Ship log

The old boatman used it to connect the north and south banks of the river and then led to the ancient town not far away.

Year after year, the old boatman was alone. Only boats, rivers and passers-by are his only happiness.

One day, after the last passenger left the ship, it was lonely all around. A full basket was quietly placed on the bow. The old boatman lifted the lid and saw a pair of eyes, a bright and strange world.

He quickly opened the bag and held out the little life. What a vibrant, clear and transparent life it is.

The old boatman couldn't help rubbing his beard against the child's little face. The sound of "wow" sounded, and the child's crying floated on the quiet river, which made him feel unprecedented happiness. He put a drop of water on the child's lips, but the child stopped crying.

The poor abandoned child was named Cui Cui by the old boatman.

He still ferries at dusk and washes the boat with water, but there is a little girl on his back. The little girl and the boat became spirits on the river.

"Whose child is this?" Occasionally, someone asks this question, but the old boatman smiles and doesn't answer, just propping up his own boat. And women who have just given birth and have milk. They will carry the child, sit in the cabin, feed it and give it back to him when they get off the boat.

This is how Cui Cui grew up, as lush as plants by the water. The boat is also very lively because of the little girl. When someone wants to cross the river, Cui Cui will go to the bow to meet him, pat the stool on the boat and let the guests sit down. Many people will touch her head and kiss her little face when they get on and off the boat. People say it grows well on this river every day.

Old boatmen can't make much money by ferrying. He will try his best to open a small stove for Cui Cui when there is little water in the soup. He gave Cui Cui something delicious with chopsticks, and Cui Cui took advantage of his inattention and stuffed the delicious food back into the bowl.

Cui Cui learned to sing, and she let the song float into the distance through the white tower by the river every sunset; She also learned to weave all kinds of small flower baskets with branches and wild flowers. He hung flower baskets all over the cabin, so that the fragrance covered grandpa's life. Cui Cui likes beauty and new clothes, so old boatmen often use starlight and moonlight to fish after falling asleep in Cui Cui, in order to capture those expectations in Cui Cui's heart. Later, when a bridge was built over the river, the old boatman stopped ferrying and only used his boat to fish. The old boatman still washes his boat at dusk, and still listens to Cui Cui sing softly while washing the boat.

Growth is the faint joy in the old boatman's heart. Seeing that Cui Cui is as lush as a plant beside the water, he is getting old day by day.

When Cui Cui 18 years old, due to the restoration of the power station, the nearby river became an immigrant area, which will be remembered forever in people's attention.

That year, Cui Cui had love, and love was more beautiful than the colored stones on the river bank.

It was also in that year that the old boatman fell ill and was afraid that he would go to heaven after autumn.

Cui Cui wants to move out with her grandfather and move far away. There are happier clouds on the other side of the mountain.

Cui Cui told grandpa about this decision. The old boatman hesitated for a moment and smiled and said, "Go, go, it's a wonderful thing."

Cui Cui went abroad to build a house. In those nights, the old boatman was in great pain, supporting his leaning body with rough hands and drifting in the river wind.

The old boatman sat down and sat on the bow, which used to snuggle up to the warm bow of his daughter's little life. With tears in his eyes, the old boatman stroked the bow with his hand and looked into the distance, where was Cui Cui's new home.

When Cui Cui came back, only the boat stayed to meet her. The boat was floating on the water, very lonely.

Those nights, the ship remembered Cui Cui's tears.

Someone in the neighboring village said to buy the ship, but Cui Cui refused.

Boat, silent, waiting. Cui Cui came, walking softly, as if afraid to wake it. She stroked the boat gently. Convex, concave, slippery and residual river mud with moss. She took out her handkerchief and, inch by inch, imitated her grandfather's appearance and scrubbed the boat until the wood grain was exposed.

On the day of moving out, Cui Cui hung flower baskets all over the hut.