Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 173 Guests from afar

On the night after her father was buried, Liu Xiaonan fell asleep and did not wake up until dawn.He hadn't closed his eyes for three days and three nights. The pain and self-blame were like poisonous insects gnawing at his heart, making it difficult for him to feel at ease.

As the eldest son of the family, he has to take on everything and muster his energy to participate in various sacrificial ceremonies, and to receive relatives, friends and villagers who come to worship and help.

Meng Duoduo and his brother-in-law stopped their business and came here with their father-in-law and mother-in-law. The young couple helped with the work inside and outside, and the old couple accompanied Jiang Changling.

Wu Yanli entrusted Wentian to Sha Liu's care, and came to worship with Sha Wanli in a pickup truck driven by Shazhou.She imitated Shawanli Shazhou, she first put three sticks of incense in front of Liu Zhixin's spirit, then knelt down and kowtowed three times.

Liu Xiaonan and Meng Xiangxiang knelt down towards her and Shawanli Shazhou, and kowtowed in return.

It is not a kinship relationship, just bow three times to the deceased, no kowtow is required.When Wu Yanli stood up, Liu Xiaonan saw tears streaming down her face.

Sha Wanli held Liu Xiaonan's hand and said, "My brother's condolences! The farm has us, don't worry."

Wu Yanli still burst into tears, and said to Liu Xiaonan: "We will do whatever we need to do, we can't stay at home with you."

Yu Zhiyong came to worship, knelt down and kowtowed, accompanied Liu Xiaonan to watch the spirit at night, and stayed up all night.Yu Zhiyong said: "I have a father and I don't have a father. I regard your father as my father."

To Liu Xiaonan's deep surprise, Song Ge Gu Yu accompanied Mr. Gu to worship, and bowed three times before his father's coffin together. He and Meng Xiangxiang also kowtowed back.

Mr. Gu held Liu Xiaonan's hand and said, "My condolences are changing, I will not forget the love of sending charcoal in the snow. Let Xiao Song show me the school you donated to build, the big cherry base in Liuzi Street, and the vegetable and fruit wholesale market."

Liu Xiaonan said, "Thank you for remembering Liuzi Street."

Mr. Gu said: "You have done a good job, your father will be proud of you."

Gu Yu never said a word, but communicated with Liu Xiaonan with his eyes.Liu Xiaonan found that the content in her eyes hadn't changed much.Song Ge didn't speak either, but Liu Xiaonan figured out the relationship between her and Gu Yu from this.

Mr. Gu entered the room and held Jiang Changling's hand, comforting her like an older brother.Mr. Gu didn't stay for too long, he talked to some old people in Liuzi Street for a while, and then left.

The students who stayed in Bincheng came, the business partners came, and the people from the Longwangtang area came. The gate of the courtyard was full of cars, and they came in wave after wave.No matter how many people came, they were just returning favors, and the grief of losing a loved one had to be borne by him, Liu Xiaonan, and his relatives.

Liu Xiaonan bought a high-quality coffin for her father and hired a trumpet maker, but the body had to be cremated.When the father's ashes and remains were collected, Suona played a low and sad tune, which aggravated the grief in the hearts of relatives, and all of them cried bitterly.

Kneeling in front of his father's spirit with his two children, he heard the heart-piercing cries of the women, his eyes were already blurred by tears.

Amidst the mournful weeping, Qiyu beside him asked him in a low voice: "Dad, why did Grandpa turn into a fossil?"

Liu Xiaonan gently stroked his son's head, with a forced smile in his tearful eyes, he said to his son: "People are born of mud, and grandpa will return to the mud."

He knew his son couldn't understand.The son still doesn't understand what death means, just as he didn't understand why his grandma left him forever.His son's childish speech made him realize something.

Death does not mean the end, the genes of the deceased are still alive in the world, isn't Qiyu Qimeng growing up day by day?As the saying goes, relatives and resemblances from generation to generation, isn't that how human beings continue from generation to generation?

The thick coffin lid was closed, and amidst the sound of mournful weeping, the hammer in the hand of the man who built the coffin swung down and knocked loudly, and fixed it firmly with four nails.

The final conclusion is that the yin and yang are separated, the deceased has no connection with the world, and the fame, wealth, honor, disgrace, rise and fall are all illusory.The only thing that can stay in the world and is closely connected with the deceased is his genes.It has nothing to do with the length of life, as long as the genes are there, in a sense, life is there.

Even though he realized this level, Liu Xiaonan still couldn't forgive himself. His father's early death was related to his negligence, and he believed that he had an inescapable responsibility.He paralyzed himself in his sleep, forgetting his pain and sorrow in his sleep.

After sleeping until half the morning and still not waking up, Meng Xiangxiang became frightened and forced Liu Xiaonan to wake him up.

