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fouryearsofshades · 3 months ago

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#老人关机骑行一个月去看梦中大桥#

潇湘晨报 9-20 14:28

【对话陕西76岁“出逃爷爷”陈有银：种地一生，我关掉手机偷偷骑行数千里看梦中大桥】#藏不住的青春# 76岁的老人陈有银是陕西黄土地上的一个普通农民。除了1970年应征入伍，至河南开封当了几年兵，他这辈子没有离开过家乡西安蓝田县的土地。

当兵时连长描述其老家武汉长江大桥的景象，总在他心头徘徊。往后近五十年里，他日复一日面对着土地和庄稼，那些景象的细节模糊了，只记得那座大桥“有多美”、“有多好”。

近两年有高龄战友向他描述外面的世界，说要抓紧时间出门看看，他真是心动了，这辈子还能亲眼检验那种在脑海里扎根的“美”吗？

2024年8月8日，趁地里是农闲期，患病三十多年的妻子近期病情也有好转，陈有银带着一件1975年退伍时带回来的军用雨衣，三身换洗衣服，一大瓶水，以及三十多年前亲友见他家条件不好塞给他的千余元钱，从附近小孩那里借来一辆黄色单车，抠掉老年手机的电池，不想麻烦任何人，悄悄离家独自去“圆梦”。

这趟数千里的骑行之路，陈有银没有数过日夜。知晓家人焦急寻找他足足一月，他才发现自己带来了更大的“麻烦”。他被家人从武汉接回家时，其实还没有找到连长说的那座武汉长江大桥。他选择让这个念想默默消散：这一路上看到的，已经足够啦。

#The old man switched off his mobile phone and rode for a month to see the bridge of his dreams#

Xiaoxiang Morning Herald 9-20 14:28

[Dialogue with Chen Youyin, a 76-year-old ‘getaway grandfather’ from Shaanxi: after a lifetime of farming, I switched off my mobile phone and secretly rode thousands of miles to see the bridge of my dreams]

#Unhidable Youth#

The 76-year-old Chen Youyin is an ordinary farmer on the yellow soil of Shaanxi. Other than being drafted into the army in 1970 and serving as a soldier in Kaifeng, Henan Province for a few years, he has never left his hometown of Lantian County, Xi'an, in his life.

The sight of the Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan in this company commander's his hometown, described by his company commander when he was in the army, always lingered in his mind. After nearly fifty years of facing the land and crops day in and day out, the details of those scenes are blurred, and he only remembers ‘how beautiful’ and ‘how good’ the bridge was.

In the past two years, some of his advance-age comrades have described the outside world to him, saying that they should seize the opportunity to check out the outside world, and he was really moved by the thought that he would be able to test the ‘beauty’ that had taken root in his mind.

On 8 August 2024, while the field was idle and his wife, who had been sick for more than thirty years, had recently improved, Chen Youyin took with him a military mackintosh that he had brought back with him when he was discharged from the army in 1975, three changes of clothes, a large bottle of water, and more than one thousand yuan that his friends and relatives had stuffed into him more than thirty years ago when they saw that his family was not in a good condition. Borrowing a yellow bicycle from a nearby child and removing the batteries from his mobile phone as he did not want to trouble anyone, he quietly left home to ‘fulfil his dream’ alone.

During this trip of thousands of miles of riding, Chen Youyin did not count the days and nights. Knowing that his family was anxiously looking for him for a full month, he finally realised that he was in bigger ‘trouble’. When he was picked up by his family from Wuhan, he hadn't yet found the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge that his company commander had told him about. He chose to let the thought dissipate: what he had seen along the way was enough.

