Chapter 332 Farewell
"Are you sad?" Lu Liangchen put his arm around Jiang Haitang's shoulders and asked in a low voice.
Jiang Haitang nodded.
"It's okay. We'll come back and visit when we have some vacation."
"Liangchen, I also want to go see my parents. They... I'm their only child in this life. I have to visit their graves."
These days, visiting graves is actually very risky, but Jiang Haitang doesn't know when she will be able to come back, so before leaving, she always has to visit her adoptive parents' graves.
"I'll go with you tomorrow." Lu Liangchen said, "Come to think of it, my father-in-law and mother-in-law haven't met me yet."
"They must like you. You are such a nice person." Jiang Haitang said to Lu Liangchen with a smile.
In her previous life, when Jiang Haitang was about to give up in the Li family, she would go to her parents' graves and cry.
Even though she was young when her parents passed away and could no longer remember what they looked like, she still felt warm every time she visited them.
But in this life, she has taken a different path, and she should tell her parents so that they won't worry in the afterlife.
The next day, the weather cleared up and the sun shone through the clouds, dispelling the haze that had lasted for several days.
Lu Liangchen took half a day off and borrowed a jeep from the factory.
Jiang Haitang went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought some snacks and fruits, as well as a bottle of wine and a pack of cigarettes, which were the things her father occasionally drank when he was alive.
Jiang Haitang originally wanted to take Xiaochengzi with her, but later thought that the mountain road was difficult to travel, so she asked Xiaohe to stay at home to take care of Xiaochengzi.
The car drove out of the city and headed deep into the mountains.
The grave of Jiang Haitang’s adoptive parents is actually not very far from Qingshuigou, just over a hill.
The road is not easy to walk on and is a bit bumpy.
The closer Jiang Haitang got to the cemetery, the heavier her mood became. The vague yet warm fragments of memories about her adoptive parents, hidden deep in her heart, began to surface bit by bit.
Jiang Haitang began to get nervous.
"Haitang, are you feeling uncomfortable? If so, let's take a rest first."
"Haitang, drink some water, we'll be there soon."
Lu Liangchen looked at Jiang Haitang with a solemn expression and could only continue to comfort Jiang Haitang.
"I'm actually homesick. Liangchen, I haven't visited dad and mom for a long time. Will they blame me?" Jiang Haitang asked nervously.
"No, Haitang, my parents-in-law will understand the current situation. In the future, we will come to visit them whenever we have a vacation."
Lu Liangchen hadn't even realized before that Jiang Haitang had such deep feelings for her adoptive parents.
At this time, there was no road ahead, so Lu Liangchen could only park the car, carry the things for visiting the grave, and walk up along a weed-covered path with Jiang Haitang.
Lu Liangchen held something in one hand and held Jiang Haitang's hand tightly with the other, silently giving her strength.
On a relatively flat sunny slope, there are some scattered tombs.
Relying on his memory, Jiang Haitang quickly found the two side-by-side, somewhat low earthen graves.
The grave was covered with green grass, and the tombstone was just a simple stone, with the words engraved on it having long been blurred.
"Dad, Mom, Haitang is here to see you." Jiang Haitang's voice trembled slightly.
She squatted down, carefully pulled out the weeds on the grave with her hands, and carefully wiped the dust off the tombstone.
Lu Liangchen also squatted down, arranged the snacks and fruits, poured a glass of wine, lit three cigarettes, and placed them respectfully in front of the grave.
"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, I'm Lu Liangchen, Haitang's husband." His voice was calm and serious. "I'm sorry I came to see you so late. Don't worry, I will treat Haitang well for the rest of my life, love her, protect her, and never let her suffer any injustice. We now have two children, a daughter named Xiao Taozi and a son named Xiao Chengzi. They are both doing well, healthy and lively. Haitang is doing well too. She's very outstanding and has gone to work in Beijing..."
Lu Liangchen talked on and on, like a son-in-law visiting for the first time, reporting the situation at home, his tone sincere and respectful.
Jiang Haitang was listening at the side, and her eyes couldn't help but turn red.
She took the wine from Lu Liangchen and gently sprinkled it on the grave: "Dad, Mom, did you hear me? I am living very well now, really very well. Liangchen treats me very well, and my parents-in-law treat me like their own daughter. I also found my biological grandfather... You can rest in peace in your nine springs."
"Dad, Mom, you raised me for six years and treated me like your own daughter. I can never repay your kindness in this lifetime. I only hope that in the next life, I can still be your daughter and be filial to you two."
A gentle breeze blew by, stirring the grass on the grave, as if in response to their words.
Jiang Haitang whispered a lot more, talking about her career, her children's interesting stories, her expectations for the future, and the regrets of not being able to have a loving father.
Lu Liangchen always stayed quietly by the side, silently adding wine and arranging offerings.
After the memorial service, the two stood quietly in front of the grave for a while.
The sun shone warmly on my body, and the surroundings were very quiet, with only the sounds of birds singing and the wind blowing through the trees.
"Dad, Mom, we will come back to see you often in the future." Jiang Haitang said finally, her voice had become much calmer, with a sense of relief and promise.
The way down the mountain seemed easier than the way up.
