Chapter 14 (Two Updates)
As Bart spoke, a group of herders ahead lowered their hands in prayer.
They all looked at them with complicated expressions.
The team leader standing to the side suddenly changed his expression and seemed to be explaining to the family.
Bart gazed at the distant cart, a heavy sense of guilt and pain washing over him.
But he didn't even have the strength to walk over there.
Hada noticed that her father was emotionally agitated and his body was trembling along with him, so she quickly called her second son over.
Fearing that he might not be able to support him, Mu Ren quickly followed.
Luo Yin followed behind her second brother, and when she looked at the two children, she seemed to understand something.
My eyes involuntarily reddened!
Baiyin's husband held the child in his arms tightly and walked towards him step by step.
The elderly mother behind him stifled her sobs, looking at the captain with his daughter-in-law in this state, and didn't know what to say.
Finally, he simply glanced away, hugged his grandson tightly, and refused to look at him.
Chao Lu quickly followed, glancing at Bart and then at Baiyin's husband, whose face looked pale.
I'm torn between whether or not I should stop them.
Baiyin's husband walked up to him, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over his entire body.
Their eyes met for a moment, and Bart lowered his head first.
"Are you Bart, the squad leader of Baiyin?"
Bate nodded. "Yes, I was the one who took them out this time."
“I know nothing I say can change the facts. I want to atone for your sins after I’ve seen her off on her final journey.” Especially when he saw the two children, Bart’s heart felt like it was being crushed by his own hands.
When Baiyin's husband, Buhe, saw him continue to say this, the sorrow on his face turned into anger.
Then he looked at Chao Lu with a questioning gaze.
"So, you caused my wife's death? Not those burglars who broke in?"
Seeing that he had misunderstood, his relatives and friends rolled up their sleeves and rushed towards them.
Upon seeing this, the Bart family rushed to his side.
Urina's face turned pale, but she still stood in front of them, trying to block them.
Seeing this scene, Luo Yin was so frightened that her teeth chattered; she felt even worse when she saw her father secretly wiping away tears.
Mu Ren was about to rush forward to block him when he was stopped by Chao Lu, a big guy.
Chao Lu hurriedly stepped forward to explain, "No, no. It really is because of those bad guys with guns. Didn't the village secretary from the nearby village come to explain before?"
Upon hearing this, everyone realized that he had indeed arrived.
Everyone's expressions softened, and Chao Lu continued, "Shortly afterward, government officials and public security personnel from Xilingol League returned and personally presented Bai Yin with the honor."
"This was truly an accident, but the Bart brothers, as the sole survivors of that incident, are feeling terrible."
In the end, Chao Lu's eyes also reddened.
“Bart, you have to pull yourself together. You are all victims.”
Buhe watched the whole thing; he knew Chao Lu quite well. After all, his wife had been a member of the White Horse team for seven or eight years.
So after hearing his explanation, I couldn't help but turn my attention back to Bart.
He carried the child on his back and stared straight at him.
Is he telling the truth?
The men of the grasslands are naturally brave and strong, and their voices are louder than those of ordinary people.
But when Buch asked him this question with his weathered face, Bart could hear the pain hidden beneath.
All three parties were tense as they awaited his answer. Urina was afraid her husband would say something else that would anger her.
The White Horse team teammates were also worried that misunderstandings between the two sides could lead to a falling out!
In the instant of Bart's silence, a strong wind suddenly swept across the open space.
It whistled and made everything around it rattle.
The horses trotted and clattered.
Startled from his daze, Bart snapped out of his reverie, his voice low and flat.
He repeated what happened that day as if it were not his own experience.
At this moment, no one dared to make a sound, listening intently to his story.
Until the very end, Barth wept with repentance.
"It was me, I didn't bring them back!"
"sorry!"
Now, no one wants to doubt or blame him anymore.
After hearing about the intense and poignant chase, everyone looked at this man with admiration and emotion.