一、走失的76岁老人 8月上旬，西安蓝田当地多个救援队发布的一份寻人启事传播开来，称一名76岁老人陈有银于8月8日中午12时从村里骑行一辆黄色共享单车出村走失，一直未归，查监控发现老人于当日中午1时许在当地白鹿广场附近出现，走失时上身穿白底蓝格子衬衫，灰色裤子，脚穿咖色皮鞋。家属寻找未果，已报警。陈有银本人对此浑然不知。在他描述的版本里，8日中午，他照常做了三碗面条，和妻子、孙子一起吃完。然后好好洗了个澡，换上一身干净衣裳，取出自己藏了三十多年的千元积蓄——平常家里的钱都归妻子管，买东西哪怕找了一元钱零钱都会交还给妻子。那天他买了一桶油，找回来的零钱照例放桌上，所以家人都以为他出门时身无分文。出发前，陈有银把老人机的电池抠了。他不想让家人知道，一是怕看他年纪大阻拦，二是怕见他态度坚决，又要麻烦他们出钱出力给自己圆梦。自己骑个共享单车，一路上节约节约，应该也能做到。他也考虑过要不要留张纸条，但想想应该就几天的事，算了。

A lost 76-year-old man

In early August, a search notice posted by many rescue teams in Xi'an Lantian was spread, saying that a 76-year-old man, Chen Youyin, on August 8 at 12 noon was lost from the village riding a yellow shared bike out of the village and has not returned since turn. Checking the monitoring feed, it was found that the elder had appeared on the day at 1:00 pm in the local White Deer Plaza. He was wearing a white blue checkered shirt, grey trousers, and a pair of coffee-coloured leather shoes at the time. Family members had searched for him but with no avail and has been reported to the police. Chen Youyin himself is unaware of this. In his version of the story, at noon on the 8th, he made three bowls of noodles as usual, and ate together with his wife and grandson. Then he had a good bath, put on a clean clothes, take out the thousands of dollars savings that he had been hiding for over 30 years - usually money at home was managed by his wife; Even when he receive a dollar change when purchasing things he will give it back to his wife. That day he bought a barrel of oil and put the change on the table as usual, so the family thought he went out with no money on him. Before leaving, Chen Youyin plucked the battery of his elder's phone. He did not want his family to know; for one he was afraid that they will stop him due to his old age, and two he was afraid to trouble them so spent money and effort to see his dream came true when they realised that he was unyielding. He should be able to do it by himself by riding a shared bicycle and travelling on a budget. He also considered whether to leave a note, but thought that it should only take a few days, so he let it pass.

二、沿着国道问路走，遇见的好人很多陈有银推测，顺着沿江的国道，应该就能到武汉。他一路东出潼关，去了河南三门峡、曾经当过兵的开封、郑州，随后南下武汉。每天骑行50里到100里，前十天还有些累，后面越骑越轻松，饿了就买些馒头、面条，晚上就用军用雨衣铺地，穿衣服睡。途中陈有银看到了与老家黄土地迥然不同的地貌，还有那些他从来没有种过、各式各样的庄稼。以前在开封当兵的时候，路上黄沙飞天，行人嘴都不敢张，如今变成一片绿林，泥路和土包变成了宽敞大道和高楼。他还去找了自己的“老连队”，都焕然一新了。留守的战友听说他要骑行去武汉，给他赞助了一套新衣新鞋。路上陈有银还有一个感受，就是好人挺多。遇到那些陕西老乡开店的，见他独自在外，不肯收他钱，对他像邻居一样亲切。出于安全考虑，他在晚上通常不骑车，推着车走。有回他遇见一名骑摩托的女同志，谁也不认识谁，一直跟在他后头。他后来才意识到对方是开着车灯想给他照亮路。他说对方是名女同志，方向和自己又完全相反，不要再帮自己。接着他发现摩托车走了，警车紧接着来了，那名女同志出于担心报了警。民警了解完他的情况，也在后头打开车灯给他照路，直到他找着落脚点。这一路上，陈有银怕迷路，沿着国道没进过城，直到武汉。

2. asking for directions along the national highway, meting a lot of good Samaritan

Chen Youyin speculated that he should be able to get to Wuhan if he travel along the national highway by the river. He went all the way east out of Tongguan, to Henan Sanmenxia and to Kaifeng and Zhengzhou where he was once a soldier, and then south to Wuhan. Riding 50 miles to 100 miles a day, he felt a little bit tired during the first ten days, but it got easier and easier the more he rode. When he was hungry, he would then buy some mantou and noodles. At night he would pave the ground with his military mackintosh and sleep in his clothes.

