On April 5, 1968, a few days before the Qingming Festival, my mother, Wei's mother, and my brothers and sisters began to be busy, and they wanted to build a mound for my father on the hillside near my house, so that we could worship my father on the Qingming Festival in the future.

For this matter, Uncle Orion Lan came to our house to discuss the matter of laying my father's grave.

At this time, I really paid attention to Uncle Lan. Uncle Lan is quite tall, very strong, and looks very young! If it weren't for the fact that his hair was a little gray, I would have thought he was a young man, but he was only a few years younger than his mother.

Mother and Wei's mother explained to Uncle Lan about helping his father find a cemetery and build a grave.

Uncle Lan said, "Sister-in-law! Wei Ma! I'll just handle this matter with Mr. Cen! Teacher Cen can look at Feng Shui! On the mountain behind your house, there is a piece of land that belongs to the Jia family! The Jia family is a distant relative of your Qin family! You use that piece of land, and they will definitely agree! If, Mr. Cen thinks it is suitable there! My big brother Qin will be buried there! You prepare it at home, my eldest brother loved clothes, shoes, hats, and supplies when he was alive! After we settled on the place, we built a grave to bury the eldest brother! ”

After Uncle Lan finished talking about things, he went out to run errands.

On the afternoon of the day my father was buried, Uncle Lan, Teacher Cen and others came to our house.

Teacher Cen looks much older than his mother in terms of age! He was a tall, thin middle-aged man with glasses, and that day he was wearing an old-fashioned kaftan like an old-fashioned teacher in Svenwen! This is the first time I have met Mr. Shum.

The mother put his father's favorite set of tunics, a hat, a pair of leather shoes, a pair of glasses, a pen and a book, as well as the last hair cut for the father, in a black wooden box.

Wei's mother prepared sacrificial supplies for us, she cooked a chicken, two pieces of pork, and bought fruits, incense, candles, paper money, etc., for us to bring, and we were all draped in linen cloth and white scarves, and I carried my little sister on my back, ready to send my father to the funeral.

Uncle Lan led the way with a lighted kerosene lamp, Brother Jingtian held the black wooden box, and Sister Lifen followed Uncle Lan with a big black umbrella, and they walked at the front of the funeral procession.

Mother and Mama Wei walked behind the eldest brother and sister, I carried the little sister on my back and took the little brother's hand to walk, behind my mother and Mama Wei!

Teacher Cen held a wooden sword and walked at the front of the funeral procession.

Teacher Cen chanted in a loud and deep voice: "Please Taishang Laojun!" Heavenly warrior gods! Open the way for the heroic soul of my Tianhao brothers! Get out of the way of all demons and monsters! Come with me! ”

Our funeral procession left the hill where our father was buried on foot.

Along the way, Brother Wen Chang was setting off firecrackers, and Sister Wen Juan was constantly throwing paper money on the side of the road to see her father off!

We didn't know how long we walked, and finally we reached halfway up a hill.

This is a flat land with a mountain pass, and Uncle Lan and they have dug a tomb here in advance and made a tombstone!

Under the guidance of Teacher Cen, Uncle Lan invited a few fellows to complete the burial of the black wooden box.

Mother, Wei's mother, Sister Lifen and Wen Juan lit incense and candles in front of their father's grave! Offerings!

We began to incense and kowtow to my father's grave according to Mr. Cen's instructions!

After the whole ceremony, Mr. Cen asked us to take off our burlap and headscarves and throw them into the fire to burn!

Mother and Mother Wei used a basket to put sacrifices in the boiled chicken, boiled meat, etc., I carried my little sister on my back and pulled Jingdi, and went down the mountain with my mother and Mother Wei first.

Brothers and sisters, after setting off the firecrackers, they also followed Teacher Cen and Uncle Lan down the mountain.

Teacher Cen told us that my father's soul already has a home! Let's just come here and worship our father.

.....

After my father's funeral, I felt much more at ease, and I felt that my father had been resurrected!

I believe that the Father has a soul and that the soul never dies! I feel like my father is there for us, taking care of us like before!

After everyone walked back to the house, Wei's mother plucked a lot of leaves from the grapefruit tree in the backyard of the house, soaked them in a bucket, and told us to wash our hands.

Wei Ma said that doing so can wash away some unclean souls and ward off evil spirits!

So, I also helped my little sister Lilan wash her hands in the bucket, and my little sister giggled at me when she encountered the cold water in the well!

Uncle Lan, Teacher Cen, and a few people who helped with the work also returned to our house, after everyone washed their hands, everyone gathered in the living room at home, drinking tea and chatting, bustling, very lively!

It's been a long time since the house has been so lively, and I, Jingdi, and Lilan are all very happy that we are running around in the crowd!

Mother, Mama Wei, Sister Lifen and Sister Wen Juan were busy cooking in the kitchen, and Brother Wen Chang went out to buy wine for the adults!

Brother Jingtian poured tea and water for his uncles and uncles!

Teacher Cen and Uncle Lan are happily talking about the past!

