Huaizi was not at home, Chrysanthemum came to Zheng's house suspiciously, and when she entered the door, she saw Zheng Changhe and Yang gathered together with solemn expressions, whispering something, Aoki sat aside, and interjected from time to time.

Her heart jumped and she hurriedly asked, "Dad, mother, what's the matter?" ”

When Yang saw her, he hurriedly pulled her to sit down beside her, wiped his eyes and said, "It's your aunt and grandmother, it's gone in the morning." I thought to your father, our Zheng family is only these two elders, and your aunt and grandmother like your father the most, and they have taken care of us in previous years, she is gone, and we are going to send it. Your brother and sister-in-law are definitely going to go, and even the gourd will be taken to kowtow to the old aunt and wife. It's you, you're not in good health, so I'm going to tell you not to go, but my mother thinks again, my aunt and grandmother are seventy-nine years old—I'm going to help her do her 80th birthday next year—you go and kowtow to her, and she will bless you. ”

Chrysanthemum was stunned, is the old aunt and grandmother gone? That old man, who had just trained people, thought that she would live to more than eighty miles, and then left?

She was stunned for a while, and when she saw that her father and mother were looking at her expectantly, she hurriedly said, "Go!" Although I am married, I am also the daughter of the Zheng family, not to mention that my aunt and grandmother like me quite much, of course I have to kowtow to her. However, I am afraid that chestnuts and shallots cannot be brought, they are too small, and there are many people at the funeral, so I am afraid that the smell is not good. ”

Yang hurriedly said: "You can't take it, leave it to Aunt Liu to take care of, otherwise, my mother won't let you go." In this way, Huaizi is also going to accompany you. We're going to have to stay for a couple of days, maybe we'll have to burn the first seven before we come back. Huaizi followed, first, he could take care of you, and second, after sending his aunt and grandmother up the mountain, you two would come back first. ”

Chrysanthemum asked hesitantly, "How long did it take you all to come back?" Do my brother and Sister Yun Lan have to stay that long? After my aunt and grandmother are buried, what else will happen?

Zheng Changhe said: "Let's take a look first, if it's okay, they will come back with you." I'm going to stay with your mother for a few days, and I won't come back until the first seven days of burning. ”

Although he did not shed tears, his voice was hoarse, and he seemed to choke for a while. To my aunt. He was reluctant. In the second year of junior high school, she went to the old man's house to pay New Year's greetings, and she also went to the kitchen and beat a few eggs for him to eat. He also told her that he would help her celebrate her 80th birthday next year, which made the old man very happy. Who knows that if you don't see each other for a few days, you will be gone.

After the family discussed, Zheng Changhe and Yang rushed over that night, and Aoki Chrysanthemum and the others set off the next morning. According to local customs. After being buried on the third day, they stayed there for one night, and the next day they sent their aunt and grandmother up the mountain, and they could come back.

Chrysanthemum gets up early in the morning. Looking at his son and daughter who were still asleep, he was a little reluctant, and comforted himself, He and Aunt Liu looked at them, only better than taking care of themselves, besides, didn't she just stay for one night and come back, and she didn't live outside for ten days and half a month.

Huaizi knew her thoughts, but urged her to leave quickly. He also asked Chrysanthemum to go early and return early, and told Huaizi to take care of Chrysanthemum.

Liu Heizi drove the Zheng family's carriage to give them a ride, and only dropped them down when they reached the mountain road that could not be navigated, and let them walk the rest of the way.

"Grape, follow the young grandmother to be smart, stupid and blind." Liu Heizi saw Aoki and the others get out of the car. I hurriedly told my daughter a few words.

Grape obediently replied, "Daddy! I see. ”

To say that the chrysanthemum with the grapes, neither for the sake of arrangement, nor for enjoyment - the grapes can't do much work, she just wants the little girl to see more, and then take the opportunity to teach her some principles and rules of behaving, and the most unfortunate thing to see people should be generous, she is ready to train the grapes.

Huaizi looked at the mountain path in front of her and stomped her feet. Ask Aoki, "How many more roads are there?" Is it all mountain roads? ”

Aoki had been to his aunt's house, and nodded, "It's all mountain roads, but it's not too difficult to walk." The mountains here are much flatter than the mountains on our side, and they can't be called mountains, at most they are small dirt slopes. Hurry up and catch up for lunch. But I'm afraid that chrysanthemums and grapes can't stand it. ”

He rested the gourd on his shoulder. The little baby sat high, saw far away, was very happy, talked more, and called her father and mother from time to time.