On the way, Chen Youyin had saw a very different landscape from his hometown, and all kinds of crops that he had planted. While he was in the army in Kaifeng, the road was dusty with yellow sands flying in sky and the pedestrians dared not to open their mouths; now it has turned into green forest, and the dirt roads and mount into a spacious avenue and high-rise buildings. He also went to find his ‘old company’, which was also brand new beyond recognition. When the comrades stationed there heard that he was going to ride to Wuhan, they sponsored him a set of new clothes and shoes. On the road, Chen Youyin also has a feeling that there are a lot of good people. When he met those fellow Shaanxi countrymen who opened shops, they refused to charge him money when they saw him alone outside of his hometown, and were as kind to him as neighbours.

For safety reasons, he usually didn't ride his bike at night and pushes it along. One time he met a comrade woman riding a motorbike. Neither of them knew each other and she kept following him. He later realised that she was trying to light his way with her headlights. He told her that she was a comrade woman and was going in the exact opposite direction to him, so she should stop helping him. Then he found that the motorbike was gone, but a police car came next. The comrade called the police as she was worried for him. The police, after understanding his situation, also followed behind him back and highting him the road, until he found the resting spot.

On the way, Chen Youyin was afraid of getting lost, so he travelled along the national highway and did not enter any city until he reached Wuhan.

三、出租车里没有人，怎么也能在路上跑啊？

在武汉看到的第一座大桥就让陈有银震惊到了，这应该就是连长说的多美、多好的大桥吧。他一层一层地数，一座足足有五层的钢架大桥，十分壮观。可惜人不能上去。这个上午陈有银在附近逛来逛去，还琢磨了好一会这五层分别是干什么用的，如果是方便军人站岗守桥，也不需要盖这么高呀。他的这个猜想被路人否定了，他也随后得知这座桥不是连长所说的那一座。武汉有十二座长江大桥，距离挺远，他得进城慢慢找。

陈有银接着又看到了两座桥，只有一层桥道的它们相比第一座就显得有些普通，但晚上开了灯还是很漂亮。他还看到宽广的江面上有一辆大船驶过，有人上上下下，老家的河哪能供这种船开呀。

到武汉这两天，陈有银不怎么赶路了，他在大桥周边闲逛，碰到了很多新奇的东西。“别的不说，就是那个出租车吧，我就感觉很奇怪，我想这个车子在路上跑，怎么没有人��哦，和别人一问，人家说这是无人驾驶啊！”陈有银��想，现在发展确实快，自己在的村庄没有什么改变，外面的城市变化竟然这么大。

第二天晚上，陈有银在大桥桥头附近的椅子上睡着，但没多久就被路过的洒水车弄醒了。陈有银又走走走，在一片高楼中迷了路。

3. There is no one in the taxi; how can it also run on the road?

The first bridge he saw in Wuhan shocked Chen Youyin to the point that he thought this should be the very beautiful very nice bridge that the company commander said. He counted it layer by layer. It was a steel bridge that had as much as five layers; very spectacular. It was a pity that people couldn't go up. This morning Chen Youyin wandered around the neighbourhood, pondering for quite a while what these five layers are for, if it was for soldiers to station and guard the bridge, there was no need to build it so high. His conjecture was denied by a passers-by. He also subsequently learned that the bridge was not the one that his company commander mentioend. Wuhan has twelve bridges across Yangtze River and they were rather away from each other. He had to go into the city to find it slowly.

Chen Youyin then saw two more bridges. With only one layer, they looked a little ordinary compared to the first bridge, but at night when the lights are on they were still very beautiful. He also saw a big boat sailing on the wide river with people going up and down. The river back home could never be used for sailing this kind of boat. Arriving at Wuhan in the last two days, Chen Youyin hadn't much rush. Hhe wandered around the bridge and came across a lot of new things. ‘Not to mention, that taxi, I feel very strange. I thought this car was running on the road, but how come no one was driving it. After after someone, they said it is a driverless car!’ Chen Youyin thought, now the development was really fast; his village has not changed much, but cities outside has dramatically transformed.

