However, there is no need to tell Xiao Tongtong about this.

The meaning expressed by Xiao Tongtong today aroused her worries.

Mrs. Li is old, and she used to think that there was a system, and she was not afraid of a headache and brain fever.

Now it seems that it is still not to be taken lightly, and it is necessary to let Mrs. Li take care of her body, otherwise it will be difficult to avoid the accumulation of minor illnesses into major illnesses.

made up her mind, Mei Xiaotong was not in the mood to tell Xiao Tongtong more, there were still a lot of things outside, so she simply let Xiao Tongtong kneel down.

Xiao Tongtong seemed to have something to say, but Mei Xiaotong directly ignored it.

Seeing that Mrs. Li was asleep, Mei Xiaotong stood up with confidence and went out to deal with things.

In the mourning hall, the filial sons and grandsons had to keep watch all night, and the monks and Taoists read for several hours, but they were also drowsy and staggered.

An Huahao arranged tomorrow's affairs and was about to go to the mourning hall to guard, when he ran into Mei Xiaotong.

Hurriedly stepped forward and held her hand: "Is it cold?" Tired, right? I asked the kitchen to cook white fungus porridge, and you can drink a bowl of it later, and it will also warm your body. ”

Mei Xiaotong held An Huahao's hand back, "You have also worked hard-"

The two looked at each other, everything was in this eye, needless to say.

Holding hands and walking slowly, Mei Xiaotong spoke: "From tomorrow, the affairs of the family will be handed over to me, there are no outsiders in our family to mourn, just wait for the masters to recite enough three days of scriptures, and then move my father's longevity to the temple for temporary storage." Mei Changan doesn't know what's going on, so you still go and check the deal-you're going to do with him. ”

said, remembered something: "Yesterday, when the lady who chatted with me told me about the origin of Qicheng, she said that Qicheng became a county seat from a small town by relying on mines. It is said that at the beginning, the imperial court sent soldiers and horses to garrison here to guard the mine, and then after a long time, the original garrison has been staying in Qicheng. ”

"Those garrisons got married, had children, and had offspring in the local area, and the leaders with power became the local heroes, the so-called garrisons, which were the garrisons of the imperial court, rather than the private armies of the original generation of garrisons. They are intertwined and have a very large network of relationships, and they are the real snakes in Qicheng. ”

"In the past, if the county orders who came to them didn't have a good relationship with these people, then don't want to stay in Qicheng. Either they were forced to leave, or they couldn't stand it, and they didn't want to go along with it. ”

"Gao has been in Qicheng as a county magistrate for more than half a year, and he is still as stable as Mount Tai, I guess I am afraid that Gao Jin and those heroes have also colluded together. Wasn't Boss Ma locked up in a private mine at the beginning? Do you want to dig along this line? ”

Mei Xiaotong suggested.

"I've asked someone to send a letter and ask Boss Ma and them to come to Qicheng. also sent people to follow Mei Changan, a few days ago, it is said that Mei Changan followed Gao Jin to attend several gatherings, all of which were those heroes and strongmen, and I guess Mei Changan was also contaminated. "Anwar has bright eyes

The bottom shimmered with joy.

There is nothing that knows himself so well and is pleasant!

Mei Xiaotong saw that An Huahao also thought of this, so she also smiled and said no more.

When they arrived at the mourning hall, the two brothers Mei Changqing and Tianhu had been crying for a day, and it was already late at night, and the monks and Taoist priests who were chanting scriptures outside were also drowsy.

There was a rare silence in the mourning hall, and everyone's physical strength was exhausted today.

An Huahao has already arranged for someone to make two tables of vegetarian banquets for monks and Taoist priests, invite them to eat, rest for a while, and continue to chant the scriptures early tomorrow morning.

He also asked people to bring clear porridge and ginger soup and sent them to the room next door to the mourning hall, so that Mei Changqing and the three of them could fill their stomachs.

Mei Changqing, Mei Changgui and Tianhu's eyes were all red and full of tears.

When I saw the steaming porridge and vegetables being served, my eyes suddenly turned green.

This crying for a day, the water and physical consumption are very large, the door of the mourning hall is wide open, although there is a shed outside, but the night wind in this New Year is steep, blowing on people, like a knife.