Sitting back in the car, Jiang Haitang breathed a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
This worship was like completing an important ceremony, which was both a farewell to the past and an expectation for the future.
Lu Liangchen started the car and held her hand: "From now on, I will accompany you here every year."
"Yeah." Jiang Haitang shook his hand back, her heart filled with gratitude and peace of mind.
After returning to the city, the sadness of home seemed to be diluted a little, replaced by a more peaceful state of mind.
I have met all the old friends I should have met, and I have resolved all the worries I should have resolved.
The day of departure has arrived.
On the morning of my departure, there was a drizzle in the sky, as if expressing my sorrow of leaving.
Xiao He had packed his luggage early, and Lu Liangchen was holding the still-sleeping Xiao Chengzi. Jiang Haitang took one last look at the courtyard, which was filled with the sweetness of their newlywed life, the joy of becoming new parents, and the sweat of their hard work.
However, from now on, new people will move in here, and they will embark on a new journey.
Kang Xiaoxia, Liu Hongmei, Li Jingcheng... and other people who were good friends with Jiang Haitang came to see Jiang Haitang off.
A few familiar people also came to the machinery factory.
Just as I was about to go out, I saw Gu Yundi and Shu Qihua also coming in the rain.
Jiang Haitang hurried over and said distressedly, "Godfather and Godmother, why are you here? It's raining!"
"Good child, we have returned to the school and settled down. This is our address. Please write to us when you arrive in the capital. We are worried about you traveling with two women and a child, so we have to give you a few words of advice."
Shu Qihua took Jiang Haitang's hand, his eyes red, and stuffed a cloth bag into her hand.
"There are some food inside, some for you and some for the children. When you get to the capital, remember to write back often."
"Oh, I know, godmother." Jiang Haitang nodded with a sob.
After spending two lifetimes together, Jiang Haitang felt really sad when she thought that she wouldn't be able to see him for a long time in the future.
"It's okay, Haitang. Your godmother and I are both teachers. We have winter vacation and summer vacation. We will come to see you when we are on vacation."
Shu Qihua then carefully instructed Xiao He: "Xiangcao, you have to take good care of Haitang and the child on this journey."
No matter how reluctant you are, it is time to say goodbye.
Lu Liangchen drove Jiang Haitang to the station.
Amidst the reluctant farewells, the jeep slowly drove out of the textile factory's staff quarters.
Jiang Haitang looked out the car window and saw familiar and unfamiliar figures waving at the jeep on the side of the road, and her vision gradually blurred.
"Haitang, you and Xiaochengzi go back first. I will be back in Beijing soon. Then, our family won't have to be separated anymore. When you go back, remember to tell Xiaotaozi that Daddy misses her."
Jiang Haitang nodded seriously, watched Lu Liangchen get off the train, and waved outside the window.
The train clanged along, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the vastness of the northwest to the flatness of the Central Plains.
Little Orange was full of energy after waking up. He babbled to himself, nibbled on teething biscuits, and played with small toys in the "safe zone" surrounded by a blanket by Xiao He.
Jiang Haitang's emotions gradually calmed down.
She took out the cloth bag given by Shu Qihua and opened it. In addition to the carefully made dried meat and biscuits, there was also a small bag of individually wrapped milk powder, and even two pairs of small socks that were obviously hand-knitted. It was obvious that they were for the children.
This care and love made her feel warm in her heart. Perhaps this is what it feels like to have a mother.
"Sister Vanilla, you should eat something too." Jiang Haitang shared the dried meat and biscuits with Xiao He.
"Hey, thank you, Haitang." Xiao He took it and said with some emotion, "The people in Jincheng are so nice and warm-hearted. Teacher Gu and Teacher Shu really treat you like their own daughter."
Xiao He is also a miserable person. In fact, he is quite envious of Jiang Haitang for having so many people sincerely caring for her.
"Yes, they are all very good people, especially my godfather and godmother!" Jiang Haitang said with a smile.
However, Xiao He didn’t understand what Jiang Haitang said.
Even Xiao He was very confused.
The news I heard these days was that Haitang once saved Shu Qihua and Gu Yundi from danger, but I didn’t realize how good these two people were to Haitang!
But since Haitang said so, there must be a reason.
The journey was long. While taking care of the child, Jiang Haitang began to read the notebook that Gu Yundi gave her.
The notes were written in neat penmanship, interspersed with some foreign terms and simple diagrams, recording observations and thoughts in the foreign mechanical field. Although they were written a long time ago, some of the concepts and ideas still made Jiang Haitang feel refreshed and inspired.
Jiang Haitang couldn't help but immerse herself in it.
Little Orange seemed to know that his mother was busy and was very well behaved most of the time.
However, the little guy also has moments of impatience. Seeing his mother ignoring him and just reading a book, he tried to grab the pen in his mother's hand, but was held away by Xiao He in time.
"Little guy, you can't play with this. This is a treasure grandpa gave to mom." Xiao He coaxed him patiently.
On the lower bunk opposite was an elderly lady with her grandson. Seeing how well behaved Little Orange was, she couldn't help but praise him: "This baby is so worry-free. He doesn't cry or make a fuss when I take him out."
"That's right, our child is extremely well-behaved." Xiao He praised proudly.
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