When it was dark, Mother, Wei's mother, Sister Lifen and Sister Wenjuan cooked two tables of hearty meals, and they were enthusiastic! I feel like this day is like the New Year!

Teacher Cen, Uncle Lan, a few uncles who helped with the work, Brother Jingtian and Brother Wenchang sat at a table, Teacher Cen said, I am also a man, let me make a table with them.

Mother, Mama Wei, Sister Lifen, Sister Wenjuan, Jingdi and Lilan sat at a small table.

After Brother Jingtian and Brother Wen Chang poured wine for the adults, everyone began to eat, drink, and chat!

Uncle Lan smiled and said, "Teacher Cen! You are the Headmaster and Commander-in-Chief in our hearts! ”

Teacher Cen smiled and said, "Lan Ge! Don't mention any of these things! That's a thing of the past! If I talk too much, people are going to pull me to the conference again! ”

Everyone laughed!

Uncle Lan said, "Alas! Teacher Cen! Now, there are fights everywhere! I hear people leaving every day! And so on! Will you be able to live the rest of your life? ”

Teacher Cen said, "Alas! I'm not a god either! What can I do? In the future, everyone should go out less and pretend to be deaf and dumb! ”

Brother Jingtian said, "Teacher Cen! You've been Commander-in-Chief! Can you teach us some self-defense skills? We want to learn! ”

Uncle Lan said, "Yes! Now, the kids are all grown up! What skills did you learn in school, too! In the future, how will you be a man in the world! ”

Teacher Cen said, "Alas! O God! I know why you want to learn these things! There are two kinds of skills in this world! One is called culture! One is called martial arts! Now, you can't learn the real culture in school! And what about martial arts, you are not from a good background, who let you learn it?! Therefore, don't learn anything for a while! Sometimes, silence and silence are best friends! Let's read more old books together! When the situation improves, we are slowly planning for the future! ”

After the adults drank a few drinks, Mr. Cen turned his eyes to me, and he looked at me kindly!

Teacher Cen smiled and said, "Respect for talents! How old are you? ”

I said, "Teacher Cen! I'm over five years old! ”

Teacher Cen said, "Ah Cai! What will you do now? ”

I said, "Report to Mr. Cen!" I can recognize more than 1,400 Chinese characters, and I can write letters and talk about things! I can read a lot of books! I speak Mandarin, English and French! I can memorize multiplication formulas, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division! I have a good memory, and I can recite the Analects, Tao Te Ching, and Heart Sutra! That's what Mom and Dad taught me! Now, I learn to raise chickens and ducks with Wei's mother! ”。

Everyone laughed!

Teacher Cen said, "Ah Cai is a good boy! In ancient times, you will definitely be able to take the top exam and shine in a famous family! In the future, you can be my student! Would you like to? ”

I said, "Teacher Cen! I do! I'll kneel down for you! I'll give you a wine to the Worshippers! ”

So, I took the wine glass, walked to Mr. Cen's door, and knelt down for him!

Raise the wine glass above your head with both hands and toast Mr. Cen!

Teacher Cen took the wine from my hand, raised his neck and drank it!

I saw that everyone was in tears and applauded our master and apprentice!

Teacher Cen picked me up and hugged me and said, "My good apprentice! The teacher will definitely teach you the skills! Let you do what you want to do! ”

......

In this way, our family has done a big thing, and I also have the first life teacher outside the family, Mr. Cen!

Time flies! My chicks and ducklings have completely changed their feathers and have grown into very beautiful chickens and ducks! However, they are also eating more and more.

Wei's mother told me to go to the garbage heap to dig earthworms for chickens to eat, and to go to the river and creek to pick up screws for ducks to eat!

Therefore, every day I am very busy. I don't have time to do anything else, because I still clean up chicken and duck manure every day, push them on the edge of the vegetable patch, and prepare them to be used as fertilizer for growing vegetables. Because, I know, it's the only thing I can do for my family, and as a result, I'm very diligent and don't feel tired!

Summer is quietly coming, and the weather is starting to get hot. Every weekend when my brother and sister didn't go to school, Brother Jingtian and Brother Wenchang would carry a fishing basket on their backs, bring a fishing whip, and I prepared earthworms and other bait for them to go fishing in the river.

One afternoon, after work, I also wanted to play and swim with them in the river.

Brother Jing Tian said: "Ah Cai! Now, you're still a kid! The water will drown people! You'd better take your younger siblings at home! ”

Brother Jingtian is always so businesslike, I'm a little angry!

Brother Wen Chang smiled and said, "Alas! Brother Jingtian let Ah Cai go! Those bamboo tube swimming rings made by Dad are still there! Just bring it to Ah Cai! Ah Cai, it's time to learn to swim! ”

Brother Wenchang went to the room and brought a bamboo swimming ring.

This bamboo tube swimming ring is made of large bamboo tubes, and the two ends are sealed by bamboo joints, which are two large bamboo joints. It can be tied back and forth on the chest and back, so that people can float on the water!

I happily followed my brothers to the river with two bamboo tubes and a rope to tie them.