Buhe's body remained stiff for a long time before he handed the child to his relatives and friends and then stiffly stepped forward towards him.
The Bart family watched him warily.
Buch looked up at the person who could only look up at him, and went up to give him a big hug.
"I understand, you're all great."
His words struck Bart, who was stunned.
The children beside him were also stunned, not expecting things to turn out this way.
Then everyone heard a painful whimper.
"Waaaaaah~"
The two children stopped crying and instead looked at the uncle with curiosity.
She curiously rolled her eyes and looked him over.
In late November, deep in the grasslands, the morning was just right.
A group of people gathered around Baiyin, their relatives and friends praying quietly, bowing their heads in remembrance as they prepared to send her off on her final journey.
Once the child on their backs had fallen asleep, they clasped their hands together and looked up at the child who had accepted them from the Eternal Heaven.
Buhe raised his whip, urging the cart carrying her to race away into the distance.
It was followed by relatives and friends until it stopped on its own.
This was her final resting place. Buhe and Baiyin's relatives laid her down on the ground with dignity, placing her favorite bow and arrows and whip beside her.
There was nothing else to do; they were waiting for the Eternal Heaven to come and take Baiyin away.
This is the sky burial practiced by the grassland people since ancient times, also known as wilderness burial.
The Bart family did not participate in what followed; they simply handed over the prepared items to the Baiyin family and then went to the Chagan family with the captain.
The same ceremony, the same process.
It wasn't until the family returned home that Luo Yin realized what she had done that day.
She didn't know much about these things.
But she also learned a lot from the people around her, especially since Ani didn't hide anything from her and even seriously told her that he would do the same in the future.
Luo Yin was terrified when she heard that her body would naturally dissolve.
But Ani said this was normal, and that in winter few animals came out, so they wouldn't be bitten by wild beasts.
Luo Yin was terrified, fearing that something might happen to Ani, and hurried to find her mother.
While his mother was wiping Bart's body, Lorne quickly ran out upon seeing this.
Then he ran to find his eldest and second eldest brothers.
To my surprise, the two brothers seemed to be talking about something, and their expressions were very serious.
"Muren, from now on, I'll leave the family to you. I'll go work at the forest farm and try to come back to help during my holidays. Father's condition might make things difficult for the family for a while. But as long as he's alive, there's still hope, you know?"
Hada wanted to see an adult, he said to his second brother.
Mu Ren's expression was serious. "I know, don't worry, big brother."
"Big brother, don't worry, I'm here for you. I'll be obedient too."
Luo Yin patted her chest and promised, "I will help you a lot in the future."
"But brother, why are you going to the forest farm? Aren't you teaching at a school?"
"Yeah, big brother, what happened to you...?"
Hada didn't mention that the forest farm's salary was higher than teaching's, or that there was extra income to be made. He only said that it was much more convenient there, and that he could try it out and come back later.
The brother and sister thought it made sense; the forest farm was just east of their house, which was indeed convenient.
So the job was quickly arranged.
And life at home has changed a lot!
My father's health hasn't fully recovered yet, and he can only recuperate in bed now. His family doesn't dare to disturb him.
My second brother goes to school in town and only comes home during his weekly holidays.
Luo Yin is in the second grade at the grassland primary school. Every day she gets up early to help her mother with chores.
After having breakfast, I packed my schoolbag and headed to school.
The number of livestock in the family has decreased significantly, as they were given away when my eldest and second eldest brothers passed away. I'm worried that Ani's health might prevent her from managing the household chores.
Most of the time, her mother can help her, but she still has to worry about her father at home.
He needs to be cared for at fixed times and locations, and his three meals a day must be provided without interruption.
I need to take care of her from time to time, helping her with washing up and other personal matters.
Perhaps because he had met the families of those two colleagues, Bart's mood had improved considerably.
Every time Urina was alone with him, she felt awkward and embarrassed, but he couldn't help it!
