On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, Yushan County still follows the old custom of burning paper money for ancestors to comfort their spirits and hope for their blessings.
In the countryside, it's alright to visit the graves and pay respects, which can offer some solace. But in the city, many families simply place the urn at home without even a burial plot, so they have to take the paper package to the crossroads to burn it.
Lu Wanqing and Lin Ye, along with everyone, arrived at the forest cemetery in a grand procession of dozens of vehicles.
County leaders were already waiting at the intersection, smiling and welcoming Lu Wanqing to the countryside to sweep the tombs, even under the camera's lens.
The leadership team held a meeting to discuss the matter, and ultimately the issue of attracting investment outweighed the potential negative impacts, forcing them to yield to capital.
Lu Wanqing's group brought hundreds of millions of yuan in investment, equivalent to the county's economic output over the previous decade, and also provided funding and industrial support for future development.
As for an anonymous letter, where even a name wasn't left, it's nothing to be surprised about.
The tomb-sweeping ceremony was a grand affair, and Lu Wanqing even spoke on camera.
"This grove of trees was planted by us twenty years ago. We hope that the general public will cherish it. If everyone cherishes it, I will preserve it and build a water park and a large park nearby to provide a place for the public to relax and have fun."
If anyone vandalizes, they are going against the will of the people. If you discover any vandals, you must not tolerate it. Tell me, and I will definitely hand them over to the public security authorities for serious punishment..."
She knew that such a large forest could easily be vandalized by someone.
However, if the general public is mobilized to supervise, anyone who wants to destroy the forest will have to think twice.
Building an amusement park and park doesn't cost much, just a few million, but it can give Lin Ye's father a place to rest in peace.
According to Lin Ye's joke, he wouldn't be afraid of dying without a burial place after he passes away.
The government is promoting cremation, but people still find burial more acceptable.
After listening to her speech, the county leaders led the applause and emphasized that the land belonged to the Lu family and that no one should try to take it. They also asked the residents along the river to cooperate, as future development would involve demolition.
Over the past twenty years, most of the residents living along the river have moved away, but there are still some stubborn people or those who simply cannot afford to buy new houses who live in sheds along the river.
Many developers have wanted to develop the riverside area, but they have all failed to reach an agreement due to issues with compensation.
The county leaders were hoping that Lu Wanqing could successfully transform the city river into a scenic and tourist-friendly river this time.
After the tomb sweeping, Lu Wanqing and Lin Ye went to the hospital to visit Wen Li.
Since it was summer vacation, Luo Hao and Lin Chunhua brought their child back with them.
Seeing her long-lost friend, Mu Xiaoting felt a mix of emotions.
My former good friend, Lu Wanqing, is now the chairman of one of the top groups in the country, a position that is unapproachable.
Her former husband was now standing next to another woman.
She was somewhat relieved that she had decisively ended her marriage with Luo Hao back then, and it turned out that Lin Chunhua and he indeed had a special relationship.
If I continue living with him, I might end up like my father, where the person in front of me is like a mosquito bite, while the person in the distance becomes the white moonlight.
When Wenli saw Lin Ye, her pupils dilated and her chest heaved violently.
She seemed to see Mu Chengyi walking towards her.
"Cheng Yi, Cheng Yi, do you know how much I love you? I can give up my own life to love you with all my heart!" Her empty eyes were filled with confusion.
After saying this, she fainted.
The doctor examined her and said she was only temporarily unconscious and would wake up soon, but she should also be prepared that she might never wake up again.
Lin Ye comforted Mu Xiaoting for a while, saying that she had to take care of both her father and mother, and that it was hard on her.
"It's not hard work. Someone has to bear the consequences of my mother's sins," Mu Xiaoting said blankly.
Lu Wanqing saw that the once cheerful and intelligent person was now worn down by life, and her eyes had lost their light. She felt a pang of heartache.
Just as they were about to leave, Wenli suddenly woke up, sat up, and pleaded with Lin Ye:
"Lin Ye, I'm sorry to your mother. I want to see her and apologize to her in person, is that alright?"
Lin Ye replied in a deep voice, "No need, she and Dad are traveling abroad and can't come back for a while."
After saying that, he left without looking back.
They came to see her because they regarded her as Mu Xiaoting's mother, an ordinary elder.
If it's related to grudges from a past life, she deserves to live a life of repentance.
After the event in the county town, Lu Wanqing and Lin Ye headed to Miaomiao's home in the city, while Luo Hao and Lin Chunhua took the children back to their hometown for a visit.
After all, it's my hometown. I used to come back every few years, and every time I came back, my hometown had changed a lot. This time was no exception.
He almost couldn't find his way home.
There used to be only one main road home, but now there are many side roads, making it easy to get lost.
When they returned to the Luo family home, they were greeted by Aunt Luo, who was hunched over and had a broken leg, and Kun Kun, who was tall and strong.
After Li Fang framed Mu Xiaoting for miscarriage, someone came to investigate the situation. Eventually, Li Fang's true colors were exposed, and she was taken away by the public security authorities to serve her sentence.
The older brother had no choice but to take care of Kunkun as both father and mother. Because no one taught him properly, he gradually lost interest in studying and failed to get into university.
Fortunately, Luo Hao and Luo Chunlei frequently sent money home. After accumulating some capital, he took advantage of the booming tourism industry and started trading agricultural products.
Li Fang, after being released from prison, was not kicked out by her older brother. She was extremely grateful and helped her son run the shop together.
At this time, the eldest brother and his wife went out to buy goods, leaving only Aunt Luo and Kunkun at home.
Seeing that Aunt Luo was also helping to move things, Luo Hao quickly stepped forward to stop her:
"Mom, you're so old, you shouldn't do these things anymore."
He was a little anxious. He had been sending money home quite often, and it was definitely enough for his mother to live on.
He didn't know that, after all, the eldest brother was the only child who stayed by her side. Whenever she had a headache or fever, it was the eldest son who took care of her. Although the second and third sons gave her money, only the eldest brother served her.
Therefore, she was very understanding of her eldest brother's difficulties and would help him out whenever she could.
"Grandma, you should rest now, I'm almost done." Kun Kun also urged her to rest.
Luo Hao's eldest son, Tao Tao, who was over ten years old, saw Kun Kun carrying a bag of flour, with white foam all over his shoulders and into the air. He quickly covered his nose and looked disgusted.
"It's so dirty!" he blurted out.
Lin Chunhua quickly grabbed her son's hand and said in a gentle, persuasive tone, "You can't do that. Didn't you learn in school that labor is the most glorious thing?"
"Shall we help Brother Kun Kun move it?"
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