Chapter 226: Your apology ≠ I have to accept it
Lin Heng and his elder brother took the children out to play with firecrackers, blowing up mud and dog bowls.
It can be regarded as reliving the happiness of my youth.
In the room, Xiulan, Caiyun, Lin's mother and Liu Juan were playing cards and talking and laughing with each other.
"My dad?"
Lin Heng returned to the room and asked curiously.
"He's asleep in the room." Lin's mother pointed to the bedroom.
Lin Heng poured a cup of tea in. His father was lying on the bed snoring very loudly. He put the tea aside and looked at the sleeping man.
The man's cheeks were sallow and rough, with two obvious wrinkles on his forehead. Time had left many traces on his face.
Although this man was not perfect and had many minor flaws, he had never treated his brothers and sisters badly since they were young. He worked in the fields from dawn to dusk every day to support them.
Therefore, their childhood was not very happy. They were often ordered to work. Their greatest joy was being taken to the river to catch fish. Occasionally, they would be given a wooden toy.
Most of my memories are of working in the fields.
But this is not his fault. After all, it is not easy to feed so many mouths and pay a lot of public grain.
With a sigh of relief, Lin Heng turned around and walked out. He still had to make money, otherwise his father would have trouble eating when he got old. He couldn't just count on the pension of only one hundred yuan a month.
But this is the way the world is. The rewards that contributors at the bottom get are always pitifully small, and there is no real fairness in the world. The only hope is if you work hard to get out of the bottom.
Those who farm, dig coal, build roads... in the end they can only return to the land where they were born and raised with injuries and illnesses to spend the rest of their lives. The prosperity that has been built often has nothing to do with them.
However, Lin Heng felt comforted that at least he would not let his family become like this again in this lifetime, but he would need to work harder in the future.
"Son, do you want to play square buckle?"
When Lin Heng walked out of the bedroom, his mother smiled and shouted that he had a very happy year.
"Don't you have enough people?"
"Your sister doesn't want to play. She wants to go out for a stroll."
"Okay then, I'll play a couple of rounds."
Lin Heng nodded and sat at the table. He was in one group with Xiulan, and his mother and sister-in-law Liu Juan were in another group.
Both sides start from 5, 10, k, and then start again from 2.
In the first hand, Lin Heng first called the master of clubs, but the cards were not very good.
However, when playing with Xiulan, the two cooperated very closely and were always able to guess each other's intentions and play the appropriate cards.
This may be the tacit understanding between husband and wife. After living together for a long time, the other person knows what you are going to do with just a small move.
After a while, Lin Heng and Xiulan had played 5, 10, and K, and started playing 22.
"I don't want to play anymore. What are you playing for? You two are like playing cards against each other."
Lin's mother started to act like a spoiled child and said she wanted to start over.
"Hahaha!"
Lin Heng laughed loudly, and Xiulan also smiled without saying anything.
"Let's switch. Xiulan, you can stay with my family." Lin's mother suggested.
"Okay, let's play again."
Lin Heng spread his hands, changed positions, and the four of them started again.
But this time they just chatted a lot. Lin Heng and Xiulan wanted to invite everyone to their place for dinner in the evening, but the eldest sister-in-law Liu Juan insisted on having them go to her house, so they had to agree and go to his house another day.
Then everyone discussed about visiting relatives and friends on New Year's Day.
When paying New Year's greetings, they usually go to their uncle's house first, then to their parents-in-law's house on the second day of the New Year, and then to other important relatives.
But it is entirely up to you.
Lin Heng's family went to his uncle's house first. He had three uncles. The eldest uncle and the third uncle lived together without getting married, while the second uncle lived in a rented house in the suburbs, which was far away.
Lin's mother wanted Lin Heng to go to his second uncle's house, after all, he had a car.
Let his eldest brother Lin Yue go to his eldest uncle and third uncle. The two of them live with his grandmother in the mountains, not far away.
Lin Heng was unwilling to do so and shook his head, saying, "How about this, let's go to my eldest and third uncles to wish them a happy new year tomorrow morning. As for my second uncle, we can go there when we have time later."
"The main reason is that I want to go see my grandma. My eldest uncle and third uncle will definitely love it if we all go." Lin Heng added.
The last time his grandmother went to the city for a check-up she had recovered a lot, but as far as Lin Heng could remember she died not long after the New Year.
I don’t know if it can be changed now, but at least I can go and see him during the New Year so that I won’t feel so sad if he passes away.
"That's fine, why don't you go visit your grandma? We'll go upstairs and have lunch and then come back."
Lin's mother nodded. She also wanted to see his mother.
They played cards for a while. At about four o'clock, Father Lin sobered up and said to everyone, "Let's go. It's time to send off our ancestors."
"Let's go." Lin Heng and others also stood up.
Ancestor worship on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve is also an essential activity every year, and sending lights is also called sending lanterns.
