He left the ward again and this time dialed the phone number of Director Liu of the Hongxing Plastics Factory.
"Director Liu, this is Su Jianguo."
After the call was connected, Su Jianguo got straight to the point.
"I have a favor to ask..."
After he briefly explained the situation, there was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.
Su Jianguo's heart sank, thinking he was about to be rejected again.
"Boss Su."
Factory Director Liu's voice suddenly became firm.
"Don't worry, I'll arrange it right away. One truck to carry the coffin, plus an SUV for passengers, is that enough?"
Su Jianguo was speechless for a moment, not expecting the other party to agree so readily.
"Director Liu, thank you so much! But this is still..."
"Hi!"
Factory Director Liu interrupted him.
"What era are we living in? Why are you still so particular about these things? The old lady is your relative, so she's a valued guest of our factory. Send me the hospital address, and we'll be there in two hours."
After hanging up the phone, Su Jianguo stood in the corridor, feeling as if the heavy weight on his chest had finally been lifted.
I never expected that Director Liu would be so kind and benevolent.
Back in his hospital room, Su Jianguo shared the good news with his family.
Old Master Wang's eyes finally regained some luster, and he trembled as he grasped his son-in-law's hand.
"Jianguo...it's all thanks to you..."
"Dad, please don't say that."
Su Jianguo squatted down in front of his father-in-law.
"This is what I should do."
Wang Dajiang sat in his wheelchair, looking at his brother-in-law with teary eyes.
"Brother-in-law... thank you..."
"Brother-in-law, we're family, no need for formalities."
Su Jianguo patted Wang Dajiang on the shoulder.
"Your most important thing now is to take care of yourself. Your mother in heaven would also want you to be well."
Two hours later, two trucks from the plastics factory pulled up in front of the hospital on time.
Factory Director Liu arrived personally with a group of people, including several strong young men to help.
"Boss Su!"
Factory Director Liu quickly stepped forward and shook Su Jianguo's hand.
"Please accept my condolences. The car is ready. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Su Jianguo nodded gratefully.
"Director Liu, thank you so much. I'll remember this kindness."
"You're too kind."
Factory Director Liu waved his hand.
"It's an honor for us that the old lady can ride in our factory's vehicle."
With the assistance of medical staff, the old lady's body was carefully placed in a makeshift coffin on the truck.
"mom..."
Wang Xiulan called out softly.
"We're home..."
The convoy slowly drove out of the hospital and headed towards Baoding.
Inside the SUV, Grandpa Wang held his late wife's portrait, staring blankly out the window.
Wang Dajiang sat in a wheelchair, occasionally letting out suppressed sobs.
Wang Xiulan leaned on her husband's shoulder, her tears already dried up.
Su Jianguo sat in the passenger seat, occasionally checking on his family members through the rearview mirror.
A somber atmosphere filled the carriage, but beneath this sorrow, he sensed a strange tranquility.
The old lady finally got her wish and saw her eldest son, whom she missed the most, in the last moments of her life. Now she will rest in peace in the place where she grew up.
"dad."
Su Jianguo broke the silence.
"Do you remember what Mom's favorite food was? I was thinking... to prepare some of her favorites for the funeral..."
The old man came to his senses, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.
"She...loves donkey meat sandwiches from her hometown the most...when we were young, I always bought them for her when we went on dates..."
Wang Xiulan also seemed to remember something, and a nostalgic look appeared on her face.
"Once, during a heavy snowfall, my mother walked ten miles just to buy us two baked buns... She was frozen solid when she got home..."
The atmosphere inside the car gradually shifted from pure grief to warm memories.
Everyone shared their stories about the old lady's life.
Su Jianguo listened quietly, his heart filled with emotion.
Death cannot erase the memory of love; on the contrary, it makes those ordinary moments all the more precious.
The six-hour drive doesn't seem so long in retrospect.
It was already afternoon when the convoy entered Baoding territory.
When the villagers heard that the old lady was coming back for her burial, they all came to pay their respects.
Old Liu, the carpenter, came up with a few young men to help unload the coffin.
The women in the village helped Wang Xiulan and Grandpa Wang up, offering them gentle words of comfort.
"My sister-in-law passed away peacefully; that's a blessing..."
Village Chief Zhang held Old Man Wang's hand and said.
According to local custom, the old lady's body was temporarily placed in the ancestral hall, awaiting her formal burial three days later.
The wooden door of the ancestral hall was slowly pushed open.
Su Jianguo and Wang Xiulan helped Grandpa Wang walk at the front, followed by several strong men from the village who carefully carried the old lady's coffin.
A brand new red cloth covered the coffin.
"Slow down, the requirements are high."
Su Jianguo whispered a reminder, steadily supporting his father-in-law with one hand and helping to hold up one corner of the coffin with the other.
The ancestral hall had already been cleaned spotlessly.
In the very center was a long offering table, on which were placed several plates of fruit and snacks. Three sticks of freshly lit incense were inserted into the incense burner, and wisps of smoke rose gently upwards.
Behind the offering table is a memorial tablet specially prepared for the old lady, with the words "Memorial Tablet of the Loving Mother, Lady Li of the Wang Family" written on a brand-new wooden plaque.
"Just leave it here."
Village Chief Zhang directed the crowd to place the coffin on the shelf in the center of the ancestral hall, and then turned to Old Master Wang.
"Uncle Wang, is this alright?"
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