April 4th is Qingming Festival. Although everyone parted on bad terms that day, they still went up the mountain together to sweep the tombs on this day.
Because Xu Lai was angry with her father, her mother always cooked the meals at home. This situation could never be changed; if Xu Lai didn't cook, her mother would have to.
Grandpa carried a hoe, Xu Yan took firecrackers, and Xu Lai held the paper money they had bought earlier. On their way up the mountain, they happened to run into Zhao Qingyun.
Considering safety issues when going up the mountain, he didn't let the old lady come with him. He went alone, carrying only a wine cup and paper money, and nothing else.
There was only one path up the mountain. Xu Lai walked at the very back, with Zhao Qingyun following behind her. She hadn't seen him for two days. Apart from going downstairs to eat, she had stayed in her room the rest of the time.
Looking at this mountain, Xu Lai felt a lot of emotions. The people who had passed away in their village were all buried here, in this hometown where they had lived for generations.
Lost in thought, Xu Lai didn't see the ditch ahead that she had to cross. She stepped down and missed the ditch. Just when she thought she was going to fall, a hand grabbed her.
Zhao Qingyun had been observing her and noticed that something was wrong with her. Then, the girl stepped straight into the ditch, and he pulled her back.
Xu Lai leaned against his chest and smelled the scent of grass on him. She immediately snapped out of her daze, took her hands off him, and thanked him, "Thank you."
Grandpa asked from the front, "Xiao Lai, are you alright?"
Xu Lai raised her voice and replied, "I'm fine, you guys go ahead, I'll be right there."
To prevent her from falling again, Zhao Qingyun extended a hand and said, "Hold onto my arm."
Xu Lai declined, "Really, it's not necessary. I just didn't see it. I'll pay more attention to the road from now on."
Zhao Qingyun had no choice but to give up, and the two continued up the mountain one after the other. When they encountered difficult sections of the path, Zhao Qingyun would take her wrist and help her up.
When Xu Lai and the others went up, Grandpa was already weeding. He didn't come to pay his respects except during the Qingming Festival, so the area was covered with a layer of weeds.
Zhao Qingyun's maternal grandfather's grave was a little above. He walked over, squatted down, pulled some weeds, put down his wine glass, took out a small bottle of wine from his pocket, and filled it.
He said slowly, "Grandpa, Grandma originally wanted to come to see you, but the weather was bad and the mountain road was difficult to walk, so only I came. Please don't blame me. I brought you your favorite wine and this paper money. If you don't have enough, just ask Grandma in a dream and I will burn more for you."
Compared to the simplicity of his side, Xu Lai's family's was more solemn. Xu's mother brought the fish and braised pork to the tombstone, lit incense and candles, and Xu Lai put paper flowers on the grave, five on each side. In the end, there were two left. She looked at Zhao Qingyun's maternal grandfather's grave, where there were only faded fake flowers from last year, so she went over and put the flowers there.
Grandpa said something in front of the tombstone, something like blessing the whole family with good health and success at work, and then he let her and Xu Yan go over to pay their respects.
Xu Lai bowed three times, silently praying, "I hope my family members are healthy and free from illness and disaster."
After setting off the firecrackers, they prepared to go down the mountain. On the way down, passing by their own bamboo forest, Xu Lai called to Xu Yan: "Wait a minute, let's go to the bamboo forest to dig some bamboo shoots to take back."
Xu Yan nodded, and Xu Lai took the hoe from her grandfather's hand, telling Xu Yan to go back and get a basket while she dug up a portion first.
Most of the bamboo shoots had grown into tender bamboo shoots. Xu Lai dug up a few that had just sprouted and cut down another tender bamboo shoot, preparing to make bamboo tube rice.
Xu Yan returned quickly. She instructed him to pick the bamboo shoots and put them in the basket. Soon, the basket was full. Xu Lai told him to carry it back, while she carried the tender bamboo herself.
Back home, Xu Lai was about to peel the bamboo shoots when Xu Yan pulled up a small stool and sat down, saying, "Sister, let's peel them together."
Her mother and grandmother also sat down to peel it; with many hands making light work, they finished in no time.
Grandma looked at the tender bamboo stalk and asked curiously, "Why did you bring a bamboo stalk home? It's too old to eat, and too tender to use as a clothesline."
Xu Lai teased, "Grandma, you'll find out soon. I'll make you something delicious."
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