On the morning of September 20, 2024, Lin Yuhui woke up to find that the twitching in his back and waist muscles seemed less pronounced, yet his decision to leave was unshakable.
2024年9月20日早晨醒来,林语晖发现自己腰背肌肉跳动的现象似乎不那么明显了,但是决定离开的心是铁定的.
After a self-prepared breakfast, he checked out, packed up, and left. Only then did he notice that some playful child had traced his license plate number with a finger across the dust-covered rear windshield of his car.
吃过自备的早餐打包退房离开,发现不知昨晚哪个调皮的小朋友在他尘土覆盖的车窗后风挡上,用手指写上了他的车牌号.
It was this simple interaction, combined with the faintly familiar street scene, that stirred something deep inside Lin Yuhui — as though, across the years and through time itself, he had met once more that little boy who used to love cars.
就是这简单的互动,加上似曾熟悉的街景,不禁触动林语晖的内心,仿佛隔着时空的岁月,与曾经那个喜欢汽车的小男孩相见.
He looked around again at the early morning streets, bidding farewell to this one and only encounter in his life.
再一次环顾这里清晨的街景,为这人生中仅有的一次相遇而告别.
The sky was overcast that morning. Not long after setting out, a fine drizzle began to fall. Once out of the small town, he should have been retracing yesterday's route back.
今早有些阴天,上路没多久便下起了蒙蒙细雨,出了小镇应该是沿着昨天来时路在返回.
The reason for saying "should" was that Lin Yuhui hadn't clearly seen the road conditions the night before; it had been nearly dark, and with his focus fixed on hurrying along, there had been no time to take in the passing scenery.
至于为什么说是应该,因为林语晖昨晚也没看清路况,当时天基本黑了,再加上赶路注意力集中,根本无暇顾及沿途景物的辨认.
After driving for an hour with the navigation system guiding him, it alerted him to standing water ahead. With rain falling from above, how bad could the water below be?
跟着导航开了一个小时的车,这时候提示前方路面积水.天上下着小雨,路面积水又能怎么样呢?
Lin Yuhui thought of urban flooding caused by rainfall; rerouting now would mean all those miles driven earlier were wasted. For the sake of efficiency, he decided to press forward.
林语晖想到了城市里,因为降雨造成的内涝情形,现在更改路线只能意味着之前大量路途白跑了,为了效率,他决定继续向前.
It wasn't until he saw the road ahead submerged under flowing water, while the elevated highway on the other side remained unreachable and the nearby national road revealed itself as a bridge, that he realized the seriousness of his situation.
直到看见前面的路面被水流淹没,而扭头遥望另一侧高架高速公路无法企及,不远处的国道是桥梁,他才意识到问题的严重性,
He was directly beneath the bridge — the lowest point in elevation.
而自己的位置是桥下,海拔位置最低的所在.
Lin Yuhui wondered if his navigation setting to avoid congestion had led him down to this godforsaken path under the bridge — and on a gloomy, rainy day, no less.
林语晖怀疑是不是自己导航选择了避开拥堵路段,才会被导航至这鸟不拉屎的桥下小道,还是在一个阴雨天.
He remembered this stretch of road from the trip here: the pavement raised above ground level, with ponds on one or both sides.
他记得这一段来时的道路,路面高出地面,一侧或者两侧是水塘,
But only now did he grasp his true predicament. This was tidal mudflat, and the navigation's preference for avoiding highways had steered him right into this segment under the bridge — unfortunately timed with the returning tide.
但是现在他才意识到自己真正的处境,这里是潮汐滩涂,而少走高速的导航设置,把自己引导到了这个桥下的路段,不巧的是归途时间恰逢涨潮.
Lin Yuhui assessed the depth of the floodwater. On the curves, where the road sloped, half the surface was still above water; on the straight, level sections, the water merely appeared to be overflowing across the road.
林语晖评估了一下路面淹水的高度,弯道处由于路面倾斜还有一半在水上,路面水平的直路段只是眼前看起来流水满溢流过路面,
He had no idea what lay ahead, nor how fast the tide was rising.
不清楚前面道路情况,不清楚涨潮速度.
Then a medium-sized truck came from the opposite direction. Judging by the spray it kicked up and the immersion of its wheels, the water wasn't terribly deep — roughly up to the height of his own car's front undercarriage, maybe slightly higher.
这时对面开来一辆中型卡车,从它激起的浪花和车轮浸没情况看水深程度不严重,差不多到自己车前部底盘高度,或者稍高一些.
Lin Yuhui decided to make a quick crossing.
林语晖决定快速通过.
Since he had just entered the flooded section, and the oncoming truck was already moving out of deeper water, its wake had little effect on his vehicle.
由于刚刚进入涉水路段,对面卡车逐渐开出深水地段,所以它的涌浪对林语晖的车影响不大.
He also knew the position of his engine air intake — located toward the rear of the engine bay and relatively high — and with the coolant radiator behind the front grille acting as a barrier, he reasoned that maintaining steady speed would allow him to push aside the water, keeping the intake area relatively dry.
