Chapter 473: Complete the funeral as quickly as possible
Not long after returning home in the evening, Zhuang Chaoying received a call from Tuanan.
Zhuang Chaoying told Tunan the news of his father's death. Tunan heard something was wrong in his voice and asked with concern:
"Dad, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Your grandmother decided to live frugally and not go through all the formalities. She will be cremated and sent to the cemetery in the next two days. So I just want to inform you, and you don't have to come back." Zhuang Chaoying said before Tuanan opened his mouth.
He knew that Tunan would have to ask for leave, buy a ticket, and the journey would take several days. Zhuang's mother didn't want to drag the matter out for that long, and neither did he.
Moreover, he was afraid to hear Tunan's rejection.
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, then the answer came: "It's really too late. I'll go to pay my respects to him when I get back for the New Year. Dad, take care of yourself!"
Zhuang Chaoying paused and asked, "I know, are you doing well at work?"
"It's pretty good. It's a big planning year in Beijing now, so I'm a bit busy. My leaders and colleagues treat me well." Tuanan answered truthfully.
"That's good, that's good."
After Zhuang Chaoying hung up the phone, he hesitated for a long time and finally called Zhu Xiu Yu.
Zhu Xiu Yu was indeed still in Suihua Building. She had moved back there some time ago, so he got Zhu Xiu Yu's phone number.
"What's the matter with you calling so late?" Zhu Xiu Yu became nervous after receiving the call. Usually, there was nothing good when he called.
"Xiuyu...my dad...he passed away..."
Zhuang Chaoying knew how bad the relationship between Zhu Xiuyu and her parents was, so she didn't make any requests. She said the same thing as she said to Tuanan, that she knew she was busy and it was okay for her not to come back.
Zhu Xiuyu seemed to think for a moment on the other end of the phone, then said, "My condolences."
"Xiu Yu..." For some reason, Zhuang Chaoying's tears just flowed out and he sobbed in front of Zhu Xiu Yu.
I don’t know whether he was crying for his father or for himself.
......
Two days later at ten o'clock in the morning, at the funeral home.
What Zhuang Chaoying didn't expect was that he saw Zhu Xiu Yu at the door of the funeral home.
Suddenly, Zhuang Chaoying seemed to understand.
It seemed as if I didn't recognize the person in front of me at all.
Zhuang Chaoying noticed that she had lost weight, perhaps because she was wearing all black.
The black half-length coat, black turtleneck sweater, black woolen trousers, and black flat leather shoes are all of high-quality texture.
Her originally short hair was grown to her shoulders, curled, and her temples were pinned neatly with clips.
This hair was curled by Huang Ling and Song Ying. They go to get their hair done once every six months, sometimes more often.
Before going to Shanghai, the two took her to a hair salon for a makeover.
They say Shanghainese people are too Westernized. Since she is half the owner of Suihualou, she must act like a boss!
Not only did they take her to get her hair permed, they also took her to "Nishang" to buy her several sets of clothes.
These are all external. The experience of running Suihualou in the past two years has given her more confidence and courage. The originally hidden edge has begun to show, and there is a touch of sonority in her gentleness.
If Zhuang Chaoying hadn't called out "Xiu Yu", Zhuang's mother wouldn't have recognized her.
She blinked several times before recognizing Zhu Xiuyu, and was first surprised and then disdainful:
"Humph, after a few days in Shanghai, you really think you're a big shot."
"Teacher Zhuang's father is really pitiful. Living with someone like you will shorten his life by a few years." Zhu Xiu Yu would never forgive her.
This didn't irritate Zhuang's mother, but it did irritate Zhuang Chaoying, who growled in a low voice:
"Mom! Are you still going to cause trouble at a time like this today? Do you want to do everything alone?"
Zhuang's mother shut up and rolled her eyes at her son.
Zhuang Chaoying stepped forward and said, "Xiuyu, thank you for coming. I really didn't expect you to come..."
"Hongbin and Xiaoting wanted to come, but Hongbin went to Changzhou on a business trip these days, and Xiaoting has an exam soon, so they can't come." Zhu Xiu Yu replied.
"I see. They are thoughtful." Zhuang Chaoying knew that Zhu Xiuyu was giving him a way out, so he quickly accepted it.
Because Zhuang's mother was afraid that Zhuang Chaoying would just ignore her, she stopped targeting Zhu Xiu Yu.
Several people successfully completed Zhuang's father's funeral.
After the incident, Zhuang's mother grabbed Zhuang Chaoying and stopped him from leaving, demanding that he hand over his passbook and death notice so that she could take the notice to the factory to collect the funeral allowance. The amount was not small, and Zhuang's mother would never let Zhuang Chaoying collect it on her behalf.
Zhuang Chaoying nodded: "I'll send it to you in the evening."
