Wuzhen Travel Notes | Meeting old friends in a foreign land

"No need, I still have friends waiting for me."

There is nothing more exciting than unexpectedly reuniting with friends you made in college in a third city.

What's more, we are now in the warm Wuzhen——

The sun set in the west and fell on the eaves of the roof, becoming a starry spot of light. I waited for the awning boat on the shore and looked at the dazzling tourists. Weaving in front of my eyes, at this moment, I saw her.

"Oh, what a fate. You two college classmates actually met during the trip." The man next to her looked at us in surprise, and raised his hand to let us board the boat first. The person speaking was the boyfriend of her college roommate Shen Li. I heard before that he was the director of the department in Shen Li's home institution.

"That's right!" Shen Mo respectfully sat down on the seat near the bow, and then smiled flatteringly, "Have you been traveling? I often see you posting a lot of travel photos in your circle of friends. It's really great. Ah! ...Have you made traveling your career? You must be very happy now!"

We used to be friends who talked about everything. We both studied journalism. When she was in college, she had neat short hair. She liked to wear large T-shirts and baseball caps all year round. At that time, her favorite thing was making movies, and she would always pull me out of bed. Pick it up and accompany her to the "Nine Streets and Eighteen Alleys" site in Xiangyang to shoot a documentary. At that time, her dream was to become a female director. When our dormitory was studying which department had the most handsome boys, the short film she made became famous in the city's film and television circles. How could such a girl who is as active as a rabbit get along with a nerdy girl like me? I think it’s probably because no matter what she shoots, I will hold my eyes open and watch it.

Now, this old friend is wearing an intellectual suit, a necklace, and a watch. He has long wavy curls. Under the reflection of the water against the light, his hair glows with golden light, and everything that comes out of his mouth is smooth. It's a customary compliment.

"No, it's the same as our college life. There are joys and worries." After graduating from college, we separated. Five years have passed. We met again by chance. We couldn't relive the old relationship as expected. I deliberately mentioned the word college again. I hope I can talk to her about the past. It doesn't matter if it's on the boat or on the bridge.

"Did you know? Ali, who lives in our dormitory, went to a company in Shanghai and married a second-generation rich man from Hong Kong. And the boy in our class who always sits in the back row and plays with his mobile phone took the grassroots civil service examination and wrote manuscripts for leaders. He soon became She has been promoted and is now an official. Unlike me, the company has always been stable and has always been poor. "I can't find any trace of the director who was lying on the floor sweating with a camera on her face.

The night darkened as the boatman rowed his oar, and the sound of oars and lights swayed. My ears were filled with all these things.

I actually want to tell her that after graduation, when I often use a camera at work, I will always think of her editing in the dormitory late at night with a cup of coffee. It feels like I am injected with motivation when I am bored at work, but it seems out of place.

"You'll be there soon! Do you want to sit back again?" The boatman reminded me, interrupting my hesitation.

"No, I still have friends waiting for me." After landing, I said goodbye to them both.

The night sky in early summer is so blue that among the crowds on the river bank, there are many tourists sitting and chatting in front of the beverage shop, sometimes it is very appropriate to look up. The delicately carved windows in the attic near the river are lit, and figures are reflected in the panes. I remembered, and thought about it, that I had walked back to Dongzha from Xizha.

The quiet night sky and cool lake surface of Dongzha, stone bridges resting on the riverside, there are no tourists on the long alley, except for convenience stores, restaurants and B&Bs on both sides have been closed, and the dyeing shop is busy during the day It was empty and quiet.