[Yes, this tree looks fine, right? I visited our grave during Qingming Festival and saw many trees next to our family's grave.]

[Yeah, the village over there is like this too, full of small trees and stuff.]

I remember my grandfather once said that you shouldn't plant elm or Chinese toon trees near graves. These two trees are bad luck trees and will bring misfortune to the family.

[If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have noticed, but these two trees seem to be growing beside and on top of Uncle Wang's grave!]

Chen Xi: "Yes, the netizen above is right, it seems that your grandfather is also an expert.

Elm and Chinese toon trees are indeed inauspicious trees. Generally, no one would plant inauspicious trees next to a grave, as doing so would cause the descendants of the family to suffer unrest and death or injury.

Uncle Wang exclaimed, "So the troubles our family has been facing recently are because of these two trees?"

"Yes, indeed."

"Damn it, this bastard actually cheated our family. He's really looking for death." Uncle Wang cursed angrily.

After cursing, he may feel that he has been rude and look embarrassed: "Master, what should we do now? I will do as you say."

"Uncle, why have you changed? You speak so rudely."

"I'm rude? I'm lucky I didn't beat him up. He's such a black-hearted person that he actually wants to make our Wang family extinct!" Uncle Wang's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He was thinking in his mind how to teach that bastard a lesson after this incident was over. He actually tricked his eldest brother into planting such a harmful tree.

Chen Xi shook his head helplessly and interrupted, "The sapling on the grave is not very big. It probably didn't pierce the coffin. It only needs to be removed. But the one next to it is more difficult to deal with."

Uncle Wang was furious, and all he wanted to do was teach that bastard a lesson. He didn't really listen to what Chen Qingxi said, and just let out an "ah" in a daze.

Chen Xi had no choice but to repeat the original words patiently.

Uncle Wang became a little anxious after hearing what Chen Xi said. If even the master couldn't do anything about it, then their Wang family would be finished.

He immediately asked, "What should I do then?"

"If we don't deal with this, our family will definitely continue to have problems. How about I go back and get a saw and cut it up?"

Chen Xi frowned slightly and stopped him: "No, this tree looks quite old, and its roots must have extended into the coffin. If we cut it off hastily, it will hurt the descendants..."

Uncle Wang saw that neither this nor that was working, and was sweating with anxiety, "What should I do?"

"Go back and find some help to dig up this tree and transplant it somewhere else."

Uncle Wang nodded repeatedly when he heard this: "Okay, I'll go find someone to help."

***

After arriving in the village, Uncle Wang and Aunt Huang met and asked their children to stay at home to look after the house in case anyone came to pay their respects.

After Uncle Wang and Aunt Huang left the house, they didn't go looking for help directly. Instead, they went to the village party committee at the east end of the village and informed the village chief: "Village chief, I consulted a fortune teller. She looked at the feng shui of our ancestral tomb and said that the tree next to the tomb caused our family's current poor condition. So I wanted to ask a few villagers to help move it, but as you know our situation, we may not be able to ask them, so we wanted to use your name to call for help."

When the village chief heard what they said, he felt nervous and immediately agreed.

"It's okay. More important things are important. Go ahead and call for help in my name. I hope your Wang family can get through this difficult time."

Half an hour later, Uncle Wang and Aunt Huang, using the village chief's reputation, found four or five strong men, each holding a shovel, and gathered at the entrance of the village.

"Old Wang, you're just looking for trouble. Why is it that a tree is an eyesore to your family? Why do you have to remove it at this critical moment?"

"That's right, you're not tired at all. It's been a long time since you slept. Why did you think of this?"

"Before, I saw your eldest brother was determined to plant that tree, and I tried to stop him. He was really angry and scolded me, saying that I had bad intentions. Look at what happened. I didn't expect that I was right! This is indeed not a good sign."

Uncle Wang listened to their brief conversation without explaining anything. He just smiled politely and said, "Thank you for your hard work. When this is over, I will pay 200 yuan to everyone present for their labor."

"You're welcome. We're all neighbors, there's no need to be so polite."

"That's right, help each other, there's no need to be so distant."

"We've known each other for many years. It's not necessary. It's just a small favor."

Everyone pretended to be polite and declined, but Uncle Wang did not intend to owe them any favor. These people said such nice things, but in fact they were plotting against his family in their hearts. He had already paid the money!

In the past, he might have believed their politeness, but not now. He would not take advantage of others, nor would he let others bully him.

"Uncle, I don't think they're avoiding you on purpose, as you said."

[It seems true. If I really avoided you, I probably wouldn't be able to find so many people to help me.]

[It's hard to explain these interpersonal relationships; everyone knows best.]

I've always had a hunch. If the villagers really were distancing themselves from them as they claimed, could it be that the Wang family itself has a bad reputation in the village? So, when something happened, no one wanted to come. Firstly, they were afraid of being tainted by bad things, and secondly, there was no need, as they didn't have deep feelings.

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have noticed. Now that I think about it, when the old couple went to invite people, they were all reluctant. In the end, they only reluctantly agreed after I mentioned the title of village chief."

When Uncle Wang went to invite the last person, Aunt Huang ran to the small shop to buy a few more packs of cigarettes and gave one to each person who came over as a token of gratitude.

Some people who were originally trying to decline the offer finally accepted it after seeing how enthusiastic Aunt Huang was. Their brows relaxed, and the fog in their hearts was cleared away.

They tucked their cigarettes into the waistband of their pants and whispered to each other: "When did the Wang family become so generous?"

"Don't tell me, he just said he would pay us wages, which really scared me to death. With his family's situation, I wouldn't dare to take it even if he really gave it to me. I'm afraid I'll die."

"I guess it's because of this experience that he has become more open-minded."

"In fact, this Old Wang is much better than the others in his family. At least he is not overbearing and knows how to be moderate in his actions. Unlike his brothers and father, they cannot bear any loss. They relied on the fact that there are more men in the family and acted like tyrants in the village in the past few years.

I remember ten years ago, Old Wang's father had a fight with Hu Laoer's family over a piece of land, and he broke one of Hu Laoer's legs. He's been limping for the past few years, and he still hasn't found a wife."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Don't let anyone hear you. Although many people have died in their family, the number of their younger generations is also huge. If they get upset and come to your house to make trouble, it will be difficult to deal with."

“…”

Although the voices of the people behind were quiet enough, they still drifted onto the wind and reached the ears of Uncle Wang and Aunt Huang without missing a word.