The wound on my back gradually began to scab over, but the damage inside was still considerable.
The doctor said that it was probably due to compression of the spinal nerves in his back that caused him to be unable to get up and become paralyzed in bed.
Ani couldn't understand any of this. After returning from herding, he took out a small black box.
"Give this to Bart to try."
When Luo Yin saw what Ani said, her mother's eyes lit up.
But she doesn't recognize it. What is it?
After dinner, everyone gathered at Father's place as expected.
Since Luo Yin started school, her family has acquired a large and a small yurt. The smaller one is naturally her own little space.
The larger one was given to the two brothers. Of the other two, one was used for meals and for Ani to rest, while the other was used as a place for their father and mother to live.
Bat now spends most of his time in the yurt here.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, he paused, then awkwardly pulled the blanket over himself, trying to cover himself.
Seeing that he reacted, Ani's serious expression softened a bit.
His tone was much calmer now, "How are you now?"
When his father asked him, Bart forced a smile and nodded. "Much better, it doesn't hurt anymore."
"But what are you doing here?"
Luo Yin helped Ani sit on the edge of the bed before saying, "Father, Ani has something she wants to give you."
"Hmm, what?"
Urina opened the small wooden box and, sure enough, saw a dark, herbal pill.
She looked at Ani with joy and gratitude, "Father, how did you get this?"
Ani waved her hand, indicating that there was no need to ask any more questions.
Bart, however, craned his neck, and his expression changed instantly when he saw the item being taken.
“Father, why did you take this out? This is for your life, I don’t want it.” Bart’s tone was urgent, clearly very agitated.
Luo Yin didn't understand, but seeing her father like this, she quickly went over to comfort him.
Urina's expression changed, and she hesitated as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't speak.
But her constantly changing expression revealed a great deal of inner turmoil.
"Father, don't rush, tell me slowly."
Bart, who had sat up, reached out and covered the box, intending to push it to Ani.
Ani then said, "I'm not dead yet, what use am I to you? What else do you want to do to me? Are you trying to drive me crazy?"
"But this is yours, I really don't have the nerve to take it."
Ani looked at him, his eyes reddening, his stubborn nature just like her own when she was young.
She couldn't help but sigh deeply, "Hey, listen to me and eat this, then you won't feel pain anymore."
Luo Yin looked at the box curiously and asked in a low voice.
What exactly is inside?
The three adults were taken aback, and then Urina explained.
"This is the famous Black Life Pill from the grasslands, a valuable medicine used by old Tibetan doctors to save lives."
"It's said that if you eat one when you're in dire need of help, it can bring you back to life!"
Luo Yin stared blankly, looking at Ani and then at her father.
"Father, why aren't you eating?"
She had heard her father's cries of pain, unable to sleep at night, many times.
Bart gave a wry smile. "Father is fine now, he doesn't need to eat. This is for Ani to use later."
“Bart, I’m your father, are you trying to turn the world upside down?” Ani yelled angrily at him.
Bart was startled by his shout, but he was more thinking how great it would have been if he could have taken it out back then. But as soon as he thought that, he shook his head and despised himself.
"Please take it back; I won't use it."
He was about to lie down and rest after he finished speaking.
Ani's chest heaved with anger, fearing they might throw a tantrum and cause trouble.
Urina and Luo Yin quickly grabbed one of them each to separate them, and the small box was also handed out.
After her second brother went on vacation, Luo Yin quietly told him about it.
Mu Ren's expression also changed repeatedly at that time.
Finally, he let out a deep sigh.
After helping their mother with her chores, the brother and sister followed their older brother to repair the shed.
Yes, my older brother came back for the holiday.
Not only did he pay two months' salary, but he also gave all the money he earned from overtime to his mother.
Urina looked at the stack of small bills, then at her eldest son who had become noticeably thinner.
