Chapter 524 Grandma
When the clock strikes December, the deep mountains have entered a period of depression, and people have gradually put on heavy winter clothes.
For hunters, when the leaves fall, it is also a good time to hunt, as the traces of prey in the woods become easier to find.
Early in the morning, after sending Xiaoxia to school, Lin Heng and Xiulan started making dried sweet potatoes together.
Today is the last steaming and drying of the dried sweet potatoes. The dried sweet potatoes are soft and chewy.
After steaming, they take it out and dry it in a winnowing basket.
Xiulan was wearing a light pink Tang suit cotton jacket today, with a slanted collar, white fluff on the neck and cuffs, and the cuffs were also flared.
Her waist-length black hair was draped behind her, she wore a pair of pearl earrings on her ears and a silver bracelet on her wrist.
With this outfit, she looks simple and elegant with a hint of luxury, attracting people's attention.
She was turning over the dried sweet potatoes in the bamboo basket, while her two sons reached out their little hands to take a few and put them in their mouths to eat.
"Do you think we need to dry the dried apples in the sun?" Xiulan looked up at Lin Heng and asked, but found that he was looking at her, so she pouted and winked at him.
"I think it's okay. I'm in the best condition now." Lin Heng replied with a smile.
"That's it, then."
Xiulan nodded, walked over, patted Lin Heng on the body, then sat on the bench next to her and stretched.
"Are you going to Sanchagou this afternoon?"
Xiulan looked up at him and asked.
"Ready to go, what's the matter, you want to come with me?"
Lin Heng pressed her shoulder and smiled.
"I don't want to go. It's too difficult to run. I just want to stay at home and wash the hawthorns and make hawthorn cakes tomorrow." Xiulan shook her head.
Yesterday she and Lin Heng went to the mountains again. They walked for a long time and brought back a lot of hawthorns.
"I plan to go with my brother and hunt some golden roosters and bamboo chickens in the evening." Lin Heng pinched her face and said.
Poultry tastes very good and is easy to hunt, so it is his main goal now.
He has given up hunting big game this year because it requires running too far and taking too long to get into the mountains.
But he had to deal with matters at the factory and the pig farm, so he couldn't stay in the mountains for too long.
Of course, this is also related to the fact that large prey has become increasingly difficult to hunt in recent years.
"Then be careful." Xiulan said as she pried his hands apart.
Lin Heng nodded, turned and went into the house to make a cup of tea, and also brought out a cup of saffron tea for Xiulan.
Then he went next door to discuss hunting with his eldest brother at night. Finally, the two of them decided on a place and decided to try it in the afternoon.
At noon, Xiulan cooked rice and chopped pepper tofu. The tofu she used was frozen and it absorbed the soup and tasted very good with rice.
Lin Heng packed up in the afternoon and was ready to set off after four o'clock. However, he never expected that the gate of the yard was pushed open at around three o'clock, and his uncle came in in mourning and kowtowed to Lin Heng.
"Lin Heng, your grandmother passed away suddenly at noon. Please all go up and help." Lu Honghai looked at Lin Heng and said.
It has always been a tradition to kowtow when asking for help after one's parents pass away.
Lin Heng and Xiulan were both stunned for a moment, then quickly pulled their uncle up.
"My grandma is gone? How could that be? We went to see her a few days ago and she was fine, wasn't she?"
Lin Heng asked in a lost voice, somewhat unwilling to believe it.
Lu Honghai sighed and said, "I don't know either. Your grandma was fine yesterday. This morning, I found that she didn't get up. When I asked her, she said that she was not feeling well and had no strength. At noon, she said she wanted to drink egg sweet wine. Your aunt brought it to her. She drank two sips and then said a few words that she had lived enough and was happy before she died."
Lin Heng didn't say anything for a long time. He recalled all the things his grandmother had done to him in the past, and gradually felt uncomfortable.
"Uncle, what do you need our help with?" Xiulan asked on behalf of Lin Heng.
"You have a car, go to town and buy some incense sticks, fruits and vegetables. And call your uncle. I still need to hire some people and notify others."
Lu Honghai sighed and said, in those days few people had telephones, so when something happened people would go door to door and kowtow to inform everyone in person.
"Okay, we'll go there in a moment." Lin Heng nodded.
After his uncle left, he looked at the sky with melancholy for a long time and was unable to speak.
Although I had experienced separation and death in my previous life, I still couldn't let it go when I faced it again.
It tried its best to help grandma, but it didn't expect that she still couldn't survive the winter and didn't get to eat tofu during the New Year.
