vstars Chapter 133 Tongtian River Bridge
Chapter 133 Tongtian River Bridge
Crossing the Wilderness: Chasing the Lights to Golmud
On the edge of Yanshiping Town, the pickup truck engine hummed like a steel behemoth ready to go.
Zhang Bei tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. Xiao Xing, who was beside him, stared through the car window at the rolling mountains in the distance, her eyes full of longing and anxiety.
"Do we really have to make this trip? It's not an easy journey." Zhang Bei broke the silence, his voice a little hoarse, which was a trace left by the high altitude environment.
Zhang Nan turned around, a stubborn smile on his face: "What are you afraid of? It's just over 500 kilometers. If others can walk, so can we.
Besides, I heard there are many beautiful sights along the way that you can’t even find in books. It would be a shame to miss them.”
The car started slowly, drove out of the town, raised dust all the way, and officially embarked on the journey to Golmud.
The scenery outside the window whizzed by. At first, there was the withered yellow grassland, with yaks and sheep dotted among them, like lively brown and white notes on the earth; in the distance, the mountains were covered with snow that never melted all year round, shining with holy light in the sunlight, like a silver crown casually placed by the gods.
Soon, the Tongtian River Bridge appeared before them. As soon as the car stopped, Zhang Nan jumped out and rushed to the bridge. The river beneath the bridge surged, carrying the chill of millennia-old glacial meltwater. It crashed against the boulders, stirring up layers of white foam and a deafening roar. Zhang Tingjian followed slowly behind, snapping a picture with his camera, capturing Zhang Nan's hair flying and his face filled with wonder.
"Legend has it that this Tongtian River is the place where Tang Monk and his disciples passed by on their journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Let's follow the holy trail." Zhang Nan shouted excitedly, his voice torn into pieces by the wind.
There are many touching stories and deeds during the construction of Tongtian River Bridge:
The builders' hard work and dedication. The bridge construction workers of the then Provincial Highway Bureau faced numerous difficulties. Because the bridge is located on a plateau and the river flows rapidly in summer and autumn, construction could only be carried out during the winter dry season. In the harsh, cold, and oxygen-deficient environment, without advanced construction equipment, they relied on manual labor to carry heavy building materials. Concrete sets slowly due to the low temperatures, so they built greenhouses and burned fires to accelerate the setting of the concrete. Through their unwavering determination and fighting spirit, they worked tirelessly through three winters to complete the bridge.
The selflessness and transformation of an old boat tycoon. Zhiben Nima Cairen, the 36th generation ferryman at the Zhimenda Ferry, once made a living with a fleet of more than 30 leather boats. The completion of the Tongtian River Bridge marked the end of his family's millennium-long ferry business, leaving villagers facing unemployment. However, he didn't give up. Instead, he proactively shifted gears, buying a large truck for transportation and also engaging in businesses like jewelry and fur. He also encouraged young people in the village to embrace a new lifestyle, demonstrating a commitment to keeping pace with the times.
The perseverance and legacy of bridge keepers is exemplified by the example of Mr. Yongding, formerly the director of the Xiewu Town Lime Factory, earning a substantial income. However, when the Party and the government called upon him to serve as the first bridge guard for the Tongtian River Bridge, he resolutely gave up his "lucrative job" and dedicated thirteen years to guarding the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing vehicles and pedestrians.
As they set off again, the increasing altitude and thin air began to test their physical limits. As the car climbed to the Tanggula Mountain Town, nearly 5,000 meters above sea level, Zhang Nan's face turned pale, his head ached as if being hit by a sledgehammer, and his stomach churned.
Zhang Bei hurriedly pulled over, frantically dug out an oxygen tank and handed it to her, stroking her back lovingly: "If you can't hold on, let's go back. Don't force yourself." But Zhang Nan pushed the oxygen tank away, gasping for breath: "No, I can do this. There's no turning back now."
Puffs of smoke drifted from the town's humble little restaurant, where everyone gulped down bowls of steaming noodle soup, feeling a warm glow welling up inside them. The restaurant owner, a forthright Tibetan man, warned in his broken Chinese, "The five ridges ahead are dangerous, with low air pressure and oxygen. Drive slowly and don't fall asleep!" Zhang Bei thanked him earnestly, but Li Fugui felt a growing sense of solemnity.
As the car entered the Wudaoliang section, the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate. The barren land exposed its reddish-brown skin, and the strong wind carried sand and gravel, which crackled against the car windows.
Zhang Nan, fighting back altitude sickness, stared out the window when suddenly, a nimble figure caught his eye—Tibetan antelopes! Groups of them leaped and grazed on the nearby hillside, their movements graceful and slender. Zhang Bei slammed the brakes, grabbed his camera, and followed the herd, the shutter clicks echoing. "I can actually see them! So beautiful!" Zhang Nan muttered to himself, his eyes filled with delight, his physical discomfort completely forgotten.
But this joy didn't last long. A chill wind blew in through the cracks in the window, the temperature plummeted, and the night, like inky darkness, quickly permeated the wilderness. Trapped in this "forbidden zone of life," fear gripped my heart like a vine.
"What should I do? Will there be wolves?" Xiao Xing cried, tightly grasping Zhang Bei's arm. Zhang Bei pretended to be calm, but beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, but they instantly froze.
Just as despair spread, two strong lights pierced the darkness - it was a passing truck driver! The Tibetan driver Tashi and his Han Chinese companion Aqiang jumped out of the car. In the cold wind, several people shivered with cold.
Zhang Bei's eyes were red with excitement, and he held Zhaxi's hand and kept saying "thank you". Zhaxi grinned and said, "It's not easy to be away from home, and we should help each other. Hurry up and keep up, there's still some distance to go before we reach the protection station."
The car followed the truck and sped all the way until we finally arrived at the Sonam Darje Conservation Station in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve.
The station staff warmly greeted him and served him piping hot butter tea. Sitting by the fire, Zhang Nan listened to their stories of the thrilling journey of protecting the Tibetan antelope, their battles with poachers, and tears welled up in his eyes. "Thanks to you, these elves can run free," he said.
At dawn the next day, they bid farewell to the protection station and continued on their way. The Unfrozen Spring, like the eyes of the earth, its clear waters steaming with warmth amidst the bitter cold. At the Kunlun Pass, towering stone tablets commemorate the heroes who sacrificed their lives protecting the Hoh Xil National Park.
Sister Xiaotao placed a bunch of wild flowers in front of the monument and stood there silently for a long time, her heart full of respect.
As we approach Golmud, the scenery gradually changes, the barren desert giving way to a lush oasis. The outlines of skyscrapers gradually become apparent, and the bustling traffic comes into view, as if you have stumbled from a cold fairyland into the mundane world of fireworks.
Li Fugui and Zhang Bei smiled at each other, their fatigue vanishing in that moment. The journey from Yanshiping Town to Golmud was filled with life-or-death challenges, breathtaking scenery, and the warm support of strangers. Those moments have been etched into their hearts, becoming the most precious treasures of their lives, bearing witness to their fearless journey and the miraculous encounters they encountered.
In the years to come, whenever life falls into the quagmire of trivialities, a few people only need to recall this journey - the oxygen-deficient but warm breathing, the free Tibetan antelopes in the wilderness, and the whistling wind at the Kunlun Pass. Endless strength will surge in their hearts, and they will once again take up their courage and rush to the next unknown journey of life, firmly believing that there will always be blooming flowers at the end of the desolate place, and there will be a shining dawn waiting in the depths of darkness.