He quietly wiped the tombstone, his gaze fixed intently on the photograph on it.
The image that I could never see clearly in my dream is now so clear and glaring.
It was as if time had stopped, and the whole world consisted only of him and these two cold tombstones.
The laughter and warmth of the past have now turned into deep longing and pain, engulfing him like a tidal wave.
"Do you need me to retrieve their memories so you can meet them?"
Tomoko broke the silence, her voice sounding particularly abrupt in the sorrowful atmosphere.
Lu Fan remained silent, tears blurring his vision once more.
He didn't know if he had the courage to face those illusory memories, those warmths that had once truly existed, now as fragile as bubbles.
Looking at the silent Lu Fan, Zhizi's voice rang out again, her tone carrying a subtle gentleness.
"Just tell me whose memory you want to access."
After speaking, Zhizi's figure slowly dissipated, as if merging into the sorrowful air.
Lu Fan was left standing alone in front of the grave, the surroundings so quiet that he could hear his own heavy breathing.
Lu Fan stood there, countless thoughts churning in his mind, past memories flashing before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
After a long while, he finally spoke, his lips trembling, his voice hoarse and almost broken: "Retrieve An Lan and Zhao Guilan's memories."
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to be gently stirred by a pair of invisible hands, and two illusory figures slowly emerged.
Their faces wore the same warm smiles as always, smiles that transcended the boundaries of time and illusion, striking Lu Fan's heart directly, as if they were joyfully welcoming him home.
Lu Fan stood frozen in place, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground, and for a moment he dared not move forward.
The faces he had sought countless times in his dreams were now within reach, yet he feared it was merely an even more vivid illusion, afraid that if he reached out, they would vanish like smoke.
Until his grandmother waved to him affectionately, that familiar gesture instantly broke down his defenses.
He could no longer contain his emotions, and he rushed forward shakily, reaching out his arms to hug the two of them tightly.
Grandma patted his head tenderly. The touch was surreal yet so real, making Lu Fan feel a pang of sadness.
"My grandson, he must have suffered a lot." His grandmother's voice rang in his ears, carrying the vicissitudes of time and endless love.
Lu Fan forced a smile through his grief, his throat feeling constricted, and said with difficulty, "I'm doing well, I just miss you all."
An Lan looked at him quietly, her eyes full of tenderness. She raised her hand and gently touched Lu Fan's face, a thousand words unspoken in that one gentle gesture.
Grandma pulled Lu Fan towards the courtyard that was so familiar from her memories, and had An Lan sit next to him. With a gratified smile on her face, she said, "You two are such a perfect match."
Then, Grandma patted Lu Fan's hand and said softly, "Child, tell Grandma everything that's on your mind."
Lu Fan smiled and began to slowly recount his experiences in the wilderness.
He recounted those thrilling moments, those close calls with death, as well as the unexpected gains and the beauty discovered in dire circumstances.
He spoke vividly, as if he had returned to those challenging days.
Grandma and Anlan listened quietly, sometimes frowning nervously, and sometimes smiling with amusement.
For a moment, the courtyard was filled with laughter and joy, as if time had turned back, returning to those warm and happy days.
However, happy times are always short-lived.
As if sensing something, Grandma patted Lu Fan's head again and said earnestly, "If there's something you can't decide, you can ask other people for their opinions."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and pointed to the portrait on the wall, her eyes full of kindness.
Then, Grandma's body began to become transparent and gradually dissipated into the air.
An Lan looked at Lu Fan and smiled like the warm spring sun. She took an egg out of her pocket, handed it to Lu Fan, and said softly, "Our classmate Lu Fan has become a responsible person."
After saying that, her figure slowly faded away and eventually disappeared from the spot.
Lu Fan remained silent for a while, then slowly stood up and wiped his face.
His gaze fell on the photo on the wall, a picture of his grandmother and Anlan's warm smiles.
His face was etched with an unyielding sorrow.
Destroy one world to save another?
As if sensing his deepest desires, the surrounding scenery changed rapidly like a dream.
The bustling village town was filled with traffic and people coming and going.
Next came the bustling market, with vendors' shouts rising and falling.
Then, there was the roar of the machines in the factory, with workers busily moving about.
Skyscrapers are springing up everywhere.