他也很清楚自己车的发动机进气口位置,在机舱后方较高位置,并且前方进气栅后面有发动机冷却液散热器阻挡,只要保持一定车速,甚至可以推开积水,在发动机吸气口处形成较低的机舱内水位,这就是林语晖的应对计划.
By carefully modulating throttle and clutch, he kept a constant speed despite the heavy resistance, careful not to let the engine take in water.
通过控制油门和离合器,在较大的行车阻力中,他尽量保持匀速行驶,以免发动机呛水.
What made him even tenser was trying to keep sight of the orange centerline beneath the water — straying from it meant plunging into the pond.
更加令他紧张的是在淹水的路面看清那一条橙色的路面中线,因为偏离道路就会掉进水塘,
He drove leaning forward, neck craned, almost perched on the edge of his seat, just to keep the line in view.
所以他是在翘着屁股,向前抻着脖子的姿势下驾驶,就是为了看清眼前的路面中线标识.
On one curve, hugging the higher outer edge, the front wheels flung water up into the wheel arches, splashing it over the windshield and roof.
在弯道里,他只能靠近外侧较高的路面,但是没想到转向的前轮把积水甩出了轮拱,全都扬在了前挡风玻璃和车顶.
Visibility vanished instantly, and water leaked in through the open windows.
一时间视线受阻,敞开的车窗漏水进入车内.
Even with the wipers on full speed, it was useless. He slowed gradually, riding the clutch partially to avoid stalling, then shut the windows — only for interior condensation to fog up the glass.
林语晖开到全速雨刷依然无效,只好逐渐降速,为防熄火离合器半联动,关上车窗又有车内雾气挂上车窗玻璃内侧,他又急忙开外循环风扇全档.
Amidst this frantic tension, he focused on maintaining his position relative to the centerline, worrying about water ingestion, keeping the car steady, the engine running, mentally gauging the water level in the engine bay.
就这样的忙碌与紧张之中,确保自己与路面中线的相对位置,担忧呛水之间,保持车辆匀速,发动机持续运行,心中评估着发动机舱内的水位.
A glance to the right revealed tidal water surging over the meadow, rushing across the road, while to the left the water stretched endlessly, merging with the black flood.
偷眼一瞥,只见右侧的潮水汩汩漫过草甸,奔流而下冲过路面,而路面左侧已经看不到边际,与黑水相连.
After several bends, conditions improved somewhat; it seemed that earlier stretch had been the lowest point. Ahead, parked on higher ground beside the road, sat a van, its driver outside making a phone call.
过了几个弯道情况稍有好转,似乎就是刚才那一段路面海拔最低,只见前方高处路边停着一辆面包车,一个人在车外面打电话.
Had that van's engine taken in water? Unlikely — it was on high ground. Then why the call? No time to dwell.
他的车发动机进水了吗?不能啊,他在高点,他为什么打电话呢?来不及多想,
Lin Yuhui's car cleared the flood zone. In the following drive, he took a while to calm his breathing, feeling relieved yet chilled at the thought that a single misjudgment could have cost him his life.
林语晖的车已经脱离了积水路段.接下来的驾驶之中,平复了一阵子心情,有些庆幸,也有些后怕,因为一次判断失误的代价就有可能是生命.
Then, quietly, he allowed himself a moment of pride in his choice of vehicle.
然后就是再得意一把自己当初的车辆选购的选择英明.
This car truly was soundly designed, reliable enough to carry someone out of rough conditions.
这车确实设计合理,可靠,能够把人从比较差的路况环境中带出来.
Had it been a sedan with a front-mounted engine air intake, safety would have depended entirely on sticking to highways and viaducts — but who really knows whether accident or tomorrow comes first?
如果是车头发动机进气的轿车,恐怕只有尽量走高速和高架桥才安全了,可是谁又知道意外和明天哪个先来呢?
Superior capability is always an advantage over others.
更好的通过性永远是强于他人的优势.
The next leg brought him onto the familiar central Tianjin road and into the Caofeidian Industrial Zone. The rain grew heavier, reaching moderate intensity.
接下来的路程就是熟悉的天津中央大道路段和曹妃甸工业区了,雨势变大了,差不多中雨的强度,
Lin Yuhui was glad for the fresh water rinsing away the salty seawater from his earlier crossing; he knew well the corrosive effects of saltwater on metal.
林语晖很高兴有淡水降雨冲刷刚才涉水沾染的含盐海水,他很清楚海水对车辆金属的腐蚀性.
The downside was that the rain-created surface water added tremendous rolling resistance, and his small-displacement engine responded sluggishly to throttle input.
只不过降雨造成的路面积水增加了很大的行驶阻力,小排量的车踩油门响应甚微.
When a semi-truck overtook him, Lin Yuhui glanced in the mirror without hesitation and changed lanes to follow.
这时一辆半挂车超越驶过,林语晖毫不犹豫看了一眼后视镜,变道跟了过去.
Behind the twin rear wheels of the semi, the road surface was almost free of water film. Following closely, his resistance dropped sharply, the only drawback being the massive wall of spray the truck threw up.
