Xiao Cheng, Bai Lu, and Xiao Wei followed closely behind.
The sky brightened, the drizzle stopped, and the dark clouds were broken by the blue sky at dawn, with light shining down on the earth.
Xiao Guofu had already arranged offerings such as roast suckling pig, roast chicken, and fruit neatly in front of the Xiao family ancestral tomb, with candles over a meter tall burning brightly in the wind.
Nearly five hundred members of the Xiao family stood in front of the cemetery, holding lit incense sticks. They were not in rows, but they were all neat and orderly.
The mountaintop is vast, and even the most uneven ground, sculpted by countless years of wind and rain, and honed into a stable world by the years of practice by the descendants of the Xiao family.
The younger generation stood in the middle of the cemetery, while the older generation of grandparents and great-grandparents stood on either side.
As in previous years, the elders held three sticks of incense, the fragrant smoke rising in wisps, their solemn yet warm voices echoing throughout the mountains, conveying their best wishes.
"To our ancestors, the annual Qingming Festival has arrived once again, and the children of the Xiao family have come to visit you."
"May our ancestors bless our Xiao family children with good health, intelligence, academic progress, the fulfillment of their wishes, success in their careers, boundless blessings, and family happiness..."
After offering heartfelt wishes, we bow three times with incense.
After paying their respects, the Xiao family members went to the tomb to offer incense in an orderly manner. After that, they dispersed to both sides and went down the mountain one after another.
Bai Lu and Xiao Wei followed Xiao Cheng, and after paying respects to their ancestors and offering incense, they also followed the main group down the mountain.
Just like when they went up the mountain, everyone carried roast suckling pigs and roast chicken offerings, panting and walking briskly, with laughter echoing among them.
The footsteps were light and quick as they descended to the mountainside.
When they reached a slightly steep section of the road, Bai Lu was accidentally bumped into by someone and twisted her ankle.
Xiao Cheng helped Bai Lu to the base of a big tree, placed her straw hat on the ground, and helped her sit down. He then took off her rubber boots and gently massaged her ankles.
But it seems... it didn't provide much relief, and Bai Lu still felt a little bit of pain.
Xiao Cheng had no choice but to carry her down the mountain.
Xiao Wei followed behind, holding a large straw hat.
The young men and women of the Xiao family were incredibly excited to see their eldest brother carrying his sister-in-law on his back. They formed cliques, huddled together, and chattered excitedly, their eyes sparkling with gossip.
"Wow~ Cheng-ge is such a good man..."
"I never expected Brother Cheng to have this side to him. He treats those grandsons of the Chen family completely differently from how he treats his sister-in-law. It's like night and day. He's incredibly gentle!"
"My brother's fists can not only break noses, but he can also carry his sister-in-law on his back. He's so cool, handsome, and powerful!"
"It's so good to be the boss's woman..."
Bai Lu's head was buzzing and her thoughts were a complete mess from the discussions among "Brother Cheng's" fans.
The social atmosphere in the 21st century is more open than in the 1990s, and fast-food style relationships are rampant.
Bai Lu had witnessed many breakups and reconciliations during her school days, but almost none of them lasted until marriage.
Every time Bailu hears her grandparents, maternal grandparents, and parents telling old stories and seeing their enduring, inseparable, and loving relationships, she can't help but sigh, "Love in the past was so wonderful."
I will only love one person in my life.
Now that I've traveled back to the 1990s, the feeling is completely different; I no longer fantasize about love.
I fantasize that I can go back.
Bai Lu herself knew in her heart that the chances were slim, but she never wanted to give up hope.
Be prepared to wake up in the modern world.
But even after all this time, every time I open my eyes, I still see the ceiling marked by history—the 1990s.
well……
A warm breath fell beside his ear, followed by a barely audible sigh. Xiao Cheng turned his head slightly.
A deep, mellow voice asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Bai Lu's head was lazily resting on Xiao Cheng's shoulder, her face close to his neck. He suddenly turned his head, and his slightly cool lips inevitably brushed against her cheek.
Like a raging fire, it burned her face, instantly clearing her muddled mind.
"No, no, I just thought it was getting a bit dark and I was worried it might suddenly rain. Let's hurry down the mountain. A straw hat can keep out a drizzle, but not a downpour. It wouldn't be good if we got soaked."
Bai Lu finished speaking in one breath, but her heart was still pounding, so she could only quietly straighten up.
Stay away from Xiao Cheng's back.
Her face, as red as a sunset, slowly moved back.
The hand wrapped around his neck... I shouldn't move it, moving it too much at once would be very noticeable.
Xiao Cheng noticed her little movement, and a smile appeared in his dark eyes. He lifted his hand that was supporting her between her legs to steady her as she slid down.
"Apply some medicinal wine after going down the mountain, and you'll recover quickly."
Bai Lu's face was lifted back onto the man's broad, sturdy shoulder. After a pause, she whispered, "We didn't bring any medicinal wine. We'll be fine after a rest."
"I have medicinal wine at home, Da Zhuang's wife, come to my house!"
Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng both turned their heads upon hearing the sound.
Sure enough, there they saw an elderly woman with white hair and a ruddy complexion standing beside them. She was nimble on her feet, walking towards them with a kind smile and a particularly warm and gentle voice.
They clearly welcomed the loving young couple.
As soon as the old woman returned home, she went to the high platform in the main house, opened a small drawer on the wooden table, and took out a bottle of brownish-yellow medicinal wine.
He gestured to Xiao Cheng, who had just entered, and told him to sit inside: "Quickly put her in a chair inside, take off her shoes, and give her a good massage until her ankles are warm. Massage to loosen her muscles and improve her circulation. She'll be fine in a few days."
"This is a medicinal wine recipe passed down from the Xiao family ancestors, which is used to treat sprains and bruises. Every household has it. My husband makes it himself by going up the mountain to find the herbs. When my son was still alive, he would go up the mountain to pick chestnuts and star anise and accidentally twist his ankle. He would rub it with this and it worked very well."
Xiao Cheng placed Bai Lu on the chair, took the medicinal wine from the old woman, and squatted down slightly.
He took off Bailu's shoes, poured some medicinal wine into his hands, and gently massaged her slightly reddened ankles.
Xiao Wei was also invited by the old woman to sit on a chair, where he obediently held his big straw hat and did not look around.
His eyes were glued to Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu.
The old woman praised him for being well-behaved, but when she turned her head and saw Xiao Cheng's reluctant movements, she couldn't help but remind him, "Dazhuang, you have to rub harder. If you rub too lightly, the medicine won't be effective and won't be able to penetrate her feet. You have to rub harder to make it heal faster."
Xiao Cheng stopped massaging her, raised his eyes slightly, looked at Bai Lu, and asked earnestly, "Does it hurt?"
Bai Lu immediately loosened her tightly clenched lower lip and shook her head: "It doesn't hurt, you can rub it harder."
Xiao Cheng glanced at her slender, white fingers that were slightly curled up as she gripped the chair arm, and then lightened the pressure of massaging her feet.
The old woman frowned as she looked at her. "Dazhuang, you can't treat your wife like this! If you don't rub her hard now, she won't get better for ten days or half a month. Do you want her to be in pain for ten days or half a month?"
Bai Lu looked embarrassed, pulled her feet back, and said to Xiao Cheng, "How about I massage it myself?"
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