"Grandma was 81 years old. She died of old age. Don't think too much about it." Xiulan said, holding his hand.
"Yeah, I know." Lin Heng nodded, turned and went into the house to pack his things.
Xiulan also changed into a black cotton jacket, and then went next door with Lin Heng to find her eldest brother.
Seeing Lin Heng, Lin Yue also sighed: "Alas, God, who has such a short life span, can't he let grandma live a good life for another two years? It's not easy for us to have the ability now."
Lin Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's go to our parents' place and comfort mom. She will definitely not be able to bear it."
Several people nodded and hurried to Red Maple Mountain. When they came over and saw their mother, they found that there were still traces of tears on her face.
Xiulan and Liu Juan hurried over to comfort him. Father Lin looked at his two sons and sighed, "Your grandmother died of old age. There's nothing to be sad about. We just need to give her a grand funeral."
"Then let's go to town to buy some things first." Lin Heng nodded.
"I'll go with you." Lin's mother walked over and said.
Everyone nodded, and finally let Lin's mother go with them, while Xiulan and Liu Juan stayed in the house to watch the door.
Lin Heng drove quickly to the town and first bought funeral clothes, paper money, candles, wreaths, etc., and then bought fruits and vegetables for the banquet, a series of miscellaneous items.
After calling his second uncle's house to inform them, Lin Heng took Li Shiwei back with him.
When they returned to the village, many people began to help, spontaneously helping to move tables, chairs and benches to Lu Honghai's house, and lending them thermoses, wine jugs and other things needed for the occasion and meals.
In rural areas, people don’t come to weddings without invitations, and they come to funerals without invitations. No matter what conflicts there were in the past, they will be temporarily put aside for funerals.
"Let's wait for your aunt and uncle. They should be coming down soon." Father Lin said.
"Then who will stay? The house can't be left unattended." Lin Yue asked again.
"Please ask your third father to watch over it today. We will go up and take a look at the situation first, and then we will come back tomorrow and two of us will watch over it." Father Lin said.
Everyone nodded. This was the only way for now.
Xiulan went to pick up Xiaoxia and changed her clothes. Then, when her uncle-in-law's family arrived, they all took their things and went to her uncle's house together.
There were many people on the way who helped carry things up, and they had to face outsiders with a smile; it was impossible to have a stern face all the time.
When they arrived at grandma's house, Lin Heng and others went to see the final appearance of grandma. Seeing the skinny old woman, everyone couldn't help crying, and Lin's mother and a few others even cried out loud.
The old woman had really suffered a lifetime. She was born in a feudal dynasty and grew up in an era of war and resistance against Japanese aggression. By the time she finally settled down, she was already middle-aged.
But at that time, only the environment was stable. Life was still very hard. People were not well fed and clothed, and there were even great famines. When he was eighty years old and finally had the chance to enjoy his life, he suddenly left.
She had a hard life but still gave birth to three sons and three daughters. Even in such a difficult environment, she still managed to let them grow up smoothly. For this, it can be said that she was more tired than the cow. She got up early and went to bed late every day, working hard in the mountains with her face facing the loess and her back to the sky.
When everyone thought of this, they couldn't help but feel sad. The only thing Lin Heng was thankful for was that his grandmother had at least enjoyed two years of happiness in this life and saw his uncle get married.
In her previous life, she passed away in endless labor and could not see any hope when she left.
After paying their respects, Lin's mother and others began to wipe grandma's body and put on shrouds, then waited for the Yin-Yang master to come.
"Lin Heng, let's go and build the shed." Third uncle Lu Honggang said to Lin Heng.
"Okay." Lin Heng nodded and went out to help cut bamboo and build a shed.
After working hard for an entire afternoon, the shed was finally set up in the evening.
Xiulan and her friends cooked food to entertain the people who came to help. The chef they hired today had not arrived yet, so they had to cook for themselves.
In the evening, the Yin-Yang master came, set up the spirit platform, temporarily placed the body in the coffin, and then began to sing mourning songs to see the body off. Lin Heng and the others were busy by his side for half the night.
Today is only the first day, and the main event is scheduled for the third day. In those days, transportation is very slow and a funeral will take at least five days, and most of the time it takes seven days.
Because of the short time, relatives and friends were unable to be notified.
At midnight, the children had been put to bed and the adults had no place to sleep. Xiaoxia was still very sad, but Luming and Duheng knew very little.