Here they would light a candle at the door of their ancestor's tomb until it goes out naturally.
This custom originated from ancient sacrifices, when people believed that sending lights could light the way home for their ancestors and dispel darkness and evil.
The fire paper and incense had naturally been prepared long ago. Lin Heng went to get the fire paper, took Xiongba with him, and the whole family went up the mountain to worship their ancestors together.
Xiaoxia also takes her dog Laifu with her wherever she goes.
There are only three graves in the Lin family that need to be worshipped, namely his great-grandfather, great-grandmother, and grandfather.
It is said that his ancestors were not from here, but fled here from the south. The mixed surnames in their village is also related to this.
As a result, his family now names their children very casually, there is no family tree, and seniority does not matter anymore.
The family walked up the mountain, talking and laughing, and the people they met on the way were also going up the mountain to worship their ancestors.
The three ancestors of the Lin family are buried in a place called Baishupo, which is a cypress forest. It is said that when his great grandfather was alive, he asked a Feng Shui master to look at it, and then planted a large number of cypress trees here, which later became the ancestral land of the Lin family.
At this time, Lin Yue pointed to the distance and said, "Hey, there are smoke in the cypress slope. I wonder if it is my third father or my eldest father?"
"Oh my god!" Father Lin howled towards that side.
The echo echoed in the mountains, and soon the echo disappeared: "Second father, you are late this year."
The voice belonged to Lin Hai, and everyone understood that it was Lin Heng's third father and his family.
"You're here early. We'll come back after you finish the work."
Father Lin responded loudly.
“Awooooooooo!”
The little puppy Lai Fu barked twice, pulled Xiaoxia forward, and ran very happily.
Soon their family also arrived at Baishupo. Standing here and looking, they could see huge mountains extending behind them and Shiban River not far ahead, which looked like a jade belt. The scenery was quite nice.
"Third dad!"
Lin Heng greeted with a smile.
"Come and help weed. There are a lot of kudzu vines growing here. We need to get rid of them."
Lin Hengsan's father Lin Xutao said with a smile.
"I'll come and help. The rest of you can burn the paper."
Father Lin said this and walked over with the machete.
Lin Heng said a few words to Lin Hai, then went with Xiulan and Xiaoxia to burn paper for his great-grandfather.
“Why do we need to burn paper?”
Xiaoxia took the paper and threw it into the tomb door, muttering softly.
"Burn paper and kowtow, and you will have more candy to eat next year." Lin Heng said as he burned paper.
"Then I will burn it and kowtow!"
Xiaoxia even burned paper a lot faster, obviously the candy was too attractive.
After burning the paper and kowtowing, Xiaoxia kept muttering that she wanted to eat more candy.
Looking at these stone tombs, Lin Heng only prayed that they would protect his family's safety and health.
After burning the paper, he went to his grandfather's grave to weed it and found that the perilla he had planted was gone.
When his grandfather was alive, he loved perilla very much and planted a large piece of it at home. His grandfather liked to put some perilla leaves in everything he ate.
Later, his grandfather passed away. The 12-year-old boy planted a few trees in front of his grave, but now they are nowhere to be seen. He must have died.
In a trance, Lin Heng recalled the days when his grandfather often picked berries for him to eat. Compared to his stingy and biased grandmother, his grandfather was really a good man. He treated all his grandchildren equally and everyone had something to eat.
However, it seems that no one remembers that he likes to eat perilla. Lin Heng thinks to wait until Qingming Festival to plant a few more.
"It seems like it's snowing!" Xiulan stretched out her arms and said as she looked at the snow falling on her arms.
"It's snowing."
Caiyun was also wearing black clothes and could clearly feel the sporadic snow.
Mother Lin smiled and said, "Snow is a good thing. It means a good harvest. The ground will be filled with water, so the crops will grow well next year."
Lin Heng looked at the sky, and went with his elder brother to help clear the weeds and vines around. Some branches of the cypress tree also needed to be cut off.
"When I have enough money in the future, I'll turn this place into a cemetery." Lin Yue cut down a few vines and said with a smile.
Lin Heng also had this idea and nodded: "I guess this day won't be too far away."
If we have money, we can build a road here to make our ancestors proud.
They had just finished when they heard voices from below and everyone's faces changed slightly. It was obvious that they did not like the people who came.
"Hey, Second Dad, Third Dad, you're here too, thank you for your hard work."
The first person to speak was Lin Hui, the second son of Lin Heng's eldest father Lin Xuping, with a smile on his face.
"Of course I'm here. Who wouldn't come to worship their ancestors?" Father Lin said indifferently.
"It's good that you are here. The place is overgrown with vines and weeds. Please help us clear it out." Lin Hengsan's father Lin Xutao said.
"What's there to do? Just let it grow. But this cypress tree is big enough. I want to cut it down and use it." Lin Hui said with a smile.