Liu Yunlan said with a smile: "The grapes are better, the little baby is in good spirits, she is tired, and she is full of energy to eat something, anyway, I brought a lot of food." It's a chrysanthemum, and the bones of the body can't be tired. ”

Huaizi stepped forward and took Chrysanthemum's arm and said, "Let's go, it's not in the way, I'll carry her later." If the grapes can't support it, Aoki will also carry it, and my sister-in-law will be more tired. ”

Liu Yunlan smiled indifferently: "I'm fine, what's the point of walking a few steps?" Even carrying a gourd can also be done. ”

Chrysanthemum beckoned to the grapes and said, "We are underestimated!" Hurry up. I haven't been out before, so it's not boring to walk on the mountain road, and it would be better if I came out in a few days, when the grass and trees were green and the mountains were full of flowers......"

She was talking about happiness, but Huaizi elbowed her, and immediately woke up: they were going to the funeral, not to go out for an outing, so they were ashamed.

Thinking about it, this is the difference, Chrysanthemum can't be as sad as Zheng Changhe, first, she only has respect for her aunt and grandmother, and she doesn't have much closeness, no deeper than her feelings for her grandmother Wang; Second, this is not yet the destination, and I can't feel the sad atmosphere of death yet.

When the next group of people hurried away, occasionally whispering something. Chrysanthemum walked in the wild, looking at the mountains and fields on both sides of the road and a small number of villages, and was in a good mood, but she hadn't traveled far, or because she had undergone surgery, about an hour later, her steps were a little heavy, but grapes, still running happily.

Huaizi glanced down at her, and didn't say much to her, so he stepped forward and squatted down, picked her up without saying anything, and strode forward.

Aoki smiled slightly when he saw it, and asked Liu Yunlan softly, "Are you tired?" ”

Liu Yunlan shook her head and said, "I'm not tired." Look at the grapes, they're still in good spirits, I'm much better than her. Grape, if you're tired, don't hold on, let Brother Aoki carry you, and I'll carry the gourd. ”

Grape had already run to the front and said yes from afar.

Aoki shook his head and smiled: "She doesn't think she will go out much, but now it is fresh, and when she gets to the ground, she is afraid that her legs will be weak." ”

Chrysanthemum lay on Huaizi's back, and as soon as she relaxed, she really felt that her body was soft, so she smiled: "That's the case." When I walked, I didn't feel it, and as soon as I let go, I collapsed. Brother Huaizi, you carried me. Put me down, I won't be able to walk. ”

Huaizi strode forward and said with a smile: "Then carry it all the way to my aunt." ”

Chrysanthemum tugged at his ears and whispered, "Grandma?" Do you know where your aunt is now? Pure nonsense! ”

Huaizi also felt speechless, turned his head and smiled apologetically at her.

No matter how easy the road is, when you arrive at the ground, you are immediately surrounded by an auspicious, solemn, and sad atmosphere. It sounds a bit contradictory, but it's true!

My aunt's village is located on the side of a hill. At the foot of the mountain, they heard the high-pitched tone of suona echoing all over the mountain, and the gong was also crisp, without much sadness. With a sense of transcendence and nostalgia.

When I entered the village, bypassed the chaotic village dwellings, followed the music to the door of a large courtyard, I heard the sound of the monk chanting scriptures and the faint cry, the courtyard was white, all of them were wearing white filial piety clothes, all of them looked solemn and solemn, neither laughing nor sad.

Wait for Aoki to explain his intention to a man who received him. After reporting the identity, someone immediately sent a white linen filial piety dress - just a short cloak on the head, the second generation is only white, if it is a grandchild, a small piece of red cloth is sewn on the front of the hat, and the great-grandchild stacks a piece of green cloth on the red cloth, and then ties a straw rope around the waist.

Several of them are in linen filial piety clothes with red cloth. Only a small piece of green cotton cloth was added to the gourd's filial piety clothes, and it was led into the mourning hall after it was dressed.

Passing through the front floor and entering the inner hall, the long coffin painted dark red appeared in front of you, and there was a large iron brazier in front of the coffin, in which the paper money was scattered and had not yet burned out, and there was also smoke curling in several earthen incense burners. The filial sons and grandsons knelt in a row on each side - Zheng Changhe was actually among them, coupled with the cry, Chrysanthemum suddenly felt goosebumps all over her body, her hair stood on end, and tears flowed down the ground.

All kinds of cries on the mourning hall were staggered and undulating, and some were low weeping. There are a few rapping, some crying, some choking silently, at this time, the women's tears seem to have opened a gap in the river dam - it can't be blocked, Liu Yunlan and Chrysanthemum can't help crying in a low voice, and the grapes are crying even louder, if Grandma Liu hears it, I'm afraid she will jump on her head - she is not dead yet!

Hulu looked around curiously, and saw that his mother and aunt were crying, and he was a little panicked, so he hurriedly grabbed Liu Yunlan's hand and whispered: "Mother! ”

In front of the brazier, there was a row of straw mats, and Aoki and Huaizi took a few of them to kneel down and kowtow, and respectfully and painfully burned paper money and incense. Liu Yunlan was busy teaching the gourd to kneel down and kowtow to his aunt's wife a few times. This is taught at home, so the gourd is decent.