Seeing that he did not hesitate, Zhuang's mother let go.
Zhuang Hualin grabbed his mother and said, "Let's go! Xiangdong and I will take you back home. This is also a way to say goodbye."
She wanted to give her elder brother and sister-in-law some time to communicate, and then the couple took Zhuang's mother away.
Zhuang Chaoying and Zhu Xiuyu walked slowly along the trail. Now that the sun was out, it was no longer cold.
"Is your work going well in Shanghai? How is your living place?" Zhuang Chaoying asked embarrassedly.
Zhu Xiu Yu chuckled. After so many years of marriage, Zhuang Chaoying seemed to care very little about her. She felt like she had grown up after her father's death.
She looked at Zhuang Chaoying. His eye sockets were sunken, with dark circles under his eyes. His tall body seemed to stagger when he walked.
With Zhu Xiu Yu's keen sense, she felt that Zhuang Chaoying was like this not only because of his father's death, but also because of other things. However, she did not intend to ask, because based on her understanding of Zhuang Chaoying, the little dignity he had left would prevent him from telling anyone about things that were difficult for him to say, including Zhu Xiu Yu.
He cried on the phone that day, which was already his limit.
"All good." She answered lazily.
The two were speechless.
After leaving the cemetery, Zhuang Chaoying asked Zhu Xiuyu: "Are you going back to Shanghai or home?"
"Go home. I'll be back for two days. I need to reconcile the accounts here." Zhu Xiu Yu replied.
"Oh, okay." Zhuang Chaoying responded, and the two went home together.
Zhuang Chaoying probably knew that she came back not only to reconcile the accounts, but also to silence the neighbors. She said it didn't matter, but she couldn't let others talk about Hong Bin.
"Let me go to the banker's house with you tonight!" Zhu Xiu Yu suggested.
Unexpectedly, Zhuang Chaoying refused outright, and Zhu Xiu Yu did not insist.
Zhuang Chaoying hurriedly explained:
"It's not that I'm hiding something from you, but my mom is... a little nervous right now, and I'm afraid she'll say something unpleasant. You rarely come back to rest, so there's no need to put up with her. I'll keep a receipt for the money and won't give the third brother a chance to blackmail me."
"Oh, that's good."
Zhu Xiu Yu responded while opening the cabinet to look for something. Zhuang Chaoying saw her take out Hong Bin's quilt cover and bed sheet, and lowered his head sadly again.
Zhu Xiu Yu was making the bed in Hong Bin and Peng Fei's room. He stood leaning against the door and asked about Hong Bin's work, the business of the Suihualou branch... He asked whatever he thought of, and Zhu Xiu Yu answered.
Zhuang Hualin and Xiang Dong did not return home. They hid out and did not return home until dinner time. Zhu Xiu Yu had already prepared dinner and was waiting for them to come back and eat.
"Sister-in-law, where is my brother?"
"He ate a bite first and then went to give your mother the passbook."
Zhuang Chaoying returned to the Zhuang family. His mother was anxiously waiting for him. When she saw him, she stretched out her hand:
"Give me!"
"Wait a minute." Zhuang Chaoying asked Aunt Zhang and Uncle Zhao from next door to come over as witnesses.
After the two came over, Zhuang Chaoying placed a receipt on the table and said:
"Sign this first."
Zhuang's mother took a look and saw today's date written on it, what he gave her and the amount. The amount matched the amount on the passbook, so she hurriedly signed her name. Zhuang Chaoying asked her to put her fingerprints on it, and she did. Zhuang Chaoying then handed the things to her one by one and sent Aunt Zhang and Uncle Zhao back.
Then Zhuang Chaoying closed the door.
"What else do you want to do?" asked Zhuang's mother.
Zhuang Chaoying sat down on the chair and suddenly shouted:
"mom."
Zhuang's mother looked at him coldly.
"The doctor said that day that Dad had been hungry for at least a few days. Why didn't you give him food?" Zhuang Chaoying asked.
"What do you mean by 'not having food for a few days'? The doctor is talking nonsense. I have never stopped him from eating." Zhuang's mother denied it.
"Didn't you want to move in with us that day? You knew we wouldn't agree. You took Dad there on purpose to piss him off to death, right? When he had a stroke before, the doctor said that if he got excited again, he would most likely not be saved." Zhuang Chaoying said again.
Zhuang's mother's pupils trembled and she stopped talking.
"Mom, you are so vicious... What's the difference between what you did and murder..."
"I don't think so. I just want to live in your house with him because I found a wife for Ganmei and he doesn't want to live with an old man. That's all." Zhuang's mother denied with a sneer.
"You are so cruel!" Zhuang Chaoying moved his mouth and swallowed back the questions he wanted to ask.
He stood up silently, opened the door and left the dealership.
He will never return to this home again.
This home has never been his home.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com