Chapter 163 Fallen leaves return to their roots
The sound from the TV continued.
"According to the suggestions of Lu Yongchang, the chief scientist of the People's Federation, the People's Federation will start the construction of the second large-scale space elevator."
"Project code name: [Jianmu]!"
"Considering the large population of Eurasia, the construction site of the second space elevator [Jianmu] is located at the Roof of the World in the former Xia Kingdom."
"At the same time, the People's Federation will simultaneously carry out an escape plan, and the plan requires..."
The living room was extremely quiet. Apart from the solemn voice of the host on the TV, the only sound left was the whirring of the air conditioner.
for a long time.
Uncle Qi, who was wearing a white sweatshirt, tremblingly picked up the glass on the table and took a sip of the tea inside.
As if he was awakened by his actions, Uncle Zhang across the table suddenly raised his head and asked him.
"Lao Qi, what are you going to do?"
"What, what should I do?" Uncle Qi's hand holding the tea cup trembled slightly, and the hot tea spilled on his lap.
But he didn't seem to feel anything. He just put the tea cup down silently, picked up the napkin on the side and wiped it.
"Lao Qi, the news said that citizens under the age of 65 can apply for the escape plan."
"How about you..."
Uncle Qi shook his head and turned to look out the window.
Looking at the familiar scene, a bit of sadness flashed in his eyes.
"Forget it."
He sighed deeply: "Now that I'm old enough, I won't compete with young people."
"I am a rough man with no education. I have lived in this village since I was a child."
"According to the saying of the older generation, after this person dies, he will return to his roots."
"What about you, Lao Zhang?"
"I remember you are 65 years old this year, right?"
When Zhang Man, who was sitting nearby, heard this, he immediately pricked up his ears and looked at his grandfather.
Uncle Zhang chuckled and reached out to move a chess piece on the chessboard in front of him.
"I?"
"I'm definitely staying here."
"How could you, an old man like you, be lonely without me?"
"Grandpa!" A hint of urgency flashed in Zhang Man's eyes.
Although she was not very old, she could vaguely understand the conversation between the two.
"Xiaoman is good."
Uncle Zhang patted Zhang Man's head lovingly, chuckled and said, "When your parents come back tonight, you can go to the city to sign up."
"Grandpa is old and can't walk anymore."
Looking at the free and easy smiles on the faces of the two old men in front of him, Zhang Man's eyes suddenly became blurry.
…
night.
After the sun went down, the temperature dropped a lot.
But the air in the small mountain village is still a bit hot.
In the living room, Zhang Man sat silently on the sofa without saying a word.
As for Uncle Zhang, he sat next to Zhang Man with a wry smile on his face, trying to comfort his granddaughter.
The sound of the security door opening came.
"Dad?" A female voice said, "What's wrong with Xiaoman?"
Hearing the woman's voice, Zhang Man, who was sitting silently on the sofa, jumped up suddenly, ran quickly to the door, and hugged the woman who was carrying a bit of heat.
"mom!"
Zhang Man stretched out his hand to wipe the remaining tears on his face, and said with a hint of tears: "Mom, grandpa refuses to leave!"
Upon hearing her daughter's words, the woman stiffened suddenly.
"Dad?" A man's voice rang out, "You're so good, why don't you want to leave?"
"It's been said on TV that in a few months, the average temperature of the earth will rise by 20 degrees. By then, no one will be able to live here at all!"
Facing the persuasion of his son and daughter-in-law, Uncle Zhang sighed slightly and said to the man.
"Bojun, you don't need to persuade me, I have already made up my mind."
"At my age, I don't need to bother anymore."
"Besides, I have Lao Qi next door with me, so it doesn't matter to me."
"Tomorrow, take Xiaoman to the city to register."
"But..." Faced with his father's request to "seek death," Zhang Bojun was obviously not very willing. He opened his mouth and prepared to continue persuading.
"Okay!" The old man was a little annoyed, "Stop trying to persuade me!"
"Although I don't have much education, I know a little bit about it."
"Our technology has not developed to this point yet!"
"Sending five billion people out...isn't easy!"
The old man's original calm expression had disappeared. His lips trembled and his face looked slightly pale as he said, "My withdrawal will definitely increase the success rate of the escape plan."
"Although it's not of much use."
"But I'm old and I've had enough."
"The rest of your life belongs to you."
"Live well."
As he spoke, the old man patted his son's shoulder gently, took a deep look at the three of them, turned and walked towards the stairs.
The stair light was not on.
"dad……"
Zhang Bojun called softly with some choking.
The old man did not look back, but stepped down firmly and walked towards the darkness.
Seeing his grandfather's figure completely disappearing into the darkness, Zhang Man couldn't bear it any longer and cried bitterly: "Grandpa, is grandpa not leaving with us?"
"Xiaoman, don't cry..."
The woman's eyes were red, she sniffed, and squatted down to comfort her: "Grandpa just plans to stay with Grandpa Qi here."
"I don't believe it! The teacher said that the earth is going to end!" Zhang Man's cry became more and more sad, "If grandpa doesn't leave, I won't leave either!"
…
late at night.
Looking at Zhang Man lying on the sofa tired of crying, Zhang Bojun sighed slightly.
"Su Nan, let's go now."
Hearing Zhang Bojun's words, the woman's shoulders twitched slightly.
"Now? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Zhang Bojun turned his head to look at Zhang Man lying on the sofa, his face more worried: "You also saw Xiaoman like this."
"Who knows what will happen tomorrow."
"I think..."
At this point, Su Nan already understood.
She pursed her lips lightly, gently picked up Zhang Man on the sofa, and nodded to her husband: "Let's go say hello to Dad."
The two walked up the stairs lightly.
The light was on in the old man's room.
"Who?"
The voice of Mr. Zhang came.
The next moment, the neatly dressed old man appeared in front of the two.
Obviously, the old man didn't sleep either.
"Dad, it's us." Zhang Bojun said in a low voice, "Xiao Man is asleep, we are going to take her away now, so as to avoid tomorrow..."
The old man nodded silently, staring at Zhang Man in Su Nan's arms carefully: "Let me hug Xiao Man again."
...
More than ten minutes later.
Zhang Bojun and Su Nan walked out of their own rural self-built house.
As for Zhang Man, she lay in Zhang Bojun's arms, with her head resting on his shoulder.
The sound of the window opening came from behind.
Zhang Bojun and Su Nan trembled slightly, their eyes were slightly red, but they did not look back, and walked straight forward.
And Zhang Man, who was originally asleep, quietly opened her slightly red and swollen eyes.
Looking at the familiar figure in the window, a line of hot tears slowly slid down her cheeks.