Tears welled up in her eyes. "You work so hard, you need to eat more. I'll prepare more dairy products for you when we go back this time."
“Mom, don’t bother. The forest farm provides three meals a day, and the vegetables are just as good as those at home.”
"You can't compare them like that! You'll suffer too!"
With that thought in mind, she went back to the stove to get busy.
The three siblings have now gone their separate ways, and although they are not as inseparable as they were when they were little, their relationship has become even better.
Hada would bring the siblings little trinkets to cheer them up every time she came home.
After the holiday, Mu Ren would also bring Luo Yin some small souvenirs from town.
Luo Yin carefully put everything away, and would tell them what she had helped with at home that week, what new skills she had learned, and so on.
Several months later, Bart's condition gradually stabilized.
His condition has improved to its previous level, but he still needs to go to the hospital for regular check-ups every month.
Because the father couldn't get up, the children would usually come back on this day.
Luo Yin would ask for leave from school to stay home with Ani and cook him food.
At these times, Ani would quietly complain to her about how Bart was when he was little, and how he still couldn't change even when he grew up.
Luo Yin would occasionally be amused by him, and then she would talk to him about school.
The grandfather and grandson ate and chatted, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
Yet they all seemed to be thinking of them, glancing outside every now and then.
After my father's accident, the first two years were tough. But thankfully, the family had saved a lot of money, and after subsidizing two colleagues, Chao Lu brought compensation from the government.
Bart originally intended to have him hand it over to the two families, but Chao Lu persuaded him to abandon the idea.
On the eve of Luo Yin's elementary school graduation exam, her second brother said he didn't want to continue his studies. He didn't even plan to get his junior high school diploma; he just wanted to stay home and help out.
Ani and her mother, who had aged several years in just two years, were so shocked that they dropped their chopsticks.
Bart, who has already adapted to being outside, is now sitting with everyone.
Upon hearing this, he grabbed the whip in his hand and was about to lash him out.
Because of his physical limitations, Bart's whip skills have become more precise over the past two years, almost hitting exactly where he aims, and he can even adjust the force based on the object being used.
Sometimes, when they can't get anything, they can just use a whip to roll things up.
But if used as a weapon and struck Mu Ren, it would definitely draw blood.
*Smack!*
Ouch!
Sure enough, the second brother kept coming in pain and then ran outside.
"Dad, why did you hit me? I didn't say anything wrong."
“I’m really not cut out for it. Anyway, it would be a waste of money to study further. I might as well leave it to my younger sister. It’s better for me to stay at home.”
His muttering could be heard coming from outside, and the faces of the people inside the room were not good.
Luo Yin, who was already thirteen years old, had grown quite a bit.
He's much more mature than when he was a child, and seeing his father's face darken even more, he quickly spoke up.
"Second brother, don't lie to me. You can definitely get your diploma if you grit your teeth. Besides, you still have a year left. It's not worth it for you to drop out now."
Seeing the three elders looking at her, she quickly winked at them.
Then he went out and pulled his second brother to the door, saying, "Second brother, the tuition for junior high school in town is no more than ten yuan a year, right? If we travel around during the summer vacation, we can save up the money."
Mu Ren's face twitched slightly when he saw his younger sister embarrassing him like this.
"Little sister, why are you siding with outsiders?"
"Hmph, I think you're just a stupid idiot, yet you dare to yell at your sister." Bart snorted and continued, "Hua Hua is right, we have to stick it out to the end, or I'll beat you to death."
Seeing that no one else objected, Mu Ren's rebellion was suppressed.
Privately, she did ask her second brother, but she couldn't find out anything.
However, in the last few days, my mother seems to have been a bit moody.
She made cooking mistakes for several days in a row, and Luo Yin saved her each time. When asked what happened, she wouldn't say.
After Luo Yin finished her elementary school graduation exam, she finally found out.
It turns out she was worried about her older brother's marriage.
