When I was five years old, my maternal grandmother fell ill. According to the customs of our area, when someone gets old and sick, they have to go back to their own home to avoid dying at their daughter's house and disturbing the daughter's family's peace.
So my maternal grandmother demanded to go home and wouldn't allow my parents to take her home. She told my father to go to my uncle's house so that my uncle could come and pick her up.
But when I knew my grandmother was leaving, I absolutely refused to go, clinging to her and saying that I would go wherever my grandmother went.
My maternal grandmother hugged me and said that she had something very important to do at home and that she had to take care of it herself. She said she would come back after she finished and that I should wait for her at home.
She even threatened me, saying she wouldn't come if I didn't behave. I was terrified, immediately stopped crying and making a fuss, and obediently let her go.
Then I watched as my uncle carried her onto the oxcart, where she lay down in the carriage. She gave me one last look, smiling and waving at me.
The next day, while I was still asleep, I heard my uncle's voice and my mother's crying. My uncle said, "Let Xue Li go. Our mother loved her the most when she was alive. Let the child see her maternal grandmother off on her final journey..."
In a daze, I followed my parents to my maternal grandmother's house. I saw her lying in the coffin, and at that moment, I realized that she had lied to me yesterday, and she would never see me again... I refused to accept it. I leaned over the edge of the coffin, grabbed her hand, and cried out again and again, "Grandma, you broke your promise! Grandma, you broke your promise..."
Su Xueli cried her eyes out.
Auntie's eyes also reddened. She hugged her and comforted her, "Poor child, it's all my fault for touching on your sad memories and making you so painful and upset. Alright, alright, let's not cry anymore, otherwise your grandmother won't be at peace in the afterlife."
Wei Mingshen stared intently at Su Xueli, his expression complex.
Su Xueli remained silent and continued to cry.
Auntie gritted her teeth and said, "Sherry, how about this, child? I won't be the one who deceives you. Auntie won't break our promise. Shall we go to the city to go shopping at the department store?"
Su Xueli sobbed, "I don't want to go anymore, I miss my grandma, sob sob sob..."
Her aunt patted her back and coaxed, "Don't think about it anymore, don't think about it anymore. It's the New Year, let's not think about sad things. Didn't you say that the department store in the city has three floors? It has everything. As an elder, your aunt will give you and your husband a New Year's gift each. Come on, come on."
Su Xueli burst into laughter through her tears and said, "Alright then."
As she spoke, she took out the red envelope that her second aunt had just given her and returned it to her, saying, "Second aunt, it's too early to give you New Year's money. I'll give it to you after I kowtow to you on the first day of the Lunar New Year."
Second Aunt laughed and said, "Alright, I'll wait for you two to come and kowtow to me before I give it to you."
Su Xueli wiped away her tears and smiled mischievously.
Wei Mingshen secretly winked at her.
When Zhou Mingshen drove the mule cart, carrying his wife and second aunt out of the village, almost everyone who saw them was dumbfounded and asked where they were going and what they were doing...
Cao Maizi said proudly, "His second aunt went to the city with my daughter-in-law for a stroll."
The whole village was in an uproar: Wei Susu, who hadn't stepped out of Matou Town for 20 years, had gone to the city!
As soon as they set off, Second Aunt kept her head tucked under the covers, too afraid to look out, and Su Xueli didn't force her.
Later, my second aunt pulled the blanket down, raised her head, and gazed leisurely at the scenery in the distance.
In fact, the surroundings were empty, and the wheat seedlings in the loess soil had not yet emerged from the ground.
Second Aunt was led into the city's department store by Wei Mingshen and Su Xueli, one on each side of her arm. It really felt like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.
She exclaimed, "This is just like what I've seen in the movies! It's so big, with so many goods, so many people..."
Su Xueli smiled happily as she introduced the various places to her, adding that she sold her straw weaving products here.
Auntie Er asked curiously, "Then let's go see how the sales are going."
Su Xueli looked at Wei Mingshen and said, "We haven't been to that counter yet."
Wei Mingshen said, "Then let's go take a look."
The three of them walked toward the counter selling handmade jewelry.
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