No matter how thick the cotton jacket and cotton pants were, this kneeled on the ground for a long time, although there was a cotton cushion separated by it, the cold still drilled down the legs into the flesh and bones.

Mei Changqing and Mei Changgui are also people who can eat, and they are also miserable.

Without An Huahao and Mei Xiaotong saying hello, the three of them got up, rubbing their knees and drooling while baring their teeth.

Mei Xiaotong motioned to the mother-in-law under the stove to put the porridge and vegetables on the table next to her, and only closed the door when the three of them came in.

Because of the need to stop the spirit, the house did not dare to burn the kang, it was cold, but the door was closed, no wind blew in, and everyone was very satisfied.

First, everyone pinched their noses and poured a bowl of ginger soup to force out the cold in their bodies.

Mei Changqing and the three of them, the steaming ginger soup went down their stomachs, and they shivered several times in succession, and finally their hands and feet warmed up a little, and their faces were bloody, not so cold.

After resting for a while, another person served a big bowl of porridge, with side dishes, and drank it up in three or two sips, and the whole person came back to life.

Mei Xiaotong wanted to open her mouth and let everyone go back to the house to rest for the night, and just come back early tomorrow morning to kneel down, besides, no outsiders came, why toss yourself like this?

But when you think about it, after all, your father is dead, and if you don't behave at this time, you will either be talked about in the future, saying things like unfilial piety.

Besides, he has a relationship with Mei Zhongmu, but Mei Changqing and they have it, so why stop it?

Therefore, only a brazier was brought in, and a full charcoal fire was piled up to keep them warm.

As a son-in-law and a married daughter, there is no such rule, and Mei Xiaotong is too lazy to show filial piety.

bear

In the past, she was loyal to Mei's life and daily life arranged properly, and she thought that she didn't live up to him.

Now that Mei Zhongzhong is leaving, although it is a little uncomfortable, it makes her really cry bitterly, as if the sky is about to fall, which is really difficult for a strong man.

The old customs in the countryside, whoever goes to the elderly, relatives and friends have to come to the door to mourn, at this time, it is a special session for some people.

This person is generally the daughter or daughter-in-law of the deceased old man, but it is not good, relatives can also be, preferably female, and the relationship should be close.

Then, after the woman has made incense and kowtowed to the deceased old man, she will kneel in front of the spirit, cry and say, explain the life of the deceased in three words or two, and then praise how generous and kind the deceased was to his relatives and to everyone. How did you go so carelessly, and how much filial piety is not enjoyed? Again, feel how this man was when he was on earth......

The powerful crying and singing mother-in-law can mobilize the emotions of the people around her, so that people can follow her emotions, listen to it, and cry out loud.

This kind of crying and singing seems simple, but people who don't have two brushes really can't take it down, because this is the most critical part of crying.

To be able to speak, to cry, to sing, even if the dead one is full of evil, in the mouth of the crying mother-in-law, it is also a lot of suffering.

Many mothers-in-law of the Zhuang family went to learn this, and most of them cried dryly, and the Zhuang family did not pay attention to it, and they could pass it so-so.

This Mei Xiaotong can't cry and sing, so if she kneels in front of the spirit, a handful of snot and tears, just like singing rap, to remember Mei Zhongzhong, it is better to kill her.

An Huahao also knew Mei Xiaotong's temperament, and arranged for his subordinates to invite a crying mother-in-law to come, and he would start crying early tomorrow morning.

Although no one came to condole, Mei Xiaotong and An Huahao did not fall behind in the procedures that should be done and should be taken.

See the Mei family

The brothers insisted on refusing to rest, and Mei Xiaotong didn't say much, only told them to pay attention to their bodies, and if they couldn't bear it, they would get up and walk, roast the fire, and drink hot water.

Out of the mourning hall: "Brother Song, I'm going to accompany my mother tonight, I'm always worried about her." Mei Xiaotong looked at An Huahao embarrassedly.

Although An Huahao can see that he can't eat it, it is definitely better to hold the warm fragrant nephrite in his arms than to sleep alone on the kang alone.

When I heard that Xiaotong was going to abandon herself and comfort her mother-in-law, I had to endure it, who let this family, he couldn't afford to provoke it, except for Xiaotong is mother-in-law?

What's more, when her father-in-law died, her mother-in-law felt uncomfortable, so let Xiaotong accompany her, and her old man would be happier.

only nodded in response, and sent Mei Xiaotong to the side room where Mrs. Li lived, and then went back to the house to rest.