Yes, it's been 73 years this year, and my eldest brother has turned 19.
But now they have no plans to get married, which makes their parents anxious.
Children on the grasslands get married very young; many marry at seventeen or eighteen, and countless others have children within a year or two of marriage.
At her brother's age, Urina should already be showing him her grandchildren.
But at this moment, there is no news at all.
In early July, my eldest brother returned from his leave of absence, and my mother seized the opportunity to bring up this matter.
Hada was taken aback at first, then blushed and said, "Mother, I'm not considering it right now."
The mother frowned, looking at her son who was sitting upright in front of her, "Why don't you think about it? The family has already passed the most difficult time, you have to think about it."
Ani nodded in agreement, noting that his eldest grandson had been handing over his salary on time every month for the past few years.
This has significantly reduced the burden on the family, so when the time comes, he reminds his daughter-in-law to get busy.
Bart looked at his eldest son, who was now taller and stronger than him, with a complicated expression.
However, he also went along with his wife's words, asking her what kind of person he liked and telling the family so they could tell him.
"Let us know any requirements in advance, and then you can move out and live separately after you get married."
Bart never intended to tie his children down, and he was afraid that because of his affairs, he would have a difficult time getting along with his eldest daughter-in-law.
"Yes, yes, it's best to find someone who also has a job. Then your lives will definitely be good."
Hada's face darkened. "Father, why do you think like that?"
He couldn't just leave because his family's financial situation had improved.
"What's the big deal? It's not a big deal. Getting married and starting a family is the important thing."
Seeing the endless discussions in the family about his eldest brother's marriage, Mu Ren sighed repeatedly with regret.
"I don't know what my brother is thinking, but we can't miss this great opportunity."
"Second brother, are you thinking of getting married?"
Luo Yin's eyes widened. Could it be that her second brother had a girl he liked?
She stared intently at him.
Mu Ren blushed slightly. "What nonsense are you talking about? I just think marriage is better than going to school."
Upon hearing this, Luo Yin rolled her eyes slightly.
Alright, my second brother really hates studying!
Ever since her second brother dropped out of school, her father had specifically spoken to her once, telling her that she must study hard and never follow in her second brother's footsteps.
He assured her that she didn't need to worry about school and only needed to focus on her grades.
Seeing her father slowly returning to his original self, speaking and acting just like when he was a child, Luo Yin happily patted her chest and assured him that she would be able to do it again.
In the days that followed, he worked even harder, determined to achieve excellent results.
Sure enough, the graduation exam results brought everyone a pleasant surprise.
Luo Yin achieved excellent grades and was admitted to the town's junior high school with a perfect score.
On the day of her enrollment, Bart dressed up specially and came with his family to take her to school.
Thirteen-year-old Luo Yin began her boarding school life, while her second brother, barely making it to the end, received his graduation certificate and returned to the grassland.
He successfully took over Ani's job and became a shepherd.
Junior high school was a busy time, and Luo Yin didn't adapt well at first. She would miss home and think about the grasslands as soon as evening came. But after a while, she gradually got used to it.
The number of courses in the first year of junior high school was much greater than in elementary school, and Luo Yin began to work hard to adapt.
The classmates around me have also changed a lot, many of whom come from all over the country.
Luo Yin's appearance wasn't particularly striking, but because she was a bit younger, she received a lot of care from her classmates.
My deskmate this time is a student from the south, who was supposedly transferred here by his family for work.
Luo Yin only had brief contact with them before focusing on her studies.
On the day of her holiday, she would inquire beforehand about visiting the bookstore in town.
Over the past few years, because of their father's illness, they have become very familiar with the bookstores and hospitals in town. They have heard that long-term paralyzed patients need regular massage therapy.
She had been keeping this in mind, and finally the bookstore owner brought her the professional books.
It is a handwritten complete guide to medical nursing massage techniques.
"Uncle Qin, this is it, I want it!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
