The firecrackers alone lasted for ten minutes. The old man's grave had been opened, and the ceremony was very solemn. The village elders arranged the old man's bones, and then several people together placed the old woman's bones side by side.
After the coffin was closed, more than a dozen young men came over and put it down.
Soon it will be Liu Changhe and his wife's bones coming together.
Zhang Hongmei cried uncontrollably. Zhang Shouyi held her in his arms.
There was a chorus of sobs around her. Hu Aifen fainted from crying. Gu Yaozu held her and said, "Grandma, Grandma, you have to hold on. You have to see my great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother off to the afterlife."
Pengfei was also holding Li Cuihua. They were both the people closest to the old lady.
Afterwards, the young and strong added to the grave, and there were more cries of anguish.
Liu Aimin and his two sons knelt down, kowtowed, and smashed the jar. Everyone behind them followed suit and knelt down.
The sound of the suona was mournful; even from afar, it evoked sadness.
After that, all the paper figures, paper horses, sedan chairs, and wreaths were set on fire.
It wasn't until after nine o'clock that the three elderly people were finally laid to rest.
The old woman's departure seemed to have drained Zhang Hongmei of her spirit. On her way back, she leaned on Zhang Shouyi's arms as she walked.
Lunch was a white banquet. This meant all the dishes were served without soy sauce, so they had no color.
One group after another arrived for dinner. At this point, Zhang Shouyi also had the energy to meet with the leaders. He simply exchanged a few words and invited them to stay for dinner. Everyone present was shrewd; no one dared to step forward at this moment. Since the leaders had come to see them, they naturally left after finishing their meal.
The feast lasted until evening. A considerable amount of meat was left over, which was then distributed among everyone.
Zhang Hongmei had no appetite at all, which terrified the eight men.
Zhang Hongmei mustered her spirits and poured out nine cups of water, which the whole family drank.
"Zhenye, the plane is still outside the village. You four should go back quickly."
"Mom, we need to go back and see Great-Grandpa and Grandpa first. We're worried about them."
"Oh, go ahead. You all go back. I'll stay here for a few more days, but there's nothing else to do, so don't worry."
Zhenye, you guys go back as soon as possible. Xiaowu, the three of you, hurry up and go up the mountain too.
You all felt it this time too; this is the meaning of "wanting to care for one's parents but finding them gone."
You must complete your tasks as quickly as possible so you can return to us soon. Your great-grandfather is over a hundred years old, and we're worried you might not make it in time. So please hurry back; we'll be waiting for you at home.”
Zhang Shouyi told the children to go outside, then hugged Zhang Hongmei and kissed her forehead. "Wife, we're going back now."
"Yes, Brother Zhang, don't worry, Lu Jing and the others are here, everything will be fine. I want to stay here for a few more days until I go back outside the Fifth Phase."
“Honey, you can stay for a week at most. I’ll come back with you in the fifth phase. Liu Jingze and Liu Jingxiang can’t stay for too long either, as they’re working.”
Zhang Hongmei thought for a moment and said, "Okay, we'll go back in a week. Don't work too hard."
Zhang Hongmei saw off the eight men, the children, and Wang Ying and the others. Only Chongyu and Yuhui stayed behind. Sanya and Song Zigan also went back.
I had dinner with Er Lengzi and his wife tonight.
"You should all go back tomorrow as well. You don't need to come back from Phase Five either."
“Hongmei, I really couldn’t come back when I was in the fifth term with my great-grandmother and the others. Please burn some more paper money for me.”
Zhang Hongmei nodded, "I understand, don't worry, I will. You two shouldn't drive too fast. Get a good rest tonight."
After seeing Er Lengzi off the next day, the place felt much emptier.
He helped Hu Aifen walk around in the yard. "Auntie, don't be sad. You've been so good to my great-grandmother and great-uncle and great-grandmother. They haven't suffered any injustice at all."
"Hongmei, how can I not be heartbroken? I've been with them my whole life."
“You still have us in the future. Chongyu and Yuhui are scared because you are so sad.”
Liu Jingze also came over, walking behind the mother and daughter.
Seeing my mother's obviously weak body, I felt terrible.
The whole family was exhausted, especially their hearts, as if a large part of them was missing.
At noon, Da Shan's mother brought her two nieces-in-law to cook. She knew that none of Hong Mei's people knew how to cook.
The family sat together, and Hu Aifen looked at the people at the table, feeling that something was missing and it didn't feel right.
"Auntie, please don't do this. Hurry up and eat, get well soon, because we still need to take care of the three elders on the seventh day after their death."
Liu Aimin also had no appetite, but he still had to persuade his wife.
Ma Li's mother didn't go back either; she was also comforting Hu Aifen.
Liu Changhai and his family just ate with their heads down, as if they were out of place.
After dinner, I went home and met Liu Jingsong at the door.
"aunt."
"Come in."
Liu Jingsong followed behind Zhang Hongmei, feeling extremely uneasy.
Lu Jing went to boil water to make tea, while Bai Xue stayed by Zhang Hongmei's side.
"Jinsong, how have you been these past few years?"
Liu Jingsong smiled bitterly, “Auntie, I had a terrible time in the past few years. I was always unwilling to accept it and wanted to go back to your side and continue to live a carefree life, but I didn’t have the chance. It was only in the last two or three years that I realized that a good life is not given by others, but earned through my own efforts.”
"Good, I've figured it out. What are you doing now?"
“I wanted to go to university, but I didn’t get into a university in the capital, and I didn’t go to any other regions either. Now I’m repeating a year.”
"Keep trying, Jingsong. Actually, you shouldn't have the mindset that you can't get into any university other than the one in the capital."
Graduates from other universities can also be successful; you need to be open-minded.
"Auntie, I've thought it through. This time I will listen to our teacher."
"That's good. You should go back quickly too. The exam is in a few months. I wish you all the best."
"Lu Jing, you gave Jinsong a thousand yuan. That's all your aunt can give you. Actually, I'm afraid that if I give you too much, you won't know your place."
"Thank you, Auntie. I won't say I don't want it. When I'm able to do so in the future, I will definitely repay you."
Zhang Hongmei shook her head. "There's no need for that. I just hope you can live a good life."
Lu Jing saw Jinsong off. Turning back, she saw Zhang Hongmei drinking tea.
"Madam, you've softened your heart again." Lu Jing knew about this, but Bai Xue and the others had no idea what was going on.
"Yes, just because he knew to come back to take care of the old lady, and just because he told me that life requires hard work, I softened again."
I raised him, and I'm not without responsibility for how things have turned out. Now that he's realized his mistakes and changed, I'll help him out.
Lu Jing didn't say anything more. Having lived with his wife for over ten years, she knew she was a very soft-hearted person. She hoped Liu Jingsong wouldn't disappoint his wife.
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