An Huahao and Mei Xiaotong both thought that there would be no guests to come to the door to condole, who would have thought that the house that An Huahao bought was also in a good location.

The surrounding neighbors first saw a group of people coming to the yard, where no one has always been in and out

Pick up and tidy up, arrange it in a festive and lively manner, and then pick up relatives in the evening, and you will know that this yard, which has always been unmanned, has a new owner, or a newlywed couple.

The location of this piece is good, the neighbors are basically old residents, and they get along well with each other, and they all think that this is a new neighbor, and they don't know what their temperament is.

Unexpectedly, this wedding cloth has not been dismantled, and the happy event has been changed to a funeral.

Since yesterday, when I saw the red lanterns removed from the door of An's house and replaced them with white lanterns and white flowers, I knew that someone in the family had died.

I listened to and recited the scriptures for most of the night, so early in the morning, I discussed with each other, and felt that they were neighbors after all, so they made an appointment to come to the door to offer condolences.

Like this kind of neighbor general guests, it doesn't cost much to come to the door to condole, buy a stick of incense, two knives of paper, pay attention to a little and then match some paper money or something, and they will live.

An Huahao went out early in the morning, Mei Xiaotong heard that someone came to mourn, she was stunned at first, but Mrs. Li reacted quickly and let people come in.

He also reminded Mei Xiaotong to hurry up and prepare tea and dinner, and he had to invite someone to have a light meal before leaving. Fortunately, because of the newlywed, An Huahao also prepared a lot of food and vegetables in the kitchen, because the old man died, and it was not easy to make meat banquets, so people could only take the money to buy a plate of tofu and come back, make a tofu banquet, with mountain mushrooms, but it can also be put out.

The neighbors arrived at the mourning hall, offered incense, and had filial sons and grandsons kowtow to return the salute.

Then he was invited to the side hall, accompanied by Mrs. Li, and Mei Xiaotong personally served tea to people.

The neighbors who came to mourn saw that Mrs. Li and Mei Xiaotong were both wearing heavy filial piety, and there were no ornaments on their bodies, and there was only a small white flower on their bare hair.

For a while, I pity this bride, I got married the day before yesterday, and the old man in the family went the next day, which is also miserable, and I am afraid that I will say that this bride is a mourning star.

Looking at Mei Xiaotong again, the new daughter-in-law's dress, although she is wearing filial piety clothes and is not dressed, she is more and more set off as a beauty.

I couldn't help but sigh a few more sentences.

Because it was a female guest who came to mourn, everyone exchanged a few words of greeting and inquired about each other.

Mei Xiaotong only acted as a little daughter-in-law, and no matter what she asked, she bowed her head and was silent.

But Mrs. Li is old and refined, and in a few words, she knows what these neighbors are thinking in her heart.

only vaguely said that his family was not from Qicheng, the family was in the countryside, and this yard belonged to the son-in-law's family, and the son-in-law followed him to support him when he was a child, and now he is back to get married. This son-in-law is like his own son, so the family came to see off his relatives, but he didn't expect the old man to be unaccustomed to the soil and water, and he couldn't afford to get sick.

The rest of the words will not be said, leaving it to the neighbors to guess.

A few female guests, their eyes flickered, and they first persuaded each other with good words and said polite words such as condolences.

One of them brought out a little sympathy and couldn't look at it, and outside the words, he brought Mei Xiaotong.

said that she was pitiful, her life was miserable, and how could she live in the future.

Hearing that, Mrs. Li's heart was on fire, and her daughter looked like a blessed face, where was her life miserable?

Mrs. Li is not a generous person, let alone her precious daughter, so she put her face off at the moment.

The person next to him saw that it was wrong, and the one with eyes was busy trying to divert the topic.

Unexpectedly, the female guest, who didn't know why, took the hand of Mei Xiaotong, who was pouring tea and water for them, and burst into tears: "Poor child, it's no wonder that you have such a look-"

It's not a good thing to say yet, but it's not a good thing to listen to.

Mei Xiaotong's face also sank, and she withdrew her hand, about to speak.