However, Lu Fan's eyes were full of confusion. These lively scenes and busy people seemed unable to provide him with the answers to his inner turmoil.
On the contrary, he became increasingly confused.
He saw,
This world is numb.
They became numb because of their work.
They became numb because of the disease.
They are numb because of poverty.
They became numb because of the separation.
They are numb because they are numb.
He saw,
This world is different.
Some laughed wildly and unrestrainedly, while others cried silently.
Some people are born with an air of arrogance, while others are born to be bent over and bewildered.
Some indulge in a life of luxury and extravagance, while others struggle to move forward.
Some people spend a fortune to make someone laugh, while others kneel on the ground just to beg for food and shelter.
...
The more he saw, the more confused he became.
It seems like the world shouldn't be like this?
It seems like this is how the world should be.
In this world, there are those who enjoy life and those who suffer.
Where there are those who are high and mighty, there are those who are obsequious and subservient.
Finally, Lu Fan couldn't help but let out a roar.
"Is this all there is to the world?!"
As if his request had been heard, the scene began to change.
He saw them one by one,
people!
A real person!
They are ordinary.
Their clothes were dusty and gray.
Their faces were ashen.
Their hands were dusty and gray.
But their eyes are clean.
The group of people were all looking at Lu Fan.
Lu Fan felt a surge of heat about to shoot out of his eyes.
This group of people is very different; they include adults and children, the elderly and young, and women and children.
Some people can no longer walk, while others are still children.
Some people even lack legs, hands, eyes, and voice.
But this group of people are also very similar.
Because their hats all had a shining red star on them.
The shining red star!!
They looked at Lu Fan and gave him friendly smiles.
"Comrade? Where are you from?"
Hearing this affectionate address, Lu Fan was momentarily at a loss for words.
He felt unworthy of the title; he had been an unworthy person for far too long.
Seeing that Lu Fan didn't speak, they assumed he was just shy.
"Comrade, are you also planning to attend the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China?"
Lu Fan nodded subconsciously.
Seeing him nod, their smiles grew even brighter.
Seeing Lu Fan going against the flow of people, someone kindly reminded him.
"Comrade, you've got the direction wrong. The capital is in that direction."
"Comrade, come with us."
"Join us and you won't go astray."
Looking at the vast crowd, Lu Fan asked a question for some reason.
"The capital is so far away, are you just going to walk there? How long will that take?"
Upon hearing this, a child who looked quite young walked over.
He stood on tiptoe and patted Lu Fan on the shoulder, saying in a condescending tone, "Young comrade, we'll get there soon enough. As long as you're willing to walk, we've already done the Long March, what's a little distance to us?"
After saying that, the child walked forward.
He picked up the trumpet hanging from his waist and began to play it.
"Beep beep, beep beep beep beep, beep beep beep~"
"Those behind, keep up! Don't fall behind."
They all walked forward and patted Lu Fan on the shoulder.
Lu Fan looked ahead at the flow of people.
I saw a series of red giants.
He quickly followed.
With firm steps, he walked forward, and slowly, he left the bustling city and the arena of fame and fortune.
As he walked, people's clothing gradually became simpler and more plain, but the smiles on their faces became brighter and brighter, a pure and heartfelt joy.
Finally, he arrived at a vast and boundless field. It was evening, and a fiery red sun hung in the sky, dyeing the whole world orange-red.
In the fields bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, an old man was working diligently.
The old man noticed his arrival and slowly straightened up.
She shielded her eyes from the sun with one hand and waved enthusiastically at him with the other, calling out in a distinctive local dialect, "Little kid, come here."
He seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, running joyfully along the ridges of the fields, towards the red sun, towards the direction of the old man.
The old man looked at the little boy running towards him, a kind smile on his face. He waved again and said, "Walk slowly, don't rush, or you'll fall if you go astray."
The little boy ran up to the old man, slightly out of breath. The old man reached out and gently patted his head; his hands were exceptionally soft.
Although it was the first time the little boy had met the old man, he felt a deep sense of warmth and familiarity.
The old man's unique accent, carrying the simplicity of the earth and the richness of life, instantly calmed his flustered heart.
His face was obscured because His light was too dazzling.
but,
This light is as warm as spring.
He remembered that He was a gentleman.
They call Him Mr. Ren.
He is the kindest person.
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