Father Lin's face immediately fell: "If you have the ability to chop me, I have the ability to break your legs. This land is also divided in my name."
"Haha, since you look so serious, I just told you a joke." Lin Hui laughed.
But no one laughed with him, and he felt a little embarrassed. He turned around and looked at the front of the tomb and said with a smile: "Brother Lin Heng, you have made a lot of money. The offerings for the ancestors include meat. But my mother-in-law can't eat any meat at home, and you didn't even ask for some."
Lin Heng smiled and said, "The people were given to your family for retirement. He loved you the most in the past, so you should take it."
"I certainly did."
Lin Hui came over and put his hand on Lin Heng's shoulder, but before he could touch him, Lin Heng moved away, showing no respect at all.
Lin Hui looked calm and said with a smile, "My parents went a little too far this year. I apologize to your family on their behalf. We are all family members and should help each other. There is no need to treat each other like enemies, don't you think?"
Lin Xuping, who followed behind, looked at Lin Heng's father and said with a smile: "Xuan, we made a mistake this year. We thought you dug ginseng from my forest. I'm sorry."
Lin Xuping's wife Li Ping also smiled and said, "I'm really sorry. I was misled by our mother at that time. We also found a ginseng in that forest, but we thought it was too small so we didn't dig it. We thought you dug it and ran to our door."
These words made everyone stunned, and Lin Heng couldn't help but laugh. It was really funny that these two people had to find an excuse to apologize, and they even pushed the responsibility onto the old man.
But his wife deserved it, there was nothing to pity.
Is it because he sees that his family is so rich and even his third father is making money that he can no longer sit still and wants to ease the relationship?
In fact, Lin Xuping and Li Ping were unwilling to apologize, but the second son, after learning that Lin Heng had made a lot of money, suggested that they come to the old clan's tomb to apologize. It was impossible for Lin Heng and the others to speak ill of them in front of the old clan, right?
No one spoke, and Lin's father and mother looked at Lin Heng.
Lin Heng smiled slightly, took Xiulan's hand and said, "Since Liang has been sent off, let's go back."
It's really funny, he wants to apologize now? He bullied his parents for so many years and he wants to resolve it with just a simple "I'm sorry". Isn't this just wishful thinking?
"good."
Without saying anything, everyone walked downstairs without talking to these people at all.
Lin Hui stopped Lin Heng: "Lin Heng, there is no need for you to do this. My parents are your elders after all, and they have already apologized."
“Puff!”
Lin Heng burst out laughing again, feeling that his cousin had some fairy-like qualities, with an expression that said, "I've already apologized, what else do you want from me?"
"Just because you apologize doesn't mean I have to accept it."
Lin Heng spread his hands and sneered. Not to mention in front of the ancestral tomb, even if the ancestor crawled out, it would still not work.
This is not the only time they have done the ginseng money robbery. In the past, they have also asked for money every now and then under various pretexts such as paying for the elderly's medical treatment.
Seeing Lin Heng and the others leave quickly, Lin Hui kicked the tree angrily: "It's just a few bucks, why are you so arrogant!"
Lin Xuan and Li Ping also looked unhappy. Li Ping even started cursing, saying that Lin Heng and his family would squander their family fortune sooner or later, and that all their fish and shrimp would die next year.
"Hey, I just don't get angry if I have money."
Lin Heng, who was at the foot of the mountain, heard the above words and laughed out loud.
I was in a good mood when I heard the sound of kicking a tree from above. I just like the way you get angry and embarrassed when you see me having money.
"Second brother, you are more direct. It feels so good." Caiyun also laughed. Parents always think of leaving some wiggle room, but Lin Heng is completely different. She thinks this is the right thing to do.
"It's a relief, but I'm afraid they will regret it this year." Lin's mother said with a smile.
"Then it's not just your intestines that will regret it, your whole body will regret it." Lin Yue said with a smile.
Father Lin didn't say anything, but he had a smile on his face. Now he thought that maybe Lin Heng's approach was right, and tolerance was of no use to them.
Thanks to Lin Heng, this good son, otherwise his elder brother would not have lowered himself to apologize to him. Lin's father felt more and more relieved.
The only one who was scared on the road was Lin Heng's mother Li Xue. She was glad that she didn't offend anyone so badly in the first place.
When they reached the intersection, the two families exchanged some pleasantries, agreed to pay New Year's greetings to each other, and then go home separately today.
"Hurry home and light the lights and make a fire. Tonight we must have a prosperous night."
Father Lin said this with a smile and walked back quickly. After staying on the mountain for a while, it was almost dark.
Looking from the mountain, every household has turned on the lights and red lanterns can be seen from afar.
"Let's go home."
Lin Heng also shouted, picked up Xiaoxia and walked quickly down the mountain.
"Wait for me." Xiulan held Lai Fu's hand and chased after him.
(End of this chapter)
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