Liu Xiaonan's face was gray, with sunken eye sockets and disheveled hair.Meng Xiangxiang called warm water for him to wash his hair and face, and he did so, but his head and cheeks felt numb, as if he had lost consciousness.

Liu Xiaonan forced herself to calm down.The father has been buried, and only three aunts stay with the mother.Like him, his mother fell into self-blame, always talking about her father's death and her failure to take good care of her man.

If I am depressed, how can my mother make a living?Like his father before his death, he spoke loudly, letting his voice fill the space left by his father, which might make his mother feel less empty.

He continued to sleep in the afternoon, and he didn't know to wake up when he fell asleep. It was still Meng Xiangxiang who woke Liu Xiaonan up.

Liu Xiaonan walked into the yard and saw that the sun was already hanging on the top of Xishan Mountain.Another dazed day is about to pass, tomorrow will be the same, nothing will change, and the person who passed away will never come back.

To come into the world with one's own cry, and to die with the cry of others, this is life.

Liu Xiaonan walked out of the yard aimlessly and walked into her father's vegetable greenhouse.Vegetable greenhouses no longer grow vegetables, are not covered with plastic film, and the walls on three sides are still there, which can also block the biting cold wind.

There are hundreds of newly grafted large cherry seedlings in the greenhouse. The short and thick branches have just sprouted buds, and within a few years, they will flourish, blossom and bear fruit.But where is that busy and tireless figure?
Meng Xiangxiang had been secretly watching Liu Xiaonan's every move, and his mental state worried her. When she saw him walking into the vegetable shed, she quietly followed him.

Walking into the vegetable shed, she heard suppressed wailing.She knew she couldn't persuade her, so she turned around and went back to her uncle Liu Zhitai.

When Liu Zhitai walked into the vegetable shed, Liu Xiaonan's crying had subsided, and she squatted there, gently stroking the buds of the big cherry seedlings that her father had grafted with her own hands.Seeing his uncle walk in, he wiped away his tears and stood up.

Liu Zhitai said: "Xiaonan, when your father passed away, I was more sad than you. When your grandfather passed away, I was only 12 years old. I didn't know anything, and I couldn't do anything. It was your father who brought me up. It was you. Dad single-handedly arranged for me to start a family and start a business. An elder brother is like a father, and I have the same feelings as you. If crying can bring your father back, we will cry together."

Liu Xiaonan said: "I am an incompetent son, thinking about earning money every day, but ignoring my father's health. If I went to the hospital earlier, how could this be the case?"

Liu Zhitai said: "You don't know your father's temper? Who can he listen to? He is the one who teaches others. I am 60 years old, and he scolded me like I was a child, saying that I don't take care of the car and don't know how to maintain it. Not wiped clean, not as noble as his bike."

Liu Xiaonan smiled: "Uncle, you have been living in my father's shadow all your life. I ran out and stayed away from him, and he took all his anger on you."

"I'm happy! How did your father reprimand me? I never talked back, unlike you, who confronted your father. Now suddenly no one reprimands me, and I feel empty in my heart. I'm not very strong."

"Uncle, you are getting old, don't run long distances in the future. I can't come back often, you can take care of the crabs in the pond for me, and we are equally divided in how much we earn."

"It's not good for us to mention money. Well, I won't drive in the future, and I will take care of the pond for you, and I have to pick up the things your father left behind. These big cherry seedlings, the cherry orchard on the mountain, rice Tian, ​​I have taken over. I have learned a lot from following your dad these years, but your dad didn't give me the chance to play it. "

Liu Xiaonan laughed again.

Round the grave on the third day.Add new soil, burn paper money, place sacrifices, burn incense and kowtow, and shed the remaining tears and sorrows.The tears and sadness will dissolve over time.

Guan Deyu also came, kowtowed three heads, stood up and said to Liu Xiaonan: "On the first day of your father's death, I discussed something with him on the mountain, and he didn't have a chance to tell you personally. In front of your father, let me tell you. I want you to be the temporary village head of Liuzi Street, and if you take the lead, the villagers will have more confidence."

If it was said that the last time he took the villagers to pick big cherries for Liu Xiaonan and let the villagers see his financial strength, then this time the funeral at home let the villagers see his soft power.

People from all walks of life came to worship, which shows the wide range of his acquaintances.The villagers discussed privately that Mr. Gu had never been back to Liuzi Street since he returned to Bincheng in [-]. What does it mean when he came back this time to pay homage to Liu Zhixin?
If Liu Xiaonan can serve as the temporary village head of Liuzi Street, Liuzi Street will definitely develop.

Liu Xiaonan asked, "What's my dad's opinion?"