半挂卡车双排车轮压过的路面几乎没有水膜,跟近后行驶阻力迅速变小,唯一的问题就是它扬起的水雾比较大.
He checked the tanker's markings — flammable liquids, nontoxic, noncorrosive.
仔细辨认了一下半挂罐车的标识,是拉易燃液体的,没有毒性和腐蚀性.
Trailing the truck improved both speed and fuel economy. On this rainy weekday, the industrial zone's national road was nearly empty except for Lin Yuhui and the semi ahead.
就这样跟在卡车之后行驶,不仅速度提高了,油耗也降低了.工业区雨天的国道之上车辆很少,只有林语晖跟着这辆半挂车行驶.
After several turns, the truck began slowing. Clearly, Lin Yuhui couldn't afford to crawl along behind it; he needed to make progress.
拐过几个路口之后,这辆卡车逐渐减速了.显然林语晖不能跟在它的后面龟速行驶,毕竟自己要赶路,
He returned to the middle lane, though the rainwater resistance was brutal, the throttle response painfully weak.
于是只好回到了中间行驶车道,但是路面雨水的阻力真大啊,油门踩得有点肉疼.
As his speed increased and he drew alongside the truck, he glanced at its cab. Truthfully, Lin Yuhui couldn't make out the driver — between the rain and years of deteriorating eyesight from reading.
随着车速提高,与卡车并行的时候,他看了一眼卡车的驾驶室,其实林语晖并不能看清楚卡车司机,雨水加上读书多年的视力下降.
He simply thought: if you won't carry me along, I'll have to run on my own.
只是他心想,你不带着我跑,那我就只能自己跑了.
But the truck driver ahead might have seen more. Perhaps he'd only been curious why someone was tailing him, or maybe just checking his blind spot.
然而对面的卡车司机似乎看到了更多,或许他之前只是好奇为什么有车一直跟着他,或者仅仅是要确认一下是否自己后面有车.
Now he saw clearly: a harmless-looking compact family car, struggling in the rain on the highway.
现在他看清了,是一辆人畜无害的微型家用车,雨天跑高速确实有点吃力.
Then the trucker accelerated again, resuming his earlier pace. Lin Yuhui didn't stand on ceremony; he checked the mirror, saw no traffic behind, and pulled back into the truck's wake.
接着卡车司机又开始加速了,恢复到了之前的行驶速度.林语晖一看也没客气,瞅了一眼后视镜,没有后方来车,直接变道又跟在了卡车后面.
He tried to follow every truck he encountered on the road. Honestly, some were impossible to keep up with — people are different, and so are truck drivers; some drove like maniacs, far beyond the speed limit, and Lin Yuhui had no desire for a ticket.
就这样试着跟着路上能遇到的每一辆卡车,说实话有的真跟不上,人与人不一样,卡车司机也是,有的疯了一样超速行驶,林语晖可不想吃罚单.
In any case, traffic was sparse on the rainy national road, and his efficiency was high. That day, Lin Yuhui covered the distance of the previous two days combined, reaching Jinxi well before dark.
总之雨天的国道车辆稀少,效率还是很高的,这一天林语晖跑出来前两天的路程,天还没黑就到了锦西,
He booked a room — over two hundred yuan, a bit expensive for facilities that were merely industry standard.
订了房间,二百多的价格有些贵,设施一般,属于行业标准.
After settling his luggage, he went downstairs in search of food. The wind was strong, autumn fully arrived, and the air had turned cold.
放好行李就是下楼找吃的,风很大,又是秋季了,有些凉.
Along the road, he spotted a bakery whose sign read "No Additives — Sell Only Today's Bread." He was delighted; he hadn't eaten bread in years due to excessive preservatives in the industry, which gave him stomach trouble.
沿着道路他看到一家烘焙店,招牌上写着无添加只卖当天面包他很高兴,因为他已经好多年因为面包食品行业防腐剂超标没有吃过面包了,因为他吃了会闹肚子.
At the shop, he picked two red bean buns and two coconut buns each, saving them for breakfast and possibly lunch the next day if there was no time to stop.
在这家店里他选择了喜欢的豆沙馅和椰蓉面包,每种两个,留着明早,以及中午如果没时间吃饭就当作快速口粮.
Next came restocking water — large bottles of mineral water. Dinner options weren't great, so he settled for a bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles.
接着是补充水,大瓶矿泉水,只是晚饭没找到好的选择,吃了一碗兰州牛肉面.
Back at the hotel, he skipped showering to conserve strength and maintain immunity, washing only his face and feet before sleeping.
回到旅店没有洗澡,因为要保持体力和免疫力,只是简单洗脸洗脚然后睡觉,
The so-called daughter's broken promise seemed to have left no mark on him at all; everything was met with calm detachment.
似乎那个所谓的女儿的爽约并没有对他造成什么心理影响,一切都是那么的淡然处之.
Heh… when you've already lost your closest kin, loss becomes the norm. What could ever stir a ripple in that stillness? Unless…
呵呵,当已经失去至亲,失去已成为常态,还有什么会掀起一丝波澜呢?除非...
(Translated by 元宝)