记得湘北明珠南州镇，有一位石喜红，他在当地是个知名人物。精明强干、热情豪爽、好交好为，各路豪杰，无论黑道白道还是富商，都敬他如座上宾。但石喜红低调作风，不深入了解，谁也不会把他和心思缜密、感情细腻的民营企业家联系起来。
高考后老石未能考上大学，他回到了河口，从底层的小商小贩做起，每天骑着单车，在酷暑严寒中穿行于田间地头收购苎麻、棉花，那些年，他吃够了前二十年没有吃过的苦，看遍了过去二十年没有看过的脸色。2001年，老石终于实现了人生的第一个小目标，创办了南县恒顺祥纺织有限公司，用一股冲劲、闯劲逐步建立起属于自己的一棉花加工帝国，在我们那个小镇里混得有型有款。
然而，由于国家调整产业政策，老石的公司歇业了。他因为催债方式不当受罚，一次交通事故又让他受重伤……渐渐来风言风语，又来了落井下石，从此，老石家的天空阴云密布。见人矮三分，他不得不像蛹一样缩在茧里生怕给他人添麻烦……
就这样，一位妻子眼中的好丈夫，一位儿子心中的好父亲，我眼中的好同学脊背驼了鱼尾纹有了。一位曾经玩派头讲排场农民精英，就再也没兴趣提起自己创业时那些豪气冲天旧事。他用沉默来维护他的尊严，用隐忍来埋藏他的耻辱，用压抑来遗忘那不堪回首往事。但无论生活多么艰难，无论命运多么坎坷，老 石总是咬紧牙关从没被挫折摧垮过身上总有一种征服一切困难但决不被困难所征服力量。
正是这样 老 石才成了我心中最真实 最伟岸 最可以膜拜 的兄弟！说起来 从学生时始 我与 老 石 就相处得很 不错 所以 我离开故乡到广东工作三十多年 了 处理老家的很多事情 我还会找 老 石 咨询
生活中遇有愤懑或不如意 随时抓起电话向 老 石 宣泄 他绝不厌烦 还送来热气腾腾 的关心和鼓励 间或将一些激动 前瞻 或奋斗 的故事与我分享 让我感觉 他身上的阳刚之气产生的能量源源不断地流过我的身体 并渗透到我的生命中 来 让我浑身上下充满了一战胜困难信心和力量 所有的烦恼 和忧愁 也随着声波传递抛到九霄云外
每次回老家 第一件事就是联系 老 石 当然 拜访 老 stone 只是我一个漂亮借口 内心里还是想找 他好吃 好喝 几天 每次见到 老 stone ，他的第一句话就是：九满 回来了 欢迎！欢迎！接着便开始张罗好吃 好喝 一次都不落 我劝他 不必如此破费 可他总是不听 还这样回应我：九满 来到我的地盘 不吃好了哪行！
餐桌上 在酒杯碰撞的声音 中 浓浓同学情便随着碗筷碟杯交响曲迅速蔓延；交谈中 有时会莫名其妙被往事某些片段带入稍稍悲伤情调 甚至无法辨别 是因为岁月艰难落泪还是因为同学情谊而感动 去年秋天 老同学桂长云从美国回来探亲 原计划 没邀请 老 stone 参加欢迎活动 很快 ，Old Stone 的电话来了 生气地说数落我：九满 你真不够兄弟 却让我知道呢！I felt embarrassed and said: "It's not that I don't want to trouble you, it's just that..." The phone on the other end interrupted me: "Old Nine, you're still as stubborn as ever. If you didn't bother me, I would be angry!"
That moment, all the words were stuck in my throat. What could I say? It was this kind of good friend, this kind of good brother who made me feel so much comfort and warmth. Later on, he took charge of organizing a welcome party for Old Gu when he returned from the United States with great fanfare.
Last winter when I decided to collect some bottles of Shuangjiang Big Bottle Wine from our hometown, Old Stone immediately spread the information through his social circle. That day at noon, Old Stone called me with a mysterious tone telling me: "Nine Full help him get two bottles of Shuangjiang Big Bottle Wine produced in 2009 but won't be available until next October!" At that moment, I seemed to have already smelled the sweet scent of those soul-shaking wines - it moved me so much.
This year June when I told him about my return trip to Changsha at midnight three o'clock in the morning he drove all night to Longshan Station to send me off. He even said many warm words which made tears fall down uncontrollably from my eyes.
In those days while staying at home during my visit back home ,Old Stone never left my side like an old host showing hospitality against a backdrop where one such as myself wandering far away for long periods was once body nourishment & spiritual solace more than anything else . When it came time for us part ways upon leaving Guangzhou ,the old man brought out two bottles of Shuangjiang Big Bottle wine before sending us off seeing how radiant happiness shone across his face ---as if winning millions---my heart swelled with pride & joy watching him laugh so freely yet elegantly—this smile etched forever into memory .
All these moments let Old Stone become our classmate gathering pillar; also becoming an unforgettable good brother in mine!