And the filial son stepped forward to kowtow to them and return the salute.

Aoki and Huaizi didn't dare to stand it, they hurriedly helped them up, and after some tossing, they went over to talk to Zheng Changhe, and Chrysanthemum and Liu Yunlan also went to the female relatives behind to find the Yang family.

After being busy for a while, I integrated into this funeral, and slowly got used to it, and the tears were no longer as uncontrollable as at the beginning, and then I observed carefully, these people were all when someone came to worship, and they only made their own voices, and when the people left, or when no one came in between, they talked and laughed in a low voice, and commented on the people who came.

Chrysanthemum couldn't hold back - she and Liu Yunlan were pulled around and asked, and they didn't even let go of the grapes, so they said that the grapes were their cousins, and they brought her by the way.

The Yang family was originally helping in the kitchen, but they estimated that they were almost there, so they came to the mourning hall to wait. After meeting and saying something, she sent away those curious mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law in a few words, she took a few people out of the mourning hall, and asked Chrysanthemum to find a place to rest with the gourd, and took Liu Yunlan to the kitchen to help, Aoki and Huaizi had already been arranged.

I was afraid that my daughter-in-law would be too careful, so I said to Liu Yunlan: "If you follow me, you will pick vegetables and wash them, and wash them with well water, which is not cold at all." Otherwise, we are all close relatives, we all hide and rest, and our faces are not very good-looking. Chrysanthemum body ......"

Liu Yunlan hurriedly interrupted her with disgust: "Mother, look at what your old man said, can I still fight with chrysanthemums?" What sin did she suffer, others don't know, I don't know? What's tiring to wash the dishes, I'll just go with you. ”

Chrysanthemum laughed and whispered to Liu Yunlan: "My mother is afraid that you will say that she is eccentric, patronizing her daughter-in-law and letting her daughter-in-law work." You go first, and I'll come to you when I go." This place is full of people, and even resting is restless. Besides, Brother Huaizi has carried me for a long time, and I am not very tired. ”

Liu Yunlan also smiled and told the gourd to follow her aunt and not run around.

Yang summoned a little girl with a bun - about the size of grapes, asked her to take chrysanthemums to rest, and said to her: "You can rest for a while, and then come out to help after lunch, it is not bad for this time." With that, he went with Liu Yunlan.

Chrysanthemum heard the little girl say that her name was Chun Tao and she was the little girl of the third cousin's family. She led the chrysanthemums and grapes around the main house and went to the backyard, where there were two wings, the east and west, Chun Tao pushed open the door of the east wing, let them go in to rest, and she went to the front again, saying that she wanted to help the kitchen wash the dishes and pick vegetables.

Chrysanthemum sighed, rested for a while, and then hugged the gourd and took the grapes out to find Yang.

There were not many people helping in the kitchen, and besides, there were few vegetables in winter, nothing more than cabbage and yellow cabbage, and her mother and sister-in-law were helping again, so she was kicked out. Later, the gourd was picked up by Liu Yunlan again, and took him and a daughter-in-law to the side room to sew filial piety clothes.

After hastily eating lunch, I checked around, learned about some funeral customs, and then returned to the east wing of the backyard, and found that there were a lot of people crowded here. I found several rooms, but I didn't see them, so I had to find a corner to sit in the next room next to the mourning hall, and listen to gossip to pass the time.

Although she and Grape didn't talk much, they still recruited people to ask questions, such as which relatives they were, where they lived, etc., I heard that it was the grandniece and granddaughter of the old lady's mother's family, and she was busy asking if it was Zhang Xiucai's sister-in-law.

Chrysanthemum was dumbfounded, she didn't expect the show in Qingnan Village to be so famous.

So he said no, and refused to speak again, but shrank in the head of the bed, and sat on a small stool and dozed off. But the old lady's maiden family has a nephew, and the nephew has a pair of children, even if she doesn't want to say more, everyone knows that she is the ugly girl who married into Xiucai's family - now she is a beauty, so she whispers to her, so that she is not depressed.

As a result, because she was hiding here, she saw a farce in front of the spirit.

In the afternoon, there was almost no one to pay their respects—everyone who should have come had arrived, and for some reason, the sons and daughters of the eldest aunt and grandmother quarreled. The louder it became, the louder it became, and finally, thinking that someone had persuaded him that it was not good to make trouble in the old lady's mourning hall, so a group of people moved to the next room.

When the people in the room saw their brother coming in and making a noise, they all slipped out. Chrysanthemum and Grape sat inside, and before they had time to hide, they were blocked in the room and listened to their noise. (To be continued)