Guan Deyu said: "It's a good thing your father said. He didn't force you. It mainly depends on your personal opinion. You should not have told you about this while you were still serving filial piety, but it was urgent and had to be said. The big cherry planting base has just been formed, and the vegetable and fruit wholesale market has just opened. These are all your ideas. You can’t give up halfway. You have to continue. Your father is gone, and I don’t even have anyone to discuss. Third uncle hopes you I can promise."

Liu Xiaonan said: "If the village agrees, I am willing to serve as the temporary village head. After the village elects the official village head, I will step aside."

Guan Deyu said: "The village agrees, otherwise I won't tell you. There are college student village officials in other places, and our village has ready-made writers and entrepreneurs. You have vision, and it is best to cultivate someone who can succeed you. Village head, don't worry about this matter for now, you will officially take office after your father burns Qiqi."

Liu Xiaonan turned to Meng Xiangxiang and said, "Look, my third uncle has added a burden to me. From now on, the affairs of the family will all depend on you."

Meng Xiangxiang said: "This is your choice and your responsibility. I have no reason not to support you with all my strength."

After the round of the grave, the aunts all went back, and the house became deserted.Liu Xiaonan and Meng Xiangxiang decided to spend more time with their mother and go back after burning the first seven.They also want to take their mother to Bincheng. They are not used to living in the city, so they can live in Longwangtang Farm, which is no different from the countryside, and it is easy to take care of.

Jiang Changling said: "I won't go with you, I'm not familiar with the place. I can take care of myself, so you don't need to worry about it. Besides, your father told me the day before he left that as long as I can move, my son and wife will be filial." , and can’t live with you for a long time.”

Meng Xiangxiang said: "Auntie, why is that? Give me a suitable reason, or you will have to leave with us."

Jiang Changling said: "Look, before we even got to you, orders started to come. I'm old and have many problems. I'm like your father. I don't want to be annoying. I'm free on my own."

Liu Xiaonan said: "Mom, don't be as stubborn as my dad. How can we rest assured that there is no one in front of us? Do we still want to be like my dad, who left without leaving me a word?"

Qiyu Qimeng also said: "Grandma, come and live with us, and go fishing with us, it's fun."

Jiang Changling said: "Grandma is not going, she doesn't understand anything, she can't do anything, she can't help you with anything, she will only cause trouble for you. Grandma will be very happy when she comes back to see grandma after the holiday."

Both Liu Zhitai and Liu Erya were present.Liu Erya said to Liu Xiaonan and Meng Xiangxiang: "My sister-in-law doesn't want to leave, so don't force her. When people get old, they love their homeland and don't want to move. You can go back at ease. I will take care of my sister-in-law and let her follow me." I looked at the small shop and chatted with old relatives and neighbors."

Liu Zhitai also said: "We will take care of my sister-in-law. You are both busy, so you may not be able to take care of her as well as we do."

Liu Xiaonan and Meng Xiangxiang glanced at each other, and it seemed that this was the only arrangement for the time being.The mother's mental state and physical state are both good, and she is relieved to be taken care of by her uncle and aunt.

At this time, Meng Xiangxiang's cell phone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was an unfamiliar number on the landline, so she connected the call.

A familiar voice came from the phone: "Xiao Meng, it's me, Yue Xuelian, this is the public phone at the airport. Where are you now?"

Meng Xiangxiang glanced at Liu Xiaonan in a panic, saw that he was talking to his mother, uncle and aunt, and didn't pay attention to her phone, so he hurried outside the house and said, "Sister Yue, I'm in Liuzi Street, where are you?"

The phone said, "What's wrong with you? I'm at Bincheng Airport, just got off the plane. How is Xiaonan's father? Where is he hospitalized? My parents and I want to visit Uncle Liu together."

Meng Xiangxiang paused before saying, "My father-in-law has passed away, and it was the night I sent you the email."

The other end of the phone also paused for a moment, as if discussing something, and then said after a while: "My parents and I will take a taxi and drive there."

The phone was hung up in a hurry, and Meng Xiangxiang didn't even have time to say that I arranged a car to pick you up.

She walked into the house, called Liu Xiaonan outside, and said with shame on her face: "Xiaonan, there is something I have been keeping from you. I have been in touch with Yue Xuelian, and she asked me to tell you everything about you." she."

Liu Xiaonan said: "It's okay, you don't have to feel guilty. When you were going to buy a computer, I already guessed that you must have other uses. Was it Yue Xuelian who called just now?"

Meng Xiangxiang said: "Without your consent, I told Yue Xuelian about our father's illness and hospitalization via email. She and your Teacher Yue, Aunt Lin, have returned to China and are on their way to Liuzi Street."

Liu Xiaonan smiled: "Being able to go back to the country together means that the old couple has reconciled. Don't be dumb, pack up and get ready to welcome guests."

(End of this chapter)