"Dad knows you're sad. But you must fulfill your great-grandfather's wish."
Gu Yaozu nodded, "I will. In the future, the Gu family will be a large and prosperous family." It wasn't until four o'clock in the morning that Zhang Hongmei came over to give her husband and son spiritual spring water.
"Mom, you're feeling much better."
"Okay, I don't want your great-grandfather to worry. You should go and rest for a while too."
After Gu Yaozu finished drinking the water, he stood up and went back. Zou Haiyin prepared hot water for him and let him take a hot bath. She stood behind him and helped him dry his hair.
"Okay, you go to sleep for a while. I'll keep an eye on the time."
Gu Yaozu hadn't slept for two days and two nights, and Zou Haiyin was naturally worried about him.
At seven o'clock, the family sat down to eat together, and at eight o'clock they went to the crematorium.
The whole family remained silent, no one uttering a word. After Zhang Shouyi put down his chopsticks, everyone else followed suit.
"Let's go, let's visit your great-grandfather one last time as a family."
Zhang Zhenye tried to help Zhang Xingguo up, but was refused.
The family of twenty-three stood on either side of the coffin. They were all silent, their minds filled with memories of the old man they had spent together.
At 7:40, Zhao Changlong, He Chuanyong, and Kong Mingde were pushed in by their grandchildren in wheelchairs.
"Hongmei, please accept my condolences."
"Uncle Zhao, Uncle He, Uncle Kong, I'm fine. I'll be good and won't let my grandfather worry."
"Alright, let's get ready to set off," Zhang Shouyi said, glancing at the time.
Sixteen bodyguards entered, carrying a coffin, with Gu Yaozu leading the way, holding a photo of Gu Chuanming.
Behind him were Zhenye and the other six. The nine children followed behind them, and they all knew now that their ancestor had passed away. They were all quite sad, after all, Gu Chuanming had never left them since they were born.
Zhang Hongmei and her five daughters were behind, along with Wang Ying, Lu Yue, and Han Mei, followed by Ping An and his fourteen others who had arrived. Er Lengzi, Shi Tou, and Zhao Changlong were also behind.
The procession that saw them off was quite large.
Police cars led the way, followed by a hearse. Then they said there were twenty vehicles.
Zhang Hongmei didn't shed a single tear until she sent Gu Chuanming to his grave.
The entire funeral was completely silent. This kind of silent grief is more painful than crying out loud.
When the family returned home in the evening, they found that only Dad was there and Grandpa was not there. Everyone became a little anxious.
"It's alright, your grandfather asked me to persuade him to go and rest."
"Come and have dinner, get a good rest tonight, and go to work as usual tomorrow."
Zhenye nodded. He then called his younger brothers to go eat.
"I have no appetite at all."
“No, if you don’t eat, the children will worry. I know you’re sad, but the children are sad too.”
Zhang Hongmei closed her dry eyes and stood up. She prepared twenty-two cups of water, and then Zhang Shouyi broke down.
After the family finished their meal, they didn't drink tea in the living room; they all went back to their rooms.
Looking at his listless wife, Zhang Shouyi really didn't know what to do.
"Honey, shall we take Dad out for some fun? How about to Shanghai?"
Zhang Hongmei shook her head. "It's not possible these next few days. We won't go anywhere. We'll wait until Grandpa's fifth term is over, and then we'll take Dad out to celebrate the New Year."
"Okay, I'll listen to you. Dad hasn't said a word all day."
"Yes, they've been together all these years. Dad must be very sad that Grandpa passed away this time."
"Yes, they spent the most time together."
Okay, stop thinking about it, go to sleep.
After the seven-day mourning period, Zhang Hongmei wanted Xiao Wu and the other six to go back home.
"Mom, the holiday is coming soon, let's stay home a little longer."
"Sure, you can arrange your own time."
In those short seven days, Zhang Hongmei seemed to have lost all her energy and spirit, and always felt powerless.
Ruiyang and the other nine also went up the mountain. We'll go pick them up on May 7th.
Xiao Wu found Zhang Weiyu and said, "Third Brother, you need to pull yourself together quickly."
"I know, don't worry, I'll be fine."
Xiao Wu looked at his third brother with complicated emotions. After accidentally encountering Yan Yu, what else was there that he didn't know?
But he knew that his third brother had absolutely no other feelings for his sister.
Forget it, I'll just pretend I don't know.
"Xiao Wu, why are you looking at me like that?"
No, I was just worried you were still sad.
"Xiao Wu, you're not hiding something from me, are you?"
"What could I possibly be hiding from you? You're overthinking it."
Zhang Weiyu looked at his younger brother indifferently, deciding that if he didn't want to talk about it, then so be it.
On the 57th day after his death, his whole family, including the children Gu Chuanming had watched grow up, came together to burn paper money for him.
It was already the end of 1995, and Xiao Wu and his two friends still had half a month to leave. However, they didn't stay idle and kept going to the company for inspections.
In early January 1996, Xiao Wu and the other five boarded a plane and left. They would be able to return in two years.
Zhang Shouyi, Zhang Hongmei, and Zhang Xingguo also boarded a plane to Shanghai.
The place had already been taken care of, so they moved in directly.
Winters here are cold too, but better than in the north.
The three of them spent their days visiting tourist attractions. On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhenye called.
“We’re not going back; we’ll spend the New Year here. Don’t worry, your grandpa and mom are in much better spirits.”
"Dad, let's wait until the kids are on holiday and then go together."
"No, it's better not to. You all have a lot to do at home. You can spend the New Year at home. If you want to come together, then come together; if not, then go home separately."
"Yes. I'll tell them."
That evening, Zhang Shouyi told his wife's father about the phone call Zhenye had made earlier that day.
"Don't let them come over. We're busy at home, and I'm worried about them."
"That's what I told them: let them go back to their own homes and celebrate the New Year alone."
Zhang Xingguo nodded. "Hongmei, are we really spending the New Year away from home?"
"Yes, Dad, it's just the three of us this year."
"Hehe, okay, with you guys with me, it doesn't matter where I am."
The festive atmosphere here is particularly strong, especially now that life has improved. Since the reform and opening up, people's wallets have become much fuller, so restaurants, hotels, karaoke bars, dance halls, shopping malls, and game arcades are all packed with people.
The three of them had no interest in entertainment activities, but they spent several days wandering around shopping malls and buildings.
"The economy is developing so fast. No one is starving anymore."
"Grandpa, when X comes back next year, let's go there for the New Year. It's even more prosperous than here. Let's go and see."
Brother Zhang, you've retired, are you allowed to go abroad now?
Zhang Shouyi shook his head. "I can't go out. I can only travel around the country."
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