When we arrived at the river, Brother Wen Chang asked me to take off my clothes and pants and help us tie two bamboo tubes to our bodies.

Brother Wen Chang smiled and said, "Ah Cai! You swim slowly in a place of still water first! Don't go to places where the water is rushing! Otherwise, the water will float you away! If, it was floating! Be sure to shout, help! We're here to save you! ”

Everyone laughed! Brother Jing Tian and Brother Wen Chang went fishing on a shore quite far from where I am.

I jumped into the crystal clear water like a wild horse! When my whole body is immersed in the cool water, I feel so happy and free!

I followed the example of my brothers and sisters when they were swimming, paddling with my hands and climbing with my feet! I'm swimming in the water! It was my first swim experience! I feel like I've never been happier!

It's a beautiful river! When I was diving, I saw a lot of small fish swimming in the clear water! There are green aquatic plants, and the aquatic plants are constantly swinging!

There are many different kinds of pebbles on the riverbed, white, yellow, red, green, black and gray, which are crystal clear and reflect colorful light!

I don't know how long I swam in the water, but when I felt my eyes blurred with blisters and my body was weak, I climbed onto the riverbank.

I went ashore in the shade of a tree, and after drying my body in the water, I untied two bamboo tubes and put on my clothes and trousers. I lay down in the shade of a tree to rest.

I looked up at the trees and the sky, and I heard the rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the birds! The white clouds were slowly drifting in the sky, and I wondered, where are they going?

When I looked around, I saw red dragonflies flying freely in the reeds on the shore, and from time to time they landed on the reeds, and they swayed in the wind! Red dragonflies are like saffrons in green leaves!

I breathed in the cool air and felt how quiet and peaceful the world was! At this moment, I forgot about the suffering I was experiencing! I feel happy and free! This is the first time I can remember being intoxicated and conquered by nature!

After that, swimming became a hobby of mine, and every day after I finished my work at home, I handed over my younger siblings to Wei's mother's care, and I took the bamboo tube to the river to practice swimming.

A month later, I learned to swim! I don't need a swimming ring anymore! I was able to float, dive and swim freely in the water!

However, one noon during this time, while I was swimming, an event happened that I will never forget!

When I was on a dive, my feet got tangled in aquatic weeds!

I struggled desperately and couldn't get to the surface! I was starved of oxygen and choked!

Suddenly, I was sober! I realized that the result of struggle is death!

So, I dived again and plucked the weeds wrapped around my feet with my hands! I surfaced easily and I saved my life myself!

After I was rescued ashore, I lay on the grass and thought quietly, and I realized that the danger and suffering of man is self-inflicted! And danger and suffering are often unpredictable! And the struggle in the midst of suffering is of no avail! Only by being calm can we find a way to drag away from danger and suffering!

And everyone's pain and experience, only they know! You also need to bear it yourself, everyone else is just a bystander!

Of course, I am also very happy that I did not die! I feel like my father is blessing me!

After the incident, I returned home and my older siblings were happily discussing in the living room about things to do and play after the summer vacation. They asked me, Jing Di, and Lilan to join the discussion.

Brother Jingtian smiled and said, "Ah Cai! I'm 6 years old this year! It's already one meter six tall! It's also strong! This year, I also learned to raise chickens and ducks, swim, and other things! It's a lot of progress! In the future, Ah Cai will be counted as one of our adults! ”

Everyone applauded with joy!

Jing Di said: "Brother Jingtian! I'm also more than 1.4 meters tall! Am I an adult? ”

Brother Jing Tian smiled and said, "Jing Di! You're still young! Count you in next year! Eat more and work more this year! You have to have the ability to respect talents! We'll pull you in! ”

Everyone laughed!

Sister Lifen smiled and said, "Ah Cai! After the summer vacation, Sister Wenjuan and I helped you raise chickens and ducks! Jing Di is responsible for taking care of her little sister Lilan! Ahh You've been apprenticed to Mr. Cen for so long! The chickens and ducks raised at home are also laying eggs! We've just picked up a dozen! Tomorrow morning, you send it to Teacher Cen! By the way, learn something from his old man! ”

I smiled and said, "Okay! My mother and I will make rock candy for you to drink! ”

Brother Wen Chang smiled and said, "Ah Cai! It's summer's great! There's rock sugar water to drink! Don't go and dig water from a well for us to drink! ”

Everyone laughed!

I ran to the study at home and picked up the thermos from the snowflakes we had collected with my dad last winter!

I put the thermos on the coffee table, I opened the lid of the thermos, and suddenly, the cold air inside came out innocently!

Everyone saw that the snowflakes inside were like white sugar, soft and crystal clear!

The little sister Lilan smiled and said, "This is the snowflake we picked up with our father!" Daddy was right, they don't melt! ”

After listening to Lilan's words, everyone was moved to tears!

Wei Ma and I used a big spoon to take out a few spoons from the hot water bottle and mix it with cold boiled water, and add white sugar to make rock sugar water for everyone.

Wei's mother smiled and said, "Let's drink!" It's your father's heart! Ice and snow in this thermos! Enough for us to use for a summer! ”

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