I didn't call ahead when I came back this time, so it took me two days to finally get the cleaning done at all three houses.
I no longer recognize most of the people in the village.
“Hongmei, you’re finally back. Come to my house, your aunt wants to see you one last time.” Da Shan’s father came over.
Zhang Hongmei was also startled and immediately stood up, leaving home with Da Shan's father.
Zhang Shouyi was reading in his study when he heard a noise and came out to see his wife quickly leaving.
He immediately followed behind. The two arrived at Da Shan's house. By then, all the funeral supplies had been prepared. It seemed the person was truly dying.
Zhang Hongmei hurried into the room. She saw Dashan's mother lying on the bed, breathing heavily.
"Auntie, I've come home to see you. Open your eyes and look at me."
At this moment, Hu Aifen also came in. Seeing her good friend like this, tears immediately fell down her face. "Xiaocui, Xiaocui, I've come to see you."
Lying in bed, Dashan's mother opened her eyes and looked at Hongmei and her good friend in front of her bed.
"I'm satisfied to have seen you one last time." He closed his eyes after saying that, and his heaving chest stopped.
Just then, the sound of crying came from behind. Da Shan's son and daughter were kneeling behind their mother, both dressed in mourning clothes.
Da Shan's father sighed, "Yes, Xiao Cui's wish is to see you all. Her eyesight has improved."
"Uncle, don't be sad." Zhang Hongmei didn't know how to comfort him, and she knew that at this time, any words of comfort would be superfluous.
"Yes, I'm fine. You guys go back. It's too chaotic here."
Zhang Hongmei helped Hu Aifen, and Zhang Shouyi helped Li Cuihua from behind; the four of them walked back.
"Auntie, you mustn't be too sad. This body is your own."
"I know, don't worry about me. We're both this age, what's there to be upset about?"
"I'm content to have seen my best friend one last time."
Zhang Hongmei didn't dare to say anything, seeing that Da Shan's father also lacked energy.
After sending the two elderly people back, the couple did not go home. Instead, they went to the village store, bought a lot of paper money, sent it to Dashan's house, and gave him a gift of 1,000 yuan.
The three of them ate dinner in the yard that evening. By evening, Ganlu had already burned mosquito-repellent grass, so after dinner, the three of them sat in the yard chatting.
"Hongmei, you're playing the trumpet quite well."
“I don’t appreciate this. Dad, you even understand this?”
"I don't really understand it, but it sounds pretty good. Find me a pair of trumpet players after I die."
"Okay, I'll definitely look for it, but you have to wait until Ruiyang and the others have a child before you leave."
"Hehe, I think so too. I must live well until I see their nine children."
The next day was the official funeral day, a lively affair with all the families in the village coming to see him off.
Zhang Hongmei told the father and son to stay at home, while she accompanied Hu Aifen and Li Cuihua to see them off.
Two bodyguards were taking care of the two elderly people, but Zhang Hongmei did not agree to let them go to the cemetery, after all, they were old.
They stayed there until October, when Wei Yu called for the third time before they returned to the capital.
As December approached, Zhang Hongmei asked Zhang Xingguo for his opinion on whether they should go to the south for the New Year this year.
"Let's not go. I can't bear to leave Ruiyang and the others. Let's stay here instead."
"Okay, I'll do as you say. We'll go to Mount Tai and Mount Jiuhua in April."
"I'm not going. You two go ahead. I can't climb up there."
We'll talk about it later.
“Hongmei, it’s alright. It’s been almost forty years. You’ve been stuck at home all this time. Shouyi was busy with work back then. Now you finally have a chance. You two can go out and have some fun. I’m fine. I’m thinking of going up the mountain to keep Ruiyang and the others company.”
"Dad, I'm worried."
"What's there to worry about? I'm absolutely fine."
In the spring of 1997, Zhang Shouyi still took Zhang Hongmei to Mount Tai. Among the Five Sacred Mountains, Mount Tai is the closest to the capital.
This was the couple's first trip together, and Zhang Shouyi was quite excited.
After a month of traveling, Zhang Hongmei was still worried about Zhang Xingguo, so the couple returned in May.
Zhenye, Weiyu, and Liu Jingze are currently extremely busy.
When Zhang Shouyi returned, he didn't get involved in the matter, but Zhenye and Weiyu would go to his study to find him every night.
By June, everything was finalized, and preparations began. This was a major event, and the whole nation celebrated.
1997 was destined to be a year of celebration. Even when places were hit by disasters, timely rescue and relief efforts were provided.
In late September of 1998, Xiao Wu and his six classmates returned home after graduating.
Seeing her son whom she hadn't seen for two years, Zhang Hongmei was overjoyed. Although she had to give them spiritual spring water every day, she was still happier to see him standing by her side in person.
That evening, Xiao Wu was in the study with his parents. "Mom, I give Yan Yu, Pu Yu, and Green water every month. The three of them are in very good health, so don't worry."
Also, this is a video and photos that your sister sent you.
This is a letter from your three children.
For the past four years, neither Xiao Liu nor Xiao Qi knew about the existence of the uncut jade and the jade. Since Xiao Wu discovered it, Annie has never been careless.
"Xiao Wu, you can't let your third brother know about this. Even if he finds out later, if he asks you, just say it was my decision."
Xiao Wu chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Mom, this is something I'm keeping from my brother. You know, I always feel guilty whenever I see my third brother."
But I also know that if my third brother found out about this, he would definitely find it hard to accept.
"Well, you don't need to think about it anymore. Don't even think about Yan Yu or Pu Yu in front of your third brother. Your third brother is quite capable."
"Yes, I know, that's why I feel like I'm having a really tough time."
Zhang Shouyi looked at the photos of the two children, especially liking Puyu's photo. This child's eye color and hair color were just like his wife's.
"Xiao Wu, do the Zhao family know about their existence?"
"I don't know. This sister is quite talented. Dad, I think she's like you, always thinking three steps ahead. How could she let people who know Third Brother know about the existence of Yan Yu Pu Yu? If it weren't for Brother's concern for the three children, we wouldn't know now."
"Yes, Anne is certainly suited to be a politician."
After Xiao Wu left, the couple played the video. Looking at the two children on the screen, Zhang Hongmei still felt sad.
"Alright, stop overthinking it. Just treat this as Annie's child."
"For a woman to get pregnant and give birth without ever having been with a man is the greatest punishment for Anne."
"Yes, that kid is ruthless."
"She's still unmarried and has truly spent her life raising her two children. I feel sorry for her. What will she do when she gets old?"
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