we don't exist..."
Xiao Xiangyue glared at him: "So brother wants to use Yue'er as a prop! Very well, I will grant your wish!"
He finally got his wish, carrying the person on his back. Luo Guyun recalled that evening nearly half a century ago, when he carried the sleeping Yue'er on his back, step by step, steadily descending the mountain. Turning a steep cliff, the view suddenly opened up. The setting sun shimmered the distant Qingyi River into a thousand golden leaves. He lingered there, making a wish to the vast heavens and earth: May this surging river bear witness to my vow to be with Yue'er year after year, day after day, until my hair turns gray...
Get what you want in this life.
Thank God, I am here to fulfill my vow today.
Luo Guyun's eyes were already slightly wet.
After walking for an hour or so, they turned a corner around a steep cliff and found a flat area surrounded by mountains on three sides, facing the Qingyi River. The scenery was stunning. Yi Han's accompanying Feng Shui master used a compass to examine the area and praised its excellent Feng Shui.
Building the cemetery would take time. Cheng Jin and A Feng stayed behind to oversee the project, while the others headed for Luling County.
Luling County has completely lost its original appearance, now dotted with chimneys and factory buildings. A machinery factory once stood where Lizhuang once stood. Local officials explained that during the Third Front construction boom in the late 1950s, many factories moved from coastal cities to the interior. Within just a dozen years, Luling County rapidly expanded to include boilers, valves, and chemical plants, transforming from a largely agricultural county into a heavy industrial city.
At the gate of Luling County Primary School, teachers and students held up a large banner that read "May you go out for half of your life and still be a young man when you return", warmly welcoming Xiao Xiangyue's visit.
The story of world-class musician Xiao Xiangyue, who began teaching here at the age of 15, has become a beloved legend at the school. The school has dedicated a room to a small memorial hall, displaying the books, instruments, and handwritten music scores Xiao Xiangyue used during his teaching career.
A black-and-white photo, magnified several times, hung on the wall, captivated Luo Guyun. It was a group photo, taken when Xiao Xiangyue was fifteen, leading students in a bamboo flute performance. He stood in the front row, far right. The photo was a bit blurry due to the magnification, but his handsome features were still faintly visible.
Luo Guoyun stood before the frame, examining it carefully, and asked, "Where is the original copy?" The accompanying principal quickly replied, "This precious photo is already in the collection of the Provincial Museum. We only have a photocopy here."
Luo Guyun thought to himself, this must be Yue'er's earliest photo. It is indeed very precious. I must go back and get it back...
After leaving Luling County, the group flew from Jincheng to Shanghai to fulfill Lu Hankun's final wish and scatter his ashes into the Huangpu River. Three months later, the cemetery in Alsophila Valley was completed, and Sun Mu was buried there. Several graves were relocated, including the grave of Bandeng's father. Xiao Xiangyue felt that since Aunt Chun had been buried in the Qingyi River, her remains were gone, and from that high vantage point, she could gaze upon the Qingyi River every day, a place to express her longing. Bandeng also strongly agreed.
Xiao Xiangyue turned down all music industry events, except for a few lectures at the Tiannian Conservatory of Music. She and Luo Guoyun, accompanied by central government officials, traveled along the coastal Guangdong region, which was poised for rapid development. They didn't return to New York until after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
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