"Come on, let's sleep on the floor. We can't do without sleep." At around two o'clock in the middle of the night, Xiulan walked up to Lin Heng and said.
"Don't parents want to rest?" Lin Heng looked at her and asked.
"They let us rest while they keep watch." Xiulan said helplessly, spreading her hands.
"Okay then." Lin Heng finally nodded. He couldn't persuade his parents. He decided to let them sleep today so that they could help tomorrow. He would let them rest then.
Soon the two of them came to a bed on the floor arranged by their aunt in the attic, and the children were also sleeping on the beds next to them.
The two looked at the child, took off their coats, lay down in bed, hugged each other, and whispered to each other.
The departure of his grandmother made Lin Heng realize once again that talent is the most important thing. Don’t alienate people for the sake of money. Earn money slowly and get along well with people.
Xiulan hugged Lin Heng, gave him her warmth and tenderness, and soothed his wounded heart.
Snuggling in Xiulan's arms, Lin Heng felt much better and said, "Luckily I have a good wife like you. I love you, Xiulan."
He is so lucky to have Xiulan, who is gentle, virtuous, polite and sensible. She is his eternal harbor.
Xiulan felt warmed by his sudden confession. She patted his back and said, "Just be nice to me. Let's go to bed, dear."
Lin Heng nodded, said a few more words and then fell asleep.
When they woke up the next morning, their main task was still to prepare for the real work.
Many relatives came one after another that day, and the sound of firecrackers continued.
Lin Heng went to the town several times to get some things, because his eldest uncle and third uncle always asked him to be their advisor, which kept him very busy.
Many relatives who came also sat together and chatted with their family members.
The news of his family's wealth had long been known among relatives and friends, and since he was a relatively low-key and kind person, many people were willing to get close to them.
After a busy day the next day, they left for home in the evening. The main reason was that there were so many relatives coming that they didn't need to stay to help.
A few relatives went back with them and went to his house to rest.
On the afternoon of the third day, the real business began. By then, there was a gift room, and those who needed to give gifts and attend the banquet arrived one after another.
Because of Lin Heng and his eldest brother, most people in the village came to give gifts, and the third and fourth days were two days of the feast.
With Lin Heng's help, the dishes at this banquet were pretty good. In addition to pork, there were also fish and chicken, which was considered a luxurious banquet in that era.
On the morning of the fifth day, when it was time to bury the old man, Lin's mother and others burst into tears again, which made everyone who was seeing him off feel a little emotional.
Lin Heng's grandmother was buried next to his grandfather. The two were close to each other, but not in the same tomb.
Seeing the person being buried and the grave mound built with stones, Lin Heng was speechless for a long time. Xiulan silently held his hand.
Death is the most equal thing. No one can escape it. All people can do is live well without regrets.
After returning home and having a thank-you dinner, they started to dismantle the shed. People gradually left and only their closest relatives were left.
Everyone talked about some things, and they decided to help Grandma Lin Heng fulfill her biggest wish and help Third Uncle Lu Honggang find a wife.
Uncle Lin Hengsan has been working with Lin Heng for the past two years and has saved about 2,000 yuan. It will be easy for him to become a millionaire after selling the ginseng he grows.
After discussion, his third uncle decided to build a house today. He would find a good day in the next few days to select a piece of land and prepare to build a house first.
After discussing this matter, they went home first. On the way home, everyone's mood gradually became relaxed.
If the facts cannot be changed, then we can only accept them.
"Lin Heng, take a rest for two days and then go hunt Golden Rooster." Lin Yue said with a smile on the way.
"Sure, catch a few more and bring them back to eat." Lin Heng nodded with a smile.
He has tried his best and done everything he should do. He has to continue the rest of his life with his family. There is no need to be too sad. His grandmother would not want him to be like that.
Although he comforted himself in this way, he was still speechless when he looked at the valley where his grandmother was buried.
It was already dark when he got home. He walked into the main room, boiled a pot of water and sat on the sofa.
Xiaoxia brought a lot of dried apples and handed them to Lin Heng: "Dad, I'll give you this. It will be sweet when you eat it."
"Thank you, daughter." Lin Heng took it with a smile, ate two himself, and reached out to feed Xiulan one.
They had a simple meal and went to bed. Today, all three children slept with them in the big bed.
The next morning, the golden sun rose as usual, just like tens of millions of years ago, and the warm sunlight generously spread to every corner of the world.
In the sunshine, Lin Heng and Xiulan exercised as usual, and then cooked and ate.
People all come from the earth and will eventually be reunited on the earth.
(End of this chapter)
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