The next night, Chen Youyin fell asleep on a chair near the bridge, but it did not take long to be woken up by the passing sprinkler. Chen Youyin walked and walked again and got lost in a field of tall buildings.

四、“失联”一个月后，大桥没找到，生活回来了

9月7日深夜，陈东毅突然接到民警的电话，称找到他父亲陈有银了，人在武汉。陈东毅当即连夜驱车赶往。

陈有银压根没想惊动家人。他找不着路，走进途经的派出所。民警见他模样，以为是流浪汉，不让他走，给他做饭，让他休息，要给他买车票回西安。陈有银说自己有钱，不用麻烦。民警��放心，想联系他家人。

这一联系才发现，老人原来是蓝田县当地寻找了一月的走失人口。而陈有银才知道自己足足出来了一个月。子女们焦灼万分，不仅自己找，还发动整个村里的青壮年在村里村外找了个遍。

9月8日上午9时多，家人赶到派出所时，虽然什么话都没有说，但陈有银知道他们很生气。他听从他们的安排去理了个发，在宾馆开了间房作短暂休息，然后返回西安。陈有银没有再提武汉长江大桥的事。他感觉很对不起小孩，还听说当时有骗子称知道他下落索要1万元，儿子被骗走的200元也让他感到很可惜。

但儿子和女儿心里，气愤平息过后是极大的愧疚。女儿陈女士称，他们从来不知道父亲有这么一个心愿。父亲总是那样的性格，有什么苦都自己挨着，平日本就缺乏沟通，父亲又格外怕麻烦到他们。

9月15日，在陕西老家的陈有银收到了一张照片，武汉市公安局硚口区分局将长江日报记者拍摄的“万里长江第一桥”照片洗出来，寄给了他。

4. After he was ‘lost’ for a month, the bridge was still not found but real life has returned

Late at night on September 7, Chen Dongyi suddenly received a phone call from the police, saying that his father Chen Youyin was found in Wuhan. Chen Dongyi immediately drove there overnight.

Chen Youyin did not want to disturb his family. He couldn't find his way, so he walked into a police station. The police saw his appearance and thought he was a homeless person and so they did not let him go, cook for him, let him rest, and buy him a ticket back to Xi'an. Chen Youyin said he had money and there no need to bother. The police was not assured and wanted to contact his family.

Once they got into contact they found that the old man turned out to be a missing person from Lantian County that the locals had sought out for a month. And Chen Youyin just found out that he had been out for a full month. His children were so anxious that not only they to find him on own, but also mobilised the entire village of young adults to search all over the village.

On September 8 past 9 o'clock in the morning, the family has rushed to the police station. Although nothing was said, Chen Youyin knew that they wre furious. He listened to their arrangements to get a haircut and rest in the hotel room for a short break, and then they returned to Xi'an. Chen Youyin did not mention the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge again. He felt very sorry for his children. He also heard that there was fraudster claimed to know his whereabouts and demanded 10,000 yuan. The fact that his son was cheated out of 200 yuan also made him feel very sorry.

But in his son's and daughter's heart, after the anger subsided, a great guilt was left. The daughter Ms Chen claimed that they never knew that his father had such a wish. Father was always that kind of character, who bores all sufferings on their own. Not only there was a lack of communication in everyday life, father was particularly afraid of troubling them.

On September 15, Chen Youyin, back in his hometown in Shaanxi, received a photo. Wuhan Police Bureau Qiaokou District Branch had printed out a photo of ‘first bridge on the Yangtze River’ photo taken by a Yangtze River Daily reporter and sent it to him.

THE END

Aftermath:

9月20日，武汉市文化和旅游局官方账号发布动态，称将邀请陕西“出逃爷爷”陈有银及其家人再次去到武汉，看桥看江看湖。

On September 20, Wuhan City Culture and Tourism Bureau official account issued a post, claiming that they will invite Shaanxi ‘’runaway grandfather‘’ Chen Youyin and his family to go to Wuhan again to see the bridge, the river, and the lake.

#china #chinese news #translation #chinese language #bilingual #human-interest story #absolutely love this story #chinese road movie #he also met his old company commander #i think #during 2024 chinese national day holidays #not hanfu #fouryearsofshades #long post

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