Upon hearing that Zhou Shuyao's body was to be burned, Song Yaoyao, who had just been released, stormed out of the crowd and roared at the person who had just said that the body was to be burned, "Who wants to burn my man's body? Anyone who dares to touch it, I'll fight them to the death!"
Song Yaoyao's eyes were bloodshot, and her hands, hanging at her sides, trembled slightly.
Zhou Shuyao once said that he wanted to be buried in the Binhai Cemetery so that he and his mother-in-law could be mother and son again in the next life.
And she also thought that perhaps, a hundred years from now, there really would be such a lifetime.
She and Zhou Shuyao could be husband and wife for another lifetime.
He had no other women in his eyes, only her!
Song Yaoyao pointed at her second brother, who was covered with a white sheet on the ground, and said, "My husband is dead, and you just bully us orphans and widows like this?"
After listening to her sobbing, no one said a word.
All eyes turned to Political Commissar Hao, awaiting his decision.
Political Commissar Hao looked at Zhou Jiuzhen, waiting for his reply.
Zhou Jiuzhen looked at the coffin placed in the corner of the training ground, his heart breaking.
He understood what Political Commissar Hao meant: even if his second brother's death was not because of Zhou Shuyao.
But now the way to stop the rumors is to burn the corpses.
He remembered Zhou Shuyao's last words: to be buried next to his mother.
But now...
He couldn't even fulfill this small wish of his younger brother.
Just as he was struggling with his decision, Ling Huanwu gently squeezed his palm. Only then did he belatedly realize what was happening and make his decision: "Civilize the body!"
The storm outside the training ground had subsided, and the entire area below the hilltop was a vast expanse of water, with only the howling sea breeze blowing.
As the flames ignited, the coffin, resting on the wood, crackled and popped as it burned.
Soon the two coffins were completely engulfed by the rising flames.
The villagers in the training field watched this scene in complete silence.
All that could be heard was Song Yaoyao's hysterical cries.
"Zhou Jiuzhen, Ling Huanwu! Shuyao treated you so well, you're not even human! I'm going to kill you!"
Her cries echoed throughout the valley, and she looked like a demon crawling out of hell.
In the crowd, Zhao Jingxiang watched Song Yaoyao break down in protecting her lover, as if he were seeing her for the first time.
That woman who killed without a second thought actually went mad for a man she didn't love.
That look truly resembled someone about to kill.
He looked at Zhou Jiuzhen and Ling Huanwu, and made up his mind that after the flood receded, he would definitely turn himself in and clear Ling Huanwu's name.
*
Night fell.
Outside, the storm swept through like a long dragon, leaving behind an eerie silence in the mountains.
In the cramped office.
Zhou Jiuzhen held Ling Huanwu tightly, his scalding tears falling onto her neck, making her heart tremble.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you? I've put Shuyao's body and Second Brother's body into my spatial storage. We'll bury them in the cemetery later."
Ling Huanwu thought Zhou Jiuzhen was upset about this, so she tried to comfort him again.
Zhou Jiuzhen shook his head and buried his face in the crook of her long, flowing hair. "It's not about that. We're going down the mountain tomorrow morning. Captain Sun said that after we get down, you and Qin Zhizhi will be transferred to the city. I'm scared..."
Before the storm surge, he wanted to ask a fingerprint expert in the city to examine the fingerprints.
However, the storm surge came too suddenly, and Captain Sun, in order to help the villagers evacuate, did not take the evidence with him in time.
Now all the evidence has been destroyed, unless the murderer of the widower comes forward and confesses.
Otherwise, it would be very difficult to clear Ling Huanwu's name.
Zhou Jiuzhen feared that once Ling Huanwu left, she might never return.
Ling Huanwu patted his hand to comfort him, "Don't worry, you have to trust the police officers in the city. I believe they will find out the truth about what I didn't do!"
"Huanwu, believe me, if you can't get out, I'll go in with you..."
"You're not allowed to say that!"
Hearing the man's promise behind her, Ling Huanwu turned around and reached out to cover his lips with hers, slowly bringing them closer and gently kissing away the tears at the corners of his eyes...
The next day.
After a long day's journey, as the sun began to set, the villagers finally arrived at their respective villages.
"We're home, we're home."
The villagers wiped their faces, their voices trembling.
Looking at the collapsed houses and the village roads that could no longer be seen, their eyes all turned red.
Some villagers carried iron pots, while others held dried cotton quilts.
The women held their children in their arms.
Young and strong men carried the elderly on their backs.
Seeing the stone millstone in the threshing ground turned upside down in the mud, everyone silently shed tears, but no one cried out loud.
Zhou Jiuzhen released Ling Huanwu's hand and walked over, patted the young man on the shoulder, and stood on the rock to call on everyone, "Let's set up the shed tonight, and tomorrow we'll clear the silt and see if the house can be rebuilt."
The villagers nodded vigorously.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the villagers.
The soldiers and villagers mingled together; some were moving stones, while others were gathering usable planks.
On the distant sea, the last rays of sunset fell on the shimmering waves, like scattered gold dust.
As darkness fell, the villagers temporarily set up makeshift shelters on the drying ground where the silt had been cleared.
The shed swayed in the wind, yet it carried the villagers' longing for home.
The night was as dark as ink, so thick it was impossible to see through.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Su Haiting secretly slipped a large black ten to an aunt who was using the toilet. "Auntie, could you run an errand for me and go find Qiao Hui, the guy Lin Xiaoqin next door is dating? Tell her that Comrade Ling is looking for her everywhere and asks her to go to the west dock to meet him. After all, Comrade Ling is going to the city tomorrow and wants to see him secretly."
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