Mrs. Li couldn't help it first: "My girl's life is very good, and I don't need to worry about you, an outsider who can't beat with eight poles!" If you come to the door to condole, polite, although we are a Zhuang family, but we are not the ones who don't know the etiquette, naturally they are also polite. ”

"Haven't you heard of it, whose style is this, it's just a neighbor, but it's the heart of being a father? Could it be that this is the rule of the city? Phew! I can tell you, your own family mind your own business, don't stick your claws out! Otherwise, don't blame the old lady for being polite! ”

When these words were thrown out, the female guests were all stunned, and a few eye-catching people were busy making a round, trying to get the words back.

Angry and embarrassed for a while, the thin-skinned female guest couldn't sit still and wanted to leave.

Fortunately, the mother-in-law in the kitchen is a quick hand, and she has already renovated a table of tofu banquets, just waiting for the guests to be seated.

Mrs. Li accompanied the female guests to the banquet again.

The female guests looked at this tofu feast, there are also eight big bowls, fried, boiled, stir-fried and stewed, all kinds of them, and they look like they are full of color and flavor, especially some mountain mushrooms and the like, which smell fragrant.

Those who wanted to leave didn't leave, sat down, only ate with round stomachs, and raised the evaluation of this family by a few points.

Although he is from the countryside, he seems to have a solid family, just look at this tofu feast.

Ordinary people, the family went to the funeral, this tofu banquet is much shabby, who is willing to put these mountain mushrooms?

Therefore, the attitude became more and more kind.

is already an ordinary family, naturally there are no rules of eating and sleeping, while eating, he took the initiative to chat with Mrs. Li and Mei Xiaotong about some local specialties and customs in Qicheng, but it was not cold.

After eating the banquet, he politely sent the people out.

Closing the door, Mrs. Li sank her face: "Why are the people in this city like the mother-in-law of our villager's family, so fast-talking?" Girl, you have also seen that the people in this city, like our Zhuang family, are also bullying the weak and afraid of the hard! Our family is new, what can it do with them? didn't mess with them, one by one, give some face, and really treat yourself as a big clove of garlic!

”

"Phew! Don't pee on yourself or not? How dare you say that the old lady has a hard life? wretched

？ Fuck the fox! The blessings of the old lady are still to come, these ...... with rotten tongues"

I don't know why, Mei Xiaotong heard Mrs. Li's angry scolding, and she immediately relaxed.

This mother seems to be very decent, she is not too affected by her father's just gone, and she is relieved that she can still scold people!

Therefore, he hurriedly coaxed Mrs. Li a few words, and coaxed Mrs. Li to show a smile.

The two mothers and daughters went to the mourning hall to keep vigil.

Although Mrs. Li felt that her sons were white-eyed wolves, she couldn't help frowning when she saw that it had only been two nights, and her sons and grandsons had lost weight and their eyes were sunken: "It's only been two days, and you are all boiling lamp oil like this, do you want to die?" Why don't you see you so filial on weekdays? What's the toss now? Go back to the kang and lie down for a while! ”

"Mother, this mourning hall can't be empty-" Mei Changgui whispered.

"Lady, I'm not a person with your sister?" Mrs. Li's eyes pricked up.

The Mei brothers were instigated, and they really couldn't stand it anymore, so they helped them to get up.

Mei Changqing still wanted to say a few words, but before she could speak, Mrs. Li scolded: "Now that I want to explain, what do you explain?" You also have a face? What did you do but let your brothers go and buy a coffin and come back? This shed invites monks and Taoists, buys vegetables and cooks, and ushers in the delivery, you stretched out a finger? ”

"I won't talk about Tianhu, you two old men, just like a girl, except for kneeling here and howling, what is your use? It must be your sister-in-law and brother-in-law who supported it? ”

"What can you do without your sister-in-law and brother-in-law? Just hugging your dad and crying? Everyone is used to everything, and they expect everything from others, right? Let's have a long snack! have all split up and started a business, and they still plan to expect your sister-in-law and brother-in-law to fail anything? ”

When Mrs. Li scolded this, Mei Changqing and Mei Changgui both panicked.

If you think about it carefully, too, when they went out, the two of them didn't do anything as brothers.

Not to mention anything else, just about this father's funeral, the two of them really didn't care about anything except crying! I can't even put it there.

This old man has passed away, where is there a son who is only responsible for crying, and the funeral is all handled by his daughter and son-in-law?

(End of chapter)